Unbelievable

You might be able to hold in your curiosity, and tbh I'm the same, but you must concede that the vast majority of fans are not like this. He or his appointed people have hardly said a word since we first heard of him, and as others have said, people have filled the void with rumours consisting of their own positive hopes and ideas for the club. He's currently in a honeymoon period with most supporters who believe the previous board was terrible and have fallen for the grass is always greener delusion. This won't last, and eventually the void will be filled with stories and hearsay assuming worst case scenarios rather than best case ones. IMO it doesn't bode well for supporter relations in the future. we've been told enough for the time being. whose to say ashley even has answers yet. these statagies take time to decide. Lets stop panicing i think, people only want new answers because its a new board. shepheard didn't ever give his opinions on an international scouting network. We've been told f all. The only person from the owner's group of people who's opened his mouth is Mr Mort, and than he essentially said nothing noteworthy.. You seriously believe Ashley and his men would have no answers to these questions!? As a very succesful business man (as everybody is all to keen to point out, as if that somehow guarantees he will be a good chairman for NUFC - for all we know is only interest may be in a supercasino or something) you think he would spend 130M on a football club without having a plan/strategy? It's pretty obvious to me the reason why people want answers is because there is a new owner.. We all knew what things were like with Shepher and Hall. It wasn't always good, but it was at least predictable. With the new owners and no questions being asked and answered, we know next to nothing, yet everybody happily assumes everything will be better than before as a given.. As for Shepherd's opinion on scouting networks, he probably didn't even know what they are, but that is not interesting anymore as it's in the past. What's interesting and important is what the new owners think about these issues..

It's funny how people don't seem to realise that the effects of this takeover will endure well beyond this transfer window. Well, actually it's not.. We are not saying we don't trust the new owner/chairman to make money available to strengthen our defense, as that is the very least he should do. There are many other questions that require answers though (see above for some examples) and I can't believe people keep discarding them by pointing at what's happened so far in the transfer window, and what they assume will happen in the remainder of it.. Also, I'd like to know from people who say we should await the end of the internal review (which I can understand) if they expect clarification on (a number of) these issues once the review is completed?

Which is interesting with regards to my last point: somebody who doesn't commit to something cannot be held responsible. What if he did sell SJP and let us slump to the Championship but somehow managed to walk away with a profit (theoretically speaking of course)? We couldn't even object to that as he never led us to believe he would do as you say, i.e. the european football, big club assumptions (which is all they are). Is it unreasonable to ask for a plan? It seems to me like you're being way to trusting just as I'm maybe a little too sceptical. Personally I am aware of this but the reason I keep banging on about this is because I think everybody is way to relaxed about assumming what the plan will be.. See my comment on question 1. Some operational, tactical and strategic objectives would be good, i.e. a short and long term plan. I will believe it when I see it. We cost 130M, which is a bit of a snip if you look at other club's prices and the price development. It could just as well be a case of buying low, selling high. The man is a business man after all. A commitment for the long haul (spoken out, not assumed) would be nice as this seems to be what everybody wants, but may not be what the man has in mind at all. I dare him to lie about this sort of thing though. I think we've seen examples before of situations where fans made owners/chairman's life miserable because they didn't live up to their own stated ambitions. Without stated ambitions, it's hard to claim somebody didn't do what they promised.. Good Or he could say he is the kind of chairman that sets a budget and leaves it to his people to do the wheeling and dealing without his involvement. Alternatively he could say he intends to be in SJP at least 1 day a week to keep an eye on how the operation is going. He could say all sorts of things about his intended involvement in commercial and football matters. I think this is something very interesting/important to the fans.. That's your opinion. A chairman/owner who does not attend games will not have a feel about what's going on at the club at any given time, i.e. are fans booing the manager or certain players? What's the atmosphere like and does something need to be done about it, etc. So why not ask!!! This may be as crucial to our future as appointing the right manager or splashing the cash on the right proven goalscorer.. It is HIS club though. Any manager is only there temporarily. It is ultimately up to him what kind of club he wants us to be. If that means investing in young talent (like under Robson or what Spurs are currently doing) it means that's what Sam (and the possible DoF) will need to focus on. More to the point, if we get a chance to buy a promising 16 year old Portuguese player for 1M who may be the next C. Ronaldo, but eqally could be the next M. Nobody, will he be willing to risk the investment or will he look on and go for the finished article at a higher cost but with less risk involved? Good Good I think it is, or at least it will be when the current contracts expire. Does he want his own NUFC channel for example, the way Chelsea and Man U have amongst others..? Will he try and find a way to broadcast our away matches online for a small charge? All things that directly concern the fans.. As I said, it's only a small list of things I came up with while typing. I'm sure there's dozens more. I think it would be good if he took some time out of his busy schedule and gave a openhearted interview or maybe even in talkin session in which he outlined plans and answered people's questions..

