macphisto

I'm actually thinking about putting money on Arsenal to win the league if the squads stay roughly as they are with out any more star signings.

Any Newcastle fan who can remember what it was like when Keegan/John Hall were here the first time round will know how good it is to splash the cash! We did break the world record for a player (Shearer) and for a defender (Barton) so relatively speaking we were not too different from what City are doing now!

Tbf there might be as much truth in what ive said as what sh*t the papers write on a daily basis as they know nothing more than anyone else. What would peoples thoughts be if Fletcher was involved? I wouldnt want Fletcher, Shepherd or Hall back at the club. I'd welcome Fletcher back in a flash, yeah he might not care too much for the fans (believe he was behind moving the fans who paid for a bond) but he does know how to run a football club!

Cash as only the clubs with money win things, sad but true.

I actually think his attitude is all wrong and the reason he will not make it. Yeah he might say the right things but actions speak louder than words. If he rated himself as a footballer he would have kicked up a fuss demanding to play, it's not like he's got some fantastic players ahead of him. There's not a decent footballer out there who has got the hunger/desire to make it at the top level that would put up with not being able to get into a team like Newcastle! Fair play to the lad though because if I was on his money and not playing I would just accept the money and say the right things about "taking my chance when it comes". That's because I know I'm not good enough for the top level (just about up to pub team standard!) and had struck lucky which is what I think Xisco is also thinking! This just shows where we go wrong as a club as we are willing to give too many people a chance when it's obvious they are rubbish. If it's not Xisco, it was let's give Ashley a chance, or now lets give Freddy Shepard a chance, let's give Jonas a chance when he's got decent players around him, let's give Barton a chance when he sorts himself out, lets give insert name a chance when they are not injured! As a set of fans we really need to set ourselves some standards and see things for what they are!

Amazed some people would give him the benefit of the doubt when it's obvious he doesn't learn from his mistakes. Sacking three managers within the first month of the season would indicate he never learns from his past errors!

Paul Kelmsley? Yep According to Piers Morgan in the Sunday Mail, Ashley paid £3 million for his cameo! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1192798/Piers-Morgan-Unfair-Manchester-United-winger-Ronaldo-knows-dreams-Real-Madrid.html Scroll to the bottom of the page

He hasnt got any choice. Trying to get Shearer to sign up to a deal that suited Mike Ashley and hoping for a miracle was his last throw of the dice. Fortunately Shearer seems to have stuck to his guns and declined the offer to oversee the asset stripping. Now Ashley has two options. Hang around watching his entire investment get wiped out, or sell now for what he can get. Its a choice between losing £150m or losing £250m. See where you're coming from but I think he could have stripped the club of everything it had, such as selling the training ground, the stadium, and all the players, renaming the ground. Even after doing all of that we would still have attracted around 25,000 - 30,000 fans which would have been a nice earner! I know some of that is extreme but I wouldn't have put it past him, for me though I was expecting him to invest nothing in the team and just let the club drift along!

If it's true that Ashley is selling the club for £100 million then credit where credit is due! He's been nothing but a disaster for the club but it takes a lot for someone to just walk away losing around £100 million in the process! He’d at least be allowed to leave the club with his head held high. For a new owner to come in with the slate wiped clean would be fantastic for the club and there would be no excuse for not getting promoted next year because the Championship is not a good league. Any decent investment would get us promoted, even if that came in as late as August. So if the £100 million is wiped off in a perverse way Ashley might just be one of the best things to happen to Newcastle and for that I’d say thanks! One thing for sure I'd bet quite a lot on Ashley not selling to a consortium connected to Freddie Sheppard, there's no way he'd wipe that sort of debt off and then sell the club to one of the people responsible for it!

I was going to reply and say I'd prefer someone from outside the area but really I'm not too bothered as long as they can do a decent job! Nothing to base this on other than a gut feeling but I actually think we'll end up with an American buyer as they are quite shrewd buyers.

