Mort: I’m in charge

[Howaythelads]

To answer NE5,

 

No idea if the new Board will be 'better' than the old. I believe the old Board did well enough to earn the right to make a few mistakes and were unfairly viewed by some fans. They appointed some good managers and backed them (not SBR straight away though which is point i keep making and you keep avoiding). They appointed some sh*te and backed them too.

 

Fair comment, and in my view, all those things are what good boards do, accepting that they made one s**** appointment that defied belief. Everybody makes mistakes, but the basic ambition was there, and that is paramount. I agree with everything you say here.

 

Your view is biased though, no matter what you say. You were happy enough when we appointed Roeder, a relegation specialist, because you could understand the club wanting to do something 'different.' He only bought £15m worth of players, SA has bought more than that already. You can't retort that it wasn't prudent to let Roeder spend more because your opinion is that if you appoint a man you must back him, i.e. Dalgleish, Gullit and Souness.

Maybe this is the club trying something 'different' again, trying to start with youth as heavy investment in the 1st team hasn't cemented us a place in the top 4/6.

 

Not biased. I hated Souness but would still have liked him to succeed because he was manager of Newcastle. I'm only biased because I want NUFC to win above anything, I wasn't particularly happy at appointing Roeder, but thought that he deserved a break, and the club trying something different was worth a stab, so yes you are correct in what you say. I also accepted in the end that he had to go and it hadn't worked out.

 

I can't see that the current youth policy is different, because we have new owners, they are setting out their stall as to how they think the club can succeed, and basically, I don't agree with them that this will lead to automatic success, and in fact I don't think we will attract the best young players if the first team doesn't move upwards.

 

Do you really think that we'd be challenging for a CL place with SA as manager and FS as chairman? Because that's the only criteria you're using to judge the new Board so you must have believed we'd be in the hunt this seaason if FS had stayed.

 

I don't know. I was happy with Allardyce, and we knew he would get backing from the board so it was a matter of how he spent his money. At the moment, I am disappointed that Allardyce appears to be getting things wrong. Patience is one thing [and not all of us have it] but watching someone making obvious errors is something else entirely.

 

Fwiw, i would like to see more spent on the 1st team in January but the players SA wants must be available for the right money, that's life! You don't always get the players you want, when you want. Sometimes you have to build a little slower. SBR wanted Zenden iirc but he didn't want to come and we bought Robert, Bellamy instead of Jeffers, etc.

Personally i think a better time to judge where we are heading will be at the close of the August 08 window.

 

I know we all want the same thing, and i hope we all get it.

 

I agree, I just want to see signs that the clubs owner and chairman understand what it takes to succeed, and Allardyce to show that he understands the game by recognising where we need players most and exercising good judgement in the transfer market. Just now, I don't see either, I'm not happy with what I'm seeing and hearing from both parties.

 

 

 

 

I don't agree with them that this will lead to automatic success, and in fact I don't think we will attract the best young players if the first team doesn't move upwards.

 

At the risk of causing a new debate, isnt this the whole point? The current board dont sound look like they are wanting automatic success. Wouldnt that be the best for the club, as spending huge amounts of money constantly isnt a sustainable way to run a successful business. I agree that investment needs to be made, and i have confindence that the board will back where nexcessary but i dont believe that the board are looking for instant success. And personally, if 10 years down the line the club have progressed singnificantly and is in a very healthy situation then i would be happy.

 

Proabably agree with the second point, although i cant help but think that a lot of youngsters would love to come to a club of this size. We do have an unnaturally large reputation!

 

Blimey!

[fredbob]

... cleaning out all the quotes .....

 

At the risk of causing a new debate, isnt this the whole point? The current board dont sound look like they are wanting automatic success. Wouldnt that be the best for the club, as spending huge amounts of money constantly isnt a sustainable way to run a successful business. I agree that investment needs to be made, and i have confindence that the board will back where nexcessary but i dont believe that the board are looking for instant success. And personally, if 10 years down the line the club have progressed singnificantly and is in a very healthy situation then i would be happy.

