Shadow Puppets

For someone who takes the piss out of them for being obsessed with us, you certainly seem like you’re not obsessed with them at all!

Even Ki could have clipped his heel and took a tactical yellow. The goalscorer sprinted passed Kenedy though which was very poor. He did, but there were so many opportunities for that attack to be stopped dead, he probably expected it to be fine... as I did until I realised Lascelles was marshalling him into the area for a free shot.

I'm sorry like... Kennedy is not to blame for that goal. Lascelles ushering their player into our penalty area from 20 yards outside of it was. Just fucking foul him for christ sakes.

Errr, he's said nothing about it being "close".

Not sure if serious? Well it certainly wasn’t the silent majority, was it? No, obviously not. But it most definitely wasn't a half-baked walk-in attempt either, with about 200 participants. Just to clarify, I'm all for protest action and have been involved in a few things with TMG, but genuinely don't understand the point of the walk-in or boycott protests. Everyone's already paid. Plus they create division in the fanbase, because people rightly or wrongly still want to go and support the team. Ashley literally won't give a fuck if they show up or not as long as the money is already paid. Protests that get at his other business interests... I'm all for those.

Not sure if serious?

Sniping at those trying to do something. If you don't like it, get involved and influence them to do it differently Errr, I have been involved in it. Doesn’t change that I think the boycott should be cancelled. There’s no desire for it. Focus on getting at his business interests.

I wasn’t there today anyway, but truth be told it’s been blatantly obvious that there’s no desire for this kind of protest (or boycott) at all, let alone after the recent good run. Plus with the TMG groups overall lack of clarity on many of these protests, it’s no surprise it was poorly observed. Fair play to those who did, though.

Sadly, he is absolutely bang on. The moans and groans on a matchday are fucking pitiful. Our home support are largely silent or moaning, not a great deal of backing the team going on.

As much as I love everything Rafa stands for, I do believe his tactics aren't particularly suited to us at the moment. Man Utd away, 2-0 up at half time... spend the entire second half camped in our own half rather than trying to put the game to bed. 1-0 down to Brighton and getting loads of crosses into the box without any physical presence on the pitch... as soon as he brings on our best header of the ball, all of a sudden we stop putting crosses in at all. We needed all 3 of our forwards on the pitch for the last 15 minutes, no questions. I dunno... I do love the guy, and I know the issues run right to the top, but I'm not convinced he's doing as well as he could be. (Tin hat on)

Yeah, I mean if the choice is limited to Ashley vs Bin Salman, I would keep Ashley here every day of the week.

Not a chance in hell that 10,000 people will boycott a game at the moment like. There just isn't the appetite for it while Rafa is here.

Again, for what though? There is no chance of progress or hope. We all agree on that. The only thing is getting Ashley out. Only point is to remain in the pl on the tiny tiny chance we get a takeover Because there very well may be a way to force Ashley to sell without it drastically affecting the fortunes of Rafa and the team. Would you prefer us to go down and force Ashley out, or stay up and force Ashley out?

There’s nothing particularly factually incorrect about that statement, and we all know Rafa wants to unite people behind the team, so it’s absolutely possible he’d put his name to it. I don’t really have a problem with it to be honest. It’s basically just “please get behind the team in the stadium” kind of thing.

From 2016

I know for a fact that that £6m clause isn't true by the way. It was in the first 12 months of his contract, but not now.

You, my friend, come across as such a reactionary moron. Can you not see the difference between Pardew and Rafa is that Pardew would be complicit in the summer we've just had, Rafa has been fighting for us. He's been energising the fan base to try to make a difference. He doesn't want to leave. He loves the club, that much is clear. I think, deep down, he is holding on in blind hope that we will be sold. In the meantime he's just getting on with the job. The only job in hand though is to keep the man who shafted him on the gravy train for another year. That's it. Yes pardew would be complicit and Rafa gave up his summer holiday again but maybe more fool him as he hasn't learnt off last year. He just sounds too content with what has happened. Total disgrace and he seems ok with it. There just feels nothing to get behind anymore club feels dead. I think he knows Ashley is going nowhere and I can see him signing a new deal and having a few more summer windows like we have just had. Rafa gets adored and a huge salary and uncle mike stays on the gravy train. Everyone wins but us again That has to be the most skewed view on the situation that I've read so far. Congratulations. Why should Rafa walk? He loves the club, loves his job. It is those above him who are accountable. Maybe he feels that the longer he is here, with the fans on his side, the more we can collectively ramp the pressure up on Ashley. Rafa knows that if he walks, the hopes of a city go with him. Some will protest, yes, but most will be thrown straight back into the apathetic mindset that came before. Rafa is the only manager we've had in my living memory to have come out swinging for the owners whilst still working here. He's trying to change the club from the inside. He knows it's potential. But it's potential is gone if he goes.

You, my friend, come across as such a reactionary moron. Can you not see the difference between Pardew and Rafa is that Pardew would be complicit in the summer we've just had, Rafa has been fighting for us. He's been energising the fan base to try to make a difference. He doesn't want to leave. He loves the club, that much is clear. I think, deep down, he is holding on in blind hope that we will be sold. In the meantime he's just getting on with the job.

One.

"2 out of 3 ain't bad" - Lee Charnley, 9th August 2018

It's a double-edged sword. What Rafa has done with limited funds IS impressive, but the argument is that we could push on further if the owner had any ambition to do so. Exactly right when you look at the business other clubs have completed and some of those with respect are far smaller than this one it is an actual piss take. How any genuine supporter can say otherwise- well they are not a genuine supporter if they think everything is ok Well yes, I completely agree with you... but the idea here is surely to convince EVERYONE, not just our support, of his bad ownership. By all means use those figures, but just be prepared to be shot down repeatedly without a stronger message. "But Shelvey/Diame/Lascelles/Ritchie would have been £20m+ players in today's market" "But look how well you did without investment... why should Ashley care" "But you've managed to still improve your sqaud this summer, even with making a profit. Why should Ashley care about investing more" These are just some of the comments you'll get back. If the infographic is framed so that it's about Rafa's brilliant management, and then add in "just imagine what we could achieve if we had an owner who cared about us improving". That would be a more water tight argument IMO.

I don't know... it's very easy for the press / Ashley's cronies, to turn around and say "look how well we did creating a premier league 10th finish team with next to no spend". There's a risk people will find it impressive.

The best thing you can do, in my opinion, is direct your anger (in a peaceful way) towards Sports Direct and the other companies Ashley is involved in (including Keith Bishop Associates). It's working... slowly, but it's working.

I'd hate to lose Rafa for the sake of hoping people joined in the protests. I'd much prefer to explore as many avenues as possible to put pressure on Ashley as a fanbase without losing the only good thing about the club in the process.