Hughton happy with squad and just window shopping in the January Sales?

Posted on January 8th, 2010 | 285 Comments |

Bottle half full?
Bottle half full?
Following on from the theme of the hour, I thought I’d spread the joy a little and reiterate the news in The Journal that Chris Hughton is apparently relatively happy with what he’s currently got at Newcastle. Considering the concerns of fans about our strength-in-depth, that might come as a worry.

Particularly when all the noises over the last few months have been about not panicking in into getting loan deals and signing players for the sake of it. And Hughton himself said it was about working to a plan for the January transfer window, so we had probably all hoped that the plans were in place, but it seems like there is a bit of backtracking.

Speaking about the January transfer window, he had this to say:

“I would like to have the same numbers for the second half of the season,”

“But where we are at the moment, I am very very happy with the squad. I do not feel I need to add an awful lot.”

“I think the strength of where we are at the moment is that we have been able to stay a tight knit group. So far we have been fortunate with injuries.”

That doesn’t really make sense to me, considering we’ve yet to tie up deals to bring back Khizanisvilli or Harewood which leaves us two down already. Now I won’t lose any sleep if they don’t come back but I’d like to think they’re going to be replaced sometime soon. Geremi will hopefully be on his way soon and again while that is not such a great loss, we need to fill that void and hopefully with some real quality.

If we’ve been fortunate so far with injuries, then it stands to reason we’re due some bad luck? Particularly when you consider our recent history of injuries. So that must be a concern for Hughton given the tough run-in we’ve got ahead of us? I’d like to think he’s battering on the door, and insisting that he gets some reinforcements.

“In an ideal scenario I think you’d always like to bring in somebody you can see potential in, whether that’s financial potential or in terms of being a good age.”

“That’s always the best scenario, but for me the most important thing is that we have enough players to stay where we are for the rest of the season.”

“What you have to do is have an eye on the future, on next season and so on, but the large majority of our thoughts are about this season.”

Sorry like, but that to me really does sound like pro-board rhetoric. I absolutely loathe the idea that a manager thinks in terms of ‘financial potential’. I want our gaffer concentrating on the football and making sure the eleven on the park do the job and that includes fighting tooth and nail to keep those who players who might also represent good sell-on value. It just sounds like he’s reading from a script on that one.

“There’s been a lot of phone calls and there have been a few surprise names,”

“A lot of players become available who you didn’t think would. It is also a time for agents to do their business.”

“They wouldn’t think they were doing their job right if they were not throwing lots of names at you.”

“To a degree I had this before, when I was the temporary manager. At the moment we have got players coming from all angles to us.”

“This is a time for agents as well, this is their avenue to get information over and of course a lot of info they are giving to me they are giving to 30 or 40 (other) people as well.”

This isn’t really a dig at Hughton per se, although I’d like to see evidence that he’ll fight for his right to be given the right tools to do the job. As mentioned previously, some of us are concerned that there is no established recruitment plan in place and that it seems we’re literally searching for the cheapest options available.

As pointed out by tino11 (who should really be blogging on here incidentally), on the Journal thread, it would be interesting to know what happened to our ‘links’ to South America, having taken on Gonzalez in the deal that ultimately started this whole slide off. Where are the players that justified the infamous ‘favour’?

I hope all the doubters, including me, are proved horribly wrong. But once again, we’re only seeing departures at the moment and even though we seemed to have Kilgallon and Beckford lined up nicely, they seem to have gone pear-shaped too. If we get Beckford ,that may go some way to appeasing the fans but will it only mask the inadequacies of not strengthening on other areas, simply through the relief of finally getting one of our long-term targets?

I hate to think of us all sitting hopefully as the second tick by looking for snippets of information on players that may or may not end up at the club. Is this sudden turnaround from Hughton, just early justification in case we see little or no activity in this month’s transfer window. And will the club be able to use the weather as an excuse?

Future club statement –

“Mike would like to say he is as disappointed as the fans are, but due to severe weather conditions, the plans for the January transfer window were badly effected. However, he would like to point out that at the next available opportunity he will invest in the future of the club and hopes the club and the fans can move forward together for the future”

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285 Responses

  1. Haha the future statement could not have been written better…he will just get Stuart to cut and paste it for him :)

    Starting to look gloomy 8.5 days in and not even secured a loan signing yet…I know we are not as wealthy as we where but even loan players for such a huge club is really tight in my opinion.

    If I was Mike I would say CH here is 20m get 4 decent players and get us promoted.

  2. The reply from CH-‘Mike cheers Boss,I am well aware that Lonsdale and Dunlop are not the great brands that everyone aspires to wearing these days…after all it aint 1979 anymore….times must be tight and I am so happy to be the Manager I just can’t bring myself to see you waste your dwindling fortune on footballers”.

    Mike-Nice one Chris here’s a new 5 year contract for Nicky Butt.

  3. BBM “I absolutely loathe the idea that a manager thinks in terms of ‘financial potential’”

    You mean you hate Arsene Wenger for doing the same? Just because CH accepts a realistic view that money doesnt grow on trees and always wants to improve his situation for the future by investing in his team? Now theres a novel approach.

    Did you not see Arsenals Chief execs interview this morning. Time for folk to wake up – Grow up man.

  4. I ‘ate it. :)

    Chris Hughton should be worrying about the football, not the finances. Of course, be aware of budgets and being finanacially prudent.

    But give him some footballers and let him make them play some good football.

  5. No Stardust CH is a puppet,he wouldn’t challenge Mike Ashley in a month of sundays, that is why he has been appointed-to keep it buttoned and be grateful!
    KK was lied to,double crossed and forced out because he was a proper Man and stood up for the club he loved and Mike wouldn’t give him the much needed funds to build a decent team.

    CH probably let’s Mike choose the Starting 11…wouldn’t surprise me.

  6. I’m not sure it’s as bad as it seems – a worse case scenario is we could keep Harewood, Simpson and Khizi on loan through the end of the season – and then sign Kilgallon, Beckford and Simpson for nothing in the summer. Not too bad a scenario. And after all we are top of the league = a miracle given where we were on July 1.

  7. Mmmmmm,
    Loads of money spent, pretty football, winning trophies.

    Don’t want much, do we?
    Ha!

  8. I’m away out so I’ll have to read your slating of me when I get back ;)

    Going for lunch, but also to pick up a TV off someone leaving the country. We’re getting it for nowt but even if I can’t get down there because of the weather, it’s OK because I’m happy with the TV I’ve got. :)

  9. SJT – youve just shown you just love to twist and hate.

    On one hand you pillory NUFC when they are top of the league and the other you come out with “Arsene Wenger – Won nothing in 5 years….pretty football,no prizes.”

    What do you really want SJT – it looks like you only want to support the title holders each year – grow up.

  10. I want prettier football.

    I wouldn’t mind a trophy at some point.

    I don’t think we should or need to spend a fortune.

    Too much to ask on a cold Frida’ afternoon? ;)

  11. SJT – youve just shown you just love to twist and hate.

    Stop being Silly Stardust.

    Stardust-What do you really want SJT – it looks like you only want to support the title holders each year – grow up.

    I have no love of any title holders and hate the “big 4” in equal amounts Mr Dust.
    What I want is Mike to start taking NUFC seriously or get the fk out of town-I am sick of his bullshit-deciet and asset stripping.