 

Proabably agree with the second point, although i cant help but think that a lot of youngsters would love to come to a club of this size. We do have an unnaturally large reputation!

 

you what ?

 

how are the top 4 winning the cups ?

 

 

 

Ok, i thought it would go down this route, apparently there is no compromise in the cyberworld of NE5 and HTL. Everything from club to poster shall be contrived in every possible negative way. It's so extremely naive to believe that there is only one model of success for running a club. (investing, investing, investing) Many clubs have progressed much further than us, quietly going about there business and overally being in a better situation than us. I see this club using there blueprint for success with the added advantage of having huge resources.

 

Just to clarify a little more, because on second look my statement looks ambiguous, i dont think that that the club is looking to achieve automatic success, i genuinely dont, its an opinion and a view on how i think the club is being run. In my opinion, the club is looking at the big picture, i think there will be significant investemtn in the first team but also big investement off the field, to make this club self sustainable. If you look at the teams such as tottenham and Man City, they have been throwing there money around, and seem to be achieveing some level of success, but there future depends entirely on one person. Simple as that. Villa look like they are going down a simialr route to us. They arent looking for instant success. Whats the point of raising the already infalted expectations of an underachieving club? The people in charge of this club have shown good intelligence to not set themselves any targets which would serve no purpose but to raise the expectations of the stand monkeys. You may call that cynical, i believe it is common sense.

 

Remember how the race of the Hare and Tortoise went?

 

The bottom line is that i beleive the club are looking to take things slowly, theres no doubt that they're loooking to the future, and have the clubs best interest at heart. Im happy so far, and if you're already unhappy after 5 months, you really need to take a look at yourselves. Its madness to think you can even form a negative opinion on a board which so far hasnt actually put a foot out of place.

 

 

Bytheway, thats probably my last post, unless you say something momentuously stupid. I'm finding your views a little outdated. You're crticizing the old board whenthey havent actually done anything wrong, you defend the old board suspiciously commited and have very little concept about the effects of the negative decisions the old board made.

 

 

The sad things about your views is the complete ignorance to the  irony that you and HTL miss in you're arguments for the old board and againstt he new board.

 

The irony being that what the old board failed to achieve is now  what the new board need to achieve to prove there success.

 

Hope you see the irony in that.

 

How can you defend someones huge mistakes and make the result of those mistakes someone elses resposbility after 5 months in charge. Undermining and discrediting everything there are attempted to achieve with your single minded views on how a club should be run.

 

Madness

 

I will reiterate this point everytime until you understand the ludicroudly of your arguments, so i guess it wont be my last post afterall

[fredbob]

How many top 10 finishes did we achieve in the last 10 years? How many different managers achieved this success? Did we achieve these on the strength of the club or the strength of tthe managerial skills? Answer me this.

 

Everton, Bolton, the top4(over a period of many years). Charlton before they lost Curbishly.

 

Second point, please see the pervious post as it was modified.

[NE5]

... cleaning out all the quotes .....

 

At the risk of causing a new debate, isnt this the whole point? The current board dont sound look like they are wanting automatic success. Wouldnt that be the best for the club, as spending huge amounts of money constantly isnt a sustainable way to run a successful business. I agree that investment needs to be made, and i have confindence that the board will back where nexcessary but i dont believe that the board are looking for instant success. And personally, if 10 years down the line the club have progressed singnificantly and is in a very healthy situation then i would be happy.

 

Proabably agree with the second point, although i cant help but think that a lot of youngsters would love to come to a club of this size. We do have an unnaturally large reputation!

 

you what ?

 

how are the top 4 winning the cups ?

 

 

 

Ok, i thought it would go down this route, apparently there is no compromise in the cyberworld of NE5 and HTL. Everything from club to poster shall be contrived in every possible negative way. It's so extremely naive to believe that there is only one model of success for running a club. (investing, investing, investing) Many clubs have progressed much further than us, quietly going about there business and overally being in a better situation than us. I see this club using there blueprint for success with the added advantage of having huge resources.

