A Mackem Told Me....

Me being the not so shy person, I decided to interrupt so I politley went over and asked, 'what the fXXk are you on about'

The usual introductions went on, and I found out the people on the table, three blokes and three women, were all Sunderland Season ticket holders, and a decent lot they turned out to be.

The conversation though was an odd one for me, I asked what was the opinion about Newcastle now and they said, rather obviously, we will struggle next season, to which I agreed but said that I expected us to remain a Premier League team.

They asked me my opinion on Mike Ashley and as most regulars know, my opinion of the bloke is akin to the way I feel about Snakes, I hate them...and of course they laughed and praised the bloke to the hilt...but not in the sarcastic way you might think.

The older lad, I forget his name, said to me that Mike Ashley could end up being one of the best things to happen to English football, as he see's him as a person who is about to make a stance on transfer payments, wage caps etc etc, and that if we remain in the Premier League - other owners are very likely to follow the model that he is trying to bring into force.

I hesitated of course and then I thought, hang on, does this bloke have a point?

He knew his football for certain and maybe Ashley is making a stand and trying to bring football into a realm we've not been in for some years now - commited players that although highly paid, are not there to simply pick up wages, a working unit without fractions???

Then I thought, as long as we have Man City owners et al, Ashleys system will always see us in mid-low table position.

To be honest, I was confused by a mackem who was so gracious about our owner, it did make me think, even if I did'nt quite agree?

Could Mike Ashley change the face of football as a whole? I think not, but it's good to know that although we are very critical, seemingly, the bloke is making people sit up and think.

Don't get me wrong, if the guy left tomorrow I would be a fairly happy man, he's put us through hell, again, but could it be he is getting it right, are we blinkered???

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.