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.
(I do know that the Wrigleys named to Cubs ground after themselves and not the gum.)
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think we should rename ourselves anyway. The Newcastle Facebook. That should get us plenty of money.
At least I wouldn’t be confused when all of the commentators say that UNITED have scored at SJP when we play Man U.
Yep, I will go with that: NEWCASTLE FACEBOOK.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yeah that United thing irritates me too Eric! Newcastle Scimitars for me
Shamrock(Quote)
Sham, the club got nowt for those signs but i think we started to get a payment of £2m a year two seasons ago.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Wouldn’t that be more suited to Sheff utd being the Blades ?
KIMTOON(Quote)
I sort of understand it. Two team city.
City and United. But still, the commentators go overboard on it.
It is quite funny sometimes listening to Lee Dixon over here in the USA. He will say that “UNITED” did something and then correct himself when they play Newcastle or Leeds or Sheffield and say:
“MANCHESTER UNITED”, sorry.
Dixon has a really good sense of humour so I forgive him anyway.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice, the KK question mate, yes as an ambassador for the club, could work well.
KIMTOON(Quote)
I am totally confused by what is going on BTW.
Germans are restarting.
Dutch have cancelled!!!
They share a border!!!!
I hitch-hiked from Munich to Amsterdam when I was 20.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The last Kingdom is back on netflix tonight, happy days.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Eric – I’m the other way mate. History and traditions mean a lot more to me that a £100m player that might stick round 2 or 3 seasons.
If a top 4 spot or trophies means selling out, then not for me mate.
We can still have good football and entertainment like we did under KK.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sham – him calling is SD.com is no different than the new lad naming it after his business, in terms of self promotion.
Are you really saying that if Ashley put £30m into the transfer kitty you’d have been cool with SD.com Stadium?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy to me it’s just a name, it doesn’t change how I feel about following the club, the memories of watching the likes of Albert, Shearer, Speed grace the pitch representing us, the runs in the CL/UEFA Cup etc, wor Bobby leading us, the heartache or relegation..
. It’s the legacy and memories of the journey that means something significant to me, not a stadium name – but I absolutely see how some will not bare to see it change. Maybe I’m just used to things changing and accept that most things must come to an end.
I’d prefer to keep the name and have the funds to improve, but if keeping the name means being permanently hamstrung then I can make peace with the name changing.
(we are already so far behind the bigger sides and it will take money to even begin to even out the playing field long term).
Shamrock(Quote)
As for Keegan, an Ambassador role would be great – along with some of our other legends.
He has had his time though and can’t be involved in the running or influencing of the coaches and teams
Shamrock(Quote)
Sham – fair enough mate, same with Eric.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Shamrock: they showed a 30 minute show of us in 96 against Man U on USA TV. I think we have might have beaten them 5 nil 🙂 They had a great team…
But, Shearer, Sir Les, Beardsley, Ginola, Albert.
Batty strangling Nicky ****?
It was fun to watch again even though we didn’t win anything.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
How didn’t we win the league in the 90’s?
We were better than Man U. Shearer before his injuries. Sir Les. Ginola.
Batty was brilliant and Rob Lee was in his pomp.
How not?
It must have been some Alex Ferguson Jedi, Ninja thing. We were better than Man U.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sham/Eric – my grandad worked at S&N brewery when I was a kid. He worked Saturday mornings and me and my cousin met him outside the ground for him to take us to the game – this was back when you could pay at the gate.
My cousin is 8 years older than me and I have always looked up to him – he’s a top bloke. My grandad was a big Benwell angry man (imagine Oz in Auf Pet). He always seemed ready to kick someone’s head in, but he was a different bloke match days.
I guess my reasons for wanting to keep SJP as SJP ain’t footballing ones.
I know you may say those memories would still be there whether it was still called SJP or not, but I guess I’m a bit of an old sentimental sod, and I think they’d be tarnished somehow if we renamed THAT stadium.
I have many more memories there growing up. Jumping round with my mates as Tino rinsed Barca being the pinnacle.
