The slippery slope

[ChezGiven 0]

I called Ashley out on NO in the months following his takeover, only me and Leazes were in agreement. PR, buying pints etc, i said it looked shifty.

 

Since relegation untill the last day of this summer, i cant really fault him apart from Hughton and i can see why he did that now.

 

Back in the bad books but the team's performance this season is the only metric that counts now. I'd draw a very strong comparisons between the fear of selling Tiote in January and the hope they will sign a striker. Both could happen.

[Happy Face 29]

Also, re: the notion of the Carroll money off-setting relegation which cost 20-odd million. What happened to the fees received for Bassong, Martins, Duff etc.?

 

The way Chez has always put it, the £35m covers the £16m and £17m losses from the relegation and championship seasons. Those losses were reported AFTER player trading, so it's all in there.

 

Having said that...Llambias never stopped going on about the millions being pumped into the club at the time by Ashley to cover those losses...so it can't work both ways.

[Happy Face 29]

I called Ashley out on NO in the months following his takeover, only me and Leazes were in agreement. PR, buying pints etc, i said it looked shifty.

 

Since relegation untill the last day of this summer, i cant really fault him apart from Hughton and i can see why he did that now.

 

Back in the bad books but the team's performance this season is the only metric that counts now. I'd draw a very strong comparisons between the fear of selling Tiote in January and the hope they will sign a striker. Both could happen.

 

So you didn't like what he was doing in season 1...but feel he's got better in the last 2 years?

 

 

Righty O

[ChezGiven 0]

Also, re: the notion of the Carroll money off-setting relegation which cost 20-odd million. What happened to the fees received for Bassong, Martins, Duff etc.?

I'd have to look at the accounts again but the club lost £34.2m over 2 seasons, that loss calculation may already include the sales of these players. Might not do though. Whichever way you look at it though, there should have been money from this season on top of that even if the loss takes account of player sales i.e. even in the worst case scenario we had at least £10m net to spend this summer.

[Dr Gloom 22185]

I called Ashley out on NO in the months following his takeover, only me and Leazes were in agreement. PR, buying pints etc, i said it looked shifty.

 

Since relegation untill the last day of this summer, i cant really fault him apart from Hughton and i can see why he did that now.

 

Back in the bad books but the team's performance this season is the only metric that counts now. I'd draw a very strong comparisons between the fear of selling Tiote in January and the hope they will sign a striker. Both could happen.

 

why do you reckon he sold hughton? my guess is he told him carroll was going to be sold and it was the first time hughton kicked off about anything. until then, he'd gone about things quietly but maybe thougth winning promotion and doing well in his first season int he premiership had bought him some bargaining power. ashley thought not so he sacks him and replaces him with a yes man.

 

all speculation like, but it can't have been because of results on the pitch, which had been excellent and way better than we were expecting.

[Kevin S. Assilleekunt 1]

Why do you think he sacked Hughton Chez? That was generally agreed to be one of the most unjustified sackings in recent PL history.

 

 

 

 

Shocking, end off.

[Happy Face 29]

I called Ashley out on NO in the months following his takeover, only me and Leazes were in agreement. PR, buying pints etc, i said it looked shifty.

 

Since relegation untill the last day of this summer, i cant really fault him apart from Hughton and i can see why he did that now.

 

Back in the bad books but the team's performance this season is the only metric that counts now. I'd draw a very strong comparisons between the fear of selling Tiote in January and the hope they will sign a striker. Both could happen.

 

why do you reckon he sold hughton? my guess is he told him carroll was going to be sold and it was the first time hughton kicked off about anything. until then, he'd gone about things quietly but maybe thougth winning promotion and doing well in his first season int he premiership had bought him some bargaining power. ashley thought not so he sacks him and replaces him with a yes man.

 

all speculation like, but it can't have been because of results on the pitch, which had been excellent and way better than we were expecting.

 

 

EVERY decision is looked at on the basis of cheapest option. No problem to Ashley having a disgruntled manager or fans.

