Newcastle buyout

[Hakkz]

It might also make the PL so strong that it effectively becomes the super league making it the place everyone wants to play their football (already coming close to that). With so many players to choose from then it could be possible for many teams to get a decent team together with a good coach.

I'm completely against the buy out on moral grounds, I just don't necessarily think it will destroy Spurs.

European clubs could also double the price tags for PL clubs.

 

[mr ashley]

Been thinking about it this morning and it's really depressing.

Some thoughts and feel free to shut me down as its kinda preachy.

I'm reading article after article tearing this apart and rightly so but actually the media should be putting their money where their mouth is and refusing to cover not just Newcastle but the whole premier league.

The fans also for all the outrage and annoyance how many will still go to Newcastle away, how many will cancel their sky sports subscription? Boycotting these people financially is the only language they listen to.

The other clubs if they were well meaning could have got together and all refused to play against or deal with them.

I'm aware I probably sound very naive and thick but I've had enough.

This should have started with abramovich, then when the city owners came in they should have been hounded out but instead the football media just lapped up the transfers. Enjoyed the mourinho headlines, were overjoyed when pep came and have celebrated both clubs success happily ignoring the corruption when it suits them.

Football fans and I include myself were angry as much out of jealousy as anything but by and large we have just sat by and let this happen. I'm sure we all know chelsea fans who have just utterly convinced themselves that their owner is a normal guy who loves football.

And now this. These new lot make abramovich look like a Saint. They are murdering facists who hold power due to the need for oil but otherwise they would be as outcast as a third world tinpot dictatorship .

It's vile.

There has been a lot of debate and stress relief ranting about Enix on here recently. A huge thread about feeling disconnected is still going , I never thought that something that happens to shitty little Newcastle would make me feel that way more than anything my own club could do.

Make no mistake I think enic are bad. But their bad at owning a football club, PIF are just bad. It's a whole other level.

But let's be honest they will get away with it. Nobody will boycott anything, other fans will get angry whilst still paying money into the premier league brand the players will happily take bloody money whilst taking a knee and moaning about equality, the journalists and newspapers currently doing such a good job of exposing this will gleefully write about them making big signings.

Football is dead isn't it.

Finally some rational thinking on this!
anyone saying “the games gone” - well where we’re have you been for the 20 years?
And why should Newcastle fans have to be the moral flag bearers - just like Chelsea and city fans, they just want to be in the stadium watching their team win.
I dare say most of us would too (unpopular as it is to say it).

 

[Real_madyidd]

It might also make the PL so strong that it effectively becomes the super league making it the place everyone wants to play their football (already coming close to that). With so many players to choose from then it could be possible for many teams to get a decent team together with a good coach.

I'm completely against the buy out on moral grounds, I just don't necessarily think it will destroy Spurs.

It won't destroy Spurs at all. In fact, as we are the "Jewish Club" we are ideally placed to market ourselves as some sort of cool, rebellious club to support. Whilst others take the Arab money we are the "good guys". People could actually be drawn to us.

I am a 42 year old man. I just said the word "cool". Shoot me now.

 

[Real_madyidd]

It won't destroy Spurs at all. In fact, as we are the "Jewish Club" we are ideally placed to market ourselves as some sort of cool, rebellious club to support. Whilst others take the Arab money we are the "good guys". People could actually be drawn to us.

I am a 42 year old man. I just said the word "cool". Shoot me now.

Also, we should get thousands of "khashoggi" shirts. Offer to print it for free on Spurs shirts (not printed by the club, obviously, but by fans). The optics would be great on TV.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Newcastle sale to Saudi Arabia is the latest sign of a national malaise

In John Osborne’s 1957 play The Entertainer, the fading old music-hall performer Archie Rice becomes the symbol of a fading old Britain. Rice boasts, pathetically: “I’ve played in front of them all. The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, and the . . . what was the name of that other pub?” Anyone wanting to portray Britain today would use another image: a failing cash-strapped football club, which has won nothing for decades, selling its last remaining asset, its heritage, to a rich murderous foreign dictatorship. The £300m sale of Newcastle United to a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund has been treated as an emblem of English football’s moral descent. But why single out football when the malaise is national?

