Alex

Above Lineker's ffs (not any more, but still)

In laws have been a few times and they love it. The Xmas markets and the general atmosphere at that time of year is meant to be really nice.

Got a week in Scotchland in September (Trossachs). Booked up for a week in Crete next June as I'm fucking sick of this 'summer'.

Whether or not 5th is the ultimate is moot but it's a hell of a lot better than the club has done for a good while. I can't realistically see how the previous owners could have done better either. Given 1) They didn't have the money themselves and 2) The access to cheap credit just isn't available any more and 3) Super-rich sugar daddies are willing to fund Chelsea and Man City. On top of which you have clubs like Arsenal and Man Utd who generate a lot more income than us. This is down to Man Utd being one of the top three clubs in the world (arguably the no. 1 in terms of world wide support) and Arsenal filling a brand new ground, week in, week out, whilst having probably the most expensive match tickets in the world (certainly in England). In that context 5th (long term) probably is the ultimate. If it isn't I'd like a detailed explanation as to how we can do better than that. Unless of course someone takes over and is willing to spend several £100m of their own cash on players and wages. Which is something no NUFC owner has been willing (or able) to do.

One of the many reasons why the Olympics (and World Cup) is shite for the country having it is that local traders are forced out at a time when they should be reaping the benefits. Incidentally (and I realise there were more stadiums to build) the last World Cup cost South Africa about £3b and they made a fraction of that in return. Fifa made a fucking fortune out of it though. Tax free.

Nah, if he had the bastard would still be here. Can you believe he was here 5 years? Less the loan at the end, which NUFC paid the vast majority of his wages for anyway. Btw, if we re-sign Carroll, will that be all the Carroll money accounted for?

Could be worse, you could've paid a fortune for one of the (already somewhat shabby) flats in an old BT office block on the same roundabout.

Still think it was a complete waste of time like. I think the Police and the CPS were hamstrung in that because it was a race issue they had to do something about it. Anyone involved in anything to do with the criminal justice system will tell you there's more serious crimes with a lot of evidence that get thrown out before a trial purely on the basis the time and money this isn't available. I think this was a high profile cosmetic exercise and they probably knew he'd get off but also knew there'd be hell on / indignant moral outrage if they let it slide. Not that Terry emerges with much credit like although seeing people in the media falling over themselves to state he's an innocent man, you'd almost believe he is. It was ridiculous when the star witness / wronged party didn't know what Terry had said and didn't want the trial to go ahead. I don't buy the notion that it's highlighted the seriousness of racism either.

How to make Carroll feel wanted: we won't loan you because we want to sell you

Who was the bint who came out the court with a bottle of rose champagne / Aldi cava after the verdict btw? Classy

Oldfields is canny and quite often does lunchtime deals (2 courses for a tenner / 3 for £12 - that sort of thing). Not a pub like.

There was a company awarded the exclusive rights to sell hospitality packages for the South Africa World Cup. Guess who one of the owners was: Blatter's nephew. The company massively overpriced their packages / overestimated the demand so they made a big loss on the event. They fucked up, in other words. Recently, Blatter awarded the Asian TV rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup to a company. Guess who the president of this company is: Blatter's nephew. That's just the stuff you hear about that's technically legit as well. It's laughable.

We're signing someone, some local journos have 'the scoop' on it and they've collectively decided to keep it to themselves. What are the chances of that?

I always check out the Nigerian Sun when I want a scoop on NUFC.

I knew I'd regret replying :lol:

Aye, there's a lot up in the air plus (as I mentioned) his 'character'. Tbh, I'm that fucking cynical about football I wouldn't be surprised if the whole deal hinges on where his agent sees himself making more money.

Just say no [/sage Advice]

I'm naturally sceptical and don't trust Ashley but it would be churlish not to acknowledge the good things the club has done of late. It's also daft not to constantly reappraise the situation at the club because I think the policy has changed of late as they've learned their lesson to an extent. Not really sure what you're getting at re: the u-turns though. It's not like I said the club would never qualify for Europe via the league whilst Ashley was still owner.

MD

32 miles long

The owner's shown the policy's flexible and he's willing to take the odd calculated risk. I.e. signing Cisse when we really needed a centre-back and we already had a forward banging the goals in. I suppose Carroll (at the right price / wages) would be a similar sort of thing with the risks (the fee, wages and his being a complete knacker) being offset by our having already made £35m on him.

Plus it's not like having a target man means you can't play good possession football. To tie in with your point, it often helps, as long as you don't resort to hoofing it too often.

Probably was about 10 years ago thinking about it. I'm not really the best person to comment anyway like.

I meant in general. But re: chuggers, it's a shit job but you have to be a certain sort of wanker to do it imo. Like most sales, I think having a soul is an obstacles to success. Buy cheap, buy twice