I think this is great news though not something most people didn’t know already as he’s always wanted to sell the club, his moving forward after the Liverpool match showed everyone how committed he really was to the club! I can't believe the negativity surrounding this news, for all those people banging on about stability, well stability is only a good thing if the right people are in charge and Ashley just hasn't got a clue. Ashley has wanted to sell the club since day one so we would never have stability under him. I’m not sure why people blame the demonstrators/relegation/possibility of Shearer not staying for Ashley wanting to sell up. He wanted to sell well before any of that happened. From day one we had rumours he wanted to sell, then he admitted to looking for “partners” like the QPR model, after this he wanted to sell for “security reasons” after the demonstrations and now finally he simply wants to sell! I also think that new owners will come on board fairly quickly if he sells at a realistic price but if it takes time fair enough. I wouldn't really be too bothered if any of the players left in the interim period because none of them are top notch and I don't get taken in by all this having to prepare for next season. The Championship is not a good league and any half decent team would be able to stroll it. That's not arrogance but fact as this is the league where Kevin Philips scores for fun and Jonathan Greening is always rated as one of the best midfielders! If we had new owners in place by August and they backed the manager I would have no doubts that we'd get promotion. The planning and preparation would only be needed if we were skint and no new owner was on the horizon but I think we’ll find a buyer and no new owner would buy the club without having money set aside for transfers to get us promoted. One other thing, being in the Premier League is not the be all and end all when buying a club. We are a club who has just been relegated with the third highest attendance in the country, at a knocked down price of £100 million we would represent fantastic value for money as the potential for growth is fantastic, together with the fanbase and facilities that we have. Even in the Championship we are a much more attractive investment than the vast majority of clubs in the Premier League. There will be times next year when we will have the highest gate in the country including the Premier League! One last thing for all those people who say the demonstrations at Hull may have put buyers off well I reckon it’s those same demonstrators and fans that make this such an attractive club to buy. Having the third largest attendance when getting relegated together with not winning anything since 1969 is what makes this club so special and having such a loyal fanbase is why I don’t think it will be hard to find a buyer!

I'm quite baffled as to why so many people would promote him to the first team squad. He's shown nothing to justify a promotion on the pitch and fair enough people can say he hasn't been given a chance but three managers haven't rated him. Though for me the biggest reason I wouldn't keep him is down to attitude. Yeah he might say the right things but actions speak louder than words. If he rated himself as a footballer he would be kicking up a fuss demanding to play, it's not like he's got some fantastic players ahead of him. There's not a decent footballer out who has got the hunger/desire to make it at the top level that would put up with not being able to get into a team like Newcastle! Fair play to the lad though because if I was on his money and not playing I would just accept the money and say the right things about "taking my chance when it comes". That's because I know I'm not good enough for the top level (just about up to pub team standard!) and had struck lucky which is what I think Xisco is also thinking!

I think it's to do with the mentality of the region, we just put up with a lot of rubbish without REALLY doing anything about it. We get served up rubbish football, yet still pack out the majority of the stadium. Where is the incentive for an owner to invest in the club when he knows the fans will turn up regardless? Not football related but another example of the mentality is that Labour has done pretty much nothing for the region as we still come bottom of the league in most ratings and yet people will still vote Labour. Where is the incentive for Labour to truly help the region when they know they'll get voted in regardless?

I would say Dalglish had a the better record in the transfer market than any other manager since he left. As well as the four above he also bought Tommason (fair enough not a succes here but a good player) and Dabizas (who was alright for the price).

I didn't think he was anything special, looking back his career was very similar to Lee Sharpe's, both burst on the scence at Man U and then went rapidly down hill. Compare their careers to Giggs, just no comparison and they all came on the scene at roughly the same time and were all similar players. Actually I've often thought what would have happened if Keegan had of asked for Beckham, Scholes, Gary Neville and even at the time Nicky Butt when we sold Andy Cole to Man U! It would be inteteresting to know if he would have included any of them in the deal. I think I read in Fergie's book that he couldn't belive his luck when Keegan asked for Gillespie!

A lot of people thought that about Sam True and I actually thought Allardyce would sort the club out. With his track record there was evidence that he would come and do a job. With Houllier's history there's even more evidence that he could sort the club out, if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out but at least there would be good reasons for appointing him! Yes you could compare him to Allardyce but you could also compare him to Robson. In many ways I wish Robson wasn't from the North East as many people seem to think that the reason he was a success at the club is because he understood the area and the club ( not saying you do but just what I hear from other people). A load of rubbish the simple reason that Robson was a success is because he was a good manager with a proven track record. Obviously it helped that he knew the area but Robson would be a success where ever he managed. So instead of comparing Houllier to Allardyce, I would compare him to Robson in what he could do for the club.