 

Hughton was reported to be on the lowest salary in the league at 250k a year. He took it as a Championship manager, but was up for renewal and would have wanted at least 4 times that on a 5 year deal (Keggan and Allardyce were on 12 times as much).

 

Rather than give Hughton a £5m contract for 5 years, he gave Pardew a £2.5m contract over 5 years.

 

Half the price.

[ChezGiven 0]

I called Ashley out on NO in the months following his takeover, only me and Leazes were in agreement. PR, buying pints etc, i said it looked shifty.

 

Since relegation untill the last day of this summer, i cant really fault him apart from Hughton and i can see why he did that now.

 

Back in the bad books but the team's performance this season is the only metric that counts now. I'd draw a very strong comparisons between the fear of selling Tiote in January and the hope they will sign a striker. Both could happen.

 

So you didn't like what he was doing in season 1...but feel he's got better in the last 2 years?

 

 

Righty O

I said exactly the same things as Leazes after the takeover at the same time he said them.

 

He fucked everything up but managed to sort it out since then. What did he do wrong in the relegation season? Was 12th not good enough for you last season? Was £35m not a good price for Carroll? Did you not hope we would sign a striker before the end of the window gone? His strategy, outlook, tactical approach has completely changed but i should still judge everything he does through the prism of the KK / JFK debacles?

 

I was as optimistic as anyone in 07/08 but it was pretty obvious they were implementing a PR strategy and therefore whatever was said would need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Feel free to search my posts on NO, just reflecting what i said when i said it.

[Guest alex]

I called Ashley out on NO in the months following his takeover, only me and Leazes were in agreement. PR, buying pints etc, i said it looked shifty.

 

Since relegation untill the last day of this summer, i cant really fault him apart from Hughton and i can see why he did that now.

 

Back in the bad books but the team's performance this season is the only metric that counts now. I'd draw a very strong comparisons between the fear of selling Tiote in January and the hope they will sign a striker. Both could happen.

 

why do you reckon he sold hughton? my guess is he told him carroll was going to be sold and it was the first time hughton kicked off about anything. until then, he'd gone about things quietly but maybe thougth winning promotion and doing well in his first season int he premiership had bought him some bargaining power. ashley thought not so he sacks him and replaces him with a yes man.

 

all speculation like, but it can't have been because of results on the pitch, which had been excellent and way better than we were expecting.

He already had Pardew lined up imo. Someone on N-O mentioned it a canny while before it happened and he was meant to be in attendance at some Murder Mystery team building exercise organised by Dekka (before he got the job / Hughton was pushed). So they were just waiting for a bad run of results in my view. That statement about Hughton's job not being in jeopardy after the League Cup defeat by Arsenal as well. It seemed strange at the time and looks like another example of them lying in retrospect. They certainly don't do themselves any favours.

[LeazesMag 0]

His [Ashleys] intentions were obvious almost from day 1

 

Why did you not say owt then?

 

I did, almost from day 1. The ONLY time I slightly wavered, was when he appointed Keegan and I HOPED [aye, let my heart rule my head, unlike me] that he would back his manager, or rather, I hoped Keegan would bully him into showing some ambition like he did when the Halls and Shepherd initially took over the club.

 

 

I'll stand corrected if you can quote yourself stating his intentions at the time then.

 

As it is I've quoted you saying the opposite 7 months after the bloke arrived.

 

Hardly a temporary state of mind either cos in March you were still saying...

 

My money is on Keegan buying well and improving us quite a lot if Ashley backs him.

Everybody needs backing to have a chance.

 

Time will tell.

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...st&p=447707

 

Hardly pointing out the obvious 9 months in were you?

 

Credit where it's due though. As soon as the murmurings from Keegan started coming out towards the end of the season you started hammering Ashley at every opportunity. I (like Keegan) gave them the benefit of the doubt until Keegan walked in September, so you were a good four months ahead of the curve for me.

