Abacus

With all of his experience, he'll just keep bashing away.

It's about time for William Storey to take over and put an end to all this silliness.

Yes, it's in their audited accounts on Companies House. I was wondering how this could be true or square with what Stavely said. So, rather tragically, I looked up the next year's accounts. Under that year's related party note it says the following; "A provisions [sic] was made in FY20 for £2.0m payable to Newcastle United Football Club...this was reversed..." Spelling mistake aside, if it's the same £2m and it was 'reversed', then that would explain it.

The NUFC accounts don't disclose what they were paid by Sports Direct (it's not required). But the Sports Direct accounts for the same period say they were charged £2m by NUFC re sponsorships for the 19/20 season (it's in their related parties note).

There's an amusing thread on there about whether they'd want Ashley to take them over. The ones with any brains say no, and the rest say he's a great businessman because that's what they've been saying all these years and have therefore persuaded each other that it's true. You can feel them wrestling with this internal dilemma, like toddlers. Apparently, they just want a bit of transparency and some good football, which he would bring. I know. There's also a fake Newcastle fan on there blaming Keegan for ruining Ashley's reputation among fans. In other news, looks like the great businessman may have lost c.£30m on another one of his investments, Studio Retail Group, an online retailer he bought into which has gone into administration. He is mystified and angry, according to the Times.

Essentially, yes. Although, it's about their more recent performances rather than forever, from what I can make out. Either way, it's completely wrong. The last paragraph of that article made me laugh; At a previous Premier League meeting, one of the “big six” clubs argued that there should be room for manoeuvre around what was sporting merit, pointing out that in a league in Uruguay relegation was based on performances over three seasons. They're right. It's the Uruguayan League we should be replicating.

Wool pulled over their eyes again! I've actually got work to do, but I just know that's already the rest of my afternoon gone browsing the marrapocalypse on RTG!

Normally player trading would count towards your profit or loss. In other words, selling Krafth for £0.5 bn should count to increase what you're able to spend under FFP. It's not an investment like the share issue was. However, I've taken a peek at the PL rules just now. They are quite remarkable, really, and to my reading go way beyond normal companies act definitions, also covering more than just sponsorships, whilst giving the PL wide discretion to pretty much decide whatever they want. So, I don't think think you could get away with that Krafth deal. Quite how enforceable they are is another matter - I'm guessing that's why we're lawyering up.

Saur point!

Yes, share payments are an investment funds flow rather than being income earned through profit. Therefore it's irrelevant to FFP. I.e. even with the cash it doesn't mean we can spend what we like. Sponsorship income is different and would count favourably towards FFP, hence that's the one with the restrictive associated party rules.

Nope. So it doesn't get around FFP.

But wasn't it great when Trippier smacked that goal past the Villa?

I'm at a zero. I'm checking this forum every day for minor injury news and other titbits, and if we manage to finish 17th this year I will absolutely go crackers

Something seems to have gone terribly right with our recruitment recently.

Darn it 1-1, I'm taking myself off to the naughty step

The wheels on the bus come falling off, falling off, falling off All day long

Leave aside the allegations of hypocrisy etc, people are still free to protest about whatever they want. Crack on. Likewise, I'm just as free to not give a hoot or to take it personally.

Just read the article in the Athletic about him joining us. Mentality wise, that is a player. BT Sport's gave MOTM Vs Everton to St Max and he was immense. But I think it was Trippier that won that match - blocked everything down one whole side of the pitch, sprayed passes around and was a proper leader. That's even before his set pieces. Hope he plays against Villa, as long as it's not too soon for this injury. I'm all in already. I think he's fucking mint.

Oh, sorry, to get back on topic re KK. Everyone says his second coming was a disaster, but it really wasn't. I still think he'd have done a job here if he'd stayed, but he still did call out Ashley quick, early and with unerring accuracy. Really hope he gets some kind of role back here as an ambassador or whatever.

He was never happy about anything. A right sulky sod, but did a great job for us. His partnership with Beardsley was incredible - I think Beardsley really made Cole's career.

I think he's been solid. At least one of those headers he's been criticised for was where the ball was behind him, so you couldn't put power on it. And it wasn't through a lack of his positioning either. He doesn't have the best touch, true. But he is pulling defenders out of place and opening up space for others. Be great for him to rifle one home soon to quieten some the overly critical reception he's had, but we're certainly a better team with him in it.

The reaction does seem deranged, but I'd been wondering why they were so desperate to hark back to Keane in the first place. My theory is that they've been ignored for so long that they are desperate for any tiny bit of attention. They thought Defoe would bring that, but no-one cares. They also REALLY took against Downie saying they weren't newsworthy, and this seems to be the barb that stings them most. So when Keane was asked about whether he'd take the job on TV, whilst commentating on another game a week or so ago, there was little short of jubilation. "Mentioned on prime time Friday night telly, marra! That'll show Downie and all the mags we're not irrelevant no matter what they say!" was the gist of it. Forgetting the fact that it's Keane who was the story, not them. No neutral could name their last 3 managers, for example. And that "story", which is still more important than them anyway, amounted to some light hearted joshing with a fellow TV pundit and an ex-managerial failure.

There are so many claims and rumours about whether Roy Keane will join them that it's hard to separate fact from fiction. One of the latest on there is that it's a condition that he would need to move to Sunderland doesn't want to. Imagine insisting as well as "having to manage Sunderland" you also "have to live in Sunderland". Anyone who agreed to those terms needs a brain swap.

Think I was a 5 or a 6 before the transfer window shut. I'm down to a 4 now, as I really like the fighting spirit in the team and we've now given ourselves a fighting chance points wise. Lingering worries are because of Wilson's injury and that there's only Gayle if Wood gets injured. Also, as after last night St Max will now become even more of a marked man. Though, hopefully Bruno settles fast and gives opposition teams something else to worry about. And another positive is if all else fails we've got some decent set piece threat now too.

He made a huge difference tonight. Fair play, we seem to have a decent left back who can fizz in a few crosses. Really good debut