ExiledGeordie

What game on Wednesday? Sorry Sheff Utd. Bit nuts I know, reckons the it kosher though After your last prediction about 6 or 7 weeks ago I'm treating this information a bit cautiously Nah, last info was from immediate family who had first hand info from a good mate who’s dad is stadium manager at NUFC who’d had a call from Llambias to say it’d been done. I can absolutely vouch for that, this info is from a bloke I know who doesn’t usually say anything and came out with this today. Eddie Rutherford is the stadium manager and my step son is mates with his son. Guess it’s ok to say this know as that was weeks ago. It’s all changed since then. What year do you think it is? I wouldn’t be surprised if the takeover is cleared that there’s serious discussion exactly when to announce it. The problem is there’s far more people out and about now and the football is about to start. I’d imagine they’ll want to pick a time to minimise crowds gathering so I don’t think the prediction above is anything too far fetched. Admittedly not quite sure about Llambias but most of Ashley’s cronies are probably in the know.

He just sums it all up so well

Why they waiting in the wings though? If they really wanted to buy the club, then they have had more than enough time to do so well before now I agree mate, I’m just saying Winter is well reputed, I doubt it’s complete bollocks Winter is well respected and actually speaks very well about us. I don’t doubt he’s been told of interest, however that’s far from negotiating a sale with Ashley. I would park any thoughts of other interest until we get a conclusion to this bid. I would seriously then even doubt many of us would have the stomach for another drawn out takeover. This feels like all or nothing for many of us. Totally agree with that too

Why they waiting in the wings though? If they really wanted to buy the club, then they have had more than enough time to do so well before now I agree mate, I’m just saying Winter is well reputed, I doubt it’s complete bollocks

While it does seem massively suspect that there’s American buyers waiting in the wings and that they’ve only shown themselves now, Winter is highly respectable so there must be some truth in it. He doesn’t bullshit

Yeah I’ve always thought he’s ideal for the new project. I always got the impression he knew a takeover could be on the cards and was just doing anything to keep the club in league in case it happened - he'll know exactly what’s needed moving forwards and that takes masses of pressure of the new people coming in to run the club, Staveley will know that. He could potentially be here for years too.

You maybe right as nobody knows and if this was the case, then I would say that the takeover won't happen. My gut reaction (fwiw), is that if this hasn't been bottomed out by next week then in my thinking there are obviously serious problems. It would also certainly leave questions on the 'trusted reporters' and what they have been reporting. I'm still positive we will hear next week, time will tell though. It really has gone on so long now hasn’t it. Given that a premier league start date has been organised you’d have to think that an announcement should come soon enough. I agree if it goes past next week and we haven’t anything I’d start to worry properly (I’m already worrying a bit like most) but nobody really knows what’s going on. As Caulking has said it’s a process that will take as long as it needs to.

Assuming the takeover is signed off next week, this is everything Rafa wants in terms of a project to get hold of. If Staveley contacts him for a return I think it’d be hard to say no. I always got the impression he was just doing everything he could to keep us in the league knowing that the takeover was possible. Unfortunately for whatever reason they couldn’t get it done while I was here before.

If Rafa is prepared to come back and he’s seen as the person to oversee the whole project - from transfers to coaching to setting up the academy etc, 20m to buy him out of a contract really isn’t that much in the grand scheme of things

I think this is probably the case now. Culkin saying it’s a process which will end when it ends involving ongoing dialogue. It’s not a case of if it’s not done by a certain date it’s off etc.

I’d be happy with either Rafa or Pochettino to be honest much in line with the comments directly above. Both would be equally exciting for different reasons. I probably lean slightly towards Rafa because of his link with the people and the area already but I’m sure Pochettino would build similar links. Assuming this takeover goes ahead it’s probably exactly the project any manager like this is looking for. Massive club all set to go with stadium and fans, just needs the investment and careful re-shaping behind the scenes.

I don’t feel I can fully recover from this covid until the takeover happens

Mad isn’t it ?

All over this. It's an exceptional post. midds[/member] Midds is spot on with everything he says there. I love the idea of him doing all that but also with the option to actually buy proper players to suit a system he wants. Not simply make do.

Rafa seems ideal to get the ship sailing, get the academy rolling and get everything in place. Get the foundations sorted then in a few years they can look at taking a punt on a different manager. That’s the best fit imo

That’s a very good point. The thing is too, corporations surely will get wind of whether they’ll pass the fit and proper persons test prior to it happening otherwise they would put through deposits of cash etc. Sue the last phase is the official point of takeover but organisations wouldn’t hand over millions if they weren’t pretty convinced they’d had a nod of approval. As you say it’s in these earlier stages you’d expect opposition. Mind I wouldn’t be surprised if they had already had opposition behind the scenes

The premier league can’t stop a deal because of advice/request from someone surely. That would open up a potential shit storm with this situation and set a precedent for future deals (and a litany of problems) and potential court cases. The deal has to be judged on the buyers specific criteria as set by the fit and proper persons test regardless of how effective this is seen as.

If they see Rafa as key to overseeing the whole operation and given the fact he knows exactly what’s needed and has the link with the fans and area then surely 20m is a small price to pay? I’m not saying it’ll definitely i don’t think 20m is an absurd amount in the wider context.

??

Culkin is probably the only one to take notice of when there’s any takeover story circulating

Bruce’s problem is he contradicts himself all the time. Talking up the squad and August window as being the best ever and then saying in January they couldn’t find a better striking option than what we have. Now he says the final 3rd has always been our Achilles heel ffs?

A poor loss to Burnley next weekend and the panic will really start to set in

How come Hayden can’t get a game ahead of him? ?‍♂️

Better clubs will surely be circling this summer

Has Luke Edwards tweeted yet