A strike from Loic Remy in the third minute of stoppage time gave United the points after a forgetful game of football which had 0-0 written all over it.
To be honest I think United just about deserved the win on chances created as Paul Lambert’s pre-match proclamation of starting on the front foot never came to pass.
The home side were understandably edgy and the lack of confidence was visible in a first half which saw Loic Remy and Papiss Cisse spurn decent chances in front of the Leazes whilst Gabriel Agbonlahor will perhaps feel he should have done more with a couple of chances which proved to be Villa’s only real threat of the match.
The second half was a bit better with Vurnon Anita attempting to drive things on from midfield. However it was the introduction of another Dutchman that tipped the game in our favour.
Luuk de Jong offered us a link between midfield and attack and his willingness to close things down nearly resulted in the home side taking the lead after he robbed possession from the Villa defence on the by-line before squaring the ball across the box to an onrushing Loic Remy who had the simple task of guiding the ball into a half-empty net only to see his effort rebound off the post.
That was until de Jong’s deflected shot fell to Loic Remy deep into stoppage time. The French striker had his back to goal and was being marshalled closely by Ron Vlaar but his quick turn and thumping shot flew into the back of the net ensuring that it was United who picked up the points on offer.
All in all it wasn’t a great game and certainly won’t be listed anywhere near the top of our best performances, but it was a win which is what was needed above and beyond everything. The proverbial monkey off our back has been removed now and hopefully this result can inject some belief back into a squad that has lost direction in recent weeks.
Howay the lads!
Newcastle: Tim Krul; Mathieu Debuchy, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini, Paul Dummett; Moussa Sissoko, Cheik Tiote, Vurnon Anita, Yoan Gouffran; Loic Remy, Papiss Cisse
Subs: Rob Elliott, Massadio Haidara, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Steven Taylor, Dan Gosling, Shola Ameobi, Luuk de Jong
Aston Villa: Brad Guzan; Leandro Bacuna, Ron Vlaar, Nathan Baker, Ryan Bertrand; Ashley Westwood, Fabian Delph, Karim El Ahmadi; Gabriel Agbonlahor, Christian Benteke, Andreas Weimann
Subs: Jed Steer, Yacouba Sylla, Grant Holt, Ciaran Clark, Marc Albrighton, Aleksandar Tonev, Joe Bennett
Attendance: 50,417
No I’m afraid I’ll have to refer you to point 1 of Mike SmallBerries notes 3HW mate! Even with the new tea lady on reduced wages we still aren’t far enough into the black. Now if we could get all of the players to take 50% pay cuts that might allow Mike to re-think things.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Is anybody else worried that Mike’s unusually low testosterone levels may be interfering in his footy thinking? I feel we should probably offer to pay for plum enhancement for him. Once he needs a shave we’ll know the goodies are kicking in.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Sharpy-I didn’t really buy it when i first heard it either and i know there are some people that see Mike Ashley’s evil grin in every move. But do I think that he gets a smile out of some of his moves? Yes I definitely think he does. I’m not blaming him because some of the abuse he’s had aka death threats are a complete joke and unfortunately shine the rest of us in a bad light. But I do think he might get a laugh out of say, reappointing Kinnear. Because I honestly don’t see what other there excuse there is. Surely he can’t be as naive as to think it would work? He is a successful businessman so must be smart enough to see that. But equally he seems a very shy/egotistical bloke who throws hissy fits when things don’t go his way and duly punishes anyone-including the club staff for instance when our players let a 3 goal lead slip last day against WBA a few years back/
Newkie(Quote)
I’m all agog over ManU’s play lately. Beautiful to watch them canter around doing absolutely nothing. Smalling looked like a poor version of Saylor yesterday! 😆
GeordieTwo(Quote)
If he wasn’t such a pathetic idiot as far as public relations is concerned none of the threats would have happened. I’m not saying those types of threats are in any way acceptable but they happen when you get enough negative publicity because there are a few unbalanced people out there. As for Ashley though, he couldn’t have done a worse job in making a working relationship with the supporters.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Here’s my simple minded way of looking at our finances. We are in the black by about 10M pounds from last season. We will be much further in the black this year because of the new TV contract and the fact we don’t buy players but we do sell players. Our wages continue to slowly decline and will probably continue to do so if we can rid ourselves of players like Obertan, Gosling, Ameobi, et al. If Colo leaves, and Remy leaves as well then we will have a huge wage drop. If Mike does his normal stunt we will bring in 2 or 3 younger players to replace them on much lower wages. It looks like Mike will be lying in a huge pile of cash soon.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Also can we trust a man with small berries to run the club? I think not. 👿
GeordieTwo(Quote)
The death threats he got was well out of order but it was a tiny minority that it came from and if any of his later actions are a result of those threats I would be surprised tbh. I just think it’s a succession of things that have happened that have made him lose interest in really helping us achieve anything .
