scoobos

We have lost players, we've just released a handful. I know most of them aren't quite good enough, but I'm especially uncomfortable about Simpson going to QPR after being released. We've already got a threadbare squad, as Keegan says I feel the strategy needs to be to replace and then sell. Having 2 defenders for 1 position is not enough, especially when we are asking them to be defensive wingers (more chance of hamstrings / injuries etc).

Quality banter on this thread, cheers for the giggles on a crap day!

uff. This window is horribly familiar.... Why do we deserve this. I fully expect pards to have 6 less players in the squad (shit or not) come game 1. We'll probably buy some absolute waste on the last day of the window and play him in 2 games. Gah....

But seriously, the whole "hes paid off debt" thing is bollocks. He hasn't - if he wanted to pay it off he'd make a cash donation / injection of the money and not put it as a loan. Same as Chelsea (826mil ) we have a bill to ashley rather than a bill to a bank. The chelsea stat really makes me smile inside, Abramovich has them totally by the short and curlies. That debt is unpayable imo. To be fair though, by him doing that he has saved the club substantial amounts of interest etc. So he has given some money, but not out of his pocket at all. If Newcastle goes close to bust he can genuinely just strip all the assets and take the cash I think - that said, there's no way in hell Newcastle Council would ever sanction any redevelopment on the ground if the club closed down. I think they're really good at protecting the club and do all they can.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/exclusive-mike-ashley-ready-to-sell-newcastle--for-267m-8673777.html

If we're to even try and swallow that crap, it's better to call Newcastle "here" rather than continually refer to it as "there" , like you are just visiting from your true home (if only)

Well after trying to be all nice and welcoming too ;D damn, my ploy is murdered by the admin.

I reckon Joe's a man with his finger on the pulse and probably has a very high level of computer literacy. I'm really looking forward to his postings here.

I haven't seen him on any other forums either though. I wanted to make a nice welcome mat.

Hey Joe, I was delighted to read the article this weekend where you were quoted as saying: ""I always go to their forums and loved having the craic with them around the city when I was manager there." I'd be delighted to see your input here, on one of the most popular Newcastle fan forums. Come on Joe, give us a post!

Can we delete this thread , my memories, and all just pretend this isn't happening? I seriously think Ashley might have a buyer for next year and just wants to exact revenge for hounding him out the stands.

Oh it's worse than that, I'm not basing it on last season as I believe we had a better squad then. All these new signings aren't going to settle in this shitstorm. I hope I'm wrong, but I can smell relegation here . But yeah, I'm pessimistic, but it goes right back to the early days of Ashley. For me, every year just gets worse. We finish in a European place, we sell sell sell. We get promoted on the first ask from the championship, we sack the guy and the players who were loyal and stuck through it too. What exactly was the motivation behind getting rid of Houghton ... I suspected racism or something, but its more likely that he too kicked back at the owners. For me, Pardew was right and didn't even go far enough in shifting responsibility to the board. We get into Europe and he's forced to play kids, I suspect to raise value - rather than actually buy to compete in it. Given the fact that the premiership is the richest league in the world, with 60+ million in TV fees alone, I don't buy the austerity shit .. Anyone got any rope?

For every Pardew there's a Kinnear.

Optimism of the very highest order that, we'll be horrible unsettled and the players will be playing like they are scared of possession, perhaps even worse so than last year.

Ok I'll chance my arm on the rumor mill I've been subjected to this morning. Cabaye out, Sissoko out !!! (really???!!) , Cisse out!!!... I sincerely hope all these predictions are wrong.

Cabaye to Pardew: "Boss, Joe's just called me Kebab!" Pardew (while shaking head): "Oh sheesh.." Cabaye: "Not you too.."

Personally, I hope he lasts as long as possible - years even, bringing the team on and having them publically brought down by Ashley + co again. A second constructive dismissal case on the same owner through the FA should result in Ashley going.... A wank , I think .....

Sorry, didn't see that before I posted. I hope it doesn't happen, as romantic as it sounds it's just financially very very difficult to ever get back to the championship, let alone the premiership

It's called denial mate, and as douglas said we're suckers for that. Ashley needs to go , or I seriously do worry that we wont have a NUFC to follow anymore. It really is that serious to me, I haven't seen anything that suggests Ashley loves the club, but plenty to suggest he loves exploiting it.

Cheers for replying, I'll agree to disagree. I don't see this as his own money at all, if the club goes bust he'll get his money back as the first creditor, or have it insured. But then, I'm just as likely to be wrong as you are, so I quit

Funny that, I'm the opposite, International and Local football is proper football , everyone who plays for England is English etc. it's a much purer game - are you saying you're giving up on it because we don't win? seems to me the mirror opposite of why I'm upset with Premier League football.

I think that's highly subjective. He got us on the cheap, has only LOANED everything, which were probably insured on his side anyway. He's a gambler , but he's not betting with his own money is he?

grr the editor wont work on my IE10 :/ wall of text tastic.

I'm pulling you on that one. How is his personal investment hundreds of millions? If he does decide to sell (though he wont, cos its a great vehicle for him) he'll recoup the money he spent buying it. All money given is loaned to us (abramovich styley). What has he spent exactly? How much did he pay on behalf of Sports Direct for his advertising too? Remember when he said he'd sell for the same money he put in, then the guy came forward and Ashley then says "put money on the table" , so he does, then it all gets reported as no one was serious. This guy is taking the piss and taking us with him. It's fuckin embarassing and I for one can't continue to even give the guy any credit now at all. This proves once and for all that old addage from Douglas. Last thing, this "interest free" loan is only interest free in line with inflation right? At a time that interest rates on fixed term savings / investments are below inflation.... Could be a rumour, but I'll throw it in there while ranting about Ashleys "charity" to the club.give the guy any credit now at all.

aye, but I bet you had to use a spell checker for that one.