So I was thinking the other day about our owners apparent lack of interest in the football ambition side of things. What, I thought, would it take to awaken his interest in investing in us to really compete? Well it occured to me, and bare with me here as it’s a tad fancifull but hey ho, I’m going with it anyway so here it is; European Super League. Over the years it has been suggested by the top clubs of the European leagues that there needs to be a European Super League, and I do feel it’s growing ever closer to reality. When you look at clubs like Bayern Munich they are pretty much outgrowing their league, same with Ajax, Real Madrid and Barca. With the premier league there are more contenders but it has to be said Chelsea and Man City do appear to have the dominant position at present. So let’s asume that around 2018 when I think UEFA look at the Champions league format again, that some of the big clubs decide the time is right for a break away league, then all of a sudden things in theory get very interesting. Now I’m not suggesting that Newcastle would get into the Super League for a second, but let’s assume that the top 3 from the Premier League go into the new super League then the opportunity to win the premier league suddenly becomes much more realistic. With say Chelsea, City and either Arsenal or Man utd gone to the new super league, that makes the Premier League much more competitive. Of course it would take an approach with a bigger mentality than mid table mediocrity to truely compete for the title but it does present the biggest chance to get close to it in recent times. You could then have a scenario where the winner of the Premier league plays the winner of other European Leagues much like the Champions league with that cup winner playing the winner of the super league for a kind of charity shield like cup. If an English club gets relegated from the super league then the winner of the Premier League would replace them with the relegated team dropping back into the Premier league. The potential to make even more money in sponsors and advertising would surely stir our owners loins and maybe just maybe it’s a scenario that would bring about a change in his mindset. He comes across as competitive, certainly in business, and likes a gamble so this would be the perfect chance to apply both those elements. If we factor in the Rangers situation too, well, if he still has interest there, then should they get promotion either this year or next then it’s likely with the right investment in players either they or Celtic would go into the super league thus increasing SD wealth via merchandising sales. I would imagine the Super league would be around 20 to 24 top european clubs with 3 from some leagues and 2 to 1 from smaller leagues. Anyway I see that as the perfect chance to start afresh and would hope he felt the same, then again maybe he really doesn’t care if we ever win a cup or compete again.
KIMTOON
Kim thanks 😉 a good read, but tbh I hope he is away long before UEFA consider a European super league
Big Dave(Quote)
Kimtoon I can’t ever see Mike Ashley changing his ways at Newcastle. He seems happy the way things are. His making a nice healthy profit every season now. Why would he change thing’s ? Sir Bobby Robson got us into the best position the clubs ever been. Ever since he left the club has been cursed. Mike will only employ someone average and buy cheap players. He needs to go altogether, hopefully the summer of 2016.
Terry(Quote)
Nice idea, Kim but I don’t honestly think anything at all will persuade Ashley to invest his own money on improving the most important thing at any club; the football!
Every time he has put money in to the club it has been either because he has had no choice, like when he bought the club without knowing mortgages needed paying on sale of the club or when we got relegated and he had to invest to stop his investment going tits up.
This is a guy who thinks Papiss Cisse wasn’t worth the money we paid and has cut food for Journos and complimentary tickets for players and staff. The man is a ruthless businessman not interested in football.
Stuart79(Quote)
I don’t think Ashley understands how big the cups are to the fan’s. He looks at thing’s from a financial aspect. I will say they should have less games over the xmas period. If only by one game, allowing the players to field stronger sides in the cup.
Terry(Quote)
I do miss Sir Bobby Robson at times. I would love to see the likes of him again but impossible. He was my favourite manager of all time.
Terry(Quote)
Well done KIM I enjoyed the read but like Dave I hope’jabba is a distance memory before we embark on such a dream
icedog(Quote)
After reading and giving it a bit thought wont happen
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
do peeps realy think fatboy would sell his golden goose with tv money going up to near 130 million a season cant see it meself
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
that’s why his takeover of rangers fell though he knew he could not make the same dosh with them as he can with us that’s why his takeover fell though did not make business sense
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Toonarmyelite I fear you maybe right. He has got a golden goose here and would be mad to sell unless he makes a big profit on the club. However if you look at it this way there are other PL team’s cheaper than ours so he could sell and buy a club and still make a profit. He could still sponsor sports direct. Highly unlikely but it’s still an option.
Terry(Quote)
Why doesn’t Ashley give up on Ranger’s a buy Celtic instead ?
At least they got no competition and would defiantly get europe and get more advertising.
