Quality prevailed in the end as Man Utd ran out 4-1 winners, but I won’t be overreacting to today’s defeat.
We had a go and were every bit as good as the hosts for the opening 37 minutes. Gayle’s opener and first goal of the season gave us a deserved lead. Yes we were picked off from then on out, but at least we took the game to them in the first half – something quite a few fans wanted to see after a few too many toothless away performances is it not?
It didn’t work out, and our slightly more attack minded, 4-4-2 set-up meant we were far more open defensively as a result, but it’s sometimes worth giving it a go in search of three points, opposed to sitting back, never getting out of our own half and falling to a predictable defeat to nil?
Some perspective: Paul Pogba alone (£89m) cost more than our entire starting XI today (£75m)!
They’re the biggest spenders in the PL, are unbeaten in 37 at home & we’re a newly promoted side who put in a real strong showing in the first 37 minutes up until the equaliser.
Seeing Gayle get back on the scoresheet also good to see – making him the first player to score against them at Old Trafford in the league this season!
Yes we were a little too open at the back, but at least we had a go – even if we were punished for it at the other end as a result.
It’s disappointing how it panned out after going 1-0 up, but let’s stay positive ahead of a big game against Watford on Saturday.
Player ratings: (4-4-2) – Elliot (5) – Yedlin (7), Lejeune (6), Clark (6), Manquillo (5) – Ritchie (5), Hayden (5), Shelvey (7), Murphy (6.5) – Gayle (6.5), Joselu (5.5).
now there’s a thought 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
SSN saying an official bid has been received of £300m from PCP – take it fat lad, take it and run and never look back!!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kimtoon: watch you don’t give him another heart attack with the afters.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
breaking news! Official offer is made!
Where are you guys?!
funrafa(Quote)
Sharpy, for the 1st time you said exactly what I wanted to say!
funrafa(Quote)
So PCP have made a bid “in the region of £300m”
Stuart79(Quote)
So he will reject it and tell them he wants £380m I’m sure. Plenty of haggling to do. Ashley really isn’t in a strong position though. There’s still risk we can go down.
Stuart79(Quote)
I think Ashley will accept it.
It is a formal bid. There must be some communication before the formal bid is submitted. If it is assumed to be rejected right away, they won’t bother to submit. At least the price won’t be far from being accepted, I think.
Can we just be happy and not worried for a moment?
funrafa(Quote)
So due diligence is completed. They will have a value and to be honest I don’t think Ashley will find another interested party come up with a different valuation. He has what he has and it’s up to him now – he won’t get a better chance to sell the club. This is the first real offer he’s had since owning the club.
We will know find or his intentions.
Stuart79(Quote)
Split the difference Stuart? So, 340 mil?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It might be something like that. Maybe even £320m as Ashley isn’t on firm ground really. Now it’s in the open and everyone knows he can sell and make a profit is there any way back for him if he turns it down? Also he ain’t going to invest in January so risks Rafa leaving and relegation.
Could happen pretty quick this.
Stuart79(Quote)
Finally on the BBC
Premandup(Quote)
I might be reading too much into it but requesting “exclusivisity” means that PCP realise there will be a bit of give and take on the price. There always is unless one party is desperate. I don’t think Fat Mike is there yet but 300 mil plus in cash might be very appealing for hi other ventures.
I believe him when he says most of his money is tied up in Sports Direct stock. Aren’t they down about 40% in the last couple of years. He wouldn’t want to sell his baby (SD) at what he sees as a bargain price so this might make him more willing to consider a fair offer for NUFC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Should be interesting to see the crowd reaction on Saturday. Gallowgate Flags.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, he will be spinning the PR as we speak. Harold Bishop will be telling anyone who will listen that the bid is low. Ashley won’t want the fans to think/know he’s had a good offer. If he doesn’t sell then he has a tough gig up here.
My reckoning is it will be sold in the next 6 weeks and the price might be in the region of £340m and maybe even a performance related final payment. Something creative.
Stuart79(Quote)
A few on Ed’s that predicted this are saying it is 300 mil and possible instalments. Plus, he wants to keep the Sports Direct signs but they don’t say for how long. I don’t care if it is free for 10 years as long as he fcks off. I said this when all this started that he would probably want to keep the tat signs because it means he can have his cake and eat it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I don’t care if they change the name of the ground either as long as it brings in a ton of cash and just doesn’t go into Ashley’s pocket. Many other teams have done it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And has if by magic, Reuters and Sky’s City editor are saying there have been two options put forward. One up front payment or a structured deal based on performance.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart: PERFORMANCE? Like pay him in instalments but give him a bonus if we reach the CL in 5 years? That would be really odd since making the CL would depend mostly on what the buyers do.
