In fairness the club is probably still up for sale. Much like any business, if the price is right then a deal will be done. What I want to focus on in this article is the statement that accompanied the “for sale” announcement. To refresh your memory you can read the full statement here.
Mike Ashley may have informed the world that the club was up for sale officially, but behind that there was a a plan in place. Looking at a few excerpts of that statement has left me wondering whether that is still the original plan, and how far along the road are we in that plan. Let’s take a look.
“We look for young players, for players in foreign leagues who everyone does not know about. We try and stay ahead of the competition. We search high and low looking for value, for potential that we can bring on and for players who will allow Newcastle to compete at the very highest level but who don’t cost the earth.”
It would certainly seem as though that part of the plan is well underway. Most of our signings in the last couple of seasons have come from abroad and have been relatively cheap in comparison to what you would get if you bought English. Hatem Ben Arfa, Cheik Tiote, Yohan Cabaye and Sylvain Marveaux have all come from abroad and combined cost less than the price of Jordan Henderson. Not bad.
“My investment in the club has extended to time, effort and yet again, money being poured into the Academy. I want Newcastle to be able to create its own legends of the future to rival those of the past. This is a long term plan. A long term plan for the future of the club so that it can flourish.”
This bit seems rather topical given that we’ve just signed another young lad for the future in Mehdi Abeid. He joins a host of young talent that we have at the club currently.
Of course, not all of them will make the step up, but bringing through your own youth players is something that every successful club does and is something that we should be striving to do. It’s early days, and it takes time, but I think it’s pretty clear that we are heading down the right path when it comes to our academy.
“I did not buy Newcastle to make money. I bought Newcastle because I love football. Newcastle does not generate the income of a Manchester United or a Real Madrid. I am Mike Ashley, not Mike Ashley a multi-billionaire with unlimited resources. Newcastle United and I can’t do what other clubs can. We can’t afford it.”
Contentious issue, and no doubt there will be some who suggest that some “cooking” of the books has taken place. However, as most of you know, I like my figures and wade through them each year. I’m not an accountant but I do have a pretty good handle on things. I mean I think I was one of the only ones who was adamant about what “no new capital outlay” actually meant 😆 If all else fails I can call upon my best mate who is a Senior Global Accountant at a worldwide blue chip company.
The last accounts showed that Mike Ashley has not taken a penny out of Newcastle United. This is based on fact through independently audited accounts filed with Companies House. If you don’t believe me, buy them for £1 and have a look for yourself.
The amount owed to Ashley has increased however and now stands at somewhere near £150 million. There was a clutch of incorrect reports linking another company name with the debt at Newcastle not so long back, but that company has been there since day one and is what was used to purchase the club in the first place. That is not working debt. The debt that is the issue is the £150 million.
The next accounts will, or should anyway, show that the level of that debt has decreased due to some repayments scheduled for the start of last season (£12.3 million) and potentially (although not definitely) the start of the new season (£16.5 million). The debt, according to the next accounts anyway, should be coming down.
And finally….
“I have put Newcastle on a sound financial footing. It is reducing its debt. It is spending within itself. It is recruiting exciting new players and bringing in players for the future.”
Mike Ashley is not the favourite of everyone, and probably never will be, but he has stuck to his plan from where I’m sitting. People may not like it, but he’s stuck to the key aspects of the plan in terms of running the club, acquiring players an sorting the infrastructure that he set out way back in 2008.
Food for thought?
Im going to get a comment on here before it gets filled up with loads fools complaining that we are no longer buying the £10 million plus on trophey signings, and complaining that we haven’t spent the carroll money yet. ha ha. Good article and its good to see that some authors of blogs have their feet on the ground.
kidda(Quote)
Hey Toonsy I sent in an article, did you get it?
brownrob(Quote)
only time will tell if it pays off.
hitman(Quote)
He has made mistakes and everybody knows that but you can’t argue with him sticking to his plan. People might say it’s a risk the way we’re doing it but every plan is a risk and the players we’ve brought in it’s far so good with regards to last season.
