Heron

I think at least 60% of the fan base wants that now. The rest just want to continue supporting and somewhat put heads in the sand regarding Ashley. It's understandable but not the right option long term. Sad times mate...

Thanks, I appreciate you saying so. I guess my expectancy personally is to overthrow and not just be a contributory factor and Ashley remains the fish I want to fry but seemingly don't have the bait to catch the fucker. Ultimately, I guess the point I am making is that we need to be less Black and White on issues surrounding our club and more grey. Only then, with more unity will we be heard.

I wouldn't have got involved in it if I didn't see the benefit of it. It removed Ashley's first line of defence. You cannot remove the king unless you remove the pawns. I was just wanting instant checkmate

This is what goes unnoticed across many of the various voluntary groups both within our fan base and within society. With social media everyone now has an opinion and these opinions can fast gain traction. It's good to have such feedback where it's constructive but it also provides a platform for unnecessary mud-slinging, ignorance and sheer twattery. That's why it's key to engage and engage sensibly, and with reason, in my opinion.

I would too if I was a member! Thanks!

i was considering becoming a member and applying today. I'm just verifying something first. Thanks though.

That’s it for me. While putting the membership down to £1 and never once promoting ourselves as a protest group. As an organisation we will do more and achieve more with a bigger member base. What we're working on in the background is really exciting and is why we made a big drive for members (event at a quid). We've done a hell of a lot since the summer, but you won't see most of it yet. In most of what we do we can't do it with a running commentary in the public eye or else things will fail - this is how the world works - half baked ideas, plans, programmes - they fail. If you're not a protest group then how can you be planning anything exciting in the background? Obvs can't talk about it. This is how the world works fellas. "Give us your money so we can do what we can't tell you, and keep believing it will only ever happen if you don't know what's going to happen. There can be exciting things in place, or things that will be positive for the club without it involving protest, to be fair. I hate those at the top as much as anyone. I've cancelled my season ticket. Not everything at the club is evil though. I get your second comment though. They obviously have a need to keep certain things under wraps but the NUST and NUFC need to realise this is only exacerbating rising tensions at the club. Transparency required.

It will certainly take a shift in ideology.

That’s it for me. While putting the membership down to £1 and never once promoting ourselves as a protest group. As an organisation we will do more and achieve more with a bigger member base. What we're working on in the background is really exciting and is why we made a big drive for members (event at a quid). We've done a hell of a lot since the summer, but you won't see most of it yet. In most of what we do we can't do it with a running commentary in the public eye or else things will fail - this is how the world works - half baked ideas, plans, programmes - they fail. I can agree with this, as I remember asking a few questions in the summer which you took the time to answer really thoroughly. I was concerned the group wouldn't be 'militant' enough for my liking (for want of a better word). I didn't join at that point, instead I've waited to see what develops and if it's something I feel I can get behind. Currently I'm still at the waiting and watching stage, but it's hard to watch and see what develops if it's all behind closed doors. But again, I've learnt from yourself now that things are going on behind the scenes. Good post.

This is true. They used the rightful anger of fans in the summer to get money from nearly everyone. There is a case for putting all these great initiatives on hold and not communicating with the club at all, so as not to be seen to be giving the club legitimacy in the eyes of their members. We are not in normal times with a normal club. Taking control of the club isn't even a pipe dream, it's not happening full stop. Even if we had all the money needed, as if Ashley would ever agree to sell to the fans. Not under Ashley but when he does eventually sell, there is an opportunity to engage with the new owners to obtain a percentage of the club. We need to be financially ready for that. It's a pipe dream, but so is everything in the beginning.

Unfortunately, this is more than likely true.

