BottledDog

I humbly disagree.

Any apology would look shit now, they've shown themselves to be the type to drive a hard-bargain if it gets the right result in the end. A cup win or consecutive European qualification in the coming years and it'll be those in the BOYCOUTT BRIGADE who'll be eating humble pie. What the HAPPY CLAPPY ASHLEYITE BRIGADE don't seem to understand is that Ashley will drive a hard bargain whether it occasionally gets the right result or whether it more often than not fails to do so. Which in the long run will most likely result in a squad full of mediocre and/or disgruntled players, leading to a disenchanted and dwindling supporter base. Anyone who thinks a single cup win would mean the owner/chairman was doing a good job is an idiot btw. Regular cup quarter/semi/final appearances and defeats would be a more significant milestone a than single one-off win. If we achieve consecutive European qualification spots under Ashley I will gladly eat anything you want. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure I'll die of starvation before that happens though. This made me laugh/cry (not the bit about just wanting to enjoy the football, I can fully understand that). Some of the similarities between Ashley's business tactics with Sports Direct and us are becoming more and more evident, eg - buying brands with a good name, then sticking that brand on cheap products - paying staff minimum wages who therefore don't care about the job they do and are always looking to get away - running with a skeleton staff - the minimum needed during an average day, but understaffed when a few are sick/on holiday - putting mates in the top jobs rather than getting in someone more qualified - the worst customer service around - making false claims to customers - pissing off competitors with dubious tactics so they hold a grudge against you He may have started out differently on some things like player wages (maybe he was originally only in it for a quick resale, or maybe relegation changed his thinking), but it seems he's reverting to what he knows has worked for him in the past. Ashley is very successful in making money from selling a poor quality product, but the money he makes doesn't go back into making that product better. Unfortunately, at the minute that's the future I see for us too (at best), and every year it carries on will make it harder and harder to get back to where we were. What a load of old bollocks. The staff and players for a start seem more committed to the cause than I've seen for a very very long time, we have kept hold of our best players when we could so easily cash in on the likes of Carroll and Jose, and if Ben Arfa is cheap tat then call me a happy Kappa clapper any day of the week.

Yup, throw him in then, if were 2 goals down, sub him at half time for someone up to speed. Look we have no idea what he's like, where he would fit in, or whether he is even fit. I hope he gets a part to play, but lets let Hughton get on with it and try not to get too spackery if he doesn't even see fit to give the lad a run out at all at the weekend.

A frustrating 1-1 draw.

any excuse to bang the drum, give it a rest man thb, read that and thought it was a piss take looking for chomps, it was so un-believable I was sure it was tongue in cheek also. You mean he was actually serious? Shirely not, considering UV is beyond suspicious of the clubs frugality, he's clearly just clumsily having a pop at those who aren't up in arms that we don't seem to be in for the next Keegan or big names like Owen under Shepherd anymore. Personally think with Sol and Ben Arfa at different ends of the age spectrum, we are still after quality without spaffing our load unnecessarily, but, meh, whatever.

You tell um Kaz.

Even if he did, him posting it doesn't mean it came from the NUST does it? It's not like they put out a press release. Peasepud was on the committee of NUST. It was sometimes unclear whether he was expressing a personal opinion or his organisation's policy, which in itself is rather dangerous and irresponsible. What I remember from his posts at the time was that despite the fact that he clearly saw it as his role to encourage people to commit themselves, he didn't have an understanding of the basics of the financial scheme that NUST were putting forward. I'm not talking about details, I'm talking about fundamentals. It felt that NUST itself didn't have a clue what they were getting into, and the idea that they were remotely competent to handle millions of pounds of supporters' money or be responsible for a large business was ludicrous. He admitted as much himself to be fair. I always felt he was rather 'hung out to dry' in terms of communicating it on the various forums. I always though he came on here off his own back, after all he was the most active on both here in Toontastic out of NUST committee members. I think he got sucked into a lot of stuff over here especially because there was a large amount of shite being posted about how the organisation fitted into the initial and later protests against Ashley. That's what I mean, he was kind of left to get on with it on his own in that respect, somewhat unfairly imo. A lot of the 'shite' you're referring to did turn out to be correct about them as a group tbf. I'm talking about the "NUSC/T organised the original 'boycoutt'" stuff that was complete bollocks as it didn't even exist then. There was also some falsehoods doing the rounds about the march pre-Everton match too which were debunked. So NUSC didnt advocate and encourage a boycott against the club?

