triggs

The US government don't own sports teams

The US government doesn't own sports teams. There's also a pretty big difference between treating prisoners badly or sentencing them to death and murdering journalists for doing their job

Trophies isn't everything mind. I do think Poch is a bit overrated though. Saying they should have won the league the year Leicester won it is pretty ridiculous also. They got 70 points, 11 behind Leicester

That's the "sportswashing" bit

Hughes was a bit of a different situation though. He had been appointed manager the same summer they took over on transfer deadline day and Robinho was their only summer signing

Aye, I don't mind people enjoying the club competing again but its the Saudi flags on twitter (and probably at the first few games) that are out of order IMO

Don't we have an entire thread related to Saudi Arabian atrocities in chat?

They've seen some of the negative comments and were getting the IP addresses

Mike saying he's "never been closer" to selling the club almost sounds like a threat

This is the most watched sports league in the world. Their reach will be a bit further than match going fans. Maybe a while down the line their reputation within the game leads to a world cup in Saudi Arabia. The question wasn't really about reach. I'm still questioning how the purchase of a club changes national perceptions. You're going from "lots of people will know they own the club" to "people will soften their stance on saudi arabia" without showing the work. Also, why do that to get a world cup when Qatar got one through corruption and bribery at likely a far cheaper price than a club? We will be sponsored by some state owned company or simply "Visit Saudi Arabia" or some shit across our shirts. They probably won't but wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility to change the name of the stadium either. All of that will be broadcast across the world legitimising all of these companies/the state itself

Pretty much how I see it from my post a couple of pages back. Save the righteous indignation to those who battle it every day, it's not like any of us were up in arms about Sheffield Utd, Man City or Chelsea so why should we treat our club any different? As long as the club and region are treated with respect, invested in and taken forward then that's all that really affects us Whilst I appreciate everyone's views, somehow it needs to be sticky'd that this is fundamentally different to a takeover by an individual person because no matter how many times it's said, it doesn't seem to be sinking in. This is different because we're going to be 80% owned by a kingdom - not a person. As a result, anything the kingdom does will be reflected on us by association. Every time they bomb Yemen, every time they murder a journalist, every time they arrest and give the death penalty to a woman for peacefully campaigning for a modicum of equality, we'll be associated and therefore there will be a school of thought that following NUFC/investing in products/buying a season ticket infers that you agree with the kingdom/are willing to offer your money to support what they do. It's also important to remember that they're investing in us to distract from and ultimately attempt to change the outward perception of the kingdom - sportswashing. I'm just as conflicted as everyone else because I'd quite like to enjoy supporting NUFC again, but this does come with a very difficult morality-based decision. This is different to Man City, different to Sheffield United, different to Chelsea etc etc and it's really important to remember that. At the same time, it's also quite possible that they want to gradually move away from their despicable past, otherwise why bother engaging at all with western culture? The whole point of it is to improve the perception of them in the west. The UAE/Qatar haven't moved on from their past since buying Man City/PSG

There's a difference between private individuals and Governments owning clubs though

I don't blame fans at all. Just hoping that when we get criticism for it, which we definitely will and deservedly so, that fans can accept that the criticism is fair enough and don't start defending them

The aim of buying us will be to improve their image in the West though, nowt to do with football

I like right next door to them and honestly they're not half as bad as the media tries to portray them, what many people in the UK think of them is quite far from the reality. They literally kill journalists ffs

Think one of those Leeds blokes failed? It's about money and proving you have it rather than morals I think

Personally don't think I'll be supporting us much, but won't blame anyone that will do that. Just hope it doesn't come to Newcastle fans trying to justify things that the regime do, like some Man City fans do

If there's going to be basically unlimited funds I'd want someone more attacking than Rafa tbh

We'd be the same if these cunts were taking over any other club

The fit and proper person test is such a joke like

Probably not but who cares? Why would Tino have someone doing his social media like?

If only his dad had Not agreeing until 54 gives his verdict. Get the feeling 54 is being fucked through the mattress atm. Jesus Christ

This actually looking like it might happen? Haven't followed it at all

They weren’t exactly top players, for them of course, but in world football they weren’t. Juninho was for example was no better than Kinkladze. Ravanelli was a good striker, but not on a par with Shearer and Emerson was bang average I thought. They did play some canny stuff mind. Juninho was a ridiculous signing. Was a young kid already playing for Brazil a year after USA 94, and he went to Boro. Was way above the level & reputation of Kinkladze at the time they joined their clubs. Aye, but in terms of his performances for Boro, he was no world-star, none of them were. Ravanelli was underrated in Italy, he was allowed to leave Juventus for a reason. He was a goalscorer, but nit a top player like a Shearer for example. Juninho was the epitome of hype back in the day, a MOTD highlights player. My mate is a 30 + year season ticket holder at Boro, a former youth player of theirs and a former director and he says he would regularly disappoint, they all would. Didn’t Ravanelli dry up goals wise after a great start? Ravanelli got 31 goals in all competitions that season Loads of cup goals, anyway he was always a hero of mine growing up, just looking back he was not a top top player. Aye, "only" 17 in the league