Burton Albion vs Newcastle United: A David vs Goliath struggle

Posted on December 16th, 2016 | 57 Comments |

Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium.
Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium.
As Newcastle United travel to the 6900 capacity Pirelli Stadium to face Burton Albion, one of the smallest teams in the Championship, I thought it would be a good opportunity to look at how the spectrum of teams in the Championship is as wide, and maybe even wider as it is in the Premiership with the gap between teams like Manchester United and Burnley.

To explain and give some kind of perpective, football transfer website, Transfermarkt estimates that Toon players such as Aleksandar Mitrovic (est value £10.2 million), Jonjo Shelvey (£9.35 million) or even Chancel Mbemba (£8.5 million) are worth more individually than the whole Burton Albion squad, which is valued at an estimated £7.57m in total. Whilst the average Newcastle United first team squad member is estimated to be worth £4.01 million, at Burton it is only £303,000.

So, I think it’s fair to say that the odds are stacked against Burton, even on their home ground. You will find the current Championship betting odds at 26/5, with 3/1 for a draw and 2/3 for a Newcastle United victory. Like the Cup though, nothing is certain until it’s over. After all, when Burton were in the Conference in 2006, they famously upset the odds drew 0-0 with Manchester United in the FA Cup. In 2011 when they were a League Two side, they shocked Middlesbrough as well with a 2-1 victory in the same competition.

Hence, writing as a Newcastle United fan, I come to praise Burton Albion, and definitely not dismiss them. Relatively speaking (or writing in this case) they have certainly made far more of their lighter resources than Newcastle United have of theirs in recent seasons. What they have achieved in the last few seasons is remarkable. In 2009 they were in the Blue Square Conference. As recently as 2015 they were in League Two. After promotion under then manager, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, they were promoted to League One. Hasselbaink left for QPR but despite that, they were still promoted to the Championship under a previous Burton manager whose father knew a thing or two about getting teams punching above their weight, Nigel Clough, who will lead the teams out on Saturday.

Currently, they are struggling just above the Championship relegation places but even so, they have still done magnificently under the circumstances, and though I’m biased and hope that the Magpies take another three points at Burton, I hope they survive their first ever season in the Championship, and go on to even greater things.

Returning to the original question in this piece though, why is the gap now so wide in the Championship? The biggest factor has been probably been mismanagement and complacency at large, historic clubs who you wouldn’t normally expect to see in the Championship with their budgets. This season of course, Newcastle United are definitely one of those, along with Aston Villa, and even Norwich, who were doing quite well financially in the Premiership.

NUFCBlog Author: workyticket workyticket has written 1091 articles on this blog.

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Comment on this post

57 Responses

  1. Its true every game in this division is a cup game with the potential of going wrong. Small grounds, teams punching above their weight, David and Goliath, and really bad referee’s. But its happening to everyone, taking points from each other.
    At the moment Brighton and us are making the least mistakes. Get a few more points ahead and little slips won’t hurt us so much.
    On the world front it would seem that since America has backed away from being “World Policemen” Russia fancies the position. It has been proven they have a different approach just bomb and bulldoze the opposition whoever and wherever they are.
    I came into this world just as it was about to start a five year killing fest and nothing seems to change.
    I may well leave it in the same state.
    Merry Christmas to you all.

  2. You and Chuck are just like the Chuckle Brothers, Nutmag.

    Probably America’s biggest military move with Obama has been with China and the US’s so called “Pacific Pivot.” This has been the US war machine pivoting it’s firepower towards China. This equates to a kind a kind of ‘necklace of death’ wrapped around the Chinese coast. You don’t hear much about that though. I wonder what Trump is going to do with all that? He says that he’s making America great again, but he’s siding with Putin against his own international intelligence agency because Putin hacked Clinton’s lot during the election, which could have been the factor that got him into power. This the Yanks and the Russkies and Trump’s taking the Russkies side. It bizarre and it defintely isn’t making America great again, it’s showing it up and Putin is taking the piss.

  3. Another victory but it certainly didn’t sound totally one sided, with Burton having their moments in the game as well. It sounded a bit like Newcastle’s approach was to wind down the game and hold on to what their one goal lead for the latter part, which is a compliment to Burton.

    It’s getting harder to gas on about all the games though, as the only Championship one I could watch in full was Birmingham v Brighton. Bloody Hughton again! It wasn’t going too well for them, a goal down and a chance for Newcastle to pull ahead another three points. They dug deep though, and scored two goals in the last 10 minutes, the last one on 95 minutes. That’s sixteen without a loss in the Championship for the Seagulls now.

  4. Looking at Newcastle vs Brighton at the top, Newcastle have won more than Brighton (16 to 14), but they have also lost more (5 to 2). Unsurprisingly, Newcastle have scored more goals (45 to 35), but have let in 17 goals in the 22 games so far. That’s not bad at all but Brighton have only let in 14.

  5. Good article, Burton about the size of an Irish League side really. It must feel very strange for Rafa visiting clubs like this!

  6. Belfast Toon says:
    December 20, 2016 at 12:22 am

    “It must feel very strange for Rafa visiting clubs like this!”

    I think he’s a bit of a Bobby Robson, Belfast. A football obsessive who’ll do it anywhere for the hell of it. According to a highly amused Mrs. Benitez, he coached a school team in the wirral after Liverpool, and treated the games exactly the same as the Premier League “It was hilarious. He stood there on the touchline and shouted at them as if it was the first division, waving his arms around.”

  7. I can see him doing that Worky. It’s almost a shock to have a real football man at the helm, but a nice shock. Although, you know that feeling you have when you can’t remember locking the front door? I keep looking over my shoulder expecting Rafa to be gone!

  8. Will Benitez be a Marshal Zhukov to Mike Ashley’s Stalin? Of course, Stalin was a tyrant who would happily murder anyone who displeased him, and had to have his way at all times. He was losing against the Germans though and the ultimate control freak had to give the great general control of the war on the eastern front, a bit like Ashley the dictator with Benitez. This took Russia from imminent catastrophe in Moscow and Stalingrad to taking Berlin before the US and the UK. Zhukov knew how to handle Stalin where others would get themselves liquidated for their temerity. The question is can Benitez continue to be a Zhukov with another horrible boss? I don’t think that Benitez is as much of a diplomat as Zhukov.

  9. All the best lads for tomorrow and the coming new year.

    I haven’t been on here in donkeys years because I am involved with my local non league team these days which takes up my spare time.
    I have to say the enjoyment level now received is a welcome tonic away from the corporate world of modern football.

    There are no “Big Time Charlie’s” at our level which is a refreshing change from the unmotivated millionaires you get now !

    I hope everyone is well and I will try and get back on here in the future.

  10. Hi Joe, It’s great to hear from you and Belfast Toon after all this time! Which non-league team is it? I’m glad to hear that you’re are enjoying it.

    Well that’s another Christmas over with and a pretty bad year as well for alot of people. I went for my usual Christmas Day walk yesterday on the so called “London Ring,” which is much nicer than the name suggests! It’s like a nature trail which runs along an old disused railway track on my local part of it, from Highgate to to the actual park at Finsbury Park. This year I came out at the Finsbury Park bowling alley, where there were homeless people spending their Christmas under one of the Finsbury Park railway bridges. You see quite alot of tough but bedraggled looking ex-forces types, but you even see students who might have been looking forward to a degree and a nice career weeks beforehand.

