scoobos

Now see , this is what I tried t avoid. You're rebuttal was Google Barclays , insinuating that they so the same business But balls to this, you're entitled to your opinion and I'm entitled to think its misguided, vice versa etc. You can't play the fooling regs card and then advertise them and say its fine cos the law hasn't changed. I'm pretty sure there's no law stopping me from shagging 14 year olds in Canada, but if I was, would you be happy to have my face / name across the shirt if I paid the same money, but then say well its Canadas fault for not regulating the age of consent at 16? But balls to this, you're entitled to your opinion and I'm entitled to think its misguided, vice versa etc

Ok I'll bite Man UTD did today. Chelsea often do Man city nearly always do.

I've given my opinion and that's it, don't want a big flame war. Ill never put a high street bank in the same bracket as Wonga ever. What grinds my gears is if Barclays did offer a loan at any APR to a customer using the same terms as Wonga, the FSA would murder them under responsible lending rules. As a side note, I was fucked off at McDonald's sponsoring the football today, wtf have McDonald's got to do with sport and health? The FA should have more scruples. This kind of thing always makes me whiny. If you don't think Wonga has tarnished the reputation of the NE or our affiliation doesn't just confirm stereotypes then that's fine with me, really, but I'm not budging its fuckin embarrassing to me. I've taken enough shit in London and don't need the club plastering our players in a "peasant loan" company (not my term) I don't see anyone advertising beer directly to alcoholics / homeless / vulnerable either. Alcohol adverts are actually subject to control , you wont see it during daytime tv hours like Wonga. Rant over

We differ on this ant, and we are both entitled to our opinions. Barclays sell banking services under the FSA and would never issue loans on Wongas terms for two reasons, 1 the FSA and 2 the damage to reputation. Unfortunately the FSA is being very slow to change regs to enforce rules, they didn't see this coming, as usual. Look how they sat on PPI for over 10 years before actually dealing with anything. Carling sell beer, at a price at purchase that someone can enjoy. What they don't do, is advertise to alcoholics in parks , the parallel being when do you see Wonga adverts? Thanks to gov't cuts there genuinely are parents out there who cannot feed their kids, and I've seen too many stories of people being fleeced by Wonga. http://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/mar/01/wonga-real-cost-payday-loan Totally different organisations. Oh and nice one peasepud

And WHS

Hmm, I didn't see any confidence myself, they looked pretty much the same as last year. Positives same as you tho, colo was ace, arfa looked fit.

Well I'm different. I think they are shit loan sharks who market exclusively to people who can't afford loans in a disgustingly profiteering way. The view southerners have of the north is only further blemished by this sort of deal. Its a disgrace in my opinion, which I am entitled to. I have very little doubt that once the Tories are out and the recession is over in 10 years we'll have retrospective action against them in the same ilk as PPI, but I reckon Wonga will wind up by then You will never see a decent club touch them with a barge pole. Blackpool, centre of the homeless uk, worst health and worse prospects were also Wonga sponsored, read into that what you will. Yet another insult from Ashleys time.

Agree totally with that, but I did honestly think Jonas had a good game today - he actually put crosses into the right places nearly every time and also drew a lot of fouls. Cabaye doesn't want to play for us, it seems - or he's depressed. Arfa still looked pacey despite his larger build too.

We scored from a corner - Ben Arfa - Colo combo... Get in.

Penalty to Braga, Deb foul. Converted (piss weak) 0-1

Well I differ, carrick wouldn't be 20 mil and is a far better player no?

I'd not be so unhappy to see him go, I just don't think his heart was in it last year (or he was depressed). I'd actually pop Anita in the team and have Brig on standby, i'd want us to buy another midfielder though too.

Good posts , it's a unwinnable debate though, because football is a sport being ran by a business. Both sides need some kind of balance, the extremes don't really show the true picture. The problem with this is really that its become part of a corporate world, all deals that matter are Business to Business , with Agents touting the players. But its become self serving and lost sight of the overall objective as far as sport goes. I believe we should be competitive and that it's semi acceptable to make small losses in football , as who knows when the next silly transfer is. Running a club as a rotating door only really works for those at the top of the food chain, and not us, from a footballing point of view. The whole point of a football business is supposed to be to lead the club responsibly but also with an objective of producing the best football club you can. Whether Ashley is doing this is debatable , personally I think he's a fool and has burnt money and not acted responsibly, but his overall approach isn't terrible. I reckon a REAL businessman like Branson could achieve far more with the same resources. That's my 2 cents anyway.

