ChezGiven

From Sky Clear as mud. Past tense. You've lifted that quote directly from a statement where he was explaining that he would no longer be bankrolling the club, if I'm not mistaken? Because he claimed to be selling it. If he's not selling, why's he not bankrolling like he seemed to realise was required to build anything 3 years ago in the same position? Why assume his strategy has not changed? He has changed his mind about 5 times since he took over, dont know why anyone expects coherence or consistency (although it would be nice).

Tough call, I like Trophyshy's suggestion but you need to look at your working day. You will gain going to London on a flight if you travel early in the morning and work within an hour of heathrow. You should have a flexible ticket booked with an account at the firm with a travel agent or directly with BA. The flexibleness of the ticket is key. If you have this, it's more expensive per flight (but not that much different to a first class train season ticket) but means you can aim to arrive exactly 30 mins before the flight. If you miss it (which you won't) you can get the next one. Somebody wiser than me said 'if you've never missed a plane, you've spent too much time at airports'. Anyway, its all about your hours, time getting up and what time you need to be there. So if you take the 7am from Newcastle you need to be at the airport by 6.30, this will get you into work by 9am. If you get the train, you will get there at 10.30. You'll get an extra 30 mins in bed. The train is much more chilled out and more relaxed though, which makes a lot of difference. I took the train for years buts that's because I was doing London Paris. If you need to save time, then fly. Good luck, delighted for you btw.

I like you but thats fucking nonsense mate. Its not a gamble, unless signing a contract is a gamble. You cant classify a contract as a gamble. If it was one year less would i have been a gamble? A year less than that and thats his current contract. You're basically saying that the risk of a career threatening injury in the last 2 years of this contract are too big. That is nonsense from a rick benefit perspective. Plus clubs are insured against the players having career finishing injuries. As for the impressing the gullible bit, well i guess like with everyone else who has said the same as you (so am not picking just you up on this) its the only position consistent with your previous point of view, so you have to say that. For me, it doesnt change much i have to say because with Ashley he's chopped and changed his strategy and desires for the club so much, its a bit foolish to pin him down to one and think he is sticking to it.

Massive game and Pardew has talked it up just right this week imo. Season could go 2 ways, this match will tell us which. I know who i want to score but not jinxing it.

The contracted is worth more when we sell them and/or keeps them on a low(er) wage for a longer period of time with the club not having to renegotiate for a few years. We're planning on selling John Carver? Football finances gone mad tbh. Not that it's likely with I'm not Jesus but I have the same initials but, um it's not as if an assistant coach has never been poached from another club before, is it? Surely you've lost that great assistant when living your dreams on championship manager! I was just messing sammy . For the record, i've never played championship manager.

The contracted is worth more when we sell them and/or keeps them on a low(er) wage for a longer period of time with the club not having to renegotiate for a few years. We're planning on selling John Carver? Football finances gone mad tbh.

I said in the Enrique thread that imo he makes about 6-9 places difference in the league and that win % just shows that to be true. Alex is spot on about his influence and impact on those around him. This lad is special, my firm favourite player this season and i think any early comparisons to Batty have been firmly put to one side. I remember 2 months going by with Batty not making a forward pass, this lad is head and shoulders the best combative midfielder we have had at this club since i can remember. He has made the odd mistake which is down to his age but i see him improving as a player and i hope its with us. It was nice to see some reflection on the player's comments too (everyone else seemed to rush into Professor Brian Cox mode "Yes but what does this MEAN??" as if it might reveal the answers to life the universe and everything. It doesnt, it is what it is, which is an improved contract for our best player. People put too much influence on Ashley regarding whether the player stays or not, the most important person is the player himself and then the agent. The next most influential are the buying club and Ashely. All the owner (or chairman) does is set a price. If clubs dont match it, he goes nowhere. If the club matches it but the player doesnt want to go, he goes nowhere. So what price Tiote? Well hopefully this means he isnt 'for sale' but what it does not do is stop other clubs putting a bid in or making enquiries, using agents to influence his agent and try and put pressure on the player. We cant stop any of that happening and it will go on this summer, am sure. If he is on £40k a week then thats a £10m contract. Using price/wage/contract length ratios for other top midfielders, my rule of thumb puts his price above £25m. Does the player want to stay? Signs are good.

The Bassong sale made perfect sense because what was the alternative? Sell Colocinni, lose even more money to go with the relegation finances. Sell Bassong, make some money to help with the relegation finances.

Happy Birthday Cath.

That Destroyer album is absolutely amazing.

Is this an apology? "I'll pretend you ripped us off £8m if i can come back and play!"

This season's team would beat that season's team imo.

I said that a long, long time ago. Me doing the questions. Not for nothing, if you knock up 20 questions, I'll definitely support it's introduction by bribing the good and the great of Toontastic Should be a points system. You need 50% to get in. 10 questions about the toon (3 points for each correct answer). 10 questions about football in general, and a 200 word written statement "why you aren't a mug". To be given a mark out of forty by a panel of five appointed adjudicators.

It'd extra money, of course an owner wants it. He doesn't have to pay the players any more money to play the games. It's all a bit premature anyway, if we're still talking about it after the scouse mackems, I'll be delighted.

I wasnt being serious about it being a bannable offence, dont worry.

Just cook fillet for 2 mins each side. At least leave it pink in the middle. Dont put cream cheese on it, have a dab of dijon mustard instead.

Hope I'm not teaching my grandma to suck eggs, but I imagine You'll find something to like among these.... Blondes - Re-Synthesist Nicolas Jaar - Space Is Only Noise Steffi - Yours & Mine Maya Jane Coles - Humming Bird EP Rocketnumbernine - Matthew and Toby Francesco Tristano - Idiosynkrasia Factory Floor - Real Love I particularly like the not "piano house" of Francesco Tristano I quite like Blondes, Moondance is a nice track and i saw that Space Is Only Noise was released, not had the chance to listen to it yet. I really like his mix of Azari & III's Into the night, lovely piano and vocal. For the rest, read a bit about the Maya Jane Coles last year, just had a listen thats some house groove she's got going on. If you like that, you might like Random Factor - Outlaw Random Factor - Bubbletop Jürgen Paape - So Wird Die Zeit Gemacht Agoria - Speechless (feat Carl Craig) Some other nice recommends there, having a listen to the rest now.

Apologies for my intolerance, CT's 'on the wayne' thread was the last straw.

Does dyslexia make you lazy? Google the word if you arent sure, it will give you the proper spelling.

Look at Taylor arse-licking Pardew. Spelling mistakes in thread titles should be a bannable offence btw.

Has he now reversed it? Thats a question which no one can really answer as of yet.

http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d636

I think the odds are slightly in favour of what Leazes says coming true. I dont think you can rule out the club doing the right thing but anyone who has observed the club closely since 2007 would want a good price on the bet that he will do the right thing. I am worried that if we do get something like 50 points (no guarantee on that at all) then he wont see the need to do that investment and that second season syndrome will kick in. Its a competition and our own activity cant be looked at independently of those around us. If the sides we want to compete with strengthen, then we have to too. I do think if we keep hold of Barton, Tiote and Enrique and if Ireland and Ben Arfa come on and if we get a top striker, this will be enough for us to improve on what we have achieved this season. Thats quite a few ifs tbf.

Fleet Foxes new one comes out in May, Holy Ghost's new one comes out on DFA in April, be interested to hear John Maus's new one (April too iirc). That Toro Y Moi new album is out and its not bad and am on the look out for the new Win Win album too.