Ashley's Newcastle future not black and white

[tinofbeans 91]

i agree with the point about 3rd/4th place.

 

i reckon we should go shit or bust for a cup and try to get top 8 this year. We don't have te resources to push higher or in as many directions in my opinion.

[Papa Lazaru 0]

i agree with the point about 3rd/4th place.

 

i reckon we should go shit or bust for a cup and try to get top 8 this year. We don't have te resources to push higher or in as many directions in my opinion.

 

With no Uefa games clogging up our fixture list whilst some of our rivals do, i think Sam will definitely have his eye on a cup run or two if possible. If we even have a tiny bit of luck with injuries this year for once we can take advantage of not being in europe, just as Bobby's team did in the past, though not to quite such a high placing!

[Craig 6682]

Something which is making me chuckle is that those who are having a bit of a pop are attacking from two angles.

 

1) Our squad is reduced

2) Not enough money is available

 

The squad has been reduced because we've got rid of some of the dead wood (Bernard, Bramble, Srnicek, Sibierski, etc) who, if they were still here, would be ensuring that even less money was available.

 

We have a month to bring in new faces. and that's not taking into account the speed at which things move in the window towards the end of August. If we're still in the same position in a month's time then they've got some questions to answer.

 

There's too much panic and too much belief that we're going to do what we did under Shepherd. As has been said, we need to exercise some patience. We also need to remember that buying players isn't as simple as walking into the supermarket for your weekly shop!

[Shearergol 0]

Something which is making me chuckle is that those who are having a bit of a pop are attacking from two angles.

 

1) Our squad is reduced

2) Not enough money is available

 

The squad has been reduced because we've got rid of some of the dead wood (Bernard, Bramble, Srnicek, Sibierski, etc) who, if they were still here, would be ensuring that even less money was available.

 

We have a month to bring in new faces. and that's not taking into account the speed at which things move in the window towards the end of August. If we're still in the same position in a month's time then they've got some questions to answer.

 

There's too much panic and too much belief that we're going to do what we did under Shepherd. As has been said, we need to exercise some patience. We also need to remember that buying players isn't as simple as walking into the supermarket for your weekly shop!

 

See, I don't disagree with that, but you have to ask questions when you see the likes of Spurs and West Ham picking up players who would be better than what we've got. Are you saying that they're finding it easier to conduct transfers?

[Gemmill 44872]

Something which is making me chuckle is that those who are having a bit of a pop are attacking from two angles.

 

1) Our squad is reduced

2) Not enough money is available

 

The squad has been reduced because we've got rid of some of the dead wood (Bernard, Bramble, Srnicek, Sibierski, etc) who, if they were still here, would be ensuring that even less money was available.

 

We have a month to bring in new faces. and that's not taking into account the speed at which things move in the window towards the end of August. If we're still in the same position in a month's time then they've got some questions to answer.

 

There's too much panic and too much belief that we're going to do what we did under Shepherd. As has been said, we need to exercise some patience. We also need to remember that buying players isn't as simple as walking into the supermarket for your weekly shop!

 

See, I don't disagree with that, but you have to ask questions when you see the likes of Spurs and West Ham picking up players who would be better than what we've got. Are you saying that they're finding it easier to conduct transfers?

 

The lure of London is huge imo, so I reckon it is definitely easier for them than us. If you're a 20-something lad who is currently, or will very soon be a millionaire, you want to live in a swanky pad in London, not Darras Hall or the Quayside.

[ewerk 30610]

The squad has been reduced because we've got rid of some of the dead wood (Bernard, Bramble, Srnicek, Sibierski, etc) who, if they were still here, would be ensuring that even less money was available.

 

None of whom were likely to have been on huge wages, 50k pw max in total I'd guess.

[Shearergol 0]

Something which is making me chuckle is that those who are having a bit of a pop are attacking from two angles.

 

1) Our squad is reduced

2) Not enough money is available

 

The squad has been reduced because we've got rid of some of the dead wood (Bernard, Bramble, Srnicek, Sibierski, etc) who, if they were still here, would be ensuring that even less money was available.

 

We have a month to bring in new faces. and that's not taking into account the speed at which things move in the window towards the end of August. If we're still in the same position in a month's time then they've got some questions to answer.

