A changed man?
It’s baffling considering that the following of NUFC is the bread and butter of The Chronicle but hey ho… Anyway it has provided me with a talking point, and that talking point is Mike Ashley.
I’ve never known one person split so many people to be honest, not at Newcastle United anyway. Some say he is doing a good job, some will never forgive him for past mistakes (or were they?) others just play it by ear and judge each decision as it comes whilst some just plain don’t care as it doesn’t involve that part we all love – the football side of it.
Most people have an opinion on him though, and I’d like to know if this fantastic season has altered the way he is viewed amongst the fans. The Chronicle seems to think so as it reckons that 65% of people they polled are happier with the job he is doing now compared to the one he was doing last season.
Personally I’m not. I recognise that Ashley has achieved some good and has brought relative and unexpected success to us, but the real thing I want to see is a willingness to build on that or even sustain it. I’m not confident in that regard at all.
There is still a lot of mistrust on my part which has been built up over the years, and it will take more than one season to remove that element of doubt. If we can carry on doing what we are doing then it will go a long way towards redemption, but first I have to see if that happens.
So has my opinion of Mike Ashley changed? Nope, although tellingly my view of him hasn’t got any worse, despite the renaming fiasco and advertising being plastered everywhere. It’s all a showcase you know…
What about you though? Have you changed your opinion on Mike Ashley?
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Ashleys only half the man he was.
Well the only things he got wrong were:
he came in promising 20m a year of his money invested in the team.
he brought Keegan back and I don’t know a fan who was wanting him/expecting him back
Then wise selling milner, no replacement
wise brought in nacho gonzalez as a favour to south american agent for first dibs on players (who we maybe wouldn’t get work permit for)
wise brought in xisco, 50k a week
Keegan hadn’t seen the above play
JFK as manager (wanted less than keegan and shearer)
Shearer as manager (same as keegan, no-one wanted him)
——————————————————-
Other than that, every thing else has been spot on : Selling carroll, barton, nolan
I’ve personally forgiven him but like always with ashley things go well for a while then something comes out of the blue i.e. stadium renaming
So basically I’m hoping everything is fine and he doesn’t sell cisse krul tiote and ba.
I’ve always said that I believed Newcastle were heading for financial meltdown and Mike Ashley’s purchase of NUFC prevented that. You don’t become a billionaire if you’re an idiot. Sure he made some mistakes, he’s only human, and had never run a football club before. But, he is getting there. We, are getting there. And, to be fair it is his money he is putting into the club.
Howay The Toon – Europe, here we come; once again.
Forgiven him completely. Relegation was painful but the past three seasons since have been up there with my favourites as a fan. We might not be hitting the heights of Sir Bobby’s reign yet, but we seem to be going in the right direction and have a really likeable team.
I love Keegan and do believe he was lied to, however he is always prone to walk, six of one, half a dozen of the other.
My Opinion of Mike Ashley has not changed one bit!!!!!!
He will always be to me a great man at this club. Greater than Keegan, Shearer and whom ever you care to mention.
Long may he govern us.
At the end of the day, the club is in a better position financially, in football terms, stability, youth prospects, the lot, so fair play, well done MA.
Stadium name change is annoying but noone calls it that so I’ll take the signs for Cisse. Stadiums get knocked down all the time, would we be up in arms if they were going to knock it down to build a bigger stadium? All I care about tbh is what I see on the pitch.
lets see what he does in this window and doesnt throw away all pardews hard work imo
Ashley has obviously done stuff that has hurt all of us. However, his recent ruthlessness for the sake of success seems to be working, at least this past season. This summer and next year will be pivotal in proving that our current method can be maintained successfully, both on the pitch, and in the club’s ledger
I agree with you Toonsy it will take willingness to build on what we have done this season for me to change my mind about Mike Ashley.
And in non-related news, my wife has started labor contractions! Here we go
good luck kidda
He’s made some awful decisions early on and the name change pisses me off too. The adverts I can live with as he has loaned the club £100m interest free which entitles him to some advertising of his company ,which is primarily what he purchased the club for ,that and his love of football . wether we have done well due to a great masterplan or just because we got lucky with signings gelling well and good management ,who knows . The acid test is this summer and we shall see how ambitious MA really is for Newcastle soon enough .Has my opinion changed ,well I don’t hate or like him to be truthful ,he just needs to run the club well and things look good right now, but he does have an history of cocking up just when all is rosy. Ask me again after the transfer window shuts
Andrewt@10 -Good luck to you and the mrs ,keep us updated .
