Toonpack

Shit, I enjoyed going on the League Cup run and final in 76, for the semi stood in the Gallowgate with one of my dad's work mates who was a broad cockney spurs fan praying he wouldn't open his mouth. Wasn't at the FA cup final in 74 but loved the semi, I even thoroughly had a good time proceeding through and winning the Texaco Cup against Burnley, gave myself a treat that night, bought tickets in the main stand, I really enjoyed the fairs cup in 69 (on the radio sadly, I was only 13 though and watched N. Shields mostly then), but I guess you're right Souness (as an example) was much better than any of that. When I was a young'un in 70's/80's the "big picture" was irrelevant, it was all about the "event" of going to the game on a Saturday, boardroom finance, we just never discussed or even thought of, doubt you did either. P.S. read the link, that's relevant unbiased facts. Texaco Cup ? You're fucking kidding right ? Of course, you set your sights low and don't realise how big the club should be. From the age of about 14 ie when we won the Fairs Cup, i realised how big Newcatle United are, and saw they never pushed on from it because they had shit directors who would NEVER show the ambition befitting the club. It is EASY now to spot such limitations in a football club and its outlook. However much of a wanker Souness is, we still played in europe albeit it courtesy of the previous manager and his inheritance [actually you could say that Mike Ashley is still riding on the back of his inheritance too as the full impact of what he has done and is doing is nowhere near being felt fully yet] and many people still backed him in his sales of the main 2 players he got rid of for peanunts. If you think this is anywhere near the years after Gordon Lee of McGarry and what he left behind, the years after we lost Beardsley, Gazza and Waddle and blowing the good work Cox did, then leading to the last season of Smith and then Ardiles, you are out of your mind. Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda, but sadly didn't. Am done man

Shit, I enjoyed going on the League Cup run and final in 76, for the semi stood in the Gallowgate with one of my dad's work mates who was a broad cockney spurs fan praying he wouldn't open his mouth. Wasn't at the FA cup final in 74 but loved the semi, I even thoroughly had a good time proceeding through and winning the Texaco Cup against Burnley, gave myself a treat that night, bought tickets in the main stand, I really enjoyed the fairs cup in 69 (on the radio sadly, I was only 13 though and watched N. Shields mostly then), but I guess you're right Souness (as an example) was much better than any of that. When I was a young'un in 70's/80's the "big picture" was irrelevant, it was all about the "event" of going to the game on a Saturday, boardroom finance, we just never discussed or even thought of, doubt you did either. P.S. read the link, that's relevant unbiased facts.

Leazes man, we will never agree, just read the link man !!! In closing (I'm done with this - and before you say it I am not surrendering or whatever, you are not going to see my point of view, and I'm never going to see yours) I have never said we are a small club, but we are not as big as some seem to think, we could have been but we blew it. The Halls and FFS gave us the best years of football supporting I have thus far known, but also some of the worst, yes they took on a broken club and rebuilt it, made a fortune but critically then left it badly broken again. FCB is a total twat, but more fool him, it's cost him a fortune, I would suspect he'll never get out of it what the previous regime did. I really don't care enough to engage in this back and forth forever, just do yourself a favour and read the link.

Tell that to Sir Alex Im sure he'd argue you can. Sorry mate, but we are not Man Utd, I'd also add the name Christian Ronaldo to the mix

and maybe end up with an Owen, Luque or Boumsong for which you could have a dozen cheapo's and maybe get 2 Tiote's, maybe..............

You are well named. Can we not just enjoy this, so far so good, season whilst its happening, next summer/season will take care of itself.

He won't accept that man!!! It's still the 70's/80's in his world and you can keep a player forever if you want to.