 

There's too much panic and too much belief that we're going to do what we did under Shepherd. As has been said, we need to exercise some patience. We also need to remember that buying players isn't as simple as walking into the supermarket for your weekly shop!

 

See, I don't disagree with that, but you have to ask questions when you see the likes of Spurs and West Ham picking up players who would be better than what we've got. Are you saying that they're finding it easier to conduct transfers?

 

The lure of London is huge imo, so I reckon it is definitely easier for them than us. If you're a 20-something lad who is currently, or will very soon be a millionaire, you want to live in a swanky pad in London, not Darras Hall or the Quayside.

 

I should have said Man City

 

So basically, we're fucked until we get European football, which isn't looking too likely for a couple of years.

[Craig 6682]

My belief is that our situation is being complicated by the fact that we're in the process of a strategic review. As I said yesterday, maybe some will argue that it is not the right time to perform such a review, but when is?? Surely if we did it mid-season we'd be risking upsetting the progress of the season, potentially writing it off anyway and if we leave it 12 months then we're just where we are now!!

 

Spurs are not going through such a review, neither are West Ham.

[Gemmill 44872]

The squad has been reduced because we've got rid of some of the dead wood (Bernard, Bramble, Srnicek, Sibierski, etc) who, if they were still here, would be ensuring that even less money was available.

 

None of whom were likely to have been on huge wages, 50k pw max in total I'd guess.

 

Even assuming that's right (and I reckon it's a bit more than that), that's a £2.5m saving per year. For a company with a turnover of around £90m (from memory), that's a huge saving. Especially when you look at how marginal our profits/losses are.

 

That's not the point anyway though, the point is that we were paying knackers that were shit at their job, and now we aren't.

[Craig 6682]

Something which is making me chuckle is that those who are having a bit of a pop are attacking from two angles.

 

1) Our squad is reduced

2) Not enough money is available

 

The squad has been reduced because we've got rid of some of the dead wood (Bernard, Bramble, Srnicek, Sibierski, etc) who, if they were still here, would be ensuring that even less money was available.

 

We have a month to bring in new faces. and that's not taking into account the speed at which things move in the window towards the end of August. If we're still in the same position in a month's time then they've got some questions to answer.

 

There's too much panic and too much belief that we're going to do what we did under Shepherd. As has been said, we need to exercise some patience. We also need to remember that buying players isn't as simple as walking into the supermarket for your weekly shop!

 

See, I don't disagree with that, but you have to ask questions when you see the likes of Spurs and West Ham picking up players who would be better than what we've got. Are you saying that they're finding it easier to conduct transfers?

 

The lure of London is huge imo, so I reckon it is definitely easier for them than us. If you're a 20-something lad who is currently, or will very soon be a millionaire, you want to live in a swanky pad in London, not Darras Hall or the Quayside.

 

I should have said Man City

 

So basically, we're fucked until we get European football, which isn't looking too likely for a couple of years.

 

Man City are hardly pissing money down the drain though, are they?? We've bought more than them!

[Fop 1]

I reckon we'll improve over last year like, purely because we now have a top class manager. I don't think we'll break into the top 6 yet though, but I'm happy to wait as long as there is some improvement.

 

If we have as many injuries (or as many man-hours lost though injury) this season as last season we'll be dancing on the relegation zone.

We've probably got a stronger first 11, but if anything we're weaker this season in squad strength.

 

Allerdyce seems to be shitting himself somewhat over this (rightly), but I'm not sure the Shop Managers in charge really are (perhaps thinking it saves costs).

 

I saw him last night and he gave no impression of being concerned actually. I found him to be incredibly reassuring after the last crettin we had in charge. Already we are playing better as a team from the evidence I have seen from the friendlies.

I agree with you, but the team also played better under Roeder at first.

 

 

That aside, I think Allardyce is the best manager we've had since Keegan to be honest. While I had great affection for Robson, he was no longer at the peak of his powers.

 

That's true, but it's also a bit harsh on Robson considering his overall finishes for us (and that FFS meddled at critical points).

 

For all that Allerdyce has done at Bolton his CV and record is nothing compared to Robson's (as yet... and possibly ever).

 

Considering the mess Bobby took over you can't knock the turnaround he made with the club, all that spoiled it was staying on that little bit too long when he should have moved upstairs or retired before Freddie sacked him too late and at a stupid time, leading us down the road to the mess we became.