He can kill with a smile
He can wound with his eyes
He can ruin your faith with his casual lies
And he only reveals what he wants you to see
He may look like he’s slimmed,
But he’ll always be Fatty to me
Oh–he takes care of himself
He can wait if he wants
He’s ahead of his time
Oh–and he never gives out
And he never gives in
He just changes his mind
He’ll promise you more
Than the Garden of Eden
Then he’ll carelessly cut you
And laugh while you’re bleedin’
But he’ll bring out the best
And the worst we can be
Blame it all on that Owlheed
Cos he’ll always be Fatty to me
…to answer the post in a less musical fashion, I’d say I’ve been on the fence with him since a couple of months into the season. The signings he’s made all, miraculously, managed to hit the ground running.
Still pissed off about the SDA bollocks, and the corporate vandalism in our hallowed ground, but hey ho, if that’s what he needs to do to bring about huge success to my club then so be it.
I’m eagerly awaiting the summer transfer window closing to see what we’re left with, and which side of the fence I’m gona fall off into.
But for now, he’s moderately cool, ish
Andrewt hope all goes well , good luck .
I forgive him for some of the poor decisions made coz most were justified and we’re riding high, I don’t entirely trust him 100% yet but what chairman could be trusted 100% not to sell players etc?
most of my mates have forgiving him..a cpl don’t like talking about him
Shola divides ppls opinions more than Ashley
aye, good luck AndrewT. stock with with nappies, wipes and air fresheners
Yeah, all of this “Credit to Ashley for the season”-what, really? We’ve made some outstanding transfers its true, but Ashley’s involvement has just been to stump up the money he had already promised to spend. Should that be notable and praised because its an instance where he hasn’t broken his word?
It says more about his character that it probably is seen that way….He’s still a fair twat, only thing different now is that he appears to be getting to grips with “running” a football club, at least on the admin side. PR is still gash though…
Toonsy i think Ashley will build on the success of this season , Lets face it he shelled out 10 million for Cisse in january when no one expected it , yes a couple of players will be sold but not the crown jewels of the team with the exception of Ba . The bloke was clever enough to put them all on 5 or 6 year contracts thus priceing most teams out of the market for them and also i think most of the squad really do sense something big is happening at the club and CL is a real possibility and every player wants that .
My view of him has certainly changed. Last year I thought he was always a pork pie away from exploding but now I see him as a ryvita away from slimmer of the year.
Unfortunately we have ridden this crazy thing along with him as he learned the hard way how to get suckered into the ingrained bad practices that are still responsible for scuppering big clubs at this very moment. To turn it around has been like non-elective surgery – painful at times but ultimately necessary. The SDA farce still makes me wince but taking the dark with the light, a brutal business head and a single-minded attitude toward his investment is turning into a success on and off the pitch. On the whole, although he’s not Mr Personality, I think I would rather have him at the helm than a sycophantic obese scrap merchant who butters up the fans in the media while he shovels the dividends into his offshore account.
In other news, has .org gone the way of our ancestorsinto that black night? or is my internet connection just crap?
@Newkie he said we would finish in the top 10..
Does he actually own SD or is he the majority shareholder
Congratulations Andrew
Mark-What do you mean by that though? Saying we’ll finish in the top10 and then doing it, fair enough. But when you consider we could quite easily have made top 10 last year anyway, anything less than that would have been a joke really..
Tsunki, I can’t access .org either, probably just having server issues.
…and yeah, although Fatty may have his flaws, we could certainly do a lot worse. A few of my non-Toon mates have changed their Ashley views from those of horror and ridicule to envy over the last year. Mind you, they do support Villa and Everton.
B1GSTEVE he owns 70% of SD
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/25/sports-direct-mike-ashley-shares
I didn’t like the lies that were told and the cock-ups that led to relegation but the bloke is a winner and hasn’t really put a foot wrong since then. We came straight back up bankrolled by another £40 million interest free loan and have had 2 good/excellent seasons in the Premier League. The club is financially sound and he we have signed some cracking players. How anyone can not give him some credit for that amazes me. He won’t be on my Xmas card list but I think he is taking the club in the right direction and we are ahead of plan – long may it continue
@12. Pretty much sums it up for me. good post
I think it is clear that they had no idea whatsoever in how to run a football club when they bought us. That incudes not only the management side, but also the financial and public relations side. With that being said, I think they are definately learning. Also, for whatever his motives mighthave been, we have to be thankful for that interest free loan. We wouldn’t be where we are without it.
Mind, I think Ashley’s PR has been better of late by virtue of him keeping a low profile and letting Pards & Lambaster talk about him in glowing terms.
3hs.sums it up perfect for me.
Ashley was a disaster and ultimately cost himself and the club untold millions with his sacking of Allardyce, appointment of KK, Wise, Nacho, Xisco …. we were a complete f***in joke – getting relegated seemed to give him a kick up the arse that was needed (given as he’d completely ignored the fans), he made a good decision in allowing us to keep the core of the squad together which allowed us to get straight back up and has pretty much ran a good ship since.
