Thomson Mouse

Stood in the away end at Derby in 1992, watching the fourth Derby goal go in and thinking that's it. Feeling powerless to do anything about it as a clueless ref sent off our 3rd player (although I've never experienced an atmosphere like it since). SJH warning that the club may not survive if we were relegated. Actually, come to think of it, I think that was when one of mates unscrewed one of the light bulbs from the scoreboard, took it home and tried it in his bedroom for a couple of days. It was like the fucking aliens were landing in his room. He got bollocked for the size of the leccy bill as well. So some happy memories as well.

that is the first time you have ever written down clearly what you think, and feel. EVERY other time you have tried to put words into peoples mouths, made accusations about what you think they think, or what they want. If you had expressed yourself as you have in this post then you would have few arguments from me, or others. My grouse with Hall and Shepherd began in 2003 n they seemed to take their eye off the ball. Up to then they had speculated to try and improve, then, for some reason they just started randomly increasing salaries, givinbg out 5 year contracts, randomly appointing managers, and not speculating to improve, but gambling to survive. That was the difference. Without a shadow of a doubt staying in the top division was a major achievement, worthy of credit. I am old enough to appreciate this. Every side in England has a new stadium, or vastly improved stadium, though, us having one doesn't Shepherd apart from the rest. The last season under McKeag we lost £3m, on only £4.2m coming in to the club. The club spent £440,000 on new players. We also spent £300,000 getting rid of a Jim Smith. We had a wage bill of £2.6m. We had debts of £7m. The reason I quote all these boring numbers is that if you multiply them all up it is essentially the state that Shepherd left the club in 16 years later. £32m loss on £87m income. Spent more than 10% of income on new players. Spent the same sort of percentage sacking the manager, again. Wages were 70% of income, debts of £70m. To me Shepherd has left the club with the same financial mess that John Hall inherited, we have had great fun along the way, many fortunes have been made, but looking at what he has passed to his successor, it is scarily similar to 1991. Just as it couldn't go on in 1991 it could not have continued in 2007. We were fortunate to get Sir John, we have been unfortunate to get Mike Ashley. If Shepherd had stayed in charge there would have been no money to "speculate" cos there was nowhere to get the money from, it had all gone. You're a liar. You wrote a piece in the mag in 1998, around the time of the FA Cup Final, whinging on about dividends etc. I quoted this once before. Have you forgotten , because you replied to it, and also harped on about your moronic support of that cretin Adam Crozier and how he would be the "ideal" chairman of the club. I have ALWAYS said, and said it often, that the Halls and Shepherd left the club miles better than how they found it. If you weren't so obsessed with reading your balance sheets, and concentrating on the football which happens to be the industry that we are in, you would have seen it. The fact that you have disappeared for all this time, and re-appeared talking yet again about nothing but finance should tell its own story. I really couldn't give a toss about those figures above. The simple fact is, the club was bankrupt in 1991, counldn't sell it for 2.5m quid, had one foot in the 3rd division, played in front of a cow shed masquerading as a football stadium and 15 years later, had qualified for europe more than everybody but 4 teams, played in the Champions League, expanded the stadium to one of the best and biggest in the UK, and filled it, bought major international players instead of selling them, and was worth one of the highest valuations in the country through massively raising the profile of the club, is the legacy. By the way, you have constantly whinged on about the club "doing a Leeds", through overspending. Well, the club is now heading the way of Leeds, and its for the opposite reason to your claims. Its heading that way because of underinvestment on players. Even you should find this slightly ironic. I'm sure a smart lad like you will recognise the irony of this.............. You're clueless. And you have one hell of a chip on your shoulder, just because the ex board refused you a say in the running of the football club, which is a strange demand to put it mildly. One last point. You say we were "lucky to get Sir John". Well, Sir John was lucky to have Fletcher, Hall Jnr and Shepherd as his co-directors, because these were the people who were completely responsible for getting Keegan to the club first time round, when Sir John didn't want to change the manager and they almost threw him into his lap and forced him to sack Ardiles. Depending on who you believe, but I tend to believe what Keegan says in his own book. Unless you think what we achieved would have happened with any old Charllie Bloggs as manager of the football team, such is your apparent view that the "business plan" and the balance sheet come first. You really couldn't make this up. Someone else who has learned absolutely nothing from the events of the last 2 weeks. 'Sir John lucky to have Fletcher..' Sorry, NE5, I'm afraid that it was the other way round ; Fletcher was a FORMER exec at Rangers before he got involved in NUFC,and his initial brief was to sort out the club's Promotions/ Retail Op.. SJH placed a great deal of trust in him and gave him plenty of licence ..he made himself into a millionaire with SJH's help and, if you were able to ask SJH what happened in later years you would not get a very happy story... Ask KD what HE thought of Fletcher.... As for complaining that SJH didn't want to sack Ardiles, yes, maybe he WAS misguided, but this club has been criticised for lack of stability on too many occasions ; KK had NO interference in his job when SJH was Chairman - can Shepherd make that claim about his managers, esp SBR, when he sold Speed without Robson's approval ?? Fletcher had a very good go at shutting the fanzines down.

