Toonpack

Couldn't agree more.

The capacity of the stadium has increased by almost 20,000 in that time. Anyone complaining about low ticket prices can go suck a dick as far as I'm concerned. Football is overpriced as it is and the economy is f***ed. The club have done a great job of making it accessible to all. I think the ticket prices is a good thing, my point was that its reactionary to the relative poor performance of the club as a whole. Ticket prices are set ahead of time and thus by definition can't be reactionary, if they were reactionary they'd have gone up significantly after finishing 5th. Attendances will rise/fall in line with performance on the park (same as any club) although we have always tended to get better crowds than most even when we're crap. That continues to be the case. It's a miniscule minority who won't go because of "off the pitch" antics rather than on the pitch stuff. That's borne out by the numbers we get through the gates. My lads are getting 3 ST's between them this year because they can now afford them, they couldn't give two hoots about anything other than going to the game. Oh aye, they talk about the Ashley stuff, but it doesn't register in the slightest when deciding to attend the match or not.

That was forced onto Ashley due to his thickness of not doing due diligence. It was forced on Ashley due to the state and level of the debt, if he'd done due diligence he would have done a runner IMO.

Absolutely not true, they make thick end of £20Mill more than us. Maybe we should charge Spurs-esque prices, that'd make everyone happy I'm sure. Yep - people seem to overlook how relatively 'cheap' our tickets are compared to most other clubs. They have to be or SJP would be like the SoL nowadays. Club has lost a s*** load of core supporters over the last 7- 8 years. Spurs can charge those prices considering they have a 25k waiting list. Tbhe cheap tickets are to offset the ridiculous decisions and the general disillusion of the fans. We make more out of our gate receipts than Spurs anyway. But as Neesy says they could change it and still pack it out, massive waiting list Oh no we don't. Most of the "fans" aren't members of message boards and the season ticket holders I know ain't disillusioned at all, it's all about the team on match-day and the social game-day stuff. Those 400 (or 0.77%) of the match-going fans don't represent the true feelings one way or the other. Your notion of cheap to offset disillusion is also a flawed argument, less tickets sold for more £££'s = more money than more cheaper tickets for less, see us and Spurs/Liverpool in graphs above. IF you're really disillusioned you wouldn't pay, what is, even at the current levels, to a lot of folk still a significant lump of money.

But yes - Check the Swiss Ramble: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RtQ1gYNYGuk/UcbPWkc9wqI/AAAAAAAAGtU/LkpA1-bUkzY/s640/PL+Match+Day.jpg

Absolutely not true, they make thick end of £20Mill more than us. Maybe we should charge Spurs-esque prices, that'd make everyone happy I'm sure.

No window closed yet

It'll effect the club first though and way before it hits Ashley.

The thing that does most harm, to the region and the area, in the eye's of others are the pathetic fake funeral's, Willy Wonga's, Boycoutts, Geordie nation bollocks type stuff which frankly shows the region up way worse. We're getting way too scouse. The Ashley destroying the club/region to those outside the region perception (and a goodly proportion within it) is a figment of your imagination. I work all over the country and when talking football, most "neutrals" think Ashley's a nutter and are equally incredulous, as we are, about some of the things he does, folks actually sympathise with NUFC supporters but the over the top demonstrations of wailing and gnashing of teeth does us no favours. That said, to most, it's all about the match day, club politics gets no more than passing interest.

Im sure I read someone saying we should be "nice" cos he had a son die. Justifying his appointment on the basis of pity and charity almost. I give up at times. He was brought in as gesture to us imo Two fingers stuck up at us from an owner who couldn't give two s***s about our club, its future and most importantly us. The apathy and the willingness of some to continue being trodden on, shat on and ignored staggers me. "its cos I'm loyal". Bullshit imo. They are part of the problem and are partly culpable. Feck me imagine if we had been led by these cow towers and collaborators in general society: no votes, no rights. Just do as his Lordship says, after all they know best. they must do, they're in positions of power and authority: we should know our place... Christ we are seeing the people of Brazil currently making an effort at saying "This isn't right". Saying it over important matters and they are being listened too and have the respect of most of the world for doing so. Some of us are prepared to pull down our pants and say "Just keep on shaftin Mike", for a relatively trivial matter of a football club and its future. Makes me sick to my stomach. You get what you deserve more often than not. We are f***ed with these idiots in charge of NUFC. I really am equally flabbergasted why folks get so wound up about stuff they can't (and shouldn't even try to) influence. last I looked football was about 11 blokes playing 11 blokes on a weekend (used to be Saturday) and what happens in that encounter, win some, lose some, draw some. It supposed to be about the game. What happens on the periphery of the actual game itself is just not that important IMO. If you enjoy "the match" go, if you don't, don't go, simple, all else is irrelevant.

Except that his conversion rate of chances is very good unlike Cisse (which is not a criticism per se, he just does miss a canny few)

C'mon!!, how can scoring goals be to the detriment of the team in any way

It would appear the owner doesn't even communicate to the MD (as was) the fans are way down the list.