The renaming of the stadium sticks in the throat a bit but I agree he’s turned the club around
Sorry ,off topic but it seems Steven Fletcher of newly relegated Wolves is set to turn down the chance to return to the PL with a move to Sunderland
.Oh dear says it all really .
Ive changed my opinion.
I thought he was a right fat fecker, now he’s a skinny fecker!
Man utd lost £71m in 9 months due to financial obligations imposed by the Glazers ! .You have to say our club model is something special in light of man utds gloomy state of affairs. And that is on top of their £700m debts
Repost
Next season PL XI
—————————Krul————————-
-Debuchy—S.Taylor–F.Colocinni—Santon-
—————-Tiote———–Gutierrez————
———————–Cabaye————————-
—-Ben Arfa————————-A.Johnson—-
————————Cissé—————————
Cup games/ Beginning of Europa XI
—————————Krul/new keeper—————–
-N.Clyne——M’biwa—-Williamson——Ferguson-
-Obertan/Sammy-Abeid-Vuckic/Butterfield–Marv–
—————–J.Rodriguez—-Shola———————
Opinions? I’ve decided that Ba will be sold, as will Simpson and hopefully Ranger, partially funding the transfers shown, as well as some youngsters that probably won’t get a shot next season.
KIMTOON would quite like him as back up striker,would really sicken scum if it happened and he came here,i would die laughing
Toonsy good one
Jabba is Jabba yeah he has done some good things but for me he has a long way to go to make up for all the shit he has caused. Like you if he continue to build the club then there is a chance that he could turn out to be a good thing for our club. Investing some real money in the club for some top players for next season would be a start, so that we can take advantage of the opportunity that we have with Europe and we need the investment just to maintain or get better than what we are now, because I believe it will be harder next year.
It would also help if he ripped them shitting signs down and admitted that he wants to keep the name as sports direct arena
Has he changed (Ashley) sure he’s gotta be at least 15lb. lighter, thats about it folks, people seldom change much.
Perhaps the question should have been, ‘has he learned anything” ?
I would say undoubtedly.
Does he have more to learn ?, undoubtedly.
Face it , though an astute businessman, who applies the retailers mantra, buy cheap sell for the best price you can get.
Both he and his mouthpiece/fall guy “Llambias”still have a lot to learn.
Sure it sounds good to certain ears to hear,,” we are tough guys and refuse to be tacken, in the market for players,”
Which actually translates into, we cant afford the Eden Hazards or other top players, and can only afford UK players who are free agents..
It may also surprise some to learn we now have more debt, than three or four years ago (club debt) most of which is owed to Ashley.
We have had “Sports Direct” with all it’s tacky signs everywhere you look, shoved down the fans throats and replacing the well loved “St. James’ Park” an exercise in greed, that does’nt sit well with anyone.
“But the question is? has he changed”
NO !
I believe he bought the club as an adjunct to sports direct with the intent to use NUFC as both an advertising board and a toy, one that could generate income, both through advertising of his brand, plus change the way football teams operate, one of which we are familiar with.
Thats being tough nosed in making deals, both in transfer fees and wages (see Simpson)
Well i believe we got lucky last time, but one cannot expect an assembly line of cheap players replacing those sold for big bucks to continue.
We dont have a corner of that market and some signings just dont work out, every side experiences that at times.
The best we can hope for is some decent defensive help and to hang onto our top players, in order to make a good run both in europe and next years cups.
But we are not yet the finished article as a side and you can be sure that the sides who finished below us, will be regenerating their squads, the L”Pools, Chelsea, and others.
And this being the end of an era, with no limits on spending, it should be a banner summer with big bucks thrown around, with many EPL sides having to rebuild, following a not too successful season for many.
It will all become apparent by summers end, which direction our owner decides to take.
Andy any more word from the fake Guthrie
Likewise my opinion hasn’t changed that much – only a little further upwards. Always believed in what he was doing (Houghton aside) He has strength of character and brilliance of mind very few possess (me aside
)
Andy Mag
Sure two good sides,
with the exception of Williamson and Obertan and is Debuchy not a midfielder ?
Where’s Douglas ?
Should Johnson not be on the right ?
Hey we can fanticise !
I’ve forgiven him. Never before have we had a decent business model, and not one that just involves throwing money everywhere.
People are nostalgic for the success we had under Freddy Shepherd, but you have to admit we were a big joke towards the end. Did you really want that to continue? We were paying massively over the odds for players, and it was getting us nowhere. Something had to change.
He is a businessman pure and simple. He will make money out of the club and if we have some success along the way that will suit him as well. Each year will be another adventure and a huge test of Carr and Pardew as we sell some and buy some. I think we will stay in the top 8 but beyond that who knows? Still the team as it stands is very exciting to watch and if we can strengthen more than we lose in sales we may win something in the next couple of years. Would love to see us do well in Europa league because it will increase our earnings and probably cause Ashley to spend a bit more. Still my biggest hope is that we win the FA cup in the next few years.
