NJS

I get the impression that before Milner left, there was an idea that the squad was "good enough" - something I don't agree on though Keegan was still probably expecting a left back. Milner's sale prompted an increase in demand for a midfielder and I'd guess if Martins and Viduka wern't injured they wouldn't have gone after a striker. Overall I think its the infamous "everyone has a price" for sales that has been the straw - how much shit would we have been in if Owen and Barton had left (numbers wise at least). Having said that I know Kev's statement suggests its purchases that were the stumbling block so we may have to wait to find out who he didn't want.

Being harsh they show a bit of promise but aren't good enough on their own to move us up the table. Then again even with the system working, they've been hamstrung by a shit budget which is down to Ashley. ST money? TV money?

I know its been said but they really didn't know what they were doing when they forced his hand given the backlash. They even had a chance to fix it but couldn't do that. The Hull match will be horrible but having said that the more horrible it is, the more chance that he will get the message that he is completely unwanted. Of course none of them will be there and I think Ashley will conveniently have business abroad. Another sad thing is he could appoint a decent manager who would have been a "better" choice in January given the intent but whichever mug takes it will be fucked from day one. Expect him to offer Shearer a kings ransom to take charge - I hope Shearer for once isn't a twat and turns him down. As others have said maybe the Indian is a good way out - again given the backlash Ashley might sell at a loss.

RE: The way out: Would it be too anarchic a suggestion to keep the same structure but let Keegan appoint or approve the personnel (after jettisoning the current lot).

My thoughts exactly. Could be but what is unarguable is that Mort was the one who implemented it. And possibly the man who made it work. It does appear that way, it was him who kept the pieces in order by the looks of things. Then again, he did get out before the transfer window opened so it was just first team matters at issue when him and Keegan were together at the club. That's the thing though - it was obviously decided not to bother in Jamuary so this summer was its first use/operation/test. A lad I work with was saying Keegan shouldn't have accepted the structure but being told when Wise joined how it was going to work and how it turned out is two different things.

He's not dead Some great memories there - call me bitter but that shot at Anfield still makes me want to kill all scousers.

I agree but feel a joint approach would work - I don't mind in principle Jiminez or whoever "handing over" good players to Keegan but think it should work the other way around where he says "Please can you go and get me Stephen Warnock" and that request should be taken seriously. I also think this is more about the attempted sales than the failed purchases. I would also add that I think Guthrie was down to Keegan - possibly in the way I described.

As others have said ite 3 years. You also assume that Ashle's committment is as stated and not as "loose" as the for sale stories suggest. I also don't think theres evidence that Keegan's "instant" players would necessarily be old - see the alleged interest in Warnock, Lennon and Schweinsteiger. I'd also argue that one good UEFA/CL run would get more back than say a doubling of his money on Xisco as an example.

"Mutual consent" with half the compen. Of course you can have serious arguments at work but I honestly don't see a way back from this. I do hope so though.

If he stays there are two possibilities for me: 1. Everybody kisses and makes up and says it was all just "Robust discussion" and nothing has changed in reality 2. Keegan tells the truth about what happened, there is an honest semi-public debate about it, changes may be made and everybody moves forward. Scenario 1 just postpones the inevitable re-occurence in my opinion - it may plaster over the cracks and allow us to stumble forward to January or May but the cliub will be wounded. I obviously prefer 2. In reality however as I said last night I think he's gone and the posturing on both sides is about the compen.

If we've reached the stage where the only reasons statements are released is with the purpose of arguing over compen then we're fucked.

Canny statement - excuse me for thinking it's spin and he'll walk.

I think I said somewhere that if at the time we achieved safety/end of season, Ashley had shook Kev's hand, thanked him and let him go so that he could look for his own "true choice" then it would have worked for me - I honestly always doubted the 3 year contract.

The thing is from reading about this Man City lot they haven't exactly consulted Hughes about targets - not saying it wouldn't have been fun or better in the long run but a sale to them may have brought the same tensions.

I can't read all of the pages in this thread as some are blocked by the porn filter so apologies if I say what others have said: My positive/clutching at straws take on this is its better for the shit to hit the fan so everybody at least knows the truth and the air is clear. I think everbody now realises that Kev was putting on "an act" when he said he was happy so at least that's over. As for Ashley I seriously don't think he's realised what will happen if he sacks Keegan and appoints the dwarf - He might have been told that we are "Loyal fans" but the timing of this means there will be a hell of a backlash. I almost hope he tries to take his usual place in the stands at West Ham. The best way out of it imo is for him to realise his approach is not worth the hassle he is going to get in the next few weeks and he looks for a buyer quickly - preferably a Man City style one.

I still think we're short of numbers - the benches so far have been too young. I trust people like Edgar to a degree and maybe Geremi will become more of a fringe player but I'd liked to have seen one of the two defenders we were linked with in the last couple of days + maybe the Norwegian bloke come in. If we're very lucky with injuries I think we can finish top 8 - a normal season injury wise and I think it'll be similar to last year unless we can improve things in January.

White claiming text off Barton saying he didn't want to leave as he owes club and fans.

Craig on SSN now reckons Barton was in for player exchange but deal failing because of 4m fee - has to be Diarra surely? I'd still go for it.

Could have been us - representative of the new man city owners said on SSN they looked at Arsenal, City and us.

You can't predict late bids. Who'd be stupid enough to sign someone who's about to get at least a 10 game ban?

Couldn't help thinking the same.. Differnce is that ManU were willing to match what we offered, not sure they'll be willing to match this reported ridculoudly large bid. On the other hand it could be more like us/liverpool with Owen where the other team arrogantly expect the player to refuse to go to the higher bidder.

The youngest scorer thing was a different player with a similar name if what I read last night is correct - that's probably where he got the wrong age from as well.

My cynical side reckons if they'd gone into tomorrow with the alleged 1 year 85k contract on the table his agent would have been touting a deal so this offer just means more time.

As i said in the match thread - Tony Adams is still an Arsenal legend despite an extremely serious drink driving case which imo is worse than what Barton did. You can add Merson in as well. I also saw people carrying trays of beer in the seats yesterday so either it was non-alcoholic or the stewards didn't care too much.

Just something else on the "football is ruined" angle which I was talking about with my mates after the game: The goal celebrations by their fans were quite muted (nothing wrong there - we sometimes have done the same in the past when we've played a lesser team and recognise that a goal will be one of several) but there was a moment after the second goal where it was replayed on the big screens where large sections of their crowd broke out into what could be best described as polite applause for the quality of the goal. It felt to me completely out of place at a football ground and just made me think that they may as well have been watching it at home. I think it was a glimpse of the future and it sickened me.