From the £35 million we have or haven’t spent, to the lies and truths that we have been fed over the past 12 months. It has divided opinion between us fans and there seems to be no end in sight to the debate. However after offering my own opinions and reading those of others, it has started me thinking about things from a slightly different angle.
There has been a lot of talk that we the fans have been lied to and mislead about the money from the Carroll transfer. There is real concern that the money is not being used to its full potential on strengthening the team and as a result the level of mistrust has left a huge stain on the faith some fans have in Mike Ashley, Derek Lambias and Alan Pardew.
If our owners and managers were to plead a case for some positives I think it would read something like this.
We have been working hard behind the scenes to secure new players and we had a great start to the window after securing Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba and Sylvain Marveaux. We are working on two other deals that we are hoping to get over the line. We are spending the money wisely and strengthening the team as a result. We refused to offer Kevin Nolan a five-year contract as it was not beneficial to do so as he would only become another high paid bench-warmer in the years to come.
We are working on securing Jose Enrique on another deal although Barton’s contract negotiations are seemingly dead in the water. Money has been invested into our training facilities and we are still actively scouting young prospects for our reserve and youth teams. We are reducing our debt and setting us on a sound financial footing that should see us exist and prosper for many years to come.
There are numerous other things going on behind the scenes that I could list but I have to try and keep this article shortish and sweet.
So, the question I want to pose is. “What does the club actually owe you”?
Put yourself in their position. You are doing what you think is best for the club and still have fans baying for your blood. Maybe it’s a case of “you can’t please all of the people all of the time”
Taking the emotion out of the situation, ask yourself what you are owed as a fan. OK you have been lied to in the past but our much loved team plays every week during the season and the stadium is always open for business. When you really look at it, we don’t want for much other than success on the park.
Your thoughts?
Thanks to Aussie Magpie Fan for offering this up for debate. I’m sure it will prompt an interesting debate.
Without the fans the team would be playing in an empty stadium,we are the blood of the club and the club owes us everything it could possibly give and more.
MrMojoRisin76(Quote)
Honesty,respect and a team we can be proud of, not too much to ask methinks 😉
richietoon(Quote)
RICHIE dead right there mate,simples 😀
by the way m8 any movement on house?
icedog(Quote)
Ice…just going to try and rent it out mate, will sort it when I’m in UK next week hopefully.
richietoon(Quote)
Its stupid to expext 35 million to be spent on players. There are wages, signing on fees, agent fees and loads of other things that cost money. People are just being naive thinking that all the money from the Carroll transfer will be spent on tramsfer fees.
NottsGeordie(Quote)
Ashley Out !
Sirjasontoon(Quote)
Do we believe Ireland about being forced? the guy couldn’t lie straight in bed, Remember he once faked his Grandma’s death…
Jobey07(Quote)
RICHIE thats the way to gan at the moment mate,cheapest 2/bed in our village is £500 a month with a ship load of rules,try to aviod these letting agents if you can the gits take 25/30% out your cash
icedog(Quote)
JOBEY your reet m8 said the same thing when he came,fit right in with present mob like when it comes to lies 😆
icedog(Quote)
I think the only thing we can expect from the club owners is the club remians in business’s year in year out , I know that sounds very unambitious but I feel the club hhave a responsibity to make sure the club is run properly and is still around for generations to come
Johno Toon(Quote)
A cup would be nice 😉
jay jay(Quote)
With the highest ticket prices outside of Landon &Machestor , unrivaled loyalty in the fans home And away , dispite the FCB not taking full allocation.
[Still don’t understand, ❓ that when have NUFC failed to sell away tickets 👿 unless it another wind up by the FCB 🙄 ]
Little bit of re investment of our Bucks in players . 😮 😕
toonarmybill(Quote)
Richietoon has it spot on for me – an honest, upfront communication from club to fans respecting the fact that the club means so much to us and a team to be proud of.
For me – and I’m sure I’m not the only one – ‘proud’ means 110% every time they step on the pitch. For the full 90 minutes. Irrespective of whether they’re on 50p a week or 50,000 a week. It also means a positive, attack-minded (but not just tactically naive, gung-ho) style of play that is worth watching.
Question 1: Do the improvements to our squad so far, the return of Ben Arfa and Gosling and departures mean we’re closer to this ideal of ‘proud’?
Question 2: Generally awful communication from club to fans overall during Ashley’s tenure aside, does the current approach to transfers – assuming our business is not finished yet – mean we’re moving forward as a club?
