This afternoon, the widow of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi has released the statement she’s now sent to the Premier League, urging them to reconsider in light of a potential Saudi-backed takeover at St James’ Park.
You may be wondering ‘why is this relevant?’, however Saudi PIF chief Mohammed Bin Salman has long since been accused of making the order for Khashoggi’s assassination in 2018.
It’s a serious matter and hugely sensitive subject for Hatice Cengiz – Khashoggi’s grieving widow – yet some of the responses I’ve seen from Newcastle fans in reaction to her latest tweet (which includes the statement she’s sent to the Premier League) are absolutely disgusting and inhumane.
“Sorry for your loss pet, now shove off“….”Keep on moaning, he’ll get what he wants” are a few of many examples, along with groups mocking her for the odd spelling error. I mean come on..
If you’re a Newcastle fan slating a grieving woman seeking justice all because you’re scared of her impacting a Newcastle United takeover, you need to take a serious look at yourself and think before you type.
This isn’t an anti-Newcastle article, so please don’t call me an undercover Mackem or suggest I’m supporting the derailment of a takeover by defending her.
We all want this takeover to happen, but if you let your desperation for a deal cloud your judgement on such a sensitive matter then you can’t complain about the criticism we’ll face should this Saudi-backed deal go through.
One thing that must be said is that those who are responding awfully to the above post do NOT represent your every day Newcastle United fan. Sadly, though, there’s idiots in every fanbase and Twitter gives so many the perfect platform to show their true colours with no repercussions.
The worst part of it is how disgusting it is to see our own fans reacting so inhumanely, but the knock-on effect of how it makes us look as a fanbase is also infuriating.
I don’t think it will stop the takeover – and I don’t think it should based on my belief that so many Billionaire owners in the Premier League will have their own dirty laundry if the Premier League decided to dig deep enough – but we’re not going to come out of this looking good if we don’t even bother listen to the issues being raised surrounding the Saudis.
If you want to rant at Richard Keys and BeIN Sports for their last ditch efforts to block this deal – that’s great – but the siege mentality against serious and sensitive issues that are rightfully being brought up needs to stop.
Hang on, isn’t that Tony Baloney’s avatar?
Browned off(Quote)
Yes, B-off. And you have a point?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
No need for that kind of talk,Sharpy is one of the fairest bloggers on here
Icedog(Quote)
Ice ? thanks mate but I’m not not offended one bit. I burst out laughing to tell the truth.
He’s a passionate poster is Eric and he on one today. It’s good he’s getting it off his chest.
Sharpy17(Quote)
SHARPY i don’t want that striker I agree,he will just be a money grabber,so will be a lot of them but rather a young one than a guy coming up 33 and past his best imo
Icedog(Quote)
Sorry Icedog.
My building put locks on my door that don’t let deliveries in. They didn’t tell me and I got mad and took it out in people on here.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy. Mate. I enjoy almost everything that you write on here.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
He turned 33 in Fevruary. Cabani.
Shearer and Beardsley played for NUFC until they were 35.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I got the bs and vs mixed up,
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice – I know it might be an obvious one and I’m not sure many would agree coz they’ll want a bigger name – but I would love to bring Mitrovic back.
He’s young, hungry, can score goals and would probably crawl back to Newcastle for the chance to prove himself in front our a crowd like ours.
I think he would buy into it and I think a Poch could properly coach him. He has a similar physicality to Kane too so would probably fit a Poch system well.
There is obviously better forwards out there, but a Mitrovic would be a good start for getting us into the top 6 I reckon. He’s certainly a better goal threat than what we have now.
Sharpy17(Quote)
all of us make mistakes bud,no one more than me lol
icedog(Quote)
Eric – that also made me laugh mate ?. Apology accepted.
This lockdown **** is taking its toll mate. I’m not easily offended ???
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric – the difference being Shearer and Beardsley are Geordies mate and would have kept giving 100% for that shirt til their legs dropped off.
