[Albion] If the Albion were bought out by the Saudis

[Pavilionaire]

I'm trying to get my head around whether these Saudi owners are worse than than your run of the mill oligarch or shady Asian businessman.

I've come to the conclusion that - yes - despite the dubious reputation of your Abramovich, your Usmanov or your El-Khalaifi, the Saudi penchant for chopping off various parts of people's bodies in public as some form of justice does cross the line at which point any self-respecting football fan should walk away.

That said, the cruelty and taking of life is not a million miles away from what has happened in Qatar to get these stadia built for next year's World Cup. The Guardian has reported 6,750 deaths of South Asian migrant workers in the country since the World Cup was awarded to Qatar 10 years ago.

 

[grubbyhands]

If after failed protests a Saudi takeover happened I'd sever ties and walk away.

Pretty much how I feel really. It would rip my heart out to sever all ties but that would be the way I would have to go.

 

[Hotchilidog]

That said, the cruelty and taking of life is not a million miles away from what has happened in Qatar to get these stadia built for next year's World Cup. The Guardian has reported 6,750 deaths of South Asian migrant workers in the country since the World Cup was awarded to Qatar 10 years ago.

Agreed which is why I have no interest in the next WC either. Another travesty that should be shunned by football fans everywhere.

 

[Deleted member 2719]

I'd go all in with Bognor rather than 70%.

Me too, 9 people do not understand our club or they are Palarse.

 

[studio150]

If you were still to carrying on going to the Amex, just a few likely changes:

No protests
Women banned
LGBTQ+ banned
Flogging for trying to take a bottle top in

https://www.amnesty.org.uk/saudi-arabia-human-rights-raif-badawi-king-salman

 

[SAC]

[MENTION=6886]Bozza[/MENTION] has nailed this on page 1 by the way. The issue for me would be Bloom selling to ANYONE. I just don't want him to.

If he did sell to an even more minted nation state 90% of the current Amex STHs would eventually lap it up if we started winning trophies.

Completely agree. The (newly owned) club wouldn't care if 10% or 30% of ST holders didn't renew in protest as they would soon enough sell them to someone else as soon as the club started buying big names players and (presumably) going up the table.

 

[Wardy's twin]

Some thoughts...

Saudi Arabia has a reprehensible government but at the moment its the west's ally in keeping at bay Iran who are probably more reprehensible. Sometimes these choices are about picking the least worst option. They also control lots of petrol.

From a footballing perspective they are just another nail in the coffin of the competition called top level football in the uk , more money means more obscene wages and transfer fees which reduces the competition from 'smaller players'. To be fair we have sold our souls already by being part of it .

So if they had come to take over here with the potential of winning the title and playing CL football I would find it hard to say no.

I do wish that Newcastle get relegated this season though.

 

[jakarta]

No option in the poll for:

I would stop going to games and walk away from football completely

Which is my option.

Fortunately the idea of Tony Bloom having anything to do with the Saudis is absurd...

 

[Notters]

Exactly. Ashley maybe loathsome as an individual but he hardly ran the club into the ground. The football may have been dull, but he had spent a lot of money, kept the team in the top two divisions, gained European football and racked up some Championship titles. It is hardly the tale of woe the Geordies are making out.

Not even in the same league as Archer & Belloti

Unless you listen to the Newcastle fans who the BBC are airing today, who say the club will now "rise from the ashes"!

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

You left betting and gambling off that list as well!!!

I saw a programme a few years back that postulated that the object of many of the smaller Arab Wealth Funds was merely to buy acceptance and a degree of " linkage " to Western nations by buying sporting crown jewels.

Geographically, many of the little sheikhdoms have pots of cash but could be rolled over in hours by Iran, so, they seek friendships and connections for insurance purposes effectively.

Well maybe if they need us that much we should start telling them to sort themselves out, and start treating their women and minorities properly, or **** right off

Just a thought.

 

[Billy the Fish]

It's easy to be self righteous about something when it's highly unlikely to happen, in the near future at least.

Ultimately we hit the absolute jackpot with Tony Bloom, it's a lottery win and willy wonka's golden ticket all rolled into one. If you turn back the clock to 1997 I wonder how many people would've been happier to hold their noses and look the other way if it was Saudi businessmen rather than Dick Knight ridding us of archer and bellotti.

The criticism of Newcastle fans is a bit off IMHO.

 

[Swansman]

I would go on my first flight to England, get off the flight, go to the Amex, burn it down, have a pint, go back to Sweden.

 

[Icy Gull]

I would go on my first flight to England, get off the flight, go to the Amex, burn it down, have a pint, go back to Sweden.

Wouldn’t it be easier to come by car and ferry and just kidnap GP?

