manc-mag

We've had more than our fair share that 'weren't suited to the PL' when we had mega cash to spend and the reason they didn't work out wasn't actually because they 'weren't suited to the PL'.

I've said too much already.

That's you going on the list right there CT.

I wouldn't rule out the possibility Melissa was Paul Wyn. He's very computer savy and his penchant for pornography is a matter of public record. Taunting his victim is just his style as well. Reckon Amazon UK will be getting hammered for S-club dvd's and carling off the back off this nice little scam.

Butter literally would NOT melt...

In (partial) mitigation for Pistone, he was basically just shit.

If we did get him, I like the fact he's coming with a question mark and something to prove. The three above were big name buys for big time money (in their respective eras) who came here and found it all too comfortable resting on their laurels. We didn't demand anywhere near enough of lots of players over far too many years is the basic truth of it.

Badly?

Your puns just keep getting cornea. eye.

Depends if we can get a landline number for him I reckon. "You're not fucking ringing mobiles from club phones, Alan. Ring his landline. Evenings and weekends only." *sound of Johnson's mobile followed by operator's voice*: "I've got an Alan Pardew on the line, do you mind if he reverses the charges?"

Steven Taylor on Radio 5 at 8pm if anyone's massively bored.

Depends if we can get a landline number for him I reckon.

In the interests of balance, how would you feel if we got none of the above?

Balls to this saga btw.

His work on crosses has come on a lot too, which is as you'd expect from someone with eyes on the side of his head.

What a prat. Get him, Pardew and Big Ron doing the punditry. To be fair the term Holocaust does not just mean the one suffered by the Jews, Gypsys, homosexuals and opponents of Hitler. It can't really be said to accurately describe a poor defensive performance against Nani either though.

Summarises the approach very well, I think this is precisely what is going on accepting that the bit in italics is hopeful rather than proven (which is why you italicised of course). Ashley does things his way and this is an innovative gambler's approach, the Toon becoming like the French Foreign Legion (metaphorically and literally it seems). Is this with the hope that one of every two or three will be moved on at huge profit, or is it to build a challenging team in his own way? Almost impossible not to lean toward the former given the conveyor belt of shite but I do believe that Ashley is a narcissist and wants to prove to everyone he can do things, big things, using his own methods; that could of course solely be to make the club financially successful. What's left to ponder is is there any vanity in there to get the club competing using his own methods too? Time will tell, but I've lost hope myself. Didn’t the club dispense with most the coaching staff this summer? http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/sport/newcastle...79310-29192039/ Was thinking about policies/culture rather than personnel. You could be right though, I'm not making the point categorically that they're achieving this, I'm just saying what I think it'll need to generate the right results using that approach.

Summarises the approach very well, I think this is precisely what is going on accepting that the bit in italics is hopeful rather than proven (which is why you italicised of course). Ashley does things his way and this is an innovative gambler's approach, the Toon becoming like the French Foreign Legion (metaphorically and literally it seems). Is this with the hope that one of every two or three will be moved on at huge profit, or is it to build a challenging team in his own way? Almost impossible not to lean toward the former given the conveyor belt of shite but I do believe that Ashley is a narcissist and wants to prove to everyone he can do things, big things, using his own methods; that could of course solely be to make the club financially successful. What's left to ponder is is there any vanity in there to get the club competing using his own methods too? Time will tell, but I've lost hope myself. Total guesswork but I think he believes you can get to around 6th on very modest wages/transfer outlay. I reckon Pardew reinforces that message too. If you absolutely get the basics right, I actually think that's possible too. Mackems will spend tens of millions but they're basically getting shafted so as long as you're playing the market more cannily than that level of rival then you can reach the top of that pack. The pack above that is not an option because that is a different wage structure altogether, you can't enter that club unless, as an individual owner, you're actually prepared to risk absorbing huge personal losses. He's not and in all honesty, why should he be? Obviously that forms the basis of the argument for him to sell up, but we know that's not going to happen either while there's no buyers. For the present I'm almost convinced he feels you can pick up better players by operating in an 'alternative market' by focussing on the traditionally cheaper leagues or, exceptionally, the out of favour talents in the dearer leagues. The big spenders literally wont even contemplate the latter players as they want someone who will be performing from day one, and in the former market we'll always have a chance unless a bigger spender is in too. It's an exercise in casting the focus onto areas of the market which are overlooked/ignored by the top spenders.

Think you've got to start to look at the two things separately though. They're part of two different phases of the clubs history; i) when we spent money (Barton, Enrique, Nolan, (panic premium) Coloccini) and, ii) now we don't (Ben Arfa, Tiote etc). The last lot wont come down on wages so they'll be away provided someone will pay them more. Coloccini will go in a year if he's still in demand by other clubs, there'll be no footballing decision involved. It's a phasing out, so really from a footballing point of view the test is only about who comes in the other way.

Aye.

This is going to be a mainstream policy tbf. Much as I'd like to be signing the current cream of Europe, they're out of our reach. In all seriousness, if we're signing slightly marginalised, but basically talented players at a discount and theres a real emphasis on bringing them on according to their personal needs we can get some good players together. The alternative is very very ordinary 'proven' English players who come at a totally nonsensical transfer premium. If the backroom really is a more sophisticated set up these days then that can be a viable alternative way to make some progress-because it's pointless thinking about competing on transfer fees, taking a real world view.

sportsdirect.com Got more for it than the Gallowgate roof though, so at least he got his fix.

He works at my local Ikea actually. He went to a grammar school near me and I think they were offering an access course which he did instead of his GCE's. I told him I will look out for him next time I'm in so thanks for the description.

I know a Jamaican who sold his forehead for crack. Very sad story.

See that bit about him being linked with Roma? Could be the usual agent bullshit to get Roma to up their offer. Aye, get it signed basically. Until then, pretty pointless discussing his strengths and weaknesses.