leffe186

I think a name & shame would be fantastic. Come on macphisto, cards on the table.

I'm not really au fait with the day-to-day running of your club over the last few years, but taking this from that Swiss Ramble blog: http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/5264/newcastlepl.jpg This covering the years up to relegation, there's an operating loss of 25-35M per year over the last three, partially covered by player sales. We can expect the wage bill to have been slashed dramatically, and I think that media income will have increased. However, as Wallace says, commercial revenues will have dropped. It's not inconceivable that you are still not doing much more than breaking even. Am I missing something? Even halving the wage bill in 2009 (i.e. going from 71M to 35.5M) would not have covered the operating loss. Just compare with Sunderland: http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/4231/sunderlandpandl.jpg They lost a fucking fortune in the last two years, and relied on Ellis Short to bail them out. I presume that Ashley is not prepared to do the same (and the Fair Play rules will back that up), so the idea that the Carroll money would just go to balance the books is not entirely unlikely. Apologies if I've entirely missed the point. Wullie, you asked how much debt all the other clubs in the world must be building up - the answer is, a fucking obscene amount. Just in the Premier League, only four clubs made a profit in 2010 according to Deloitte, and two of those were essentially break-even. In that climate, speculating to accumulate becomes impossible.

The reffing's not been great. Still, the Aussie forward should have just gone over and blasted it into the net when she dropped it. At least we (Aussies) won. Better not go out on goal difference now.

As bad as anybody? I think you're being too modest!

That's been our point all along. I don't mind West Ham getting the thing and itbecoming awhite elephant, as long as they don't get a nudge and a wink to trash the track a couple of years down the line

Better men than Owen have tried to take Morgan out. Barton, for one! Piers Morgan is an unspeakable cunt. I love the fact that he is an Arsenal supporter, gives me a warm feeling inside. Much like knowing Cameron is a Villa fan (because his dad once part-owned them, or something).

Eh?

It's not just that, there are similarities in style of play. NZ are exposing a lack of mobility and wit, with a reliance on giving the ball to one person and standing there watching, expecting them to do something. This ref is employing the underdog bias rule though.

England appear to be shit. Absolutely terrible refereeing though.

We get 40% of any fee so hope this goes through. Not just that, if he leaves the UK he won't score against us....which you just KNOW he'll do otherwise.

Surprised Gash would take that little, must be sick of the whole saga. I hope Barca agree to pay for his flight too.

Everyone to Liverpool!

Bassong was essential in getting us into the CL, formed a great partnership with Dawson when everyone else got injured. Trouble is, if Gallas, Dawson, Kaboul or King were fit, 'arry would pick two from them before Bassong. He's not prepared to accept that, and fair enough. I like him. Limited on the ball, and needs to be talked to throughout, but fast, strong and good in the air. Bringing in Gallas screwed him. Would like him to hang on until Gallas retires but we have one or two others coming through, and we may need to cash in.

14M? Really? Where did you hear that? Great if true. I'd happily keep him, but that would be a great deal.

Marianne Spacey - just came to me.

Not even close - too much of a physical gulf. There have been some extremely skilful players though - who was that England player a while back who played a bit like Chris Waddle? She was excellent.

I thought it was all right. Aluko was a trainwreck and should have come off, plus the goals were very women's football, but there was some decent stuff played.

Aluko (sp?) is the name of the forward. Fast, but rubbish on the ball. Mexico are a little cynical - niggly fouls - but getting more of the game. England need to hit a couple of shots like that Mexican one - their keeper is pretty small.

Watching it now. England look far better than Mexico - aren't they supposed to be the second best team in the group? England 1-0 up after lesson one in how to score against really short people. High corner and loopy header. You're right about that forward. England have played some really nice football, but Mexico getting players behind the ball and the forward whose name escapes me has wasted good opportunities to play a killer pass. Just as I write, Mexico score a screamer from miles out. Keeper should have got it.

Feel like I've posted this a few times! It's not all about transfer net spend. We've maintained a strong commercial income over the last few years, despite not being in the CL. Add high ticket prices (matchday income greater than Liverpool). Then you factor in our tight wage control, which saves us tens of millions each year compared to Arsenal and the rest of them. I suspect Wigan's net transfer spend is great, but they lose money because there's fuck all else coming in. Our problem right now is cutting out players who have done a job but are now surplus to requirements. It's pretty clear who they are. Then we've got to try to get the right forward. Levy made the call to use the CL money on Gallas and VDV's wages, but even without that money we should be OK if we lose Jeane, Bentley etc.

Aye,signing a midfielder who scored more than our entire midfield put together last season has got me really worried. Maybe if we replaced our 12 goal top scorer with a 2 goal a season player in Cabaye I would be really worried. Erm, Cabaye has scored 19 goals in his last two seasons at Lille. All the "12 goal midfielder Nolan" is such bullshit, at least half his goals came when playing as a second striker leeching on Carroll. He gets absolutely murdered when playing as a MC in a 4-4-2 and even if we'll play 4-5-1 I´d much rather see Ben Arfa in the hole than Nolan. A club aiming for financial stability would be crazy to sign Nolan on a 50k/week deal until his midthirties, sad to see him leave and would have liked to keep him aboard for another season but in the long-term this was the right time to sell. Wearside, man, you replaced a 20-goal striker with....nobody. You're in the glassiest of glass houses.

Burn the heretic!

Don't forget Birmingham City! Another nail in our coffin...

Me too, and I've liked him for over 30 years - not like you Johnny-come-latelys! Btw, did you guys know he used to be a lift engineer?

Oldtype is usually bang on the money. Felipao is the reigning champion.