Newcastle 0-1 Augsburg: New signing stands out, but the same old problems exist at NUFC

It was an improved performance after Wednesday’s worrying 4-0 hammering in Portugal, but our clear lack of quality in the final third let us down once again.

The attendance seemed low and the atmosphere was pretty flat, however that’s to be expected given our lack of transfer activity, combined with the fact today’s starting XI was almost identical to the team that got us promoted from the second tier two years ago.

The only starter who wasn’t part of our Championship squad was Joselu – and that really does say it all.

We were without doubt the the better team in terms of our general play and chances created, but we just had no one there to put the ball into the back of the net – serving as yet another warning to the board that Benitez NEEDS to be backed with a few new attackers in the few days that remain.

On the plus side, Ki was very impressive. He looked calm but confident on the ball, always playing it forward and picking out some lovely passes both in behind and out wide.

That’s now just TWO goals from open plays in FIVE pre-season games (Longstaff’s goal vs St Patrick and Joselu’s goal vs Hull being the only ones) and no goal in our last three this summer.

Yes it’s just pre-season, but we look set to start next weekend’s season opener against Spurs with Joselu STILL leading the line up top – something which says everything you need to know about the unacceptable summer we’ve all had to endure once again.

On the plus side, a deal for Rondon looks all but agreed, with Gayle going in the opposite direction, but it’s yet another loan deal and a case of too little too late as far as Rafa’s concerned.

See full player ratings here to see what I made of all 17 players who featured at St James’ Park this afternoon.

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

112 thoughts on “Newcastle 0-1 Augsburg: New signing stands out, but the same old problems exist at NUFC

  1. Olly just put an article up that the Rondon deal is not with the obligation to buy – good – and as I’ve said before, I don’t know how it could be when he’s out of contract next summer.

    So at the moment it’s costing £2m – and if all goes well there’s every chance we get him for nowt next summer. I think that’s a far better deal than £16.5m relegation fee.

    Disappointing that we’ve lost Gayle – I’d be happier if he was still here, but we all know you don’t get what you want under Ashley.

    I still worry that we are light on goals, but if Rondon and Muto can get at least 15 between them, that’s an improvement on last years 10 from Gayle and Joselu.

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  2. kimtoon:
    Keith Downie
    @SkySports_Keith
    Newcastle United’s players have withdrawn cooperation with the media as part of a dispute with the club over bonuses for the upcoming season. The players refused to give their time for “walk up” shots for TV companies at the training ground today

    Ashely only wants the 17th and the minimum fee paid to the team. He will be back to where he deserves this season or next. I hope he will stay there for ever. He is a waste for a PL spot.

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  3. Olly Hawkins: Thanks mate. Will post soon!

    Andy is working on the site issue by the way guys.

    Sorry for the bother it’s causing..

    Olly – for some reason the ‘remember me details’ ticky box has gone – bit of a **** on having to put them back in each post mate. I know people have mentioned the fault but not sure if you knew that was missing.

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  4. Mark Douglas‏Verified account @MsiDouglas · 8m8 minutes ago

     More

    Joey Barton in 2013 on the bonus row.

    “We refused as a playing staff (to sign) because they tried to railroad the players into signing a bonus sheet.
    “Their opinion was we were paid workforce.
    “They thought we were Sports Direct..

    Yep, got it in one .

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  5. Luke Edwards writes a pretty solemn article in The Telegraph today saying Ashley won’t change and Rafa will be gone at the end of his contract. He also seems to think that Justin Barnes is sort of an Ashley spy reporting back on what Rafa is doing.

    I am relatively optimistic for this season still as we will still have Rafa, and as Premandup said we have still upgraded some key positions even if Rafa didn’t get his first choices or everything he wants. Unless Rafa loses the dressing room the problem will be next year when Rafa leaves and takes all of the staff with him.

    Who is going to appoint a new manager? When Carr/Charney were in charge we got Carver/McClaren. We only got Rafa because HE recruited them and they were desperate to save their jobs.

    And we all know what happens when Ashley is left to it. We get Kinnear, Wise and a Casino Boss. He did appoint Keegan and Shearer who he stabbed in the back and then amazingly Chris Hughton got us promoted. Oh, and then he sacked him!!! Does Ashley have any cronies left to appoint? How about Richard Keys since he seems to know so much about NUFC?

    Remember back then when Ashley was ignoring Shearer and we got Hughton by default. There was talk of getting a double relegation, especially after losing to Orient 6-0 in preseason.

    Maybe this year will be like that. We can only hope.

    And maybe my farts smell like roses 🙂

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  6. kimtoon:
    Mark Douglas‏Verified account @MsiDouglas · 8m8 minutes ago

     More

    Joey Barton in 2013 on the bonus row.

    “We refused as a playing staff (to sign) because they tried to railroad the players into signing a bonus sheet.
    “Their opinion was we were paid workforce.
    “They thought we were Sports Direct..

    Yep, got it in one .

    Kimtoon: I think there is an accepted way that bonuses are set up in the PL and the other teams adhere to it. That’s probably the problem. But I do recall after the year we finished 5th under Pardew that he changed the bonuses so that they were only paid for 10th and above. He seemed to think he had found the Holy Grail in Carr/Pardew where he could buy low, sell high and do it year after year. That doesn’t even happen at Sports Direct where he buys brands and then changes the production methods and sells tat. People eventually catch on.

