Football pundit Paul Merson put it politely but bluntly when he was talking about Newcastle owner Mike Ashley on TV yesterday.
Has Mike just sold his manager for £4M?
Paul Merson was appearing on Sky Sports’ Gillette Soccer Saturday show and the discussion centered on how poorly Newcastle have done under his stewardship since the summer of 2007.
Newcastle have one finish in the top nine in the Premier League in those eight seasons.
It’s simply not good enough for a club with the fans fervour and the great history of a Newcastle United.
Paul was asked if Mike Ashley would be pleased enough if Newcastle finished 4th bottom and therefore stayed in the Premier League.
This is how he responded:
“Yeah, yeah, he is a businessman, isn’t he?” “I don’t know the man, but he cannot sit down with me and say: ‘I am here to take the team forward and get them into the top four’.”
“Of course, he doesn’t. He named the stadium after his company. Why would he do that? This club has been going for a gillion years.”
Newcastle will probably finish 12th top or worse this season – and we suppose it’s another successful season in Ashley’s eyes – if only because we will still be around next season in the Premier League to pick up that big check in May next year from the Premier League.
We have held out hope for a long time over the eight years of this blog, that the owner would spend money to build up the Newcastle squad, especially with the big profits we will now be getting in future seasons.
But that’s just not going to happen.
That’s unless Mike Ashley changes his ways and starts to put the playing squad as a higher priority than just making money.
Football clubs exist to be successful on the playing field for their fans – not just to make money – and my son Neil said it perfectly yesterday:
“What’s the point of just making money at Newcastle?”
If Ashley doesn’t change his ways then we will continue to be a mediocre side and lucky to finish in the top half of the Premier League in future seasons.
That’s the reality.
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118 comments so far
GeordieTwo
Mar 22, 2015 at 7:34 PM
Comment #81Poor, poor effort under Carvew. Two wins so far! He’s pathetic, Ashley is pathetic, and Charnley is pathetic. But by all means keep giving them your money by going to the games lads. He’s bound to want to improve things with a full ground for every home game. Not.
optimistic prime
Mar 22, 2015 at 7:35 PM
Comment #829
£25million wouldn’t buy a decent striker and CB and we need two of each plus another several players.
The squad needs a complete overhall, Ashley won’t pay wages for quality proven players instead he buys young or unproven players and pays them peanuts which is why we are the only club in the country who’s wage bill hasn’t gone up in 8years.
The team has been short of players in every season under Ashley and then intentionally weakened in jan except for once when we bought Cisse.
I’m sorry but for me and others it’s quite a stretch to think Ashley will now do a complete u turn in his policies and buy the players the squad and team are desperate for.
GeordieTwo
Mar 22, 2015 at 7:37 PM
Comment #83I’m not saying we should have kept Pardew. I’m saying we should have hired a proper manager. Did you hear that Ashley? A proper manager, not a flunky head coach to kiss your arse.
9
Mar 22, 2015 at 7:37 PM
Comment #84Geordie,
Yup,
pulled it out of thin air. Where else would it come from? Are you willing to make an estimate, or do you think (quite rightly) this is purely idle crack? Just expressing an opinion. mate, supposing that’s what the forum is all about.
BandB
Mar 22, 2015 at 7:39 PM
Comment #85If your prognosis is right Giant, we’ll be competing with WBA, Hull and Villa in about four weeks time.
welshgeordie9
Mar 22, 2015 at 7:39 PM
Comment #86What a great Job pardew is doing at palace, goes to show if he had the backing from his former bosses in terms of adding players to the squad because of injures and replacing the places that had been sold then he would still be here.
welshgeordie9
Mar 22, 2015 at 7:40 PM
Comment #87Players
GeordieTwo
Mar 22, 2015 at 7:40 PM
Comment #88We’re in the muck and we’re going to stay in the muck optimate. Ashley only knows one way to do things. On the cheap to maximize his profit. He’ll bring in a couple of new young players in summer and sell Sissoko who is trying to put himself in the shop window with his performances. Then we’ll struggle to start next season, Ashley will panic and sack Carver, and then bring in another yes man flunky boy arse kisser.
