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

[padr81]

I think incompetence at executive level is a more worrying aspect of their reign, I am not discounting the financial aspect entirely but we have spent as much as City and all the other big spenders in world football for little to no return because we lack vision and decisiveness at the top. Obviously this Saudi takeover will push up prices and wages for top players so it will have an effect as clubs will need more just to compete but we weren't getting back to the top regardless.

Its been shown time and time again, spending and price boosts follow tv money and not oil clubs. The correlation to tv money is uncanny.

Interesting article on the subject and the inflation in football.
Another from the same dude also worth baring in mind he's a Liverpool man and his club more than any have probably been fecked by investment from oil money. (also strangely prophetic when he talks about £100m players)
Basically tv money has driven up player prices and while oil clubs haven't helped this was always the trajectory it was on. Newcastle won't affect the market 1/1000th of what the next tv deal will.

 

[Zen86]

People are reacting like they can go out tomorrow and buy a whole new team. They simply cannot go out and just spend the vast sums needed to get to the big players needed to get to the top. That's why I think they will end up more like Everton and have a squad full of mediocre over priced players

Of course they can. That's exactly what Chelsea and City did.

There's a somewhat tried a tested roadmap here. They certainly won't be buying Mbappe and Haaland in the summer, but they will effectively buy a new squad made up of players from the mid to upper tier. They'll take who they can from the clubs floating outside the top 4 and then continue to upgrade year on year. Eventually they'll outspend the rest of the league and cement their place in the CL, at which point the door is open to throw money at the very best players on the market.

 

[Siorac]

At the point of City’s takeover, Newcastle were/are far more popular and well known overseas.
Newcastle were in the Champions League on a couple of occasions in the early-mid 00’s and tonnes in the UEFA Cup. Not comparable to City in 2008 at all, who’d been in 1 UEFA Cup (qualified through fair play) and zero Champions League/EC for over 30 years.

I don't think that there's a significant difference when it comes to the draw/attraction they might have for non-UK players. They are both seen as small clubs.

 

[BridgeBanter]

Good time to sell those shares, we're about to become the lower United. 3 fecking oil clubs.

Newcastle will complete the stadium to 80-90k, hoover up the players, it'll be the battle of the super squads of Newcastle, City and Chelsea in a few years.

I never understood quotes like this. You'd think Manchester United was playing in the 4th division as opposed to literally being the most valuable and marketable football club in the world. We can't actually call "woe is me" when it comes to this stuff.

 

[Thunderhead]

I don't think that there's a significant difference when it comes to the draw/attraction they might have for non-UK players. They are both seen as small clubs.

maybe to players in their late 20's, but City as a draw to kids who are 14-15 won't be seen as a small club, they'll see City winning things and I think for 90% of players that's a bigger draw

 

[Siorac]

maybe to players in their late 20's, but City as a draw to kids who are 14-15 won't be seen as a small club, they'll see City winning things and I think for 90% of players that's a bigger draw

Yes, yes, but we were talking about City as before their takeover. And my entire point is that current Newcastle is not much different from pre-takeover City, at least when it comes to what they represent to foreign players.

 

[Thunderhead]

Yes, yes, but we were talking about City as before their takeover. And my entire point is that current Newcastle is not much different from pre-takeover City, at least when it comes to what they represent to foreign players.

fair enough apologies, yeah that makes total sense.

 

[Cloud7]

Also another factor is kids these days are more interested in players than clubs. Neymar is a bigger deal than PSG, KDB than City, I'd say even CR7 to United in the eyes of many "Fifa" kids. I'd be very interested to compare the fanbase growth between PSG and City to compare the Galactico policy of PSG vs Cities.

There's a guy I know who I'm friends with on Facebook, we know each other from some classes in the past. Not a child, but a late 20s man. He has been following Ronaldo from club to club, updating his loyalties whenever he changes clubs, changes his cover photo to Ronaldo at his new club etc. I can at least somewhat understand it for children because that seems to be the way a lot of the younger generation are going, but it always seemed weird to me for a grown man to be doing that

 

[djembatheking]

Geordies are mad for it. St James Park will be buzzin again like Keegan had it in the 90s , they never made it over the line but there was a huge buzz around the place. Would rather see them win the league ahead of City any day of the week.

 

[Ludens the Red]

Correct. I've never met a Newcastle fan that wasn't a geordie.

