Papering over the cracks?
Call me a killjoy but Newcastle United's 7-2 mauling of Darlington is hardly the cause for optimism with the Magpies still on course for crisis - unless drastic action is taken soon.
It might sound like doom and gloom - but if there is anybody that can see Chris Hughton holding the fort all season and Newcastle making an instant return to the Premier League with a group of disillusioned players then I will take my hat off to them.
Shola Ameobi was fantastic with two goals, bad boy Joey Barton sprayed the play, Kevin Nolan looked good and Damien Duff looked like a world beater - ahem, against Darlo and a team of triallists and kids earning peanuts...
You would expect it really - but a look behind this result tells a different story.
The magnificent 4,000 strong Newcastle following enjoyed their day in the sunshine at the Darlo Arena.
But they also made their feelings known in front of watching managing director Derek Llambias.
The casino boss had a box seat directly opposite the huge following from Tyneside with unsavoury chants towards Mike Ashley - to which Llambias responded with a clear shake of the head.
And chants in support of Alan Shearer throughout the game as blasts of "Alan Shearer's black and white army" were belted out as Newcastle's first team donned their yellow kit for the first time.
Later one Toon fan in the posh seats offered Llambias a gift - his boxer shorts.
But unlike Ameobi on the day, who bagged twice, the United supporter was off target - and after skimming the head of a senior Newcastle Press figure they landed on the back of a bemused Darlo fan.
With members of the Shepherd family in the executive box and the Profitable Group still waiting for an answer after making their second bid for the Toon - it was pretty much just an average day for Newcastle United.
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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2009 July 18 - The day of the YELLOWS and REDS!
Newcastle 7 and MO scores at last
Quote from BBC sport:
The 29-year-old said: "It's just nice to play with players who are on your wavelength, spotting your runs - they are just class players.
"It's nice to play a game in the red shirt. "
Lee - ManU "Class players" ? Or ones who can just SEE?
CARE! One Swallow ...
Best
aye lee you are a killjoy, they can only beat whats in front of them and at least they made an effort fot the fantastic toon fans that made the trip.. they could of easily played for beating them by one goal, lets hope these lads keep it up into the season aand right to the end. i thick it shows professionalim.. we could be stuck with the two old fellows (i forget their names) of the muppets all season..
aye lee you are a killjoy, they can only beat whats in front of them and at least they made an effort fot the fantastic toon fans that made the trip.. they could of easily played for beating them by one goal, lets hope these lads keep it up into the season aand right to the end. i thick it shows professionalim.. we could be stuck with the two old fellows (i forget their names) of the muppets all season..
Shame the paper's so thin Lee
Lee how much longer do we have to suffer under these idiots we have in charge of our club ( I can,t even mention there names any more )
The Profitle Group under Steve Mahon said they had put in a good bid for Newcastle then we here on Sunday it was only 70 million.
That idiot in London will not sell for any less than 100 million so why go in for that amount, Surely they must have know that in was going to get knocked back? OK go in with a offer about 95 million, just maybe he might of thought seriously about it, But to go in well under the price, I am sorry but is that the signs of things to come if they purchase the club ??
I have said before if we don't sell this club shortly I am worried he might just pull the plug on Newcastle and calls in the receivers.
terry said:
"The Profitle Group under Steve Mahon said they had put in a good bid for Newcastle then we here on Sunday it was only 70 million. That idiot in London will not sell for any less than 100 million so why go in for that amount, Surely they must have know that in was going to get knocked back? OK go in with a offer about 95 million, just maybe he might of thought seriously about it, But to go in well under the price, I am sorry but is that the signs of things to come if they purchase the club??"
It's a buyer's market Terry. Why pay £100m? If Laura Ashley needs to sell, he'll have to accept that his valuation of the club is going to be substantially more than that of potential buyers. Also, having looked at the books, the Profitable Group will have an understanding of the club's finances, so their valuation shows just what a state we're in!
Spot on Lee, but it seems to be taking a life time to sell the Club,
Remember a month ago Ashley and Co said they had not received any bids from the Profitable Group? who's telling fibs??
Spot on Lee, but it seems to be taking a life time to sell the Club,
Remember a month ago Ashley and Co said they had not received any bids from the Profitable Group? who's telling fibs??
Could someone not just ask our esteemed MD straight out what happened to the "more than two" bids?
