Wullie

The guys from the Independent and the Guardian are getting by far the most grief.

"The British government deal with them as allies and the footballing authorities aren't stopping the takeover" is a perfectly respectable argument to make and one I can't really quibble with. Shit about Sheffield United and Wolves and how everyone hates us and anyway all the journos really support Man United is just tedious cobblers.

I think the media is more biased against human rights abuses than they are a football team. Just a hunch.

He's not winding me up, it's simply an example of someone who has a high profile platform to spout a load of rubbish when it comes to Newcastle. The fact that the Premier League already has Saudi owners who were allowed in without any hint of a fuss is another example. Do you know this for a fact or is it not just that the issue's now come into your world so you're more aware of it? He's not winding me up, it's simply an example of someone who has a high profile platform to spout a load of rubbish when it comes to Newcastle. The fact that the Premier League already has Saudi owners who were allowed in without any hint of a fuss is another example. once again to make it clear private saudi owner (who yes is a member of the royal family but theres a lot of them) is not the state of saudi arabia which whats buying nufc through their public investment fund thats the difference and why theres not a fuss about Sheffield Uniteds owner. Does it matter? They're still from Saudi Arabia, the place with the rotten human rights records, and the place that is pirating games from beIN Sport. The same outrage should apply, but it didn't. I don't recall seeing Sheff Utd's takeover dominating the football headlines and loads of people having their say on it, or trying everything they could to block the deal. If that did happen to the level we're getting rocks thrown at us then I'll gladly hold my hands up and say I'm wrong, but again I don't recall that happening. Does it matter? Yes it's the entire point. Unless you think the British Government currently owns and is responsible for NUFC. The paper merchant from Saudi Arabia is not directing the war in Yemen, or decapitating journalists. The state is.

He's not winding me up, it's simply an example of someone who has a high profile platform to spout a load of rubbish when it comes to Newcastle. The fact that the Premier League already has Saudi owners who were allowed in without any hint of a fuss is another example. What do you not grasp about the difference between a private individual and a state? Do you think Mike Ashley owning NUFC is exactly the same as if we were owned by HM Treasury?

Aye cos that would have been in the Chronicle. You have absolutely no idea whether they did or they didn't.

Yeah I assumed the point was about respected journalists who've been writing about these issues for years rather than idiot TV presenters. Don't understand why you'd even let someone like Keys, a bloke who was too much of a moron for Sky Sports (!), wind you up, like who cares?

Selective in what way?

If they promise to dismember Richard Keys with a bonesaw I'm on board.

I think I'd be hoping for it to fall through if I thought there'd be another group along in six months and that Ashley was a willing seller under normal circumstances. But this might be our only shot. For all my misgivings, I'd much rather it goes through than not and worry about the rest later. If it turns out that I feel I can't support the club under the new ownership, well that's where I am now anyway and have been for years.

I just assumed she'd wait until it was done.

Has anyone asked Lee Clarke?

I agree with Chri's.

Be interesting to see what she does say actually, she's raised Saudi atrocities in Parliament before. I suspect she'll turn out to be a closet mackem and hate Alan Shearer.

Shock horror as opinion writers respond more to actual happenings than unsubstantiated rumour. I don't know what it is you want that is more scathing than that article I just posted - "to see the club in which they have made a huge emotional investment used as a vehicle for self-promotion by the most brutally repressive regime on Earth is beyond revolting... No-one with a conscience could cheerfully support the club were the Saudis to take up residence in the Old Trafford board room." That's much further than I would go and it's still not enough proof that this isn't a media storm that's all about Newcastle United, instead of all about Saudi Arabia. "He only wrote 1 article instead of 2! Must be a Manc!" I actually think some people are attempting to salve their own unease by doing this. Convince yourself that it's because everyone hates Newcastle and I suspect it's much easier to buy into quickly.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/11/04/manchester-united-fans-may-want-rid-club-glazers-sportswashing/

Aye I was thinking about that, why would they need to Pirate? We've only heard one side of the story, I'm sure there's more to it. Gah. It’s part of a trade/economic/diplomatic war between Qatar and Saudi The Qatari/BeIN protests are likely politically motivated as well as economically Isn't it the case that Qatar is refusing to beam the Premier League into Saudi Arabia - which is why the government is facilitating (or not stopping) piracy (i.e. to secure access to the PL for Saudi audiences)? Yep. It’s part of the conflict. I knew that btw, I wasn't serious in suggesting MBS had invited the hooky cable guy from Seinfeld round to his gaff.

If there's one person whose opinion on NUFC I really respect it's Graeme Souness.

Are we sure these guys are as rich as they say if they're using a snide feed to watch the games? They don't already own my local do they?

I am tickled by the accusation that journalists and human rights activists are just pretending to care about a brutal regime in order to disguise the genuine source of their loathing and disgust, a football team. The thing is, even the journalists who think, quite rightly, that the onus should not be on Newcastle fans to police this sort of thing will quickly lose all sympathy for that position when they see the way some are going on. Rory Smith, who was very even handed on SPM has already had a go at The Mag today for a ridiculous hit piece on Amnesty that they have since deleted. Yes true but it was deleted because so many Newcastle fans had a go at the mag. A large amount of fans get it He said as much. That's the best thing we can do, nip that shit in the bud. Nice one. I’ll give it a listen It was on Twitter he mentioned the piece but yeah it's worth a listen. From 14:40 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/spm-175-the-still-prospective-newcastle-united-takeover/id1184990713?i=1000472254671

I am tickled by the accusation that journalists and human rights activists are just pretending to care about a brutal regime in order to disguise the genuine source of their loathing and disgust, a football team. The thing is, even the journalists who think, quite rightly, that the onus should not be on Newcastle fans to police this sort of thing will quickly lose all sympathy for that position when they see the way some are going on. Rory Smith, who was very even handed on SPM has already had a go at The Mag today for a ridiculous hit piece on Amnesty that they have since deleted. Yes true but it was deleted because so many Newcastle fans had a go at the mag. A large amount of fans get it He said as much. That's the best thing we can do, nip that shit in the bud.

I am tickled by the accusation that journalists and human rights activists are just pretending to care about a brutal regime in order to disguise the genuine source of their loathing and disgust, a football team. The thing is, even the journalists who think, quite rightly, that the onus should not be on Newcastle fans to police this sort of thing will quickly lose all sympathy for that position when they see the way some are going on. Rory Smith, who was very even handed on SPM has already had a go at The Mag today for a ridiculous hit piece on Amnesty that they have since deleted.

Which is why they won't (unless this broadcasting thing has legs, which I doubt).