You might have noticed a slight change in the tone of our blog over the past week and a half.
We've never classified ourselves as being the "Ashley Out" sort of Newcastle fans. Seeing as though we've begun contacting billionaires to attempt to convince them that buying the club would be a worthwhile venture, though, it's hard to argue that we don't fall into that category now.
But that doesn't mean we disagree with anything and everything Mike Ashley has done since buying United in 2007. Establishing some degree of financial sensibility is, well, sensible. We don't want Newcastle to turn into another Chelsea or Manchester City, where mega-contracts are handed out left and right. We're fine with United aiming to sign young up-and-coming players rather than overpriced aging superstars.
What we want is a well-thought-out and well-executed plan. We want to see players signed because they're the right players, not just the ones that are coming at the right price. Most of all, we want to see some evidence that Ashley is happy that he owns the club.
When Alan Pardew was hired last December, he talked about one of his challenges being reinvigorating Ashley as an owner. Based on the club's performance in the second half of the summer transfer window and Pardew's comments on Thursday about the board's failure to deliver a striker, it seems that hasn't really happened.
That could still change. Maybe a positive first half of the season will reignite whatever fire that prompted Ashley to buy Newcastle in the first place.
But if Ashley continues with this disinterested owner act, then yes, we do want him out.
Ashley keeps getting chances to win us back, yet he does nothing with them. Sometimes, he makes things even worse. A striker signed would have done wonders in terms of personal support for him as an owner. This leaves me with 2 conclusions:
1. He doesn't care what anyone thinks of him, thus when he has the chance to "make good" and win fans back, he could care less (and possibly does things to alienate them further).
2. He does care but is just catastrophically bad at interacting with people socially. Some people don't function well around others. He definitely fits the "recluse billionaire" blueprint.
If he can't see the glaring need for a striker and do whatever it takes to fill that gap in January, he needs to go.
Posted by: Ryan | 09/09/2011 at 12:05 PM
Or conclusion #3: He was very happy to mix with the fans in the early days but now he's so sick of being called a "fat ba#@ard", "cockney mafia", "useless wa%ker" or "socially catastrophic" that he'd rather stay at home.
Regarding the "he needs to go" ... ahem .. he's the owner not an employee - if you've got 200 million pounds hanging around then buy him out & send him on his way and he'd probably be happy to see the back of all the moaners but so far no one's seriously paid up.
Posted by: AndyB | 09/09/2011 at 02:21 PM
As most owners of English football clubs find out in time, having 'a well thought-out and well executed plan' and pleasing the fans are not the same thing at all.
A good plan requires long-term thinking, good financial planning and a strong nerve in the face of pressure from the media or the supporters. Most fans just want to see the owner throw money at new players every time the transfer window opens.
Posted by: Rob | 09/09/2011 at 02:45 PM
I don't think the fact that no one is willing to buy him out means that we have to praise him as an owner. And I think it's possible to critique him without resorting to petty insults, which is what we do.
I agree that most fans do want to see money being tossed around. But I also think there are quite a few reasonable NUFC fans that aren't expecting that. They'd just like a bit more cash spent on the right players that fit into the club's overall plan. They want to see some enthusiasm from Ashley.
But tossing in last-minute bids for players on deadline day doesn't indicate a well-thought-out plan.
Posted by: Tom | 09/09/2011 at 03:04 PM
Andy, I am curious about something. Do you think Mike Ashley has done anything wrong as owner so far? We are of course all entitled to our own opinions, but I think you could agree he is a little too cheap sometimes?
I have stated many times on posts here that overall, I agree with Ashley's financial approach. In the long run we will be in good shape. And Tom and I agree, as I don't want us to just throw money at players any more than you do. I am not sure why people keep thinking we are advocates of that. All I am asking is that he comes off his stubborn refusal to pay above a price he sets when the team is in dire need of a signing. It's one thing if we don't need a player, but if you don't have a legit striker at this level, you don't win. And failing to get one through the door is not acceptable given the fact that we have the money and had months to do it. If it was a case of everyone being overpriced, I can see that. But, at some point, you may have to pay a bit more to get a proven striker. Not every young player is going to turn into a Tiote. We also need the players that we know will score goals. You can't be bargain hunting if you are looking for a Shearer. If you want quality, you have to pay for it. And the simple fact is that we need a quality, proven striker. That won't come cheap, and Ashley needs to accept that.
So Andy, I ask you this in a respectful way. Do you find fault at all with Ashley being very cheap sometimes? Do you find fault that we have had money from the Andy Carroll sale for 7-8 months and still haven't been able to get a striker in the door? I agree with most of the points you make, especially calling Ashley names. That would make me mad if I were owner too, but he needs to understand some fans get frustrated and will do this, it's part of the job. Not saying it's right, but it will happen.
Please understand that I can be critical of Ashley yet still support his overall policy for the club.
And it bugs me when Llambias says they won't make "knee-jerk" buys. I agree with that, but when you have 7-8 months to sign someone, you shouldn't be waiting until the last minute. If they would buy a player in proper time, they wouldn't have to make a knee-jerk reaction at the last minute. For an owner looking for good buys, waiting until the last minute of the window is counter-intuitive. If a team is trying to get rid of a player, then they will possibly drop the price. However, in our case, when teams know we need to fill a spot and have the money to do it, it drives up prices even more. So waiting until the last minute is something I think every NUFC fan can agree is not the wisest of ideas, correct?
Posted by: Ryan | 09/09/2011 at 03:55 PM
You can be critical of the owner with some decisions but still support the owner/club overall. That was my main point, it seems that you are saying if you don't support him fully, then you are a moaner and should get out as a fan. It's ok to be critical when he makes bad decisions, just like I give him credit when he makes good decisions. It would seem you are saying that there is no middle ground, you either have to love him or hate him. Regardless of which view you take, he hasn't done the best job of communication with the fans. I understand this is because some fans are hostile and he may not want to interact with them, but again I think everyone can agree that his PR with the fans leaves a bit to be desired. If he doesn't want to do it, I think someone should be appointed that can. Pardew does a good enough job, my biggest problem lies with Llambias. I have never been a fan, and he could do more to ease the communication problems between the owner and the fans in my opinion.
Posted by: Ryan | 09/09/2011 at 04:02 PM