afar

Sometimes I long to be following a 'normal' club, where not much happens out of the ordinary from day to day. Other times I'm not so sure if that's what I really want. It would be rubbish to support someone like Middlesbrough or Reading were nothing ever happens. I was thinking of which clubs are the polar opposites in terms of drama and stability to NUFC, and Boro sprung to mind first of all.

The same type of players that came the last time KK left and was brought back.

Maybe the meeting room was booked all day and this was the only openning. I know I have that problem all the time here.

Dave just stop it will ya, you called me a miserable bastard all summer now the shoe's on the other foot. This isn't a time for common sense it's a time for disillusioned, baseless, hope dashing euphoria. Get with the program

You're just trying to not build your hopes up. He's being a party poop and I for one am getting fed up with it

How about trying Ince as Manager, Poyet as No. 2, KK as Academy director and Terry Mc as DOF, next HTT, see if that one gets a bite ?

I'm not so sure, as others have mentioned there would be no reason for KK and Ashley to meet face to face for that and even the media shy person Ashley is, once he's spotted the sky sports people there he'll know that, it's not in his long term interests (although very much in his short term interests) to string us along. Someone has obviously leaked the news of this meeting to SSN, it's likely to be the club rather than anyone in KK's camp. I'm willing at this stage to go along for the ride and believe it's a serious attempt at a reconciliation.

club never surprises you does it mate ? Not holding my breath, but if Ashley backs down and this isn't to discuss compo etc, he comes back, Wise is sacked and KK runs the team and Ashley backs him, he'll have my respect and I would take my hat off to him. That's what I was trying to say also NE5. Spot on.

TBH I don't give a shit, if he's back and he's given the environment he needs to manage this football club Mike Ashley will have done a wonderful thing and NUFC will benefit. I'm just praying this is gonna happen.

Yeah it would be interesting to know how many people would want Keegan back under the current or even a revised system. I certainly wouldn't. He's had his chance, he chose to resign so it's time for us to move on. im really stuck in 2 minds. on the one hand hes had his chance but on the other hand hes about the only person who could get us playing proper football that the fans would give time to. I wouldn't have a problem at all with him coming back under Ashley, I would have a problem in him coming back under the same conditions he left. Something would have to give.

Thank f*** for that. I think... If it means we are stuck with Poyet instead, I'm not so sure. The lesser of two horrendous evils is Ince IMO.

Unfortunately Tsunami you're exactly right, some fans here are happy to cheer the balanced books at the expenses of any hope of success on the pitch. We've gone from a team who were challlenging at the top, to a team who where challenging for Europe, to a mid table team, to a team that's statisfied to remain in the top division. This clinging on to the hope that we'll be another "Arsenal" is fanciful in the extreme. Just how long ago was it since we were challenging at the top, you can't put that on the present set-up can you? What the hell has my statement got to do with your point ? It's about the diminishing expectations of fans. You implied that as the club is to be run as a business, within its means then it'll never be anything other than a bottom half club. We've tried throwing money around and that didn't work so what do you want us to do? Carry on doing so in the blind hope it works? Its not how much you spend, its what you spend it on that counts, we've been hitty-missy for what seems like years on this score, so maybe, just maybe there are other ways to try. You still haven't mentioned supporters expectations in any of that, and that's the point Tsunami was making and I was agreeing with. This is not another Ashley rant, it's about how we seem to have accepted a lowering standing than really we have every right to expect. The only supporters expections Tsunami was referring to was those who are swimming against the tide on here saying that we're accepting that Ashley is only in it for the profit (we're not) and that we'd be happy to be an also ran in the league (we certainly don't), and that we accept that we'll never ever get anywhere following that path (again we don't), and you agreed with him. I give up. You are obviously having difficulty reading.

Absolutely, I think he's heard everyone saying, "you'll never make money out of a football club" and said "Bollocks, I'll show them I can make a tidy profit running a football club". Could this be one big ego trip for him, trying to prove again that he's a master in the business arena ?