  11. Well yesterday was certainly a disappointment on the football front against Wednesday, and now Hughton is top again after Brighton beat QPR 3-0. Apart from the time we beat them, they’ve only lost once in the Championship so far.

  12. Well there it is again “The Curse” just when you thought the future looked bright, the corner had been turned, Up turns “Lethargic United” to bite you in the a**e.
    Only difference this time is we haven’t got Pardew, Carver, or McLaren to blame. No it seems this time its because of the fifty odd thousand home crowd. Oh please! its the players that need a kick up the a**e not the supporters. If a fifty odd thousand Geordie home crowd can’t stir you, you need to find a new occupation!
    Lets hope Rafa can do something to exorcise “The Curse”.
    Good to have Belfast and Joe back. All the very best for the New Year all.

  13. Nutmag, Newcastle United have a large and famously vociferous crowd of fans. They’ve had nearly five times as many fans for their home games as Bournemouth have, and getting on for 10 times as many as recent opponents, Burton. However, both Bournemouth and Burton have risen up the the divisions and punched way above their weight in recent years and Newcastle have been abject failures who haven’t.

    So how much effect does a large group of vociferous fans really have? Maybe it can have the opposite effect with the weight of expectation?

    Aye, happy new year Nutmag and all.

  14. If you are claiming that in general crowd response has no effect on football sides during a game, I believe you are wrong, however it is less of a factor than that of quality players and a knowledgeable coach.

    As for expectations, there are any number of pundits who continue to believe NUFC fans expectations exceed the clubs abilities, which of course can be said about just about every club one cares to mention.

    The fact is NUFC may be on their way back to the top level of football and with the retention of Benitez and co-operation of our dear leader, could once again return to being a top ten competitor in the PL.

    Which I believe is every fans desire.

    There are of course certain factors that will always be against the club, as far as attracting top players, most imports preferring London as a choice of location, others
    out of the price range of our dear leader (so far)and the fact there has been little success since the fifties or the short period of the Keegan era.

    In comparison with clubs like Liverpool, who haven’t actually been very successful since the seventies and eighties, still a larger club in both reputation and earnings, which makes it obvious the lack of silverware plays a large role in the fortunes of football clubs.

    There was a time (the Keegan era) when Newcastle United were everyone’s favorite second club, where they not only helped fill away stadiums, but recruited fans from outside the UK, which of course was due to the style of play, “The Entertainers” which provided the necessary recruiting of players, being everyone enjoyed playing for a side that played attractive football and gave them exposure, plus more importantly sells shirts, which in to-days (money dominated game)is another important factor.

    Everything else is basically in place, certainly one of the best stadiums in the country, an attractive and popular destination if somewhat distant city to come to, with only a short distance walk from the station, or a cab ride from the airport.

    So what I believe is, the two recent demotions are mainly due to Ashley’s belief he could revolutionize the way a football club was run, being he had been so successful with Sports Direct and at the same time use his ownership to enhance SD (mainly through Advertising) and also make a profit from buying young continental players and selling them on for profit, at the same time hiring crap management, from top to bottom.

    Perhaps he has seen the light and in handing over the overall running of the club and hopefully giving Benitez a decent amount both salary-wise and in player funds, can return this obvious PL club back to where it belongs and with that, perhaps claim some silverware no matter how insignificant.

    The answer is of course to be as entertaining as was Keegan’s sides, not an easy ask that can be done on the cheap and not exactly Benitez’ forte and the fact money is such an important factor in to days PL.

    Yes it will require building a very good youth system, which I believe is in it’s early stages, which needs the right coaches, plus a scouting system next to none.

    The question is will our dear leader be willing to finance the above, my answer would be it would be a decent investment in both the club itself and would also benefit Sports Direct, though he may not see it in those terms.

  15. So you’re back, and just the same as always, Chuckles.

    chuck says:
    December 30, 2016 at 9:40 pm

    “If you are claiming that in general crowd response has no effect on football sides during a game, I believe you are wrong”

    So what has it done for Newcastle, Chuck? Looking at their record for completely funking it in front of a large crowd of devoted fans, one might be tempted to think that Newcastle United’s fans actually have a negative effect.

    “In comparison with clubs like Liverpool, who haven’t actually been very successful since the seventies and eighties, still a larger club in both reputation and earnings”

    Chuck, even for you that’s daft!

    Liverpool major trophies since 1990

    1 Champions League (and another final), 1 UEFA Cup, 2 European Super Cups, 3 FA Cups, 4 League Cups.

    Newcastle United major trophies since 1990

    Buggerall.

    Keegan Schmeegan! He funked it like the rest. I didn’t find losing the League when we were 13 points ahead very “entertaining” anyway. Bad decisionmaking by blundering idiots might have got Newcastle relegated twice, but Newcastle United’s psychological demons come out even when they doing well.

  16. Yes there were local cups FA, League and a uefa cup, of which I still consider the Champions cup to have been a fluke, under Benitez.

    The point is they were knocked off their perch as stated by Alex Ferguson and have never reached that same level of dominance since.

    Living on revenues basically earned as a dominant European side of the seventies and eighties, when their winning sides brought in supporters on a worldwide basis, who in turn bought their shirts, bringing in large revenues, which is the lifeblood of most clubs.

    And it might surprise you as it surprised me to learn that the Keegan sides had a similar effect on recruiting fans, simply by being an attractive side to watch.

    Face it, the standards of teams are based on money/earnings, yesterdays bums in seats still count, but not as much as shirt revenues, both sales and revenue from manufacturers.

    Newcastle although a first and premier league member for most of their history, have won little over the years following a successful early fifties and were always a cheap club that had to cut their cloth accordingly.

    Yes one might claim the opposite by asking, “What about Leicester”, the fact is it may happen sometimes as a phenomena, but where are they now ?

    I’m afraid that the Livepools, Man U,and Citeh and the big London clubs who generate enormous revenues are destined to dominate the Premier League for the foreseeable future based on their revenues.

    The best expectations for NUFC may be as a top ten club, being they don’t generate new fans other than locals and have an owner who so far has not proven to willingly put his hand in his pocket.

    As for it being a one team town, that’s rubbish, being there is only a twelve mile or less distance between the Sunderland a Newcastle stadiums, a shorter distance apart than many London sides.

    Which the fans of NUFC should remember, they simply don’t have the dosh to compete with sides earning higher revenues and could only be successful on a one off basis not unlike Leicester’s league winning side.

  17. Yes there were local cups FA, League and a uefa cup, of which I still consider the Champions cup to have been a fluke, under Benitez.

    The point is they were knocked off their perch as stated by Alex Ferguson and have never reached that same level of dominance since.

    Living on revenues basically earned as a dominant European side of the seventies and eighties, when their winning sides brought in supporters on a worldwide basis, who in turn bought their shirts, bringing in large revenues, which is the lifeblood of most clubs.

    And it might surprise you as it surprised me to learn that the Keegan sides had a similar effect on recruiting fans, simply by being an attractive side to watch.

