Darth Crooks

I get the PR given everything controversial surrounding PIF and the PL. Binning off a popular PL old boy prior to 1000th game is not a good look and optics matter. Panders to hogwash sentiment but I see the logic. After this point it’s almost impossible to rationalise. Oddly perhaps they are speaking & listening to too many football people, who cite his good standing/golf handicap.

Should have the start of this in

The thing is an interim coach that isn’t Bruce doesn’t destabilise us or risk it. This is as bad as it gets.

Excellent eh? Low bar to clear admittedly

Your pals and you say end of. That’s that over, phew. Look, I know it’s the done thing to paint anyone who finds some things objectionable as humourless or a kill joy but I just happen to think the gag isn’t worth the buildup and that sometimes choosing to ignore what people think regardless of their viewpoint is seen as a virtue and I’ve listened to the other side of it. We’re talking about bad people who for whatever reason own our club. No need to ape them, accidentally mock them or fly their flags.

It’s about calling out bullshit. I’m not higher or mightIer than anyone. It’s wrong to make light of what Saudi represent. I joke about many dark things in private but it’s about picking audiences. I probably have more problem with the flags (thankfully few) than tea towels but even then it’s daft to even have to say that because even if it’s trying to be welcoming - they aren’t tea towels. It’s clearly a bit more widely held than the confines of this forum and if you think it’s a bit of a laugh then that’s your opinion - it’s just a widely held opinion that it is more than that regardless of how you wish to downplay it. If you’re going to do it then be prepared to be called up on by some who disagree with you. It’s as simple as that. No excuse beyond wilful ignorance at this point. If it’s prompted people to think about thinks beyond what they deem a laugh then no harm done tbh.

Embarrassment doesn’t even really done into it. Most overused word around. It’s just a bit needless and stupid and it’s fine to call it out.

With respect mate I think you need to. Piss ya pants? Folk are just trying to have grown up conversations about a serious issue. I think you’re right it will die down but if you buy into the remotest belief in sportswashing it plays into that entirely.

Absolute microcosm of his entire waste of time here this like. Happy 1000th you melt.

Thing is it’s not even funny or defiant - just plays exactly into hands of critics. Even if you don’t care it still makes no sense.

Hope he watches his signs get gaffa taped over

Yep. It is bitter but tbh we’ve had enough settling for 3rd/11th best and being told to be glad of it. No bad intent there mate just trying to punctuate my venom with the odd joke. The rebuild starts here and by purging the rot.

This thread meaning something again

He wants hounding out like but tbh he should be treated as an irrelevance. Came here, tacit knowledge of his remit and bosses and has sat on a payday for two years. Off you fuck you chump. (Not you Ben) Wank into your 1000 game sock. (Can if you have one Ben) Too many greedy fucks and bullshitting timewasters across the land just like him.

Just to present the other side of it. Listening to the Guardian football podcast (yeah I know) the other day and, Glendenning aside, it was mind numbingly frustrating how the picture was being portrayed of riches coming in over what came before. 'How bad could Mike Ashley be to want THIS lol' Well, do some fucking research then - talk to fans. Don't rely on someone with a heavy Sunderland bias. James O' Brien did a phone in on why Newcastle fans were so happy and it was quite balanced and one guy came on and said it's because they never won anything under Ashley. Noone knew any different to challenge it. We all know of course and its why the discourse on here is different. Still, if folk insist on dressing up as a bloke who has his family under house arrest and is responsible for the deaths of journalists and children in the Yemen (with help from our lot lol) then don't be so precious as not to get some stick for it from however small a minority of fans with a modicum of conscience. I', also not going to give up something I've done all my life including 400 mile round trips with my dad and my brother whom I barely see these days and is part of my cultural NE heritage on the basis of half-baked pearl clutching rhetoric either. Let's see if they give up film or the theatre so quickly under identical circumstances. I can't choose my allegiances like that along with many others. Not digging out anyone in particular here btw and it's my two penneth of course

I don’t think any nufc fan who by and large are abreast of the situation re: Ashley and the situation upon now wants to make people feel bad about supporting their club. Leave that to the clickbait cycle journalists and disingenuous who deliberately only see half the story. There’s good ones out there of course too. There’s no good reason though to fly Saudi flags, dress as Arabs or MBS imo however and myriad other ways you can express that celebration. I know this veers toward freedoms and being told what to do and honestly as condescending as it likely sounds if you’re going to dress as MBS you’re probably a bit ill informed or thick. Freedoms come with liberty of scrutiny as well as opinion. Practically speaking I won’t be buying strips from now on with Saudi aramco etc and I tend to wear retro ones anyway. It’s probably seen as over sensitive or whatever but it has nothing to do with my team or heritage and I don’t begrudge anyone who enjoys the period we’re going through now within reason.

We live and hope. Like I say, kudos to the EA Mags

All that he wants is another payme...ewayayy. He leads a lonely life.

It’s ignorance/wilful ignorance to fly the Saudi flag in light of all that’s being said and plays directly into the hands of valid critics. We can make new people feel welcome without coopting/appropriating national symbols and in some cases mocking/mimicking national dress. Whatever they wear it’s not a tea towel. It’s too easy to play stuff off as just a laugh but that means pretty much anything could be fair game. If a Saudi National wants to raise a Saudi flag they are entitled to but why you’d do it if you’re from wallsend/eastanglia/uk I don’t really know in light of it all. Fair play to them for changing it imo. Shows some nous.

That would be immensely disappointing.

I was going to say - seems in response to the dumbass threads stuff as much as anything.

Between Iraq and a hard place

If I'm wrong - more than happy with that.

They're going to let him have his 1000 games. The PIF are in some ways needing to extend olive branches to the PL etc - binning off a bizarrely popular member of the Man United old boys club in a debatably 'undignified' fashion will be a BR stick to beat them with. Difficult balance to strike objectively - with fans its pie Bruce off tout suite and invest but there are other political games to play imo.