 

If Big Sam managed to match Bobby in getting us to 3rd and 4th with in the prem as it is now he'd have done one hell of a job!!! I think we'd all take that down the line as can we really ever see us finishing higher than 3rd/4th, you'd hope it can be done but it will take a lot of time, money and luck to do that!

 

 

We weren't in that big a mess when he was sacked (as much as newspaper would like us to have been). A lot of it was down to FFS selling player and no freeing up cash. The whole brat pack thing was an issue, but then with the likes of Bellemy and Dyer it was always going to be (and Bowyer and Shambles).

 

I still suspect that the season Robson was sacked we might well have still got into Europe if he'd not been sacked (although it was pretty much time to move him upstairs IMO and perhaps the biggest issue was the growing rift between Robson and Shearer).

 

 

But Allerdyce has got to do a LOT to be a better manager then Robson at Newcastle and frankly its probably impossible for him to be a better manager than Robson over all, he's just not done enough at his age (not won in Europe nor the Premiership).

[Gemmill 44872]

Something which is making me chuckle is that those who are having a bit of a pop are attacking from two angles.

 

1) Our squad is reduced

2) Not enough money is available

 

The squad has been reduced because we've got rid of some of the dead wood (Bernard, Bramble, Srnicek, Sibierski, etc) who, if they were still here, would be ensuring that even less money was available.

 

We have a month to bring in new faces. and that's not taking into account the speed at which things move in the window towards the end of August. If we're still in the same position in a month's time then they've got some questions to answer.

 

There's too much panic and too much belief that we're going to do what we did under Shepherd. As has been said, we need to exercise some patience. We also need to remember that buying players isn't as simple as walking into the supermarket for your weekly shop!

 

See, I don't disagree with that, but you have to ask questions when you see the likes of Spurs and West Ham picking up players who would be better than what we've got. Are you saying that they're finding it easier to conduct transfers?

 

The lure of London is huge imo, so I reckon it is definitely easier for them than us. If you're a 20-something lad who is currently, or will very soon be a millionaire, you want to live in a swanky pad in London, not Darras Hall or the Quayside.

 

I should have said Man City

 

So basically, we're fucked until we get European football, which isn't looking too likely for a couple of years.

 

Not necessarily, but aye I think to an extent we probably are. If we can start looking like a club moving in the right direction though, that could make a difference. It's only a couple of months ago that the players did a lap of honour in front of a few thousand people, and we ditched the new manager after a year in the job. Players are bound to be wary of that.

 

If Allardyce can build a decent squad, and we can start winning games and looking like a club on the up, then I think we'll find things much easier this time next year, with or without Europe. The memories of us under Shepherd are still a bit fresh for some players, I suspect.

[Guest alex]

I stayed for the lap of honour like

[Gemmill 44872]

I stayed for the lap of honour like

 

But did you clap though? I was there for a bit of it, just to see how embarrassing it could get.

[Shearergol 0]

Something which is making me chuckle is that those who are having a bit of a pop are attacking from two angles.

 

1) Our squad is reduced

2) Not enough money is available

 

The squad has been reduced because we've got rid of some of the dead wood (Bernard, Bramble, Srnicek, Sibierski, etc) who, if they were still here, would be ensuring that even less money was available.

 

We have a month to bring in new faces. and that's not taking into account the speed at which things move in the window towards the end of August. If we're still in the same position in a month's time then they've got some questions to answer.

 

There's too much panic and too much belief that we're going to do what we did under Shepherd. As has been said, we need to exercise some patience. We also need to remember that buying players isn't as simple as walking into the supermarket for your weekly shop!

 

See, I don't disagree with that, but you have to ask questions when you see the likes of Spurs and West Ham picking up players who would be better than what we've got. Are you saying that they're finding it easier to conduct transfers?

 

The lure of London is huge imo, so I reckon it is definitely easier for them than us. If you're a 20-something lad who is currently, or will very soon be a millionaire, you want to live in a swanky pad in London, not Darras Hall or the Quayside.

 

I should have said Man City

 

So basically, we're fucked until we get European football, which isn't looking too likely for a couple of years.

 

Man City are hardly pissing money down the drain though, are they?? We've bought more than them!

