My take on the current situation
As our club stands now we are on a precipice. The vast majority of our fan base acknowledges that the current situation has been brought on by years of mis-management and neglect of the team/players that represent us out on the pitch (plus the infrastructure ie stadium and training ground in particular), unless it has looked as though we were going to be or had been relegated. Once back in the big time again in May 2017 Ashley resorted to type giving the soundbite 'every penny the club generates' to insinuate that he was going to back Rafa. Unfortunately on three occasions (summer of 17 January 18 and summer 18) Rafa has had to try to fund a squad with little investment. We made a £20+m PROFIT when the club generated £120+m for a 10th place finish!!!! Ashley has previously said that he wanted the club to fund itself, well it is and he STILL wont release the funds.
However, I certainly dont think Rafa should be absolved of any blame as he has spent £12m on Murphy, £9.5m on Muto, £5m on Joselu and £5m on Sels which lets be honest has been completely wasted (although until I see more of Muto I will reserve judgement). His lack of game time of Mitrovic and Mbemba was baffling as is him continually taking Ritchie off who even if he is having a poor game still gives more than the likes of Atsu (and Kenedy at the minute). But to counter this he did identify Dubravka and Fernandez who have been good signings for £10m (given that the likes of L/pool and Man U have spent £100m on Allinson and Bailly and they dont look any better given the difference in figures) and he has improved the likes of Dummett, Lascelles and Diame.
Going to the match currently is a chore (mind it has been like that for 5/6 years), its boring and tbh I cant wait for the match to be over. I can completely understand why people arent going and the 'sold out' signs arent up now for home and away games. When Rafa came we knew that he was a very methodical, pragmatic manager who sets his teams up not to be beaten. Liverpool fans loved him even though he had the likes of Carragher, Gerrard, Hamann and Torres and still played a similar way. Its pretty clear that given the tools to do the job he will bring success. Look at the trophies he has won and you dont manage the hugely successful clubs he has if you arent a top manager. I definitely think he could get more out of some of our players (Ritchie, Shelvey, Kenedy) if he allowed them to be more attack minded, but he clearly feels we have to be even more defensive minded because he knows the limitations of the others in the team as he was unable to improve the quality significantly in the transfer windows.
Yesterday said everything about our plight. Leicester werent great but still won at a canter. In my eyes there was a lack of commitment from the players whether that was they just couldnt be bothered or collectively had a bad day or are sick of the way they are having to play I dont know, but we WILL go down if that performance is continually churned out.
To me the elastic is about to snap. Ashley was there yesterday and apparently didnt even meet/speak to Rafa. That is disgraceful if true and just shows the contempt he is showing towards Rafa and the fans that he doesnt have the clubs best interests at heart, only survival on a shoestring. It would have been easier for him to go to Rafa due to his matchday commitments, and not to do it is another unforgivable act. Soon there is apparently some 'summit' going to take place about the January transfer window. My honest opinion is that the impasse will continue and itll be loans again - 'Rafa sign the contract and we'll release £x millions.' Rafa having been stabbed in the back previously wont and the stale mate continues. The other scenario and probably the one that will come first is we dont win any of the next 4/5 games are marooned in the bottom 3 and Ashley decides to sack Rafa preferring to pay him £3/4m or whatever as he sees £50+m lost if we go down. I think it would be by mid-end of November. It will infuriate the vast majority of fans, but Ashley wont be bothered as all he sees is prem survival. He'd prefer to give the £x millions to a yes man - someone like Allardyce. I ask you who would want/accept that horrible cretinous, disgusting piece of a human being managing our club again? He's out of work and would be Ashley's last piece of the jigsaw to humiliate and alienate the fans once and for all. 'sorry how I treated you last time, I didnt know anything about football and listened to the fans but keep us up Sam and youll get £5m.' My opinion I know. Well that would be it for me and ive shared it with those who have sat around me for many a year. They are of the same opinion.
I love NUFC and am no different to many thousands of others. I can completely understand why people have not renewed their STs and dont want anything to do with the club whilst Ashley is the owner. The dejection in the ground is tangible, it feels as though we havent got any hope, the football is dire and Ashley is strangling the club for his own enjoyment/SD gains. Lets be honest he says he hates being the pantomime villain, but secretly he loves it and that was proved by him laughing and raising his eyes when the vast majority sang 'stand up if you hate Ashley' yesterday.
If you live can get there and are worried enough about the plight of the club and where it is heading get along to the Magpie Group meeting at the Labour Club on Wednesday night 6.30pm. We've got to try to do our bit to get him out of the club somehow because if we don't the club and us are the only things that will suffer as he just sees SD, money and balance sheets.
Keep the faith and support the Magpie Group.
