Eddy Chibas

That 100m (over three years) doesn't go very far when taking into account how we apparently calculate the total cost of an incoming transfer. It disappears quickly, even when staying in the 10-15m bargain basement range (25-30k, 4 year contract) in today's market. Total cost of Murphy's transfer nearly adds up to 20m.

https://twitter.com/leemarshymarsh/status/1020227052497235973?s=20 Yeah, in a parasitic way dickhead.

That's the one, Head of Elevation. Going down, sir? About to be paid 5m by SD. That payment is performance based (has advised the company on property transactions for the past 3 years).

The prospect of pulling in a loan fee (from the Spanish FA, had Rafa managed them at the tourney) followed by the compo money (had Rafa got the taste for the international game, and left a year early) in two quick hits must have been mighty appealing to Ashley.

Pardoo's Presser..... Return of 'The King'. "In all onasteee there woz only man who woz capable of luring me out of retirement, and that was Mike and he's dunnalot for this club and the city. The supporters need to appreciate this" ...... goes on to answer questions about interest in the club captain, Jamaal Lascelles, declaring "how tough it will be to reject offers, from the likes of Everton & West Ham (who are much bigger clubs than us)" ^^^^^ Removes tongue from cheek.

Or he has actually realised that low budget shops only have so much milage in them then they trail off eventually. Especially with his online business, there is far more choice for on-line shoppers. Where the high street is a bit more limited to SD or JD. That, but don't you think it's funny that he didn't stick to expressing the company's 'new' direction strictly from a retail perspective. The bloke imho is taking the piss & trolling the supporter/fan base (of NUFC).

He's trolling the supporter base, with his choice of wording/analogy which stinks of irony. Major trolling points awarded to him.

No wonder he gambled on England winning the WC, for extra visibility (for SD). The shirt giveaway, which required people to download the SD app, would have definitely helped. Don't think many people (non-NUFC fans espec) would have uninstalled the app, once they started receiving alerts & notifications for monthly bargains. TBH having this parasite riding the coattails of the WC run eroded any loyalty I have for the team, and with it enjoying a potential WC triumph. I was relieved when Croatia put an end to his marketing gamble. The 73% drop in profits is a bonus. A small consolation in the face of this man's running of a once competitive sporting entity, but nonetheless it is fantastic news (to accompany his failed WC gamble). Edit: 73%

You're giving Charnley way too much credit. Incoming transfer deals were efficiently completed (in comparison to the last four windows) during the window following relegation. Ashley installs his headkicker & lieutenant, a foreman on the ground (of sorts), in December during the Champo season. Ever since Rafa has been bashing his head against a wall, and fighting this bunch. It all comes down to 'one' guy, who Barnes answers to.

The sort of prick who shafted his own parents (who financed his first store) and allegedly didn't pay them back, even after the big SD flotation.

From the Chronicle article "Constantly on the phone attempting to arrange transfer deals, Benitez has had scant to show for it. He has put potential deal after potential deal the club’s way" No doubt some clubs have rejected our proposals (for loans), ala Rondon/WBA. Have to also think that 'Blocker' Barnes whom Rafa namedrops this time (who vetoed a loan deal for Loftus Cheek, with a buy option during his first month in this 'unspecified' job) has been quite a busy boy too.

Given that we were also open to loaning out the manager during a shortened transfer window, because it would be good for the club (business wise I assume) maybe renaming this thread something like "Sports Direct United: Loan Market Whale" would be appropriate.

Says something (if the papertalk is true) that Sports Direct United were open to the idea of loaning/pimping out Rafa out to Spain, for the WC, with a pricey fee attached no doubt. Let's not have the manager funnel all of his energy within a shortened window (not that it would amounted to anything) into improving the playing list/setting up deals eh. Pisstake of a club.