Cavani would want mad wages with us not in CL or competing for the league. The second he had a bad game or the weather turned sh!tty, he’d be on to his agent for a move to China or the USA – in my opinion
Sharpy17(Quote)
they are next to each other in the keyboard,
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So news tonight will break of a 2nd bid for NUFC. Very NUFC this is… 🙂
Stuart79(Quote)
Nowt to write about man Stu.
I couldn’t believe Sky Sports had PL footballers playing computer games and trying to pass it as entertainment today ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Nickson does seems to stare off into space like there is a Star Wars Death Star or some girl with great boobs.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This takeover starting to have all the hallmarks of another failed attempt , too much press and media hype, right down to the so called second bidder in the wings waiting.
Why didn’t they bid before then.
P issed off with the whole thing now, just do it already. 👿
KIMTOON(Quote)
Good interesting article, Olly (about time too!) People without any sort of sensitivity to others’ suffering need to be called out. Goodonya, mate.
I’m probably what is usually described as a socialist, or a liberal (though I prefer anarchist), but I have no problem looking forward to a Saudi takeover of NUFC. The takeover and the politics are on a different part of the spectrum, maybe even existing in a different dimension to each other. I like music. I like Spotify. I use Spotify a lot, but I hate the way Spotify treats musicians’ IP. I enjoy reading as well, in fact I enjoy reading thrillers, American ones at that, but I have no love at all for spies, police forces or anything at all to do with US gun culture.
Different aspects of life. No contradiction. No need to agonise over anything. Whatever contradictions are raised are no different to the million and one contradictions that make up every human being.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Wasn’t trying to have a dig or hit you with a low blow mate, I just couldn’t get my head around the fact several regulars were immediately telling me to delete this / write another article to replace it, hence me asking what the problem was.
After all, it’s a blog that shares opinions and opens up discussion – and I felt the need to write it to challenge some of the idiots online making our fanbase look stupid.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Thanks mate!
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
‘Good interesting article, Olly (about time too!)’…..Bit of a backhanded compliment? But I’ll take it ?
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Stay away from Twitter? It’s the biggest source of news and discussion these days, so it’s pretty essential for me to be on their when I’m trying to cover all things NUFC on here! ?
I wasn’t going looking for these idiotic comments and never planned to get political (this is the first time I have in over 3 years of writing on here), but I couldn’t help myself when I found a worrying number of NUFC fans showing zero class and no humanity towards a serious issue.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
I’m confused by a lot of this mate.
I’ve never once protested against the would-be owners, I’m just ranting at our own fans who are being so insensitive and inhumane towards serious Saudi concerns – all because they’re so desperate to see this deal happen (so won’t believe a single bad word said about them).
As for feeding the trolls, I think it’s more that people don’t realise how stupid they’re being – not that they enjoy being so vile on social media.
I’d rather try and show these people up for typing before they think than just letting them all get away with it and carry on being so careless.
After all, it will be our fanbase as a whole that are criticised if these people continue..
To be honest mate, I just wanted to A) get it off my chest but B) felt it may make a few fans realise that they need to think before they type or just say nothing at all if they’re going to go on social media and ridicule a widow / blindly defend Saudis they know nothing about all because they’re so desperate to see a takeover happen.
I didn’t write this to just try and take the morale high ground or seek attention / clicks either – in fact, I’d far rather not have felt the urge to write it, as it was on a Friday afternoon I was planning to have off after a manic week of writing & non-stop staring at my laptop!
We’re all excited about what this could mean for our club, but the siege mentality towards the slightest negative thing said about the Saudis is clear in some sections – and that’s going to reflect badly on our fanbase before long.
As for me sharing my thoughts / getting involved on here, I’d love to comment more in the main thread with all you regulars, I just try and limit my time on screens when I’m away from writing the articles themselves, as it becomes more manic than you’d think trying to stay on top of all the news etc.