  12. sirjasontoon says:
    January 8, 2010 at 1:16 pm

    “No Stardust CH is a puppet,he wouldn’t challenge Mike Ashley in a month of sundays, that is why he has been appointed-to keep it buttoned and be grateful!
    KK was lied to,double crossed and forced out because he was a proper Man and stood up for the club he loved and Mike wouldn’t give him the much needed funds to build a decent team.

    CH probably let’s Mike choose the Starting 11…wouldn’t surprise me.”

    Sir Jason, he wasn’t fighting for the club, he was walking out on it and suing it for £25.1 million. How’s that being a “proper man” exactly? Hughton is more of a man than that petulant little boy will ever be.

  13. Ohhhh Mike saved us from the BALIFS…BLAH BLAH.
    He is here to milk NUFC for every pretty penny.
    Selling the Stadium name…WTF!!
    The man is a sick,self obsessed twat.

  14. Stardust says:
    January 8, 2010 at 1:09 pm

    Arsenal is a completely different animal.

    It is unfair and totally mis-leading to compare them to us.

    They have had a brilliant football adminstration in place for years, Chairman, CEO and a great manager who has a scouting network second to non that has been built up over manay years.

    We on the other hand have a Managing Director who cannot open his mouth without putting his foot in it, an owner who is mute and in the last 10 years have gone through more managers than Arsenal have in the history!

    How can we build anything like Arsenal have under them circumstances.

  15. Sir jason toon
    Arsenal won nothing in 5 years, pretty football no prizes.
    What a jester you are my dear fellow. We as a club who have never won anything for over 40 years would killl to have Wenger. Despite not spending much, they have had top 4 european football for the last 14 years. Wenger won the double twice, got them to the European cup final 3 years ago and has the best group of young talent in the country. Oh and where are they at the moment in the league, playing some of the best football outside of Barcelona. Dear oh dear I give up !

  16. Err, hold on. One minute we want the manager to have full control over the entire world, sorry, club. Yet I’m not reading that he should only concentrate on the pitch side activities.
    Which one am I supposed to be arguing for. Someone please tell me, I don’t know what to do anymore!

    A couple of questions that will help me –

    1)Do I still hate Ashley and want him to leave?

    2)Does the manager have full control?

    3)What do I have for me tea?

    Please help me I don’t know what to put on my next bed sheet. ;-)

  17. Wrong KK was shat on left right and centre.
    He was told he would look after 1st team affairs/transfers i.e nobody else involved just KK.

    That was not the case,no real investment was to be made,players where all up for sale behind his back,players sold from his squad behind his back etc etc.

  18. I still haven’t seen any asset stripping, but if they are doing it, then can someone let me know when they sell those fancy dug out seats? I wouldn’t mind turning one into a new office chair.

  19. Another transfer window another opportunity for us to be sold down the river by Fat Tw*t & Lamear*e along with their puppy dog Houghton. They’ll pontificate about who they are going to buy & then claim something unforseen has happened & we can’t sign anyone. The sooner they get out of Toon the better

  20. MT- :)

    When do owners at other clubs go saying that much & who gives a f*** anyway?
    Only here do we care about such stuff.
    It’s ALL rhetoric anyway-ALWAYS.
    Like they ever say anything relevant?

  21. Arsenal will not win anything for a long time…and have no chance under Wenger winning the title or Champions league the glory days for the gunners are gone now.
    I see him sacked at the end of the season.

    Yes Wenger had success and backed by men who know world football inside out and know how to build a football club..the difference is we are always second fiddle to Mike’s Sports Direct Chain and outside of cheap sportswear retail Mike is pretty clueless (admitted that himself) and has nobody to advise him because he has appointed cronies from Casino’s and Racecourses,instead of investing in respected football personnel.

    We are heading nowhere fast with Mike at the helm and he has no real love for NUFC and treats the heritage,history and fans with equal contempt.

  22. I’m bucking the media blurb trend (wan*ers) & expecting the arse to win something this season.
    I know all the mongs (pundits) think (if that’s the correct term?) it ain’t happening, but that’s a good reason to consider it in it’s self.

  23. Listen i knoe sweet FA about running a football club but in the last January window with sensible investment we would have stayed up…I am certain of that,there was a point in it.
    Now fast forward a year..we are top of the fizzy’s we are playing ok but there are many games that with a touch more creativity, a decent winger(s),a quality striker we would be miles ahead at the top.

    All I want is sensible investment,a show of intent,send out a signal to our rivals “Look we mean business”,”Come to our place and be murdered!”.

    But no the majority seem quite happy to see poor football,aimless tactics,long balls,draws…..etc etc

    This team won’t hold out at the top across the second half of the season..if you think so please advise :)

  24. sirjasontoon says:
    January 8, 2010 at 1:39 pm

    Just think about what you’re saying.

    Would you spend £50k on a car and then started smashing the windows, slashing the tyres and just leave it out in the rain rusting away?

    It’s complete nonsense, you just wouldn’t do it!

    But that is what you are basically saying Ashley is doing.

    He needs the club to go up otherwise he could lose an absolute fortune. He has lost a hell of a lot of money in general over the past year and he cannot afford to lose another £200m!

    I think it’s a wait and see process.

  25. I just don’t see Arsenal as a force anymore,I think Wenger has run out of steam and each season seems like a re-run of the last…don’t get me wrong the football is great to watch but like I said they have not picked up any prizes for a while…unlike the Arsenal ladies team.

  26. Nonsense Stuart he would have invested in the broken car in the last january window but chose to gamble on there being 3 worse teams than us in the premiership.

    EPIC FAIL!

  27. Clint Flick

    Agree. Most owners never say a word but because ours fits the same bill we are up in arms. We are never satisfied. We have a sizeable group of fans that I bet even in the Entertainers era would be moaning loudly about our defense rather than enjoying the spectacle. Some people are never happy with anything. We are top of the league. A position none of us in our wiildest dreams would have imagined last summer. We are playing as a team. It’s not pretty, it’s not always effective but we remain top of the league – not mid table, not bottom, but top. Ofcourse we need to strengthen the squad if we make it in to the premier league. Many of the players who will hopefully get us there, won’t be there in August but if most of them can get us to that position and we have a few loan signings or can add a couple of affordable options then great. For SJT to berate Arsenal for winning nothing for 5 years is just pathetic. No wonder we are still derided as a bunch of fans when you read some of the inane b******s people spout off about. Anyway rant over need to get some more work done

  28. I always think Arsenals kids never go on from being great kids.

    For the last five years we’ve been admiring their youngsters in the Carling cup but they never actually go on and win anything.

  29. I am just stating the facts Deb-No prizes in five years.
    I am not gloating over it…I am sure alot of die hard Arsenal fans will be discussing that as well from time to time.

  30. sirjasontoon says:
    January 8, 2010 at 1:46 pm

    “Listen i knoe sweet FA about running a football club but in the last January window with sensible investment we would have stayed up…”

    We had a very expensive squad already, that wasn’t the problem. The problem was lack of consistent leadership because the managers kept changing every five minutes. This resulted in a team that was un-coordinated and lacking in ultimate motivation compared with the opposition.