 

Just to clarify a little more, because on second look my statement looks ambiguous, i dont think that that the club is looking to achieve automatic success, i genuinely dont, its an opinion and a view on how i think the club is being run. In my opinion, the club is looking at the big picture, i think there will be significant investemtn in the first team but also big investement off the field, to make this club self sustainable. If you look at the teams such as tottenham and Man City, they have been throwing there money around, and seem to be achieveing some level of success, but there future depends entirely on one person. Simple as that. Villa look like they are going down a simialr route to us. They arent looking for instant success. Whats the point of raising the already infalted expectations of an underachieving club? The people in charge of this club have shown good intelligence to not set themselves any targets which would serve no purpose but to raise the expectations of the stand monkeys. You may call that cynical, i believe it is common sense.

 

Remember how the race of the Hare and Tortoise went?

 

The bottom line is that i beleive the club are looking to take things slowly, theres no doubt that they're loooking to the future, and have the clubs best interest at heart. Im happy so far, and if you're already unhappy after 5 months, you really need to take a look at yourselves. Its madness to think you can even form a negative opinion on a board which so far hasnt actually put a foot out of place.

 

 

Bytheway, thats probably my last post, unless you say something momentuously stupid. I'm finding your views a little outdated. You're crticizing the old board whenthey havent actually done anything wrong, you defend the old board suspiciously commited and have very little concept about the effects of the negative decisions the old board made.

 

The sad things about your views is the complete ignorance to the  irony that you and HTL miss in you're arguments for the old board and againstt he new board.

 

The irony being that what the old board failed to achieve is now  what the new board need to achieve to prove there success.

 

Hope you see the irony in that.

 

How can you defend someones huge mistakes and make the result of those mistakes someone elses resposbility after 5 months in charge. Undermining and discrediting everything there are attempted to achieve with your single minded views on how a club should be run.

 

Madness

 

I will reiterate this point everytime until you understand the ludicroudly of your arguments, so i guess it wont be my last post afterall

 

oh dear. Just when I thought you were improving too.

 

Many [in bold]. This is where you fall down. How many clubs have qualified for europe more than us in the last 15 years ?

 

Every club is dependent on appointing a good manager, who will try win one of the 3 trophies, then fill one of the european slots. We have been more successful than most. The sooner you do this the better. I don't think you will find a single Newcastle United supporter who didn't relish the charge to the top made under Keegan, nor the proclamations that the club wanted success and trophies. Of course you want success and trophies, that is why you play football !!!! What is the point of denying it. It serves as a motivating tool for starters, and sets standards, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it at all.

 

You can act like a big club, or not act like a big club. And basically, not attempting to match and compete with the other big clubs ? well think it through logically and you can tell me what your conclusion is.

 

NUFC are a big club, and need a board and manager to act the part. I think its absolute nonsense to say, for a club like Newcastle, that you will be happy with "progress" in TEN years time.

 

I hope I don't have to remind you of this ludicrous view, for years.

 

To reiterate, when the old board took over the club, this club was light years from even being a stable club in the top flight, playing in front of less than 20,000 supporters. They have left it light years better off.

 

I am only saying that the new board have to match the Champions League qualifications to match them. Are you seriously saying that if, in 10 years time, they haven't done this, they have done better ? Amazing.

 

 

[NE5]

How many top 10 finishes did we achieve in the last 10 years?

 

more than in the previous 40.

 

How many different managers achieved this success?

 

irrelevant. We also played in 2 FA Cup Finals for the first time in 24 years, and the 1950's.

 

Did we achieve these on the strength of the club or the strength of tthe managerial skills? Answer me this.

 

eh ?

 

Everton, Bolton, the top4(over a period of many years). Charlton before they lost Curbishly.

 

Second point, please see the pervious post as it was modified.

 

oh well, I remember when we lost a good manager to Everton, and they were winning the league title when we were in the 2nd division. If you think we are superior to Everton, its only because the board since 1992 have made us so.

