TheBrownBottle

If we lived in a rational world, you’d knock the bugger down and pay the Mackems a fee to play at the SOS for a season or two. But we don’t live in a rational world, and I’m not a rational person so I’d fucking hate that outcome like every other irrational person

In terms of Strawberry Place, were an extension to the Gallowgate feasible (and I’m still not convinced that it is structurally unless something is done with the Metro station), then it is perfectly possible to build over the road and leave it intact (Ajax’s stadium has a motorway running under it). Leaving Strawberry Place is situ is the easy bit. As for Leazes Terrace, it won’t be touched and quite bloody right too. There’s been enough unnecessary damage to Georgian Newcastle done over the years. Adding a small additional tier onto the East Stand (which would need a full KD and rebuild on the current footprint) might be an option if you can get permission. It all just looks like a fucking massive ball ache from a CE point of view. The cost, if it can work, would be astronomical and completely unviable as a money-making venture. If the PIF wants to spunk quarter of a billion on it, that’s their business tbf - just so long as the cost doesn’t land on the club’s accounts as a debt.

It’s the most minor of minor issues, but if the East stand is rebuilt in any way shape or form put the TV cameras in there. It would look far more impressive to people around the world if they were looking at the Milburn

Fair enough - but to the last point you raise - he wasn’t starting with a ramshackle club facing financial oblivion and relegation to the Third Division. He was taking on a team with talented players, bottom of the top division after a handful of games due to mismanagement, in the process of extending the ground to being the second biggest in the country and comfortably one of Europe’s richest clubs. He did a really good job at Newcastle. Keegan did an unbelievable job at Newcastle.

I’m just about Eddie Howe’s age. Robson took over two years after Keegan left - it’s hardly a massive gap between the two. Dalglish and Gullit did poor jobs, but the club had huge spending power and plenty of talented players to build upon. The notion of KK being a ‘three year flash in the pan’ is ludicrous - it was five years, for a start - and Robson’s best period literally covered three years. And I’d argue that NUFC roughly has the global levels of respect of Everton or Leeds. The ground was rebuilt before Robson arrived. This is the club Keegan built. Robson did a good job for about three years.

Hmm, you sure about that? English football’s biggest superstar of the ‘70s wasn’t loved or popular nationally?

Those daft cunts have sang it for decades. Blackburn has a version too. It’s weird because I don’t even think the song is really known outside of football - and it is of course inextricably linked with NUFC. It’s effectively the national anthem of Tyneside.

I keep having repeated bad dreams about missing the game. It’s on at 3:30am in Sydney - and there has been the odd game where I’ve got the Sunday kickoff times wrong and set my alarm for the wrong time. Or the alarm doesn’t go off. I’m terrified that I’m going to wake up, finding I’ve slept through it, and we’ve won the thing. It’s worse than that one about doing an exam at school in your jarmas.

Yeah, I agree that’s got a lot to do with it. He definitely held a place in the national affection. Don’t get me wrong, I certainly didn’t mean it as a criticism of Robson nor his time at SJP - but his lofty status at NUFC as a NUFC figure is, for me, overstated.

One of the things I’ve always found a bit weird about it is that while I genuinely believe Keegan saved and rebuilt the club and in some style, Robson did a good job at what was at the time one of the richest clubs on earth. Don’t get me wrong, going to matches home and away from 2001-04 was fun - I was there - but if you’d asked me in 2004 after he left if in twenty years time NUFC supporters would be making gaudy shite venerating him like he’s the saint of the club I’d have laughed like a drain. It’s beyond odd - it’s like everyone else has formed a different collective memory. There’s a statue outside the ground of him - but Milburn’s was moved; nothing for Gallacher, Harvey, MacDonald etc etc. It’s being a stranger in your own memories.

Well there’s my new screensaver sorted. It’s a touching tribute, and who ever got into trouble for touching?

