Absolute Nonsense!

Karl - Fenham Hustler wrote...

"Oh well, another average morning on Tyneside, front page headlines again, but we're not a big a club are we?"
I like that..

Posted by: Karl - Fenham Hustler  | July 4, 2008 1:42 PM

Geoff Forster wrote...

Just a question of time ...

Keegan's not saying anything for a fortnight ....

Posted by: Geoff Forster  | July 4, 2008 2:18 PM

alex wrote...

Why is it that the papers and skysports seem to indicate that talks were 'underway' with intermedia this morning, yet now ashley denies everything? it'd be peace of mind to just have their reports put in perspective more often to ease worrying.

Still, good news about Taylor though!

Posted by: alex  | July 4, 2008 2:23 PM

DAVE ROBSON wrote...

when is all the negative trash gonna stop coming out from the southerners, i have no doubts ashley will sell up if the price is right, he's a buisnessman first and foremost, maybe this is the reason for slow transfer movement at this present time, but if he is selling i would say newcastle probably one of the best buisness for sale in the premiership
DEBT FREE
52,000 FANS(EASILY MORE WITH A SUCCESSFUL TEAM)
BEST FANS IN THE WORLD
MEGA MERCHANDISE SALES
HOW MANY PREMIER TEAMS CAN BOAST THAT
AT THIS PRESENT TIME
THE ONLY NEGATIVE IS DENNIS WISE

IF ASHLEY BACKS KEEGAN HE WILL REAP THE REWARDS
HE CANT LOOSE CAN HE!!

Posted by: DAVE ROBSON  | July 4, 2008 2:57 PM

Geoff Forster wrote...

Just a question of time ...

Keegan's not saying anything for a fortnight ....

Posted by: Geoff Forster  | July 4, 2008 3:03 PM

phil matues wrote...

Do you know anything about the Pablo Aimar situation?...This guy is a world class performer and would be a great buy for us.....Your thoughts Lee??

Posted by: phil matues  | July 4, 2008 3:08 PM

Deaco wrote...

Mike Ashley is a businessman with hundreds of other business interests. If he is talks with someone whos to say it is about buying Newcastle United. The guy speaks with business people every day about a whole host of things. unfortunately some red tops think it must be about NUFC. I wish Kegan would talk though, it is unlike him!

Posted by: Deaco  | July 4, 2008 3:16 PM

cav wrote...

where did this story come from again the sun.al say no more.

Posted by: cav  | July 4, 2008 3:20 PM

Geoff Forster wrote...

Sorry to post twice ... it's 40C outside and I've walked my donkeys and I'm drinking a few San Miguels ...

... It'll be a shame if Ashley sells to some American conglomerate.

The Gutiérrez signing overwrote all the negative Barton stuff on the internet. Full marks for the damage limitation. Exquisite timing.

Full marks too for keeping the press in the dark. (Sorry Lee, but you'd have blabbed and 'Arry would 'ave got him)

Okay, Mike Ashley's really a die-hard West Ham fan or was it Spurs?
What do his mates and family think about him prancing around in black & white, when for years he's supported another team?

So have we got a man who'll switch footie teams to suit his business purposes?

Or is he a genuine convert who'll never sell the club because he loves it too much?

A one liner directly attributable to Mr Ashley giving assurances he's Toon mad and not selling at any time in the next five years should silence the rumour makers ...

Does anyone else find it annoying to our club traded like Monopoly cards.

But then in reality it's not our club anymore is it?

Posted by: Geoff Forster  | July 4, 2008 3:22 PM

Jason wrote...

Everyone seems to agree that the valuation is way too high yet everyone seems to be missing the point.

It would not surprise me if Mike Ashley WAS contacted for the same reasons he bought the club in the first place, great fan base, great stadium, huge potential, so when asked he puts a value on it that he obviously knows is not going to be accepted which means he does not actually want to sell. However if someone is stupid enough to give him a £200m profit after a year for a club that is not in Europe and was relegation fodder for most of last season then who could blame him?

Posted by: Jason  | July 4, 2008 4:47 PM

Pedi wrote...

No smoke without fire me thinks. Theres been this speculation ever since he took over. The interested party has admitted talks, albeit 'informal' took place. Ashley has littered the club with his mates so i couldnt see him leaving them in an uncertain job role so soon after putting them there. I just have a niggling feeling that one day soon I will wake to headlines of TOON SOLD and it will be legit.