GeordieTwo
Mar 22, 2015 at 7:42 PM
Comment #89It’s hard to find the right yes man, flunky boy, arse kisser so don’t be surprised if it takes quite a while. Charnley is an expert but the real article is rare. But Mike will manage it don’t fear. Then another struggle to finish in the bottom 8 next season.
Rotonda heights
Mar 22, 2015 at 7:43 PM
Comment #90dalton7675
I’m fuming at dullards like you who can’t see AP was an awful coach who played an awful brand of football if you could ever call it that.
he always starts well wherever he goes as he has done at Palace but he also fails wherever he goes. One thing about pardew is he is consistently inconsistent
Just because carver is making Pardew look like mourinho just now, 2 wrongs don’t make a right and the only bright spot in recent times is the day pardew left. very selective memories from some people.
Sunderland, Brighton and liverpool at home anyone. Not many people are so bad they get their own sack campaign. And for the zillionth time AP showed no loyalty, he walked of his own accord.
Sleepin Giant
Mar 22, 2015 at 7:45 PM
Comment #91B&B
Yes – that’s about the timescale. I can’t see us getting relegated but we are now on the slide and might only grab another 4-6 pts. Sunderland and West Brom are really Cup Finals for us
GeordieTwo
Mar 22, 2015 at 7:45 PM
Comment #92Yes, lots to look forward to in the final 8 games. Will we win one? None? Two? The excitement is all around. Will we finish 12th? 13th? 14th? 15th? And then what will Ashley do? His minimum goal was top 10 wasn’t it? So what to do? It’s a real quandary for Bozo the Clown. Never mind Mike, the money will continue to roll in. It’s just difficult to find enough places to hide it. 👿
9
Mar 22, 2015 at 7:56 PM
Comment #93Geordie @88
Clearly, we see things differently – nowt wrong with that- but I can’t let your comment “He will panic” go by: what are you using for brains, man? You reckon our owner is a panic merchant? Really? I suppose your evidence would be he brought forward summer signings into January when we needed help, a couple of years ago. I’m only suggesting this as I can’t possibly imagine what other evidence you’ve got – or, perhaps, you don’t have any evidence at all, just blind prejudice? What d’you reckon?
Mister Tuff
Mar 22, 2015 at 7:58 PM
Comment #94£25 million spend. A figure that may be about right. Problem is, is that a couple of players at £12.5 million each, Four players, six players, 8 players. Ineviatably the less you pay- the quality goes down.
Other teams will be re-investing all their TV money – Mr Tubbs will probably not – if he keeps to form.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:00 PM
Comment #95Sleepin Giant,
It must be. ‘The board’ said so.
killit the bulb
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:02 PM
Comment #96” John, Do you reckon you can get us a top ten finish”? “Aye nee botha Michael Nee botha” “Good fellow John, knew i could rely on you” “By the way, I’ve left the straw and the spinning wheel in your office.”
Jeff from Benwell
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:04 PM
Comment #97El Clasico link
http://www2.live.irib.ir/web/live/tv/channel3
9
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:04 PM
Comment #98Mister Tuff – I like your style, you’ve swallowed a mythical figure of £25M and immediately criticised it. Nowt like having an open mind, is there? How could any human being win against such blind prejudice?
Jeff from Benwell
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:06 PM
Comment #99Or this one
http://www.idmantv.az/canli/idman-canli-yayim.htm
Sleepin Giant
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:09 PM
Comment #100Rotonda
Like politics – most managerial careers end in failure so the fact that Pardew’s previous jobs have all ended in failure says nothing. The fact is that he is above us with an arguably worse roster of players and this might suggest that he is not quite as bad as you say. The best is enemy of the good – or in APs case the under-mediocre. But that is what we are – a mediocre side with zero ambition. This is the club’s aura and the players get the infection as much as the managerial staff. So get yer rosy tinted specs off – the next manager will either be Carver or somebody only marginally better like AP was.
lesh
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:10 PM
Comment #101Onnnnne hundred!
😉
Jeff from Benwell
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:10 PM
Comment #102Ancelotti is sitting with a face like a smacked arse.
Barcelona are all over them
lesh
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:10 PM
Comment #103Blast!
😐
optimistic prime
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:14 PM
Comment #1049
Well done on showing you’re talking tripe looking for a reaction.
How could any person win a argument against someone living in fantasy land making things up to score points?
