Not sure why people thought that yesterday was the day. I'll believe it when I see it. I've an open mind whether it'll happen or not
Dedicated to those wonderful tipsters Chippy, Windy and Lord J Anyone got a spare shirt or a spare place for someone who was gullible enough to believe... Asking for a friend of course...
I don't like Simon & Garth's Uncle. Like I said, it's been a few weeks of whispers from a wide range of people. Within that there's bound to be a few clueless who just want to say "see, I was right", particularly within the Twatosphere. Similarly, it's hugely unlikely that EVERY whisper is crap. In my opinion there's a good bunch of people who are genuinely hearing things from either the Middle East, within/around the club or from the FA. Those who say there's a breakdown are as informed as anyone else. Journo's can't put anything down, they have livelihoods on the line, so it's no surprise they tread with absolute caution and deal only in as much fact as they can - the problem here is the actual facts of the matter is there's nothing to report, so it's easier to say "stalemate" than to scream "deal done". Time will tell whether anyone really knew anything. All I've done is passed on opinion, what I heard and what I read. I'll know who to trust in future once the dust settles!
Mate, there's a good few people know 100%, but there's a lot of jobs on the line if anyone lets something slip. Would you? If you were involved at, say, the legal firm and knew that letting the World know could cost your job, would you? Nope, neither would I. It's all whispers because somebody is bound to be telling someone about what's happening. The media are never going to be able to publish anything on it until someone officially arranges the presser or makes the announcement. For instance, one of the rumours apparently came out of a low-level FA employee. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the FA are not obliged to tell anyone if they are conducting a proper person test. In fact, I think they have to remain legally silent so any investigation isn't tainted. Point is Occam's razor always applies. The most likely scenario is the truth of it - there is a takeover and it is happening. Take Man City. 7th August, 2008 - headline is "Thaksin is NOT selling". 1st Sept - headline is "Arab group agrees to buy City". This was done under MoU, not NDA. 17th Sept, then-manager Mark Hughes said "Takeover is close", with the final date being 23rd September. Aston Villa had similar smoke & mirrors - 26th July, 2006 "Lerner out of race to buy Villa". He bought it on the 14th Aug, 3 weeks later. It's never straightforward.
Based on nothing more than optimistic straw clutching, as opposed to any reliable sources...... Why would a manager in charge of a relegation threatened team play a full strength team against lower league opposition in the third round of the cup? Is it because he knows that it is the last opportunity left to qualify for Europe, and that he could do with the carrot of European football to attract players when he has money to spend next summer? Probably not, but thought a few on here could do with a new straw to clutch #keepthefaith
Benitez did say the league was the priority this season and I expected Aarons, Sterry, etc. to play. When you take into account he picked his second team against City in the league, but plays a near first-team at Luton in the cup, he does seem to be more relaxed about surviving relegation than before. Not got the foggiest what that means to anything mind, but maybe he's confident of getting the required targets in to keep us up this Jan and sees the takeover on the horizon
I thought the same. But I think Rafa also knows - unlike some of the previous morons - that a decent cup run can be the breeding ground for confidence. We get another favourable draw - say, Coventry at home - and we could be into the 5th round with new ownership and a sprinkling of better players. It allows you to dream a little, which - as a fan under Ashley - is truly new ground.
