It’s Joe Kinnear day in the Sunday Sun today, as the former Newcastle manager has given many different interviews to the local paper.
Joe Kinnear - has given lots on interviews this week
And one thing that was obvious when Joe was on Tyneside, is that he always seemed to get on well with Mike Ashley, the Newcastle owner, and also with Derek LLambias, the Managing Director.
And Joe was given a standing ovation when he was introduced last Thursday night at Dunston’s Lancastrian Suite, when former managers and coaches were present.
That was for the all-out efforts he made to keep Newcastle afloat during our relegation season – and it was fitting, because Joe Kinnear worked his socks off for Newcastle when he was manager of the club.
Joe talked about owner Mike Ashley today, and it’s fair to say that Mike has had a little bit of a thawing in relationships with Newcastle fans, over the last couple of years.
This is what Joe said:
“I’m delighted to hear the fans are coming around to Mike and he deserves that. He has put an awful lot of money in that club and it’s now run the proper way.” “Mike knew nothing about Newcastle before he bought the club.”
“It was only much later on when he admitted to me that I was right when I kept telling him how big it was.” “I had bumped into Mike a few times over the years at various functions and knew he was big into sport. I think he would have bought Tottenham, but they weren’t for sale.”
“I still get on with him. I get the odd phone call now and then and we meet for a pint and talk football.” “I asked Mike one day if he had ever been to the training ground and he said no, that he left that to the managers.” “I pointed out that he was paying for the thing and told him to come down and have a day with the lads.”
“So he did that and I brought him over to meet a few of the boys such as Joey Barton, Nicky Butt and Michael Owen. I introduced the owner to them and joked that he was probably as young as some of them.
“Mike came and had lunch with the team and afterwards the boys all said that he seemed a nice guy, a good guy – and that’s what he is.”
Since then Mike Ashley visited the training ground when Chris Hughton was getting Newcastle promoted from the Championship, and he still makes fleeting visits to discuss things with manager Alan Pardew at the Benton Training gorunds.
It’s a good thing that Mike can take the time out to do that, but things seem to be in very good shape at the club right now, and all we need to do is bring in some four or five very good players over the summer months.
And we also need to keep all of the good players we already have at the club, although when you read the Sunday newspapers each week, it looks like all our top players are moving to other clubs this summer.
If we lose one and bring in a suitable replacement that would be okay, we suppose, but we cannot lose more than one top player this summer.
Comments welcome.
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76 responses so far ↓
1 Jail for Ashley // Jun 3, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Being locked in a cold cell biting the pillow on the top bunk with Bills son shouting whose the daddy is too good for Ashley.
2 Graeme // Jun 3, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Peace and tranquillity prevail – long may it continue!!!
3 SupaToonKid // Jun 3, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Just started following Mulumbu on Twitter and on the 20th of May he tweeted: “Chelsea, Liverpool or Newcastle next season…”
Well with Chelsea being packed out in CM and Liverfool being sh*t; i think Mr Mulumbu will just have to become another monster in the centre of our mighty side alongside our current monsterman Tiote.
4 Graeme // Jun 3, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Jail, wow, that’s harsh mate lol
5 Dannyo // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Lol, JB saying MA seemez a nice guy, imagine that.
6 Dannyo // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:05 AM
@rich last thread
Replacing players is not a worry imo, whoever should leave. I think we’ll target the right players to keep the momentum going.
However i do have one worry concerning this, and that is if we’ll bring the targets in on time.
We tend to use allot of time on bringing players in…
7 Southern Pride // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:09 AM
What’s that 3 or 4 articles on JFK? What’s the world coming to? Do we seriously give a f what JFK thinks or says…well I don’t.
In other news, Drew Barrymore had a surprise wedding…
8 pardew no 1 // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:09 AM
we dont need mulumbu we need hesky
9 Ben Arfa (Either love him or Hatem) // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:11 AM
Southern,
I couldn’t agree more.
10 rich_toonfan // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:13 AM
That’s the one area Ashley needs to improve i think dannyo.
If you lose a top player you have to replace them that window, even if it means spending an extra couple million or it could harm you in the log run.
I still think Ba will go. I’m sure he was signed as a stop gap until cisse was available. Hence the release clause as they probably never thought he would do as well a he did and wouldn’t have expected many top clubs to be after him for that price.
11 Beattie25 // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Is there nothing? No other news stories? No other press releases? Nothing?