By the way really like the new look site Toonsy!
dan4toon(Quote)
Also found a compilation of Medhi Abeid on this blog (its not mine!)
http://www.thenufcblog.com/transfers/ready-mehdi-abeid/?
brownrob(Quote)
Good article toonsy!
Lobacka(Quote)
Cheers to witters who gave me this idea 🙂
Brownrob – did you send it via the contact tab?
toonsy(Quote)
In fact scratch that, yeah, I got it 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
I like this article. But i’m sure bobby will be soon to drive it to the ground
Total negativeness has been on most Newcastle sites lately, and it’s p*ssing me off. 😛
Jobey07(Quote)
The parts that stick out for me are about how he loves football, he’s a supporter, used to love going to matches and mingling with the fans but it’s no longer safe with his family, etc. Because I do so want to believe that although he’s a muppet who’s made some major mistakes, he is learning and his intentions are right…. I go up and down in my ability to believe that, but I’d rather be all fluffy and optimistic and proven wrong, than spend my life in an internal rage against him. Not good for my mental health!!
Susan(Quote)
Spot on Toonsy & for me Ashley is now our new Messiah 😀 😆
whoarya(Quote)
But of course I’d rather be proven right! 😆
You never know.
Susan(Quote)
MA has put his money where his mouth is already and saved newcastle from a fate worse than Leeds. If you don’t like it I say buy the club and do it your way or stop winging. MA is getting it right so get behind him and give him the credit he deseves.
shaun(Quote)
Jobey @ 9, agree mate, it’s doing my head. It seems to have about because Sunderland have bought a few players, even Ed did an article on them 😯
When really it’s 5 in 5 out so far for them…..
dan4toon(Quote)
Excellent article. There is no doubt Mike Ashley has made some massive mistakes at Newcastle but there’s also no doubt he is building a good sound financial footing for the club and with time we will see the benefits of that.
Ahmed4nufc(Quote)
Another well written article that points to facts and thats why i like this blog , the people that write on it and the people that comment on it are for the most part realistic and not doom mongering Ashley haters . Don’t get me wrong i would prefer another owner or at least a different Managing director who actually talks to his customer’s and lets them know at least on a weekly basis the news and plans of the club . One thing is for sure though we are a healthier club under Ashley than we were under FFS
Axel(Quote)
I personally think the way the club are doing business in the transfer window is fantastic at the minute. I will agree a trophey signing in the transfer window can be exciting but too many times they have turned out to be failures. Have a look at arsenals dealing in the past they have spent less on van persie, fabregas, wilshire and clichy than sunderland are spending on wickham. I am really looking forward to the new season and am so pleased the days of expensive flops are over.
kidda(Quote)
Very good article toonsy.
Shows proof that even if ashley dosn’t care for the club, he is trying to help it. I believe we are going in the right direction and appear to be building for the future under MA.
Will be funny to hear what the negative nanceys have to say about this article 😆
Santii(Quote)
Good article Toonsy. I believe he had the right intentions from the start, just managed to make a bulls lug out of a lot of things a long the way. I don’t think anyone who reads that original article from 2008 could fail to admit that the plan he outlined then is exactly what the club have been doing since. I’m not unhappy at the way things are going to be honest. Just want to see the right mix between good young talent and established older players in the team and the right level of investment so we can watch good entertaining football. If that means spending £50 or £50 million I’m not bothered. Don’t know why some people are so obsessed with the £35 million 🙄
Geordie Deb(Quote)
Wise words Kidda. In Business it is not how much money you spend but how you spend it. In MA we have one of the best Business men.
shaun(Quote)
Excellent article and few would disagree that Ashley now has the club on a sound financial footing and the purchase of good young prospects bodes well for the future of the club, but where did the flogging off of the same once a size-able bid comes in feature?
