Christmas Tree

I think a brilliant piece here from George Caulkin which sums the situation up perfectly and sensibly without the histrionics.

No, but theres so many baa'ing sheep in this thread its like a stoning from Monty Python. We all know the History that started under Fat Fred (for leazes), looked canny for a bit with Mort and then blew up having rushed in Keegan. And we all know the heap of mistakes made since. But, unlike some on here I dont hold Ashley solely responsible for everything thats gone wrong or dismiss every statement that is made simply because of the past. Ashley tried to copy Tottenham, tried to put a structure in place and was very badly advised by poorly qualified people (Llambias). But the past is the past and this season is going in the right direction (opposite to what most on here were predicting early doors). Hughton has been backed and the GOAL this year was to get promoted. That looks as though it may happen and we will see what comes next. But constantly moaning on does fuck all for the club. At times its like a fucking Ian Paisley convention. Life moves on.

Words on the subject from NUFC.COM

And Mikes now going to takeover Blacks on the cheap. Its ugly but its good business. Another shop on the bouycoutt list. I just hope the fat cunt doesn't start buying food shops.

And Mikes now going to takeover Blacks on the cheap. Its ugly but its good business.

Llambias is a horror of a man that to me is the main cancer in the club. He has no redeeming features and I am sure is disliked as much by players and staff as he is by the fans. If that was not bad enough, hi PR skills are zero and his delivery and choice of words tarnishes any statement the "club" makes. Putting that to one side, we are where we are and unless someone buys the club that is not going to change. My understanding from people who currently attend, backs up the statement that the anti Ashley songs are confined to a small section of the crowd. The majority seem to have moved on. Personally I do not think this now achieves anything and does only distract from the future success of the club.

The three year brigade will disappear.

Thought he'd gone a long time ago. Rip

Jonas stops more of our attacks than the opposition.

Thought this was a breaking news thread that had happened overnight where Leazes had admitted he actually was Freddy Shepherd.

Inspector Fish, you deserve a promotion. CT is a tiresome fellow on many levels and his Jonas obsession is almost as bad as Gemmill's Martins one. Jonas is not what he was hyped to be, but he contributes a lot to our team that the rest of our squad simply are not capable of doing. I remember several games where he had an absolute field day against the opposing right back - . Would I like to have someone better? Yes. Would I prefer to still have Milner? Yes. But considering the state we're in, he's one of the better players in the side. Why didn't Mike buy us a better winger if Jonas is so shite? By the same token, why did he buy him in the first place if he's so shite? Oh, I know, because he was supposedly going to be on a free so Ashley could replace Milner and still make a profit (all for the good of NUFC and nothing to do with filling his own pockets of course.) Too bad that didn't work out either and we ended up paying for him as well, all thanks to the expert scouting staff employed by Ashley. This is the problem though, people like you trot out this crap as highlighted above when the truth is more what I describe. What we have needed for some time is another Routledge on the left. Jonas huffs and puffs but fuck all comes from it. Doesnt matter if he has a field day if the ball doesnt end up in the back of the net. Personally I would have like to see Lua Lua brought into the team and given a run but can only imagine at some point he has bee caught in the showers with Mrs Hughton.

Frustrating as he is if you can't see the value of a player who can hold possession and continually beat and frustrate the opposition then you're on a different page altogether. and appreciate the sheer number of freekicks he wins too, it'll be even more in the prem with the refs being a lot pickier about freekicks if we get someone who can deliver a ball properly it'll be even more valuable with the height in the side haven't got a clue what that last sentence is all about???

Frustrating as he is if you can't see the value of a player who can hold possession and continually beat and frustrate the opposition then you're on a different page altogether. But he doesn't, he runs for 25 yards and then usually loses posession. And the only people he frustrates is toon fans!

OK so what's the better situation to be in, a club with a £100m turnover, and outgoings of £105m, or a club with a £60m turnover and £55 outgoings? The size of the business is the first one, the £100m generated enabling the club to play on a higher level. Yeah your right as long as its within tight limits like you say.