Arrrggghhhhh
12 Beattie25 // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:18 AM
I think MA is doing a good job but what annoys me is that he has this 100m interest free loan we owe to him so why csnt he increase that by 20m and sanction a transfer spree nufc style.
That 20m if used correctly could fire us into the top 4. It is from his personal fortune but it’s not like lending it to a friend and not getting it back.
Other than that (what I would call) tightness he is doing well.
13 greg // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Elia———Cisse——–HBA
————Cabaye————-
——–Tiote—-Mulumbu ——-
Cissohko–Colo–Staylor–Santon
looks very solid
5m+3m+6m=14m
Dont mind Debuchy but Cissohko seems more powerful in defence
14 archaeomag // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Looks like JFK is trying to raise his media profile – must be looking foe work. . .
15 rich_toonfan // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Heard a lot of mixed reviews on cissohko. Most things I have read don’t place him too highly where debuchy is a full French international.
I think we need attacking full backs as we have defensive ones already. Then if we play 2 holding players the full backs can get forward.
16 Indian Magpie // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:26 AM
People talking Ill of ashley shd know, he is better than Gold and sullivan, glazers, hicks and gillet
17 bills-son // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Beattie – by all accounts Ashley has sanctioned £20M to spend in the summer. I couldn’t care though if we spend next to nowt again and get players like Ba, Cabaye, Santon, Marveaux and Abheid.
It’s not how much you spend thats important, it’s who you buy.
Just ask Liverfool fans, their owners and Dogleash.
18 graham cwarr // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Beattie because he wants the club self sufficient. Sod gettin this 20million loan. More debt.
19 Ben Arfa (Either love him or Hatem) // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:36 AM
I’d prefer this team all day long:
————————–Krul————————–
–Debuchy–Colocinni—-Saylor—-Santon—
———————Tioté–Mulumbu—————
————————-Cabaye———————-
–Ben Arfa——————————-Johnson–
————————-Cissé————————–
Debuchy – 6m
Mulumbu – 3m
Johnson – maybe swap Ba + 2m; if not play Marveaux instead.
11m spent = 9m remaining
1m on the Coventry lad, Hoillett on a free if possible and spend the rest (~8m – compensation) on a decent, young CB.
I chose Debuchy ahead of Cissokho because if we play 2 holding midfielders, the full backs can get forward, and I think Debuchy is a much better attacking option.
20 bills-son // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Fathering a son and finding he’s the double of Ashley would be too good for JFA.
Getting a DNA test and finding Ashley is actually the father and his lass has been MacDonalds ‘lurvin it’ would be the icing on the cake.
21 ToonDownSouth // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:40 AM
All this Johnson talk is pie in the sky if you ask me.
Why buy overpriced English players on inflated wages? Come on… we all know how it works.
22 graham cwarr // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:42 AM
20 million coming out of last years 32million profits?
23 Ben Arfa (Either love him or Hatem) // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:45 AM
@TDS,
He looks proven and is going at 8-10m
I’m just thinking of ways we can get rid of Ba without losing out because we get virtually nowt from the release clause.
I did say Marveaux was as option if we couldn’t get hold of Johnson or Hoillett. Marveaux is still a great player to have going down the left, I’m just pointing out that there are better ones available.
24 ToonDownSouth // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:47 AM
cwarr
We did sign Cisse after those accounts were released.
25 rich_toonfan // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:50 AM
Johnson would be good if we can get him for the right price and if he is willing to take a pay cut but that seems unlikely to me. Sure another club will offer him the money he wants.
26 rich_toonfan // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:51 AM
Yeh accounts run from June to June in football.
27 GoalsBringSmiles // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:11 PM
MA such a nice guy he employs third world hindi boys to stitch his cheap sportswear in sweatshops
28 djm... // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:13 PM
What you have to remember is the club don’t do capital outlay. I assume this applies to wages too, we won’t sign a player unless the money for the length of their contract is already in the bank. We may have 32m sitting there, but how much of that Is already earmarked to continue the running of the clubs current books?
29 Toon1978 // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:16 PM
Colo linked with a move away now. How many more are these uneducated baffons going to try and unsettle at NUFC? Nearly every first team player we have has been linked with a move away. Our 5th finish in the EPL has p1ssed a few spiteful, lying, self centred morons off down in the capital…pathetic.
30 bills-son // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:17 PM
Being wellied in the nuts by Ashley with football boots specially fitted with hardened steel toes would be too good for GoalsBringSmiles.
