Happy Face

Local Hero I know it's a modern classic, but I knew nowt about it. Thought it was a low budget British thing and was surprised to see Burt Lancaster and all the stuff in America. Really enjoyed it too....despite the ending being about as realistic as Snow White.

Not a penny being taken out of the club apparently. Blaming the Keegan pay-out and the wage bill....as if neither had anything to do with him. 28,000 season tickets sold this season. Derogatory chants are foolish and offensive, they don't understand what Mike's done with the club. He also says The Shouting Men has had excellent reviews... http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/88371/...outing-men.html More lies then

Not a penny being taken out of the club apparently. Blaming the Keegan pay-out and the wage bill....as if neither had anything to do with him. 28,000 season tickets sold this season. Derogatory chants are foolish and offensive, they don't understand what Mike's done with the club.

Llambias on Radio Newcastle tonight.... http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p006l...ort_03_03_2010/ Go to one hour, five minutes and forty seconds.

Really depends on your definition of those statements. Most fans have very differing expectations of what would constitute success. Which fans define it as relegation? The question was "turn us"......future tense and all that. To be more accurate "there's absolutely nothing in the years he's owned us to suggest that he'll turn us" Back to George.... Football, like heat, can generate mirages. How else, with March upon us, can we contextualise a club which, until Portsmouth nabbed their title, was widely recognised as the most gloriously demented in England, but which now resembles the very model of stability? How else to explain the otherwise inexplicable – that Mike Ashley no longer appears the battiest of owners. Top of the Coca-Cola Championship, solid and capable, with a manager who bats away excess and hyperbole; this is a most unusual Newcastle United. In terms of the North East – which, admittedly, does not offer a rich history of sound governance - they now look like bastions of sturdiness and probably more certain than either Sunderland or Middlesbrough of the division they will be playing in next season. Recent results – notably their 2-1 victory at Watford on Saturday – have hardened the longstanding impression that Newcastle are destined for promotion. They remain resolute in defence, powerful in midfield, January's signings brought them a dash of pace and unpredictability and, in Andy Carrol, they possess a young and improving striker who, on his day, veers towards the unplayable. Those outside the club will see a team with vigour and purpose. They view a points tally which, at a similar stage of their respective campaigns, reflects well with that amassed by Kevin Keegan’s team in 1992-93, when the world felt young and Tyneside was abuzz with optimism. And yet those who follow Newcastle most avidly would admit that theirs is not a side surfing a wave of momentum. Their place at the top of the table is fully deserved, Hughton and his players warrant huge credit for the manner in which they have responded to relegation, but behind the mirage, uncertainty remains a dominant feature of the Geordie landscape. For now, satisfaction should be grasped from a job executed proficiently, but the future of the club is still opaque. A question has been posed in recent weeks. Surely, after the long, grinding recovery since last spring, with Newcastle likely to return to the Barclays Premier League, is it not time for fans to let bygones be bygones in relation to Ashley? Is it not time for a cessation of the derogatory chants which are aimed at him in every match, home and away. Is it not time to embrace the new reality? The subject is an exercise in irrelevance. There is no onus on fans to do anything other than to support their team however they see fit, which they have done in far greater numbers (with far less reason) and with deeper reserves of loyalty than anybody can have anticipated this season. Providing that their behaviour is legal – which it has been – they have no moral obligation to do anything. All the responsibility lies with Ashley and his employees. Since the ham-fisted debacle of the stadium naming rights issue – in spite of the threats, @sportsdirect.com is yet to feature in any marketing at St James’ – there have been no public gaffes, no further indiscretions. In fact, things have been progressing relatively smoothly, although there is a caveat to that. Newcastle did not become the next Leeds United. Albeit with a small staff, Hughton has been allowed to manage his players, without any sign of interference. At the end of the transfer window, none of their marquee names had been sold and Hughton’s squad was stronger than 31 days previously. But these things are not the stuff of garlands and triumph; it is what any sensible board should be doing. Granted, Ashley has continued to fund the running of the club (at an alleged cost of £500,000-per-week, according to a “source” close to the sportswear retailer), but history should not be re-written. It was his “catastrophic” and “terrible decisions” (his words), which resulted in Newcastle’s financial implosion following their relegation and he is still picking up the shards. Newcastle’s league status is not the fault of their fans. It was not their muddled policies that saw managers hoarded, discarded and, in the case of Keegan and Alan Shearer, betrayed. It was not them who made profits in the transfer market when a small squad cried out for strengthening, who twice failed to sell the club, who attracted public ridicule through employment tribunals. We used to yearn for Ashley to explain himself, to talk about his reasons for buying Newcastle, to engage with a populace glad to see the back of an earlier, tainted regime. Over the last few months, we have come to appreciate the benefits of silence. Like the team, like Hughton, the club’s hierarchy have kept their heads down. In so doing, they have taken care not to aim ordinance at their own feet. So, well done for that, but keep calm and carry on. Nothing to see here. Rumours persist in City circles that Ashley is desperate to conclude his involvement in football as soon as possible but, whatever his designs, planning should be well underway for what happens next. If he is unable (or even unwilling) to sell, he should be looking to protect what remains of his investment. For all his catalogue of blunders, Ashley always represented an opportunity for Newcastle. He is rich (not Abramovic rich, but rich nonetheless) and his Sports Direct connections should provide the club with a natural, harmonious, mutually-beneficial relationship. Even if it is only a short-term arrangement until a more viable custodian can be found, that opportunity has not dissipated. Bring in some serious-minded people, with an understanding of football and, preferably, an empathy with the region, to run the club on his behalf, no matter if they have to do so on a limited budget. Engage fans; open a meaningful, non-patronising dialogue with the Newcastle United Supporters Club and do what you can to get them on board. Be honest with people; they can take hard truths. What is there to lose? Whether on the pitch or in the stands, there has been precious little arrogance from Newcastle this season. Players and their followers understand fully that this is not a club’s glorious resurrection, but the righting of a wrong, achieved through unity and huge effort. Belatedly, Ashley and Co have played a role. He should not expect people to cheer him for it. I don't agree with Caulkin. If he believes increasing the clubs debt by 137% since he arrived makes Ashley's approach the model of stability I don't know what planet he's on.

