It looks like the Newcastle club will make an appeal to supporters to stick behind the team, as they fight towards safety from relegation in these last 7 weeks of the season, but it looks like it could be touch and go.
Mark Viduka – will Newcastle miss this player next season?
As we reported yesterday Mike Ashley is expected to break his silence as early as next week with a television interview on Sky Sports, and is expected to admit mistakes he has made this season, but will appeal to the fans for a (Newcastle) united front over the last two months of the season.
Managing Director Derek Llambias said yesterday:
“We are already in a situation where we’re fighting relegation and we need to get everyone behind us – and people are having a go at us again.”
“We would have to restructure our business plan like anyone else who gets relegated.”
“Our finances are fairly strong, but we would have to restructure our business plan. There would be no chance of administration.”
“It’s ridiculous, it’s unfounded and it’s upsetting to suggest the club would be put into administration. There’s no truth in it whatsoever.”
“(Ashley) has been affected by the credit crunch. Why should he be any different to the likes of Abramovic.” “But the club isn’t for sale. That isn’t where we want to go. We’re back on track.”
“We have to make sure we get our team and our supporters behind us and off we go.”
If Newcastle do go down, we can expect lots of players to leave the club, but that doesn’t necessarily say the team will be much weaker.
Quite a few of the players on high wages who will leave in the summer like Viduka, Smith, Geremi, Cacapa and Duff, have hardly had great seasons on Tyneside, and in all likelihood would not be missed too much at all.
However, Owen, Martins, Coloccini, Barton and Gutierrez would be missed.
We hope it doesn’t come down to that in the summer, and that the club can keep the players they want to keep, but strenghten the team big time over the upcoming transfer window, so this same thing never happens again.
That would be really good.
Comments welcome.
103 comments so far
Kash
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Comment #1Desperation is setting in, but it doesn’t seem to prompt a new manager!
Stardust
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Comment #2We collectively this season have beyond all doubt – lost any right to claim we are the “best supported team”.
When fans turn on the club and criticise every detail, every decision they relinquish the right to that claim.
Some argue you can criticise limited parts of the club, certain decisions, certain personnel and personalities, certain new players signed by the current board – well the collective this year has had the biggest impact on the club in its history.
Llambias acknowledges that fans are having a go again – and once more that will feed down to the team. I am sick and ashamed by many of our so called “fans” who look for reasons to hate rather than support, who give no credit to anyone for any act irrespective of their intentions or circumstance.
And those same fans who only have one job – to support – fail in that – yet still choose to blame others. The balme lies in them – they are either supporters or leeches – I will let you decide which you are.
sirjasontoon
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Comment #3Desperado’s.
I am pleased the fans are waking up,the place will be deserted next season…the fallen Ashley Empire.
I trust nothing the board says….all Lies and Spin.
sirjasontoon
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Comment #4Stardust all the buck falls on the Owners,Managers,Players and Staff..they have served up a Football that in the current financial climate will take a back seat.
There has been little for the fans to smile about for many years and this season has been the one to break the backs of hard working fans,that on the face of it have been treat like Scum by Mike and Co.
Sav
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Comment #5Too little, too late.
If Ashley’s game was poker, instead of that fools game, roulette, he’d realise timing, and understanding of the people you are sitting alongside are everything.
lesh
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Comment #6Did I detect the sound of a penny dropping with MA?
sirjasontoon
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Comment #7Sav Mike came out and made the statement “onwards together in 09”,that statement was made when the hatred pretty bad…and nobody believed him then or will believe his next silly PR stunt.
Game over Mike..we see you for what you really are a cheap sportswear Mogul.
sirjasontoon
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Comment #8*was pretty bad
NotAGhostToon
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Comment #9I agree Stardust, at this time, at our most frustrating time, is when we most need to pull together, get the old black and white scarves out again and shout our guts out.
If it all goes wrong come the end of the season we can see the little mistakes that have all added up and are entitled to be angry then, but right now, what good is anger? The owners a millionaire, he doesn’t listen to what other people say, millionaire’s do things their own way, regardless of the knocks. So we’re much better cheering to build the players up that giving aggresive verbal advice to someone who is never going to listen!
I personally believe that if we stay up this season everyone who has doubted will be proved wrong, we will slowly build, with a sudden upsurgence when the youngsters come the right age. If we go down then this season will be a story where fact gets mixed with fiction and know-one really knowing whats true, but it will be the darkest story the toon has ever had sadly.
Stardust
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Comment #10I disagree SJT – mistakes were made – FFS controlled the local press and had folks dancing in the streets while robbing the cupboard bare. This lot have filled the cupboards back up and went quietly about it.