Fuck off with the Skunkers references, they're not even relevant, except that you're a figure of ridicule over there and a lone voice in the wilderness and still wrong. Just read this (you wont), and absorb what it says, it's 100% independent from any shading by black and white coloured glasses: http://swissramble.blogspot.com/2010/12/ne...ource=BP_recent whatever. Only myself and MWNN called Ashley correctly early on in his ownership, I saw posts over there saying how wonderful Ashley was because he bought pints in the Bigg Market, and behaved like an immature wanker with zero class for doing the conga in the boardroom when we beat the mackems. Who's stupid ???????? Fuckin laughable. I almost pissed myself laughing at their stupidity and ignorance. What colour glasses do you wear ? FACT: The Halls and Shepherd gave you by far the best 15 years of your lifetime, plenty of posters on skunkers and other message boards proclaimed "anyone would be better" such was their complete ignorance. Older posters like you should know better. It's just a shame you condemn it so much. It's an even bigger shame, that despite the last few years, and the gradual erosion of the fanbase and revenues that Ashley inherited, that you still don't see it. This club is going down and down, so far a decent first season back in the top flight on the back of the spirit fostered through winning a lot last season in the lower league has fooled some people [stupid people?] but unless he sells a fall is coming and you haven't seen anything yet - well you have, or you say you have. The full 15 years, no way, for a period of it yes but then it's been steadily downhill (in football terms, which is frankly way down my list of really important "life" stuff). You didn't read the link did you There's blame on both sides and neither is lillywhite (pun intended) despite your protestations to the contrary. For every boardroom classless conga there's a fake sheik, which is worse.

Fuck off with the Skunkers references, they're not even relevant, except that you're a figure of ridicule over there and a lone voice in the wilderness and still wrong. Just read this (you wont), and absorb what it says, it's 100% independent from any shading by black and white coloured glasses: http://swissramble.blogspot.com/2010/12/ne...ource=BP_recent

Tax man will have his say in April don't forget. Which is why we amortise our player assets to produce paper losses, so we can reduce the tax bill. Chez would you please explain amortisation to me? In thicko terms? From that link I have posted a few times, but no-one reads: "The concept of amortisation confuses many people, but it is simply how accountants handle player transfers. Instead of booking 100% of the player’s transfer price as a cost in the year of purchase, accountants treat players as assets, so the cost is capitalised and written-down (amortised) over the length of his contract. At the end of the contract, the player is considered to have no value, because he can then leave the club on a free transfer. It’s probably easier to understand with a real world example. Let’s take Fabrizio Coloccini, who was bought for £10 million in 2008 on a five-year contract, meaning that the annual amortisation is £2 million. After two years his net book value in the accounts is £6 million (the original cost of £10 million less two years amortisation at £2 million per annum)".

Which would be reflected in the balance sheet and thus the purchase price, net effect = nowt either way.

Fill in the blanks HF, if you will... Games played with Carroll = 19 Goals scored with Carroll = 28 Goals Per Game = 1.47 Games played without Carroll = 8 Goals scored without Carroll = 14 Goals Per game = 1.75 There you are chap. Well rid tbh Heretic

