civilservant

Maybe it's a tactic to force Ashley to sell. As soon as the Sheikh gets control Rafa will have a 'change of heart'

The club is probably worth a little less without a manager.

SpoogleDrummer

Who's left? All the dregs have already been there. Is the Newcastle takeover even going to happen? It's dragged on longer than FSG buying us and that was a hostile takeover.

Cainess

Feel desperately sorry for Weeze and the rest of the Geordie faithful. They have been screwed over time after time after time by Ashley, who puts his own financial self-interests ahead of the club's well-being every time. As United fans stuck with the Glazers, we know only too well how that story goes, albeit on a bigger stage.

Ultimately NOT having Rafa in place is surely bound to adversely affect the price of the club in any sale negotiations, so Ashley once again may have 'cut off his nose' by failing to agree a new contract with Rafa.... how do these "businessmen" (Ashley, the Glazers, the Hicks/Gillette cowboys who almost broke the scousers...) ever succeed in business??! It seems to me that they are bloody clueless about how to run businesses under their control?!!

DaveLovesDee

If/when a sale goes through, the new owners will likely brings their own managerial choice anyway.

Garbatellamike

Do you think it may have been Rafa's decision not Ashley?

I suspect the lack of funds for transfers has driven Rafa out.

SpoogleDrummer

Probably, but as new owners you'd buy yourself some time by already having a manager the fans love and giving him some money, any new manager will get compared to Rafa. Just look at Hodgeson at Liverpool, he never had a chance as the fans wanted Dalglish. With Garry Monk and Arteta linked as taking over I don't see how that will benefit any owner. Apparently 1 bookie is already paying out for Newcastle to get relegated next season, no clue why bookies pay out early on anything.

Mr Weeze

Garbatellamike

yep

Scamp

Hold tight, you might be gazillionaires and free from Ashley soon.....then I won't feel sorry for you, but as of today, I do. It's bullshit.

Garbatellamike

Scamp as you are over there, rumour here is this particular sheik doesn't have much money and is a bit dodgy, what thinks you?

Mr Weeze

JamesM

Tottenham have actually "almost" signed a player.

​​​​​​https://www.skysports.com/football/n...anguy-ndombele

A great turn around and profit for Lyon.

Having been capped 6 times by France I'm sure he is decent and he plays in the position we need to get someone in the most.

I expect 4 or 5 more signings before the window is done. Two full backs. A Striker and if Erikson moves on a replacement.

Garbatellamike

Mangala played 8 games for France.... just saying

civilservant

That's going to be close to 200 million. No way the bald one is going to shell out that with the stadium to pay for. Poch will probably get the Erikson cash to reinvest but I can't see much else beyond Ndombele without selling first.

Scamp

Don't really know anything about him to be honest, but he's an Al Nahyan which carries some serious clout.
The 'Group of companies' he runs is just that, very hard to work out or see through, just holding company for individual firms across multiple industries so doesn't have much worth I guess, other than the amount of the individual parts.
I don't know how cash rich but don't really pay a great deal of attention to the chatter around the royals here. It's sort of safer not to.