Christmas Tree

I think its safe to say we've all been frustrated by what appears to be a lack of actual progress (none more so than me). Numerous times I've made promises on here, N-O and a dozen other message boards stating that further info would be out soon. Trouble is, its fairly easy to come up with these plans but when the actual in-depth work starts then you start getting into the territory of solicitors, financial rules and such like. This has turned out to be an eye opener for us, being told you cant "release this info" or cant "do anything with that until object A of document X has been agreed" has gone against the ethos of the whole campaign and the Trust itself. That has been hard for us to work with but its what you would call a necessary evil, these are the people with the important experience and knowledge in these areas and what they say goes. If only we'd known all this at the start then we would have been able to play out the six weeks differently and would have given everyone that view from the start. It is important though that everything is done properly, we will only get one chance at this, do it right and everything will come together, get it wrong and its all over, we cant ever attempt a fans buyout again because people will quite rightly look back at this one and say "it failed last time so its not worth trying". So from me personally, thats an apology however it goes with what we were doing, we've not asked anyone to actually hand over any money yet, simply register to say you'd be interested to know more. This is what is used by the big backers and financial industries to decide how popular this is going to be and its chances of working. Already we have what we believe to be a high enough level of support but its important that we get as high a number as possible. As soon as the full info is out (which will be in the next couple of weeks...honest ) then I will get it out on here. Whats the latest with NUST? Is it still on the go or in any sort of communication with the club?

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.

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.

Really depends on your definition of those statements. Most fans have very differing expectations of what would constitute success.

At the risk of a 'Leazes' told you so, we weren't too far away from that when the fuckwit took over. You are smoking something, surely!

What it adds is that it sums up that there is more to the Ashley debate than "burn the witch"!!!!

Lots of varied comments on the Times article here http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/201...s-in-doubt.html Including this from a neutral.

I think a brilliant piece here from George Caulkin which sums the situation up perfectly and sensibly without the histrionics.

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.

Words on the subject from NUFC.COM

And Mikes now going to takeover Blacks on the cheap. Its ugly but its good business. Another shop on the bouycoutt list. I just hope the fat cunt doesn't start buying food shops.

And Mikes now going to takeover Blacks on the cheap. Its ugly but its good business.

Llambias is a horror of a man that to me is the main cancer in the club. He has no redeeming features and I am sure is disliked as much by players and staff as he is by the fans. If that was not bad enough, hi PR skills are zero and his delivery and choice of words tarnishes any statement the "club" makes. Putting that to one side, we are where we are and unless someone buys the club that is not going to change. My understanding from people who currently attend, backs up the statement that the anti Ashley songs are confined to a small section of the crowd. The majority seem to have moved on. Personally I do not think this now achieves anything and does only distract from the future success of the club.

The three year brigade will disappear.

Thought he'd gone a long time ago. Rip

Jonas stops more of our attacks than the opposition.

Thought this was a breaking news thread that had happened overnight where Leazes had admitted he actually was Freddy Shepherd.

Inspector Fish, you deserve a promotion. CT is a tiresome fellow on many levels and his Jonas obsession is almost as bad as Gemmill's Martins one. Jonas is not what he was hyped to be, but he contributes a lot to our team that the rest of our squad simply are not capable of doing. I remember several games where he had an absolute field day against the opposing right back - . Would I like to have someone better? Yes. Would I prefer to still have Milner? Yes. But considering the state we're in, he's one of the better players in the side. Why didn't Mike buy us a better winger if Jonas is so shite? By the same token, why did he buy him in the first place if he's so shite? Oh, I know, because he was supposedly going to be on a free so Ashley could replace Milner and still make a profit (all for the good of NUFC and nothing to do with filling his own pockets of course.) Too bad that didn't work out either and we ended up paying for him as well, all thanks to the expert scouting staff employed by Ashley. This is the problem though, people like you trot out this crap as highlighted above when the truth is more what I describe. What we have needed for some time is another Routledge on the left. Jonas huffs and puffs but fuck all comes from it. Doesnt matter if he has a field day if the ball doesnt end up in the back of the net. Personally I would have like to see Lua Lua brought into the team and given a run but can only imagine at some point he has bee caught in the showers with Mrs Hughton.

Frustrating as he is if you can't see the value of a player who can hold possession and continually beat and frustrate the opposition then you're on a different page altogether. and appreciate the sheer number of freekicks he wins too, it'll be even more in the prem with the refs being a lot pickier about freekicks if we get someone who can deliver a ball properly it'll be even more valuable with the height in the side haven't got a clue what that last sentence is all about???

Frustrating as he is if you can't see the value of a player who can hold possession and continually beat and frustrate the opposition then you're on a different page altogether. But he doesn't, he runs for 25 yards and then usually loses posession. And the only people he frustrates is toon fans!

OK so what's the better situation to be in, a club with a £100m turnover, and outgoings of £105m, or a club with a £60m turnover and £55 outgoings? The size of the business is the first one, the £100m generated enabling the club to play on a higher level. Yeah your right as long as its within tight limits like you say.

Turnover means Sweet F.A. Its profit that the boyo.

When will you lot ever give it a fucking rest with Jonas!!!!! He is absolute shite. He was shite in the prem and has continued to do fuck all in this division apart from run around like a cat with a firework strapped to its tail. Routledge has looked far more a proper player than Jonas has in the short time he's been here. Rant over. As for Enrique, Alex summed him up

See what I mean? Fuck Off