On Sunday morning I woke up and it was one of those days that I was dreading. I felt awful, nervous, numb. It got worse towards kick-off time and didn’t ease until that final whistle blew.
I was even just about to set off in the car and head up to Newcastle, grab a ticket and go. A compulsion. In their hour of need my club needed me. After all this time away, disassociating myself from it all. I still had that urge.
Even after everything that has gone on I still had the urge. Even after the rotten performances, the dire results, the lack of direction, my own willingness to stay away from it all until it got better, or at least until there was light at the end of the tunnel, I still had the urge.
In the end I didn’t. I couldn’t have faced the drive home if the worst had happened so I went to my parents house to watch it – a house full of Newcastle supporters, United. Nervous, and after messing about with my old mans telly, I flicked Sky back on and about fell over when I saw Mike Ashley giving a TV interview, ahead of the biggest game in years, live.
Alright it might have felt a bit scripted at times, but you know what? Fair play. For years we’ve had nothing, not a bean, then all of a sudden there is something. Which now begs the question of why it’s taken so long? Will that be the last we hear? And, perhaps most importantly, will what was said signal a change in our approach?
Now I’m not going to get personal with it like other sites have and make playground remarks about speech because that’s childish and threatens to undermine the very good work that has been done with protests to date, but instead I wish to focus on the content. You can watch again on the video below.
So having digested that do I think we’re about to see a wholesale change in our approach? No, not one bit. It was nice to hear that we’re going to try and win something – ambition at last – but the reality is that eight years later should not be the time we set about trying to win something. That should always be our goal because it’s hard enough to win a cup let alone to do so without actively trying.
Unfortunately for me this is far too little far too late and three minutes on the telly won’t alter my opinion of Mike Ashley’s tenure on Tyneside. Words. That’s all they are. Talk is cheap, actions speak louder than words and so on.
It is actions that Ashley is being judged on because we’ve never had any words from him, and it’s actions that he’ll continue to be judged on. We’re not for sale (we are, as are all businesses at the right price) officially, so again we will see if things change. They won’t, but one can hope.
There are so many things that need sorting out though from the position of manager head coach right through to the threadbare playing staff and blatant lack of squad depth which has hurt us for seasons now. It’s actually a time where Ashley has talked the talk and can show that he can walk he walk.
However, I fear we’re just being paid some lip-service with all of this!
SSN are saying Spurs are offering 12 mil for Ings
Big Dave(Quote)
Unless I am in a different universe it is May 27th. That is 5 months to have had a meeting, to have made plans and even have contingency plans, to have skyped. And they haven’t had a meeting? Were they living in hope that Carver would turn it around whilst thinking that McClaren would bail them out – the McClaren who got sacked for finishing 8th in the championship.
If they really are drawing up another shortlist, this is gross incompetence. But we knew that already 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Maybe it’s because Mike has changed the criteria following his speech. Instead of chasing the no cost options they have been told to get a name? Who knows. Pessimism is fun after all.
Premandup(Quote)
Big D: Maybe that is what the board meeting is about, to make some concrete bids on players? Who would come without a manager in place and to a club that is in seeming disarray?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Premandup: from the past 2 years at least I would say it is realism rather than pessimism – I suppose you enjoyed the last 5 months 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ings is OK, but Austin is the boss. His record is 1 in 2 for his whole career and his movement, crossing etc is exceptional. Ings is a poor man’s Austin with a 1 in 3 record and ess effective movement in my opinion. no doubt well end up with a half fit Carroll and not much else though 🙁
Shamrock(Quote)
Prem – You been drinking?
Eric – They say they don’t want to rush as they want to get it right! I wouldn’t call 6 months rushing to be honest.
Dave – Why on earth would Spurs offer that kind of money for a player out of contract? I know they have to pay compo due to his age but £12m? Having said that on the open market he would probably be worth that in this current market. That’s probably us out of the running.
Wonder if they club realise that prices are going to go up this summer due to the new TV deal. Everyone wants to buy now to make sure they’re in the PL for when it kicks in so prices will increase.
Stuart79(Quote)
No I’m just not taking rumours, pretending they are facts and making myself depressed over them.
Premandup(Quote)
Isn’t Austin linked to Liverpool ?
The longer our coach situation is deferred the harder it will be to sign anyone of note to the squad imo. Dilly dallying again while others steal a march on us. All this procrastination is doing my head in, we look and sound clueless at the moment and the fans are in danger of being made saps of again.
kimtoon(Quote)
Prem, did you do an article mate?
kimtoon(Quote)
You do realise, Prem that if it wasn’t for the rumours there would be no debate on this blog until Match day. So your sly digs at the people who are taking these rumours, discussing them and giving their opinion on them make it look as though you shouldn’t really be on this blog until we have a match. I mean, what else is there to discuss if we can only discuss absolute fact?
See you in August I take it.
