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.
Sharpy@69-exactly. If we were being run on a shoestring but there was a clear set up, there was an individual or small group of experienced, intelligent, driven people with clear vision for the club then I wouldn’t be fussed. Ashley has had so many chances now to appoint the right man for Chairman, or DoF, or Manager, but at best they are underwhelming and at worst they are outright insane (Kinnear). This is why I fear the sacking of Pardew. Everyone hated llambias but I think we might have an even tighter ******* in Charnley running the show now, who is even less likely to go against M/A. So why would the managerial position be any better? 😕 That and the fact Ashley could have sacked Pardew for nowt after the Hull match but didn’t bother.
Newkie(Quote)
Are you saying wor Joe is outright insane Newkie mate? Am I reading that right? If so, what does that make Mike Ashley, the man who hired him?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
It was very sad to see the Pardew abuse you say Bobby Moncur? What team have you been watching for the last 5 months then? It wasn’t sad at all, it was long overdue. It just needed more abuse of Ashley thrown in.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Newkie have you not noticed that our collapse in form coincided with Joe leaving.. His influence is surely missed. 😆
Premandup(Quote)
Prem – exactly my point mate. 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
The facts all point to the same thing. We have a club in a nasty downhill slide. We have several unhappy players. We have many out of form players. We have a manager who most don’t want (at least according to the polls). We have an owner that most don’t want. What part of that is encouraging for next season?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Deeply rooted problems at the club won’t be resolved by any single step. We would need a complete plan of action and an actual football related goal. Didn’t it used to be top 5 or 6 according to Pardew? And he wanted us to be very competitive in the cups because he’s had a small amount of success there previously. Does he still have the same goals and is he on the same page as Ashley? If not, what are the new goals for the club? Let’s hear it Alan and make sure Mike agrees with you (in writing preferably) or say nothing at all. Your silence would tell us just what we already suspect.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Both Ashley and Pardew have burned all their bridges with us. At least we can hope for Mike to wake up sane one morning and actually make an attempt to salvage the club this summer. Sack Pardew, hire a top manager, spend money, get rid of the dead wood, bring in the expertise we’ll need to compete next season and for God’s sake play entertaining, attacking football!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Prem 😆 aye you might be onto something!
G2@77-Exactly. I think it just means Ashley finds friends hard to come by…
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie – my patience has worn thin for Pardew now mate. He’s used up all his chances now, and there was a time that I thought ‘better the devil you know’. But to be honest, that’s no reason to keep him for me now.
It’s time for him and his coaching staff to go now, and if Ashley replaces them with worse then at least that is clear indication of Ashleys ambition for our beloved club.
It might not be ideal, but I can’t keep watching football played Pardews way mate – it’s horrible.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Spot on Sharpy @85.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Sharpy-yeah fair enough, I know many feel the same as you. I do worry though. If we get worse and then get relegated will there be much hope for us? There will be no feel good factor like last time and none of the current crop will stick around like last time. We played **** football back then but we were realistic because we wanted promotion, I can’t see any chance of ashley hiring someone to play nice football in the championship, he’ll go for someone who will get the business done like warnock, but preferably someone who won’t be at all critical.
Our footie has generally been pretty **** this year but at the other end, how different are we from the rest of the league outside the top 6 and another one or two? Not much I’d say. And the other thing you can be sure of is that we score the least from set pieces- which are usually considered the lowest of the low goal wise 😆
Newkie(Quote)
I would probably get rid of Pards just because I’m bored of the current situation though, it seems wrong for us to have had a manager for so long and if Ashley is going to be here forever then we’ll at least need one different topic every 6 months to ***** about rather than the same stuff or we’ll all go nuts. I’m not quite sure I’d say i’m apathetic. Disillusioned for now but I reserve apathy for the England team
Newkie(Quote)
NEWKS, god mate don’t start on about England or we really will be depressed 😆
kIMTOON(Quote)
I don’t what’s gonna be worse the bloody press and media hype over England or the endless players we’ll be linked with over the summer. In the end England will bomb as usual, we’ll sign no one decent or no one at all and Arry will be sticking his head out the car window with words of wisdom. 😉 🙄
kIMTOON(Quote)
should be ‘ don’t know’ @90
kIMTOON(Quote)
Sharpy pretty much agrees with everything i think 😆
Pardew should be shown the door in the same way Shola or Obertan need to be shown the door.
They’re all capable at their own levels but frankly they’re not good enough for us.
Keeping Pardew on because of the fear we have about any replacements is the same as giving Shola or Obertan a long term extended contract.
