Heake

You’ll need some engines to get that lot off the ground

Seems to be entirely consistent with his account of events. The PL keep asking questions that the Bidders can’t provide (according to the EPL) sufficient answers to in order for them to make a decision. Given that they were (we’re led to understand) provided with details of the structure of the consortium when the bid was sent for approval months ago, It seems questionable whether they’ll ever achieve enough clarity to make a decision either way or more cynically, are simply trying to engineer a situation that will enable them to “legitimately” reject it. Surely it’s inconceivable to imagine the Quataries to have unduly influenced proceedings cos it’s not like they’ve got form for that sort of thing. It seems to me that the issue is that the O&D test applies to everyone that has “control” over the club’s affairs (“control” as defined very specifically in the O&D test) Perhaps the initial bid and paperwork included the owners and directors, but didn’t apply a broad definition to who might have control at the club? The PL then goes back to the consortium and says “What about the King’s son, and the Undersecretary for Piracy and the Minister for Baby Killing? Prove they won’t have influence over the club or, if not, they have to submit to the O&D test.” Consortium “Er...” *100 days later* “Er...” If that’s the case, how do you prove that? In realty, you can only prove (and demonstrate) if you have influence and make decisions you can’t prove that you don’t, can you?

Seems to be entirely consistent with his account of events. The PL keep asking questions that the Bidders can’t provide (according to the EPL) sufficient answers to in order for them to make a decision. Given that they were (we’re led to understand) provided with details of the structure of the consortium when the bid was sent for approval months ago, It seems questionable whether they’ll ever achieve enough clarity to make a decision either way or more cynically, are simply trying to engineer a situation that will enable them to “legitimately” reject it. Surely it’s inconceivable to imagine the Quataries to have unduly influenced proceedings cos it’s not like they’ve got form for that sort of thing.

£50 from Start fitness. Big mikes got his cock out for £65

The Texaco Cup Abu derby

A quick scan at the table and the teams we need to get a result from to scrape into 17th tells you that there doesn’t appea r to be a remote possibility of us staying up. If Watford start improving (which I expect they will) we are a certainty for bottom with games in hand. If you were handed the job of of ensuring a team is relegated bottom of the division you couldn’t do a better job than Big Mikes done. You really have got to hand it to him on this score

Epitomises the "jobs for the boys" network that seems to be prevalent in the media nowadays. Anyone who has had the misfortune of being subjected to his ramblings can immediately see how ill fitted he is to media work (Especially spoken word). Inarticulate, contradictory, pre-teen like grammar & a shocking paucity of knowledge on football considering his background. Add that to impression he gives of being a weapons grade bell end then I would suggest this news should be celebrated.

The silver size "35" beachball once used to teach Joselu ball to feet co-ordination

Its that Black clown isn't it?

Looks micey

At least we wont have all that shenanigans when the 1 pixel long range camera shot gets leaked like we did earlier in the week

he should be getting peddled I think

I think that we're witnessing the beginning of the end for SD in all honesty, the brand is now toxic.....the beauty is, Ashley won't admit to himself that he's wrong and continue to chuck money at it. I think they'll be gone from the high street within a few years personally. They won’t. They may downsize, they may be bigger online than in store, but they won’t collapse. Like it or not, theirs plenty of people out there who want cheap sportswear and won’t/can’t pay JD prices (SD own 30% of JD). You have to remember that Sports Direct also own Flannels, which is the new store on Northumberland Street is anything to go by, is proving to be popular and on the up. It would take for Primark to have an extensive range of sportswear available (only small) and for the likes of the Premier League to operate their own store for merchandise (much like the NFL, NHL etc) for Sports Direct to fall apart. Even then I still think they’ll have a decent market share. Good shout that, I would also imagine big Mike would be cacking his denims were that to happen. Theyd (Especially with Nike & Adidas) probably be pushing an open door asking to service that part of the market given their widely chronicled antipathy towards Ashley. If anything, it would probably be a more upmarket venture compared to S*****D*****

