Eddy Chibas

He's about to become a regular first choice for Holland. He'd be thick to come here and risk his starting place. There's no need for him to move to a club which pound-for-pound punches well below it's weight, and likely promotes itself as a stepping stone to a big club. He's probably in the crosshairs of the big boys already, so a stepping stone phase (and wasting one or two years max) would be lunacy. A move here would be a major sideways step, as Anitafound out.

Likewise. PSV have already set a high bar this Summer with the fee received for Depay. Wijnnaldum is a key goal scoring AM for them, and PSV don't sell on the cheap, whereas we're offensive hagglers when it comes to paying fees. Quite easily could get 15-20m in today's market and Sports Direct United won't pay it.

You're spot on. PSV: for ages have been the Porto of Dutch football. Hardline negotiators who demand big fees for their gems. As they should. Mike Ashley's SDFC: Demands a discounted rate. This has sod all chance of coming off.

All the 'ballers' will be gone by the time the season starts. His fotbal philosophy shouldn't be allowed anywhere near 'ballers' like Bolasie anyway.

f***ing hell. I knew there was a good reason for avoiding this thread yesterday. Watching this bloke's ego manifest even more is funny tbh. This sideshow cunt in full flight, with the hero status extended to him at Palace, is comedy gold. Loved his little sulky, petulant face towards the end of the video.

Closer to the mark I think. I believe he's enjoyed gagging the city's sporting heartbeat, tearing the soul out of the place, after he was called naughty names & was told to sod off in the wake of Keegangate.

Created their own luck by appointing a football manager, not a bloke who is better suited to licking envelopes in the mail-room.

Pretty much this.

Should settle for a moonlighting postion (along with a coaching gig) of licking stamps, if the club ever want to pursue a more cost-effective way of lodging transfer bids by getting rid pf the fax machines etc. Posting bids in the mail would also make us conveniently slower than our rival suitors (who we can't compete with most of the time anyway) when 'trying' to sign players.

Another good piece by Edwards. His assessement of Mike Ashley's club, Sports Direct United, is spot on - it brings nothing to the competition.It merely exists as a promotional branch for business interests unrelated to football, with no ambition in winning silverware or achieving sporting success, and it's a whipping stick used against a supporter base whom the owner despises. The simple notion of 'trying' will always be the core fundamental in any sporting competition. So this business entity - I don't view it as a sporting club anymore - only deserves to drop like a stone. A healthy percentage of neutral purists won't miss Sport Direct United's annual presence at the lower half of the table either.

If there is no value behind Manyoo winning their last game this 'kid' ( the prospect of pinching him from a relegated club in a post-drop firesale) is a good enough reason for them to tank their final game against Hull. If I was in Van Gaal's boots I'd throw the game. It would be a handy game to lose. Interesting final day if Sports Direct United fail against QPR, and Arsenal lock-up 3rd position. Arsenal v Manyoo is important too this weekend, if SD United's fate partially rests in the hands of others (bailing them out of the shit ie. Manyoo)

Fletcher, Shepherd, Keegan & The Halls at least had a go. Ashley shoved it (the notion of ambition for success) back into a coffin, and nailed the lid shut from Day 1.

Yes Sports Direct United deserves a spell in the lower leagues.

He is by no means a hands-off & distant club owner. He sat over a think tank, come transfer window time, which has deliberately & consistently underbid for targets (to miss out on signings) to look after the bottom line. Bugger off Mike.

Pretty much bang-on. This anti-competitive club deserves a long stint in the sport's wilderness, aka the lower leagues.

Still remember when the fat prick performed a shit-stirring victory dance (was it the rumba?) in the faces of the Mackems' directors, after experiencing his first derby win. Admittedly it was a long time ago, but i've always thought that to face rub (with shit) a rival club invites a visitation from Fate in the form of a long overdue bitchslap. Hate to say this but there is something perversely funny about the prospect of Sunderland escaping the drop at the expense of Mike Ashley's Sports Direct United

Not gonna play for us again. HE LOVES DA TOON imo The goons in charge of the Toon don't love him though because he's running his retail value down. Yeah I think he will go maybe in the summer, it's all pretty annoying really. Keep him wrapped up in cotton wool, try and eek out a few million for the evil contract rebel who knocked back a long-term contract amounting to peanuts. Probably the party line atm. And a club, far from the mickey mouse one we are, will gamble on getting his fitness right, and sorting out his hamstring issue. Withhis ceiling of potential a few million is an educated gamble.

I'm sure what he actually means is that Garde thought the club was f***ing massive and should be challenging at the top of the league - they can't be appointing someone with those ridiculous notions! Ties in with this talk that all candidates were informed that finishing 8-17th is the annual target, and the top brass' definition of sporting success. Garde has been in the English game long enough to know we are massive one city club which is woven into the social fabric of the area. Statements like that would leave anyaambitious manager dumbfounded. Garde would left the meeting with the impression of how anti-competitive this club is in sporting terms.

To develop his game further, particularly the link-up play around the box (sharp one-twos etc), he should seek a move away in the Summer if Carver gets the gig. Such a shame seeing his potential wasted here.

The armband will add a bit to the fee, during continued talks with Liverpool, or other potential suitors. Buying a top player with leadership qualities, and a club captain, will cost you. Janmaat deserves it..... although with a transfer window coming up - perfect timing by Carver/the club.

Aye mate of mine asked me about this yesterday " Newcastle wouldn't sell after one season would they? " I was like Yep, a "one & done" player, to borrow the college basketball term. We are quite the productive feeder club.

No Gallas........ Mmmmmmm

Hopefully Liverpool put us to the sword, and the goal difference between ourselves and 18th is all but dissolved. Another towelling bodes well for the boycott.

Thought for a while that EPL clubs who finish 16th and 17th should be dumped into the play-off pool (to retain their premiership status) with the championship sides looking to move up (outside the automatic qualifiers). Create a system where five teams can potentially go down every year. The likes of Ashley & Lerner should be faced with a greater prospect of relegation every year when their MO is to milk the FFP rules as an excuse not to invest & while riding the broadcast revenue gravy train, and having their respective clubs tread water in the top flight under the assumption there will always be three shittier performing outfits to save their skin. The top flight needs to be more cut throat & brutal at the bottom end of the table, where consistent lower mid-table clubs are concerned...... especially those who are sitting in a coma and are devoid of ambition. Unfortunately we fill this criteria.

I don't like how Colo & Williamson (the weakest and slowest central pairing in the league) match-up against the power & pace of Benteke/Agbonahor. Villa are worth a couple of goals this weekend.