Christmas Tree

Financial year end? You do realise you're putting that argument to the tax man, right? You do realise that this is a common business practice to drag forward as much revenue as possible into the year about to end. You mean deferred income? Which is of course a liability. ??? Dont know about that.... Surely if the tickets are sold in this financial year it is not deferred?

Solomon needed to get this decision right

if carrol is left out, Nolan could return to his early season front role leaving a nice little gap for Joey. This may be a bit of a win win for Hughton

All are fucking unlikely considering hes had numerous attempts to sell and at each stage has done nothing to attract buyers, hes had numerous attempts to prove the knockers wrong and done nothing to sway them (except you). As for the last one, yeah course he has. He bought the club for exactly the last reason so hes not done too good a job on it so far has he? You also forgot...... screwed his own father out of the business dodgy business practices An investigation by the SFA which could see him jailed and lose his business. Firstly, Moat never has and never will be a contender so lets put Billy Big Mouth Bass to bed once and for all shall we? There are numerous other potential options, none of which however I agree will touch us with a barge pole for the money he'll want for us once we're up. So would I, Id also like world peace and a 18inch dick but we can all dream. Hes not our best bet, hes currently our only bet, its like saying "Ive left the kids with Gary Glitter, the only other babysitters available were Josef Fritzel and Myra Hindley so best of a bad bunch, still lets not bother checking on them eh?" Doesnt mean we have to forgive and forget, as long as there are fans like you, who desert the club with talk of boycotts while were in the Championship then reappear as soon as we're promoted then the likes of the fat man will have won. He knows he can do as he likes and there'll always be some mug to back him up. Bollocks Its hard trying to reply to you because you are currently posting like some teenage internet warrior. I appreciate you are running for election but KISS

Financial year end? You do realise you're putting that argument to the tax man, right? You do realise that this is a common business practice to drag forward as much revenue as possible into the year about to end.

This kind of us vs him attitude is childish at best. For Ashley it's a business. The best thing for his business is for the club to be doing well. If it's not it's ultimately costing him money. Being relegated to the championship was obviously not what Ashley wanted, it would have turned out to be one very expensive lesson for him (don't sell when you should be buying, and don't rely on shit overpaid past it crocks). He's still got a lot to learn - like to appoint honest, trustworthy people in positions of power but he knows now that he can't simply 'do as he likes' as no matter how many mugs there are to 'back him up' there's no money in running a club poorly and bugger all in running it well thanks to the overinflated prices of players. Well said.

Motivation Wants to sell so realises we have to be succesful to attract buyers Wants to prove all the knockers wrong which means we have to be succesful Wants to turn over a new leaf and develop Newcastle into a top four team All of these scenarios will benefit us. Capabilities Became a billionaire at 40 so a shrewd cookie, whatever you think of him The 60th richest person in the UK As we leave recession, his wealth will continue to rise Has a world wide sports empire that could benefit from a connection to a successful club Reaching the top six of the prem without a rich benefactor or years of prolonged success is nigh on impossible these days. Alternatives Barry "no money" Moat NUSC Fly by night consortiums (aka Portsmouth) A white knight with pots of cash Leaving the last miracle to one side, the rest could be very dangerous for us as a club in these difficult financial times and certainly would not have the readies to allow us to compete with the big boys. If we are promoted, I would hope that he sees fit to put some long term stability in place, ideally replace Llambias and make a decent transfer kitty available. Naturally I would not put my mortgage on him doing this, but the point of this thread, repeated, is to highlight that except for a white knight, he might be our best bet for a return to competing at the highest level. None of that is attention seeking Its not a wind up Its a very straightforward argument.