Well for one, your assumption that he's said PL in 3 years is simply not true as far as I know. He's never said anything regarding his amibtions and intentions if I remember correctly. It's all rumours and hearsay in the press. It's that we want to know rather than assume. If you think you already do because Oliver said that's what his sources inside the club tell him good for you. I and a few others would like to know from the horses mouth what he wants to do with this club. Questions like: - What are his aims? - Is he here for the long haul? - What are his plans with SJP? - What kind of owner/chairman does he envision being? - Will he attend the games? - Does he think a Director of Football is the way forward in football? - Will he invest in talent or does he want finished articles? - Does he want to invest in our youth academy and what will he expect to get out of it? - Does he want to be in the expanded G14? - What are his plans with regards to future tv coverage of toon matches? - Does he want a primarily English/British squad or does he not really care? - Is it important for him that Geordies remain in key positions in the club? - Will Shearer keep his ambassador of the club role? - Is Shearer regarded as a possible manager for the future? - Does he value the importance of an elaborated scouting network? - ... Millions of questions really, and I think it would be reasonable now he owns the club to tell the fans of his intentions rather than keeping us in the dark, although it seems the majority is fine with assuming rather than knowing because of having been told. Somebody who never states his intentions can hardly be judged by how well or badly he did in realising them, isn't it? That's one of the reasons why I think as fans we should put a little more pressure on the new owners: as "loyal customers" we have a right to know what will happen to "our" club..

Sam's arrival preceded the takeover though, so he may not have been Ashley's preferred choice for the manager position..

Based on what? A relegation campaign where he was ordinary at best, or the few run-outs he's had at Arsenal where he's been found wanting? Poor footballer who if he was on the books at Charlton or Fulham, nobody would go near him. Nut, I think this might be an interesting read for you: http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=476901&CPID=8&clid=3&lid=1490&title=Wenger's+right-back+collection

And now for the core question of this thread, do you KNOW this for a FACT or are you, as I suspect, just PRESUMING..? Yes - I'm PRESUMING - just as I'm PRESUMING that the sun will come up tomorrow..! None of us know that for a fact, but its a reasonable assumption - just as reasonable as assuming that a VERY successful modern businessman, who has just paid a king's ransom for a football club with prospects, will allow his managers to do the job themselves - failure to do so will result in the sack but I am willing to bet that Ashley WILL allow Allardyce a crack of the whip...its a matter of personal opinion whether you think he will be better than Shepherd - I happen to think he WILL, but you, of course, are entitled to your own opinion - WHICH IS...! I don't have an opinion, but we've not been given much to base an opinion on, which is my point really. A lot of people put a lot of faith in Ashley because he's made a lot of money. In one of the very few articles I have read about him that contained quotes from the very media-shy man himself he admitted to having made bad errors of judgement with the floating of his company, mainly due to the lack of having wanted to do everything himself rather than leaving communication and public relations to the professionals. I would think more fans of this football club would want some assurance that he has learned his lesson, and would want to know how he sees NUFC as a part of his business portfolio. I have read discussions here in the past in which people were all complimenting Barcelona and Schalke on the way the clubs were run, almost as a democracy and certainly with respect to and input from the fans. As it stands, with Ashley we seem to be at the complete opposite of the scale, yet people are happily giving him the benefit of the doubt just because we were so desparate to get Shepherd out, it can't be any worse.. I don't share this optimism yet, not until I see or hear what the plan is anyway. which I think is a more sensible and cautious approach..