Terry(Quote)
Lads, I don’t see him giving up the PL gravy train any time soon. The club have stated that we can’t compete with the big money clubs and so don’t even try. If a few of them were out the way then I can’t see why an attempt for the title wouldn’t be on. All the same as I said, it would take a leap of faith and change in mentality by him, but the rewards for both him and the fans would be worth it.
kimtoon(Quote)
The way I looked at it was what if I owned the Toon, would I feel it was worth trying to compete with the richer clubs and the honest answer has to be no. Take away Chelsea, City and one of Manure or Arsenal and then even with one of them left plus Pool and Spurs I reckon you’d have a good chance with the right investment to have a right good go.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim love the idea just don’t agree with the winners of the premiership not getting into the super league. What would make it fairer is the lowest ranked English side get relegated. However we would still have Spur’s, Liverpool and Everton to contend with.
Terry(Quote)
Terry, so I guess we are stuck with the guy. I suppose another thing that could happen is a break away league forms and takes the vast majority of money and sponsors with it leaving the PL as the poor relation; much like the Championship is now. In that situation he might not fancy owning us anymore and ****** off anyhow 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
Christ Skirtle looks in a bad way here
kimtoon(Quote)
you never know he might have a heart attack
john bertram(Quote)
John ,with the weight he is carrying it’s a strong possibility mate.
kimtoon(Quote)
Dave
Good Article. It is not easy balancing spending enough to avoid relegation fights whilst knowing that unless you get Champions league footie you are not going to get your money back. Solid top 10 aint as easy as many think, as we have proved all too often historically.
The way the money is set up either we need drastic restructuring of squads and loans, (my solution) or a restructuring of the competition as outlined by your article. Unless something changes then for many clubs what’s the point?
Premandup(Quote)
Prem it was Kim wrote it mate 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
OK Soz,
Good Article Kim. 💡 😆
Premandup(Quote)
There seems to be a flaw in the thinking here Kim
If we get a European super league, then that is where the BIG money will go.
The EPL will be no better financially than the championship is today.
The gravy train will dry up, and he will want out rapidly.
As a club, we will survive, as he has put us on an even keel.
I could see a lot of lower EPL teams going to the dogs tho.
There is unlikely to be any promotion or relegation from a European super league. So a closed shop.
Teams that aren’t in it are Donald Ducked.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
I’m horrified by the lack of desire and passion at the club. Nothing to play for this season except pride and much of that is lacking. Carver may be a Geordie but he’s not head coach or manager material. That must be obvious by now to everyone except Lee and Mike.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
The way to show pride as a supporter is to not show up at the ground as long as Ashley is owner. Force the clown out by the only means available. Otherwise get ready for more discussions of the same sort on here.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I hate to see that clown taking people’s money. And giving little or nothing in return. What has the club become? We sit 11th only because many of the teams below us are absolute dross just as we are. We have a horrendous goal difference season after season. We have an owner who has no football plan whatsoever. Boycott or live with a ghost of a club.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
With a winning rate around 20% Mike is going to find out that won’t keep us in the Prem toon kk mate. Carver has to go. Had enough of him.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
What is it going to take to get rid of Carver? If we drop our last 10 matches will that do it?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Mikey you’re a boy make a big noise
Playing in the street gonna be a big man some day
You got mud on your face
You big disgrace
Kickin’ your **** all over the place
Singin’
We will we will fong you
We will we will fong you!!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Discussing our club with some mates the other day:
So G2 how are things with Newcastle?
Well, we’ve had a very nice period of institutional torpor for the last 8 years or so.
Oh?
Yes, it’s all the rage in Britain now. We lead the way however by a country mile. We have completely perfected it.
Ah…..I see. Well I think we should discuss another topic now. Some of the lads are nodding off.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
The European Super League is only a matter of time:
http://www.facebook.com/EuroSuperLeague
ESLfan(Quote)
And we’re going to be in it I suppose? As what? The light comedy entertainment division?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
You see, the thing you have to understand about institutional torpor is that it promotes excitement within the club. It raises the spirits of the supporters. It brings in……zzzzz…..new…. supporters…….zzzzzz.
What? Where am I? What were we discussing?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Watching some old video of our matches. Losing consciousness. Can’t help it. The lack of excitement. How many times can anyone watch Willo play hoofball and not fall asleep?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2@33, have you discovered an old crate of Newkie Brown at the bottom of the garden shed ? 😆 😆
Middlesbrough’s 10 best throw-ins 2013-2014 is also a canny DVD…
Munich Mag(Quote)
G2 Aarons has said nothing has changed since Pardew left things are the same,and don’t we know it,keeps jabba though
icedog(Quote)
Happy
icedog(Quote)
ESLFAN@30, My, there is certainly an appetite for it going by that.
kimtoon(Quote)
Prem@19 I’m interested in what your ideas on restructuring squads and loans are mate, could you explain or do a quick piece on it?