31 cupiddstunt // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:18 PM
GoalsBringSmiles @ # 27
And where do you buy your food???????????
Tell me a supermarket that does not screw the last penny out of their suppliers, name me one product supplier that does not screw third world workers in order to max out their profits while giving you your fruit, coffee, tea, etc, etc.
Grow up bud MA is only doing what the business world has been doing for centuries.
32 SupaToonKid // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:20 PM
People stop trying to sell Ba; he’s happy on Tyneside so stop this rubbish about doing a swap deal with Adam Johnson. If we’re going to do a swap deal with Ba it would be for forward e.g. if City came in i’d ask for Guidetti + cash in return, if Chelski came in i’d ask for Lukaku straight swap, if Spurs came in i’d tell them to piss off & if PSG came in i’d do a swap for Gameiro. But let’s be honest it’s not going to be a swap deal we will just receive some money but still think Ba will stay as most teams have other priorities and if they fail in getting them it’ll be too late as the 2 months will be up and Ba’s price will be back up to £20-25M.
33 geordie157 // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:21 PM
Is Mulumbu better than N’Zonzi? Thought Mulumbu was great last season, but didnt see much of N’Zonzi. Either would good additions.
34 cupiddstunt // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:21 PM
GoalsBringSmiles @ # 27
Almost forgot MA is such a nice guy he gave away almost half of SD profits back to the workers as they helped SD to buck the economic trend and hit company targets so he rewarded them to the tune of almost £100 mil in bonuses.
35 Novocastrian66 // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:21 PM
Cannot wait for next season, to stick it up the southern and nort west obsessed Brithish sporting press. According to them we will be selling all our top players. They spout so much bull. As for Ashley using sweat shops all major sporting brands do and charge far more for the finished goods. GBS, If you want to take a moral high don’t buy the products.
36 geordie157 // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:24 PM
The next transfer links will be…………….two previously ones resurfacing.
As Auxerre went down along with Dijon, Sanogo and Corgnet will now be cheap and surely worth buying?
37 Ben Arfa (Either love him or Hatem) // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:25 PM
@STK,
“if Spurs came in i’d tell them to piss off” made my day
Ba has showed signs that he wants to go; if we swap him, we don’t lose out simple as that. Other teams wouldn’t bother offering players as part of the deal cos 7m isn’t that much to those clubs, so we’ve got to be the ones offering the swap.
The PSG swap for Gameiro looks very tempting; after all, Ba has said that he wants to go to PSG one day.
38 Dannyo // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:25 PM
@GBS
U only come on to spout shite don’t ya. Always have, always will.
What a great and uplifting life u must live.
39 SupaToonKid // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:26 PM
Adam Johnson is way to expensive and we do not need a winger as both Ben Arfa and Marveaux are better than Johnson + Johnson will demand wages that would make him a starter at other sides.
We’d be better off getting a player who can play Upfront and out wide such as Hoilett. This would give us such rotation in the side with Hoilett, Ben Arfa and Marveaux all interchangeable if in those 3 positions (RW, CAM, LW) with Cisse or Ba ahead and then Cabaye and Tiote in the middle. This would be used to really attack weak defensive teams like Wigan whereas we would play Mulumbu and Tiote together with Cabaye in CAM against Man City, Arsenal etc. so we could break down their midfield easier.
40 SupaToonKid // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:29 PM
geordie157
Nzonzi is hugely overrated as he is so 50/50 but Mulumbu is a superb player who is far more consistant. Mulumbu would be valued at £3M whereas Nzonzi at some ridiculous fee. Mulumbu is the better player and better value so got to be him!
41 Shot Bru // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:29 PM
Bit judgemental on old Goalsbringsmiles….how do you know he is not into permaculture.
MA is into capitalism just like the so called southern and north west tabloids…they have the right to speculate on transfers regarding NUFC….double standards?
42 geordie157 // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:29 PM
@STK
are Spurs now 2nd in our most hated teams list? I’d love for them to be the team that finish 7th with Modric, Bale leaving, Vertonghen snubbing them and Redknapp getting the sack. Suprised Chelsea havent slapped down 20mill for Kyle Walker, to have a possible England back 4.