just like the good old days. Still, its all "business". The good old days didn't have Bosman, it's called common sense same rules for everybody. Run the club like Netto, and your best players want to go because they see it for what it is. Just like your good old days. There's a fact of life that you need to get your head around. When and if certain clubs come calling you just are not going to be able to hold onto your players. The summer will be the test, if he gets sold to someone like Villa or Everton THEN you can rightly whinge. I think selling our top goalscorer to Liverpool for a record fee is a basis to "rightly whinge. Obviously you don't - but tell me when this last happened rather than the other way round when we ourselves bought the best players from other premiership clubs, something which the vast majority of people came to expect and something which someone your age should understand better - assuming you really did support the club in the 70's and 80's as you claim. First bold bit -then if you think £35m for Carrol should not be taken then you are a fool, not to mention the fact that Liverpool are still seen as a "monster" club, wrongly IMO but that's life. Not having a plan B was whinge-able but the sell decision, at that price, was a no brainer. When did that happen, when we bought the top 4-6th placed (you know the teams I mean) best players ??? you're a fool if you think you should sell your best players. You're also a fool if you think that Liverpool should be buying our best players. Liverpool were the most successful club for a lot of years, but selling them [no to mention the likes of Spurs and Villa] our best players for career and monetary reasons ? The last owners bridged that particular gap, and you're an even bigger fool if you can't accept that. You're also a fool - again - if you think we will see anywhere near that money invested in quality footballers as happened with the sale of Andy Cole as the managers decision I see you are completely avoiding the topic - every time - of supporting the club prior to 1992 ? They attracted you didn't they, now you criticise for not winning the title ? What "sheer" hypocrisy.....which answers your last point perfectly. Don't be stupid, you can't compare the club then (70/80's) to now, or the way players are handled, bosman changed everything. Oh and stick your attracted by 92 crap, I watched Alan Foggon and Micky Burns and Graham Oates and Glen Keeley and George Riley etc etc etc The only period when I didn't consistently go was when Keegan was a player here strangely enough, due to other priorities. I don't think you should sell your best players BUT I accept it as a fact of life in the modern game when those considered the established "big-boys" come knocking and turn a players head, or someone offers you a stupid amount of money, you're screwed. Everyone has their price and there is a pecking order and we ain't in that top tier (and sadly never really have been established there). Do you think for a minute the former owners would have turned down £35m for Carrol, really ?? As for the reinvestment (or not) we won't know until the summer will we (I accept FFS would likely have spent it - well what Barclays would have allowed him to) What you really need to accept is that the Keegan "glory years" were our blip, we had our Shankly moment and we screwed it up, we won nowt, and let it all slip away and it's a LONG road back. Fact: the previous owners did not ie DID NOT - sell our best players for monetary reasons or create a club whereby our best players wanted to leave to further their careers or for monetary reasons. You can dispute this all you like and make up anything you like or spin it any way you like, but this is the facts. We will NOT re-invest the 35m quid in quality footballers, read that carefully, we will not reinvest that 35m quid in quality footballers with the intention to improve the team overall from the one that Carroll played in . Understand ? I'm afraid the statement "we won nowt", true as it may be, only highlights your complete fickleness and lack of appreciation of the fact that at least we had a go, a good go, and came within 90 minutes of landing the league or the FA Cup on 4 occasions, and played in europe more than any club bar 4 in the 15 years they owned it. You show me any other owners of NUFC who have did this, which makes the Halls and Shepherd the best owners we have had at this club by a million miles and Mike Ashley is positive proof that it may take a long long time to find someone else who understands the club like they did and matches it . What a shame that people failed to appreciate and can still only look back now and criticise. That is all my point is, and what is always has been. Appreciate what happened, and accept they were good, because you might never, never see it again in your lifetime. What I really don't get my head around is people who say they were around before 1992 and failed to appreciate it and took it for granted in the end. Fools, all of them, especially when they can't admit they got it massively wrong. Spot on, under the Halls and Shepherds we were one of the big boys, we were a buying club, we didnt sell our best players and most of all we had ambition. Ashley has thrown that legacy away Clubs like Villa and Wolves are now showing far more ambition than us - we will be overtaken and left behind by clubs much smaller than us but with far more ambition The novelty of year on year survival in the premier league will soon wear off - thats the most we ever achieve under Ashley - its shameful for a club with the potential of Newcastle and yet unbelievably some people still try and defend him and compare him favourably with the previous owners Oh I'm sorry, I forgot we were in the champions league when SJH sold up, I take it all back and here's our world beating, last first eleven, of the FFS reign Given Solano Ramage Taylor Carr Milner Butt Dyer Pattison Owen Ameobi Remind us when Sir John Hall sold Freddie Shepherd his shares giving him complete control ? Also remind us who it was that appointed Kevin Keegan as manager and told Sir John Hall when it was all but done and dusted ? Or continue to change the facts to suit yourself........ This ..plus the fact that Ashleys skid mark is a cunt ...Leazes keep on keepin on kidda ...youve got that cunts number : ) You can't even quote/abuse the right poster, diimwit. Erm, no he hasn't. I never intimated that SJH ever sold FFS his shares as usual Leazesmug twists and avoids harsh truth's, you know and I know that FFS was all but solely in charge (irrespective of shareholding) for a considerable period after SJH took a back seat - which is about when our decline started. I've already said SJH/FFS were our best owners (for a period) BUT they fucked it up, we had our chance(s), failed and continued in an unsustainable manner to try and get back - it wasn't working. Now I do not in any shape or form "love/like or would piss on Ashley if he was on fire". But I can see "we are where we are" and be realistic about how we can progress, but I absolutely don't pin our plight squarely on Ashley alone, the root cause is way back when we lost to Partizan. I would fucking love to be in the "money is like confetti" stage again, but I really can't see where the cash could come from, well I couldn't until we got that obscene fee for Carroll. Waiting to see if it's spent, that's all. Reality is: We are not at the top of the pecking order for players and if a Champs League club (or another of perceived succesfull standard) comes in we're fucked, as is anyone else below that watermark (and if someone offers an unrealistic fee, you snap their hands off - if it gets reinvested). Player/Agent power will always win out striving for the extra few thousand quid a week. The modern game is fucked, look at Man City, hundreds of millions spent and they still might not win owt, and surely winning something is what it's all about. How hard is that to understand