The unknown until later debt (his own fault )
The trying to be a fellow fan backfiring
The high earners on the payrole doing F all
The KK mess ( his own fault ) and court judgement
The death threats
Relegation ( Partly down to him and lack of investment)
Dennis bloody wise (his fault again )
And JFK 🙄
yes he needs to either invest and start afresh with the fans, some better PR, and communication and hope for a better report and ambition level seen or frankly try and sell up imo.
KIMTOON(Quote)
The last 2 windows have been another straw on the camel’s back for many. Watching Joe do nothing. How does that help Mike with the club? Then force Joe out after the window closes and he’s already sold Kebab. How does that make sense? Now we have no upper management going into a crucial summer. And Mike wouldn’t have a clue how to recruit a decent football man anyway. So will Mike really trust Pardew and the board to get the right players in?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Again it comes back to small berries I have to believe. He just doesn’t know how to go forward. No more flunkies available to hire and hide behind. Whatever will he do? Show some spine? Surely not!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
GT. The club will have plenty of money given the increased PL TV money, Cabaye sale, Wonga money and improved league position. That will be enough to show a substantial profit this season given they only lost £616k in the previous season excluding transfers.
The question is what will he do with it? Three choices as far as I can see. Take back a chunk of his loan, spend it on players or hand over a large amount of the profit to the tax man. As I can’t see the last of those my guess is a mixture of the first two. In what ratio I don’t know.
3hourswasted(Quote)
It is the big question all right 3HW. I suspect he will try to trim the wage bill, bring in 2 or 3 decent young players on fairly low wages and maintain mid table form. The problem is poor squad depth always does us in and it looks to get even worse after this summer. Sammy is starting to show some positive signs, and there is some hope with our young strikers but far too soon to tell. When Remy leaves who will do the scoring? I can’t see it coming from De Jong if we take him on permanently. And Cisse really does seem to be finished. As are Shola and Jonas. The players coming into their mid twenties such as Gosling aren’t nearly good enough. I don’t think Ashley even begins to understand the extent of the problems we have coming. It’s all being hidden by the good streak late last year thanks to Cabaye and Remy. We are actually a bottom 5 club in my view once Remy and Colo are gone unless a huge amount of positive activity happens in the summer.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
so after a horrendous few weeks, A last minute goal by an on-loan saviour and Pards reckons we’re back in the zone 😆 hopefully we’re still in it after our next game.
mark(Quote)
Chelsea already 0-1 up on Galatasaray.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
That must be some zone we’re in Mark mate. Only Pardew can see it!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I predict Mike SmallBerries will get himself in a right pickle this summer. And who to blame this time?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Mark – I think he’s referring to the players mentality rather than the ‘winning zone’. I don’t think it was just the win either, I think it’s probably having players like Colo, Tiote and Remy back available and training.
I read an interview with Krul earlier who said what a difference it was having Colo back at the heart of the defence.
Sharpy17(Quote)
http://mobile.newsnow.co.uk/A/698278364?-11058:809:t
Mark – this was the one. I think the ‘zone’ is a confidence and belief again.
