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Opinion

Mike Ashley’s most expensive business mistake ever

9 years ago
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The arrogance and greed of Mike Ashley has brought Newcastle United to the brink of disaster and one terrible business decision in particular is lined up to cost him potentially hundreds of millions of pounds.

Thinking he was being clever by messing around for a month without making an appointment, the end of January saw John Carver officially appointed until the end of the season as manager/head coach.

This was clearly always the plan but just to draw fire away from the cynical decision to sell players and buy no one in January, Ashley had this poorly disguised subterfuge if supposedly searching the world for the right candidate.

Only to then discover that all the time he had the self-proclaimed best coach in the universe right under his nose.

Those idiots down the road made their own change on 17th March, making the ridiculous decision to bring in a vastly experienced manager on a short-term contract until the end of the season.

When Dick Advocaat came into Sunderland both clubs had played 29 points and this was the league position and points

17th March – Newcastle 12th and 35 points – Sunderland 17th and 26 points

20th May – Newcastle 17th and 36 points – Sunderland 15th and 38 points

So basically in Dick Advocaat’s time at Sunderland he has picked up 12 points in 8 matches whilst John Carver has picked up 1 point.

Their full records are:

John Carver: P19 W2 D4 L13 – 10 points (and knocked out of the FA Cup)

Dick Advocaat – P8 W3 D3 L2 – 12 points

Mike Ashley always thinking he can pocket yet more money by not spending, talk about backfiring.

Yet another embarrassing strand on how the two clubs have approached the second half of the season differently.

Sunderland brought in Jermain Defoe who has a proven scoring record in the Premier League and his four goals so far, have helped to win three games and get a draw in another.

In contrast, halfway through the season Mike Ashley sold Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa,  forced Hatem Ben Arfa off the wage bill and effectively sold Davide Santon as well, not forgetting nine goal Haris Vuckic being loaned to Rangers…the least said about the other four loans the better.

Not a single player was brought in even on loan, despite Steven Taylor being already ruled out for the rest of the season.

Consequently, United were left with a defensive crisis and no cover once Paul Dummett got injured.

Yet again Mike Ashley ‘saving’ money that has turned out to be fool’s gold.

Sunderland’s result on Wednesday night has been disastrous and brought Newcastle United and Mike Ashley to the brink.

With the state of our squad now, it would be most unlikely for Newcastle to bounce straight back to the Premier League as happened the last time. The net effect of two or more seasons outside the Premier League will cost Mike Ashley well over £100m in TV revenue alone.

As for the ‘cost’ to the actual club and the fans, it would be impossible to measure as Newcastle United crumbles before our very eyes.

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