    Face it, the standards of teams are based on money/earnings, yesterdays bums in seats still count, but not as much as shirt revenues, both sales and revenue from manufacturers.

    Newcastle although a first and premier league member for most of their history, have won little over the years following a successful early fifties and were always a cheap club that had to cut their cloth accordingly.

    Yes one might claim the opposite by asking, “What about Leicester”, the fact is it may happen sometimes as a phenomena, but where are they now ?

    I’m afraid that the Livepools, Man U,and Citeh and the big London clubs who generate enormous revenues are destined to dominate the Premier League for the foreseeable future.

    The best expectations for NUFC may be as a top ten club, being they don’t generate new fans other than locals and have an owner who so far has not proven to willingly put his hand in his pocket.

    As for it being a one team town, that’s rubbish, being there is only a twelve mile or less distance between the Sunderland a Newcastle stadiums, a shorter distance apart than many London sides.

    Which the fans of NUFC should remember, they simply don’t have the dosh to compete with sides earning higher revenues and could only be successful on a one off basis not unlike Leicester’s league winning side.

    And with the advent of foreign billionaires rapidly taking over EPL clubs the situation for NUFC is no likelier to improve any time soon.

    But that may not be the European Leagues only problem, apparently the Chinese league are offering crazy money for both players and managers and seem set on a world wide dominating of the game of football.

    Gotta go and check to see if the newly built second ave. subway is running, apparently the Govenor expects it, though the Mayor disagrees.

  18. Rumor has it, we (nufc) are interested in signing Cleverly from Everton ?

    I have no idea why, the stated reason was as cover for Shelvey.

    Why Cleverly when there’s an ideal candidate who is out of favor at Everton, who can not only replace Cleverly but also play alongside him, of course i’m talking about James McCarthy, who has been playing professional football since he was a sixteen year old.

    This is a player who’s passing is excellent, a heady player who can both defend and set up attacking situations, who has been able to lay a bit of body on opposing players, but for some reason has not been a favorite of recent manager Koemann.

    On the other hand I have never been a fan of Cleverly (also out of favor at Everton) just another ex Man. U. prospect who never reached his potential.

    Though we are in a horserace here for promotion in the second tier and Rafa. feels he needs someone to replace a missing Shelvey, what is it about Cleverly that appears to fit that role, whereas McCarthy has played that role
    since his arrival at the club.

    I mean how many players does Rafa. need, we could by the seasons end have around fifty players on the books if he continues buying.

    Sure I realize this present side wouldn’t make it in the present EPL, but no one expects that.

    They do however expect a number of signings during the two windows left before the PL’s commencement of play
    next season, signings of PL quality players.

    And a clear-out of some of those who although they could be considered as necessary during this present promotional race, will never be better than second tier quality.

    And supposedly playing for a manager of Benitez’ reputation, in front of a rabid full house at St. James’ Park, would be incentive enough for most, but a decent wage also wouldn’t hurt.

    Of course another reason to attract ambitious continentals would be the old ploy of putting themselves in the shop window, which may lead to a contract at a bigger club, (a’la Sissoko, and the rest), which is o’k as it will provide the funds for perhaps a better replacement, being probably the best the club can hope for in the near future is a PL top ten spot.

  20. chuck says:
    December 31, 2016 at 9:27 pm

    “Yes there were local cups FA, League and a uefa cup, of which I still consider the Champions cup to have been a fluke, under Benitez.”

    Champions League a fluke? I don’t think so. AC Milan were the best team in the world at the time and Liverpool had to beat other top teams such as Juventus and Mourinho’s Chelsea on the way as well. So Liverpool have had a bad patch since 1990, and yet they still won only one less major trophy in that time than the Magpies in their entire history, including their fifth European Cup, which Newcastle have never come close to winning even once. The idea of a Toon fan “dissing” Liverpool’s historic record, whether it’s the since the nineties or any other time is ridiculous, Chuck. I’m sure you just say these things in an attempt to wind me up!

    That goes for Leicester as well. Many months ago now, I wrote a piece about the time in the Hall days when Newcastle were fifth, sandwiched between Bayern Munich, Juventus, Barcelona and AC Milan in the world football money league. We were a huge team but had no bollocks when it came to the crunch and we still won buggerall. Leicester are a much smaller side who have never been in any world’s top clubs list but when they got their chances, they took them. Two league Cups under Martin O’Neill last time and the League last season with Ranieri, when the competition was ridiculous. Leicester have made the last sixteen of the Champions League in their first go as well. The paper tigers of Newcastle couldn’t do that in three attempts, and in one they only lasted one qualifying game against Belgrade.

    “This is a player who’s passing is excellent, a heady player who can both defend and set up attacking situations, who has been able to lay a bit of body on opposing players, but for some reason has not been a favorite of recent manager Koemann.”

    You love all these transfer stories, Chuck, but you must know that well over 90% of them are pure drivel. I’ll bite though. If that is a correct description of McCarthy, then I couldn’t think of anyone better to judge him than Ronald Koeman.

  21. Yes that was a part of my rant, about L’pool. beating Milan and I still believe it, though you either entirely missed my point or chose to ignore it.

    Which is that Liverpool were successful until the rise of MU under Ferguson and thereafter lived (financially) on the previous decades when they were the dominant English side.

    Get it ?

    To-day they are in a position to possibly win something, but they are still not close to being a dominating side, just look at to-days result against Sunderland.

    Yet still sell the same number of shirts, which will diminish unless they either play a more entertaining game or win some serious silverware.

    As for your bit on Leicester, that was a different era, where clubs from the Scottish league played sides from the Dutch league etc., in a much more widely competitive championship final.

    A time when money didn’t dominate the game, which results in the same dozen or so clubs repeatedly ending up in the final twelve of to-days final Champions League round.

    I suppose Rafa. has come to the conclusion that our Serbian center forward is not as good his last transfer amount reflects and would like to sell him for a nice piece of change, the reason he is not getting starts.

    I would throw our young Spanish striker into that same lot
    a lightweight that scores simply by playing as a forward.

    TO-days defeat should give one an idea of the clubs present quality, that is following a good early start where most fans assumed a repeat of the previous drop to the second tier, it is proving to be a bit more difficult this time around and a reminder of why Rafa. increased the size of the squad.

    As for McCarthy, having Gareth Barry competing with you for the same role, a player who in my opinion is, even now playing in his mid thirties one of the best in the PL.

    Personally I have a preference for someone with McCarthy’s skills , which are more needed than Cleverly’s
    attacking role, being our ginger haired ex Sunderland recruit is just never going to live up to expectations.

    But the side definitely needs more quality if we are not to just go up for a season, then return, money has to be spent or we may end up like Forest or Leeds, a precedent we don’t want to follow.

  22. chuck says:
    January 2, 2017 at 7:41 pm

    “As for your bit on Leicester, that was a different era”

    Leicester won the League last season Chuck, which is hardly a “different era.” As for Colback, he has a dirty job but someone’s got to do it.

    I’ve just got a free book called “Cult Heroes – Newcastle United. It has Colin Veitch, Bill McCracken, Albert Shepherd, Hughie Gallacher, Albert Stubbins… it goes on down the years. It looks good but I haven’t read it yet. Has anyone out there read it?