Unfortunately Tsunami you're exactly right, some fans here are happy to cheer the balanced books at the expenses of any hope of success on the pitch. We've gone from a team who were challlenging at the top, to a team who where challenging for Europe, to a mid table team, to a team that's statisfied to remain in the top division. This clinging on to the hope that we'll be another "Arsenal" is fanciful in the extreme. Just how long ago was it since we were challenging at the top, you can't put that on the present set-up can you? What the hell has my statement got to do with your point ? It's about the diminishing expectations of fans. You implied that as the club is to be run as a business, within its means then it'll never be anything other than a bottom half club. We've tried throwing money around and that didn't work so what do you want us to do? Carry on doing so in the blind hope it works? Its not how much you spend, its what you spend it on that counts, we've been hitty-missy for what seems like years on this score, so maybe, just maybe there are other ways to try. You still haven't mentioned supporters expectations in any of that, and that's the point Tsunami was making and I was agreeing with. This is not another Ashley rant, it's about how we seem to have accepted a lowering standing than really we have every right to expect.

INDIAN billionaire Anil Ambani says he has pulled out of a deal trying to buy Newcastle United. A spokesman for his Reliance Group said this afternoon: We are no longer interested in buying Newcastle because of the turbulent conditions which currently exist there and because we have been unable to have any satisfying talks with anyone from the club. http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2008/09/12/indian-pulls-out-of-toon-bid-72703-21806757/ Oh fuckin' hell. *Sigh* What's next for us, eh? ACTUALLY - THIS IS F A N T A S T I C NEWS! On the assumption that the story is true (big assumption, I know) that means that they have been trying to buy us . . so all the stories in the press about comments attributed to them saying "we were NEVER interested in buying Newcastle United or any Premier League club" were obviously untrue. They ARE after us !!!!! Saying publicly that "they are no longer interested in buying Newcastle United because of the turbulent conditions which currently exist there and because we have been unable to have any satisfying talks with anyone from the club is simply part of the tactics . . to get things moving! They WANT US folks . . . they do!! Is it a good thing? . . . I'll say so!! IT IS GONNA HAPPEN PEOPLE . . . I really want to share you're optimism ManorPark and understand the reasoning but I still can't see it happening.

Unfortunately Tsunami you're exactly right, some fans here are happy to cheer the balanced books at the expenses of any hope of success on the pitch. We've gone from a team who were challlenging at the top, to a team who where challenging for Europe, to a mid table team, to a team that's statisfied to remain in the top division. This clinging on to the hope that we'll be another "Arsenal" is fanciful in the extreme. Just how long ago was it since we were challenging at the top, you can't put that on the present set-up can you? What the hell has my statement got to do with your point ? It's about the diminishing expectations of fans.

I never thought I would say this but Keane is spot on, I still haven't forgotton Warner's comments on England staging the world cup. I'm glad someone's had the balls to stand up to the little arsehole.

It's like when you and your girl have a big fight and she stays at a friends house for a few days then you talk it over and everything's back the way it was. Oh and the make-up sex is fantastic. So have you accepted that bloke she has on the side or has she kicked him out ? I don't think you understand the analogy if you're suggesting Keegan was seeing another club on the side ... No, read it again, I was saying your lass is.

That's the way I see it too. What's been said by all parties has been so twisted by the media and fans that I don't blame them for keeping quiet. Provided they are making progress and we get the right man eventually then I don't care how long it takes or whether they leak pointless shortlists to the media (who, according to our friend on Sky Sports earlier, can no longer get any info out of the club) So because we won't believe them, it's ok for them to say nothing ? It's not OK in the slightest FFS. I would love to see that one work in a court of law, the prosecution makes it's case paints a pretty bad picture, then the judge tells the defence it's their turn, but they say " oh the jury wouldn't believe us, so we'll not bother". It's about respecting your customer base (since we seem to be talking about NUFC as a business now more than a football club), those senior members of the board have shown zero respect for the customers since this whole episode has blown up. I see what you're saying, but I just think the club would think there is nothing to be gained by commenting every few days, because of the reasons I've mentioned (as well as the media treatment they might get). There were official statements when anything was official, don't see the need for much else. On the countary their's everything to be gained, their reputation with the majority of fans is about as low as you can get right now. Any statement that explains their actions over the last few weeks could only possibly help fight their case. They can't really suink too much lower but there is a long way to rise. The official statements were faceless, incomplete and spoke not to the fans but to the media and lawyers. The thing is though: - they said that discussions were ongoing with KK, then we all went and said 'oh, he's already walked', or 'he's been sacked' or 'they're just working out his compensation', or 'they're giving Wise the sack and backing KK' ad infinitum. They said what was happening, and we speculated wildly anyway. - they said when KK had resigned, and that they had tried to work it out, the we all sided with KK and said he had been 'forced out'. They said what had happened and we speculated wildly anyway. - even down to Hughton saying 'training has gone well', then you going 'oh I don't believe that, maybe it wasn't a disaster but I doubt he would say if it was anyway'. So what's the point in saying anything more? It's a classic no-win situation for the club, the only thing that matters is who the manager is, when he's appointed. I don't know which alternate universe you are living on but there was geniune hope after the first statement, coupled with the one from KK via the LMA. That he may still be our boss, only some of the more cynical were talking about "it's just lawyers working out a compensation deal" The reason for all the speculation is a direct consequence of them not being complete with their statements, not explaining the situation throughly, not coming out and having the guts to face the public. That's all it boils down to, it's about showing respect to the fans and dsiplaying a strength of character to be prepared to fight for what you believe in. If they really think this DOF system is the way forward, then tell us why, tell us what they are looking for in a manager, tells us why KK was chosen to spearhead it originally and why he was wrong to leave the system. Lets hear their side of the story, is that really too much to ask ?

