Hughesy

Midfield and striker (we added a striker to the same strike-force that finished last season) Okay, I'll give you the striker (pitiful as that argument is considering Ameobi and Lovenkrands are still starting games) but how are we stronger in midfield? Every player that came in replaced another going out. Cabaye replaced Nolan, Marveaux replaced Routledge, Obertan replaced Barton. Going further, Santon replaced Enrique, and even Elliot has replaced Forster. We can argue the toss about who are the better individuals, but how we have a stronger squad is beyond me. Isn't a stronger squad arguably about the players in it as opposed to the depth of the squad? If Pardew believes that the players who have come in are better than those that are left, that would mean we have a stronger squad.

It is NOT a leveraged buyout. Fact. End of discussion.

Joey will probably still insist on taking our free kicks instead of Cabaye.

Not seen Cisse play before - is he worth EUR15 million? How many good seasons has he had in his career?

Spot on. Probably not even 10 mins required. So there's little or no chance Ashley overlooked it? It would be impossible to overlook if you looked at the loan documentation in the first place. One of the first things a finance lawyer would do in a due diligence exercise would be to look for exactly that kind of provision. It would be beyond negligent for a lawyer not to look for a change of control clause or not pick up on it because it can obviously make a huge difference to any acquisition and the funding required. But if Ashley didn't do any DD, as we are led to believe, and didn't get lawyers to look at the loan documents - then it is conceivable that he wouldn't have known about it. However, nearly every loan document in the world has some form of change of control clause in it.. However (apologies for labouring this point), I find it very strange that Ashley would actually buy NUFC without doing any DD at all. It's a very very risky and strange way to do business. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/mort-brings-sea-change-to-tone-of-business-on-the-tyne-460911.html In that case - I have no idea how Ashley could not have known about the change of control clause. Doesn't make any sense whatsoever. I think by "typical due diligence one would do on a public takeover" he means they read the published 2006 accounts. Can't say I agree on that - in my experience, DD would definitely have been done on the loan agreements that the club had outstanding. I think either Mort is bending the truth and no 'proper' DD was done (although I am sure that Freshfields would have recommended that it was done) or 'proper' DD was done and Ashley knew about the change of control. If anyone undertakes due diligence on a public company the Stock Exchange must be notified and the fact it is happening made public. No such notification was made about Ashley. Also I remember Shepherd being shocked to learn that the Halls had sold, if due diligence had been taking place he'd have known all about it. Was no notification made at the time? I can't remember. So - basically we have established that Ashley was actually stupid enough not to do any DD. Although I still think that Ashley must have known that there was a very high chance of a change of control clause.

Spot on. Probably not even 10 mins required. So there's little or no chance Ashley overlooked it? It would be impossible to overlook if you looked at the loan documentation in the first place. One of the first things a finance lawyer would do in a due diligence exercise would be to look for exactly that kind of provision. It would be beyond negligent for a lawyer not to look for a change of control clause or not pick up on it because it can obviously make a huge difference to any acquisition and the funding required. But if Ashley didn't do any DD, as we are led to believe, and didn't get lawyers to look at the loan documents - then it is conceivable that he wouldn't have known about it. However, nearly every loan document in the world has some form of change of control clause in it.. However (apologies for labouring this point), I find it very strange that Ashley would actually buy NUFC without doing any DD at all. It's a very very risky and strange way to do business. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/mort-brings-sea-change-to-tone-of-business-on-the-tyne-460911.html In that case - I have no idea how Ashley could not have known about the change of control clause. Doesn't make any sense whatsoever. I think by "typical due diligence one would do on a public takeover" he means they read the published 2006 accounts. Can't say I agree on that - in my experience, DD would definitely have been done on the loan agreements that the club had outstanding. I think either Mort is bending the truth and no 'proper' DD was done (although I am sure that Freshfields would have recommended that it was done) or 'proper' DD was done and Ashley knew about the change of control.

Spot on. Probably not even 10 mins required. So there's little or no chance Ashley overlooked it? It would be impossible to overlook if you looked at the loan documentation in the first place. One of the first things a finance lawyer would do in a due diligence exercise would be to look for exactly that kind of provision. It would be beyond negligent for a lawyer not to look for a change of control clause or not pick up on it because it can obviously make a huge difference to any acquisition and the funding required. But if Ashley didn't do any DD, as we are led to believe, and didn't get lawyers to look at the loan documents - then it is conceivable that he wouldn't have known about it. However, nearly every loan document in the world has some form of change of control clause in it.. However (apologies for labouring this point), I find it very strange that Ashley would actually buy NUFC without doing any DD at all. It's a very very risky and strange way to do business. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/mort-brings-sea-change-to-tone-of-business-on-the-tyne-460911.html In that case - I have no idea how Ashley could not have known about the change of control clause. Doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

Spot on. Probably not even 10 mins required. So there's little or no chance Ashley overlooked it? It would be impossible to overlook if you looked at the loan documentation in the first place. One of the first things a finance lawyer would do in a due diligence exercise would be to look for exactly that kind of provision. It would be beyond negligent for a lawyer not to look for a change of control clause or not pick up on it because it can obviously make a huge difference to any acquisition and the funding required. But if Ashley didn't do any DD, as we are led to believe, and didn't get lawyers to look at the loan documents - then it is conceivable that he wouldn't have known about it. However, nearly every loan document in the world has some form of change of control clause in it.. However (apologies for labouring this point), I find it very strange that Ashley would actually buy NUFC without doing any DD at all. It's a very very risky and strange way to do business.

Spot on. Probably not even 10 mins required.

The idea that anyone would ever rely on Joey Barton to 'tell the truth' is staggering.

No excuse for the lack of a striker.

Would be amazing if he came here..

McNulty of BBC reckon we have him signed, sealed and delivered.

What??

Remember him being extremely highly thought of a few seasons ago - did something go wrong?

The same Villa who has drawn 2 games 0-0 out of 3 will tear us a new one...?

I reckon right winger to be honest. Can't say I've heard many people say right forward.

Czech goalie..http://www.teamtalk.com/newcastle-united/7135336/Magpies-move-for-keeper?

I like the sound of Roux - can't say I have seen him play but he sounds like the kind of player we need.

What a hero. Class player.

Probably posted already - http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/lukeedwards/100018657/joey-barton-is-a-fine-footballer-but-is-he-really-worth-the-hassle/

He knew most of it was there, he didn't know he would have to pay it off within two months. I still can't believe that Ashley didn't ask to see the terms of the various loans we had. It would have taken about 2 mins to check whether there was a change of control clause - which there would normally be anyway.

Moron.

Same here oddly. Can't quite work it out.

Erm, that's not my attitude. Suits his argument better if you just say it is.