Walking the dog.
Just taken the dogs for a walk in the lovely morning sunshine and got to thinking about possible outcome at Newcastle and wondering about what Ashley is up to. Bearing in mind that I think he is a rational businessman not some petty thieving antichrist out to make Geordies miserable). Here’s what I came up with.
Obviously management realise that cheaper players live in continental Europe, therefore they choose a coach like De Boer, Tuchel, etc who has experience with such players and can implement a whole-of-club playing style. They also want somebody who can turn Newcastle into something akin to an Ajax style academy. The relationship with coach and DoF works as planned (ie they decide mutually on the type of player they want.), They bring on youth players, and sell for great profits to finance new purples.
[Now for the bit where everybody groans]
Let’s suppose that Ashley is being very canny. He’s taken a few risks (some worked, some didn’t) but he now has the club stable in the mid-upper half of the table but moving into profit and able to finance itself. The 5year plan has finally come to fruition, a few years later than projected. The coach has kept the desired stability within the required parameters (what some call lack of ambition).
It’s now time to embark on the next 5 year plan – moving to the new level, expansion into new markets, raising the club brand (and SD’s with it). It’s a couple of seasons on from the coach appointment. Almost every team in the PL has a vast debt, but Newcastle are rolling in tv profits.
They are cashed up and almost completely immune to any changes in the world economy. His investment is secure and ready to pounce when the opportunity arises.
This to me seems a reasonably rational scenario. Probably not right (and let me hastily add that I’m neither yaying or naying at it here), but it’s an alternative way of looking at what’s gone on, rather than the blind accusations of greedy, filthy, pig-dog, ambitonless, rip-off asset-stripping piece of shit.
Unfortunately for fans, it’s a more of the same for a few years.. I doubt whether we are factored into the long-term plan.
Just thought I’d share that little thought with you.
By Brisvegas
