Time for an Ashley olive branch?

Nope why should he let the journos know. If he said yes we are looking Papiss cost would have skyrocketed

 

I never really bought the concept that we were not in the market for a striker considering we'd spent 7 months chasing a striker.
Pardew simply covered our tracks so when we went for a player, we could bid unhindered. Good tactics.

 

mr p kept his cards very close to his chest ,you have to admire his style

 

I think this is where the fact MA and DL not really giving too much of a **** about the fans has actually paid off... They don't feel obliged to announce to us (and therefore the world, I think people forget that!) that we were going for XX and got so far but we fell down at a certain stage and effectively giving away our bargaining power

 

A great "white" lie, Cisse probs would have cost a LOT more if we were "after" a number 9.

 

I have got to admit that some of MA's decisions since taking over the club have infuriated me. At the same time he has decided on how he wants to run the club. He has not taken cognisance of the fans, which has got under all of our skin. Yet I can't help but feel that his plan is coming together, a lot of it through trial and error. I have to say that looking at the standing of our club financially, signings, and general morale throughout the club, I can't help but tip my hat and say well played. You have brought me on side, with a small sense of reservation. But on side, which I never thought would happen.

 

True, well perhaps asking everyone to like him is a bit strong but it's nice to take a chance to acknowledge them doing some good stuff.

In an ideal world I think it would just be good one day for the NUFC regime and fans to be on friendly terms I suppose, and united. I'm not saying it'll happen but perhaps getting into Europe or winning something would prove a significant enough turning point?

 

Yup!

 

But 6 months ago you lot were banging on about how they have an obligation to tell the truth to the fans. Consistency, chaps.

 

Yea, I am pleased with what he's done/doing, and I'd love for him to one day come out with a heartfelt letter to the fans proclaiming his love for us.... actually, that probably would make me like him!

 

The renaming of SJP means I will never like him

 

Hahaha – yeah maybe that would do it. Thing is, I just can't accept that he has no care for the club in his own way. You know, as a successful businessman he would know that when he bought the club that really there are much easier ways to make money so it can't of all been about the cash.

I believe that the bad feeling he started to get from fans (abuse at matches etc) did make him more cynical and bloody minded and he started to view it more and more in a cold and business-driven way.
I also think he never ever had intentions of bankrolling the club with his own funds and he then had to in order to bail out the investment and ensure we bounced back from the Championship.

In short, a combination of these things soured the experience of owning a football club and maybe now we're seeing his enthusiasm stoked up again...

 

Goodness, Mike Ashley has allowed Alan Pardew to spend £10m of the £35m we got for Andy Carroll... let's write a thread about how great Mike Ashley is.

Of course, once we have a run of poor results, we can just go back to making him a figure of hate again.

Sorted.

 

I think that MA is saving the club financially but trying to kill the soul of the club at the same time, what with the stadium renaming and the singing section being moved.

I'll never particuarly like Ashley, he may have prevented us from going into administration, and he may want the club to be sucessful, but for a completely different reason to us fans.

 

That's not the point at all, you've completely missed it and it's a shame you're determined to see it that way.

Fact is, Ashley could have pocketed ALL the Andy Carroll money but we've spent a pretty decent chunk of it with this and the summer signings.
However much we don't like it, the board have never been obliged to spend out on players the money we get in for selling them – never. We might want and expect it but that's why we're fans and not chairman.

Who says the spending of funds is finished anyway? That might be it for January but there's nothing to say funds aren't held back for the summer.

If you read the first post properly it was about weighing up the pros and cons, raising a debate, not saying how 'great' he is at all...

 

Did you see how slim Ashley is now? Want to find out what diet he's been on.

 

Perhaps the best diet around: proper food and exercise!

 

I don't believe he's trying to kill the soul of the club, I think he's just trying to get in the maximum amount of money for the club. If someone comes along and offers £40m to call the ground "Let's All Laugh At Sunderland", would you not be pleased (the name is obviously just wishful thinking, but let's say it was the BT Arena or some such)? Everyone who is a Newcastle fan would still call it St James' Park, but the money would be there available for investment in players etc. I really think the name is irrelevant. I would like it to stay SJP, but am not fussed if we can get a decent amount to change it.

 

Funny, that is my least favourite diet.

 

Same as most I would imagine. Funny the most popular ones are the ones where you can sit on your arse and still eat deep fried cake sandwiches.

Edit: As an afterthought, imagine being called a fat **** by 40k-50k people every other week...