I think we could still get up there without the £30m name change with the right people.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric – that Newcastle side that beat Man Utd 5-0 was like having the cheat to football manager ?.
Rob Lee was and remains my favourite toon player. Very closely followed by Peter Beardsley.
I’ve been lucky enough to meet both as well and they were absolute gentlemen – top blokes.
2 more candidates if we are talking ambassadors (Pedro may be a difficult one to pass through like ?)
Sharpy17(Quote)
I would sign Willems for 8 mil in a heartbeat.
The ligament risk. For 8 mil?
Worth it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I was thinking on this yesterday mate. I wonder if Poch comes in would he want Rose?.
I thought Jetro was excellent before his horrific injury. It’s the 2nd time he’s done it now I think, so even at £8m I’m not sure I’d take the risk.
I thought the 2 full backs at Norwich were very good this season. I’d spent £40-50m bringing both those in.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Jamal Lewis 22yr old LB and Max Aaron’s 20yr old RB – both young talented English players that our top coach could develop as we improve our team and push for those top places.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I reckon it will go through tomorrow or day after. Be interesting to see the club statement.
Shamrock(Quote)
That was a nice story about your Grandad Sharpy. I can see why some will be very sentimental about the name of the stadium for sure. I guess time will tell,l.
Whilst you will always have those memories safely stored away in your heart – the world will carry on moving along.
Shamrock(Quote)
The 8 Nil against Wednesday always sticks out in my mind. I didn’t see it live, but was following via Teletext! As a young lad in Ireland.
Shamrock(Quote)
Sham – he was a bit of a sh!thouse to be honest ?. He had 9 kids (my mam being one of them) and a **** ton of grandkids.
It was a typical Benwell set up. He worked hard and hated being at home – or that’s how it felt when we visited. To be fair to him it was probably the noise and having nee money coz of all the kids.
Most people were frightened of him and I think he was a bit of a hard nut – he looked it.
But match days he made a fuss of me and my cousin – he was a different bloke out in the pub with his mates and going to the match.
Sharpy17(Quote)
You obviously found his passion mate and got to see another side of him as a result ?
I should say one of his passions anyway, he obviously liked shagging like a rabbit ?
Shamrock(Quote)
Sounds like your Grandad was a lot like my Dad. Tough Yorkshireman that usually had an intimidating atmosphere around him, but get him one in one doing woodwork, fishing or footy and you were his mate ?
Shamrock(Quote)
It’s being mentioned that Ashley wants to buy an EFL club next. I wonder who might get the pleasure! A lot of Sunderland fans in their board would be on board by looks of it.
Shamrock(Quote)
Sham – aye when I learned how it all worked I had a newfound respect for me grandma mate, she was only a little dot of a thing as well. She was a feisty little f@cker as well ?.
He died when I was still quite young 12/13 ish, so I don’t have a great back catalogue of memories of him. But match days were special with him.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Has there ever been a better front 3 than Shearer, Sir Les and Ginola in the PL? Shearer before he was knacked and still had pace!
Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo. Maybe!? Possibly. Probably.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
They were certainly uglier. Not even Christiano could make up for those dogs dinners of faces of Rooney and Tevez.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You imagine? When Ginola, Shearer and Ferdinand were all 27 and you saw the names on the team sheet being a defender on the other team? I would be like OH ****.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Holy Mother of God, you are letting the Hound of the Baskervilles loose. AND THERE ARE 3 OF THEM!
And if we do actually get the ball we have to deal with DAVID BATTY.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I don’t want Rafa back.
I would much prefer a Keegan or Sir Bobby type manager who sets us up to challenge the other teams and says – see if you can beat us.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Batty was a hero of mine Eric – my Dad being a Yorkshireman was a Leeds fan so I have always had a soft spot for them, hence being a fan of Batty and Speed ?
Shamrock(Quote)
Personally it wouldn’t bother me if the ground was St James Park sponsored by …..
