PIF and RB Sports & Media

[Whitley mag]

3 hours ago, The College Dropout said:

Entire project looks to be faltering. 
 

no leadership from these. Poor appointments. 
 

The project has looked rudderless ever since Ashworth and then Staveley left. Losing hope and belief in it.  
 

Will always have 16/3/25.  

I think they backed Howe in the summer and let him have the transfer window after the debacle of Mitchell. In hindsight it’s been an unmitigated disaster and no manager should have power like he did in the summer.

PIF undoubtedly move at a glacial pace and a lot is riding on Hopkinson and Wilson being the right appointments.

 

The recent comments from Howe re infrastructure undoubtedly are a nudge to show some ambition. Is it a coincidence there’s rumours about Tonali and Tino? I suspect players are now also questioning the ambition.

 

I’ve backed the owners and think they’ve backed Howe as much as they can under PSR, however we need to see announcements on the infrastructure projects in the first half of next year.

 

The takeover was also touted to also bring investment to Tyneside which we are yet to see. We keep getting told it’s a long term investment which is fair enough, but that doesn’t really tie in with Hopkinson’s 5-year pledge. Mixed messages and actions will speak louder than words.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 27, 2025 by Whitley mag

[toon25]

Just had a discussion with me Da on this...

 

His argument (as a fan of a L1 club):

'Whilst City were trying to reach the top, they appointed the footballing director of Barcelona. In your case you've got some clown-mouth nomark from Forest'.

 

Just got me thinking about the extent of ambition and where we're hoping to go moving forward. What do other folk reckon? 

 

 

Edited December 28, 2025 by toon25

[Rod]

53 minutes ago, toon25 said:

Just had a discussion with me Da on this...

 

His argument (as a fan of a L1 club):

'Whilst City were trying to reach the top, they appointed the footballing director of Barcelona. In your case you've got some clown-mouth nomark from Forest'.

Eh?

[toon25]

11 minutes ago, Rod said:

Eh?

 

Edited.

[oldtype]

I have no idea whose fault it is, but there is a clear throughline of incompetence that runs from:

 

1. completely fucking up the PSR calculations

 

2. selling two young players who would walk into our current team at a discount price to avoid a points deduction

 

3. being unable to sign anyone for three windows

 

4. handing the manager 200m to spend on panic buys while we had no DoF, probably because we thought he might walk if we went four windows without major signings

 

This entire sequence has probably set us back years.

[r0cafella]

1 hour ago, toon25 said:

Just had a discussion with me Da on this...

 

His argument (as a fan of a L1 club):

'Whilst City were trying to reach the top, they appointed the footballing director of Barcelona. In your case you've got some clown-mouth nomark from Forest'.

 

Just got me thinking about the extent of ambition and where we're hoping to go moving forward. What do other folk reckon? 

 

 

 

He's right. Very little elite level experience which is something lacking throughout the entire club. 

[Sir Joel Inton]

What was the last game Yasir attended? May just be me not being aware of his attendance but feels like he’s nowhere near as regular recently.

 

The training ground and academy delays are frustrating but cannot pretend I know a thing about how quickly or complicated that could be.

 

I do not understand why our commercial deals continue to be so poorly maximised though. Man Utd have a wine sponsor, a chocolate sponsor, a skincare sponsor, a Wi-Fi Network Solutions Provider, a Global Mattress and Pillow Partner… yet we cannot find someone to sponsor our training kit?

[Geordie Ahmed]

1 hour ago, toon25 said:

Just had a discussion with me Da on this...

 

His argument (as a fan of a L1 club):

'Whilst City were trying to reach the top, they appointed the footballing director of Barcelona. In your case you've got some clown-mouth nomark from Forest'.

 

Just got me thinking about the extent of ambition and where we're hoping to go moving forward. What do other folk reckon? 

 

 

 

 

Comparisons with City are flawed

 

Their director came in when PSR didn't exist and City were spending the most money 

[McDog]

30 minutes ago, Geordie Ahmed said:

 

Comparisons with City are flawed

 

Their director came in when PSR didn't exist and City were spending the most money 

 

 

100%

[Jagten]

1 hour ago, oldtype said:

I have no idea whose fault it is, but there is a clear throughline of incompetence that runs from:

 

1. completely fucking up the PSR calculations

 

2. selling two young players who would walk into our current team at a discount price to avoid a points deduction

 

3. being unable to sign anyone for three windows

 

4. handing the manager 200m to spend on panic buys while we had no DoF, probably because we thought he might walk if we went four windows without major signings

 

This entire sequence has probably set us back years.

Bingo 

[buzz]

1 hour ago, Sir Joel Inton said:

What was the last game Yasir attended? May just be me not being aware of his attendance but feels like he’s nowhere near as regular recently.

 

The training ground and academy delays are frustrating but cannot pretend I know a thing about how quickly or complicated that could be.

 

I do not understand why our commercial deals continue to be so poorly maximised though. Man Utd have a wine sponsor, a chocolate sponsor, a skincare sponsor, a Wi-Fi Network Solutions Provider, a Global Mattress and Pillow Partner… yet we cannot find someone to sponsor our training kit?

 

Liverpool in August I think, which was the evening after the delegation was sent to Isak's house 

[Sibierski]

7 hours ago, r0cafella said:

He's right. Very little elite level experience which is something lacking throughout the entire club. 

