bealios

I'm going to blindly cling to the belief that most of the fans appreciate that in the modern game, if a player is playing at a level above the club he is currently at plays, he will move. Until agents are banned from the game (which will, of course, never happen) this will always happen. All that the club he plays at can do is manipulate events to (a) maximise sale price, and (b) try not to piss the fans off.

I can see where the opening post is coming from, but I think generally NUFC fans are a lot better than we were. It is the vocal minority who might taint the general view though and lead to your conclusion. Most fans see that survival was the goal for this season, and to be in a position where we are not going to be in a relegation scrap, and might finish top half, is an amazing season. Credit must be given to those from top to bottom, and those departed. Most fans see that football finances are fucked, and that despite Ashley's way of doing things being a bit cack handed, the net result is a healthier run club better positioned for relative success when the new fair play rules come in. Most fans see that £35m for a player who was not our best striker last year in the Championship, and has not been our best player (or even second or third best) this year, was silly money. Most fan gagged at the idea of Pardew coming in, but are happy with his performance so far, and think he has earned the chance to succeed, and slowly build us up to a regulary top ten team, with Europe in 2 -3 years. So I think most fans have a better long term view than you give them credit for

"Harry loves a player but I bet he only likes him after tonight." Whoever writes this stuff is a bona fide genius. Would be brilliant if it turned out it was actually Sam Allardyce

Didn't know that. I haven't checked it to be honest but I think that's right. Roeder might have got close but I think he left in 2007 before the last game. Might be wrong though.

We will finish in the top ten, we will pick up at least 5 points from the next 3 games and we will be considered safe by April. I think once that happens the pressure is off, and naturally I think we will end up being one of those teams who is waiting for the season to end with nothing to play for, but pick up enough point to finish 10th. I think Barton will sign a new contract, but Enrique will leave for Liverpool Man Utd or City, although Ashley will get a ridiculous fee for him, £20m+. Tiote will stay for at least another season, and Ireland will sign on a 5 year deal. We will spend the bulk of the Carroll (and other sales) money, but not the full whack, the club line being some of this was allocated to the contracts for Barton and Ireland - the rest will be invested mainly in younger talent - anyone with a potential resale value even if it doesn't work out. Think Wickham. We will get a free or low fee "established" premier league striker (Doyle?), and some of the Carroll cash will allocated to his contract and signing on fee. I wouldn't be surprised to find another (relatively) unheard of bargain gem like Tiote and Ben Arfa. I'm optimistic that the reluctance to spend in January is that the good under the radar deals like those two just aren't available in January. Ashley will turn away offers for the club at the £150m mark - the view being that the state the club is now in is far healthier and he wants to recoup the full amount. He will still own the club at the start of the season. He will still be a bit tubby. Pardew will do a full season as Newcastle manager, being the first to do so in the Premier League since Sir Bobby. Fan expectations will be high for 2011/2012. Season ticket sales will be high, and there will be a £50K+attendance for the first game of the season. Alan Smith will still be here. Shola will start the first game of the season in attack. Please note the above is actual fact, not my opinion.

Great crosss

I do not think my above "plan" is a lack of ambition. One of the main problem with this club and its fans, has been the lack of patience and consistency. Both want success now, rather than later through building stone by stone. A consequence of this thinking has been the all in mentality regarding transfers: Believing that one or two very expensive players will save the day, ignoring the dangers that I mentioned in my previous post. Stopped reading after that weapons-grade horseshite The fact that we're sitting in the top half of the Premier League in mid February and the mood on this board at times is suicidal would suggest that this statement isn't completely horeshit, despite how uncomfortable that may be.

We're not going to be selling out many games next year by a long stretch. If we have a flexible away end which can seat 4,000, then it means for the underselling games the big gaps in the stadium will be concentrated as a security gap between the home fans and away fans, rather than spread out over the rest of the ground, and it makes the stadium look a little fuller. Just a theory mind

