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Swear down I remember Rolando Aaron looking like he had a bright future barring injuries. Was I seeing things?

Ben Arfa is the one that bugs me the most. Players like him just don't come round very often. Hugo Viana was another player I wish we saw more of. Also thought Marveux had a lot of quality about him but was never given thr chance.

Is there a set time frame for a decision to be reached? Is it safe to say we'll know exactly where we stand in a certain period of time?

You mean aside from every journalist including the negative ones saying they are there waiting for a takeover. Aside from companies house documents linked to PIF and our club being continued on Companies house only a day ago. Aside from the club releasing a statement a few days ago saying they were pushing for this takeover to go through. I was very positive it would go through until PIF withdrew. It turns out a lot of journalists were misled by their sources, so I certainly wouldn't be in a rush to believe them this time around. Similarly the higher ups at the club are proven liars so I'd take that with a pinch of salt too. The Companies House stuff is interesting though. As is the stuff linked to Stavely's case against Barclays. I'd be absolutely delighted if it went through and we could finally look forward to rebuilding the club, but I wouldn't be at all suprised if arbitration ended with a tidy settlement for Mike and everyone moving on. Were they mislead by their sources or were their sources mislead by the EPL? Seems apparent that AS has been pretty much spot on with what she said after the takeover initially fell through and the talk of piracy being an issue is only really applicable to the KSA, which of course is the whole point of arbritation and the reason AS may have felt was nothing to do with them. As tenuous as that may be I dont see why they'd take any other stance.

Thought they were only after a minority share. Wouldn’t be surprised though as Inter are a massive club and guaranteed champions league football. If you read the Chron's story on BNG just before you read this article you'll quicky figure out who The Sun's source is. If you're reading the Chronicle before reading the Sun, You get what you f***ing deserve. Ah ok, nice one.

Thought they were only after a minority share. Wouldn’t be surprised though as Inter are a massive club and guaranteed champions league football. If you read the Chron's story on BNG just before you read this article you'll quicky figure out who The Sun's source is.

That's my line of thinking as well. Surely if the deal was close to being done or even if they were just very confident of it getting done, the buyers would be doing all they can to protect their future investment. To me that would mean them telling Ashley to chuck Bruce out and to add his compensation package onto the price at the end. More than likely a legal and ethical minefield. They dont own the club after all.

How is this even up for debate?

The main party in the consortium literally did say this. So it's been off since that point in your eyes? If so then Ashley's statement and subsequent actions dont add up, furthermore there's enough out there to suggest PIF are still keen, even Luke Edwards accepted PIF were still on board. But further to my original point, we know how AS operates in these exact situations because she's been through them before so it makes no sense for us to believe she'd just slink off into the night without a single word being spoken. Absolutely. It has been off since then. Ashley’s statement and subsequent actions can be explained because he’s unhappy the deal is off. Why would he be fighting for a deal which is going ahead? He wouldn’t need to. It may only be back on once multiple hurdles have been overcome - sadly none of them are even close. Because he doesn't believe the test was carried out properly and feels it should have gone through? He even made direct reference to the fact PIF had provided information the EPL had requested. Those aren't the words of a man who believes this is dead. Well actually, they are the words from a man who believes this is dead: http://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/club-statement-1 AS carried out an interview where she informed us the deal was off. PIF released a statement withdrawing their bid. MA released the above statement advising the takeover had collapsed. What more do you want/need? Richard Masters himself denied they'd rejected the takeover, and the club subsequently pursued arbitration on the issue of whether the OD test applied appropriately. I'm no legal expert but if the case was for compensation, then I'm not sure why the club would be pursuing it, and not Ashley himself. It's his asset after all. It's worth mentioning that AS also engaged fan action on the issues which we obliged. The Reuben brothers released a statement confirming they're "totally supportive" of a resurrection of the takeover and there has been plenty written about PIFs continued interest. These aren't the actions of people who no longer see the takeover as a viable option. Your last part answers the original point. The Reubens are supportive of a ‘resurrection’. You don’t tend to need to resurrect something that is currently active. The deal is currently off. There is no deal. There only would be a deal if multiple complex issues are resolved (in addition to the arbitration). All of which currently look unlikely. Ahh, so you're arguing semantics. Then yes, I agree there is no official bid on the table that is awaiting approval, but it's my concrete belief that there will be should the clubs "compensation" claim be successful (and we don't get relegated). As above - that’s not true or possible. There is much more to it then just the arbitration. Based on what out of interest?

