Alan Pardew has given his press conference for the game at Stoke, and any chance of getting win went up ion smoke when he said Loic Remy wouldn’t make the game, but at least he’s back in training now and could make the home games against Swansea a week on Saturday.
Alan Pardew – even Alan cannot watch 😀
Newcastle have been in bad slump over the last five games but we’ve also been without two of our best players in Mathieu Debuchy and Loic Remy, and Moussa Sissoko also missed the last game and will be out another two weeks too.
The season is limping to an end – and it’s just a good job we got 33 points in our first 18 league games, otherwise we would have been fighting relegation – with only 13 points from our last 15 games.
Alan was asked about the appointment of Lee Charnley as the new Managing Director at Newcastle:
“I’m pleased that Lee’s been appointed in that role,” “He’s somebody who knows the club inside out.”
“He’s worked on transfers and has good experience on those, and I hope we can work together in the summer to secure the players we need and we’re focusing on that at the moment.
“There’s absolutely no conflict in terms of where we’re going. The owner’s set out the criteria and we’ve got to bring in players to take us forward.”
“We’re in a position to bring in players in the summer and hopefully push on from where we finish this season, and that’s likely to be eighth, ninth or tenth.”
Lee’s appointment did not bring much hope to Newcastle fans because the very long statement issued by Lee on his appointment looked like it had been written by Mike Ashley.
And it basically said the club will keep doing what they’ve been doing, and not over-spend on players, and keep running a tight ship financially.
We’ve heard all that before.
Mike Ashley – not much to smile about
And that hasn’t got us much success in the seven years Ashley has owned the club – and in that time we’ve only qualified for Europe once.
And that was last season, and we were so inadequately prepared for that competition that we only just survived being relegated.
So Mike may have been wildly successful in his other business pursuits, but he has not brought much success to Newcastle United, and in the seven seasons he’s been owner, we have finished in the following league positions:
2008 12th
2009 18th – relegated
2010 – promoted as Champions from Championship
2011 12th
2012 5th – qualified for Europe League
2013 16th
2014 – 9th or 10th likely
That’s mediocre at best, and in the Premier League our average finishing position has been 12th, and that’s simply not good enough for a club with the prestige, history and fan support of Newcastle United.
That’s the truth about the third best supported club in England.
Comments welcome.
196 comments so far
Online Guy
Apr 10, 2014 at 9:53 PM
Comment #161Ciaran , Yes all noted and I will only report exactly what I am told in reply.
No good “gilding the lilly”, so to speak ! ..I wont end up in leg iron’s ! . Don’t worry, its all well and good and as I’v reported. Watch this space !.
Ciaran
Apr 10, 2014 at 9:54 PM
Comment #162Yo-yo
Not defending their running of the club at all, what I am saying is that using their method of running the club to defend Ashley’s running of the club is using two wrongs to try and make a right.
Ciaran
Apr 10, 2014 at 9:57 PM
Comment #163My view has, and will continue to be in favour of supporter ownership of clubs as community assets, not private enterprises.
Objectively speaking though, while the club was making losses, those losses were accrued in attempting (though failing) to make the club as competitive on the field as possible and trying to be as ambitious as they could.
If instead of signing the likes of Duff and Owen they signed players who had more of an impact perhaps their risks would have paid off, but as such they didn’t and we have people using it as a justification for Ashley’s spendthrift way of running NUFC.
stan anderson
Apr 10, 2014 at 9:57 PM
Comment #164Might as well not have a club to support with these paracites fleecing the fans.
What is the point when all they want is PL survival,nothing else matters.
I may now go and watch the Heed,but no i wont as i am born and bred Toon and would never change.
Pity these paracites have no interest in the true reason of having a club.Just a money maker for them.
Marty-Toon
Apr 10, 2014 at 9:58 PM
Comment #165Ciaran,
Tell us what we can do?
None of us has the cash to buy it.
When some of the fan clubs wanted to get the fans together to buy it for 100 million,we couldn’t even do it then.
I was willing to put some savings in,I had hoped that most could’ve put in 1000 pounds.
That maybe we could’ve bought him out but now it’s 3 times the amount.
Where’s our prince on the horse?
I’m not just accepting it or his regime but that’s how it us for now and nothing will change unless 10 people show up to home games for several months.
Maybe a few thousand won’t renew the season tickets offer but that won’t hurt him nearly enough.
He’s got 20 mill from Cabaye and 60/80 from PL this year,a great opportunity to buy top players.
Never gonna happen though,sick of it I am but how’s it gonna change?
Ciaran
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:01 PM
Comment #166Marty
Stick with it, get yourself involved in those whose views you agree with. Doing something, anything, is better than doing nothing. Look into the Mike Ashley Out Campaign, or join the Newcastle United Supporters Trust.
Get involved with your fellow supporters and empower yourself. Give yourself a platform from where your voice can be heard.
Being crushed and defeated and helpless means Mike Ashley wins. And while there is bloody breath in my body I am not willing to accept a world where Mike Ashley wins!
