Jinky Jim

Thought there was some interesting optimism Candi......I shouldn’t have been drawn in?

Couldn’t agree more....lovely sunny stress free weekend.

Slightly more interesting than the “will he’, “won’t he” resign feeds

Brilliant....that’s the one I remember Frank for.

For those of you around in the 60’s and 70’s.....Frank Worthington has Passed away....what an entertainer he was.

From today’s Chronicle.....just a rehash of what we already know. “Newcastle United chiefs offer Steve Bruce the chance to fight on despite horrendous run Owner Mike Ashley has been reluctant to change boss up until this stage and Bruce has not been told anything other than his Press conference start time on Friday this week. Ashley wants to give Bruce every chance to salvage the season and deliver survival, while paying out a seven-figure fee is also something he wants to avoid. This is because Newcastle's finances have been dented severely due to no fans coming through the turnstiles at St James' Park for 12 months and with uncertainty hovering over the club on the takeover front, he does not want to commit to a long contract for a new manager that could cost incoming owners £5million or more per year. Yet if Newcastle lose to Brighton, and do drop into the bottom three, parting terms with Bruce may be the clear and obvious thing to do if the club are to save millions in TV money next season. It would also ensure that would-be new owners don't demand a knockdown fee for a club that has been relegated.” WHAT beggars belief, if there is any truth in the article, is that Ashley is prepared to gamble his £350m cash cow on the slight chance that Bruce might just keep us up. I cannot fathom out why he’s not prepared to splash out, perhaps, £3m to get rid of Bruce, and either promote Jones or splash another £3 on, say, Howe.It wouldn’t necessarily have guaranteed survival but it would have been a much better gamble than keeping Bruce......Gamble £3-8m on a reasonable chance of survival or on Bruce......doesn’t make sense...then again nowt he does ever did, but we are talking about a £350m business purchase being risked on Bruce being our savior......strange!

Sounds like a Genesis Album....”And then there were 3”

I’m sure the South American internationals have been postponed, so he wouldn’t be on international duty They all have...so he wouldn’t be going even if fit.

Brighton have finished strong the last 2 seasons to scrape out of the relegation zone....fully expect us to lose to them next weekend....we’’ll need 38 points to survive...no way is Bruce going to get 10 more points from the last 10 games....I’ve already accepted relegation.

Interesting article in the chronicle........I’ve copy and pasted it below to save anyone from having to click onto their site. The Premier League were 'provisionally minded' to conclude that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) would become a director of Newcastle United as part of a proposed takeover last year. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) hoped to take up an 80% stake in the club after joining forces with the Reuben Brothers (10%) and financier Amanda Staveley (10%). A takeover had never been closer in the Ashley era - a £340m deal was agreed - but the consortium encountered complications with the regulator, the Premier League, when it came to who was going to the club's ultimate beneficial owner. As ChronicleLive reported on August 2, the buyers offered assurances from the 'highest possible level' to try and establish that it was the PIF, rather than the Saudi government, who would be in charge. However, given how the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is the chairman of the PIF as well as the country's deputy prime minister, this was not a straightforward issue. A state formally becoming a director of a Premier League club would have been unprecedented and, if Saudi Arabia were put forward as a proposed director in the first place, the Saudi government would have inevitably faced awkward questions about pirate bay television broadcaster beoutQ. The consortium ultimately walked away last summer but, as ChronicleLive previously reported, both the buyers and seller remain committed to the deal if the Premier League were willing to give the green light. This takeover saga has now entered its next stage - arbitration - and Mike Ashley has been hell-bent on somehow finding a way forward. So much so, the Newcastle owner even took the arbitrators and the Premier League to the High Court in an attempt to remove Michael Beloff as chairman of an arbitration panel due to hear the Magpies' legal dispute with the Premier League The details of this particular case have been published on the British and Irish Legal Information Institute's website after the club's legal team, Nick De Marco, Shaheed Fatima and Tom Richards, successfully argued that there was a public interest in doing so. As a result, it can be revealed that the Premier League wrote a letter to Newcastle on June 12 last year after the league's organising body concluded that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 'would become a director' of the club. In the background to this letter, Judge Mark Pelling makes it clear that it 'was not suggested' that the Premier League had decided that Saudi Arabia 'had been or would be disqualified from being a director or that it would refuse to agree the proposed change of control'. But the letter set out the substance of the Premier League's reasoning. The letter confirms how the PIF 'expressly recognises that it will fall within the definition of director under [Premier League] rules, even though it would not be formally appointed as a director'. The Premier League agreed on this point. Having then taken external legal advice, the Premier League were 'provisionally minded to conclude' that Saudi Arabia would become a director under the rules as well'. The following was noted: PIF's directors are 'appointed by royal decree and its current board is almost exclusively composed of KSA government ministers'; PIF law puts it 'expressly under the direction of…a KSA government ministry'; the PIF's function is to 'serve the national interest of KSA'; and it would 'appear that the PIF is state-owned' and 'manages only state-owned assets'. It was made clear to Newcastle if the Premier League then decided that Saudi Arabia will not become a director, then it will 'proceed to a decision' on the application of the owners' and directors' test for the individuals who have been declared, including the PIF. However, if the Premier League board decided that Saudi Arabia also needed to be regarded as a future director, there had to be a 'declaration in respect of KSA and the board's decision' and the application had to 'be made in respect of KSA also'. As Judge Pelling points out, Newcastle disputed this conclusion and the 'lawfulness of the process by which it was arrived at' by the Premier League. The Premier League 'contends' that the PIF is 'controlled by the government' of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia but Newcastle 'does not accept' that - hence why this dispute has gone to arbitration. Judge Pelling said that the text of the letter 'makes it abundantly clear that the sole issue' that the Premier League had decided - and then only provisionally - was that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 'satisfied the definitions so that it was to be regarded as a director'. Therefore, according to Judge Pelling, the 'only dispute that can or will be decided in the current arbitration is whether this conclusion is correct' The three-man arbitration panel - Michael Beloff, Lord Neuberger and Lord Dyson - will make that call.

