Things are looking up!

[Guest alex]

I hate to piss on anyone's bonfire but the only reason things look up right now is because of the absolute shitness of the league we're in. Our team would get slaughtered by the relegation candidates of the Prem, next season will be a shit one unless Ashley fucks off - enjoy our predicament while you can.

 

 

I dont disagree about the shiteness of the league, and I dont think the team is anything special, and I think Ashley is a cunt, but I dont think the team is any worse than last seasons bunch of shite - and they only got relegated because they really tried hard to. I think the current bunch might just be able to eke out enough points to stay up. The are probably better than Burnley and on a level with Bolton/Blackburn/Wolves /Portsmouth and certainly no worse tahn the other two teams who get promotion.

 

We might stay up we might not, we will probably end up up yoyoing (?) between the prem and the championship with stupidly big crowds and Ashley pocketing a fortune. I almost hope we dont go up

 

 

Crowd: 45,525

 

see what I mean

Lot of season ticket holders and a lot on the 3 year scheme. Should we be poor next season, with a lack of ambition/evidence of trying to make forward progress (and especially if we go down, assuming we go up of course) and I think there'd be a significant fall in attendances. I think they'd still be decent like.

[Rob W 0]

"Hughton is the man that needs replacing once we go up and you will see a difference"

 

aye we'll be back to "mates of of the owner", meeja frenzy, disaffected players

 

I mean we HAVE to get rid of Hughton don't we - he's been a success......................

[Guest alex]

Using that 'logic' we don't need to replace any of the players.

[sandman02uk 0]

Using that 'logic' we don't need to replace any of the players.

 

Lets not kick the ass out it eh

[TheMoog 0]

I hate to piss on anyone's bonfire but the only reason things look up right now is because of the absolute shitness of the league we're in. Our team would get slaughtered by the relegation candidates of the Prem, next season will be a shit one unless Ashley fucks off - enjoy our predicament while you can.

 

 

I dont disagree about the shiteness of the league, and I dont think the team is anything special, and I think Ashley is a cunt, but I dont think the team is any worse than last seasons bunch of shite - and they only got relegated because they really tried hard to. I think the current bunch might just be able to eke out enough points to stay up. The are probably better than Burnley and on a level with Bolton/Blackburn/Wolves /Portsmouth and certainly no worse tahn the other two teams who get promotion.

 

We might stay up we might not, we will probably end up up yoyoing (?) between the prem and the championship with stupidly big crowds and Ashley pocketing a fortune. I almost hope we dont go up

 

 

Crowd: 45,525

 

see what I mean

Lot of season ticket holders and a lot on the 3 year scheme. Should we be poor next season, with a lack of ambition/evidence of trying to make forward progress (and especially if we go down, assuming we go up of course) and I think there'd be a significant fall in attendances. I think they'd still be decent like.

 

Is a very good point, when the 3 year deal runs out don't expect people to flock to matches when they have a choice in what they've paid for.

 

What guts me most is that we have to look up and aspire to being as good as teams like villa, Everton and Spurs... I mean granted Spurs are probably the biggest of the three but I still don't see the other two as anything special as actual clubs, it feels shite to have bow down to them, they're nothing clubs (Stevie would be proud of me saying that )

[Guest Insider]

Id agree. the current side would get taken apart by most premiership teams. I mean come on, we struggle against most top championship sides.

 

Hughton is the man that needs replacing once we go up and you will see a difference.

 

Only Carroll and Routledge havent had REGULAR PL or top league experience out of our 1st team tbh.

 

 

You can have regular premiership football and still not be good enough.

[accadacca 0]

66points from 32 games. Realistically, 92 points should see us through. 26points from 14games!

 

Most of the deadwood at the club has been rid. Looking through the squad list, only the likes of Pancrate, Butt and Ameobi (perhaps not even Ameobi) may need to go.

 

What about financially? How are we doing? I am still a bit clueless. However, I think we are near debt free.

