Unbelievable

Source?

I honestly don’t think AC9’s career would have panned out the same way had he stayed with us. He was playing for the shirt and unplayable due to his physical attributes. Could have become a club legend imo. Shame that Ashley pushed him out.

What happened in the 16 years after perhaps? I could have guessed you’d missed those the way you go on about the new owners without any awareness of what preceded them.

Counting the four Saudi clubs as a bigger priority, each no less. I’ve heard it all now

I'd say it's fair to include the purchase price in a statement like "they've spent X amount on us". I don't know where the £338m mentioned comes from, but I'd be amazed if it e.g. included sponsorship money they have brought in through related parties like Sela, Noon and Saudia. All told I'd say they (the owners combined) have invested well over half a billion in us and probably closer to 750m. By my definition that's the best part of a billion, and it's only the beginning too. Are people seriously suggesting our owners haven't invested enough? Quite what were you expecting post Ashley if I may ask?

No you did not. If that's what you would have said not too many would have disagreed. It's blatantly obvious their 2034 World Cup bid was their main priority and set the whole football thing off for them. Then their own league is probably their second priority as it directly affects their key stakeholders. We are in the end "just" one of their many investments, albeit a high profile one even their top brass have taken a particular personal interest in. What you did say to start this whole thing off though was: Which in my opinion is just pure nonsense. There is no lack of ambition or acumen on the side of our owners and we are firmly among their top priorities in football, which is obviously also a main priority for them as a whole. To suggest otherwise is simply ignorant or disingenuous. They have spent the best part of a billion on us and in doing so have elevated us from also rans to competing for trophies and CL qualification as the norm, and this is only the start. They are preparing massive investment in our infrastructure and it's entirely plausible that if it were not for rules put in place by the PL to hinder our progression they would have invested much more on the playing side already. I just don't understand this constant nagging every time they do something that does not align 100% with the insular NUFC interest. They have many more interests to serve than only their NE1 one. I can't believe that still needs explaining over three years into their ownership.

Wrong again. Apple were in negotiations for a 1bn USD broadcasting deal at the time that was written, and after that fell through another tender was opened, which DAZN, a British streaming network, won in December 2024 for roughly the same amount of investment. PIF invested in that company in February 2025 and as said, the long term partnership with Fifa was announced two weeks ago. The timeline completely contradicts your theory: both the prize money and the broadcasting deal were wrapped up before PIF even got involved. And in any case, as I keep pointing out: PIF is an investment fund. They invest in companies, it’s what they do. Why are you so concerned with their other investments when it’s blatantly obvious they’re doing a brilliant job as our owners so far?

What isn't true? Here's an article for you from April 2024, 14 months ago, detailing the CWC prize money: https://www.transfermarkt.com/2025-fifa-club-world-cup-qualified-clubs-set-to-receive-euro-50m-prize-money/view/news/436329 PIF signed up for a partnership with FIFA less than 2 weeks ago. Don't let facts get into the way of a good rant though

You do realise that WCC prize money was agreed and published long before PIF got involved yeah? So those clubs were getting their money regardless, and it’s not like them investing elsewhere will prevent them from spending what they can on us too. They invest that money expecting to make a return on it, not to strengthen our rivals. If anything it shows how massive their commitment to football, and consequently us, is. I think some people’s gripe with them is they invest in other things than us, when a) what they can invest in us is capped by anti-competitive rules and b) they are a massive investment fund, investing is what they do. Like it or lump it, we are part of a bigger portfolio. Unlike under Ashley though there is no sign whatsoever that we are being leached for their benefit. Quite the contrary I’d say. As pointed out, the presence at games of their chairman shows they are not only financially invested, but emotionally as well.

What’s your point exactly? Would you have preferred that alternative reality?

I’m completely at a loss with some of the posts on the last two pages. PIF is one of the largest investment funds in the world, acting for the benefit of one of one of the top 10 most influential counties in the world. They bought Newcastle United as an investment opportunity for over 300m and have since easily doubled that by investments in the playing squad and facilities. There is no sign that they won’t spend anything below what the rules allow and there should soon be an announcement about a billion pound stadium investment. They saved us from almost certain relegation under the fat mess, got us in the CL 2/3 years and won us out first trophy in a lifetime. Yet here we are: posters lamenting that we are not a priority. It’s laughable really. Would you rather have still had Ashley in charge, or PIF spent 10bn to buy us the league in the first year? Surely not!? PIF are being very ambitious owners making all the right calls so far and developing our beloved club to be a force to be reckoned with long after they sell up. I couldn’t be more happy about how they’ve handled things with NUFC.

I disagree. Howe is their appointment for starters. They also sanctioned the players we got in. These people didn't come here by accident and were courted and supported by the club 100% when people in the media were expecting us to build a gallaticos 2.0 side due to untold riches. Howe and the players got us the cup and CL qualification, so it stands to reason to praise the owners for their football acumen and patience, rather than to fantasise about scenarios in which they would have deserved questioning and criticism. They have their hands behind their backs and still have us punching at a level most of us couldn't even contemplate as realistic three years ago, even regardless of ownership change.

I think Murphy’s emergence over the last season and a half allows us to take such a risk and bed a project player in at right wing. His ceiling is very high and he’s still young. Being part of a good group of players and coached by Howe could be the making of him at PL level.

Ivan Perisic is a very good player like i like Bakayoko and with him off the radar a bit now and in the final year of his contract I think this is a good time to make our move if indeed we were/are interested. Could be an absolute steal.

I'm fairly certain Amanda and Al-Rumayyan have both stressed that to become number one won't happen overnight. They've also made it clear we'll play by the book and try to outsmart rather than outspend the opposition. We're three years in and have gone from being a perennial yoyo club threatening to go down again to qualifying for CL twice and winning our first domestic cup since most fans were born. How much better could we be doing?