It’s very true that if you’re good enough you’re old enough at Newcastle these days, and there are various good examples of how a youngster can come through the Academy and into the first team, and one recent example of this is 21 year-old Northern Ireland International Shane Ferguson.
A baby looking Shane Ferguson in Northern Ireland colors
Shola Ameobi, Steven Taylor and Tim Krul have all come through the youth ranks at Newcastle to become first team players at the Tyneside club, and there are other players like 20 year-old Haris Vuckic, who are coming through , but unfortunately Haris is now out for the season with his ACL knee injury.
Haris has done very well since joining the Magpies at just 16 years of age back in January of 2009.
And of course we currently have youngsters like Sammy Ameobi and James Tavernier also showing good signs that they can become first team regulars at Newcastle.
Alan Pardew has been true to his word and he’s provided youngsters with a chance of playing in the first team, since he became manager almost two years ago:
“Fergie playing against Manchester United is not easy.” “In today’s age, to come through an Academy and play against one of the top clubs in the country just goes to show you that there is a route.”
“So for our Under 10s, right through to the Development squad, they can see that there is a path to the first-team.” “You need to be good enough, you need to work and be committed, and Fergie has done that.”
“Now his career can start building from that platform and that’s what all young players in this region should try and aim to do if they want to be a footballer.”
Newly signed 18 year-old Gael Bigirimana is also getting plenty of first team experience, and after playing in almost all the games in pre-season, Gael has already made 9 appearances for the first team this season, and he looks to play a lot more before the end of the season.
Newcastle should be able to attract a lot of youngsters to the club now that we are very close to Category One status for our Youth Academy, and the fact that youngsters will be given first team opportunities – if they are good enough.
There’s nothing much wrong with that.
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60 responses so far ↓
1 Wor Shearer // Oct 11, 2012 at 9:37 PM
The ‘three year plan’ became a ‘five year plan’ which became an ‘eight year plan’ which has now become a ‘next generation plan’!
Pardo, can we at least buy a CB in January…!?
2 ppb // Oct 11, 2012 at 9:42 PM
@shearer. not in the plan
btw kets is scarecrow
“if i only had a brain”
3 BmoreToonFan // Oct 11, 2012 at 9:45 PM
ppb
Pards must be the lion, he needs the courage to stand up to MA and demand we buy a CB!
4 Carryingcoals // Oct 11, 2012 at 9:45 PM
Evening one and all, how goes it? Jut logged on and read the comments from the last thread.
Quasi.modo @ 3 – very well said indeed, great comment. Wishing him well is the best way.
tads – I agree that he would be better suited to Serie A/that style of play, I’ve thought that for a while!
I think Vuckic will be a player we look back on in about ten years time when he crops up somewhere and everyone is a little nostalgic and thinks, ‘god he looked great back in the day, he could have been a great player for us’.
Potential is there still of course, I’m not necessarily writing him off but realistically speaking, will he be kept on in this regime if they look back and see he’s hardly played any games. I hope he comes back stronger anyhow.
Jail for Ashley and beefman on at the same time eyyy, I feel its a showdown of the two poles, ibiza you better hope your fence is big enough to keep you well aware from the battle.
solano – I heard the Ryder interview too, he makes me cringe to be honest!
jawballsaswallwell – hahaha! Now Ryder might be bad but that carryingcoals is a lot worse, be careful what you wish for
5 Carryingcoals // Oct 11, 2012 at 9:47 PM
ppb
I’m still convinced kets is Ed, designed to stir the blog up a bit… hang on a second, nobody’s mind could be that warped, could it?!
6 ppb // Oct 11, 2012 at 9:48 PM
@Bmore while i hate pardew bashing that actually got a snort
7 ppb // Oct 11, 2012 at 9:51 PM
@carrying have you read some comments on here? there are far worse minds lol
8 Carryingcoals // Oct 11, 2012 at 9:52 PM
ppb
Very true mate!
9 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 11, 2012 at 10:02 PM
Carrying
Aye cant see MA sorting vuckic a new contract unless he has a full fit season and really impresses!
And yeah that ryder interview was kinda like watching the office you dont know whether to laugh or wince ryder is a proper tool the bloke couldnt break an egg let alone a story
10 ppb // Oct 11, 2012 at 10:05 PM
vuckic hasn’t really proven himself to ash. fergy has made a good start.
more cheery vids tads?