GeordieTwo > “He will make money out of the club and if we have some success along the way that will suit him as well”
Exactly but the success of the club should be his main aim and not a secondary one, and we can’t rely on Carr working wonders all the time because I don’t believe it will work all the time, IMO we were so lucky that the new players settled quickly this season but there is noway he will keep pulling rabbits outta the hat
I think he has always wanted success for the club. In the past he just listened to awful advice, be that from Wise, whoever on the board, or what he thought the fans would like.
He’s made a lot of unpopular decisions over the last year and a half when he didn’t need to. They’ve paid off as well.
I don’t know where FSOTC is atm but i think our success currently is a testament to why fans SHOULDN’T own the club.
Here’s my two penn’orth (actually more like two thousand pound’orth given the length of this)
I think for most of us it’s not a simple as “I’ve forgiven him” or “I’ll never forgive him”.
He bought the club without doing any due dilligence, which many fans on here and at the ground agree looked like a move by ‘Gambler’ Mike, the Ashley that spunks thousands on a single spin of the wheel at Aspers. Stupid move.
He then made a catalogue of seemingly never-ending mistakes that continued this thoughtless, impulsive behaviour. Keegan, Wise, JFK etc etc etc ad infinitum.
Disastrous and completely unneccessary.
Relegation followed, as in hindsight it had to do, and Ashley took an even bigger beating from the fans than before. He got reet arsey about it and tried to sell us at a totally unrealistic price for a club in our position at the time. Desperately trying to claw his wasted millions back. A situation he created through bad business decisions. Hughton appointed as a docile, cheap stop-gap until he sold up.
Of course we all know what happened next. Fortunes improved massively and unexpectedly, due almost entirely to Hughton’s canny knack for creating a culture of responsibility and professionalism. With no takers for the club, Ashley seemed to reluctantly put his focus back on the club, with a determination to get the club onto a sound financial footing.
The ultimate success of that season in the championship, coupled with some pride returning to the players and fans, seemed to have a galvanising effect on the former fat man. I really think he bought the club as a football fan (although obviously not as a newcastle fan), and this led to his stupid decisions, because he wasn’t making them as a businessman.
His apparent falling-out-of-love with the club, after becoming public enemy number 1, is the best thing that could have happened to us. We don’t need a showboating crowd-pleaser in charge. We had that with Fat Fred and he was a twunt of the highest order, as well as bringing us to the brink of insolvency. We needed a smart, motivated businessman, someone to put a plan in place and leave it to others to deal with the ‘fantasy football’ side of things.
Yes, he p1ssed us all of with the re-naming thing, causing a furore I don’t think he gives the slightest toss about even now. But do we really care? Nobody calls it by his unsavoury name. He’s even admitted he doesn’t care if people call it St James’ or SDA, it’s simply free advertising for him as it’s seen by the cameras all over the world.
The sale of Carroll was such a huge deal not because we all thought we shouldn’t sell our then top scorer and local hero even for £35m, but because it was too late to bring in a replacement, and then we didn’t spend the money the following summer. Starting the season with no recognised left-back, unproven signings (even Ba had only had half a season. I kept thinking of Michael Ricketts!), and replacing a striker you got £35m for with a free seemed like he was just trying to milk every last penny, it even seemed like he was ‘punishing’ us for giving him grief. Perhaps he was on both counts.
But does it matter now? He’s clearly fallen back in love with the game, but this time he’s left ‘Gambler Mike’ in the casino. Cold, hard business is what he brings to the club now. Is he ruthless? Yes, of course he is, he’s a multi-millionaire. Is he trustworthy? About as much as a scouser in a hubcap factory. Will he sell our prized assets? To be honest, I think the answer is yes, if he gets a big enough offer. I don’t think anyone is safe. However I don’t think he’ll sell any more than 1 major star in any window, and i think he’ll use the money to replace them. Because I think he no longer wants to sell since he now sees the potential for a successful, profit-making business.
Do I like the man? Not in the slightest, I think he’s grotesque, tacky, tasteless and in it for himself. But I do think that in luckily stumbling across a world-class management team (Pards, coaches and of course Our Lord Carr) he has seen a winning formula and wants to keep it going, at the same time as making money of course.
So have I changed my opinion? Absolutely. I despised him and saw him as destroying my beloved club. I still despise the man, but the most incredible thing is I now love the business plan. Selling Krul or Cisse or HBA would be criminal and virtually impossible to replace, and i think he’s smart enough to see that. But if we sell anyone else we have seen that Carr and Pards can identify outstanding players, so I think we could use any astronomical transfer income (which is what he would demand) to bring in players who were at least equal in quality to those going out.
