Newcastle United 2019 / 2020

First topic message reminder :

Current Squad
GK's
Martin Dubravka
Karl Darlow
Robbie Elliott

Defenders
Ciaran Clark
Javi Manquillo
Paul Dummett
Jamaal Lascelles
Fabian Schar
DeAndre Yedlin
Federico Fernandez
Florian Lejeune
Jetro Willems
Emil Krafth

Midfielders
Sean Longstaff
Matt Ritchie
Jonjo Shelvey
Isaac Hayden
Miguel Almiron
Rolando Aarons
Jacob Murphy
Ki Seung-Yueng
Henri Saivet
Christian Atsu
Matthew Longstaff

Forwards
Dwight Gayle
Yoshinori Muto
Joelinton
Allan Saint Maximin

Yeah totally agree John. I actually had to laugh last night at the end of the game...because its just all a circus.

I genuinely don't understand the mind set of Mike Ashley? What is he actually at this club for? Its certainly not to win anything or challenge for top half.

He's happy to just use it to pocket a few million here and there from selling the better players, get his marketing from the stadium etc...

Rafa wont be with us much longer...that's set in stone!

If it was me id have left the second we had been promoted again...then given Mike the bird!

Benitez's dream job was Real Madrid, but he got fired after a few months.  It seems to me he enjoys the Premiership so would like to manage in it and maybe Newcastle is his last opportunity (?).  Ashley is still trying to sell the club and if Benitez can keep the club up, there should be a good chance Ashley could get the £300 million (?) he wants for the sale.  The big surprise was the best chance for the sale must have been after promotion and Benitez promising he would stay.

I don't know all the ins and outs of the finances but have this from the BBC:

"Ashley has supported Newcastle financially for many years. The £129m in loans he has given the club are all interest free.  His incremental purchase of 100% of Newcastle shares cost a total of around £134m in 2007. That is a £263m investment in all - leaving him £13m out of pocket on a bid of £250m. But Sports Direct, according to some analysts, has received around £20m to £40m in free advertising through its association with the club."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42701507

But it seems nowadays the price of two players (e.g. Neymar + Mbappe) is more than an entire premiership club including all its assets.

There has also been considerable player income from sales Bertie.

Two players alone - Andy Carol £35m and Sissoko £30m brought in £65m

Plus many others. And i'm pretty sure he hasn't spent near that, so that's money hes pocketed. I'd like to see the exact transfers £ in and out. I bet theres a considerable imbalance.

That BBC article I referred to only contains information on the purchase price and investment loans Mike Ashley has put into the club.  It has no information as to what he has taken from the club (if anything?) in terms of income. Presumably the business is a separate legal entity to the owner so that profits from players sales remains in the business rather than pocketed by the owner.  I don't know the full ins and outs of it all but accept the BBC article is limited and doesn't tell the full story.


Be interesting to compare income from players sold versus expenditure on players bought.  What with all the increasing income from television rights and merchandise the value of the squad should be increasing so records should be being broken fairly regularly.  But Alan Shearer was complaining Newcastle last broke its transfer record in 2005.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42761669

Massive win for Newcastle. In a year where the relegation battle is going to be very tight, such an "unexpected / bonus" win could prove crucial.

Looking at the stats from the BBC, Man Utd had 64% of the possession yet committed more fouls than Newcastle (15 compared to 12). The BBC don't give details on tackles made, but it seems this was a very good defensive display by Newcastle, while still posing an attacking threat.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42934988

Fantastic win...
Shelvey was outstanding...as was Diame and the keeper.

We'll Savour that win...but we need to show some consistency now.

If we can win games like that then we should be beating the lower table sides...those are the ones that really matter at the moment...getting ahead of those teams around us.

Incredible result. Still got serious issues up front, especially with Perez & Joselu, but hopefully Slimani can have the same positive impact that Kenedy & Dubravka have had.