Wouldn't say a fair few things, but his second from last post was very condescending. Can't even be bothered to read his guff anymore, on any thread. Obnoxious bastard.

Did you honestly expect a good crowd? Good....No. Better than it was...Yes. Just dissappointed because the one thing that has always been a credit to Newcastle United is it's fans. The one thing people collectively always highlight to be good about our club....and as soon as we have a month of problems, no-one turns up? so untrue. we're a laughing stock among other fans and have been for years. Utter fucking rubbish. This.

Dont worry. That will get ignored by every form of media tomorrow Will ours be played up?

Aye cheers fo rthat. I was wondering that myself, what with Oliver rattling on about the price being dropped as well (not that means much mind). Maybe a bit of free publicity?

"The spokesman for a Nigerian firm looking to buy out Mike Ashley says they are in a race with an Arab group to raise the asking price. Chris Nathaniel, chief executive officer of London-based NVA Management, says he has the backing of a number of African entrepreneurs in his company's bid for the club. He claims the group already has £350m worth of backing and hopes to secure a further £50m to £100m before any of the rival bidders can meet Ashley's valuation. NVA represents stars of sport, film, TV and music, and lists Rio Ferdinand among its clients and claims to also have advised former Toon boss Sam Allardyce and ex-Magpies and striker Andy Cole. Nathaniel, also the founder, said: "All along I have been working hard to get wealthy and football-loving Nigerian entrepreneurs to buy the club since Mike Ashley indicated his willingness to sell the club to the person, people or entrepreneurs who can meet the £400m selling price of the club. "Right now I am happy to tell you that well-meaning Nigerians have responded, and the consortium of Nigerian entrepreneurs has so far contributed £350m to buy the club. "Ashley has stood his ground that he won't sell the club until the money is raised to the asking price of £400m. So what that means is that we need to raise another £50m or £100m to shut the door behind the other top Arab companies who are also interested in the club. "The Arab companies have also indicated interest and made offers - but they haven't met the asking price too." Ashley is believed to be looking for a double-his-money figure of £480million and has appointed a leading investment bank - Seymour Price - to attract potential bidders and handle the sale of the club. Seymour Pierce is headed by Keith Harris, a director of Wembley National Stadium Limited, who has already advised a string of Premier League clubs over takeovers - including Chelsea, Aston Villa and Manchester City." http://www.clubcall.com/newcastle-united/nigerian-firm-admit-arab-race-790373.html Not that that is supposed to prove anything, just showing you what you had missed. What article form the Telegraph?

The same Shearer who had a far better idea than you about whether our 'best player' should have been at the club.

On the contrary. Nigeria is probably the wealthiest African state. But also the most corrupt nation on the planet. Which is why I wouldn't want a Nigerian consortium anywhere near the club. Meaning what? All Nigerians can afford tomato sauce on their chips? A Nigeria snippet: "Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the eighth most populous country in the world with a population of over 140 million. It is a regional power and it is also listed among the "Next Eleven" economies. The economy of Nigeria is one of the fastest growing in the world with the International Monetary Fund projecting a growth of 9% in 2008 and 8.3% in 2009" Meaning it has a GDP similar to that of Switzerland. Of course, it also has the population of the UK and Germany combined, but there's still enough wealth to go around for a few rich people.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2008/sep/21/celebrity Doesn't sound like a Geordie surname. Hope he doesn't get in, as "Finnish-Jewish mafia out" hasn't got the same ring to it. Will there be enough people to carry the new banner at half time? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poju_Zabludowicz and his investment group http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamares_Group