11 Carryingcoals // Oct 11, 2012 at 10:15 PM
tads
Yeah you’re right very true.
On Ryder, he did come across horribly on that interview. I understand that he has an obligation to respect the club. He can’t be slagging them off and has to be tactful, or else he’ll get sacked, the club allow the chronicle to have close ties and access etc.
Someone mentioned Henry Winter before and I completely agreed with what they said, however Ryder isn’t in that position where he could be as critical.
Having said that – there is a guy called John Gibson who has or at least had a column in the chronicle and I remember reading a few things that slated Ashley and his regime. Plus I don’t remember Alan Oliver (Ryder’s predecessor) being such a pro club man/ puppet as Ryder comes across. In fact didn’t Oliver get in to trouble with the Shepherd regime and some players during his time?
Ryder actually seems more of a yes man than anybody that gets that name. I don’t think he could actually do what people like Winter do. Really could never see that.
I would love to be able to do freelance writing so much so that I got picked up by an institution and became a football correspondent for example. I’d honestly prefer to not do it at all though than do things the way Ryder does. It sort of disillusions me to be honest, I was really disappointed with his responses in that talk sport interview. Let the region down I thought, as dramatic as that might sound.
12 Magpie from Lithuania // Oct 11, 2012 at 10:18 PM
youngsters like Vuckic will get the chance until they are 24-25 years old
No worries a lot of good talent coming throu the academy
13 Carryingcoals // Oct 11, 2012 at 10:26 PM
Lithuania
I personally want to see more of the youngsters. Obviously Fergie is at the top of the pile but I want to see Sammy getting some minutes again. I’ve seen glimpses of really good stuff from him in the past.
Also excited to see Amalfitano, I think a lot of people rate him too much when I read their comments. I don’t know a lot of him but when he’s come on and controlled the ball I haven’t been overly wowed. I want to see more of him and get a better view.
Speaking of poor first touches, does anybody think Cisse’s can be shocking at times. Sometimes his first touch is an amazing goal like, but there are times when the ball is played in to his feet and his control and touch are noticeably poor.
14 Pushy Pardew // Oct 11, 2012 at 10:28 PM
Carrying
Ryder didn’t need to be critical at all. All that was required
was to give a balanced response instead it was nonsensical.
You could have stopped someone at the local shopping centre and they would have made more sense. It was such a callow interview and having met Ryder on away trips par for the course.
15 beefman13 // Oct 11, 2012 at 10:33 PM
Oi jail, you hate MA more than you want the toon to succeed get out the coal bunker you snake and take the lie detector test.
worst type of fan possible ever in the history of our great club.
16 beefman13 // Oct 11, 2012 at 10:37 PM
You want to play trying to hurt people do you Jail, creepy dooshbag!
17 Carryingcoals // Oct 11, 2012 at 10:48 PM
Pushy
Sorry, by critical I meant like a broadsheet writer is, in the sense that they form an opinion and validate it. So not necessarily critical but yeah, as you say balanced and made some sense at least!
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who could tell how bad that interview was, the support he’s got for his comments is outrageous!
Beefman
Jail seems a die hard fan to me, despite your different perspectives.
Plus you’be got to admit his morning posts that get the first comment are pretty funny…
18 beefman13 // Oct 11, 2012 at 10:58 PM
Carryingcoals, we were having a bit harmless banter then he decides to turn it up a notch and got personal, he picked the wrong one, that young lad was going to chin him last month, i would not threaten that of course beacuse i have better things to do with the one second it would take to close the show.
i wont reply to any of this snides posts ever i dont care who dosnt with mine including u pushy pardew who puts his little sneeky comments in to his posts about me. nerdy geek.
Have a laugh, have banter, dont get personal that just spoils the whole thing.
19 solano // Oct 11, 2012 at 11:00 PM
Beef…you are a great advert for the introduction of censorship….you need to be saved from yourself!
Why the crass, obtuse, intellectually bereft tactics? For a short while the other evening I felt you really tried to engage in a real debate with me….you just haven’t bothered to make that effort with others and have shown the cerebral ability of a fencepost. You’re embarrassing yourself and the ’cause’ you vowed to defend the other night.