The main party in the consortium literally did say this. So it's been off since that point in your eyes? If so then Ashley's statement and subsequent actions dont add up, furthermore there's enough out there to suggest PIF are still keen, even Luke Edwards accepted PIF were still on board. But further to my original point, we know how AS operates in these exact situations because she's been through them before so it makes no sense for us to believe she'd just slink off into the night without a single word being spoken. Absolutely. It has been off since then. Ashley’s statement and subsequent actions can be explained because he’s unhappy the deal is off. Why would he be fighting for a deal which is going ahead? He wouldn’t need to. It may only be back on once multiple hurdles have been overcome - sadly none of them are even close. Because he doesn't believe the test was carried out properly and feels it should have gone through? He even made direct reference to the fact PIF had provided information the EPL had requested. Those aren't the words of a man who believes this is dead. Well actually, they are the words from a man who believes this is dead: http://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/club-statement-1 AS carried out an interview where she informed us the deal was off. PIF released a statement withdrawing their bid. MA released the above statement advising the takeover had collapsed. What more do you want/need? Richard Masters himself denied they'd rejected the takeover, and the club subsequently pursued arbitration on the issue of whether the OD test applied appropriately. I'm no legal expert but if the case was for compensation, then I'm not sure why the club would be pursuing it, and not Ashley himself. It's his asset after all. It's worth mentioning that AS also engaged fan action on the issues which we obliged. The Reuben brothers released a statement confirming they're "totally supportive" of a resurrection of the takeover and there has been plenty written about PIFs continued interest. These aren't the actions of people who no longer see the takeover as a viable option. Your last part answers the original point. The Reubens are supportive of a ‘resurrection’. You don’t tend to need to resurrect something that is currently active. The deal is currently off. There is no deal. There only would be a deal if multiple complex issues are resolved (in addition to the arbitration). All of which currently look unlikely. Ahh, so you're arguing semantics. Then yes, I agree there is no official bid on the table that is awaiting approval, but it's my concrete belief that there will be should the clubs "compensation" claim be successful (and we don't get relegated).

The main party in the consortium literally did say this. So it's been off since that point in your eyes? If so then Ashley's statement and subsequent actions dont add up, furthermore there's enough out there to suggest PIF are still keen, even Luke Edwards accepted PIF were still on board. But further to my original point, we know how AS operates in these exact situations because she's been through them before so it makes no sense for us to believe she'd just slink off into the night without a single word being spoken. Absolutely. It has been off since then. Ashley’s statement and subsequent actions can be explained because he’s unhappy the deal is off. Why would he be fighting for a deal which is going ahead? He wouldn’t need to. It may only be back on once multiple hurdles have been overcome - sadly none of them are even close. Because he doesn't believe the test was carried out properly and feels it should have gone through? He even made direct reference to the fact PIF had provided information the EPL had requested. Those aren't the words of a man who believes this is dead. Well actually, they are the words from a man who believes this is dead: http://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/club-statement-1 AS carried out an interview where she informed us the deal was off. PIF released a statement withdrawing their bid. MA released the above statement advising the takeover had collapsed. What more do you want/need? Richard Masters himself denied they'd rejected the takeover, and the club subsequently pursued arbitration on the issue of whether the OD test applied appropriately. I'm no legal expert but if the case was for compensation, then I'm not sure why the club would be pursuing it, and not Ashley himself. It's his asset after all. It's worth mentioning that AS also engaged fan action on the issues which we obliged. The Reuben brothers released a statement confirming they're "totally supportive" of a resurrection of the takeover and there has been plenty written about PIFs continued interest. These aren't the actions of people who no longer see the takeover as a viable option.

The main party in the consortium literally did say this. So it's been off since that point in your eyes? If so then Ashley's statement and subsequent actions dont add up, furthermore there's enough out there to suggest PIF are still keen, even Luke Edwards accepted PIF were still on board. But further to my original point, we know how AS operates in these exact situations because she's been through them before so it makes no sense for us to believe she'd just slink off into the night without a single word being spoken. Absolutely. It has been off since then. Ashley’s statement and subsequent actions can be explained because he’s unhappy the deal is off. Why would he be fighting for a deal which is going ahead? He wouldn’t need to. It may only be back on once multiple hurdles have been overcome - sadly none of them are even close. Because he doesn't believe the test was carried out properly and feels it should have gone through? He even made direct reference to the fact PIF had provided information the EPL had requested. Those aren't the words of a man who believes this is dead.

She did a massive interview with caulkin saying it was off, in tears etc. She’s never officially said it’s back on. I do believe they want to buy the club but I also believe it’s more of a hassle than they bargained for Then the club released their statement and took subsequent action. We also got the official statement from the Reuben brithers confirming they "remain supportive" of the takeover. Like I say, for me, it's on until one of the Reubens, AS or Ashley himself say it's off.

