I’ve read this blog a bit recently but can’t be bothered to post since it has once again degenerated to slagging off everybody to do with Newcastle.
Mike Ashley because he is tight and wants to screw the fans.
Alan Pardew because he’s useless and talks rubbish.
The team because they aren’t good enough and aren’t interested.
But hell I’m used to this rubbish because bitching is what fans do best. I should know I’m a fan myself. But personally I don’t blame the individuals that make up NUFC. I blame two things.
Partly it is the culture of NUFC. We don’t expect anything and have never really achieved very much and that is the norm. Brendan Rodgers going into Liverpool had an easier job in comparison since Liverpool have won and expect to win and Rodgers had to recreate what was there. We have never had it. We nearly had it with Kevin Keegan and would have had it had Sir Bobby Robson come a few years earlier and and stayed a few years more. So it is going to take a manager of world class proportions to transform this club, and they are thin on the ground and why would they come here anyway?
But mainly I blame the English Premier League. The money. FFP. Champions League etc. The league is structured so that four clubs can make serious money by qualifying for the Champions League. Oh and there are some prizes that mean nowt financially but look good. Europa League, domestic cups. Clubs that can stay in the league but challenge for nowt get financially well rewarded, and god help any club that’s relegated. They don’t count anymore.
Soccornomics show that by and large results are dependant upon the spending on squad wages. Not transfer fees, but wages. And any club would be well advised to spend no more that say two thirds of their income on wages. So for clubs with a turnover of £100m that means no more than £60m on wages. Which is what we have done.
Now I would expect these to have grown 2013-14 and rocket next year because of the extra TV money. But even so for us to seriously challenge for a top four spot we would need to at least double our wage bill, if not treble it. And even then we would only be competing on a level playing field and not guaranteed anything.
We would also be running at a significant loss, breaching FFP regulations and lets face nobody is so stupid as to take on that challenge. Least of all an intelligent businessman such as Mike Ashley. And replacing him won’t bring another punter willing to blow all his dosh on a dream. So no I don’t blame Ashley for being tight. Sensible maybe. And certainly he has made mistakes, but where we are is not entirely because of him. I am hoping that he spends some money in this window, but not holding my breath.
Where we are is because of who we are and what we spend and that is the culmination of a long history. We may be in the top twenty clubs in Europe in terms of revenue, but we are only the seventh biggest in England, and that is where we play.
So is it Pardew’s fault? Well on spending I would expect to see us achieve between 11th and 7th as par for the course, so a top five achievement and Manager of the Year shows he is no fool. The following year a relegation battle whilst doing reasonably well in Europe and with no investment until January was a let down, but not unexpected. But this season 46 points from 30 games was a decent return until we sold our most effective player and failed to replace him. So a top five finish and a top ten finish, well with two notable exceptions, you have to go back decades to find a manager who has achieved as much at NUFC. So do I blame Pardew for being useless? Of course not. However, he may have lost the dressing room and the fans, so it may be time for a change. Hopefully his successor will have us playing attractive football whilst we continue to mope around the top ten. A world class manager is too much to ask for. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait decades again for a manager who achieves more.
So is it the players. Well you get what you pay for I suppose. They are not world beaters. Not many would go on to better things, but let’s be fair they have not turned up for the last few games. But if they do move on they will be well paid and without the incentive of an international place to play for they seem to be as apathetic as the fans. However, that is also due to the money being paid in the Premier League. The best league in the World. Well the Bundesliga and La Liga may dispute that, but it is certainly the richest. Average players get phenomenal wages and so who can blame them for not being motivated when they are clearly not the best and unlikely to win anything. Funny thing is in some games they have played superbly and we have looked good, but all too often that has been far from the case.
So what can I look forward to? Well the extra TV money means that we can attract a few better players. But it is not going to close the gap on the big five, so we are not chasing Champions League football anytime soon. Europa League and cup runs would be nice, but they are just a sop in reality. Ask Wigan or Portsmouth. Since Coventry won the FA Cup in ’87 and Wimbledon in ’88 the winners have been Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea six times each, Liverpool four times, and once each for Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Portsmouth and Wigan. Not quite a closed shop but not far off it.
Looking at it coldly and logically and therefore not at all as a fan, more of the same is the order of the day. Replacing Pardew with some other competent Premier League manager – Curbishley, Moyes etc – is not going to achieve anything. Good foreign managers like Bielsa are unlikely to come here but if they did it would be for the short term and the money.