Stuart79(Quote)
It was quite funny watching Batty strangle Nicky **** in the 5-0 game.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I don’t know if anybody reads The Independent but one of their reporters, Miguel Delaney, seems to be on a personal crusade to try to stop the takeover of NUFC. He gets top billing as well on their website.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Italy have set a date of May 18 for a return to training for Serie A.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Soopa-Kev thinks Poch would reject NUFC. Where would he go? We are about the only team that would take on a Manager who has won nowt hoping he would get it right this time.
Bayern, they just gave their Manager a new contract.
Chelsea or Man U – they seem Ok with Frank and OGS for now.
Barca – he played for Espanyol and there is an ex-player coup going on.
Real Madrid – maybe, but your job tenure there is about 6 months.
Same with the Italian teams about job tenure apart from Juve.
Napoli or Roma are probably the only ones that would be better than us at the moment. But we might have MONEY.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am sure that some Mackems might make fun of me for putting NUFC in the same job category as I just listed. I don’t think we are anywhere close to any of those teams. It is about money. And we will probably have a budget close to them soon so that is what might make us attractive.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
When I first came on here there was talk from the likes of the Whiner of Oz that all of the regulars had left because there were no articles. So, I am not sure that I could have driven anybody away when they had all left anyway!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You haven’t driven anybody away Eric. You’re just too much sometimes 😆
Today I’ve seen us linked to Koubailly, Fekir, Coutinho, Tete. Absurd wish list from the Chron, there again maybe they know a lot more than us. Seems unlikely.
It’s all so predictable isn’t it. After decades of austerity we’re about to become the wealthiest club on earth and football itself falls apart.
georgio(Quote)
Even with mega bucks coming in, given where we are I think any talk of your Coutinhos and Mertens etc is unrealistic. They will want European footy.
I think we will be ideally placed to sign the best of the rest though. Players that want a realistic chance of qualifying for Europe in the next 2/3 years. Think of players like Grealish, even Edouard of Celtic, couple of up and coming fringe players from the top sides that want more regular footy.
All of that will improve us and push us on. If we are lucky we might be able to get an elite player or two at the end of their career who still has talent and is looking for one last payout – but we don’t want too many of those types.
Shamrock(Quote)
Sham – totally agree mate. We need to establish ourselves before certain players would consider moving to NUFC just now. Even after the take over and better manager comes in, teams like Everton and Leicester would still be a favourable option – until we get in amongst it.
That’s why I’m on about the young Norwich full backs to start building a team for years to come. Love the Grealish call, didn’t even think of him but he’s a great suggestion.
Question for you mate. If we could sign Edouard, Morelos or Mitrovic – who would you go for?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, i worry about Grealish mate, bit of a lad, undoubted talent though.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Mitro for me Sharpy. Remember when we signed Beardsley to feed Cole? How about Luis Suarez for a couple of years?
georgio(Quote)
I’d leave Morelos where he is, too unpredictable. Probably go with Édouard over Mitrovic. He is an all rounder that lays plenty of goals on as well as scoring them. He is ideal for a team that plays proper fluid football.
I don’t see why we could not sign both though. They are different players for different situations. For those games where playing footy is not working and we need to go direct or okay from the wing, Mitro is one of the best out there outside of the elite sides.
Shamrock(Quote)
Kim I know what you mean about Grralish, but he can turn a game on his own and has magic in his feet. We would be mad to pass him up if we had the chance.
Shamrock(Quote)
Kim – too much smoke being blown up his ar$e, he’s bought into his own hype. He’s worshipped at AV and can do no wrong. He need to leave so that talent can be focused on coz I think he’s the best English player out there at the moment.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I would take him if we had Rafa here, he would focus him on football. That’s my issue with Poch, not sure he has the same level of command and i don’t think he has that single minded vision. I just don’t see him as a winner at all.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Sham – totally agree on Morelos mate. It was Defoe getting interviewed on sky the other day that got me thinking. He was asked if he thought Morelos could cut it in the PL. I know we’ve been linked with him before, along with Edouard – and Mitro is a similar age I think. I’d be happy with either. I think it may mean more to Mitro but I agree that Edouard is probably a more all round forward. I’d love both – 2 of the top young forwards out there at the moment.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim – I think the opposite. I think Rafa would suppress flair and creativity for the tactics and system. I think ASM would struggle in a Rafa team too in all honesty – and yet I think Rafa would work wonders for Joelinton.
