Paul Smith
@Smudge1962
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Former multi-award winning national sports journalist. If I didn’t know someone, I knew someone who did. We all have our secrets, we just haven’t got to you yet
United Kingdom
Joined July 2009
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Absolutely thrilled to hear over 50,000 people have signed a petition to get rid of
@piersmorgan
from
@GMB
It comes after thousands of complaints were filed to Ofcom over his aggressive interviews with numerous politicians during the
#COVID19
virus. 😂😂😂
2K
1K
6K
#NUFCTakeover
The
@premierleague
are very close to signing off the deal for the Saudi consortium to buy
#NUFC
Despite a forensic investigation into allegations of Piracy links they have failed to find sufficient evidence to support blocking Mike Ashley’s proposed £300m sale
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1K
The Saudi consortium poised to take control of
#NUFC
have drawn up a blueprint for a major makeover of the club which includes plans to demolish the existing training ground at Darsley Park and invest £25m in state of the art facilities to rival other PL clubs
#NewcastleTakeover
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1K
#NUFCTakeover
The
@premierleague
should be hanging their heads in shame allowing this deal to drag on and on without any transparency now forcing the Saudi consortium to pull the plug on the deal
#NUFC
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Some of the crap written about the
#nufcfakeover
staggers belief. Most of it by buffoons with hidden agendas. Let’s face it what supporters wouldn’t want cash rich owners at their club? The real surprise is it’s taken this long for someone to see the enormous potential of
#nufc
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#NUFCTakeover
Just to be clear and to put
#NUFC
supporters minds at rest, the Saudi consortium have no interest in Roma whatsoever or any other club that comes knocking at their door. They remain solely focus on purchasing
#NUFC
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It’s never been in the PL’s interest to block this
#NUFCTakeover
To maintain their claims of having the best league in world football they need very rich investors. Those investors inevitably attract the best players which in turn increases the PL’s commercial power globally
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The
#NUFCTakeover
saga is set to draw to a close after the Saudi consortium were informally tipped of their takeover will be signed off by the
@premierleague
prior to an official announcement
#nufc
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The London based PR company the Saudi consortium are using for the
#NUFCTakeover
are now working on plans and schedules to deal with the official announcement and the inevitable media requests for interviews
#NUFC
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What is it about people who talk utter nonsense to get cheap publicity. Unlike Keys I have been involved in the purchase of a football club and all exclusivity does is give you a period of time to evaluate the club, show proof of funds and agree a deal
#NUFCTakeover
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#NUFCTakeover
Despite various claims the
@premierleague
have found no evidence to support stopping this deal from going through. But prolonging the decision at the expense of the new owners and
#NUFC
supporters as to be seen to be carrying out forensic checks is becoming a farce
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NUFCTakeover It appears in the absence of failing to find a legitimate reason to stop the takeover, the
@premierleague
are dragging out their flawed process in the hope someone else can come up with a reason to enable them to stop it
#NUFC
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The
@premierleague
have turned their ‘Owners and Directors’ test into a comedy show. Despite the publication of the WTO investigation it still gives them no leverage to block the deal. No individual in the Saudi consortium are mentioned directly
#NUFC
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While all talk centres around money with the proposed Saudi
#nufctakover
someone should focus on their supporters who have been through absolute hell. Their loyalty to
#NUFC
can’t be understated. In my years of following football ⚽️ I have never seen such passion and loyalty
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The
@premierleague
are dragging their heels and prolonging the process so as not to be accused of not investigating the consortium thoroughly enough following certain allegations made against them. My understanding is they have found nothing significant to block it
#nufctakover
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It’s nice to see the
@premierleague
inviting more unwanted criticism of the
#NUFCTakeover
by allowing this farcical ‘Owners and Directors’ test to drag on without any sign of a decision being made
#NUFC
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Premier League clubs have absolutely no input in the PL ‘Owners and Directors’ test. The Saudi consortium are not required to secure votes from PL rivals to take control of
#nufc
I mean how dare Newcastle get rich owners to enable them to dine at footy’s top table
#nufcfakeover
I’m absolutely stunned by reports that some Premier League clubs would rather have a Mike Ashley owned, non-competitive, sleepwalking Newcastle United than a rich and ambitious competitor in the league.
