It seems that Michael Owen has joined the Newcastle United Admiration Society (NUAS), and in his interview with Lee Ruder in the Chronicle today he’s saying things like Newcastle are a stable club, well run, and that other clubs are envious of Newcastle’s very stable financial condition.
Michael Owen – after finishing London Marathon last month
Good for him
That is all well and good, but of course what Newcastle fans want is a successful club challenging for a top six position, and we haven’t had much of that at all over the least seven years, with Mike Ashley owning the club.
This is some of what Michael has said today:
“Unless you are one of the big boys, every season starts off and relegation has to be a worry for 13 or 14 teams in the league.”“You are always thinking one bad season and things can go wrong.¨
“Newcastle had that one bad season and look what happened.¨ “They also had last season when they were in the Europa League and at one point you were thinking about relegation. Now it looks like the ship is steady.¨
“They are a well run club in terms of not outspending. From the outside it looks fine.¨ “That’s not enough for a lot of fans because we all want to be the champions or be in the Champions League.” “There’s nothing wrong with having ambition like that.¨
“Newcastle fans still have that and they want the big signings, and they want to just be getting behind their team again which is what they are renowned for.”
It’s not unusual (Tom Jones number one hit – early 1965) for former players to become big fans of Newcastle United, and we see a hint there that Michael seems to have taken a shine to Newcastle, and it helps that his head boy at his stables is a Geordie – and he probably hears about Newcastle all the time – that’s good.
Certainly a lot of the things he has said about the Tyneside club are very positive and also accurate, and he also explains why Newcastle fans are so frustrated right now – we may be doing great in the financial stakes – but we want a (very) successful team on the field.
On the positive side of things, maybe Mike Ashley will see Michael’s comments and put big money into the club in the summer, so that Newcastle can strengthen their squad in a big, big way.
That would help the fans’ frustrations lift – just a little bit – and miracles do happen now and again.
Don’t they?
Comments welcome.
172 comments so far
mag
May 10, 2014 at 3:59 PM
Comment #41The Toon have nothing to play for which makes them a worry for Liverpool.
Graeme
May 10, 2014 at 4:13 PM
Comment #42Welsh( @ 40 – there is more chance of winning BOTH the Euromillions AND the Lottery than that result lmao
jazzyp
May 10, 2014 at 4:22 PM
Comment #43——————–Sissoko————-Tiote——————
Townsend——————Sdj————————Cabella
——————-Ba——————-Doumbia————–
Would be my offensive line up for next season………..If only !!
welshgeordie9
May 10, 2014 at 4:25 PM
Comment #44Graeme
May 10, 2014
You never know look what happened between place and liverpool
It would be funny though if it happened
damma99
May 10, 2014 at 4:27 PM
Comment #45Newcastle to get stuffed and for Pardew to get sacked hopefully. Hope there are plenty of sack pardew banners on show.
Graeme
May 10, 2014 at 4:33 PM
Comment #46Welsh @ 44 I can see ‘Poo scoring a shed load, afterall, P45DUE will have personally coached the defense all week.
Can’t see us causing them too much trouble; we will struggle to get out of our own half. I can see us fielding a 1-5-5-0 lol
toonarmydownsouth
May 10, 2014 at 4:35 PM
Comment #47Reporter: “Do you have a nickname?”
Ameobi: “No, not really.”
Reporter: “So what does Bobby Robson call you?”
Ameobi: “Carl Cort!”
Still cracks me up
No chance of a hat trick Welshie, he’s only got one in his whole career
toon kk
May 10, 2014 at 4:43 PM
Comment #48Shola will be our main strike force tomorrow, bet he gets a new contract as well. He’s a Pardew favourite.
We’ll be hammered tomorrow big time, but AP will still be our manager next season.
kevymartins
May 10, 2014 at 5:18 PM
Comment #49You guys need to cool it on shola. The guy has reached Legendary status not only for his playing but for his loyalty and commitment for the club. He has wen’t through it all the ups and downs over the years and is the last man standing. We should be praising him not being negative and slating him.
