Kitman

Enrique and Nolan were bought a few years ago, when I think Ashley had a different mindset. We've let Nolan go because he's too old and would have a relatively small re-sale value in 2 or 3 years time given his legs have aged already, and we don't want him hanging around on a big wedge like Smith. And I think the plan would have been to re-sign Enrique but we left it too late and he was determined to leave. Barton's in a similar position but seems determined to see out his contract unless a CL club comes in for him, I'm sure we'd sell him if we could rather than let him leave for nothing. But I'm not trying to shoe-horn every transfer into my theory anyway.....I'm talking about what I think he's up to, going forward. However like you say, maybe there's no strategy at all, just opportunism laced with penny pinching or financial realism depending on your view. A different interpretation of recent purchases is that they're just good value for money.

Snap - though the tie stays at home from tomorrow and remote access will be possible. Funny being somewhere where things are happening and people have things to do after how much the previous place had turned to shit. Of course I hadn't been fully set up on the systems so its nice to see how IT production uselessness is universal. Only dodgy thing is its one of those "let's all stay to 6:30/7:00 just to prove how dedicated we are" - don't mind it for a while but I'll migrate to my 5:00 bell soon. Love the way that's always blamed on IT like. I can't speak for other organisations but at ours, the main problem is that the employee number is used as the login ID (an HR decision, NOT an IT one). Conversely that means that we cannot create a new user account until HR have informed us what the employee number is. Only they refuse to generate that number until the day the person actually starts (i.e. so they don't generate an emp no. for someone who thinks "fuck it, i'll not bother turning up" which happens more than I thought). Result being the new starter doesn't get handed their login details until midway through the morning of their first day. Then most secondary logins have to be created after that a lot of them rely on active directory. Be fucking wonderful to live in a world whereby we flick a switch and the job is done - not in the least bit realistic though. Don't give me your excuses bloody IT punkawallah, just get it fucking sorted

Grim

Here comes an amateur unsolicited opinion. I would definitely see a doctor and get some blood pressure and blood tests done. But it might that you're simply run down, stressed out and possibly carrying a bug. And after what you've been through it'd be no surprise.

I'm trying to work out whether Rhys is a clueless fucker or a WUM. Poor stuff.

This thread is making me hungry. Proof I'm getting more like Homer Simpson with every passing year.

Not sure they qualify as condiments. They're essentials as oppose to optional A condiment is basically anything that is used to flavour food. You're talking about sauces and relishes Yes, but in a restaurant the salt and pepper shakers are always on the table and not in the condiment basket, which is usually brought to the table on request. Don't fuck wit my condiment knowledge sonny jim. Do they bring your chicken in a basket too? I think you'll find a "condiment basket" in the shady establishments you frequent are not the best evidence....next time demand the salt and pepper are in the basket too, cos they're condiments

I agree with that. I find ketchup very bland.

Not sure they qualify as condiments. They're essentials as oppose to optional extras. 1 mustard 2 brown sauce 3 chili sauce IMO A condiment is basically anything that is used to flavour food. You're talking about sauces and relishes

What the hell is fruitation?! When Xisco finally scores at NUFC who with?

What the hell is fruitation?!

Indeed. Personally I think Ashley is in a holding pattern until someone comes forward (sooner or later) with the right price. He doesn't need to sell and crystallise a loss so he will sit on the club like a deadweight, neither attracting new investment nor putting in any more of his own money, until he can get shot on his own terms. In the short to medium term I think his priority is to get his $100m of interest free loans back unless he gets a good offer; I believe he plans to fund this out of player sales and the club "wiping its nose" by getting the wage bill down and turning a profit. Making the club profitable and self funding should also make the club attractive to purchasers. PL survival is the only real footballing objective. Key to his business plan will be buying cheap and developing players' value so they can be sold on at a decent profit, before their wages get too high and whilst they still have plenty of time left on their contracts. I admit this is just guesswork and cynicism. Certain things don't fit the pattern like Shola's contract extension and Barton's free transfer but I think this is where we're heading in broad terms. You forgot the advertising revenues going to his parent company St James Holdings! btw when he does sell the club I have a sneaking suspicion that there is going to be all kinds of strife because he's separated the property away from the club and the new owner is in for a shock on what the club now actually owns. Property in what sense Sammy? I think SJP is leased from the council but I assume we own the stands and the training ground? Imagine if he sold the club but kept the training ground!!!! I shouldn't joke about it really......