OF course I appreciated it you stupid cunt. BUT WE DID NOT CAPITALISE ON IT, and so are now back in the "second tier" (which is better than what we've been before), there is no magic wand to get back. The failure to maintain Champions league football is what killed us and THAT happened on FFS's watch. rubbish. We had 15 years you stupid cunt. Are you - like that other numpty skidders - going to start blaming the Halls and Shepherd [FFS was never the owner, you keep saying this like others] for Mike Ashleys lack of "good planning". We were relegated under Ashley. When he bought the club, we were 14th in footballs rich list and maximising revenue very well. What has he done to that ? I CAN say it won't be re-invested to attempt to create a better team, just like I said early in Mike Ashleys regime what he was going to do to the club too. People [prob including you] said I was talking bollocks then, i was right then and time will prove me right again. actually, you have this the wrong way round. It's those who slate the Halls and Shepherd, who thought showing ambition was a right, hence they took it for granted thinking anybody else who bought the club would do exactly the same. My opinion is that we should not be settling for looking up to clubs such as Liverpool, you should try to differentiate between "big club" and "successful club". Underestimate the potential of NUFC if you wish. I give up, I really do

just like the good old days. Still, its all "business". The good old days didn't have Bosman, it's called common sense same rules for everybody. Run the club like Netto, and your best players want to go because they see it for what it is. Just like your good old days. There's a fact of life that you need to get your head around. When and if certain clubs come calling you just are not going to be able to hold onto your players. The summer will be the test, if he gets sold to someone like Villa or Everton THEN you can rightly whinge. I think selling our top goalscorer to Liverpool for a record fee is a basis to "rightly whinge. Obviously you don't - but tell me when this last happened rather than the other way round when we ourselves bought the best players from other premiership clubs, something which the vast majority of people came to expect and something which someone your age should understand better - assuming you really did support the club in the 70's and 80's as you claim. First bold bit -then if you think £35m for Carrol should not be taken then you are a fool, not to mention the fact that Liverpool are still seen as a "monster" club, wrongly IMO but that's life. Not having a plan B was whinge-able but the sell decision, at that price, was a no brainer. When did that happen, when we bought the top 4-6th placed (you know the teams I mean) best players ??? you're a fool if you think you should sell your best players. You're also a fool if you think that Liverpool should be buying our best players. Liverpool were the most successful club for a lot of years, but selling them [no to mention the likes of Spurs and Villa] our best players for career and monetary reasons ? The last owners bridged that particular gap, and you're an even bigger fool if you can't accept that. You're also a fool - again - if you think we will see anywhere near that money invested in quality footballers as happened with the sale of Andy Cole as the managers decision I see you are completely avoiding the topic - every time - of supporting the club prior to 1992 ? They attracted you didn't they, now you criticise for not winning the title ? What "sheer" hypocrisy.....which answers your last point perfectly. Don't be stupid, you can't compare the club then (70/80's) to now, or the way players are handled, bosman changed everything. Oh and stick your attracted by 92 crap, I watched Alan Foggon and Micky Burns and Graham Oates and Glen Keeley and George Riley etc etc etc The only period when I didn't consistently go was when Keegan was a player here strangely enough, due to other priorities. I don't think you should sell your best players BUT I accept it as a fact of life in the modern game when those considered the established "big-boys" come knocking and turn a players head, or someone offers you a stupid amount of money, you're screwed. Everyone has their price and there is a pecking order and we ain't in that top tier (and sadly never really have been established there). Do you think for a minute the former owners would have turned down £35m for Carrol, really ?? As for the reinvestment (or not) we won't know until the summer will we (I accept FFS would likely have spent it - well what Barclays would have allowed him to) What you really need to accept is that the Keegan "glory years" were our blip, we had our Shankly moment and we screwed it up, we won nowt, and let it all slip away and it's a LONG road back. Fact: the previous owners did not ie DID NOT - sell our best players for monetary reasons or create a club whereby our best players wanted to leave to further their careers or for monetary reasons. You can dispute this all you like and make up anything you like or spin it any way you like, but this is the facts. We will NOT re-invest the 35m quid in quality footballers, read that carefully, we will not reinvest that 35m quid in quality footballers with the intention to improve the team overall from the one that Carroll played in . Understand ? I'm afraid the statement "we won nowt", true as it may be, only highlights your complete fickleness and lack of appreciation of the fact that at least we had a go, a good go, and came within 90 minutes of landing the league or the FA Cup on 4 occasions, and played in europe more than any club bar 4 in the 15 years they owned it. You show me any other owners of NUFC who have did this, which makes the Halls and Shepherd the best owners we have had at this club by a million miles and Mike Ashley is positive proof that it may take a long long time to find someone else who understands the club like they did and matches it . What a shame that people failed to appreciate and can still only look back now and criticise. That is all my point is, and what is always has been. Appreciate what happened, and accept they were good, because you might never, never see it again in your lifetime. What I really don't get my head around is people who say they were around before 1992 and failed to appreciate it and took it for granted in the end. Fools, all of them, especially when they can't admit they got it massively wrong. Spot on, under the Halls and Shepherds we were one of the big boys, we were a buying club, we didnt sell our best players and most of all we had ambition. Ashley has thrown that legacy away Clubs like Villa and Wolves are now showing far more ambition than us - we will be overtaken and left behind by clubs much smaller than us but with far more ambition The novelty of year on year survival in the premier league will soon wear off - thats the most we ever achieve under Ashley - its shameful for a club with the potential of Newcastle and yet unbelievably some people still try and defend him and compare him favourably with the previous owners Oh I'm sorry, I forgot we were in the champions league when SJH sold up, I take it all back and here's our world beating, last first eleven, of the FFS reign Given Solano Ramage Taylor Carr Milner Butt Dyer Pattison Owen Ameobi

