How I like to think....

.... The conversation went with MA:

Fawaz - "So, Mark, why exactly do we find ourselves, having spent a sizeable amount of money in the summer, faced with the prospect of Blackstock, Majewski, McGugan and Camp all walking away for free in the summer; and then having to spend lots more money replacing them?"

MA - "Well, I always find its better to offer players a new contract right at the end of their current deals, so that we can make sure we don't rush headlong into retaining high quality, long serving, proven players. I mean, if they walk out for free or nominal sums we can always replace them. Like we did when Harewood left and we spent twice as much bringing in Marlon King. Or when Earnshaw left and we spent £1.5m bringing in Miller. Or when Commons left and we went and got, er, nobody."

*long pregnant silence*......

"you're sacked"