Are you really going to make a stand?

[PineBarrens]

Depends on what kind of protest or demonstration takes place; if it's unfurling a geographically incorrect banner around parts of the stadium then that's futile. But to say there's nothing people can do is lazy and ignorant of political and social history.

[The Prophet]

In all seriousness though, a pre and post-match protest are limited in what they achieve. Ashley has been threatened, mocked, criticised and has stood firm throughout, although I agree with the sentiment it seems like a pointless exercise.

 

Now I know no one who takes part in the protest actually thinks that alone will scare Mike away, they are merely venting their frustration and anger. Whether I or any fan agrees or disagrees they have a right as paying customers to do this.

 

Now I've supported the club since I was a nipper. I felt the pain of relegation and I'm experiencing the humiliation that the regime is currently dragging us through, just like every other fan. If I really believed a protest or any other action would contribute to Ashley's demise I'd be there. However, he's is a hard nosed hate figure in this city and he damn well knows it, he will sell this club when he feels like it.

 

With this in mind I feel like a lot of supporters there is just no point to this protest, it's just going to end with Sky broadcasting a load of drunkards and charvers running round with misspelt banners. I wish good look to all those attending and I hope I'm wrong, but this is effectively a massive waste of time.

 

[David Icke - Son of God]

It won't make any difference. Ashley's immune to whatever protests we through at him, and it won't make him reconsider anything.

 

So immune he tried to sell the whole club after the first one?

 

After the first one. Yes. But its over a year later and he's had so many protests and demonstrations/b] and chants against him he really dosen't care what we think anymore and it won't influence him.

 

I wish some fucker told me, i'd have turned up for them all.

[binnsy]

just a quick question for the 31% currently saying they won't protest as it won't make any difference.   What will be the final straw then,  if McDonalds are the company who approach AShley in the summer and say we'll sponsor the stadium and also the club but you'll have to change the strip to red and yellow stripes, to which Ashley agrees.  Will that tip you over or will you just carry on regardless again?

 

If he'll sell the rights to the ground he'll quite easily change the colour of the strip and that could easily be his next trick.

 

Stop the bastard now before its too late.

[Guest WashyGeordie]

http://i38.tinypic.com/2cdy9mu.jpg

[JH]

Going to the match, supporting the team, then going home at the final whistle.

 

Why are you mad?!?

[Guest toonlass]

I don't care if people think I am being sentimental here, and I am not trying to be a "soopafan" but there is something I feel.

 

Mike Ashley has come into this club and fucked us over from the start. Chris Mort and he initially acted as is they were there for the supporters and that they were wanting to do their best for the footballing side, by appointing Keegan. However we have found out, as many of us suspected, that we were all being lied to from day one. Ashley couldn't give a toss about the fans, or the club. Buying drinks in Blu Bambu, wearing the black and white shirt may have fooled some, but others still stayed suspicious of his motives.

 

The appointment of Keegan was done as a superficial move to get the fans on his side, and to prey on a sentimentality of days gone by. But again many were suspicious of Wise's role in the club from his day one and as proved in the tribunal we were right to be so. It has been proved that Llambias and Ashley have a track record of doing nothing but lying to us. Transfer dealings were fucked up, Keegan was undermined. Last year's management debarcle was the reason we were relegated. Had Ashley assigned a proven premiership manager back in September 2008 we would have possibly recovered from the shock of Keegan's departure, but Ashley fucked about with Hughton, then Kinnear, then Hughton again and then Shearer to end up with Hughton again. Ridiculous.

 

The relegation was a kick in the stones, but a lot of fans didn't even issue a murmer of dissent. And this is supposed to be a proud club. A club that has seen generations of families go up to St James' Park to see the lads play. It unites my great-grandad, grandad, dad, brothers, me and our kids to be Newcastle supporters. My grandad is 87 and only gave his season ticket up when Ashley came into the club. This club was renowned for a having proud fans, who worked hard, suffered hard conditions and drank hard, and we loved our club.

 

And now, where do we stand. We stand with a team who are lucky to be top of a poor second division. How many games can you say we have dominated this season. I would say 1, at Ipswich. We are allowing Ashley to break up the club, selling any players with talent, for payments that are either coming in dribs and drabs or are vastly under the value of the player, while if we are lucky we are replacing these players with lesser able players. And now he is selling our ground's name to the highest bidder. We have a coach for a manager, we have a casino manager for a Chairman. Are you prepared to put up with this? Or are you going to stand there saying "well, there's nothing I can do about it, so why bother?" Because that attitude is pathetic. The only thing that guarantees nothing will change is if you do nothing.