The Fish on his knees in the seat in front joining in as well, you'd be praying for engine failure. Ultimately, in principle building for the future with kids it's all good, etc.... Then look closely. How many scouts do Arsenal have around Europe and the world? How many do we have? Everything is a facade. Where we go from here, well I keep moaning till we get someone who we can trust. What you're saying is let's get behind people who have a proven documented track record of saying things to keep the perhaps 1m plus Newcastle fans sweet. Fuck that. It's going to need more than an inevitable CCC title to sway me. A good point was made the other day by a Bristol fan on the radio, our wages amount even now must be double the next team, and at least 4 or 5 times more than every CCC club in general, it would've been a disgrace had we not went straight up. It could be argued we could've done even better this season imo. I dont really disagree with any of that. I also still wish Keegan was here and Ashley could have given him a fair go, however putting all of that and the history of false promises etc behind us, I was really trying to look at what it actually takes these days to break into the top six. Most would agree that the first thing you need is a rich benefactor, followed by a good manager and good players. If Mike Ashley is genuine this time or just wants to prove a point, this could be very good for us compared to a Barry Moat or a "Portsmouth" type arab. Neither of the latter, in the real world, is going to get us into a position of challenging for the top 6 and Im sure thats what we all want rather than the 13 and 14th place finishes. Ofcourse Ashley could fuck us over and sell us off to a nobody and then we really would be fucked.

Thanks but no thanks leazes :-)

Aye saw that the other day. Also B&M bargains and Wilkinsons had some great stuff for sale

3 hours at the allotment today. Grass paths between raised beds sewn. Seeds transplanted from propagator to pots including Sweetcorn, Peas and Mange tout. Chickens mucked out and give 3 hours roam of the land. Rabbits mucked out. General tidy around. Cant wait for May to see some proper greenery all about. Happy Days

I've been giving my full and unswerving support to the club through this whole debacle. What exactly are you bringing to the table Mr Boycott? Fairly transparent weak wummery? Wahey, Mr in depth arrives with a stunning contribution. What's the point, you're being contrary and pointedly controversial. Tour stand point isn't "Ashley has been good for this club" it's that you feel we should take solace from some of the things that have gone right. However that's not half as much fun as appointing yourself chief cheer leader and declaring all who hold (reasonable) grievances with his stewardship, are pessmista and/or wrong. You're on the wind up and it's pretty tedious to be honest A typical weak response. There is nothing controversial in saying that a repentant and 60th richest man in the uk might be our best chance of getting back to glory days. It is a serious argument because those facts are true. A serious counter argument would be to make a case for the NUSC lot or Barry Moat etc But simply to keep looking back to Keegan and the last two years does nothing for the discussion on what happens next. what happens next is the Fatman does the bare minimum to protect his investment, and sells to the first person who'll give him a good price. Unrealistic? Of course thats a possible outcome made more possible by the ongoing weekly abuse......BUT the question was how he could be our best way back to the top 4. NUSC aint going to get us there, neither is Barry Moat. If you really believe that, you want your head looking at. As for him being our best way back to the top 4???????? Nice picture but still no counter route back to the top 4 (btw, it would be so funny the next time your doing Llambias windows if you looked in and saw him at his pc with Toontastic on the screen. )

CT I'm not playing this game. Suffice to say, Ashley's arrogance and incompotence took us down. The staggering gap in quality is taking us up. All Ashley hadone thi year is shut up and stay out of the way. Which, if he'd done it in the 1st place, would have a) kept us up 2) brought a decent return on his invesent and iii) not permanently alienated himself from the mist important people, the paying public. You can point at the thing you accredit him with but the inescapable truth is that the crimes he's committed far outweigh any good you feel he's done. I wish I hadn't even typed that ecause it's obvious you're after reaction, not debate. Never mind, it was either this, or work.

<_<

I've been giving my full and unswerving support to the club through this whole debacle. What exactly are you bringing to the table Mr Boycott? Fairly transparent weak wummery? Wahey, Mr in depth arrives with a stunning contribution. What's the point, you're being contrary and pointedly controversial. Tour stand point isn't "Ashley has been good for this club" it's that you feel we should take solace from some of the things that have gone right. However that's not half as much fun as appointing yourself chief cheer leader and declaring all who hold (reasonable) grievances with his stewardship, are pessmista and/or wrong. You're on the wind up and it's pretty tedious to be honest A typical weak response. There is nothing controversial in saying that a repentant and 60th richest man in the uk might be our best chance of getting back to glory days. It is a serious argument because those facts are true. A serious counter argument would be to make a case for the NUSC lot or Barry Moat etc But simply to keep looking back to Keegan and the last two years does nothing for the discussion on what happens next. what happens next is the Fatman does the bare minimum to protect his investment, and sells to the first person who'll give him a good price. Unrealistic? Of course thats a possible outcome made more possible by the ongoing weekly abuse......BUT the question was how he could be our best way back to the top 4. NUSC aint going to get us there, neither is Barry Moat.

