Ashley In Idiot Recovery?

In the aftermath of the Papiss Cissé deal, Alan Pardew has been speaking about all kinds of things and possibly giving us a sharp insight into what has gone on at the club in recent times and recovering from the trust he put in idiots at St.James’ Park.

The Manager; “The most important thing I can say is that he (Ashley) has made a significant contribution to the success we have already gained here. He perhaps didn’t need to (release funds to sign Cissé). He could have turned around and said, ‘You are doing great. On you go. Carry on’.

That speaks for itself. He has had a lot of criticism while in charge of this football club. Put yourself in his position and look at the value he has had for his money.

Some of the signings for this club, some of the faith he has put in people and has not been repaid. That would make you wary as well.

He has had to bear the criticism for most of that”.

Whatever blame should be laid at Ashley’s door for what has at times has been simply shambolic goings on at St.James’ park under his ownership, I think his biggest blunders have been the idiots he has entrusted at times to look after the running of the club on his behalf.

Names like Dennis Wise, Sam Allardyce, Jeff Vetere and Tony Jimenez were entrusted by Ashley to bring in players and they gave him the likes of Geremi, Viduka, Rozehnal, Cacapa, Gonzalez (the loan deal that as purely a favour to some agents), Xisco, Smith and Barton.

I’m not defending Mike Ashley’s many crass decisions but when you look at those players and have a guesstimate at what they’ve cost Ashley/Newcastle United/the fans; in transfer fees and wages I bet you wouldn’t get much change out of £100m! In fact if you look at just those last 3 (Xisco/Smith/Barton) you must be looking at the best part of £20m each of those has cost Newcastle United.

When Alan Pardew says, ‘Some of the signings for this club, some of the faith he has put in people and has not been repaid. That would make you wary as well’, you can see where he is coming from.

In Graham Carr and Alan Pardew we seem to have at last arrived with people in key positions at Newcastle United with both ability and integrity.

Let us hope that a signing like Papiss Cissé is just the first of many in the short to medium-term that take this club to where we all believe it should be.

So Mike, believe in Graham & Alan and trust them to take this club forward, plus remember everybody – only one of the pair is a cockney!