17 Oct 2021 23:59:05
As a red from the north east (i know before u start glory supporter. 1 league title in all my 30 years) I just don't get all the hate and bitterness towards Newcastle, I know we can all get one our high horses about the appalling state of affairs in Saudi Arabia, but let's face it deep down that's not why people are twisting, the issue with most is jealousy, knowing that Newcastle could break into the so called big 6 and upset the status quo. For what it's worth I say good luck to them and hopefully it brings some much needed money and rejuvenation to the area.

{Ed0666's Note - it’s like when you go to a house party and none of the girls aren’t interested in talking to you because they’ve all got eyes for the stud at the other side of the room. Let’s all reconcile the fact that Newcastle are here to stay and within 2 years they will be major major players in the Barclays Premier League. My initial thought was FSG wouldn’t stay around to compete but there’s so much money in the premiership I’m pretty sure they will.

1.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 00:26:09
With Newcastle takeover that's just the beginning for EPL to turn into Super-league.

2.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 00:36:55
As a neutral I am quite excited by this takeover on a sporting level. I remember the days of Newcastle under Keegan and Robeson and St. James Park was electric. I don’t have any problem with Newcastle shaking things up a bit. However on a human level I find this takeover quite disgusting, to have another homophobic, murderous, repressive regime allowed to own an English football club should not be allowed to happen.

3.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 00:26:56
Thanks for the reply 666, love the analogy too even if in my younger days I didn't do too bad at those house parties haha.
When Liverpool won the league something changed for me, I don't know if it was the relief of finally seeing it happened, or the entire world going to pot, but I just took a step back and appreciated it not the be all and end all. It nice to just enjoy the games as they come especially with this great Liverpool team under this fantastic manager.

{Ed0666's Note - exactly mate I’m gonna take your advice and enjoy while I can because once klopp leaves football won’t be that palatable for me. I truly believe this is highest of peaks and the only way is down after this. The premiership is turning into a mini super league if it hasn’t already and it’s getting way too stupid with all the money being thrown around. I really can’t appreciate or fathom paying soccer players earning 1 million £€ a week which will happen real soon. So again I speak for myself but when klopp goes I think I’ll bow out also. It’s crazy how soccer dictates my life it’s like a drug and addiction I’m looking forward to the free time to be honest.

4.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 02:32:17
From a sporting perspective I think takeover will be great for the quality of the game in the Premier League and from my own view I’m really pleased for the Newcastle fans - a great bunch with a fanatical love for the club (and a reward for having had to put up with Ashley) .

From an ethical perspective I am against it (and would be if it were us who had been taken over) and Staveley’s weasel words about the Saudi Government not being involved are making it less appealing by the second for me.

To be honest I love good football and would welcome any team playing good football, which has what has been so good about Liverpool over the past three or four years in particular and I’m really enjoying match days again. Like Ed0666 I think the bubble might burst when JK leaves but the little kid inside me is still willing to hang about a bit to see what happens next - as I’ve been watching (that I can remember) for over 55 years, I would be at a loss for things to do 🙂.

5.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 03:47:27
The idea that fan resentment towards this takeover boils down to envy or bitterness is nonsensical. People are more aware than ever, far more than in 2003, 2008 or 2011, of atrocities and oppressions committed by certain states, and subsequent attempts to ‘sportswash’ through top-level football. On top of that, the PL/ FA should not be allowing states to take over clubs in the first place.
I think the vast majority of Liverpool fans would be appalled if Newcastle’s new owners took over our club, even if it meant going from 6 CLs to 10.

6.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 07:16:54
I think the FA have been spineless in allowing this. Countries should not own clubs, particularly countries like Saudi Arabia. I recently had to return to the UK from AUs and flights were really difficult to get and expensive. I could have flown with Qatar, but forked out more to fly with Singapore.

Here's a question. How many top players do you think will want to go to Newcastle? I love the city, but I know there have been times when Liverpool have been turned down for a move to a London club.

{Ed0666's Note - Liverpool won’t offer players 2 or 3 times higher than they’ll get elsewhere. These guys mean business they are Man Ciry/Psg and then some. Players will go for the cash sooner rather than later. People think they won’t win the premiership within 5 years are kidding themselves.

7.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 07:48:43
The entire game loses sensible reference points and turns into a real life game of FIFA when the Arab states and oiligarchs get involved.
I mean, Man City may be worth $3 billion now but who else but another Arab state or oligarch could afford to buy them?
The ironic thing was that on the day of the Saudi takeover, the Toon fans were jumping around, throwing drink everywhere, and carrying on, as they do.
If they did that back in Saudi, they’d all be slung in gaol, lol.

8.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 07:42:15
The problem is that football tends to be a moral vacuum at the higher levels.

How many migrant bodies is the Qatar World Cup going to be built on the top of?

So yes everybody should be appalled at the ownership of Newcastle although the truth is non of these mega rich owners will be squeaky clean. So it depends on what your moral compass is willing to overlook.

{Ed025's Note - the thing is wassa that football and morals should never be in the same sentence mate, i remember when gilette and hicks were in control at your club and you were all clamouring to be taken over by saudi,s. people who live in glass houses and all that..

9.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 07:34:10
Wow eds666 they are strong words! I get what you mean though mate. We all want the salah contract sorted but surly Liverpool fc should be doing everything humanly possible to keep klopp at the club longer. The bloke is a genius and the day he leaves will not only be devastating there will be a massive sie of relief from all other clubs!