People looked at Andy Carroll omg the Geordie who plays for Newcastle he packed his bags and got the f*** outa there then there is the nigerian so passionate about Newcastle played his hole carrer there and loves the club that much he will never want to walk away from it.
Give the guy a break. And even if he wern’t to start could you really see Cisse playing any better with remy up top?
kevymartins
May 10, 2014 at 5:19 PM
Comment #50Ps A good question is will remy play for Qpr in the play offs final?
toonarmydownsouth
May 10, 2014 at 5:24 PM
Comment #51Kevy
Don’t really think saying he won’t score a hat trick tomorrow constitutes slating the bloke does it?
Himanshu Dhingra
May 10, 2014 at 5:27 PM
Comment #52Thomas Tuchel Stepping down at Mainz.
He was my first choice for NUFC should Pardew be sacked.
kevymartins
May 10, 2014 at 5:28 PM
Comment #53@Tads there is always someone on here talking smack about Shola.. Shola the donkey this and that.
Iv’e done it myself the odd time untill I realized he is at the heart of the club and when you slabber to him you spitting in the face of Newcastle United.
Ancientcoptic
May 10, 2014 at 5:28 PM
Comment #54Hopefully, this time tomorrow SSN will be reporting that NUFC are to about to make an announcement regarding Pardew after the drubbing by Liverpool.
This could be Pardew’s last game in charge. 🙂 It’s possible…
Himanshu Dhingra
May 10, 2014 at 5:31 PM
Comment #55ARE PEOPLE BLIND OR DUDS?
SHOLA AMEOBI FOR ME IS THE WORST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE!
SOME GOALKEEPERS WILL DO BETTER THAN HIM IN OUTFIELD!
GOOD PERSON IN THE DRESSING ROOM? MORE LIKE TEACHERS PET.
jazzyp
May 10, 2014 at 5:36 PM
Comment #56Kevymartins
If Newcastle had had any ambition over the last 5 year mate and signed quality rather than just selling them on for profit. Then shola would have been long gone before now. I admire his loyalty as it is rare to be a one man club…………But come on mate he should be nowhere near the first team
Graeme
May 10, 2014 at 5:51 PM
Comment #57Kevy, Shola passed his “Sell-By” date about 8 years ago and should have been moved on, simple as that. Sentiment, in football, is a wasted emotion.
He isnt fit enough or capable enough to be a Premier League “Front-line” Striker; he is barely up to the job as a substitute.
Graeme
May 10, 2014 at 5:53 PM
Comment #58Ancient @ 54 – Building our hopes up at this point is just cruel mate lol. We can but pray!!!
theartfuldodger
May 10, 2014 at 5:54 PM
Comment #59mag..
2-1 win ?? What makes you say that…
beermonkey
May 10, 2014 at 5:55 PM
Comment #60on strolla
his loyalty was he loyal or did now else offer him a deal
ok not the greatest player we have ever had
they say he is good in around the dressing room
you know what I wouldn’t mind if he did his badges and was any good for him to be part of the coaching set up here I also would like to see harps return in the same capacity
strolla might not have been a star but they both know what it is to put on the shirt and what it means to the people
with the way the club is run now buy young sell on for profit it will be along time before we have players here that will end there careers with us
welshgeordie9
May 10, 2014 at 5:59 PM
Comment #61Did i say something wrong regarding shola it could have be worse I mean I could have said
3-3 tomorrow de jong getting a hat trick
Ha ha ha
Graeme
May 10, 2014 at 6:00 PM
Comment #62welsh9 – now you are in fantasy land – what you smoking? Can I have some? lol
jazzyp
May 10, 2014 at 6:01 PM
Comment #63Kevymartin-Beermonkey
after failing to impress Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce, or Kevin Keegan on 27 March 2008, Ameobi agreed a loan deal with Stoke City until the end of the season, to help their promotion campaign. It is understood that a loan fee of around £500K was agreed and that a possible permanent transfer was also discussed subject to Stoke winning promotion. Ameobi made his debut for Stoke against Sheffield Wednesday on 29 March, the game ended 1–1. After playing for 6 games and not managing to score, Ameobi returned to Newcastle, and Stoke decided not to sign him permanently.