    We should be lower mid table in the Premier League as we are, Chuck, like West Brom or Bournemouth to pluck out two teams. I would say that maybe having a top manager should get a bit more out of them too, but the two examples I chose are doing quite well themselves right now considering. There would probably need to be more players if Newcastle want to challenge for Europe. I think that everything is probably academic now that Trump’s is almost POTUS though, as we will probably all be wiped out like the dinosaurs anyway before the Magpies return to glory.

  23. Yeah those names certainly rang a bell, strangely the fans continued to chant about Hughie Gallagher even into the fifties and still remembered and resented the sale of Albert Stubbins who had been sold to Liverpool for a record amount twelve and a half million, where he scoring for fun.

    Though selling their best players was a regular habit of the club in the day.

    So you really think Leicester are capable of winning a European Championship this year (era) they look more like a side involved in a relegation struggle to me.

    Just a one off side, who took advantage of both surprise and putting in extra effort playing against a bunch of lackluster so called top PL clubs, plus a manager who had been around the block more than once.

    Hmm ! yeah I guess right now we rate somewhere below the middle section of the PL and bottom and we will have to bring in a few talented players if we are to be any way competitive if promoted.

    Face it Football in general is all about spending especially considering the revenues earned by EPL clubs, who are targeted by both players and clubs outside the UK.

    Just look at the prices brought to NUFC from selling on players during the last window.

    I believe we need a decent defensive midfielder (McCarthy ?) who can play alongside Shelvey or replace
    him if necessary, more of a need than Cleverly IMO. and the fact Colback has not improved since his arrival and meone to partner Gayle, it appears Shane Long could be available, a hard working no 10, good in the air and gets his goals but also lays on goal scoring opportunities.

    We are also in need of a LB and possibly a RB and I don’t see a lot of names recently recruited who are IMO PL quality.

    Yep at least two signings or more this window, followed be around the same number during the summer period should have the club upto PL quality, but Ashley has to realize that money has to be spent, in order to make money and his buy cheap sell for whatever the market dictates just doesn’t work.

  24. Stubbins was the Geordie Yank who was brought up in the North East and the US. I think you know all about that, Chuck? He was the only footballer on the cover of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Herts Club Band as well, allegedly because John Lennon thought he had a good old working class name, or something like that. He scored alot of his goals during the war, and he scored alot in the first few years after as well with Liverpool, but then the goals tailed off a bit as iunjureies took their toll at the end of the 40s. Of course, Milburn had his goal tally cut down a bit because war goals didn’t count in a different league system.

    No, I don’t think that Leicester will win the Champions League, but they have won two League Cups and a League Championship since we won anything, despite being much smaller.

    “a hard working no 10, good in the air and gets his goals but also lays on goal scoring opportunities.”

    Shane Long has scored one goal in 22 games this season, with two assists (none in the PL). If he is available, maybe that’s why?

    “but Ashley has to realize that money has to be spent, in order to make money and his buy cheap sell for whatever the market dictates just doesn’t work.”

    It didn’t really work out like that though, did it? After Ashley broke away from the Carr method after Benitez came in, the players haven’t been cheap. Anyway, before that, Mitrovic certainly wasn’t cheap for a half decent season in Belgium and he waasn’t the only one. There were also the frail French flops along with the bargains.

  25. Well now that we are within that winter transfer window, hopefully Rafa. will use it well, being the EPL gets more difficult for those newly arriving and we need talented players during both windows, if we are to return there as a somewhat permanent fixture.

    It appears Rafa. is/was interested in three players from Everton, Cleverly (who I don’t care for) Deulefeu (who is not for sale) and James Mccarthy (who I believe would be a good buy)

    Apart from that, a few loans from the Bigger clubs might be a good idea, plus a Left back, which could hopefully be financed by selling off some of the average buys from the second tier.

    This guy Shelvey, appears to be something of an idiot savant, yeah he’s a decent playmaker, but has his problems, certain things like verbal abuse and a disregard for other on the field rules, seem to escape him.

    As for Colback, he appears to have the same disregard for the rules of the game and has made little progress since his arrival from neighborhood rivals Sunderland.

    Anita is a decent bench player, but no left back, don’t know why we ever sold Janmaat.

    Both Clarke and Lecelles have played well as a partnership, thank goodness we finally got rid of your favorite Williamson.

    As far as strikers are concerned obviously we have one, which is Gayle, the others are crap.

    Midfielders, yeah keep Shelvey for the time being, but the guy is a bit of a nutter IMO. Aarons Richie and Diame appear decent, but this club is carrying a bunch of no hopers and the sooner we dump them and bring in some talent, it will be up for a cup of coffee and back to the second tier again, another elevator side.

  26. On other matters, I see that your new Maggie Thatcher PM May
    appears to have no clue as to what to do about Brexit.

    With probably the most knowledgeable person, Ivan Rodgers
    the UK’s recent permanent secretary to the EU delivering a scathing report on both the lack of progress and the present state of affairs regarding any positive understanding by the current party in power.

    It has become obvious that no one has a clue as to what has to be done other than take a wait and see attitude, unlike their EU counterparts who have their ducks all lined up.

    While there’s nothing positive about the loyal opposition
    the Labour party shadow government and that’s exactly what it is a shadow

    We on the other hand have elected a rookie politician with no knowledge of what he is getting into and tends to shoot from he hip and who I believe will give his fellow republicans a handful in attempting to control his easy answers to the various situations as they arrive, being his self belief as a businessman will be all that he needs, god help us all if he is allowed to make too many decisions.

    This present year will no doubt be one of the craziest seen in a long time, what with the rise of he right in Europe, the dying attempts of a dwindling white majority to control what happens in a continuing browning of America (what the results of the last election were all about)

    One leader admitting to being something of a mass (the Philippines President Duterte) murderer, Le Pen a possible racist and anti-Islamic winning the French election, the continued military face off in the South china Sea, and chaos in the Arabian peninsula, it certainly appears to be a banner year for the arms merchants, (buy BEA stocks)

  27. 1-1 – Not the best patch of form in our last four games (apart from the 3-1 revenge against Forest). 1 win, 1 draw in the cup and 2 losses. Rafa’s being taught a lesson by Hughton, who won again (2-0).

    “This guy Shelvey, appears to be something of an idiot savant”

    Aren’t alot of footballers like that though, Chuck? Could you imagine trying to explain quantum mechanics to Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney? Alot of them just can’t help themselves in the heat of the moment. You know they’re real intellectuals when they start doing that riduculous rutting stags thing.

    Poor old Iron Mike did quite well in his first few games at Wolves, then he got properly knacked and was out for ages. After he left we got relegated. Enough said. His £8 million replacement, Mbemba, has been a bit of a Boumsong, or a Bramble.

    Well what can you say about Trump? He’s undermined and lost his secret service over Putin before he’s even started, and he’s appointed the head of Exxon as SOS. I think the CIA are evil but taking sides with the Russkies over his own Secret Service is bonkers. Buy shares in nuclear bunkers. Having said that, shares won’t mean anything post Armageddon. They better have alot of security in that Trump Tower otherwise someone’s going to have a pop at it.