kimtoon(Quote)
If there will ever be a super league (And I dont think that will ever happen). Then the teams that play there will quicky lose their glamour. What will they play for other than to be chamions? No champions league for the top 4, Nothing speciel about potential cups since it would be the same teams meeting each other over and over both in the league and in cups. And most of the big teams that enter it will have to make up the bottom part of their new league table, so what will all their gold diggin glory hunter plastic fans do?… Nah, wont happen and if it did, the clubs that enter it would commit suicide.
valle(Quote)
Ice@35, It certainly looks that way. It’s a shame as our first couple of games, cup one aside, under him looked good. Maybe the injuries are playing a part, I’ll judge him end of season but gut feeling is he’s not right man for the job.
kimtoon(Quote)
Valle,nice to see a new poster.
kimtoon(Quote)
Valle, you could still have a Champions lge, maybe under a different name and for the top two teams in the premier lge only, that might spice things up a bit. The current set up of top 4 is a joke imo as no glamour in finishing 4th other than the money on offer. I would like to see 4th spot go and give the final CL place to the winner of the FA Cup if we are to keep the status quo of no super league. At least that way there is a chance of a club who might never play in Europe getting a chance and the money would also help to make them and in turn the league more competitive. Hell if that was the set up even Ashley might take it more seriously.
kimtoon(Quote)
I’ve scared everyone off 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim… Thanks mate, I have been using Ed’s blog for years (I was the longest using poster on the site), but I have been more and more annoyed with his misleading and sentionalistic headlines, so I have cut it off for good.
valle(Quote)
Good points Valle
Certainly a lot more to think about before it takes off
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Valle, fair play, change is as good as a rest as they say.
kimtoon(Quote)
BB, Yeah I’ve just been thinking about the possibility of it happening and the ramifications it would bring. Would love to see the likes of City and Chelsea ****** off, I find the PL really stale now . Was actually hoping Liverpool would crack it last season just to break the monotony of the usual suspects. 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
KIM@47 Funny how things go round,years ago all you got on TV footy wise was l/pool I got fed up of seeing them on the box so I’ve had my fill of them
icedog(Quote)
Ice , I know mate, but I’m sick of the Mancs and Romans boys now and Pool or even Arsenal would be a change, even Spuds.
kimtoon(Quote)
A European super league would only consist of those clubs that broke all ties with their national FA.
If 3 or even 4 top clubs left the premier league , the English FA would certainly find it difficult to negotiate improved tv rights in the future and may not even match the current rate.
The FA would possibly respond by stopping those clubs from entering their domestic cup competitions and not selecting their players for international games.
Once gone , those clubs should not be able to return to the premier league without having to start from the lowest level of the FA pyramid.
If a European super league does become reality I do not believe any English FA club will agree to participate.
sidekick(Quote)
As I said a few threads ago, this sort of league is inevitable. However, I doubt whether clubs would leave the national league; they’d have a “B” team. We’ve already seen moves to allow “B” teams into the English system.
I’d also suggest that any super league would take all the tv money that is now spent on the PL – or a great percentage of it. The reality about the English game is that the world is mainly only interested in 4-5 teams, and all those teams would probably be in a super league, leaving much reduced interest worldwide for the PL, even with ManU “B” playing in it.
And going a little further … did you know that the Chinese league was second only to the PL for spend in the transfer window? Somewhere down the line they’ll want to be part of the big picture and there’ll be a push for World Premier League franchises.
I’m sure that when Newcastle are playing in the Euro 5th division people will be hankering for the days when Mike Ashley had us in a top ten position in the top league on offer. Some years off, I’d say, I doubt I’ll be around to see it, but the current under 30s will remember.
brisvegas(Quote)
Kim sorry for the late reply. It’s a complicated subject which I don’t have a clue about. Brisvegas puts it better than I ever could.
Terry(Quote)
MM: I am doing a TOUR-OF-THE-NORTH:
That will include:
Alwick
Rothbury
Berwick
Warkworth
Banburgh
Farne Islands
Leeds
York
Whitby
Keswick
Windermere
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kimtoon said @12;
“Lads, I don’t see him giving up the PL gravy train any time soon”
He wont ever give up any gravy, The fat ****.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Alnwick
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sykes – just been up that way this weekend mate. hired a place in Beadnall and had a great time.
Have you been to Newton by the sea? Also Craster walk to Dunstanburgh castle is worth it as well mate.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Good article Kim
A new euro super league is a long way off. I remember Sir John Hall talking about the Toon being part of it.
There’s no chance now unless they form 2 leagues.
I still hope the new tv deal will tempt an investor to buy the toon from Ashley. Who knows what’s round the corner. Nobody foreseen Mikey buying the club.
I still hope.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Our cricketers looking about as competant as NUFC. Playing a different game to everyone else it seems.