Turnover means Sweet F.A. Its profit that the boyo.

When will you lot ever give it a fucking rest with Jonas!!!!! He is absolute shite. He was shite in the prem and has continued to do fuck all in this division apart from run around like a cat with a firework strapped to its tail. Routledge has looked far more a proper player than Jonas has in the short time he's been here. Rant over. As for Enrique, Alex summed him up

See what I mean? Fuck Off

4/10 Absolute dross and as wooden as they come.

based on what evidence though? one not completely awful transfer window and the fact we're leading an absolutely terrible league? Based on the voices in his head on current evidence. CT, you say you "feel confident." Can you describe what gives you this feeling of confidence? You aren't worried at all that Hughton is obviously not going to cut it in the Premier League and so therefore his "plans on the go" will not be sufficient to make sure we don't go straight back down? See reply to Andrew. Successful entrepeneurs can be gamblers and can fuck up, but they usually learn pretty quickly. I think he has now decided to be hands on with regard to decision making and the mistakes of previous seasons wont be repeated. There is no evidence of this, only an opinion based on working with some very successful retail people. With regard to Hughton, none of us know whether he will cut it or not. He is very highly thought of as a coach and has done very well this season, particularly bearing all the off field distractions etc etc. He has handled the press well and let the results do the talking. The circus club and usual stories have not got off the ground under him. He also imo makes very good substitutions. Apart from a handful of quality managers, the rest of the possibles are a big big gamble as we know only too well.... Strachan at boro, Bruce at Sunderland...Each a short time ago would have been considered a much better choice than Hughton. Honestly, I am really starting to think next year could be quite promising.

based on what evidence though? one not completely awful transfer window and the fact we're leading an absolutely terrible league? Based on the fact that money is important to Ashley. He is after all a very successful businessman regardless of what we think of him. As with all opinions in football there are no opinions and we can only wait and see.

I dont understand this... Gutierrez will do fine Barton has ALOT of PL experience but also ALOT to prove. Smith ALOT of PL experience. Guthrie has a good amount of PL experience. Raylor good amount of PL experience. None of the above are fantastic footballers but should do a job in the PL. Im not saying that its good enough, it does need improving but its not as bad as some make out. New owner in and a cheeky 10mil bid for Rodwell and play him instead of Smith. Jonas and Guthrie will do fine for our ambitions next year. R. Taylor is a Championship player, I'm not sure Barton will even play 5 more games for NUFC (and he's worthless anyway), and the less said about Smith, the better. "A lot" is two words, by the way. As for CT's post, need I remind you under whose watch all of the players you rate as not good enough for the PL were brought in? For all you talk about Ashley running our club as a business, "lean and mean," you appear to be conceding that he's lumbered the club with dross. Parker, Milner, N'Zogbia et al may have been on mega wages, but at least they were Premier League quality. Now we've got no money (thanks to being relegated owing to Fat Mike's terrible decisions and the shit players brought in by the shit staff he employed) and no good - even decent - players. I know which situation I'd prefer. This transfer window brought us one potential PL player in Routledge and one player who might provide passable cover in the PL (Simpson). It also brought in someone who isn't even good enough for this level, let alone the PL. There were plenty of signs of planning for the short term, as evidenced by good loan deals so far this season, but there are little to no signs of planning for regaining our status as a Premier League club. No Thanks Plenty of threads going on that so no point hijacking this one. The team we've got is the one to get us out of this division. That is all that matters. I feel pretty confident that if we do go up, Ashley will ensure we are either sold very quickly or strengthened so we dont go straight back down. I am also sure Hughton will have plans on the go for the summer.

The damned united. 9/10 loved it. Oh for the good old days.

We have a back five that would see us survive in the prem. Unfortunately the entire midfield and forwards need replacing. None of them will cut it next year in the prem. (routledge maybe).