Mr. P

A penalty? To Derby? Don’t be silly. We don’t need no stinkin’ penalties! 

A penalty? To Derby? Don’t be silly. We don’t need no stinkin’ penalties! 

Just the 70 minutes to hold on now! ?

Just the 70 minutes to hold on now! ?

Just the 70 minutes to hold on now! ?

Just the 70 minutes to hold on now! ?

Don’t bring me into this. 

Hi all,
Newcastle fan here. Been going to Uni of Derby for 2 years now (in my final year) and after hearing and reading what's went on at the club in the last few years I've grown a bit of a soft spot for DCFC. Saw that you were linked with Ashley taking over, now, I am aware that as a club you're probably in the worst state you've ever been in. Ever. In administration, a potential risk of going into liquidation, absolutely criminal that could happen to your club, as to me its still a good sized club with standing in English football. Ashley seems like a ticket out, financial stability. But, and I have to say after reading some of the posts on here which are terribly incorrect, the man is/was an utter parasite.
Where we were as a club before Ashley was probably where Spurs, West Ham are now. Promoted to the Premier League in 1993, finished 3rd, 6th, 2nd, 2nd, 4th, 3rd, 5th and 7th in the period before Ashley took over, regulars in Europe, played 3 seasons of Champions League football. Won nothing obviously, but we had genuine hope. Ashley takes over in 2007, within 2 years we're relegated. We bounce back due to the quality of the squad we had at the time, stay in the Premier League for another 6 seasons (3 of which were relegation battles) and get relegated again. The second relegation, we had a wage bill the size of a midtable PL club in the Championship and had Rafa Benitez in charge so we bounce straight back again. Since then we've been fighting relegation again, Rafa leaves due to no ambition at the club beyond staying up; his replacement summing up that ambition which even he is making an arse of.
Now I know it's rich to come on here and complain about doing nowt more than staying in the PL given your situation, but this is all relative. Our two promotions Ashley lucked out at the squad and managers present there at the time and we only had to get promoted because of beyond tragic management from Ashley in the first place.
The whole 'he's a good business man' and 'got Newcastle financially sound' is a myth. Part of £300m fee paid for the club from the consortium on Thursday will have partly been made up my interest free loans Ashley took out from the club; taking money out so to speak. Our commerical revenue was greater than Spurs, Everton and West Ham before Ashley took over, now clubs like Brighton & Hove Albion are millions ahead. Across his 14 years his net spend is +£10m which in the PL scheme of things is peanuts.
I see why you may want him, you'd probably take almost anyone and I don't blame yous for that. But he is not a good football club owner and the perception that he was good for us is so far wide of the mark is untrue. He has set us back years and this golden ticket we've been given will see that, as it'll be years until we're on a level footing with Spurs, Everton, West Ham and Villa.

No I think you lot will be alright. Stay positive. 

Thought ref was decent today. Better than the poo we’ve had before. 

No I think you lot will be alright. Stay positive. 

I thought the same. I did think we were a little unlucky with yellow cards, when similar offences by Swansea went unpunished, but generally it felt even handed. 

He's a PL ref and in my opinion one of the best around - totally the opposite of his brother.

Thought ref was decent today. Better than the poo we’ve had before. 

Wouldn’t have matter. Lawrence was going to shoot no matter what! 

Fozzy WTF were you doing there...just clear the fkin thing..

Half time 

No I think you lot will be alright. Stay positive. 

No I think you lot will be alright. Stay positive. 

No I think you lot will be alright. Stay positive. 

No I think you lot will be alright. Stay positive. 

No I think you lot will be alright. Stay positive. 

No I think you lot will be alright. Stay positive. 

No I think you lot will be alright. Stay positive. 

Yeah, get Ravel off too. He's rubbish. He certainly can't score a 25 yard screamer, that's for sure! ?