 

So what is it going to take for some of you to say enough is enough? Or are you so apathetic that you will watch Mike Ashley whore this club to the highest sponsorship bidder, not caring for our tradition and proud past? It guts me to think that there are "supporters" who cannot be bothered to stand up and tell Ashley they have had enough.

[Superior Acuña]

Where? Has one been arranged. If NUST or NUFC.com or whoever publish an arranged protest, yes I will. Sporadic protests will not work.

 

Did you even read the True Faith article?

 

Yes. So? If you're implying that I'm saying NUST must do everything for me, I'm not.  But I think it's their responsibility to organise a protest, as in, where and when.  These things need organisation, and to an extent it must be top-down.  Like the Russian revolution, it might involve the people and all, but you need a Trotsky. 

[Liam Liam Liam O]

Going to the match, supporting the team, then going home at the final whistle.

 

Why are you mad?!?

 

No, just not a proper supporter apparently.

[Guest toonlass]

Where? Has one been arranged. If NUST or NUFC.com or whoever publish an arranged protest, yes I will. Sporadic protests will not work.

 

Did you even read the True Faith article?

 

Yes. So? If you're implying that I'm saying NUST must do everything for me, I'm not.  But I think it's their responsibility to organise a protest, as in, where and when.  These things need organisation, and to an extent it must be top-down.  Like the Russian revolution, it might involve the people and all, but you need a Trotsky. 

 

Where is it? 1pm outside the milburn entrance and a stay back protest after the game. Its been organised and I am sure both True Faith and .com have mentioned it on their sites.

[binnsy]

I don't care if people think I am being sentimental here, and I am not trying to be a "soopafan" but there is something I feel.

 

Mike Ashley has come into this club and f***ed us over from the start. Chris Mort and he initially acted as is they were there for the supporters and that they were wanting to do their best for the footballing side, by appointing Keegan. However we have found out, as many of us suspected, that we were all being lied to from day one. Ashley couldn't give a toss about the fans, or the club. Buying drinks in Blu Bambu, wearing the black and white shirt may have fooled some, but others still stayed suspicious of his motives.

 

The appointment of Keegan was done as a superficial move to get the fans on his side, and to prey on a sentimentality of days gone by. But again many were suspicious of Wise's role in the club from his day one and as proved in the tribunal we were right to be so. It has been proved that Llambias and Ashley have a track record of doing nothing but lying to us. Transfer dealings were f***ed up, Keegan was undermined. Last year's management debarcle was the reason we were relegated. Had Ashley assigned a proven premiership manager back in September 2008 we would have possibly recovered from the shock of Keegan's departure, but Ashley f***ed about with Hughton, then Kinnear, then Hughton again and then Shearer to end up with Hughton again. Ridiculous.

 

The relegation was a kick in the stones, but a lot of fans didn't even issue a murmer of dissent. And this is supposed to be a proud club. A club that has seen generations of families go up to St James' Park to see the lads play. It unites my great-grandad, grandad, dad, brothers, me and our kids to be Newcastle supporters. My grandad is 87 and only gave his season ticket up when Ashley came into the club. This club was renowned for a having proud fans, who worked hard, suffered hard conditions and drank hard, and we loved our club.

 

And now, where do we stand. We stand with a team who are lucky to be top of a poor second division. How many games can you say we have dominated this season. I would say 1, at Ipswich. We are allowing Ashley to break up the club, selling any players with talent, for payments that are either coming in dribs and drabs or are vastly under the value of the player, while if we are lucky we are replacing these players with lesser able players. And now he is selling our ground's name to the highest bidder. We have a coach for a manager, we have a casino manager for a Chairman. Are you prepared to put up with this? Or are you going to stand there saying "well, there's nothing I can do about it, so why bother?" Because that attitude is pathetic. The only thing that guarantees nothing will change is if you do nothing.

 

So what is it going to take for some of you to say enough is enough? Or are you so apathetic that you will watch Mike Ashley whore this club to the highest sponsorship bidder, not caring for our tradition and proud past? It guts me to think that there are "supporters" who cannot be bothered to stand up and tell Ashley they have had enough.

 

spot on Blef, well said.

[Superior Acuña]

Where? Has one been arranged. If NUST or NUFC.com or whoever publish an arranged protest, yes I will. Sporadic protests will not work.

 

Did you even read the True Faith article?

 

Yes. So? If you're implying that I'm saying NUST must do everything for me, I'm not.  But I think it's their responsibility to organise a protest, as in, where and when.  These things need organisation, and to an extent it must be top-down.  Like the Russian revolution, it might involve the people and all, but you need a Trotsky. 