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I’m not surprised the contradictory information regarding the
#NUFCTakeover
has bemused, infuriated and upset supporters in equal measure. Nonetheless I’ll continue to stand by my claims this deal will go through regardless
#NUFC
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This stinks of double standards. An Abu Dhabi deal that goes through completely unopposed and absent of any protests. The last time I looked they weren’t exactly flag bearers for human rights protesters either. And spare me the piracy 🏴☠️ nonsense
#nufc
#NUFCTakeover
#Rams
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Another priority for the Saudi’s is building bridges with disillusioned supporters. They have already consulted a major PR firm to commission a structure to engage with fans and adopt a more open transparency policy
#NUFCTakeover
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#NUFCTakeover
To be as positive as I can the Saudi’s have not given a second thought to failing the
@premierleague
‘Owners and Directors’ test such is their confidence that despite unnecessary delays the deal will go through
#NUFC
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Given Saudi involvement in
#SheffieldUnited
and
#MUFC
the
@premierleague
will be forced to take retrospective action against those clubs if this deal is stopped and that simply isn’t going to happen. Law suits would be flying around like confetti
#NUFCTakeover
#NUFC
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One failing in this story, but then it wouldn’t be a story. Unless the
@premierleague
can prove the individuals involved in the
#NUFCTakeover
are directly involved this won’t stop the takeover
#NUFC
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More news to follow on the
#nufctakover
this afternoon including ambitious plans by the Saudi owners to ensure
#NUFC
can compete and dine at the top table of Premier League football
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The natural assumption was the Saudi’s would come into
#NUFC
and spend heavily on a manager and new players. But they are looking at more expansive plans with the training base being a major priority
#nufctakover
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It was exactly what the
@premierleague
wanted as their ‘Owners and Directors’ test wasn’t fit for purpose and had no provisions to deal with the issues that arose. Instead they dragged their feet allowing every Tom, Dick and Harry to pour fuel on a raging fire 🔥
#NUFC
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#NUFCTakeover
Really, you don’t say. From the outset I said this deal would be done and backed it up with valid reasons why it couldn’t fail. Now it appears the doubters have all jumped ship and claimed it will now get done ✅
#NUFC
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#NUFCTakeover
Aside from the fact the
@premierleague
have turned the takeover at Newcastle into a complete farce, MP’s opposing the Saudi’s should probably stick to what they do best, ruining the damn country. What they know you could put on the back of a postage stamp
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#NUFCTakeover
The Saudi consortium are also annoyed that this process had taken so long, subjecting them to more outrageous accusations and claims in an attempt to derail the proposed takeover
#NUFC
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#NUFCTakeover
@richardajkeys
talking more 💩💩 on
#NUFC
Listening to him and Gray is like being subjected to those two old fools on the muppets. I’m not sure whose more embarrassing, Keys or the
@premierleague
for turning this takeover into a public trial
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I see more issues being raised by the Mail on Sunday regarding the
#NUFCTakeover
Let’s be very clear here no rival club has input into the PL ‘Owners and Directors’ test. Suggesting rival clubs are attempting to block the deal when they have no input is ridiculous
#nufc
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#NUFCTakeover
All the
@premierleague
have done by stringing out this process to be seen to be forensically looking at all aspects of the deal, is to allow every muppet to have a say on this when their own inadequate ‘Owners and Directors’ test is not fit for purpose anyway
#NUFC
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Forget these piracy issues when it’s occurring here and the same product is accessible to UK residents unopposed.
If rival clubs are opposing the deal it’s more to do with jealousy and preventing
#NUFC
dining at the top table
#NUFCTakeover
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I see MP Angus MacNeil who is calling on the government to block the Saudi takeover of
#NUFC
fails to mention any other Saudi investment in sport and football for that matter. And where was this nobody prior to this
#NUFCTakeover
Get back in your box 📦
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It doesn’t really give you that much security. Mike Ashley could have reneged on the exclusivity at any point using a raft of excuses to justify his actions in the same way the Saudi’s could have extended exclusivity. I’d ignore Keys, he’s simply trouble making
#NUFCTakeover
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Seriously if you don't find this funny you might want to check whether you have a pulse.
