Mike Ashley is a hands off owner and allows people like Derek Llambias, who is running the club as the Chief Executive, and Alan Pardew, who is manager of everything on the playing side, to go ahead and do their jobs as the y see fit.
Alan Pardew – gets on well with Mike Ashley – when he sees him
Not all owners are like Mike Ashley who struggled to understand how to run a football club when he bought Newcastle in the summer of 2007, but seems to have worked out a frugal but effective way to ruin a football club, over the last five years.
On the occasions that the two do speak, they seem to get on well, and there’s certainly a mutual respect between the two of them, with Alan growing into the job over the last couple of years as Newcastle manager.
One of the reasons the club seems to be run so well and effectively the days is that the major players all seem to get on well with each other and they have all bought into the long term way the club will be managed.
This is what Alan told the Sunday Sun today:
“We don’t see much of each other and maybe that’s why it works. Derek Llambias is very much between Mike and I, but there is mutual respect there.” “When I meet him I do respect his views because you are shaped by your history. Mike is shaped by his football history because he’s had some bad times here at Newcastle.”
“But I do push him to get the best possible players to the club.” “He’s not on the phone every other day. It’s nothing like that. I don’t have any contact with him about games and I have to say I really like that about him. He trusts me, he trusts my decision making process.”
“He asks me through Derek one or two questions every month – and they are actually good questions. It’s different from other chairmen I’ve had.”
Dare we say it but Mike Ashley seems to have mellowed a bit, and he seems to be confident that he has worked out a system that works for Newcastle, although there is not a lot of money available to bring in new players.
We will have to continue to rely on bringing through good youngsters at the club, and that Graham Carr and his staff can spot more Yohan Cabayes and Cheick Tiotes in the future.
But we must say things have gone very well since those dark days of the summer of 2009, when we seemed to have dug ourselves into a deep hole, and things seemed to be in a shocking mess.
It’s a wonder what three years can do, and now we are flying high – well highish at the moment. 😀
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65 comments so far
FatmanJoe
Sep 30, 2012 at 10:46 AM
Comment #1Does anyone know when we’re going to start having players back again? Man utd next week is going to be difficult with the team we’ve got, particularly how low our confidence is and united rarely lose two in a row!
Could really do with krul and colo back, with tiote back to his normal self and cisse back to goal scoring form.
But I digress – any injury updates for colo and krul?
Marty-Toon
Sep 30, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Comment #2I was almost sick lookin at how we played yesterday.
But as Ap has said we haven’t even started to play well this season.
Well the last two games show that Jonas doesn’t cross the ball into the danger zone,Fergie gets on a few mins and does exactly that.
I understand Fergie has been injured but he must be almost up to speed now.
I feel Santon also has more to give going forward.
Ben Arfa was rubbish yesterday,he didn’t seem interested.
Our passing throughout the last 35 mins was shocking.
Especially Tiote,Ben Arfa,Willo and Jonas.
Tavernier doesn’t look ready for the PL,he was bossed by clearly a better player in McNuff.
Ap must take some blame in the team not looking up for it and a poor tempo to ur play,surely this is what they work on in training.
As for our defence with Willo there??and without Sayls and Colo,we looked all over the place several times.
FatmanJoe
Sep 30, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Comment #3Willo is fine when he’s got a more able player alongside him. That’s common for centre backs as well. Some players just aren’t capable of carrying their centre back partner and he’s one of those. But alongside Taylor or colo he’s competent enough.
Marty-Toon
Sep 30, 2012 at 10:53 AM
Comment #4@ED
Nice typo.
to have worked out a frugal but effective way to ruin a football club, over the last five years.
Ruin a football club lol
Marty-Toon
Sep 30, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Comment #5@fatmanjoe
We all see that,if it wasn’t for perch with that last gasp tackle we woulda gone home with nout.
Pogrebnyak left Willo for dust,he’s way too easy to turn against.
He’s too slow,too clumsy on the ball and gives us little aerial threat considering his height
FatmanJoe
Sep 30, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Comment #6Ha didn’t notice that. Nice slip of the finger there ed!
FatmanJoe
Sep 30, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Comment #7He had a shocker yesterday but most of our players did.
Like i said alongside a competent partner he’s far more steady.
WWYCD
Sep 30, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Comment #8FatmanJoe
U can’t defend Willo damnit we need someone to beat after a poor performance, Simmos out so he’s safe and Perch has cult status now people are trying to get on Jonas’s back but really that won’t last. We need Willo to bash or we will start turnig on each other and anarchy will reign
FatmanJoe
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Comment #9Wwycd
I apologise profusely. God dam willo and his terribleness. Angry face. Wish he would just get injured so we can put abeid in defence. Shakes fist. Grr.
Is that better? 😉
Marty-Toon
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Comment #10How is it that Ba’s clause can come up again in January?
I thought it was only until the summer.
Does this clause reappear every window or what?
We should be wanting 15 mill at least for him or get him on a new contract that doesn’t have the stupid clause.
Better to give him 10grand extra a week than lose 8/10 million on him
NEWEXPATMAGPIE
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:05 AM
Comment #11@8:
Some of the folk on here are not happy if they are not calling one or more of the team shite like!