We could hope for somebody better or take a punt on an unknown as is becoming a growing trend these days but the reality is that unless we get someone who can change, and is allowed to change, the whole culture at the club then we are where we are.
That’s why I’m apathetic.
MM FOOD :shock:better sack Carr then. 🙄
kIMTOON(Quote)
MM-FOOD where do you base your facts on that Ajax supporters had a good laugh when we bought Anita ? he was the engine of their title winning team at that time and most Ajax supporters that i know would love him back .
AXEL(Quote)
Oh dear. The silly season has kicked in.
Who will we buy speculation. ❗
It bores the life out of me.
Back in the laundry basket to hibernate 😎
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Player speculation is boring, it puts me to sleep just a stavers post! 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Come come my little impish friend. 😛
You know you hang on every word I print. 😛
Any pearls of wisdom from down under today? I love your Pardew rants and then complain about everyone complaining and ranting. It’s pure comedy gold. 😛 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Zzzzzzzzzz
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Axel
I’m not saying that Anita was a bad player. He played a good 2nd half of the season 11/12 as a defensive midfielder. And many Ajax fans were happy to have him, because he did well and is a home-grown player. (He joined Ajax when he was nine.) But they didn’t mind selling him for 8,5 million euro’s.
I’m Dutch and I had a hard time explaining to Ajax supporters why we bought Anita for that money. And frankly I still don’t know why we paid 8.5 million euro’s for him.
mm_food(Quote)
Wow that was a good sleep! They say reading a book is good for a sound nights sleep. Well books have nothing on troys repetitive posts!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
MM foods – to be fair £8.5m for Anita seemed steep to me as well. I didn’t know much about the lad when we signed him, but didn’t really know much about Tiote or Cabaye either. When you think Tiote only cost £3.5m and Cabaye around £5m – the cost of Anita. I still think Anita will come good eventually though as it seems to be the physical side he’s struggling most with. It took Colo a couple of seasons, so hopefully Anita will be good un.
As for Siem, I think he’s a good replacement for Cabaye who I don’t think was a play maker either. I agree with you we need a play marker but I also think we need a midfielder with a good range of passing – like Cabaye did. I think either Siem or Shelvey would be a good replacement for Cabaye but we’d still need Grenier or Cabella type player as well.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well I se jabba is getting involved with a third club now,he is getting his finger in the pie at Oldham now less money to spend on the toon,not that he would spend much anyway ffs
icedog(Quote)
😯 Aussie 😯
I’ve really got to you this time. 😛
Anita hasn’t shown his worth, yet, I would give him another season and if he doesn’t step up another notch I would expect him to be replaced.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Its a shame we couldnt have signed De Jong in the summer. If he had played in a confident Newcastle team, With Cabaye and Ben Arfa pulling the strings early season he may well have nicked a few goals and settled down.
£8m is too much considering other alleged targets like Ba, Zaha, Morrison and Capel are available for less and wouldnt represent anything like the same risk (On the field in morrisons case he wouldnt anyway)
CC(Quote)
@CC
But have you actually seen a glimmer of skill from Je Dong? I haven’t. He looks terrible.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy 😉 you haven’t got to me mate. I actually find your posts rather funny (mostly the ones where you are trying to be serious and talk football) 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
The problem for De Jong is he wasn’t getting any game time before coming to us and to jump straight into the physicality of the PL on the back of no game time and when the club are in stinking form too is a hard ask of any player. That said, early doors I had high hopes as I had seen some good runs and nice passes from him but then he just seem to fizzle out really to the point of looking really poor 🙁 . Maybe he was trying too hard, whatever happens if he stays he has to bulk up ,do some gym work like Anita is doing. I like Anita and think he is much better than he’s given credit for, I do prefer him further forward though.
kIMTOON(Quote)
Why can’t he just concentrate on us 🙄
http://www.themag.co.uk/the-mag-articles/mike-ashley-moves-step-closer-adding-third-club-newcastle-rangers/
kIMTOON(Quote)
mm_food v Axel, our two resident experts on all things Dutch…
If we spend 8 mill on De Jong then someone really needs to have there head examined….most probably the same bloke who paid so much for Anita. So many great players have came to the EPL from Holland, and we are on the verge of signing a second diddy in De Jong. I watched the bloke in the Bundesliga and he was absolutely garbage…in fact it’s been shown during his loan spell at the toon…
Munich Mag(Quote)
I haven’t seen anything from DeJong that would make me want to keep him , I can’t believe I would ever say this but Strolla has showed more 😯
Big Dave(Quote)
@ Sharpy
I’m sorry if I used the term playmaker wrong. I agree with you that we need a replacement for Cabaye who i consider a deep-liying playmaker. Siem de Jong is no replacement for Cabaye. De Jong isn’t a player who gives long passes, or through balls. De Jong is an attacking midfielder or second striker, that needs to be on the receiving end of a pass. Because he knows when to run deep, and pop up in the 18yrd box to score a goal.