What is it with people going on about Martinez? What has he done, I mean that as a genuine question because his team is only 8th in the table. Does that qualify someone to manage a club like Newcastle? I can't believe how far people's standards have fallen! Unless there's something else behind his story that I don't know. Any way for me I think there's one man who would be great for our club, Gerald Houllier. Would be a great manager who would stablise the club, might not win anything but would sort the club out from top to bottom!

Like everyone else it's a no brainer with regards to Kinnear going or being relegated but I would take relegation if it meant Ashley going and getting a new owner who knew what they were doing!

Ten years ago, maybe. But now, it will take years and years for a lower-flight club to establish themselves as European/top half contenders. Such is the state of the game. If we go down that is it for a long, long time. We're more likely to drop a further division than come back up within a couple of years, given the fact we won't be able to get a good manager, the humongous exodus of players, the inability to find replacements. Amazes me how anyone can look at relegation in any manner of positivity. So if we go down, that's it? Bull. A good manager (at that level would suffice) will have us back up again. I mean Thick Mick (not wor Mick ) at Wolves has them top and he's proved himself to be a crap manager at PL level. As for positivity... relegation will be a massive massive disappointment without a doubt - huge. But that first game of the season will see a return of optimism and hope for the coming campaign, one that can be exciting all the same as 92-93 was - argued by many as better than any season we've had since in the top-flight. Back to managers... we could still attract a good manager even outside of the PL. I reckon Bruce under the right conditions would drop down a level to manage us. I reckon Martinez would swap Swansea for SJP. I reckon Ketsbaia would swap European football for us, I reckon if Mick McCarthy can take a team up to the PL, then anyone can and given the vast number of DIFFERENT managers who actually have, well... sort of enforces my point. The Championship is a tough old division but then isn't any league tough? We'd storm that league under a decent manager and some decent players (of that level even). Most players in that division would walk over broken glass to play for Newcastle. Most managers in that division would too. If we start next season as a Championship club I for one will be there and as excited, hopeful and as supportive as I've ever been. Liverpool or Anfield are just names. The actual football is where its at and as far as I'm concerned we can't do much worse on that front then what we've been served with for the past few years now. Play decent football, win games, look to be going places and have players that wear the shirt with pride and it doesn't matter what division we're in, whose names are on the back of those shirts or who happens to be our manager or how many full houses we get, the feelings for the team and club will remain strong and in many ways more stronger. That's all I really care about, a team that plays decent football, wins its fair share of matches and looks to have a future. Don't be fooled by Sky, that badge on the arms of shirts and names like Liverpool and grounds like Anfield. The PL is just a league and the spectacle a game all the same. Its what happens on the pitch that counts and is all that matters. A win is a win, a loss is a loss. A crap performance is a crap performance while a great one is a great one.... doesn't really matter who the opposition is. One of the best posts I've read on here in a long time, don't agree on everything you said but really admire the attitude!

Nah. Even if you do read it that way, then you can't ignore that he's blaming the owners for causing the fans' reaction and therefore the responsibility would ultimately lie at their door. I have to say that to pick out that rather tenuous interpretation and ignore the rest of what was said suggests that you might possibly have an agenda against the writer, wonder why that might be? You did see the quote from Keegan didn't you, why no accusations sent in his direction? Do I have an agenda? Not trying to be smart or anything but it depends on the interpretation of agenda. I think Ryder is a very poor journalist but I have nothing against him as really the Chronicle has had its day in my opinion. You're right that ultimately blame would lie with Ashley for causing the bad feeling amongst the fans but the way I read the paragraph I pointed out it was saying that the negativity from fans was transferring itself to the pitch which is why we're now in a relegation fight. It may be a short paragraph on a theme not central to his blog but sometimes these small snippets reveal a lot! Reason I posted is that I wanted to see if I read it correctly, nothing more. I ignored the rest as in my opinion the rest isn't worth commenting on and as I said I wouldn't get into a discussion with Ashley sympathisers (which is how the thread would go if I brought up the other issues) as I haven't got a lot of time for them. Just as they probably haven't got a lot of time for my views. None of us are going change our positions. With regards to Keegan’s comment, he may have had a go at the fans in the past when we’ve gone through a sticky spell but I very much doubt he would blame the fans for being in a relegation dog fight. There’s only two reasons for being in a relegation fight; poor players or a poor manager, a mixture of both.