 

And PP has said similar I think.

 

No need to claim clairvoyance that you demonstrably didn't have though.

 

My money is on Keegan buying well and improving us quite a lot if Ashley backs him.

 

my thoughts and reservations are still there, in the bold ??

 

I'm not going to deny my own comments, like posters such as mancmag and Gloomy do, especially to you who are one of the best football posters on the board. It's just a shame some fuckers have their heads up their arse, like the 2 mentioned, and can't admit it, especially Gloomy, who does nowt but moan on about wanting and ambitious board, when he slated them when we had it - which I pointed out to him at the time too...

 

and he knows it, which is the REAL reason why he won't engage in comments and posts to/with me.

 

I'd call that cautiously optimistic rather than pointing out Ashley's obvious intentions from day one.

 

I'm sure no-one would disagree with that cautious optimism at the time or deny that you weren't 100% sure about him. But you're over egging the pudding with your "I knew from day one" claims.

 

I could equally say I was right from ay one when i said in the week of the buyout...

 

Ashley needs a stooge to take a fall if it all goes tits up.

 

First sign of trouble, Shepherd will be the scapegoat.

 

...but we didn't know anything....we were being cautious.

 

didn't take too long to find these.

 

whoever the fuck "Ted Maul" is... SKOL [a skunkers poster, haha]

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry216969

 

a few threads posting my views before the takeover

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry237285

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry273264

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry277899

 

and guess who

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry288727

 

i didn't post on here between march and november, this was the first on here expressing reservations about Ashley. Here are the first couple. I think that will do.

 

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry405975

 

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry407243

[Guest alex]

I called Ashley out on NO in the months following his takeover, only me and Leazes were in agreement. PR, buying pints etc, i said it looked shifty.

 

Since relegation untill the last day of this summer, i cant really fault him apart from Hughton and i can see why he did that now.

 

Back in the bad books but the team's performance this season is the only metric that counts now. I'd draw a very strong comparisons between the fear of selling Tiote in January and the hope they will sign a striker. Both could happen.

 

So you didn't like what he was doing in season 1...but feel he's got better in the last 2 years?

 

 

Righty O

I said exactly the same things as Leazes after the takeover at the same time he said them.

 

He fucked everything up but managed to sort it out since then. What did he do wrong in the relegation season? Was 12th not good enough for you last season? Was £35m not a good price for Carroll? Did you not hope we would sign a striker before the end of the window gone? His strategy, outlook, tactical approach has completely changed but i should still judge everything he does through the prism of the KK / JFK debacles? I was as optimistic as anyone in 07/08 but it was pretty obvious they were implementing a PR strategy and therefore whatever was said would need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Feel free to search my posts on NO, just reflecting what i said when i said it.

Well the constant stream of lies is a common theme between now and then.

[ChezGiven 0]

Why do you think he sacked Hughton Chez? That was generally agreed to be one of the most unjustified sackings in recent PL history.

 

He sold (has tried to sell) all the players that Hughton allowed to run the first team. His toy, his game, his money and fuck off if you think you're getting in the way. Horrible behaviour, one that prompted me to write to Richard Bevan (and i know Chris got the email) but thats his business. The Nolan / Barton episodes shows that Ashley wasnt going to tolerate Hughton's approach to man management as it removes control from the owner. A lesson he learned from KK.

Edited September 8, 2011 by ChezGiven

[Happy Face 29]

I called Ashley out on NO in the months following his takeover, only me and Leazes were in agreement. PR, buying pints etc, i said it looked shifty.

 

Since relegation untill the last day of this summer, i cant really fault him apart from Hughton and i can see why he did that now.

 

Back in the bad books but the team's performance this season is the only metric that counts now. I'd draw a very strong comparisons between the fear of selling Tiote in January and the hope they will sign a striker. Both could happen.

 

So you didn't like what he was doing in season 1...but feel he's got better in the last 2 years?