As with youth players, we need to look for a promising young manager & coaches.
We need people that will get better & develop.
Whether you’re a Pardew fanboy or not it doesn’t matter – Pardew has reached his full potential & will not get better – if we stick with him it’s like standing still which is the same as going backwards.
We might as well not bother withbany new players.
KK(Quote)
US Toon,
Totally agree.
I want to challenge in Cups, try for top 10 in the league but most of all
I WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED. Not subjected to watching 90 minutes of **** boring football.
Zero passion, zero entertainment. Players look lost. Most entertaining players benched or played out of position. At most three offensive players.
It’s pathetic.
If we could play the way Southampton do and finish in the SAME league position I’d be over the moon.
JJ(Quote)
for the record, the photo attached to this article is Troy.. it was taken right after he embarrassed himself with one of his blog famous hissy fits!
He is mumbling… “Argh… Aussie has done me over again!” 😛
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
FFS Prem!! You and me have bonded nicely over this. 😛
Absolute spot on. The best article this century! 😉
It’s everything I’ve been saying in titbits and you’ve copied it and put it into an eloquent format. Well done for putting the monkeys in their place. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Oh apart from what you said about Ashley. 😛
He is not spending money that is there for us to reach our potential.
So you are miles wrong on that one. 😛
All we want is to try and compete within our resources which realistically is getting better results than we have in the second half of the season because Ashley, who you don’t want to criticise, has squandered that chance. 😛
You are as bad as anyone for moaning and blaming 😉
But I agree about Pardew if that’s ok. 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Oh and another thing. Fans are quite right to moan and whinge cos taking your path of apathy leads to worse situations and deterioration. 😛
Apart from everything else you said, spot on fella. 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Thamks Troy, just trying to be even handed. They are all ****.
Premandup(Quote)
Spot on article although its left me feeling even more depressed about the toon.
If we believe pard’s line about being unable to compete with Everton / Southampton we may as well just drop into the championship now
steve(Quote)
We can compete with Everton & Southampton, we could be doing what Spurs are trying to do, It’s the big 5 we can’t compete with.
I am not expecting a relegation dogfight next season.
Premandup(Quote)
Prem, strange thing is, you haven’t changed your stance on these matters over time and Troy used to argue black and blue with you! So some one must have done a complete back flip regarding their opinions 😯 😛
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Opions change Aus, only facts are constant. 😆
Premandup(Quote)
Opinions DUH 😳
Premandup(Quote)
Prem 😉
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Article/Et-si-galtier-partait/18042
Been linked to Christophe Galtier , never heard of him I’ll be honest but won he french cup a few seasons ago from a quick google search
Johno(Quote)
Cracking article – gawd knows we need something to whinge about outside of the walls of SJP!
It got me thinking… which is no mean feat.
Is this why I enjoyed our year in the Championship more than pretty much any year in the prem over the past 10? I don’t think it was the winning; we were hopelessly over-funded compared to other clubs so that was a bit of a ‘fish-barrel-gun’ situation.
I wonder if it was the lack of dosh-inspired bullshit. Apart from (hilarious) anomalies like QPR, every team was pretty much operating to a budget on something the same terms and constraints. Every match was therefore worth watching because a win was a win with no “yes but” caveats.
In the prem any result or position has to be qualified with the financial status of the opposition. And because there’s so much money around the arsehole-per-square-inch count is astronomical. The corruption, politics and hissy fits are just a pain in the ****.
So that’s my vote: lose the billionaire **** ASAP and get relegated. I honestly think I’d enjoy my footie more. 😀
Whumpie(Quote)
Oh, and the fans were a much better lot, too. Especially Plymouth – the Green Army are a quality lot.
Whumpie(Quote)
Whumpie – dead right about Plymouth but it had a lot to do with Carver being there. Also loved the CC, more games for a start and something genuine to aim for that we actually could win. I’d take it again to get rid of the deadly duo.
georgio(Quote)
Even the idea of a B team playing against conference sides sounds attractive. You know, Elliott, Obertan, Tiote, Willo, Shola, Gosling et al.
georgio(Quote)
The championship season was enjoyable because we were winning! Dont try and dress it up as anything else! If we were languishing mid table in the championship, there would be fans cutting their fekin wrists from the misery of it all! 😕
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Whumpie – I would certainly take relegation if it meant getting rid of the ‘fat ****’.
Stuart79(Quote)
Aussie – beg to differ. I’d take an honest season trying to win in the lower leagues over another year of managed mediocrity and lies any day.
whumpie(Quote)
Aussie
I think you are half right, I also think we had a visible team spirit that fans could get on board with for a period.
