General Chat

[Magpie]

Well just taking in the news that we have finally got rid of that sodding leach Ashley. Just hoping for some entertaining football in time, just great to be having some hope again. Hope this isn’t a dream.

[Rhinestone_Cowboy]

I don't believe it's available or ever has been.

Cheers guys! It was certainly showing as if you could at one point but not sure you could actually do it. Sounds like they may have removed it entirely from antepost bets to remove the confusion

[robith]

Well just taking in the news that we have finally got rid of that sodding leach Ashley. Just hoping for some entertaining football in time, just great to be having some hope again. Hope this isn’t a dream.

Any concerns about the owners? Like I hate to be that guy as FJ's resident fun sucking lefty, but I wouldn't be over the moon if QPR got taken over by actual war criminals

[That Horse]

Any concerns about the owners? Like I hate to be that guy as FJ's resident fun sucking lefty, but I wouldn't be over the moon if QPR got taken over by actual war criminals

I know you're not criticising Newcastle fans but don't you think football sold it's soul a long time ago?

This is just the latest in a long line of football looking the other way. If FIFA, UEFA and other premier League clubs can all suck on the warm tits of the Middle East and other shady billionaires (paraphrasing a south park reference there ), it's not on Newcastle to take a moral stand when others haven't.

It makes it harder for my team Liverpool in the long run but we've had success and fuck me, Newcastle have been dying on their arse under Ashley.

[Magpie]

Any concerns about the owners? Like I hate to be that guy as FJ's resident fun sucking lefty, but I wouldn't be over the moon if QPR got taken over by actual war criminals

I can’t say that the human rights injustices sits easy with me Robith, but I think it’s up to the governments of the world to call out the Saudis and pressurise them into hopefully changing. Just think there have so many fingers in pies in all walks of commerce and sport it would be unfair to hold up Newcastle to a different standard. Unfortunately football sold their soul a long time ago, and if you don’t have a sizeable chunk of money you can’t play at the very top table. Newcastle is one of those clubs which is so central to the happiness of the city, and it will be great to have that community buzz back.

[robith]

I know you're not criticising Newcastle fans but don't you think football sold it's soul a long time ago?

This is just the latest in a long line of football looking the other way. If FIFA, UEFA and other premier League clubs can all suck on the warm tits of the Middle East and other shady billionaires (paraphrasing a south park reference there ), it's not on Newcastle to take a moral stand when others haven't.

It makes it harder for my team Liverpool in the long run but we've had success and fuck me, Newcastle have been dying on their arse under Ashley.

There's shady owners, and there's being owned by a state that is actively carrying out atrocities against civilians though?

Just cos other stuff is wrong, doesn't mean you shouldn't call something in front of you out imo

[archie]

There's shady owners, and there's being owned by a state that is actively carrying out atrocities against civilians though?

Just cos other stuff is wrong, doesn't mean you shouldn't call something in front of you out imo

Without wanting to get into a political discussion on a racing thread, if the government and monarchy are literally rolling out a red carpet for Saudi rulers, it's not reasonable to expect football or an individual club or any sport to act as the conscience of the nation.

[That Horse]

There's shady owners, and there's being owned by a state that is actively carrying out atrocities against civilians though?

Just cos other stuff is wrong, doesn't mean you shouldn't call something in front of you out imo

I agree mostly, state owned clubs are turning me off football slowly but surely, and it should be called out.

However, the Premier League and Uefa showed more willingness and resistance in fighting off the Super League than they ever did in preventing countries with questionable human rights records from entering football. I guess my point is it has to start from the top and that leadership isn't there. As soon as Saudi agreed to stop pirating Premier League TV games, lo and behold, any resistance to the deal melted away.

It'll bite them in the arse in the end though, if state owned clubs become the norm coupled with a non stop oversaturated football calendar, people will lose interest eventually imo.

[robith]

I can’t say that the human rights injustices sits easy with me Robith, but I think it’s up to the governments of the world to call out the Saudis and pressurise them into hopefully changing. Just think there have so many fingers in pies in all walks of commerce and sport it would be unfair to hold up Newcastle to a different standard. Unfortunately football sold their soul a long time ago, and if you don’t have a sizeable chunk of money you can’t play at the very top table. Newcastle is one of those clubs which is so central to the happiness of the city, and it will be great to have that community buzz back.

fair - being a fan is such a rigmarole these days isn't it.

We had the King of Malaysia at QPR vs Birmingham the other night. Very surreal

[robith]

Without wanting to get into a political discussion on a racing thread, if the government and monarchy are literally rolling out a red carpet for Saudi rulers, it's not reasonable to expect football or an individual club or any sport to act as the conscience of the nation.

fair archie - though my club means more to me than the govt or the monarchy!

[Imperial Commander]

Without wanting to get into a political discussion on a racing thread, if the government and monarchy are literally rolling out a red carpet for Saudi rulers, it's not reasonable to expect football or an individual club or any sport to act as the conscience of the nation.

Sheikh Mohammed has been "disinvited" from the Royal Box at Royal Ascot next year, so perhaps that's a small sign of the way the wind is blowing from the Monarchy? That said, the Saudi organisation has obviously passed the Premier League's Fit & Proper test with flying colours!

[Atlantic Viking]

It's an issue that you could write multiple books on, but I can honestly say as a fan of one of the worst football teams on Planet Earth that has suffered far more than most, i'd still rather be in the position we're in than be taken over by the Saudi state or such like. Footballs pick and mix approach to morals has always left me bemused, rainbow laces and equality campaigning one minute, World Cups to Qatar and clubs sold to regimes with horrific human rights records the next... Morals seem to exist solely for the causes that wont hit anyones pockets, infact more often than not for ones that'll help fill them up some more.
At the same time, as a country we sell fighter jets to such States and can't roll out the red carpet fast enough for them, so the ship sailed a long time ago and Newcastle Utd are just making the most of a situation most of society has already suggested they can live with. At least some sort of conversation is being had on it all anyway, unlike in flat racing...

Anyway, it's Chepstow today and at least the Saudis aren't ploughing a fortune into making Leeds a force, that really would be unbearable.

[Atlantic Viking]

The McCoys were last night, on the off chance anyone cares. I am actually quite curious about the criteria, if anyone knows? Bannixtown Glory?!

https://twitter.com/CheltenhamRaces/status/1446425818700394497

[Eggs]

….?5 free bet with 365 for Newmarket today.

[Kevloaf]

….?5 free bet with 365 for Newmarket today.

Mine went on Burning Victory. That alcoholic ruined everything


I have to say, finally getting round to starting my diary properly has put me in a superb mood! First day I've actually watched the racing since the Grand National as well (didn't even watch Punchestown properly) .... or Galway..... how crazy is that. Seen the odd race but not sat down to watch the whole lot for months!