Tuesday 24 July 2007

Q: What is happening at Newcastle United – A: Not a lot.

What is going on? The majority of fans finally got their own way (sort of) and fat Fred and his gang were eventually bought out by a billionaire investor who “wants to take the club to the highest level”.
Well, we’ve finally been taken off the stock market and are no longer a PLC. Great, I thought, time for Mr Ashley to unleash his wrath on the rest of the Premier League and splash the cash on some much needed talent and get the team/squad up there where they belong. Well so far he’s spent zip and nothing really seems to have changed at NUFC now that the dust has settled. The problem is Fat Fred is still at the helm by the sounds of it, only instead of a board to answer to, he has a single figure in Mike Ashley. Time to use his media arm (based in the Groat Market) and ‘spin’ some stories.
We’ve sold our captain let others go who were at the end of their contracts and who have we brought in? Barton to replace Parker, a good bit of business in my eyes and a couple of freebee’s (again quality), but were not setting the world on fire and we’ve still let more go then brought to the club!
There are other ‘mid-table’ clubs spending a lot more than us and whipping their fans up into a frenzy with signings, however, we’re not even coming close.
In the past couple of weeks it’s been reported that we’ve been enquiring about and even had representatives in Spain regarding, Gudjonnson, Rhonaldinho, Deco, even Hollywood himself Beckham on loan, not to mention all the other manner of footballing superstars. Incidentally this was just as the season ticket applications were due back! Coincidence? I think not, just another smoke screen, the same as every pre-season at this time when the board/owner want the seats bought.
Right now, the only inches we’re getting in the gossip columns of the daily rags is about selling more players, and not the ones with the ridiculous ‘buy out’ clauses in their contacts (Dyer).
I appreciate that Big Sam won’t be rushed into panic buying, and that as we’re not in Europe we may find it hard to attract the calibre of players wanted to take us to the next level, but, when clubs in the same boat as us, ala West Ham, Man City, and Portsmouth are managing to sign players and some quality players at that, ahead of us, makes me question weather or not Big Sam has the full backing of the new board or are his hand financially tied? Even Sunderland are bidding 6m on a full back that we so desperately need.!! Come on Ashley, let us know your intentions. Is it just me that is beginning to get worried?

1 comment:

Rivs said...

I'm not worried as yet but I've read various comments from Sam lately that suggest he's not entirely happy with the support he's getting from the new boss. I think the problem is that Ashley didn't do a due diligence check before buying us out and is now concentrating all of his energies on that.

Divvent worry son, Big Mike'll get his wallet out shortly.

Keep the faith.