 

Ashley may well sell as soon as we are back-up. I know this may be worse that it already is (like Pompey) but hopefully we will get a reliable and good owner in.

 

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/spor...N-TO-TOON.html

[JawD 99]

I hate to piss on anyone's bonfire but the only reason things look up right now is because of the absolute shitness of the league we're in. Our team would get slaughtered by the relegation candidates of the Prem, next season will be a shit one unless Ashley fucks off - enjoy our predicament while you can.

 

 

I dont disagree about the shiteness of the league, and I dont think the team is anything special, and I think Ashley is a cunt, but I dont think the team is any worse than last seasons bunch of shite - and they only got relegated because they really tried hard to. I think the current bunch might just be able to eke out enough points to stay up. The are probably better than Burnley and on a level with Bolton/Blackburn/Wolves /Portsmouth and certainly no worse tahn the other two teams who get promotion.

 

We might stay up we might not, we will probably end up up yoyoing (?) between the prem and the championship with stupidly big crowds and Ashley pocketing a fortune. I almost hope we dont go up

 

 

Crowd: 45,525

 

see what I mean

Lot of season ticket holders and a lot on the 3 year scheme. Should we be poor next season, with a lack of ambition/evidence of trying to make forward progress (and especially if we go down, assuming we go up of course) and I think there'd be a significant fall in attendances. I think they'd still be decent like.

 

Is a very good point, when the 3 year deal runs out don't expect people to flock to matches when they have a choice in what they've paid for.

 

What guts me most is that we have to look up and aspire to being as good as teams like villa, Everton and Spurs... I mean granted Spurs are probably the biggest of the three but I still don't see the other two as anything special as actual clubs, it feels shite to have bow down to them, they're nothing clubs (Stevie would be proud of me saying that )

 

This is what a couple of us were saying yesterday. I wonder how many out of the crowd are on the 3 year ticket? I then wonder how many of those, once it is up at the end of next season will renew?

 

Im one of them, and Im seriously weighing my commitments. Two kids now and its getting harder to justify going to the game. More so when some twat is having my eyes out for the pleasure.

[Guest alex]

Using that 'logic' we don't need to replace any of the players.

 

Lets not kick the ass out it eh

I don't even know what that means tbh.

[TheMoog 0]

66points from 32 games. Realistically, 92 points should see us through. 26points from 14games!

 

Most of the deadwood at the club has been rid. Looking through the squad list, only the likes of Pancrate, Butt and Ameobi (perhaps not even Ameobi) may need to go.

 

What about financially? How are we doing? I am still a bit clueless. However, I think we are near debt free.

 

Ashley may well sell as soon as we are back-up. I know this may be worse that it already is (like Pompey) but hopefully we will get a reliable and good owner in.

 

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/spor...N-TO-TOON.html

 

Doesn't work Acca.

[Park Life 71]

Always be maximising, the minute you stop swimming you drown...Or summink....

[David Kelly 1260]

Whilst I don't think we are any great shakes at all (especially in the centre of midfield), I disagree with those saying we'd get pissed on with this team if we went up. I you look at a lot of the teams who have been promoted recently (the likes of Hull, Burnley and Wolves), they are centainly no better than us. Admittedly they are wank and fighting against relegation but I think we have enough in the team even as we currently are to possibly stay up.

Granted that isn't exactly and exciting prospect especially given that the fat fuck is likely to sell our better players in a heartbeat if he stays.

[ewerk 31203]

66points from 32 games. Realistically, 92 points should see us through. 26points from 14games!

 

Most of the deadwood at the club has been rid. Looking through the squad list, only the likes of Pancrate, Butt and Ameobi (perhaps not even Ameobi) may need to go.

 

What about financially? How are we doing? I am still a bit clueless. However, I think we are near debt free.

 

Ashley may well sell as soon as we are back-up. I know this may be worse that it already is (like Pompey) but hopefully we will get a reliable and good owner in.

