When you are a business and you keep making poor or dubious decisions, it keeps coming back to bite you, and there’s a case to be made that’s exactly what’s happened at Newcastle United, since Mike Ashley bought the club six years ago.
Mike Ashley – has made some poor decisions on Tyneside
The latest Wonga problem with Papiss Cisse is just one of the self-inflicted problems at Newcastle, during Mike Ashley’s reign on Tyneside.
Here are just a few of the others:
- Ashley sided with cockney Derek Wise when the then Director of Football brought in two players without Kevin Keegan’s knowledge or approval, and that led to Keen’s resignation from the club, and that eventually led to Newcastle’s relegation in May, 2009
- Chris Hughton did brilliantly to pull Newcastle off the floor and get us promoted in 2010 from the Championship at the first attempt, and Chris was an excellent front man and gentleman for Newcastle. But that didn’t stop Ashley from sacking Hughton during his first bad spell in the Premier League, when we gained only 2 points from five league games
- Ashley decided to rename St. James’ Park as the Sports Direct Arena, and everywhere you looked you saw the hideous Sports Direct signs, and then the club had the audacity to have workmen rip down the St. James’ Park signs
- Ashley appointed Joe Kinnear as the Director of Football in June of this year, and that has caused disruption at Newcastle, and had Derek LLambias resign in protest from the club. Joe is a bit like a loose cannon, and managed to bring some terrible publicity to himself and to Newcastle United by giving that ridiculous interview to talkSPORT, before he had even been announced in his new position
The Wonga deal brought us some bad publicity when it was announced, and that has continued with Papiss Cisse refusing to wear the Wonga logo – and that could end up (in the very worst case) by Newcastle having to sell a player, who is currently our very best striker.
It seems Newcastle were swayed by the big money Wonga were willing to pay Newcastle, reported to be £24M over four years.
But that’s only because a company like Wonga with a very poor name in the UK has to pay out big money to have a club wear the Wonga insignia, because in truth, the company is despised by many, because of the high interest rates they charge to poor people.
We have to hope there is some way out of this Wonga – Cisse impasse, and that Newcastle will also pay out the money to being in two or three good players this summer.
Things could then look a lot better than they do at the moment.
Here’s hoping.
What do you think?
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135 comments so far
Transfer Sage
Jul 18, 2013 at 9:52 AM
Comment #1jfk
never expected him to be a world beater at all, never mind in a relegation battle
i just think from what i’ve seen he has a few mistakes in him and is a bit casual.
hopefully this is the language barrier at first and the new league. but i am yet to be convinced. I am happy being patient though, it is difficult moving at that age.
Transfer Sage
Jul 18, 2013 at 9:53 AM
Comment #224mil over years is not big money…its 6 a year and pathetic
http://www.givemesport.com/191438-top-10-shirt-sponsorship-deals
we apparently got 10mil a year of virgin money. sunderland got double that.
JackButler
Jul 18, 2013 at 9:54 AM
Comment #3When will it ever end!!!
Want to get back to talking about and being excited about football, sick of my club being a bloody soap opera. Ashley is a self made billionaire but is running this club like a market stall
Toon-Prodigy
Jul 18, 2013 at 9:57 AM
Comment #4Have you seen what some tool has wrote on NUFC MAD.
Im sure this is having a go at Eds article last night in regards to Cisse maybe being forced out by Wonga.
Check out this numptys article.
http://m.newcastleunited-mad.co.uk/news/800268
jeff
Jul 18, 2013 at 9:57 AM
Comment #5jeffpatel2000@gmail.com
password: leecattermole
toonarmydownsouth
Jul 18, 2013 at 9:57 AM
Comment #6Toonarmydownsouth
0 mins ago
Yo
Lol!
Sage
Mbiwa came during one of the most unstable periods during recent times and was thrown into a patch work defence pairing the error prone Taylor who is almost as unfamiliar with the offside rule as cisse
A full pre season under his belt and were looking at potentially the best CB pairing we’ve had for years with him n colo
Arroeben
Don’t kid yourself mate were not regulars in anything, what other reasons would players sign for us atm?
Until the club progresses this will be the case with most players
JFK junior
Jul 18, 2013 at 9:58 AM
Comment #7TS – I just know what people have said on here who have actually watched mbiwa first hand. They (Torq / niafron) were so excited by his signing, and spoke so highly of him, that I know what we saw last season wasn’t true reflection.
John Tudor
Jul 18, 2013 at 9:58 AM
Comment #8jb like a cockney barra boy
Transfer Sage
Jul 18, 2013 at 9:59 AM
Comment #9jack
exactly…he cant run it like sports direct.
buy a once big brand for a low fee then sell the products (at reduced quality) for a low fee as people buy as its cheap for the brand.
in football players usually come at a fair value. Only way to make money is sign a lot of young players and hope (through good scouting then coaching) they develop to be worth much more.
G
Jul 18, 2013 at 9:59 AM
Comment #10jeff, I sincerely hope that isn’t your logon details you have just posted up there mate?
toonarmydownsouth
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Comment #11Jack Butler
He’s not self made mate, he’s a failed professional squash player who moved into coaching before he decided to buy a couple of sports stores, he was then backed massively by a third party
This is his only business venture he’s undertaken solo and the blokes not got a clue what he’s doing
Bring Back Laurent Robert
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Comment #12Mbiwa against Arsenal put in the best performance by a fullback at our club in aeons, it’s not even his natural position – tells me enough about him.