  28. Guess you got that right, we cant expect good footballers to also be among the brightest, I recall when Steve Highway’s nickname(ex L’pool winger) was “Bamber” in relationship with the questionnaire of Univ. Challenge ‘Bamber Gascoigne’.

    Being he was one of the only college graduates in the league at that time, though I don’t know if there are many more to this day, certainly those retired players who end up as tv announcers (color men)wouldn’t be amiss in taking a few courses (it’s the choice of most American pro athletes “public speaking” while in college to prepare for a job as a sports announcer following a career as a player).

    The fault no doubt of the Players union, who should prepare these players with an adequately funded pension, (being that “ten year high earning period” should be maximized) and courses that educate them about how to handle their finances and prepare them for the eventual a post-playing career, whatever that may be.

    It’s amazing how so many former pro. athletes end up broke, having once earned tens of millions, there are always the Sharks out there willing to separate them from their hard earned dosh leaving them with nothing but a few memory’s and a few medals, but little in the way of finances or taken courses that would benefit the players, post retirement.

    On another topic, it’s difficult to tell which of our countries has taken the worst hit, The UK through Brexit, or The US via ‘Trumpism’.

    From what I gather it appears that PM May has the most
    difficult course, being apparently there is no plan and being the EU dealmakers are not going to make it easy, plus they already have their ducks lined up, while the Tories appear to be about to deal with things piecemeal as they come up, meanwhile the pound is crumbling in value, sure this may export goods cheaper, but for how long can one reduce the pound as a financial policy.

    Meanwhile here the US dollar has risen against most currencies and there seems to be faith in the fact Trump will be a boon to big business and most are taking a wait and see attitude.

    One thing for certain is the Trump family will come out of this term much wealthier than before, as will a few fellow industrialists and bankers, but hopefully the fact the king has no clothes will become apparent during his hopefully single term, before he is exposed as a bully and a con-man.

    Though he has certainly shaken up the political system as would Bernie Sanders had he been elected and it will be interesting to find out how resilient the prior system is
    and how much may change permanently.

    Of course the UK’s Brexit course has also had it’s effect on politics throughout Europe, apparently few of the present members are satisfied, with the same populists being elected, a dissatisfied community most of which though members of a large block of nations, are now looking both inwardly and to the right.

    The world appears to be becoming more confused and disagreeable, with various regions if not at war with their nearby neighbors, certainly not for the most part
    very friendly and it certainly isn’t about to change any time soon.

  29. Hey poor old “Iron Mike” is fortunate to have played for a screwed up club like NUFC with Ashley and some of he worst managers in the history of the game.

    He made a decent piece of change for someone totally lacking in skills and hopefully held onto it or invested it, instead of buying the flashiest car available and placing bets on various ponies that are still running.

    I wish him only the best, as it’s obvious he will have to get a real job sometime in the near future.

  30. There are a few. Personally though, I found it particularly hard to believe that Iain Dowie has a post graduate degree in engineering though. Of course, we had Shaka the rocket scientist from Harvard and NASA. We did that conversation quite a long time ago though.

    “On another topic, it’s difficult to tell which of our countries has taken the worst hit, The UK through Brexit, or The US via ‘Trumpism’. ”

    I see you’re still in denial about the extent of what the American electorate have done in their infinite wisdom then. Brexit might well be the worst thing that’s happened to the UK in many years, but I’d worry about Trump and his new cabinet if I were you. Having said that, your denial is probably for the best, so you can enjoy the last few weeks before the ‘dark times’ in blissful ignorance.

    chuck says:
    January 9, 2017 at 8:14 pm

    “Hey poor old “Iron Mike” is fortunate to have played for a screwed up club like NUFC with Ashley and some of he worst managers in the history of the game.”

    Well Iron Mike is back, Chuck. Here’s what Wolves fans said about his first game back after a year out”

    “yes carl I would also be happy with a top professional centre back with Williamson in command organising the back four something captain calamitiy could not do”

    “We all saw how good Williamson when on loan. Let’s hope he can stay injury free. See the nasty comments are starting again about Danny.”

    “Make Mike Williamson captain and watch Danny Batth become a top player again.Criticism has been harsh and unfair, it’s he who needs to be captained.”

    http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2017/01/09/carl-ikeme-hails-top-professional-mike-williamson-after-wolves-fa-cup-win/

  31. C’mon now !

    We are all aware of Williamsons shortcomings, it’s one thing to defend him against the general flow of what was well deserved criticism, while playing for NUFC, but this recent nonsense is only based on your ill advised decision to defend this defenseless defender, rather than admit he was and remains, simply undefendable.

  33. Chuck, can you explain that Trump press conference / circus? Seriously, I remember Bush II, but how can the US go on with this muppet? There was much to make us slack jawed in amazement as usual, but he’s taken the side of the Russians against his own secret service and he isn’t even President yet. I think the CIA are awful but you can’t do that. They’re going to get him back. With these public displays of disunity, he’s also showing America’s soft underbelly to the Chinese and the Russians.

  35. Erm ! sorry must have missed that one.

    Don’t worry, it will eventually become apparent to even the most rabid Trumpista, as to who they are dealing with, a bully and a con man, who’s only interest is in the use of power and garnering of wealth.
    I’m going to project that there will be a number of political confrontations that will scare the hell outta the State Department and Joint Chiefs of Staff resulting in the congress keeping a tight rein on him.
    It’s also obvious he is used to getting his own way, which though ok in the US, will be unacceptable to foreign heads of state, who will not be intimidated and call his bluff.
    It will also become more obvious that he has no clue about running the worlds wealthiest sub-continent, in which case it will result in a single
    term in power.
    Yes there is always the danger a clown like this can cause major problems, by looking for easy answers through the bully pulpit, but I believe there are enough smart leaders around that see through his act.
    Whereas with a guy like Boris in one if not THE most important roles in Mays cabinet, I believe I would be more even concerned .
    That plus the fact according to senior civil servants May and her negotiating group for Brexit, are totally unprepared and it looks as if the exit negotiations could probably go on for more years than we care to contemplate.
    It’s a coin toss as to which of the two nations is in the worst shape, but at least there is the congress to counter Trump, as opposed to the Tories, who are the majority and in total control.
    I doubt when people like May and Johnson are in control one can expect anything positive to come out of it.

  36. Enough of the stupid defense of Williamson, I will list some of the talents you refer to.
    Slow as molasses.
    Frequently caught out of position.
    Goes to ground, which means a desperate attempt to either recover the ball or drop the opposing player.
    For someone of his height, is hopeless in the air (yet took part as an attacking force during set plays in the oppositions goalmouth and guess how many times scored “O”
    Has no clue what to do on finding himself in possession, his preference was to hoof it in the general direction of the oppositions goal.
    But mainly his slowness and lack of both skills and positioning, plus most opposition players who took him on went by him as if he were rooted to the ground.
    No! the guy was truly pathetic.

  37. chuck says:
    January 12, 2017 at 9:14 pm

    “Don’t worry, it will eventually become apparent to even the most rabid Trumpista, as to who they are dealing with, a bully and a con man, who’s only interest is in the use of power and garnering of wealth.”