Whereas American robber barons used to buy newspapers and endow art museums, today’s sheikhs and oligarchs buy status through football. Rulers of states have been getting into the sport since 2008, when Abu Dhabi’s royal family took over Manchester City. Saudi Arabia was late to this game, watching in envy as its enemy Qatar sportswashed its reputation. The mini-state was chosen to host the World Cup 2022, and bought Paris Saint-Germain, where it has collected trophy footballers including Lionel Messi himself.

The Saudis tried various routes into football. In 2018, Saudi and Emirati money was central to the offer of $25bn — fronted by Japanese tech conglomerate SoftBank — to create two new international tournaments, a revamped club World Cup and a global Nations League. Fifa’s president Gianni Infantino correctly called it “the — by far — highest investment football has ever seen”. But the plans failed, as did Saudi Arabia’s attempt to grab a slice of Qatar’s World Cup.

That left Newcastle. Amanda Staveley, the British financier who helped broker the takeover, ludicrously argues that sportswashing isn’t buying a club threatened by relegation. In fact, sportswashing is using oil money to turn around a club threatened by relegation so that people come to associate your country’s name with footballing success rather than, say, the bonesaw murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Anyone surprised that Britain welcomes such shady money hasn’t been paying attention. Just take a walk around Mayfair or Kensington. London today overflows with wealth managers, libel lawyers, estate agents, public relations advisers, luxury-goods sellers, public-school headmasters and art dealers, some of whom make their living servicing rich criminals. These enablers see themselves as neutral, highly skilled professionals who (most of the time, anyway) work within the law. There’s a reason why Roberto Saviano, the Italian expert on the mafia, calls Britain “the most corrupt country in the world”.

The rot goes all the way to the top. Just look at the photograph last year of former prime minister David Cameron, sitting in a tent dressed, incongruously, in a suit, on a camping trip with his then business partner Lex Greensill to woo Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Then there’s the more than £20 billion in arms — as calculated by the NGO Campaign Against Arms Trade — sold by Britain to Saudi Arabia since the Saudis began their war in Yemen in 2015. In 2016, Boris Johnson backed the arms sales against opposition from MPs. Of course, other western countries happily sell arms to the Saudis too.

Most of Newcastle’s fans seem equally unbothered by Saudi Arabia’s abuses against women, political prisoners, Yemenis, Khashoggi and others. They are just pleased that MBS might buy them some trophies. The comedian Mark Steel joked: “If Isis had been smart, instead of blowing stuff up, they’d have bought our football clubs. Then most people in the country would praise them as heroes and saviours.”

None of this is inevitable. In the 1970s and 1980s, much of British business and sport belatedly joined a boycott of apartheid South Africa. Germany now bars outsiders from buying majority stakes in its football clubs. But don’t expect today’s Britain to choose those paths.

Welcoming dirty money is likely to remain national policy, especially after Brexit has dented foreign direct investment. In an ancient, low-skill, low-productivity country, the main thing that foreigners want to buy is heritage, from country houses to football clubs.

Newcastle is alluringly old (founded in 1892 — 40 years before Saudi Arabia) and comes equipped with the requisite Latin motto, “fortiter defendit triumphans”, or “triumphing by brave defence”. Given the club’s traditionally leaky defence — 16 goals conceded in seven matches this season — it might want to change that to something more appropriate. What about “pecunia non olet”, or “money doesn’t smell”?

 

[Matthew]

But in all seriousness, what’s the fucking point anymore for teams like us. Need to find myself a hypnotist so I can disassociate myself from football, get into rugby or something.

thing is this is such a strong possibility in a couple years, they really are going t have more power than city, i'd genuinely not be surprised if chequebook pep is there when his city contract ends.