I was still enjoying our first season back in the Premiership yet we had less points with than this one.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Well, I wouldn’t Whumpie.. we would have the same crew in charge so why drop down a league! Ashley was in charge for our relegation season and he propped us up financially! Just imagine what would happen if he did the same in the pl!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Solano’s got a point. When everyone wanted the same thing, it was enjoyable. It was when we got successful – too successful for Ashley’s plan, which did not allow for a Europa Cup-sized squad – that it all went spoons.
Whumpie(Quote)
Aussie – agree on that one. When I said ‘honest’ it implied losing the Fat **** and his various hangers-on. 😆
Ick – fizzy league AND stuck with Ashley. Worst scenario of all!
Whumpie(Quote)
Aussie – Whumpie and I said we’d take it to get rid of the deadly duo.
I know you like an argument but don’t get all Ashley apologist over it 😉
georgio(Quote)
Fuken hell boys, you can’t have your cake and eat it!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
I think the key difference back in our fizzy season was hope. We had a genuine and realistic hope that we’d turn the club around (which happened), get promoted (which we did) and storm up into the Euro spots (which we did) and then press on to re-join the elite, competing for silverware and battling the likes of Barca.
Ah.
Now, we have about the most fundamentally depressing scenario possible: the strings being pulled by someone who is actively AVOIDING that last part. Absolutely awful.
If it was because that was unrealistic against the Chelskis and Citehs then fair enough. But Liverpool and Everton have shown that it’s not. Ironically, all it takes is some retail marketing nouse (Ashley!! Ring any bells??) and you get your revenues up (rather than down by a third) and before you know it you’re going into the final game of the season with a chance of taking the title, plus the Champions League to look forward to next season.
That’s why I have my theory about Rangers. Ashley is not daft, so he must know he COULD get us up there. But why spend the money and take the risk when you could do it with almost no dosh or risk in the SPL? As long as both teams don’t make the CL, it all works out.
So – if we’re doing too well and someone pops up with £20m for our best player… flog that ‘asset’ quick!
If somehow we’re still doing too well…. hire gibbering mong as a DOF!
You have to admit – it does add up. Any arguments against?
(Come on – it’s Friday…)
Whumpie(Quote)
Another fans thoughts – “It’s because we’ve lost more games than any English league club other than Fulham and Stevenage over the past two seasons. That in itself is not because of injuries, Europa League or the Cabaye sale. It’s because every player with above-average ability regresses and disappears into oblivion under his management.”
georgio(Quote)
@Aussie
My little impish friend. 😆
My opinions have never changed. Neither have Prems. That is why I was ridiculing Prem above for getting it completely wrong about Ashley. 😛
My subtlety has gone way over your head. Watch out!! It’s heading back like a boomerang. 😆
An explanation puts the boomerang back on course. 😆
I think I’m going to have go through Begas to get my point across. He is far more switched on. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
The really warped thing is that despite almost unanimous dislike of Pardew – this seasons 49 points is still better than anyone other than Sir Bobby and King Kev (with the exception of one season).
I think we would have not sold Cabaye and savaged the teams morale we probably would have got 5-10 points more meaning it would have been up there as our 6th/7th best Premier League tally.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Troy, I am not going to argue with you because next week you will more than likey be agreeing with me! 😛
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Whumpie, you are right you are starting to think. It’s shows in your posts. Re Rangers, Ideally they would be a feeder club for us, but given the constraints outlined in my article you could be forgiven for thinking the other way round. The problem with that scenario is that the players would get a handful of champions league games with Rangers but the rest of the time playing league one opposition. Would they really take the money for that when they could have EPL and Europa league with us?
Premandup(Quote)
So – anyone got any reason why my theory doesn’t hold water?
Whumpie(Quote)
Ah – posted just as Prem did!
Whumpie(Quote)
I don’t see the two clubs as particularly linked up except by Ashley holding the controlling share.
NUFC would provide the UK brand awareness for SD, while Rangers do the same internationally to support the SD expansion abroad. Both work to a budget, but Rangers probably get all the focus for revenue growth (no free advertising there I bet!) to make sure they finish just behind Celtic each season and are in the CL. Net spend for Ashley is next to nowt but it helps to fuel further hikes in the SD share price.
Brilliant, really. Utterly amoral, sadistic and shitty to a whole new level – but brilliant.
Whumpie(Quote)
Ive seen sieves that hold more water! 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
The only reason Ashley bought into Rangers is because they are bargain basement with the likely hood of growth.. end of story! ………..in my humble opinion! 😉
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie, don’t say my article has made you start to think as well?