 

 

[Syrette]

If you think we are superior to Everton, its only because the board since 1992 have made us so.

 

Crying Jesus etc. Not saying I disagree with you, but I swear I've heard it all before.

[Lotus]

You know, we needn't get personal in these debates. Everybody wants the same thing and sometime all people are arguing over is semantics with their basic points being the same. Other times it's just different people thinking there are different ways of achieving the same ultimate goal, different paths up the mountain and all that.

 

Bit more camaraderie wouldn't go amiss....

[Howaythelads]

blah blah blah....

 

The sad things about your views is the complete ignorance to the  irony that you and HTL miss in you're arguments for the old board and againstt he new board.

 

blah blah blah

 

 

I haven't made any arguments for the old board and against the new board. Just thought I'd let you know. 

 

 

[Howaythelads]

If you think we are superior to Everton, its only because the board since 1992 have made us so.

 

Crying Jesus etc. Not saying I disagree with you, but I swear I've heard it all before.

 

Seemingly people either don't believe it or haven't seen it before, so it's worth repeating for those with their head up their arse.

[Howaythelads]

You know, we needn't get personal in these debates. Everybody wants the same thing and sometime all people are arguing over is semantics with their basic points being the same. Other times it's just different people thinking there are different ways of achieving the same ultimate goal, different paths up the mountain and all that.

 

Bit more camaraderie wouldn't go amiss....

 

Agreed.

 

It's not easy when people claim you've posted comment you haven't actually posted and are also unable to understand something you did post. I'm sure you agree.

[Lotus]

You know, we needn't get personal in these debates. Everybody wants the same thing and sometime all people are arguing over is semantics with their basic points being the same. Other times it's just different people thinking there are different ways of achieving the same ultimate goal, different paths up the mountain and all that.

 

Bit more camaraderie wouldn't go amiss....

 

Agreed.

 

It's not easy when people claim you've posted comment you haven't actually posted and are also unable to understand something you did post. I'm sure you agree.

Yeah, but we could all cut each other a bit more slack....

 

Some people seem more interested in talking instead of listening. I'm NOT thinking of anyone in particular when i say that btw

[Howaythelads]

You know, we needn't get personal in these debates. Everybody wants the same thing and sometime all people are arguing over is semantics with their basic points being the same. Other times it's just different people thinking there are different ways of achieving the same ultimate goal, different paths up the mountain and all that.

 

Bit more camaraderie wouldn't go amiss....

 

Agreed.

 

It's not easy when people claim you've posted comment you haven't actually posted and are also unable to understand something you did post. I'm sure you agree.

Yeah, but we could all cut each other a bit more slack....

 

Some people seem more interested in talking instead of listening. I'm NOT thinking of anyone in particular when i say that btw

 

I'm not bothered if you are thinking of someone, tbh. I'm not paranoid enough to think it's me, but even if it is.....so what. It's a forum.

[Lotus]

You know, we needn't get personal in these debates. Everybody wants the same thing and sometime all people are arguing over is semantics with their basic points being the same. Other times it's just different people thinking there are different ways of achieving the same ultimate goal, different paths up the mountain and all that.

 

Bit more camaraderie wouldn't go amiss....

 

Agreed.

 

It's not easy when people claim you've posted comment you haven't actually posted and are also unable to understand something you did post. I'm sure you agree.

Yeah, but we could all cut each other a bit more slack....

 

Some people seem more interested in talking instead of listening. I'm NOT thinking of anyone in particular when i say that btw

 

I'm not bothered if you are thinking of someone, tbh. I'm not paranoid enough to think it's me, but even if it is.....so what. It's a forum.

Man.....it was a general comment, not directed at you or NE5 at all. I'm being genuine.

 

[Guest bobblyrage]

      To cut in on this debate, and I havent read all 19pages, I'd say most people would agree that the club was due a change at boardroom level, for a number of reasons.

