The next Newcastle Fans Forum was due to take place this Thursday evening and that would have seem to be a good time to get some real feedback from the likes of Lee Charnley the Managing Director and head coach Steve McClaren about the status of Newcastle this season – and it’s not good.
The Fans Forum is a collection of organization and fans that represent the supporters of the club across a wide spectrum and the last meeting was an upbeat one with the newly appointed Steve McClaren attending the meeting and answering lots of questions.
Newcastle fans – represented by the Fans Forum members
But the meeting has now been put back to a week tomorrow which will before the local derby with Sunderland – so let’s hope we can pick up our first win against Norwich next Sunday.
And we hope Steve McClaren will be able to attend the meeting and answer some serious questions from concerned fans.
Even when things are going badly – as they are now – these meetings are still important and hopefully we’ll get some real truthful feedback on how the club are approaching this crisis.
One thing we haven’t seen too much of from the club over the last year or two is some courage – especially at the executive levels.
There will no doubt be calls for Mike Ashley to attend and it would be good if he could do that – but in reality there’s very little chance of him ever attending one of these meetings.
Maybe even somebody like captain Fabricio Coloccini could attend the meeting?
It’s part of Lee Charnley’s job to meet with fans and to explain to them what the club is trying to do and what they may do in the upcoming January transfer window – depending on what our status is at that time.
This meeting is even more important than usual and there will be some serious questions being asked by the representatives of the Newcastle supporters at the meeting.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
93 comments so far
hibbit
Oct 13, 2015 at 2:55 PM
Comment #1i think the next 3 games will have a huge impact on our season if we can pick up some points great but if we don’t it’s going to be a long hard pull till january by which time we could be a lost cause
hibbit
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:00 PM
Comment #2ED …….only if the club allow these serious questions on the agenda which the tend not too
Ibizatoon
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:05 PM
Comment #3Was there any reason behind putting the meeting back?
Reason I ask, is I remember the ’emergency’ meeting that got called towards the end of last season, that got put back and back. It seemed like they were waiting for a win first. Could this be the case?
I can see where they’re coming from. It’ll be far easier to call for patience after a win.
BandB
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:23 PM
Comment #4Ibiza,
I imagine the mood at the Forum would be transformed to supine gratitude and relieved determination not to ask impertinent questions should we manage a win or even a plucky draw before then.
barkel
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:25 PM
Comment #5Have to agree with you there Ibiza, it’s a dangerous game if we don’t beat Norwich though!
On previous, I would like to see Cisse with Mitro even though it would be unfair not to play Perez, he has been quite good when he has played so far. I’d half expect 442 with Perez on the left and Gini going in the middle with any of Anita, Colback, Tiote and Sissoko on the right
al-k-traz
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:25 PM
Comment #6As a Forum member I can tell you that there is nothing sinister about the scheduling of this meeting. Trying to get everyone together for this first meeting with the six new fan delegates proved difficult.
Ibizatoon
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:30 PM
Comment #7BandB…Well, there’s no sense asking gloomy questions, when we’d be so clearly on the path of recovery now, would there? That’s not what real fans do, after all.
Barkel…Dangerous if? Come on now, surely we just HAVE to win this one?
al-k-traz….I can’t recall ever seeing a forum member posting on here (at least they haven’t said they are), so Hello!
Was there any explanation given, as to why the emergency FF meet never took place?
Mister Tuff
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:32 PM
Comment #8Fans Forum.
Interesting why the next meeting has been re-scheduled maybe it will be mentioned in the minutes.
There are going to be 8 new Forum members taking part at the meeting. I hope they are able to ask some relevant questions and get some reasonable answers – not like some of the answers in recent meetings.
I hope the new members are not overawed by their new roles -as unless you are experienced I think people could be reticent asking meaningful questions.
It would appear that the last group were in contact “outside of club interference” so hopefully they may act as one in respect of the major issues at the club.
I’d be very surprised if Wally turns up -especially if we lose the next game. However, if he does I would imagine most questions would be aimed at him -fans may not be so “sweet” with him this time around.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:34 PM
Comment #9al-k-traz,
Was getting behind the lads at the trust and having them reinstated ever discussed ?