I admire your confidence, I'm 55 and in my time, we only get a short spell of calm when the wind is gathering itself for the next storm.

No such thing any more, but if pressed I'd nominate that merest breath of wind that seems to fell players multiple times every game these days.

Many people would consider Wonga to be usurious. All Western banks violate Islam by charging interest, but the excessive interest charged by Wonga may simply be more egregious. Islam doesn't do breaking the rules by degree's, the law is the law. It'd be like an Imam saying hey it's OK having a pint a day but don't get pissed and only one bacon butty a week, mind.

To refuse to put on the shirt for the club that plays him handsomely for a f***ing sponsor name on it, give over. Some people actually have morals. I highly doubt he'll refuse to wear it, it's his right to object to something and if the club don't compromise with him then we see the real value they put on players, as objects for gain rather than people. Of course you could avoid all this by not cheapening the club by associating it with such a s*** brand to start with... There's no difference between Virgin Money and Wonga if he's playing the Islam/beliefs card, it's bollocks man !!!

how exactly does refusing to wear a sponsor get him a pay rise? The sponsor angle gives him an "unsettled" excuse for "talks", club could call his bluff and say OK no sponsor on your shirt or even Wonga could say, we're Cool with it be canny pr for them tbh. Otherwise there'll be a statement saying there's been an accommodation and he'll wear the shirt shortly followed by Cisse signs a new deal. Shit how many Muslim players advertise banks and booze etc on shirts. He's a footballer with agents and they're all a bunch of twats he wants more dosh, here or somewhere else. Why now, why not moral outrage as soon as the Wonga deal broke, he knew ages ago (whilst advertising a bank on his shirt) he would continue to be a hoarding for practices at odds with his faith, oh yeah transfer window wasn't open back then.

He wants a pay rise, end of, moralistic stuff is bollocks, but a canny lever

You're right, Gambling ruins far more lives (as does drink btw) and high street banks tend to be the folks who drive the vulnerable to the likes of Wonga, not to mention taking homes away, defrauding folks via PPI, illegal overdraft charges dodged on a technicality etc etc etc It's absolute bollocks to condemn Wonga and give the others a free pass.

IF that team had been available to play together regularly, you could be right.

I don't believe that's true at all, I do believe that if the club can afford it (without Ashley having to put his hand in his pocket) then whatever the price, deals will be done. The downside is, if the club can't afford it (without Ashley's help) then it ain't going to happen. Which is fine IMO Absent an Oligarch or a Sheik (and with FFP) it's the right thing. See I think we can afford it. Obviously not stupid massive fee's but I have always maintained the money is there - just Ashley is immensely stubborn on spending it. I could be wrong but thats my view. The truth of that would/will be seen as profits in the accounts, haven't seen any high level of that yet. June is always bullshit time for transfers, everyone's (managers/agents etc) on their holidays.

I don't believe that's true at all, I do believe that if the club can afford it (without Ashley having to put his hand in his pocket) then whatever the price, deals will be done. The downside is, if the club can't afford it (without Ashley's help) then it ain't going to happen. Which is fine IMO Absent an Oligarch or a Sheik (and with FFP) it's the right thing.

If we stay up it will be because of other teams, there's not a chance in hell this clown can orchestrate 2 wins out of the next 3. More than likely we'll lose at least 2 of those games so he'll keep embarrassing the club and the pressure will keep mounting, stay up or not. As if Ashley will care. A PL team is a PL team whether we win 3 out of 3, or lose them all 4-0 and Wigan save us. It's surely not as simple as this. Ashley doesn't strike me as the type of boss who puts up with useless performances from his employees. Poeple who make his amount of money NEVER want to be second best at anything, he'll do things his way, but he'll never be content with mediocre, hyper-driven multi-millionaire/billionaire's just aren't like that. The happy to muddle along comes from the "10th or above" statement, but everyone ignores the "or above" bit and it's passed into law/fact that we just want to bumble along. Again, by this logic Pardew wouldn't be in a job right now... See my edit, which was: Edit - I would also add these types play a VERY long game, won't see football fan-speed reaction to anything.

If we stay up it will be because of other teams, there's not a chance in hell this clown can orchestrate 2 wins out of the next 3. More than likely we'll lose at least 2 of those games so he'll keep embarrassing the club and the pressure will keep mounting, stay up or not. As if Ashley will care. A PL team is a PL team whether we win 3 out of 3, or lose them all 4-0 and Wigan save us. It's surely not as simple as this. Ashley doesn't strike me as the type of boss who puts up with useless performances from his employees. Poeple who make his amount of money NEVER want to be second best at anything, he'll do things his way, but he'll never be content with mediocre, hyper-driven multi-millionaire/billionaire's just aren't like that. The happy to muddle along comes from the "10th or above" statement, but everyone ignores the "or above" bit and it's passed into law/fact that we just want to bumble along. Edit - I would also add these types play a VERY long game, won't see football fan-speed reaction to anything.