Really depends on your definition of those statements. Most fans have very differing expectations of what would constitute success. Which fans define it as relegation? The question was "turn us"......future tense and all that. To be more accurate "there's absolutely nothing in the years he's owned us to suggest that he'll turn us"

Really depends on your definition of those statements. Most fans have very differing expectations of what would constitute success. Which fans define it as relegation?

No, but theres so many baa'ing sheep in this thread its like a stoning from Monty Python. We all know the History that started under Fat Fred (for leazes), looked canny for a bit with Mort and then blew up having rushed in Keegan. And we all know the heap of mistakes made since. But, unlike some on here I dont hold Ashley solely responsible for everything thats gone wrong or dismiss every statement that is made simply because of the past. Ashley tried to copy Tottenham, tried to put a structure in place and was very badly advised by poorly qualified people (Llambias). But the past is the past and this season is going in the right direction (opposite to what most on here were predicting early doors). Hughton has been backed and the GOAL this year was to get promoted. That looks as though it may happen and we will see what comes next. But constantly moaning on does fuck all for the club. At times its like a fucking Ian Paisley convention. Life moves on. The past is still at the club if you're blaming Llambias. £70m of debt outstanding under Shepherd in the Premier League turning into £166m of debt (according to Llambias) under Ashley in the Championship is something to ignore and throw our support behind?

ALL songs are confined to a small section of the crowd. The anti Ashley ones are some of the most vocal.

If that didn't anger you, try this on for size.... Ashley now claims to be in for at least £300m. £250m at the back end of last year, another £20m when he took us off the market, £25m in December and £5m this week. £134m initially paid for the club suggests he's now forked out £166m in loans to cover our debt/further investment. NUFC-finances says he took over a club where Shepherd had a mere £70m of debt. This suggests that Ashley has built up a further £96m of debt at the club in less than 3 years. £26m more than Shepherd managed in 10 years. That's without paying any interest payments or any dividends and all he's gained by spending that much more than Shepherd is relegation. Steadying the ship and reducing costs. Well done Mike

Can't imagine I'll be paying four figures up-front to guarantee a price again. It's not budged since anyway. As happy as i am to see more cheap kids seats, it's unfortunate a generation of kids will have been turned off Newcastle by relegation and the whole circus.

I think he inadvertently sums up what it means to Ashley in the last two lines. Aye. For a bloke who's basically paid to do no more than spin Ashley's lies as effectively as possible he can't even keep that aim fully focussed in his mind for an entire interview. Shows you how desperate they were to get shut if it's reflected upon in those terms. Thick bastard. I've been more commited to clapped out bangers with 6 months left on the MOT.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11688_5999998,00.html

Hegemony or Survival As recommended by Hugo Chavez, to reinforce my loony leftist ideology.

Average attendance of 50,000 I was under the impression tickets were a lot cheaper though They average 21 euros. http://static.bundesliga.de/media/native/d...dfl_bl_2010.pdf They play 4 less games a season too. Must have a canny TV package. or maybe they pay their players less?????? That wouldn't affect total revenue, which is what's being measured here. Though it is true. Apparently the avearge Premier league player gets $1.3m a year, the average bundesliga gets $850k

Never normally agree with you Parky but that's spot on, you've summed up this thread in a nutshell. Renton, it must keep you lovely and warm that smug, self delusional but satisfied feeling of superiority! if i was LM i would suggest its all down to a university education!! Come on Axeman. Nick Griffin is the most intelligent man that supports the BNP, and he's thick as pigshit. Happy, thats the daftest thing you've ever posted on here. He attended Downing college, Cambridge and graduated in law. Not something that someone who is 'thick as pigshit' could ever achieve. How on earth has his mind not been warped by hand-wringing, do-gooder, fancy-dan lecturers, without any real life experience?

Average attendance of 50,000 I was under the impression tickets were a lot cheaper though They average 21 euros. http://static.bundesliga.de/media/native/d...dfl_bl_2010.pdf They play 4 less games a season too. Must have a canny TV package.

Average attendance of 50,000

http://www.juancole.com/2010/03/al-khalil-...m-protests.html

Wasn't there a suggestion the station could be sold? I don't know if it's commercially viable or if it would be as popular with adverts. I hate commercial radio more than i hate commercial tv.

Looked like they had finished on 6 music anyway. Joe's off writing films for Steven Spielberg so i think he's happy to leave it all behind.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8544150.stm Look at the 6 music A list Delphic Gorillaz Groove Armada Jimi Hendrix Jonsi Mumford & Sons The Strange Boys Tunng Vampire Weekend Yeasayer and Radio 2 Amy MacDonald Beverley Knight (feat. Chaka Khan) Goldfrapp Leona Lewis Mary J Blige Michael Bublé Nerina Pallot Paloma Faith Robbie Williams Rod Stewart They need to do a LOT of work on Radio 2 to make up for this. Gutted Adam and Joe will be no more too.

We'll still be losing money like. The wage bill that took up 70% of our revenue the previous year won't have reduced a great deal, not before the new year anyway.... Wage Savings Carr Rozehnal Ramage Emre Faye Milner Wage Additions Guthrie Guti Colo Bassong Xisco Nacho