Happy Face

Black and white

Look at the facts, you blind, knee-jerking idiots (sorry, nothing personal intended). If it's not a personal question, are you a virgin? Newcastle United have just finished in a better premiership position than when Ashley took over. Fact. True, we’ve been down and come up again but I’m with those who claim that was a good thing (although it didn’t feel like it at the time). One position. The performance was so bad in 2006/2007 it meant the manager was sacked. Now it's cause for celebration. The finances at Newcastle are immeasurably better than they were then. Football clubs have to get their financial house in order first – then they might have a chance of moving forward on a firm footing. Fact. As I mentioned before, £288m of debt at the club now. Far more frightening than the debt we had when Ashley arrived, although far less likely to be defaulted on, it's still measurably worse. Ashley now has his own man in the job – like him or loathe him, Pardew is Ashley’s choice and there is a chance he will get funds to spend. The predecessors were either inherited (Allardyce), short-term (Kinnear and, initially, Hughton) or foisted on him (Keegan, Shearer). For the first time, he has his own man in post. Fact. I cannot comprehend the idea that a chairman can appoint 5 managers and only the current one was anything to do with him. The use of the word "fact" here should be used in text books as an example of how wrong it's possible to be Some (not all) of Wise’s young recruits are now coming through. We Newcastle supporters have never been prepared to be patient – we want it all now – but it will be worth waiting for the likes of Vuckic, Kadar etc (I exclude Ranger, although I expect he’ll do very well wherever he goes). Fact (more or less). Speculation your honour. Gone are the days when we become the laughing-stock of everyone else by paying crazy money (transfer fees and wages) for dreadful players. The successful clubs in the future will be those who are sensible, prudent and build gradually. (OK, freak situations like Man City might threaten that – but we still await their real success, and will it last?) Fact (in my opinion). "Fact, in my opinion" betrays a complete lack of conviction behind anything being said. And – I’m not sure quite how the Ashley-haters deal with this one – Mike Ashley has pumped over £100 million of his own money into the club. It may be a loan, but without it no-one seems quite sure where we’d have been. Fact. Yep, no-one knows. We could have been bought by the people that ended up at Man City instead, or the one's who are currently at Liverpool. No-one knows. FACT! And finally, whether we like it or not, Mr Ashley has bought us. It’s a free country, governed largely by property and ownership and money – and Ashley owns the whole thing from Jose Enrique down to the light switch in the gents toilet. Fact. Wenger and his board will not spend unless they absolutely have to – they have spent a lot less than Newcastle since Wenger took over but have developed from within and bought young, hungry players at prices often well below £1m. (Vieira, for example, at £350k). When from time to time they’ve bought big, the player has almost always been a great success. 96/97 - £20.25m Vs £5.2m 97/98 - £0.8m Vs £22.37 98/99 - £13.8m Vs £22.5m 99/00 - £22.85m Vs £24.8m 00/01 - £35m Vs £13m 01/02 - £15.25m Vs £29m 02/03 - £6.6m Vs £15m 03/04 - £16m Vs £3.6m 04/05 - £1m Vs £22m 05/06 - £32.35m Vs £30.8m 06/07 - £11.9m Vs £25.7m 07/08 - £13.2m Vs £16.75m 08/09 - £30.8m Vs £16.8m 09/10 - £19.7m Vs £4m 10/11 - £0 Vs £4.5m Total £239.5m Vs £256m Over 15 years, arsenal have spent 94% as much as us, not really a "lot less". For ten years it was enough to get us into europe, competing with them. Over the last 5 years, we haven't spent as much as Arsenal...and we've not competed with them That’s the model to follow. All you Ashley-bashers really haven’t a clue. That IS the model to follow yes, as shown by our decline since we stopped matching their spending.

£288m of debt is a sound financial footing?

You'd think decka had better Things to do with his time.

Who's Chris Gray? He don't half peddle some shite. Fact In my opinion

Danny Baker is back on radio 5.

I could listen to the queen cilla voice reading the phone book all day "Why be denny diffr'nt?"

Role Models - Can't see why it got such good reviews. Pleasant enough, but not many laughs.

Cheers OP fixed

Or his laptop could have had a few clues.

You should be highlighting the contradiction between my 2 posts this morrning. How can I complain about the size of the debt AND how little we'be spent? It's idiocy.

Our net debt is £288m? ...but Ashley's got us financially stable

Eric Bristowe Joseph Goebbels Phil Taylor Pete Burns Kylie Minogue Alistair Campbell Bullseye Jim Bowen Think I've used most of these before...owt to do with a 180 or spinning will do.