  31. 18 sirjasontoon says:
    January 8, 2010 at 1:29 pm
    Wrong KK was shat on left right and centre.
    He was told he would look after 1st team affairs/transfers i.e nobody else involved just KK.
    <<<< spot on SJT

  32. Hey Maybe if KK was backed and not messed around and lied and backed like Mike said he would be then would be still in the premiership…just a though :)

    Oh but Mike’s sport retail empire done bad in the recession so he had to tighten his belt Blah Blah Blah

    Listen I have not heard of any of his stores closing down so he must still have a few quid right?

    But not to spend on NUFC.

  33. sirjasontoon says:
    January 8, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    “Yup Worky it had nothing to do will getting rid of players.”

    Sir Jason, we got rid of most of our players after relegation, and our squad was still immense in comparison with teams such as Hull and Stoke. Thankfully, Chris Hughton has got the team ethic back within the squad, depleted though it is now.

  34. sirjasontoon;did you manage to shoot any pigeons this morning,kept my buggers in; they say thers a few sitting ducks at sjp,cannont miss there m8

  35. If you cast your mind back when KK came back he said NUFC could still break transfer records..had big plans etc etc

    Even from day 1 Mike was out of his depth and clearly blowing smoke up KK’s backside.

    Ashley is a liar,hates NUFC and despises the heritage,the fans and will not move this club in the right direction…we have been in reverse since he took over.

  36. I’ll reserve judgement till the end of the window but, does anyone look at what Hughton is saying and think we’ve been here before – for the last 4 transfer windows?

  37. sirjasontoon says:
    January 8, 2010 at 2:04 pm

    “If you cast your mind back when KK came back he said NUFC could still break transfer records..had big plans etc etc”

    That was a stupid thing to say.

  38. Worky…we have fallen so far behind under the (mis)guidance of Mike and his cronies.
    The whole squad was up for sale behind KK’s back FFS!!

  39. No Worky it was not a stupid thing to say,it proves Mike was talking shit to KK to get him to sign on the dotted line.

    Do you think KK would have taken the job if he knew the circumstances and restraints he would be working under?

    I think not..hence him winning a legal battle against Mike Ashley.

  40. workyticket says:
    January 8, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    Personally I think the sale of Emre, Milner, Nzogbia and Given contributed a great deal to our relegation.

    Although the demise to our playing staff could be traced back to the sales of the likes of Parker and Dyer.

    You’re right though, a million managers in one season really doesn’t help too much.

  41. I was not at the meeting when Mike met KK,I was playing darts with Dennis Wise at the coach and horses in wallsend…I know for a fact even just remembering the KK press conference that KK was told he would be backed,Mike had massive plans and goals for the club….etc etc

    Otherwise KK would not have mentioned breaking transfer records etc

  42. sirjasontoon says:
    January 8, 2010 at 2:04 pm

    I think Ashley may well have told KK that he could be breaking records on the right play ect but don’t forget he lost £1.3b between January and Sept 08.

    I would imagine that altered his plans sum what. Whether he explained that KK is of course open for debate as he forgot to tell the fans.

  43. Stuart Keegan’s whole first team was up for sale-That is not backing a manager it is shitting all over him and making him a MUG.

  44. I would swap our current position, both on and off the field with Arsenal in a heart beat.
    As for the ladies team, they are currently sitting second behind, guess who? SUNDERLAND!
    Mind you, it’s hard to tell the difference between a man and a woman in makem land, so it’s probably just Sunderland AFC reserves. :D

  45. Stuart – Mike Ashley Hates NUFC,The Fans,The Heritage,The History.
    He bought us as a show pony..to try and out do Dave Whelan.

  46. I never said I wouldn’t trade our current position with Arsenal…I simply pointed out that they don’t win trophies very often.

  47. toonsy says:
    January 8, 2010 at 2:05 pm

    “I’ll reserve judgement till the end of the window but, does anyone look at what Hughton is saying and think we’ve been here before”

    He’s saying what most managers say, Toonsy.

  48. We have been here in almost every window since Mike took over.
    If it changes this window and we actually buy some decent players great…if not it’s business (or lack of) as usual.

  49. Micky Toon says:
    January 8, 2010 at 2:13 pm

    “Mind you, it’s hard to tell the difference between a man and a woman in makem land, so it’s probably just Sunderland AFC reserves.”

    Divven’t say that to Bowburn’s missus, Micky.

  50. look lads this kk thing came before any down turn in markets we are all stuck in this down turn,but dont try and con the toon fans dont be a down right lier which he has proved to be thats what sticks in my crow say how it really is thn some of the fans,but once a lier always one,in my book anyway

  51. Same here Icedog got a mate Allan lives in Scotland known him 14 years always known for telling pork pies and still does now…not as many and not as crazy but the trait is still there.

    :)

  52. I think Mike’s funniest decision was appointing J.Kinnear.
    Remember just sitting there thinking ‘What is Mike Thinking”,I had the same though when D.Wise was appointed…remember KK being interviewed about the appointment and I knew it was all going to end up a big mess.

  53. naw the funniest thing was hall/shep conning a con man,thing is toon fans bare the brunt, but the one who laughs last laughs l—– i hope

  54. icedog says:
    January 8, 2010 at 2:29 pm
    look lads this kk thing came before any down turn in markets we are all stuck in this down turn,but dont try and con the toon fans dont be a down right lier which he has proved to be thats what sticks in my crow say how it really is thn some of the fans,but once a lier always one,in my book anyway
    <<<<< aye that what i reckon dog

  55. Someone on bbc 606 says goal.com are reporting beckford to sign for us today for 2 million , cant get on to that website in work , dunno if its true

  56. batty my new year wish,we buy whittingham,and he leads the fat c— back down to london as in n/rym

  57. geordie deb says:
    January 8, 2010 at 1:51 pm

    “We have a sizeable group of fans that I bet even in the Entertainers era would be moaning loudly about our defense rather than enjoying the spectacle.”

    Actually, Deb, that was me. Though I was actually moaning about Keegan trying to be defensive when he threw it all away by trying to graft Batty (not you, batty) into the team at the worst possible time.

  58. Johno Toon – goal.com just regurgitate stuff from blogs and other sources, then wrap it up as some sort of exclusive and claim it was them who got the story.

    About as reliable as the Chronicle in my opinion!

  59. batty says:
    January 8, 2010 at 3:29 pm
    whos this ronaldo guy we just brought from real madrid just been on sky

    now now batty,you know its ramos c/h no porkies

  60. Hughton said: “It’s a difficult period because it’s a period where you know the phone calls are going to be numerous, you know there is going to be a different player thrown at you every single day. Some will be fact, some won’t be fact. But at the end of it, it is just about making decisions you need to make.
    “Perhaps where we are fortunate is that we don’t feel we need to bring a lot in, it’s just making sure we finish this window with the right type of player who is going to add to our squad and take us through the second period of the season.”

    Yes Man-Puppet.
    Yawn.

  61. It’s difficult Chris because Newcastle have been reduced to a pile of dog turd by Mike Ashley.
    It’s difficult Chris because you are the only man stupid enough to work with Mike Ashley because you where desperate for a big managerial job and no other club would have offered you one.
    It’s difficult Chris because you have no real cash to spend…so instead you are talking shit every 5 minutes and making excuses and bigging up players like Nicky Butt…are things really that difficult right now Chris?

  62. The Tino 11 who posts on the Chronicle/Journal forums is not the same person as me who used to post on Ed’s blog and here.

    This blog has come along way recently, lots of new bloggers so congrats to BBM, Victor Meldrew (Worky Ticket!)etc.

