Consortium of one

We have a haphazard roster, a wantaway owner and a caretaker manager. Given all that, I'm glad to be top of the table by 3 points.

If there's any validity to this article: http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/100413/Exclusive-Toon-fear-Kev-KO-Blow-/ I've got to believe that KK is claiming 25M because he doesn't think he can get the 9M on his argument alone. Futre earnings can be difficult to prove (at least here in the US) and is usually used as a ploy to force a settlement. I'd be curious as to what he uses to support his future earnings claim. Has he applied for othe robs and told he would not be considered because of the NUFC situation? Will he claim that staying at NUFC would have been a benefit to his Soccer Circus? How much is smoke and how much is actual fire?

I agree with this. I think promotion is paramount and giving the kids a chance at some good experience is important too. However, if it appears that the game is too easily given away by the approach to the game, morale could be hurt. I must say that if quite a few of the young ones play, I'll be doubly disappointed I can't see the game. ESPN 360 is showing the Liverpool/Leeds game. Bastards.

It's a step in the right direction. This club is seriously lacking depth and K seems decent enough player. Need more to come in though...

This game is not on ESPN 360 grrrrrr...

You're never as good as you look and never as bad as you look. Ergo, As bad as Hughton was last year, it wasn't even close to being his fault. The club was in utter turmoil last year and a lot of players really didn't give a shit and he lost the team. It sounds like Shearer cracked down on thew lackadaisical attitude and then allegedly laid out the preseason training regime. Furthermore, as Steven Taylor says, the attitude from above has helped bind the players together; all of which has made it easier for Hughton to look better. I think Hughton has done a fine job as a caretaker this year. But he's a caretaker. he's not making anything worse but he's not making anything better. He's keeping the gears oiled and what not. I have no idea how he'd handle buying players and building his squad. I hope thre club ownership is sorted out by January so the club can start going forward. I don't think Hughton is the man and I'm not really sure Shearer is either.

Carroll's a beast in the air but he's slow of foot and we don't have wingers who can hold up the ball then consistently put a good ball in the box. Carroll has looked very one dimensional and we don't have the personnell to take advantage of it. Ranger looked very cool in the second half. He got the ball down and knew where his teammates were and had the ability to put the ball in a good spot for them. I was quite impressed. It was only one game, but still it was something to buildon.

Ranger is learning on the job.

Just spoke to friend at AIG. He says it's all a funny mixup. At their latest board meeting they were discussing all the stimulus money they had received. They tried to return it to the US government but due to a financial/computer goof the government can't take it back because they have no record of the money going out. While discussing what to do with the extra money (about $ 6 billion) some one had the bright idea to "buy a football team". They were talking about an american football team (as a joke) but one of the guys (Brit Bertram Womble-Gasser) didn't catch the joke part and set up a trip to Newcastle to table a deal. It wasn't until he was on the jet to England that the board realized he wasn't joking about the deal and had to issue a recall order to him and squash any deal.

I've put up my retirement fund to help leverage a deal myself. Although it's not quite enough to get it done by myself, the amount is enough to have opened some doors for futher conversations with Moat and Sheard. Roberts also got wind of my name and we have talked numerous times on the matter. Where as Moat is sincere (if a bit over his head) and Sheard seems to be scheming (he said if I couldn't be in the the mix for the club perhaps I'd be interested in some other "investments"), Roberts sounds as if he's gone round the twist. Roberts keeps trying to get me in contact with a "Mr. Mugabe". Roberts said that Mugabe approached him via email. Mugabe claims to have been a Nigerian international, having played midfield in the recent past. Although I have not found anything to confirm this, Roberts insists that he vaguely remembers him. Furthermore. Roberts claims to have swapped banking information although both the routing number and account number that Mugabe supplied doesn't quite check out. Mugabe insists that the money is there but a pending lawsuit has led to the funds being frozen. Mugabe supposedly is in the procees of getting this "minor detail" sorted out. Roberts trusts Mugabe implicitly as, "Mugabe's a fine lad and is quite keen on English football in general and Newcastle in particular."

I Marley

The pregame made Vukic out to be quite an exciting prospect. Hope he plays today.

Secretly feeling somewhat glad that JFK wound up in the hospital. I felt bad about feeling that way given his health and all but my God he sucked.

This is the one. It won't happen until after the window shuts though. I would think we'll get some loans in and then start building a backroom staff with an eye on the January window.

I've been in contact with Barclays and they are looking into my assets ATM. I'm through messing around and being polite. I may not have a lot of money but dammit I want to get this done. The young lady who answered the phone at Barclays thought I was rude but tough shit, bitch!

This post wins the thread, IMO. modz plz close now kthxbye

My prediction is that on Monday it will be announced that the club will not be sold. There will be two inexpensive signings and three more loan deals. Before the January window, rumors will surface again and these rumors will gloss over the fact that January's window will close quietly with little action. Sale rumors will commence just prior to the end of the season and, if the club gains promotion Ashley will really sell the club.

I've been working the phones. Talked to Barry and I still can't understand most of what he says but he's still hopeful and left the door open for me to join ranks with him and his consortium. He didn't notice that my fund has shrunk a bit (had to pay the phone bill). I also spoke to Graham Roberts who sounds a bit daft (where's Frank Gilmour when you need him?). I don't think Roberts' plan will work for this year but is an option for the future if, and it's a big if, Roberts doesn't have "an episode" between now and then, whenever then is. Graham considered me a big American mover and shaker. I guess he doesn't realize that the dollar is'nt doing well against the pound or the euro. he promised to keep in constant contact with me because, in his words, "Having a big money American in the fold gives us more credibility". What a git.

Keeping it for two years doesn't make sense unless Ashley is convinced we won't win promotion this year. I'd have to believe that if he keeps the team and it gets back to the Premiership, he would sell it immediately.

Roeder would go in the totally clueless category, Curbs or Strachen would count in my list of capabale and probably willing to work within the constraints, as would the likes of Dave Jones, Bristol City's manager (whoever he is) and even old heads like George Graham. I can't see Curbishley or Strachan working under the sort of constraints Ashley will impose. Dave Jones is a possibility. If Ashley appoints him I'd actually be quite impressed, but I don't think it will happen. If he doesn't sell the club i expect Kinnear or some other complete tosspot to be given the job. Fatty is welcome to prove me wrong though. I can't see any reputable manager coming in under the current shambolic conditions.

That settles it. I guess I need a fancy name to be taken seriously. I'm calling my group Fans 411 (because I'm one better than Fans 410) and ringing up Mr Pierce again.

OK so Roberts plans would have to be this: He's the front man for a smallish group of well-to-do "fans". They would have to have the financial resources to buy the club themselves. Once they have ownership, they then sell "shares" in the club to regular type fans. Am I figuring this right?

I think it's important to win this game. It would increase confidence and begin to establish SJP as a place opponents don't want to visit.

Damn. I really thought something was going to happen.

Just got off the phone with Barry. Although I'm not in the consortium, he wanted to know if i could be at SJP in 45 mins for a photo op. I guess he forgot I was in America :-[ Anyways, he said it's a done deal and all the ducks are sorted and the squad will be settled before the window closes. he was kind of breathless and talks quite fast but a lot of deals were already tentatively made and will all be done as the club is transferred. He thanked me for my efforts and as a token of esteem he would send me a Big Mouth Billy Bass and Ashley would send me some black trackie bottoms whatever the hell those are. Barry said if I'm ever in the area to look him up. I thought I heard Shearer yelling at barton in the background but I'm not sure.