Look at it like a divorce CT, one you've been going through for 2 years. Yes, you're getting back your record collection, which is nice, but the slag is still living in the house where you pay the mortgage and won't let you see the kids. See thats just more pessimism..... I'll look at it as Mike Ashley, making the decisions to secure promotion. Can you remind me one more time what decisions those were? Apart from deciding not to settle with Keegan and taking the club through an embarrasing tribunal where he was forced to admit he's a liar. And apart from deciding pay his fat mate to streak naked across the pitch. And apart from deciding to make the unethical business decisions that saw the BBC make a program about him. And apart from deciding to make the unethical business decisions that saw him become the target of a fraud investigation. And apart from deciding to announce that the stadium would be renamed before securing a sponsor and generating tens of thousands of signatures in petition against the proposal. And apart from deciding to insult the supporters that generate millions in income by calling them 'unrealistic'. And apart from deciding to frequently shove people into the media spotlight to congratulate him on these kinds of decisions. Do you mean the decision to spend £5m in January? That one thing makes it all ok? The thing is I guess this is a pointless argument for you because no matter what happens now you will also find a way to look for the gloomy route. If he spends 25 million and we finish mid table I guess you will still not be happy. He apologised for releagation last year. He's not apologised for any of those things that all happened since. I've already asked about how he's stabalised the club but i never saw an answer. If he spends £25m then it'll blow your argument out of the water. His claims of making the tough choices to have stabalised the club and the importance of doing so will be exposed as lies. He has to stick to his austerity approach if he's to be taken seriously. Otherwise last January's sales look even more idiotic than we all know they were. I'm sure he won't mind looking an idiot though, it's never stopped him from doing anything in the past. So rather than your usual compendium track record, why dont you list some things he could realistically do that would convince you he was now trying to take the club forward. (And Im talking future football related actions before you start saying.....Apologise for this, apologise for that.....) Thats simple enough surely

I've been giving my full and unswerving support to the club through this whole debacle. What exactly are you bringing to the table Mr Boycott? Fairly transparent weak wummery? Wahey, Mr in depth arrives with a stunning contribution. What's the point, you're being contrary and pointedly controversial. Tour stand point isn't "Ashley has been good for this club" it's that you feel we should take solace from some of the things that have gone right. However that's not half as much fun as appointing yourself chief cheer leader and declaring all who hold (reasonable) grievances with his stewardship, are pessmista and/or wrong. You're on the wind up and it's pretty tedious to be honest A typical weak response. There is nothing controversial in saying that a repentant and 60th richest man in the uk might be our best chance of getting back to glory days. It is a serious argument because those facts are true. A serious counter argument would be to make a case for the NUSC lot or Barry Moat etc But simply to keep looking back to Keegan and the last two years does nothing for the discussion on what happens next.

Look at it like a divorce CT, one you've been going through for 2 years. Yes, you're getting back your record collection, which is nice, but the slag is still living in the house where you pay the mortgage and won't let you see the kids. See thats just more pessimism..... I'll look at it as Mike Ashley, making the decisions to secure promotion. Can you remind me one more time what decisions those were? Apart from deciding not to settle with Keegan and taking the club through an embarrasing tribunal where he was forced to admit he's a liar. And apart from deciding pay his fat mate to streak naked across the pitch. And apart from deciding to make the unethical business decisions that saw the BBC make a program about him. And apart from deciding to make the unethical business decisions that saw him become the target of a fraud investigation. And apart from deciding to announce that the stadium would be renamed before securing a sponsor and generating tens of thousands of signatures in petition against the proposal. And apart from deciding to insult the supporters that generate millions in income by calling them 'unrealistic'. And apart from deciding to frequently shove people into the media spotlight to congratulate him on these kinds of decisions. Do you mean the decision to spend £5m in January? That one thing makes it all ok? The thing is I guess this is a pointless argument for you because no matter what happens now you will also find a way to look for the gloomy route. If he spends 25 million and we finish mid table I guess you will still not be happy.