The problem with this analysis is that if you are right, then it could just as easily been achieved by Carroll waiving the loyalty bonus, and avoid having to hand in a formal transfer request. Anyone can waive a benefit of a contract. He would have avoided the massive stigma of handing in a transfer request at your local club. So it can't have just been about avoiding the loyalty bonus. I think you're close though - I suspect Carroll wanted to go all along once he had his head turned. He's been on England duty, and stuck with those fuckers for a few days on massive wages can change things. There were stories on here all day yesterday from sources close to the player saying that wheels were in motion and he will be gone today. The personal terms had clearly been agreed well in advance. That isn't the conduct of a player who was reluctantly forced into going because Ashley wanted the cash. Carroll met with the club early yesterday morning, and once it was made clear he wanted to go, then all that NUFC could do is maximise value, but knowing that if Liverpool didn't stump up the price then they still wouldn't lose - they could still sell him in the summer. I genuinely believe they rejected £35m, but did so knowing that Liverpool were desparate, and anticipating a higher bid. Carroll was then advised by his agent to hand in a transfer request. This forced the issue, meant that NUFC get a higher fee due to the loyalty bonus not being paid, and also have an opportunity to save face as they only sold as they were forced to. This means the £35m became immediately more attractive, financially and from a PR perspective. All of the above fits with what we saw happened yesterday, it is consistent with all of the "sources" close to the player, and consistent with statements made by both clubs, and is entirely logical. No conspiracy at all. NUFC behaving like a business. Carroll behaving like a footballer. Move on.

In terms of goals and performances we've been as good over the last 4 league games Carroll has been out as we have been at any point in the season, and were very very close to taking 12 from 12. It isn't a disaster, it doesn't mean we're now going to get relegated, although that doesn't stop me feeling as sick as I did when Beardsley left for Liverpool over 20 years ago. If we re-invest it all, or if Carroll doesn't become the greatest player the league has ever seen (as his fee suggests), then overall it isn't a terrible move which makes me question the game or supporting NUFC.

It didn't do Spurs any harm selling their best striker a couple of years ago. The worst thing about this deal is I was enjoying this season, now due to lack of time to get a replacement, we have to lumber on for the rest of the season with a strike force pieced together from Best, Ameobi and Lovenkrands. Maybe Ranger can step up to the mark. Maybe we can replicate Keane deal, and buy him back from Liverpool for half the price next season?

Not sure why the conspiracy about Carroll's transfer request. He wanted to go, and NUFC have said that they won't accept a bid unless you hand in a transfer request. So he does it. The idea that a rumour that NUFC would accept a bid of £35m upset him so much that he then decided to change his mind and go (and agree personal terms in 15minutes) is absurd. His agent will have been dealing with Liverpool all day. Would be a laugh if he failed the medical.

Probably cover for SWP leaving for....

This could also fuck up any other deadline negotiations for us - if we're wrangling with a club over the last £1m or so on a forward, I imagine news that we might have an extra £30m to spend might inflate the price. £30m/£35m is a lot of money, but it is a lot less if clubs inflate the asking price by £5m for each replacement player we need to bring in.

..and his agents will have a glossy brochure out marketing him if we do?

Andy Gray sues Murdoch flagship paper for phone tapping. Andy Gray gets sacked from Sky Sports. Coincidence? If I was one of those women from "Loose Women" I would have second thoughts about saying that men are rubbish at ironing/cooking/emotions now.... He's been done like a kipper - give it a couple of months and he will be on MOTD though.

Looked like the ball bobbles just before he tries to hit it

Get in! And keeping with the theme of classic centre back goals, Newcastle v Man U 5 - 0 on Sky Sports 2 in background

The numbers being mentioned re wages across this board are roughly correct. The discrepancies usually arise because all of the players contracts are expressed to as a basic wage, and then additional image rights payments, which is just a way of structuring the player's wage for tax purposes. Pretty much all of the players have image rights in their contract. The Colo figure isn't as much as 80K, but including the image rights, it isn't far off. Same with the Barton figure.

Sunderland >Stevenage > West Ham though Newcastle >Arsenal > Sunderland though

Not true. It is so entrenched in people's minds that even when I wear my sharpest suit, they're still thinking about me turning up to that meeting in my tracksuit top.

Sorry, but it did have a penguin in it.

Although I don't think it will be rescinded, once you go for a tackle, it doesn't matter how far off the ground you are, even at 1 inch of the ground you're still out of control. Dangerous precedent being set here though, we're basically saying that if you tackle and your foot is a certain height off the ground, you're off. How many inches is a red card?

Alan Smith will see out his contract here. He's on £55K per week basic wage, and no club in this world will pay him more than £10K a week, so he's never going to move. I'm sure he only gets played because the people who pay his wages are in denial. I bought a top last week, it cost a fair amount of cash. I realised very quickly I looked like a twat when I wore it. But I still wear it, because I don't want to think I've wasted all of that cash. Similar situation.

Difference is, their supporters were shouting and balling about how they wanted Daglish, it was a total surprise for us when we got Keegan. Speak for yourself, I was shouting and balling for 9 years.