Stuart79(Quote)
Yes I did. Still waiting to know where to send it. and in what format.
Premandup(Quote)
Stuart: I am just saying that every company has conference calls, “video” conference calls these days. They are secure, so I doubt it had anything to do with some football espionage to capture our best ideas. You have to wonder what they have been doing?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Upfront we have to get rid of Riviere and Cabella, and with Cisse gone, I want Andy Carroll back and Charlie Austin. If de Jong had give a full season, 1 would probably be enough, with also Ayoze and Armstrong in the mix.
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
No Stuart. Not what I am saying. I merely said there was an alternative option. see 153. The response was 155 and 157. So I would argue that by presenting an alternative I was adding to the debate. Not simply stating the negatives out of every potential.
Premandup(Quote)
I mean, what have you been doing for 5 months NUFC “board members”? Going to strip clubs, picking the kids up after school, learning tai chi? What have you been doing?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Prem, look forward to it. Been sending mine to Dave but now Toonsy is back can you not send to him like you used to ❓
kimtoon(Quote)
I am not even down in the dumps about these latest developments. There is a bit of time to fix things, but not the 5 weeks that has been mooted as the time frame for a new managerial appointment. We are a massive club with lots of money that will be attractive to a lot of players. Stop the dithering. The time for talk has past (and God could Carvs and Pards talk), it is time for action.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sorry Prem, I thought Toonsy said he’d sort it. I’m sure Dave will post it for you today. You can just send it to him in an e-mail, no special format required – but obviously you’ll need his e-mail address! I’m Gona ask Toonsy to give me and/or Kim the same access as Dave – so that there is a network of us available to get articles posted. There is nothing worse than writing somerhingvthen having it sit for days unpublished until it is irrelevant. That’s one of the reasons I disappeared from the site, even wrote stuff for the Mag.
Shamrock(Quote)
Saying they’ve had five months is a little bit disingenuous I suppose as we didn’t know which division we were in but them assuming they could just continue off from where they left off in January is complete folly. Arrogance beyond belief really when this job just can’t be a particularly attractive proposition.
Stuart79(Quote)
And Haris Vuckic back!
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
No probs. Gives me time to re read it and make it even more positive 🙂
Aren’t Marveaux and Santon also out on loan ??
Premandup(Quote)
Oh, they have had 5 months Stuart. They supposedly even interviewed Garde for the job back in January but chose Carver as interim thinking they would have better choices in the summer. Maybe they will, we shall see.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Also Stuart @170: it was unfathomable that we would be thinking about relegation on the last day of the season back in January. If they had any braincells they would not have sold Santon in that case. They didn’t account for the train wreck that was Carver (who they installed) so I wouldn’t be giving them much credit for not doing their jobs for the past 5 months.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Santon has been sold, Marv is on loan mate.
Shamrock(Quote)
Stuart: there is a chance of a fresh start but they have to learn from their mistakes and dithering is not a good sign. Time to make a move and appoint a permanent manager and not wait 5 weeks.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Prem I sent you an email yesterday
Big Dave(Quote)
BIG DAVE
aint ings out of contract in july
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
And no more f-ing shortlists – decide who you want and go and get him!!! Or just say you are not up to it and hire some consultants to do a 3 month search so we can wait until the start of next season 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Whoops, so you did.
Premandup(Quote)
Sent now
Premandup(Quote)
Should be easy. We only need to score 20 more goals and to concede 25 less
Premandup(Quote)
PREMANDUP
them 25 goals less would be a lot easier if we had a defence lol
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
I agree, Eric.
Stuart79(Quote)
Prem I should be on a laptop soon , as I cant do it from my phone.
TOONSY you have mail if your about.
Big Dave(Quote)
Had to laugh when Ashley said he’s leaving it to the board. There is no bloody board. With Irving gone there’s only Charnley.
I do think they’re having to revise plans with everything on ice until Sunday’s result. I’d take Hoddle over McLaren.
I’d also like to see a credible football DOF brought in. Someone who’ll deal with the media etc on a regular basis. Shearer would have been perfect.
georgio(Quote)
I see the poo has hit the fan at FIfA then lol. About trine, now lets see some convictions.
Shamrock(Quote)
FIFA are shambolic and the only way it will get better is when the major countries turn round and say we’re not competing at the World Cup. It’s clear that corruption has been going on, yet they are still adamant the WC’s will be in Qatar and Russia! The FBI aren’t renowned for wasting their time on shop lifters so we can assume there’s something serious afoot.
Stuart79(Quote)
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/27/several-top-fifa-officials-arrested
Yeah looks like a lot of it flowed through US bank accounts hence the FBI involvement. Won’t take them long to get one of these guys to turn on Blatter.