 

 

Are you sure??

 

£8.8m on Bianchi, £4.7m on Petrov, Fernandez for a few million, Geovanni on a free and then this new lad today (Bojinov) for £5.7m

 

That's getting on for £25m depending on how much the Fernandez transfer was.

[Fop 1]

Something which is making me chuckle is that those who are having a bit of a pop are attacking from two angles.

 

1) Our squad is reduced

2) Not enough money is available

 

The squad has been reduced because we've got rid of some of the dead wood (Bernard, Bramble, Srnicek, Sibierski, etc) who, if they were still here, would be ensuring that even less money was available.

 

We have a month to bring in new faces. and that's not taking into account the speed at which things move in the window towards the end of August. If we're still in the same position in a month's time then they've got some questions to answer.

 

There's too much panic and too much belief that we're going to do what we did under Shepherd. As has been said, we need to exercise some patience. We also need to remember that buying players isn't as simple as walking into the supermarket for your weekly shop!

 

See, I don't disagree with that, but you have to ask questions when you see the likes of Spurs and West Ham picking up players who would be better than what we've got. Are you saying that they're finding it easier to conduct transfers?

 

London.

 

Dunno why myself, but Dyer types seem to like the place.

 

 

Man U and Liverpool only managed it because of the pedigree really.

 

We've always struggled with this issue, it's not just a this season thing, although the likes of West Ham and Spurs splashing cash for average players hasn't helped much either.

[Guest alex]

I stayed for the lap of honour like

 

But did you clap though? I was there for a bit of it, just to see how embarrassing it could get.

Aye, ask Adam I think I said at the time I stayed and I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I wasn't going to boo or owt but in the end I did clap although I'm not sure why in all honesty. Most people did. There were a few boos though. Bit of a sorry state of affairs the whole thing though. The players were pretty sheepish.

[ewerk 30610]

The squad has been reduced because we've got rid of some of the dead wood (Bernard, Bramble, Srnicek, Sibierski, etc) who, if they were still here, would be ensuring that even less money was available.

 

None of whom were likely to have been on huge wages, 50k pw max in total I'd guess.

 

Even assuming that's right (and I reckon it's a bit more than that), that's a £2.5m saving per year. For a company with a turnover of around £90m (from memory), that's a huge saving. Especially when you look at how marginal our profits/losses are.

 

That's not the point anyway though, the point is that we were paying knackers that were shit at their job, and now we aren't.

 

In business terms perhaps it is but in footballing terms it only frees up wages for one good player, I'd say Barton's wages would likely be somewhere in that area.

[Fop 1]

Something which is making me chuckle is that those who are having a bit of a pop are attacking from two angles.

 

1) Our squad is reduced

2) Not enough money is available

 

The squad has been reduced because we've got rid of some of the dead wood (Bernard, Bramble, Srnicek, Sibierski, etc) who, if they were still here, would be ensuring that even less money was available.

 

We have a month to bring in new faces. and that's not taking into account the speed at which things move in the window towards the end of August. If we're still in the same position in a month's time then they've got some questions to answer.

 

There's too much panic and too much belief that we're going to do what we did under Shepherd. As has been said, we need to exercise some patience. We also need to remember that buying players isn't as simple as walking into the supermarket for your weekly shop!

 

See, I don't disagree with that, but you have to ask questions when you see the likes of Spurs and West Ham picking up players who would be better than what we've got. Are you saying that they're finding it easier to conduct transfers?

 

The lure of London is huge imo, so I reckon it is definitely easier for them than us. If you're a 20-something lad who is currently, or will very soon be a millionaire, you want to live in a swanky pad in London, not Darras Hall or the Quayside.

 

I should have said Man City

 

So basically, we're fucked until we get European football, which isn't looking too likely for a couple of years.

 

Not necessarily, but aye I think to an extent we probably are. If we can start looking like a club moving in the right direction though, that could make a difference. It's only a couple of months ago that the players did a lap of honour in front of a few thousand people, and we ditched the new manager after a year in the job. Players are bound to be wary of that.

 

If Allardyce can build a decent squad, and we can start winning games and looking like a club on the up, then I think we'll find things much easier this time next year, with or without Europe. The memories of us under Shepherd are still a bit fresh for some players, I suspect.

