Park Life

He'll be gutted that you're not interested My interest is what swung the Afra deal apparently.

Think Krul's better than Harper basically so not really interested in Given at all.

I estimate the Ashley mistakes at around 40m (mainly relegation 25-30m and settlements for KK and fat Sam and his crew). Wages at the hight water mark were 68% of income. Not totally club destroying but getting there. I'm guessing it's around 50-55% for now (till we get rid of Smith and argualbly Guti or Collo both rumoured to be on 60-70k bracket). Next summer will be the time for the next rationalisation is my guess. Move Guti on. Dunno what Smith's on but he's not worth it. He'd be my top priority to sell (in the summer) if his wages are exorbitant. He's about to turn 30, and still has the best part of 2 seasons to run on his contract. He's on a fair whack, one of the Fat Sam mad signings (rumoured to be 60-65k). Bet Tiote is on 30k.

not leighton baines?

Cheap tickets too. It tells you everything about our demise as a club that they have overtaken us, and Villa for that matter. When you go to the two cities, look at the infrastructures of the clubs, fanbase, stadium, area, fuckin everything media focus, how the fuck could we let a club like that leave us in their shadow. It's almost criminal. The Moyes blueprint is a good one, we tried to be like a lower scale Real Madrid purely in the terms of reckless spending in the last 15 years, living beyond our means certainly for five, getting players in who were there for the wrong reasons, and we didn't have a government to bail us out. When you go to a ground like Goodison though, see what they're about, you just sit there thinking to yourself whaaaaaat? Like how can you compare the two clubs, I'm pleased you've seen Goodison Tom, it gets your eyes open to who we are and who they are, it's laughable. They've overachieved, but I think the show is over for them, but they showed us how it's done in terms of developing the footballing side of the club. I'm in no way praising Ashley but it appears lessons are being learned here. The first aim for me was to get to the level where Villa and Everton are, we're not there, and won't be there for a few years, but we've battered both of them, so lets enjoy it. After we get there, the next target will be Tottenham, that might take 4 or 5 years, but as much as I hate them, when you take Man City's money away, as businesses and clubs, us and the yids long term are the only ones who could really push for top four, if we're at their level in 2015, I'll be thrilled to bits. The main difference is that they've had Moyes (who I rate very highly - but might be coming unstuck) and O'Neill (who I don't rate so highly but gets performances out of average players). See how things go, but one of the above might finish below us this term.

I estimate the Ashley mistakes at around 40m (mainly relegation 25-30m and settlements for KK and fat Sam and his crew). Wages at the hight water mark were 68% of income. Not totally club destroying but getting there. I'm guessing it's around 50-55% for now (till we get rid of Smith and argualbly Guti or Collo both rumoured to be on 60-70k bracket). Next summer will be the time for the next rationalisation is my guess. Move Guti on.

I think so. The £70m debt from 2007 became £124m immediatley due to clauses triggered from the sale. What about the rest? KK settlement 5m FSA and crew settlement 5m Rat Wise settlement 1m What else? Crowds down 20% Catering down god knows advertising down god knows TV cash down god knows The KK saga was a big hit on the brand and the above the line income for sure. MA's general behaviour and the fact that partner brands are aware of our dislike of him will keep away the big money for the time being. I noticed that Audi have their 'rings' on the Man U heated seats (things like this). Martines we still owed 4m will have been covered by the sale? Luque we owed a fair amount on (one of the transfers Mort and MA were moaning about reg monies owed iirc)..Say 5m. Viduka was really hurting the club costing 3.6m a year to feed and pay, same still goes for Smith.

I think so. The £70m debt from 2007 became £124m immediatley due to clauses triggered from the sale. What about the rest? KK settlement 5m FSA and crew settlement 5m Rat Wise settlement 1m What else?

How has that happenned? I'm guessing 50m of it is that he's just added the mortgage that became due to the debt.

Scottish betting innit?

Sports Direct signage. Source on those wages btw? You.

Wages has come down from 68m to 48m ish...So where are all these big losses acrewing from? Relegation (Cost 25m ish TV money etc - parachute payment 10m over 2 seasons iirc). Think there has been a profit from player sales as well hasn't there?

Also must admit giving more thought about the negative press the toffees are giving Moyes, there seems a bit more credability to it. Arteta has deffo lost something in the last year, seems a bit heavier as well.

Taking up from what you were saying I thought the interplay between Bafra and Enrique was more natural and spontaneous than it ever is with Jonas (I'll just run down a blind alley and lose it/ attempt lame cross).

Was working so didn't see the game, but either way, this ^. Glad to see Gutierrez and Smith dropped. How was Nolan? Without tempting fate he didn't seem too bad. Poor pitch coverage but seemed ot be in a few key postions at just the right time. Should have scored but hesitated on it and got taclked from behind with just the keeper to beat. Tiote probably made him look good with phenomenal pitch coverage and composure.

Massive. Everytime he got the ball and ghosted past someone I was hoping he'd have another crack!

Harper 7 Krul 8 Perch 6 Williamson 7 Coloccini 9 Enrique 9 Routledge 7 Tiote 10 Barton 10 Ben Arfa 100 Nolan 7 Carroll 9

I know it's early days but doesn't tiote look commanding and confident?

Lovely clean strike.

The Eagle has landed!!!

ARFA!!!!!!!!!

Nice charging run from Tiote. Could have done with a bit more movement in front of him.

EFC: Howard; Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Osman, Arteta, Heitinga, Pienaar; Fellaini, Beckford. Subs: Mucha, Barkley, Bilyaletdinov, Neville, Yakubu, Gueye, Coleman. NUFC: Harper; Perch, Williamson, Coloccini, Enrique; Routledge, Tiote, Barton, Ben Arfa; Nolan, Carroll. Subs: Krul, Campbell, R.Taylor, Smith, Gutierrez, Lovenkrands, Ameobi. Referee: Andre Marriner (Birmingham). Parky prediction 1-1

Looks like he's picked the side that should have started against Blackpool. Well done Chris! Better late than never. Raised my spirits and no Smith means a draw is plausible.