It could equally be argued the fans have treated Mike Ashley disgracefully – he is the man who has given us a foundation for a future – before him – we were on a one way trip to Leeds.
sirjasontoon
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Comment #11No Lesh it was the sound of us dropping out the premiership and Mike’s gamble failing miserably.
Fostino
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Comment #12no offence to hughton, im sure he’s a good coach but if he continues to manage the team, I think we’ll go down, his record is shocking, he lacks leadership and motivation
sirjasontoon
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:33 AM
Comment #13I was Chatting to my Dad at the weekend about Freddie..I agree he wasn’t the most likeable of men but he backed the manager and we had some fantastic times,irrespective of his character and how he conducted business,he served up an exciting team that people across the world admired, we will never see scenes or great times like we did under his regime again.
stevt_0_3
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Comment #14I see this is nothing more than a plea to get us to part with our money! Maybe he will suggest that we should support our team by buying more gear at Sports Direct!
Sav
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Comment #15‘If we go down then this season will be a story where fact gets mixed with fiction and know-one really knowing whats true’ ?
NotaGhostToon that is complete rubbish. We will know exactly and its been plastered over the back pages for 8 months. Ask in any working men’s club or the bloke sitting next to you at SJP.
‘It could equally be argued the fans have treated Mike Ashley disgracefully’?
Sawdust your quest to be first man up Ashley’s jaxy looks assured.
Prince Bassong
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Comment #16Stardust must feel really bad for cowboys, conmen and bankers too. We should just give them our money as well, regardless of the job they do and the decisions that they make, after all our only job is to pay them.
Some pride and a little common sense is all we ask for. For instance appointing one of our coaches that actually has managerial experience instead of Hughton or playing the younger players like Guthrie and Jonas instead of trying to squeeze Butt, Viduka, Duff et al into the same team with the same poor results occuring every time. There are other things still lacking like another LB as it’s been a long time since we had proper competition for that position.
At least in Northern Rock we have a very apt sponsor.
If money is expected for sheer idiocy then I guess that makes me a hobo, but that doesn’t mean I don’t support the players who do show the right stuff; those that we can say “They play for our club” with pride.
sirjasontoon
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:38 AM
Comment #17The Mistakes of Mike.
1 Mike bit of more than he could chew and underestimated what running a good club with quality players costs.
2 Bad appointments-JK,Houghton,Calderwood,Wise,Llambias.
3.Poor 1st team investment across several windows.
4.Bad PR with Fans and the selling fiasco.
5.The treatment of KK.
Those are just a few which have resulted in our current plight.
sirjasontoon
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Comment #18SawDust : )
sirjasontoon
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Comment #19I wish the Mike Ashley episode had never happened…everything he touches apart from cheap sportswear seems to turn to turd.
NotAGhostToon
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Comment #20SJT your basically saying that freddy shepherd stroked our hair and told us we were pretty whilst on the other hand nicking our wallet. Just because as a consequence of his borrowing things were fun, doesn’t mean that he’s not at the same time ruined our club.
Sav know-one knows what happened in the Keegan fiasco other than those in the boardroom and keegan himself, there’s definately more to it than the papers have presented, similarly, know-one knows how hard we’ve tried behind the scenes for other players in the transfer window, so yes it will be a mix of fact and fiction.
Incognito
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Comment #21Stardust, that is sheer blind loyalty. Families and friends across the whole of Newcastle and beyond have spent hard earned money for what is undoubtedly the worst season we’ve seen in recent times.
Surely you can’t deny that events off the pitch have completely blighted the future of this club?
sirjasontoon
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Comment #22I am saying Fat Fred delivered the big Names and football that had the world drooling.
Everyone on the planet took notice of us,now we are a fizzy pop joke.
Kash
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Comment #23Actually MA’s biggest mistake was not appointing a footballing chairman, then followed by rehiring Keegan as manager!
Which stemmed from supporter pressure for Big Sam to be sacked, IMO rightly so!
Fostino
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Comment #24hopefull squad for next year along with some young & good additions
krul /froster / harper
rb = beye/r.taylor / edgar
cb = colo /s.taylor /bassong /tozer /kadar
l.b = enrique/ adeij /
l.m. & r.m. = guitterez / dominger / godsmark
c.m. = barton / nolan / guthrie / vukic / inman
c.f = carroll, martins, Ranger, Xisco, Frank Wiafe Danquah
culled – cacapa, geremi, duff , viduka , ameobi , smith, butt
undecided about owen, would love if he stayed
Stardust
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Comment #25Incognito – I simply stand alongside NotaGhostToons view.
You have to await outcome to form a view – the fans have simply sided and guessed without evidence.
