How can people still back the board?

Not only have we lost quite a few of the squad last year, 3 of them were our best players, and captain, vice captain. I'm assuming we've lost Barton as he's not even allowed to train with the team now.

Of our 56 premier league goals, Carroll (11), Nolan (12), and Barton (4), is almost half. Then there's also Bartons assists to other players.

Our main problem last year was the lack of cover for the first team. Even if Cabaye, Marveaux, Ba can replace these players, we've still lost cover such as Routledge, Campbell, Kuqi probably Ranger with no replacements. We might even lose Enrique before the window shuts.

If we don't get a few more quality players in, and if we get a few long term injuries like last year then I can see us struggling big time. I really hope Ben Arfa, Gosling and Vuckic can prove themselves this year and they will be like new signings.

As for the board, do people really think Keegan, Nolan, Enrique, Barton and Carroll are all lying? Its ridiculous. The Carroll money hasn't been reinvested in players and doesn't look like its going to be.

And finally the sacking of Hughton was only to get someone in who wouldn't disagree with the fat man. Under Hughton, everything was going well, all the players were happy and the fans were happy. Now the fans are split and there are players that want out, and who can blame them?

http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/71284-Depressing

This video sums it up. Is anyone actually optimistic about this season? I'm not for the first time ever.

 

totally agree with you and welcome to the forum

 

That's a real belter of a first post...

Welcome along...

 

Lord agent Ashley of Pennywell is doing a tremendous job long may it continue

 

I wouldn't class these players as cover for the following reasons:

Routledge was pretty much surplus to requirements and was sent off to QPR.
Campbell played so infrequently; even when fit.
Kuqi was generally brought on as a last gasp sub for only 6 games in 5 months.

Ranger was cover for the strikers as he was the most used sun in the league last season.

We've gotten rid of some players since January but we have brought a few in; almost one in and one out in this transfer window.

There are still spaces that need to be filled and the window isn't shut yet.

Sure these potential new signings are most likely not going to set our worlds alight but if they can do the job as additional cover then I'll have no complaints.

We will have Ben Arfa and Gosling back from long term injuries. That bodes well for this season.

There is a decent bunch of lads on the fringes such as Vukic, Inman and Ferguson et al to come in and they have shown that they can fight for a place.

The remainder of the £35 million is still in the club. It hasn't been frittered away or gone into Ashley's pocket but it has paid or will go towards a variety of expenses.

I don't think Keegan's a liar; he was lied to by the board as proven in a tribunal.

As for the players? Carroll was 3 months into a new 5 years deal. If he expected an automatic pay rise and new contract to stay then perhaps the £35 million received was the right thing to do given the brevity of time he's spent ion his latest deal.

Jose wants to go and play in a CL team to bolster his chances of securing the LB berth for Spain. NUFC can't offer that to him and when he's freely available to chat with clubs in January for far less than his current value I can see him leaving.

Barton has to take some blame for his predicament. The club may be full of lying bastards but his PR campaign has helped bring about a move.

Nolan didn't get the contract extension he wanted so he looked elsewhere. Perhaps the club changed their minds on the 'verbal' deal but you sign a contract because verbal agreements are not acceptable in a court of law.

Houghton sacking still upsets me. The guy was a true gent and I wish him all the best of luck. I still wish he was here.

The doom and gloom on these boards is truly soul destroying so I reckon I'll head off until the Arsenal game kicks off to protect my sanity.

 

Very sensible and well balanced post, as usual, I agree 100%

 

What OT said.

 

Yeah, fair enough. But I'd expect decent players to be brought in to replace them. But hopefully the young lads can do the job.

I don't believe he's taken it out of the club, but we were promised it would be reinvested on players. The club should have already budgeted for expenses before we got the £35m. We haven't been any more active in this window than I would have expected without the Carroll money!

He couldn't leave because he was on a five year deal. We could have done what spurs are doing with Modric. But the £35m was a great deal if we would reinvest it in players.

Enrique was happy and only started to show discontent after Hughton got sacked. This was made worse by the Carroll sale, and lack of ambition by the club.

He may be manufacturing a move for himself. But after seeing 2 of our best players (good friends of his) and a well respected manager forced out of the club I can't blame him for criticising the board.

Breaking the verbal agreement is another example of our lying board. Nolan, Carroll and Barton had a will to win that rubbed off onto our other players. We struggled in the games these players missed.

Despite the worries, I really hope that we get a few players in and get a good start to the season anyway.