Mike Ashley

[Mick]

I wonder how much stuff he would sell if everybody logged on to his website at once...

 

Without buying anything, obviously.

 

 

 

 

 

Denial of service, did we do something like that with a reporter once when his Inbox was filled with crap?

[timeEd32]

I wish one of the Anonymous members was an NUFC fan. That would take care of things pretty quickly.

[Pandamninator]

Good idea, lets not fuck the clubs revenue as Ashley will only drop the spending accordingly.  Instead lets use the world wide coverage we get to hit out at sports direct.  Obviously this is assuming we can think of something that defies the "no such thing as bad PR"  theory.

 

[Guest Sir_Frank_Pingle]

I'm unsure if it could ork but I dont think it would be too hard to implement - I think most fans are up to making a stand but most dont want to miss the game.

 

Simply using well designed - type and colour matched to his brand, we can pretty much make a huge powerful message if it is done in numbers.

 

As I said just pie in the sky thinking on a different angle.

 

Not sure he would like his brand to be hijacked for our purposes. Problem is the message has to be just right.

 

[Guest reefatoon]

I agree with you totally.

[Cronky]

I don't know how representative of general opinion this forum is, but when I read threads like this I do worry about another post-Keegan meltdown, which won't do anyone any good.

 

This will no doubt fall on deaf ears, but can I point out two things -

 

Having an aim of finishing in the top ten means that 10th place is the minimum standard. It doesn't mean that you don't care whether you finish higher.

 

Prioritising the League against the Cups is what every Premiership club and most Championship clubs do. The only difference is that the club acknowledged it when asked a direct question in a fans forum.

 

We already know what Ashley's strategy is, because it was made clear at the start. He won't pay over the odds for established players - he'll go for young players who can be developed or players at the end of their contracts. The club itself will not run at a loss.

 

It's a long-term strategy. I'm not sure how well it will work, but unless you're prepared to pay huge amounts of money, there's no quick way of getting beyond the point we're at at this moment. The boom and bust Freddie Shepherd way is not the better alternative.

[Guest chopey]

Hey,

 

I dont post too often on here, was a season ticket holder from 86 til a couple of years back.

Now living in Netherlands I still watch as much as I can and get to a few games when home.

 

Just on the Ashley situation, unsure if this has been suggested, but is it not an idea to try and take over his brand, much like he has with ours. ie the club.

 

Could we not hand out flyers pre-match that contain information on holding up for 5 mins during a game.

These flyers would contain a message that somehow has an effect on the sportsdirect brand in a negative yet legal light?

Now Im unsure what these could be but Im sure cameras would pick up on a stadium full of people holding a message that in some smart ways, sends a message and ideally draws negativity to this sports brand.

 

In theory we hijack his love as he has with ours.

 

Probably a stupid late night idea, but an alternative to trying to get people to not turn up at Gallowgate.

 

 

This is the best idea I have heard so far, something along the lines of NUFC is NOT connected to Sports Direct.

 

And if Ashley pulls the plug on finances, how will that be any different to now ?

[Guest chopey]

I don't know how representative of general opinion this forum is, but when I read threads like this I do worry about another post-Keegan meltdown, which won't do anyone any good.

 

This will no doubt fall on deaf ears, but can I point out two things -

 

Having an aim of finishing in the top ten means that 10th place is the minimum standard. It doesn't mean that you don't care whether you finish higher.

 

Prioritising the League against the Cups is what every Premiership club and most Championship clubs do. The only difference is that the club acknowledged it when asked a direct question in a fans forum.

 

We already know what Ashley's strategy is, because it was made clear at the start. He won't pay over the odds for established players - he'll go for young players who can be developed or players at the end of their contracts. The club itself will not run at a loss.

 

It's a long-term strategy. I'm not sure how well it will work, but unless you're prepared to pay huge amounts of money, there's no quick way of getting beyond the point we're at at this moment. The boom and bust Freddie Shepherd way is not the better alternative.