I have yet to see evidence Mike Ashley is a bad man, unlike FFS who removed all of our past, present and future into his grubby pockets.
SJT advocates FFS supported us – he didnt – he nearly ruined us, he never put a penny of his own money in every year – Ashley in addition to the purchase and clearance of debt has put in 34.5m and 20m – and folks still hate him.
The fans need to look at themselves first before firing bombs at a man who is rebuilding the ruined shell in the most hideous of circumstances.
NotAGhostToon
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:54 AM
Comment #26I’m not entirely agreeing with stardust here btw, in the beginning i hated ashley, but to me as events unfolded and the youth signings were coming in and bassong and gutierrez came good and we got rid of n’zogbia etc. I think they’ve managed that side not too badly, the mistakes have been made in not having someone to consult them such as SBR, for example they should be appointing a proper manager now, i understand that, at the same time though that manager would need a settling in period and we might as well wait for kinnear to come back who would have no transition.
At the end of the season kinnear can go or be moved internally and that error will be corrected as long as we stay up.
Kash
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:54 AM
Comment #27@SJT – Actually, Sir John Hall delivered the football and players. Remember Keegan was Sir John Halls appointment, and Keegan resigned because of a disagreement with FFS.
Also, it was FFS choice to appoint Dalglish and Gullit and both times overlooked Sir Bobby, even though both times Sir Bobby was recommended by Sir John Hall!
Stardust
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Comment #28Kash – I have it on good Authority that Ashley hated Fat Sam , he describes him as the most pig headed arrogant man he had ever met – then he played terrible football – it wasnt the fans who chased Fat Sam out – though the decision was much easier when they didnt like him too.
waddler
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Comment #29The penny hasn’t dropped yet has it?
Ashley has no intentions of spending millions to build a team, he has spent enough already.
His intention is to produce players from the youth set up and get rid of the Owen’s, Viduka’s and all the other under achieving overpaid hangers on.
We have a choice to follow the team next season or not, if you choose to purchase a season ticket for season 2009/2010 you must realise we are building a team to compete in 3-4 years time when the kids have become regular first teamers.
We could have done it in the past by buying top quality players but because of the Halls and Shepherds greed it would take an Arab style takeover to propel us into the top 4.
So we are going to develop using option 2 which is to create rather than buy a team.
It will take time and the true supporters total backing ( this is what Stardust means ) no barracking of the kids who genuinely wish to produce the best for the supporters. Above all you and I will have to be patient because this option will take at least 3 years before it produces a team capable of getting anywhere near the Man u’s and Chelsea’s.
NotAGhostToon
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:56 AM
Comment #30Appologies stardust, in that case i do agree with you if your waiting for the outcome to judge.
Johno Toon
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Comment #31NotAGhostToon your dealing with the same type of people who called for sir bobbys head, got it , and then when the club went backwords complained about it! They have a great postion where they can complain about everything and anything without any consequnces to their actions, now im not saying ashley is perfect but he is a hell of a lot better than ffs
punk skunk...
Mar 31, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Comment #32Every team that survives a relegation scare (run-in) has the COMPLETE & UNADULTARATED SUPPORT of their FANS…Conversely, every team that goes down, year in, year out HASN’T!..
…The ones who survive are supported thru thick & thin!..NON-SUPPORT gets us DOWN, FAST!..
…YOU DECIDE!..
…TOON, TOON!..
NotAGhostToon
Mar 31, 2009 at 11:01 AM
Comment #33Well said waddler, how people see getting the very best youngsters from under the noses of milan, real madrid, ajax etc. is an owner wanting to screw us over is what i really don’t understand. If we go down i think its more due to circumstances:
1) Ashley underestimating how little money the previous regime left, and owed
2) Credit crunch which has affected everyone
3) An aging team which was mostly brought in under previous regime’s and fat sam who was the cross-over but mostly associated with the previous regime
4) The mistakes which have been made by ashley which have built up, which he obviously should take responsibility for, but i’m sure he will by building us stronger next season
nobbystrumpet
Mar 31, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Comment #34I don’t get how anybody can say people who protest against their club being run into the ground are at fault for the current state of the club. Its a good job these people weren’t around 20 years ago under the Mckeag era or there wouldn’t be a club here to support.
It took years of Sack the Board and protests but eventually people listened and the Magpie Group ousted McKeag and his cronies and saved the club, before we dropped into the old third division and bankruptcy. Obviously I wouldn’t expect everyone to remember those dark days, but it is one of the few ways you can make your feelings on the club known to the people that matter rather than posting messages from afar on an internet blog. The only other way is to try and hit the club in the pocket but as has already been stated not everyone on here has a season ticket.