Jeff from Benwell
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:14 PM
Comment #105Actually Sleepin I was thinking along the same lines , as I typed Ancelotti’s name I realised that a past record of sackings is meaningless.
If we listened to the numbskulls who bang on about Pardew’s sackings you’d never hire anyone.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:15 PM
Comment #1069,
I think 25M will be a modest figure this summer due to the increased TV money.
9
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:20 PM
Comment #107Jail @106
I think I agree with you. When I first suggested £25M I thought it was a massive sum, compared with all past transfer windows, that might create controversy. Instead, every poster agrees it is likely and, usually, criticises it! A pretty negative forum we have here.
BandB
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:20 PM
Comment #108Room 101 instead Lesh!
Jeff from Benwell
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:22 PM
Comment #109Real Madrid are nearly as bad as us , at defending free kicks
MacToon
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:23 PM
Comment #110I’d guess there’ll be around £90 mil sitting in the bank this summer Jail so £25 mil shouldn’t be any huge problem for our club to invest.
However, evidence has shown that we generally have to sell to buy, I don’t see that changing much.
Neither can I imagine Ashley being happy at the tax man licking his lips at our huge profits –
optimistic prime
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:26 PM
Comment #111Mac toon
Selling before buying could be a major problem for us at end of the season.
Who in reality would we get any decent money for? and we’ll be lucky if we can get rid of a few of them.
toonicle
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:28 PM
Comment #112What is the point for Ashley though? It’s not as if he needs money, and goodness knows there are easier ways to make more of it quicker than a mid table premier League side at best as its been under him.
lesh
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:30 PM
Comment #113Sleeping Giant
The table doesn’t look good and potentially, Everton, West Brom or even Hull could jump above us.
A potential finish of 14th or 15th.
But, the lads on the field can only play as they’re told to play and even that depends on their motivation.
Let’s hope that Mr Carver can gee them up as he seems to have done at half-time on Saturday.
BandB
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:32 PM
Comment #114Well isn’t that just the thing?
Club wiping its nose, selling to buy.
It’s not just a theory. It’s stated club policy, borne out by experience.
I too hope that experience is about to change.
I don’t see a single poster now claiming the club is skint. So there is little excuse not to make a sensible NET investment in players and staff.
I wouldn’t complain at £25m net.
My mind though, keeps flicking back to Llambias’s words. “We can’t afford it.”
Ibizatoon
Mar 22, 2015 at 8:38 PM
Comment #115BandB…There’s also the often used arguement of why spend the extra money? What is it to achieve?
A place or two in the league? Well, spending £25m to get 8th – 10th surely doesn’t add up financially, when we can spend less and still get 10th – 12th (ish).
So, why will he, even if we have the money?
BandB
Mar 22, 2015 at 9:01 PM
Comment #116Ibizatoon,
It’s not completely about the money, money, money.
As we have both said.
It’s about the waste. It’s about the margins.
It’s about finding the optimum position to finish that balances value for money (for the boss) with risk.
The division is not to be taken at Sky’s estimation. The fact there is not one English team in a European quarter final is a fairer estimate of its strength. It is a weak division, below the top eight.
The numbers might suggest we don’t need to compete with Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton, as we did two years ago.
Not even with Southampton, Stoke and Swansea, as we did last year.
Not even Palace, West Brom and Villa, as we will this year.
But with Hull and Sunderland, who have a better than average chance of seeing off the three clubs who are promoted.
Tenth may not be the optimum finish these days.
Purples policy stated unequivocally. Eleven first teamers, and the rest made up from cheap signings. Anyone who can’t play week every is waste, and we can’t afford it.
ander5on1
Mar 23, 2015 at 2:26 PM
Comment #117All Ashley businesses are run in the same manner no thrills, on the cheap, with a continuous reliable profit. He plays the long game in business he’s not after the quick buck. Newcastle united is no different the statement of funds are available because the transfer policy isn’t working is just to appease the fans. investment this summer was always part of the plan because staying in the prem is all that counts like a refurb of a sports direct store nufc is not being build up it is simply being maintained at its current level to keep those reliable profits rolling in
ganiyu
Mar 23, 2015 at 10:53 PM
Comment #118The truth about Mike ashley is that he doesn’t believe in spending money excessively to sign players or getting a new manager. He rather prefers to wheel deal on freebies which is another risk he fails to understand