 

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/spor...N-TO-TOON.html

 

Doesn't work Acca.

 

ASHLEY MADE EMERGENCY LOAN TO TOON

Newcastle still in deep financial trouble

 

 

By Martin Hardy, 20/02/2010

 

MIKE ASHLEY had to make an emergency £25million loan in December to keep Newcastle going.

 

Sport of the World has learned the Toon owner arranged the interest-free deal to meet player wages and the general running costs of the Championship leaders.

 

 

It further highlights the precarious nature of the club's financial situation despite a campaign that has seen them largely lead the Championship.

 

 

It also increases the need for an immediate return to the Premier League with revenue streams having been slashed in the wake of relegation.

 

 

Newcastle's wage bill remains around £40million despite a huge cull of personnel in the summer.

 

 

Turnover has dropped to around £50million and the hush-hush refinancing deal enabled the club to not only secure its short-term future but also strengthen their squad with four permanent signings and two loan deals arriving in January.

 

 

However the loan has effectively been offset against Newcastle's second and final parachute payment from the Premier League and the outstanding deferred fees to be paid on the outgoing transfers that took place in the summer.

 

 

That means the £11million parachute payment that will arrive in August has already been spent, as has a sum believed to be around £9million that was owed from the sales of Obafemi Martins, Damien Duff and Sebastien Bassong.

 

 

"Mike did not want people to know about the loan he put into the club in December," said a club source.

 

 

"If he had not done that, who knows what could have happened? The only other possible option would have been to have arranged an outside finance deal and the interest rate for that would have been around 20 per cent, which means you've lost another £5million straight away.

 

 

"Mike has committed more money to the club. It is a secured loan, interest free and it had to be done.

 

 

"There is a shortfall of around £50million because of relegation. The club had to bring some payments forward. That is not unusual.

 

 

"Doing this was the only way the club could operate. All the previous sponsorship money had been spent on the Michael Owen deal before Mike Ashley even bought the club.

 

 

"That deal alone has cost Newcastle £44million. The TV money went with relegation, the retail income has gone, the commercial income has been cut. The money has to come from somewhere and that is why there had to be an injection of £25 million at the end of last year.

 

 

Despite crowds staying around the 40,000 mark, turnstile income has dropped to £14million and hospitality has similarly been more than halved to around £3million.

 

 

An immediate return to the Premier League would bank the club around £40million in television revenue alone.

[snakehips 0]

66points from 32 games. Realistically, 92 points should see us through. 26points from 14games!

 

Most of the deadwood at the club has been rid. Looking through the squad list, only the likes of Pancrate, Butt and Ameobi (perhaps not even Ameobi) may need to go.

 

What about financially? How are we doing? I am still a bit clueless. However, I think we are near debt free.

 

Ashley may well sell as soon as we are back-up. I know this may be worse that it already is (like Pompey) but hopefully we will get a reliable and good owner in.

 

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/spor...N-TO-TOON.html

 

Doesn't work Acca.

 

ASHLEY MADE EMERGENCY LOAN TO TOON

Newcastle still in deep financial trouble

 

 

By Martin Hardy, 20/02/2010

 

MIKE ASHLEY had to make an emergency £25million loan in December to keep Newcastle going.

 

Sport of the World has learned the Toon owner arranged the interest-free deal to meet player wages and the general running costs of the Championship leaders.

 

 

It further highlights the precarious nature of the club's financial situation despite a campaign that has seen them largely lead the Championship.

 

 

It also increases the need for an immediate return to the Premier League with revenue streams having been slashed in the wake of relegation.

 

 

Newcastle's wage bill remains around £40million despite a huge cull of personnel in the summer.

 

 

Turnover has dropped to around £50million and the hush-hush refinancing deal enabled the club to not only secure its short-term future but also strengthen their squad with four permanent signings and two loan deals arriving in January.

 

 

However the loan has effectively been offset against Newcastle's second and final parachute payment from the Premier League and the outstanding deferred fees to be paid on the outgoing transfers that took place in the summer.