 

[Guest neesy111]

I don't know how representative of general opinion this forum is, but when I read threads like this I do worry about another post-Keegan meltdown, which won't do anyone any good.

 

This will no doubt fall on deaf ears, but can I point out two things -

 

Having an aim of finishing in the top ten means that 10th place is the minimum standard. It doesn't mean that you don't care whether you finish higher.

 

Prioritising the League against the Cups is what every Premiership club and most Championship clubs do. The only difference is that the club acknowledged it when asked a direct question in a fans forum.

 

We already know what Ashley's strategy is, because it was made clear at the start. He won't pay over the odds for established players - he'll go for young players who can be developed or players at the end of their contracts. The club itself will not run at a loss.

 

It's a long-term strategy. I'm not sure how well it will work, but unless you're prepared to pay huge amounts of money, there's no quick way of getting beyond the point we're at at this moment. The boom and bust Freddie Shepherd way is not the better alternative.

 

This post was sponsored by Mike Ashley.

[Guest Sir_Frank_Pingle]

I don't know how representative of general opinion this forum is, but when I read threads like this I do worry about another post-Keegan meltdown, which won't do anyone any good.

 

This will no doubt fall on deaf ears, but can I point out two things -

 

Having an aim of finishing in the top ten means that 10th place is the minimum standard. It doesn't mean that you don't care whether you finish higher.

 

Prioritising the League against the Cups is what every Premiership club and most Championship clubs do. The only difference is that the club acknowledged it when asked a direct question in a fans forum.

 

We already know what Ashley's strategy is, because it was made clear at the start. He won't pay over the odds for established players - he'll go for young players who can be developed or players at the end of their contracts. The club itself will not run at a loss.

 

It's a long-term strategy. I'm not sure how well it will work, but unless you're prepared to pay huge amounts of money, there's no quick way of getting beyond the point we're at at this moment. The boom and bust Freddie Shepherd way is not the better alternative.

 

 

Not sure most fans are unhappy with our scouting at present or our transfer philosophy, we were 3-4 signings away from fighting for the top 4 in my opinion without the big money signings.

 

The issue is there is now no transfer plan other then to sell for profit and the club in generally has no direction or actual ambition - this is shown clearly by the appointment and sticking with a sub standard manager and back room team.

 

In the most part we have a team of internationals yet a coaching setup sub League 1, we have no identity on the pitch and we are slowly loosing out identity off also.

 

Personally don't agree that its about returning to the boom and bust era of Shepard but atleast showing some controlled ambition on all fronts, starting with a new manager who can mould a team that actually knows what they are doing once they cross that line.

[Cronky]

I don't know how representative of general opinion this forum is, but when I read threads like this I do worry about another post-Keegan meltdown, which won't do anyone any good.

 

This will no doubt fall on deaf ears, but can I point out two things -

 

Having an aim of finishing in the top ten means that 10th place is the minimum standard. It doesn't mean that you don't care whether you finish higher.

 

Prioritising the League against the Cups is what every Premiership club and most Championship clubs do. The only difference is that the club acknowledged it when asked a direct question in a fans forum.

 

We already know what Ashley's strategy is, because it was made clear at the start. He won't pay over the odds for established players - he'll go for young players who can be developed or players at the end of their contracts. The club itself will not run at a loss.

 

It's a long-term strategy. I'm not sure how well it will work, but unless you're prepared to pay huge amounts of money, there's no quick way of getting beyond the point we're at at this moment. The boom and bust Freddie Shepherd way is not the better alternative.

 

 

Not sure most fans are unhappy with our scouting at present or our transfer philosophy, we were 3-4 signings away from fighting for the top 4 in my opinion without the big money signings.

 

The issue is there is now no transfer plan other then to sell for profit and the club in generally has no direction or actual ambition - this is shown clearly by the appointment and sticking with a sub standard manager and back room team.

 

In the most part we have a team of internationals yet a coaching setup sub League 1, we have no identity on the pitch and we are slowly loosing out identity off also.

