ChrisMcQuillan

Christ.

Is that a real quote?

I don't think so, actually.

Given (Ireland) Beye (Senegal) Coloccini (Argentina) Albert (Belgium) Enrique (Spain) Gillespie (Northern Ireland) Wijnaldum (Holland) Speed (Wales) Ben Arfa (France) Shearer (England) Rondon (Venezuela) Subs: Dubravka (Slovakia) Schar (Switzerland) Santon (Italy) Solano (Peru) Tiote (Ivory Coast) Martins (Nigeria) Asprilla (Colombia) Almiron (Paraguay)

Realistically, assuming relegation and limited transfer window activity, could we look like this first day of the season? Darlow Krafth Lascelles Clark Dummett Murphy Hendrick Shelvey Atsu Carroll Gayle Subs: Woodman, Manquillo, New CB, S. Longstaff, M. Ritchie, New Striker Leaving: Dubravka, Fernandez, Schar, Almiron, Lewis, Hayden, St Maximin, Fraser, Willock, Wilson, Joelinton I can’t imagine Bruce would still be in charge post-relegation, so I’d imagine the new signings would very much depend on which clogger comes in next.

I'm quite certain that only refers to dealing with prospective buyers outside of Staveley and PIF. If you have arbitration and lawyers in place, you don't just stop that entire process because of this. I'm not sure you even could. Attention-seeking, IMO.

If it’s any hope, I’ve not seen anyone do their ACL on that kind of impact before. Normally it’s a buckle on a downward stamp, or a twist, or something innocuous. His injury looked like a whack, possibly a hyper extension or as has been said a jarred. Fingers crossed, but might not be good at all.

For me, I'd have to go with Pardew. The seemingly endless stints, the losing runs, wasting Ben Arfa... Bruce could outdo him though...

Bizarre game. After being dross for the majority of the season, it was a very Rafa-esque performance. The backline looked well drilled, everyone covered each other, they pressed up the pitch in the first half and tried to play on the counter. Players like Schar and Yedlin looked like how they played two seasons ago, and hadn't been seen since. Obviously we largely fell apart in the final third, but quite where a performance like that comes from when the team don't know where they're supposed to stand for the last three months is bizarre.

Additionally, football players have numbers. For purposes of quick identification.

:lol:

No chance of written assurances before they actually have a (new) case to consider surely? Can you guys post the whole article here? The Premier League is vulnerable to legal action from Mike Ashley for effectively derailing the Newcastle United takeover, intermediaries in the collapsed deal believe. Those close to the process believe England's top tier is in an "impossible position" as chief executive Richard Masters comes under sustained pressure to explain why the league's directors and owners' test hit a four-month impasse. The league has consistently maintained privately that it took an "objective" approach to the proposed £300 million deal, but the Saudi sovereign investment fund behind the takeover is said to feel the delay was a thinly-veiled attempt to make the takeover impossible. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) eventually walked away after being unable to satisfy the league that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was not involved. Ashley remains desperate to revive the deal, but PIF would now consider returning to talks only in the unlikely event that the league provides written assurances that it was finally ready to let the deal go through. As hopes fade, however, those closest to the negotiations say the other option is for Ashley to pursue a potential damages claim against the league, given he is said to have received assurances from it in April that there were "no red flags" to the proposed takeover. It is an unprecedented situation for the Premier League, which neither passed nor failed the prospective buyers, but, with MPs and fans groups now demanding answers, Masters is under mounting pressure to explain on the record why the process was so drawn out. Those involved in the deal believe such a statement remains "hugely unlikely" to state on the record which way the process was heading due to the legal ramifications. "It is becoming an impossible situation for the PL," said one source close to talks, who cited the case of BeIn, the Qatari broadcaster which was vehemently opposed to the deal due to Saudi Arabia's failure to prevent the BeOutQ piracy scandal. "The league is desperate to hang on to keeping their process secret because they have Ashley's lawyers circling in one corner and BeIN Sports in the other." PIF, Amanda Staveley and the Reuben Brothers withdrew their offer to buy the club on July 30, prompting thousands of fans, the Newcastle United Supporters' Trust (NUST), the Independent Football Ombudsman and at least 40 MPs to demand answers. Ashley previously said he remains "100 per cent committed" to the sale, with the club's managing director, Lee Charnley, issuing a brief statement a day after the collapse of the takeover to suggest the deal may still be resurrected. The Premier League has already offered independent arbitration, rejected by the bidders, who say their ownership structure - with the PIF an independent investment vehicle as set out in its charter - and business plan were clear. There have been renegotiations over the sale price, which was just above £300m having originally been agreed at £340m before the coronavirus pandemic struck, but this was not a deal-breaker and relations between the bidders and Ashley remained good. The Premier League declined to comment.