Re. the takeover itself, the bein/amnesty threats aren’t ideal and may have slowed down the process / checks being made, but these are obstacles they would’ve anticipated – not a curveball out of nowhere that I think will actually derail the deal.
As for managers, I think Benitez is the perfect man to come in and finish what he started. Knows the players, gets us, buys into the community and is a top class tactician who could make us successful again now he’d get the backing.
That said, I can see why Pochettino would be a dream. Available and an exciting young manager who’d get us playing good football and help attract some top players too I bet. I bet he’s being mentioned because Benitez’s contract in China is said to be ‘water-tight’ and VERY expensive to buy him out of.
As for players, it’s a bit early to speculate for me? Yes new owners can want their own men (Abramovich bought a few he just fancied at Chelsea), but I doubt they’ll be doing that soon when Bruce is still here, we don’t know when the window will open (or season end/re-strart!) or who they’ll get if and if/when Bruce leaves.
We need hungry players ready to get behind the project. He’s getting on, but I’ve always loved Cavani. Works hard, great movement, scores everywhere he goes and could have the bit between his teeth to prove himself in England. Still though, it seems premature dreaming about big buys when it’s Ashley and Bruce until this is announced!
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Olly – good man. Thank you mate and thanks for your honesty.
I understand your reasons for writing the article, to call out inappropriateness or down right nastiness.
For me, and likely those who were against the article, I choose to ignore them though mate – rightly or wrongly, but here’s why.
By acknowledging these people’s comments you are simply feeding them the attention they crave sat behind their keyboard. If it was face to face the same people wouldn’t dream of making the comment.
The reality is that those type of people aren’t going to reply ‘I’m really sorry’ genuinely or un genuinely – and I’m not sure comments like that are excusable anyway to be honest.
Whilst your article was done for the right reason, it ultimately gave a new platform for the lovely Julie to back the very thing you were challenging. Maybe if you write an article like this one again – don’t make it the main thread so it challenges but does not fuel. (and that’s no criticism at all mate)
Regards you posting. I totally get it and wasn’t having a pop, just saying it would be good to interact with you article writers more.
But I get we come on here to escape the real world for a bit. This is your real world so understand you’d want to crack on with other stuff.
I agree with what you say re Rafa and Poch – I wouldn’t complain with either or any who have been mentioned to be honest.
I’m as excited about the development off the pitch as I am players and stuff. I loved that John Hall invested in the set up of the likes of the Falcons, Eagles and ice hockey team. It just felt so positive and energetic round the NE at that time, and that has been missing under Ashley. I know it’s not his responsibility to get the area thriving – but he didn’t fulfill his responsibility with the club either.
I hope the Saudis can bring that feeling back to the region, coz growing up in that was brilliant and I’m not sure it’s been as fun for youngsters (I know politics and recessions have played their part too obviously).
I’m not as sold on Cavani, no question he’s a talent player, it’s his motivation I’m questioning, but I’d be happy to be proven wrong.
Cheers Olly, good man ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
I imagine the PL’s best chance to spot the piracy in the Middle East is having Saudi Arabia in the PL tent. If they don’t slow them in they have no chance of stopping it.
Stuart79(Quote)
So our new billionaire owners are bringing Keegan back… what could possibly go wrong ??
I hope this is media a BS. Time to move on and start fresh. There is no need to bring him back. Get the football right and you don’t need any ambassador.
Aussie(Quote)
Vegas can you please not post on the same day as me. Eric already thinks I am an 83 old and you and I are the same person. ??
Aussie(Quote)
Olly, Sorry you were confused by what i wrote in reply. I was pointing out that even if we have serious misgivings about the HR of the Saudi regime there isn’t an awful lot we can do about it.
Ashley will, as i said, sell to whom ever he wants and any feelings we have on it won’t affect his approach one bit, including the killing of Khassogi.
His widow should be writing to Ashley not tweeting about it, where she must surely know it would waken every lunatic in the twittersphere who gets off on causing hurt.
I understand you want to condemn and highlight these idiots on twitter,but you are feeding the beast.
