Newcastle United now owned by the PIF | PL receives "legally binding assurances that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not control NUFC" ;)

[stu_1992]

Ugh. That's my initial reaction to this news. I hate these state-backed clubs in general and even more so when it potentially impacts United.

I should also say that states that have terrible human rights records and only want football clubs for the purposes of sports-washing or a dick-measuring contest make this particularily sickening.

 

[Teja]

So PL stopped it because they weren't getting their cut rather than Journalist Sheesh Kebabs in Turkey.

I've come around to the fact that the PL doesn't give a shit about financial fairness. They want the big money in the league, existing clubs be damned. It doesn't matter how much they spend or how they get their money, it's all good.

It makes the top four race "more interesting". Therefore more $$$ for the TV rights.
They can spin the club in decline narrative for traditional clubs like Arsenal, United etc. and get more eyeballs.
Reinforces PL's dominance. If you don't allow the big money, they'll look at the other leagues in the top five.

Their PL's loyalty ultimately is to the league itself, not the clubs that make up the league. And before anyone says it's only the big clubs that are worried about this, think of what this does to the Tottenhams and the Leicesters of the league - no chance they'll be anywhere near a top four / title in the near future.

The only hope is that all the super league shenanigans will force the UEFA to scrap FFP (which was designed as a financial health / stability measure) and promote something like wage caps / transfer caps to even the playing field a little.

 

[AllGoodNamesRGone]

Oh joy, they will pick off any potential prospect we have such as Saka just like Coty did to us when they were first building.

 

[We need an rvn]

Why Newcastle? Why not United, Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal? Why buy a team in which you need to replace all players and club which don't have big reputation. They will need 6,7 years to create a team for top 4 (if that is their goal of course). They can have all money in the world but top players will not go there now.

Because £300m to them is nothing. Buying United would cost the £4b and no matter how rich, £4b is still a lot to be justified. Plus you could probably buy the city of Newcastle for £4b and have change for Middlesbrough too.

If I were to buy a sleeping giant, it would have been Leeds - and that's me saying that as a United fan.

 

[largelyworried]

Football gets harder to like every year.

 

[soapythecat]

I know Newcastle fans hate Ashley because he didn't like to spend much money. But this seens like it is just a bad move in the oppisite direction.

They are going to see piles of money being spent on mediocre players and they will still win nothing.

I think you’ll find we nailed that philosophy

 

[FatTails]

I can’t wait to hear about all the “wonderful things they’ve done in the area and all the development”.

Martin Samuel getting ready.

 

[soapythecat]

I feel sorry for Steve Bruce. Thank feck we tied Ole down to a long contract otherwise we could have lost him for nothing. Best we hurry up with McKenna and Carrick contracts. Newcastle will want proven PL masters

 

[Gandalf]

MBS would have fired him anyway, he will go for the flashiest hipster manager.

He might be after Ole then, nothing says hipster like "trophies are overrated".

 

[BusbyMalone]

What a fairytale story

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Steve Bruce absolutely sweating gravy over how he can best decline his invite to the embassy.

 

[AllGoodNamesRGone]

A thread about Saudi Arabia taking over Newcastle and the ole comments are already flying in.

 

[Dr. StrangeHate]

A thread about Saudi Arabia taking over Newcastle and the ole comments are already flying in.

There have been a few but it has been mostly on topic.

 

[Ronaldo's ego]

The league is fecked. There’s a fan of a top 4 clubs reading this story who isn’t that fussed but this investment means they’ll be pushed out of the top 4 and have set their club back years but they just don’t know it yet.

Told this to my Arsenal supporting mate who was ecstatic when Aguero scored that goal. He didn’t care at the time, certainly does now.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Oh joy, they will pick off any potential prospect we have such as Saka just like Coty did to us when they were first building.

Probably take a few years for them to sign players like Saka. If it is anything like City's rag to riches then it will mostly be mercenaries playing there over the next five to ten years. Saka doesn't seem like that type to be fair to him.

 

[Sandikan]

Why Newcastle? Why not United, Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal? Why buy a team in which you need to replace all players and club which don't have big reputation. They will need 6,7 years to create a team for top 4 (if that is their goal of course). They can have all money in the world but top players will not go there now.

There was once a club called Man City who people said the exact same for....wonder what happened to them..

 

[RedStarUnited]

I know Newcastle fans hate Ashley because he didn't like to spend much money. But this seens like it is just a bad move in the oppisite direction.

They are going to see piles of money being spent on mediocre players and they will still win nothing.

like Man City and Chelsea?