At the moment its Jonas taking the Flak! Last week it was Simpson, and a week before that it was Obertan!
Jonas is one of our better players, his work-rate in enormous!
Next week another player will take the Flak! and be criticised! and so on and so on!
Marty-Toon
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Comment #12Perch as you say didn’t have a sterling game either.
Surpried AP didn’t go with Anita at CM with Tiote,that surely woulda given us a little more forward momentum.
That Tav got an opportunity over him at RB was a nice gesture by pards but it backfired
jawballsaswallwell
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Comment #13Well I think we do need our best players available against the better teams if we harbor realistic aspirations of victories. I think that is quite clear.
FatmanJoe
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:11 AM
Comment #14The fact that we are playing badly and still picking up points is something I guess. But we really need to wake up shake up in the first half or we’re going to get spanked soon. I seem to remember us having a similar stuttering start last season – yes we were unbeaten for longer but we weren’t playing well and getting loads of draws.
I wonder if we’re the new everton or arsenal and don’t come alive properly til xmas time.
Tsunki
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Comment #15There was no boss on the back line when Saylor went off, and allowing their players to consistently get to the byline and cross meant we were all at sea with no offside trap or noticeable cohesion. Harps might take some blame for not commanding the players in front of him, he should have been able to do that with his experience, he knew where all the dangers were.
Pards gamble with TAV showed he still has much to learn at this level. Distribution was very poor in midfield, aimless, nobody seemed to know who was running where or why, resorting to cross-field hoofing played straight into their hands. HBA had very little service and nobody to link up with, he needs a skilful passer in order to set himself up or set someone else up when he drags players with him, but that didn’t happen and he virtually switched off. The Cisse/Ba ‘partnership’ will never work, because it isnt one, its a competition in which the player best placed muscles in and wins. end of last year Cisse was given freedom with Ba pegged left wing. Now the stronger player is winning the plaudits and the goals.
I dont know what Al’s solution is, but clearly Cabs, Colo and Saylor are the teams engine. Tiote is an enforcer without direction when Cabs is off, likewise HBA needs a proper passing player to buddy up with, we need crossers of the ball who can get to the byline and pull their defence backwards. We also need patience to play the ball along the ground for long periods to make opponents chase shadows or get impatient and draw fouls.
That said, playing so disjointedly and still getting a point away means we have something in the locker. If this is a bad day, I will gladly take it.
Jut a footnote – I am embarrassed as a Mag to see the grumbling ‘told-you-so’ rantings of the naysayers who come out of the dark recesses to hitch themselves to the anti-nufc bandwagon. It advertises badly when you know rival fans come on here to gloat about our backbiting. Fine, have your complaints and be reasonable, but come back on and congratulate the team when we win or scrape a result, instead of waiting for the next failure to pounce.
Marty-Toon
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Comment #16New expat
To be honest if you look at the team performance over the last few games and see bth the tempo of our play and some of our passing and final ball then it isn’t strange that we expect better.
Ben Arfa has been our best player alongside Bigi and BA this season.
I agree Jonas has been top notch with his wrk rate and tackling etc,shame his final ball is non evident.
Don’t get me started on the oval headed Frenchman that warmed te bench yesterday.
We ave quality in the side,but we are short of a ball playing cb who’s also quick and Cabaye was badly missed as I think Ben Arfa needs him in the team for link up play
Tsunki
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Comment #17Marty – great minds or fools? 😉
bollance
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:18 AM
Comment #18My take on Ba.
Our policy is to buy young players for low amounts and develop using the premier league as vital experience.
Cabaye £5m -> £20m
Cisse £9 -> £20m
Krul £200k -> £15m
Bigi £1m -> £8m
Ba £2m (fees) -> £7m (and no more)
Above are a list of players who have 1 or less years experience in the prem and Ba. Their transfer values have rocketed (i have estimated market price for players and not what we would sell at!!) Ba’s value has increased but the fact is we could not sell him in the summer for £7m because of reported high wage demands.
The point is that Ba takes a space in the team and his value will not rise above the £7m whereas other players will increase lots in a short space of time, like Bigi.
But, on the other hand Ba’s goals this season are valuable in themselves. He is now top scorer in the league.
Such a unique situation and as a fan we will all want Ba to stay but from the clubs perspective it may be better to replace and have another player who will hopefully score goals and grow in value.
dave 1961
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Comment #19Yesterday proved what i have said from day one about Williamson, when he has no one to carry him he is shown for what he is, and lets face it we were against the bottom of the league, and well out played, and sadly Pardew’s not looking much better, its looking more & more that his top 5, was more down to luck than good management. but those that are likely to turn on him, we are not going to find anyone better, we went into the season with 99% of fans knowing what we needed, mainly 2 defenders and we failed, we buy 1 rookie kid from the bowels of Ossie football. then we were told by Pardew he was happy with the squad. who was correct?