We've heard through other club sources he's in it for the long term.
Maybe the new regime of not giving out details on everything is causing me to be cynical about what goes off behind the scenes these days.
Whatever the truth, headlines like that wont help draw new players in and we've had our fair share of turbulance this past few years.

Posted by: Pedi  | July 4, 2008 5:40 PM

HenryA wrote...

We are a peculiar lot aren't we?
We go wild with the speculative press for spouting rubbish about who, what, when, and how the Toon are going to do something, anything.
Then when the club maitain a dignified silence we decide its for some sinister reason like selling up or selling players and so on.
The evidence so far is that we have landed an above average player who was sought by many other clubs and have done so by keeping our cards close to our chest!
Just keep doing it NUFC and let the world keep getting stiff necks trying to see what it is we are doing.
Walk quietly but carry a big stick!

Posted by: HenryA  | July 4, 2008 9:25 PM

dave w wrote...

Let's be honest you have no more a say in the affairs of Newcastle Utd than Chelsea fans have at Stamford Bridge. Modern football is about people with money to burn or are in it for a quick buck. Geordies are sat waiting for investment to bring success, investment that Ashley doesn't seem to be prepared to make. To say that these rumours are all newspapers headlines because you are a big club maybe at this moment correct, but as Ashley will sell someday at the right price. £200 million profit wouldn't you do it? The club that used to be ran by Geordies for the "Geordie nation" is ran by Southerners, with KK as a figure head at the helm. As sure "as apples are apples" Newcastle will be sold as was Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea to a megarich foreigner because you are a one city team. I'll make do with the 25,000 at the Riverside and Mr. Gibson who we don't appreciate enough. Does it make you pine for Shepherd and even more so Sir John Hall? I know I would.

Ryder's reply: If a pig was born in a stable does that make it a horse? Ashley may be a southerner but if his vision is to get Newcastle to get back on the European map, he'll be given time to do it. Bittersweet Symphony mate.

Posted by: dave w  | July 4, 2008 10:38 PM

Scotty Forced to Live in Wales wrote...

I Hate Dave W !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Scotty Forced to Live in Wales  | July 5, 2008 2:22 AM

Paul Patterson wrote...

A quick word for Dave W- Rubbish!!

I liked Sir John Hall, but as for his smart arse son and Fat Freddy- No way in hell would I prefer to see them two back in charge of things. Shepherd who was influenced by journalists from London and Douglas Hall who was- well a prat with money- It doesn’t matter that they are both Geordies- if they are wrong for the club, then the club is better off without them.

As for Steve Gibson and your 25,000 fans, it’s great that a local business man is prepared to bankroll a club and put the money up for transfers, but enjoy it while it lasts, because Steve Gibson’s time is running out fast. The way I see it, Sir John Hall was better off financially than Steve Gibson and he realised that he could no longer keep the club going on what he had. This WILL happen to Steve Gibson.

Personally it says a lot about Boro’ fans when, after great results the ground is never full the next week, after great signings, you might get a great crowd for his debut, but the next week it’s back to ‘Oh dear I’m not too sure if we will break 20,000 this week’.

In the 1990’s it was far simpler to run a football club, millionaires were all that was needed- Newcastle rose from nothing in 1991 to (almost) win the Premier League in 1995/96, all thanks to millions.

Now it’s different, Billions are what it takes, blame Abramovich for that, he forced the trend, teams the like of ‘Boro stand no chance of competing with teams that can go and drop £20m on one player and then go and do it again the next week. I’d be surprised if you spend much more £20m all summer. That’s just the way it is.

Newcastle United CAN do this, but won’t- Ashley has an agenda about where the club needs to go- I just hope it works.

Personally- I hate just dropping money like confetti, but I think if Mike Ashley wants to play catch up to the top 4, it’s going to take a bit of cash in the short term, so that he can save money in the long term.

Newcastle and Mike Ashley have this option- Boro’ and Steve Gibson don’t!

Paul.

Posted by: Paul Patterson  | July 5, 2008 11:05 AM

Aldo Spagnoli wrote...

Never spoken, never admitted, never confirmed yet common knowledge within the world of business that companies will and do leak stories via third parties to create or meet a particular objective. So following this theory Newcastle United being sold to an american investor is probably aimed at smoking out other potential investors. At times merely as a valuation exercise or to see whats out there. According to the story, Newcastle United is now available at a price of £420 million.....so the starting price has been set.