Being a nursery for teams such as Liverpool doesnt appeal to me and also, Lee Ryder in the Chronicle has published a similar article handing out a dose of financial realism, funny how all these supportive articles of Ashley appear in the press just when the fans realize they have been conned big style and hard questions are about to be asked.
Robert(Quote)
Know its the wrong thread Sy, but love the new look, think this really is the best blog out there right now.
As for the article, good read and got to agree with some of the other people on here. As much as I love to see great players coming in who will take us onward and upward, i don’t care how much they cost, if they are good and cheap, thats all the better. Suppose if it was any of us, we want the best of what we buy, but we shop around and try to not spend too much and break the bank, why should a football club owner be any different? I’m not his biggest fan, but can agree with some of what Ashley is doing. As for what Susan mentioned again, it’s shocking that he does feel at risk when going to matches home or away. We want to be known for being the best fans, lets not come across that way where somebody feels at risk. Hopefully one day he will feel he can be with the fans like he once was. I know he still has to put some things right himself, but we have to do our part as well.
Lets just hope that some new players come in who can do their stuff on the pitch regardless of how much they cost and push for that top 10 – 7 spot next season
Simon(Quote)
I didnt know Ashley put the club up for sale in 2008, that was when he made keegan manager and what not wasnt it ….? I thought the club went up for sale in 2009, when we were relegated …???
Colm Rose(Quote)
this blog is totally different 😕
Army69(Quote)
I think Ashley has done a lot for us, there has been times when I’ve hated what he’s done to the club but other than that he’s made sure that we are becoming a stable club investing in players who know one knows about i.e Tiote.
I also believe that we will be one of the clubs better off when the financial fair play rules come into force in 2013-14, there’s going to be clubs who have spent a lot of money on players in trouble.
Goose(Quote)
what a great subject to talk about when you have just got up MIKE FAT FECKER ASHLEY 😆 THE MOST HATED MAN IN THE NORTH EAST!!!!
Army69(Quote)
I agree with Deb, he had good intenetions at the beginning but now he’s looking for an exit and he’s going to spend as little as possible until he finds it.
How many clubs in world football actually generate enough money to be self sufficent and compete? Man Utd, Barca, Real and maybe B Munich. Football clubs just don’t generate enough to go and buy the good players unlessthey sell their better players and that defeats the purpose.
We’re now going to start suffering due to Ashley’s complete incompetence when he bought the club, no due dillegence – idiot! Over the next few years he’s slowly but surely going to take his money back and that will be at the dertiment to the team and we’ll just potter along in mid table.
Shame really.
Stuart79(Quote)
Robert do you believe there is a wage cap at the club ? If so what do you think it is ?
Toonsy good thread mate, i normally try to be positive because all the negative stuff gets me down, but for me the biggest negative at the club is lambsarse.
Big Dave(Quote)
I may not like Ashley but I have to agree with much of the club’s new direction under his ownership.
Llambias on the other hand is a different matter. I still believe he is “hamstringing” any manager who takes over the reigns at this club.
I bit “off topic” but relevant to this article.
If we are also to believe the rumour mill regarding outgoing players!
It makes sense that Nolan, Barton and Smith have and will leave.
Their wages combined would cover a further squad of 11 players at the wage cost of the recent signings!
They dont fit into the Ashley plan if this is the direction the club is being taken. So expect them to go bye bye just like Nolan.
Graham(Quote)
MY TEAM V ARSENAL IF WE GET A FEW PLAYERS!!
KRUL
RIGHT BACK COLLO TAYLOR ENRIQUE
TIOTE
BARTON CABAYE GUTIEREZ OR MARVEAUX
BEN ARFA
DEMBA BA OR NEW STRIKER
Army69(Quote)
then your left with gosling , a new striker , marveaux or gutierez , simpson , best , harper and ferguson on the bench!! very strong bench imo!!
Army69(Quote)
What concerns me about Ashley is not his business plan, in fact it sounds both reasonable and worthwhile.
Unfortunately, this is a guy who listens to no one and whom i doubt trusts anyone, that is apparent by checking out the people he hires, figureheads, with no real power to make decissions.