20 beefman13 // Oct 11, 2012 at 11:08 PM
Solano, would you rather MA fail in his ownership at the toon rather than NUFC succeed? you were one of the others i was taking aim at.
your hatred of the owner overpowers the love for your club.
hand on heart now mothers life and all that!
21 solano // Oct 11, 2012 at 11:17 PM
Is this the level of ‘debate’ ??
Of course, I want success for NUFC before anything else…but that shouldn’t stifle circumspection and analytical discussion….and that is what this blog should be about….that’s why ed posts his articles and asks for opinions.
Everyone is entitled to them but not everyone can be proven correct….but what you’re doing is just generally bringing things down to such a base level that if you keep this up, poor old Ed will be looking for another job as you’re boring the titties off everyone.
22 solano // Oct 11, 2012 at 11:21 PM
Nowt wrong with passion and strong opinions …and we’ve all lost our temper on here in the past..but Jeez, you’re practically offering everyone and anything in the carpark for a fight!
Are you on steroids?
23 Pushy Pardew // Oct 11, 2012 at 11:23 PM
Beefman
If you must align me with anyone then make it anyone but JFA. His thought for the day posts are almost as lame as some of your recent ill thought out utterances. Each to his own. I don’t really see much difference in thinking between say Ian Toon, Ibiza and myself. I am pro Ashley and what i believe he’s trying to do from a business perspective. HOWEVER i don’t agree with everything he does and i like the aforementioned pair are not afraid to say so. Just keep a sense of perspective. Owners come and go but NUFC IS FOR EVER. You can join me in having the rest of the evening
off.
24 bollance // Oct 11, 2012 at 11:24 PM
Carryingcoals
We will see youngsters coming through. The big payday received from AC will certainly of convinced our owner that clubs pay top dollar for young english talent.
We currently have 3 English youth int. strikers in Campbell, gilliead and Armstrong who are 17, 16 & 15. In addition we have an English youth int. goalkeeper in woodman and two defenders in cameron and Atkinson. They are all playing for the u18 except of course Campbell who has been elevated to u21s. Despite being 17 he is shining in that age group. Recently saw a news paper article saying he could be the as good a ginger as Paul scholes (red top paper of course).
It will take several years for the above to come through but I can guarantee everything will happen to ensure these boys do come through because at the moment they are our crown jewels.
Think about it, the above clutch of players could be worth £10m each providing they maintain their current path, that is a lot of wonga.
Just because I have suggested they have a value does not mean we will sell them.
There is something special about havin Geordies playing for the team especially with the derby coming up and all of the above are from the area except woodman.
25 BandB // Oct 11, 2012 at 11:26 PM
Beef
I admire your passion. But when you get to cracking folks out, you’ve lost .
Solano is right. Coals is right. Despite the wind and piss, most folks would be happy with two more first team signings. And the thought we might win something, one day. Some think that’s the plan. At worst, the rest would be happy to be proved wrong. Give your heed a shake.
26 Carryingcoals // Oct 11, 2012 at 11:36 PM
Pushy @ 22 good post, well said I think.
Bollance
I like your posts because we usually agree and you have a lot of knowledge on things I have very little/am learning about, namely the youth set up at the club.. What you’ve said reminds me of something my dad said when we saw the match last sunday. He’s convinced Ashley will one day bring Carroll back, simply because of what you’ve just mentioned there – this affiliation we have with a Geordie player, especially a striker. Commercial windfall through shirt sales too with Carroll’s return. – However I must stress that in bringing him back it would be a much cut down price of course. What I’m trying to say is it’s all very marketable.
I think you’re spot on when looking at the mentality of the club’s business plan.
BandB
Exactly. If we do get that CB in January and another player who can give us something different (maybe Belhanda but I’m not holding my breath) I’ll be happy. Even if we won the League Cup I’d be over the moon.
27 pbNcl // Oct 11, 2012 at 11:43 PM
people still unhappy here?
beefy been kicking off?
we signed paul scharner or willy wonga yet?
still sat nicely in the league. pardew is a legend keeping a lid on the constant crap NUFC has to deal with. ownersincluded#
28 bollance // Oct 11, 2012 at 11:44 PM
BandB
The plan is to make MA rich. This is a project which he is 100% committed to. The by-product of making Ashley profit is that our club will become more successful.
