GM

While I'm obviously delighted to see the back of Mike Ashley, the words 'frying pan' and 'fire' spring to mind. As do 'Faustian' and 'deal'. I want to enjoy the start of a new, hopeful era but you just know that there's a dark shadow in the corner of the room all the while and it's not one the media is going to let up on us about any time soon. That bit pisses me off a lot. Aye, it'll be great to see the world's best players signing for Newcastle - bringing my one-time FIFA 2004 dreams into reality, but the fact remains this game is absolutely rotten to the core.

I'm expecting him to jump from the Tyne Bridge later tonight

What's the betting he'll end up at some second string Scottish team? Like Hearts or Rangers?

It. Was. A. Joke.

Thank you, Captain Obvious. Tongue-in-cheek comments not a forte of yours then, I take it?

What are the chances Rafa will be heading to Stamford Bridge again? Caretaker job...

Aye, well, don't hold your breath. We'd have to have a club owner with high ambitions of a top 6 finish for that to happen. EDIT: Scratch that, we'd have to have a club owner with ambitions of 17th or above.

Can someone explain to me precisely what the f*** this is supposed to be about?

This almost makes me yearn for the good old days under Joe Kinnear...

So it'll just be the 6 City goal this half, then?

I'm kinda worried they'll go bust before I get to use my gift vouchers.

Shame about Ruddock

This thread is mint. [emoji38]

Vent away. I'm totally with you as well. Swear to God I think a large portion of the Toon Army has a chronic case of 'battered wife' syndrome. Just because a richer potential husband comes along promising the world, it doesn't mean you have to jump straight into bed with him, only to find he has a penchant for sticking a scimitar up your arse as he ejaculates in your face. Think I'll keep on quietly wishing for NUFC to somehow end up as a fan-owned co-operative with a bit of self-respect, pride and beautiful, flowing football without relying upon the dirty money of a murderous, evil Sheikh. Ashley's a vile specimen for sure, but this deal looks to me to be frying pan to fire. As a former denizen of this forum used to recite incessantly, "Be careful what you wish for"... Surely the main difference as that we expect the new owners to be much better for the club itself? Yes but it's still a Faustian deal, better football, a richer club, better players and hopefully some success on the pitch - just with a little more torture, murder and evil thrown into the mix. Why should it be a football club that has to take this stand? Put it another way, then: say it was Jimmy Savile, Rolf Harris and Gary Glitter all clubbing together to buy the club and they wanted to play a role in the youth team coaching? Would you turn a blind eye to their previous 'indiscretions'?

Vent away. I'm totally with you as well. Swear to God I think a large portion of the Toon Army has a chronic case of 'battered wife' syndrome. Just because a richer potential husband comes along promising the world, it doesn't mean you have to jump straight into bed with him, only to find he has a penchant for sticking a scimitar up your arse as he ejaculates in your face. Think I'll keep on quietly wishing for NUFC to somehow end up as a fan-owned co-operative with a bit of self-respect, pride and beautiful, flowing football without relying upon the dirty money of a murderous, evil Sheikh. Ashley's a vile specimen for sure, but this deal looks to me to be frying pan to fire. As a former denizen of this forum used to recite incessantly, "Be careful what you wish for"... Surely the main difference as that we expect the new owners to be much better for the club itself? Yes but it's still a Faustian deal, better football, a richer club, better players and hopefully some success on the pitch - just with a little more torture, murder and evil thrown into the mix.

Vent away. I'm totally with you as well. Swear to God I think a large portion of the Toon Army has a chronic case of 'battered wife' syndrome. Just because a richer potential husband comes along promising the world, it doesn't mean you have to jump straight into bed with him, only to find he has a penchant for sticking a scimitar up your arse as he ejaculates in your face. Think I'll keep on quietly wishing for NUFC to somehow end up as a fan-owned co-operative with a bit of self-respect, pride and beautiful, flowing football without relying upon the dirty money of a murderous, evil Sheikh. Ashley's a vile specimen for sure, but this deal looks to me to be frying pan to fire. As a former denizen of this forum used to recite incessantly, "Be careful what you wish for"...

Apologies if this has already been posted and discussed. I'm just playing catch-up with all this and stumbled on this excellent thread on Twitter by Joelinton Travel Tavern, and when I say excellent, I really do mean it...

I'd love to see what NE5 / HTL had to say about this...

I once had a mate who was an alcoholic. Kept relapsing after going into treatment centres etc. Lost his business, his girlfriend, his money, his looks. The trajectory was tragically predictable. And yet, when he died, it left me feeling kinda numb with the inevitability of it all. Found myself sitting in a cafe one day staring into the mid-distance hearing the same old words going round and round in my head: "There was never really any hope of him recovering, was there? We were all just deluding ourselves. Because life never ceases to find ways of kicking you in the teeth." Can't think what triggered that thought, sorry. As you were, everyone...

Well, this tweet has aged well.

Excellent. One end of the stadium will be full of Ashley Out banners and the other end full of Venky's Out banners.

Isn't this a bit tasteless?