Rayvin

I think we'll get 8th if the season turns out with the sort of good fortune we had the other year, and relegated if it doesn't. I don't see much wiggle room, the mid-table teams were really packed together this year, and we're either going to be surprisingly good or god awful.

I think it can now be officially considered 'concerning' that we haven't signed anyone. I actually miss Llambias - at least he'd have been out there looking for deals based on value rather than whether or not he's actually heard of the player. It's not actually that long until the season starts now. I think what some people here have been saying is 100% right; we'll end up with Darren Bent and that's about it. So that'll be two goal poachers, both equally frustrated that they have no strike partner to play off, and both getting into the same positions. Unless the plan is for only one to be playing, in which case we're ultimately no stronger than last year, except the team is more disillusioned. From where we are now, I would actually consider it satisfying if all we did this summer was buy two strikers, even if one was Bent. Could do with another central defender and perhaps some fullback support, but let's not push it. Do you reckon we can get Ba back? I saw he was being touted with a move to Villa today...

I agree with this. If we did this, we could also give Cabaye a more advanced role where he could actually perhaps provide some useful playmaking rather than the long balls.

We're never going to let go of Taylor, surely; while he isn't pivotal I'm not sure I'd recognise the club without him on the injury list...

I think we all know where the situation with Gazza is gonna end up. It's a real shame though.

I don't understand why the debt really matters in this context. So the club is highly geared, so what? Most businesses (and nation states) will tell you that this is a more profitable way to run than just using shareholder equity to get by. It's obviously riskier, especially in recessions, but it doesn't seem that the banks are about to pull the plug. Unless of course this £140m was a loan that was to be called in during Ashley's reign; in which case he's probably had to pay it, and is probably right to seek that money back. Unrealistic, but understandable.

Really??? Or is that tongue in cheek? That has to be tongue in cheek right? We could be top of the league at Christmas and I'd still think he was a buffoon.

Maybe that's his plan longer term, keep taking money out of the club until the amount he'd want for it is low enough that someone might actually pay for it, and subsequently he'll get the fuck out like he's wanted to for years. Would explain why he doesn't care about how well we do, seemingly only about bringing in players to sell at a profit. I guess the sooner this all happens, the sooner he's gone.

£18mil for Aubameyang seems pretty high... unless we're talking Euros. The kind of bid we'd put in if we were getting all that and more from the sale of someone else.

Had become my preferred choice to Tiote as well. Hope we're not banking on Tiote being awesome again...

Plan is apparently to then get Aubameyang and Zouma. And Bent probably. I dunno about Cabaye, he was poor last season and I think the argument is strong for getting rid. Whether you think he's poor because of Pardew or because he was depressed/whatever, the fact is that he's unlikely to be any better next year under the same people. Maybe other players would be.

The Guardian seems to think we're heading for £20m.

Yeah maybe but it's still something of a commitment isn't it. Even if they (as seems highly probable) don't do it, they've floated around the concept that we have £25mill to spend on a striker. That concept isn't going away.

What in the damn hell.... it's like the old days!

Why is it that we have to be involved in the one of the only two remaining games of any meaning x.x

If we somehow prevented Arsenal from getting into the Champs League, it would mean Wigan were relegated for nothing. I could get behind that.

100% behind that sentiment.

Yeah they're going to beat us next week. Hopefully just 0-1.

On the positive, we were nowhere near as close to relegation as it looked a couple of weeks ago.

Arsenal just destroying them now...

Wow... Wigan finally fall.

Ah... if they come back from that, I'll be impressed.

Wigan are more passionate than most teams, and have more self belief. I don't think they're really any 'better' or they wouldn't be in the position they're in. It looks like they're playing well cos the try hard.

The only evidence of a release clause that I can see, was back when he signed a contract extension for Lille. It was 75 million Euros according to (the doubtless inaccurate) wikipedia. Unless that's a typo and it was meant to be 7.5million.

Dunno about Mancini...he may only thrive with considerable resources. Doesn't seem like a 'making the best out of limited means' manager.