Mike Ashley -- Irrelevant Cunt

[Kitman 2207]

I guess if you value shares via a large multiple of profit, then he gets more money for his SD shares by giving it free advertising . I guess that makes sense if he has no intention of selling NUFC, the only downside being that hes making the 40% or so of other shareholders richer in the process.

[Tooj 17]

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/columnists/scottwilson/scottwilson/11742670._/?ref=mac

Wilson's World: The Communist Manifesto - or at least Newcastle United's version of it

STAGE MANAGED: Managing director Lee Charnley delivered a message this week that was reminiscent of those produced by communist regimes in the past

READING Lee Charnley’s message to the Geordie nation earlier this week, it was tempting to conjure up images of a communist apparatchik dutifully relaying a pre-agreed diktat on behalf of the supreme leader.

‘We know you’re not very happy with the way things are going, but we’ve got a five-year plan and we’re sticking to it. And, anyway, you’re just simple members of the proletariat, why on earth should we listen to you?’

‘I know some of you look at other, more decadent, regimes and wonder why we aren’t spending lavishly like they are? Well, we’re all about self-sufficiency here, and never mind that our ruling elite enjoy wealth beyond your comprehension’.

‘Yes, there was a rather unfortunate defection last month. But rest assured, it won’t happen again. Our next choice of head of state will definitely be toeing the line. We don’t much like dissent here, especially when it’s directed at the workings of the grand plan’.

It was all very stilted and stage managed, right down to the method of dissemination, which involved one hand-picked, compliant media organisation rather than a free invitation for discussion, which might have resulted in some open and unwanted debate.

All that was missing was the sight of tanks and rocket launchers being paraded down Barrack Road in front of a beaming Mike Ashley. Or maybe Alan Pardew turning up with an ice pick in his head.

The era of European dictatorship is clearly not dead, but if the Newcastle hierarchy are going to adopt communist-style methodology, perhaps they’d be advised to look at some of the reasons why the over-arching political doctrine ultimately failed. A few of them might well resonate with the fans who were the intended recipients of Charnley’s message.

One of the main reasons why communism collapsed is that it proved a catastrophically inflexible economic and political model. There’s nothing wrong with developing a long-term plan or strategy, but you have to be able to amend it to reflect changes in circumstance or the external environment in which you’re operating.

Communist regimes didn’t do that, sticking rigidly to policies that had already been seriously undermined by developing events. Newcastle’s leaders are doing similar, stubbornly refusing to change tack when circumstances dictate a shift in course.

Hence, we got Charnley’s pronouncement that there almost certainly wouldn’t be any investment into the playing squad this month because “the January window is not one we ever envisaged being particularly active in”.

So no matter that Steven Taylor’s absence until the end of the season means Newcastle will have to manage with just two centre-halves (Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson), both of whom are struggling for form, and a full-back (Paul Dummett) who is capable of deputising in one of the central positions.

Never mind that after failing to adequately strengthen their attacking positions in the summer, Newcastle find themselves with Ayoze Perez leading the line by himself with a 17-year-old (Adam Armstrong) who is still to score his first Premier League goal providing the main support. Signing someone this month wasn’t part of the plan, so it won’t be happening.

I criticised Sunderland for a lack of long-term planning in last week’s column, but at least their decision to recruit Jermain Defoe exhibits ambition and an acknowledgement of major failings that have become apparent in recent months. The response of the Newcastle hierarchy to a run of two wins from the last 12 matches is to bury their head in the sand and pretend that their cherished model remains infallible.

Another reason why communist regimes throughout Europe collapsed is that the populace grew tired of watching others become successful while their own standards of living remained unacceptably low. They knew how much money was washing around the regime’s coffers, yet they saw no tangible improvements because of it.

The annual Deloitte Money List was published yesterday and revealed that Newcastle United are the 19th richest club in the world. Their annual revenue, which is calculated for 2013-14, is £129.7m, with only six English clubs raking in more.

In the last 12 months, they have received around £20m for Yohan Cabaye and around £12m for Mathieu Debuchy, so why, you might well ask, does that financial strength not transfer across to success on the field?

Why is so little money reinvested into the squad in comparison to the likes of Southampton, Everton, West Ham United and even Stoke City, clubs whose annual income falls well short of their own?

Why is there such a paucity of ambition, especially in relation to the cup competitions, when other clubs manage to juggle assaults on a variety of fronts despite much more limited resources? If survival is the extent of a club’s ambition, how long will supporters be prepared to tolerate it?

Then there is the issue of expansionist ambitions. An accusation often levelled at former communist leaders is that they took their eye off the ball at home because they became fixated on what they could potentially achieve abroad.

One of the main disappointments about this week’s interview with Charnley is that he was not pushed further on Ashley’s ongoing interest in Rangers. His only comment on the subject was to refer to a previous statement in September, which stated that Ashley would not be selling Newcastle “at least until the end of next season”.

That’s fine, but there are still a host of unresolved questions about Ashley’s investment into Rangers, from the issue of whether UEFA would allow Newcastle and Rangers to take up a European place at the same time given his involvement in both clubs to the debate over which club will take primacy when it comes to making investment decisions.

If Ashley is preparing the groundwork for a possible sale in the second half of 2016, does that mean Newcastle will effectively be treading water between now and then? And if he continues to increase his influence at Ibrox, does that mean his input into issues at St James’ Park will decrease accordingly?

