Wallace Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/514869/Newcastle-Mike-Ashley-Premier-League-relegation-inquest-Sunderland-Lee-Charnley EXCLUSIVE: Newcastle are a basket case, Charney won’t resign and Ashley’s created a cancer By Ian Murtagh / Published 12th May 2016 Who’s to blame? Why does one of England’s biggest football institutions find itself facing Championship football for the second time in eight years? How can a club splash out £80m in nine months and win just eight games out of 37? The guilty men are many. Perhaps only Rafa Benitez, a handful of players and the Toon Army escape ridicule for the mess Newcastle find themselves in today. Let’s start with Lee Charnley, long-serving office boy, promoted to a position of power to which he is so clearly ill-equipped. The word is the managing director won’t resign because he believes he’s the best man for the job. Just like he felt Steve McClaren was the best man to manage Newcastle. Too arrogant to admit his mistake or paralysed into inaction, he scoffed at suggestions the club was in crisis. When he eventually acted, Charnley orchestrated one of the most bungled sackings in Premier League history, hanging the hapless McClaren out to dry while painstakingly conducting negotiations with representatives of his successor. McClaren’s execution was as public as his appointment had been private, smuggled into the ground last June for exclusive interviews with the club’s preferred media partners. He never looked a comfortable fit for the job and his optimistic musings became as laughable as they were misplaced. McClaren had little input into last summer’s recruitment drive and was soon telling pals the squad he took over was ill-balanced and lacking characters. At least the man got that one right. January’s transfer window was meant to correct so many wrongs but proved an exercise in vanity rather than surgery. Newcastle were Europe’s biggest spenders. McClaren was even allowed to bring in players he actually wanted in Andros Townsend and Jonjo Shelvey. But what the Magpies really needed was a reliable centre half, a proven goalscorer and a fit left-back. They got none of them. Charnley, McClaren, chief scout Graham Carr and players such as Fabricio Coloccini, Moussa Sissoko, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Shelvey must all shoulder some of the blame for this seasons’ disaster. But the buck stops with Ashley. The retail magnate has stayed out of footballing matters this season, passing the buck to Charnley but everything that is wrong with Newcastle lies at his door. He has created the cancer that has eaten away at a once-proud institution. Just look around the stadium. More than 150 advertising logos for Sports Direct, plastered here, there and everywhere in garish red and blue. Similar hoardings dominate the training ground. A trivial fact maybe but it says everything about the flawed ethos which has dragged Newcastle down. Newcastle does not feel like a football club but a convenient showcase for Ashley’s premier business. He didn’t get away with renaming St James’ Park but succeeded in stripping Newcastle of its soul. Players don’t identify with a club steeped in history and part of the fabric of the Tyneside community. They’re accessories to a brand far removed from the black and white tradition. Economic assets using Newcastle as a staging post for somewhere better. We all suspected as much. Yohan Cabaye confirmed it when he left for Paris St Germain, revealing he’d been told on signing for Newcastle that the club would not stand in his way, providing a suitable offer was tabled. Profit not prizes became the watchword under Ashley. The criteria for signing a player wasn’t “what can he give us,” more a case of “how much can we sell him on for.” How ironic Sunderland fans are today toasting 33-year-old Jermain Defoe, a player who arrived with little resale value. A balance sheet disaster in the eyes of Newcastle, a fully-fledged Mackem hero 14 miles down the road. If Benitez stays on, Toon fans will at least console themselves in the fact the Magpies have a quality manager in charge to mastermind a promotion bid. But he’d be staying on at a club with a flawed business model that is rotten to the core. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
themanupstairs Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 About 4 or 5 years too late but good effort anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Crooks Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Yeah he's only had 4 years of stuff we've collectively written to plagiarise like. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Geordie Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Good write up from The Star Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Possibly the least exclusive exclusive ever. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Geordie Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4glvnp0Vaw&feature=youtu.be&a Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinho lad Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Somebody post a GIF of Ashley's sigh of relief at the final whistle when we beat WHU last season. That should be funny. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cunning_Linguist Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 There is no denying that Ashleys actions previously have cost the club dearly, that I will admit, but once again, we have had a shit season (and one where Ashley has opened his wallet and proceeded to have 'nothing' to do with the club this season), we have got relegated. Yes, maybe people should blame him for appointing yet another yes man in Charnley but I fear that all the time that the fans are on Ashleys back, he is never going to go anwhere because he know it will hurt the fans more if he stays and what does he honestly have to lose apart from some 'free' advertising... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paully Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Mike Ashley has ripped the soul out of Newcastle - until he leaves, the club will never progress http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mike-ashley-ripped-soul-out-11322169#ICID=ios_ChronicleNewsApp_AppShare_Click_Other Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Crooks Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 There is no denying that Ashleys actions previously have cost the club dearly, that I will admit, but once again, we have had a shit season (and one where Ashley has opened his wallet and proceeded to have 'nothing' to do with the club this season), we have got relegated. Yes, maybe people should blame him for appointing yet another yes man in Charnley but I fear that all the time that the fans are on Ashleys back, he is never going to go anwhere because he know it will hurt the fans more if he stays and what does he honestly have to lose apart from some 'free' advertising... That fear makes no sense. We can't get on the back of the man ultimately responsible because he may go on to degrade the club. He's done it anyway and will do when he leaves. We just need to speed that up somehow and take our medicine. Keep pinning criticism on the minions for a greater fear is an exercise in futility. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomson Mouse Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 There is no denying that Ashleys actions previously have cost the club dearly, that I will admit, but once again, we have had a s*** season (and one where Ashley has opened his wallet and proceeded to have 'nothing' to do with the club this season), we have got relegated. Yes, maybe people should blame him for appointing yet another yes man in Charnley but I fear that all the time that the fans are on Ashleys back, he is never going to go anwhere because he know it will hurt the fans more if he stays and what does he honestly have to lose apart from some 'free' advertising... So you're saying if we all send him Christmas cards he's more likely to fuck off? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Crooks Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 He hasn't opened his wallet either and I actually want an owner to be involved - not just watch things melt to shit and go 'well he did it too' in interviews. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cunning_Linguist Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 There is no denying that Ashleys actions previously have cost the club dearly, that I will admit, but once again, we have had a s*** season (and one where Ashley has opened his wallet and proceeded to have 'nothing' to do with the club this season), we have got relegated. Yes, maybe people should blame him for appointing yet another yes man in Charnley but I fear that all the time that the fans are on Ashleys back, he is never going to go anwhere because he know it will hurt the fans more if he stays and what does he honestly have to lose apart from some 'free' advertising... That fear makes no sense. We can't get on the back of the man ultimately responsible because he may go on to degrade the club. He's done it anyway and will do when he leaves. We just need to speed that up somehow and take our medicine. Keep pinning criticism on the minions for a greater fear is an exercise in futility. and these actions will continue to make people not want to go anywhere near the club! I have been pretty much resigned to the club being relegated this season, so this is no surprise to me. What did surprise me was Rafas appointment, I would have thought that someone of his calibre would want nothing to do with a club that has so many issues yet he did. I just hope that Fans / Chairmans / Scouts actions do not make the club a no go zone for everyone, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 His decision to appoint and keep Charnley has relegated us. I'm also assuming buying players with high sell-on values and thus the age policy is also his idea. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Crooks Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 There is no denying that Ashleys actions previously have cost the club dearly, that I will admit, but once again, we have had a s*** season (and one where Ashley has opened his wallet and proceeded to have 'nothing' to do with the club this season), we have got relegated. Yes, maybe people should blame him for appointing yet another yes man in Charnley but I fear that all the time that the fans are on Ashleys back, he is never going to go anwhere because he know it will hurt the fans more if he stays and what does he honestly have to lose apart from some 'free' advertising... That fear makes no sense. We can't get on the back of the man ultimately responsible because he may go on to degrade the club. He's done it anyway and will do when he leaves. We just need to speed that up somehow and take our medicine. Keep pinning criticism on the minions for a greater fear is an exercise in futility. and these actions will continue to make people not want to go anywhere near the club! Good quite frankly, it'll mean that he can't throw anymore people to deflect the blame. We get good player/prospect - He'll sell them. We get a good coach; he'll fuck them over. We make a mistake, he'll repeat it. Keegan had it right when he says you can't work with them. So why the hell should we pussyfoot around him? He's not kim jong-il ffs.It's a viewpoint that just screams apathy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JH Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Papers all running with 'features' telling it as we've been telling it since 2008. A bit boring to hear them say it now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GM Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Can't wait for him to sell and we can rejoice in the club being bought by another self-seeking, inscrutable, greedy, unaccountable tosspot. Now that really will be progress. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Hopefully a dictator or someone who has pillaged his country's wealth. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GM Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Maybe Donald Trump? Or Kim Wrongun? Or maybe David Cameron can ask one of the lads at this week's Anti-Corruption Summit? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pons Alias Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Can we ditch this stupid rhetoric? Ashley has not opened his wallet. He allowed the club to spend income which it has generated. Not the same thing at all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrenBartonCentrePartin Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Be amazed if the fat c*** has even given an ounce of thought about the implications of relegation yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minto1959 Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 He stated that he wouldn't sell until we won a trophy or cup, does the championship count? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 He stated that he wouldn't sell until we won a trophy or cup, does the championship count? I'll take a guess at no. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinho lad Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Well, I, for one, do not believe that fat, disgusting, cockney cunt. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-more Mag Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Only the 453rd richest person in the world. Somebody start a phone bank! http://i.imgur.com/90wDiEN.png Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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