And now for the core question of this thread, do you KNOW this for a FACT or are you, as I suspect, just PRESUMING..? I'd be perfectly justified asking you the exact same thing about your recent complaining posts. I'm not presuming anything.. Just looking for some clarification. Do you agree with Merlin (and with him the majority on here it seems, it's just merlin has made the point very explicitely) that Ashley WILL give Allardyce a free rein, WILL have a more professional approach than the previous chairman and WILL NOT be interested in personal gain as he's already got plenty? Or do you agree with me and a few others that WE DON'T KNOW any of this, and we will either have to wait and see what happens (in which case I reserve the right to question developments that seem contradictory to what most people just presume will happen) or Ashley will have to come out and communicate directly with us about what his intentions are..?

Embarassing, tbh. In your other thread, you were crying that we weren't linked with Deco any more in the papers. Now we're linked with UBERDECO and you're upset about that. You're just a whinger at the moment. Also, it's the NOTW. It's not true. Relax. Yes, you're right.. It's embarassing to ask questions about what´s happening. Real fans can be perfectly happy with the potential signings of such average players as Quedrue and Young one day, than without a second thought indulge in us going after arguably the best football player in the world the next. You´d have to be crazy to find all these rumours strange and wonder what´s really going on behind the scenes.. No need to know what Ashley´s intentions are.. A lot of mindreaders on this forum apparently. Alternatively, maybe... none of them... are true... Rather than accusing me of being a) not a real fan and b) crazy, maybe you should acknowledge that papers are full of s*** and pipe down. Err, I wasn´t accusing anybody of not being real fans or being crazy, just pointing out that if me and a few others were asking for Mr Ashley to come out and make his intentions clear we were being treated like WE were crazy.. I acknowledge the papers are full of shit, but I'd say that's all the more reason for the new owner of the club to communicate with the fans and let us know his intentions. I find it mindboggling that there are so many people who aren't interested in hearing this and have decided to just wait and see what happens without questionning it, even if that means targetting crap one day, and superstars the next..

And now for the core question of this thread, do you KNOW this for a FACT or are you, as I suspect, just PRESUMING..?

Embarassing, tbh. In your other thread, you were crying that we weren't linked with Deco any more in the papers. Now we're linked with UBERDECO and you're upset about that. You're just a whinger at the moment. Also, it's the NOTW. It's not true. Relax. Yes, you're right.. It's embarassing to ask questions about what´s happening. Real fans can be perfectly happy with the potential signings of such average players as Quedrue and Young one day, than without a second thought indulge in us going after arguably the best football player in the world the next. You´d have to be crazy to find all these rumours strange and wonder what´s really going on behind the scenes.. No need to know what Ashley´s intentions are.. A lot of mindreaders on this forum apparently.

Nah, much more to it than that.. It´s not about spending silly money, it´s about targeting and bringing in the players that will take us up a level, rather than Carr and Babayaro Mk II It's the second week in July. Doesn´t really matter when you make bad buys does it? Whether you buy them in May, July or end of August, you have to pay their wages for the full length of the contract also when they are of little value to you anymore (Babayaro and Carr are prime examples in our current squad).. Dave, are you happy with our current transfer targets?

Nah, much more to it than that.. It´s not about spending silly money, it´s about targeting and bringing in the players that will take us up a level, rather than Carr and Babayaro Mk II

It's not like you don't know what his answer will be, isn't it? It's not really relevant anymore either.. Better concern yourself with the question of what Mr Ashley will want to do with this club.

