PRL

YESSSSS!!!!!!

If i was a betting man(!) I'd say Ashley will have kept the spread open and by the summer one would hope HBOS will be back up around 800 - 900p per share, which would cancel any losses. According to NOTW (if we're to believe anything they say) he's had this open since since last year so i certainly wouldn't expect him to close it down, especially after all the positive noises coming out about HBOS since they were stitched up last week. Target prices range from 800 - 1100p and, considering current market positions, that's pretty decent. Obviously we won't get an 'Ashley's paper losses cancelled out and never actually existed in the real world' story on the back pages of NOTW, but fingers crossed it'll happen. It's always the same... The markets can do well for a year and no one mentions them, yet if they have a few bad days it's front page news everywhere. Bad news sells because it gives people something to panic / moan about, which is what they love doing. The mood in and around the industry is one of caution rather than doom and gloom, although there's still a strong feeling that there's a fair bit of shit to hit the fan yet - which will effect all businessmen (not least Liverpool's owners as a load of their junk debt is directly effected) and not just Ashley. The fact that Ashley owns a range of different companies (albeit in the same industry) and that this industry is not directly related to finance, where the real struggle is, means that he shouldn't get too badly hammered (even if he likes his spread bets).

What are you talking about? Ashley sold half of Sports Direct when it floated, made approx. 1bn, kept the other half (hence why he was valued in excess of 2bn through this alone). The shares are now trading at just over a 1/3 of what they floated at (108p having floated at 300p) although they did go down as low as 70-80p iirc. There have been whispers of him taking the company back private and if he were to do so he would have banked around 600 - 700m for a couple of years work. All the sniping from the city boys wouldn't mean a jot as he'd have back full control of the same company making similar profit with almost an extra billion pounds in his pocket, which i'm sure he'd be pretty chuffed with. The reason the city hate him is because of things like the Reebok deal, where he bought a 3% (i think) holding, all the analysts came out and talked about him reviving a sleeping giant, how reebok had been undervalued and how this would be the beginning of their recovery, this caused the shares to spike and then 6 weeks down the line he flogged them and made a killing, making the analysts look like idiots in the process. It's stories like this that sports journalists read and misinterpret / manipulate into stories about him being a fly by night businessman who just wants to make a quick buck out of Newcastle. It's people like you, who perpetuate the rumour without actually clarifying any facts, who assist them. If you work in the city then you should be aware that you cannot float a company without making 25% (minimum) public domain, so how you suggest that he floated it and still owns all the stock is beyond me....

For what it's worth, an extract from one broker predicting loads more horrible stuff still to come yet singling out HBOS for a positive note: "Strategically we like HBOS (Target price 1007p) which has a 44% average LTV on its predominantly prime mortgage book, the strongest liabilities franchise of any UK Bank and is being valued at just 1.1x book."

Isn't that two words?

I think we could do with Faye either in midfield or defence, we are letting the ball bounce from long punts forward too much, Cacapa has had to make too many last gasp clearances that could have been dealt with earlier. Would also like to see Butt and Barton swap. Appears Butt is getting forward more but should be the other way round, Barton made some fantastic runs last week when given a bit more of a chance in attack. Smith is doing well but needs to get his head up earlier when he has the ball at feet, a couple of times he could have released players but took the ball backwards. Lots of moaning there but overall i'm delighted, the game is there for the taking if they have a bit of faith in themselves.

I like that you assume part of any criminal mindset is a lack of concentration, must make computer fraud and the likes a real bitch for those ADHD-laden delinquents... Sorry if that was unclear, I meant he must have a lot on his mind and thus might not have a clear head to concentrate fully on playing. I know when I've got something weighing me down I find it hard to concentrate on a task in hand. Didn't really need such a personal insight...

I like that you assume part of any criminal mindset is a lack of concentration, must make computer fraud and the likes a real bitch for those ADHD-laden delinquents...