    Psychology 101 (as you might say over there) – People are strange (especially rabid Trumpers!) and it actually works the other way alot of the time. People go into denial and get sucked in even more, like a gambler fanatically chasing his (or her) losses. Just ask a con artist. This is going to get ugly. Trumpers are the kind of gapped tooth inbreeds who keep military weaponry in bunkers and watch Alex Jones. Whither America? whither the World?

    I think Trump is actully trying to use the same techniques as Putin. Create a show and flood everywhere with lies until no one knows what the truth is anymore. Putin’s guru is called Vladislav Surkov.

    A completely new design after all these years and it doesn’t even get a mention!

  38. Jeez, you really hate Williamson. Even if he was a poor defender, he wouldn’t deserve all your vitriol. By all accounts he’s one of the nicest lads in football as well.

    “Whereas with a guy like Boris in one if not THE most important roles in Mays cabinet, I believe I would be more even concerned .”

    I don’t get that at all about importance when you are comparing him to the POTUS. Important though it is to be the Foreign Secretary of the UK, there’s no comparison. Everybody’s thinking about Trump, Putin, and whether Trump likes to watch Russian prostitutes weeing on each other without mentioning China and huge “face off” between the big superpowers in the South China Sea.

  39. One of the differences between those former communist run countries was you could be assured that whatever the national policies were , was in fact the opposite of their stated intentions.

    In other words both papers like Pravda & Izvestia (where there was no truth in Pravda and no news in Izvestia), other than that decided upon by the power structure, it was a case of whatever was officially stated by either, one could be fairly sure the opposite was true.

    On the other hand in the US there were a virtual variety of opinions given, in regard to possibly the same subject, that one was left totally confused as to where the truth lay.

    So do I take it that you consider ‘The secretary of State’, is not considered a major cabinet post, I suggest you tell that to whoever is willing to believe it being I certainly don’t and to have Boris in that role is inviting international incidents on possibly a major scale.

    Perhaps this may be the reason for his appointment, let him screw up and get rid of him forever, though looking back, Churchill was possibly responsible for more bad decisions and made more comebacks than anyone, but don’t take this as a sign that Boris is in anyway as smart as Churchill, but one has to question Mays decision.

    Yes we have what many would describe as both a bully and a clown elected as the country’s leader, but he will be allowed to only go so far, in regard to changing the presidential role and is more of an indication of the American Electorate’s ignorance than a judgement by the present political head of state like PM May, in regard to Boris.

    And yes I know he was a pro Brexiteer etc. and has a certain constituency in that regard, but that doesn’t mean you give him the most important cabinet job, that is unless you want him to put his foot in is mouth, which he is capable of at any time, then get rid of him.

    Last word on Williamson, I don’t dislike the man personally, just his hopeless inability to play any role on a football pitch and believe the state of any club to use him as such must be dire.

  41. Yep ! the apple seldom falls far from the tree and he certainly resembles her down to the pugnacious Mussolini like in your face stare.

    Not to mention the look-alike hair styles.

    An immigrant from the Hebrides, with a questionable history, who ended up in New York and married into a few bob.

    Though he does business in the UK he has little interest in her birthplace, making only one brief visit, apparently the locals were not very impressed.

  42. It appears from reports, that at a recent top NUFC management group meeting held at St. James’, that our dear leader has decided to revert to the buying of young talented players rather than let Rafa. decide on who and what is required to both gain promotion and make it a more or less permanent,

    Sure even in the second tier, the club made a profit and appears well on the way to promotion as we speak, mainly due to the astute management of Benitez, who it was assumed by most fans, was given total control of managing the club.

    Yep the chubby money man and what appears to be any manager at NUFC’s nemesis “Carr”, has once again emerged as competition for Rafa.
    (Being all Charnley does is sign the checks) in a repeat of Ashley’s former policies of finding (sometimes cheap) young (mostly continental) talents who following being shopped in the St. James’ window, are eventually sold on for profit.

    The problem is, Carr’s record though decent has failed miserably at times, but more dangerous is the fact if we lose Rafa. in any future squabble over who does what and Ashley goes back to hiring cheap and useless managers, we will end up repeating the same mistakes that got us relegated twice under Ashley’s regime, a question of top management, though I believe Ashley still considers he knows better than the average owner.

    A control freak !

    I had thought that following almost a decade of ownership and any number of cheap and useless managers (who were never allowed to manage in any case) are we now about to revert to a disproven method of running a football club, instead of looking at how the successful clubs in the PL operate, operate, unfortunately it looks like the former .

    It also appears that our dear leader is not particularly interested in silverware, but likes the idea of more silver in his pocket through PL membership and using St. James’ as an advertising board for Sports Direct.

  43. Chuck, I think that story is from Neil Moxley in the People, who is the successor to infamous Geordie fantasist, Alan Oliver. It was either him or Lee Ryder so it’s probably 22K bollocks.

    Carr definately had some early successes in the early days but he was bringing in more turkeys than Bernard Matthews in the end (Matthews was Britain’s most famous turkey farmer in case you didn’t know, Chuck)

    Carrying on the Turkey theme, Ronald Koeman certainly gave his old mate Pep Guardiola a good stuffing today.

    It was about time Hughton lost a game after 17 unbeaten, I’m glad we took advantage with a narrow win ourselves. We’re still not firing on every cylinder though.

  44. Don’t know the origin of the story, or whether there was in fact a meeting, only that it was claimed to have taken place, which wouldn’t surprise me one bit,

    But if there’s to be return to the management style and recruitment of young continental prospects, surely that would be the end of Rafa., being he is no Pardew and it appears we are fortunate he is still here.

    As for Carr ?
    Well, he’s not that bad a scout and should remain in that role, not the disruptive role he had with other managers, or else simply appoint him as the Director of Football, which was the role he took on while Pardew was at the club.

    Which of course would be the end of Rafa and a repeat of the chaos that has been this club since Ashley took over believing he knows how to run the business that is NUFC, though most disagree and i’m sure would prefer to see Rafa. in charge.

    I guess the on the job training will continue for Ashley, being he still believes he knows better and that it’s still his club, perhaps he should take a good look at what he has accomplished so far, zero !

  45. Chuck, calm down man! I have no time for Ashley but that just looked like the usual made up guff to me.

    I listened to all of Teresa May’s big brexit speech where she was supposed to make everything clear and she did. She made it clear that we’re driving right over a frigging cliff without a seat belt on! And that comes from someone who doesn’t like the EU at all (ie me). It’s still not as bad as having Trump as president though!

  46. Hmm ! that’s debatable, at least Trump knows what he wants, apparently May has no clue other than turning the UK into another cheap financial center and tax haven , similar to Bermuda, Channel islands, IOM, Giberalter, Turks and Caicos, Cayman islands……….

    Ain’t gonna work and the fact is, Brexit could be the final nail in the coffin of the once great empire, sadly reduced to a trio of squabbling countries and a phony state-let, one that if they could dump on the Republic of Ireland, would do so in a NY minute.

    The whole thing is a mess that should never have happened, with all political parties equally guilty.

    The stated reasons for Brexit are obviously zenophobic and/or racist in nature, that and the UK’s constant demands for special treatment, which will not take place during the upcoming negotiations .

