Topic: Newcastle - RIP Jamal Khashoggi; Free Salma al-Shehab

[demain]

Was this takeover ever really serious? Seems more like it was a con job on Ashley's part to try and get Rafa to sign onto a new deal.  Bit like how Everton would leek stadium "news" around the time season tickets were due.

That's exactly what it was, which was apparent to everyone but Newcastle fans.

[Schmidt]

It's a busman's holiday for Rafa, that's all. After decades of dealing with shit owners this is probably more productive (and profitable) than a sabbatical.

I bet it's not for Rafa.

[No666]

Reports that they approached Gerrard and he turned them down. Obtuse of them to approach him in the first place, seeing as one of his two managerial advisors has been Rafa.

[jackh]

Reports that they approached Gerrard and he turned them down. Obtuse of them to approach him in the first place, seeing as one of his two managerial advisors has been Rafa.

I didn't know that...where/when's this been discussed?

[No666]

Think he did an interview with Carragher in which he said Rafa was someone he called to ask for advice on tactics etc.

[paulrazor]

I wouldnt say he would need advice from Benitez or anyone for that matter on whether he should take the Newcastle job if offered, Mike Ashley will be enough to warn him off

[Ghost Town]

He made his mind up in May apparently.

Rafa has clearly stated that he would have stayed at Newcastle, as late as the last meeting with Ashley, if the correct assurances were given.

I wouldn't turn the money down either but please let's not dress this up as anything but what it is. A cash grab. This Chinese team finished midtable last year so not like he is gonna
add something on his cv

You saying he turned down other jobs in Europe to go on this 'cash grab'? Which ones? Sounds to me like a man took a job that was offered

[Peabee]

Can’t blame him choosing £24m for two seasons over £6m (some say less) for one season and no say on incoming players.

[blert596]

You know what. maybe he's just thought "Fuck it, I'm fed up with all the bullshit I've had to deal with in my last couple of jobs. Here's a job that pays very well, gets me away from the fucking media here, will allow me some decent team funds without all the behind the scenes shit, and you know what I might even get to manage and build a team like I want to."

And I think he fucking deserves to take whatever so called cop out job he wants. He earned that right for me years ago.

[red_bird]

China could potentially be a very good project for Rafa:
 
Chinese Super League
AFC Champions League

are all achievable targets, and then the manager of the national team.
unlike Lippi, who has spent the last 7 years in China, making a fortune but doing little to help Chinese football really improve, one of Rafa's strengths is to organise everything about football from ground level up.

but all above has to be based on the condition that, if the club owner has enough patience and they share the same vision and stick to the plan.

[God's Left Peg]

You know what. maybe he's just thought "Fuck it, I'm fed up with all the bullshit I've had to deal with in my last couple of jobs. Here's a job that pays very well, gets me away from the fucking media here, will allow me some decent team funds without all the behind the scenes shit, and you know what I might even get to manage and build a team like I want to."

And I think he fucking deserves to take whatever so called cop out job he wants. He earned that right for me years ago.

Spot on.

[gerrardisgod]

Steve Bruce backed in to favourite

[OsirisMVZ]

Has Newcastle's pre-season started without them having a Manager or Asst Manager then? Shambles

[MrGrumpy]

Steve Bruce backed in to favourite

Poor Geordies.

[JackWard33]

Feel sorry for their fans to be honest.
This club should be top half of the league every season it’s that big
Can’t see how they won’t go down this year

[24/7]

"Mike Ashley! He's gorra big fat head!"

[lionel_messias]

Steve Bruce backed in to favourite

Man, that's like being knifed in the buttocks for 11 months.

Newcastle don't deserve it.

[bird_lfc]

Feel sorry for their fans to be honest.
This club should be top half of the league every season it’s that big
Can’t see how they won’t go down this year

Inclined to agree with you. It’s a shame that More of them haven’t spoke with their feet like Paul has on here and refused to go to games. All these little protests they have done have had fuck all affect.

Their squad is borderline championship standard after losing Perez and Rondon. They had probably one of the best managers in the league in Benitez (up there with Klopp, Guardiola, and Poch) and Ashley didn’t back him

Would he sell even if they went back to the Championship again? im not so sure

[JackWard33]

Inclined to agree with you. It’s a shame that More of them haven’t spoke with their feet like Paul has on here and refused to go to games. All these little protests they have done have had fuck all affect.

Their squad is borderline championship standard after losing Perez and Rondon. They had probably one of the best managers in the league in Benitez (up there with Klopp, Guardiola, and Poch) and Ashley didn’t back him

Would he sell even if they went back to the Championship again? im not so sure

He won’t sell because it’s a money making asset that also gives him a ton of profile

And by the way I’m really shocked no ones bought them in the last 12 months .
I actually don’t think his valuation is unreasonable as it goes (if it really is 300 million) - although it probably involves a big upfront payment to pay off the clubs loans to him!!
There are only so many football clubs and very few with a 50k stadium in a city of 2 million people with no competition from other clubs

[mc_red22]

They deserve to be relegated if they're replacing Rafa with Steve fucking Bruce!!!

[mc_red22]

He won’t sell because it’s a money making asset that also gives him a ton of profile

And by the way I’m really shocked no ones bought them in the last 12 months .
I actually don’t think his valuation is unreasonable as it goes (if it really is 300 million) - although it probably involves a big upfront payment to pay off the clubs loans to him!!
There are only so many football clubs and very few with a 50k stadium in a city of 2 million people with no competition from other clubs

There should be people queuing up to buy them.

[Dench57]

Be fucking hilarious if they got Steve Bruce

[JackWard33]

There should be people queuing up to buy them.