Dave Brussels(Quote)
Put yourself in their position. You are doing what you think is best for the club and still have fans baying for your blood. Maybe it’s a case of “you can’t please all of the people all of the time”
This is a flawed argument because I don’t think they neccessarily are doing ‘what’s best for the club’. If I was ‘in their position’ I would stop being disingenous and lying to the fans and paying customers. I would listen to their concerns and try to address them or find acceptable compromises.
Pootle(Quote)
Legally they have to put a team on the pitch.
Morally they have a duty to season ticket holders to put the best team a professionally run club can on the pitch.
That doesn’t mean they keep cash in the bank for a rainy day.
Morally they should replace Carroll with a top-quality No9.
geoff777(Quote)
Pootle says:
July 10, 2011 at 11:40
Put yourself in their position. You are doing what you think is best for the club and still have fans baying for your blood. Maybe it’s a case of “you can’t please all of the people all of the time”
This is a flawed argument because I don’t think they neccessarily are doing ‘what’s best for the club’. If I was ‘in their position’ I would stop being disingenous and lying to the fans and paying customers. I would listen to their concerns and try to address them or find acceptable compromises.
I dont think its a flawed argument as everyone is different and has a different view. If the board tried to address the concerns of the all fans nothing would get done as you would have a million differnt opinons 🙂
Johno Toon(Quote)
REPECT THE FANS ❗
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
**RESPECT THE FANS** 😳
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
BREAKING NEWS ON SSN
http://twitpic.com/5nr3bp
hitman(Quote)
HITMAN,
🙄 😆 😆
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
HITMAN 😀 😀 😀
icedog(Quote)
😆
hitman(Quote)
what this breaking news? In work so cant check ur link hitman
Johno Toon(Quote)
just a makem pish take johno
hitman(Quote)
Yet another lie by the Fat parasetic *******. We were told that the £35M would be injected back into the squad. Now it`s (supposedly) went on undersoil heating etc. Fatty will never spend real money on the clubs playing side. Just surviving in the PL is his aim. Surely a club with 50,000 punters and the merch generated along with Sky money should cover the facilities side? The Man is ripping it big time. I just wish he`d pop his fat clogs.
He`s utter scum.
Ash Ater(Quote)
class 🙄
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
All I ask as a humble fan, is not to be lied to. That is it.
It’s quite simple for me, thats all I want.
NorthernPaul(Quote)
it would be better if all transfers were for undisclosed fees, then we wouldn’t be able to ***** about how much has /hasn’t been spent.
simples
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Ill check it when i get home Hitman 🙂
Johno Toon(Quote)
Our two top goalscorers have been sold for a total of £39mil, we going into the new season having signed Demba Ba, (decent, maybe) but on a FREE! The club owes the fans one decent renound striker! They don’t have to blitz the whole amount from player sales… but as things stand if Ba were to get injured we’ll be struggling again like last season, calling on strikers who have a limited goal ratio.
Jamie Hodgson(Quote)
What do we expect? When Carroll was sold, they told us the money would go on new signings. Now we are told it is paying their wages and updating the training facilities?
Maybe we could accept mediocrity if the board told us straight somelthing like the following:
‘We appreciate the undying support the fans give this club week in, week out and understand your yearning for big signings and a push for Europe and Cups. However, our objective as businessmen is this:
1) Clear the clubs debts.
2) Keep the squad competitive and steady, if not exceptional.
3) Ensure the club is an attactive, stable proposition for future investors.
4) To sell to the right person for a healthy profit.
I could understand and pretty much accept that, as at least we would know ehere we stand and what to expect. Instead they make false promises then play on their original words. We all know the above is Cashley’s ultimate aim, why not just admit it. Surely we fans deserve a bit of honesty about where the club is going seeing as it is our passion and money that keeps it going?
Shamrock(Quote)
the trust has gone..
hitman(Quote)
The question I would have is – if we didn’t sell Carroll, does this mean we wouldn’t have been able to sign anyone this summer and re-do the training facilities? If the Carroll money is funding this, then apparently not.
If we COULD do that this summer regardless – then taking into account the release of players and the sale of Nolan – we haven’t spent any of the money the owner and manager promised would be used.
It isn’t a case of whether you think it is right or wrong for the team, they have lied again regardless of the answer to my question. Either way, they are not spending anything as sales are funding every penny we spend.
