Consortium of one

maybe Smudger could teach him how to avoid those pesky cards and bans...

I just turned 50. I've been following sports for 40 years. I stood by helplessly and watched Joe Namath get traded. I watched Tom Seaver (The Franchise) get traded for the most arrogant of reasons. As I've grown older I've seen more players that I admired, some I even loved, either get cast away or run away for sometimes the smallest of pittances. I'm to the point where I am loath to root for players anymore. I root for the uniform. Whoever happens to be wearing it today is who I'm a fan of, I guess. It's not the way I want it to be. I am also convinced that neither the owner nor the player share the same passion as the supporter. So, fuck 'em. That being said, I hope the squad beat the snot out of Arsenal Saturday.

He likes apples. Always a plus in my book.

It's like a new signing!

Shep Messing spoke at a dinner for my high school (soccer) team. He had arrived directly after doing a photo shoot with Cheryl Tiegs. After the dinner he regaled us with descriptions of how great her rack was. I tried to partner with Barry Moat when he attempted to buy the club from Fat Bastard. When I finally figured out I'd never understand a word Mr Moat said (he talks very fast) I began to fax Fat Bastard my own offers for the club. To this date he has ignored me. However, Derek Lliambas has mailed me a coupon for a complimentary pie should I ever be able to attend a game.

Keirrison is still, what, 20 or 21? Just because he hasn't made an impact as a teenager doesn't mean he's always going to be shit.

I shall be re-starting my efforts to buy the club. Firstly, so order can be restored here at N-O and secondly that I can bring order to the club. Stay tuned.

Nothing will come in and what could have been a great summer of business has shit the bed. Think about it: the early signing of Cabaye, Marveaux and Ba put the club in position make a huge step forward if it the club had made the purchases that had to be made. The club wouldn't have even had to spend all of the Carroll money. 20M would have covered another striker and the cover i think we need on the back line. It's foolish, it's bad business even, not to maximize the advantage they gained with the three early, shrewd acquisitions by purchasing the quality striker and cover with just a portion of the Carroll money.

Pardew's getting played the same way Keegan, Hughton and JFK were played. LLiambas: /places hand over phone receiver and giggles. "Alan wants to know how much money he has to spend." Ashley: /looks thoughtful, passes gas. "Tell him we have more tarmac to do and a couple more bore holes there some left in the kitty but I don't have a firm figure yet" /giggles LLiambas: /laughs hysterically, wipes tears from eyes "Kevin, err, Chris, oh wait haha...Alan, we have the accounting dept working on an audit now. You and Graham find some more targets and we'll let you knwp when we can get them. Try for Erdinc one more time. Yeeessss I know he doesn't want to come but hey you never know!

If Cheik played for Chelsea this wouldn't have heappened.

Sure I saw something with the owner quoted as saying he'd be 'disappointed' if they didn't finish in the top 4 this coming season. Just last week he said that. Which is kind of unusual as I don't think I have ever seen him say anything equivalent in regards to the Red Sox.

Be happy with 12th, atm.

For those interested, I did bet the balance of the money I had left that I had raised to purchase NUFC back in the Barry Moat attempted takeover days. 5.31 wasted...

CRAP

It's like a new, new signing.

Erdinc is really just a smokescreen for Tevez...

Supposedly Bendtner is to agree terms with Sporting Lisbon. Curious to see what they paid. I'd not have been disappointed if he came here.

Tbh, I'd rather appear to be a troublemaker/doom-monger etc by the ever-critical and apathetic members of this board, than do/say nothing and let stuff like this happen without some kind of stand. Fortunately, I know a lot of like-minded people who are a pleasure to work with on things like this. You do whatever you feel will work, I won't do whatever I feel won't work. It's no apathy, it's common sense. I've never been one for pitchforks and fire torches, and I can't remember the last one up here that worked - the fat b****** is still sat in his cosy box laughing at us all so what has been achieved from 'standing up and doing something about it'? As a side note is there any way to alter the scripting so that anyone who types Mike Ashley or any of its variations it displays as "Fat Bastard"? I'm rather partial to that as his name and, well, it would make me quite happy to see him referred to by that name only. Would add a certain panache to the board, IMO.

I'd say Best is at the most, 3rd choice at striker ahead of Shola (and assuming we get another in). Best would be suited as a spot starter, maybe no more than 3 or 4 games in a row. He impressed me in his short spell last year but that could be a function of the opponents not being familiar with him as much as his talent. Probably not good enough to be a day in day out striker because of the holes in his game but certainly good enough to be effective in our rotation.

I'd rather have Best than Long.

Well the truth is that after he started turning heads last season he didn't play as well, am I right? I remember getting a lot of attention after playing at a very high level and playing less so after the window closed in January. he looked like he was going to be in demand and despit going into his last year, I remember figures of up to 12M being discussed. Interest seems to have cooled considerably and I don't see any clubs, CL or otherwise, banging down the door for him. If he plays like he did in the second half of this past season (which is still good, don't get me wrong), I don't see him making any more than he is now and I don't see a really big club walking him in to the first team either. He may get CL football but it'll be off the bench, IMO. Maybe he would go to a fringe CL club (like Liverpool) and start but I still don't think he'd make more than he is now and wouldn't substantially closer to CL football than he is now. Of course, if he playes like he did in the first half of the season, he could write his own ticket, but that remains to be seen.

He was a kid that came from out of no where and had his turned by a bigger club. Not sure he can be faulted for making the move. I'd have him back for the 4M and I think he'd do well here again. I can understand people not wanting him though, too. I doubt it will happen anyways. What defender have we been linked with (outside of N Taylor) unless it supposed that Enrique was leaving? IMO, we desperately need another defender in here and Bassong fits the profile well.

I'd have Bassong back. He could cover the center and left back. He didn't leave under the best of circumstances and I think he would have been better served to stay but maybe he'd be grateful for a second chance and put his head down and do a good job for us. Don't want Beye back, though.

It's like a new signing.

Well in a way that remains to be seen, Marveaux might have a really good season. I know what you're saying though, but the problem is that Marveaux was cheap and Zoggy costs money. Thus if you're worried about expenditure he's a less attractive option. FWIW I would rather have had Zog because he is proven.