timeEd32

Looking beyond the Shola factor it's not bad. It's a team on paper that should have enough to beat West Ham at home.

Bale done? http://www.marca.com/2013/08/23/en/football/real_madrid/1377270030.html

Shearer. He's the reason I'm here.

I'm not sure we're going to buy anyone unless Cabaye goes or we get embarrassed by West Ham and that triggers a post-Reading type spending spree. Embarrassing either way.

The Ramble makes me laugh out loud multiple times a week. That's enough for me, especially when we suck. I find it hard to listen to any podcast that doesn't have Newcastle representation. Too many stereotypes and generic opinions otherwise.

So depressing that we're still "trying" to make our first permanent signing on August 21.

No thanks.

Unreal how people are so quick to jump to this conclusion. He is tho. Ah right, thanks for clearing that up. Last year it was depression..... what a fanny.... I'd be f**ing well depressed if I was on > one million squid a year. Giving New Jersey a bad name, man.

57. Terrible.

We'd be fairly high up in terms of yellow cards. We'd also fair pretty well in the injury table. Think we're looking at being high up for good things.

I'd be livid if that wasn't given for us.

Seriously? Seems pretty done to me, two away goals. Was a bit of a stupid post, though. The match tonight isn't even finished and there's another match yet to play. Nah, it was pretty much done. Now it's truly over.

Ivanovic.

I'm feeling like I should have Oscar instead of Hazard.

Contract status, age, cost. Only things that matter. The first one eliminates 95%+ of options.

That argument doesn't stand up as every team is a decent owner and manager away from being a top 7 regular...Leeds hit the skids and had to scrap to survive very much like we would have to in the same circumstance all these clubs in the championship that have experienced top success since the 70s are a good owner and manager away from being a Swansea a west brim or Norwich etc....FFS Southampton were a league 1 club 4 years ago now they are spending 40m plus a season in the prem...blowing us out of the water..football can change so quickly Let's see where we are this time next year.. I very much doubt it will be as a premier league team Not to mention the value increase in going from the Championship to the PL is much greater than turning a mid-table side into a top-7 team. Now if you have oil money and want a CL contender then that would be a) more high profile and b) lucrative. But if you're only kind of rich, then taking a lower league club to the Premier League is a much better return on investment.

The problem is they'd never turn around.

The other day I saw a tweet about Roma's people flying to London to discuss Lamela with Spurs. The whole business is backwards.

I'm trying to imagine what it'd be like if we sold Cabaye and didn't sign anyone.

Almost brought him in yesterday. Thank god.

It's pretty clear at this point what's happening. I didn't want to admit it for a long time, but the goal is quite clearly to maintain PL status with spending as little as possible. The only hope is this eventually leads to Ashley selling the club.

Thought he was good as well in the first half. He shut it down in the second half.

Ridiculous if true.

Not sure why anyone has Lukaku. Do people really think he's going to play very often (aside from some late sub appearances)?