Now he's gone I can say this - I thought he was pretty good, but frustrated most of the time I saw him. We will see how he gets on this season

Ok sounds good to me.

I'd be surprised. I'm happy we've got a striker, but from QPR's perspective it's quite a good insurance policy. If we're paying his wages (which I assume we are), and he gets done for rape - then all the negative publicity will be at NUFC, not QPR. I do think media "circus" attention can definitely damage team performances. If nothing comes of it, he clears his name - we get a decent striker for a year - and then QPR can take him back without baggage, or offer him to us at a good rate for them. Ever the pessimist when it comes to transfers, but this is just a band aid really, we still need to get a proper permanent striker in, in the long run.

Thank fuck for that.

--------------------krul debuchy--taylor/Mbwia.---colo---haidara -------------------sissoko ------arfa-----cabaye ------ santon --------cisse---------gouffran With the current squad now, this is what I hoped we'd play. Surprised no one else suggested wanton Ina "Jonas" role. Tiote, Campbell, Jonas, Anita, Elliot would give a few options to change shape. I took Tiote as I thought he was shite last year. If sissoko truly is this box to box machine, bringing the ball forward with that lot ahead of you should overload even strong opponents. Defensively we'd have strength behind the ball too I reckon. What frustrates me, is there is so much pace in that team, but our tactics don't seem to use it. Feel free to rip apart

I wouldn't see Sissoko as being adapted playing there, he's a DMF anyway . I think us lot put this "box to box" label on him. I'd prefer Sissoko over Tiote any day tbh.

To me , with the comment above, you are proving my point - they all struggled (except perhaps Gouffran, who slotted straight in) and we nearly got relegated . I'm not counting the new people we *might* buy, but I'm a firm believer that most foreign players without Prem experience need at least a year to settle and be anything more than substandard. If they do play well, they tend only to do it in small stints. Even Chelsea and the likes struggle to bond their players and they buy WORLD class . I reckon bringing Remy / Gomis (or anyone really) in, is a good thing - but 2 weeks before the season and expecting good form is perhaps a big ask. I'd say any 2 injuries tbh - If we lose Cabaye, Colo, Taylor, Deb , Arfa etc we don't seem to have a natural plug for the gap at all. Or , playing devils advocate, say we do have all those players without an inury - very few of them are strong enough to play every game of the season anyway, and will need rotating.

How about last season then? We were screwed once Cabaye and Arfa went. I'm not happy with fuckin fringe and youth players THROWING away cups either, we should compete in them , its the only thing we stand even a slight chance of winning. Our attitude to Europa and the domestic cups sucked balls last year, its embarrasing (It's also the only real opportunity I get to go to matches , which is my motivation). But alright, I've done enough whinging on here for a year , it just grinds my gears that 1 single striker seems to turn us around into this better team , we were very lucky not to get relegated last year remember.

I want us to do well, but WHS. 2 injuries and we're fooked, same as last year.

Get a job in Carribean, like me

Ok, well you're entitled to your view. I hear what you say, but it just jars me WHY he would choose to drop in names like Rooney and Ronaldo and not just say "quality players" or summat. Other members here also reckon hes a salesman, so I'm not an isolated looney in this. perhaps.

Nah I don't "honestly think David Moyes...." - I think saying that your key player, whos been linked in the media is in the same league as some of their biggest signings is ridiculous and blatent. I'm sure others agree. It's not baseless to say either side, but as soon as he drops in "players like him, Rooney and Ronaldo" it's a big fucking come get him, imo. I'm similar , in that I get annoyed when people are "entirely positive" in the transfers thread (which I reckon was the only place I'm totally negative). Saying that quote isn't a come get me , or that gomis is going to solve our problem of selling 2 of our better players and buying in shit at the last minute, for me is almost like working for the Ashley team, there's fuck all positive about that. But anyhoo, I'll concede , but what exactly is there to be positive about? Last year was fookin painful man, horrible - and then he's going to put us all through it again, only this time 4 frencies in January isn't going to help us. It's frustration, so I'll tone it down if its going to generate such responses. I'm going to flounce off and cry now...