You shouldn’t need to sell players to re-do training facilities.
funkyjesus(Quote)
1. Truth
2. Communication
3. Performance commensurate with the third biggest gates in the Premier League.
4. Respect for our traditions.
5. A squad of sufficient quality AND quantity to challenge in all competitions.
6. Investment in youth.
7. A CEO who embraces what Sir Bobby Robson recognised as the importance of fans and players.
8. A striker and centre half to build a team around.
Blaydonson(Quote)
Totally agree Shamrock. Ashley seems to forget on the pitch is the ultimate key to stability. I don’t doubt Ben Arfa being back along with Cabaye and Marveaux will add some much needed creativity, but due to the nature of the sales we will need a renound hitman.
Jamie Hodgson(Quote)
According to the Sunday Sun, Shola is coming up to the last year of a 3yr contract, he is 29yrs old and if Pardew and co are true to their word and treat him like the others, he will only be offered a 1yr extension as this is the way forward for players of that age, as they see it.
Robert(Quote)
getting rid of lambass would be the best thing ashley could do,every time this man opens his gob you know hes telling porkies
hitman(Quote)
AndyMacs parting comment to me on Friday was to call me a fool. In my opinion that’s what a lot of fans must think Ashley is. You want to slate him daily, vile verbal abuse both in written comment then at the games [not now but previously at the height of the bedsheet boys] then you all expect him to be honest and come out on the steps in some Keeganesque kind of way with his arms wide willing to discuss his business maneuverings with you. I said on Friday and I’ll say it again for some of you who don’t get it…..its a big bad world out there, there is no tooth fairy and unfortunately santa isn’t coming back…live with it!
JoeSoap(Quote)
theres no santa im shocked 😆
hitman(Quote)
Oh and by the way, those of you who said fans don’t want a hollywood signing should try reading other blogs sometimes……………………..
Taken from Ed Harrisons blog……
Tommyy // Jul 10, 2011 at 10:39 AM
Bit gutted about the bit saying Pardew hasn’t yet convinced the board to go for a marquee signing that would have been lovely.
JoeSoap(Quote)
Joe we were asked what we want. Honesty is the answer. A question for you. Someone approaches you and tells you there a shiny coin on the floor worth a million quid. You bend over to pick it up and that person takes away your self respect. That same person then approaches you the next day and repeats the shiny coin story.
Do you bend over and take it because its a big bad world out there, or do you voice your disgust at such an immoral slimeball of a person and lay that person out?
Why should the fans of this club be any different? People will never be happy about being lied to. What i’m saying is that MA just told the truth and said he’ll be gone just as soon as the books are in the black and a decent buyer comes in, then the fans would probably make do with what they have an bide their time instead of expecting what they are falsely promised.
Shamrock(Quote)
Just had a chance to mooch at the Sunday Sun today for the first time. You know nowt is happening when even they can’t come up with anything exciting 😆
toonsy(Quote)
…and as much as it might appear so, I don’t want to defend Ashley. I just think this constant harking on about wanting the truth and get out of our club **** isn’t helping. Nobody wants to see stability at the club more thatn me, and in the words of Kevin Keegan …I would love it if some filthy rich Geordie who loves the Toon wanted to come and splurge his hard earned wedge on us……I’m just facing and trying to make the best of the reality in a grown up sort of way. I accept that everyone is pissed off, so am I, but I just think we’re going to have to grin and bear it and enjoy the football watching the off-pitch shenanigans unfold in due course….screaming at him hasn’t worked maybe we should try a different approach!
JoeSoap(Quote)
Joe Soap – people here read newsnow. They get to see ed’s stuff before he has even written it 😆
toonsy(Quote)
joe,do you like being taken for a complete mug..
no you wouldnt.this is what happening with these 2 chancers they tell us 1 thing and do another,remember it was proven that they lie to the fans on a regular basis
hitman(Quote)
One bit of good news from the sunday gossip columns is that we are missing out on carlton cole. what a relief that is
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
@Hitman…do you go to the games? If you do then you’re the mug…you think he’s ****, you think he’s a lying conniving fcb yet you still give him your money….why?
JoeSoap(Quote)
Joe – I’m sure most would like a marquee signing. They were fun times in truth. However the realisation is that it just isn’t going to happen so all people are asking for is for the squad to be improved with lesser players. Its not unreasonable in my opinion.