Toon fans are not stupid, we know there are issues around this takeover, but the constant media and HR group attacks being aimed in the club and would be owners direction is starting to rile fans who just want to see us be competitive again.
A siege mentality starts to creep in and there will always be fans or even non fans, of which i expect there are many on twitter , ready to blacken our name by their actions.
Best all round to ignore them imo.
KIMTOON(Quote)
My only realistic concern about the fit and proper test criteria is about influencing another PL club. Given the Crown Prince decided unilaterally to imprison dozens of princes and businessman over trumped up charges of fraud, corruption and state theft he is potentially in a position to influence the running of Sheff Utd. He could do the same with their owner and that would have major impact on them and the PL. That’s the one realistic area of their criteria that could be deemed susceptible.
Stuart79(Quote)
Yes, indeed.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Nevermind we have a second bidder waiting in the wings apparently 🙄
KIMTOON(Quote)
Wow, I think a lot of people are getting stir crazy from this lockdown. I know I am. 7 weeks now stuck at my parents place with no way home until July as things stand.
Btw, the woman in question was not married to Khashoggi… he was at the embassy to get papers to get married, just saying…
I’ve stayed out of all this moral argument over potential Saudi Owners. They are not pure and wonderful. But the show me any billionaire owner that is… almost all premiership clubs have owners that have decidedly dodgy backgrounds. So I feel it’s a bit ridiculous for anyone to have a go specifically to our potential owners.
I understand Olly’s intentions with the article. About the way fans react to the woman’s tweet. But you will get morons at any club, as many have pointed out.
If this deal goes through, will it be for better or for worse? Who knows? Certainly not me. Will they be better than Ashley? Who knows, again not I! I don’t have a crystal ball handy these days… I do want a change. I’m fed up with the Ashley way. There are very few organisations or individuals that have the means to own a premiership club so we are rather limited on who can buy it really.
What will be will be. The Saudis will buy us (and I really think it will happen this time) or they won’t for some reason. If they are successful, and we build a better team, with a good manager and start to compete, I’ll be happy. My father supported the Toon, my Grandfather did, and my great grandfather did. I just want them to do well. As I’m sure ma y regulars on here do too.
I don’t care about politics. Whomever buys us is out of my control. I care about football and my team competing again.
Dubai (stuck in Toon) Toon(Quote)
Thought Henry winter on sunday supplement was spot on, anyone else see it ?
KIMTOON(Quote)
My Avatar has gone…? Maybe as I changed my name ?
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Didn’t see it Kim, what was his craic?
Sharpy17(Quote)
That we have had a loveless time under Ashley ,that we just want to compete and don’t expect to be winning the lge or Champs lge like people think we do.
Says people should spend time speaking with Toon fans and they would realise we are not unrealistic in our hopes for the club.
Martin, accepted it’ll go through, but warns FFP will leave us frustrated 🙄
KIMTOON(Quote)
Said we as fans have to accept that the human rights issues will follow us around now.
What made me laugh was that john cross and Martin Samuel were praising Chelsea, Man city and Arsenal owners for all the good they are doing for their local areas during this covid outbreak.
Such wonderful owners doing so much good .
Someone should tell them the Saudis have donated $500m to health charities in the covid fight , bit of balance wouldn’t be a bad thing but i suspect that’s too much to ask.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim – Winter has always been decent and fair when I’ve seen him speaking on that show. He’s right, but that doesn’t grab the headlines like Simon Jordan’s nonsense.
Time will tell won’t it. They can’t change their past, only try to make amends and hopefully we are part of that.
It’s been bad under Ashley. Could we really be that curse that it gets worse under the Saudis.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I sort of agree with The Whingey of Oz about Keegan. Having him in any official capacity might undermine a new manager or at the very least take attention away from what is happening on the pitch. Have a Kevin Keegan day and let him know he is always welcome at SJP. When we open our new cheese room and have pints that pour from the bottom perhaps he could be guest barman.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The Aramco Stadium…
Surely this or something similar is coming
Dubai is your email address put in?
