Ketsbaia

Positive: They're not slagging off Ashley and say both parties have done their best. No mud-slinging. Negative: It has a defeatist vibe to it. Hmm.

I still feel a takeover is happening, purely because I don't see why BZG would associate themselves with a fake bid. What's their incentive? And they did set up Monochrome Acquisitions, which corresponds with Geordie Dentist's knowledge of a 'Project Monochrome'. There's always time for Ashley to fuck them off but they've still not gave up. The silence says a lot to me. It's much safer and painless to assume the worst but...... I dunno. Maybe I'm naive.

As long as no-one else leaves, the squad is still alright until we reach the strikers. But if the takeover doesn't happen we're deep in the relegation battle, absolutely.

Yeah but they've thrown it on two poor players.

This one's the worst, like. That's the one transfer fee that makes me want to be sick. Could be another one if £40m Lewis Dunk happens.

Highlight of the week

Leeds selling Pontus Jansson to Brentford is odd. I know Bielsa isn't happy at him trying to stop Villa walking in the goal, but to strongly strengthen a promotion rival? Hmm.

Obviously another one who has been chatting to Midhat

Journalists aren't exactly on the pulse here, they're simply middlemen in the Ashley mind games. Rather than the truth, they're just told what their source wants them to say to entice the next chess move. So the Chronicle have no idea.

Money IS available, however nobody is there to spend it. Magical :lol:

The Sky guys are the least reliable of them all. What Keith Downie says means less than nothing.

Couldn't imagine Mourinho in China. He's not ready to pack it all in yet.

Nolan undoes his hat-trick with that comment

Not feeling too optimistic after the "simply not true" comment (which could be said angrily after Ashley accusations) and the very chilled approach to this "incoming" statement. I reckon they'll eventually say there is exclusivity but it's far too late to make any impact on our summer. Good news outdone by bad

The Brexit Blades

On the one hand I want to say it's intriguing but, on the other, I don't want to be a crazy plane spotter

Everything that happens and everything that doesn't happen is being spun as good and bad. We need to just stop thinking and try to find a distraction until BZG says something. Surely they'd say if it was off?

Leicester taking our top scorer stings, even if it's only Ayoze Perez.

Check tomorrows date and the significance to Newcastle United Newcastle's American fanbase celebrating independence day?

There's some good names out there, mind. A good few who could keep us around the 13th-16th area.

I'll be sick if Tielemans ends up at Leicester. Leicester's squad will be far, far, far ahead of ours and that's a disgusting thing to realise.

The club didn't sell him, his clause was met. And maybe, regardless of the takeover, Perez thought it was time for a new challenge. That he chose Leicester as the new challenge is disappointing but La Liga clubs won't spend £30m on him so there's no choice for him.

What exactly was mad about that? It was a very average, non-controversial post. I said the fee was fair but potentially out of our hands anyway, whilst he often talks about leaving.

What about when they lose 1-0 to Mbappe, Pogba, Varane, Kante & Griezmann? Both class squads, someone had to lose.

This COULD be Ashley being spiteful in his last few days of ownership but, then again, BZG would just tell him not to. If it is a release clause, I guess it doesn't specifically rule out a takeover.