J7 Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 This isn't a knee-jerk, but with the club plateauing (imo) under Ashley, and unlikely to sell up any time soon due to his stubborn negotiating and a lack of buyers in the market, do people think that if we were to get relegated again (still a big 'if') then Ashley would actively look to sell up and take a loss? I think the chances would certainly be increased, with a serious backlash and probable desertion from fans. But unless there are buyers out there that are willing to invest, we're stuck with him. The saying 'be careful what you wish for' is very obvious with ownership, but I think it's obvious that this great club will never full fill its potential with this clown running it. It will always be Sports Direct interest before NUFC, and until that changes we're going in circles at best. does that mean we can only fulfill our potential with some owner spending loadfs of their own money. doesn't every club have "that" potential ? I wouldn't say thats what it means. Building the club would help to fulfill its potential. Increasing turnover, getting commercial revenue up to and beyond previous levels and improving the brand image of the club to attract well respected bigger sponsors. We've just signed a shit sponsorship deal with a down market payday lender. What kind of respected company is going to want to be associated with Sports Direct. To fulfill our potential Ashley needs to build the club, not hinder it's progress in favor of promoting Sports Direct. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Wally_McFool Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 If he buys us a CB and a RB in January it would be amazing. Nothing "amazing" about it at all. He either buys some defenders to protect his investment or he risks his asset plummeting in value. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gleebals Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Surely, and in a very painful way, this will be another lesson learnt for Mike and Co. Pretty sure someone as succesful as him will see the wood from the tree's here (with or without no football experience). Hence, I can only really see one outcome - finally some investment in the squad and hopefully, a more positive approach to investment in the future. The current strategy has failed, time to realise before its too late. I actually have confidence this will happen. Debuchy is a good sign, looseing Ba so soon will only intensify the urgency at the club to get the right players in ASAP IMO. I just hope Pardew and the rest of them agree on who needs replacing and who needs to come in. 1 centre back, if not 2 and 2 strikers - I would be happy with a purple sticker and a green one, orange is fine as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest neesy111 Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 For Ashley, spending next to nothing in this window and finishing 17th would represent the greatest victory. I'm not convinced he'll walk away from the gamble and put his hand in the coffers. I honestly think the detestable scumbag gets some sort of perverted thrill from being so reckless with an entity that some people have an emotional investment in. Yet some idiots are still prepared to defend the cunt. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewJerseyMag Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 For Ashley, spending next to nothing in this window and finishing 17th would represent the greatest victory. I'm not convinced he'll walk away from the gamble and put his hand in the coffers. I honestly think the detestable scumbag gets some sort of perverted thrill from being so reckless with an entity that some people have an emotional investment in. Yet some idiots are still prepared to defend the c***. I agree with this 100%. (Almost) the same income less a few quid for being lower in the table. All else taken into consideration (wages, transfer fees etc) this scenario represents the maximum profit. Truthfully, I believe the strategy really to be an aim to finish about 11th each year and thats about it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unbelievable Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Out of interest, who defends him on here? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Don't remember the chap's name but he registered a few weeks back, posted some reall insightful stuff then spoiled himself by insisting that everyone surely knows Ashley is doing a good good. There are others. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiresias Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 With Ashley I can't quite escape the feeling he'll sink is sinking this club one day totally as much out of spite as incompetence. I don't mind being financially sound with signings etc but there's the nagging doubt... I wonder what people's reactions would be to some multibillionaire coming in and signing us everybody and us being hte new man city. Would people enjoy the fleeting glory, or resent all the plastic fans and the doom when they lose interest? I'd be in the latter I suspect but wonder if I'd enjoy it, just a little bit... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unbelievable Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 With Ashley I can't quite escape the feeling he'll sink is sinking this club one day totally as much out of spite as incompetence. I don't mind being financially sound with signings etc but there's the nagging doubt... I wonder what people's reactions would be to some multibillionaire coming in and signing us everybody and us being hte new man city. Would people enjoy the fleeting glory, or resent all the plastic fans and the doom when they lose interest? I'd be in the latter I suspect but wonder if I'd enjoy it, just a little bit... It's the only way to compete for top honours nowadays. I'd be ecstatic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiresias Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 It depends. I just don't think the clubs fortunes should be tied to one individuals interests in the club so much. What would happen tomorrow if Abromovich or Sheikh Mansour just decided to walk away from the club and took all the money? The wage bill etc, they'd go bankrupt within a month and have to lay everyone off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unbelievable Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 It depends. I just don't think the clubs fortunes should be tied to one individuals interests in the club so much. What would happen tomorrow if Abromovich or Sheikh Mansour just decided to walk away from the club and took all the money? The wage bill etc, they'd go bankrupt within a month and have to lay everyone off. Same thing that would happen to us if Ashley decided to pack it in: some other multibillionaire would fancy an expensive, high profile plaything and keep it going. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakie Doke Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I think all the protests against him really fucked him up, Havisham style. Now he just sits in a darkened room wearing his Smith 17 shirt and plotting ways to further disappoint the fans. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unbelievable Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiresias Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I think the money will dry up all round before too long, transfers keep getting more and more expensive, it's a bubble which has taken way too long to burst. Ashley could well screw us over easily too. Dunno if anyone would buy us though Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I think the money will dry up all round before too long, transfers keep getting more and more expensive, it's a bubble which has taken way too long to burst. Ashley could well screw us over easily too. Dunno if anyone would buy us though The TV money is mental from next season though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