I had to laugh when I read this though, coz when I say ‘no disrespect’ – I know what I really mean 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
The players who will most likely be leaving in the summer are the ones to pick up the team’s spirits then Sharpy mate? Does that bode well for next season. What kind of outlay do you think Mike will be willing to make in the summer?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I see a modest outlay of 20M or less, younger players, another sale of a player, a new flunky (or possibly just Lambsarse again) and more bollocks from Pardew to cover up or at least try to.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2 – “The players who will most likely be leaving in the summer are the ones to pick up the team’s spirits then Sharpy mate? ”
I don’t see Benny, Marv, Oba being players who lift team spirits to be honest with you mate.
I don’t see Tiote leaving in the summer and unless there is some agreement between Colo and the club to allow him to leave I don’t see us letting him go for nowt.
I think it is highly likely that the club may do the bare minimum in the summer if I’m honest – coz that’s their way. I think we’ll replace Cabaye, Remy and Shola for sure. Thereafter I think we may look to replace players we sell – but I think in the summer if we sold Benny and Marv I think they’ll replace both with one. Then if more is needed they’ll maybe spend in Jan or the following summer.
I’m not stupid enough to expect miracles mate.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Thing is with the summer any decent players especially if they have been to the world cup will be so expensive. Then again I don’t see us getting world cup players tbh.
KIMTOON(Quote)
I was more thinking of Remy leaving along with Colo if he can swing it with the owner Sharpy mate. Pards obviously doesn’t rate Marveaux or Obertan so they’ll be allowed to go. Hard to say with Benny since he’s played so poorly we may not get a decent offer for him but he’s playing himself out of the side more often than not. Nobody is going to give us good players on the cheap any more though so Mike is in a pickle. I mean there may even be agents’ fees involved. Can you imagine? Shudder.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
That’s for sure in a world cup year Kimtoon lass. We’ll be looking for more hand me downs. Cheap players for one reason or another. You know like Remy with the rape charge hanging over his head at the time? We’re not looking for expensive top talent and nobody is going to sell their youngsters to us on the cheap any more. Oh woe is Mike. Hand wringing time is on the way.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
20 of our points this season have come directly from goals by either Remy or Cabaye or both Sharpy mate. What do you make of that? Does it bode well for us next season with a football genius like Mike at the top?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Let’s picture the starting lineup for next season:
Krul
Santon Mbiwa Willo Dummett
Anita Cabella ???
Sammy De Jong Gouffy
What an overpowering 11! And you can just imagine our bench strength I’m sure.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Why I bet there’s at least 20 goals a season in that team! Have a look Mike. What do you think? Too expensive to pay?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Perhaps a trifle pessimistic above but I just don’t have much faith in the owner as you all may have noticed.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Still I remain optimistic for next season. All we will need is 15 or 20 clean sheets from Krul and we’ll be fine.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2 – I will allow fans like yourself to assume the worst mate. I think the club have done well enough with recruitment so far to be fair. Every window there is a bargain to be had, why would the summer be different and why would only we miss out?.
Kim – we have many WC players in our squad already, why would we not afford anymore?. WC or not, if the players club contract is running out or they have a buy out clause they will still be available. Of course we are unlikely to get the elite WC players, but it’s not like ALL WC players will be out of our reaches.
It’s typical of our fans though!. If they aren’t big names or haven’t cost a small fortune then they aren’t good enough or won’t improve us!.
Everton build the foundations of their 1st team on championship players and other clubs rejects – they have had one of the best defences in the league – Howard, Coleman, Distin, Jagielka, Baines.
If we had signed any of these players when Everton did there would have been uproar! – none of them are good enough!, none are worthy of wearing the shirt!. If we signed Michu – £2m on a CF – so that’s the clubs ambition is it?!. Benteke – who the **** is he?!.
Or then you have the flip side of £12m for Bony is far too much!!.
Cabella or Grenier aren’t worth £10m!.