 

      Since 2004 and the Robson sacking the Premiership has changed massively, on the pitch a host of teams (Villa, Man City, Blackburn, Pompey etc) have dumped the poor backward managers and got in new forward thinknig people, can you imagine O'Leary or Souness getting another big job? In the meantime we went backwards with Souness and Roeder, people saw this and ultimately FS had lost the confidence and backing of too many of the supporters, and we'd spent too much money for not enough/any improvement. When the confidence is gone I dont think it can be won back, a lot of people believe everything pre-2004 was despite FS and  I think thats says a lot, he was dead in the water.

 

      Off the pitch with so many foriegn takeovers and promises of cash injections elsewhere we were in danger of just being left behind, as a football team competing for players and as company competing for revenue and customers.  We needed some fresh blood. Mort  has came in and hes been more dynamical already than FS was in he last few seasons (contacting the various fans groups, cheap season tickets for kids). I think the combination of Ashleys financial muscle and contacts in sports business and Mort, a younger more forward thinknig chairman is better for the club.

 

    I think Sir John Hall saw these too and thats why he decided to pull the plug on FS. All good/bad (delete as apropriate!)  things come to an end. As others have said in football you are entitled to nothing, you have to earn your success and earn your fans, and if you think you're entitled to stay in the premiership as you've been there since 1993 and into the champions league as you've been in it before you'll get a nasty surprise. Simiarily if you think you can remain in charge because you helped get the club up in 1993 and then onto the champions league then you also get a shock.

 

 

[Howaythelads]

You know, we needn't get personal in these debates. Everybody wants the same thing and sometime all people are arguing over is semantics with their basic points being the same. Other times it's just different people thinking there are different ways of achieving the same ultimate goal, different paths up the mountain and all that.

 

Bit more camaraderie wouldn't go amiss....

 

Agreed.

 

It's not easy when people claim you've posted comment you haven't actually posted and are also unable to understand something you did post. I'm sure you agree.

Yeah, but we could all cut each other a bit more slack....

 

Some people seem more interested in talking instead of listening. I'm NOT thinking of anyone in particular when i say that btw

 

I'm not bothered if you are thinking of someone, tbh. I'm not paranoid enough to think it's me, but even if it is.....so what. It's a forum.

Man.....it was a general comment, not directed at you or NE5 at all. I'm being genuine.

 

 

Errr, I know. It's what I said.

[NE5]

If you think we are superior to Everton, its only because the board since 1992 have made us so.

 

Crying Jesus etc. Not saying I disagree with you, but I swear I've heard it all before.

 

Well, I sort of agree, thats it incredible that this still needs to be repeated.

 

Sadly, there is always somebody who can't grasp facts and ruins the board !!!!

 

 

[NE5]

You know, we needn't get personal in these debates. Everybody wants the same thing and sometime all people are arguing over is semantics with their basic points being the same. Other times it's just different people thinking there are different ways of achieving the same ultimate goal, different paths up the mountain and all that.

 

Bit more camaraderie wouldn't go amiss....

 

Agreed.

 

It's not easy when people claim you've posted comment you haven't actually posted and are also unable to understand something you did post. I'm sure you agree.

Yeah, but we could all cut each other a bit more slack....

 

Some people seem more interested in talking instead of listening. I'm NOT thinking of anyone in particular when i say that btw

 

I agree. You could say that instead of "talking", that people look at the league positions, status and profile of the club first. Which is all someone like me is saying.

 

Which of course completely negates your argument, so much so I'm amazed people still persist with it.

 

 

[NE5]

      To cut in on this debate, and I havent read all 19pages, I'd say most people would agree that the club was due a change at boardroom level, for a number of reasons.

 

      Since 2004 and the Robson sacking the Premiership has changed massively, on the pitch a host of teams (Villa, Man City, Blackburn, Pompey etc) have dumped the poor backward managers and got in new forward thinknig people, can you imagine O'Leary or Souness getting another big job? In the meantime we went backwards with Souness and Roeder, people saw this and ultimately FS had lost the confidence and backing of too many of the supporters, and we'd spent too much money for not enough/any improvement. When the confidence is gone I dont think it can be won back, a lot of people believe everything pre-2004 was despite FS and  I think thats says a lot, he was dead in the water.