Take it as read, there is a certain tongue in cheek nature to the start of this post, but forgive me for bringing up Adams or McGuinness as charming and committed characters at the forefront of Irish politics as a mirror to my feelings on NUST and its followers creeping interest in sidling up to the more sane and settled supporter out there. NUST's initial actions and tacit approval of the ludicrous bile thrown around during their inception will always shadow any statements they release to an apparently increasingly uniterested press. Fuck 'em. Until they display regret, I'll not forgive them, and will actively fight against them if they ever again hint that they speak on my (as a long time supporters) behalf. However much I believe we'd benefit from a stronger voice on ticketing, stewarding and general community liasons, I don't believe that I could ever feel comfortable championing such dialogue under NUSTs tarnished banner.

You should probably repost that humorous yet telling manifesto in here; They could certainly take some pointers from it. \from the more sensible policies to actually taking a joke if UV is reprasentative.

Nice one. Not allowed to post vids here, but it was a good'n.

No. Beardsley was happy with him and said he played well. If you watch the highlights, it was a fucking ridiculous red and a right kick in the teeth if he has to sit out the next 3 games.

Not really, Hughton said that he won't actually make it over until after the internationals.

...any any any O'Brien...

What did they say? I’ve checked the online version and it says nothing about Ashley paying for anything. Ah, here ya go, found it... The no capital outlay comment continues to baffle given transfer fees have been paid – The Journal understands all money spent has been Ashley’s rather than the club’s – but instead of moaning about the small sums of money, we are pleasantly surprised by the fact some has been parted with. http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2010/09/01/mike-ashley-s-approach-has-desired-effect-61634-27176373/ Bit of a mad thing for them to just slip in there.

Playing barefoot would make my whole food painted blue. Unsocked my legs are like chocolate cuttlefish.

How can anyone turn their noses up at it? Because we beat Villa 6-0? Does anyone remember Hull in their first season back. We won't continue this run and whilst we are good enough for closer to the top ten, we should appreciate our limitations - I'd snatch 17th with both hands right now tbh. Because finishing 17th means an appauling season, players leaving, fans on the boards back, us getting stick every week in the press, everyone in newcastle depressed every weekend... you get the drift. Finishing 17th may be survival, but it's also a year of compete torture supporting the club, we're better than a 17th place finish and I expect us to comfortably stay up. We have a fairly decent squad and will be hard to beat at home. Staying up would be an appauling season? Christ, so you're presumably on of those you say that'd be jumping on the teams back when we inevitably lose a whole wadge of games. Going down would be pretty dreadful, but i'd happily take anything else right now. /that doesn't mean I don't have hopes that we could do much better, but you'd be mad to count your chickens as it were 3 games in.

£13m? According to the Journal, and including signing on fees and wages. Any number you put on our spending is a bit of a shot in the dark mind.

Hughton on the striker issue - "We did look at bringing in another striker on loan, but I was always mindful of the fact that, if we were going to do that, it had to be someone considerably better than what we have already got here." "There wasn’t anyone available who was going to do that so we left it. There was no point signing someone just for the sake of it." Sensible aproach, and looks like we may be back in for a striker in Jan. For now though, that's looks like £13 million cleverly invested in the squad.

The Journal are suggesting that the money for the new signings (£13m) came from Ashleys pocket, not the clubs. Is that even possible? Surely the money has to go through the club somehow?

Delighted. Kept hold of the big guns for now, and brought in some top players for positions where we were weak. Well done to all concerned.

Yes, that would mean staying up, and that is all that matters in our first season back.

Roeder out scouting again? Everybody needs a hobby.

Emerton spotted.

They are being applied for as examples, the sports direct logo if it does go up (which I doubt, whoever puts up the cash will get the spots) will be temporary.