LoveItIfWeBeatU

I think that he'd claimed to have some mysterious US backer(s) who would only reveal themselves once the takeover had completed. In hindsight, I expect that his backer(s) were probably a bank willing to loan him enough cash to buy the club in the same way the Glazers bought Man Utd. Exactly! Terrifying prospect. Even the porn baron and his mate who've bought into West Ham only own a controlling 50% stake of it and are looking for other investors for the other 50%. As I understand it, West Ham still owe £105m!

It worries me to think how Barry Moat was going to finance buying Newcastle. Borrowing money from US backers wasn't it? I'd rather Ashley owns us than some company who would buy us and then puts the debt against the club.

Or Everton's people let Beckford know that they want to sign him in the Summer when he is available for free.

Hughton has already said he isn't signing him.

I'd prefer sound reasoning rather than sentimental reasoning to be used in our approach to signing players. Where's the sentiment? "Just sign him up". Where's the reasoning? Colchester and Newcastle have turned down the chance to sign him on a free following trials. A club in Peru has said it isn't signing him. He's now on trial at Sheffield United. Solano has previously been playing in Peru and Greece since leaving West Ham. It doesn't exactly scream "sign him up now" does it? Why would we sign him if it wasn't for sentimental reasons?

3 teams up from the Championship is the usual rule!

Does any one know any Blackburn fans? They weren't happy when we originally warned them about Allardyce.

I'd prefer sound reasoning rather than sentimental reasoning to be used in our approach to signing players.

Does he? When was the last time you saw him play? Geremi doesn't even get a game for us any more and may leave in this transfer window. Butt doesn't make the first choice 11 any more and is probably going to retire at the end of the season.

He may prosper in the Premiership or we may have dodged a bullet. Time will tell.

I'd guess a lot of that was down to the wages we were willing to pay them over Everton. Probably one of the reasons why we are where we currently are and they are where they currently are.

Signing for Everton doesn't automatically mean he will cut it in the Premiership. Moyes supposedly has a long standing interest in Alan Smith! Besides, if I was a player with no emotional connection to Newcastle and Everton and Newcastle came in for me it's an easy choice where to go.

Ambition check is right. We all know if we get promoted we'll be lucky to stay up. The fact that we can't attract the likes of Kilgallon shows our standing. Look what ambition beyond financial means has done to Portsmouth and West Ham. Reality check is that football finances have gone insane. Portsmouth are doomed. West Ham have been saved from being doomed. The new owners admit that buying West Ham doesn't make sense from a business point of view. Paying huge fees and wages to mercenary players has crippled a lot of teams. It is a fact we can no longer compete with 'big' clubs. Man U and Liverpool aren't in good health financially speaking. I'm no fan of Ashley but I'm realistic enough to realise that it's highly unlikely in the current financial climate that any one will be buying the club off him (no matter how much he may want to sell it). The future is mediocre (if we're lucky).

Reality check. As Newcastle have a wage bill that is higher than some Premiership clubs and we have Ashley as an owner we currently shop in the bargain basement/loan department. Simpson has played in the back 4 that has got 14 clean sheets so far. He's costing the club £500k - £750k. Is he good enough for the Championship? Yes. Is he good enough for the Premiership? Probably not but the same goes for most of our team. Would we be able to get our money back on him if we sold him in the future? Easily. Who are these Premiership quality players people think are going to be beating a path to our door? Kilgallon and Beckford turned us down (both supposedly going to Everton in the Summer)!

10 point deduction for going into Administration. I think that would kill Portsmouth's slim chances of staying up. They may as well try to sell players now before they're forced to sell them at fire sale prices. They seem doomed either way. Portsmouth Team Lineup from BBC (although Primus has retired) 1 James 2 Primus 3 Kaboul 4 Mokoena 5 O'Hara 6 Mullins 7 Hreidarsson 8 Diop 9 Piquionne 11 Brown 14 Williamson 15 Niemi 16 Finnan 17 Utaka 18 Vanden Borre 19 Webber 20 Smith 21 Ashdown 22 Hughes 23 Boateng 24 Dindane 26 Ben-Haim 27 Kanu 31 Begovic 32 Yebda 33 Basinas 35 Wilson 37 Nlundulu 39 Belhadj 40 Bogard 40 Ward 42 Mahoto 43 Hurst 45 Martin 46 Sowah Koroma

Thing is, Simpson is supposedly going to cost us £500k. Even if he isn't good enough for the Premiership he's played most of the games in a back 4 that has 14 clean sheets in the Championship. We'd easily be able to sell him for at least £500k if the club decide to replace him in the future. He's no world beater but for £500k he's a steady player for our current circumstance.

I can't see us buying any one but if we do it will probably be on the last day of the transfer window. Because of the 'Emergency loans' rule I'd be surprised if we even bother to have any loans we are planing on doing done by the end of the transfer window. That being said, it has been a pretty quiet transfer window for most clubs so far hasn't it? A lot of media speculation but very little actual business.

No, that rule ended at the turn of the year. Did it? What happens now then? Why did they show he'd picked up 5 yellows if it doesn't matter then I wonder? Purely to show the stats?

When Nolan got booked for kicking the West Brom player the TV graphic said it was the 5th yellow card he's picked up. 1 match ban now isn't it?

Who would you play right back though if Simpson leaves?

4th round FA Cup game. Will we put out the full strength team? I can see Carroll, Ranger, Butt, Pancrate and possibly Kadar starting this one. Krul has supposedly been told he is the goalkeeper for cup games.

I guess we'll get another look at Pancrate on the right wing in Saturday's FA Cup game against West Brom.

Would be a good buy if they can get him on the cheap but if they're after why buy Vieira? And how many dm's do they need? Barry Vieira De Jong Flamini? Apparently Flamini is now a right back.

http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2010/01/19/peter-lovenkrands-dedicates-goal-to-his-father-61634-25630082/ I hope that's as a loan and not to buy at the previously quoted £1.5m!

What happens if/when Simpson leaves? R. Taylor will be playing right back. It's scary how little cover we have (apart from uncreative central midfielders which we are well stocked on).