 

[Flynn]

Me too, except when you view the match day threads
Ffs we all know the calibre of players we need now there's another team above us in the pecking order

Even then, I can take midtable if it doesn’t mean selling your soul. The main issue with the match day threads is the negative football we’ve been playing.

taking money from morally corrupt sources and winning things might be mutually exclusive but it’s not a prerequisite of entertainment. That’s why I love football (or did)

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

Newcastle sale to Saudi Arabia is the latest sign of a national malaise

Thanks for posting that. A good read and perspective.

 

[Delboy75]

Made me laugh. Though probably won’t be laughing for much longer.

 

[Albertbarich]

I see Pitt brooke has started the defence this morning, haven't read the full article but seen snippets and others praising it.

I've come to the conclusion that I don't like footballers and football fans. Always thought I did, always defended both. But I dunno I currently have a real depressed feel about it.

Take this tweet from the usually sensible HLTCO -

Yeah they can be blamed. The self entitled wankers don't deserve to be absolved of any feelings of morality because Mike Ashley isn't a good football club owner.

So Pitt brooke says go into it with their eyes open. For me that's code to say the media are now moving on, which being a man City fan I guess he would love. Soon the headline will no longer be about how many people have been murdered but how much money they spend on a shiny new player, then when they buy their first trophy they will cover it just like city's triumphs , as if these poor fans deserve it and what a great moment.

Even Miguel delaney who has been going at them all weekend didn't like it when pointed out that actually rather than just writing a few mean words you should refuse to cover the sports washing that is Qatar, that is man City and is now Newcastle. Bit apparently they have to go to the world cup to do their job. Well the world doesn't need a match report on a random football match, it could do with the media putting their balls up and refusing to partake in it. But no.

What a horrible self absorbed world football is.

 

[Tucker]

They aren’t to blame for the take over. They are to blame for their continued support and their defence of a vile regime.

 

[olliec]

It won't destroy Spurs at all. In fact, as we are the "Jewish Club" we are ideally placed to market ourselves as some sort of cool, rebellious club to support. Whilst others take the Arab money we are the "good guys". People could actually be drawn to us.

I am a 42 year old man. I just said the word "cool". Shoot me now.

I’m 39 and currently watching Moana. All good mate!

 

[Spurs_1981]

I see Pitt brooke has started the defence this morning, haven't read the full article but seen snippets and others praising it.

I've come to the conclusion that I don't like footballers and football fans. Always thought I did, always defended both. But I dunno I currently have a real depressed feel about it.

Take this tweet from the usually sensible HLTCO -
View attachment 97767
Yeah they can be blamed. The self entitled wankers don't deserve to be absolved of any feelings of morality because Mike Ashley isn't a good football club owner.

So Pitt brooke says go into it with their eyes open. For me that's code to say the media are now moving on, which being a man City fan I guess he would love. Soon the headline will no longer be about how many people have been murdered but how much money they spend on a shiny new player, then when they buy their first trophy they will cover it just like city's triumphs , as if these poor fans deserve it and what a great moment.

Even Miguel delaney who has been going at them all weekend didn't like it when pointed out that actually rather than just writing a few mean words you should refuse to cover the sports washing that is Qatar, that is man City and is now Newcastle. Bit apparently they have to go to the world cup to do their job. Well the world doesn't need a match report on a random football match, it could do with the media putting their balls up and refusing to partake in it. But no.

What a horrible self absorbed world football is.

It's been oft-repeated already multiple times throughout the thread but is probably worth repeating again, large aspects of the football media are just as much relying on the Premier league gravy train as any other party and the quote you higlighted here and the contrasting response to the super league proposals really demonstartate that ethics are a secondary consideration, or just another story to spin for clicks and attention.

The 'code for moving on' line is particuarly good and will be interesting to see if that plays out. Thankyou for highlighting that aspect.