Give him more if we stay in the PL? But again that would depend on Rafa and PCP.
This would be an odd structure for a deal, but then again it is Ashley!!!
Remember he did a deal with Chuuby Chandler’s golfers that Dunlop would pay 3 million if they won a major so he does get creative for a fat oaf.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just want him gone, don’t care how or what it takes, just gone.
kimtoon(Quote)
Craig hope from daily fail saying ashley set to reject opening bid. Does my nut in that hope-less guy
sand dancing geordie(Quote)
Eric, Ashley is very, very keen on performance related bonuses so why not?
Stuart79(Quote)
NUFC 360 @NUFC360 · 41m41 minutes ago
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That is ok, as long as he eventually accepts it before Christmas.
funrafa(Quote)
Jabba wants the full 380 mil and will refuse the offer
Icedog(Quote)
I bet he’s a nightmare to negotiate with mind. I would end up pulling the plug on the whole deal.
kimtoon(Quote)
He’s playing a risky game though. If we don’t pick up soon and no cash for Rafa then come January we will look a less than desirable acquisition. What will we be worth then?
kimtoon(Quote)
still don’t think he’s bothered about selling that’s why he’ll hold out for asking price cause he’s greedy.
kimtoon(Quote)
I agree mate,he’s a bloody double billionaire for Christ sake,how much does one man need ffs
Icedog(Quote)
How dumb and thick must some W/Ham fans be ringing 999 to complain about their team getting beat again and what could they do
Icedog(Quote)
Ashley have two choices: sell the club or keep it and do some investing. Otherwise, see ya in CL.
funrafa(Quote)
Apparently PCP want compensation if the club are relegated. That would be fair enough if they complete one February but if it was pre January then they have to invest and take it on the chin. Although for Ashley, if he stays and Rafa leaves we are likely to go down which will cost him money.
Full on negotiation now. So many pros and cons. Ashley is thinking if we stay up we’re worth more as tv money goes up, PCP looking at it if we go down. Big gamble for Ashley as Rafa won’t be about and he adds value. Clearly there’s nobody else out there which means Ashley’s hope of a bidding war won’t happen. On the flip side, PCP know this too. Maybe it has a few more weeks to run this. I don’t expect a deal to be complete before Christmas.
Stuart79(Quote)
Perhaps the compensation demand is just a negotiating tactic to keep the price down. It sounds a bit far fetched if you ask me and probably unprecedented. I suppose their argument would be that there are relegation clauses in player contracts so why not for the club.
They will probably keep this on the table but wouldn’t the number fluctuate depending on how results go between now and the end of the year? Bookies’ relegation odds do, so why wouldn’t this number?
If we are solidly mid-table then neither party would care. If we were in a relegation place then PCP would probably walk away and come back in the summer if we are still in the PL.
Sounds like playing games which is actually good because then they would be playing Ashley at his own game!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Two big games coming up. 3 or 4 points gained could make a big difference in the psychology of this potential deal.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This game playing is just a bit of fun for the fatman, he won’t care how it pans out , he’ll either keep the club and invest in a striker to keep us up , just, or he’ll take a big pay day. It’s win win for him , BUT a huge gamble too, but that’s what gets his rocks off.
Bloke is a proper freak of nature, I have long thought he could be a sociopath actually.
kimtoon(Quote)
This deal must be very far down the line for us to even be hearing about it. Maybe near the end in fact. 😀
georgio(Quote)
I think West Brom must have been talking to Ashley’s advisors judging by the front runners for their job:
Michael O’neil
Fat Sam
Derek McInnnes (failed at Bristol City)
Pards
Koeman
Craig Shakespeare
Joe Kinnear 🙂
Waiting to hear news that Ugly John and Schteve have faxed their CVs. Who uses a fax anymore apart from football teams? There was the story of De Gea’s faxed paperwork arriving late and another recently when the datestamp on the fax was 8 seconds late and the transfer denied.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – Ashley’s entire business models are based around financial incentives. He can’t complain. The problem will be if the deal is done after January. Pre January then PCP will only have themselves to blame if we go down. How long can they expect a relegation clause to last? Only this season surely?
I think there will be a deal struck at where it’s possibke Ashley gets £340m with caveats ect
Stuart79(Quote)
NEW THREAD
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2017/11/21/takeover-talk-where-we-stand/
Takeover thread from Simon!
Olly Hawkins(Quote)