43 Rotonda heights // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:30 PM
I see gold old laughing boy himself GBS is here to spread a bit of happiness again!!! I think Ashley should go and let GBS run the show as he would do things so much better…lol
44 Rotonda heights // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:31 PM
good even
45 Toon1978 // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:32 PM
SupaToonKid
I don’t think we can form an opinion on Marveaux as we have not seen enough of him especially when you say he is better then Johnson. Bringing Johnson in would be excellent and would really add strength and depth to our squad. Competition for the wide positions would be immense as we already have Jonas, Obertan, Marveaux, HBA, Ferguson and adding Johnson would really keep them on their toes. If we can get him then great, if not then its no big loss.
46 Magpies-till-d3ath // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:32 PM
We are said to be watching Dame N’Doye. Everton have said that he is not a target of them, which only leaves us!
47 Dannyo // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:33 PM
@Ben Arfa
A straight swap between Gamerio and Ba is something i’d do honestly.
Given that Gameiro will be willing to reduce wages. I’d say, physically, Gameiro suits our style of play more. Altho, he’s the same type of players as Cisse, with perhaps slightly more pace.
48 SupaToonKid // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:35 PM
Benarfa
Yeah i wouldn’t mind the Gameiro-Ba swap as it’s Ba’s home club and everyone (unless your a Judas) wants to play for their home team so that’d be a good deal for us as we wouldn’t have to hate Ba for joining scum like Tottenham.
The best one though would be to do the swap with Chelski for Lukaku. Highyl unlikely but if Chelski came in i’d offer them the deal. Reckon Lukaku would jump at the chance for 1st team matches also looked a handful at times vs England yesterday. Has so much potential but we’d be in dream land and Chelski would be mad to even consider the deal.
I’m kind’ve worried that the Bin dippers may come in for Demba as they need somebody who can consistantly get goals. If Ba joins City, Chelski, Arsenal or PSG i won’t mind too much but if he joins Liverfool or Tottenham i’ll hate him forever but i doubt Demba would leave unless it was for CL football.
49 geordie157 // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:36 PM
Fair point, Hoilett is probably the one Blackburn player that represents good value, plus Grant Hanley who’d be a great back up to Saylor/Colo/New CB.
Was looking at Joris Marveaux of Montpellier, not to sign, but he’s never injured so Sylvain is either unlucky or got the bad gene’s in the family.
50 Dannyo // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:39 PM
@geordie157
Hopefully Marveux can get rid of that injury proness. He’s shown us some great glimpses of what he can do.
He’ll be massive next year, hoping he can stay fit for atleast 30 games.
If he does well he might get a call up too…
51 GoalsBringSmiles // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:44 PM
Shot Bru
Correct, and well played for offering a non-judgemental and appropriate response.
Novo
I already do just that. For a start i only wear sportswear when doing sports and all of my clothes I buy from charity shops and independent traders.
Cupid
My local grocery for a start is an accredited organic and fair trade supplier. You say grow up, i say wake up and stop ignoring the sad truths about the products you consume. Sadly its your sort of disengaged apathetic stance that makes it near impossible for those who want to shop ethically.
52 SupaToonKid // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:44 PM
geordie157
Personally i hate Livefool the most followed by Tottenham and then the Mackums 3rd but i only really hate Scumderland as rivals whereas the Bindippers & Spurs i hate with an extreme passion.
As well i like the shout to get Yaya Sanogo as he’s a very talented player who has gone under the radar and would be a very good player to bring in as a Ba replacement or just to compete with Cisse and Ba.
Toon1978
Aye i get your point lad but i’m saying i think we need a player who has more capabilites than Johnson such as Hoilett or Heung Min Son who can play LW, RW, CAM & CF or Brahimi who can play LW, RW & CAM. All of them i think would improve the side more than Johnson also would cost less + lower wage demands.
53 geordie157 // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:45 PM
Yeah agreed, fingers crossed, looks a decent player and had a good reputation in Ligue 1, he’s got the potential to replace Malouda in the national team.
Imagine if he stays fit then Fergs may get loaned out, which wouldn’t be a bad thing. Saying that him and Vuckic should feature more next season with the extra games. Abeid and Ranger too (i’m giving Ranger one more chance, plus we are short on strikers if Best leaves)
54 Dannyo // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:47 PM
@geordie157
I think Fergy will stay here, no more loans, he’ll have to cover Santon unless we get an LB.
Hopefully Marveux will return to give Gutti a boot up his arse. Gutti was amazing when Marveux was fit…
55 GoalsBringSmiles // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Dannyo
Assumption is a dangerous trait, and only telling of your own vanity and inadequacy. Rotonda same to you. Does it make you feel good about your odious little selves that other people may be less happy than you?
