maze

Agree for the most part. Mike Ashley is the main problem.

Talking about Newcastle United and Mike Ashley makes me feel sick. I am sick of repeating the same old shit, sick of reading about it, sick of having to witness my favorite childhood football club rot, and become an anonymous, mediocre football club without any ambitious besides balancing the sheets. It is not fun being a Newcastle supporter these days. It definitely should be, but it is not. If anything my club is, as Kevin Keegan described it; “shambles”. Newcastle has always been a mysterious and unpredictable football club, mostly for the worst, but pulling off the odd amazing news like signing Ben Arfa, Cabaye (and some of the names in the 90s) is always exciting. Unfortunately, the club is better described as dull and unpredictable these days, to the extent that the unpredictable has become predictable. To the best of my writing ability, I am going to refrain from repeating the criticism, and concerns, that have been raised ever since 2007 in numerous threads, and articles. Instead, I am going to write it quite directly, whilst keeping it simple; I hate Mike Ashley from here and to the moon, and back. He has brought nothing but shame and embarrassment, and honestly, he does not have a place in the “good company” of today’s PL club owners – at least not amongst those aiming towards developing for the better. I do not know how much money Mike Ashley has, what is he good for? However, judging by his reign, I highly doubt he has neither the financial means*, nor the determination, to ever build a progressive football club. * Or the will/commitment to invest. In the recent week(s) there has been speculative discussions with regards to Mike Ashley true intentions with Newcastle United, e.g. advertising vehicle for Sports Direct. For me, that makes perfectly sense. Mike Ashley is trying to run Newcastle the same way he runs his beloved SD. In theory, that should not prove too difficult if you strictly consider the two (SD and NUFC) as purely businesses. However, the reality is quite different. Unlike SD, Ashley is dependent on a successful manager, qualified and skilled backroom staff, but most of all motivated and passionate players, and fans. The latter might well prove to be Mike Ashley’s “Achilles heel” as both the players, the fans (and the media) slowly uncovers how he operates the club. Bit by bit, step by step…. As far as I am concerned, you can only “buy yourself out of trouble” (in this case, seal the club’s survival) so many times before the odds turn against you. Newcastle is a selling club, and the club’s strategy is to buy low and sell high.. and most recently; buy in January only. The players we get are near the end if their contract, and I heard they said (in the football studio some time ago) that a lot of the players we got have had disputes with their former clubs before signing for Newcastle. With that in mind, the club is in real trouble if this group of players decide to turn against the manager, and the owner, and I do believe the fans play an important role in such a scenario …. Thoughts?

Updated. See bolded text.

What did he say? Well, the studio show starts one hour before the game. They started of by showing a very nice video of Keegan's time as manager, of course focusing on the NUFC time during the 90s, with lots of great memories, and comments from the fans. Then, when asked about his time there he said "Well, I only see it as being manager there one time, as the second time was just shambles." Elaborating that most managers would find it hard working under the current setup and owner, and that it was impossible for him to stay when "the guys" upstairs interfered with the starting line-up, and signing players without him having a word in it. Then he said the fans, and forums out there, where quite knowledgeable about the situation in Newcastle, and he called it a shamble. He did say a lot more than that as well.. At half time he did say that Mbiwa had to be subbed, and he could not understand how Cabaye did not start the game... Interesting. Never knew about the starting XI being interfered with? Glad to see he reads the forums - Hi Kev Legend! Just trying to quote Kevin's main point. He talks so much, it's super! I'll sum it up in "bullet-points": Cabaye IS the best player in the squad. Absolutely shocked Pardew did not play him. Think Mbiwa needs to be bench. Fair play to Pardew for making the subs and saying whatever he said at HT to make them do better (Very discreetly) questions the players will to play under Pardew Newcastle is unfortunately a selling club, so the best players will leave. Thinks Cabaye might go to Arsenal to link up with Özil. Still talking... will update - Pardew on an 8 yr contract.... good luck to him. " You know, I've worked with these people, and it's probably a 2-3 year contract with a clause to break out". - Won't go down. - Newcastle fans are sensible, and knows they're not gonna win the league. Mid-table should be achievable, but can't afford to loose points to the likes of Hull.

Fantastic. If he does not get the boot soon, I'm about to give up on this. Fucking hell.

What did he say? Well, the studio show starts one hour before the game. They started of by showing a very nice video of Keegan's time as manager, of course focusing on the NUFC time during the 90s, with lots of great memories, and comments from the fans. Then, when asked about his time there he said "Well, I only see it as being manager there one time, as the second time was just shambles." Elaborating that most managers would find it hard working under the current setup and owner, and that it was impossible for him to stay when "the guys" upstairs interfered with the starting line-up, and signing players without him having a word in it. Then he said the fans, and forums out there, where quite knowledgeable about the situation in Newcastle, and he called it a shamble. He did say a lot more than that as well.. At half time he did say that Mbiwa had to be subbed, and he could not understand how Cabaye did not start the game...

I doubt it's the latter. Mike Ashley is a business man, not a football man. He, along with all of us, watches his investment go down the drain. At the end of the day it hurts more for Ashley than me.

Kevin Keegan says 5 or 6 goals in Norwegian studio

Where shape is relative?

10 at start of the season, 10 now, and 10 for the remaining games. Clueless team, due to an even more clueless manager. But most importantly, due to Mike Ashley.

let's bump this thread. Newcastle is almost as bad as those down the road.

Ah! It's absolutely terrific watching Mike Ashley's investment go down the drain. Hurts as hell as a supporter.

Just as good as those down the road. 4 mintues.. ffs... only happens to Newcastle.

Kevin Keegan, very discreetly, giving Mike Ashley the stick in studio

Really enjoyed the show today

It's going to be Godlike having Kevin Keegan in the studio ahead of the match tomorrow When Mike Ashley gets the fuck out of Newcastle United, I would love to have Keegan back under any proper owner(s).

Kevin Keegan in studio on TV2 Sport Premium (Norway) for both the games today, and the match tomorrow

Interesting article: http://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/nov/04/retail IT'S OLD.

Fuckin' hell that WBA - Arsenal match is tedious....

It'll be Man Utd ofc.

Under normal circumstances I'd have said Alan Pardew. But this is Mike Ashley's Newcastle. Probably the most unambitious Premier League side. Nothing, of any positive significance, will ever happen as long as he is the owner. PDC, Holloway and possibly Jol for me like.

What the fuck has happened to this lad? He was Godlike the first 6 months after his arrival....

It's already been said: dropping the games are far more effective as the media will pick up on that eventually. I'm not sure how to give him so much stick that he tries selling the club, but I do seem to recall he put it up last time because some threatened him. Now, I'm not suggesting to threaten someone's life (or their family), but wasn't that the case last time? If, as someone wrote in another thread, he has lost interest in the club it should be easier for the fans to push him in that direction. But you never know with Mike Ashley, he's come around as quite the risk-taker and careless fucker....

Now let drive this asshole out of the club!