So Hughton thinks it will be 'a wonderful scenario' if the current squad stays at St James Park. This man is in charge of leading us into the new season. What hope do we have?
Could it be that the hold up is Ashley wants £100 million for the club plus the proviso the interested parties pay him the £100 million he's supposedly put into it? I think this could be the case, and if it is, I can't see a sale no matter how long it drags on.
Coffee Johnny, the hold up is that Ashley's valuation of the club and the supposed interested parties do not match. He's not willing to budge, and they don't have to, as they have the cash he needs. They've also seen the books, and I can't imagine they make for pretty reading. Overpaid 'stars' who will all be angling for a move away, at a fraction of what we paid for them; substantial investment needed in a new playing squad; off-field staff who will need their contracts paying up before they move on to other clubs, etc, etc. The only assets the club have are the ground and the fans, and ticket sales and income will be down from us next season due to relegation. Ashley's hand will either be forced in August when the season kicks off, or he'll have to bite the bullet and hope for promotion, in order to make us more attractive to buyers (at which point, he may become even more brazen and up the price!).
So the chronicle asked the Barrow Boy for a comment and the response was a deathly hush. No surprise there then!
Never mind, I dare say that there's a special Pulitzer Prize for the most inventive way of saying "Naff all is happening, and nothing's likely to" which this year goes to any Journalist writing about Newcastle United.
Lets face it lads, even if he sells now what is going to happen...nothing. Buyers wont come in this late on as they will either lose the assets (and I say that loosley) for a fraction of the price we paid for them thus devaluing the club even further (leaving no time to buy)or get stuck with what we have paying big wages thus no money for new players. There is only one thing we can do and thats get behind the players we have and pray they do what they were suppoesd to do last season......PLAY FOOTBALL. We all should know by now you cant relay on ASHLEY.
Lets face it lads, even if he sells now what is going to happen...nothing. Buyers wont come in this late on as they will either lose the assets (and I say that loosley) for a fraction of the price we paid for them thus devaluing the club even further (leaving no time to buy)or get stuck with what we have paying big wages thus no money for new players. There is only one thing we can do and thats get behind the players we have and pray they do what they were suppoesd to do last season......PLAY FOOTBALL. We all should know by now you cant relay on ASHLEY.
Hey LEE, I see your point about the difference in valuations if that's the case. But is it the case? According to the press Ashley was willing to sell for £100 million, also according to the press Llambias said there were 2 bids of £100 million, so Ashley's valuation has been met has it not? If Llambias is being truthful then there must be an underlying problem with the sale, perhaps proviso's. In my humble opinion this guy wants over the £100 million to get back at least some of the extra money he supposedly put into the club. I'm prepared for a status quo situation when the season starts.
I am quite concerned over the team, you are absolutely correct, they need drastic changes for them to shine...
I agree with coffee johnny. Ashley will feel hard done to as he was forced to pay off the 100M mortgage on the stands when he took over (he should have done due dillagence but didn't)I'm convinced he will attempt to tie this debt back up as part of the sale the club come with 100M debt 'mortage on the stands' payable to ashley over the next 20 years or so, as well as 100M asking price. This does indeed explain why for the two or more who have met the asking price the deal has fallen through. In essence when combined with massive player contract you have substantial HIDDEN DEBT.
Coffee Johnny - and you believe what Llambias said? He'll say owt to get season ticket money in!
Instead of pandering to Llambias for comments which in the most part aren't true, why have the Chronicle/Journal/Sunday Sun not started a campaign against the current regime?
If it was started I have no doubt the fans would back it to the hilt
Coffee Johnny...
Wasnt there a Status Quo song called "Down Down" Which is exactlty where this club is going!!!!
Coffee Johnny...
Wasnt there a Status Quo song called "Down Down" Which is exactlty where our club is going!!!!
Oh Lee! I didn't say I believed Llambias. I simply said......'If Llambias is being truthful' C'mon Lee, I can only reiterate what I read in the press. Personally I wouldn't trust this lot as far as I could hoy them. Stephen Buchan......Good craic mate....This reminds me of a Barry McGuire song......The eve of destruction!
Why hasnt anyone mentioned the real issue here...! That new away strip looks geet canny as oot against the green grass.
U gotta take the positive outta this yee kna.
Howay the lads.
;)