What i am suggesting is he is a control freak.
So, by the way are lots of people, it’s not uncommon.
And for someone who is a great retailer, to assume that the same methods are applicable to running a football club and he can learn on the job, is IMO a mistake.
If one looks at the top clubs, clubs that are successful, you will find two things in common, a money man and a top manager.
Even Abramovich, another control freak, is smart enough to realise what he does’nt know and leaves that up to the two forementioned guys.
My point is NUFC will never be one of the top sides, due to a lack of revenue and the fact it is being run by a retailer who refuses to hire the appropriate people (football people)
Face it both Llambias and Pardew are jokes, with no real power , what other club would hire these two.
It appears that Carr has assumed the role of a more likeable Dennis Wise and at present is probably the one person who has any influence with Ashley, probably a step in the right direction.
So if you are content with a club that plays regular football in the PL and finishes in the top ten, then thats what you have got, nothing more.
The unfortunate reality is NUFC will never generate that world wide income
without the fan base , tv revenue from european competition and an owner who is willing to finance the club .
That’s the reality of to-days football, the recent successes of SBR in the PL are no longer an option, simply through a lack of funds.
chuck(Quote)
MA will soon be the most hated man in Sunderland when his business plan delivers in the coming years. I say back MA or stay away from sjp and take your winging elsewhere. MA respect. Hecklers who make him feel unsafe in his own Busines shame on
you.
shaun(Quote)
I agree with chuck to an extent, although I disagree on the not trusting anyone part. I think he does trust people, but the wrong people, like llambias for example.
toonsy(Quote)
Agree with Stu and Deb that his heart was in the right place at the beginning…. but think the enormity of his own mistake and the fans’ reaction completely bowled him over and he’s shut himself away now as a prudent (some would say miserly) hermit. But can we blame him if he’s cut himself off from us with the hatred directed at him???
I believe in the possibility of building bridges….. as Simon said we’ve got to do our part as well, and if the whole situation could just soften up a little….. then with a couple more signings and a bit of luck on the injury front, we could start to go places with an attitude change on all sides…. putting the ‘united’ back into NUFC. Surely we need owner and fans on the same side, sooner rather than later?
Mind you there will always be doom-mongers no matter what…. it’s a way of life.
Susan(Quote)
Shaun, look at the crowd figures and you will see that many are already doing so, it is painful for them as many have supported the club for yonks, it could get worse depending on the players that start the season and you may just get your wish, the fans are loyal but not mugs.
Robert(Quote)
Ive also been concerned by some of the reports and comments re the running of NUFC and the AC transfer fee in particular.
In recent years the transfer policy has been sound. The focus on buying younger players and taking advantage of contractual clauses to ensure we dont pay over the odds means that even when a player doesnt make it at Newcastle the club will have a reasonable chance of moving them on
The players we have brought in this early in the season are good step. If we can add a couple more before the season starts i believe we will be in a good place.
As for MA, for someone so succesful he hasnt the first clue on how to relate to his customers and he made some idiotic decisions but if you agree that his interests lie in what is best for Mike Ashley then he must also want a succesful club.
Bring on the new season.
Craig(Quote)
But yes, good point he needs better advisors 🙄 🙄 🙄
Susan(Quote)
Robert I understand the frustration however if the club is to move forward we must be United. Yes MA has made mistakes but in who hasn’t. I say to all NUFC fans let’s back MA this season and let’s see where we end up as we have nothing to lose. If MA plan fails then NUFC will be sold reg
ardless however my opinion is that he is getting it right. This guy is no mug either so let’s try and have a United and great season.
shaun(Quote)
Just a couple of things:
True supporters would never ever stop supporting their club;
The amount of people out there that are making us look like complete tools is embarrassing, I’m astounded with the sheer volume of complaints about the 35 million! Some people would only be satisfied if we went out and spent 35 milion on 1 player! The last time we did business like that we ended up with the likes of Owen and Viduka! Honestly we were in the Championship fir a reason! WAKE UP we are not Man City! 35 million signings are a thing of the past!