 

 

Righty O

I said exactly the same things as Leazes after the takeover at the same time he said them.

 

He fucked everything up but managed to sort it out since then. What did he do wrong in the relegation season? Was 12th not good enough for you last season? Was £35m not a good price for Carroll? Did you not hope we would sign a striker before the end of the window gone? His strategy, outlook, tactical approach has completely changed but i should still judge everything he does through the prism of the KK / JFK debacles?

 

I was as optimistic as anyone in 07/08 but it was pretty obvious they were implementing a PR strategy and therefore whatever was said would need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Feel free to search my posts on NO, just reflecting what i said when i said it.

 

Not disputing what you said or when.

 

Just find it surprising someone who's so insistent on making evidence based conclusions would not be happy with Ashley in year one (Bringing in Keegan and £10m on Coloccini has been the peak of his ambition) but more happy following relegation, despite the disappointing windows and sacking of Hughton.

[ChezGiven 0]

I called Ashley out on NO in the months following his takeover, only me and Leazes were in agreement. PR, buying pints etc, i said it looked shifty.

 

Since relegation untill the last day of this summer, i cant really fault him apart from Hughton and i can see why he did that now.

 

Back in the bad books but the team's performance this season is the only metric that counts now. I'd draw a very strong comparisons between the fear of selling Tiote in January and the hope they will sign a striker. Both could happen.

 

So you didn't like what he was doing in season 1...but feel he's got better in the last 2 years?

 

 

Righty O

I said exactly the same things as Leazes after the takeover at the same time he said them.

 

He fucked everything up but managed to sort it out since then. What did he do wrong in the relegation season? Was 12th not good enough for you last season? Was £35m not a good price for Carroll? Did you not hope we would sign a striker before the end of the window gone? His strategy, outlook, tactical approach has completely changed but i should still judge everything he does through the prism of the KK / JFK debacles? I was as optimistic as anyone in 07/08 but it was pretty obvious they were implementing a PR strategy and therefore whatever was said would need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Feel free to search my posts on NO, just reflecting what i said when i said it.

Well the constant stream of lies is a common theme between now and then.

Dishonesty and lying is a common theme of the modern world. PR companies, politicians, football clubs, football players, Bankers, journalists, big companies, small companies they all lie every day to protect their position.

[Kevin S. Assilleekunt 1]

The matrix is a lie

[ChezGiven 0]

I called Ashley out on NO in the months following his takeover, only me and Leazes were in agreement. PR, buying pints etc, i said it looked shifty.

 

Since relegation untill the last day of this summer, i cant really fault him apart from Hughton and i can see why he did that now.

 

Back in the bad books but the team's performance this season is the only metric that counts now. I'd draw a very strong comparisons between the fear of selling Tiote in January and the hope they will sign a striker. Both could happen.

 

So you didn't like what he was doing in season 1...but feel he's got better in the last 2 years?

 

 

Righty O

I said exactly the same things as Leazes after the takeover at the same time he said them.

 

He fucked everything up but managed to sort it out since then. What did he do wrong in the relegation season? Was 12th not good enough for you last season? Was £35m not a good price for Carroll? Did you not hope we would sign a striker before the end of the window gone? His strategy, outlook, tactical approach has completely changed but i should still judge everything he does through the prism of the KK / JFK debacles?

 

I was as optimistic as anyone in 07/08 but it was pretty obvious they were implementing a PR strategy and therefore whatever was said would need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Feel free to search my posts on NO, just reflecting what i said when i said it.

 

Not disputing what you said or when.

 

Just find it surprising someone who's so insistent on making evidence based conclusions would not be happy with Ashley in year one (Bringing in Keegan and £10m on Coloccini has been the peak of his ambition) but more happy following relegation, despite the disappointing windows and sacking of Hughton.

Try making an evidence based post then. I said i was cynical about his PR but optimistic about the future in his first season. I didnt say i was happy following relegation, i was making the point that his financial management and approach since then (£48m wage bill in the second tier is unprecendented globally) were the right things to do.

