A detailed and extensive discussion of the pros and cons of the proposed Newcastle takeover - well worth listening to. Good balance with @JamesPiotr on as well.

One quibble: Saudi Arabia is not, and never has been, a political and strategic ally of the UK (it's a partner). https://twitter.com/tfalex1892/status/1266095859151839232

I don't agree with Newcastle fans who think that a London-centric media is picking on their club. This isn't about Newcastle, it's about Saudi Arabia and the actions of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - the chairman of the Public Investment Fund that would be an 80% owner.

Trying to sugarcoat the Saudi involvement by suggesting Amanda Staveley would be the public face of the takeover is also something I'd take issue with. Staveley played a similar role in the 2008 Abu Dhabi takeover of Man City - but she has not been a face of that club since.

It has also been striking to see the defensive reaction of many apparently genuine supporters on social media who seem to have embraced Saudi talking points as if they were their own.

One tweet even claimed Jamal Khashoggi had staged his disappearance to escape his fiancée.