At Ajax Eriksen dictated the game with his passes. Not de Jong.
mm_food(Quote)
He showed bits and bobs against Villa and Hull but nowhere near enough for £8m outlay considering the options out there for round about the same price
The team havent given him much of a platform but i was expecting more
CC(Quote)
MM_FOOD what are your thought on players from the eredivisie that we should be looking at ? For me if we are going to buy from the Eredivisie then Boetius ,Finnbogasson , Wijnaldum , De Vrij and Siem de Jong are the players we should be having a good look at .
AXEL(Quote)
CC@245 , That’s how I feel mate, we could get so much more with £8m.
kIMTOON(Quote)
@ Aussie
I think we make a good double act. 😉
I just wish you would stick to your TV act whilst on here and say nothing.
Penn & Teller. 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@ Kim
Ashley is like extremist Islam. They are slowly integrating into British society with the intent of taking over the country.
Before you know it, it will be too late and Sports Direct will be in every ground in the country and Abu Hamza Ashley will be preaching from the stands, vitriolic sermons to hundreds of thousands of foot soldiers dressed in Kappa tracksuits!!! 😯
Aussie is already the SD Imman of Australia! 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
U look to much tv troy ❓
Do not talk of islam please …when u don t know about u talk ❗
Please shut up and keep u r mouth on football talk…
Mafia ..christian or mossad ira kkklan or comunist …the most is wall street and the city..make some bigger trouble in our society than some poor **** angree muslim … 🙄
🙄 🙄
Please take an better example for a ashley .keep muslims safe…please…that enought now ❗ ❗
Djebs9(Quote)
Troy@249 ,Wow that’s some comparison mate, not exactly sure how you work that one out but each to their own as they say.
kIMTOON(Quote)
I see Ashley as a playground bully, nothing more than that really. Taking all the toys off the other kids and never sharing his sweets 😉
kIMTOON(Quote)
KIMTOON you only have too look at the fat **** too know he never shared his sweets 😀
AXEL(Quote)
Troy Jabba certainly is allready a spiritual leader that saved us from extinction to a lot of our fans and Aussie is his 2ic understudy preaching his words 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Hahaha. Kim, lighten girl. 😉
Jebsy 😈
You are an extremist muslim aren’t you ! 😈
Big Dave
Aussie adores Ashley. It’s great to watch. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Yes ❗ and i eat children ❗
Small bread ❗
This is the better u can answer…
Extremism and islam are not compatible…
Like hell and sky…or peace and war ❗
…talking football is better than politics or religion…please respect muslims here ..thats all … ❗ 😎
Djebs9(Quote)
Troy, 😉
kIMTOON(Quote)
AXEL@253 😆
kIMTOON(Quote)
@Troy 😯
Sh*t Troy, that is the most ignorant thing i have heard on this blog.
Perhaps a joke, perhaps not.
I was under the impression that you had independent thought instead of just regurgitating the nonsense spouted out by morons – not sure why i had that impression of you as you’ve only ever posted nonsense.
I’ll leave it to Aussie to beat some sense into you.
Interesting that you chose extremist islam in your post. No doubt you were saying the same thing about Jews when you were around in the early part of the 20th centuary.
You probably said the same thing about blacks & gays too.
KK(Quote)
Kim 😉
Djebs9(Quote)
Kk, 😉 😎
Djebs9(Quote)
Kimy ,mate, why u never post an article like premendum ,aissie or tounsy ? U can give us quality article no ?…kk too ❗ ❓
Djebs9(Quote)
Apparently we’re linked with a promising young french manager.
Nope, not Phillipe Montanier as i have recommended.
Chistophe Galtier, does anybody know much about him?
KK(Quote)
@DJEBS9 😉
Sometimes Troy loses his way. He’s easily lost & needs Aussie like an old man needs his false teeth.