Who cares if he’s an @rsehole? I’m not going for drinks with him. I just want to watch exciting players, who win more often than they lose, who give us something to look forward to of a weekend, and without the fear of going into administration.
Mike Ashley, I hope you stay at the club. I hope you keep your feelings out of your business decisions. And I hope you at least pretend to show the fans some respect. We deserve it.
THE END (and thanks to anyone who made it this far)
Sorry to come over all troy on you lads but I have found out something massive re transfer for the club.
All I can say is he is a player none of us have even thought of and plays in the Dutch league but pardew has earmarked him as his number one attacking priority. The euros however and his role in them will decide If he will be in a toon shirt in August or not.
Fantastic news cant say who or anymore but trust me this is big if it happened. My good friend is a journalist in town and has shown me his contacts information.
I must stress it hinges on the Euros and on the face of it it will only happen if a player leaves such is the sums we are talking.
Apparently he has told me also that we are In for a French striker who has a unknown release clause he did not have much to back this up so not sure about that one but interesting none the less!
Hey ho may not happen but our calibre of player has gone up let me tell you
hes always been a cunt and always will be a cunt
short but sweet
…put Jim E to shame there Batty
(good read Jim BTW
)
LST just lets wait and see,not dis-repecting you hope your right but very often journs get lead down the garden path
BATTY your not easy to sway m8
LST
cus as I’ve previously said if we but Debuchy we can’t not buy Giroud as we can’t separate them. 
By ‘plays in the dutch league’ are you saying he himself is Dutch? And is the French striker with the release clause Giroud?
Dave
Don’t have twatter so dunno
Chuck
Debuchy is France and Montpellier’s RB, as for Douglas he seems fishy to me and apparently the clubs fed up with transfer complications surrounding him.
comment 5 been taking tips from zac dingle
Agree(in part) with a few posts, KimT’s, Dave’s and Batty’s, Jim E and a few others.
Hate some of the things he’s done and will no doubt hate something he does in the future, but I’ll give praise when I think he’s done something good(and he has done a lot) but I’ll also call him all the c@nts under the sun when he does something I don’t like(also alot)… it’ll be my opinion and my right to express it. Has he changed? nope, he’ll royally piss me of again no doubt but he’s also adapting and learning as he goes along, that’s the way life is.
Aye ice I know he is a good friend but they are all the same! He had me convinced on the Dutch lad and the contact info he showed me was impressive there must be something in it.
Not sure about the French one so much but lets be honest a striker with release clause sounds right down our alley!
We will see don’t get hopes up but if it comes off will be incredible
In future, and I think I speak for everyone, can people that have “huge information that was shown to them by a journalist that knows a contact” just keep schtum.
None of this dangling news in front of people bull sh!t, it’s just attention seeking! I almost prefer it when people say they know we are signing so and so based on “contact information”, at least they give a name.
MF Rafael van der Vaart
MF Wesley Sneijder J
MF Mark van Bommel (Captain)
MF Nigel de Jong
MF Ibrahim Afellay
MF Stijn Schaars
MF Kevin Strootman
MF Vurnon Anita
MF Adam Maher
FW Dirk Kuyt
FW Robin van Persie
FW Arjen Robben
FW Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
FW Luuk de Jong
FW Jeremain Lens
FW Siem de Jong
FW Luciano Narsingh
This is the Netherlands preliminary Euro 2012 squad.
Solano @58 – But it’s all part of the transfer window fun ,don’t you want to be on the fun bus
So by my deductions:
it can’t be RVP/Robben/Kuyt/De Jong/Sneijder/VDV
Luuk de Jong has been touted quite a bit by the media already so I’m not sure LST would describe the news as “incredible”.
Same goes for most the rest of the team, unheard of by the majority of us most likely so incredible probably wouldn’t be apt.
My guess is Liam is referring to Huntelaar or Afellay…
@Kim I hate it so much! We had people in bouts of depression in January as they believed rumours that players had been sold. Also most of our signings have been out the blue suggesting none of the twitter brigade have any credibility at all.
Solano -He said Dutch league not Squad ! Could be anyone .
Ah what the hell! Thought I’d sussed it out.
KIMTOON i agree,got to have sumit when theres nee footy
If its Affellay ,we been linked to him ages ago though.
Okay my money is on Bas Dost. That really would be exciting (judging on what i’ve read/watched on youtube).
Can’t believe Man City have got a 20 year player on loan out in the Dutch league that got 20 goals in 23 games!
Gonna look at dutch league strikers later see if I can suss it out like.
Andy@53 -I agree with you ,well you know my feelings about signing Douglas ,not keen at all .
Solano @67- I can . Trouble is they have an embarresment of wealth in regards their playing staff now and seemingly know the price of everything and the value of nothing, as they say.