I haven't been since Rafa's final season. Won't be back again.

This is a Hail Mary from PIF/Staveley. Them saying the deal would go through tomorrow if approved still, the Premier League not having any official word of withdrawal from the deal. It’s a play to try and pile pressure on via negative PR. I still do think it’s not going through. The way the Premier League have acted, they’re rotten to the core. I think this is the last throw of the dice, but I think it’s as good as over.

I'm gonna buy a BeOutQ box.

Yeah, I'm out. Done.

Saint-Maximin knows he's getting transferred somewhere better this summer, from that picture.

He did, we got massacred. Yeah, as a manager you don't just change it for 5 mins and then switch back again. He's supposed to actually commit to it and you know, maybe coach the team? Afterall it's working now isn't it? Ridiculous comment. Rough Monday morning? I agree - he should commit to it and coach it. Which he seemingly has done now, and it's working. You asked why it took him so long to try it out. He did try it out. And it fell flat on its arse. He tried it before, badly, and it didn't work. He's now tried it properly, and it's worked. Not sure what's "ridiculous" about that. I'm fine Changing it one game is not trying it is my point. Whatever he has supposedly done now could and should have been done previously. Absolutely. That's why he's not a very good coach. Glad he's got it working, though.

He did, we got massacred. Yeah, as a manager you don't just change it for 5 mins and then switch back again. He's supposed to actually commit to it and you know, maybe coach the team? Afterall it's working now isn't it? Ridiculous comment. Rough Monday morning? I agree - he should commit to it and coach it. Which he seemingly has done now, and it's working. You asked why it took him so long to try it out. He did try it out. And it fell flat on its arse. He tried it before, badly, and it didn't work. He's now tried it properly, and it's worked. Not sure what's "ridiculous" about that.

He did, we got massacred.

Sissoko. Only Sissoko and Cole to have done it in the PL. Thauvin got 4 (?) in the League Cup?

SNP MP had queried why Louis Tomlinson wouldn't be allowed to own a football club, but MBS would, basically. He seemed to think it was a very clever question.

I wouldn't go that far. While I could see the logic in signing him for a side who's only ambition is to survive, I would like to think if we are taken over we'll be bringing in better standards, and better players similar to Man U and Chelsea. Not sure I see the point in having him here unless it's a goodwill thing, and he's showing more maturity to be an example for younger players. If we are taken over, he's extremely low-risk. Very low wages compared to what we'll be able to afford. The worst damage he could do would be to take up a squad place for six months, which I don't think is a bad thing. As you say, he gets what the club is about and he is a known quantity. You know he can influence games (when fit) and when you sign someone, no matter how good, how they'll perform for your club is still unknown. I would have zero issues with a one year extension takeover or not, even though we'd clearly be fishing in a much bigger pond of talent if we were to be taken over.

He'll be replaced - and should be, let's be honest. He's not a manager to take you where the club will want to go, and never will be. Having said all that, I've been impressed with how he's done in some areas this season. Defensively, I expected us to collapse, but we're disciplined and motivated, and he even seems to have sorted getting us back to a back four without looking like the team is suffering from late-stage rabies. I'm also impressed with how well he's conducted himself amidst a back drop of a lot of pressure and speculation. He's been very polite and professional. It's slightly tragic that I even have to say that as a positive, but post-Pardew, Kinnear and Carver, it's worth mentioning. Still, replacing him is the only way to go - but I wish him all the best for the future.

It’s over, then.