It is fairly simple but I honestly believe the drive for Ashley to turn a profit will guarantee our club as a front runner in the premiership. We may not become champions but we will be up there and will stand a chance of winning things.
There will be a day when MA calls it a day, when another billionaire buys the club. This will be a bad, bad day. Another owner will make all the mistakes again and we will be back to square one.
We are lost without MA’s leadership.
29 pbNcl // Oct 11, 2012 at 11:47 PM
________krul__________
perch____saylor__colo______santon
___anita__tiote____guti__
________cabs______
_____benny____
__________ba________
obvious bench
30 solano // Oct 11, 2012 at 11:48 PM
CarryingCoals….I wish I had the same faith in this business plan!
The original namechange plan and the ”dubious’ new commercial bedfellows of the club are hardly convincing evidence that maximising revenue streams is actually what MA and Del are good at doing at NUFC.
Maybe…just maybe (and risking a whole new wave of AC debate) we could have resisted offers for our England Centre forward, held him to his contract and sold a shed load of shirts on the back of his commercial/advertising image? We could then, with the extra cash, invested in players like Ba and Cisse and had a stronger squad!
You see, what I’m getting at with this wild theory? Refuse the big early bucks offered, showed statement of intent to the fans, thus encouraging renewed faith in commitment to success, resulting in increased turnover and revenue, resulting in longterm, sustainable success on and off the pitch!
QED
31 pbNcl // Oct 11, 2012 at 11:52 PM
bolllance
I agree MA has temporarily and only recently aided the club, however we are not lost without his leardership.
jus like we are not lost without shearer’s goals
and I know which I most prefer and appreciate
32 bollance // Oct 11, 2012 at 11:53 PM
Carryingcoals
Not sure we will bring back Carroll. It all hinges on the price Liverpool ask for. But also don’t forget Carroll will be on a free in less then 3 season’s time. For the type of game we are currently playing Carroll would have been perfect.
All you need to know about the U18 team is that most of the players are 16 or under. We seem to have lost a year group or two with the club only keeping the cream of the crop. A lot of these players won the u15 Nike cup a few seasons ago so I guess you could think they are a golden generation. There are rumours the u12 team are even better but that is a long long way to even contemplate.
We will become recognised as having a good academy because in recent times the academy has produced very little and even fewer Geordies!
33 bollance // Oct 11, 2012 at 11:55 PM
Pb
Two words.. Freddie Sheppard
34 Carryingcoals // Oct 11, 2012 at 11:55 PM
bollance
And then – if that does happen – people will realise the reasons why Ashley was in fact good for the club
solano
If only it could work like that!
35 pbNcl // Oct 11, 2012 at 11:56 PM
wonder how long wonga spend before they wronger
cant be much longer
36 BandB // Oct 12, 2012 at 12:03 AM
My objection to Wonga is that they are usurers “though they are”.
It’s that they sent a report to the Government, demanding the end of all workplace rights. Sacking on a whim. No redundancy payments. People got hung and deported to get us these rights. People with the confidence of youth think it will never be them, so they don’t give a shit. What I see in Jail and Solano is principle, that isn’t based on “moral BS” (as one of our great expat thinkers called it.) It’s pride. A refusal to take it up the hoop. Personally, I only watch football cos they don’t allow women to be shagged by elephants in the arena these days.
37 Carryingcoals // Oct 12, 2012 at 12:04 AM
pbNcl and Bollance
When I look at Ashley and what we’re doing now and when I think back to Shepherd and other clubs that spend million and achieve little to no success, I really buy in to this plan we seem to have.
The blueprint is something I really believe in.
Bollance
re Carroll – I see what you mean, I’m not putting a specific sort of time on it, just one day… I really think we will see him play for us once again. And yeah definitely, I always laugh at the argument ‘he wouldn’t fit in to our style of play’…
As for the youth it’s good that its being focused on and revamped. 2 of the lads I played football with through school were involved with the youth team. 1 was there for about 10 years, Dan Leadbitter, they released him and he now plays for Torquay. The other, Shaun Hutchinson, was rejected by Newcastle and it now the starting centre half for Motherwell in the SPL, has played champions league and is very highly regarded over there. Both are 21. Through their generation, they always said everybody seemed pretty average apart from Kazenga – he was the kid you knew would always ‘make it’. I was surprised that we let him go, Lua Lua.
