Whitley mag

20 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

I wonder if he thinks Howe has too much input? Eddie does like a particular profile of player, and he's very hands on across a lot of roles at the club. Maybe little Dan wanted a bit more limelight?

Howe was quoted as saying that the biggest credit he would give Ashworth was that he didn’t use his power when he came in to change the transfer approach. He alluded to the fact that nothing had fundamentally changed since the first January window.

7 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

His main remit doesn't seem to be transfers anyway.

 

Man U haven't been run like an elite professional outfit. He's there to institute that primarily.

 

Whispers that he's been a bit unhappy here. Our approach to recruiting professionals seems a little more scattergun than Man U's (the timing and their position is a lot better - they can largely ignore this season) so there's been jostling for power here that he might not have to do at Man U.

Surely he’s the man who has been appointing all these analysts and scouts ?

I certainly don’t think everything is a well oiled machine at the club currently, but by his own description he’s the man that puts everything in place, would be interesting to know why he’s been unhappy with the set up currently, not that we’ll ever find out.

Could look rather foolish if Man U baulk at this and appoint someone else, I’m presuming they know about the release clause, or more likely the arrogant cunts think we’ll roll over as per.

Can see Man U standing firm until the summer then relenting and paying it.

Telegraph Sport understands that Newcastle will now insist on a compensation fee of more than £20 million if Manchester United want him to start work before the stipulated length of his gardening leave, as Ashworth’s contractually agreed period in which he is unable to work for another top Premier League club is twice as long as initially thought.

That sum to release him from his contract is almost unheard of but Newcastle have always maintained they were “very well protected” as soon as Manchester United’s interest was known in the 52-year-old.

45 minutes ago, TheGuv said:

Nope. I was literally pointing at the bars saying “what do you think they’re here for?!”

 

It was like being in a Roman Coliseum - trying to explain to a baying crowd  

 

Utterly pointless and hopeless. There was 3 of us out of the entire block, second row from the front. The taps on the back and the shouting was just ridiculous. And then when we had the penalty - and everyone around us in that block continued to sit down - I was just like - what is the point in this? £44 a ticket man. 
 

Close to giving up on it all tbh. Waste of time and money. Not an enjoyable experience at all. 

I gave up after Dortmund and don’t miss it one bit, the match day experience has gone for me and unless the club do something to help the atmosphere I won’t be back.

Key summer for Howe but even the top managers are only as good as their recruitment, needs to be backed to bring in 4 first team players and most importantly needs to nail it this summer and actually improve the starting 11.

Where in the FA cup 5th round why anyone would want this season to end is beyond me, if we get knocked out that’s another matter, but years gone by cup fever would be gripping Tyneside now and that’s with us having far worse teams than we have now.

1 minute ago, TheGuv said:

Yep. Ended up having loads of abuse so ended up sitting down, as I couldn’t be arsed. 
 

I was in an overwhelming minority.

 

Another blunder of the ballot btw. I was really excited to be in safe standing today btw. Turns out plenty of fans don’t agree. They were sat down for the penalty ffs.

Sad to hear fanbase has changed no doubt about it, undoubtedly an awkward situation and not helped by ballot.

1 minute ago, TheGuv said:

Worst I’ve ever experienced today. 30

mins to get in. I was in Level 7 standing section and repeatedly told to sit down. 
 

Don’t even recognise the fan base any more. 

Did you explain it’s the standing section and politely tell them to fuck off ?

They look a handful up top with Tavernier, Semenyo and Solanke, hopefully lessons learned from Luton and Forrest at home.

Don’t think the current version of Callum Wilson is particularly a miss, looks laboured and struggles to hold the ball up recently.

We might miss having a focal point especially at home, but a front 3 of Barnes, Gordon and Almiron could be electric if they click.

If we are staying at SJP I want to see it completely transformed like the Bernabau has been. Think just extending the Gallowgate would be a short term fix at huge cost, I’m hoping they’ve got something up their sleeve that blows everyone’s mind and makes SJP one of the best stadiums around.

All part of the negotiation not a chance they wait 12 months for him.

Just now, FloydianMag said:

My daughter did work on the master plan, she’s left local planning now acting as a consultant nationally. So not all lost still a sliver of hope.

I’m sure someone on here a while back said the council had actively encouraged club to look at this site but they weren’t interested.

Just hope they know more than they’ve let on about feasibility of expanding SJP, or we could be left with no options bar an out of town stadium, which would be unpalatable to vast majority.

Think Castle Leazes is the only alternative for a new stadium now and that comes with massive issues to overcome.

Hopefully, these architects can come up with something spectacular for a full renovation of SJP in line with the Bernabau.

2 hours ago, Zero said:

 

To be honest I always wonder what’s Howe’s position when it comes to transfers. 

I think Hopes article below whatever you think of him sounds very probable. I don’t think Ashworth has fallen out with anyone, but the decision making process is probably slowed by PIF and Howe does have final veto on transfers, whether folk think that is the right approach or not.

‘When Dan Ashworth gave his opening speech to Newcastle’s recruitment team at a hotel overlooking the River Tyne, he told them he would not be at the club forever. There was, he said, an optimal period for a sporting director to do his work before leaving with his processes in place.

But neither he nor anyone connected to Newcastle believed that time would come just 20 months later. The truth is, Ashworth’s work at St James’ Park is not done. Far from it, in fact. And that, in part, is one of the reasons he will likely leave for Manchester United.

What Ashworth hoped to implement at Newcastle will take longer than he expected, and some of what he had hoped to influence has been beyond his control. He has not been handed the keys to the kingdom. Rather, they will forever reside in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where we can reveal Ashworth attended meetings with the club’s majority owners at the start of last month.