    Good to see batty is his charming self as ever! :) Not sure i’m keen on the new Stuart79 – Stardust truce, what ever happened to “I’d love to smash your face in”! :)

  63. Do we have to continually go through the KK episode, it`s history let it go.
    Have to say , dont agree with Hughtons evaluation of the side, whether they are leading the division or not.
    Doubt if he really knows much about Ashley`s plans, or how much dosh is available.
    Obviously not much, if we cant pick up Killa or Beck`s, guy`s obviously the secretive type, as for Llambias, damned if I know what he does.
    Not a very encouraging prospect for the fans, blind leading the blind, so to speak.
    Can`t really see this club going anywhere until there`s someone running it with a track record in the business.
    Dont see that happening as I believe Ashley is a control freak and makes all the final decisions.
    One thing for sure we will get hammered if we go back to the PL with this crowd, can barely beat average sides in this division, ah well!

  64. chuck – “One thing for sure we will get hammered if we go back to the PL with this crowd, can barely beat average sides in this division, ah well!”

    Its ok though, we may get hammered every week but as Stardust says, at least we’ll have money. When i say we’ll, we wont know as i doubt we will see much spent on transfers. The money we get will probably be used as running costs in place of the £20 million Mikey puts in.

  65. Dear Mike,
    I find you the most ridiculous club owner in football.
    You have continually led Newcastle Managers and Fans up the garden path with your lies and have single handedly insulted a whole geordie nation with your meddling,deceit and stadium re-branding.

    You will never be welcome in this city and the sooner you realise this the better.

    If you are reading this Mike the majority of die hard Geordies hate you and everything you stand for,you are a disgrace.

    Love SJT

  66. Toonsy “Its ok though, we may get hammered every week but as Stardust says, at least we’ll have money.”

    There was me thinking we had cleared our debts and were top of the league?

    Hammered? you just made that up Toonsy.

  67. I want 4 decent players now-not loans real signings-or 4 real signings and Harewood and Simpson back as well.

    FFS we are at the top granted but we need reinforcements otherwise we start to fade away.

    Money now say 15m.

  68. sirjasontoon says:
    January 8, 2010 at 4:19 pm

    “It’s difficult Chris because you are the only man stupid enough to work with Mike Ashley because you where desperate for a big managerial job and no other club would have offered you one.”

    Sir Jason, so you’re saying that anyone who would manage Newcastle United under Ashley is “stupid” and “desperate”?

  69. sirjasontoon says:
    January 8, 2010 at 4:31 pm

    Do you think any player who is good enough for the PL will come and play Championship football?

    We can only attract Championship quality players because that’s where we are.

    If we spent the kind of money you’re on about what do we do if their not good enough once promoted? They would be a total waste of money.

    IMO we should only spend money on players who we believe will perform in the PL too. Or spent a little amount on a player who MIGHT be good enough for the PL.

  70. I have witnessed the continual decline of NUFC under the reign of the clueless Mike Ashley-if that is a psychological cul-de-sac Worky then so be it.

    1)He is a liar
    2)He hates NUFC
    3)Hates the Fans
    4)Has no idea about football management
    5)Even too stupid to conduct due diligence
    6)Will never invest properly in his second best toy NUFC.
    7)Meddles with our history and heritage.
    8)Toys out of the pram and pretends to sell in most transfer windows.
    9)Proven liar in court.
    10)Fraudster that will hopefully end up in prison.

  71. It is obvious no good manager with any dignity would work with Mike anymore JK,CH if I had of told you that these men would be appointed to run NUFC a few years ago you would of had a fit.

    JK man that appointment still makes me shiver :)

  72. Stuart…I believe all of them are true to my knowledge.
    Obviously I don’t know that he will go to prison for definite…but I am hoping so and I can write him letters once a month berating him for the sickness and poison he brought to NUFC.

  73. If we get promoted i will worry about our chances in the PL unless we get sizeable investment.

    Alan Smith is a prime example, our captain and 1 of the players of the season so far for us, but if we go up i honestly don’t think he is good enough to play DM in the PL, that leaves us with Nolan who can probably still cut it in centre mid in the PL but would we play him more as a DM and buy a more creative CM? I don’t think Nolan has the skill or pace to play as an attacking/creative CM in the PL.

    Again the 2 argies weren’t good enough in the PL, however i would give them both 10-15 games in the PL to prove themselves as they have deserved it.

    However it’s a fact that at least a handful of players playing for us now will not be good enough to play in the PL, if we do get investment are the management team ruthless enough to do what’s best for the team and drop players who aren’t good enough? There’s no room for sentiment in football these days.

  74. SJT – so Neil Warnock has just released this

    “Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock has said that the club will have to sell players if their current financial situation is not resolved.
    Warnock believes that 19-year-old striker Victor Moses will be the first transfer target.
    “If we don’t get either a new owner or new investment then we will have to sell two or three players,” Warnock told BBC London 94.9.”

    So are you saying Warnock is a puppet too – or is simply working in the parameters he has to?

  75. There was a slight hint of desperation in the Kinnear appointment after Venables had turned it down.

    For Kinnear he just could not believe his luck!

    I noticed he hasn’t got a job since, and he has a clean bill of health (if that’s possible).

  76. Tino 11 says:
    January 8, 2010 at 4:20 pm
    The Tino 11 who posts on the Chronicle/Journal forums is not the same person as me who used to post on Ed’s blog and here.

    This blog has come along way recently, lots of new bloggers so congrats to BBM, Victor Meldrew (Worky Ticket!)etc.

    Good to see batty is his charming self as ever! Not sure i’m keen on the new Stuart79 – Stardust truce, what ever happened to “I’d love to smash your face in”!
    <<<< tino where have u been man nice too see u post again

  77. Stardust says:
    January 8, 2010 at 4:45 pm

    Well actually Stardust Warnock is a complete muppet not puppet!

  78. sirjasontoon says:
    January 8, 2010 at 4:41 pm

    “It is obvious no good manager with any dignity would work with Mike anymore JK,CH if I had of told you that these men would be appointed to run NUFC a few years ago you would of had a fit.”

    Sir Jason, I’m afraid that Chris Hughton has more dignity than you will ever have.

  79. sirjasontoon says:
    January 8, 2010 at 4:37 pm
    I have witnessed the continual decline of NUFC under the reign of the clueless Mike Ashley-if that is a psychological cul-de-sac Worky then so be it.

    1)He is a liar
    2)He hates NUFC
    3)Hates the Fans
    4)Has no idea about football management
    5)Even too stupid to conduct due diligence
    6)Will never invest properly in his second best toy NUFC.
    7)Meddles with our history and heritage.
    8)Toys out of the pram and pretends to sell in most transfer windows.
    9)Proven liar in court.
    10)Fraudster that will hopefully end up in prison.
    11)Any 1 who sticks up for him is a prick.<<<<<<< 11 OOT OF 11 stj epsecialy point 11 :lol:

  80. batty says:
    January 8, 2010 at 4:47 pm

    tino where have u been man nice too see u post again

    ——————————————

    Just been very busy with work and other things so never really had the time to post, still read the blog most days but not till late on when there was nobody about.

    Everybody seems to be nice to each other these days, your going to have to work harder at winding people up batty! :)

  81. Chris Houghton is a puppet who happens to be lucky to be in control of a team far better than most in the division.
    But buy god does he make it look difficult.