 

Where is it? 1pm outside the milburn entrance and a stay back protest after the game. Its been organised and I am sure both True Faith and .com have mentioned it on their sites.

 

Okay, thanks, I've not seen it, looked on nufc.com.  Will struggle to be there much before game as i'm coming from edinburgh quite late, but i will be there after until i need to get my train back.

[JH]

How someone can suggest any fans weren't completely devestated or angered by Ashley last year and the result of us being relegated is laughable.

 

There was a point when supporting the team was seen as a positive thing; now it's apparently a pathetic stance to take - we're not a set of football fans anymore if supporting the team comes second on the list.

[Superior Acuña]

How someone can suggest any fans weren't completely devestated or angered by Ashley last year and the result of us being relegated is laughable.

 

There was a point when supporting the team was seen as a positive thing; now it's apparently a pathetic stance to take - we're not a set of football fans anymore if supporting the team comes second on the list.

 

I don't think anybody is critcising you for supporting the team.

[Guest toonlass]

How someone can suggest any fans weren't completely devestated or angered by Ashley last year and the result of us being relegated is laughable.

 

There was a point when supporting the team was seen as a positive thing; now it's apparently a pathetic stance to take - we're not a set of football fans anymore if supporting the team comes second on the list.

 

Who said anything about not supporting the team? We will be there to support the team. But where was the reaction to our relegation last season? Where was the reaction to Alan Shearer being strung along like a fucking muppet while Ashley sat there laughing at us. I can suggest some fans have meekly taken what Ashley has been doling out because that is the impression given. They are still buying their beer from the kiosks in the ground, despite it "being fucking overpriced shite" according to my mate that I go to the match with while he still goes and buys at least two pints of the stuff at half time. They are still buying shirts from the shop. They are still drinking in Shearer's bar before and after the game. They are still buying their sports gear from Sports Direct. Massive reaction to Mike Ashley's incompetance.

[The Prophet]

We all know what Ashley has done though. We don't need telling how bad things are and we don't condone the idiotic acts he's commited. Most supporters have had enough, they've been through the mill and it's shite.

 

You don't think Ashley reads the papers or watches the TV? He'll be fully aware we've had enough, and he'll be fully aware he's a hate figure. He's been unhappy here for a while and he still hasn't budged, you think a daft, one off protest will change that?

 

What bothers me is other so called "supporters" telling me how I should act and behave as a fellow supporter. So you go ahead have your protest, I hope I'm wrong and it's a success, but I'll be shocked if it does little more than give David Craig a change to earn his pay cheque for the week.

[Guest toonlass]

We all know what Ashley has done though. We don't need telling how bad things are and we don't condone the idiotic acts he's commited. Most supporters have had enough, they've been through the mill and it's shite.

 

You don't think Ashley reads the papers or watches the TV? He'll be fully aware we've had enough, and he'll be fully aware he's a hate figure. He's been unhappy here for a while and he still hasn't budged, you think a daft, one off protest will change that?

 

What bothers me is other so called "supporters" telling me how I should act and behave as a fellow supporter. So you go ahead have your protest, I hope I'm wrong and it's a success, but I'll be shocked if it does little more than give David Craig a change to earn his pay cheque for the week.

 

Well there you go then. I am bothered by supporters sitting on their arses doing fuck all to change the situation, and you are bothered by supporters telling you how you should act. So you sit there and do bugger all, but don't bother complaining anymore ok?

[binnsy]

We all know what Ashley has done though. We don't need telling how bad things are and we don't condone the idiotic acts he's commited. Most supporters have had enough, they've been through the mill and it's s****.

 

You don't think Ashley reads the papers or watches the TV? He'll be fully aware we've had enough, and he'll be fully aware he's a hate figure. He's been unhappy here for a while and he still hasn't budged, you think a daft, one off protest will change that?

 

What bothers me is other so called "supporters" telling me how I should act and behave as a fellow supporter. So you go ahead have your protest, I hope I'm wrong and it's a success, but I'll be shocked if it does little more than give David Craig a change to earn his pay cheque for the week.

 

Thats the point though,  there's only been "one daft protest" as you  put it,  in which he re-acted with ok you win, i'll sell up and apparently put the club up for sale and the fans just sat back, went back to buying the drinks, the merchandise etc and he sat there laughing his cock off at us.  The initial protest and boycotts should have been kept up and the pressure kept on the bastard to get out of the club.

 

My own personal view is that he's never been selling the club,  if he is/was desperate to get rid then it would be sold by now, in the time he's had the club on the market about half a dozen teams have changed hand, christ Pompey have been sold twice!!  I'm not trying to tell you what to do i'm just shocked at the apathy and defeatist attitude among our fans.