If i get time i hope to post articles on individual players but things are quite busy at the moment.
KK(Quote)
Thank u kk..mate..ur right .. 😉
Troy is make some funny post ..but sometimes little less…
But he s not bad …
I ll be very interessted if can post acpertinent article ..with a for sure quality things.. 😎 😎
Djebs9(Quote)
We only paid six million pounds for Anita, we are allegedly paying eight million pounds for De Jong. Big difference for their contributions.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Galtier is good quality manager…he s coaching olympique lyon (with hatem remy benzema ect)
And he have very big status in france !
He s a great tactical and mindless manager 😉
Djebs9(Quote)
I think the next manager of newcastle is remy garde…the actual boss of lyon..he managed 7 or 8 years arsenal before with arsen wenger..he s liv olympique lyonnais this season for an anonymus club 🙄 ➡ 😎
Perso..i hope so much ❗
Djebs9(Quote)
Sorry@ 267..galtier managed lyon in 2007 2008 with alain perrin and win cup de france and champion ligue 1…with benzema ben arfa remy juninho malouda ect…
And now he have since 2009 a good result with a smaller team saint etienne and have good status in france …but i prefer remy garde…because he speak english very well and know and he is a big specilist of prem league ❗ 8 years with arsen wenger ❗ 😎
I think he is the rigth man…he win cups with lyon and finish on champions league last year and uefa cup this season..with smaller team (half of team from lyon academy/ the best in europ with barcelona academy/ decerned from fifa ) the the big lyon Period..
Djebs9(Quote)
DJEBS9@262 ,funny enough, I have been toying with the idea of writing one only today, but I’m a bit lazy 😆
kIMTOON(Quote)
But next season pards still here ❗ 👿
I read on press he don t want to go …bla bla…he s crying so strong …ashley give him another cre dit..another hoofball season long fkin ball …defence **** and sholla superstar…ect..ect… 🙁 🙁 🙁 .
Djebs9(Quote)
No u ur not 😉 u wrigt 200000 words per day here …
lier ❗ 😆 mate 😉
Djebs9(Quote)
Don’t forget to go to the new Bond film SmallScrotum at a theatre near you mates! Madonna is going to do a fabulous job on the theme song. Wor owner will be guest of honour at the premiere. 😆
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Michael Owen is making an appearance in the new Bond film SmallScrotum mates. He appears as the evil midget Pathetico. Nice role Michael. Stick to what you do best. Being injured and sulking.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Staring into my crystal ball I see a summer of chaos for Newcastle United. Tantrums from wor Ashley, hysteria from Perdue, despair from Carr. The club hits rock bottom again before next season even starts. Other than that things look good. 😯
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Kim I would love to read an article of yours, I think it would be a good read and I know it wouldn’t be a Jabba love in
Big Dave(Quote)
Give it a go Kimtoon lass! Would love to read it.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Will we be the worst 9th or 10th place team ever in the Prem? Something to look up tomorrow I think.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
So wee Michael says we’re a well run club???? Joe Kinnear was a good hire as DoF???? Selling Cabaye without replacing him was a good move????? Michael doesn’t half talk some bollocks sometimes. 🙂 🙂
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Stay out of football management Michael.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Come on kimy ❗ .every body agree.with me.. 😀 .u have so much quality for …for sure we enjoyed it…
U have pression now ..like a toon for first game at home… 😎
Djebs9(Quote)
I have written an article on extremist Islam. 😛
Jebsy makes me laugh. What I love more though is KK is taken in by him as if he’s a genuine character. I remember KK a whole back asking Jebsy serious questions about where he was from. Woo hoo hoo hoo 😆 😆
Anyone who thinks I’m racist, homophobic or any other bigoted moron. Please drop the racist, homophobic or other bigoted remarks. Moron is ok 😆
Extremist Islam is entirely different to Islam. That goes out to the ignorant. KK. 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy what about that moronic mate of yours I haven’t seen the Gulpher in ages
Big Dave(Quote)
Species of imbecile head .. The .. I am racist against the big ******* like you .. you deserves a good *** … 😉
No you’re that ignorant that all that food Tele told him …: roll:
If there is an extremist here: c is you extremist bullshit and racism!: Go die in hell .. sal fachist **** …!:
The Islam ta bring the hygiene, science, health, mathematics and geometry .. not to mention astronomy …
Tribute to al Islam first … instead of talking about what you do not know …
so … the extremism does not exist in islam: roll:
What are you talking about are not Muslims but imposters: :: :: |!