John Tudor
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Comment #13did it pass
Transfer Sage
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:01 AM
Comment #14jfk
I have seen all the people excited too, its just plenty come from other league where they are great or have potential and flop in england, he wouldn’t be the first.
Happy to give the lad time though, can’t judge him too soon. That was just my initial impression of what I say.
toonarmydownsouth
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:03 AM
Comment #15JT
No mate but didn’t fail as badly as I thought it would!
Brakes some how passed just needed a new tyre and a connector replacing under the seat (something to do with the airbags??)
Transfer Sage
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:03 AM
Comment #16Laurent Robert
He did do very well at left back. But errors get punished less at full back as oppose to CB.
He may well be a very good player for us, it wouldn’t shock me. I just think its too early to say he will definitely be a star player.
Mr Funk
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:04 AM
Comment #17@ TADS
Interesting about Ashley – can you point to an article about this major backer Ashley got because i have never seen it mentioned anywhere else before.
John Tudor
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:04 AM
Comment #18that ain’t so bad hip hip for the testers
Ben3arfa
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:05 AM
Comment #19Bills is still on Ashley’s nuts after reading this article?
JFK junior
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:05 AM
Comment #20TS – Fair enough mate.
I have a very good feeling about this season. We have the fitness side of the club being sorted, we have an excellent squad (although 2-3more would make us better) and if what has been reported it true, our tactics have been updated via consultants, so we can move on from the dated football of last season.
toonarmydownsouth
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:06 AM
Comment #21BBLR
He also played a blinder against arsenal for Montpellier as a CDM in the CL
Average_Contents
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:06 AM
Comment #22Hey guys good morning! a nice feel on the blog as usual I see! 😉
Just seen this slating our esteemed leader ed! are they serious! its a bit harsh like me thinks although compared to some of the things said on this blog its like a love letter from one blogger to another!………………….. Torq get ur ass back on here bud n ignore them we know your not gospel and don’t hold your information as such, its just snippets of info from work/friends so keep it coming brother! toondanno just a quick question bud! Could you possibly be any more vague or are you JFK in disguise? 😉
Said my piece so bye bye for now champs
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/656915583?-11058:809
toonarmydownsouth
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:07 AM
Comment #23Mr.Funk
Obviously it’s not gospel like just on his wiki
Average_Contents
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:07 AM
Comment #24http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/656915583?-11058:809
JackButler
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:07 AM
Comment #25tads
Not gonna get caught up in semantics as anyway we look at it he’s running us with every decision seemingly made off the cuff, for every good decision he makes he make’s two or three that make absolutely no sense to anyone
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:08 AM
Comment #26Don’t think I have ever been so despondent hacked not looking forward to the start of the season with the Toon.
One calamity after another:
bringing in dementia suffering Joking Kinnear, No transfer Policy and Bongo Bank and Cisse
Message to TOP CAT – I have stuck by you but my patience is getting thin – GET IT SORTED – we are the laughing stock of the world of football and I like a lot of other fans are worried about the coming season
Transfer Sage
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:09 AM
Comment #27Prodigy
I think it does refer to Eds site. If whoever ran that site did their research on Ed they could see all the info which shows he is a true fan.
They simply cannot understand a well written piece. Wonga might be forcing cisse out, if they threaten to cut the deal and sue as a player won’t wear the shirt it does leave the club and cisse in a difficult place.
Obviously not confirmed story but it is plausible and ed merely asked the question.
Wonga aren’t saying to sell cisse but they may threaten legal action if he plays without the logo so in effect they are forcing him out, all speculation of course.
Toon-Prodigy
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:09 AM
Comment #28Seems someone over at NUFC MAD is a little jelous bless them haha.
christoon5369
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:11 AM
Comment #29what do you call a chicken with lettuce in its eye?
nico
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:11 AM
Comment #30I heard someone say Cisse is quitting the Toon to start a new career in Zebra farming
Here’s the proof
seanmotry@hotmail.co.uk
Password jefuranidiot
Toon-Prodigy
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:11 AM
Comment #31Transfer,
I know mate. They havn’t even got the title correct. Ed wrote “are Wonga forcing Cisse out”. He didn’t say Wonga are forcing him out.
Transfer Sage
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:11 AM
Comment #32JFK
I’m happy out squad is a top ten team. I think a very good striker and left sided player could see us push top 7/8.
That’s fine with me, I don’t expect champs league as there are a lot of teams who expect it too.
I still think we lack a player or two who is a true leader and can unite the side when we are struggling, like Nolan did.
Transfer Sage
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:12 AM
Comment #33Prodigy
Must be because this yank site gets a few more views than theirs haha
toonarmydownsouth
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:13 AM
Comment #34Prodigy
Jealous and don’t have the bottle to name themselves or have a comments section!!
Transfer Sage
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:14 AM
Comment #35On a serous note the cisse issue needs resolving. If neither him not wonga will budge (and there is nothing in the wonga contract to say cisse can wear a plain shirt) then he needs to be sold and replaced very quickly.
Dragging this out will not help.
jeff
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:14 AM
Comment #36nico, the pass didnt work.typey maybe?
toonarmydownsouth
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:14 AM
Comment #37What self respecting toon fan has lee clattermole as a password!
Mr Funk
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:15 AM
Comment #38@ TADS
So that is just speculation like wiki
John Tudor
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:16 AM
Comment #39t.s
sold yes but replaced quickly
you are having a laugh.
this lot have spent ages replacing ba
nico
Jul 18, 2013 at 10:16 AM
Comment #40Jef. I feel sorry for poor Claire (receptionist). You’ve probably got her into deep water