Any other interested takers please step forward? Let the bidding begin!

Posted by: Aldo Spagnoli  | July 5, 2008 12:56 PM

chuck wrote...

Its actually "tempest in a teapot", nevertheless about the U.S.aproach and the official denial.
Seems to have upset some of the more naive supporters who dont seem to realise this is big business and the days of local ownership is history.
There is so much money involved in the PL, that its become a requirement for present ownership to be in the billon
pound bracket
Face it if ashley can walk out after one year of ownership with something in the region of £100m. I would take my hat off to the man.
However I have the impression he wants to stay for a while, see if he can introduce a winning side and a fiscally responsible run club, run in the mould of say arsenal,bit of EGO involved too, but hey nothing wrong with that as long as the the club are successfull who cares.

Posted by: chuck  | July 5, 2008 2:16 PM

Dave Mac wrote...

Dave W (Wonder what the W stands for)

Posted by: Dave Mac  | July 5, 2008 2:25 PM

Anonymous wrote...

We're a "big" club in terms of finance, our stadium and absolutely our supporters. But Lee you should always add the qualification - woefully unsuccessful.

Posted by: Anonymous  | July 5, 2008 5:42 PM

Tardonicus wrote...

So now the word coming out is that NUFC approached the yanks to talk about selling? I was sure the discussion took place, despite the denials but I didn't expect to find that Ashley initiated it...

I believe that Ashley saw an undervalued asset in NUFC, is working hard to balance the books, then will turn a tidy profit. It's his right. I'm looking forward to the next regime already. This version of the club will merely be solvent.

Howay the lads.

Posted by: Tardonicus  | July 5, 2008 7:59 PM

Peter wrote...

I was walking along the Grand Union canal in North London last Sunday and I spied the big arch of the new Wembley Stadium in the distance and it set me thinking 'there's venue that doesn't need a successful football club in residence' and my mind turned to St.James's Park, a superb new stadium, close to the city centre, with potential for more expansion, serving a large region with varied outdoor events. Pop concerts, boxing etc.
Then I thought, why bother trying to keep a bunch of querulous fans happy at a cost of millions when you could make a decent return on your investment with a moderately successful lower league team there, which if it did become more successful, would draw in those eternally optimistic fans dreaming of a Champions League future. Unfortunately, at my advanced age, when that happened I would be long dead!!

Posted by: Peter  | July 6, 2008 1:00 AM

Jonny wrote...

So the BBC are claiming the club was offered to the americans.

and who offered the club?

THEY DON'T KNOW !!!!!!!

the brilliant source they have DOESNT EVEN KNOW WHO WAS AT 'THE MEETING'!!!!!!

since when do people fly across the atlantic to try and flog a club for £420m WITHOUT EVEN FINDING OUT IF THERE IS ANY INTEREST FIRST?

do we honestly think that Ashley is 'cold calling' people in america to find a buyer?

-----------

'informal talks' --- that covers everything doesnt it? even down to off the cuff comments !!!!

-----------

Ashley isnt going to invest?

hmmmmmmmmmmm - did or did we not have confirmed bids of £8m and £15m for woodgate and modric?

that doesnt sound like lack of funds to me.
----------------

what Ashley no doubt wants is VALUE for money. So if he spends 'x' amount on a player he wants their performances to at least match how much he paid for them.

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this 'sale' can get filed with the other 6 or 7 (under BS) i will believe the club is for sale when Ashley says it is.
----------------

oh and when has Ashley EVER conducted business in the public domain?

Posted by: Jonny  | July 6, 2008 8:37 AM

PAUL wrote...

HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS THE BIN LADEN'S ARE GONNA MAKE A BID FOR THE TOON.

Posted by: PAUL  | July 6, 2008 9:58 AM

dave w wrote...

Dave Mac a thorough and reasoned argument! I think the thoughts of the bloggers are pretty evenly split. But the article title "ABSOLUTE RUBBISH" me thinks you protest too much!
My comments were not a protest against NUFC but an assessment that in order to achieve your goals your club will be bandied about for millions with people creaming off the top, with no guarantee of trophies. Anonymous hits the nail on the head. You are a one CITY club crying out for success and will always be attractive to investors as long as you supporters keep coming through the turnstiles.
PS Lee Bittersweet Symphony? You keep your 55,000 fans and I'll keep my European finals , FA Cup Finals and League Cup finals. We may have only won ONE but its an adventure! After all we're only a small club who can't compete!!??!