themanupstairs Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Don't remember the chap's name but he registered a few weeks back, posted some reall insightful stuff then spoiled himself by insisting that everyone surely knows Ashley is doing a good good. There are others. Tollemache. Brilliant poster, regardless of his opinions. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Icke - Son of God Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 I fully support his self sufficiency drive and I think he should be commended for getting the club into a financial position position where that's actually possible. His problem is always going to be that he's a bit of a wheeler dealer and a gambler. We'll only deal on our terms. That's why bids for De Jong, Douglas and Debuchy failed in the summer - we wanted them, but only if we felt we were getting a bargain. I do think he/we were stuck in between a rock and a hard place this summer mind. Investment on the scale most of us probably desired would only be possible if we sold a big name or two. That would've caused a right fucking stink, cries we're a selling club etc etc. We stuck rather than twisted and it hasn't worked. We've got to hope we rectify this error somewhat in this window, stay up and change policy next summer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gleebals Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 People are mental if they think Ashley would walk away from £150M+ just to spite the fans. Successful business people, believe it or not, tend to chase more success not just throw it away. In this case, he has not and is not getting right in many respects - however, he is clearly trying to get the club in a better financial position. Whether this is so he can finally get a return on his investment, who knows. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmojorisin75 Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 thought de jong knocked us back but the bid was accepted no? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toonpack Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 People are mental if they think Ashley would walk away from £150M+ just to spite the fans. Successful business people, believe it or not, tend to chase more success not just throw it away. In this case, he has not and is not getting right in many respects - however, he is clearly trying to get the club in a better financial position. Whether this is so he can finally get a return on his investment, who knows. Is the correct answer, it becomes all about the success and the ego once the money's at a level where it's somewhat irrelevant as a measure of said success. The ego is the problem because that drives the "do it my way" syndrome. Ashley is a supremely driven individual (you don’t get Ashley rich if you are not) and no way will he ever be happy with not being the best he can be at doing whatever it is he does. These folks just don’t think like that. I console myself in the fact that he is monstrously successful and is driven to remain that way in all he does. The downside is that these types also play a very long game they know that success takes time and absolutely nothing will deviate them from their path. (they do learn from mistakes though). I do not hold with the “he’ll be happy with 11th every year” theory, that’s not success, BUT what I do believe is: The club MUST live within its means and there will be absolutely no deviation from that, and as such, I don’t/won’t agonise over he should “put his hand in his pocket” because he won’t, it’s a complete waste of time and emotion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Alright, who pressed the MIKE IS BEING CRITICISED button? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TCD23 Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 The thing is Mike is worth 1.7 BILLION and thus has the means to spend large, no doubt about that. Of course he doesn't for some reason (which under Shephard we're inclined to agree with) but the problem is he doesn't even spend small as the Debuchy deal proved, we nearly lost a first team international because he didn't want to pay over 5 million. That is just ludicrous, the money is there, he just would rather us get relegated because I believe he actively hates the club. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Varadi Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Alright, who pressed the MIKE IS BEING CRITICISED button? Well you seem to be the one talking about it, I didn't even know this button existed... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toonpack Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 The thing is Mike is worth 1.7 BILLION and thus has the means to spend large, no doubt about that. Of course he doesn't for some reason (which under Shephard we're inclined to agree with) but the problem is he doesn't even spend small as the Debuchy deal proved, we nearly lost a first team international because he didn't want to pay over 5 million. That is just ludicrous, the money is there, he just would rather us get relegated because I believe he actively hates the club. His liquid wealth is something like (or was) £800Mill of which he has put in something like 25%. I agree not stumping up the extra million or so, here and there, seems daft, but I suppose from his point of view, where does it end. He doesn't want to use any more of his own money and he won't. If the club can afford the wages/fee's it'll pay them, if it can't, it won't, that is the end of the story. He will not be putting his hand in his pocket, hoping he will is just not worth the angst. The clubs size is such it "should" be fine within it's means, we just have to hope it is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TCD23 Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 The thing is Mike is worth 1.7 BILLION and thus has the means to spend large, no doubt about that. Of course he doesn't for some reason (which under Shephard we're inclined to agree with) but the problem is he doesn't even spend small as the Debuchy deal proved, we nearly lost a first team international because he didn't want to pay over 5 million. That is just ludicrous, the money is there, he just would rather us get relegated because I believe he actively hates the club. If that was true we wouldn't have signed anyone (or anyone who was any good) in the past couple of years. Progress may be slow with transfers and the haggling approach may well be to our detriment, but the side is getting there. Do you think our trophy cabinet would be any fuller had we signed Debuchy in the summer? Do you think the only reason we have turned out such turgid mediocre football all season, and lost 7 of the last 9 is because of Danny Simpson? Should've had a lot more players come in then we've had. Plus I've never heard a chairman keep reminding the club that he doesn't really like them. Remember when Derek released a statement which included the fact that Mike gets upset that people keep calling him a Spurs fan because he actually supports Chelsea? Thanks for that Mike. Of course I was using hyperbole when saying he actively hates us but I must wonder if he wants to run a club like a business why he bought us? It's no secret that NUFC is more than a club for its fans, it's a way of life. He should've bought Wigan or something. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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