Leazesmag

And therein lies the problem, footballers are greedy bastards looked after by greedier bastards. Even Man U and Citeh weren't immune to it even with all their success/ambition with Rooney and Tevez.

I heartily agree with the bolded bit and I would agree with all your post if we'd sold him for £15-20 million. Irrespective of Carroll staying or going, if one of the Champions league teams comes in for any of our players (or any player from ANY team not in the champs league) I'd be very surprised if we could hang onto them (even if we really really wanted to).

OF course I appreciated it you stupid cunt. BUT WE DID NOT CAPITALISE ON IT, and so are now back in the "second tier" (which is better than what we've been before), there is no magic wand to get back. The failure to maintain Champions league football is what killed us and THAT happened on FFS's watch. I agree the Halls and Shepherd WERE the best owners we had EVER, but the slip had started because we tried and we fucking failed, the slip became a landslide which thankfully has stopped and we're on the way back. Even Liver-fucking-pool have to balance their transfer activity, If Chelsea don't move for Torres, Carroll is still a Newcastle player. But at £35 million I'd snap anyone's hand off for the twat (and he is a grade A twat). You cannot say with certainty the money wont be reinvested, same as I can't say it will. The summer will tell. The only way I can see your vision of progress happening is for us to find a rich arab under a rock who wants to throw money away, and THAT just isnt going to happen. I feel heartily sorry for my two lads to be honest, they've grown up thinking NUFC is the KK/SJH/FFS at the peak version as a right (as you seem to), sadly it's not and never has been, we had our best ever shot at it and we failed, the landscape's changed now and getting back, unless these rule changes bite and our club size actually would have an effect, isn't going to happen, get used to it.

Yet another sad indictment of the modern game, before long it'll be when there's two years left. Players and agents hold all the cards. I fervently hope the Platini regulations actually have some bite, not holding my breath though. I agree but still think the club only has itself to blame on this one. They've also been more than happy to benefit from similar situations with players that have come in (nothing wrong with that but you can't have it both ways). Aye but isn't he one of them on a high wedge already, if so, we obviously had to make sure we're not doing the yo-yo before another offer could come forward and 12 months + to go should be OK as a time to talk, in those circumstances.

