Finally - Can we agree about something ....

Any time!

 

There are a lot of people that are at fault this season, from the owner, to the manager, to the players, to the backroom staff (just what do they do with the players that means they get injured so often?).

But the fact of the matter is, if we had strengthened the squad in the summer, the injury issue could have been handled much more effectively. Granted, this wouldn't have resolved the lack of tactics, baffling substitutions, excessive number of injuries, and couldn't care less attitude, but it may have meant the last few weeks of chewing nails, nervous stomachs and general all round feelings of doom could have been avoided.

Therefore I lay a significant proportion of the blame at Ashley's door.

We started the season weak, given the additional games we knew we would be playing in Europe (a fact that seems to have bypassed Ashley entirely) and there was absolutely no excuse for that.

 

What was inexcusable for me was that we needed and were told we would get a centre back who would chip in with the odd goal. Late August Steven Taylor, one of only 3 CB's at the club (if you can call Williamson a CB), got a shoulder injury. We still brought in nobody. Though I think Pardew is a severely limited man and manager, it's with the board - maybe even Llambchop more than Ashley - that the slight majority of blame sits.

That said, Pardew thought Sameobi, Ferguson, Abeid, Vuckic and Campbell were ready for the Premier League. Whoops.

 

Well yeah. I mean I gave Ashley and the board credit for at least waking up and trying to right the wrongs in January, you have to that to be fair.

However we all know Mike Ashley has NO emotional interest in NUFC – he's not in this to deliver footballing success to this club, he's just not.
He's a businessman and he wants to succeed financially at Newcastle, running it in a prudent and sustainable way.

That's a win of sorts to a guy like him but means little to the fans. It's a lovely idea but does not tally with being competitive in the Premier League.

He'd get a bigger thrill cashing in his chips and buying a bunch of premium bonds. His investment would be safer too...

 

We are still all aware, however, that Pardew will be manager next year?

Mike "Relegation, Dennis Wise, Joe Kinnear, Sports Direct @ St James' Park, let's sack Hughton, let's hire Pardew" Ashley is somewhat unlikely to do what anyone else wants.

 

I'm hoping that Ashley has learned a valuable lesson from past events, and has listened to professional advice with regards to his puppet's shortcomings.

He nearly blew £60m after all ...He'll feel that kind of problem.

 

I agree with the OP, I have never rated Pardew, and his spell at Charlton was an eye opener, he was clueless, and so inept that I was very surprised you appointed him in the manner that you did, but then I didn't know he played Golf with Mike Ashley! I hope you do get a tidy manager soon, but not Laudrup..................

 

Hey! Now there is a shout.

Although knowing Newcastle it would be the 'lost' Laudrup brother. The estranged one, the one the family don't like talking about... Billy Laudrup.

He's boss-eyed, likes to wear shoes as hats but has been going down a storm in the Icelandic leagues.

Comes with a big reputation...

For hanging around schools.

 

Would still be progress!

 

Brian Laudrup for manager