Sharman's Picks - Magpies are back at the big table

When last we spoke… Newcastle were mired in a relegation fight, the fans were desperate, disenchanted and depressed… well, here we are and the club is still in a relegation fight but the fans are delirious, delighted anddddd really happy…  although no one else is it seems, including their opponents on Sunday, Tottenham are… you see, Newcastle were sold last week, and hated and despised owner Mike Ashley, who led the storied club to an era of low spending, and average to bad teams… is out… however, and here is the controversial part… A Saudi Arabian Sovereign Wealth Fund is in… Now, the Saudi’s have a rather questionable human rights record to say the very least… but that’s a discussion for another day…  but the new owners are guaranteeing the wealth fund will not be influenced by the state… which would be a no-no in the rule book… but there is still much secrecy on this takeover, which kinda, maybe makes the Magpies the richest club in world football, which kinda, maybe is why a handful of clubs including Tottenham are making official complaints and protests over the deal… after all, Newcastle will very soon spend lots of money on really good players, some of whom according to the rumour mill play for said clubs…  but back to fans… they really don’t care about any political or social concerns… all they care about is the fact that Mike Ashley is gone, and the new owners might make their beloved club the new Man City… or PSG?  Who knows, it will be fascinating… but all of you who bet on a Newcastle relegation this season, might want to reconsider, because come the January window, they are gonna be shopping for talent. Sunday, will be a party in Tyneside.