My point being, for too long we haven’t got the academy right. Carroll being the exception and let’s face it, that 35 million deal goes down in history as the biggest shock and happened relative to circumstance. You could say we were extremely fortuitous.
One of my favourite things about the Ashley regime is this new focus on youth, I’m excited by this generation that you speak of.
38 bollance // Oct 12, 2012 at 12:05 AM
Carrying
If only people realise that us becoming successful and Ashley making money go hand in hand then there would be less anger and hate.
What angers me though is the pards doubter. When ever we don’t win they come out and critise this that and the other.
Football is a game of two side and it is very possible the other side player better tactics or has players who excel on the day. In fact there are so many variables and I guess that is want makes the game so fascinating.
Again I hope we don’t have to lose pards to realise how good he is and has been to our club.
This will not go down very well but take Aston villa. Without Martin o’neil they have plummeted. That does not mean he will be a success at the scum but villa made a big mistake pushing him away.
39 solano // Oct 12, 2012 at 12:08 AM
Carring…it may sound far fetched…and AC is just one example – and for many reasons not the best one – but to me, there are very valid reasons why many people do not trust those in charge.
It is not borne out of inherent hatred of cockneys or xenophobia.
Geordies are universally known for their generosity of spirit, sense of humour and kindness – all of which were shown in abundance in 2007 to MA. What they ask for in return is honesty, respect and as far as supporting NUFC is concerned, just that continued commitment to continued progress on the pitch that might lead to a trophy without putting a price on all the fixtures and fittings and alienating many who have contributed to the club in the past.
40 Carryingcoals // Oct 12, 2012 at 12:12 AM
BandB
Listen, I know what you mean. The principle is there.
Although, I wouldn’t say young people dont give a shit. I think a lot, despite not having had to deal with such people, still get what they’re about.
Being a student through the current economic climate and system of government has made many stand up. Look at the student marches/protests for example. They dont think it will never be them, it is them.
A lot think its funny and pay no attention to the inner workings of wonga, but I assure you, a lot give a damn. The principle doesnt necessarily belong to the older generation.
41 BandB // Oct 12, 2012 at 12:15 AM
If I was your generation, Coals, I’d stand ours against the wall and shoot them
42 bollance // Oct 12, 2012 at 12:20 AM
I have only seen one u18 game when we played Aston villa in the semi of the youth fa cup. All the focus was on airy but he got sent off and seemed to go downhill after that. Vuckic came on and was brilliant and since then I have preyed that he came through which is why I am saddened by his latest setback.
You should get yourself down to little Benton to watch an under 18 game. I have watched games via the Internet in recent seasons but not too many as not many are on, only usually vs man utd or Liverpool.
The latest game I saw I was very impressed with gilliead who played midfield and looks very good. Strong runner with the ball.
The two I have not seen are satka 16 year old defender from Slovakia and rolando arrons 16 year old winger. Both are highly rated.
It is definitely an exciting generation.
43 Carryingcoals // Oct 12, 2012 at 12:21 AM
bollance
I agree with you. I’m a big Pardew fan. I love the confidence and genuine belief he has – which can come across badly to many as arrogance. I simply see a committed leader.
As for the Villa comment though I’m not so sure… Yes you could say they pushed marty away, but he sort of spat his dummy out too I think. He wanted millions and millions to spend to take the club to the next level, ie the top 4. I’m sure he spent hundreds of millions…
I love where we are compared to Villa though at present.
solano
You make a very good point, I do think that. I know what you mean and I was saying this to ibiza and beef yesterday…
I like having Ashley at the club because of the model he’s introduced but as I argued to beef he does very much disrespect the fans and thats the part of the regime I resent.
Ashley is the mind, the fans are the heart.
I think where I differ from many fans is, I like many get sick of Ashleys behaviour but I tolerate (as I think bollance does) because of the transformation and progress I see happening at the club.
I’m trying to be as pragmatic as I can.
But please don’t think that I don’t know, agree or empathise with the point you make, I don’t fully ‘trust’ them – however I do think they have made mistakes, have learnt very quickly and are striving for success, even if it goes hand in hand with Mike Ashley’s own company gaining more profit and advertising along the way.
