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Asset Stripping Of Newcastle United Continues

10 years ago
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So here we go, over halfway through the World Cup (and Wimbledon) and again we are at the midway point of the summer.

The summer transfer window is always more of a slow burner than the winter one and with a World Cup to complicate matters further, fans of this circus of a club are entitled to be worried when this stage comes around and little has happened.

We are also entitled to be downbeat on our hopes when we are presented with recent history on such matters, with Mike Ashley spending the bare minimum over the last 18 months.

Ambition is a word that doesn’t exist at the club anymore, as low wages and low/no fees are the order of the day, with the main transfer policy (term used loosely) being to get players under the age of 26 for nothing, or as good as, and sell in a couple of seasons.

The idea of squad building? Forget it, we don’t need a squad if we don’t have any aims to do anything with it, as the official line from the club is top 10 and that’s your lot.

(To feature like Paul, send in your articles for our website to contribute@themag.co.uk)

Forget the cup dream and forget a European adventure. Even flirting with relegation is accepted, just don’t cock the balance sheets up. Derek Llambias paying the price for not heeding these rules 12 months ago.

The latest stories about Debuchy being given a £12m minimum price tag and £10m placed on the head of Tim Krul, leads to worries about their futures, especially with the club having howked players to the highest bidder via official club websites and Alan Pardew himself in recent seasons.

Fans are not stupid, we can see what’s going to happen. Debuchy will go, replaced by Santon and the vacant left back slot will be filled by either Haidara or Dummett. It’s already happened, last season we saw it when Debuchy was injured/suspended. This would leave Steven Taylor, Coloccini and Williamson to fight it out in the middle, which again happened last season. I can see Mike Ashley doing this as it requires what? No spend whatsoever.

Midfield will look quite well stocked to Ashley too. Colback has been brought in to fit around Anita, Sissoko and Tiote. That leaves an attack to consist of Cisse, Gouffran, Armstrong, Campbell and new lad Perez.

The goalkeeping department will also be looking ok in the owners eyes, even if Tim Krul was to be flogged for that £10m+. We have Elliot, Alnwick and young Woodman twiddling thumbs. Are we starting to get the picture? Tell me it couldn’t happen, or hasn’t at least ran through Mike Ashley’s head.

That’s at least 18 players available to patsy Pardew, without a single solitary soul coming through the doors of St James’ Park. Oh and £20m+ banked once again (with Ben Arfa, Marveaux, Obertan, Gutierrez and Mbiwa still to be discounted). Tell me it couldn’t happen, or hasn’t at least ran through Mike Ashley’s head.

Everything is for sale of course, even the future of the club’s support. The lease on the land opposite the Gallowgate is due to be sold, another profit to be had, even if that then makes it impossible for the stadium to be extended any time in the future.

The last few seasons have seen Demba Ba and Andy Carroll (both freebies to Ashley) flogged for handsome fees (£8m and £35m) with Yohan Cabaye fetching £20m.

Going back to 2008/09, Shay Given and James Milner were sold for clear profit (Ashley didn’t buy them), highlighting the policy at the club from the start.

Be afraid. This policy increasingly appears to be, asset-stripping.

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