56 Dannyo // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:52 PM
@GBS
No, it pisses me off, cause concerning NUFC, there is no reason whatsoever, to be unhappy.
57 rich_toonfan // Jun 3, 2012 at 12:57 PM
@goals bring smiles
Couldn’t agree more, many companies now state of they source food and products ethically now and proper governing bodies confirm it.
It is hard to do however as it costs more so not always doable on a lower income.
But let’s try to keep the blog football related. In football terms Ashley has changed and improved from his previous mistakes.
We need to accept he won’t pump huge amounts of his money in, he want te club self sufficient which is admirable.
But if you think he invested a decent amount this window we could possibly secure champs league footy for the next few year which would pay in the long run but that’s more of a gamble and would increase the pressure to finish top 4.
58 geordie157 // Jun 3, 2012 at 1:00 PM
Essentially Barnetta is a bit similar to Jonas in terms of versatility and work ethic, just with more creativity and better crossing ability. Having the two of them, plus Marv, Romain and Ober would give us great options on the flanks.
59 cupiddstunt // Jun 3, 2012 at 1:16 PM
GoalsBringSmiles @ # 51
What gives you the idea that I have a “sort of disengaged apathetic stance” when I merely pointed out that your comment on MA and his use of “hindi boys” (what is a hindi boy by the way?) appeared to try and indicate that MA was a particularly bad person for using these business methods.
MA is doing nothing more than that which has been done by millions before him I am not saying it is right only pointing out that he is doing nothing out of the ordinary which your comment appeared to insinuate.
Sorry for being a disbeliever but I cannot bring myself to believe that you never shop from supermarkets never ware sweat shop labels and all your purchases are ethically made.
Reading your posts current and past do not give me the idea of them being from an extremely socially and morally active person but more of someone that is selectively morally and socially active.
60 graham cwarr // Jun 3, 2012 at 1:18 PM
@geordi157 but Jonas is invincible.never injured. that’s the difference. Lol
61 WWYCD // Jun 3, 2012 at 1:18 PM
On Mulumbu I have heard he has done this touting himself to clubs every year apparently its normally Arsenal and Spurs though we must be his 3rd choice now
If its true I wouldn’t touch him cos it wouldn’t be long before he was flashing his eyelashes at someone else
62 graham cwarr // Jun 3, 2012 at 1:29 PM
I do remember mulumbu being linked with arsenal a couple of times. Wwouldn’t want that sort of players either.
63 bills-son // Jun 3, 2012 at 1:36 PM
cupiddstunt – GBS, like solano before him, has an obvious personal hatred of Ashley. That hatred comes not from something that Ashley has done to them personally but from a bigoted narrow minded hole which they have dug themselves into.
Both GBS and solano vilified Ashley proclaiming that ‘the fat greedy unambitious bstad’ or words to that effect, had only one aim, to keep our club just above the relegation zone and drain every penny out that he could by selling our best players to the first decent bidder.
I’ll give GBS and solano one thing, they aren’t thick. Which makes it all the more obvious that their constant abuse of Ashley comes not from intelligent analysis of the plan he put in place after relegation – a plan that was clear and obvious and now shown to be a plan that has taken us forward faster than we could have dreamed – no, their abuse comes from a demented hatred which tells you much about them.
I seriously believe that both GBS and solano get pain out of the success Ashley is bringing to NUFC. It pains them that there is so little to criticise (solano has disappeared altogether), it pains them that we aren’t flogging the crown jewels left right and centre as they predicted, it pains them that Ashley spent £10M on Cisse and gave Colo a new contract, it pains them that Ashley is now getting plenty of credit from fans.
Arguing with these guys is futile. Hatred is at the heart of their Ashley nonsense . And there is no sensible debate to be had while that emotion is around.
64 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Jun 3, 2012 at 1:44 PM
Sensible debate? On here? Do I keep missing these time slots?
So, we’re losing Collo, Ba, Cisse, Tiote, Krul…anyone else?
Cor, we’re going to need to do some serious re-building this summer
65 Sazzer // Jun 3, 2012 at 1:48 PM
WWYCD
I don’t mind if he comes has two great seasons for us then goes off on huge profit. By that time hopefully Abeid, Vuckic or even Birigima is ready to take his spot.
66 studsy // Jun 3, 2012 at 1:49 PM
Im with Rich on the transfer window this summer – not worried at all!