Yet another sad indictment of the modern game, before long it'll be when there's two years left. Players and agents hold all the cards. I fervently hope the Platini regulations actually have some bite, not holding my breath though.

what a kick in the balls but it's understandable. the carroll sale was a statement of (lack of) intent by ashley. i wouldn't blame him if he walked. i'd like to see ashley back pardew by signing enough quality players to help persuade enrique to stay but i don't see it happening. if i were enrique, i'd want out too. If he or his agent's been tapped by someone further up the tree, I would reckon we're screwed anyway, unfortunately. The Carroll sale cannot be interpreted as a lack of intent until/if and when the cash is/ain't spent in the summer. To be honest I'd have questioned Ashley's sanity if he'd not accepted that amount of cash for a player who "could" be great, but equally is one pissed up night out away from the nick. Carroll's potential is a two way street.

just like the good old days. Still, its all "business". The good old days didn't have Bosman, it's called common sense same rules for everybody. Run the club like Netto, and your best players want to go because they see it for what it is. Just like your good old days. There's a fact of life that you need to get your head around. When and if certain clubs come calling you just are not going to be able to hold onto your players. The summer will be the test, if he gets sold to someone like Villa or Everton THEN you can rightly whinge. I think selling our top goalscorer to Liverpool for a record fee is a basis to "rightly whinge. Obviously you don't - but tell me when this last happened rather than the other way round when we ourselves bought the best players from other premiership clubs, something which the vast majority of people came to expect and something which someone your age should understand better - assuming you really did support the club in the 70's and 80's as you claim. First bold bit -then if you think £35m for Carrol should not be taken then you are a fool, not to mention the fact that Liverpool are still seen as a "monster" club, wrongly IMO but that's life. Not having a plan B was whinge-able but the sell decision, at that price, was a no brainer. When did that happen, when we bought the top 4-6th placed (you know the teams I mean) best players ??? you're a fool if you think you should sell your best players. You're also a fool if you think that Liverpool should be buying our best players. Liverpool were the most successful club for a lot of years, but selling them [no to mention the likes of Spurs and Villa] our best players for career and monetary reasons ? The last owners bridged that particular gap, and you're an even bigger fool if you can't accept that. You're also a fool - again - if you think we will see anywhere near that money invested in quality footballers as happened with the sale of Andy Cole as the managers decision I see you are completely avoiding the topic - every time - of supporting the club prior to 1992 ? They attracted you didn't they, now you criticise for not winning the title ? What "sheer" hypocrisy.....which answers your last point perfectly. Don't be stupid, you can't compare the club then (70/80's) to now, or the way players are handled, bosman changed everything. Oh and stick your attracted by 92 crap, I watched Alan Foggon and Micky Burns and Graham Oates and Glen Keeley and George Riley etc etc etc The only period when I didn't consistently go was when Keegan was a player here strangely enough, due to other priorities. I don't think you should sell your best players BUT I accept it as a fact of life in the modern game when those considered the established "big-boys" come knocking and turn a players head, or someone offers you a stupid amount of money, you're screwed. Everyone has their price and there is a pecking order and we ain't in that top tier (and sadly never really have been established there). Do you think for a minute the former owners would have turned down £35m for Carrol, really ?? As for the reinvestment (or not) we won't know until the summer will we (I accept FFS would likely have spent it - well what Barclays would have allowed him to) What you really need to accept is that the Keegan "glory years" were our blip, we had our Shankly moment and we screwed it up, we won nowt, and let it all slip away and it's a LONG road back.

just like the good old days. Still, its all "business". The good old days didn't have Bosman, it's called common sense same rules for everybody. Run the club like Netto, and your best players want to go because they see it for what it is. Just like your good old days. There's a fact of life that you need to get your head around. When and if certain clubs come calling you just are not going to be able to hold onto your players. The summer will be the test, if he gets sold to someone like Villa or Everton THEN you can rightly whinge. I think selling our top goalscorer to Liverpool for a record fee is a basis to "rightly whinge. Obviously you don't - but tell me when this last happened rather than the other way round when we ourselves bought the best players from other premiership clubs, something which the vast majority of people came to expect and something which someone your age should understand better - assuming you really did support the club in the 70's and 80's as you claim. First bold bit -then if you think £35m for Carrol should not be taken then you are a fool, not to mention the fact that Liverpool are still seen as a "monster" club, wrongly IMO but that's life. Not having a plan B was whinge-able but the sell decision, at that price, was a no brainer. When did that happen, when we bought the top 4-6th placed (you know the teams I mean) best players ???

just like the good old days. Still, its all "business". The good old days didn't have Bosman, it's called common sense same rules for everybody. Run the club like Netto, and your best players want to go because they see it for what it is. Just like your good old days. There's a fact of life that you need to get your head around. When and if certain clubs come calling you just are not going to be able to hold onto your players. The summer will be the test, if he gets sold to someone like Villa or Everton THEN you can rightly whinge.