Pretty ridiculous really.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Good points Sharpy lad @255. I’m mainly playing devil’s advocate because it’s so quiet on here. It would be nice to get a bit of discussion going about our prospects. Yes I agree we could land a bargain as we have in the past but overall it does look a bit daunting to me. If we had a senior, experienced DoF at the helm I would feel a lot more positive about our future.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2 – Tiote will still be at NUFC next season and more than that he’ll wear the captains armband mate.
If Colo goes then we will replace him – maybe it will be Lescott, but I think it would be with an experienced decent CB. Pardews tactics are defensive, he was a defender himself so will not leave that area light.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Oh and I’m not sure there is another fan like myself Sharpy. Most of you have far too much common sense. Still I sense a disturbance in the force for next season. Do you worry at all or are you really quite confident that we’ll be fine? I’m still remembering that 16th place finish and the cup games this season. Hmmmm.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
We would never take Lescott on Sharpy mate. He’s 31 and on a high wage, typical of Man City. He’ll go somewhere with money to spend. As for Tiote I’m not so sure. I think there will be interest in him just as there was for Cabaye this season. If the price is right he will go, rest assured.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I think next season will be a lot like our 16th place season. We finished 5th, Mike got overconfident and is always conservative and underspent that summer. We crashed and burned and then he panic bought to right the ship. Our current table position will make Mike too comfortable again. He doesn’t look at the details, or at least not enough. He will think everything is fine and Pardew is stupid enough to tell him that as well, out of fear of an angry lashing. But the facts are there in the form of unresolved problems all through the squad. You can’t hire Joe, sit and watch him like a lump for 2 windows and then think everything will be fine going forward in my view anyway.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Do you see any parallels there Sharpy mate or am I imagining things (I do have a fairly vivid imagination or so I’m told)?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Geordie – based on last season and this one so far teams have to have had a pretty decent season to finish in the top 8-9th spot. But 10th is a very achievable finish mate. Even last season, as poor as we were we were only 5 points off finishing 9/10th spot. And this season, any of the bottom half teams could still achieve 10th place.
I am confident that we will strengthen the squad enough to comfortably achieve a top of the table finish.
I do think players like Livermore or Holtby could and would improve our 1st team if not our squad and wouldn’t cost a fortune. Lescott was just an example – personally I’d want someone younger, but I do think there’s acouple of good seasons left in Lescott if he’d take a pay cut.
I’m also certain that Tiote will be with us next season. I won’t be swayed mate so stop trying 😉 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy@255, I’m defo not one of them fans who calls for mega bucks signings you know that much , but the fact is we have to get the same quality in as Cabs was and Remy is if we are to maintain the status quo of top10. Now if Carr can locate a couple of hidden gems at low cost you’ll get no moans from me but I do think clubs are getting cuter with us mate tbh. I do realise that if a guys contract is about to come up we can get him cheap but the bloody agents are making even that impossible with demands now and in a WC year it will go bonkers I reckon ,I fore see a rocky road ahead transfer wise and will be amazed if it’s not .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Reet, that’s me back in the toon for the Man Utd home game. All I need now is 1 ticket 🙂 Does anyone have any ideas about picking up a ticket ?…
Munich Mag(Quote)
G2 – I’d like to think Ashley has learned lessons, but 2 loan signings this season doesn’t support that at all does it?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The main problem remains Ashley for me. He can’t deal with the idea of hiring someone with integrity and football smarts because he would have to listen to things he wouldn’t like. If you can’t handle the truth then you’re going to have all kinds of problems running a football club. I think that’s what we’ve seen with Ashley. He’s even stopped apologizing for horrendous mistakes like hiring Joe as DoF. He’s between a rock and a hard place. Spending on players will continue to rise with the TV money and some clubs below us will eventually get it right. With us it’s more likely to be more of the same waffling and lack of willingness to enter the fray for good players. That to me spells trouble and a downward slide again sadly.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Yes the evidence indicates that Ashley does not learn from his mistakes Sharpy mate.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
If I was a betting man I would put money on us finishing between 11th and 15th next season, which sadly would suit Ashley perfectly.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Quote from Oliver Holt in todays Oliver Holt column .