[Happy Face 29]

The matrix is a lie

 

Sometimes I doubt you're a 25 stone Hoochie Mama.

[Guest alex]

I called Ashley out on NO in the months following his takeover, only me and Leazes were in agreement. PR, buying pints etc, i said it looked shifty.

 

Since relegation untill the last day of this summer, i cant really fault him apart from Hughton and i can see why he did that now.

 

Back in the bad books but the team's performance this season is the only metric that counts now. I'd draw a very strong comparisons between the fear of selling Tiote in January and the hope they will sign a striker. Both could happen.

 

So you didn't like what he was doing in season 1...but feel he's got better in the last 2 years?

 

 

Righty O

I said exactly the same things as Leazes after the takeover at the same time he said them.

 

He fucked everything up but managed to sort it out since then. What did he do wrong in the relegation season? Was 12th not good enough for you last season? Was £35m not a good price for Carroll? Did you not hope we would sign a striker before the end of the window gone? His strategy, outlook, tactical approach has completely changed but i should still judge everything he does through the prism of the KK / JFK debacles? I was as optimistic as anyone in 07/08 but it was pretty obvious they were implementing a PR strategy and therefore whatever was said would need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Feel free to search my posts on NO, just reflecting what i said when i said it.

Well the constant stream of lies is a common theme between now and then.

Dishonesty and lying is a common theme of the modern world. PR companies, politicians, football clubs, football players, Bankers, journalists, big companies, small companies they all lie every day to protect their position.

Not sure if that's a defence of their position but, if it is, it's a weak one. The complete u-turn from the talk in the wake of the Carroll sale to the end of the most recent transfer window is possibly the most flagrant example of Ashley and Co. saying one thing to the fans and effectively proceeding to do the opposite. They're ripping the piss. I almost guarantee you'll be saying wait and see what happens come January as well.

[Happy Face 29]

I called Ashley out on NO in the months following his takeover, only me and Leazes were in agreement. PR, buying pints etc, i said it looked shifty.

 

Since relegation untill the last day of this summer, i cant really fault him apart from Hughton and i can see why he did that now.

 

Back in the bad books but the team's performance this season is the only metric that counts now. I'd draw a very strong comparisons between the fear of selling Tiote in January and the hope they will sign a striker. Both could happen.

 

So you didn't like what he was doing in season 1...but feel he's got better in the last 2 years?

 

 

Righty O

I said exactly the same things as Leazes after the takeover at the same time he said them.

 

He fucked everything up but managed to sort it out since then. What did he do wrong in the relegation season? Was 12th not good enough for you last season? Was £35m not a good price for Carroll? Did you not hope we would sign a striker before the end of the window gone? His strategy, outlook, tactical approach has completely changed but i should still judge everything he does through the prism of the KK / JFK debacles?

 

I was as optimistic as anyone in 07/08 but it was pretty obvious they were implementing a PR strategy and therefore whatever was said would need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Feel free to search my posts on NO, just reflecting what i said when i said it.

 

Not disputing what you said or when.

 

Just find it surprising someone who's so insistent on making evidence based conclusions would not be happy with Ashley in year one (Bringing in Keegan and £10m on Coloccini has been the peak of his ambition) but more happy following relegation, despite the disappointing windows and sacking of Hughton.

Try making an evidence based post then. I said i was cynical about his PR but optimistic about the future in his first season. I didnt say i was happy following relegation, i was making the point that his financial management and approach since then (£48m wage bill in the second tier is unprecendented globally) were the right things to do.

 

Seems to me the vast majority are and always have been pretty much on the same page in this regard, cautiously optimistic in 07/08. Disgusted by the entire relegation season and not particularly happy the last 2 years despite things settling somewhere better than many feared following that debacle.