{Ed0666's Note - I don’t think klopp will stay mate. He’s a gazilonaire and he’s made many hints about him leaving. He can’t keep working miracles there comes a point where mega mega money will trump genius. I agree tho I would be dangling every carrot to keep him from leaving.

10.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 07:56:07
I wish you were right @Lowe, but having an appreciation of the ‘outside world’ isn’t high on the agenda for the majority of fans. Sad, very sad, but true imho.

{Ed025's Note - absolutely WDW..

11.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 08:37:23
tbh Newcastle need to sort themselves out first could be in the championship next year.

12.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 08:04:29
To properly compete with these clubs now, you need super-rich owners Ed066, and the day that happens at Liverpool is the day that I, and a lot of Liverpool fans I suspect, will knock it on the head, despite what Everton Ed says.

{Ed0666's Note - I’m sure if Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk took us over there would be joy.

13.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 10:27:54
People are right to get on their high horse about Newcastle's new owners. Sadly, there's nothing that can be done by us, only their fans, but they won't stay away, because it's footie andtheir vociferous fans.
The issue may come with attracting the best players/ managers. Northumberland is beautiful and Newcastle is a great city, but Newcastle is not London, or even Manchester. It's certainly not Madrid, or Milan, or Barcelona or Paris. They would have to be paying over the odds to attract the best - Even City had to wait several years to attract the best players/ manager and that's with the kudos of the Manchester. Manchester is a brand all of its own and I believe helped attract their personnel. Newcastle has nothing to attract those players, except a ton of cash. Yes I know players are seen as mercenaries by some, but in order to attract the best, they are going to have to push the threshold of salaries and transfer fees beyond anything we've seen I believe.
Another reason to revel in what we have now, because as soon as Klopp goes, unless FSG sell to considerably richer owners we, will not be able tosuccessfully compete in that arena.

14.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 10:33:22
They can’t win the league within 5 years. I know they have unlimited funds but after the first 2 years they will have to spend within some sort of framework. They also need 20 new players and the ones they get in the first 12 months won’t be good enough to win the league. I think it will take them 10 years.

15.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 10:50:30
Another nail in the coffin that is football.
Mike Ashley was a tit but seriously?
I’m sure football fans wouldn’t care if Hitler was resurrected, bought Aston Villa and bought Messi using stollen gold and paintings.

16.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 12:35:39
Stop supporting the team because rich owners come in? Yet there's no problem with high transfer fees, agents fees, high bonuses, high ticket prices, high wages etc etc, football left reality decades ago, if we don't have owners who will spend when we are winning, what happens when we stop being a top 4 side? Rich owners will/ have become a must for the top clubs IMO.

17.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 15:48:39
"I know we can all get one our high horses about the appalling state of affairs in Saudi Arabia, but let's face it deep down that's not why people are twisting"

Couldn't disagree more. This is EXACTLY why I detest what is happening at Newcastle. The people who own that club also sanction state backed beheadings of journalists, torture and murder of minority groups, advocate for the removal of equal rights and sponsor terrorist activities around the world. That's not just me saying that, it's the UN and Amnesty and any number of human rights organisations.

Any distinction between the "company" and the state is purely on paper and the FA have sold out to agree to it.

We all know plenty of countries around the world, including those involved in football in the UK, have issues with human rights abuses, but this is the people guilty of those abuses attempting to sportswash their crimes.

I thank every deity/ karma/ luck that I am not a Newcastle fan as having them as owners would disgust me.

18.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 17:15:15
Absolutely agree with you RedDawn. These funding streams from states with appalling human rights records will be seen in the future in the same way we now view businesses and institutions that were built on the proceeds of the slave trade.

19.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 14:26:41
Ed25, you are absolutely spot on mate. A time a lot of Liverpool fans would like to forget but it happened, we know it happened. Now it's Newcastle it's a problem. How funny. Hilarious thing is, if in a year or so from now they wanted to take us over, the excitement would once again begin. History would repeat itself, there's just a lot of jealousy going on at the moment. its a little odd if you ask me.

{Ed025's Note - im afraid ethics go right out the window when it comes to success and wealth salah, i would imagine every other team would feel exactly the same and yes of course some will frown upon it, but when the top players start signing it would tend to subside a bit mate, now does that make me a mercenary or a realist?.answers on a postcard.. :)

20.) 18 Oct 2021
18 Oct 2021 18:21:43
An Arab state or Oligarch to clarify LancasterRed.
I don’t mind a bit of Bezos lol.

{Ed0666's Note - Amazon workers regularly complain of long grueling hours, hard work, injuries, little pay and timed toilet breaks etc. My point is we shouldn’t be so quick to judge as we all have failings. There is no perfect ownership model unless I took charge of the club. Friday’s would be like a scene out of the ‘wolf of wall street’ (no training on that day obviously) and we’d have Taco Tuesday with margaritas. Salah would be the first million pound a week earning footballer in the UK and I’d act as his agent also. Bobby would be given a lifetime contract because of his Kung fu kick celebrations alone. And I’d buy at least 2 Brazilians every season to keep Ali at the club. I’m well aware of the fact I’m talking bollox

21.) 19 Oct 2021
19 Oct 2021 08:33:34
Cannot see newcastle winning the league in the next 2 years. They may not even be in the PL next season! I think people are getting a little over excited.

Newcastle will have to start with above average players, break into top 6,attract slightly better players, break into top 4 then attract the best players. Whilst some players will jump at the chance to double their salary, they will likely be former top players looking to ease into retirement.

A prime Mbappe or Haaland would not move to newcastle with no guarantee of European football.