ST the crack is hes going to wolfburg just about signed i think
Ice the Man City fella or Bas Dost?
Signing an already pretty developed striker would surely mean Ba’s off. We’re struggling to fit in two strikers as it is, let alone three.
ST Bas Dost
Perhaps Mike just wants us to score loadsa goals and bugger the defence ! ala KK
I have the same opinion now as at the start of the season. Try and run the club in a sensible, balanced way. If he has reached his goal of self sufficiency and the debt is being reduced then it is a thumbs up from me.
The haters will always be haters.
Solano I hate it as much as the next guy but I’ve got to keep quiet on this. Really think it could happen.
It is a tease but lads just excited can’t not say anything! All will say Is none of us have thought of him which is exactly how we do our business
Liam, good for you mate ,hope your right .
Hope my journo pal is right!
anyway enough teasing it could happen but if he has an amazing euros which is possible not so much.
On topic mike Ashley IMO will not have won over all still because he does have a tendency to do stupid things but surely a man who is investing a lot of money into the club wants to make it a force again?
I think he has played a massive part in doing that. He is a businessman and the likes of Nolan and co are expenses he knew he could do without he is a gambler and for that we are grateful and in Europe
LST dont worry about it m8,as long as you know whats what,maybe you can tell someone not on blog who can back you up later if it happens
My opinion of him has never changed. He’s stablised the club since the scrap man and his cohorts. I believe what he said is true, he wants to advertise and globalise Sports Direct as much as possible whilst rebuilding the club. If it means we have a club to support and a more successful club then so be it. I really don’t understand the mentality of these folk who believe it is our god given birth right to have a certain level of spending and standards because of the history of the club. (And whilst we’re on that subject look at our history compared to Liverpool, Man United, Arsenal ect.) We’re not entitled to anything, look at Portsmouth and, perhaps a better comparison Leeds & Glasgow Rangers) we should be humble and thankful for what we’ve got; my hope for the medium term future is that 1) We keep a manager for 5 years+ and have stability in that sense (liverpool
) 2) We can continue to strenghten and be leaders in the transfer market, difficult but I think achievable with the current personnel. 3) The support has turned towards applauding Pardew and supporting the squad rather than the old Ashley chants, so perhaps the Ashley haters are in the minority???
Batty @ 49 have to disagree as they can be useful
Liam the only problem is that most Journo’s get things wrong almost as often Jabba
Aye ice I may well do that.
Trying not to get too excited myself as we all know transfers can be off and on in a flash. Either way it’s good to know we are after quality quality players
The only striker we have been linked with in the dutch press these last few weeks is De Jong . Quite frankly him Bas Dorst or Gudetti are the only ones i would want . Dorst is belived to have agreed to sign for Wolfsburg and Gudetti is nowhere near the finished article . Tovoinen from PSV wants a move to a big League but for all his skill is a total heedbanger and Pardew would not want that mentality in his dressing room .
Ingrate
Aye dave I know! Ah well if he tells me it off will let you all know.
Feel like bloody Cwarr!
The ENGLISH FA have confirmed that DURAN DURAN are to release ENGLANDS EURO 2012 SONG. His name is RIO and he watches from the stand
Axel -That’s why I don’t fancy Douglas.
Dave @85
very good
Dave
Just seen Becks on t.v with the Olympic flame ,he looks like bloody Guy Faulks
Fair enough Liam, I swear I can feel you shaking with excitement from over here
Strange to see holt hand in transfer request
Liam its not like you are on here BS like Cwarr, I do believe you as I wouldn’t see the point in you coming on here BS to us. Most of the stuff that regulars would tell us is the same I couldn’t see them coming on here bullshitting because they will be left looking a bit
if it didn’t come off.
I said a season or so ago that I was told by an ex entertainer that the senior players Nolan and co were running the show and were trying to force Saylor out because he was too close to Big Al, and Hooters knew this was going on but was powerless to stop it, but I got the old one that I was talking shit because I didn’t like Nolan or Hooters, but it was true and I was told by the same person that Hooters was getting the chop. But after the shit I got I wouldn’t say owt again that I was told.
KIMTOON Douglas is a disaster waiting to happen , he would be as bad as Boumsong or Cacapca . I just don’t get , why so many think he is that good .
Solano being a toon fan does that to you!
We will see but blooming hell our attack next year could be immense. My only worry is with the money being bandied about a big player has to go
Good Afternoon lads
Good to be back.. Would anyone take Giovinco?
He is still holding back the club from winning trophies. He is most interested in making money. Buy cheap and sell expensive. This was a disaster the last years, but was a success this year. We need more investments to move to CL spot next year. A new center back in the last transfer window, and we would have been there already. The City way is still the only way to make us Champions
Aye dave agree even if it goes tits I can still kick my journo mate about for it. He’s a Liverpool fan so bless him. He is very jealous and cursed his precious Kenny again.