    And for the UK or what’s left of it (the Scots want out, voting over sixty percent against leaving the EU) and taking their oil and whisky with them
    plus ejecting the nuclear submarines from Scottish bases, hell dock them in the Thames Estuary.

    Whereas with Trump there’s always the threat of a nuclear conflict, but i’m sure he’s smart enough to avoid getting into that type of situation, but he certainly will give many pause for thought on some of his declarations.

    Personally I certainly prefer our Trump situation as opposed to having May and Boris, god help you, looking at the quality of your modern day pols. and all the best with the negotiations, you are going to need it.

    But oh wait! it appears that the Irish Republic is the UK’s largest trading partner, which will be seriously affected , it also being the only state bordering on the UK, Brexit in turn will create a hard border and one which will have to involve some serious negotiations being the EU just cannot accept things to revert to the pre EU membership era for both.

    Lose the EU trading ability and at the same time lose your largest trading partner, erm, what will replace that, it appears many are reliant on this Tory party to take care of business, but the only reason the UK is not in a pile of trouble is due to devaluation of Sterling, but now that the pound has lost almost a third of its value, how often can you use that as a cure all.

    Whereas our unemployment rate is at a non wartime level and the dollar continues to appreciate, the markets are doing well, what do we have to worry about.

    Erm.. WW3, Putin, the Middle East , the South China Sea, global warming…………etc.
    involve both Brexit parties

  47. As for NUFC, the fact Newcastle have not yet made a signing during this winter window, brings a concern that all is not well between our dear leader (apparently sounding off once again in regard to how he would like to recruit some younger players that could be eventually sold on for profit) still the essential business man and one who believes he knows best, though he has a manager who has the club currently on the way back to the EPL .

    We do indeed need more talent, to survive a tough season back in he top division and any controversy between Rafa and Ashley is not good, hopefully this can be avoided but I have little faith in Ashley’s ability to let Rafa. do the buying and selling, plus we need to use both this and the and Rafanext widow to bring the side up to par.

    Hopefully we are not going back to the Pardew years where Carr and Llambias picked the players, I thought that Ashley had learned something with the appointment of Rafa, which may not be the case, we will just have to take a wait and see attitude.

  48. chuck says:
    January 18, 2017 at 10:27 pm

    “Hmm ! that’s debatable, at least Trump knows what he wants”

    So did Genghis Khan, Attila the Hun, Hitler, Stalin etc… they were all very decisive so it isn’t always a good thing Chuck.

    “But oh wait! it appears that the Irish Republic is the UK’s largest trading partner,”

    Ah, your favourite subject, Chuckles, dissing the old country. You get all your facts wrong though. How the hell can Ireland be our biggest trading partner? it’s tiny! In terms of single countries rather than a huge bloc like the EU, our biggest trading partner is you lot over there. The pound hasn’t lost 1/3 of its value either, it’s less than a 1/5 against the $ since the referendum.

    “what do we have to worry about.”

    You really are in total denial about Trump. Seriously, it’s going to be much worse than Ashley at Newcastle.

  49. Actually the figures stand at Exports to the ROI are at around $24.3B. whereas imports are around $19.2B. a fair sum no matter how you compare it, being there are so many conflicting stats on such matters.

    Which will result in an obvious change, with the advent of a hard Brexit, effecting both those in the northern state-let and the Republic, resulting in a hard border with both customs and immigration crossings and a tremendous loss in EU farm revenues, for those Norn Iron farmers, who along with others voted to stay.

    Brexit itself obviously not something involved in the planning of either major UK party, will cause chaos, with not only trade arrangements but the political and financial systems of both countries, though Theresa May may assume there will be special conditions allowed between the so called free travel zone that is the UK & ROI plus other conditions created by the Good Friday Accords,

    What i’m trying to get across here is the stupidity that took place by allowing this referenda to even take place, because of infighting within the Tory party.

    Just full steam ahead into Brexit, without knowing where or what to expect and at the same time attempting to put lipstick on the pig that it is , claiming it’s the best thing that ever happened to the UK, hey ya gotta laugh!

    It’s expected that there will be a sense of revanchism by the EU negotiators, being the UK has been the most difficult and reluctant member of the EU over the years, though I believe PM May will rightly assume the EU will not cut it’s nose off in order to spite it’s face, when it comes to making trade deals which are beneficial to both sides.

    On on hand, the Irish Republic has the most to lose, however they (The ROI) have a disproportunate number of corporate hqtrs. registered there due to its low corporate tax rates and as the only English speaking EU country could in fact attract a number of financial services companies now
    based in London.

    Unfortunately Cameron the former PM has jumped ship and probably is
    ensconced in a number of top boardrooms where he can collect a decent salary for simply showing up every so often or having a word in the right ears.

    Whereas the Tories are pretending that brexit is the best thing since sliced bread, while forgetting the reason it joined the EU to begin with, it’s all a sad joke, but also a reality and there are probably many who in retrospect, regret their pro Brexit vote.

  50. Nothing so far on the transfer horizon, though two decent players have been mentioned, both Townsend and McCarthy who IMO would be good buys, being we need a winger and a decent defensive/playmaker centerfielder who can also play with or as a sub for Shelvey.

    Both are EPL class and would suffice until we are promoted, of course by summer we should have our ducks lined up for at least a couple or more additions to arrive, selling of to second tier sides those we brought in for the promotion struggle.

    One of which should be a striker as neither Mitrovic or our lightweight Spanish youngster will ever be good enough.

  51. It’s the US and Germany, Chuck. The US is the country we export the most to and Germany is the country we import the most from. Me and my family never seemed to have much luck with German stuff though so I don’t really get what’s so good about it.

    As a financial capital, other cities can’t really compete with London overninght because of the banking infrastructure. You can’t just build a London or a New York overnight. Daft as Brexit has been, we do hold some cards in our hand. Seriously though Chuck, you shouldn’t be worrying about us over here, we just have a have a disaster on our hands, you have an apocalypse.

    On the football, Brighton are top and two points ahead again now they’ve won they’re game in hand. I didn’t agree with Rafa when he said that Hughton had it easier with Newcastle in the Championship. Well Hughton has it a damn sight harder than Rafa this season when you compare the squads, but Hughton’s still ahead.

    There’s a new blog anyway. It’s time to move on to that one.

  52. It remains to be seen who is in the most trouble, economically the US is in good shape, though we have a massive national debt, but the dollar is still the standard world-wise, plus it’s value is increasing.

    That’s Euro Dollars, Petro Dollars, and the rest which never return to the US, only circulate as a reserve currency, like the pound in it’s day.

    I’m afraid we cant say that about The UK, though recently things look OK, though only as a result of the fall of sterling, which means cheaper exports, though also resulting in more expensive imports, but lowering the value of ones currencies is only a temporary measure.

    And looking at the top Tories May and Boris, there’s a great team to be in charge, one(May) who has no clue as to what will happen in the upcoming negotiations, though she has attempted to convince the British electorate she does, the fact is no one knows what to expect or how long negotiations will last, which I believe will last way beyond the two year current expectations.

    Plus I don’t see anything positive in giving up the security of belonging to the worlds largest trading block, I mean wasn’t an improved economic situation the reason for joining originally ?