So we have a $4m budget for a new LB and striker then. Better brush up on available loan players then....

Personally I think in trophy terms neither Sunderland nor us have anything to crow about in what, nearly 40 years? Both clubs have a proud history trophy-wise but it's in the distant past. The likes of Blackburn, Leeds, Birmingham, Boro, Portsmouth etc have all managed domestic trophies in that time (and I'm not looking down my nose at those clubs). I expect we have achieved more as a club in terms of results than Sunderland in the last 30 years, trophies aside, both in the league and in Europe, and I assume we've got to more FA/league cup semis/finals (although I've no idea what the Sunderland stats are on that). I assume we've also spent more time in the premier league and a higher average league position but again I don't know the stats. They've also been relegated from the PL several times and also had the second worse points tally in PL history iirc. I'd also assume we have better home attendances, again don't know the stats. However it's just pissing up the wall really imo. I'm not a geordie but my impression is that these sort of comparisons seem to matter more to mackems and they seem to have a massive chip on their shoulder about this 'top dog' stuff. I can't recall any discussion on Sunderland on here that wasn't initiated by a mackem, dunno how typical that is generally of real life.

Indeed. Personally I think Ashley is in a holding pattern until someone comes forward (sooner or later) with the right price. He doesn't need to sell and crystallise a loss so he will sit on the club like a deadweight, neither attracting new investment nor putting in any more of his own money, until he can get shot on his own terms. In the short to medium term I think his priority is to get his $100m of interest free loans back unless he gets a good offer; I believe he plans to fund this out of player sales and the club "wiping its nose" by getting the wage bill down and turning a profit. Making the club profitable and self funding should also make the club attractive to purchasers. PL survival is the only real footballing objective. Key to his business plan will be buying cheap and developing players' value so they can be sold on at a decent profit, before their wages get too high and whilst they still have plenty of time left on their contracts. I admit this is just guesswork and cynicism. Certain things don't fit the pattern like Shola's contract extension and Barton's free transfer but I think this is where we're heading in broad terms.

Who knows? If we sign any more French lads, Pardew is going to have to swap his company car for a bicycle, a beret and a string of onions. We seem to be this year's destination for migrating French footballers. A bit like Puffin Island for frogs

Who said that we had permission? Well that's the point. If we didn't have permission, he's dropping us in it

And Shola, don't forget

I find this a bit confusing. If the Chairman has rejected our offer out of hand, why would he give us permission to meet with the player and discuss terms? Unless the rules are different for clubs abroad?

It's Aussie dollars innit. Would cost a fucking fortune in NZ, mind you. Something like a month's wage (or some other stat I've made up) aye but it was still 650 aussie dollars so that is about 400-500 quid isn't it? or am i getting muddled No you're right it's about 400 of your English pounds. Thought you were talking about the $500 beanbags, sorry.... aye some of the beanbags on that site are $650's now i want to see what it's like to sit on a £500 beanbag Better not fart on it at those prices

It's Aussie dollars innit. Would cost a fucking fortune in NZ, mind you. Something like a month's wage (or some other stat I've made up) aye but it was still 650 aussie dollars so that is about 400-500 quid isn't it? or am i getting muddled No you're right it's about 400 of your English pounds. Thought you were talking about the $500 beanbags, sorry....

It's Aussie dollars innit. Would cost a fucking fortune in NZ, mind you. Something like a month's wage (or some other stat I've made up) He they were actually worth something last week! And this week?

Fookin' cheap, aren't they. Sorry, value for money.

It's Aussie dollars innit. Would cost a fucking fortune in NZ, mind you. Something like a month's wage (or some other stat I've made up)