J hope that c is clear .. now .. *******! :: :: :: Cool!:
No ..:? ::: Jm suspected … goodnight least less silly beast I hope …
imbecile:! :: :: :: idea :: lol:
Djebs9(Quote)
@Troy
I don’t think you’re racist, homophobic or bigoted. If i’m honest i don’t think alot (if anything) of you! 😆
You’re one of Pardew’s disciples. There aren’t many of his flock left & you’re one of his more extreme fanboys.
You’re in denial about DJEBS9 just as you were in denial about me not being your brother.
You have a problem Troy & the first step on the road to recovery is recognising you have a problem.
It’s time you put your model train set down. Toot toot!
KK(Quote)
@DJEBS9
Remi Garde also seems promising but he has only managed one club.
He is definitely somebody who would come here & he certainly would be an improvement.
KK(Quote)
I have said before that if we are to continue buying cheap continental players, then Percy Parsnip must be replaced with a coach from Europe who understands how they need to play and train and can get the best out of them.
If it will work or be successful is a moot point, but has to be given a chance at least.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Having said that, If Percy Parsnip manages to get 1 point at a minimum tomorrow, then I will admit that I have been wrong about him, and he will deserve another season, to turn this club around.
My hunch tho is that he wont have a clue how to approach the match, will set us up ultra defensive, and we will get royally humped as per usual.
Cant wait to get this match over and done with, if I’m honest.
Howay the Lads
TOON TOON
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Meanwhile, back at the article … The question that immediately sprung to mind when I was reading was: why are you apathetic now and you weren’t at the beginning of the season? The financial aspects of football haven’t changed. The culture at the club hasn’t changed. All the things you mention in the article are the same as they were at the start of the season. So why the apathy now?
For me, it’s not so much apathy as frustration. Frustration in that we were again on the brink, then let it slip – and let it slip badly. The causes of that seem to be the sale of Cabaye and Pardew’s ban. Together, they seem to have affected all kinds of cohesion in both the playing side of things and the coaching side of things. Exactly what went wrong is hard to pin down (despite – or maybe because of – the speculations of fans and media). We’ll never really know the truth of what went on there, instead we’ll be left with our favourite fantasies and beliefs.
Whatever the cause, it showed the club’s biggest deficiency: lack of depth, lack of options. And that sits squarely with a lack of investment by the powers that be – in player and administration terms (ie running the club professionally).
So I agree that the whole culture of the club needs a makeover, but that has been the case for a number of years now.
brisvegas(Quote)
@Begas
We’ve just bonded having read your last post. ;-). I feel like we are now singing from the same hymn sheet. 😉
As long as you leave your tactics book out of it then we will get along like a house on fire. 😛
Under strength squad, lack of investment, lack of options. All phrases I’ve repeated over and over again to try and convince the extremists that Pardew has done ok with the options available. 😉
Well done and I don’t mind you jumping board the Reality Train, as long as you leave Aussie in the cattle cart. 😛
Toot! Toot! 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@Big Dave
The gulper eel has just had another elver so his hands are full. Anyway, he is that pompous, he now reckons he finds it boring on here cos he’s not the centre of attention. 😛
He prefers to visit the hostels around the west end of the city where the drunks sit and drink from 8am. He waits til they are sozzled at midday and he turns up in his white Boss Hogg suit and Stetson and hands out 10 pences as if they are gold coins and takes centre stage, talking about the virtues of Mike Ashley.
The gulper has no shame. 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Yeah, right.
My position hasn’t changed, mate. It’s you that moved from making up conspiracies to becoming more rational in your way of looking at the world.
I encourage you to continue your education.
brisvegas(Quote)
Hahaha. Begas. You’re a little imp. 😉
I seem to recall you many moons ago, berating me about my views on Ashley. You have now dropped into line like a good little foot solder, as a private in my army. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Yeh kk..galtier or garde can turn the club with great way..because tacticly strong and have a very good football philosophy…4231 or 4123 with short pass and much move aroud the ball…
Ligue 1 french is physiquly strong…
And best players internationnal can folow easely french coach phylosophy…than a hoofballer tactic like pards…
I think the mistak of ashley is here…but he can change that…
He want nufc sems arsenal ..beghing to find an arsene wenger manager ..like galtier or garde …. 😎
Djebs9(Quote)