>NEWCASTLE’S formula for their fans goes like this: start well, get safe,flog your best player, don’t replace him, slide into lower -table obscurity. It makes money-the club announced a £9.9million profit yesterday- but it stinks.
Doesn’t it just 🙁
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim – only time will tell I suppose. But I think we need to give any new signings time to bed in and not have unrealistic expections of them. I’ve read people calling De Jong **** after his first appearance for us!. It’s nuts sometimes.
I would like some of his signings to have experience of the English game though, whether that is PL or Championship – ideally PL though.
I think the likes of Spurs may look to offload a good few players when their new manager comes in and with players like Sigurdsson, Holtby, Livermore – maybe Townsend possibly becoming available, I think we should be in for them. I think that is a top 10 midfield 4 – though I’m not saying we should sign all of them like.
We should be looking to raid the likes of Man City and Chelsea. Young players who have been there 3-4 seasons without a start.
I really don’t want to see us focus most of our attention on the France Ligue though, that’s for sure!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy , yep mate I’m so over French clubs and their mad sad owners giving the Toon grief along with the bloody blood sucking agents the various players seem to have now. I wouldn’t mind any of them guys you have mentioned there like tbh.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Well I like the look of De Jong already, looks intelligent with his play, not sure he’ll get tons of goals but defo plenty of assist I reckon given time.
KIMTOON(Quote)
http://mobile.newsnow.co.uk/A/698416127?-11058
Six youngsters on our books. I’d be interested on people’s thoughts on these lads. Are any of these gonna save us having to buy players in the summer and (other than Dummett) are any ready for the step up to the first team?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
MM….Erm, ever thought about getting them from the ticket office mate? it’s a tried and tested method that always works for me 😉
richietoon(Quote)
I don’t think we can keep signing players for peanuts and get away with it. Our luck is going to run out in the end. Remy, Cisse, Shola and De Jong could all leave come the summer and Cabaye hasn’t even been replaced. Rubbish players like Jonas, Gosling, Obertan are also leaving and to let thing’s get into this state is suicidal and a nightmare waiting to happen. I hope Ashley gets the chequebook out or we our in for a bad season.
stem(Quote)
I think we are going to have a fantastic summer regardless if we qualify for the Europa league.
Gomis on a free and the Cabella deal already in place and that is just two of the deals we will do in the summer 😀
Its going to be a good year for us Newcastle fans
Santii(Quote)
I hope your right Santii. Gomis would be an improvement on Shola but I thought the Cabella deal was off because they wanted to much money. There’s probably a chance of Ba and De Jong signing but will have to wait and see.
stem(Quote)
Santii, **** off with your positive **** talk.. it’s not wlecome here! Ahsley is robbing us fans blind and you still worship him! shame on you! 😛
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie i heard he spent half of the Cabaye money in one night out. Must of been some good cocaine and strippers i tell you. At least he is enjoying himself in this mega end of world crisis that most fans seem to be having 😆 😆
Santii(Quote)
@Aussie
I see what you are doing there. Very clever, very very clever indeed. 😯
You don’t really mean what you are writing but saying it sarcastically towards those who think Ashley is siphoning off the profits and not telling us. 😉
I’ll have to keep an eye on you. You seem an astute and wily individual. 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I don’t get this conspiracy theory either. Well I do actually, it comes down to lack of knowledge and ignorance.
It’s remarkable how many people say that Ashley is raking the profits in from NUFC, believing the cash is disappearing in his back pocket and there’s no way of knowing where it’s gone.
They aren’t aware the financials are published every year.
Ashley maybe raking it in but it’s all up front. The money he’s making is from SD being associated with NUFC and the free advertising Worldwide.
The World can see what he’s doing but he’s not breaking any rules or being dishonest.
Some of us, the minority, pointed this out many years ago only to be shot down by the most of you, the majority.
