Newcastle had a very good season last year, when we finished 5th top and qualified for Europe for the first time in six seasons, and then of course in the season just finished, we managed somehow to finish 5th bottom and just avoid relegation. 🙁
Alan Pardew – under pressure to deliver
And talking about yo-yos, those are the things we used to use way back in the 1950’s, and I was fairly good at it, and could do “rock the baby” and “walk the dog” – my claim to fame – but by all accounts yo-yos have been in existence since 500 BC – well would you believe it.
These days yo-yo is also meant as a term for going up and down, and we’ve had yo-yo clubs get relegated from the Premier League a number of times,and then be promoted from the Championship, and they have included clubs like West Brom, Sunderland and Birmingham.
We are hoping Newcastle are too good to follow that path, but our confidence last season was severely dented – but we’ll put it down to too many games in Europe and too many injuries.
But of course top clubs play in Europe every year and sustain injuries too, and they still finish in the top four – clubs such as Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.
But last season proved we are just nowhere near those clubs these days – although we were when Bobby Robson was running the club ten years ago.
Newcastle finished so pathetically low in the league table last season, behind Southampton and West Ham, two of the promoted clubs, and we were even beaten at home by Reading, another promoted club who were immediately relegated.
If it’s true that the extra games in Europe and injuries were the major reason for Newcastle’s poor performance in the league, then we should be able to do much better in the coming season.
If we don’t finish say in the top eight next May, then it says something is wrong, other than our squad is not big enough, and if we struggle again, we could even see a new manager come in.
That’s the challenge Alan Pardew and his team of John Carver, Steve Stone and Andy Woodman face next season, to turn things around, and it will be important to get off to a good start in August.
What will also be important is that we keep our best players this summer, and there have already been moves reported for both Hatem Ben Arfa and Papiss Cisse, so early in this transfer window, and that’s a little worrying.
It’s a really important summer for Newcastle, and it could decide whether we continue to be mediocre like last season, or start putting together a squad that can challenge for a top six place, and also challenge in the two local cups next season.
Where do Newcastle United want to be in two or three years time – is a good question to ask right now.
We don’t see many yo-yos around these days, and things are certainly a lot different than they were back in the 1950s.
Newcastle won the FA Cup three times in 1951, 1952 and 1955 – and that’s another big difference.
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29 comments so far
Indian Magpie
May 31, 2013 at 8:59 AM
Comment #1Sack Pardew
Indian Magpie
May 31, 2013 at 9:02 AM
Comment #2Okay Seriously.
Who sees pardew changing his tune?
TorqToon
May 31, 2013 at 9:02 AM
Comment #3Indian – Nothing new at my end I’m afraid. Plenty of talk regarding couple of our targets. But nothing to get excited about!
Lilo – careful mate! I was ripped to shreds for suggesting our players should take more responsibility for our poor season last year. 🙂
martoon
May 31, 2013 at 9:10 AM
Comment #4Poor Indian is taking a battering today – I think he is just repeating commonly held ideas.
The thing I find difficult to understand because I have no understanding of company finance is the blurred lines between MA, NUFC and Sports Direct. Surely they are two seperate companies that MA owns and you can’t just transfer money back and forward between the two or for that matter into MA’s back pocket. These are surely subject to taxes etc and any money paid to MA is effectively a salary again subject to income tax etc. Can any accountants out there explain it to me?
MysteriousStranger
May 31, 2013 at 9:14 AM
Comment #5Morning All,
I hope the bolg is going to be full of chat about ambitious transfers, Pardews lack of ability and of course how MA robs the club blind whilst allowing Derek “the peado” LLambias run the club into the ground.
Indian Magpie
May 31, 2013 at 9:15 AM
Comment #6Martoon
You should understand this
If a NUFCjersey is available at a cheaper rate at a SDA store most of people will buy it from there. Hence SDA benefits at NUFC’s expense
lesh
May 31, 2013 at 9:15 AM
Comment #7Indian Magpie….. You going to say anything constructive today?
Go on, try it and you might even enjoy the craic!
one Tony Green
May 31, 2013 at 9:16 AM
Comment #8Mactoon mike Ashley for 1 does not own Sports Direct he is the major shareholder and was recently out voted..
In terms of NUFC the 107 million loan he made needs to be paid back before he has any tax liability.
I cannot understand why fans have an obsession about what he makes.
Markaccus
May 31, 2013 at 9:17 AM
Comment #9Martoon… isnt that the loophole they are trying to close? Running a seperate company and ‘sponsoring’ the football club for large amounts. Man citeh are doing that.
Anyway, Morning, hows things.
Indian Magpie
May 31, 2013 at 9:18 AM
Comment #10MysteriousStranger
Sir/Ma’m
I am willing to discuss anything under the Sun, you just initiate it.