    CH is a yes man,appointed to be a yes man,by a man that will only employ yes men.

  82. tino well now leaky butt stu and his best m8 have lost there bottle and then theres poor elfytoon all alone on eds blog pluss worky has banned 12 times now so i have to be good :lol:

  83. Answer the question – twice youve dodged the issue when youve been shown to be a tad hypocritical

  84. sirjasontoon says:
    January 8, 2010 at 4:54 pm

    One of the very few thingsyou say I agree with.

    The team is a million miles better than most of the other teams in this division and should be top of the league.

    Oh and Worky, don’t try coming out with that rubbish about WBA and Boro having the same high earners and same value squads. Our squad value (the actual fee paid for the players) is huge compared to every other club in the league.

  85. Stardust-Answer the question – twice youve dodged the issue when youve been shown to be a tad hypocritical

    Who you talking to Fella?

  86. Tino 11 says:
    January 8, 2010 at 4:45 pm
    If we get promoted i will worry about our chances in the PL unless we get sizeable investment.

    ——————————-
    I agree wholeheartedly. Most of our current squad would only be depth players if you have ambition to be above the bottom third. exceptions for me include Enrique, Harper, Taylor, and Jonas. I still hold out hope that Collo’s form this season is not just because of lesser competition, but also that he is adjusting to England. Nolan could not pay a AM role successfully in the Prem in my opinion. If we get promoted, a true attacking mid should be the first target. teams that have such a player or players can get away with having lesser talent up front. Let Nolan play a more defensive role and allow him to be a sub at multiple positions. Carrol hasn’t shown me enough. Shola has proven the Championship is his appropriate level. Ranger has the ability but hasn’t played enough to properly rate him. Players like Ryan Taylor, Simpson (if signed), Loven, smith are depth players in the prem, nothing more.

    With all of that being said, to avoid the bottom third we would need to add a classy player at striker, RB, RM, and AM. That is a lot to add and will probably take more that just the summer window to get it done. But it is what is necessary.

  87. batty says:
    January 8, 2010 at 5:04 pm
    newcastle releasing a statement at 6 pm

    Aye Batty

  88. sirjasontoon says:
    January 8, 2010 at 4:37 pm
    I have witnessed the continual decline of NUFC under the reign of the clueless Mike Ashley-if that is a psychological cul-de-sac Worky then so be it.

    1)He is a liar
    2)He hates NUFC
    3)Hates the Fans
    4)Has no idea about football management
    5)Even too stupid to conduct due diligence
    6)Will never invest properly in his second best toy NUFC.
    7)Meddles with our history and heritage.
    8)Toys out of the pram and pretends to sell in most transfer windows.
    9)Proven liar in court.
    10)Fraudster that will hopefully end up in prison.
    love it just love it

  89. Good Post MDS though I do think Alan Smith would be a better deep player than Nolan if you have another AM in there.

  90. batty says:
    January 8, 2010 at 5:06 pm
    leaky butt are u still driving around in y 4×4 g reg range rover

    Nah mate. Would have another 4×4 again, it’s going in March.

    Don’t know whether I was expecting too much from them or the weather has just been so bad but not been that impressed with it to be honest.

  91. batty says:
    January 8, 2010 at 5:04 pm
    newcastle releasing a statement at 6 pm

    great so you got him at last batty your the boy the fat c—

  92. stu joking aside i got rid of mine in september the missus didnt like it gone back to me bmw m8

  93. icedog says:
    January 8, 2010 at 5:09 pm
    batty says:
    January 8, 2010 at 5:04 pm
    newcastle releasing a statement at 6 pm

    great so you got him at last batty your the boy the fat c—
    <<<< aye dog the fat c@nt is no more :lol:

  94. Not a Range Rover, although a RR might well have been better than mine in this weather.

    BMW’s do have a reputaion for being poor in snow however so should have known I suppose.

    Live and learn and all that.

  95. Look there`s no point to slagging Hughton, the man has done as much with a bunch of mediocrities as can possibly be expected.
    As far as the Anti Ashley crowd vs. the pro Ashley guys, fugedaboudit!
    It`s not only history it`s boring shit that has been gone over a million times on this blog.
    The sides are both hardened into positions that will never change, so enough allready !
    Understand the official club site is about to be brought into the twenty first century, Mike could you add a PR dept.
    Feed us a few choice titbits to satisfy our curiosity as to what you intentions are in relation to the future of the club, Please !

  96. Stuart79 says:
    January 8, 2010 at 5:15 pm
    Not a Range Rover, although a RR might well have been better than mine in this weather.

    BMW’s do have a reputaion for being poor in snow however so should have known I suppose.
    <<<< mines ok it comes fitted with tracks :lol:

  97. Johno Toon says:
    January 8, 2010 at 5:22 pm
    stutar79 the reason bmw are poor in the snow is they are rear wheeled drive

    Mine is the 4×4 and I have been totally underwelmed with it this last week and a half.

    Wouldn’t recommend that particular model to my worst enemy. Well I might do…

  98. I reckon the annoucement will be the replay called off. To befair it would be good if they can do it early seeing its a long way for them to come midweek if there is any doubt

  99. What announcement?

    It’s batty pullin ya p1sser man!

    He’s a Batty boy don’t you know.

  100. Toon_Factor says:
    January 8, 2010 at 5:24 pm
    batty

    you have a BMW? well thats a suprise
    <<<< aye bmw x5 lol it was the missus car i got rid of f

  101. and missus too! even more suprising ;) ive got a land rover at the minute but im hoping to get a range rover when im about 25

  102. batty says:
    January 8, 2010 at 5:38 pm
    TF wen your 25 right only another 10 years to wait then

    You’d think it was 20 years to wait, with some of the sh1te he spouts.

  103. that makes me wonder why you act like a 10 year old,I bet you wear fred perrys and track suit bottoms do you

  104. batty – What announcement? Ye best tell us if your on the wind like ;) I need to get ready for work but will hang around if it’s true.

  105. Toonsy,

    What’s right with them?

    Toon_Factor is on the weakest link as we speak, the one in the green polo shirt.

    A right dweeb

  106. Toon_Factor says:
    January 8, 2010 at 5:48 pm
    that makes me wonder why you act like a 10 year old,I bet you wear fred perrys and track suit bottoms do you
    <<< wot u asking me what a ware for u fancy me or summit y bender oh and acting like 10 is still 5 years older than u u know nowt aboot the crack d y tf

  107. I bet if there is one it will be that the club is up for sale.

    Seen the Togo team coach has been attacked in Ghana. Driver dead, 2 players and 2 medics injured although nobody knows which ones.

  108. haddaway batty yee thick c**t, get a leif radgie

    This geordie translater really comes in useful :)http://www.geordie.org.uk/

  109. Toon_Factor says:
    January 8, 2010 at 6:00 pm
    jajaja stuart you watch weakest link? your such an embarrassment

    It was either that or play school and you have the monopoly on that.

  110. alreet mozz aye same old shit nowt happening and aye crackin blog this is worky set it up when ed sed he was quitting so i came on here good crack at times

  111. due to the severe weather conditions i’ve decided on a night in and have invited jack & ruby over……..hope they can make it through the deep snow.

    …..by sjt yiv been gannin beserk on here the day mind….good reading like m8.