I've been giving my full and unswerving support to the club through this whole debacle. What exactly are you bringing to the table Mr Boycott? Fairly transparent weak wummery? Wahey, Mr in depth arrives with a stunning contribution.

Look at it like a divorce CT, one you've been going through for 2 years. Yes, you're getting back your record collection, which is nice, but the slag is still living in the house where you pay the mortgage and won't let you see the kids. See thats just more pessimism..... I'll look at it as Mike Ashley, making the decisions to secure promotion.

And Leazes would know about that I am one of the few people who correctly called Ashley, and got the Halls and Shepherd into the correct perspective. Its quite refreshing that you have admitted elsewhere you got them wrong, and yet still say that I am spouting rubbish. You should admit that I was right, and bow down to someone who had superior judgement Shit Im going to bite........ Pop the link in where you correctly called Ashley. I will look tomorrow. Your defence of Ashley is admirable, but naive and misguided I'm afraid. We will never qualify for the Champs League like we did, under his ownership, like we did under the previous regime, while he has a hole in his arse. He has taken us back over 20 years in fact, and people like you have completely accepted the lower standards and expectations that he has inflicted on the club and its support. http://www.newcastle-online.org/nufcforum/...,68021.676.html " In each case there came a point where the evidence was overwhelming that my optimism was unfounded. " At least it seems like a proper debate that thread Leazes, not the hysteria on here. (Couldnt see you in that link tho??? Confused) Are you reading the same thread. The one where they're debating whether we "needed to be relegated" as if it was the Ashley masterplan? And you talk about rewriting history. Just reading a few of the posts on that page Leazes posted.....Mr Pessimistic Face The bottom line is that the militant minority have nothing to offer only pessimism.

What happened to this CT? Has one campaign in the Championship suddenly changed your opinion on the current regime, and if so how? To simply put it were a joke, seriously if you see any positive outlook when we return to the Premiership, then you're clearly misguided, and the best outcome is survival, although that requires sufficent backing in the transfer window, which given Ashley's record that doesn't look too positive, so you're suggesting we give him another chance? For what exactly? To let him continue to demoralise the club and mislead the fans yet again, fuck that for a laugh. Fuck me just read the opening post and all your questions are answered.... And with regard to You've lost me. returning to the premiership is not positive?????

And Leazes would know about that I am one of the few people who correctly called Ashley, and got the Halls and Shepherd into the correct perspective. Its quite refreshing that you have admitted elsewhere you got them wrong, and yet still say that I am spouting rubbish. You should admit that I was right, and bow down to someone who had superior judgement Shit Im going to bite........ Pop the link in where you correctly called Ashley. I will look tomorrow. Your defence of Ashley is admirable, but naive and misguided I'm afraid. We will never qualify for the Champs League like we did, under his ownership, like we did under the previous regime, while he has a hole in his arse. He has taken us back over 20 years in fact, and people like you have completely accepted the lower standards and expectations that he has inflicted on the club and its support. http://www.newcastle-online.org/nufcforum/...,68021.676.html " In each case there came a point where the evidence was overwhelming that my optimism was unfounded. " At least it seems like a proper debate that thread Leazes, not the hysteria on here. (Couldnt see you in that link tho??? Confused)

Next CT will be arguing that Ashley is more successful than Shepherd because he got us promoted, something Shep didnt manage once in the last 16 years! Lots of huff and puff, but the facts, as set out in the opening post, remain..........

And it continued its slide into the Championship under his running. ...and thankfully we are going back up. So what is your point?? Another example of your long-term damage CT; reducing expectations to such a degree that relegation is passed off as just one of those things, so long as we get back up again. The point he is making, which is clear as day to me, was that we were heading downwards before Ashley came here. 1 month before Ashley bought us we had just finished 6 points off relegation. Surely its quite easy to understand his view that we were on the slide without getting all hysterical