I hope that made sense.
44 Carryingcoals // Oct 12, 2012 at 12:23 AM
bollance @ 41
Well I wanted to write some things about the reseerves/u21s and the youth. It’s something many don’t know about, so I was thinking of experiencing it a bit more and then trying to get a few articles out there. It’s something that is pretty interesting and I think I will go down there yeah
45 beefman13 // Oct 12, 2012 at 12:26 AM
pb, i told you to come on earlier on for the fry up,
Jail tried to level something at me like you did yesterday even though after reading it through it you knew it was me having a real pop at saville, jail new as well but tried to hit the nerve and to be fair i thought that was more than below the belt.
mild insults followed by a wammy from the snidey one jail, i wont forget that either.
BandB i have not ever threatened to punch someone out!
keyboard warriors, i defend my opinion and fair comment strongly sometimes, maybe cool down on the expletives which is no problem.
But in my mind and heart i dont think MA has put a foot wrong for his business in his own mind and i get what he was trying to do with the ground renaming even though it peed me and everyone off!
thats what i told people on here, that he dosnt do feelings he cares about growing and securing his investment, and if it does good for us.
Bluntly, the fan in the street can think what he wants but he makes the decisions, i think they may try to engage fans a bit more in certain ways but to be fair the vast majority of fans in clubs all over the world dont get a say in much do they.
46 solano // Oct 12, 2012 at 12:26 AM
Carrying…I understand…and agree and disagree in parts, but the feng shui of the blog is at least being restored with real opinion!
Nite
47 Carryingcoals // Oct 12, 2012 at 12:30 AM
haha ok mate
, goodnight
48 beefman13 // Oct 12, 2012 at 12:33 AM
Carryingcoals, that was a good line about MA being the mind and the fans the heart
he is just about the best in the biz at business,
the fans can take to much to heart but he dosnt do it to hurt them i truly believe that he does it once again beacuse he thinks its the right thing to do.
49 jawballsaswallwell // Oct 12, 2012 at 12:58 AM
I think Mike Ashley really gives the strong impression that his guiding philosophy is profit above all else and a goal of maximizing his own business interests and clearly that benefits the club and the team but it doesn’t entirely align itself with the hopes and aspirations of fans like myself who want to see an exciting, entertaining, developing side and management that are not only competent financial managers but which also respects and protects the clubs history and status. Being a fan, I don’t think the bottom line at NUFC should entirely be about money and there’s the essential difference, or so it seems.
50 bollance // Oct 12, 2012 at 1:28 AM
Jaw
Yes, u have a valid point. He may not instil the brand of football that the fans demand but winning is the key. It is the Lyon philosophy.
Where does the defender debate come into all of this though.
The defender we apparently bid for and also apparently didn’t bid for was Douglas. Llambias said we could not get Douglas because too expensive? He is good, but in the Dutch league. However, he also have a reputation for lapses in concentration and I have seen this live in a game where he was brilliant except for a lapse which lead to the opposition scoring.
He would have played ahead of Willo? Not sure. He would have needed to settle. It took santon until Xmas to get in the team last season. Let’s face facts Willo is proven in the prem. not a top defender but he has experience which counts a lot.
So I am not sure how a new defender would have solved anything? Maybe it would have given the cup team a bit of steel at the back but not the first team. Lest we forget it took colo a full season to get up to speed!
So linking back to the Ashley debate I am not sure a defender would have won us more games so far this season.
51 Mister Tuff // Oct 12, 2012 at 2:23 AM
After reading all the debates/arguments about Wonga over the last few days and doing a little bit of research I’ve come to the following conclusions:-
1. I think it was Cyprus who posted a list of the Premier League and all the sponsors. I should not have been surprised but I was, viewing the list as a whole document, –most of the sponsors probably do not have “ clean hands” and it seemed to me all were as bad (socially/morally) as each other.(in varying degrees)
2. It follows that it does seem a bit rich for others, typically the southern based press, to single out Newcastle, for a public beating, when perhaps all the Premier League sponsors should have been put under the microscope together.
3. I still do not like Wonga –the announcements to rename SJP, put money into the Academy and have public meetings/consultations is a really PR stunt gone badly wrong – it was clearly designed as a cynical attempt at appeasing the fans.