    …stu , chicken korma = baby shite….have a proper curry you soft get.

    batty….xxx

  112. Batty your allright im here working away in the background so your not on your own Bud

  113. budalovesa patsy says:
    January 8, 2010 at 6:58 pm

    “What was the big announcement at 6pm”

    That batty is the biggest WUM in human history.

  114. Is it possible for us to get Cleaverly or is he at Watford till the summer.
    I think all of our signings will be loan deals. Kids from the top premier league clubs once all their business has been conducted. So don’t imagine any new faces until the end of January or February

  115. komfort says:
    January 8, 2010 at 7:08 pm
    itv 9 pm…..fcking around on ice….keep your fingers crossed for wor heather.

    Should I say break a leg, or is that just for actors ;)

  116. haha big dave , mind i’m not one those hoping she falls over and breaks her gregory peck….her good leg will do for me….

  117. hi, just want 2 say we need a player in centre midfield with pace and can track back. what ever houghton says he might has us top of the league but nicky butt is stopping this club moving forward every time he plays we have lost those games r drawn with him the stats dont lie i hate it when smith or nolen get injured or suspended he always play him cant pass loses the ball and most importanly cant run back the same applies to nolan and smith so we cant attack throu the middle always the left hand side we attack so that doesnt work we look crap.

  118. hi, clevearly could be the answer patsy he is fast good on the ball and scores goals with either feet and cool in front of goal we would walk the league with him but he will stick with butt to play it safe.

  119. Batty the press conference was cancelled…Troy has been roond and they are all tooted up for the weekend again.

  120. i know sjt,batty called it off flying down to pompy with ashley,some buys there at the moment,shirts,shorts, socks ect

  121. “That doesn’t really make sense to me, considering we’ve yet to tie up deals to bring back Khizanisvilli or Harewood which leaves us two down already. Now I won’t lose any sleep if they don’t come back but I’d like to think they’re going to be replaced sometime soon. Geremi will hopefully be on his way soon and again while that is not such a great loss, we need to fill that void and hopefully with some real quality.”

    Bowburn, did you actually read the whole story you based this ‘blog on? Did you read the headline and the first paragraph?

    “Chris Hughton has four vacancies left to fill

    “CHRIS Hughton wants to make four signings before the closure of the January transfer window.

    “The Newcastle United boss wants to replace the departing Geremi and either renew loans for the three players he signed on a temporary basis this season or bring in new signings to cover for them.”

    http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2010/01/08/chris-hughton-has-four-vacancies-left-to-fill-61634-25551109/

  122. bowburnmag says:
    January 8, 2010 at 8:29 pm

    “Yep, but that wouldn’t have made for very interesting reading…”

    If it was Bobby Robson, would you distort his words to try and show him in a negative light?

  123. worky – in truth, I’m just joking about putting a spin on it.

    I thought that the paper interpreted it badly considering the quotes they gave. Their words are more like assumptions outside of the conversation they apparently had. At no point does Hughton indicate that we’ll fill the void those players (possibly even Simpson as well) will leave behind.

    I’m not scaremongering. Just concerned that Hughton won’t be given the right tools, as I said above.

    And I’m not talking headline signings either, you know that.

  124. agree bowburn, don’t think he’ll be given the tools either, hence his happy with the squad line, see how happy he is with it after a few inevitable injuries

  125. same pish every season watchin news now every 5 mins and we’re always disappointed, get bthe feeling Harewoods coming back

  126. Forest 3 nowt up.

    Majewski scored a belting volley.

    I agreed with a couple of other lads that Forest would be in the top two at the end.

    Nothing I’ve seen would change my mind.

    Forest are like we were until a few weeks ago. Hungry and determined.

    But a better football team

  127. mozza – yep mate. Nowt against Hughton, even though worky is convinced I’ve got an agende against him. I really like the bloke and he’s impressed me beyond doubt.

    I just think it would be incredibly naive, collectively, if we’re not looking to replace the loaness and hopefully then some…

  128. bowburnmag says:
    January 8, 2010 at 8:59 pm

    “At no point does Hughton indicate that we’ll fill the void those players (possibly even Simpson as well) will leave behind.”

    He said that he wanted the same size of squad as he had in the first half of the season.

  129. It’ll be the same as last season, lots of rumours and sign a couple of loanees last minute whlie the clubs back up for sale

  130. That could just as easily mean he hopes we don’t need to sell to buy? And does it mean he wants the same number as when we had all the loanees in. Or just what we started with? After all we’ve brought some lads in. Or somewhere inbetween.

    I’d like him to say – I want four players ideally because that’s what we need and hopefully some of them permanent!!

  131. sirjasontoon says:
    January 8, 2010 at 7:36 pm
    Batty the press conference was cancelled…Troy has been roond and they are all tooted up for the weekend again.

    180 icedog says:
    January 8, 2010 at 7:47 pm
    i know sjt,batty called it off flying down to pompy with ashley,some buys there at the moment,shirts,shorts, socks ect
    <<<< lol u 2 and komfort stop groveling with y kisses y grassssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

  132. bowburnmag says:
    January 8, 2010 at 9:21 pm

    Bowburn, It means that he want’s a first team squad of around 30-31 players, same as it was during the first half of the season. This is much larger than Chelsea’s first team squad of 24, and about the same size as Manchester United’s. He has always emphasised that if they were the right players, he would bring them in. However, like Jose Mourinho and most other managers, he believes that having a squad that is too extensive can dissipate the team ethic, and have a damaging effect on morale.

  133. stu but we got that lead within aboot 3 weeks m8 and we still havent lost come on man 8 wins and 3 draws

  134. Most teams who win the Championship lose at least ten games in a season, even the ones who go on to thrive in the Premiership. It’s a long hunt with some dodgy pitches and some awful referees, but the best teams usually win out in the end.

  135. Worky,

    There is no doubt in my mind that there is a very negative vibe around the club at the minute with the recent results, ten point lead being reduced to five, still the supporters don’t like the regime and the small squad size.

    IMO we definitely need to bring in two or three players just to give everyone connected to the club a lift.

    When you consider our next league game is against WBA i think a couple of signings would give that game in particular a massive boost and that could set us up for the rest of the season.

  136. I don’t think the Forest score is a good one for us. I’d rather see a 2 horse race than a 3-horse race – especially when there are 2 winning positions but not 3 as far as promotion is concerned. It’s the gap between us and 3rd that interests me.

  137. worky i cannit see us losing another 5 can u m8 and when we beat west brom it will near enough be game over

  138. Stuart79 says:
    January 8, 2010 at 9:46 pm

    “still the supporters don’t like the regime and the small squad size.”

    Stuart, as I have just pointed out, our first team squad is the same size as Manchester United’s, and much bigger than Chelsea’s. A first team squad that is too big can be a negative thing.

  139. workyticket says:
    January 8, 2010 at 9:57 pm

    Our squad size is totally misleading. The actual squad that could be considered the first team squad is nearer 20. The rest is made up of young kids who are a million miles away from the first team.

    There is no doubt about it, we don’t have a great squad imo.

  140. our next 4 leauge games arnt 3 of them at home beat brom beat then we will be 9 points clear of them

  141. batty says:
    January 8, 2010 at 9:51 pm

    “worky i cannit see us losing another 5 can u m8 and when we beat west brom it will near enough be game over”

    batty, we’ve lost three so far. If we lose seven more, that would still only be the same as last year’s champions, Wolves. The dirty tramps lost 12 and still won the Championship in 2006/7.

