Christmas Tree

I agree its not easy but that doesnt mean we cant do it. And tbf (not that I take a great deal of interest in other clubs), but I haven't seen much evidence of any strong pushes to really improve next year from any other teams outside the top 6. Out of the pack that you think would be pushing Liverpool and Spurs, such as ..... Everton, Fulham, Villa, Sunderland I think we have as good a, if not better, chance than any of them. Based on little more than blind optimism at a guess though. Optimism plays a part but there are other factors for me such as the areas that I thought we were weak last year are being addressed. Combine that with the style of football that Pardew seems to want to play and I think / hope we do well.

I agree its not easy but that doesnt mean we cant do it. And tbf (not that I take a great deal of interest in other clubs), but I haven't seen much evidence of any strong pushes to really improve next year from any other teams outside the top 6. Out of the pack that you think would be pushing Liverpool and Spurs, such as ..... Everton, Fulham, Villa, Sunderland I think we have as good a, if not better, chance than any of them.

Again, I'm confused. Toontoon insists we can't afford to push for europe year after year....and he says Ashley knows this and won't spend the money to push for it. You agree it's too much of a gamble. But you and Ashley still both think we'll make that push for europe without spending any the hundrerd million odd you all know and state is needed. I'll un-confuse you Your posts indicate a view that it is either spunk a load of cash to chase the dream or survive. My point is that year on year improvement might also achieve a European place. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Last season should of been 9th. Put out a better team next year and we should be looking to aim higher, ie challenging for Europe. You think we'll be able to challenge the 5 available european positions along with the rest of the 'big 6' (Chelsea, Man U, Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool and Spurs) without buying a top striker or keeping hold of any quality striker we're able to produce internally? Am I not right in thinking that quite often the team in 6th or 7th can qualify? Has that scenario changed ? And yes I dont see any reason why we cant "challenge" Spurs or Liverpool. (Thats not saying I think we'll finish 5th or 6th btw)

Caught offside

Again, I'm confused. Toontoon insists we can't afford to push for europe year after year....and he says Ashley knows this and won't spend the money to push for it. You agree it's too much of a gamble. But you and Ashley still both think we'll make that push for europe without spending any the hundrerd million odd you all know and state is needed. I'll un-confuse you Your posts indicate a view that it is either spunk a load of cash to chase the dream or survive. My point is that year on year improvement might also achieve a European place. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Last season should of been 9th. Put out a better team next year and we should be looking to aim higher, ie challenging for Europe.

Bearing in mind the reality of football finances and our place in the football world at the moment........ I see nothing wrong with the approach being taken. The core of a decent squad was kept in place and got us promoted. That squad was improved with Tiote and Ben-Arfa. A decent first year back was achieved (should have been 9th minimum). Imo the club is correct in thinking that improvements to the squad should allow us to "challenging" for Europe. The only uncertainty is whether this total re-model going on will leave us with an improved squad. The club seem to think it will and only the end of the window will tell. But if it does then I see no reason why we wont be able to challenge for Europe.

I thought there were loads of programs out there that hide your ip.

Not for me and Leazes. We couldn't give a fuck if Mike Ashley spunks £500m to get us to win summat. We'll thank him for it and he'll get his money back if he sells a top club. And I thought I was talking out my arse when I claimed you and others are wanting the club to sustain itself? Is it what everyone wants or what nobody wants? You're being slippery like an eel mr chez. Its arse talk because the opposite is that you dont want the club to sustain itself which doesnt make sense. If the opposite point of view can never be agreed with (who wants an unsustainable anything?) then you need to change what it is you're asserting i support. If a club makes a loss each year, it will collapse unless subsidised. If your major gripe is the lack of subsidy, thats fine but lets be clear about the position. You want an owner that subsidises the club (you'll need to be quick as the rules are changing) and i want to engage in debate more based in reality. Is that being slippery? It would be daft to complain about lack of subsidy, given the amount he's spent subsidising the club so far. But the method of subsiidy is the problem, it's been retroactive rather than proactive. He's a shite gambler, he won't back us when it'll move us on to the next level, he'll only cover the losses when he gets relegated. And he's setting us up to not make a loss when relegated so he's not liable again, rather than making sure it doesn't happen again. Whats the next level though? Are you expecting him to splash a couple of hundred million to break the top four or just a hundred mill to break the top 6 and get into the Europa cup which returns nothing to a club. The gambles got to be worth it and at the moment, 100 million ish to get the top 6 is not a good gamble. (from an owners point of view).

Only just getting into it but I see the edits you do on the photos in picasa dont chnage the original photo on your hard disk which seems odd???? Can you also order photos online from picasa. Just seems a bit daft if I edit them through the picasa program but the originals stay the same.

