Wallace

James Ducker ‏@TelegraphDucker 2h Aubameyang is on #mcfc radar but they've been no meetings, conversations, offers & club baffled at suggestions a deal is at advanced stage I have heard European journalists say more than once that Aubameyang has always been adamant that he will only leave Dortmund for Spain. But of course it is easy to say that until an offer from another club proves tempting.

City AM have rounded up the best quotes from Mike Ashley’s appearance: On being the boss: “I can’t be responsible for everything that goes on at Sports Direct. I can’t be.” On giving it his all: “I can only do my best but my best might not be good enough.” On corporate bonding: “I dunno what you call it. Fun day? Corporate day? We call its Sports Direct day.” “The value of Sports Direct is its people.” On BHS: “I can’t resist it: 100 per cent I wanted to buy BHS.” On ignoring PR people: “I won’t listen to them because I can’t be house trained” On why he gets up in the morning: “I didn’t build Sports Direct, Sports Direct built me.” On whether or not he is Santa: “I’m not Father Christmas, I’m not saying I’ll make the world wonderful.” “I don’t think I’m Santa Claus.” On answering questions from MPs: “I’m one human being! So stop it Paul! Let’s keep things positive!” “It’s been positive so far, stop making it negative.” On women in the workplace: “What do you call it...sexual...within the office? Harassment!” On ending sexual harassment: “Simple as that fellas. Not just fellas. Girls. Sorry.” On sexual harassment at Sainsbury’s: “Are you sure it’s not happening Sainsbury’s? I think it probably is.” On managers creeping on women: “They’re repugnant, they’re disgusting”

Always felt he only played when he felt like it so wouldn't be surprised to see him put in some performances at another club.

If he didn't own NUFC, Sports Direct would not get be getting this kind of scrutiny. Even if the same investigations had taken place, the wider public would not really have paid much attention.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/mike-ashley-house-commons-live-11434154 What happens afterwards? The MPs will eventually write a report with their conclusions about Sports Direct’s treatment of its staff. Even if they ask tough questions, it doesn’t mean their report will necessarily criticise Mr Ashley or Sports Direct. They are likely to consider whether laws protecting workers need to be changed, or are currently being enforced properly. The Government will then publish its official response to the Committee’s report. This process could take weeks or months, Before writing the report, it’s possible that the MPs could decide they want to hear more evidence - and this could mean accepting Mr Ashley’s offer to show them round the Shirebrook warehouse.

It must come down to his attitude or what they see in training as with the glimpses we've seen of him on the pitch, he didn't seem that bad.

And the extra revenue it will generate will go some way towards paying Rafa's salary. Maybe they will start to realise that thinking small will only hasten the club on a downward spiral whilst being more ambitious will generate more income - seeing as they only seem to understand the balance sheet.

That's just PR - he can hardly say otherwise really.

That's a pity as some of those fixtures would have fitted perfectly with other things planned.

It surprises me that the football club itself seems to be so obsessed with us. You expect it from the fans (although it does seem excessive) but that the club would rise above it.

Other than it being London, Palace does not make much sense unless he is desperate to leave at any cost., Where will he fit in, will Pardew improve him (no, judging his record here), will he get a significant pay rise? West Ham are meant to be interested but surely he would be a squad player there. To me, it would make sense to wait until January to see how we are doing because the current options don't seem that great at the moment - although of course that could change by the end of August.

He seems to be sought after by other clubs and we are not in a position where we have to sell plus he is on a long contract. That means we can name our price and if other clubs don't like it then he stays. They can all afford it anyway.

Luke Edwards ‏@LukeEdwardsTele 3m3 minutes ago Townsend's release clause is £13m, which means #nufc will make a £1m profit if he goes this summer. Benitez will try to keep him though

For some reason, the media have a downer on him so he is not going to get an easy ride from them.

If the club sell him don't they have to pay up the contract which is why players won't put in a transfer request these days? As has already been said, if he is that desperate to leave then he should just be happy to cancel the contract and it saves the club another year's wages. There is no way they are getting a fee from San Lorenzo.

It's sad really. We kid ourselves that we will struggle to hold onto players because the club as a whole is lacking ambition and has been under-performing. But here is a club that has not only qualified for the Champions League but has won the title, and it looks like they will lose all their best players. I understand why but it is still a sad indictment of modern football.

Didn't AVB get more points in a season that Pochettino did last year? Southampton constantly watch managers who fit their philosophy so they will already have had plans in place before they knew they were losing Koeman.

Has Pardew got any scouts down there? Seems to be only interested in NUFC players.

Jaap Stam favourite to take over apparently. But what about experience of the Championship?

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rafa-benitezs-arrival-heralds-start-11390712 Love this bit: It’s almost inconceivable that Benitez, a man whose entire entourage is reading Martin Hardy’s excellent study of the Kevin Keegan nearly season of 1995/6 ‘Touching Distance’, didn’t have a part to play in ensuring the melting of the club’s hitherto icy exterior.

Really? He was awful at Schalke. Got West Brom promoted as runners up to us. He might be an OK Championship manager but I don't think he is good enough for the Premier League so if they were promoted, I would expect them to looking for another manager again quite soon.

How long as Tiote left on his contract? If a Chinese or Middle Eastern club come in with a big contract, he will be gone as it will be his last opportunity for a big contract. Up until now Rafa has had to make do with the players already there and so it is not just a case of keeping all the best players but making sure the players are right for the way he wants to play. That could lead to one or two surprising departures. It wouldn't be a bad thing if we could loan out one or two in the hope of them returning if we are promoted but you could then argue that if they not up for the fight next season, then is it fair for them to come back the year after and walk into the team when others have grafted in their absence to get us back up. I think the priority is a couple of strikers. Although we started to score more towards the end of the season, if Gini leaves then that is a significant number of goals lost.

I've always thought he was cupable in part for our eventual relegation. Look at the players he left us with - Smith, Viduka, Geremi to name three. All too slow and mostly past their best as well as being on big wages and long contracts which I think also helped create Ashley's flawed transfer blueprint.

I wonder how long it will take to overhaul the medical side of things. If we can keep players like Aarons, Haidara and Mbabu fit then that will make a difference.

Unusually for a relegated team, we finished the season with a bit of momentum so hopefully with the Rafa feelgood factor, it will carry on into the new season. Although, when we all get excited is usually when everything goes pear-shaped. Last time we were pretty demoralised going into the season as the friendlies were such a disaster and the club was in disarray with Ashley and co going AWOL over the Summer and we didn't have a manager. I remember the players saying that they weren't getting support from the hierarchy so they and the coaches just had to get on with it. We did start off quite hesitantly but gained confidence with each game. It is going to be strange going into a season with so much positivity after the last few years.