Phil

Adrian http://www.next.co.uk/model-competition-20...-me-idjrmca78p/ Skye http://www.next.co.uk/model-competition-20...-me-id42e0eq76/

Both are played out of position at Newcastle, so that's a little unfair. Although i will admit Barton started to play to many passes out of his range toward the end of the season.

not sure of his name, but the left winger was really good in the Holland game. Might have been cos he was 20 years older like.

Thought he'd signed for QPR. So did I, but his profile was taken off their website and he tweeted this;

Anyone know whats happening to Routledge?

Three year deal done; http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20110617/ba...2281670_2377974

Demba Ba on 70k a week... :D

Sky sports cameras caught Ba going into St James.

All this talk of Ba being available on a free transfer and receiving high wages or a massive signing on fee is utter shite. A release clause means the player can leave if certain criteria are met. It does not invalidate a contract, so he can leave for free. This is why Ba is still on West ham's book and not included in their released players list (which included Upson & Spector).

The players I would want are unlikely to come to us, realistic targets could be; Realistically I'd go for; Enrique: van aanholt 6mReally? £6M? or Ryan Bertrand 4m Barton: Keep him, it's simply not worth selling and he clearly wants to stay. Nolan: Ireland 4milSo spend the Nolan money on a waster who wont get 1/3 of his goals? Jonas: Bentley or SWP 6m Far overpriced for the pair of them, especially Bentley. I'd rather Jonas, to be honest. The prices are just guesses. I've seen Bentley and Ireland play quite a bit and they are both very good players having tough times at their club. Both had good patches only to be dropped for no reason.

The players I would want are unlikely to come to us, realistic targets could be; Realistically I'd go for; Enrique: van aanholt 6m or Ryan Bertrand 4m Barton: Keep him, it's simply not worth selling and he clearly wants to stay. Nolan: Ireland 4mil Jonas: Bentley or SWP 6m

I've never rated Nolan, so not arsed he's leaving. Barton and Smith are his buddies, so I expect them to follow. Barton will be missed, but easily replaced. Pre-season hasn't started so any talk of dressing room unrest is unfounded.

Sow is certainly the level of player we should be looking at, but I don't think Lille would sell him or Hazard.

The guys on holiday, so whats the rush?

Yes. Man Utd wanted him the season before last for 18mil alex. We got him on the cheap. Thats like saying buying an antique from a car boot sale for a fiva shouldnt be worth £250 in an auction. It happens. The boy has massive ability and potential. No it isn't. It's like saying it exactly as I described it in my previous post. He's even had set backs re: his injury as he was meant to return before the season ended. I accept his potential based on the player before the injury btw. He isn't worth £15m at present though for the reasons given, imo. he did say "How much would you be happy with for each player?", not how much could we sell them for.

Harper...3mil Krul...7mil Forster...Not for sale* Simpson...4mil S.Taylor...4mil Coloccini...15mil Enrique...15mil Kadar...Not for sale* Williamson...4mil Barton...5mil Nolan...5mil Guthrie...1mil Gosling...Not for sale* Tiote...20mil Gutierrez...12mil Smith... He's on a reported 3m a year and will be due a massive loyalty bonus if he stay. So i'd pay 3m to get rid of him. seems a nice lad tho. R.Taylor...free Lua-Lua...Not for sale* Ferguson...Not for sale* Vuckic...Not for sale* Ben Arfa...20mil Shola...1mil Best...2mil Lovenkrands...free Ranger...not for sale* *I dont see the point of selling young players as they will happily sit on the bench and have very low wages. Obviously I'd flog any of them for 10mil.

Anyone see the Pardew interview when they asked him about why he gets pushed out on his todd to do these things and he replied its cos Dekka is ugly.

Agree 100% with you. Its baffling that more people can't see it! We should be competing with the likes of Liverpool and Spurs, not selling our best players to them or anyone else who offers enough money. Liverpool sold Torres in the same window, Spurs sold Berbatov & Keane, Man-u sold Ronoldo, Arsenal sold pretty much everyone. So how exactly are we differing? They back their managers. Spurs and Liverpool both had DoF's when those deals were brokered, which is the complete opposite of backing the manager. Coincidentally it was Damien Comolli at both clubs and he has a nasty habbit of ignoring the squad needs. Spurs needed a defensive midfielder and he bought a Bent (when the had Berbatov, Keane & Defoe) and Bentley (when they had Lennon), it seems at the Liverpool they have no left back and a lack of pacey wingers, so he's signed "Hendo" and is still after Adam.

Agree 100% with you. Its baffling that more people can't see it! We should be competing with the likes of Liverpool and Spurs, not selling our best players to them or anyone else who offers enough money. Liverpool sold Torres in the same window, Spurs sold Berbatov & Keane, Man-u sold Ronoldo, Arsenal sold pretty much everyone. So how exactly are we differing?

done deal. Liverpool are mugs. No left back or wingers, so they buy a CM.

Supply and demand has nowt to do with it. Nolans age is the only stumbling block.

You need to get used to it. Damien Comolli has a track record of buying players in positions his clubs don't need. I wouldn't be surprised if you ended up buying no left back or wingers. The mans an idiot.

In terms of base level transfer policy, you could argue the Mackems have spent more than Liverpool over the last 3 or 4 years - obviously with no reward - which shows that raw money is useless without the management to go with it. Both Liverpool's and Sunderland's recent transfers have been funded from outside of turnover as opposed to us in the majority of the Hall years - not saying you're wrong in terms of ambition etc but again that shows the changing face of football. Our problem being Ashley won't mirror other owners. what you are saying, actually only adds further weight to the correct view [ie the one Liverpool have] that spending money on essentially more average players, in the mistaken belief that "financial prudency is the way forward" gets you nowhere. Which only further again amplifies why you should keep the best ones you already have and show them the ambitious football club so they want to keep playing for you. I agree with your speculate to accumulate view but the money has to come from somewhere - unfortunately Ashley won't do this which I think is his biggest failing. We simply don't (and never did) have the money to spend as much as they are spending simply based on turnover. Shearer was pretty much a one-off and even then I understand the fee was split into 2 annual payments which would have just been okay at a rough guess. To improve our squad as much as you and I both want would take a lot of money - more than what Liverpool need as they already have a decent squad which combined with the fact that they do have a willing owener now, does mean your view that we should be competing with them is unrealistic. To clarify - I agree with you we should be competing with them but just think we can't afford it at present with Ashley. If only we had a player we could sell for 35m to fund building a squad.