Nathandio(Quote)
The above rant is not directed at anyone on here! Just did the electronic rounds this morning and the reading made me mad 😈
Nathandio(Quote)
Great article Toonsy, I agree almost word for word with the piece, and the majority of the comments. Although there can be no doubt that MA has made some whopping mistakes, it is easy with the benefit of hindsight to see what he was attempting to do when he made them.
Love him, hate him or be completely disinterested in him, you cannot deny that he has put his money into the club where others before him have not. He may have had to, but he’s done it just the same.
Like Graham@29, I think that the real issue at the club now is Llambias, who I think is charged with the day to day running, and who does so without any consideration towards anything but the bottom line. Of course, that might be the task he has been given by MA and he is sticking to it. However, it may also be true that he is the perfect example that there is no longer any (place for) sentiment or loyalty in football, either from clubs or players. In the wider sense I find that a little sad, nut just for NUFC, but for all clubs.
Financially, I think the club is heading in the right direction. I don’t know if the plan was devised by MA, or by someone else but it certainly seems to be working.
On the football front, I don’t think we will progress significantly until Llambias and/or the manager is replaced by someone who actually knows how to build and run a successful football club, who is strong enough to take on MA, and who MA grants the leeway to do just that.
Like Chuck I don’t think that Pardew and Llambias have any power or ability to exercise any initiative outside the agreed policies. Although Carr me be doing sterling work getting in all these young players, on it’s own it’s not enough. If they only hang around for a season or two, the football club won’t progress.
I still think we are still a couple of seasons away from seeing a successful football team, and only then if MA begins to look at the wider picture. As long as the bottom line has the focus, it just won’t happen. It might be that he has a second 5 year plan, which get’s us where we want the football club to be, only time will tell.
Incidently (and off topic), I find it strange to hear football fans talking in general about how bad ‘player power’ is, and ‘too much money in football’ is ruining the game, particularly when they are criticising other teams, players, managers or agents. But when out own club seem to be doing exactly what those same football fans are demanding, we all lose the plot.
Starkadder(Quote)
Personally I’ve made my piece with Ashley for now. Think he has the best interest of his investment (the club) at heart and is learning from his mistakes and we are moving forward positively.
I honestly now feel that we are lucky to have him.
It takes a tough minded bloke to sit in there and take all the abuse and keep pressing on.
Fact is we are a passionate bunch and so we constantly put pressure on the club. Made obvious by the fact that we have made more signings than 90% of the league, yet listening to some, you would think we haven’t signed anyone yet.
The fat man has withstood the pressure and avoided the major rush of blood descisions that have doomed us in the past.
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
Even though I was gutted with the treatment of CH – I wholeheartedly agree with everything Ashley is doing, we may be just about to enter the period of the entertainers again – utilising the 12th man – all affordable, expansive football, frozen season ticket prices for 10 years.
Ashley will be celebrated in time, narrow minded bitter folk will hang onto past disagreements but for me we have one of the best men for the job in charge. And refreshingly he isn’t profiteering and asset stripping – he is putting the club back together the way fans would dream of.
The bad side of that is if we were ever sold, the “next Freddie Shepherd” would have a field day really asset stripping. The sooner we all appreciate Ashley, the sooner he may be minded to protect the club forever for us (by legal mechanisms)
Stardust(Quote)
didnt ma also say back then he was going to put 20 mill a year from his own pocket into the club for transfers. I didnt think this would be a loan.
B1GSTEVE(Quote)
Wonder why fans as a collective and individually don’t admit they turned on their club in its time of need – they made mistakes too – its human nature
Stardust(Quote)
Stardy- do you think if we have a strong and comfortable top eight finish this year, people will start to support him? Or do you think a trophy is the only way out of the dog house for him?