Marty-Toon
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:01 PM
Comment #167We had great times under Sir Bobby and KK and we looked good,just weren’t good enough.
It was so frustrating to be maybe one top CB ,winger or wing back away from hitting the right mix
stuart no9
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:02 PM
Comment #168marty toon —- with 52000 folk going through the turnstyles every home game, surely gives us the right to suggest we should be a top six team, not that we are , but shouldnt we be with a packed 52, 000 all seater brilliant stadium ?????
Marty-Toon
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:05 PM
Comment #169It’s only a couple of years ago that Everton fans wanted their owner out because of 8/10th positions weren’t good enough.
He lost his manager who did pretty well under strict financial purse strings and got a decent manager in,kept Baines and got a great loan signing in and now they’re pushing for CL.
If only MA could take note- hate getting my hopes up only to be crushed
Ciaran
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:06 PM
Comment #170Marty
Call a spade a spade. We’re 6/7 players short of being anywhere near where we should be in terms of challenging the top 6, and we’ll be even further away when our already thin squad loses some more of its players in the summer.
welshgeordie9
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:09 PM
Comment #171Ciaran you still haven’t asked my question
Do you think we have had a bad season
Marty-Toon
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:11 PM
Comment #172Stuart
Just because we fill the stadium doesn’t give us the right when we don’t sit in the board room and make any decisions.
If the owner is ok with mediocrity then that’s what he will get.
If he backed the manager (a decent one that is) with the resources that are there in good supply then we’d quickly see ourselves challenge for top 4/5.
We all know it wouldn’t take 100 million but with those other clubs getting big bucks now they will spend it and sneak further away.
welshgeordie9
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:11 PM
Comment #173Answered
MacToon
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:13 PM
Comment #174We have the fourth highest debt in the premiership (figures from Swissramble) of course this is to Ashley and not the banks so it doesn’t count. We also now have a higher wage to income percentage at 64.3% with Ashley compared to the highest under Shepherd/Hall 64.1% in 2000. We also have a lower turnover with Ashley in charge and let’s not forget the unforgettable football to watch on the pitch.
It’s good that people can highlight how far we’ve come under Ashley’s ownership.
Seven years ago or so we were discussing ground improvements and increasing ground capacity. Now increased capacity is not needed so the land is to be sold off.
Marty-Toon
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:14 PM
Comment #175Ciaran
If love to have my voice heard with those trying to get rid of the menace but I now live in Norway unfortunately but I’ll back the lads for sure if possible.
Problem is that Leeds and Pompey spring to mind with “wealthy” owners coming in,you really don’t know what you’re gettin.
Look at Cardiff,what a mess like.
Ok,Cardiff isn’t newcastle but thank God he didn’t buy us.
Marty-Toon
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:15 PM
Comment #176Gotta go lads,good chatting with ye.
Howay the lads
70TWO
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:17 PM
Comment #177Cairan
What was that about ‘two wrongs don’t make it right’?
Many fans including yourself seem to suggest that NUFC should be paying extravagant sums for ‘star’ players. To use your example of Duff and Owen, NUFC payed huge amounts for players, created huge debts and did not succeed (that is 3 wrongs!). And we all know the examples of clubs that have fallen from grace.
Do you not agree a more considered approach to player purchases is necessary? And would you not further agree that now NUFC is a profit making company that it is only now that they can afford higher priced players without over spending income?
Ciaran
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:23 PM
Comment #17870Two
You’re missing my point entirely. My ‘2 wrongs don’t make a right reference’ would perhaps better be phrased as the lesser of two evils is not necessarily good.
If people wish to point to Shepherd and Hall and say they were poor football club owners, that is their right to do so, but just because that is their opinion of Shepherd and Hall, does not automatically make Ashley a good football club owner because he does things entirely differently.
You have also completely misrepresented my views on player purchases. Considered approach, yes, restrictive policy on player purchases? No.
Players like James McCarthy and Adam Lallana would have been available to NUFC, in fact McCarthy was touted as a player Pardew liked, yet Everton snapped him up for £15 million quid. Seems like a lot of money? However, McCarthy is a top-class player who will reach the very top of the game. You couldn’t buy him for less than £20 million now, he is that good.
While we can scrape the “£7 million or less” barrel and pluck up 1 Cabaye for every 10 Obertans, that is not a way that will see NUFC grow and develop.
Blackley and Brownlie
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:24 PM
Comment #179Dear Online
Thank you for your questions. I am happy to answer them in full. I will be away on business in Nigeria for some time and it is for this reason sir that I will respond now.
I have some money that I need you to take care of for me too, so please be cared to provide your questions by Monday also with your bank and sort code details so that I can make a transfer into your account.
I am looking forward to hearing from you and speak to you soon.