 

[hans kraay fan club]

It's easy to be self righteous about something when it's highly unlikely to happen, in the near future at least.

Ultimately we hit the absolute jackpot with Tony Bloom, it's a lottery win and willy wonka's golden ticket all rolled into one. If you turn back the clock to 1997 I wonder how many people would've been happier to hold their noses and look the other way if it was Saudi businessmen rather than Dick Knight ridding us of archer and bellotti.

The criticism of Newcastle fans is a bit off IMHO.

Sorry, but this is a completely fatuous, ridiculous comparison.

Albion fans in 1997 were rightly, and understandably. desperate. The club looked very likely to be going completely out of existence. In that desperate situation it would be understandable for people to hold their nose and accept any form of White Knight, riding to the rescue.

Newcastle's 'situation' is 14 years of a debt-free club, playing either in the Premier League, or rinsing the Championship with a full strength Premier League squad, watching £40m strikers in a huge stadium. But whining the entire time, because they can't have a £60m player, or play in the Champions League.

Seriously, the comparison is beyond ridiculous. Its actually offensive.

 

[keaton]

It's easy to be self righteous about something when it's highly unlikely to happen, in the near future at least.

Ultimately we hit the absolute jackpot with Tony Bloom, it's a lottery win and willy wonka's golden ticket all rolled into one. If you turn back the clock to 1997 I wonder how many people would've been happier to hold their noses and look the other way if it was Saudi businessmen rather than Dick Knight ridding us of archer and bellotti.

The criticism of Newcastle fans is a bit off IMHO.

If Ashley was anywhere near as bad as Archer and Bellotti you might have a point.

 

[Silverhatch]

It's easy to be self righteous about something when it's highly unlikely to happen, in the near future at least.

Ultimately we hit the absolute jackpot with Tony Bloom, it's a lottery win and willy wonka's golden ticket all rolled into one. If you turn back the clock to 1997 I wonder how many people would've been happier to hold their noses and look the other way if it was Saudi businessmen rather than Dick Knight ridding us of archer and bellotti.

The criticism of Newcastle fans is a bit off IMHO.

Nah, Newcastle fans should embrace the reality that a hated chairman has gone, only to be replaced by a sovereign wealth fund controlled by an orthodox Muslim ruler who continues to allow gender and sexual human rights abuses to continue. Having said that, FIFA gives two world cups back to back to Russia & Qatar - and our government and royalty are cheek by jowl with the Saudi Royal family. It’s a ****ed up world.

 

[KeegansHairPiece]

Sorry, but this is a completely fatuous, ridiculous comparison.

Albion fans in 1997 were rightly, and understandably. desperate. The club looked very likely to be going completely out of existence. In that desperate situation it would be understandable for people to hold their nose and accept any form of White Knight, riding to the rescue.

Newcastle's 'situation' is 14 years of a debt-free club, playing either in the Premier League, or rinsing the Championship with a full strength Premier League squad, watching £40m strikers in a huge stadium. But whining the entire time, because they can't have a £60m player, or play in the Champions League.

Seriously, the comparison is beyond ridiculous. Its actually offensive.

I agree with the comparison part, but are we saying it depends on how desperate you are?

If Newcastle were threatened with going out of business, are we seeing this as an acceptable deal with the devil, I think we'd have welcomed the handshake wouldn't we in 1997?

Devil's advocate here, last season there were well respected posters and moderators of this board calling for the managers head, Ashworth's head, anyone's head because they couldn't take another season of struggling...after 4 years. It was a noisy minority, but a huge amount of discontent. Not aimed at the owner, but still, you know what I mean, if this season hadn't started well, the knives would have been out again. So okay, multiple that 4 years by 14 and an owner you can't stand. You get the picture. I suspect we'd have more of a sizeable fanbase welcoming the Arabians than people are letting on.

 

[Iggle Piggle]

I'd Flounce. I have principles but they would be severely put to the test when the spare time created by no more football would be eaten up by DIY jobs handed to me by Mrs Piggle. In such circumstances, I could tolerate the odd journo who'd lost his head or an LGBT activist who "falls" off the 20th floor.

 

[Swansman]

Wouldn’t it be easier to come by car and ferry and just kidnap GP?

You'd definitely wouldnt get to keep him.

But I didnt spend years on NSC to get a lesson in Wahhabism.

 

[Hamilton]

I'd have no hesitation in handing back my season ticket. I'd go to Lewes while I protested.

I disagree with [MENTION=6886]Bozza[/MENTION]. If the Saudis had taken over from Archer I still would not have bought a season ticket.

I assume that women will not be allowed in St James Park now and that there will be stonings on the pitch at half-time.