As for the game, thought Lejeune & Dubravka were superb. Shelvey though was like a man possessed. Just so frustrating that he doesn’t produce performances like that every week. Think Pogba is still in his pocket right now.

Think we can just crawl to survival. It won’t be pretty though.

That performance by Shelvey summed the player up.

He can be genuinely top class...a guy that would boost England...yet he can also play like a petulant schoolboy, who I wouldn't want in the Newcastle side...

Very frustrating.

Having said that, Diame is starting to put together a string of very good performances...maybe Shelvey can do the same for the remaining games.

Its drab uninspiring boring football.

Rafa has to take some of the blame for this now mind.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Rafa has to take some of the blame for this now mind.

Things change in football. I have questioned Rafa in parts this season, but his quality has shone through in the end. It's what Ashley was banking on, in comparison to having McClaren at the helm. You have to salute the job Rafa has done, with the squad available. I believe we've got the seventh best defensive record, and that's testament to Rafa.

We should be relatively safe now, but still questions remain, as to what will unfold in the summer.

Well great result yesterday, we're safe.

Rafa has basically hinted in his post match interview...the balls in Ashley's court now.

Will he sell the club, will he keep it and invest some money...or will he sit and do nothing...

Happy to see Newcastle doing well again. Think IF (big if) Benitez is given a decent amount to spend he could make a real go at making Newcastle into a regular Top 8 side.

ya rafa is a top manager with the right resources Newcastle are capable of being where burnley are atm

Rafa to Arsenal is doing the rounds now....

That would make a lot of sense yet Rafa is still currently only about 9th or 10th favorite. Yet he seems to have greater credibility than many of the other candidates: extensive experience, has managed top clubs, has demonstrated ability in the Premier League (Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle), with Newcastle he has demonstrated he can work under very tight financial constraints - one of the criticisms at Liverpool was that he wasted quite a fair proportion of the transfer money on signings that didn't live up to expectations - resulting in a relatively weak squad depth. But with Newcastle he has probably put that to rights - demonstrating his all round ability to manage clubs with vastly different budgets.

It doesn't seem like Mike Ashley is ever going to get an offer for Newcastle that he is willing to accept.

Of the 2 ex Liverpool managers in the frame for the Arsenal job I think Rafa would be a better choice than BR. That being said, I hope they go for BR. Would be absolutely hilarious.

You wouldn't blame Rafa...Ashley is a total muppet.

And now the stories are that Ashley has put a value of £400m on the club...

Club looks stable under Rafa, and regained PL status. Price inevitably increases.

We’ve got the TV money to spend this summer, so should be backed. Rafa will walk otherwise.

I thought he was trying to sell the club for £300 million before Christmas - and apparently the offers received didn't come close to that evaluation.  So now he is asking for £400 million?  Does he want to sell the club?  Sunderland is a warning how things could go wrong quickly and I think Newcastle have had warnings.  If Benitez goes I doubt whether Mike Ashley is capable of bringing in the right man to replace him.  Looking in from the outside it does seem that Ashley has been "learning on the fly" how to run a football club.  

The Venky's are probably the classic case of owners demonstrating they didn't have a clue how to run a football club, but there seems to be many examples of owners being out of their depth.  I don't think Ashley is that bad - but he doesn't give the impression of someone particularly interested in the game - rather someone who is just interested in business acquisitions.

He said he would sell the club, he wanted £350m, Staveley and PCP offered £300m, which Ashley didn't want. They then went back and offered £350m, but with a clause that said if the club were relegated, Ashley would have to pay them back £100m. PCP offered to finance the January spending, but a deal wasn't reached.

Ashley will sell for the right place. We've achieved safety with 5 games to spare, with the Stadium, the Club, the TV money that's coming in (£135m if we finish 10th) £400m is hardly unreasonable.

Reports also state Rafa will be getting around £100m of that TV money, plus whatever he makes from player sales, and a new contract. Rafa wants assurances on Players and investment in the Academy, which I believe he's going to get.