That'll change in a few years perhaps!

Are you a Londoner ?

I’ve known quite a few down here (London obv) due to the mid 90’s team they had. I have a mate who’s a Newcastle fan and know about a dozen from school. Surprised if you are indeed a Londoner, and haven’t met one.

 

[Swarup]

Geordies are mad for it. St James Park will be buzzin again like Keegan had it in the 90s , they never made it over the line but there was a huge buzz around the place. Would rather see them win the league ahead of City any day of the week.

But careful what we wish for. This will also mean we will be in bigger fight to be in the top 4.

 

[padr81]

There's a guy I know who I'm friends with on Facebook, we know each other from some classes in the past. Not a child, but a late 20s man. He has been following Ronaldo from club to club, updating his loyalties whenever he changes clubs, changes his cover photo to Ronaldo at his new club etc. I can at least somewhat understand it for children because that seems to be the way a lot of the younger generation are going, but it always seemed weird to me for a grown man to be doing that

Yeah dude, thats insane and you'd think at that age he is indeed taking the piss. You could maybe understand it in a small country or one where great players are few and far between (something like when Dzeko was at City and we got tons of Bosnian followers till he left). National pride and all that but for an English or Irish man to change allegiances based on a Portuguese or Brazilian or Argentinian player, its weird to me but the norm for many young ones.

 

[The Firestarter]

But what comes next will shock you!

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If these are the kind of decisions they are about to make , I think we'll be alright.

 

[Champ]

Of course they can. That's exactly what Chelsea and City did.

There's a somewhat tried a tested roadmap here. They certainly won't be buying Mbappe and Haaland in the summer, but they will effectively buy a new squad made up of players from the mid to upper tier. They'll take who they can from the clubs floating outside the top 4 and then continue to upgrade year on year. Eventually they'll outspend the rest of the league and cement their place in the CL, at which point the door is open to throw money at the very best players on the market.

They can't go out in January and buy a new team!

They would need to sell their existing players first, that is the biggest issue, the premier League squad is 25, they would then need to get rid of 7/8 players, if not more to get a better starting 11, that ain't happening, especially in January.

They would also need to overspend massively in order to buy better players, and also tempt these players with high wages, all of which are unsustainable without big sponsorship deals, which I'd wager rests alot on what happens with City and the Premier League.

It will take them at least 10 years to be competitive for the league title in today's league.

 

[0le]

McFred should have done more to stop this from going further.

 

[Zaphod2319]

One noob question. How come Newcastle has a huge fanbase?

Newcastle has about 300 thousand population, metropolitan area about 1.5. So its huge cause of the whole area and they dont have a rival in that area?
They're not as popular in the rest of the country I presume?

Sunderland and Newcastle are only 10 miles apart and a huge rivalry. Sunderland FC has just fallen on hard times.

 

[Offsideagain]

The takeover will go through as the PL and FA have sanctioned the Chelsea and Man City ones. I don’t know if the human rights test has changed since the City one but how can they refuse on those grounds? They’ll be off to the High Court before you can blink to have it reversed. Also, they will still be tied to PL FFP and UEFA rules so they can’t splash the cash until they have earned some and fake sponsors like City had for years won’t cut it anymore. No, they will slowly improve the team and therefore the universal following and shirt sales etc and, because they won’t be taking huge sums out of the club like the Glazers, they will re-invest the profits in players. The human rights angle is all tosh. The PL and UEFA virtually ignore that and play lip service to it. A toon fan mate of mine couldn’t give a monkeys about the Saudi’s human rights. As long as they sack Steve Bruce, he’s happy.

 

[Rhyme Animal]

But careful what we wish for. This will also mean we will be in bigger fight to be in the top 4.

Good. Who wants a PL with the same clubs getting Top 4 every year.

 

[duffer]

Are you a Londoner ?

I’ve known quite a few down here (London obv) due to the mid 90’s team they had. I have a mate who’s a Newcastle fan and know about a dozen from school. Surprised if you are indeed a Londoner, and haven’t met one.

Yep.

Maybe I'm too old, all my glory hunting mates had already picked Liverpool and Man United by the time Newcastle had their late 90s run!

 

[Zen86]

They can't go out in January and buy a new team!

They would need to sell their existing players first, that is the biggest issue, the premier League squad is 25, they would then need to get rid of 7/8 players, if not more to get a better starting 11, that ain't happening, especially in January.