Yes, I’d certainly have more sympathy there it has to be said

Loyalty, though, is meaningless in the context of ‘supporting’ the club. It’s not as if I’m going to change who I support - I’m from Newcastle. Other options are not available. Those who, unlike me, didn’t stop going in the Ashley years and have the ST & points should absolutely be front of the queue - and if there’s no tickets left when they’ve had their chance, that’s absolutely fair too. Sitting on my arse watching every game on telly isn’t the same commitment to the club and its coffers as going home and away each week - and the tyranny of distance now that I don’t live in the UK isn’t a just reason to feel hard done by, either. Cup finals should be the reward for those lads and lasses who go week-in week-out, not a jolly day out for those who weren’t there the rest of the time - which includes me.

True (or at least in was) in Greece. This is why you see many business with rebar sticking out of the tops of the walls. They’re not bad builders - just bad at social contracts.

A sensible, measured response - and the only one likely to achieve results. ?

If that one is true then they’re completely fucked under FFP rules and PL regs, though I suspect that HMRC are the ones they should fear in terms of the off-the-books payments made to individuals

There’s nothing in the PL rules about being state-owned. The issue wasn’t state-ownership; it was the state doing the owning. They tried to ensure that it was the case NUFC would be state-owned so that they could block the takeover due to the crimes of the KSA in terms of piracy. The PL rules state that you can fail the O&D test if it can be reasonable shown that you would have been convicted of a crime elsewhere i.e. in a UK court. The idea is to stop people of dubious character but without conviction becoming directors (MBS is of dubious character but it hardly likely to be convicted)

That’s right Rix might give Adam Johnson hope for life after the nonce wing. How the fuck the man continued to find work around young people is baffling

I remember you falling away in 97/98 - it was a really good side Jefferies assembled. I can remember watching you lose 3-0 to Rangers with three or four games to go which ended your push - I did want you to win (like most neutrals). Didn’t you win the Scottish Cup that season too?

From memory, didn’t Peter Marr get close to doing this? I think it’s mooted a few times in the past.

Yep. It’s always worth remembering that the PL breakaway in 1992 was about the elite greedily hoarding wealth away from the rest of the footballing pyramid. It had sod all to do with the quality of the ‘product’, nor the FA’s shameful reason behind backing it - the betterment of the England team (which incidentally was explained as the reason to reduce the number of games to be in line with Serie A of the time - an 18-team league. Funnily enough, that principle was also quickly forgotten …)

I think those who doubted also have their answer re the club’s seriousness re PL regs and FFP. Staveley being pally with Masters these days is another clue. I suspect the PL got assurances re NUFC’s model - off the record, of course. The club will be grown in a measured, sustainable fashion. This does not mean that the club won’t reach where PIF wants it - but it will take years of gradually increasing commercial deals (with reasonable separateness from PIF) to get to where they want to go. A true 5-10 year plan. So for those worried about NUFC re this, don’t be.

The PL is a joke mind. They played games with our takeover then dropped everything literally the day after KSA paid off Bein. Then within a week of the govt’s outlining of new governance for football, they shit their pants and get tough on Man City. It’s a complete disgrace, and there should be an independent body running the game. Charges going back to 2009 for City - as if the PL were blind to this. For what’s its worth, I’d be amazed if titles are stripped - but I’d also be surprised if there aren’t serious consequences. Significant points deductions, fines and UEFA bans (European qualification is still in the gift of the FA, not UEFA).

Yep, add me to that list - sums up what I’d want and also the truth of the past 18 months. Ashley’s incompetence fucked the club, and we haven’t been bankrolled - PIF have put about £30m in so far, which wouldn’t be outlandish for any new owner. Sensible ownership without the stain and hassle of a dictatorship’s wealth fund would be ideal

He’s from Blyth, though - haven’t they heard? I think you’re right, BTW. Though I suspect Trippier vs Rashford is the one which could really count. I wonder how far up Trippier will risk going? We’ll do a high press no matter what, but I’m curious to see if Trippier will be a little deeper than normal.