    Any sound political party would have found a way to avoid having to leave, whereas the Tories seem to think it a great decision, something the rest of the world just doesn’t understand.

    As for Boris, someone known to be crazier than Trump, who at least has achieved something in his career, unlike Boris, who is best known for his personal and political gaffe’s, who sooner than later will no doubt once again end up with his foot in his mouth, as head of the Foreign office.

    One way of getting rid of him I suppose !

    Whereas if The Donald goes off the rails, there is a procedure (Impeachment) which can be used and has, though the threat was enough for tricky Dicky to chose resignation instead.

    Had not the Labour Party and it’s present leader been in a funk and more concerned with their personal interests, perhaps they may have been able to better inform the electorate as to what a shambles Brexit would bring about, certainly by being more vociferous in their opposition, though I believe they too had their agendas, which may have been to see the UK leave, certainly few were aware of the party’s agenda being there was no official pronouncement from them.

    They being both silent and divided and this is the main opposition to Tory rule, You guys need help, try some populism, appears to be working pretty well elsewhere, then so is a definite move to-wards the right and nationalism, plus a move away from globalism.

  53. Chuck, America is entering a dark time. All these stupid arguments about how many people were at Trump’s inauguration and so on might seem trivial and stupid, but they are the start of something quite sinister. It is classic Putin style political “gaslighting.” The term was taken from the very famous Ingrid Bergman film where a husband convinces his wife that she is going mad and no longer knows the difference between what is real and what is false. Everything over there is going to be constant claim and counterclaim until nobody knows what truth is anymore and the public are constantly wrong footed, disoriented and feeling totally impotent. Even the Russian prositute “golden shower” story might have been gaslighting by Trump.

    He hasn’t really been that much of a success. They do say that if he’d just put his father’s wealth in an index fund and put his feet up, he’d be worth far more today than he is. His wealth is inherited. How many times has he gone bankrupt?

    http://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-probably-better-investing-donald-233020366.html

  54. Yeah ! we have all read the story about safe investment in the fortune 500 or any other supposed safe market investment and few believe there’s any truth in it.
    The fact we have subsequently gone through a depression only second to the Great Depression nullifies that story, any market loosing almost half it’s wealth, makes that impossible.

    And yes Trump has gone into bankruptcy, which in turn gave him a tax reduction advantage for over a decade and turned out to be one of his smarter moves.

    Like everything from Apple to Sony, brand names are currently listed and
    have a certain value attached, the Trump brand is no different, he sells it to the owners of real estate enterprises, any real estate company that wants to improve it’s earnings and is willing to pay for the trump brand name out front, is more or less guaranteed a certain amount of success.

    Meaning the building is one of guaranteed standards, making it easier to lease or sell, yes that’s what he does, sells his brand name, not a bad idea.

    Though that doesn’t make him particularly popular, being he’s seen as a bit of a bully among other things, but is he any worse than the life-long Politico’s who have been dividing up the federal trough for generations, bought and sold by the wealthy’s Bag Men of ‘ K’ street, by the super rich.

    One thing we can be assured of, the Trump family will be that much wealthier following his four years at the helm, much like the Clintons, who were more or less broke (according to certain standards) before having two consecutive terms in office, where they have subsequently amassed
    a fortune of over two hundred million greenbacks, that’s a lotta semolians
    to earn from making speeches.

    But that’s what politico’s are about, promise to clean up the rotten state , city, or in Trumps case dredge the swamp that is Washington and get rid of those who make life hard for those who end up paying for it.

    Some still believe in the system, but it appears there’s a world-wide rejection of the standards currently employed, with both brexit and the election of a rank outsider (Trump) plus the possible end of globalization as the standard of to-day and a move to-wards nationalism and the rejection of international trade agreements, both the US-Asian trade pact having been rejected along with possibly NAFTA going through changes

    Though I suspect much of what is currently taking place along these lines will change back to business as usual when it gets in the way of certain people making money, during the next four years.

  55. Chuck, forget about all that, that isn’t the point. There have been some awful Presidents in the past but America has really crossed the Rubicon this time. WTF are “alternative facts?” That could be straight out of Orwell’s 1984. All that Putinesque theatre of ridiculous lies about how many were at the inauguration (and all the other drivel) while Trump was getting rid of Obamacare. Do all those gap toothed, inbred bigots who voted for Trump in forgotten America realise that there was a pretty good chance that it will literally cost them their lives one day? Did they even notice?

    “Though I suspect much of what is currently taking place along these lines will change back to business as usual when it gets in the way of certain people making money, during the next four years.”

    Chuck, you do realise that your new SOS is the head of Exxon? and that four of the rest are ex Goldman Sachs? The “certain people making money” have merely taken the final step to brush aside the politicians so they can run things directly rather than going through the chore of telling people like the Clintons what to do.

  56. Erm ! it’s a cabinet consisting of millionaires, we all know that, plus a few of the scarier religious/right wingers ever to have such power.

    Hell I just travelled across country along the southern bible belt region, the home of many Trumpista’s, it’s scary what one hears from radio shock jocks and its no wonder the great unwashed are who they are, being constantly subjected to such crazy rants, 24/7.

    The System, designed by Pavlov and the only technique that actually works consistently, by a constant repetition time after time the same line, whether true or not, will eventually bring about both belief and bring everyone into a required form of mental lockstep.

    I stated that the Trump family will come out of these next four years, decidedly wealthier, they and the other top one percent and current owners of well more than half the country’s total wealth.

    The recent popularity of those seeking elective office to oust the group known as ‘The Establishment’, by voting for such candidates as Trump and what is commonly known as Brexit, are well aware they are getting screwed financially, the problem lies in not knowing what to do about it, which is certainly not by voting for one of the countries wealthiest business-men, though I believe that Brexit voters were more concerned about Islam, racism and the fact they had been ignored since de-industrialization and only wanted to exercise the little power they had by voting against their very own interests.

    One can interpret “make America great again” in any way they choose, it actually means whatever one decides and there could be any number of interpretations.

    Sure we all understand the rich are getting richer and the poor are paying for it, that’s what happens in societies that have enormous differences in wealth and income, but if it is to change, there has to be a cleaning up of the whole corrupt criminal system, not just a change of leadership.

    By the time his first four years are up, they will realize along with the morons who voted for Brexit, that to hire a fox to take care of the chicken coop is not exactly the way to accomplish this.

  57. Soh ! no signings as of yet, fact is we need at least two decent PL quality signings and possibly a couple of prospects during his window, to ensure promotion and to build for the future.

    Have to say the two youngsters from the Balkans sound impressive and would probably keep Ashley happy, being he loves that sell on for profit bit.

    Though IMO the two PL quality players mentioned would suffice, that’s McCarthy and Townsend, being we are without a left winger and a decent defensive midfielder, our local lad Colback not having improved since his arrival and the fact McCarthy could not only play alongside of Shelvey but replace him if necessary in the playmaker role.

    Certainly Townsend had some decent games here before we were relegated and with his recent benching , should be available at a fair price, whereas McCarthy still a young player, who has played pro. football since he was a sixteen year old, will not be available if we don’t make a move soon.