Some big questions relating to the future of Newcastle United, but sadly an absence of answers. Glasnost, in Communist days, was a policy calling for increased transparency and openness. Whatever his intentions were, Charnley’s attempt to reach out this week fell a fair way short of that.

[ewerk 30765]

Ah, that reminds me of the 'Five Year Plan'. They were half right in that we have managed to emulate Villa quite successfully.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/4580758/Newcastle-United-have-five-year-plan-to-emulate-Aston-Villa.html

[ewerk 30765]

At least it's getting some national attention now.

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/lee-charnley-ripping-heart-out-5035737

[acrossthepond 877]

Sky Sports also getting in on it: http://www1.skysports.com/watch/tv-shows/sunday-supplement/news/9660707/the-soul-is-being-sucked-out-of-newcastle-united-says-shaun-custis

[Howmanheyman 33402]

Ronny Gill not holding back either;

 

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/haris-vuckic-wants-follow-footsteps-8505379?

 

 

 

Haris Vuckic wants to follow in footsteps of Newcastle United loan star Mehdi Abeid.

 

Newcastle United's Slovenian international Haris Vuckic is eager for first team chances and eyes a loan move

Haris Vuckic has admitted he is open to a loan move this January.

The Slovenian player is hopeful he can follow in the footsteps of Mehdi Abeid who spent last term at Panathinaikos.

Abeid came back a better player and is only out of the first team because of injury.

Vuckic told the Chronicle: “At the moment my focus is at Newcastle. In January we will see what will happen.

“Now I am at that stage where I need to look at myself. I will speak to the coach and see what is best for me.”

And he feels that a loan move could be the best option.

He said: “If I don’t have a chance here and I can play regularly here, on loan maybe or abroad maybe that is the next step.

“That’s what Mehdi Abeid did and he cam back a totally different person.

“It’s always positive to see.”

Vuckic was at Rotherham United last season and helped the club get promotion to the Championship.

But has been a squad player at Newcastle this term and found himself in the reserves at time.

Lee Ryder, aged 44 and a half.

 

 

[trophyshy 7083]

FRINGE PLAYER WANTS AWAY from managerless shambles.

 

Good work KnightRyder and SHITT.

[trooper 940]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/11367892/Mike-Ashley-eyes-latest-move-with-bid-for-Evans-Cycles.html

Looks like this is why he cashed in his 2.5% in SD to buy Evans cycles valued at £100

[Kitman 2207]

who cares what deals the fat cunt's up to inhis business dealings? Won't affect us....his cronies have previously spelt out that he's not going to invest a further bean in the club so the money will only flow one way. Which is sweet for him....he has no incentive at all to change the status quo.

[ewerk 30765]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/11367892/Mike-Ashley-eyes-latest-move-with-bid-for-Evans-Cycles.html

Looks like this is why he cashed in his 2.5% in SD to buy Evans cycles valued at £100

Any deal for Evans would be done through SD rather than privately by Ashley so his share sale is unrelated.

[PaddockLad 17363]

I read somewhere last week that after he was denied his SD bonus last year he sold a similar number of shares which lead to a drop in their price. According to what I read he basically blackmailed the rest of the shareholders into voting through his bonus.

[ewerk 30765]

And then when they did agree to give him his bonus he refused it.

[BLACKANDWHITEGEORDIE 0]

I read somewhere last week that after he was denied his SD bonus last year he sold a similar number of shares which lead to a drop in their price. According to what I read he basically blackmailed the rest of the shareholders into voting through his bonus.

If you knew anything about the running of SD you would know that remark is c**p.

[Andrew 4783]

Its ok, you can say that here.

You can even say **** or **** if you want to

[ClubSpinDoctor 0]

A Sports Direct operations expert is the last thing I had BLACKANDWHITEGEORDIE down as

[BLACKANDWHITEGEORDIE 0]

A Sports Direct operations expert is the last thing I had BLACKANDWHITEGEORDIE down as

I am not an expert on the SD operation. However I do follow the financial pages. Hand on heart I can say I have never ever bought any SD merchandise or even been in one of their stores.

[Monroe Transfer 0]

Carp?

[PaddockLad 17363]

If you knew anything about the running of SD you would know that remark is c**p.

 

What remark?...clarify please, am all ears

[Anorthernsoul 1221]

[ClubSpinDoctor 0]

Going back to The Fish's extraordinary "no malice" comment earlier can somebody please ask The Fish why Shearer's bar was renamed.

[trophyshy 7083]

Going back to The Fish's extraordinary "no malice" comment earlier can somebody please ask The Fish why Shearer's bar was renamed.

[BLACKANDWHITEGEORDIE 0]

 

What remark?...clarify please, am all ears

You're remark about Ashley blackmailing the shareholders. What firm FACTS do you have he did that?

[ClubSpinDoctor 0]

He never alluded to having any firm facts though, did he?

[ewerk 30765]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30996809

 

So my understanding is that he has made an initial loan of £5m, of which £2m will be used to repay his outstanding loans to the club. And in return he has got rights over all their trademarks, he is entitled to their shirt sponsorship money, 75% of their retail arm and security over their training ground.

 

Basically he has them firmly by the balls.

[ClubSpinDoctor 0]

Never see him doing deals with people doing well for themselves do you? If he's not fucking somebody over it's not pushing his buttons. He won't even buy a player without feeling like he's bummed the selling club. When was the last time we bought a player from a club that was financially healthy?