They would also need to overspend massively in order to buy better players, and also tempt these players with high wages, all of which are unsustainable without big sponsorship deals, which I'd wager rests alot on what happens with City and the Premier League.

It will take them at least 10 years to be competitive for the league title in today's league.

I'm guessing you weren't around circa 2003 - 2012

 

[Ødegaard]

Every opposition fan that plays against that lot should be singing the name of Jamal Khashoogi.

 

[The Firestarter]

Every opposition fan that plays against that lot should be singing the name of Jamal Khashoogi.

Especially if MBS is visiting, its worth hiring a plane.

 

[AllGoodNamesRGone]

Just had a look at Chelsea’s transfers in Romans first season (2003-04) and it’s crazy. I knew they spent a lot but there’s about 11 new first team players in the summer alone.

 

[WeePat]

There's a guy I know who I'm friends with on Facebook, we know each other from some classes in the past. Not a child, but a late 20s man. He has been following Ronaldo from club to club, updating his loyalties whenever he changes clubs, changes his cover photo to Ronaldo at his new club etc. I can at least somewhat understand it for children because that seems to be the way a lot of the younger generation are going, but it always seemed weird to me for a grown man to be doing that

Even worse, I know a guy who cried literal tears when Arsenal lost the CL final in 2006. He then became a Barca fan because of Ronaldinho supposedly, switched to United because of Fergie supposedly, then switched to Real Madrid in 2013 when he had the sudden realisation that CR7 was his favourite player. He's managed to stay loyal to one team for almost a decade so that's something I suppose but it just happens to be the most successful football team of all time.

 

[passtheball]

If these are the kind of decisions they are about to make , I think we'll be alright.

Careful, they will be after Ole next.

 

[Zen86]

Just had a look at Chelsea’s transfers in Romans first season (2003-04) and it’s crazy. I knew they spent a lot but there’s about 11 new first team players in the summer alone.

Followed by another 9 or so the following season. And people think SA "can't just go out and buy a new team"

 

[LawCharltonBest]

Man Utd turning into relegation foddler wouldn't touch my love for the club or the game.

But shit like this does.

It's just pathetic at this point. Everyone knows what's going to happen. They'll sponsor themselves. Buy all the best players. Win lots. Be allowed to do it because they'll just pay off UEFA, FIFA or whoever else comes knocking. And we all have to pretend like it's legit.

 

[Zaphod2319]

Just had a look at Chelsea’s transfers in Romans first season (2003-04) and it’s crazy. I knew they spent a lot but there’s about 11 new first team players in the summer alone.

Both City and Chelsea got this in before FFP. Unless they scrap it, Newcastle will not be able to do the same.

 

[The Corinthian]

Correct. I've never met a Newcastle fan that wasn't a geordie.

That'll change in a few years perhaps!

Asim Chaudhry aka Chabuddy G is a big Newcastle fan and is a Londoner.

 

[devilish]

This spells the end of Manchester United as a dominant force in the EPL. I doubt that there are buyers out there who can match the Saudis.

 

[RUCK4444]

I think incompetence at executive level is a more worrying aspect of their reign, I am not discounting the financial aspect entirely but we have spent as much as City and all the other big spenders in world football for little to no return because we lack vision and decisiveness at the top. Obviously this Saudi takeover will push up prices and wages for top players so it will have an effect as clubs will need more just to compete but we weren't getting back to the top regardless.

It is, I agree. But it still doesn't render the other issue irrelevant, the more money we can throw at it (especially as it happens to be our hard earned money and not petro dollars) the better.

We've had dreadful summers in the recent past, ones where we've held back and had a pretty pathetic net spend for a club our size, I don't believe we would have had those summers with an owner like these clubs have.

 

[Wayne's World]

Man Utd turning into relegation foddler wouldn't touch my love for the club or the game.

But shit like this does.

It's just pathetic at this point. Everyone knows what's going to happen. They'll sponsor themselves. Buy all the best players. Win lots. Be allowed to do it because they'll just pay off UEFA, FIFA or whoever else comes knocking. And we all have to pretend like it's legit.