Tsunki
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Comment #20bollance – I am certain that Ba leaving would have little long term impact on the team. Cisse would start scoring again. IF he could force a £7m move on us and IF its true about the wage demands, then morale would be helped by his departure. Having said that I think all the stories are tosh so I am probably blabbing on about nowt.
tequilamag
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:24 AM
Comment #21Bollance I take your point on BA. But if we were to sell him it would be extremely difficult to replace him for 7 mill. But I take all this newspaper stuff with a big pinch of salt. Ba is earning good money and given the possible knee issues there does not seem to be any big Q of clubs looking to take the risk on him.
Tsunki
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:26 AM
Comment #22Dave yeah thats great but Willo’s quality is nothing new, sadly there isnt any alternative is there? And he’s played some good games. It’s evident that he is not a leader and is effective when he is marshalled properly.
I am sure that Pardew now has enough post-its to stick on Mike’s desk regarding January targets.
Marty-Toon
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:28 AM
Comment #23Tsunki
Great minds of course 🙂
Fools,well we all now we are but ya gotta be a fool of some sort to be a toon fan.Thats what makes it so much fun 😉
Ian Magpie
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Comment #24Never mind lads. What matters most is that our bank balance is looking more and more healthy and the club is being ran in the correct way. Sod the poor results and the team being obviously short of quality at the back. Thats all that matters!!!!……………………………………………………………………………………well at least to some on here it is!!??lol
WWYCD
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Comment #25FatmanJoe
Much better lad, he must be made an example of! Burn him I say!
Though I actually think he has done well thus far this season
jawballsaswallwell
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:35 AM
Comment #26Ba is averaging over a goal every two games in the premier league over two seasons. He also scores very good goals and is a talented all round player, a fan favorite. If he continues to score goals and play well until January, that’s two full seasons injury free, someone surely will trigger the clause and offer him the wages he wants and we’ll have to match it or he’s off.
Ian Magpie
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Comment #27I can see someone like Chelsea going in for Ba! If they did…………can you see him leaving?.I can!
tequilamag
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Comment #28Jaw thats what everyone thought in the Summer but not a single bid. There has to be a reason for that.
Nufc-83
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:39 AM
Comment #29The fact is when willo is left as our most experienced cb we fall to pieces. Guti can work as hard as he wants but provides nothing down the left anymore so its dm or bench. Really hope we see more of Ferguson on lm. I would also give sammy a chance on the right and let hba have a free role behind ba. Its clear cisse and ba don’t work well together so one needs to be dropped and although i probably like cisse more than ba you can’t drop ba on current form.
Tsunki
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:39 AM
Comment #30Given the injuries and games we’ve played the results are not really in the ‘poor’ category though are they. ‘Poor’ results would be those like mackems, villa, liverpool. I think after last years’ euphoria some reality needs to be taken in, some fans should rein in their disappointment and probably lower their expectations a bit, rather than think we deserve to be Arsenal.
Nufc-83
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:42 AM
Comment #31Ian if chelsea came in for ba you wouldn’t see the lad for dust. I think he comes across as being very selfish.
tequilamag
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:42 AM
Comment #32Everyone praises Jonas workrate but seems to be flavour of the month for no end product. Surely a better option would be to switch him to fb where his workrate would strengthen the defence. Its not like he has never played there before. Its his position for Argentina.
bills-son
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:43 AM
Comment #33Tsunki @ 15, great post and spot on.
jawballsaswallwell
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:46 AM
Comment #34I imagine no one came in for him because of the fitness concerns and the wage demands, but the more he does the business, the more inevitable someone will take the punt, particularly if they’re in need, Liverpool for example or perhaps Chelsea who seem to rely so heavily on Torres now Drogba has left.
Tsunki
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:48 AM
Comment #35tequilamag – I think Cabs’ role is highlighted by this game. Everyone wants him to push forward but yesterday we could see what a link he is in midfield for jonas and HBA. I never thought of Cbas as being our big star, handsome devil though he is, but yesterday illustrated an eye-opening lack of dreamboat about our ranks.
Tsunki
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:49 AM
Comment #36*Cabs – a cbas is a fish.
Conaldo (The Wizard)
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:50 AM
Comment #37Who wants a bet on who will get bashed next week?
2-1 Pardew
3-1 cisse
5-1 tavernier
5-1 harper
7-1 perch
Decent odds I think given the fickleness of some fans.
Tsunki
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:52 AM
Comment #38Conaldo I’ll take a punt on Harps if he is still playing. put me down for a tenner ha ha.
tequilamag
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:53 AM
Comment #39Possibly Jaw, but lets say for the sake of argument Liverpool bought him for 7 mill on a 4 year contract at 80K a week. Chances are no insurer is going to touch BA with a bargepole. If his knee blew up first game out then they are 16 mill in wages down with nothing to show. Hell of a gamble.
Conaldo (The Wizard)
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:55 AM
Comment #40safe bet tsunki. He will probably be in goal against manure and the usual suspects will be on here saying how we should be hammering “teams like Man U” all the time. So if we lose or draw I think he will be the one to draw the heat.
My bet is on tav, he will probably play against Bordeaux, which will be a very tough match.
This will be a tough week for Newcastle, but an enjoyable one win lose or draw.