I’d like a million quid right about now, but I settle for a grand instead.
toonsy(Quote)
i stopped going 2 games, i wont give the fat git any of my money joe,as soon as he does 1 il be back
hitman(Quote)
Paying too much money for a player may not be the best option. Article in the sports section in the independent detailing how much clubs have spent so far. Big clubs are spending a lot of money and we are improving our squad in an effective way. quality players who contracts are up and paying money for someone we actually want
Goose(Quote)
Toonsy…do you not think the squad has been improved with the players brought in over the last year? Marquee signings inevitably end up like Owen greedy little ***** who are only here to rip us off! Look at it this way if Ashley really is out to asset strip then whats likely to happen? He bankrupts the club and we go into administration, or he keeps bleeding away the money made from transfers and doesn’t spend it on players? …either way its not great, but unfortunately thats the reality at the moment. The only way to force him out is to stop going and spending cash on his merchandise…it seems none us are willing to do that, we can whinge all we like but until he stops seeing the club as a cash cow this is going to continue…!
JoeSoap(Quote)
@HITMAn….then for what its worth I admire your convictions…good man! I’m not quite so strong I’m afraid I still go….each to his own though
JoeSoap(Quote)
Ashley isn’t doing what’s best for the club, he’s doing what’s best for Ashley. This will be to the detriment of the team, then the club!
Stuart79(Quote)
The club at least partly owes us its existence, because with out us, it wouldn’t.
Exist, that is.
That’s why many people would hope to be treat with a bit more respect than we have been.
Pootle(Quote)
Just to reiterate something I mentioned on the last thread. Our first game against Arsenal has been rearranged to a 5pm kick off for Sky.
Hope it doesn’t have an effect on the attendance.
Stuart79(Quote)
Hitman, you aren not a true supporter + you have signed your own contract of hypocrisy. You used to go to the match but you changed your mind and you won’t pay to watch the Toon, because you are concerned that MA will benefit as a consequence of you spending your money that way. Yet you expect MA never to change his mind about his strategy and expect him to spend millions and millions and millions without thinking of the consequences. If you try to tell me that the situation is different and that you are a fan who has rights, then you should also ustand that you cannot expect MA to think like you do. You should just get on and support the team. You think i love MA, but i don’t .. i just can’t stand the hypocrisy from fans like you and i do think that overall i agree with majority of the decisions being made by our management team at the moment ..
TOONPIPES(Quote)
pardew at the grand prix,rumours are hes trying to get button to come to the club and be the new no9 😆
hitman(Quote)
fk off prat,im a born and bred geordie,if i refuse not to go thats my choice i dont need you telling me im not a true fan,before ashley fked us about i went to every home game(when not away working)for over 20 year..
hitman(Quote)
i have never says i want ashley to spend millions..
hitman(Quote)
Yeah, but to be fair hitman if some of us decide to still go and not man the bedsheets thats our choice and don’t deserve to be reviled and slated as mugs, just because we don’t join with the childishness for the benefit of the sky cameras. Everytime Ashley sees the usual suspects chanting away their garbage he must rub his hands….he knows we’re easy to con and just as easy to whip up into a frenzy. A different approach may be to let him see we’re not stupid we are capable of sensible debate and eventually make him see we are worthy of respect….to get it you have to show it!
JoeSoap(Quote)
of course it it joe,every man to there own m8.
hitman(Quote)
* it is
hitman(Quote)
I keep checking the papers, BBC, Sky Sports News for an announcement we have signed a top, top striker to replace the goals Carroll and Nolan gave us. Nothing. Lies. I need something to smile about… ‘Toon sign Gonzalo Higuaín!’ would probably do it. But Nothing. 🙁
ShireToon(Quote)
Joe – I think in theory we have improved, but we must wait and see how these players turn out for us first before making a judgement in my opinion. There is still time left in the window of course, but at the moment we have exactly the same problems as last season season. I’d like to see them addressed personally given that we’ve got a load of money to do so. I don’t care if it is isn’t all spent, but the very least I’d like to see is the weak areas of the squad strengthened further.
For example, what happens if Ba gets injured? Back to square one.
Enrique, if he stays, what happens if he gets injured?
These are glaring spots in our squad that need addressing. This is why I’m not making any real judgements until the window closes.
toonsy(Quote)
The removal of the level 7 singing choir just about sums up Ashleys love of the Toon Army!
Utter utter disgrace! Bring it back! 👿
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
I think if you strip back all the arguments around the 35m and what has transpired over Ashley’s tenure, the thing that stands out is respect. I don’t think there is a whole lot of respect from Ashley toward the fans and the fans toward Ashley. This will be a lose lose situation for as long as it stands as is… What the answer is I don’t know… As I said in my article, no matter what decision you make as the owners, you will upset some sections of the fan base.. Reading through the posts here, you can see some of the divisions on display… 😕
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)