Rayvin

Yep, no manner of horrifying track record there.

If the Chinese are behind it, I'm sure it'll be fine.

I actually think it sounds more positive than I was thinking it would be. There's no mention of a flat out refusal, just things to be worked on. Coupled with Sky reporting something about a relegation clause, it may just come down to technicalities. I dunno though, I'll say I've moved from 100% certain this will fail to 99.5% certain. This bit though: Ashley has been made aware that room for manoeuvre is fairly limited as Staveley’s bid is close to the maximum she is prepared to pay.

Actual development: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/nov/21/mike-ashley-seeking-improvement-in-amanda-staveley-near-300-million-bid-newcastle-united-sale

You sad bunch of commies...

Wait, doesn't everyone?

You're such a twat.

Just FFS

Just to prove I'm not making it up. Reckon Gloom is using "a reporter reckons" here in the same way that the Daily Mail use "Sources say"

This guy. This guy gets it.

Aye, I think you're overestimating how much Ashley cares about what we think, Troops.

Squires on Coleman https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2017/nov/21/david-squires-chris-coleman-sunderland-wales-tony-pulis

Aye, explains why he's on here causing pointless arguments about things no one outside of the bidding process really understands or has any information on

Agreed, but Gloom gets these ideas in his head and I dunno...

Here's to another productive morning!

I dunno, was Gloom's original point. I'm mostly just arguing for the hell of it now. Although the values of the clubs weren't my point. It was more about the mentality and the ability to show strength in deal making.

In a world where she wants to buy Liverpool and can demonstrate that 'final offer' means 'final offer' without risking that deal?

The first point is what I said though, it makes no sense. Unless you have no intention of going higher. So my view is that the bid is so low, as to actually not even be particularly useful in a negotiating context. Especially since Ashley already knew that they valued the club around this figure as it was widely reported. If she legitimately doesn't intend to negotiate, then the take it or leave it makes sense. And given that the bid is almost pointlessly low (assuming Ashley behaves in his normal way) it is conceivable that this is as far as they're prepared to go. Unless creating a media stir helps them in some other way, as Gloom was suggesting.

The Fish has zero chill this morning

I am like

I still think we've made exactly the same point. All I did otherwise was support a previously stated view of mine (the offer is too low by far) and considered that logically, for me at least, the low offer coupled with a take it or leave it, could make sense. Then you just barrelled into me, arms windmilling and everything

The Fish has me rattled

I'm not remotely concerned tbh, because I firmly believe this won't happen Having said that, what's the harm in a little speculation?

And against a wider backdrop of Rafa potentially being in his final season with us if this takeover doesn't happen, I think I'm entitled to be concerned I even clarified

Um... no... I said it would be a stupid move, same as you. So if I'm 'reacting to it', then you've done the same thing since our position is...the same! The only mitigation on that point is that I consider that the low offer would actually make sense if it was a take it or leave it kind of deal. If it's not, then I would just consider it derisory if I were Ashley.