Apparently Steven Taylor wants to leave now. From the HATCHET MAN ffs. Shields Gazette now running a story denying it. http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/sport/football/article-1059571/HATCHET-MAN-Who-earth-want-stay-shambles-Newcastle.html?ITO=1490

thought you`d just made that up and was taking the piss Full article from KickOffNigeria.com : "Newcastle set for Nigerian take over Posted: 2008-09-21 15:06 A consortium of wealthy Nigerians may soon take over English Premiership side, Newcastle United. Since the current owner of the club, Mike Ashley announced his intention to sell, the Nigerians are trying to meet the £400m (about ninety six billion naira) 96,000,000,000. Chief Executive Officer of the NVA Management, Chris Nathaniel, who’s company is handling the deal told KickOffNigeria.com that Nigeria is favoured to make history as the first African country to own a Premier League club side if the deal sails through. “All along I have been working hard to get wealthy and football loving Nigerian Entrepreneurs to buy the club since the owner Mike Ashley indicated his willingness to sell the club to the person, people or entrepreneurs that can meet the 400 million pounds selling price of the club. “Right now I am happy to tell you that well meaning Nigerians have responded and the consortium of Nigerian entrepreneurs has so far contributed 350 million pounds to buy the club but the club boss, Ashley stood his ground that he won’t sell the club until the money is raised to the asking price of 400 million pounds. “So what that means is that we need to raise another 50 or 100 million pounds to shut the door behind the other top Arab companies that are also interested in the club. The Arab companies have also indicated interest and made offer but they haven’t met the asking price too,” Nathaniel revealed to KickOffNigeria.com." Link: http://www.kickoffnigeria.com/static/news/article.php?id=2651

The results/performances vs Hull and West Ham, the reaction of the fans, the turmoil his actions have left the club in. Are you f***ing blind? I'm getting sick of these idiots who support Keegan over what's best for the club. We don't need you. That's right, fuck off if you have a different opinion. This, this this.

Do you think many decent mangers would have come and accepted Dennis Wise telling them which players they are getting? No different to last January then.

I suppose it depends on whether you want to stand around drinking with someone who would jump around manically waving their arms in the air shouting "I told you so" at the top of their voice, while also telling anyone within earshot that you really do believe him but won't admit it. No thanks, I'd rather stick blunt pencils in my eyes. your making things up again thats a bad habit, it affects your ability to make sound judgements. I know for a fact you won't see the irony in that statement. As I've said, it's not your viewpoint, it's the way you put it across. Maybe it says a bit about CG as well.

I suppose it depends on whether you want to stand around drinking with someone who would jump around manically waving their arms in the air shouting "I told you so" at the top of their voice, while also telling anyone within earshot that you really do believe him but won't admit it. No thanks, I'd rather stick blunt pencils in my eyes.

This.

I will happily take down any of the figures I have quoted if you can show me where they are wrong. If any of those numbers are wrong then Shepherd will not be allowed to be a company director as he signed the accounts and gave them to Companies House. They don't like being lied to. Over to you, find me one, and I'll happily apologise, otherwsie I'll assume that really you accept them, and were just making your comment for a laugh. I was being jovial tbf but i will make some serious points for you. The rest of the premiership is run the same way and the data in 2007 showed most other clubs were making bigger losses than us (the data was posted on this forum and debated at length). You always made it sound like we were the only club with financial issues, whereas in fact we were / are just typical. Debt is not a big issue when you have a certain income stream. If you sell shirts for a living, you cant hold that much debt as shirts can go out of fashion. Football clubs are for life not just for christmas. Hence Arsenal's debt is astronomical but manageable etc etc etc Top 4 blah blah blah. More importantly, where have you been for the last 2 weeks? Surely your time had come when the fans started the Ashley out stuff, surely you should have been supporting him as he saved the club from extinction? You've come back when Shepherd was mentioned but not when the man who saved the club from Shepherd needed your support. Strange that. What does that hve to do with the point that is being debated? It seems to be up there on the NE5 scale of diversionary tactics when faced with facts.

