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January - What will Ashley do?


Howaythelads

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How many points clear at the top of the table would we have to be before you stop moaning?

 

I think he's right to be concerned and he's right with almost everything in his post.

 

Of course he is. Remember last January with yet again people giving Ashley the benefit of the doubt and saying judge him in January. What happened? A lack of investment and two key first team players went. Then after that the same people then said let's see what happens with the Keegan court case. Arseholes basically.

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For all the mistakes that made it necessary, I think the club has actually handled the situation we're in pretty well. We've downsized the wage bill by getting rid of underperforming high-earners who didn't want to be here anyway. We haven't brought anyone in, and probably won't bring in anyone in during the January window, but the £20 million per annum that Ashley is still bunging in has been enough to allow us to keep the players we've got, and there has been no fire sale or general meltdown, despite some melodramatic predictions on here. Instead the set-up we currently have is manifestly good enough to get us back up into the Prem and we're on top of the table with a gap beginning to develop between us and the rest.

 

There are, in short, some reasons to be cheerful, no matter how much people enjoy entertaining worst-case scenarios and moaning like a bunch of auld wifies.

 

I'm very happy with how things are going on the pitch at the moment but there are plenty of reasons to be concerned given Ashley's track record of getting pretty much every major decision since he arrived wrong. This is a man who, when faced with a relegation battle last season sold two important players, made a profit on sales and hindered our chances of survival. Logic dictates he'd keep the team together to give us the best shot at going up but history suggests he may well not.

 

There are plenty of reasons to be happy at the moment but it would be naive in the extreme to not be concerned about what will happen in January. Regardless of what you believe re: finances he's shown himself time and time again to be utterly clueless with regards as to what's going on out on the pitch.

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I'm terrified of this transfer window. I'd hate to see our promotion chances ruined by letting go of a couple of our top players. If we lose, say, two of our defenders it would be a major blow.

 

 

That's ok though as we have a manager who is good enough if such a thing happens......

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So with 3 games to go until January we are 10 points clear of 3rd place. That gap might change up/dn between now and next month but is it better for this gap to decrease rather than increase? It seems a daft question because anyone with a brain larger than a pea would want the gap to be as large as possible, but we're dealing here with Mr M. Ashley and we know he doesn't have the faintest idea what he's doing when it comes to football.

 

We need to bring in a couple of PL quality players in January to help consolidate our lead in the Championship and prepare for the challenge of remaining in the PL next season should the club be promoted next May. This means making a decision on whether or not to spend any money next month but when faced with big decisions Ashley hasn't got a single one correct since taking over the club. This is a big decision for the wide-boy, why will he suddenly break the trend and get it right?

 

A return to the PL brings an increase in revenue and an increase in the value of the club. You would think it obvious that the best thing to do would be to spend even a little, but as his football knowledge is so limited it's doubtful he will understand this concept. Even if he does grasp the obvious there is also the problem that he's an inept gambler.  So what's the betting that with a large gap between us and 3rd place the wide-boy opts not to improve the team/squad but decides to weaken the team/squad by selling any of our players who are the subject of a decent bid of anything over a fiver? He may glance at the league table (if he knows what it is) and decide to gamble on a slump in the 2nd half of the season happening but not being severe enough to prevent us limping over the line to promotion. So revenue goes up, club value goes up and he's also won his gamble and pocketed a bit more dosh. The problem is that unless one of his chimps tells him each win is worth 3 points, the gap isn't going to be big enough with only half the season gone.

 

Does anyone else feel as depressed as I do despite being top of the division? I really can't wait for this joker to disappear from this football club. We'll go nowhere while he's running the show.

 

Absolutely share your concerns and worries about what the fat cockney knacker will do, and have about as much faith as you do that he'll get it right come the opening of the transfer window. We clearly could do with, as you said, at least a couple of Premiership quality additions to the squad - and for my money, I'd like to see us getting a couple of midfielders AND a couple of defenders - but he'll most likely seek to cash in on the likes of Stephen Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique, Nolan or Krul.

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I think Simpson loan will get extended.  They may bring in another loan in place of Khiz, after that, I would be delighted with nobody leaving.  Planet Ashley is never so simple.

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He'll keep everyone and allow a small amount of funds for expanding the squad. We'll get promoted and he'll spend Dennis Wisely, and fast become a hero on Tyneside...

 

aye

 

He'll keep everyone and allow a small amount of funds for expanding the squad. We'll get promoted and he'll spend Dennis Wisely, and fast become a hero on Tyneside...

 

nah

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Guest Roger Kint

We will sign Simpson, bring in two loans(CB and ST) of dubious quality while selling nobody.

 

Will announce a deal to sign Van der Vaart in the summer..................... :shifty:

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