[ChezGiven 0]

I called Ashley out on NO in the months following his takeover, only me and Leazes were in agreement. PR, buying pints etc, i said it looked shifty.

 

Since relegation untill the last day of this summer, i cant really fault him apart from Hughton and i can see why he did that now.

 

Back in the bad books but the team's performance this season is the only metric that counts now. I'd draw a very strong comparisons between the fear of selling Tiote in January and the hope they will sign a striker. Both could happen.

 

So you didn't like what he was doing in season 1...but feel he's got better in the last 2 years?

 

 

Righty O

I said exactly the same things as Leazes after the takeover at the same time he said them.

 

He fucked everything up but managed to sort it out since then. What did he do wrong in the relegation season? Was 12th not good enough for you last season? Was £35m not a good price for Carroll? Did you not hope we would sign a striker before the end of the window gone? His strategy, outlook, tactical approach has completely changed but i should still judge everything he does through the prism of the KK / JFK debacles? I was as optimistic as anyone in 07/08 but it was pretty obvious they were implementing a PR strategy and therefore whatever was said would need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Feel free to search my posts on NO, just reflecting what i said when i said it.

Well the constant stream of lies is a common theme between now and then.

Dishonesty and lying is a common theme of the modern world. PR companies, politicians, football clubs, football players, Bankers, journalists, big companies, small companies they all lie every day to protect their position.

Not sure if that's a defence of their position but, if it is, it's a weak one. The complete u-turn from the talk in the wake of the Carroll sale to the end of the most recent transfer window is possibly the most flagrant example of Ashley and Co. saying one thing to the fans and effectively proceeding to do the opposite. They're ripping the piss. I almost guarantee you'll be saying wait and see what happens come January as well.

Not a defence of anything, just an observation. We arent the only football fans lied to by their club.

 

I've already sort of said 'wait and see' too indirectly, more along the lines of lets see how we do on the pitch and that hoping we might buy someone then isnt much different to predicting we will sell Tiote.

[LeazesMag 0]

His [Ashleys] intentions were obvious almost from day 1

 

Why did you not say owt then?

 

I did, almost from day 1. The ONLY time I slightly wavered, was when he appointed Keegan and I HOPED [aye, let my heart rule my head, unlike me] that he would back his manager, or rather, I hoped Keegan would bully him into showing some ambition like he did when the Halls and Shepherd initially took over the club.

 

 

I'll stand corrected if you can quote yourself stating his intentions at the time then.

 

As it is I've quoted you saying the opposite 7 months after the bloke arrived.

 

Hardly a temporary state of mind either cos in March you were still saying...

 

My money is on Keegan buying well and improving us quite a lot if Ashley backs him.

Everybody needs backing to have a chance.

 

Time will tell.

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...st&p=447707

 

Hardly pointing out the obvious 9 months in were you?

 

Credit where it's due though. As soon as the murmurings from Keegan started coming out towards the end of the season you started hammering Ashley at every opportunity. I (like Keegan) gave them the benefit of the doubt until Keegan walked in September, so you were a good four months ahead of the curve for me.

 

And PP has said similar I think.

 

No need to claim clairvoyance that you demonstrably didn't have though.

 

My money is on Keegan buying well and improving us quite a lot if Ashley backs him.

 

my thoughts and reservations are still there, in the bold ??

 

I'm not going to deny my own comments, like posters such as mancmag and Gloomy do, especially to you who are one of the best football posters on the board. It's just a shame some fuckers have their heads up their arse, like the 2 mentioned, and can't admit it, especially Gloomy, who does nowt but moan on about wanting and ambitious board, when he slated them when we had it - which I pointed out to him at the time too...

 

and he knows it, which is the REAL reason why he won't engage in comments and posts to/with me.

 

I'd call that cautiously optimistic rather than pointing out Ashley's obvious intentions from day one.

 

I'm sure no-one would disagree with that cautious optimism at the time or deny that you weren't 100% sure about him. But you're over egging the pudding with your "I knew from day one" claims.