Ryder's reply: Can we keep our six FA Cup triumphs, four title wins and our European trophy as well?

Posted by: dave w  | July 6, 2008 5:47 PM

Joseppie wrote...

Very entertaining blog blokes, with some interesting topics. (Dave W yea yea).

Will Ashley sell? Not bothered, just leave Kev alone to do his job.

Who cares about what the media says about us - no one trusts or takes any notice of the London press (TV, Radio) anyway. (This is a local club for local people - There's nothing for you here).

We shouldn't be too impatient, cos the old way didn't work anyway. Good steady progress is what we want and some good signings, not spectacular ones.

So come on, lets have loads of noise at SJP and cheer on the lads. As far as i'm concerned, there is no other football team to be interested in, only the Toon.

Howay the lads.

Posted by: Joseppie  | July 6, 2008 8:43 PM

jac mills wrote...

Lee

It may be absolute rubbish as you say about NUFC sale, but if the right deal comes along, Ashley's priority will be the money he can make, rather than his allegiance (if any) to the club and fans. When the right deal arrives, he'll sell, no matter who the buyers are. In the meantime, let's hope for a successful season for the club.

Posted by: jac mills  | July 7, 2008 10:54 AM

FERNANDO wrote...

Not being a london club i dont reckon there will be to many blue chip investors looking to invest and spend to much money on players. First division is calling unfortunatly

Posted by: FERNANDO  | July 7, 2008 10:56 AM

Sean Peterson wrote...

Seems as if Mr Ashley IS looking for potential buyers from what i have picked up in all the information i have seen.Latest news about relations of BIN LADEN being the latest interested parties do nothing but make OUR club a laughing stock in the eyes of other people!!!!.IF this is "COMPLETE NONSENSE", the club needs to after all these people have stated approaches, to hold at least a meeting with the local press and dismiss all the stories floating about.If this does not happen, people tend to make their own minds up.

Posted by: Sean Peterson  | July 7, 2008 12:52 PM

Bert Shaft wrote...

These takeover rumours are obviously aimed at destabilising the club and a being perpetrated by either
1... someone from the previous regime at NUFC who "seeks revenge" for whatever reason,
2/... an outside of football enemy of Mike Ashley, i.e. someone who might have crossed swords with Mike Ashley previously or
3/... a fan/reporter from a club like Spurs who is jealous of Newcastle being accepted into the new formed elite group so is launching a hate campaign against the club through the media.
(Martin Samuel or the mackem from the Guardian spring to mind)

However saying this, Mike Ashley REALLY DOES need to make a statement to the press about the situation at newcastle United.

Posted by: Bert Shaft  | July 7, 2008 1:54 PM

Stephen Buchan wrote...

"Absolute Nonsense" its becoming the 'in phrase' at NUFC these days...reminds me of the Minister for information in Iraq when asked if the Allies were close by..."They're nowhere to be seen" was the reply as Unit of tanks cruised by!!!

Posted by: Stephen Buchan  | July 7, 2008 7:15 PM

Bert Shaft wrote...

A smoggy refers to Middlesbrough's European finalS er hang on mate, you mean final dont yer,the one you got humiliated in by a record score, then he refers to their FA Cup FinalS, hang on again mate, you mean FA Cup Final dont yer, you remember, the one where you prevented Chelsea scoring for a mammoth 42 seconds.

Where did these smoggies ever get the idea that we are their rivals.

Posted by: Bert Shaft  | July 7, 2008 7:47 PM

M. Sebastian T. wrote...

In reply to DAVE ROBSON:

Why pick on southerners (I'm not one) for trash talk. Have you never been to a bar in Newcastle? You say NUFC has the best fans in the world but I'd say they are the most fickle and always changing mood. Are MEGA MERCHANDISE SALES anything to brag about. Walmart sells lots of junk too!

Truth is that if you were Ashley you would be hoping the rumours were not just that. He must have been as drunk as a skunk when he bought the Toon!

Posted by: M. Sebastian T.  | July 9, 2008 6:42 PM

David wrote...

Read todays Guardian? Ashley naile it once and for all. He'd only sell 1% and that to Toon fans and he hates spurs. Its all bullshit!!!! Right now we can ignore all the crap in the papers, including this one and its sisters and await some signings, there is PLENTY of time!!!

Posted by: David  | July 10, 2008 10:31 PM