Well it's not finished yet... *shudder* I assume the FA have rules restricting that sort of thing?

At the last game we were discussing just how lush the pitch looked. Compared to a few years back when it looked fucked by Halloween it's been superb. Wonder what the"play on the pitch" scam pulls in all told. Is it worthwhile to have the grounsdmen complaining about what a rush job it'll be to get it right for the new season?

You were spot on. Pointless being arsey about what goes in and what doesn't. In the words of Keith Barret, it's just abit of fun. I think if we buy any striker it could be argued the squad is stronger than it was at the end of last season though....and I'd be amazed if we didn't buy a striker.

There you go toots.

Ok. They need to be M, remember. Right, so whats your point? Having a better playing staff at the start of next season is perfectly measurable. Try putting it on at the bookies. This is a messageboard, not a bookmakers. Again, whats your point? It's arguable.

Ok. They need to be M, remember. Right, so whats your point? Having a better playing staff at the start of next season is perfectly measurable. Try putting it on at the bookies.

Fuck me right again Get another notch on that board Mr ChezGiven. Once again, CT discussing the relevant points of the day and setting the media agenda while Team Nasty snipes from the sidelines. I thought you said Pardew was putting his own stamp on the dressing room

Ok. They need to be M, remember.

I resent the insinuation here. Not speaking for anyone else but I don't think I've been the least bit nasty about anything. I've not called you any names or misrepresented you. I've not come after you as you quietly go about your business posting on football matters. I try not to do that with Polish Nick, or Kevin or Besty or any of the others that invite a bit 'banter' onto themselves. You've been harping on about being right about anything and everything that you blatantly flip-flopped on and you've been bragging about the classic games you've gone to. All I've done is call you out on your own braggadocio. Well then best not to Mis-quote me. You still havent posted the link btw to where I say I never liked Hughton? I happily admit to a bad memory but I still dont recall saying that. Sure you'll post it now though and clear it up for me. I wouldn't suggest you've "never" like Hughton. But you did bonny lad, you did I'll take your lack of a link as an admission of an error on your part. Im a forgiving soul so no worries. New readers could take the pounding you're getting as bullying. Especially when you complain about how "nasty" we all are. The post above was for their benefit more than yours. I forgive you too CT.

I resent the insinuation here. Not speaking for anyone else but I don't think I've been the least bit nasty about anything. I've not called you any names or misrepresented you. I've not come after you as you quietly go about your business posting on football matters. I try not to do that with Polish Nick, or Kevin or Besty or any of the others that invite a bit 'banter' onto themselves. You've been harping on about being right about anything and everything that you blatantly flip-flopped on and you've been bragging about the classic games you've gone to. All I've done is call you out on your own braggadocio. Well then best not to Mis-quote me. You still havent posted the link btw to where I say I never liked Hughton? I happily admit to a bad memory but I still dont recall saying that. Sure you'll post it now though and clear it up for me. I haven't misquoted you. Other posters have agreed that the supplementary text I left out for the sake of clarity in no way changed the tone of your orignal post. I wouldn't suggest you've "never" like Hughton. Your opinion changes often. Tom's already shown this, but here's some of your posts on the bloke in chronological order if you're asking for more... hughton out http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...st&p=679137 Not in favour of Hughton, in favour of the best available. http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...st&p=680251 Ive said many a time on here his manerisms remind me so much of the Sir Bob. He is a breath of fresh air at Newcastle and everything we've needed. Even when comparing him with some of the favourites in recent times he doesnt play on the geordie fans or anything like that its just so playeded down and matter of fact.....Lovin him. http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry804804 Im not saying Hughtons the next Wenger, but I will back him until its proved he is not capable. http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...st&p=720135 If Ashley has no faith in Hughton and wants to push on, prior to the jan window, then he's made the right decision. For example, if Jol gets appointed this week and is given a decent budget for January then I and probably most Newcastle fans will look back on yesterday as a good decision. If its pardew...... http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...st&p=818451 ...the Hughton sacking (which I agree with)... http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...st&p=897907 Like Chez says, a lot of peoples opinion of Hughton changed. The vast majority remained for the better though. Which is fair enough. You didn't think he should be here, then you did, then you didn't again. Always aligning yourself with those running the club....you've even managed to do it with Pardoo, whose appointment you had said would make a mockery of he Hughton sacking.