Has your opinion of Mike Ashley changed?

toonsy

A changed man?
Again I see The Chronicle has had one of its “I told you so” kind of digs at fans of NUFC.

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?

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

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157 thoughts on “Has your opinion of Mike Ashley changed?”

  2. 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

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  3. 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

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  4. 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???

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  5. 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 😀

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  6. 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

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  7. 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 .

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  9. Aye dave I know! Ah well if he tells me it off will let you all know.
    Feel like bloody Cwarr!

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  10. 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

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  14. Just seen Becks on t.v with the Olympic flame ,he looks like bloody Guy Faulks 😯

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  15. Fair enough Liam, I swear I can feel you shaking with excitement from over here ❗

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  17. 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 **** 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 **** I got I wouldn’t say owt again that I was told.

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  18. 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 .

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  19. 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 😐

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  21. 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

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  22. 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.

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  24. Agree with Axel I dont rate Douglas. Could be like Cacapa vs. Portsmouth a few years back :evil:. I rate Holt highly though id take him even if hes 30.. Plus hes English

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  28. 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!

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  29. 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 **** at it to the point people treat me like a mushroom. 🙄

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  30. 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 😉 😉

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  31. 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 😆 😎

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  32. 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… 😉 🙂

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  33. Trying to post on my phone is fecking frustrsting! My typing mskes me look pissed! Small buttons..

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  34. 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 .

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  37. 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!

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  38. 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).

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  40. 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.

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  41. 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

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  44. Traitor Richie! 😀
    Sorry axel mate have to wait on it for bit

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  45. 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! :mrgreen: goodnight all 😀

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  46. 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 .

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  47. Might do an article on it during euros or before it will be out by then hopefully.

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  48. Sham we can all dream when you see my article in drafts you will be excited as me! Haha

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  53. 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 .

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  55. 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.

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  57. Axel
    I’ve got FM on my Iphone so I’ll look up the players on that, how old is he(under 21? 25?).

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  58. 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 😉

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  59. 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

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  62. 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!

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  63. 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

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  64. 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 .

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  66. Is it safe to come out of our bomb shelters yet? 😯
    I am still sitting in here waiting for the cataclysmic event that prophet Troy predicted 👿
    Another good call Troy 😆 – you might want to have a serious word to your contact… 😕

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  67. @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. 😆

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  68. 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.

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  69. 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 😀

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  70. what about me, don’t I get a hello, Rich 👿
    Snobby ******* 😆

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  72. Hey mate, who’s this player we were linked with? There was few names and teams listed?

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  74. Cheers Rich.. I notice Van Ahnolt plays for them as well.. left footer back man.. is he still on Chelsea’s books?

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  75. That’s a different Van Aanholt , other ones still at Chelski but been out on loan, to Vitesse in Holland(according to wiki)

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