Very much so, but even if we do make it into Europe with this calibre of player they are still going to be holding us back when we try and make the next step up towards where we seemingly want to be.. We need to look for players who are good enough for us now and have the potential to get better as we get closer to fulfilling our supposed ambitions. Baines would fit that mould, as would perhaps Hoyte.. If we make it into Europe we buy a top class left back who is here for the right reasons, bumo Quedrue to back up and Babayaro leaves as his contract will have run out. Sounds like a good plan at first sight but: a) will Quedrue be prepared to be a squad player? b) will buying the "finished article" not be far more expensive and risky than buying a very proming young player now who is available relatively cheaply and can develop along with the club? c) in a year's time, will Quedrue not just be the new Babayaro? Do backup players really need to be older and less motivated than the first team players?

Ajax.. No interest in him currently I believe. Mind, if Ajax can sell Babel for 11,5 million, they won't let Emmanuelson go on the cheap..

Very much so, but even if we do make it into Europe with this calibre of player they are still going to be holding us back when we try and make the next step up towards where we seemingly want to be.. We need to look for players who are good enough for us now and have the potential to get better as we get closer to fulfilling our supposed ambitions. Baines would fit that mould, as would perhaps Hoyte..

Err.. what would our defense (first team and subs) look like? Do you think this would be Premiership standard? If finishing higher is good enough, will 12th do? Is that why we're all so upbeat: we've finished so low last season statistical chances are much bigger we will finish in a higher position?

Possibly not. Personally I think it is possible if we get the right players in, and yes, they are going to cost money. With Roeder we finished 13th. With Allardyce and (hopefully) a fully fit Owen we should be looking at top 10. We're not that far off challenging for Europe, but attracting the players we are currently being linked with will not help to reach that objective. That's why me and a few others are getting a bit restless about what the new owner's plans are with this club. Other clubs are strengthening as well, and are using the extra TV money to fund this. So far, we have hardly opened our wallet, and the way I see it is if we don't invest we probably willl not be in Europe. If that's not where we aim to be, I don't understand why everybody is so over the moon after recent developments, because that's where we were only a few months ago.. Maybe people have been overreacting when things weren't going well this season past (and the one or two before), and as a result are now overly happy at the fact that there is CHANGE, without even questionning if the change is actually for the better or the best we could do..

How many back up DR's do we need?

What are your expectations if I may ask?

Now this is actually quite funny, because your amusement is probably similar to the amusement fans of other clubs get coming on here nowadays.. They probably do find it amusing that a forum is full of moaning c***s when we are at a very exciting phase in the clubs history. Or they actually engage their brain and see that we're not the only club that has been taken over by a billionaire recently, far from it even and at these other clubs money is actually being made available to strengthen the squad. They could see we've just finished 13th, could lose our two best players for a pittance at any moment, yet we talk as if we will challenge for European football next season like it's our godgiven right to do so. They probably know by looking at our state of affairs that it could be done, but a lot of hard work and good decision making will need to take place. They might ask themselves if chasing the likes of Quedrue and Fanni constitute what we need right now and if there is not a bit of a discrepancy between our ambitions and our current actions.. You don't seriously think most football fans of other clubs see us finishing in the top 5 next season at this point in time, do you?

Now this is actually quite funny, because your amusement is probably similar to the amusement fans of other clubs get coming on here nowadays..

What, have you missed the 130 page raveparty that was the `Ashley now owns .. % of NUFC` party, not to mention all the other mainly (as yet) unfounded optimism about our future in his posession? Are you telling me you knew all about Beye, Diarra etc before we became interested? If it would have been Roeder looking at them would you have been as enthousiastic about them possibly joining us? Are you not worried in the slightest that we do not seem to be able to persuade this level of player and now need to resort to the likes of Young and Quedrue? Do you really believe that this level will help us getting back towards the top 4, or could they become a hindrance in very much the same way that average players such as Carr and Babayaro have been a hindrance to us in the recent past?