http://t.co/ZiqgDyJXZW
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Ian Holloway has Scott Minto in stitches after cracking a joke about
@daRealAkinfenwa
#afcwimbledon
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Anyone at
#NUFC
utterly baffled by Abu Dhabi Sheik Khaled’s £60m take-over of
@dcfcofficial
Particularly the way they breeze through the
@EFL
‘Owners and Directors’ test. Yes, the same one the Saudi’s had to go through and were deliberately left waiting for months
#NUFCTakeover
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These were the chaotic scenes outside London’s marquee store Harrods as hundreds of intellectually challenged teenagers converged on the store with a complete disregard for the safety of others as they breached COVID-19 rules. Your parents must be so proud
#COVIDIOTS
#COVID19
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Even Henry Mauriss waiting to pounce doesn’t assist the
@premierleague
as they are aware to block the Saudi’s deal without them breaching rules and regulations that govern their own test would leave them open to unprecedented legal action
#NUFCTakeover
#NUFC
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The Saudi consortium have refuted claims there is any direct link between them and BeoutQ who illegally stream Premier League games. Although the untimely delay is frustrating for
#NUFC
supporters, I still expect this to go through albeit later than expected
#NewcastleTakeover
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Whatever
@SkySports
pay Roy Keane they should treble it. Makes other pundits look third rate. Keane blowing up at half-time as
#MUFC
trail
#thfc
1-0. Keane slaughtering De Gea claiming he’s totally overrated and he would be swinging punches in the dressing room. Classic
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In respect of
#NUFC
I never gave a timeline on when the deal would be done. What I maintained throughout is the
@premierleague
couldn’t stop the deal. They didn’t, they allowed the Saudi’s to walk away which suited them
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I see
@richardajkeys
who opposes the Saudi takeover at
#NUFC
is trying to cast more doubt on the deal by implying a rival bid from Henry Mauriss in the US is on the table and the Saudi’s exclusivity period has expired which lets him through the door
#NUFCTakeover
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Amongst a raft of information presented to the
@premierleague
by the Saudi consortium is a detailed file documenting investment and sustainability going forward
#NUFCTakeover
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#nufctakover
Mauricio Pochettino held informal talks with the Saudi representatives. In those talks the Argentinian made it very clear he would have to have full control of players coming in and out of
#NUFC
Therefore to sugggest this and that player is coming is wide of the mark
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#NUFCTakeover
To update you there has been absolutely no confirmation from the
@premierleague
regarding the Saudi takeover of
#NUFC
My insiders have told me: “At the moment we remain completely in the dark. It’s a waiting game until we are officially told.”
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#NUFCTakeover
As the
@premierleague
drag their feet over the
#NUFC
takeover, leading to more calls for them to be prevented in future from self regulating, more misinformed reports emerge without truth or substance regarding the decision making over the Saudi takeover
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The repercussions of failing to rubber stamp Saudi ownership on Human Rights and Sportwashing issues would leave the
@premierleague
with untold problems in relation to other club ownership and leave them open to legal and global criticism on an unprecedented scale
#NUFCTakeover
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Claims new evidence is delaying the
#NewcastleTakeover
are slightly off mark. In an attempt to protect themselves against criticism the
@premierleague
are taking longer than expected to ratify this deal to enable their legal people to forensically look at all the evidence
#NUFC
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On another note
#THFC
fans should keep a very close eye on the transfer market this week. Sworn to secrecy, can't say anymore.
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I'm hearing
@Dele_Alli
at
#THFC
has won the PFA Young Player of the Year by an absolute landslide
#coys
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Crushing blow to
#pompey
as Tom McIntyre looks like being out for the season after suffering a broken ankle on his debut. May require surgery
#pup
#portsmouthfc
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And for the record
@piersmorgan
I’m more than happy to come on
@GMB
and give you a grilling about your involvement in hacking/criminal activity on newspapers and see how you like it when you’re held to account like MP’s.
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This is what happens when you dare to stand up to a vile bully and hold him to account. At least I won’t be subjected to his innate, poisonous ramblings anymore. I’ll be sure to change my mobile voicemail pin though Piers.
@BInvestigates
@HackedOffHugh
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#NUFCTakeover
Nonsense in the
@MailOnline
suggesting the Saudi’s are trying to broker a peace deal with Qatar over piracy.
@MailOnline
will print any nonsense or plagiarised article. What next, the Saudi’s vowing to chop of the head of anyone illegally streaming football
#NUFC
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@premierleague
chief Richard Masters once again refusing to answer any questions about the
#NUFCTakeover
Although he did find time to ring
@JimWhite
and tell him the process hadn’t even begun yet 😂🤣
#NUFC
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#NUFCTakeover
A day doesn’t pass by without more drama regarding the
#NUFC
takeover. Amongst them the decision is a 50/50 toss of a coin but the best by far, the
@premierleague
trying to convince people it’s ‘Owners and Directors’ test is far more stringent than people believe 😂
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#NUFCTakeover
Needless to say confidence in the Saudi camp isn’t growing. Despite the frustrating and needless delay by the
@premierleague
the Saudi’s have never wavered from believing this deal will eventually be done
#NUFC
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And yes exclusivity is to lock out rival bidders and essentially is agreed with one party after proof of funding has been provided. Once a sale is agreed and signed off by the seller exclusivity becomes redundant
#NUFCTakeover
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And for those wanting to know why the
@premierleague
delayed making a decision about the
#NUFCTakeover
it was all about the publication of the WTO report into piracy and fears it could have a detrimental impact if they signed the deal off
#NUFC
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Apologies as people keep pointing out my errors in tagging the wrong thing.
