Christmas Tree

An excellent post. Why you waste yourself on here when Im sure you could be running Europe or something You do realise he means your post as well dont you? I do

Lee Ryder: If Jose wants out, he must leave

Pardew says 'new heroes' will rise for NUFC

Just bought one of these for £19 at Argos. Now just need an electric cable and we are about set. Is it also too wrong of me to take the George Foreman for speedy breakfasts?

This from Deano on page 1. This should be the final nail in the coffin of this kid's credibility on this board. Utterly fucking idiotic particularly having listened to the interview. I know, dear me. What gives anyone the idea we'll spend this type of money? We havn't spent over 4.5m on a player in Ashleys regime. That won't change now. If we can bring a few more in of the quality of B'Arfa, Tiote etc then if they're cheap then even better. £23m I stand to be corrected but isnt that bollocks?

This from Deano on page 1. This should be the final nail in the coffin of this kid's credibility on this board. Utterly fucking idiotic particularly having listened to the interview. Its an internet forum and last I heard football was all about opinions. Picking on Kids credibility ffs

@Cwarr07

I think it's an interesting theory. It's speculative of course What you're actually trying to do is describe something really complex which is a relationship at the top of a big highly resourced organisation with loads of decision-making which is intertwined and interdependent. No contract in the world sets things out in specific terms (or if there is specificity its on one aspect of things). The balance of power and influence that Pardew has is a function of how effective he is at influencing the ultimate decision maker. Sir Alex does not set the MUFC transfer budget (as such a thing does not exist for one ) and does not sign off on negotiations. His influence is a function of him and his relationship with the chief executive and Glazers. Saying 'it works this way, it works that way' is just pure bullshit speculation on everyone's part. Its dynamic, evolving and usually based on developing trust and influence. Just like in every other commerical organisation in the world. Its called politics. An excellent post. Why you waste yourself on here when Im sure you could be running Europe or something

At last a sensible post

I would say thats totally and utterly wrong. The role of scouts is to find young, untapped talent, highlight those players that the manager would not have had a chance to see himself. I wouldnt say its to fill specific gaps in the squad or to replace players leaving. Do you think that we sold Cole and a scout was told "we need a striker to replace Andy Cole" "got you the ideal one here boss, bloke called Shearer, plays for Blackburn" "oh aye? is he any good?" Managers know the players they want, Dalglish didnt rely on a scout to find Carroll nor has Enrique been recommended to Wenger at some finance meeting by a scout. Scouts should be there to do exactly what Carr has been tasked with, find young foreign or lower league talent that will be cheap. The difference is he appears to be doing that for all the squad places rather than Pardew building his team and topping up the squad with scout found purchases. I could be wrong with that assesment but its how it appears from the outside. The big difference to you assessment is that we are shopping abroad and not in the UK. Very easy when your a top club with big bucks to cherry pick the premiership talent as you imply with Enrique and Shearer. But not so when its finding the Tiotes of this world. No modern day manager has the time or the resources to have the whole market place covered.

Objection. Speculation, m'lud. I do like a good cat picture

Paddocklad is suggesting that Carr is acting as a sort of DoF, see above. I don't disagree with your analysis of Llambias, although I bet he enjoys calling the shots. The question is whether Pardew has much involvement in transfers in and out; as time wears on I've become more convinced he doesn't play any significant part in either, although I expect his opinion would be canvassed at some point especially regarding incomings and squad needs. It's inconceivable that he'd be totally in the dark but the Carroll episode suggests he knew fuck all about his transfer out, similarly he said consistently he'd like to keep Nolan, only to see him sold. He seems to be up to speed with Enrique and Barton's situtationa but that's possibly because nothing has happened yet. I suspect he's loosely kept in the loop from time to time but has no say in outgoings and probably very little on incomings. That's what the current situation suggests to me anyway based on his public comments vs what actually happens. Regarding his stubborness, it depends on whether you think he signed up to this way of doing things when he took on the job. If he did, he's got nothing to be stubborn about, imo. He'll be presented with the final squad on 31 Aug and he'll get on with his job in the meantime. Interesting concept, that the head scout reports to Llambias. Can't see it myself, but I can buy into Llambias getting a run down on what scope there is for development (increasing resale value). I totally buy into Pardew having little say on out goings - Saylor being the obvious exception. Carr was recruited and is employed by lambchop and may also be shown the door by him if things dont go well next season, as the chief scouts of West Ham and Birmingham found out to their costs. Fergie was appointed in a different era, and basically in a different universe football wise so CT and anyone else using him for comparison on this issue is basically using the wrong man. He appoints all his own scouts and they report to him. He also has final say on who comer and goes,even at academy level. All that is in his autobiography. The better comparison is with Pardews playing peers, those of a similar age....I think if someone was brought in over Steve Bruce's head and started telling him which players he could and couldnt have hed tell Niall Quinn to shove it up his arse. Which is basically what KK told lambchop and Wise two or three years back.Some managers want to live or die by their own decisions, others are willing to let their employment be affected in a huge way by the judgement of others. Football is changing in that regard, but not for the better if you ask me. I think you are over simplifying the argument. First of all, there is no evidence of Pardew getting players he doesnt want. Secondly, I think its fair that Pardew probably was left in no doubt about the set up when he joined which is totally different to an established boss like Bruce suddenly having those changes made. Thirdly, as we and sunderland and many other clubs know, simply letting a manager get on and do whatever he wants with no regard for how those financial decisions effect the club, does not usually have a happing ending. Bruce has squandered millions of late on shit. Bruce is having to sell to re-build just as Harry is having to do at Spurs. Its ALL about living within your means these days apart from a select few. Just be thankful we are not Everton.