The Reality Train was temporarily derailed by the Dream Express.
Oh how daft the Dreamers look now. 😳
You know who you are. 😛 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Santii, that’s not true at all regarding the Cabaye money… Ashley actually spent 3/4 of it during that night out! 😆 😆
Troy, get back in the ute, who let you out!! 😉
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
I filed a police report last night.. Told the cops that I was robbed of my cash by Ashleys free advertising! They are on the way to arrest the big fella now! 😆 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
@Aussie
It’s hilarious that you were on the Dream Express 😛 toot! Toot! 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Aussie,
I see your interest free loan argument was blown out of the water by the club itself after they admitted that Ashley does not pay for advertising around the ground because he has loaned the club money interest free.
Basically then, he is NOT loaning the money interest free.
He only had to loan the money because he didn’t do due diligence so he is in fact loaning money to “himself” and the overdraft loan which had to be taken out because of the relegation (due to his failings) was also included in that (the club have subsequently paid that off).
By taking away corporate sponsorship he is basically crippling the club’s ability to pay the loan off.
He is doing the same by being happy with a top ten finish and showing no ambition for Europe because he loses that revenue as well.
The cancellation of season tickets due to understandably disappointing fans having to watch poor football loses further income.
Merchandise being sold under the name Sports Direct instead of through the club loses further revenue.
Basically that leaves transfer fees for income, and we know there too that Ashley has somehow managed to turn a profit. We don’t reinvest all of the money in the squad or playing side.
Our only hope of ever paying this loan off the way Ashley has set the club up to run is with continued increase in television money. So here’s holding thumbs.
So please explain to me again, how Ashley is NOT screwing the club over for Sports Direct’s gain?
JJ(Quote)
Only positive is that with the lowish wage bill, smallish young squad and a ground that packs 50 000 in each week, with fresh television deals. We must be becoming an attractive purchase for the next billionaire buyer.
Ashley bought us for 130mil, plus the debt of 100mil. So 230 mil.
A buyer at 230mil for a club that already makes a profit of 10mil as things stands per season. Profit will increase to around 20mil with the new Sky money.
They would increase even more if we actually got paid for corporate sponsorship!
A stadium that is already one of the best in the land and with a decent manager and four or five quality players away from challenging the top five.
Surely that’s an attractive buy?
JJ(Quote)
JJ, Agree.
KIMTOON(Quote)
JJ, I know that you pretty much automatically know everything but please have a close read of my comments before sprouting off half cocked.. At no stage have I denied or argued against the fact that Ashley is getting free advertising. My whole arguement is against the ridiculous comment that us fans are lining his pockets with cash. Everytime I mention this, people revert to their default position of bitching about the free advertising. Its almost like they cant see past it! Maybe I am misinterpreting the comment – Ashley is lining his pockets with our cash. Maybe instead of meaning, he is pocketing our cash, it really means, he is limiting our club revenue. Because everyone seems to banging on about that everytime I ask what money he is taking from us fans..
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie, He’s not robbing us, only in the respect that his SD brand grows at the expense of the club is what most mean ,I think. Quite simply we or I wish he would show the same level of ambition to the Toon as his SD brand, it’s that simple. I don’t understand his stance at all, with a little more investment and the right personal in place we could do a lot better than we are imo.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim, I would love for him to inject more money/ambition into us as well! Like I wrote yesterday, I dont like hysterical comments like we are lining his pockets with cash. And I am quite neutral on the advertising, I have never denied he isnt doing it.
To be fair, if you owned a club and another business, would you charge yourself for advertising at the ground? If I had outlayed over 200m id be doing the same thing to be honest.
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
I think in terms of growing the SD brand worldwide I think that the SJP “free” advertising is probably about 1% of their Advertising budget and responsible for a very small % of the growth.
Also the Savings on the “Free” loan probably offsets that by and large.
And as Aus says you would, wouldn’t you.
For me the issue has been the lack of commercial growth. Given that the global footprint of brands such as Utd or Liverpool We would be expecting a sponsorship deal of about 15% that they get. but we are not really achieving that.