Important (imo) that we stay down, or suffer back-to-back relegations, because it's uncharted territory for Ashley. He's set us to be a zombie club (which merely survives..... and will burn a world class manager when there's a disconnect re:ambition) in the top flight, and so far he's had it easy (when we've dropped) by shoveling funds from his own pocket (to clean up his mess) springing back up at the first attempt. It's a scenario we haven't seen yet, to affect the reluctant seller ie. Sports Direct United anchored beneath the PL with bottomed-out ST sales & attendances, after repeated gamble/cash injections (to gain promotion) have blown up in his face.

We have to get away from this idea that Ashley is on the rob / cooking the books / fingers in the till and we're being wronged. Aside from the fact he has only once actually taken any cash out the club, he can use cash in the club to repay the intercompany loan or pay himself a dividend whenever he likes. It's shit but that's the reality. He wants to ensure there is a minimal risk of him putting more of his own money into the club and he sees the best way to do that is to just about survive in the PL and build up enough reserve to go straight back up (in theory). All supporters can do is vote with their feet and by all accounts we've pretty much sold out of STs despite a price hike for many so why on earth would he change his behaviour? He's sold the club the lease of the land behind the stadium (which he bought with the club but claimed he paid £50m for in a sperate deal) for £55m which will only give the club the lease for the land for 5 years and he has already said the club has no plans to use that land to expand the stadium. He's funnelling money out of the club. [No doubt he'll have family members who are registered as agents who get large agents fee's and such. Well Michael Murray (Anna Ashley's bf.... he's placed within the property acquisitions/development side of Ashley's empire) is I think listed as director of the said land/the new business entity which the club is now coughing $$$ to.

Would be a cracking deal for Fulham, provides wiggle room if they're able to complete another bumper signing ie. Malcom outright. Deferring any transfer fee for Mitro suits them just fine, if they're able to make it happen. Us too - allows us to throw Rafa under the bus again, in accordance to the "Rafa will have (can spend) every penny the club can generate (through player sales?)" patter.

Aye I think although he is saying we bid 20m for Plea so there has to be some money lying around. Or the thumb and the cunt knew £20m would be rejected. Could be forgiven for adopting the skeptical position, by suspecting that we would have promptly hit a brick wall (in negotiations over personal terms, with his agent) if that 'we tried' bid were even accepted.

Wonder if this 'cheeky' loan bid (or the thinking behind it) for a player out of contract next Summer resembled something like this..... "Okay nobody is biting at the release clause. How about you take 6-8m now (standard loan figure.... no or minimal buy-option fee) from us, or risk losing him for nowt in twelve months." I think we tried to strong-arm them, and they duly told us to fuck off lol

Papertalk from The Sun. Fulham may be about to make more waves in the market by chasing Malcom (Bordeaux). Fulham, according to the rumor mill, will attempt to hijack this bid (by attempting to buy him outright). Good luck to them, if true. They're displaying an intent to compete after securing promotion, while Ashley continues to shit all over a one-team city.

If we weren't owned by cunts I could imagine Rafa going for him. Rafa already tried that. Had a deal lined up during the Jan transfer window in the Championship (loan with a buy option) and Justin Barnes vetoed it. As you say, bugger all chance. Have to think he'd be valued around the 30m mark, like Kenedy. Probably more.

Papertalk suggested that Chelsea would insert a clause in the current loan deal (a heavy levy would be attached to any transfer fee during & after the loan period.... if there's no buy option with a specific number) in order prevent us playing that sort of bargain-hunting, waiting game.

Bloody hell lol, they've lowered expectations. Securing back-to-back loans (with no buy option) is a momentus cause for celebration now, to this mob. Once upon a time we beat Barca, after a mid-table finish the previous season, to secure Robert's signature (on a permanent transfer). Now that caused a buzz around the city - still remember the reception he received, when he was unveiled at SJP (the Intertoto Cup 2nd leg). This loan signing, which the club are dressing up with enthusiastic emojis and exclamation marks, is just Meh to me.

Relieved that Ashley's promotional giveway & gamble (to push Sports Direct's app) just went pooooooof into thin air.