To use a good old English expression . . "Crikey". I have never posted anything unrealistic in my life, if you think something I have posted is . . then you know where the problem lies. Until I gave it up, I have had a Season Ticket at St James' since Season 1969/1970 (I was the original 'glory hunter' after we won the Fairs Cup . . hmm!!) so I am more knowledgeable and 'interested in' NUFC than most people I know. However, the only thing that really matters to NUFC in 2020 and 2021 is the Takeover, which is why that is absolutely the only thing worth posting about until it happens. To the word 'Crikey', I would add (about your comments) the word 'Dispiriting'. Crikey that takes me back.....feyenoord, Rangers semi -final and the glorious Upjest Dosza in the final...I wonder how many of us,Manorpark, who are on this forum who were around in our “glory Days" A couple of years ago, in 2019, I celebrated the "50th Anniversary" of our Fairs Cup Win with this long thread, with hundreds of photos and memories HERE . . . https://www.skyscrapercity.com/threads/fairs-cup-newcastle-united-and-the-1969-fairs-cup-win-50th-anniversary-1969-to-2019.2177948/post-159296132 Outstanding.....great memories...Wyn Davies, still my favourite player to wear the B&W

To use a good old English expression . . "Crikey". I have never posted anything unrealistic in my life, if you think something I have posted is . . then you know where the problem lies. Until I gave it up, I have had a Season Ticket at St James' since Season 1969/1970 (I was the original 'glory hunter' after we won the Fairs Cup . . hmm!!) so I am more knowledgeable and 'interested in' NUFC than most people I know. However, the only thing that really matters to NUFC in 2020 and 2021 is the Takeover, which is why that is absolutely the only thing worth posting about until it happens. To the word 'Crikey', I would add (about your comments) the word 'Dispiriting'. Crikey that takes me back.....feyenoord, Rangers semi -final and the glorious Upjest Dosza in the final...I wonder how many of us,Manorpark, who are on this forum who were around in our “glory Days"

It’s ridiculous. I’m 50-50 as that’s what it’ll literally be 50-50. No one knows how the arbitration case will be. I’m Hopeful but that as much as I can be. The ultra positive types just want to be able to say see I told you all along while the rest of us will be too busy celebrating At the same time the ultra negative types will be able to say, I told you so, if it all goes arse over tip....best to keep optimistic, whilst prepared for the worst. How many 'ultra negative types' are there on here? And how many would seriously say 'told you so'? Most of what I see is people just being realistic. Yeah there's the penns etc, but most people are just grounded. You’ve obviously not been reading this thread much then?

It’s ridiculous. I’m 50-50 as that’s what it’ll literally be 50-50. No one knows how the arbitration case will be. I’m Hopeful but that as much as I can be. The ultra positive types just want to be able to say see I told you all along while the rest of us will be too busy celebrating At the same time the ultra negative types will be able to say, I told you so, if it all goes arse over tip....best to keep optimistic, whilst prepared for the worst.

What happens when the inevitable wind up merchants appear and scuttle any optimisn we might have.....I’m sure the optimism thread will remain quiet for a while, but needs to remain in place ........just in case.