Premandup(Quote)
Thinking is over rated Prem!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Ok, Aussie – so what explanation do you have for everything that’s going on? What fits with everything we know?
Whumpie(Quote)
It’s not the points or position, it’s the style or lack of play. The lack of getting the basics right, the not being even league one standard for corners and free kicks ffs , the constant defensive play. Last week when 1.0 v Cardiff he throws on an extra defender 🙄 . Can anyone honestly say our football is entertaining ?. If there no are cups or Europa to aspire to and only dire football on offer then what is the bloody point in watching.
kIMTOON(Quote)
More to the point – can you pinpoint anything in that theory and give a sound reason why it’s unlikely to be true?
Whumpie(Quote)
Whumpie, please see my post at 129. Ashley has a track record of buying low and selling high.. This is about coin and nothing else..
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Amen, Kim 🙁
Whumpie(Quote)
Kim – As a counterpoint to that, I do believe that on the two occasions when Pardew has had his own team to play with, he’s done well. The season before last, and this season up to the January window. It doesn’t explain everything, but it does suggest that when he does build a team they play well and get good results. Great ones, actually.
It also suggests that as soon as something happens to disrupt that – like selling that one, lynchpin player – it all goes tits up.
You could argue that he shouldn’t be so dependent on one player, but… umm….
Nope, I will just argue that. 😆
Whumpie(Quote)
Prem@124 , Yes I think they would mate. All players want to play in the CL and they won’t care if it’s in the SPL ,the fact the rest of the games are League one or Fizzy pop quality opposition won’t matter much so long as they win cups and medals and get paid well. Don’t forget playing for Rangers in the SPL won’t just mean CL football it will most likely mean Cup final places on a regular basis and titles too, what’s not to like. 😉
kIMTOON(Quote)
Aussie – that doesn’t actually pick any holes in my theory; it just puts a rather crude alternative.
So how do you explain:
1. The fact that he has essentially made a big loss on NUFC; he essentially bought high.
2. The fact that when given golden opportunities to get CL coverage with NUFC he’s done the one thing to ensure they don’t.
3. The fact that he’s just liquidated just enough shares in SD to buy a controlling share in Rangers and fund their return to the top end.
4. The rather glaring fact that NOBODY MAKES MONEY OUT OF BUYING FOOTBALL CLUBS! You’d be better off at the bookies!
Go on – this is what Fridays are for…
Whumpie(Quote)
Sometimes I just sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits
Premandup(Quote)
Whumpie, There is no denying Pards has had some success and there have been a few decent games ,a few being the operative word imo. I really don’t hate him tbh ,but I hate the way he sets us up and his subs leave me perplexed on many an occasions too. I just wish he’d be more adventurous for want of a better word I suppose. I really couldn’t cope with another season of football like what has been served up ,it’s mind numbingly boring , I’ve actually found my mind wondering on to other things mid game 😯 . Nah he has to go for me, time for a new guy to inject some life back into the club imo.
kIMTOON(Quote)
Whumpie as soon as Rangers stock rises, he will cash in! Regarding us, I actually think he ****** up royally and went pretty much against all his usual business acunem. Hence he has just maintained his investment ever since!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
I think he will buy Rangers and fund them all the way to the CL again and we will be left looking on like the sibling of a favourite child wondering why Papa doesn’t love us as much. 😆
kIMTOON(Quote)
And we’ll probably end up being a feeder club to Rangers ffs. 👿
kIMTOON(Quote)
Next article written, first draft, ready for next week, follows on but addresses the FA proposals with some alternative ideas.
Premandup(Quote)
Kim it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that the scottish premiership is **** poor at the moment. Celtic have it easy. They never seem to spend big bucks on players and still get in the champions league football. Ashley really messed up buying us. He would have a 16 million pound side challenging Celtic for the title. He would have to sell us because of conflict of intrest ? We our to good a side to be Celtic’s feeder club. We make more money than Ranger’s without CL football. He could sponsor the stadium however.
stem(Quote)
Stem ,Could he not own us both as in separate leagues, just the issue of both can’t be in Europe I thought. 😕 ❓
kIMTOON(Quote)
Kim I hope not. Well just be the same as we our now.
stem(Quote)
Cisse out for months
Premandup(Quote)
Another damning stat from the Tweet Machine:
“In the last 2 season, of the 92 English League club, only Stevenage & Fulham have lost a higher % of games then NUFC” (via @alanpardewstats)
buddy(Quote)