Jesus christ.. You do realise we’ve lost the highest quality stock manager we’ve ever had & replaced him with the lowest I’m not sure you’re mentally prepared for the reality check next season He is man. He is totally aware and has been a heavy contributor to NO for a long time. Kaka is an optimist at heart and maybe I’m speaking for him and he can correct me if I’m wrong but he’s probably grown tired of fighting for a bit just wants to sit back and watch football. It may be a surprise to you but there are many Newcastle supporters near and far who’ve done a ton to support campaigns for change at this club and have grown tired of the fight. Rafa brought us hope and it was snatched from us. Takeover talks brought us hope it failed. Its tiring. It’s consuming. Sometimes people need a break man. It’s been an exhausting 12 years with MA. Totally get this, watching Newcastle used to be exciting when there was a realistic prospect of winning every game we played. Lately, it just seems like your hoping not to get a bumming first and foremost & if we do happen to win a Saturday happy days. When that burden is lifted, it’s almost a feeling of emancipation knowing your Saturday nights aren’t going to kick off on a downer regardless of what might happen on the pitch.

Back to West Brom I would bet!

He's right, mind. Ashley didn't have to put his hands in HIS pocket. Well he has actually, its his club & the income it generates is, ultimately at his disposal. However, this isn't some new benevolent, altruistic model Ashley that's just been wheeled out to steal the Geordie hearts, this is a manifestation of continuing to follow a failed model of spending the bare minimum to achieve a maximum return (In financial, not trophy terms). It is a model that has previously failed & it is a model that will fail again. What continues to astound me is that there are clearly still many dupes who believe his motives aren't cynical & that after 12 years of dry bumming they're still prepared to see him in a light anything other than that of a malign parasite

Fuckit I’m in now. Just ordered me new new top, signed up for the season ticket and I’m going to masturbate over a pair of 46” lee coopers towards the directors box just as the lads come out for their season opening bumming against Arsenal. You guys need to see th light man

How do you not know theres one lurking in the shadows pulling strings, incognito like?

id bet all the denim in the world Mike wont sell for under £40m

But if you agree that the fans and club both have things they're expected to do... then if the club stops doing its side, surely fans are justified in walking away? The obligation on fans to not turn their back is based on an assumption that the club is trying. Ofcourse the fans are justified for not going, we've just lost one of the best managers that we'll get for a very long time, a manager who with the correct backing could taken this football club forward. I've not said that fans aren't justified for staying away, what I've consistently said is that I don't think staying away will help, which I don't. If I thought giving up my season ticket for ayear would help, I could go a year without going to a game, but I don't think it will. Thats my opinion which I'm entitled too. Would you miss one game, just to see? Or is that asking a bit too much? Do I need to go and ask the other 44,999 people you expect to turn up, face to face, if they'll boycott before you do? Aye, why not do that? Fans who go to games are worse than Mike Ashley, cancerous cretins apparently, they're holding your football club back by going to games? Why not go tell them how you feel? You obviously feel very strong about it So you won't miss one game? Also, I've not actually said that the fans who go to games are worse than Ashley, or cancer etc. One game will do f*** all man!!! Other supporters have Yeah, but I haven't, so no need to label me with that. So your answer is "no, I won't miss one game"? I have a question Seymour: Should the attendance fall below half full (home fans) would you consider this a tipping point? Would this not ostensibly mean that you`d be in a minority in your insistence on attending the ground? I guess in a clumsy way I`m asking if there are any scenarios in which you would feel compelled to join a boycott & show solidarity to the majority of (Ex) match going support?

When I first seen it I assumed something had got lost in translation, they'd got the wrong club & he was going for the Wednesday job. You can but hope

I wish they wouldn't keep `shopping Brazils head by making it twice the size & purple all the time.

Ashley splashes out to get his man , good old Mike backing the team “again” You just know the spin ffs. Watch the fat cunt spend £80m , you watch Yeh, them ungrateful Geordies, get a local lad who loves the club, Mike spends millions on strengthening the team & their still not happy unless they're challenging for the title / champions league

He`ll be gone by End of January / early February latest citing back luck / injuries on a depleted squad which was paper thin & sub standard. ...circumstances which are utterly predictable given the constraints he`s basically signing up to now with open arms

...Inline with player recruitment