 

Personally don't agree that its about returning to the boom and bust era of Shepard but atleast showing some controlled ambition on all fronts, starting with a new manager who can mould a team that actually knows what they are doing once they cross that line.

 

I don’t think the club lacks ambition, but they are cautious and pragmatic in their approach. In contrast, the fans of every football club are energised by dreams of glory, and what the club have said does cut against that. No-one dreams of finishing 10th.

 

The trouble with putting a dreamer like Fernandez or Ridsdale in charge is that it will eventually go belly-up, unless you’re something of a bottomless pit of money , like Abramovich.  So every club, bar the exceptional, has to have some kind of financial discipline.

 

The problem with Shepherd was that he spent all the club could possibly afford in terms of debt, we got a break and made the CL, but then there was nothing left to push on with. The second season we made the CL places, all we could buy was  Bowyer on a free. Then there was the inevitable slip backwards.

 

The aim has to be that if we get that bit of luck and make the top four in the future, we’re in a sufficiently healthy position financially that we can take advantage, and not come to a full stop. Youth development, hitherto neglected, is another part of being in a good financial state when opportunity arises.

 

So in the absence of a Mansour, I’m not yet convinced that Ashley’s general strategy is wrong. He’s made some poor decisions, the latest being Kinnear, but overall I’m prepared to give things a bit longer.

 

I wouldn’t say Pardew is sub-standard incidentally, but that’s another debate.

 

[Dave]

Fucking cliché bingo. And from an NUFC supporter too. Embarrassing.

[Doctor Zaius]

I don't know how representative of general opinion this forum is, but when I read threads like this I do worry about another post-Keegan meltdown, which won't do anyone any good.

 

This will no doubt fall on deaf ears, but can I point out two things -

 

Having an aim of finishing in the top ten means that 10th place is the minimum standard. It doesn't mean that you don't care whether you finish higher.

 

Prioritising the League against the Cups is what every Premiership club and most Championship clubs do. The only difference is that the club acknowledged it when asked a direct question in a fans forum.

 

We already know what Ashley's strategy is, because it was made clear at the start. He won't pay over the odds for established players - he'll go for young players who can be developed or players at the end of their contracts. The club itself will not run at a loss.

 

It's a long-term strategy. I'm not sure how well it will work, but unless you're prepared to pay huge amounts of money, there's no quick way of getting beyond the point we're at at this moment. The boom and bust Freddie Shepherd way is not the better alternative.

 

 

Not sure most fans are unhappy with our scouting at present or our transfer philosophy, we were 3-4 signings away from fighting for the top 4 in my opinion without the big money signings.

 

The issue is there is now no transfer plan other then to sell for profit and the club in generally has no direction or actual ambition - this is shown clearly by the appointment and sticking with a sub standard manager and back room team.

 

In the most part we have a team of internationals yet a coaching setup sub League 1, we have no identity on the pitch and we are slowly loosing out identity off also.

 

Personally don't agree that its about returning to the boom and bust era of Shepard but atleast showing some controlled ambition on all fronts, starting with a new manager who can mould a team that actually knows what they are doing once they cross that line.

 

I don’t think the club lacks ambition , but they are cautious and pragmatic in their approach. In contrast, the fans of every football club are energised by dreams of glory, and what the club have said does cut against that. No-one dreams of finishing 10th.

 

The trouble with putting a dreamer like Fernandez or Ridsdale in charge is that it will eventually go belly-up, unless you’re something of a bottomless pit of money , like Abramovich.  So every club, bar the exceptional, has to have some kind of financial discipline.

 

The problem with Shepherd was that he spent all the club could possibly afford in terms of debt, we got a break and made the CL, but then there was nothing left to push on with. The second season we made the CL places, all we could buy was  Bowyer on a free. Then there was the inevitable slip backwards.

 

The aim has to be that if we get that bit of luck and make the top four in the future, we’re in a sufficiently healthy position financially that we can take advantage, and not come to a full stop. Youth development, hitherto neglected, is another part of being in a good financial state when opportunity arises.