What did I wish for? wish I'd put a bet on that you'd say that mackems.gif You now have a club without a fat b****** in charge that doesn't embarrass you. A few mediocre teams might embarrass you instead though. Just like your good old days. As much as I disagree with you on this point, why do you have to come across as such an abrasive, arrogant tosser when you reply? Try to answer that question only. you mean that I'm right and you can't see it or bring yourself to admit it ? I think those who can't see the blatantly obvious, and ignore factual information that doesn't suit their "opinion", are tossers. Are you seriously trying to tell me that the club hasn't embarrassed you in the last 2 weeks ? It's embarrassed me, more than for many years. I wouldn't really be arsed, but the sad thing is, the only way they are going on the field is headlong into a relegation fight that may be lost unless the soopa new owner abandons his so called "plan" or buggers off and sells to someone who knows something about football. And that DOES bother me. No, I mean that you come across as an over excited, abrasive, arrogant, tosspot when you've replied to the posts on this thread. After reading it, you have pissed me off far more with your attitude than your actual viewpoint. you're new to here, or appear to be. These sort of "debates" with macbeth are old hat, they've been done before. I'm not interested. He refused to answer a point blank question when asked would he prefer a good balance sheet to being relegated. This is going back to when we bought Micheal Owen, because we were going into the season with only an ex world class striker and a Spanish player nobody knew anything about. Pity Ashley didn't speculate too in the window just ended, we may well pay the price. You can't deny that supporters are unhappy ? What does that do for the balance sheets ? What will happen if we are relegated ? I'm asking you. I'm not arsed with macbeth or one or two others, because we have been there before. I find it amazing that after the events of the last few weeks, and losing the manager pretty much all of us wanted to keep and have lost for all of the reasons I'm stating ie lack of support and backing, that you can defend Ashleys actions or those who appear to still think he was doing it right. Well, I still have a new sheen, but a few scuff marks are starting to appear. You don't have to go into history, I've read them all before. From what I've seen he's not the only one that does that.

What did I wish for? wish I'd put a bet on that you'd say that mackems.gif You now have a club without a fat b****** in charge that doesn't embarrass you. A few mediocre teams might embarrass you instead though. Just like your good old days. As much as I disagree with you on this point, why do you have to come across as such an abrasive, arrogant tosser when you reply? Try to answer that question only. you mean that I'm right and you can't see it or bring yourself to admit it ? I think those who can't see the blatantly obvious, and ignore factual information that doesn't suit their "opinion", are tossers. Are you seriously trying to tell me that the club hasn't embarrassed you in the last 2 weeks ? It's embarrassed me, more than for many years. I wouldn't really be arsed, but the sad thing is, the only way they are going on the field is headlong into a relegation fight that may be lost unless the soopa new owner abandons his so called "plan" or buggers off and sells to someone who knows something about football. And that DOES bother me. No, I mean that you come across as an over excited, abrasive, arrogant, tosspot when you've replied to the posts on this thread. After reading it, you have pissed me off far more with your attitude than your actual viewpoint.

What did I wish for? wish I'd put a bet on that you'd say that mackems.gif You now have a club without a fat b****** in charge that doesn't embarrass you. A few mediocre teams might embarrass you instead though. Just like your good old days. As much as I disagree with you on this point, why do you have to come across as such an abrasive, arrogant tosser when you reply? Try to answer that question only.

Most of that previous article in The Times is a classic case of them building us up (over the last 15 years), then enjoying knocking us down now. They do it every time. Reminds me of the line in The Dark Knight You either die a hero, or live long enough to become a villain. Or something like that.

I would put my house on it that 90% of the dimwits that are condoning Guthrie's actions are the same ones who will be giving sermons about Mike Ashley being a liar/ betraying Keegan etc. Peobably, purely because a hign percentage of people were taking liar etc stance. It's called statistics. On the Guthrie debate, it is possible to have a slight fracture and not to feel it. If it's very small they may not even put much support on it and tell him to avoid physical activity for a bit. It's already been stated that Guthrie should be punished, bearing in mind it does seem out of character it shouldn't be that harsh. Maybe Fagan could learn something from this as well: if you're going to wind someone up and play the part of the prick he so nicely managed to on Saturday, expect this to happen as you'll always pick on the wrong person at some point. Speak of the devil My typing is getting worse.

I would put my house on it that 90% of the dimwits that are condoning Guthrie's actions are the same ones who will be giving sermons about Mike Ashley being a liar/ betraying Keegan etc. Peobably, purely because a hign percentage of people were taking liar etc stance. It's called statistics. On the Guthrie debate, it is possible to have a slight fracture and not to feel it. If it's very small they may not even put much support on it and tell him to avoid physical activity for a bit. It's already been stated that Guthrie should be punished, bearing in mind it does seem out of character it shouldn't be that harsh. Maybe Fagan could learn something from this as well: if you're going to wind someone up and play the part of the prick he so nicely managed to on Saturday, expect this to happen as you'll always pick on the wrong person at some point.