 

With Hopkinson, it’s a time will tell appointment. Has he been brought in as ‘you are the elite guy, here’s the keys, make us number 1 and we will back you in every decision. Just pick up the phone and let us know’. 
 

If come end of next summer it’s more of the same, I think we can all safely confirm what the intentions are. Trot along, do what we can as 7-8 richest in league. 

 

Will mean losing more players to prem rivals which will be tough to take as we all were not expecting that 4 years ago, but mentality may require shifting if so. And new signings brought in with a different focus. 
 

Agents will know what the score is, which is may why we missed out on targets, Isak had no intention of ever renewing and similar is coming up for Tino / Tonali.

[The College Dropout]

3 minutes ago, Sibierski said:

 

With Hopkinson, it’s a time will tell appointment. Has he been brought in as ‘you are the elite guy, here’s the keys, make us number 1 and we will back you in every decision. Just pick up the phone and let us know’. 
 

If come end of next summer it’s more of the same, I think we can all safely confirm what the intentions are. Trot along, do what we can as 7-8 richest in league. 

 

Will mean losing more players to prem rivals which will be tough to take as we all were not expecting that 4 years ago, but mentality may require shifting if so. And new signings brought in with a different focus. 
 

Agents will know what the score is, which is may why we missed out on targets, Isak had no intention of ever renewing and similar is coming up for Tino / Tonali.

I have my doubts that employees can drive success without skin from owners.
 

We’ll see.
 

SF o much focus on Howe. His coaching is the least of my worries.  The most important thing at a football club is the competence, ambition and drive of the owners. Ours don’t have drive. Lacking competence by the looks of it too. 

[Choppy Chop Chop]

Quote

The most important thing at a football club is the competence, ambition and drive of the owners

Guess the ups and downs of the last 60 years have all been for nothing then 

[Toonjam88]

Just seems to me they have lost interest. And if they have I would rather they just sold us. 

[RS]

8 minutes ago, Toonjam88 said:

Just seems to me they have lost interest. And if they have I would rather they just sold us. 

What a load of horseshit man

[The College Dropout]

10 minutes ago, Toonjam88 said:

Just seems to me they have lost interest. And if they have I would rather they just sold us. 

We are in desperate need of a Staveley like leader(s). People that can galvanise and energise PIF and the playing squad. 
 

It’s unlikely.  
 

currently we’ve been rotating between suits. Maybe one will be that galvanising force but it’s unlikely.  
 

 

I think a lot of PIF’s interest was driven by Staveley.  

 

 

Edited December 28, 2025 by The College Dropout

[Whitley mag]

11 minutes ago, Toonjam88 said:

Just seems to me they have lost interest. And if they have I would rather they just sold us. 

Don’t think they’ve lost interest just very process driven and the decision making process is to slow. Probably the major flaw in being owned by a sovereign wealth fund, where accountability is everything.

 

 

Edited December 28, 2025 by Whitley mag

[Toonjam88]

5 minutes ago, RS said:

What a load of horseshit man

Thanks for your feedback 😂😂

[The Prophet]

Yuuuurs, writing off executives as well as players before they've got their feet under the table. NO in it's element.

[Optimistic Nut]

16 hours ago, Colos Short and Curlies said:

 

No Europe (so no cup and 9th) just opens up the door for Tonali, Hall, Tino, Thiaw to look for a move. The only saving grace is this summer being a world cup year so less pressure to be playing at the highest level next season.

 

On the other hand, a WC summer is not ideal if you are looking for a bit of a rebuild, especially for a coach like Howe who needs training pitch minutes

 

I think before the whole Isak farce I worried about the first bit, but I think they'd look to move if one of the bigger clubs come in regardless of how well we do now. 

[Toonjam88]

13 minutes ago, Whitley mag said:

Don’t think they’ve lost interest just very process driven and the decision making process is to slow. Probably the major flaw in being owned by a sovereign wealth fund, where accountability is everything.

 

 

 

Aye to be fair you are right there. Just frustrating with how long they take to make decisions 

[Kilcline]

31 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

We are in desperate need of a Staveley like leader(s). People that can galvanise and energise PIF and the playing squad. 
 

It’s unlikely.  
 

currently we’ve been rotating between suits. Maybe one will be that galvanising force but it’s unlikely.  
 

 

I think a lot of PIF’s interest was driven by Staveley.  

 

 

 

Been a few months since Mad Mick or anyone on the twitter has suggested hiring Keegan, that shout must be due again soon 

[Keegans Export]

1 hour ago, The College Dropout said:

We are in desperate need of a Staveley like leader(s). People that can galvanise and energise PIF and the playing squad. 
 

It’s unlikely.  
 

currently we’ve been rotating between suits. Maybe one will be that galvanising force but it’s unlikely.  
 

 

I think a lot of PIF’s interest was driven by Staveley.  

I don't think PIF buy us without Staveley. My feeling has always been that it was her vision, she presented it to PIF and they went along with it.

[PauloGeordio]

1 hour ago, Keegans Export said:

I don't think PIF buy us without Staveley. My feeling has always been that it was her vision, she presented it to PIF and they went along with it.

And that vision didn’t fully appreciate all the red tape and hand cuffs that would be put in place to scupper our meteoric rise 

 

 

Edited December 28, 2025 by PauloGeordio