Yours ever
Mike
Ciaran
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:24 PM
Comment #180I am also pedantic about how my name is spelt – it is Ciaran – my mother gave it to me and I would appreciate it if it was spelt correctly.
welshgeordie9
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:26 PM
Comment #181Just answer the pissing question it’s not bloody hard Jesus Christ
stuart no9
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:30 PM
Comment #182marty-toon ———Stuart
Just because we fill the stadium doesn’t give us the right when we don’t sit in the board room and make any decisions.
If the owner is ok with mediocrity then that’s what he will get.
————what i mean is – with 52000 fans filling a magnificent stadium , shouldnt we as FANS have the right to suggest we should have a top 6 side.. forget the board room , we dont go in there , and yes the owner is intent on mediocrity and that is all we will get , but is that not to say , we , the fans should expect to be a top 6 team with our fan base ?????
Ciaran
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:39 PM
Comment #183Been enjoyable chaps, must be off. Night lads!
welshgeordie9
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:40 PM
Comment #184What a first class muppet
70TWO
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:42 PM
Comment #185Ciaran (sorry)
That is clearer and I did perhaps misrepresent.
Shepherd and Hall certainly knew how to spend money to make money, but it was all on credit which eventually requires paying back. Ashley is not a great owner but I understand his approach to setting limits for spending, I hope in order to ensure security and growth towards future spending of more significant amounts.
I agree with you that the environment around the club is not at all positive and generated by those in charge. And that the squad has suffered from tight control and an inability to purchase professionally/responsibly.
lesh
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:42 PM
Comment #186Now then Ciaran…. if ever there was a lesson given on how to develop dialogue, Online’s just given it.
Play things in a way that’s softly softly, non-confronational and at least there may be a door that seems to have be opened… rather than slammed shut on some body or bodies.
Let’s wait and see.
Oh, and Online and assuming you’re not taking the pi$$…… well done and let’s await developments…. in hope.
stuart no9
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:44 PM
Comment #187food for thought , and something to sleep on,– how can we get rid of ashley ? well, its been emotional lads , goodnight.
Ciaran
Apr 10, 2014 at 10:52 PM
Comment #188Final word to Letch
I’m to take dialogue advice from a man whose sole apparent reason for posting is to have a go at me every time he gets a chance? Think you should stop obsessing buddy.
Blackley and Brownlie
Apr 10, 2014 at 11:48 PM
Comment #189Ciaran
Not someone else whose sole apparent reason for posting is, according to you, to have a go at you every time they get a chance?
Have you ever considered your comments might invite that type of response? Just a thought you might like to consider. You won’t, of course, but I’ve said it anyway.
Ciaran
Apr 11, 2014 at 12:41 AM
Comment #190Blackley
I am a perceptive chap, and I tend to read comments when I am not able to comment myself and unless you’ve went through lesh’s comments, you’re not fit to pass comment, but of course you will see fit to do so anyway.
lesh
Apr 11, 2014 at 12:48 AM
Comment #191Ooooh, Ciaran, your last word to letch really got to me.
Have a go at you at every opportunity? Me? Nah, no way.
Paranoia sits nicely with narcissism
Ciaran
Apr 11, 2014 at 1:14 AM
Comment #192Letch
God you’re boring. You tend to spend more time trying to call me out than you do actually commenting on football. Don’t get me wrong, I’m flattered and not in the least bit surprised. I mean if I were you, I’d hang on my every word too, but it does get tiresome. I suppose being the voice of reason for fans does carry with it certain responsibilities so I must stoically soldier on.
kevymartins
Apr 11, 2014 at 1:36 AM
Comment #193Is it possible their trying to get 1 over on Harry Redknapp and not let him drive his own price up. He is probably well fit but they just don’t wan’t him to be.
As for De Jong get this guy the fcuk out of our club he is completely useless.
NUFCHartley
Apr 11, 2014 at 1:52 AM
Comment #194Alright lads, hate to spam but if anyone has a spare 2 minutes could they fill out this? its for my university course on housing! https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6KPYR9M cheers!
HWTL
Average_Contents
Apr 11, 2014 at 7:55 AM
Comment #195Oh look, they are doing what alot of us suspected them of doing! With remy not actually our player I wouldn’t play the fcuker again!
http://mobile.newsnow.co.uk/A/706808723?-11058
The next Mike Williamson
Apr 11, 2014 at 8:04 AM
Comment #196The only time we did well under Sheppherd was under Robson and you can’t give Sheppherd any credit for that. Bobby, being a Geordie, asked for the job, and did well despite FS. Roeder had one decent season when we came 7th despite having no money to spend and the worst injuries squad any manager had then got sacked.
FS did go in for some big names. We offered 10 million for Rooney & Ronaldinho, but FS knew they were going for £30m to either Barca or Man U. They were phoney bids that he leaked to papers to sell season tickets before he brought in someone like Kluivert.
And to anyone who says we wouldnt have gone into administration, that £100m hidden loan would have easily put us into the top few indebted clubs in the world. And FS had cashed in 5 years worth of future sponsorships AND was still paying for players like Owen.