The main party in the consortium literally did say this. So it's been off since that point in your eyes? If so then Ashley's statement and subsequent actions dont add up, furthermore there's enough out there to suggest PIF are still keen, even Luke Edwards accepted PIF were still on board. But further to my original point, we know how AS operates in these exact situations because she's been through them before so it makes no sense for us to believe she'd just slink off into the night without a single word being spoken.

If it was off then why wouldn't AS say so? I can't think of a single reason why she wouldn't, she's not exactly shy about engaging the media and has done exactly that on a couple of occasions now. This is on until someone significant says its off. It's as simple as that.

That's a different argument. When did I say we are not? I just don't think he is as good as everyone is making out to be. Team improves when Almiron is played in the correct position = average player

Irrespective of the outcome of arbitration or wherever it may lead, I can't help but think there'll need to be another round of negotiations between buyer and seller in light of our current predicament, so in my eyes if this is going to be completed, it won't be until after the season ends.

Ok, go..... As an actual investment itself - growing the club commercially to increase the value of your investment. Cultural reasons - having a high profile club in a high profile league encourages sporting endeavour in the region Sportswashing - pretty apparent reasoning Vanity project Increasing the profile of the country itself on a worldwide stage Anchor point for investment in the city itself To name a few. Ok, so where in your opinion does AS fit into that? The first I assume? Probably yeh, and I'm sure there'll be other less obvious reasons too.

Ok, go..... As an actual investment itself - growing the club commercially to increase the value of your investment. Cultural reasons - having a high profile club in a high profile league encourages sporting endeavour in the region Sportswashing - pretty apparent reasoning Vanity project Increasing the profile of the country itself on a worldwide stage Anchor point for investment in the city itself To name a few.

There's lots of reasons why.

This.

f*** sake man. Wake up. It’s not bed wetting It pretty much proves MBS & PIF are far from separate which is the very specific reason Masters gave for the takeover not going thru. You don’t get it or just refuse to get it. It’s got very little to do with the US, oil money or even the murder itself, the PL have accused MBS of being a shadow director and said he must take the O&D test which he simply won’t If piracy is not an issue and legal cases are dropped, where does it say in the test that the Saudi state cannot own the club ? I honestly don’t see how they can clear up the separation issue and it certainly looks like the PL have a very strong case in their belief that MBS & PIF are not seperate So were MBS be dethroned/jailed etc would PIF cease to exist and if not why? No (I’d think) PIF would be controlled by the next ruler but now we are just dealing in hypotheticals We are, but its a perfectly viable scenario which alludes to the legal separation thst the club's trying to argue. I'm no expert but I'm still struggling to see what the recent news changes.

f*** sake man. Wake up. It’s not bed wetting It pretty much proves MBS & PIF are far from separate which is the very specific reason Masters gave for the takeover not going thru. You don’t get it or just refuse to get it. It’s got very little to do with the US, oil money or even the murder itself, the PL have accused MBS of being a shadow director and said he must take the O&D test which he simply won’t If piracy is not an issue and legal cases are dropped, where does it say in the test that the Saudi state cannot own the club ? I honestly don’t see how they can clear up the separation issue and it certainly looks like the PL have a very strong case in their belief that MBS & PIF are not seperate So were MBS be dethroned/jailed etc would PIF cease to exist and if not why?

The point is more that the PIF ultimately operates under the absolute control of MBS. So yes day-to-day operations are managed by his appointments, but ultimately if he wants to commandeer PIF-owned planes to facilitate the murder of a journalist then there's f*** all anyone can do about it. So no one can ever push the "fully independent" line with a straight face. On this basis, this isn't new information. We've always known that MBS chairs PIF and that there are definite links between it and the state. Everything hinges on whether or not De Marco et al can sufficiently argue against the fact that the link is an absolutely fundamental one. Aye, basically this.

The point is more that the PIF ultimately operates under the absolute control of MBS. So yes day-to-day operations are managed by his appointments, but ultimately if he wants to commandeer PIF-owned planes to facilitate the murder of a journalist then there's f*** all anyone can do about it. So no one can ever push the "fully independent" line with a straight face. OK, so how would the EPL actually prove that to be the case? Doesn't the proof of non-separation need to be more hard wired than anecdotal evidence? Why would that implicate PIF and make the argument EPL trying to make any different to what they're already presenting? Genuine question bytheway, it just seems the fact MBS is chairman of PIF is more compelling evidence itself than this.