Stuart79(Quote)
I can see us relying heavily on the youth academy being promoted to the first team squad next season.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Yup, Troy, like Aston Villa have done and Boro before that and look what happened to them. 😥
Stuart79(Quote)
It’s all pointing to a clear out, with the squad trimmed by as many as 13-14 players, but with 20-21 realistic first teamers retained. It then desperately needs an injection of 3-4 quality players in key positions (not youth tram promotes – Heardman for example, mignt be another Carroll, or Roberts another Waddle, but probably not and not for a couple of years at least:
GK – Krul / Darlow, probably ok
Full back – Janmaat, Haidara, Dummett as cover, need another LB
Centre Back – Colo, Taylor, Willo, Dummett, Lascelles, Good, big weak area, need another CB unless one of the young’uns proves to be a rock star
CM – Abeid, Colback, Sissoko, Anita , really need a leader DCM / box to box MF
AM – Cabella, Sammy, Aarons, De Jong, Gouffran, probably ok unless De Jong is a perma-crock
CF – Perez, Riviere, Arma, another weak area, definitely need a better CF
GTE(Quote)
I don’t think the super league thing will ever happen, they just need to make the Champions League for actual champions and prevent those who get knocked out getting another shot in another tournament. Then spread the money around in other bits of European Football. They won’t though because currently it is such an earner for everyone, at least the Europa get a CL spot now though eh.
Maybe if Ashley is kept out of Rangers he might show some interest in us again, but I think we’ll just be ticking along until the loan is recouped and someone with ambition sees us making a profit in comparison to other clubs and comes in for us. Fingers crossed eh, because we’ll still be way more expensive to purchase than taking a championship side up..
Newkie(Quote)
To be honest I have give up trying to even think what they will do in the summer. The only thing I know is that they won’t change and value will be more important than the team requirements and that’s why we will never sign a decent striker.
Stuart79(Quote)
Just been reading through the comments, and I’m pretty sure that sometime in the future there will be a super league. But it’s the MLS that i see properly taking off in the near future. There was over 60k at the Orlando game at the weekend and those crowds are turning out to watch the likes of David Villa & Kaka – quality players in their hay day. But other names like Lloyd Sam and Bradley Wright Phillips – championship players over here. The MLS is starting to get the global TV coverage and I reckon that the American Billionaires will buy clubs over there rather than EPL – if the big players start to go over there, then they could make it as big as the Super Bowl.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I just hope the club doesn’t do any business with Ajax this summer. I think Siem De Jong is the worst signing in the clubs history. Yes even worse than Boomsong, Luque and Carl Cort. I don’t rate Anita that much either so why make Ajax happy getting rid of there ***** ?
Terry(Quote)
Eric@53, that looks like a canny round trip.
You’re going to need a holiday when you get back home.. 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Stuart
Guaranteed we will rely more amd more on the youth. He won’t waste his money on a new academy just for the sake of it.
We already have the second youngest squad in the league.
The quality coming through is very average. Worrying.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Remind me please who has the youngest squad in the EPL and how are they doing ?
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
“The quality coming through is very average. ”
actually, it is much worse than that.
Most have not had the benefit of regular lower league football, where constant graft is required.
Playing semi competitive kick about matches once or twice a month, is doing virtually nothing for them. Add in the **** poor coaching, and the result is most wouldn’t make it in the Gateshead squad.
They must have shown something to get selection to the academy, but from there on, they stagnate.
If the academy route is to continue, then some BIG changes need to happen, to get these lads to fulfil their potential.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Still no financial results being released then.
What’s going on ❓
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
To try and cut down on the waste and lack of success at the Academy the club have made the fantastic decision to recruit only local players from within a 30km radius of SJP.
There must be a reason for that decision, because Mike Ashley is investing a whole load of money in the new academy infrastructure.
Only time will show, I would consider Dummett a succesful academy recruit, there are a couple more players hovering on the fringes of the first team, Woodman, Satka, Armstrong, Aarons and Abeid…time will show if they can make it. I reckon that if you get 4 academy players coming through to the first team squad in say 3 years that is a pretty succesful return..
Munich Mag(Quote)
BB@70, they are probably being proof read by the same bloke who did the minutes from the last Fans Forum meeting.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Munich – The reason we only recruit youth from within 30 miles is most probably financial. Considering how little Ashley will have saved from cutting food from match day for journo’s and cutting complimentary tickets it’s a fair assumption it’s on financial grounds. How much would it cost for scouts etc… ?
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart79, you are spot on there. It makes absolutely no sense to restrict recruitment to such a small catchment area.
He’ll have the team coming in on the Metro…..absolutely brilliant move !!
Munich Mag(Quote)
nice goal Arsenal
kimtoon(Quote)