Pop into the Positive thread for an update Oh man do I have to go in there!? ? OK as a positive spin on it Jacobs said "Told this doesn't end their interest in #NUFC"...Thought that Sounded positive to me?...Others in the thread has suggested they may be looking at Inter, not as a replacement to us, but as an addition......Brief view of thread

Pop into the Positive thread for an update

‘They are actively looking elsewhere’ doesn’t sound at all positive ‘ Told this doesn't end their interest in #NUFC’...Sounds positive to me? True but actively looking suggests if they see a better fit they’ll go for it. Here’s hoping Newcastle would be their main buy As Stifleaay suggests, they may be looking at Inter, not as a replacement to us, but as an addition....time will tell I suppose.

‘They are actively looking elsewhere’ doesn’t sound at all positive ‘ Told this doesn't end their interest in #NUFC’...Sounds positive to me?

That’s what annoys me slightly, post anything that’s in any way down on the takeover happening even if that is what appears to be most realistic and people get upset about it and accuse you of being a wum and being overly negative yet anyone can post any amount of utter shite (in one case yesterday the exact same post in both takeover threads) but as long as it’s positive no one cares. The majority on here want to feel positive about the takeover but the positive feeling and info just doesn’t appear to be there. I think I saw someone saying it’s just going around in circles and it’s true apart from the club announcing it was going to arbitration there has literally been no other concrete news. Maybe it is time to just take a back seat and see how this relegation battle plays out first Sums it up quite well.I’m still in the Optimistic group but like you say neither group has any great evidence as to whether it goes through or not.The positive optimism thread tries to relieve the constant boredom of negativity without really producing any great evidence one way or another.What it does is offer some interesting points to possibly cheer us up for a short while...some of the posters in that thread are very positive and helps to install a sense of hope. Those in the other thread who have the opposite point of view also have very valid points and may well prove to be absolutely correct in their judgement of the situation. No group has insider knowledge so we are left to surmise. Healthy debate is good, this is what the forum is set up for, but there is no need for one or two posters to simply appear, wind up everyone, sit back and watch the battle. As it may be a while before we hear anything either way....the present relegation battle is our main concern.

Well said.I know this is a forum for all things Newcastle....and healthy debate is why we spend so much of our day viewing it.BUT I’m convinced there are people out there who just enjoy winding people up for the sake of it...perhaps I’m just getting old and havn’t adjusted to social media completely and the opportunity it provides for baiting and annoying.

Goodnight Penn?

I’m still with you on the optimism stakes, though I’m now of the view that it may be months rather than weeks away. My main concern is avoiding relegation, as I think this is the key to the timing of any action. Yeah relegation undoubtedly has become the biggest threat, let’s hope we can pull something out of the bag Sunday. Well, no The multiple other hurdles which have not yet been overcome still remain the biggest threat. No deal can happen until many other things are resolved, none of which have moved anywhere since PIF pulled out. Relegation is immaterial when there is no deal in place. We could qualify for the Champions League this season and it still wouldn’t make a difference. Well, yes The deal is agreed and in place, hence Ashley currently spending a fortune on legal fees. If survival is secured and PL approve deal we have our takeover. You talk about multiple hurdles however in reality once Bein is reinstated and the cases are settled, it is very much open to debate whether separation will still be fought over. “Once Bein is reinstated and the cases are settled”, you’re talking like it’s the matter of a 10 minute phone call. We’re talking about KSA and Qatar who have been embroiled in dispute for many years. Diplomatic relations have started to turn around but the conversations that need to happen have not even began. It’s not as simple as switching some television boxes on. You’re speculating about complex tit for tat legal cases which aren’t that simple. We’re not far from the equivalent of North and South Korea settling all disputes and becoming best mates. This doesn’t happen overnight, it could take years. As Jacobs has said today, patience will eventually run thin (if they’re not already). Optimism is fine, but blind faith with no evidence to support the optimism is pointless. Regarding the agreed deal (which isn’t an agreed deal as has been widely reported, it’s off)... If a deal was even remotely close, why is Bruce allowed to continue on to relegation which would almost certainly destroy the deal? Nothing that has been reported makes this deal seem remotely close. Don’t bite Whitley or he’ll be here for ever...stick him on Ignore

I’m still with you on the optimism stakes, though I’m now of the view that it may be months rather than weeks away. My main concern is avoiding relegation, as I think this is the key to the timing of any action. Yeah relegation undoubtedly has become the biggest threat, let’s hope we can pull something out of the bag Sunday. Well, no The multiple other hurdles which have not yet been overcome still remain the biggest threat. No deal can happen until many other things are resolved, none of which have moved anywhere since PIF pulled out. Relegation is immaterial when there is no deal in place. We could qualify for the Champions League this season and it still wouldn’t make a difference. Thank you Fantail for that nice piece of Optimism