There, it is likely he was asked about his own future, given Mail Sport reported before Christmas that the 52-year-old was expected to become Man United’s new sporting director, once Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS deal was ratified. He is close to Sir Dave Brailsford – INEOS director of sport - and a formal approach is now being prepared and expected within St James’.

But why would Ashworth want to go? It is important to state that, to our knowledge, there has been no fallout and all relations remain good, even if there is a want among Newcastle’s hierarchy to avoid a period of prolonged speculation. If Man United want him, they need to knock at the front door. When that approach comes, we expect Ashworth will tell his current employers he wishes to go. It is thought Newcastle would demand compensation in excess of £6million and insist on a period of gardening leave of up to a year. Their preference would be for him to remain, but an agreement is now likely to be reached as early as next week.

At Old Trafford, sources say, Ashworth would have far greater control. There is the lure of an increased salary, being closer to home and, significantly, the draw of being the man charged with re-aligning the biggest club in the world.

Those are the pull factors, but what about the push? It all comes back to autonomy. Ashworth uses an analogy about being ‘the man at the centre of the wheel, connecting the spokes of the different departments’. At Newcastle, however, there is more than one wheel, and all roads lead back to Riyadh.

Decision-making at the club is ‘process driven’, and very little is signed off without the say-so of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. This can often take weeks. Sources also say there are ‘blurred lines’ over the original plans and remit to which Ashworth signed up when joining from Brighton in the summer of 2022.

There are also the UK-based owners - Amanda Staveley, Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Jamie Reuben. Again, sources insist Ashworth has a good relationship with all concerned, but his approach to business is measured, whereas others can sometimes be led by emotion, even if well intended.

With Eddie Howe, meanwhile, Ashworth is not part of the manager’s inner circle. That is not to suggest friction - they get on well and there is mutual respect - but that is just how Howe has always operated. Along with coaches Jason Tindall, Stephen Purches, Graeme Jones and nephew Andy Howe - head of technical scouting - he has a close-knit group in which he confides. Ashworth arrived eight months after the head coach and the chain of command was already established.

Howe has the final say on transfers and, contrary to wider belief, Ashworth is not a talent-spotter. Rather, he oversees recruitment and negotiates and concludes deals. At Newcastle, his focus has been as much on revamping the scouting network, from academy to first team, both domestically and globally.

But to the backdrop of his efforts have been financial fair play rules and the frustration of a strict limit on spending, evidenced by a January window in which Newcastle made no signings. For Ashworth, there will be a realisation that progress at Man United, by comparison, would be accelerated.

Ironically, we understand there are scouting meetings on Tyneside this week, with foreign scouts flying in for debriefs and planning summits led by Ashworth. They usually have a group meal the night before attending a home game, and Newcastle host Bournemouth on Saturday. For those present, it could well have the feel of the Last Supper’.

Not the best source but expands on articles where he isn’t happy with the role at club.

If true a bit worrying as surely he was brought in to have final say on football matters.

https://www.footballinsider247.com/dan-ashworth-eddie-howe-and-too-many-voices-why-newcastle-chief-is-quitting-for-man-united/

22 minutes ago, Joelinton7 said:

Can anybody else just not be arsed with it now. Just read Ashworth’s first priority (were he to stay) would be to sell a top player. Literally exactly what we were under Ashley. I’m not comparing these owners to Ashley, they’re the complete opposite but as soon as our takeover was confirmed it seemed like rule after rule was brought in to stop us in our tracks.

 

If our top board members are jumping ship to a team we should be  looking to overtake  then what actually has changed. It’s a closed shop and it will remain that way without successful legal challenges. 
 

I thought our days of being a “stepping stone club” were over but it appears not with Bruno, Isak, Joelinton, Trippier etc being linked with moves away and us seemingly having no choice in the matter because of PSR. 
 

Our academy needs gutting and restarting which will take years. Any gain we make is instantly evaporated by some edict from the red two. The ONLY chance any club had is to be taken over by a sovereign wealth fund and now that isn’t even enough. We need to fuck off the PL and start a new league with the other 14. Leave the 6 to eat each other alive. 

 

 

 

A large part of the other 14 are complicit with owners happy to trundle along and not have to invest.

Until an independent regulator seizes control self interest and greed will rule.

On a positive note we will get there it’s just going to take longer than we want.

Edwards article is actually quite a good read for once and it certainly confirms where not a soft touch who rolls over anymore.

No way will the Mancs wait 12 months for him, if they want him it’s going to cost big money.

The only thing that bothers me is the intel on us he takes with him, would hope any settlement includes not being able to sign our players.

Just now, TBG said:

Can't help thinking he's FORCED Krafth to sign a new deal to weaken us next season.

Watch out for 5 year contracts for Lascelles, Ritchie and Dummett before Friday.

1 minute ago, SUPERTOON said:

Will be remembered for signing a midfielder for 55 million who can’t play and a left back who can’t get a game ?

The only thing I’ll say is that I think the transfer strategy has been very risk averse since he signed. I was expecting a bit more in terms of South American market as Brighton have exploited. Whether that would have come down the line we’ll never know now.

It won’t be Michael Edwards from a couple of things I’ve been reading, the reason he turned down Liverpool is because he’s started his own analytics business and is prioritising that.

I really hope we play hard ball over the compensation here and if they want him without the gardening leave it’s an extra 10 million on top.

Wonder why Edwards snubbed a return to Liverpool, would do anything it takes to get him in if the worst happens here.