 

[Darth Vega]

They aren’t to blame for the take over. They are to blame for their continued support and their defence of a vile regime.

I agree on blaming fans for the defence of the regime, but not their support. Football is the only thing I really do with my dad, so if we were ever to get bought out by a similar regime, would I sacrifice spending time with my dad as he starts to push into his 70s just to send a message? Probably not.

People will say you can always do something else, but you can't. Football is special and the relationship we all have with our club is unique and one of the few constants in life. It's exactly why sportswashing works and exactly why owners of clubs can get away with the amount of bullshit that they do.

They have us by the balls and we all know it.

 

[sebo_sek]

Made me laugh. Though probably won’t be laughing for much longer.

Is that snooker on the TV at St. James'?

 

[thebenjamin]

At the end of the day once 1 top player goes there the rest will follow ala chelski

Unless Joe spends we're fucked and this Jewish thing doesn't help, sorry I support spurs , why aren't the goons called yids ?

I'm pissed, drinking all day but if we are saying we ain't getting any investment from the Arabs because we are a Jewish club then let's get used to mid table because that's what we are looking at
For me I've always hated this yid thing, I'm not Jewish and never seen myself as such but if you support spurs you're a yid. Bollox, I support Tottenham hotspur fc Church of England myself but you can be any religion who cares ?
The poch era was our one chance with this regime, levy blew it

A lot to unpack here

 

[Tucker]

I agree on blaming fans for the defence of the regime, but not their support. Football is the only thing I really do with my dad, so if we were ever to get bought out by a similar regime, would I sacrifice spending time with my dad as he starts to push into his 70s just to send a message? Probably not.

People will say you can always do something else, but you can't. Football is special and the relationship we all have with our club is unique and one of the few constants in life. It's exactly why sportswashing works and exactly why owners of clubs can get away with the amount of bullshit that they do.

They have us by the balls and we all know it.

I get where you’re coming from, and I spend time with my dad watching Spurs too, but I don’t think I could support them if we got taken over by the Saudi’s. I don’t think my Dad would either.

There are other clubs out there, and we’d likely go and support someone else.

 

[rossdapep]

I get where you’re coming from, and I spend time with my dad watching Spurs too, but I don’t think I could support them if we got taken over by the Saudi’s. I don’t think my Dad would either.

There are other clubs out there, and we’d likely go and support someone else.

Another reason why this has saddened/enraged me is because my nan was a Newcastle fan, born and raised there and before she died she spoke very fondly of the club as it was the time Bobby Robson was there. That connection was because there was good people around the club. If it wasn't for my dad, I'd probably be a Geordie.

But I know that if she was still alive today, she would be appalled by this takeover and would not want any part of it. She would not be supporting it and wpuld be detached from the club

 

[whitechina]

I agree on blaming fans for the defence of the regime, but not their support. Football is the only thing I really do with my dad, so if we were ever to get bought out by a similar regime, would I sacrifice spending time with my dad as he starts to push into his 70s just to send a message? Probably not.

People will say you can always do something else, but you can't. Football is special and the relationship we all have with our club is unique and one of the few constants in life. It's exactly why sportswashing works and exactly why owners of clubs can get away with the amount of bullshit that they do.

They have us by the balls and we all know it.

I lost my father last month- make sure you stick with your father for as long as you can both keep going to matches. Having that connection is so special. Feckin' football club owners do have us by the balls and it riles me no end. I pray we don't ever have that choice to make if an unsavoury person takes us over.

 

[mattdefoe]

After a few days of letting it all sink in , it really stinks . But we have all continued since Roman, continued since city takeover , hell plenty of people (not me) went looney when Aguero scored “that goal” to win the league on goal difference after millions spent

Everyone is the problem here . As a poster said above we are sucked in.

If the amount of effort put into the super league protests was put in to these takeovers that propel sides like Chelsea and city and soon to be Newcastle to instant success then they would have fallen through .