 

I could equally say I was right from ay one when i said in the week of the buyout...

 

Ashley needs a stooge to take a fall if it all goes tits up.

 

First sign of trouble, Shepherd will be the scapegoat.

 

...but we didn't know anything....we were being cautious.

 

didn't take too long to find these.

 

whoever the fuck "Ted Maul" is... SKOL [a skunkers poster, haha]

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry216969

 

a few threads posting my views before the takeover

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry237285

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry273264

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry277899

 

and guess who

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry288727

 

i didn't post on here between march and november, this was the first on here expressing reservations about Ashley. Here are the first couple. I think that will do.

 

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry405975

 

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry407243

 

Howay man HF, where's the apology

[ChezGiven 0]

I called Ashley out on NO in the months following his takeover, only me and Leazes were in agreement. PR, buying pints etc, i said it looked shifty.

 

Since relegation untill the last day of this summer, i cant really fault him apart from Hughton and i can see why he did that now.

 

Back in the bad books but the team's performance this season is the only metric that counts now. I'd draw a very strong comparisons between the fear of selling Tiote in January and the hope they will sign a striker. Both could happen.

 

So you didn't like what he was doing in season 1...but feel he's got better in the last 2 years?

 

 

Righty O

I said exactly the same things as Leazes after the takeover at the same time he said them.

 

He fucked everything up but managed to sort it out since then. What did he do wrong in the relegation season? Was 12th not good enough for you last season? Was £35m not a good price for Carroll? Did you not hope we would sign a striker before the end of the window gone? His strategy, outlook, tactical approach has completely changed but i should still judge everything he does through the prism of the KK / JFK debacles?

 

I was as optimistic as anyone in 07/08 but it was pretty obvious they were implementing a PR strategy and therefore whatever was said would need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Feel free to search my posts on NO, just reflecting what i said when i said it.

 

Not disputing what you said or when.

 

Just find it surprising someone who's so insistent on making evidence based conclusions would not be happy with Ashley in year one (Bringing in Keegan and £10m on Coloccini has been the peak of his ambition) but more happy following relegation, despite the disappointing windows and sacking of Hughton.

Try making an evidence based post then. I said i was cynical about his PR but optimistic about the future in his first season. I didnt say i was happy following relegation, i was making the point that his financial management and approach since then (£48m wage bill in the second tier is unprecendented globally) were the right things to do.

 

Seems to me the vast majority are and always have been pretty much on the same page in this regard, cautiously optimistic in 07/08. Disgusted by the entire relegation season and not particularly happy the last 2 years despite things settling somewhere better than many feared following that debacle.

 

I never said they werent but that post does make me wonder why i needed to clarify what i think to you.

[Happy Face 29]

didn't take too long to find these.

 

whoever the fuck "Ted Maul" is... SKOL [a skunkers poster, haha]

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry216969

 

a few threads posting my views before the takeover

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry237285

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry273264

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry277899

 

and guess who

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry288727

 

i didn't post on here between march and november, this was the first on here expressing reservations about Ashley. Here are the first couple. I think that will do.

 

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry405975

 

 

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry407243

 

Not quite sure what I'm to be picking out of all those, Only the penultimate one relating to Ashley I think. And that thread goes to show, even Fish was pretty much in agreement with you. PR stunts weren't fooling him (or anyone)...both saying wait and see.

[Guest alex]

I called Ashley out on NO in the months following his takeover, only me and Leazes were in agreement. PR, buying pints etc, i said it looked shifty.

 

Since relegation untill the last day of this summer, i cant really fault him apart from Hughton and i can see why he did that now.

 

Back in the bad books but the team's performance this season is the only metric that counts now. I'd draw a very strong comparisons between the fear of selling Tiote in January and the hope they will sign a striker. Both could happen.

 

So you didn't like what he was doing in season 1...but feel he's got better in the last 2 years?