 

[Sandikan]

Told this to my Arsenal supporting mate who was ecstatic when Aguero scored that goal. He didn’t care at the time, certainly does now.

They will be reminiscing about the days they were scraping 4th each season.

They'll never get top 4 again! Unless they can find an even sillierly rich owner.

 

[Dr. StrangeHate]

Probably take a few years for them to sign players like Saka. If it is anything like City's rag to riches then it will mostly be mercenaries playing there over the next five to ten years. Saka doesn't seem like that type to be fair to him.

I think it will be different as players are smart enough to know that oil clubs doing this for sports washing or d*** measuring are the future. PSG, City and Chelsea have shown it is only a matter of time they come out on top. Players will be much more open now.

 

[Zaphod2319]

Haaland in black stripes.

 

[UnitedSofa]

Haaland in black stripes.

Not happening

 

[Spoony]

Looks like the only way to compete is to be an oil club.

 

[Zaphod2319]

Not happening

Yeah, if Mbappe leaves, I expect PSG to outbid everyone and his agent loves doing business with them.

 

[LARulz]

Why Newcastle? Why not United, Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal? Why buy a team in which you need to replace all players and club which don't have big reputation. They will need 6,7 years to create a team for top 4 (if that is their goal of course). They can have all money in the world but top players will not go there now.

Glazers and co weren't selling

Also these clubs cost a fortune. But Newcastle (good fanbase) for £300m and then reinvent the squad. Probably works out cheaper

 

[UnitedSofa]

Yeah, if Mbappe leaves, I expect PSG to outbid everyone and his agent loves doing business with them.

I see what you did there....

Mbappe allegedly in contract talks to renew any how

 

[Big Ben Foster]

Starting to think we'll never win the league again

 

[UnitedSofa]

Starting to think we'll never win the league again

Meltdown incoming.....

When was the last time Chelsea won the league?

 

[Zaphod2319]

Meltdown incoming.....

When was the last time Chelsea won the league?

2021/22 I need to stop!

 

[ShinjiNinja26]

Can’t see the PL blocking this, all they give a feck about is money. They’ll view another state backed club as a good thing that will bring more eyes on the league as they’re able to sign the best players and managers. To hell with fairness and ethics.

 

[FCBarcelona]

The English Oil League

Oilmazing

The league is fecked. There’s a fan of a top 4 clubs reading this story who isn’t that fussed but this investment means they’ll be pushed out of the top 4 and have set their club back years but they just don’t know it yet.
On another note. If this goes how we expect it to then England will be the de facto super league of football for the arms race alone

Half of top 4 clubs are already oil clubs... they have no right to open the mouth

 

[dwd]

The English Oil League

Oilmazing

Oil is at the wheel.

 

[The Firestarter]

I worry that “sack the manager” might be misunderstood by the Saudis

They'll just invite the manager to a nice dinner in the embassy as a show of support.

 

[ShinjiNinja26]

If this goes through then cue the influx of Geordie fans to the caf now they’ll be rich and competitive.

 

[edcunited1878]

Wonder how much investment will be put into the club, such as training ground, player development, recruiting, etc.

It is no guarantee Newcastle win anything. They do need to get in better players, pay higher wages, and better coaching. But feels like the entire club from youth academy on up need a total re-work, no just first team issues.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Starting to think we'll never win the league again

Increasingly worried it won’t happen in my lifetime. Wish I’d savoured the last few more

 

[Big Ben Foster]

Meltdown incoming.....

When was the last time Chelsea won the league?

Wtf does Chelsea have anything to do with this?

And they last won the league in 2017, as well as a CL last season. So I'm not sure what you're trying to get at.

 

[The Firestarter]

A thread about Saudi Arabia taking over Newcastle and the ole comments are already flying in.

They want to hire Ole ?

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

The crown prince spent 550 mil for a painting to hang in his yacht a few summers ago. Mbappe, Harland and Pogba in one summer could be had by the money from shaking his couch.

 

[FCBarcelona]

Oil is at the wheel.

Glazers don't have oil but they have Ole...

 

[Classical Mechanic]

Why Newcastle? Why not United, Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal? Why buy a team in which you need to replace all players and club which don't have big reputation. They will need 6,7 years to create a team for top 4 (if that is their goal of course). They can have all money in the world but top players will not go there now.

They're far cheaper and it's a City with one team. They'll probably get 75000 fans in with an expanded stadium and oil money buying top players. Newcastle is also a good City to invest in like Abu Dhabi have in Manchester.