Naturally I think that view is pants, however its been done to death in three different threads every week for years so cant be arsed to do it again. And yet you do, like clockwork. You brought greedy Ashley in, not moi.

Seriously Gloom, even before more signings to add to the depth come in, if that doesnt get you excited then you should take up carpet bowls. Tiote --- Cabaye Barton ----------------------Marveaux Ben Arfa Ba or Erdinc

Lets not forget Ben Arfa.....almost like a...

Newcastle offer £7m for their new No.9 Simon Bird

Yes, that's exactly how Keegan said the board is doing transfer deals... Think times have moved on a bit since Keegan but hey ho.

Naturally I think that view is pants, however its been done to death in three different threads every week for years so cant be arsed to do it again.

Least I can spell it.

we were bottom 8 last season. there's a good chance the squad will be weaker than last season if enrique and barton follow nolan. as things stand 12-14th would be a decent finish. We were a last minute goal off 9th man Have some faith lad. And we still have big signings to come in.

Have a good un. I was late to alcohol so my 30th was quite a shock. Was bought a drink consisting of the top run of the spirits and pretty promptly slid down the wall of the pub at which point was attacked with various forms of ladies make up. Delivered home looking like Aunt Sally.

Good morning Lols at some of shit being written in this thread. Bottom 6 ffs

I think too many in this thread are living in the world of fantasy football and not real life. At virtually every club up and down the country you will have a team of scouts that are continually "scouting". They will be working to whatever the clubs policy is, ie no point Mr Carr watching Messi. Meetings will take place at key dates throughout the year where the manager will plead his case and the money men will say how much is available. Scouts then briefed about the style of player the manager wants and so the process begins and the scouts watch and report back over quite a long period of time. Further meetings take place and the manager decided whether to follow up and watch the player himself. Assuming he does and likes what he sees, the manager then passes the matter over to the money men to close the deal. I dont see how this works any differently at any other club. The only difference is the wad the club has to play with. Does anyone seriously think Sir Alex goes out and scouts his own player? Of course not and has said many times how valuable his scouting team is. Outgoings of course is a slightly different kettle of fish, but at the end of the day, most clubs will have to take a business view on whether a contract is doable or not. Sure Sir Alex could throw a wobbler because of his long standing and keep a player like Nolan. However in our financial position and with the new incomings, Nolan would have been a very expensive bench warmer. As much as we would all like to be in the rose tinted days when KK spotted a great player and Sir John flashed the cheque book, those days are long gone. In todays game a club aiming for success needs the money men controlling the money, the scouts scouting and the manager managing.

Are there many managers who have much more control? I doubt there are many premiership managers with less say. imo we have a contintental system, which was the original idea when Ashely came on board, where the manager coaches/picks the team and the transfers/infrastructure issues are handled by a director of football. Our director of football used to be Wise and is now Derek Llambias. In reality I expect Pardew has an input on what's needed but not much more than that. I expect Graham Carr has a major say but I suspect it's the brains trust of Llambias and Ashley that's shaping the squad and our transfer policy. This is all purely conjecture on my part of course but I just get the feeling about Pardew that he's a bullshitter. He always seems to be catching up on the news - Carroll, Barton, Enrique, Nolan etc - as though he's had no real involvement in decisions. I think it probably works this way at most clubs these days. Even the great Alex Ferguson simply doesnt have the time to scout the world. Pardew said on Cabaye tonight. " Graham Carr has been following him for 2 years. He has watched him 10 times this season, videoed every game and edited for me to view the bits with Cabaye in. I have then been and watched him three times myself". Im sure Pardew is included in the "shopping list" formation and the Carr and his team find possibilities which are discussed by the money men. Pardew then gets to coach them. I have no problem with this way of working and thinks it probably is the same system virtually every other clubs work too, the only real difference being that Sir Alex and Arsene have a bit more input / final word.

Stupid question Im sure, but who is the bald kid whose head has been stuck on the body in the chair.