Now Swiss investigating the 2018 and 2022 WC bids. This will get fun fast
MDS(Quote)
And all this after FIFA said the corruption allegations were just a vendetta by the British press with no substance…oh dear! oh dear!
richietoon(Quote)
“The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted both abroad and here in the United States,”
That’s what the official FBI report says in one part. Who’d have thought it…
Stuart79(Quote)
“The FBI are on the trail”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu-WKqBl07I&list=PL_JtaT4G0srYx-IS1dBOHstrtXoba0Vdm&index=3
Chris G(Quote)
“Today’s announcement should send a message that enough is enough,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Currie. “After decades of what the indictment alleges to be brazen corruption, organized international soccer needs a new start – a new chance for its governing institutions to provide honest oversight and support of a sport that is beloved across the world, increasingly so here in the United States. Let me be clear: this indictment is not the final chapter in our investigation.”
Well said.
http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/nine-fifa-officials-and-five-corporate-executives-indicted-racketeering-conspiracy-and
MDS(Quote)
Any hope of jabba leaving forget it for maybe 10years,what a sneaky swine he is,no wonder there isn’t a buyer to be seen,just been reading the trouble Rangers have got in getting jabba out,it seems even if they pay back the loans today its written into the contracts that he still takes 49% of profits for the following 7 years,what a sly swine he is
icedog(Quote)
So SM to hold formal talks with toon this week
icedog(Quote)
Ice, I foretold as much mate! 😉
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
AMF you did mate
icedog(Quote)
I don’t normally buy into gossip talk mate but the guy I know is a stand up fella and he said the deal was done in January. . So we will see what happens..
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Icedog his a nasty individual mate. Poor Rangers you can’t help but feel sorry for them. Hope the board rip him to shreds.
Stem(Quote)
Rangers have about a million fan’s and 49% of shirt deal’s over 7 years adds up. As if they don’t have enough problems.
Stem(Quote)
*QPR Austin to talk to toon this week!!
icedog(Quote)
STEM so now we know how he will have toon tied up to all sorts of clauses
icedog(Quote)
Icedog that’s a good start getting Austin in. I’ll be happy if we sign him.
Stem(Quote)
Ice – Where are you getting all this from?
Re SM not unexpected, if a littlw underwhelming.
Stuart79(Quote)
STEM its only a report from QPR.end,could be a move to get other clubs ina bidding war
icedog(Quote)
Icedog he could destroy us. His a nasty individual. He doesn’t care who he hurts as long as his making money. I wouldn’t want a million angry Ranger fan’s coming after me for being a con man. He will need body guards for the rest of his life mate. They’re not as forgiven as we are.
Stem(Quote)
STUART only @soccer sauce,could be ****
1 Austin in talks with toon this week
2 toon are considered to have talks with Laudrup
The SM report comes from two rags
icedog(Quote)
Icedog I just hope the CL team’s or EL team’s aren’t interested mate but his worth 10-15 million so I hope Mike Ashley pays up. You know what his like.
Stem(Quote)
Here is an ambitious article
http://whatculture.com/sport/newcastle-to-kick-off-summer-of-spending-with-5-signings.php
Premandup(Quote)
and another
http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20150527/united-teenagers-triumph-in-france_2281670_4748123
Premandup(Quote)
Very ambitious!
Stuart79(Quote)
Would really like Ayew lots of skill and a real team grafter,was reported a couple of weeks back that because there was no fee we have offered him a 4/5 mil signing on fee,let’s see
icedog(Quote)
Stuart 🙂
Premandup(Quote)
Ice your keyboard to God’s ears regarding Ayew.
don’t think Charnley will just hand the job to Mcclaren. I think he’ll talk to him and then one or two others over the next week or two with a decision by mid June
MDS(Quote)
McClaren is better than some but would be a bit of a disappointment for me
MDS(Quote)
MDS@215 me to mate
icedog(Quote)
I agree, MDS. I would be disappointed with McClaren but would rather have him than Carver. Sad really. Think it will be a good comparison of our ambitions against a club like West Ham when we both announce who our next manager is.
Stuart79(Quote)
Think my dream of Klopp is just a dream 🙁
icedog(Quote)
Don’t think it even got that far, Ice. Doubt you even go to sleep!
Stuart79(Quote)
STUART your reet 🙁
icedog(Quote)
Ice and I have similar tastes. I’ve been leaving Klopp off my “want” list because I feel it is completely unrealistic but he would be my #1.
To be fair to McClaren, he has a reputation as a fantastic coach on the training ground and has experience (and some success) in a foreign league that is full of young players with an open playing style.
MDS(Quote)
MDS SM has had a very up and down run with different clubs,if he does come I will give him a chance
icedog(Quote)
Yeah is he’s had massive ups and massive downs. You don’t know what you’re getting. That’s risky. Again to be fair I’m not sure the particular circumstances of his struggles
MDS(Quote)
New thread
Premandup(Quote)
some needs to point out to the wally with the brolly,he will need more than his brolly with the northeast weather hopefully thats puts him off 🙂
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)