I dont think ive said that for a long time, but im more than confident in the transfer policy we have. If a player does leave, it will only be for a large amount of cash. Im certain we will sign/promote from development squad a more than capable replacement for less cash.
67 cupiddstunt // Jun 3, 2012 at 2:00 PM
bills-son @ # 63
I know what you are saying and agree in principle with almost all you have said, although I did not think I was arguing with them but just questioning the obviously “anti MA” comments.
I also agree that their comments do appear to come from somewhat emotionally blinkered and blinded by the past views and in reality has no bearing on how the club is doing now and how MA and the board are performing.
Although I do not agree with you on the subject of “I’ll give GBS and solano one thing, they aren’t thick” I agree that neither appear to lack intelligence and education but to not use that said intelligence and education in my books is thick.
To have a dislike for someone because they made some mistakes in the past but who is trying to rectify those mistakes and improve on them, sorry that is just plain moronic in my book.
68 graham cwarr // Jun 3, 2012 at 2:04 PM
@ibiza man u will want cabaye and psg will want hba.
Spurs will sell Dawson and buy saylor too.
Yep some massive rebuilding needed
69 GoalsBringSmiles // Jun 3, 2012 at 3:27 PM
I’m sorry but I don’t invest myself emotionally enough in a game to actually hate anyone. With all fue respect neither of you know me yet claim to know so much about how I feel and yet worse how I apply my intelligence and education. Cupid you articulate yourself well but issuing borderline personal insults based upon your own assumptions is your downfall. My stance on Ashley is reasoned and justifiable-I don’t trust him with the club I support as
70 GoalsBringSmiles // Jun 3, 2012 at 3:32 PM
…he has not convinced me as of yet that he has ambitions that match my own.
71 XtraTimeAndPens // Jun 3, 2012 at 3:58 PM
Always thought that Kinnear was a decent bloke but didn’t seem to have much of a clue what he was doing. Think Mike Ashley probably does the right thing in leaving chatting to the players to Pardew. At the end of the day his job is to look after the club and Pardew’s to look after results on the pitch. The two have obviously found a balance that suits both of them.
Also, I’ve just posted a blog on why France can win Euro 2012, which might interest you all given our Gallic connections!
http://www.extratimeandpenalties.com
72 bills-son // Jun 3, 2012 at 6:00 PM
Goals … if your ambitions stretch to Ashley spending money at Man City levels it isn’t going to happen. If anybody takes the Maktoums on financially they are going to lose because no owners in the world have deeper pockets than them – not Abramovich, nobody.
Ashley has shown however that you can build a very good team without spending £100s of millions and at the same time give us fans excitement on the pitch, great wins over top teams and European football.
I don’t call it lack of ambition that Ashley won’t buy £25M+ players and pay £100,000-£200,000+ wages a week. I call it realism. Football ceased being just a game along time ago. Ask Ranger, Leeds and Portsmouth fans. It is now a huge business with equally huge financial risks, especially for any club owner brave or foolish enough to take on cash billionaires – not paper billionaires – like the Maktoums and Abramovich or the massively cash generating clubs like Man U. This is why even Arsenal are cautious never mind NUFC.
Do I like it? No. Do I criticise Ashley for it? No. Do I like the plan he has to keep us competitive and in with a shout of European football and a cup win? Yes, yes and yes again.
I think we are very very lucky that Ashley stuck with us and didn’t cut his losses after relegation. I shudder to think what would have happened if someone like the Venky’s had bought it. We’ll go along way to get a better owner than Ashley – a long way.
73 Rotonda heights // Jun 3, 2012 at 6:24 PM
GBS
Isn’t calling people odious not a personal insult?
74 Robinio // Jun 3, 2012 at 11:31 PM
all you guys who think the FCB is doing a good job are deluded fools , he got lucky last season by having a top scout and a top manager . It wont last . He is a fat thieving cockney who doesnt give a shit about the club or its fans . He just wants to line his own pockets . Get your tongues out of his fat arse and get real
75 WLtoon // Jun 4, 2012 at 11:19 AM
MA might be a nice guy, if ur an accountant or a bamk manager.
76 Owldman // Jun 4, 2012 at 9:02 PM
bills-son spot mate if we still had scrap man Freddie in charge we would have been in administration now & probably 2 divisions down .Some may not like Ashley but he is wise enough now that you cant compete financialy with the billionairs who have bottomless pockets it a reality we all Toon supporters must face.i am sure that there are many Premiership clubs who wish they were in our position fiancialy
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