 

 

Righty O

I said exactly the same things as Leazes after the takeover at the same time he said them.

 

He fucked everything up but managed to sort it out since then. What did he do wrong in the relegation season? Was 12th not good enough for you last season? Was £35m not a good price for Carroll? Did you not hope we would sign a striker before the end of the window gone? His strategy, outlook, tactical approach has completely changed but i should still judge everything he does through the prism of the KK / JFK debacles? I was as optimistic as anyone in 07/08 but it was pretty obvious they were implementing a PR strategy and therefore whatever was said would need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Feel free to search my posts on NO, just reflecting what i said when i said it.

Well the constant stream of lies is a common theme between now and then.

Dishonesty and lying is a common theme of the modern world. PR companies, politicians, football clubs, football players, Bankers, journalists, big companies, small companies they all lie every day to protect their position.

Not sure if that's a defence of their position but, if it is, it's a weak one. The complete u-turn from the talk in the wake of the Carroll sale to the end of the most recent transfer window is possibly the most flagrant example of Ashley and Co. saying one thing to the fans and effectively proceeding to do the opposite. They're ripping the piss. I almost guarantee you'll be saying wait and see what happens come January as well.

Not a defence of anything, just an observation. We arent the only football fans lied to by their club. I've already sort of said 'wait and see' too indirectly, more along the lines of lets see how we do on the pitch and that hoping we might buy someone then isnt much different to predicting we will sell Tiote.

Perhaps there are similar examples of fans being lied to as much as ours have been for the past four years or so but I'm struggling to think of any off the top of my head.

[ChezGiven 0]

I called Ashley out on NO in the months following his takeover, only me and Leazes were in agreement. PR, buying pints etc, i said it looked shifty.

 

Since relegation untill the last day of this summer, i cant really fault him apart from Hughton and i can see why he did that now.

 

Back in the bad books but the team's performance this season is the only metric that counts now. I'd draw a very strong comparisons between the fear of selling Tiote in January and the hope they will sign a striker. Both could happen.

 

So you didn't like what he was doing in season 1...but feel he's got better in the last 2 years?

 

 

Righty O

I said exactly the same things as Leazes after the takeover at the same time he said them.

 

He fucked everything up but managed to sort it out since then. What did he do wrong in the relegation season? Was 12th not good enough for you last season? Was £35m not a good price for Carroll? Did you not hope we would sign a striker before the end of the window gone? His strategy, outlook, tactical approach has completely changed but i should still judge everything he does through the prism of the KK / JFK debacles? I was as optimistic as anyone in 07/08 but it was pretty obvious they were implementing a PR strategy and therefore whatever was said would need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Feel free to search my posts on NO, just reflecting what i said when i said it.

Well the constant stream of lies is a common theme between now and then.

Dishonesty and lying is a common theme of the modern world. PR companies, politicians, football clubs, football players, Bankers, journalists, big companies, small companies they all lie every day to protect their position.

Not sure if that's a defence of their position but, if it is, it's a weak one. The complete u-turn from the talk in the wake of the Carroll sale to the end of the most recent transfer window is possibly the most flagrant example of Ashley and Co. saying one thing to the fans and effectively proceeding to do the opposite. They're ripping the piss. I almost guarantee you'll be saying wait and see what happens come January as well.

Not a defence of anything, just an observation. We arent the only football fans lied to by their club. I've already sort of said 'wait and see' too indirectly, more along the lines of lets see how we do on the pitch and that hoping we might buy someone then isnt much different to predicting we will sell Tiote.

Perhaps there are similar examples of fans being lied to as much as ours have been for the past four years or so but I'm struggling to think of any off the top of my head.

Well i dont follow other clubs that closely myself but i'd say Liverpool, Everton and Man U fans would make a case. Birmingham fans hate Yeung and Blackburn fans must be sick of Venkys talking shite too. Ken Bates and his refusal to disclose who owns the club? None probably as bad as us but we arent unique in that sense.