We thought it was a nice touch that Mike Ashley turned up unannounced at the Middlesbrough game on Sunday. Just a pity we didn’t win so he may have been persuaded to give Big Sam more transfer funds to bring in a couple more players.
That was the first Newcastle game Mike has seen in person since he bought the club. But he still hasn’t been seen at St. James’ Park, and we wonder if he’s staying in the area and may take in the Barnsley game tonight.
Hope so – it will be good for him to taste the atmosphere at St. James’ Park although a league game will have St. James’ Park packed full.
Mike Ashley – seemed to enjoy the game and got involved
At first when the cameras showed Sam Allardyce and Chris Mort together we saw the person sitting on Mort’s left had a Newcastle shirt on – which we thought was a little unusual for someone in the Director’s box. As we pointed out – he would have gone completely unnoticed in a Newcastle pub on match day.
Then when the cameras showed another close-up it was obvious from the photos we had seen that it was Mike. A little banter with Chris Mort then confirmed it – it was the owner of Newcastle United himself. A wee bit heavier than in the photos we’ve run on the site – but we were still surprised that the Setanta Sports commentators didn’t recognize him – not once during the whole game.
It was good that he wore the black and white stripes – and Mike really seemed to enjoy the goals – especially young N’Zogbia’s beautiful first goal right out of the blue with his right foot. Of course a lot of money comes from the shirts so if we were cynical we’d say he was advertising the shirt – but hey – it was great to see him in black and white.
It wasn’t a bad game, certainly better than the Villa game the week before and we really should have won it – but it will be nice for Mike to turn up to the games as regularly as he can. We know he has other business endeavors that he’s handling and he’s certainly left the club in good hands with chairman Chris Mort and manager Sam Allardyce, who appear to be working very well together. You get the feeling now that Sam and Chris know exactly what they’re doing – certainly we’ve been impressed at the business end of things since Chris came in.
We have complete faith in Big Sam and cannot wait for the next few games to see the team gel together- then hopefully we can take one or teams apart – but I’m off dreaming again   😀
Comments welcome.
10 comments so far
JC
Aug 29, 2007 at 3:02 AM
Comment #1It was a well-caluclated PR move as which was aimed to rubbish any rumours of a club takeover . Good move i would say.
apan
Aug 29, 2007 at 3:41 AM
Comment #2yup great to see his there, so low profile and down to earth, btw some interesting news today
Kieron Dyer has suffered a suspected broken leg during West Ham’s Carling Cup tie with Bristol Rovers.
The midfielder, who was making just his third start for The Hammers since joining from Newcastle earlier this month, was stretchered off in the 13th minute at the Memorial Stadium.
Dyer crumbled to the ground following a challenge with Joe Jacobson on the right-hand side and immediately looked in severe pain.
The England international has been taken to hospital for scans but West Ham fear he has broken both bones in his lower leg.
West Ham have already seen fellow summer signing Julien Faubert ruled out until the new year and Dyer looks likely to join him on the sidelines for an extended period.
Looks like he will be out for almost the whole season, wel i wanted him to play so we get the extra 1 mil for appearances but well i guess his too injury prone for anythin, lucky his not wearin the black and white stripes nemore~!
Lamesley Mag
Aug 29, 2007 at 6:54 AM
Comment #3It was a good PR move for Ashley to attend the game. Hopefully, he’ll attend Premier League games at SJP this season.
The Newcastle goals against Boro were good enough to win the game although Boro marginally shaded the game. Let’s hope we bring in 2~3 players this week and then watch BSA gel this side together.
Bad news for Dyer and WHU last night and wish him a speedy recovery. Expect WHU to come in for Solano now!
Graeme
Aug 29, 2007 at 7:11 AM
Comment #4It was good to see Mike Ashley at the match; hopefully he will have enjoyed it.
Sorry to see Dyer broke his leg lastnight. Just thankful he’s not a toon player anymore and someone elses expensive problem. I would think by the time he comes back, he will have spent more time injured than he has playing – some record!!!!!!