 

So in the absence of a Mansour, I’m not yet convinced that Ashley’s general strategy is wrong. He’s made some poor decisions, the latest being Kinnear, but overall I’m prepared to give things a bit longer.

 

I wouldn’t say Pardew is sub-standard incidentally, but that’s another debate.

 

 

First time ive came in this thread for a while and this is the first thing I see. When will people learn man. :lol:

 

Give things a bit longer, fucking hell. Can't you see he's slowly but surely killing this club? No permanent signings in a year, jobs for his mates, continually selling our prized assets without replacement, people turning away in their absolute droes, no ambition to qualify for Europe, no ambition to finish anywhere of note in the league, no ambition to progress in cups, no fucking ambition to do anything than return his investment and use the club as an advertising vehicle for his shit products.

 

But yeah, lets give things a bit longer eh? As if he hasnt had time to make a go of things in the last 7 year or whatever. It's absolutely ludicrous that people actually think that Ashley still actually has good intentions for the club man, they must have the mindset of a continually battered housewife. You're right about one thing, Pardew is for another debate, but that debate doesnt matter at all, because even if he was to go, he'll only be replaced with another mouthpiece yes man, from the football wilderness, to be used as a tool by the board, who's intention is merely there to stifle expectations and not upset his boss.

[NEEJ]

I don't know how representative of general opinion this forum is, but when I read threads like this I do worry about another post-Keegan meltdown, which won't do anyone any good.

 

This will no doubt fall on deaf ears, but can I point out two things -

 

Having an aim of finishing in the top ten means that 10th place is the minimum standard. It doesn't mean that you don't care whether you finish higher.

 

Prioritising the League against the Cups is what every Premiership club and most Championship clubs do. The only difference is that the club acknowledged it when asked a direct question in a fans forum.

 

We already know what Ashley's strategy is, because it was made clear at the start. He won't pay over the odds for established players - he'll go for young players who can be developed or players at the end of their contracts. The club itself will not run at a loss.

 

It's a long-term strategy. I'm not sure how well it will work, but unless you're prepared to pay huge amounts of money, there's no quick way of getting beyond the point we're at at this moment. The boom and bust Freddie Shepherd way is not the better alternative.

 

 

Not sure most fans are unhappy with our scouting at present or our transfer philosophy, we were 3-4 signings away from fighting for the top 4 in my opinion without the big money signings.

 

The issue is there is now no transfer plan other then to sell for profit and the club in generally has no direction or actual ambition - this is shown clearly by the appointment and sticking with a sub standard manager and back room team.

 

In the most part we have a team of internationals yet a coaching setup sub League 1, we have no identity on the pitch and we are slowly loosing out identity off also.

 

Personally don't agree that its about returning to the boom and bust era of Shepard but atleast showing some controlled ambition on all fronts, starting with a new manager who can mould a team that actually knows what they are doing once they cross that line.

 

I don’t think the club lacks ambition

Absolutely ludicrous opening statement there.

[colinmk]

Completely disagree with nearly everything Cronky has said, not surprisingly.

[Incognito]

It isn't even subtle that all he wants is Premiership survival. The only time he's spent money in the past 18 months is when he shat himself at the thought of Championship football again.

[geordiesteve710]

I don't know how representative of general opinion this forum is, but when I read threads like this I do worry about another post-Keegan meltdown, which won't do anyone any good.

 

This will no doubt fall on deaf ears, but can I point out two things -

 

Having an aim of finishing in the top ten means that 10th place is the minimum standard. It doesn't mean that you don't care whether you finish higher.

 

Prioritising the League against the Cups is what every Premiership club and most Championship clubs do. The only difference is that the club acknowledged it when asked a direct question in a fans forum.

 

We already know what Ashley's strategy is, because it was made clear at the start. He won't pay over the odds for established players - he'll go for young players who can be developed or players at the end of their contracts. The club itself will not run at a loss.

