Toonpack

I would guess they just want their fair cut, the way many football clubs overspend go "pop" owing the Revenue Millions and then just reappear is a disgrace.

Doesn't look too bad if you put in in context? It's another thing he didn't need to say that will undermine their confidence. He has blamed bad results on the young players when it's more fair to say that players like Ameobi, Jonas and Williamson have done the most to let the side down but get nothing but praise from him. Utter rubbish

The greatest league in the world (aye right) has done well in this here cup

I don't agree. I believe we've been following Yanga-Mbiwa for some time and even enquired about him in the Summer. Although, that's just from reports. Nothing official Maybe, just maybe, the club pushed it through with more urgency (because of the Colo situation), but I'm not convinced. CB was always our major issue position. I agree, if the deal for Mbiwa was contingent upon Colo, we wouldn't have signed him yet. Club was always in the driving seat with Colo, Mbiwa was an independent decision IMO.

Does playing under a loan count though, know you can't be signed and play for 3.

They've got a 3rd choice as well: hold onto him for as long as possible this month in the hope someone will come in with a higher offer than us. Unless he's signed that pre-contract agreement. All depends how sure Sissoko is he's only going to come here and nowhere else. That would appear to be the "vibe" Now the brinkmanship begins. Toulouse have little leverage that doesn't cost them money.

Makes sense, his club cant stop him signing a pre-contract so he will walk for free in the summer. I guess the leverage is, I'm walking for nothing so take a nominal fee now.

Countries are races now man, didn't you know that !!!!

Any reason other than pessimism? The fact numerous flights from/to all over the parish were cancelled yesterday is completely overlooked.

Apart from Carroll (which was stupid money) who have we actually sold when we had control of the situation?? The he'll sell at any price for a quick profit just doesn't hold water. It doesn't make any sense at all, but these things rarely do. It's weird, there are hundreds of actual things to criticise Ashley for, without making up things he hasn't done. Luckily I didn't say anything about a quick profit. The concept that we'll not look to sell players to cover the costs of new ones because of the new TV deal is ridiculous. There won't be any change in how we operate. We will trade players like every other club does. Ashley won't voluntarily put his hand in his pocket (increase his debt/cover losses) we have to operate within the money the club generates from whatever source. The sooner folks accept that, the better, it's not some never-ending Machiavellian scheme to hurt the fans. This "oh what's happened today is good but we can't be happy because tomorrow is going to be a disaster (just you wait and see)" syndrome is ridiculous. The deep dark alterior motive just does not exist.

Apart from Carroll (which was stupid money) who have we actually sold when we had control of the situation?? The he'll sell at any price for a quick profit just doesn't hold water.

With the new TV deal kicking in he wont actually need to.

Natrass would've been a class right back in todays game. Full backs in his day didn't go forward anywhere near as much as todays do......but Irving did, he was definitely ahead of his time. I recall he just never seemed to run anywhere, he just glided everywhere (usually to the right place) or was like the shneaky shneaky bloke out of the Mr Deeds film

Natrass would've been a class right back in todays game.

The back four was like pulling a stunning bird with stunningly great legs, spread them only to find a cock waiting in the middle.

My favourite Natrass moment was his last minute equaliser away to the Smogs, 3-1 down with about a couple of minutes left ended 3-3 Of course such memories also evoke Glen Keeley

All true, he was a Rolls Royce player (a dark purple even) until the injury.

Kind of agree with that. They set the standards to what a club the size we are should be. But the Prem landscape has altered ridiculously since even Sir Bobby was in charge. Still think though, that bottom half of the table is unacceptable mind. Kind of agree with that. They set the standards to what a club the size we are should be. But the Prem landscape has altered ridiculously since even Sir Bobby was in charge. Still think though, that bottom half of the table is unacceptable mind. Its only altered in that some other clubs have richer and more ambitious owners than we do - some of these don't even have a stadium to match ours OR the crowds. Ambitious to do what ?? Not win the league obviously as that is beyond reach. If I had Ashley's cash I wouldn't put more in than he has already, seriously what's the point. NUFC is a huge club, and has by that very fact has an advantage over many others, but ONLY on a level playing field, hopefully FFP will help. If that doesn't work, we're going nowhere, so again from a hand in the pocket perspective - "what's the point". I just don't worry about the bigger picture anymore, there is absolutely no point, enjoy the games (or not, as the case is just now) as they happen, over and above that......

Well if Nottingham Forest and Derby (with the aid of inspirational management) can win the league (and in the case of Forest - and Villa for that matter - be Champions of Europe) I would say not all, but many, had more chance if maybe not expectation. Every team wanted to win the FA cup as well, and put out teams with that in mind.

So not "real" success then on two fronts, qualifying for another competition you have no chance of winning and winning nowt. Dunno, they played great football, with some world class players plying their trade there, like Riquelme or Rossi; challenged for La Liga and got far in the cups, even getting to the CL semis... I think any Villarreal fan will look back at that with pride. I don't disagree, it's just a reflection of "today" that not winning/being the best is generally accepted as "success", that lowering of expectation has and does help cement the "really" succesfull above the rest. Fans, Sponsors, The media all now accept 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc is the new winning stuff. Sad IMO.

So not "real" success then on two fronts, qualifying for another competition you have no chance of winning and winning nowt. Dunno, they played great football, with some world class players plying their trade there, like Riquelme or Rossi; challenged for La Liga and got far in the cups, even getting to the CL semis... I think any Villarreal fan will look back at that with pride. I don't disagree, it's just a reflection of "today" that not winning/being the best is generally accepted as "success", that lowering of expectation has and does help cement the "really" succesfull above the rest. Fans, Sponsors, The media all now accept 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc is the new winning stuff. Sad IMO.

So not "real" success then on two fronts, qualifying for another competition you have no chance of winning and winning nowt.

Off topic I guess but: Additional thought, we should introduce playoffs, with the top eight seeded (or maybe even not), last four get Champs league, winner is Champion, CL rankings between losing finalist and semi finalists decided by league placing at end of the league season - obviously champion is 1st ranked for CL. UEFA cup spots to first round playoff losers based on league placing.

It's a sad indictment of the modern game that anything but finishing first (because that's now all but impossible) is considered "success".

They offered Demba £80k/week, he turned it down.