Yeah - I wonder if when it actually comes to it Ashley is totally unreasonable, wants a ton of money up front, more than the publicised asking price etc - it doesn't make sense otherwise they're a really attractive proposition

[paulrazor]

They deserve to be relegated if they're replacing Rafa with Steve fucking Bruce!!!

definitely

Its like trading in a Ferrari for a wheelbarrow

[Son of Spion]

definitely

Its like trading in a Ferrari for a wheelbarrow

That's actually harsh on the wheelbarrow.

Steve Bruce. 

From Rafa to ... Steve. Bruce. 

[thejbs]

definitely

Its like trading in a Ferrari for a wheelbarrow

More like trading in a Ferrari for a kick in the balls... and having to pay for the privilege.

[Peabee]

He won’t sell because it’s a money making asset that also gives him a ton of profile

And by the way I’m really shocked no ones bought them in the last 12 months .
I actually don’t think his valuation is unreasonable as it goes (if it really is 300 million) - although it probably involves a big upfront payment to pay off the clubs loans to him!!
There are only so many football clubs and very few with a 50k stadium in a city of 2 million people with no competition from other clubs

Yes, that’s a huge sticking point.

From https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-paid-mike-ashley-33million-16146748:
“It leaves £111million in debt, which was accrued after Ashley bought the club. That money is “only repayable in the even of a sale of the club”.”

Thus, on top of the new owner paying £300m to Ashley for his shares, they’d also need to loan enough to the company for the company to be able to return £111m to Ashley (which is separate from the shares tx). Effectively, £411m up front (but with the club owing the new owners £111m - unless they treated it as equity).

[rafathegaffa83]

Be fucking hilarious if they got Steve Bruce

Why would they go for him? I doubt Ashley for one would sanction the volume of player turnover he typically has. And then there is the Sunderland connection. Sanchez Flores is their best realistic option

[Chakan]

Why would they go for him? I doubt Ashley for one would sanction the volume of player turnover he typically has. And then there is the Sunderland connection. Sanchez Flores is their best realistic option

He's a yes man, just happy to have a job

[thekitkatshuffler]

Why would they go for him? I doubt Ashley for one would sanction the volume of player turnover he typically has. And then there is the Sunderland connection. Sanchez Flores is their best realistic option

Senseless as it might be, the Beeb reckon he's under consideration - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48938536

[Dubred]

So what exactly is going on with the sale to the sheikh?  I thought paperwork had been submitted to the PL some weeks ago, but is it yet again another false dawn and turnaround by Fat Mike?

[Red Beret]

That's actually harsh on the wheelbarrow.

Steve Bruce. 

From Rafa to ... Steve. Bruce. 

Imagine going from Rafa Benitez  to Roy Hodgson Steve Bruce.

[Red Beret]

Why would they go for him? I doubt Ashley for one would sanction the volume of player turnover he typically has. And then there is the Sunderland connection. Sanchez Flores is their best realistic option

Because Ashley doesn't give a shit and Bruce would be happy for a job and multi million pound payoff when he got the sack?

[Peabee]

So what exactly is going on with the sale to the sheikh?  I thought paperwork had been submitted to the PL some weeks ago, but is it yet again another false dawn and turnaround by Fat Mike?

It was all bullshit. The sheikh couldn’t even show he had £25m when FSG wanted to vet him after he approached about investing in LFC.

[FiSh77]

Ashley and Bruce would be utopia, just what the scruffs deserve

[Eeyore]

Yes, that’s a huge sticking point.

From https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-paid-mike-ashley-33million-16146748:
“It leaves £111million in debt, which was accrued after Ashley bought the club. That money is “only repayable in the even of a sale of the club”.”

Thus, on top of the new owner paying £300m to Ashley for his shares, they’d also need to loan enough to the company for the company to be able to return £111m to Ashley (which is separate from the shares tx). Effectively, £411m up front (but with the club owing the new owners £111m - unless they treated it as equity).

It is even worse than that Newcastle are tied into long term contracts with a variety of Ashley's companies on onerous terms. From Sports Direct, through security to catering virtually everything goes through Ashley's umbrella companies.

[Red Beret]

It is even worse than that Newcastle are tied into long term contracts with a variety of Ashley's companies on onerous terms. From Sports Direct, through security to catering virtually everything goes through Ashley's umbrella companies.

Basically the same way Trump bills his own secret service for millions when he stays at Mar a Lago.

[4pool]

Basically the same way Trump bills his own secret service for millions when he stays at Mar a Lago.

Just for the record..I used to play golf with someone who was with the Secret Service. Who then went on to be a local Director of Homeland Security. ( and btw, he always had a suitcase packed in his boot with his necessary weapon as well, in case he got a call to report at any time)

They get paid regardless. What someone in the Secret Service prefers, is a job away from their home location. Then they get to claim expenses. If it's local, they receive very little in the way of expenses.

The President being based in Washington DC has a specialized Secret Service crew. Anytime the President moves out of the Capitol, regardless of whom that is, they get their expenses taken care of. Same with the Vice President.

Also, all Ex-Presidents and their families have Secret Service protection as well. So do the Senate and House of Representative majority leaders. ( Currently McConnell and Pelosi ).

[Red Beret]

^^^ what I meant was that the Trump organisation bills the secret service for facilities they use at Trump's resorts or buildings - so he effectively profits from the US taxpayer via his own security detail.

In a similar manner, Newcastle are effectively paying Mike Ashley to be owned by him - in ways that go far beyond merely him taking a dividend.  Same as we had with the cowboys.

[Ghost Town]

This thread has taken a strange turn. Cofvefe!