 

 

That means the £11million parachute payment that will arrive in August has already been spent, as has a sum believed to be around £9million that was owed from the sales of Obafemi Martins, Damien Duff and Sebastien Bassong.

 

 

"Mike did not want people to know about the loan he put into the club in December," said a club source.

 

 

"If he had not done that, who knows what could have happened? The only other possible option would have been to have arranged an outside finance deal and the interest rate for that would have been around 20 per cent, which means you've lost another £5million straight away.

 

 

"Mike has committed more money to the club. It is a secured loan, interest free and it had to be done.

 

 

"There is a shortfall of around £50million because of relegation. The club had to bring some payments forward. That is not unusual.

 

 

"Doing this was the only way the club could operate. All the previous sponsorship money had been spent on the Michael Owen deal before Mike Ashley even bought the club.

 

 

"That deal alone has cost Newcastle £44million. The TV money went with relegation, the retail income has gone, the commercial income has been cut. The money has to come from somewhere and that is why there had to be an injection of £25 million at the end of last year.

 

 

Despite crowds staying around the 40,000 mark, turnstile income has dropped to £14million and hospitality has similarly been more than halved to around £3million.

 

 

An immediate return to the Premier League would bank the club around £40million in television revenue alone.

 

Dekka L's comments, I presume. I wonder if he spits or swallows.

 

No doubt there will be another hush-hush emergency loan revealed for Jan - not to mention LardAsh's benevolence in the transfer dealings (as a treat to the supporters or some shite) come March time. And April. And May.

[Matt 0]

"If he had not done that, who knows what could have happened? The only other possible option would have been to have arranged an outside finance deal and the interest rate for that would have been around 20 per cent, which means you've lost another £5million straight away.

 

Twenty percent? Did they get that from Wonga.com?

[Sonatine 11542]

Funny how it's just the NotW that mentions Fat Mikes (many) emergency loans.....

[Park Life 71]

It's pointless getting drawn into all this shit. Just look at the sun rising in the morning and have a nice coffee and Marlboro light.

[Craig 6700]

we will return to europe, we will once again sign quality players

 

Can I have a wrap of whatever you've been snorting?? In the real world, Ashley is never going to properly invest in NUFC. Theonly reward of football club ownership is public profile - no-one has ever made money out of the business, they've amassed their fortunes already.

 

Almost 3 years on it's crystal clear that Mike Ashley has still to grab that concept.

[JawD 99]

Recent articles suggested that Mike will not buy players earning >£15K are >26yr old and must have a sell on clause.

 

So basically we'll be a selling club lining his pockets.

 

Hardly the makings of a club that aspires to be in europe.

[peasepud 59]

Id agree. the current side would get taken apart by most premiership teams. I mean come on, we struggle against most top championship sides.

 

Hughton is the man that needs replacing once we go up and you will see a difference.

 

Only Carroll and Routledge havent had REGULAR PL or top league experience out of our 1st team tbh.

 

 

Routledge played a full season for crystal palace in the prem in 2005 i believe. was really good aswell for them as i recall.

 

I thought that but wasnt sure, that and how much he played for spurs.

 

Only backs my point that our 1st team by majority has the basis for a good PL team. Of course we neeed quality additions though.

 

By good i mean lower mid-table.

 

Top 4 = Brilliant

5-8 = Very good

9-12 = Good

13-16 = Decent

17-20 = Poor

 

Just my opinion...that team + GOOD manager + Financial backing = Good team Just my opinion

 

 

agree with all of your sentiments but tbf Routledge broke his foot(?) in his 1st pre season for spurs and that set him back big time. added to that you had the emergence of Aaron Lennon who was on fire that season. not saying he's a brilliant player (Routledge) but i reckon he's a low to mid prem level player easily which is pretty much the best we can hope for atm.

 

 

I really don't like bursting the bubble of those who have accepted lower standards but you are quite right.