4. I’ve researched Standard Chartered Banks antecedents (Liverpool Sponsors) they are currently involved in a $250 million fraud scam, trading with Iran and money laundering – yet the same ones who have been slagging off Newcastle do not seem to have been so vociferous in highlighting where Standard Chartereds’ money comes from.
5. What about Abramovich, whilst not a sponsor as such, there have been many allegations over the years that his money was obtained by fraud.
6. Ashley is a successful businessman, correction, Ashley is a very successful clothing manufacturer, only time will reveal whether his business acumen extends to football.
7. Future bad stories about Wonga will be linked to Newcastle by the southern press.
So to sum up, the deal has been done, Wonga’s money is as dirty as anyone else’s –we will just have to live with it. I fear that if there is not much activity in the January window all hell will break loose. If we start slipping down the league it will cost us millions in PL payments.
Lastly there appears to have been some hatchet burying on the blog, well I hope it is that and that it stays that way.
52 jawballsaswallwell // Oct 12, 2012 at 2:28 AM
Douglas Willo for example seems a better center back pairing than Perch Willo and wasn’t that MA’s calculated risk when he felt he couldn’t get value for money in the transfer market, that our 6th choice center back pairing would not be responsible for a damaging loss of points over a season. It’s a hard thing to measure, but you’d imagine we’d struggle to get anything home or away against the senior sides if were having to go with Willo and Perch.
53 jawballsaswallwell // Oct 12, 2012 at 2:46 AM
I don’t subscribe to the argument that because other clubs have “dubious” sponsors, then it is ok for us endorse Wonga, nor to the argument that because Blackpool and Hearts have accepted Wonga’s sponsorship then it’s acceptable for us to. Football is big business and like many big businesses it lacks a clean moral conscience and as a club we clearly do too, but we did have the choice and we chose not to exercise our moral authority. We all have to swim in the same water, I accept that and so we only do what we can at best, but I think Ashley and co are using that as a convenient excuse on this occasion.
54 Mister Tuff // Oct 12, 2012 at 3:02 AM
Jaw -in writing my conclusions I wondered if I had “sold out” -along the lines of -well everybody else is doing it so we might as well do it. I still do not like Wonga -and the problems they and others like them cause. Citizens Advice spend most of their time now on debt issues -local authorities/councils up and down the country employ welfare officers (paid by us through Council Tax) to sort out debt for vulnerable persons caused by these types of outfits. I think that the government should put a cap on the interest these outfits can charge as in some European countries. The financial sector in this country seem to have been allowed carte blanche to do what they want and get away with it when found out -without any form of sanction -that needs to change but probably never will.
55 jawballsaswallwell // Oct 12, 2012 at 3:31 AM
I’m not judging others on their views on this issue, nor am I overly steadfast myself in my own opposition to Wonga in the overall light of the compromised world we live in and my own compromised choices in life, but I would like to think that if I were the custodian of Newcastle Uniteds’ good name and history, I would have resisted the deal. I would have preferred they stuck with Virgin and voluntarily returned the ground name to SJP, and accepted the consequences of the loss of revenue from the Wonga deal.
56 Mister Tuff // Oct 12, 2012 at 3:44 AM
Jaw -if I had been in Ashleys shoes I would not have done it either for the reasons you give. I still think this deal will come back to bite us big time. Now signing off and to the pit.
57 Santon03 // Oct 12, 2012 at 5:49 AM
Is Amalfitano injured or not good enough?
58 gaz 44 // Oct 12, 2012 at 7:47 AM
santon03 the later i think but for a freebie looks a very decent squad player
59 tooninspain // Oct 12, 2012 at 8:45 AM
Someone wrote we should have kept Carroll and used him to gain extra shirt sales in some grand marketing plan. Any idea how many shirts we’d need to sell to earn £35m profit? Liverpool were suckered.
60 Pushy Pardew // Oct 12, 2012 at 9:06 AM
What are we going to do with Tiote? His game is based on energy and tenacity and he largely sets the tempo of our game. You only need to compare the Manu game this season with last seasons to understand that something is not quite right. The difference was that Chiek not for the first time this season did not perform in a controlled way and was overly pumped up. I wont dwell on the 2 goals from corners because with Krul, Taylor and Coloccini back then problem hopefully solved but what about Chiek in a highly charged derby game?
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