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
nice post chuck 😉
batty(Quote)
stady get fookin over clueless chris will ya ,if ya want too *** clueless gan accross too the other blog ,oh you cant can ya 😆
batty(Quote)
stardy 😳 🙂
batty(Quote)
If only Ashley would see sense and get rid of Llambias…
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
With regards to next season, If we were to sign another striker and Taylor for LB cover I would be happy. Of course, that is assuming Enrique and Barton stay and see out their contracts (Perhaps a little unlikely). That would have our squad looking something like this next season.
Flexible 4-3-3/4-5-1 system:
————————–Ba————————
Marveaux——–Ben Arfa———–Barton
————Cabaye———Tiote—————
Enrique——Colo——Taylor——-Simps
————————Krul————————
With a bench of: (Striker?), Ferguson, Jonas(Who I believe will be used more centrally next season), Gosling, Williamson, N.Taylor, Harper
Now, take a step back and look at the quality of that squad. It’s better than all sides outside the top 6 or 7, is it not?
See how the side has improved considerably in just one summer?
We don’t need, and won’t get N’Zogbia as there is no place for him with all the wing options we have now. He would definitely improve us, but 10mill plus high wages is a lot for a player that’s not necessarily needed.
People need to realise Pardew was right when he said TWO more additions. He is basing that on the current squad. If Barton and Enrique leave, we will probably sign 4 players. Get it?
~ El Toro ~(Quote)
Batty Stardy seems to agree with what MA has done so he must agree that clueless had to go 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
bloody hate that rooney **** on top of page,who the hell put that there 👿
icedog(Quote)
Ice i cant see it on me phone 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
El Toro, agree with that 100% mate!
dan4toon(Quote)
new View from the away end up.
MarkToon(Quote)
I agree with the tone of most of the comments on this thread. The man has made mistakes, and got himself in way over his head financially, but is slowly setting things right.
You can argue about whether the plan is a good one, but you can’t say he isn’t following it. But it will take a few years in the Prem probably as an 8-12 team before we see a major increase investment. I have come to accept that
MDS(Quote)
Jersey – not sure fella – as if even now people can’t see the benefits of what he has done I don’t think they ever will. They are the same ones that used to complain when we were second in the League in the Entertainers era.
Batts 😆
Stardust(Quote)
Dave – I actually think CH being removed was another piece of outstanding thinking.
I believe he wants to be and us to be entertained and thrilled. I think he saw Chris as becoming unsackable for all he had done / was doing for us and we could have had a KK style fall out if he had been sacked after keeping us up. So he had to go at the first chance – that then educates the fans – NUFC will stop at nothing to entertain, be financially solvent and prudent but strive for improvements. I think he thought Chris would be defensive minded and he didn’t want that.
He wants to tap into the power of the 12th man and you don’t do that by defending.
I see his thought process as genius not foolhardy – he is several steps ahead of everyone – and knows and understands how to get there.
Stardust(Quote)
Stardy I agree with some of your points fella but do you think he will ever realise that Lambsarse is a money man and not footie chairman, as I have always believed that MA could be a good owner and that he wants to be the owner of a successfull club, but I strongly believe that Lambsarse is stopping more fans from excepting him, and getting behind him.
I dont care what anyone says I have seen MA showing real passion as a fan when we are playing, and cant believe that he doesn’t want us to be better, because the better we are the more his investment is worth.
Big Dave(Quote)
Interesting point by stardust @ 60. good post
AlanPardewProject(Quote)
anybody know this BAKAMBU guy there saying we are going to sign for 2.5mil only know hes french c/f ?
icedog(Quote)
In line with several of the above comments, I think that Ashley has done far more good for the club than we tend to either know or admit. I am less convinced that he is a control freak, but he is certainly not a good communicator, borne out by the fact that we are still working off statements made almost three years ago, with next to nothing in between. This is not helped, as others have stated, having Derek Llambias as the MD who seems like a fish out of water when it comes to relating to the fans; and when the club manager, who has been apt to speak at the drop of the hat – either because he just likes the sound of his own voice or through a nervous desire to fit in with the Geordie faithful, appears not to know what his board are really intending. Apart from that , all is quite well at the club.