I think Grealish would need a Poch or Rogers type manager. He’d have loved a KK team.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Right for the next 2hrs Sky Sports main event is showing Newcastle v Man Utd 96/97. Howay 5-0 ?
The only thing to better my afternoon would be an announcement straight after that the take over has happened
Sharpy17(Quote)
maybe they know something 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim – I’m like a kid again here!!. I was 17 when this game was played for real. Not a SD sign in sight and the atmosphere was electric – if the Saudis can get us back there id be happy with that never mind titles and trophies.
Pav in goal. I loved that fella ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
Wimbledon beat Chelsea 4-2 away that day too. How times have changed!
Shamrock(Quote)
Injuries?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy: watch for the Batty strangle of Nicky ****.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – just been on mate. **** went at him first then when Batty grabbed his throat his ar$e fell out.
What a team man!!. Watson and Bez just sat, so we had 4 proper defenders and Batty screening them – Lee, Beardsley, Ginola, Shearer and Ferdinand left to attack but all of them chased down and worked their socks off (Ginola not all the time like).
I don’t want Rafa back. I want this football back. Yes we will loose matches and may not win trophies, but the footy is so good to watch
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yeah agreed. It’s a no for Rafa from me. More flair please.
Shamrock(Quote)
Chronic are linking us with Nabil Fekir. Is Kuntz still playing? Maybe we could get him as well. How about the Polish international Plonka?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I forgot all about the fans worshipping at KK feet at the end ?
Brilliant, simply brilliant.
Sharpy17(Quote)
When Shearer had pace before his injuries. Bloody hell that was scary. He was scary after as well but with pace!!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – he was unreal mate. I can’t believe he’s not my favourite toon player – not even 2nd. Mind there’s nowt between the top 3 – Rob Lee, Beardo and Shearer.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: as I mentioned, I watched highlights of the Howay Five Oh game last week. The best must be Albert chipping Schmeichel from 30 yards. A centre half :)But there were so many.
Can we get the good times back.
BRUCE AND BORING FOOTBALL OUT.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Reet you Saudi radgies, I’m ready now – get this takeover announced and let the good times roll again ???
Sharpy17(Quote)
I am fed up now with pundits and journos saying Brucie has “done an excellent job”.
NO, what he has done is got REALLY, REALLY lucky and had an amazing goalkeeper.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
They (the journos and pundits) are saying Brucie DESERVES the next 9 games if they are played.
NO HE DOESN’T. We have played like **** all year apart from a half against West Ham and against 3rd Division teams. Even the Man U game we could have easily lost.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Would I have taken playing OK and being bottom like Norwich? Or the same, and in trouble like Brighton? Probably not. But it is not an either/or is it. We have better players than them and Brucie could have utilized them better.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Bruce has had Miggy playing like an auxiliary right back. Like Pardew revisited FFS. I saw some stats saying Almiron has like the most tackles and interceptions of any attacking player in the PL.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Is that a good thing?
NO.
Because he is not up there doing what he should be doing which is worry the other team, attack, score goals, assist the other forwards.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The closer it gets the happier I am that Bruce will be gone (is that a Morrissey song?).
Eric Sykes(Quote)
To be fair to Bruce, our squad is rubbish. We have no striker and a very limited central midfield. Very little depth apart from CB. We need some proper investment.
Bruce never was a top level manager but he’s done a decent job with what’s at his disposal. He’s not going to take us up a notch when we start getting a decent squad together though, for that we need someone with more imagination.
Shamrock(Quote)
Eric, a takeover is one of the few times when a manager gets sacked and it’s deemed acceptable. It’s natural for a new owner to want to bring their own person in. You could argue it would be silly not to do that.
Still reckon we should hear something this week. We are entering the third week of PL checks.
Stuart79(Quote)