There is little doubt that the Saudi money will propel the Mags into the top 3 or 4 of the PL,which will be embraced and enjoyed by the vast majority of their fans,although a couple of keffiyeh wearing Arabs in the Directors box and the ever present threat of bad publicity emanating from Riyadh,will serve as a reminder of their circumstances. For my part, I'm unlikely to give it much notice.....our rivalry of equals won't exist....their rivals will be based in Manchester and London. I'm enjoying my football again,very happy with what's going on at my club,both on and off the pitch,and,in the next few years I'm looking forward to some exciting encounters locking horns with the likes of Fulham,Stoke,Preston,Forest,horrible Coventry, the Smogs and so on once again. If we can build on the sustainable foundations we're establishing and,with a combination of Academy products,intelligent buys and loans, can eventually secure a place back in the top flight,it will finally bring an end to the last 10 years of misery, and,in the meantime, anything going on up the road will only be on the periphery of my vision. At that point,I might start to take some notice of them as I lick my lips in anticipation of a derby match again!
You heard anything on this smug? Did you know it was going to go through eventually? Any info on their ambitions?
I think there is a lot of doubt. Just having rich owners doesn't guarantee you can sign top players and suddenly jump 15 places in the league. Why would any top level player want to sign for Newcastle? They have a squad full of average PL players and have no European football. They won't be able to attract anything other than slightly better than average mercenaries at this stage IF they do it right and try to build properly over 5-10 years then there is a chance they could crack the top 6, but nothing is guaranteed in football
I've tried to believe it wouldn't happen but always felt it would from what I'd heard. I've no ongoing info though. All I will say is that I won't criticise the Mags for wanting this, I'd be a hypocrite if I did I've worked for an American banker who made a billion and retired at 32, a Russian Oligarch, Abu Dhabi Royal Family, etc. I'm sure they were all corrupt, in one way or another, but they paid me loads and it was all good fun. So I'll be happy supporting my club, as always, and won't twist about Newcastle. This takeover has probably come too late, for them to win much, but all supporters deserve a bit of hope. I don't wish it was us, as I'm very happy with squeaky clean KLD, but at least it'll stop them constantly bleating about Ashley.
Unless I'm reading it wrong, the BBC seem to be suggesting that there is still to be some sort of arbitration in January. Presumably between BeIN and the Saudis over the piracy issue. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58821131
Well haven't we got a mega rich owner who hasn't splashed the cash (Man City template) but is doing it the right way imo. We have fans who thought KLD would spend loads on the team but realistically we're not that attractive yet to lure top players and that's fair enough. When the excitement dies down up the road and they realise their a long way off attracting Messi etc they'll understand it'll be a long haul for them as it is for us. Am I wishing them good luck, not really, I don't give a flying fart about them other when were playing against us and I want them to lose.
Assuming it goes through we are going to have 6 months of gloating, tea towels on head, mocked up pictures of Haaland and Mbappe in barcode shirts. They will make a "statement" signing in January - paying way over the odds for a "name". New owners probably appoint another "name" to the manager's seat and there will be the usual Jake Humphreys/Craig Hope/George Caulkin hoop licking for a few months. Then reality will set in when they can't tempt any big names to the club and have to settle for 2nd level signings (Tammy Abraham/Ivan Toney) or the occasional failed name (van der beek/Eric Bailey) who will no doubt improve their team, but not to the degree where they will be anywere near the top 6. The resentment will start to grow as the owners start swapping out managers and moving away from the "11 jordees in tha team man" model that John Hall wanted. Couple of mid table finishes and the bedsheets will be back out whilst that Wrathe whopper dusts off his vicar's uniform
Personally couldn’t give a dog **** about them and what they do, remember they’ve had so called top players before and done zip all. What we can guarantee though is the skanks will all crawl out of the woodwork and start gloating but if we’re doing the right stuff under kld then we’ll be back in the prem and holding our own
Look at all the money City have spent, for me they still won't ever be bigger than Liverpool, United, Arsenal, Spurs. The mags will find they've the same problem.
Some players would sign for money granted, but the top level (Mbappe, Haaland, Neymar etc) wouldn't touch Newcastle with a barge pole even for £1m a week
Can I suggest we start a gofundme page or similar so that when we eventually get to play at the Lopsided Carbuncle again we can unfurl an absolutely huge Jamal Kashoggi flag?