[Big Geordie]

Blef The apathy that exists in many of our 'fans' is the real danger and this is what Ashley has been building his campaign on. People who might whinge to their mates in the boozer, but will still turn up, buy the tops/food at the ground and accept what they are given. These people are the 30000 customers that Graeme Souness commented upon some years ago. I'm no lover of Souness, but in this instance he is right. Too many fans who don't care enough and will happily bend over whilst Shepherd/Ashley gives them a good buggering.

 

If more people climbed off the fence and joined in the real opposition to the regime, then he would be worried. Until then (as the poll suggests) - it's not going to change any time soon.

[Guest toonlass]

We all know what Ashley has done though. We don't need telling how bad things are and we don't condone the idiotic acts he's commited. Most supporters have had enough, they've been through the mill and it's s****.

 

You don't think Ashley reads the papers or watches the TV? He'll be fully aware we've had enough, and he'll be fully aware he's a hate figure. He's been unhappy here for a while and he still hasn't budged, you think a daft, one off protest will change that?

 

What bothers me is other so called "supporters" telling me how I should act and behave as a fellow supporter. So you go ahead have your protest, I hope I'm wrong and it's a success, but I'll be shocked if it does little more than give David Craig a change to earn his pay cheque for the week.

 

Thats the point though,  there's only been "one daft protest" as you  put it,  in which he re-acted with ok you win, i'll sell up and apparently put the club up for sale and the fans just sat back, went back to buying the drinks, the merchandise etc and he sat there laughing his cock off at us.  The initial protest and boycotts should have been kept up and the pressure kept on the bastard to get out of the club.

 

My own personal view is that he's never been selling the club,  if he is/was desperate to get rid then it would be sold by now, in the time he's had the club on the market about half a dozen teams have changed hand, christ Pompey have been sold twice!!   I'm not trying to tell you what to do i'm just shocked at the apathy and defeatist attitude among our fans.

 

[Doug]

Protesting at the Milburn entrance at 1pm will almost certainly unsettle the playing staff arriving for the game. The foriegn lads in particular will wonder when the hassle will end. January, they may start hoping.

 

[David Icke - Son of God]

The naysayers are missing the point - protesting may not change anything immediately but it'll make his life more uncomfortable. He takes us for a bunch of mugs who'll sing a few nasty songs before buying the latest kit and a pie and pint before settling down to watch the match. While a sustained set of protests may not see him wither and sell up immediately it'll give him food for thought.

 

I personally cannot sit there quietly watching my team in the same stadium I visited only a few years earlier to watch Champions League football while that chubby fucker smugly rubs his hands only a few hundred yards away thinking he's pulled off another PR masterstroke. If you can fair enough, but I pay my money to watch my team and i'm going to do what the fuck I like.

[madras]

The naysayers are missing the point - protesting may not change anything immediately but it'll make his life more uncomfortable. He takes us for a bunch of mugs who'll sing a few nasty songs before buying the latest kit and a pie and pint before settling down to watch the match. While a sustained set of protests may not see him wither and sell up immediately it'll give him food for thought.

 

I personally cannot sit there quietly watching my team in the same stadium I visited only a few years earlier to watch Champions League football while that chubby f***er smugly rubs his hands only a few hundred yards away thinking he's pulled off another PR masterstroke. If you can fair enough, but I pay my money to watch my team and i'm going to do what the f*** I like.

ther only time to protest is after the game once the last of our players have left the pitch. 9hopefully after cheering them after picking up 3 points and adding healthily to the goal difference)

[David Icke - Son of God]

The naysayers are missing the point - protesting may not change anything immediately but it'll make his life more uncomfortable. He takes us for a bunch of mugs who'll sing a few nasty songs before buying the latest kit and a pie and pint before settling down to watch the match. While a sustained set of protests may not see him wither and sell up immediately it'll give him food for thought.

 

I personally cannot sit there quietly watching my team in the same stadium I visited only a few years earlier to watch Champions League football while that chubby f***er smugly rubs his hands only a few hundred yards away thinking he's pulled off another PR masterstroke. If you can fair enough, but I pay my money to watch my team and i'm going to do what the f*** I like.

ther only time to protest is after the game once the last of our players have left the pitch.

 

Horseshite. This attitude needs to die because it's baseless nonsense.

 

Anyway, even if it was true I couldn't give a fuck whether Jonas is a bit upset at the fact i'm calling the club owner a cunt or not.

[JH]

So what happens when we're midtable and the rest of our decent players bugger off because they hate performing in such a hostile atmosphere?