 

 

Will Allardyce get years to build a squad though?

 

Or will the new owners get impatient and get rid of him or indeed the club before then?

 

 

 

 

Early this summer it was looking like we might get enough for a full decent rebuild, enough to get us into the lower European slots maybe.

But now (in squad strength) if we have median injuries of our last 10 years (never mind like last year) we are really going to struggle, even if Allardyce does pull off tactical masterstrokes with each match.

[Guest alex]

I can't work it out, are the new owners impatient or too cautious?

[ewerk 30610]

Will Allardyce get years to build a squad though?

 

Or will the new owners get impatient and get rid of him or indeed the club before then?

 

Judging by the lack of money seemingly available until this review is complete I think the Ashley and Mort are looking at the club long term and don't look like being rushed into making any panic movements.

[Ken 119]

I agree with Gemmil. Thanks to you I've saved myself from typing a load of words.

 

P A T I E N C E !

 

...and don't expect a miracle. An above average result maybe...but not a miracle.

[Fop 1]

Will Allardyce get years to build a squad though?

 

Or will the new owners get impatient and get rid of him or indeed the club before then?

 

Judging by the lack of money seemingly available until this review is complete I think the Ashley and Mort are looking at the club long term and don't look like being rushed into making any panic movements.

 

Aye maybe, but if that is the case will they still be after say another year without Europe and a highish Premiership finish (pessimistic hat on) and the "loss" of cash from that situation.

 

 

From what's been said it doesn't even seem like the backroom staff revolution is really well on it's way yet.

[Papa Lazaru 0]

I reckon we'll improve over last year like, purely because we now have a top class manager. I don't think we'll break into the top 6 yet though, but I'm happy to wait as long as there is some improvement.

 

If we have as many injuries (or as many man-hours lost though injury) this season as last season we'll be dancing on the relegation zone.

We've probably got a stronger first 11, but if anything we're weaker this season in squad strength.

 

Allerdyce seems to be shitting himself somewhat over this (rightly), but I'm not sure the Shop Managers in charge really are (perhaps thinking it saves costs).

 

I saw him last night and he gave no impression of being concerned actually. I found him to be incredibly reassuring after the last crettin we had in charge. Already we are playing better as a team from the evidence I have seen from the friendlies.

I agree with you, but the team also played better under Roeder at first.

 

 

That aside, I think Allardyce is the best manager we've had since Keegan to be honest. While I had great affection for Robson, he was no longer at the peak of his powers.

 

That's true, but it's also a bit harsh on Robson considering his overall finishes for us (and that FFS meddled at critical points).

 

For all that Allerdyce has done at Bolton his CV and record is nothing compared to Robson's (as yet... and possibly ever).

 

Considering the mess Bobby took over you can't knock the turnaround he made with the club, all that spoiled it was staying on that little bit too long when he should have moved upstairs or retired before Freddie sacked him too late and at a stupid time, leading us down the road to the mess we became.

 

If Big Sam managed to match Bobby in getting us to 3rd and 4th with in the prem as it is now he'd have done one hell of a job!!! I think we'd all take that down the line as can we really ever see us finishing higher than 3rd/4th, you'd hope it can be done but it will take a lot of time, money and luck to do that!

 

 

We weren't in that big a mess when he was sacked (as much as newspaper would like us to have been). A lot of it was down to FFS selling player and no freeing up cash. The whole brat pack thing was an issue, but then with the likes of Bellemy and Dyer it was always going to be (and Bowyer and Shambles).

 

I still suspect that the season Robson was sacked we might well have still got into Europe if he'd not been sacked (although it was pretty much time to move him upstairs IMO and perhaps the biggest issue was the growing rift between Robson and Shearer).

 

 

But Allerdyce has got to do a LOT to be a better manager then Robson at Newcastle and frankly its probably impossible for him to be a better manager than Robson over all, he's just not done enough at his age (not won in Europe nor the Premiership).

 

I agree, i actually meant that after he went we got Souness and Roeder combined with Fat Fred leading us into the mess we became. I think Bobby had stayed on too long, but christ i'd have taken him over Souness like a shot, if we'd known that's what was going to happen!

[Guest alex]

I'd have taken him over Souness without knowing what was going to happen. Without a doubt.