I cant think of anyone who was happy with the way Shepherd ran the club (never mind dancing in the streets) yes John Hall took money out in the form of shares but he saved the club and rebuilt us as one of the biggest in the country, Shepherd destroyed that, and should never be forgiven. I have no personal vendetta against Ashley, but you cant stick up for his record.
Since he has taken over he has made 5 major appointments, and all but one has been a huge failure. Mort was a massive gamble, but one that paid off, simply because of his willingness to communicate with the fans, the people who like all customers put the money into the business. Llambias has been nothing short of a disgrace and has shown nothing but contempt for the fans, both in his initial failure to communicate and then his laughable newspaper pieces which gave an insight into the shambles the club has become. Dennis Wise as a director of Football, what qualifications does he have to run this post? His time as a manager once Poyet left was hardly successful and the largest purchase he made for the academy, Zamberla, has been packed back off to Italy. (the claims he was solely responsible for Bassong being here have also since been rubbished by the player himself). After Allardyce left Keegan wouldn’t have been on my shortlist, but just as he appears to be turning the club around the club undermine his authority and leave him in an untenable position. Anyone who thinks he was wrong to walk out must consider how they would react if their employer pulled the same tricks, he simply wasn’t allowed to get the right tools in to do the job he needed. As for Kinnear he came in to steady the ship, when no-one else would touch us, not because of the protests but because Ashley spat his dummy out and threatened to sell, and because no-one would work with a director of football buying players you don’t want or need. The fact he has been offered a new deal is a disgrace.
We need to somehow struggle to forty points, remain in the division and have a massive overhaul in the summer, getting rid of all the deadwood, and the only way to get there is to play your best players in their best position. No more right backs in midfield, or centre halfs at full back. Also Owen should be the first name on the team sheet, we don’t create many chances and you need someone who will put any ones we do make away. Everyone is saying he is living in the past but he has still scored 10 goals from 19 starts this season and if you give him a couple of chances he will definitely put one of them away.
punk skunk...
Mar 31, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Comment #35Well actually,
it seems most of you already have!..
…Carry on!..
Stardust
Mar 31, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Comment #36Punk Skunk – perfect lines as always.
Waddler “It will take time and the true supporters total backing ( this is what Stardust means ) no barracking of the kids who genuinely wish to produce the best for the supporters. ” Yes it is what I mean and believe in – perfectly put.
Kash
Mar 31, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Comment #37@Stardust – I think you missed my point. I suggested that MA’s problems all began by not appointing a proper chairman (who would have implemented any type of business plan he wanted) and by appointing Keegan as manager, which actually blew up in his face!
Anyway, this is all irrelevant! He’s here, he’s the owner, he needs to make changes, and I hope thats what he’s gonna do.
Newckie
Mar 31, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Comment #38Quote: (Post No 2)
Stardust // Mar 31, 2009 at 10:20 AM
We collectively this season have beyond all doubt – lost any right to claim we are the “best supported team”.
When fans turn on the club and criticise every detail, every decision they relinquish the right to that claim…………
Well said mate! Absolutely spot on and then some.
Very well written as well!
bettyswollocks
Mar 31, 2009 at 11:16 AM
Comment #39startdust still talking sh*t and acting like a cross between mother teresa and einstein again eh.
you really are a stuck up pompous tw*t. Just because you enjoy having big mike’s love rod up you it doesn’t mean the rest of us have to enjoy being shafted as well.
If fans want to question the running of the club that is their right. There is plenty to question and I don’t think most fans think the total blame lies with Ashley – believe it or not stardust most people have enough intelligence to work out that the club decline started years ago.
When push comes to shove I have no doubt come match day the team will get the full backing of the crowd for the remaining fixtures this season. The fans will do their job as they always have done starburst.
You can dress up the current regime all you want. Fact is they have lied from the beginning and they are still lying now. Even now the decision making from top to bottom seems confused and ‘off the cuff’.
What team anywhere would go into the final 8 games of a season staring into the abyss of relegation waiting for a manager who may or may not come back to the job. A manager who previously was out of work for 4 years and has no recent track record whatsoever. If it was any other club we would be laughing our tits off.
punk skunk...
Mar 31, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Comment #40Ta!..
…Guys, are we gonna go down FIGHTIN’, like proper Geordies?..With passion, pride & never say die attitudes & therefore give ourselves a chance of salvation?..
…Or, carry on with the self-pityin’, self-flagelatin’, self-defeatin’ attitude of a beaten tribe of losers!..
…Ho’way!..
…The TOON need US like never before!..
…Well, not since a certain D Kelly saved wor arses, way back when!..