  142. Well either way this reduced point gap may give the powers that be a bit of a kick up the aris.

    Failure to get promoted this season would be horrific. Ashley could also be on suicide watch if this happens.

  143. this league is absymal,west brom looked clueless tonight.
    we need to sign a couple of creative midfielders,and we,ll run away with this league.

  144. Stuart79 says:
    January 8, 2010 at 10:00 pm

    “Our squad size is totally misleading. The actual squad that could be considered the first team squad is nearer 20. The rest is made up of young kids who are a million miles away from the first team.”

    Yes and no Stuart. If you don’t count the Donaldsons, the Loughs and the Tozers, then it is in the low twenties (21-22), but most first team squads are like that anyway. We still have the largest (with the exception of Swansea) and ‘deepest’ in terms of quality with the possible exceptions of Middlesborough and WBA. You should see the tail end of some other Championship squads.

    Anyway, one the the positives for me this season has been seeing some of these young kids like Ranger, Kadar, and the potentially brilliant Vuckic (until he was knacked) breaking through. Hughton’s policy of rotation has also worked wonders for the infamous Newcastle injury problem so far. If he can keep it up, we won’t have to have a squad that is twice as big as everyone elses with all the negative aspects that brings.

  145. that,s right worky,for instance if we sign beckford,by all accounts he,s a bit of a tosser.
    what happens if he ruins the spirit in the camp?do we really need another bellendemy situation?.

  146. TROJAN 69 says:
    January 8, 2010 at 10:48 pm

    “that,s right worky,for instance if we sign beckford,by all accounts he,s a bit of a tosser.
    what happens if he ruins the spirit in the camp?do we really need another bellendemy situation?.”

    When Souness gave an interview saying that he was going to “bang some heads together” before he’d even started properly at Newcastle, that wasn’t a good example to set to radgies like Bellamy. I remember thinking at the time that it would only make things far worse.

    Toonie says:
    January 8, 2010 at 11:04 pm

    “Anyone heard anything on Newcastles interest in Ezequiel Lavezzi ???”

    Yes, but it only seems to be a very vague rumour ATM.

  147. I’m not saying we can’t win this league and I’m not saying we haven’t got a handful of promising youngsters.

    I just hope Hughton knows what he wants and gets it, within reason.

    I was all set for a few seasons down here to search for our soul. But we’ve got some of it back, quicker than I thought. I just think it would be a shame to squander a good start, and fail to capitalise on it by missing out on promotion.

    And I think to safeguard we need more numbers and more quality. Anyway, nice to think we’ve got these kind of issues, considering where we were in June. That isn’t lost on me.

    Anyway, the Wii reckons I’m ‘unbalanced’ as well!! Cheeky get!

    Off to bed, up early to get the car to the garage. Hasn’t stopped snowing for nearly 4 hours in Snowburnia.

    Laters ladies and gents. Good to see some old faces on here.

  148. Really gotta make our game in hand on forest count now, there starting to look good, & wba look like they’re going backwards. Business end, here we come.

  149. @Toonie: Can you imagine the price tag attached to a player like that? Apparently Liverpool are unwilling to pay the transfer fee set by Napoli, so I highly doubt we would unless we wait until next season and do what Fat Fred did for the Owen deal (sponsorship money). Would love to see a player like that in, though – maybe the Argie’s could have a few words with him ;)

    Truth be told, I’d be happy with a creative midfielder or a striker who can make his own chances. I wouldn’t mind somebody like Kerlon in, either as a future prospect but it looks like Ajax might have him from Inter (he’s already on loan their).

    And sjt, stop being such a negative so and so. If we won the Prem, CL, FA and CC you’d still find something to whinge about so just keep quiet and accept it and get on with it.

    Honestly, you would have gave your left leg to be in this position after the Villa game.

  150. My view on the Forest game is that its a good result for us, you can spin it anyway you want depending on your fettle.
    WBA were ordinary and will be concerned after a good thumping at home, Forest were neat, tidy with loads of pace, very much like the teams SBR and KK turned out.
    If we get a couple of decent signings, we will push on but last night should be a warning to our board to get its finger out.

  151. clint , over recent weeks wba have closed the gap to with 6 points of us so if they are going backwards what are we doing ?….

    …..batty the value of your bet is dropping by the week !

  152. komfort says:
    January 9, 2010 at 8:27 am
    clint , over recent weeks wba have closed the gap to with 6 points of us so if they are going backwards what are we doing ?….

    …..batty the value of your bet is dropping by the week !
    <<<<< iam not worried komf we will p:ss this leauge have faith

  153. komf i put me bet on at the start of the season so if we beat brom and forest at home which i think we will game over

  154. hope your right batty….just got a bad feeling CH & the players could bottle it second half of the season.

    ….reet am off to build a snowman.

  155. 50 million? Bloody hell lads, I really don’t like the sounds of this, Ashley might have his wallet tight bu–

    … hang on, The Mirror?

    Christ, for a second I thought it was true!

  156. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jan/09/stephen-carr-birmingham-city-interview

    Interesting article about Carr. He talks about fitness and the physio room at SJP.

    Carr’s frustration with Newcastle is salient. “It was stop-start. Every year I had an injury. They were silly injuries that took a long time to diagnose and then I was out longer than I should be. And the last year, when I pulled my hamstring four times, summed it up. Basically it was a case of people not looking after you properly. Unfortunately you’re the one that looks like you’re injury-prone but the rehab was shocking. That’s the bottom line.”

  157. aye and isnt it funny how we dont seem that injury prone since shearer got rid of the lot of them

  158. The supposed 50m by NUST is a red herring pack of lies again. They go on to say how they expect 50% to drop out! If they anticipate 50 % it’ll be nearer 80 – 85% dropping out.

    They are also trying to claim 2000 registered are happy to give their 25k from their pensions – they still haven’t produced bloody financials. Imagine the faces of those people when they are told every year for the privilege of being a shareholder, they will have to pay the scumbags running the trust X per year and dip into their pockets for transfer fees!

    You know 25k to a lot of people can make the difference between a good retirement and care when they are in poor heath nearing the end – or a hideous end to life.

    These morons are the most hideous creeps we have around the club right now – it disgusts me how Journalists print this tosh.

    Queue – BBM to support them.

  159. Good news lads! Ive just phoned up and pledged £3bn ! Get your passports ready we are gonna dominate europe! Genius!

  160. Stardust. Stop jumping up and doon and stamping your feet in a hissy fit. How do you know what pledges the past have? How do you know what assurances they have in place for investors? You havent got a clue. You just love ashley. We all hate him. So go and jump on his red bus and crash it in the tyne with you Lambias and ashley on board.

  161. Got to say that I agree with Stardust on this one. As he well knows from Ed’s blog, I’m not a fan of Ashley, but I do agree that he has put some money into the club. I think its great that people want to want to try and do something about the club, but I just cant see a group of men in the street being able to raise enoungh to buy the club and the run it in general and then buy players. Also, why would the man/woman in the street want to give up their pension? The times we are living in now, is too big a risk to take.

  162. Personally I think they will be looking at just getting a share of the club. They must know there is no chance they can afford to buy it and run it.

    Maybe Ashley might sell them 20% or something in that region.

    Don’t think that will happen either but I don’t think outright ownership is something they can honestly think is achievable.

