13th June 2005
The following e-mail was sent in to Newcastle-Online.com by a
regular reader, on the 12th:
Hi guys,
First of all I want to praise you on being innovative and ambitious
about the site. I look forward to all the new features that are set
to appear in the future. I also think you do a great job of updating
regularly.
Secondly, some constructive criticism. I think the tone of the site
has become very bitter in recent times. Sure there are reasons to
be upset and disappointed lately but the tone of the sites gone a
bit too far. For example the story on the imminent departure of Andy
O'Brien entitled: "The news Toon fans have all been waiting for" is
pretty nasty.
I mean how would we all feel if we moved on from a job which we didn't
have particular talent for, but had always done the required duties
to the best of our ability whilst never causing problems and maintaining
a professional attitude, and found out those at the job where all
celebrating the fact we wouldn't be around anymore?
Another example is the fact that every time good players joining the
club is mentioned it's dismissed on the site as being an attempt to
sell season tickets. First, as one poster on the forum indicated,
where has this myth come from? When NUFC tried to sign Ronaldiniho
there was no need to sell any extra season tickets.
The myth doesn't carry to this season either because for every fan
disillusioned enough to not renew their ticket there's another 2 ready
to step in and buy that ticket. Second, Isn't the chairman acting
in the best interests of the club by promoting the ambition of the
club to try to get high calibre players?
Should he come out in the press and say: "Newcastle United does not
waste their time trying to get the best here, we just go for easily
obtainable players of equal or lesser ability than those we already
have. We aim to improve next season by keeping a similar quality squad."
Third, would it be better if Newcastle never chased players it won't
get? Better to aim high and fall short than to aim low and succeed
as the saying goes.
Every time Freddy Shepard opens his mouth what he says is ridiculed,
even though he's a poor chairman and has disgraced himself in the
past it doesn't mean that everything he does or says is wrong.
I'm not advocating that the site sycophantically follows the clubs
official line, nor that it never criticises the club. There's definitely
room for justified criticism but the line between that and bitterness
has been crossed since the cup defeats earlier this year.
In a couple of months the first goal film will be out featuring a
South American kid winning the premier league at Newcastle (it's in
the synopsis on the official site). The movie may be embarrassing
and a failure, however considering the amount of money put into it
it 's much more likely that it will hugely improve Newcastle's image
around the world and swell the Toon Army's ranks with a lot of extra
fans around the world, especially young fans. Those fans may seek
out the best Newcastle site on the net (yours), and I think it would
be better if the site offered a less negative outlook on the future
of the club.
Anyway I'd like to end this e-mail by saying that your site really
is the best Newcastle Site around and probably the most ambitious
and innovative site of any club in the world. I also appreciate that
it's easy for me to sit back and criticise than it is to actually
do something like you guys have.
Especially if its doing something as well as you guys do. I just think
its time the storm clouds lifted. The truth is that at a club like
Newcastle which in terms of revenue is an absolute giant in world
football its always going to be a case of when, not if the good times
will come. The great work of people like yourself will help that immensely.
Keep up the good work.
Hugo Lines
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