I said earlier I wasn’t trying to dangle some carrot 🥕 in front of
#NUFC
supporters to get them going. I was simply awaiting a call with confirmation regarding my tweet
#NUFCTakeover
#NewcastleTakeover
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It looks like they are running low on fuel regarding the
#NUFCTakeover
in the North-East. The local papers are the lifeblood of the football club community and should therefore carry far more weight and credibility than national newspapers
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So many people playing catch-up 😂😂
#nufctakover
#NUFCTakeover
The
@premierleague
are very close to signing off the deal for the Saudi consortium to buy
#NUFC
Despite a forensic investigation into allegations of Piracy links they have failed to find sufficient evidence to support blocking Mike Ashley’s proposed £300m sale
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Unfortunately to further prolong the long suffering agony of the
#NUFC
supporters the
@premierleague
are still not giving an official date when this will be announced
#NUFCTakeover
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#NUFCTakeover
Pointless really tweeting when there is no breaking news on the takeover. I’ll leave it to the I’ll informed to keep writing more and more nonsense to further frustrate the fans who have become exasperated by this process
#NUFC
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I’ve deliberately remained quiet over the
#NUFCTakeover
the politics involved to get this over the line was nothing short of a farce. Couldn’t be happier for the
#NUFC
fans though. My commiserations to Steve Bruce 😂
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The drawn out saga regarding the mandatory ‘Owners and Directors’ test has been delayed to allow the
@premierleague
to be seen to conduct a thorough, forensic investigation into piracy accusations and not political grounds
#NUFCTakeover
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Hilarious Harry Redknapp interview following his debut as Jordan manager and an emphatic 8-0 win over Bangladesh
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#NUFC
Previously the Saudi consortium had earmarked Mauricio Pochettino for the job so don’t be surprised to see the board turn to Antonio Conte
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Incredible stat. 11 out of last 19 England debutants have done so while managed by Mauricio Pochettino.
#THFC
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Priceless. Dennis Skinner kicked out of the Commons for Cameron jibe and refusing to retract it
#DodgyDave
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Mike Ashley unveiled ambitious plans to build a new £10m training complex in 2013 to rival other clubs but aborted the project. One of the biggest issues Rafa Benitez had with Ashley regarded the unacceptable and out of date facilities
#nufctakover
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People have the audacity to write
@WayneRooney
off. World class run to set up
#MUFC
equaliser against
#cpfc
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I’ve kept my council over the latest
#NUFCTakeover
saga and legal proceedings issued by Mike Ashley against the
@premierleague
I maintained throughout the saga of the proposed Saudi take-over that the PL had no rules and regulations I place to enable them to block the take-over
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As
#COVIDIOTS
go there are total idiots and then there is
@LozzaFox
who joined an anti-lockdown protest in London today. As the rest of us accept these are trying times and need to adhere to the rules, Fox decides to support other buffoons demanding their freedom back
#COVID19
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Lee sometimes it’s better to ignore all your reading as it will inevitably lead to enormous frustration. Even I tire of reading the twists and turns in this saga. You know what they say, all good things to those that wait
#NUFCTakeover
#NUFC
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A mass gathering of the
#COVIDIOTS
descend on Hyde Park protesting against the lockdown. When common sense and rationality goes out the window you’re left with these buffoons. Name and Shame them and don’t treat them when they contract
#COVID__19
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Referee Andre Marriner tries to steal Sadio Mané's hat-trick ball! 😂
#saintsfc
(Vine by
@SouthamptonFC
)
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@Choakie
I’m fairly confident this is the case from my sources close to the deal and those in the know. I’ve been criticised in some quarters for not stipulating a time the PL will announce this but throughout I have tried to give a balanced view on proceedings
#NUFCTakeover
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Priceless from
@JimWhite
joining the ranks of Neil Custis and the stab in the dark lot
@indykaila
😂😂😂
#NUFCTakeover
Jim White.
21 May: “This is coming to its conclusion and we’ll know next week.”
27 May: “I’ve been told the Premier League are yet to seriously examine all aspects of the bid.”
Today: “A source told me last night the deal is nearing completion.”
One word: spoofer.
#nufc
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Just to be clear didn’t I say this four days ago so
@SunSport
are running four days behind schedule 😂😂
#NUFCTakeover
#nufctakover
Mauricio Pochettino held informal talks with the Saudi representatives. In those talks the Argentinian made it very clear he would have to have full control of players coming in and out of
#NUFC
Therefore to sugggest this and that player is coming is wide of the mark
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I have in fact answered this question the best way I can. The Premier League are giving no timescale on this or briefing timelines so I’m not in a position to say when the announcement will come albeit to say they will pass
#NUFCTakeover
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Ed Woodward should probably be fired alongside LVG. He's been an absolute disaster in a key role at
#MUFC
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#WHUFC
owners under attack after making academy legend Tony Carr redundant after 43 yrs and paying him just £14k
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The infamous Cruyff turn copied the world over but only ever executed perfectly by one man.
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The very early comedy contender for goal of the season from
@AberdeenFC
keeper Joe Lewis
#aberdeenfc
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Contrary to claims the eventual fee for Monaco striker Anthony Martial will only reach £28m with various clauses and add-ons.
#MUFC
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