Paul in Hollywood(Quote)
Dave – appreciate your views re Cyril Sneer (Llambias) from a fans viewpoint he isn’t likeable or informative. From a business perspective he is helping revolutionise the club. I think at this stage the greater good is the business side of things. So despite his failings Ashley will stick by him.
Another point being is “football men” with the exception of David Dean – only know one way of doing things – spending money. The only way to break into the top 4 without their budget is to engage an off market strategy. Don’t follow the herd. I truly believe many more will follow our model as we go forward.
Stardust(Quote)
Ice….all I know is he played in his clubs first league game last season, only made another 8 apps after that and has never scored a senior goal so I think it’s safe to assume that stories bollox 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Great article Toonsy and most of the posts above reflect my thoughts. I think Ashley is on the right track and is slowly getting the fans won over. There will always be some that just can’t accept this and dwell on the obvious mistakes he made in the past.
I agree the weak link is Lamearse and we should get someone in who is a bit more football savvy. I think when Ashley realised the size of the debt he wanted to put someone in that he trusted and that he knew which is why Lamearse was brought in.
The signings so far show a lot of hard work has gone in to identifying the right kind of players and I’m sure there will be 2 or 3 more to come. I’m really optimistic about our chances next season and excited by the kind of football I think we could see.
3hourswasted(Quote)
Great read toonsy! Have to admit ashley has made his mistakes but we could have easily done a leeds when we dropped into the championship, we were up for sale, But he kept us afloat. Hopefully his business plan will work and we move up the table slowly each year. 🙂
floydy(Quote)
How the hell can anyone call Ashley a good businessman. His appointments of staff has been disgraceful from day one and continued throughout his reign. Lambsarse is a total disaster and if he had employed someone like David Dein we might have seen Newcastle run as a successful business. Instead he appoints his cronies who don`t have a clue. You can count Pardew into the equation because he is just a puppet who does`nt just change the goalposts but changes the field you are playing on. On minute he says something and the totally contradicts himself. I am not a doom monger I am pointing out facts imo. Of course I want the club to be successful I have supported them for fifty years and I bleed black and white but to call him a good businessman is bollocks.
Freddie Shepherd(Quote)
I don`t always agree with your views but I do congratulate you toonsy on the diverse range of comments that this site contains. Your articles are good reading and encourage lively debate and is always worth a read long may it continue
Freddie Shepherd(Quote)
Is this a spoof website?
I just can’t believe all this gushing praise for FMA is genuine.
Am I alone in suspecting that most of these comments are from some Ashley minion?
kk79(Quote)
Not a spoof website there are just a lot of nufc fans who have common sense. Also if MA isn’t a good business man then I wish I could do as badly as him. Look wingers support the club and make Newcastle UNITED…
shaun(Quote)
Look Shaun you can have a different opinion without been a whinger. If everybody agreed with each other and did`nt have opinions what would be the point of democracy go and live in the middle east as part of Gadaffi`s regime if that is how you feel. I am talking about his business decisions at Newcastle United ie not doing due dilegence in the first place followed by a range of poor decisions which led to relegation. If you think that is the traits of a good businessman dream on
Freddie Shepherd(Quote)
Well, Freddie Sheperd, if FFS hadnt run this club in the mud because of the increasing debt it would have been a little easier to run the club – eh?
And i don`t see a bunch of gadaffis here, i see a lot of disussions and good reflections about how the club is doing. Maybe I`m stupid but ithink discussion is pretty usual in a proper democracy.
And IMO the club is at better footing now then when Ashley did buy it. Is that a coincidence, FFS? i think not 😯
KORN(Quote)
Here here Korn. Mike ashley must feel like Gadaffi when he takes his family to sjp. Yes he has made mistakes but he is still man enough to make brave decisions when it must feel like the whole world is against him. His bravery is now stating to pay dividends. Give the big fella a chance.
shaun(Quote)