Shamrock(Quote)
We’re all one, bro. We’re all one.
And we’re timeless.
Brisvegas(Quote)
I don’t see the problem with discussing possible signings – Cavani or anybody else for that matter. I thought it would be obvious to anybody that I was trying to change the subject away from politics.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Let’s have a stadium naming rights controversy? That should be fun for the fans and also PL. I think that is what got Man City into trouble because Mansour was “secretly” funding Etihad to pay for the naming rights. I say “secretly” because they had put it all in e-mails between the high ups at City.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Getting massive sponsorship deals from non PIF companies won’t be difficult. No doubt there will be a bit of ‘you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours’ behind board room doors of associated companies. The Ways and Means Act 1856.
IF The takeover happens and IF it really is PIF then I really do not see them coming in as spectators. I’d be waiting for big things to happen.
Shamrock(Quote)
I don’t even think I would care if they changed the name if it brought in 50 million a year. It doesn’t have much significance to me. When I was a kid I never said I was off to SJP, it was always I am off to the match, meet you in the Leazes End top corner at quarter to 3. Just don’t name it The Stadium of Light.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Wait till the season ticket prices go up by 30 to 40%. That, like the stadium name change will certainly take some of the shine of the new owners. After investing so much money, the new owners will want to see some returns. I can almost guarantee the ticket prices will go up. Should be fun times ahead.
Aussie(Quote)
If you believe that ever cloud has a silver lining then the Corona Virus will at least have gotten rid of the Mike Ashley Virus.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Cheerful as usual. Whinger of Oz.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Im a realist.. watch this space.. once you get out of your padded room, you will see that I am right.
Aussie(Quote)
I wouldn’t be happy one bit if they came in and change the name from SJP – even if it brought in £100m a season!!.
If we moved to a ground then fair enough. But that ground is SJP – and it shouldn’t be for sale.
Advertising within it. Shirt sponsorship, training kit sponsorship, training ground naming – all fair game.
But NUFC play at SJP, they play in black and white, we are the magpies and we walk out to local hero by Mark Knofler – that is non negotiable for me.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I reckon the name will be changed mate.
I mentioned this before a few days back. If this goes the way of City and Chelsea, this will not be your team anymore. It will be a global business .
Aussie(Quote)
Aussie – Chelsea is still Stamford Bridge mate. City is slightly different because they moved from Maine Rd already into the stadium that was built for the Olympics or European Championships or whatever it was for – it didn’t really have a name or place in City’s history like Maine Rd did.
If we built a new stadium and moved into that – name it what you want. But SJP is part of our history, it’s part of the city’s skyline – it’s as NUFC as our black and white stripes mate.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I sometimes like to read The Whinger of Oz as he brings up some good points. Spurs put up their ticket prices by about what he said to pay for the cheese room. Liverpool tried for their new stand and got a backlash. Although he is a total miserablist sometimes he has a point.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I agree totally mate. I hope it doesn’t change but I reckon it will. If a naming rights deal comes in for 60m, it will get changed.
Aussie(Quote)
Not White Hart Lane anymore. Now Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
London Stadium for West Ham now. But that was always confusing between Boleyn Ground and Upton Park.
I know they both moved but do their fans care about the name?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well spotted Shamrock, I made a mistake when putting in my email address!
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Eric – that’s exactly my point mate – they moved … and I’m not sure a large section of the hammer fans were all that keen to be honest. Though most of the bother in the ground was down to allocation of seating I think.
I don’t care if it generates £100m, I won’t welcome it – and the Saudis will be judged in the same way Ashley was by me.
I remember Ashley changing the stadium name and everyone was up in arms then – it will be interesting to see the mass reaction if it happens.
But I go on record from the outset as saying, whilst we are at that stadium it’s SJP nothing else – move and they can knock themselves out.