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere but has anyone read Ryder's latest blog on NUSC? http://www.blogonthetyne.co.uk/2009/03/nusc-in-change-of-direction.html#more I'm not going to go into the ins and outs of the article as basically I'm pro NUSC/anti-Ashley and there's no point getting into a discussion on here as the level of debate in the football forum is dire at the moment. When compared to the level of debate in the general chat forum, there's just no comparison. Anyway the reason for me posting is to ask if I'm the only one who thinks Ryder is blaming pressure from the fans for Newcastle’s plight, 5th paragraph down beginning....Try to dictate to that passion like... If he is I'm flabbergasted that someone can blame the fans for us being in relegation dogfight. Never thought I'd see the day when I would have both Sheppard AND Oliver back!!!

Yeah it's full of mongs slagging off Ryder the mong for taking the side Llambias the mong! Is there really any need to call people mongs for criticising Ryder's journalism? So what was funny about the comments then? I can only see someone quoting Monty Python and someone do the Coalition of United Newcastle Team Supporters thing, but totally f*** it up by putting "Fans" instead of "Supporters" and also missing out "Team". f*** me, that's hilarious, isn't it!?! So I can only assume that you find it hilarious because people have criticised Ryder's journalism and if you're entitled to find that funny, then I'm entitled to ask the question: "Why, have a load of mongs gone on there and slagged him off?" and it was a question as I hadn't read it beforehand, you could have simply answered: "No, but some of the comments are funny", if that had been the case, but it wasn't was it, some mongs had indeed slagged him off and you'd hoped that everyone would have gone "Oh yes macphisto, we all agree with you those comments are comedy genius.", but that didn't happen and now you've got all upset and offended about my use of a mildly insulting term. Never mind, have a keyring, that'll make everything all better. Yes, I know, how condescending of me, I'm disappointed in myself, I really am. There’s a lot of hysteria in that answer, are you OK? Do you really think I posted so that everyone would have gone "Oh yes macphisto, we all agree with you those comments are comedy genius.",? All I can do is plead guilty to that one. Actually the real reason for posting it is that I did find some of the remarks such as the Monty Python one and for example the reference to Steven Taylor quite humorous together with the whole awkwardness of a blog where people openly disagree with the writer! Very Alan Partridge! Yes I could have responded to your question as "No, but some of the comments are funny" just like you could have responded to my question in a more adult fashion. Maybe it’s just different moral standards but I just find it sad that you call people mongs without first having a look at what they said. You want to be careful that you don’t become what you mock. I’ll give the NUSC keyring a miss as I’m quite happy with my Handala one for now!

Yeah it's full of mongs slagging off Ryder the mong for taking the side Llambias the mong! Is there really any need to call people mongs for criticising Ryder's journalism?

What ever your view on NUSC, it's quite funny to read the responses to Ryder's post on his blog! It willl be interesting to see if he responds!

I defy anyone to come up with anything that has happened so far that indicates that this is a false description of Ashley's plan. You think that was the plan with Keegan too then? I deft anyone to find someone who can blame Ashley for this "plan". Of course he's going to want to make as much as possible if he sells. Didn't we, the supporters, all want him to sell anyway? Well all evidence would say yes that was his plan when Keegan was here. He didn’t back him with any sort of money. There were rumours from day one that he was looking to sell which many people including me didn’t believe at the time. Ashley then went on to say that he was looking for local investors to invest in the club and then from this he was selling up! He could easily have taken the heat out of the Keegan situation if he was here for the long term. Even now people are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt even though I think it’s blindingly obvious that he doesn’t care about the club. He used the whole Keegan episode as an excuse to try and get out openly. It all goes back to him buying the club with out conducting due diligence. At the time I and many other people had a good right to think he must be loaded to buy a club without conducting due diligence. As it turns out I and many other people were wrong, he was simply clueless. You have to be an idiot to buy a club without looking at the books when you haven’t got bundles of cash to pump into the club!