 

       Off the pitch with so many foriegn takeovers and promises of cash injections elsewhere we were in danger of just being left behind, as a football team competing for players and as company competing for revenue and customers.  We needed some fresh blood. Mort  has came in and hes been more dynamical already than FS was in he last few seasons (contacting the various fans groups, cheap season tickets for kids). I think the combination of Ashleys financial muscle and contacts in sports business and Mort, a younger more forward thinknig chairman is better for the club.

 

    I think Sir John Hall saw these too and thats why he decided to pull the plug on FS. All good/bad (delete as apropriate!)  things come to an end. As others have said in football you are entitled to nothing, you have to earn your success and earn your fans, and if you think you're entitled to stay in the premiership as you've been there since 1993 and into the champions league as you've been in it before you'll get a nasty surprise. Simiarily if you think you can remain in charge because you helped get the club up in 1993 and then onto the champions league then you also get a shock.

 

 

Fair comment. Nobody is saying a change may not have been good for the club, only that what we have heard and saw so far isn't so encouraging. The new board DO have to match the old board first, before they can claim to have any success. Why do you - or others - not acknowledge this. It IS possible that they may not match them you know.

 

 

 

 

[Thespence]

Regardless if the the last board in all it various guises was great or not we still won fuck all. For as good as Keegan & Bobby were we still won fuck all, it is result industry & trophies are what we should aspire to win & we dont win them. The main thing the last lot did &  Keegan is they have given us the belief that WE CAN WIN SOMETHING & for the most part we no longer worry about relegation.

 

Not sure who said it but what is wrong with instant success? I will take it. Would it be sustainable not sure but again I would take the hit & break the long period time we have won nothing. Man Utd won loads during there spell of not winning the league but once they won there first league they have marched on.

[fredbob]

Right ok, im still not quite getting through to you, i completely understand how far this club has come, i really do, and i understand that Shepard et al were instrumental vital to the improvement of fortunes of this club. That point we both agree with. Yes?

 

But this isnt the point i am arguing, i just dont understand how you could possibly say anything negative about the board after they've done absolutely nothing wrong.

 

(Apologies to HTL, i thought you were arguing for the old board as well)

 

It boggles the mind.

 

When we talk about the old board, i cant help but think that you dont understand the concept of business, because in the end that is what the club is, a business. I dont understand how you dont understand that no matter how far a business come, if anyone within that business makes any mistake which would set that business back behind other competitors then the person or persons responsible for those mistakes are completely accountable.

 

Look, you keep pointing to the European stat, it isnt really a great litmus test for the performance of the team. In fact, contrary to your "irrelevant" comment i think it is everything but.

 

In those 10 years that we qualified for europe more than any  other team bar 4, we qualified a total of 7 times(?)

 

It seems like a nice stat, but in the same 10 years we qualified directly for europe only.....3 times. All under Sir Bobby......who was consequently sacked for his horrendous achievemtns.

 

Now if you ask me, or anyone else, thats not exactly a stunning stat or a great advert for the boards recent achievements.

 

As ths so called big club you call us, we fininshed in the top 10 only 4 times. 4 times??? Hardly a ringing success for a big club.

 

Now as for ambition and financial baccking from board - your theory for success, i cant help but think that by the more realistic stats (4 top 10 finishes in10 years) paint a completely different picture to your (most euro qualfications outised top 4 stats) - Havent villa therefore finished in the top 10 more often than us? Have they qualified directly for Europe more than us? If so it blows your arguments out the water.

 

For the past 10 years we have digressed so a change in the right direction would be nice for a change, where exactly do you think we;d end up with 10 years progression?

 

Are you Freddy Shepard?

 

 

 

 

 

[Dr Venkman]

 

Are you Freddy Shepard?