Landmark

I wouldn't actually mind if Ashley was honest about his intentions. I wouldn't like it if he said the aim was only to survive, but it wouldn't make us any different to a dozen other top flight clubs and I wouldn't any more vehementlty anti-Ashley than a Wigan fan is anti-Whelan. My problem comes when they spout shite such as Llambias has recently about challenging for europe every season. There's such a discord between what they say and what they do and always has been. See I dont think its as clear as you portray it for me. When he arrived he did spend some money and he did make a big financial decision to get rid of Sam Allardyce. He also tried to put in place a system, I assume recommended to him by his mate at Spurs. Some of the early decisions with regard to the family area, pushed through by Mort were admirable. I dont see these as actions of a man coming just to survive. Then came the KK nightmare and all the shit that followed. Personally I dont think he was greatly hands on at the time and was basically leaving it to this team he had put in place to run the show. I dont think he was living it day to day as he does now. Lots of bad decisions were made but I really think he was reeling at the time and just didnt have a clue what to do next. Following relegation a number of things (possibly luck) fell into place that allowed stability to develop and Ashley to start re-building. So we have just finished a season were we have on the whole performed well and should really have finished 9th. Whats gone on over the last 12 months with scouting and the players we have targeted / are targeting doesnt strike me as a club just wanting to survive. We have attacked the window, lost out on Gervinho, got some decent players in and still have a bag full of money and targets we are trying to get over the line such as Erding and Barnetta. Sure it would be great if we could also hang onto everyone else but thats not going to happen. So let them do what they want this summer and see where we are in August and lets see whether we have this pacey attacking, flowing team that Pardew has talked about and promised us for months.

Thats what I thought tbh. Going to have a play with it tonight.

I know this is a stupid thing to say since its why we're all here but if we could "forget" the football for a minute then if his current plan means his exit is sooner rather than later then a part of me wants it to succeed as medium/long term I hope that would be for the best. Of course these signings have to work for that which is still a big doubt for me. Not sure why anyone thinks a new owner will be better. I like everyone on this board would love to be back to the good old days of Sir John Hall and KK but it just isnt realistic that those times can be re-created. They came about after a period of 40 odd years of being shit. Like most of you, I grew up with this shit club and the constant disappointment so when SJH & KK came along it was like a lottery win. Even if I live to be 100 those circumstances can not be recreated as Ive already been there and done that. It will never be as good again for me. Watching KK take training on his first day, Andy cole, promotion, Barcelona, 3 goals past Liverpool with the snow coming down, 5 past Man U, the honey monster adverts etc etc etc. Those experiences from nil expectations are locked away and Im just thankful I lived through them. So to the present. I dont expect a sheik or oil baron riding into town any times soon so the only way I can see even getting back into Europe is by a period of steady development. Extremely boring I know, but in my view the only offer on the table. Since relegation I think we have been fairly stable and this is the first window since 2007 when it feels as though there is at least some sort of a plan been adhered too. Whether the plan works or fails, none of us know yet. What I do know is that we nearly finished 9th bar a last gasp goal. I dont think there is anyone on here who is what I would call pro Ashley. We all wish SJH had managed to build on the early success, we all wish Ashley had been better and we all probably wish the sheiks had bought us and not Man City. Bottom line for me is a lot of this Anti Ashley stance usually comes with Anti Pardew and anti "new" players which is basically gives an anti Newcastle impression, even though I know its not. I cant change anything thats going on so Im quite happy to see how this plays out and support the process. Ofcourse with Ashley there will be ups and downs, but as it stands today, I am fairly pleased with the direction since relegation. Its better than a hell of a lot of us expected.

Following on from a discussion with Alex on web hosting of photos, I have come across Picasa 3 by Google. http://picasa.google.com/ Having watched the you tube video on it below, it looks excellent. I also noticed that it is one of the Apps on my Samsung Blu Ray player so I assume it will tie in nicely. Is anyone using it?

Come on Kitman, tell more and give us all a chuckle.

Okay, Okay, so I mucked up, no need to crow about it.

Sounds as though he is about to be unveiled as the new Birmingham Boss. I wish him the best, but fear the worst. Wonder if he'll come in for any of the players committee.

*Gives a knowing wink and nod of the head*

Sylvain Marveaux 'can be new Laurent Robert'

Really? I'll have to look into that. Not sure what a photobook is but I'll google it. As for the back up, I wouldnt trust a disc or what have you not to go corrupt over time. I think you are also more likely to pour a few glasses or red and meander through a hard copy photo album than pop a disc in. (Its probably an age thing)

Doing a job Ive been putting off for ever. All those digital photos that get taken, transferred to the computer and just left in random folders unsorted. Trying to re-name things, make some sense of them and order real photos for the very important ones I would hate to lose. A big big job.

Off to Millwall today according to twitter itk

Indeed it did... although it wasn't on the forum, but on the actual site itself... not sure if this adds more validity to it or not though? Its fine though as i've been reliably informed on here that NO player would EVER choose my small time shite tin pot club over the mighty Bacelona of the North East. Or would they? I think in fairness he's probably gone home and watched a couple of videos of our Shane Ferguson and thought he hasnt got a cat in hells chance of breaking into the first team here so decided to lower his sights and slum it at a club where he will probably play regularly next season. Ahh yes instead of Leighton Baines? He'll be gone in a few weeks.

Indeed it did... although it wasn't on the forum, but on the actual site itself... not sure if this adds more validity to it or not though? Its fine though as i've been reliably informed on here that NO player would EVER choose my small time shite tin pot club over the mighty Bacelona of the North East. Or would they? I think in fairness he's probably gone home and watched a couple of videos of our Shane Ferguson and thought he hasnt got a cat in hells chance of breaking into the first team here so decided to lower his sights and slum it at a club where he will probably play regularly next season.