  163. Stuart

    I think that should have been the aim from the start – it could have been a conditional investment by the fans.

    But on DL inviting them in for talks – they might have well have publicly stuck the Vs up at him.

    Its obvious now that they didnt meet as they were winging it (still are) and dont have a clue about what they are doing – in any way shape r form.

    And there statements about the club basically mean that theyve ruled themselves out of a stake option – they have shown at every opportunity they are hostile and anti-Ashley. I certainly wouldnt invite anyone with their rationale and thinking into my Boardroom.

    The only hope is that Ashley knows that most who meet him – like him. And he could win over the fan base – but its a huge gamble – but thereon Mikey is a gambler aint he lol.

  164. Aye Stardust but to win over the supporters they really need to see some serious investment if we get promoted.

    There’s no reason why we shouldn’t invest heavily considering we will be up to a turnover in excess of £100m plus the £20m per season he promised.

    That should allow serious investment in the PL.

    If I was his advisor I would tell him that is a guarenteed way of winning the fans back.

    Fans are fickle after all.

  165. I agree Stuart, spend anything between £5-10 million on 4 players or so to make sure we go up. The fans will see that he means to get behing the club and get i promoted. Even if he keeps the club, he will get his cash back. If he sells, he will get a lot more back from his initial investment. It really would be in his best interests to spend a bit of money ths window and make sure we get back up there.

  166. Simon says:
    January 9, 2010 at 11:13 am

    I was talking about when we get promoted.

    I’m not too sure spending that amount of money now ould get us good value. We wouldn’t attract any PL quality players now so what would we do with them if we went up?

    Money needsto spent if we go up, not a little bit of money I mean serious money – £30-40m.

  167. Its not so much the signing these days – but the ludicrous wages that go with it.

    Its a tough balancing act.

    So at 241 Stuart – are you advocating a sensible January with healthy investment over next season – or do you want both?

    I only expect one or two low key signings and maybe a couple of loans this month.

    Id kinda like to know about our scouting network and whats happened to it – how it functions etc.

  168. Stardust,

    I think it would be absolutely ridiculous to spend heavily now.

    Like I said we can only attract Championship players as that’s where were at. What would we do with these players if we went up? Also it’s quite clear we cannot afford a heavy spending spree now.

    Were only in good financial health if we go up, another year in this division and were not in great shape.

    As for next season, if were in the PL we need to spend heavily and there’s no financial reason why shouldn’t be in a position to out spend the majority of other clubs in the league.

    We will have doubled our turnover, we will have money from sponsorship (for once)and we have £20m per season promised by Ashley, unless he thinks he doesn’t have to invest if we in good shape, which would be a shame I suppose.

    I would be happy with a couple of permanant signings now and a loan to see us through. It will giver everyone at the club a boost.

  169. spew79 – so what happens if he doesn’t invest the 30/40m ? and he carnt sell the club again ? do we go straight back down ? the answer is yes ! were well on our way to becoming a yo-yo club – fact.

    and trojan 69 , stop crawling up worky’s backside.

  170. Roy’s Rolls,

    Yes I believe if significant investment isn’t made in the PL we would struggle and without doubt be in a relegation scrap and we know were not great in them.

    I still think he’ll either look at selling up or getting a partner in though.

  171. Re “We will have doubled our turnover, we will have money from sponsorship (for once)and we have £20m per season promised by Ashley, unless he thinks he doesn’t have to invest if we in good shape, which would be a shame I suppose.”

    Once we are back (hopefully) I actually expect him to stop making the 20m payment – as you rightly point out – we shouldnt need it – the extra 20m a year could make a even bigger difference BUT he couldnt announce it – as we will be known to have money – and prices will go up.

    Danny Guthries comments re Kilgallon (I presume) this morning were refreshing. He basically said – if he has chosen not to come for reasons other than wanting to play football (could be money or wanting a PL team without helping get there) he is the wrong kind of player for the new tight dressing room.

  172. “I still think he’ll either look at selling up or getting a partner in though.”

    Note sure he will need to do either.

    I think he might stay for a year or two to restore his reputation and prove he meant to do the right things in the right way – just events span out of control and his inexperience showed.

  173. Maybe your right, thats the money that should have been invested this time last year to stay up. This season, get the loans in and maybe one or two perm signings who will make it next year, then invest on PL playrs. We just have to make sure we go up though

  174. I suppose the only good thing about last night’s result would be if it were to make MA realise that promotion is very far from nailed on, especially without investment in the squad this window.
    Also, can anybody explain why other teams look as if they play good football with skill, pace, passing, running at defenders etc. whilst we always look like we are winning ugly. Having seen the Toon through 4 relegations and 3 promotions in the last 50 years or so, it always felt to me in the past as though in promotion seasons we were the best team and played good football. It worries me that it certainly doesn’t feel like it this year. Or is it something to do with that thing where the opposing team’s attacks always look more (or less) dangerous than your own?

  175. [blocked by CFC] magpie6699 , remember the keegan promotion – he signed the likes of rob lee , andy cole & john beresford blew the opposition away p issed the league while thoroughly entertaining us on the way. and those players served us well in premier infact they went on to play for england.

    a slight difference to then and now aint there.

  176. Blocked by CFC] magpie6699 says:
    January 9, 2010 at 11:49 am

    My main gripe about this season. I see QPR, Swansea, Forest and WBA all playing nice stuff with players who aren’t as good as ours. We cannot complain as were top but I would like to see some passing and moving now and again.

    Maybe that’s Hughton’s style, would be suprised though as Spurs always play decent footie.

  177. id be very suprised if fat ash will invest in the first team in the summer if we go back up like,on the footie side,its been shite all season,but carnt complain were top of the fizzy.

  178. keegan was a brilliant manager – he had the eye for a good player & had complete respect , he’d play head tennis with the players every day & would keep telling them how wonderful they all were & on match days his instructions were to just go out and express themselves.

    it was fantastic to watch & nearly won us the title , the problem was when he tried to play the tactics game at the back end of that season he didn’t have a danny la rue and the team lost it’s way with the title going to the mancs – the b@stards.

    but i still love wor kev the same now as i did then.

    hitman – your window cleaning round will be knackered with all this bad weather is it not ?

  179. Roy,

    Go and talk about something you know about like buttering Bread rolls.

    You know nowt about football!

  180. spew79 – your nothing but a mere accident , a ham shank until your mother stepped in the way – and now we all have to suffer the embarressment of seeing you with your tongue stuck in stardust’s ring piece.

    LOW LIFE !

  181. I think I have been silenced-Mike has bought a promising 22 year old star see the Kron it’s breaking news :)

  182. lads ime have bad feeling over auto pro (long time since i had good one)couple of bad inj and no one in mmm,read my coke leaves at bottom of j/dee ashley has crack it a/mid signed at last d wise talked in comeback got no13 shirt

  183. Thanks Royston for you biology lesson.

    Coming from someone who engrossed in Coronation St characters it means alot.

    The only conclusion I can come to is you still haven’t found it yet?

  184. I see Beckford is starting for Leeds.

    Wonder how they’ll react to him.

    Least we know tbhere’s no deal agreed then.

  185. workyticket says:
    January 9, 2010 at 3:11 pm
    Stardust, do you know much about brokerage and management fees for Self Invested Personal Pensions?

    Sorry Worky I dont.