Pards and Carr are superb i have to say if it happens. Amazing times even if doesn’t come off the calibre of player has gone up dramatically.
AXEL hes not worth two bob imo,he can head a ball,end of,
Agree with Axel I dont rate Douglas. Could be like Cacapa vs. Portsmouth a few years back
. I rate Holt highly though id take him even if hes 30.. Plus hes English
Axel -I know beats the hell out of me tbh.
MANA hes a O.A.P.in jabba eyes,nee way
Isco and Joao Perreira would be good buys also
Dave we all love whisper anyway so share them mate don’t worry. I know you wouldn’t make it up your a fellow Irishman not in our nature I tell you!
Liam ,being a dippers fan I hope he ain’t on a wind up . It’s horrible having to keep a secret though , i’m crap at it to the point people treat me like a mushroom.
i’ll only forgive him if, in 4 years time, the squad improves year by year, dont have to be in CL every year, just, aslong as the team is challenging the top 4 and the “big” teams show us respect and see us as a threat, plus we MUST do better in the cup comps!! the “10 year” season ticket promise, could be our down fall in the near future, i thought he done that on purpose, so the next owner would be knackered!!! not going to scroll all the way back up again, but whoever was on saying his lass has gone into labour, good luck mate
On Affeley
I thought he played for Barca?
On Douglas
He’s a tool
On Toivonen
I bought him on FIFA 09 years ago, his picture scared me so I sold him
Why would s journo have this news and nit break ut? It would be useless information to him/ her and a waste of resources time and money to find it out and then keep schtum as someone else eill come slong and bresk the news first? Sorry LST you dont come across as a bullshitter normally but on ghis occasion either you are being a wum or this journo friend is winding you up imo…
Trying to post on my phone is fecking frustrsting! My typing mskes me look pissed! Small buttons..
I have re read Liams post ie an attacking option from the Dutch league , my first thought was a striker but it is a winger and not an out and out striker . If it is true and it is who i think it is then i understand Liam’s excitement . This lad would have fans out of their seats every time he gets the ball .
Shamrock @ 108 I agree
your writing is shocking 
Axel -Now that is just teasing now
Yes my opinion of mike Ashley as changed, if ya gunna give him stick for every bad decision then you’ve got to give credit where credits due also. First couple of seasons were a disaster granted but since getting relegated the club as hardly put a foot wrong with exception of renaming the ground. Even the decisions that could easily have caused another crisis have proven to be the right ones such as selling Andy Carroll or swapping Christ hughton for pardew or letting joey Barton go on a free.
No club as undergone such a dramatic transformation in such a short period. From championship football with Kevin Nolan as our captain and ‘big name’ to one game away from champions league football and some of the most sought after footballers in the country on our side whilst all the time reducing the clubs debts and almost breaking even this year.
Sometimes i think us newcastle fans aren’t happy unless there’s a problem, even when there isn’t one we look for one or remember a time when there was one!
This is the best run football club on the country, we manage our debts, buy cheap, young players and will sell them on for daft money, we play good football, fill our stadium every week, travel well, we invest in youth and av some top young players and we’re in Europe. Credit must go to everyone responsible for this success and that includes mike Ashley!
JIM E May 18, 2012 at 20:20
‘I think for most of us it’s not a simple as “I’ve forgiven him” or “I’ll never forgive him”. He bought the club without doing any due dilligence, which many fans on here and at the ground agree looked like a move by ‘Gambler’ Mike, the Ashley that spunks thousands on a single spin of the wheel at Aspers. Stupid move.’
Whenever I see people use this arguement though I always think, but what if there were 2 or 3 interested parties and he just wanted NUFC so much that he was prepared to take the hit. This man is not an idiot, I doubt he didn’t know what he was getting himself into. Stupid move or calculated risk? (this man has done this more times than you have bought cars).
no it hasnt change a bit. he is still great… mutha F durrs..
Aye shamrock I agree either it is a very good wind up but seems 100% legit however we both know agents / journos cross over in information fees to ensure the story is leaked at the right time and not to jeopardise the agents relationship with club or journos getting in deep.
As I said before these things can change and whilst I don’t expect it to be a wind up I can understand the reasons for not publishing. Who knows the club may have leaked info to journos to keep them guessing false trails and all that.
I only know as much as the next guy and if his info is wrong then shame but what’s the best part for me is the calibre of player. There must be something in It.
Hes also a dirty Liverpool fan so make of that what you will!
Well it will come to fruition soon enough either way!
Unlike troy I can’t tell you when unfortunately
Liam does the players club play in blue and white ?
Axel you can name him man, the journos not your mate
Traitor Richie!