The next Mike Williamson
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:34 PM
Comment #10I think we’ll get about 4-6 points from our next three games which will be enough for McClaren to stumble on a bit longer. Then we’ll hear the 5% that wanted him in coming on saying I told you so. Personally, I think he’s always been a crap manager and it’s unlikely he’ll suddenly change, and in today’s premier league with all the world’s elite managers he looks even worse than he did with Boro.
TacoFlavoredKisses ForMyBen-arfa
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:34 PM
Comment #11i think serious questions need to be answered by anyone that think cisse(lazy) should partner with mitro over perez.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:36 PM
Comment #12I remember when Pardew was supposed to appear on Total Sport for a Q&A, never happened, no reason or apology given ?
Mister Tuff
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:36 PM
Comment #13al-k-traz – just noticed your post.
The official site were asking for 8 new members. You mentioned 6. Are there 8 and only 6 can attend. Can you explain please -if you can
Mister Tuff
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:40 PM
Comment #14Ibiza – I believe Ash1001 was a forum member – but no longer -I do not think he was impressed with the FF.
BandB
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:43 PM
Comment #15al-k-traz last posted (under that name at least) in August 2008.
We may have to wait and see….
Ibizatoon
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:47 PM
Comment #16Hey guys, grab a number!
Al-k-traz….pick me first! Me, me, me!
Tuff…Thanks for that. Don’t recall the poster tbh. I do hope the FF starts to show a little more teeth. We get emails from the club with the lovely worded ‘everything is alright’ stuff. These meets do represent a chance for the club to start re-connecting with the fans. I do hope they seize it. Sadly, I have my doubts.
Ibizatoon
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:48 PM
Comment #17BandB…Really, 2008?
Fine, 2022 has been diarised.
Al-k-traz, I look forward to chatting with you then.
davis_toons
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:49 PM
Comment #18DAVIDE SANTON is good enough to be on our bench…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpSM0xC28Zw
Another wasted player at the wrong time, wrong place wrong management.
BandB
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:52 PM
Comment #19You can’t expect progress every five minutes Ibiza!
BandB
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:53 PM
Comment #20Rome wasn’t ….
Ibizatoon
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:55 PM
Comment #21BandB….Well, I could…
To be fair, let’s shorten that even more.
‘You can’t expect progress’. There, bar lowered, pressure off. I even feel a smile coming on.
BandB
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:56 PM
Comment #22I hope they ask about the new academy too.
It’s meant to be finished in 2016.
cyprus
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:59 PM
Comment #23Next Wil,
I’ll take 6 points in the next 3 games!
Ibizatoon
Oct 13, 2015 at 3:59 PM
Comment #24BandB…I was talking to a collegue the other day, who dropped that line in to the conversation.
He couldn’t understand why my eyes glazed over.
Bloody Rome.
BandB
Oct 13, 2015 at 4:03 PM
Comment #25They could ask what happened to this little lot…from Charnley on the club website, January 2014.
“There is however still a lot of work to be done to ensure we are maximising every commercial opportunity available to us. Our plans to host the stadium’s first music concert since 2007 this summer, together with our participation in a high profile pre-season tournament this August in Germany, are evidence of the type of commercial opportunities we are pursuing.
“The extra revenue we are able to generate from commercial deals translates ultimately to the amount of money we have available to invest in the Club.
“We will look, where possible, to use this revenue to invest not just in the squad, but into improving other areas of the business, including the stadium and its facilities, the Academy, the first team Training Centre and more.
“Supporters will be aware that we have recently announced plans to build a new multi-million-pound state-of-the-art training complex which we hope will be completed in early 2016.
kakaobi
Oct 13, 2015 at 4:08 PM
Comment #26Usual bollox this fans forum doesn’t not represent me not once have they asked me anything I buys my season ticket I have my own opinions
Graeme
Oct 13, 2015 at 4:14 PM
Comment #27BandB – would that be the building of a multi-million pound state-of-the-art training complex that is yet to see any signs of life??