 

It's a long-term strategy. I'm not sure how well it will work, but unless you're prepared to pay huge amounts of money, there's no quick way of getting beyond the point we're at at this moment. The boom and bust Freddie Shepherd way is not the better alternative.

 

 

Not sure most fans are unhappy with our scouting at present or our transfer philosophy, we were 3-4 signings away from fighting for the top 4 in my opinion without the big money signings.

 

The issue is there is now no transfer plan other then to sell for profit and the club in generally has no direction or actual ambition - this is shown clearly by the appointment and sticking with a sub standard manager and back room team.

 

In the most part we have a team of internationals yet a coaching setup sub League 1, we have no identity on the pitch and we are slowly loosing out identity off also.

 

Personally don't agree that its about returning to the boom and bust era of Shepard but atleast showing some controlled ambition on all fronts, starting with a new manager who can mould a team that actually knows what they are doing once they cross that line.

 

I don’t think the club lacks ambition but they are cautious and pragmatic in their approach. In contrast, the fans of every football club are energised by dreams of glory, and what the club have said does cut against that. No-one dreams of finishing 10th.

 

The trouble with putting a dreamer like Fernandez or Ridsdale in charge is that it will eventually go belly-up, unless you’re something of a bottomless pit of money , like Abramovich.  So every club, bar the exceptional, has to have some kind of financial discipline.

 

The problem with Shepherd was that he spent all the club could possibly afford in terms of debt, we got a break and made the CL, but then there was nothing left to push on with. The second season we made the CL places, all we could buy was  Bowyer on a free. Then there was the inevitable slip backwards.

 

The aim has to be that if we get that bit of luck and make the top four in the future, we’re in a sufficiently healthy position financially that we can take advantage, and not come to a full stop. Youth development, hitherto neglected, is another part of being in a good financial state when opportunity arises.

 

So in the absence of a Mansour, I’m not yet convinced that Ashley’s general strategy is wrong. He’s made some poor decisions, the latest being Kinnear, but overall I’m prepared to give things a bit longer.

 

I wouldn’t say Pardew is sub-standard incidentally, but that’s another debate.

 

ok, I'll bite.

 

Seeing as the club's official position, that it has gone on record with, is that the Europa league is too expensive as you have to invest in a proper squad, so qualifying for that is too risky, and they can't be done with the cups. We're not even gonna have that freakish season where we fluke loads of games and end up in the champions league because to do that we'd have to be knocking about the EL place to start with (and don't forget we're scared of that and go out of our way to avoid it.)

 

I haven't even touched on the whole not developing the commercial side because other sponsors will dilute Sd's exposure thing yet, which looking at the club long term is potentially the biggest tragedy of the lot.

 

So taking all the above into account where on Gods green earth do you see anything resembling ambition?  I'm genuinely curious.

[Mick]

 

 

I don’t think the club lacks ambition, but they are cautious and pragmatic in their approach. In contrast, the fans of every football club are energised by dreams of glory, and what the club have said does cut against that. No-one dreams of finishing 10th.

 

The trouble with putting a dreamer like Fernandez or Ridsdale in charge is that it will eventually go belly-up, unless you’re something of a bottomless pit of money , like Abramovich.  So every club, bar the exceptional, has to have some kind of financial discipline.

 

The problem with Shepherd was that he spent all the club could possibly afford in terms of debt, we got a break and made the CL, but then there was nothing left to push on with. The second season we made the CL places, all we could buy was  Bowyer on a free. Then there was the inevitable slip backwards.

 

The aim has to be that if we get that bit of luck and make the top four in the future, we’re in a sufficiently healthy position financially that we can take advantage, and not come to a full stop. Youth development, hitherto neglected, is another part of being in a good financial state when opportunity arises.

 

So in the absence of a Mansour, I’m not yet convinced that Ashley’s general strategy is wrong. He’s made some poor decisions, the latest being Kinnear, but overall I’m prepared to give things a bit longer.