Premandup(Quote)
Prem, 100% of SD growth is because of the ground advertising mate. I was shot down for suggesting otherwise yesterday! 😉
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
What I will say though, is if Ashley’s grand plan all along was to solely make money + increase the value of sports direct through the club, then why did he sell off 43% of the shares prior to purchasing us? Surely if the success of SD is (according to some) in large part because of the advertising we offer and this was Ashley’s plan all along-why wouldn’t he simply maintain control of these shares and sell them at a higher price at a later date?
To me that is what shoots down SJH/Shepherds claims about him just wanting to advertise his business. I still see much of it as a personal choice of a egotistical/vain/lonely man who wanted to be “one of the boys” which turned incredibly sour.
Another way of looking at it, why would you buy us (even before DD we cost 140mil) when he could have bought other PL teams-done a Venky’s and purchased a club which would have been solid without their interference for 20 odd mil and then sell a young englishman to virtually recoup that. Then he could have left big sam + co in charge and advertised relentlessly at their ground?
Newkie(Quote)
Aussie,
If you phrased it the way you did there, I don’t think you’d have many arguements 😉
Personally I’d rather Ashley charged us interest on his loan and allowed the club to attract corporate sponsorship.
We may end up in the same boat financially because the two would probably cancel each other out. But for me it would appease the fans because the club wouldn’t be stamped by the SD logo everywhere you look and the club would have more of a “club” feeling than an advertising tool for one company.
I just think that the fans are suffering for Ashley’s gain and he doesn’t care.
Agree supporters aren’t “lining his pockets” but he is abusing the emotions. I don’t like that.
JJ(Quote)
JJ, thanks but I did phrase it like that a couple of times mate. Some chose not to see it as it was written. The biggest issue with the free advertising is the hatred towards Ashley. Like you say, the interest free loan and the free advertising basically cancel each other out! If we had a kindly owner that everyone liked, we would think he was a great bloke for saving us money on the loan and more than likely no one would begrudge him some free advertising!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Prem don’t be silly sports direct were doing their dealing from the back of a boot in the back car park before Mike Ashley got the free advertising.
He owes us however much sports direct have made since the advertising went up.
I seen an interesting post yesterday on another site about the cost of getting adverts up in a stadium. If that is to be believed then it would be less than a million pound a year for the amount SD have up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gSQg1i_q2g
time for another amazing protest march with the millions turning up to get him out of his club
Santii(Quote)
Agree,
Ashley is disliked by the majority to say the least. But he only has himself to blame for that.
For a successful billionaire. He makes some appalling decisions.
JJ(Quote)
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/papiss-cisse-woman-sacked-taking-3187388
What a dumb *****
Santii(Quote)
Prem@291 If that’s true what you surmise re the 1% then why did he tell Sir John he was buying the club purely to help advertise and promote SD?, it looks a dumb move if you are correct. And yet his SD brand has grown enormously since acquiring us.
Re the commercial revenue, yes it’s an unmitigated disaster which badly needs addressing ,that it hasn’t been already is negligence and shows he’s not really that arsed about us other than just surviving in the PL.
He hasn’t lent any of us penny one either, he has lent himself the loan since he is the owner and failed to carry out DD, I don’t have one jot of sympathy for someone who fails to carry out proper checks. Would you buy a used car with doing a HP check first?, he acted in haste and has had to repent at leisure as they say. The only problem with that is he now feels he can plaster his signs all over the shot for free as he’s subbed the club the loan, that’s as you say his right and yes I suppose you would do it but it IS costing the club revenue that could be used on players /wages from other sources. It may well balance out in the long run as in Loan interest V income from advertisement on hoardings but it probably has some kind of tax incentive for him in there also as I’m sure he isn’t leaving himself or SD short he’s too canny for that.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Don’t get it. He sent money home to family in Senegal. What was she trying to prove?
There is no free method of doing this.
JJ(Quote)