Sorry axel mate have to wait on it for bit
Its Tosh LST! Bored to tears of speculation already. Think i’ll sort another article out on sunday and try to help take our minds off transfers for 5 minutes!
goodnight all 
Bear in mind Ba could leave and has played on the left since Cisse came , this lad plays out wide has pace ,can beat his man and puts crosses into the danger area’s . He is the real deal .
Might do an article on it during euros or before it will be out by then hopefully.
Sham we can all dream when you see my article in drafts you will be excited as me! Haha
Axel….you thinking Narsingh?
Axel
Is it Lens(PSV)?
What teams play in blue and white? Grooingen?
Andy…Heerenveen
Liam i really hope your friend is not having you on and it is the player i think it is . Their is just one thing though , he is not an automatic first choice for his country because they have a wealth of talent in his positions . Therefore his price will not rise because of the euros which would be good for us . He will get playing time but from the bench and not as a starter .
… and Graafschap, but doubt its them.
Do Hercules? Never got why a Dutch team is named after a Ancient Greek hero
Saying that, I’m pretty sure Ajax was a famous Roman fleet or something.
Ritchie you got it m8
Axel
I’ve got FM on my Iphone so I’ll look up the players on that, how old is he(under 21? 25?).
Andy @ 130 no mate Ajax is named after a once top brand of kitchen cleaner a bit like jif
but it might have been before your time 
Axel…then I can go to bed a happy man, thought Fulham were in for him?
Bloody windows not even open and it’s started, all good fun if nowt else though.
Later lads n lasses
Is it Janssen?
Or Der Graaf? God damn you axel!
Wife’s been having contractions since dark this morning. Still at home. She’s laying down trying to rest now. This labor can take forever can’t it?!
Thanks for all the well wishes!
And LST, I for one enjoyed the speculation and excitement of getting a top attacking player for the Dutch league. Keep it up I say. There’s only so much for us to talk about now that the season’s over
Andrewt hang on in there mate , i remember when my wife started getting pains . It was early in the morning when it started and took till the next morning before our daughter decided to pop out .
We’re on our way to that already axel. Thanks
Is it safe to come out of our bomb shelters yet?
– you might want to have a serious word to your contact… 
I am still sitting in here waiting for the cataclysmic event that prophet Troy predicted
Another good call Troy
@LST: So is it a dutch player playing in dutch league,and is also in euro final?
Isn’t that a huge hint you gave.
Newcastle United are keeping tabs on midfielder Siem de Jong and strikers Luuk de Jong and Ricky van Wolfswinkel, according to the players’ agent.
Twente forward Luuk de Jong has recently been linked with a move to Liverpool while Sporting CP’s Van Wolfswinkel has also been reported to be a long-term Manchester United target.
Siem de Jong, brother of Luuk, currently plies his trade at Ajax after coming through the club’s famed youth academy.
The man who represents all three players, Louis Laros, says the trio are the subject of interest from the Tyneside club.
“There has been no contact in the last weeks,” he told Record.
“I spoke with Newcastle about Luuk de Jong, his brother Siem and about Wolfswinkel, but all I know is that they have been checking on them.
“It is still soon to talk about a potential transfer.”
This was 12Jan 2012 news,which is the closest news i can know regarding dutch players.
Andymag….keep up man, I’d already guessed the player Axel was talking about
AoD… He just said it was a player, playing in the Dutch league who’d play at 2012
AndrewT….good luck to you and your lass
what about me, don’t I get a hello, Rich
Snobby bastard
G’day cobber
Hey mate, who’s this player we were linked with? There was few names and teams listed?
Not sure who Liam means, but I think Axel’s guess/hope is Narsingh at Heerenveen, don’t know much about him but I’m sure I’d read somewhere that Fulham were after him
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luciano_Narsingh
Cheers Rich.. I notice Van Ahnolt plays for them as well.. left footer back man.. is he still on Chelsea’s books?
That’s a different Van Aanholt , other ones still at Chelski but been out on loan, to Vitesse in Holland(according to wiki)
Right you are
just saw P vanAnholt and drew my own conclusions 
There’s going to be plenty of conclusion drawing over the next 2/3 months
….but looking unlikely for a “cataclysmic” event this week though 
Yep and yep
I think Troy might have gone into hiding as a result which is a bonus
Richie
right I’m off to work, laters 
I was looking at the wrong club then
Mark Bosnich is stating in the local press here that Owen could be a chace to play in the A league
At least he might start a game if he does
Keep dreaming Bozza, ain’t going to happen… greed will be a factor
Aussie..he may still be in his shelter playing it safe
Andy….have a good un
reet off to drop wor lass off…..not off a cliff though…yet!
Rich
I think he would pick up an injury and sit back and pick up his paycheck… It worked well for him with us…
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