Ashley isn't stupid, he's a shrewd businessman, and he also knows a manager of Rafa's calibre is worth at least £50m on the value of the club.

On a completely different note....we've been discussing the complete lack of academy successes.

Why on earth are we not able to bring through local lads in an area where football is a religion.

Joselu being a prime example. He is truly woeful. If you go to any Saturday / Sunday league games in Byker, Blyth, North Shields...you will find a better striker than him...and yet we pay £5m for him!!?

The whole academy and scouting system needs radically overhauling. And to be honest I hope Peter Beardsley is gone for good as i've heard horror stories about the coaching levels etc within the academy.

GeordieFalcon wrote:On a completely different note....we've been discussing the complete lack of academy successes.

The whole academy and scouting system needs radically overhauling. And to be honest I hope Peter Beardsley is gone for good as i've heard horror stories about the coaching levels etc within the academy.

Massadio Haidara, Jesus Gamez, and Curtis Good have been released. Yasin Ben El-Mhanni is also leaving Newcastle United. The investigation into coach Peter Beardsley’s alleged unfair treatment of the winger has yet to be finalised, but El-Mhanni has not been offered a new deal by the Magpies. 18 other academy players have been released in a huge clear-out at the club.

As for summer signings, we don’t receive the TV money until mid-July, so I expect Rafa will need to raise funds, in order to sign players before that money is released. That has always been the problem, as Ashley is not cash rich.

August
11: Tottenham (h)
18: Cardiff City (a)
25: Chelsea (h)

September
1: Man City (a)
15: Arsenal (h)

Tough start

Mikel Merino joining Real Sociedad for £13m. More evidence that Rafa has been told to raise funds himself, before we get the TV money in mid-July.

Ki Sung Yueng in on a free transfer.

John, Ive heard that Merino wont sign a contract due to certain reasons, so basically Rafa is being forced to let him go. Of course that could be utter tosh.

Either way shame to lose him...I suspect he'll go on to be a very good player, though Real Sociedad is not the destination I would have for him.

Mitrovic pretty much on his way aswell for around £15-£20m - we need to be bringing in some quality upfront.

Im actually not overly concerned with Mitro going. I'd like to see Joselu on his way aswell. I genuinely think theres better players in the Byker, Blyth, Whitley bay etc etc regions than him!

Hearing we’re back in talks for Andros Townsend. Excels under Rafa, and was good for us previously. £18m is steep, but going rate. Kenedy also in he pipeline, so plenty of pace & creativity being added to the wings.

Yeah I heard about Townsend. £18m is a lot though.

Its interesting that he seems to be really pushing for Kennedy to return as well. Now that's far better as he's a top player and clearly made a big difference when he arrived.

That's the type of players you need. Ones that visibly enhance the team.

I still think theres a few bargains out there to be had...but its about balancing the bargains with being prepared to pay the bucks for the real quality that you need aswell.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Yeah I heard about Townsend. £18m is a lot though

Matt Ritchie appears to be on his way to Stoke for £15m, so Andros the inevitable replacement. Think that’s good money for Ritchie. Great servent, but I think we need that extra pace and goal threat in the wide areas.

Ah right I didn't realise that Ritchie to Stoke was that certain. In that case I guess 3 million for Andros is not bad. He'll offer a different prospect down the right wing.

Any update on the links to Plea?

Beer wrote:Any update on the links to Plea?

Have to sell first, although Rondon (who is pretty ordinary), is also being talked about.

Mbemba has gone to Porto for €8m. Also heading for the exit door, is Merino (£13m), Mitrovic (£20m) and Ritchie (£15m).

They've turned down £15m for Ritchie?

We’ve probably been told to up our offer for Kenedy or Townsend, so need to squeeze Stoke for more.

Kennedy is up on a medical for a season long loan last I heard.

Didn't hear about Mbemba. Surprised at that one.

So that's "very roughly" about £50- £55m coming in for 4 players and so far we have signed 1 defensive midfielder (Merino replacement) on a free transfer.