Sharpy17(Quote)
We currently earn £6.5m from the Puma sponsorship – Liverpool earn £80m from their new Nike deal. Ok so they are the highest in the league but there is a lot of money to come in from improving that sponsorship.
Fun88 got us around £5m a year for shirt sponsorship – City’s is around £45m.
There are a lot more commercial deals to be done to bring money into the club before they need to start thinking about renaming the stadium.
I can’t imagine the Liverpool fans being happy renaming Anfield.
Sharpy17(Quote)
So, Sharpy: we could probably get another 100 million a year if we can get into the top 6-4. 30 mil each from sponsorship and kit another 30 mil for renaming SJP.
I would rename SJP in a heartbeat. It has no sentimental value to me. C’mon, we have an end called GOLLOWGATE!!!!
I think the big stink before was that is was being renamed Tat Direct.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – it’s called the GALLOWGATE and the identity of our ground means more to me than the £30m you’re happy to take.
We have a lot of ground to catch up on the top 4 commercially.
I don’t care which sports company manufacturers our shirts, who which companies name is plastered across the front of it. I’m not bothered who sponsors our training ground or kit. But I do care about the name of our stadium.
SJP is part of Newcastle the city, not just the football club.
Sharpy17(Quote)
What’s people’s thought on talk on KK return to SJP?
Icedog(Quote)
Sharpy man, that was a typo about Gallowgate FFS.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So would you prefer a new stadium called Aramco Stadium, with SJP being demolished (new start etc but no history, tradition or memories), or SJP to remain, maybe expanded, but be renamed (still the same place, same stands, same history and memories and identity).
Shamrock(Quote)
The “Town Moor” is also a part of Newcastle legend. You can call it the “Town Park” for all I care. The City Hall was iconic. But so was the Mayfair and that is gone. Would I care if they renamed the Hanc@ck Museum to the Newcastle Natural History Museum? NO.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy, you went all round the houses with Cities ground, it was the commonwealth games . 😀
Agree about SJP, would not like it changed, unless it’s a relocation .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Ice – I’m undecided mate, but if pushed it would be a no I think – Though I do like seeing the likes of Hansen, Dalgleish and Rush at Anfield.
I suppose it depends on what capacity and how much influence he actually has in the running of the club.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, sunday sup link
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/11979008/newcastle-takeover-the-sunday-supplement-view-on-saudi-based-consortium-amid-scrutiny
KIMTOON(Quote)
Sham – I’d prefer SJP to remain SJP even if extended.
If it can’t be, or the old stadium is falling to bit and we HAVE to build a new stadium, then so be it.
But Man Utd are one of the biggest clubs in the world commercially and still play at Old Trafford. Liverpool aren’t far behind and still play at Anfield – if they don’t need to sell out, why do we?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Commonwealth that was it, thanks Kim.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Thanks Kim, spot on isn’t he and he’s right, speak to the fans rather than assume what we think.
But how does Martin Samuel turn out better presented in a lockdown??? ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Why is it any different if you change a name if you have a new ground/stadium to just changing the name?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yeah true Sharpy, maybe Liverpool and Man It’s were already big before their billionaire owners came in and sis not need the same sort of investment that City required to become elite again.
Just an interesting thought, as they will have to legitimise our spending somewhere if we are going to try to compete with the top sides – and the stadium seems like an obvious option.
Shamrock(Quote)
Tradition? History? Fck that. It is all about money now. Cavani, MBappe, Shearer even back in the day. I don’t care about the naming of our ground or Anfield or Old Trafford.
I live in Chicago and the sports stadium is named after chewing gum FFS.
Wrigley Field.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Also, the stink with Ashley calling the ground SD.com stadium was that he’d have treated it as purely self promotion for his business and likely not have put the money back into transfers/facilities, at least that was the perception. I’m led to believe none of the money from the SD signs around the pitch came back into the club but stand to be corrected.
I’m not sure there would be as much fuss about renaming the stadium under new owners IF people believed the money generated was going I to improving the club
Shamrock(Quote)