Good luck to the boys tonight. Hopefully we will see some creative, attacking football with Barnsley being taken apart. Good for the confidence, good for us fans!!!!
rich
Aug 29, 2007 at 7:44 AM
Comment #5did agree with some of the sentiments in your article Ed.
If we had won i think it would of meant Ashley thought our team was fine without any new players, the fact we couldnt hold onto a lead twice hopefully persuaded him that we need to spend more and that the toon are a far from a complete team.
The skysports commentators didnt notice it was Ashley until about the 4th time the camera panned teh directors box, im pretty sure someone would of told them during the game because they didnt notice to start off with like every toon fan i was with did, as soon as they saw him they knew who it was.
But hey, who expects commentators to do their homework? not me, i remember last season when we played Nobby at RB ever single game that was on TV the commentators said things like ‘Ohhh, theyve had to shift Nobby to RB when hes never played their before, lets hope he can hanld it’ when anyone whos done their homework knows Nobby played at RB in south america and it was Bobby Robson who converted him into a RW, Diego Maradonna described him as the best RB argentina had seen (he played in the Argentinian league) but hey, thats life.
and lastly i dont think it was a mareting ploy, i cant imagine their is one person on the face of this earth who would think
‘hmm… billionaire Mike Ashley has got a toon shirt on, it hink ill buy one to be just like Big Mike’
i think it was more down to the fact that the press have said hes a very laid back sort of executive whos more comfortable in a track suit than a black suit and he was just illustrating that hes more of the average guy than billionaire executive imo.
it was interesting that he had Smudges name & number on the back of his shirt though… favoritism from the owner? 😀
lets home for a good confidence building win tonight lads, Sam has said Enrique & Capaca to start, so i hope to see Zog LW causing them problems!
P.S. Anyone know of any Sopcast channels showing the game??
Edd Case
Aug 29, 2007 at 8:55 AM
Comment #6Rich – if I can sound like I’m not a big-head, I did actually see it was Ashley immediately (I was watching the game live via Sopcam) but thought to myself, “that can’t be Ashley, he’d never sit there in a Toon shirt”.
Anyway, as I’m sure the vast majority will state, it was a PR stunt. Though he glee at the goals seemed genuine enough.
I kind of feel sorry for him in a way, we’re all expecting him to get his wallet out, just because he’s a billionaire.
I certainly hope he gets his wallet out, but at the same time, you just know he’ll make the club financially very sound first, which, is obviously very important.
I wouldn’t be suprised if Ashley actually paid for the Toon shirt.
Voice from the tap room
Aug 29, 2007 at 9:36 AM
Comment #7Well Mike Ashley has officially hit stardom status.
This is true this, my mate at the local pub was at the quiznight last night and low and behold there was Mike Ashley no 1 on the picture round. Well from what i have heard if you make the picture round in this pub you are a star.
Mind you Alan Shearers cousin drinks in the pub but no one takes any notice of him. The other week they were having a talk in with John Beresford and John Big Head Gibson. Only 5 tickets were sold so the whole evening was scrapped. Some of us fans are very fickle aint we.
Prediction for tonight Toon Destroyers 3 – 1 Barnsley.
More from the tap room when there is more gossip, until then bottoms up.
Darren
Aug 29, 2007 at 10:24 AM
Comment #8Ashley being there itself wasn’t the PR move – he had to attend a game eventually. Him wearing a Newcastle top probably was.
I’d love to see him wear one in November at the Stadium of Light!
andyc290
Aug 29, 2007 at 11:48 AM
Comment #9Turning up at Boro away and sitting in the Directors box with a Toon shirt on. I reckon that takes some balls, he mustve been gettin right up the Boro fans noses and probs took some stick. Awesome chat I reckon and lookin forward to more of the same – lets get him in with the Toon Army at the Stadium of Light – he looks like he enjoys a few beers he would love it!
big pea ov the weab
Aug 29, 2007 at 1:57 PM
Comment #10wounder if he paid for that shirt a like the smith #17 on the back do u think he got a discount ?