I see we've also rejected a £25m offer for Laschelles from West Ham

And have linked a fair bit with Man City player Zinchenko (or whatever he's called) the Ukranian.

Beer wrote:Reports also state Rafa will be getting around £100m of that TV money, plus whatever he makes from player sales, and a new contract

Seems a long time ago, when I heard all this too. Unsurprisingly, nothing has changed. Ashley's taken a financial hit at Sports Direct, and the TV money is basically paying him back, the money he has loaned to the club previously, especially in covering that huge wage bill. Apparently Rafa has rejected two contract extensions, and communication between him & Ashley is at an all-time low.

Ki-Sung-Yeung, Dubravka & Kenedy on board, so essentially, it's the same squad as last season.

Yeah...its not a great pre season so far as players in are concerned.

I hope they're not banking on Longstaff being the messiah after one decent game against awful opposition.

Just John wrote:Ki-Sung-Yeung, Dubravka & Kenedy on board, so essentially, it's the same squad as last season.

Fabian Schar has signed on a three-year deal.

Who is this Yoshinori Muto..?
9.5m deal on his way to us apparently?

Edit - Japan International Striker...

Rafa looks done. Fed up with the whole Ashley circus.

He'll go at the end of the season. And we'll be left with another clown of a manager for Ashley to control.

Yeah, season looks a write-off. Take 17th now.

Absolutely...John.

Its concerning.

The only silver lining is that we seem to have a number of potentially good local lads coming through. They'll all get gametime this season, and will be much stronger for next season whether we are in the championship or the prem.

I know most of the fans want to see some good local lads in the side.

Finally the end for Adam Armstrong

£1.75m, rising to £3m to Blackburn

Newcastle 0-1 Augsburg. We’ve failed to score in our last three friendly matches

Side looking like:

------------------Rondon--------------
----Kenedy-------Perez-------Ritchie-
-----------Diame------Shelvey-------
Dummett----Schar---Lascelles--Yedlin
-----------------Dubravka---------------

Subs - Ki-Sung-Yeung, Murphy, Muto, Atsu, Clark, Joselu - beyond awful bench

So Rondon comes in on a years loan!

Wow...do we actually have any players that are actually ours??

Sorry but Rondon is hardly an inspiring signing either!

Rafa will be gone by the end of the season...and then we're in the sh1t!

Not a great window, but the squad definitely looks in better shape than they were this time last year - added depth will be vital. Think we will struggle for goals, but defensively we look sound.

Muto, Fernandez, Schar, Dubravka, Kenedy, Ki & Rondon signed

Negatives - Transfer record still not broken, -£20m net spend, No quality at LB, and no real cover for Shelvey.

Unsurprisingly, out of the Carabao Cup to lower league opposition. Blatant penalty on Perez, but didn’t deserve anything out of the game anyway.

Desperate outfit right now. Club going nowhere. Man City (a) next

Season a write-off. Just depends whether it’s 17th, or relegation. Cheers, Mike

Relegation looking good...

GeordieFalcon wrote:Relegation looking good...

3 wins on the bounce

What a turnaround

Well...no signings...im waiting for Rafa to say he's away...

Cant work out what that fat cockney w.... is doing...

Tough one.

Almiron for example. They want £19m, we've offered £16m, but it's not like there is a long queue of people. The club just don't want to pay over the odds on this one.

Lukaku, hardly the fat mans fault he has gammy knees. Or that they wanted £19m at the end of it.

Berreca, been linked all window and now expected to sign.

Samaris, now in talks over the loan. He's been on the radar for a while.

Joselu and Murphy potentially out the door, which could mean the Almiron deal moves quickly. Terms etc are agreed.

As for the club, £300m isn't alot for a Prem Club, there just isn't a lot of people out to buy. I know the fat man gets alot of bad press, but you cannot physically force people to buy the club, and from what i've heard, the Kenyon bid is a massive bullet dodged.