 

Leazes mate i dont think ANYONE has accepted "lower standards" as you put it.

 

This thread proves people have.

[sandman02uk 0]

Whilst I don't think we are any great shakes at all (especially in the centre of midfield), I disagree with those saying we'd get pissed on with this team if we went up. I you look at a lot of the teams who have been promoted recently (the likes of Hull, Burnley and Wolves), they are centainly no better than us. Admittedly they are wank and fighting against relegation but I think we have enough in the team even as we currently are to possibly stay up.

Granted that isn't exactly and exciting prospect especially given that the fat fuck is likely to sell our better players in a heartbeat if he stays.

 

I disagree, the team that got relegated was a better side than the one we have currently

[sandman02uk 0]

we will return to europe, we will once again sign quality players

 

Can I have a wrap of whatever you've been snorting?? In the real world, Ashley is never going to properly invest in NUFC. Theonly reward of football club ownership is public profile - no-one has ever made money out of the business, they've amassed their fortunes already.

 

Almost 3 years on it's crystal clear that Mike Ashley has still to grab that concept.

 

I reckon mike can make money from us, 45k supporters every other week, parachute payments (if we yo yo), TV money, not a bad revenue stream when you consider we only go for loans and young, cheap players on little wages

[Deano 0]

we will return to europe, we will once again sign quality players

 

Can I have a wrap of whatever you've been snorting?? In the real world, Ashley is never going to properly invest in NUFC. Theonly reward of football club ownership is public profile - no-one has ever made money out of the business, they've amassed their fortunes already.

 

Almost 3 years on it's crystal clear that Mike Ashley has still to grab that concept.

 

I wrap of patience and optimism maybe? Sure mate its free.

 

I dont think we will reach those heights with FMA unstairs NO but if we are sold in the summer following promotion then i can see us getting back on track to once again being a top side in the PL and europe but like i said...its a long long long way away.

 

NUFC has not died, and for sure NUFC wil NOT settle for being a CCC team nor a mid-table PL team for that matter.

 

It will happen....in time.

[The Fish 10965]

Whilst I don't think we are any great shakes at all (especially in the centre of midfield), I disagree with those saying we'd get pissed on with this team if we went up. I you look at a lot of the teams who have been promoted recently (the likes of Hull, Burnley and Wolves), they are centainly no better than us. Admittedly they are wank and fighting against relegation but I think we have enough in the team even as we currently are to possibly stay up.

Granted that isn't exactly and exciting prospect especially given that the fat fuck is likely to sell our better players in a heartbeat if he stays.

 

I disagree, the team that got relegated was a better side than the one we have currently

 

I think we had better players, but I think that this a better "team"

 

Certainly the back four are performing with more understanding of eachother and resolve. I think the purchase of a reliable striker is imperative, as is a mobile central midfielder who has a little guile in addition to graft. Both of these will cost money, money we don't have, so I'm very worried about next season.

[Deano 0]

Whilst I don't think we are any great shakes at all (especially in the centre of midfield), I disagree with those saying we'd get pissed on with this team if we went up. I you look at a lot of the teams who have been promoted recently (the likes of Hull, Burnley and Wolves), they are centainly no better than us. Admittedly they are wank and fighting against relegation but I think we have enough in the team even as we currently are to possibly stay up.

Granted that isn't exactly and exciting prospect especially given that the fat fuck is likely to sell our better players in a heartbeat if he stays.

 

I disagree, the team that got relegated was a better side than the one we have currently

 

I think we had better players, but I think that this a better "team"

 

Certainly the back four are performing with more understanding of eachother and resolve. I think the purchase of a reliable striker is imperative, as is a mobile central midfielder who has a little guile in addition to graft. Both of these will cost money, money we don't have, so I'm very worried about next season.

 

How much do you honestly think FMA will spend when we go up? Id say about 20mil...but really we need twice that much.

 

A quality striker and creative midfielder are both going to cost at least 8mil each.