On 14 August, Ipswich Town manager Jim Magilton confirmed that the club were in talks with Ameobi and that the club were keen to get the deal finalised as long as Ameobi was willing to play in the second division. However, on 17 August, Ameobi failed a medical, showing hamstring problems, and the deal collapsed.
Say no more lads…..Say no more
welshgeordie9
May 10, 2014 at 6:01 PM
Comment #64A question for everybody on here
Will pardew still be the manager after the weekend, personally I think he will be.
toonarmydownsouth
May 10, 2014 at 6:02 PM
Comment #65Graeme
Fair point but in all honesty id gladly see Strolla over Cisse this season
toonking
May 10, 2014 at 6:03 PM
Comment #66shola might not be a good striker but we have to remember shola is the only striker with we could have come next season.
cisse- injured
remy-bye bye
de jong- dout he is going to remain
armstrong- not a player i would want to see starting when the club is in turmoil. the signs have already been shown with dummett this season (although it could just be this blog) so their is as much chance of armstrong getting the same. papers make out he is already great but saylor was a great U21 captain himself but rubbish at newcastle.
still even if he did start games next season their is still the problem of having no true wingers and only shola to work alongside him.
welshgeordie9
May 10, 2014 at 6:03 PM
Comment #67It’s funny you should say that because right now I’m watching breaking bad I’m totally hooked on that
jazzyp
May 10, 2014 at 6:07 PM
Comment #68Toonking
If Strolla is our main striker next season, I’ll promise you now I wont be going to another game.This season even when he has come on as a sub……He’s no more than a “lumbering Buffoon”
guvnor
May 10, 2014 at 6:09 PM
Comment #69Shola has managed to get 14 years out of Newcastle United, only Keegan had him sussed out when he tried to palm him off onto Stoke.
Graeme
May 10, 2014 at 6:09 PM
Comment #70TADS – I would sooner see you up front over Cisse this season!!!
toon kk
May 10, 2014 at 6:10 PM
Comment #71MA is so lucky to have a loyal support for the club, because not many fans have been put through what we’ve had to put up with. He’s clearly taking advantage of this.
Several people are starting to turn their backs on the club with good reason.
As far as M .Owen goes he doesn’t know jack sh#t.
MA greed and lack of knowledge will turn us into the next Boro eventually.
This up coming transfer window will determine our future.
guvnor
May 10, 2014 at 6:11 PM
Comment #72Sholas dopey younger brother might be Pardews new striker!
welshgeordie9
May 10, 2014 at 6:14 PM
Comment #73i wish didn’t start this shola thing on here now
guvnor
May 10, 2014 at 6:15 PM
Comment #74Welshgeordie you stirrer!
welshgeordie9
May 10, 2014 at 6:15 PM
Comment #75Come on shola hat trick tomorrow
sorry I couldn’t resist
toonarmydownsouth
May 10, 2014 at 6:17 PM
Comment #76Graeme
Well, don’t mean to brag but i bagged 4 from midfield Friday night….
I’ll grab me boots 😉
welshgeordie9
May 10, 2014 at 6:17 PM
Comment #77Me a stirrer how dare you
Ha ha ha
You alright mate
guvnor
May 10, 2014 at 6:17 PM
Comment #78Prolific shola! Keemon!
welshgeordie9
May 10, 2014 at 6:18 PM
Comment #79Was that on FIFA 2014 on easy setting
toon kk
May 10, 2014 at 6:18 PM
Comment #80SHOLA the legend of Newcastle. Get on!