 

 

 

 

 

 

we have a winner

[Mowen]

My take on things so far under Ashley and Mort is that we've moved forward from where we were 12 months ago. I don't know whether or not we'll hit the heights we did under Sheppy et al - I sincerely hope so, and then some - but I felt we were starting to go backwards under the previous regime.

[Howaythelads]

Right ok, im still not quite getting through to you, i completely understand how far this club has come, i really do, and i understand that Shepard et al were instrumental vital to the improvement of fortunes of this club. That point we both agree with. Yes?

 

But this isnt the point i am arguing, i just dont understand how you could possibly say anything negative about the board after they've done absolutely nothing wrong.

(Apologies to HTL, i thought you were arguing for the old board as well)

 

It boggles the mind.

 

When we talk about the old board, i cant help but think that you dont understand the concept of business, because in the end that is what the club is, a business. I dont understand how you dont understand that no matter how far a business come, if anyone within that business makes any mistake which would set that business back behind other competitors then the person or persons responsible for those mistakes are completely accountable.

 

Look, you keep pointing to the European stat, it isnt really a great litmus test for the performance of the team. In fact, contrary to your "irrelevant" comment i think it is everything but.

 

In those 10 years that we qualified for europe more than any  other team bar 4, we qualified a total of 7 times(?)

 

It seems like a nice stat, but in the same 10 years we qualified directly for europe only.....3 times. All under Sir Bobby......who was consequently sacked for his horrendous achievemtns.

 

Now if you ask me, or anyone else, thats not exactly a stunning stat or a great advert for the boards recent achievements.

 

As ths so called big club you call us, we fininshed in the top 10 only 4 times. 4 times??? Hardly a ringing success for a big club.

 

Now as for ambition and financial baccking from board - your theory for success, i cant help but think that by the more realistic stats (4 top 10 finishes in10 years) paint a completely different picture to your (most euro qualfications outised top 4 stats) - Havent villa therefore finished in the top 10 more often than us? Have they qualified directly for Europe more than us? If so it blows your arguments out the water.

 

For the past 10 years we have digressed so a change in the right direction would be nice for a change, where exactly do you think we;d end up with 10 years progression?

 

Are you Freddy Shepard?

 

 

Not only am I not arguing FOR the old board I'm not arguing AGAINST the new board.

 

When you start to read properly and when you stop deliberately misrepresenting what people write I will start responding to your points properly. I'm not holding my breath. 

 

I think you need to get a book on the history of Newcastle United for Christmas, or read what is being written by NE5 without some automatic and negative reaction after the first sentence.

 

[Howaythelads]

My take on things so far under Ashley and Mort is that we've moved forward from where we were 12 months ago. I don't know whether or not we'll hit the heights we did under Sheppy et al - I sincerely hope so, and then some - but I felt we were starting to go backwards under the previous regime.

 

Agreed.

[Fatwax]

When all is said and done, the fact of the matter is that the old board and the way in which the club was run was an embarrasment.

 

By no means am I going to take away from the investment in players and stadium expansions and all of that.. but every time I read another one of Shepards comments in the papers, or another scandal - the whore house incident as an example - I just cringed.

 

Since the boards departure, it has been revealed that the club was not too far away from collapsing financially due to the way it had been maintained and was heavily in debt.. I at least feel that our new board adds some professionalism. Even if we aren't storming the premiership, at least I know that the club is being rebuilt.

 

The worst thing of all about the old board though is that they simply did not care about the fans. Argue what you will, but Shepard & Hall saw us as nothing more but cash cows.

 

As far as I see it, I would rather have several seasons of mid-table graft and building with a professional and well run boardroom in place, with the same manager at the helm, rather than the joke that we had before. I don't care what the stats say and I definately will not disagree with the fact that when Dougie and company stepped in it got us into a much better place, but I would rather have what we have now - a developing football club with enormous potential - than the soap opera rubbish that we have had to deal with for so long that made us all out to be jokes.