Newcastle being relegated was the best thing to happen to us since Sir Bobby turned up
utterly, utterly ridiculous thing to say, beyond comprehension at how stupid a statement that is. Ashley taking over is the best thing that happened, the worst thing that happened in his time in charge is relegation and caused 10's of mils in losses in that season due to wages and lack of income in that season.
Fat Sam almost brought financial ruin to the club, loading on heavy wages on past it players who offered next to nothing. You did get rid of some of them via relegation but you could likely have offloaded some of them for more money had you stayed in the prem league, and you didn't manage to offload Nolan/Barton on huge wages till you were top half of the table anyway.
Good ownership was the best thing to happen to Newcastle, relegation wasted millions thrown down the toilet in debt, nothing less. Had you not been relegated you'd have every chance of being in the same position, with 50mil more money to spend by now. Getting rid of Fat Sam early before another transfer window disaster from him was both a bold move, one disliked massively by the media and everyone talking about Ashley being a moron, and was 100% the correct, and most important decision really. Had you not gone down you'd have built from the next season, very possibly with Houghton as well, getting rid of some of the utter tosh like Viduka, and have simply have made far smaller losses that season.
Yeh Krul, Cabaye, Tiote, Ba, Cisse, Ben Arfa will all be looked at Im sure.
I just hope they dont leave, but you can't force anyone to stay.
It will need big money to get some of them though
Why would most of them WANT to leave? They are at a club that while not considered big in terms of success in recent years, have a very big stadium, huge support and are all first team. Apart from Tiote, in which case every current top 6 club has room for him easily, most clubs have the positions filled so aren't desperate to pay big prices for top players right now.
Likewise, at Newcastle they have a chance to be part of a growing team that is moving up the table, they will likely get euro football this season and get to play in all the big games the club face. I can't see many if any instantly wanting out this season at all, in a couple years, if Newcastle get noticeably worse, and a big club comes calling offering 150k, I can see a few leaving but if I was any of those players I don't think I'd take a move this season unless, Real/Barca came calling which again I don't think is likely for a year or two.
but football is all about money...
You mean he made a good turn than ran into open space before tapping the ball in? If Bolton hadn't defended like a Sunday league side, he wouldn't have got anywhere near the goal. The fact that the only bit of skill he needed to do was when he first got the ball shows just how poor the defending was..