C'mon though, we're talking about polls in the sun designed solely to antagonise, often costing money to register your vote and meaning absolutely fuck all, compared to either a direct email or a poll organised by a supporters right group that will be communicated to the FA / Prem League as evidence of fans opinions... I think they are a bit different, not that they'll take any notice. Bastard Premier League

I agree with what you said about Portillo. But for every Portillo there are many other Rooneys, Messis. Please point us towards these 'many others'?!

Fuck me, so it is. I've got the game on a TV literally 5 feet away from me and I didn't even fucking notice Sorry Pete. No worries, except you had my hopes up that it was still 1-0. I bet Senegal somehow fluke it through, would be just our luck.

1-1 on the bbc website?

I'm having total mindblock here... Who is 'Johnson' in defence?

Does anyone have a link to a story confirming he's been dropped?

A typical example of people wanting anyone in. Benjani will be 30 when next season kicks off so spending big money on him would be ridiculous. Correct. Whoopie do! How old was Viduka when we signed him? That's turned out great hasn't it? You really could of picked a better example, like one that actually backs your argument not shatters it into pieces. mackems.gif Benjani is an average striker in good form. His advanced years do him no favours, not for £6m. I want players in just as much as anyone, but he wouldn't be one of them, not worth our while due to what we've got, whereas Barnes is exactly what were missing (a player i really want here) You're a tit! No really! Cracking comeback. Did you say the other day you were over 30 years old? mackems.gif I really don't think they'd be interested in that swap and seriously, trying to do a player exchange on transfer deadline day - it's hard enough to get one contract tied up and a player signed, let alone one going each way. I think people need to realise it's not like years gone by when you could just wallop a contract in front of someone and get it signed and all done. For the record, Benjani would be an awful signing. EDIT: I can't quote correct posts, sorry

I thought a good example of this was Danny Sturridge against Sheffield Utd at the weekend. I realise when he scored it was a) against Sheffield Utd and b) Man City were still losing but none of his team went with him after he scored, he did a stupid dance and then only Vassell congratulated him on his way back. As it was his first senior goal I would have expected the majority of the team to congratulate him. I haven’t seen last night however, maybe the reaction was different, but I’m guessing he’s a bit of an arrogant prick

This with Carroll / Viduka in place of Milner, although i do like the idea of Milner through the middle in certain matches. Just think we need to play 2 proper strikers against Boro, show them we're going for it.

Amused to see all the papers saying Spurs couldn't match Woodgate or Tiago's wage demands, but are now after Puyol... Yep, Barca captain is bound to ask for less to move to WHL... yet i still sit and read these things

C'mon, gotta be worth a go! I've just watched that finding nemo youtube clip about ten times, chuckling each time!

Could people please try the 'mike mike mike' thing saturday... if i hear it shouted i'll definitely be joining in...

Having spent 2 fucking hours getting back across London last time I went to the Emirates (toon carling cup game) I'm not surprised a lot of people left early when they had work in the morning and probably wouldn't have got home much before midnight if they had stayed until the end. (NB I am a moron and i refuse to leave games early but I certainly have sympathy for those in this situation that do, and get grief for it) It's a completely different scenario hanging around on a week night in a stadium that's notoriously shit to navigate home from than say a 3pm Saturday game. The guy in question looked like he had never even had a job, so fair play but he probably didn't have to worry about getting home / getting up for work the next day, just set up shop in a box outside the ground.

Are you forgetting that Keegan has replaced Allardyce?

So now... Given Carr - Taylor - Cacapa - Enrique Milner - Barton - Zog - Duff Owen - Smith(?)

Can't believe no one has mentioned the new lad at Liverpool (Skrtyl?) - I'd have him, Vidic and Kuyt, because he can't come out looking any worse than he went in so would confidently lead us into battle

"Gerrard's just about knocked out Stilian Petrov, in fact there's no just about...about it"... Setanta gets better and better