That's the way I see it too. What's been said by all parties has been so twisted by the media and fans that I don't blame them for keeping quiet. Provided they are making progress and we get the right man eventually then I don't care how long it takes or whether they leak pointless shortlists to the media (who, according to our friend on Sky Sports earlier, can no longer get any info out of the club) So because we won't believe them, it's ok for them to say nothing ? It's not OK in the slightest FFS. I would love to see that one work in a court of law, the prosecution makes it's case paints a pretty bad picture, then the judge tells the defence it's their turn, but they say " oh the jury wouldn't believe us, so we'll not bother". It's about respecting your customer base (since we seem to be talking about NUFC as a business now more than a football club), those senior members of the board have shown zero respect for the customers since this whole episode has blown up. No it's not ok for them to say nothing. I want to hear from them just as much as anyone else, but like I said, rightly or wrongly, they must be seeing everything they say twisted so I can understand why they've decided to keep quiet. As it happens I haven't heard a great deal from the man who "would do anything for the Newcastle fans" either and I want to hear from him just as much as the club so we might finally find out what happened, because we still don't know and that for me is far more frustrating then the lack of news about a new manager after a few days. I agree, I wish KK had said a little more but he is under no obligation whatsover to do so, but the club does have an obligation to it's supporters and at the momemt in time it's showing them complete contempt.

It's like when you and your girl have a big fight and she stays at a friends house for a few days then you talk it over and everything's back the way it was. Oh and the make-up sex is fantastic. So have you accepted that bloke she has on the side or has she kicked him out ?

Why ? What's the reasons behind this ? I thought the hopes of any takeover were dashed ?

So afar, do you want communication from the club after all, just so you can speculate anyway? Yes I do, what Hughton says about training, which is what every manager says at pracitcally every pre match interwiew., "oh the lads have been flying in training". Has bugger all to do with what the owner and directors have to say about events over the last week and what their plans are for the future.

I think you can assume they want a manager though. Not if Wise is going to be given the job... Why hasn't ANYONE said ANYTHING about a new manager? It's a f***ing joke. Dave man, you're a bastion of common sense nowadays. It's absolutely crazy isn't it ? Have we even seen an official announcement that Hughton is in temp charge ? I guess the programme notes tomorrow will be interesting reading, they've surely got to write something of note in there ?

That's the way I see it too. What's been said by all parties has been so twisted by the media and fans that I don't blame them for keeping quiet. Provided they are making progress and we get the right man eventually then I don't care how long it takes or whether they leak pointless shortlists to the media (who, according to our friend on Sky Sports earlier, can no longer get any info out of the club) So because we won't believe them, it's ok for them to say nothing ? It's not OK in the slightest FFS. I would love to see that one work in a court of law, the prosecution makes it's case paints a pretty bad picture, then the judge tells the defence it's their turn, but they say " oh the jury wouldn't believe us, so we'll not bother". It's about respecting your customer base (since we seem to be talking about NUFC as a business now more than a football club), those senior members of the board have shown zero respect for the customers since this whole episode has blown up. I see what you're saying, but I just think the club would think there is nothing to be gained by commenting every few days, because of the reasons I've mentioned (as well as the media treatment they might get). There were official statements when anything was official, don't see the need for much else. On the countary there is everything to be gained, their reputation with the majority of fans is about as low as you can get right now. Any statement that explains their actions over the last few weeks could only possibly help fight their case. They can't really sink too much lower but there is a long way to rise. The official statements were faceless, incomplete and spoke not to the fans but to the media and lawyers.