TorqToon
May 31, 2013 at 9:18 AM
Comment #11Martoon – I am not great at financial stuff, but I do know that last year sports direct made an enormous profit, and NUFC made a modest profit (around £5mil I believe) so they MUST be treated as completely separate entities.
Indian Magpie
May 31, 2013 at 9:19 AM
Comment #12Where is Mactoon?
one Tony Green
May 31, 2013 at 9:22 AM
Comment #13Indian SDA sell Man United Arsenal tops etc. Grow up man football is a business. We all get it you do not like Pardew etc. Ask Wolves, Leeds and Portsmouth fans about poor corporate governance..
SDA is a limited company who MA is a shareholder. These infantile posts about the economics of how corporations are run and what they can do is nonesense
lesh
May 31, 2013 at 9:23 AM
Comment #14Indian.
Can you please explain how when selling an NUFC shirt for example, Sports Direct profits at Newcastle United’s expense?
Surely the more sold the better as they help in marketing the club at home and abroad and thus benefit Newcastle, United as a global brand.
Try thinking outside the box for a minute.
jimmysmith
May 31, 2013 at 9:23 AM
Comment #15“the peado,” omg! a new low.
Indian Magpie
May 31, 2013 at 9:26 AM
Comment #16Lesh
It is being Sold Cheaper
MysteriousStranger
May 31, 2013 at 9:27 AM
Comment #17Indian – I just enjoy the debate when people get wound up about about the topics mentioned.
to be honest the only topics I’m really concerned with is I’m just sat at work thinking about knocking off in three hours, going to buy copius amounts of wine, sitting in my garden and enjoying both wine and sunshine. Forgetting about football and ignoring the wife when she reminds of all those little jobs that need doing, I’ve told her I’ll get round to them I just wish she’d dtop mentioning them every six months.
lesh
May 31, 2013 at 9:27 AM
Comment #18the peado…. We’re plumbing new depths with that, unbelievable!
MysteriousStranger
May 31, 2013 at 9:28 AM
Comment #19Lesh – 14
Your last line thinking outside the box…That’s surely something we should be putting to Cisse as well ha ha.
lesh
May 31, 2013 at 9:29 AM
Comment #20Indian, sold cheaper, so what – the club benefits too. Think about it man!
lesh
May 31, 2013 at 9:31 AM
Comment #21Indian. SD sells shirts which in turn sell the club’s image which makes more money than the profits on shirts!
MysteriousStranger
May 31, 2013 at 9:33 AM
Comment #22Lesh – 18
Yeah Peado was probably over the top but he does have a look about him! of course completeley unsubstantuated and a massively inappropriate gesture on my part…full apologies especially to DL
I’m just in a boistorous mood….
lesh
May 31, 2013 at 9:34 AM
Comment #23MysteriousStranger… You know how to treat a girl… Enjoy a pleasant afternoon, there’s all summer to do those little jobs that you’re clearly taking time to plan them thoroughly!
MysteriousStranger
May 31, 2013 at 9:35 AM
Comment #24And your right about the tops because the knock on effect is more people wearing tops the better known we become especially in the cosmopolitan country we’re living in. This is even more appropriate now SD have aquired shops in Europe – namely austri and such. Every Little Helps
Magpie Myles
May 31, 2013 at 9:37 AM
Comment #25mactoon
What you will find is that Mike Ashley won’t hold any of that money to hand, most of it is a percentage of shars in Sports Direct, which is untouchable money until he sells some or all of his shares.
Which, if i remember correctly, he did sell some shares recently for £100million? I think this will have been used for January transfers and the club running on a 3 million loss this year. I would imagine the rest is for his personal use.
Slank
May 31, 2013 at 9:50 AM
Comment #26Indian @ 10
‘I am willing to discuss anything under the Sun ‘
Don’t read the Sun I’m afraid.
Slank
May 31, 2013 at 9:54 AM
Comment #27lesh @ 7
‘…Indian Magpie….. You going to say anything constructive today?…’
Is the Pope a Catholic?
BillBurch
May 31, 2013 at 12:38 PM
Comment #28I think Mike Ashley bought NUFC as a way of boosting SD’s profits. The better the team does the more TV exposure therefore more potential support therefore more kit sales etc. He must have thought it was going to be easy hence the initial partying etc! I have to say that after a poor start he eventually came to his senses and has stabilised the financial side of the club. I think he’s trying to emulate Man U and Everton by sticking by Alan Pardew and keeping within financial parameters.
MacToon
May 31, 2013 at 12:50 PM
Comment #29one Tony Green // May 31, 2013 at 9:16 AM
Mactoon mike Ashley for 1 does not own Sports Direct he is the major shareholder and was recently out voted..
Magpie Myles // May 31, 2013 at 9:37 AM
mactoon
What you will find is…………………………..
###############################
Why are people mentioning me whilst I’m a, not even here and b, never commented on the subject on this thread?
Howay, if it’s Martoon you mean then get the name right!!!