BandB
Oct 13, 2015 at 4:16 PM
Comment #28Rome wasn’t built in a day Graeme.
Though I believe it was started….unlike anything I’ve yet to hear about the training complex.
LGFUAD21
Oct 13, 2015 at 4:20 PM
Comment #29On cisse and nitrovic partnership.
Not for me on paper anyway.
Cisse is not a target man but he needs to be the focal point of attacks still. He would play well with a de Jong type I think who’s focus is providing.
Perez is perfect as a second striker. As is de Jong (on paper) and they both have enough to their game to get involved in build up.
Mitrovic is good at bringing players in but he is a target man.
If you had both up top (mitro and cisse) we’d either do alright playing ugly or we’d be a mess creating chances. Both are strikers through and through. We need someone who can score and create up there. Behind the main man.
Mister Tuff
Oct 13, 2015 at 4:23 PM
Comment #30kakaobi – test the water. Check with the Official Site find out who your representative is and send them an email. I believe they can now all be contacted without the emails being routed through the club first (allegedly).
You do however illustrate the point that generally non of the FF reps are put forward by those they claim to represent and they are selected by the club not the fans.
One of the groups who could claim legitimacy was NUST and look what happened to them.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2015 at 4:43 PM
Comment #31Can anybody think of a decent question that was asked or answered at the FF.
solano
Oct 13, 2015 at 4:45 PM
Comment #32The Fans Forum is NOT as Ed calls it an “collection of organization and fans that represent the supporters of the club across a wide spectrum”.
It is a handpicked undemocratic selection of fans made on the whim of fans liaison officer, Lee Marshall and other club officials. Some are well meaning individuals, some are windbags, some have an inflated opinion of themselves and some are brown nosers and toadies.
It is not representative of any wide ranging body of fans (not since the NUST were banned indefinitely for daring to ask and comment upon relevant issues).
Apart from the Disabled Supporters Club , the only other permanent member is a phantom ‘organisation’ set up by Steve Wraith who appointed one of his mate’s to cosy up and tittle tattle to the club.
All members are schmoozed once a year by free corporate tickets for a game of choice and any question that borders on being testing and relevant is either ignored or not allowed to be followed up further enquiry. A complete sham to fob off the supporters and support a very thin and pathetic PR exercise.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2015 at 4:48 PM
Comment #33Hear hear solano, tell it how it is !
BandB
Oct 13, 2015 at 4:51 PM
Comment #34Phew!
I’m pleased you never do that to me Jail 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2015 at 4:52 PM
Comment #35The fact that the NUST got thrown off for the pettiest of reasons without a whimper from the rest of the group shows that they value their five minutes of fun at the clubs expense over their integrity. It had nothing to do at all with the NUST publishing those minutes but the fact they would keep asking the questions we want answered.
MacToon
Oct 13, 2015 at 4:57 PM
Comment #36Two (I believe) fan forum members did resign in protest after the Trust were unceremoniously thrown out Jail. One of the shite seat lads for one.
solano
Oct 13, 2015 at 4:59 PM
Comment #37Here’s one they won’t answer, JFA:
In view of the fact (as stated in previous FF meetings by Mr Charnley) that the redevelopment of the land behind the Gallowgate End has “nothing to do with the football club” can the club confirm that this is still the case now that Mike Ashley, via MASH Holdings, is looking to redevelop the land himself? If so, is Mr Charnley’s position as a director of MASH, not a conflict of interest with his position as Managing Director of the Football Club and would the football club financially benefit directly from the redevelopment or be restricted from future stadium expansion?
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2015 at 5:00 PM
Comment #38Where did this rumour of signing Valdes come from, tbh as far as our keeper situation are there many clubs with two international keepers on there books ?
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2015 at 5:03 PM
Comment #39Solano,
Did they not answer that one with cups aren’t priority, I thought that (used) to be the standard answer to every tricky question.
Mac,
Fair play to those two lads, would have made a scene if they’d all done it.
solano
Oct 13, 2015 at 5:04 PM
Comment #40Or, Will Mr Charnley financially benefit from the land deal at the club’s expense?