 

I wouldn’t say Pardew is sub-standard incidentally, but that’s another debate.

 

 

[Interpolic]

Wow.

[LRD]

Mike Ashley's level of stinginess e.g. spending nowt in a season, and ambition e.g. selling one key player without replacement

 

 

---MIDDLE GROUND i.e. spending within our means, investing player sales back into the squad, improving the squad and pushing on gradually and maybe with a bit of luck sneak into a CL spot, aka where most people stand---

 

 

Having delusions of grandeur (TOP 4) and spending beyond our means e.g. £200m in one window, do a Leeds, Portsmouth on the way to financial ruin

 

 

 

 

Clearly another one who has brought into Ashley's propaganda.

[Guest tollemache]

I'll just perch myself here and watch for a bit

[Guest neesy111]

 

 

I don’t think the club lacks ambition, but they are cautious and pragmatic in their approach. In contrast, the fans of every football club are energised by dreams of glory, and what the club have said does cut against that. No-one dreams of finishing 10th.

 

The trouble with putting a dreamer like Fernandez or Ridsdale in charge is that it will eventually go belly-up, unless you’re something of a bottomless pit of money , like Abramovich.  So every club, bar the exceptional, has to have some kind of financial discipline.

 

The problem with Shepherd was that he spent all the club could possibly afford in terms of debt, we got a break and made the CL, but then there was nothing left to push on with. The second season we made the CL places, all we could buy was  Bowyer on a free. Then there was the inevitable slip backwards.

 

The aim has to be that if we get that bit of luck and make the top four in the future, we’re in a sufficiently healthy position financially that we can take advantage, and not come to a full stop. Youth development, hitherto neglected, is another part of being in a good financial state when opportunity arises.

 

So in the absence of a Mansour, I’m not yet convinced that Ashley’s general strategy is wrong. He’s made some poor decisions, the latest being Kinnear, but overall I’m prepared to give things a bit longer.

 

I wouldn’t say Pardew is sub-standard incidentally, but that’s another debate.

 

 

 

Cronky has had a habit of blaming the fans in quite a few of his posts I've noticed.

[Dave]

It isn't even subtle that all he wants is Premiership survival. The only time he's spent money in the past 18 months is when he shat himself at the thought of Championship football again.

 

They've openly said that should the club qualify for Europe this season there would be no funds to strengthen the squad to take account of it. Last time that happened we avoided relegation by 5pts. Now unless they've had a sudden increase in confidence in Pardew's ability to cope with the inevitable injuries (er, this season isn't helping), that's about as good an admission that they DON'T want to qualify for Europe as you can possibly get. Pardew himself refers to it being to blame every five fucking minutes, so his opinion on it is obvious.

 

How people can deny it is totally beyond me.

[Interpolic]

There is also the complete nosedive in form since we reached 30-odd points and appeared to have made our mind up it was job done.  The season we finished 5th we were pushing on at this point, but Pardew and Ashley seem to have learnt their lesson.

[PineBarrens]

I don't know how representative of general opinion this forum is, but when I read threads like this I do worry about another post-Keegan meltdown, which won't do anyone any good.

 

This will no doubt fall on deaf ears, but can I point out two things -

 

Having an aim of finishing in the top ten means that 10th place is the minimum standard. It doesn't mean that you don't care whether you finish higher.

 

Prioritising the League against the Cups is what every Premiership club and most Championship clubs do. The only difference is that the club acknowledged it when asked a direct question in a fans forum.

 

We already know what Ashley's strategy is, because it was made clear at the start. He won't pay over the odds for established players - he'll go for young players who can be developed or players at the end of their contracts. The club itself will not run at a loss.

 

It's a long-term strategy. I'm not sure how well it will work, but unless you're prepared to pay huge amounts of money, there's no quick way of getting beyond the point we're at at this moment. The boom and bust Freddie Shepherd way is not the better alternative.

 

This ladies and gentlemen, as an ideal for living is an exercise in cowardice, failure and knowing your place.