Armchair Pundit

Christ on a bike, isn't this sorted yet?! Last day before the Saudi weekend isn't it?

I'd still prefer Rafa back but Poch is a close second I guess, he seems like a nice enough chap and did a good job at the Spuds until The Snake Levy tied his hands on transfers.

https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-the-only-two-newcastle-players-safe-from-the-axe-named-amid-big-sky-update/ Saying the only two players safe after the takeover would be Dúbravka and Saint-Maximin. I'd chuck Lacelles and Almiron in there too personally, maybe the Longstaffs as well. Also, I wonder if Joelinton would actually be worth keeping if he was played in position by a decent manager.

I wouldn't put it past Ashley to try and inflict the worst next owner on us possible, one that has the least amount of potential to improve us. He's spiteful and vindictive enough to want to stitch us up one last time as long as he's getting the same fee paid for the club, I can't imagine he's going to want to see someone come in and show how much of a dogsh*t owner he was or more importantly, see the fans be happy.

Current bollocks aside, why does Bubbles' hand double hate Newcastle United so much?

This is a perfect example of how propaganda can get to someone Lol, you're totally right, I know what it is too - I'm thinking he could be the new Terry Mac, putting the cones out and nipping to the bookies for the players

Without direct links to Ashley I may be a little more acceptable of Steve Bruce keeping on til the end of the season and maybe even including him in the club to some capacity going forward. I don't think he's got the tactical or studious ability that we'll need playing to a higher level but he probably does bring some motivation to the club and perhaps would help encourage the playing staff towards the more localised link and love of the club. That said, I could just be being soft because I keep hearing examples of how he's such a nice bloke

... I just want closure... this constant waiting in messing my unstable, lockdown sanity up! :'(

C'mon FA please get on with it!!! The amount of productivity I'm losing through repeatedly checking for updates is embarrassing!

I'd settle for when his screwed up hairy hog faced heed explodes when the takeover is complete!

Can I ask, just because I think it's a pertinent question: given the choice, would all those showing their clear disgust and hatred of Saudi Arabia prefer to stay with Mike Ashley's regime rather than the Saudi's buy us? I'm just curious as to how much weight they put in to their convictions or whether it's a bandwagon to be jumped on. If Ashley is the preference then fair enough, if not then I don't understand how you'll ever be able to enjoy supporting the club or any future successes under a PIF regime.

Bringing in anyone other than Rafa might be a bad start in terms of popularity for a large portion of fans - Poch, Allegri, etc, all fantastic managers but they don't know the club, the area. Are they the sort of managers that could build a club from the ground up, advising on all aspects to make it as professional as possible? Would they 'get it'?

And yet it appears that AI themselves don't have a pristine record. Don't get me wrong, the sentiment of what they supposedly stand for in war torn areas, oppressive regimes and the like is something to applaud, but if buying the club has a good impact on thousands of lives what business is it of there's to condemn it. As I've said before, I'm not supporting Saudi Arabia, I'm just giving them the benefit of the doubt and distancing their businesses from their historical issues while keeping my interests purely my own. Can I turn a blind eye to what they've done in the past, I'd rather not but maybe I can to some degree, I'm not a human rights protester myself, I'm open enough about that, it doesn't affect me directly and if they can do some good elsewhere with a different venture like our club then I'll concentrate on that. I don't see why Newcastle or it's fans should be penalised in enjoying the change of ownership by people that have nothing to do with them. So their workplace is toxic, is comparable to SA's regime? Come on now. Maybe, the rest of the post stands though.

And a series on Amazon/Netflix documenting our storming of the league through development That would only end in disaster I've not watched the Man City one, just the Mackems one.

And a series on Amazon/Netflix documenting our storming of the league through development

And yet it appears that AI themselves don't have a pristine record. Don't get me wrong, the sentiment of what they supposedly stand for in war torn areas, oppressive regimes and the like is something to applaud, but if buying the club has a good impact on thousands of lives what business is it of there's to condemn it. As I've said before, I'm not supporting Saudi Arabia, I'm just giving them the benefit of the doubt and distancing their businesses from their historical issues while keeping my interests purely my own. Can I turn a blind eye to what they've done in the past, I'd rather not but maybe I can to some degree, I'm not a human rights protester myself, I'm open enough about that, it doesn't affect me directly and if they can do some good elsewhere with a different venture like our club then I'll concentrate on that. I don't see why Newcastle or it's fans should be penalised in enjoying the change of ownership by people that have nothing to do with them.

I'm not sure they do, just representing a large portion of fan's opinion on it I'd have thought. As with most things, supposed liberals and martyrs are always the loudest to draw attention to themselves.

I always imagine he's got a really high-pitched squeaky voice like penfold.

That was after the owners were in place, shutting the gate after the horse had bolted. Plus it wasn't plastered everywhere like this seems to be, we're just getting dicked as usual.

Hmm, leave what's left of the club in the hands of someone like Ashley to abuse indefinitely or accept an owner who has historical crimes but alleges that they are now 'trying to go straight'... I don't see how there's even a choice here. It's also starting to nark me that such a fuss is being made when there's clear examples elsewhere throughout the sport of the exact same issue but nothing has been done about them. I can see the FA shafting this deal for a few brownie points and we'll miss out on a once in a lifetime chance of something amazing happening to the club, it's fans and the whole region. While I was excited last week, I'm now extremely nervous about it happening, I have a bad feeling that it's going to get rejected because of all the bleeding heart liberals whinge-arsing (as I said, I'm of the camp that isn't bothered with our potential owner's historical exploits and am willing to give them a chance to better their profile).

I don't recall them kicking off when any of the other aforementioned 'abusers' have bought clubs though.

Squires can bollocks with his holy than thou shit, it doesn't bring anything other than further misery for the sake of being condescending. I don't have to praise the hand that feeds me but I sure as hell don't have to bite it if it's going to make my own life unhappy!

I think we need someone sensible, with a good idea of how a football club should be set up, someone more studious and at the same time, ultimately professional, with the club's long term interests at heart. For that, I can't see past Rafa for being the very best option. I don't want some gung-ho, mercenary, top billing manager coming in, I want someone who can plan for the long term, build around upgrades to every part of the club. Rafa showed what he's about and he's exactly what we need imo.