If Newcastle are allowed to spend 400-500 million this summer (which they can't) then every league bar the English PL and PSG who will be left alone in France will leave UEFA and FIFA. It's basically a question of when not if that happens and this Newcastle-Saudi move accelerates it even further

 

[Karel Podolsky]

'Straight to the top' players aren't going to sign to a club to be out of the Champions League for one season minimum. They can still make some very good signings though, especially from those soon-to-be free agents (I've mentioned Kessie - who they were after last year before they got blocked by the PL - and Rudiger in a previous post) as well as some talent from soon-to-be relegated football clubs (Max Aarons) which will take them towards competing for the Europa League places (from next season) though they might make a statement signing like Toure/Aguero were for City.

There are a lot more teams fighting it out for the Europa League places these days (Leicester City, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Arsenal and Aston Villa with some clubs having 'surprise' seasons like Brentford and Brighton are having so far and Leeds did last season) so it won't be easy to achieve that compared to when City got taken over, particularly with the rise of transfer prices and PL FFP but in 3, 4 seasons tops they'll probably be in the Champions League.

I imagine players like James Maddison, Bissouma, Lautaro Martinez would be happy to join the 'project'.

 

[duffer]

Asim Chaudhry aka Chabuddy G is a big Newcastle fan and is a Londoner.

There's millions of people in London, I'm sure you can find one who supports every single club in England.

I didn't say there were no Newcastle United fans from London, just that I never met one in the decades I grew up and lived there.

 

[AneRu]

The takeover will go through as the PL and FA have sanctioned the Chelsea and Man City ones. I don’t know if the human rights test has changed since the City one but how can they refuse on those grounds? They’ll be off to the High Court before you can blink to have it reversed. Also, they will still be tied to PL FFP and UEFA rules so they can’t splash the cash until they have earned some and fake sponsors like City had for years won’t cut it anymore. No, they will slowly improve the team and therefore the universal following and shirt sales etc and, because they won’t be taking huge sums out of the club like the Glazers, they will re-invest the profits in players. The human rights angle is all tosh. The PL and UEFA virtually ignore that and play lip service to it. A toon fan mate of mine couldn’t give a monkeys about the Saudi’s human rights. As long as they sack Steve Bruce, he’s happy.

How, is there a rule limiting the value of sponsorships a team can get? I am sure they could announce a new shirt sponsorship worth hundreds of millions without any hustle, sell off their stadium naming right in a similar manner and then the training ground too. All those endorsements could be made by companies linked to or indirectly controlled by their owners without any controversy at all. They have been planning this for over a year it would be stupid for them not to have a plan on how to beat FFP and PSG/City provide a playbook to copy.

I could see them having a significant figure to spend on players in January, maybe 100m and there won't be a shortage of good players looking for a good payday that would come in and help them starve off relegation. If they bring in a top football executive they will make top four in two years.

 

[JuriM]

This spells the end of Manchester United as a dominant force in the EPL. I doubt that there are buyers out there who can match the Saudis.

Plenty of new money, from Bezos, Musk to all the unicorn squad from the web development who have sustainable income and business venture to make it stick.

 

[devilish]

But careful what we wish for. This will also mean we will be in bigger fight to be in the top 4.

look at the bright side. It would be more difficult for serial bottler and his mates to hold on to their job.

 

[Sarni]

I don't really get why people seem to think FIFA/UEFA will do anything to prevent them from spending their way to the top. Obviously they won't be able to buy top tier talent immediately but much like Chelsea in 2003 and City later they should have access to many good quality footballers and coaches who will propel them into top 6 which in turn will make them a lot more attractive. They will be spending through the roof to become competitive and can easily buy any talent they want from Germany/France/Spain/Italy aside from the top sides maybe, and any talent outside top 4 in England as well.

 

[devilish]

Plenty of new money, from Bezos, Musk to all the unicorn squad from the web development who have sustainable income and business venture to make it stick.

these people are business men and at this point we don't make any financial sense

 

[oneniltothearsenal]

Correct. I've never met a Newcastle fan that wasn't a geordie.

That'll change in a few years perhaps!

I definitely have. In America, for the past 25 years, I've always seen random Newcastle shirts around every now and then. Never the amount of United or Liverpool but much more than Spurs (where I've only seen two in two decades) and City until very recently (I've never seen a shirt in public except in the last few years. I even randomly met a very attractive 20-something girl about 15 years ago that was a Newcastle fan. Never that with City or Spurs for that matter. They absolutely have a wider global fanbase than City did.