Unbelievable Jeff

He wasn't aware of it - I just asked him what he thought of Gibson. Also, it's fan number 2 that I've asked as per earlier in thread. Same conclusion.

Just back from Ascot, coincidentally spending the day with a Boro fan (wife's friends hubby). He said Gibson was (and a recurring theme) distinctly average. He reckons anything about £8m is too much. Said he did well under Karanka as so defensive. Not string, not quick, not good in the air. Sigh.

No you can't, you just accept both.

He bought us with debt, so he'd have to wait it out.

Because you make £200m for free over 6 years - more than his current worth? And then you can generate business for your company off the back of it, and also break into a market that is difficult for foreign firms. Do you understand what I'm proposing here because your comment above is not in keeping with what I am suggesting? It's what the Glazer's did at United on a much larger scale.

We're not saying we have no money, we're saying it's being set aside for other things.

Apologies - that I agree with - but didn't he fail that at first anyway? Either way, I'm not sure it's there to stop owners taking money out of the club...just not to do a Blackpool/use weapons money/launder money.

Nah, that's cool. Don't think this guy watched him in the Prem. Of course then they were very defensive under Karanka and didn't concede many probably due to the formation as much as anything.

Now, I will say this is my interpretation of what's happened, what's been said in the interviews (and not been said in the interviews), so this isn't ITK knowledge or any **** like that. However, I do truly believe this is what is happening.

That's nowt to do with with FFP - that's about spending by the club, not someone purchasing the club.

Not for Gao - he's getting the majority of a football club for (near on) free, and I would assume he believes that due to our previous record of buying/selling and bringing through players he can spend a minimal amount and use player sell-ons to enable us to stay up in future. If he takes £30m per year to service the debt, and leaves £15m to spend, for example, top that up with £40m of selling our players, leaves us £55m to spend on players, and he gets his free club in 6 years. Oh, and a free club that he can use to build a small development around the ground, using money from the shops/restaurants/hotels to fund, for his company to build. This guy's not stupid. He's very canny. Just not good for Saints - but we all knew that when he purchased us.

That's not the definition of "Financial Mismanagement". It's **** for the fans, but it's not mismanagement. It's a legitimate way to purchase a business that you don't have the money for.

I don't think we're broke, I think the money is being held back to service the debt created by Gao when purchasing the club.

I thought that was what was said, or not said, with RK's constant refusal to ask Adam Blackmore's "money" question. It's not financial mismanagement, but the club was bought with debt, and a lot of the money we would have made will be used to service that debt. That and the decrease in TV money is why (imo) we've not got money to spend.

What, that he was bang average last year in the Champ? Reading your post that's exactly what it looks like it said ("...he wasn't bad...")

We need to sell to buy IMO, hence why we've not signed anyone yet.

We were told we'd need to sell to spend, so I'm assuming we need £15m from Tadic to afford the £20m for Gibson.

I'm not sure he is. Speaking to a Boro supporting mate (well, he's Blackburn but his missus is Boro and watches a lot of them) he said, and I quote: "He's OK in the Champ, but then so are a lot of players." Ringing endorsement there.

Yeah, I'm not so sure we did or had an intention to buy anyway. Same as Promes in Jan.

Very worrying how little it looks like we're willing to spend this Summer, despite the glaring holes in our squad. This seems to be the way life is going to be under Gao.

I'm not a big fan of Wilshere, but he was excellent for Arsenal at the end of last year.

Don't talk ****. Gabbi has a very good attitude.

Check my post from earlier. That's the current state of play. Not sorted before World Cup.

See, I've heard the opposite. Liverpool aren't interested (irregardless of what's in the papers), and Everton have to clear some players off their wage bill before looking to purchase someone. That leaves Tranmere - is that what you've heard? Either way, I don't believe he will be coming here - and I have doubts it will be sorted before the World Cup if he does. Unsure what you've been told (or made up), but I'm pretty sure they're wrong.

Isn't Forster on £100k?