Having just caught up with some of the discussion in here, I thought I'd give my two penneth... Like Greg, as someone who has been involved (and often at or near the forefront) with Toon Ultras (the original one), SackPardew, AshleyOut, The Magpie Group and now who is being asked to help Toon for Change I feel i'm somewhat well placed to discuss protest groups in recent years - and with my involvement in Wor Flags and previous articles for The Mag probably well placed to also discuss the varying fan groups as a whole. Understandably, that will come over somewhat arrogant and before anyone says it "Superfan"-ish but in all honesty that is not my intention. I just have a bit of insight how various things work and have worked. Toon Ultras pushed for a singing section and got it, it grew, was moved, continued to grow and soon was around 3k strong unofficially (the singing section). Following Ashley's twattery, they unfurled a banner saying "Fat Cockney Rapist". The next summer, the section was disbanded. This obviously didn't work. SackPardew - Largely unpopular because people felt we were either a) going after the wrong person (myself included), b) being too harsh on someone who was trying his best and/or c) were anonymous and so could not be held accountable for our actions. Yet, the anonymity meant that individuals' egos could not be questioned and people could see it was about the betterment of NUFC and not those protesting. It somewhat worked, turning up the heat on Pardew and with that, and more organic reasons, he left. AshleyOut - Tried to continue in a similar vein, still does. However, has reduced down from around 50 members to about 5 or 6 with an almost 50/50 split of local to non-local members. It simply doesn't have the people or resource it once did. Has anything they have done really influenced Ashley's position? I'd say not, and that's coming from someone who still actively gets involved, but it's because of the afore-mentioned issues and general apathy. Subsequently, The Magpie Group (TMG) was formed, and despite previous altercations with certain members of True Faith, differences were put aside as we all realised we needed to count on one anothers' skills, contacts and resources to build. This was building, with the help of people like If Rafa Goes We Go, True Faith, Wor Flags and even board members from NUST on board. The understanding was that this was going to be the more physically active part of representing fans views and at this particular time, unrest. Simply because NUST had to ensure it remained in contact with the club. TMG made some mistakes (as any group of normal people do) and then members from outside the group struck lightning bolts of dispute through how we should protest with some people opting to come away from it. Yet, it reinvigorated itself and continues to protest. Toon For Change - Another group who've this summer burst on the scene. Thankfully so in my opinion. They are helping do what IRGWG did last year and reinvigorating protest action. They may come across pushy, or diving in, but haven't most of us when we first got involved, hell I still do sometimes. It jut needs a bit of steering. Nonetheless, now that I've bored you with that, I'll get to the more relevant issue of NUST and how the above relates to it. People seem to bang on in here, in pubs, in the media, on Twitter and on Facebook about protest. Myself included. However, how many are actively contributing to protest? I'll give the short but brutal answer - around 50-100 people - max. I cancelled my season ticket in the summer, as I'd mentioned on all my social media accounts throughout the course of last season. It's the last stand for me because I don't believe in any custodians of the club outlasting me - hence why I still actively try to engage with actual protest. Now people can say that the NUST are in cahoots with the club, there are certain people involved who I think are too. However, protest isn't working because people won't put their money where there mouth is. So the other option is for people to put their money and mouth into the only organisation that the club will, and has to, take seriously (I use that term loosely). Do I personally think the club listens to them? Not on the issues that are key to our fan base at present - i.e Ashley and his negligent ownership. However, matters such as those identified by Greg are important matters for the match going fan. You cannot ignore these as board members of the trust for two main reasons: 1) It's fundamentally wrong for anyone in society to be treat with such disdain, let alone at somewhere that is supposed to be a hub for unity in the local community 2) It's beneficial for the trust to keep match going fans on board as the NUST requires these people to gain in strength both economically and in terms of having a stronger voice / position with the club Now, I can agree that in the summer the NUST pushed for membership and somewhat capitalised on fan unrest by reducing membership fees and becoming more appealing to the less-involved-fan. I agree. it could have been far more open and honest in its direction and subsequently many may not have joined as a result. Was it a smart move - yes. Was it somewhat deceitful - yes. However, does it make them appear stronger to the club - yes. This is where the new elections are key. It's an opportunity to readdress the current position of the NUST and the direction it takes. My understanding of the NUST is that a lot goes on behind the scenes that people don't see and often doesn't get well publicised. I've complained about this myself in the past. That needs to change. My view, and one I would be aiming to push, if I was to become a member and push to be on the board is that it needs far better communication with it's members and the fanbase, before it does with the club. The people will give it strength, not the club. However, that's not to say it should essentially become, just another protest group. Above all else I don't understand why all issues these days seem to be binary, with one or the other just polarising debate. Exactly what's happening in the above posts and with protest and with Brexit. It's ridiculous. Surely, NUST can see why people will have lost faith and would be arrogant not to acknowledge that. Likewise though, surely the fanbase can see what they're trying to achieve. The only way anything will be resolved is through compromise and unity, not bickering.

I have expressed concern to one or two board members about the whole communicate with the club thing and I have also been requested to run for this to become a board member. In two minds but running out of time...

Don't mind Norwich. Will be amusing I'd they do Shiteh

Shouldn't be started at present. Clearly isn't upto scratch, positionally or physically.

The goal is clouding judgement for me like. He does well to engineer the space for the shot, defender should have been tighter and not shown him inside from such a position. I don't know enough about goalkeeping but suspect HTT is correct, whilst maybe being harsh as it was very snap-shot. Willem misplaced numerous passes throughout from the edge of our third. It caused unnecessary pressure and whilst that was a common theme throughout the squad it also doesn't mean he was exempt cause he scored a half decent goal. Defensively looks fairly solid, good tackler, needs more time to bed in I think. Certainly looks a long shot more ready than Krafth. Pet hate: People going on about the use of his weak foot in this instance. He's had one intention and that was to engineer a shot on goal, he achieved it and achieved it well. Any player at Premier League level should be hitting the target from there. That's not to say it wasn't a good goal, it was just good for his creativity to make and take the chance, not to hit it with his wrong foot. He was nowhere near as effective as Ritchie today from a more wholeistic point of view but nor would I expect him to be.

Possibly like. I might write to the club.

Vuckic screwed my bet...

Replied. I'm not one for calling people scabs and all that shite like. It's not necessary. Just think this trail of thought (the fans prevented the team from winning) is somewhat ridiculous though.

Hopefully, I took the plunge despite spending £200 (approximately) on sweet fuck all. Just decided enough was enough. He's not an idiot like - he's a cunt, but not an idiot.

I suppose when you put it like that, it is. I think for it to be deemed a total success though, it would probably have to be down to 26k eventually / half full - even if it's for one game. Televised games should be realistic ones, especially against shite opposition. This is a good start though. I would have expected more after the spurs win. Definitely mate - I think it's deciphering which fans are your regulars and which have hopped along for some light entertainment now like...

I suppose when you put it like that, it is. I think for it to be deemed a total success though, it would probably have to be down to 26k eventually / half full - even if it's for one game. Televised games should be realistic ones, especially against shite opposition.

And those booing.

It still needs to drop but I don't think it will (significantly) until after Christmas. The January transfer window and scratting around for players to keep us in the division should suffice tough - that being said, the removal of Keegan, Shearer or Rafa didn't...

Wish he'd stop using Nine bar. I've told him loadsa times, in person too.