Wil

Looking like being set up for Warnock and Taylor to scrap for the spot. Don't know either of them enough to know if there's a player in there.

Yeh, beginning to think the same. In trying to make sense of it all had been demonising Ashley in my mind all day as a ruthless bastard, hut perhaps in the end it's just business. Certainly a great deal for Nolan, Don't blame him, good luck to him. He did great for us for the last two years, and those two years were really important in our recent history, so can't but wish him well.

Reckon Pardew will be checking pretty closely how Colo reacts if his amigos are sold. Having said that, it's a big appointment for Pardew, there's a lot of change happening and he'll be wanting someone to represent him on the pitch going forward the next few years. Unless he buys a natural captain in, I can definitely see him giving it to Steven Taylor.

"Interest has cooled" sounds a bit terminal to me. Was the most excited by this one actually, and the dynamism he could have brought. Guess we are just not going to be pushing the boat out at all, it's got to be a bargain. A readjustment of expectations day ahead.

Guardian also has it, but no detail as to why... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jun/15/alan-shearer-cardiff-city

Maybe Barnetta is the back up plan if we don't get Charlie.

Definitely agree with that. From the clips he looks like he works really hard. I think we're going to like him.

Saying what? Auclaire - reckoned we've got a good chance as they don't want him. "Sadly, a failure" and "Won't be missed" - were a couple of quotes at the end. Reckoned the step up from Sochaux was bit much for him, lost confidence in front of goal last season and crowd got on his back a bit. But all a bit throwaway I thought, no real analysis of the lad as he had previously with Cabaye. All came very briefly at the end of the main chat.. In this case, I'd go more by our own forum members who've seen him.

Some competition from the mackems....... quoting 9m From the Sun.... Erd a rumour on Wearside Published: Today Add a comment Add a comment (0) SUNDERLAND are trying to snatch Paris St Germain striker Mevlut Erding from under the noses of bitter rivals Newcastle. Black Cats boss Steve Bruce is eyeing up a £9million swoop for the Turkey hitman. Erding is set to be offloaded after PSG signed Kevin Gameiro from Lille. Lille and Rennes are also interested in Erding, 24, who was PSG's player of the season in 2010 after costing them £8m from Sochaux two summers ago. Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3635552/Sunderland-aim-to-beat-rivals-Newcastle-to-Mevlut-Erding.html#ixzz1PCV32wXs

No doubt Whelan and Ashley are sparring around. Hangs on Charlie I think, and how much he really wants to come. Would be great to see him back.

Had been keeping a glimmer of hope alive. But looking like he'll be off now. Too much value in him for the club to do anything but sell if he won't commit.

Main article also says "attracting interest from a host of clubs". Could be a big name.

From "one of Europe's top clubs" rules out Gyan, you would think!

One twitter response from Douglas about why it's being kept under wraps is "You'll probably see why in time." which is a bit intriguing.

These kind of incentives? It's the first time I've heard of a contract extension being dependant on a club's finishing position.

If the top 7 clause is true, I don't blame Nolan for rejecting the "offer". Particularly when the main factor in getting a top 7 finish is the amount of money Ashley is going to invest this summer. Am actually finding these kinds of details on contract "incentives" for players a bit unsettling. They sound a bit smart arse to me, and coming from a world which is not football. Straightforward bonuses ok, everyone can understand that concept. Am assuming here there is no extension offer for him at all if we finish outside top 7, if I'm reading it right...

Excellent news. Think he'll do well.

Always been a long shot it seems, though we must have been led on a little. Maybe outfoxed by the agent on this one. Hopefully the ground's already prepared for us to move swiftly on.

Yeh, glad to have him on board. He wants to be here, and as you say - no fuss. What's more he looks a very decent player as well.

These days I don't think many bids are made unless the buying club has had some encouragement that the player is open to the move, via his agent etc. I can see this one happening; presumably it's only an opening bid. Just can't see that Llambias and Ashley will have much of a view at all about Nolan's value to the club, other than the outlay for his wages and what they can get for him. Can't see them thinking like that at all. Club and player must have known bids were always going to come in once the contract talks broke down. He'll be seen as a very valued player for his kind of experience and leadership. Ideal for someone in Allardyce's position, actually.

Al Fayed has done well with his managerial appointments. For a smaller club, has established them well in the premiership.

However this has come about, the situation has now been created for bids to arrive for both Barton and Nolan. I'm sure they would be seen as valued players for a number of prem clubs. I'd be surprised if the board have any thoughts whatsoever about holding onto them for team spirit reasons, so if the bids are decent I'd expect them to be accepted. I also think the dynamic from the players point of view will have changed, and they may well feel they want to play for another cause elsewhere.

Certainly seems to have been plenty of whispers about him wanting to sign. The thought of him and Ben Arfa playing off and around a new front man is pretty damn mouth watering.

Always been wanting the lad to do well. Was at Coventry when he scored his first goal. Had the world at his feet then, really. There's been enough released through the media about his attitude, for him to know he needed to get his finger out. If they really are intending to let him go, I'd say there must be doubts about his technical ability at the highest level as well.

Looking more and more like "the shock". Though never quite understood why his deal was up for negotiation at this stage. Smacks of the player/agent trying to take advantage of a good season, though can't really blame them for that. The hierarchy apparently playing hardball again. One thing's becoming clear with this and the Barton contact story - there's no sentiment whatsoever here, or any view of the repercussions on team spirit/good of the club etc. It's cold, hard business decisions at every stage.