    Our problem is NUFC is a monopoly. We are not suddenly going to start supporting Liverpool. Although I may have to adopt them like a rescue dog if we get relegated again as we hardly get any Championship games over here.

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  7. Olly: do you really think we will get a left back, centre back and number 10?

    I am figuring a left back so Dummett and Clark can cover centre half with Lascelles and Schar first choice.

    Can we still loan another PL player? I read the stuff Kimtoon posted on how many loans we are allowed and still am a bit confused. Do loans from Championship clubs count?

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  8. Eric, it’s only two loans at any window, 4 over the season . We could loan another but only if there is an option to buy.
    Last season we had Slimani, Kennedy and Dubravka but the latter was with the option to buy which we did.

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  9. The players now refusing to do any media work and refusing to do their pictures for Sky Sports. All because Jabba moving goal posts on the player bonuses. It really does sum it all up.

    Anyway, I’m not having it that we’ve improved much, if any improvement at all. Muto for Gayle, Rondon for Mitro, Schar for Mbemba, Ki for Merino, Dubravka for Dubvraka and Kenedy for Kenedy. This is Richard Keys idea of “having enough” but having enough for what? Survival? Mmmm

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  10. kimtoon: .

    Thanks, Kimtoon. So we could loan Ings in this window if there is an option to buy? I still think we are short a striker and that would suit Ashley, even if we had to pay Liverpool a loan fee of, say, 4 million.

    At this point I think Fatty wants to see cash in the bank. It is a really strange situation because as Rafa has said when given the resources he has produced. It is a power game, but it really doesn’t have to be because if NUFC succeed it is good for both Rafa and Ashley.

    I also think that Rafa knows that these are crazy prices at the moment and we are not going after Richarlison for 45 million or a 29 year old Perisic at 130 million.

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  11. Richard keys wrote this on his blog on weds 1st feb 2017

    Richard Keys

    “Regulars know that Rafa the Gafa isn’t my favorite. I’ve said many times that I believe he only manages for himself – for his own CV.”

    Proof had to be the time he took on the Chelsea job after everything he’d previously said about the club and its fans.”

    “That said – can I also repeat what I wrote when Benitez stayed at Newcastle last summer? I was both a little surprised, but also delighted for Newcastle fans.”

    “Because whatever else, Benitez was the right man in the right place at the right time. He gave Geordies hope again and, so far, he’s delivered.”

    Newcastle is a monster of a football club. I love it and I love everything about that football mad City, although I’ve always said that it’s about 350 miles too far north of London for me!”

    “The Toon’s rightful place isn’t just in the Premier League, it’s mixing it with the big boys at the top.”

    “The trouble is, it’s owned by a very ambitious man, who knows plenty about how to squeeze every last drop of sweat out of his workers, but not much about football.”

    “For too long Mike Ashley and his small group of ‘yes’ men have run the club into the ground.”

    “Ashley and his current error prone MD Lee Charnley, have always meddled and Newcastle fans have had little or nothing to celebrate during Ashley’s ownership.”

    “But then came Rafa – and a suggestion of success at last for one simple reason – Benitez demanded full control of football matters at St James’ Park.”

    “Newcastle were flying under the new regime. We hadn’t heard anything from Charnley or Ashley – until last night (last Wednesday).”

    “For the first time Benitez aired public disappointment about an unsuccessful transfer window and carefully told us how he felt let down.”

    “I got the feeling he was warning us that the wheels might be about to come off. He obviously feels he needs more than he’s got to get automatic promotion.”

    “I hope he’s wrong – but when will the people that own and run that club learn? Back Benitez and he’ll get you back.”

    “I wouldn’t rule out Leeds getting up automatically. If they do it’s Newcastle that could miss out – and Benitez knows it.”

    “As for Monk, he’s a fine young British coach who was badly treated at Swansea. It’s good to see him recovering his reputation.”

    I fancy Brighton to win the Championship and I’d be delighted for the Bloom brothers if they do. These two guys are ‘football’ people and they’ve delivered on everything they said they would.”

    “They’ve got a terrific manager in Chris Hughton (as Newcastle fans know only too well!) and I hope it’s their turn after last season’s near miss. The Blooms let Chris get on with his job.”

    “So the lesson here is ‘let football men do what they do best’. Businessmen should stick to what they know.”

    “History tells us every time Ashley, or more recently Charnley, get busy at Newcastle things go wrong.”

    “I hope Rafa Benitez keeps Newcastle United on course, but I fear he’s trying to tell us he’s not sure he can.”

    Keys really needs to decide which way the wind blows and make up his mind on Ashley and Rafa one way or another. You would think he’d know by now that everything you say and write comes back to haunt you.

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  12. Eric, no we can’t loan to buy ings as we have loaned our maximum English players , it would have to be a foreign player now. Think the two English players is applicable to all leagues in England not just PL.
    Dubravka wasn’t uk based .

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  13. And Keys wrote this on his blog in 2015

    Writing in his blog, former Sky Sports anchor man Keys – now working for Bein Sports – says Ashley has been a disaster for the Magpies, and it is now time for fans to act.

    “Ashley and his acolytes are killing the club,” he wrote. “It’s dying. It’s desperate.

    “Newcastle don’t have the debt problem they once did, but other than clearing that – and now earning good money out of the club – Ashley’s ownership has been a disaster, right up to the present day.

    “At Palace at the weekend the Toon Army were signing ‘we’re s**t and we’re sick of it’. These are good people. They follow their team no matter what. They complain about Ashley but still go.

    “My advice? Don’t go guys. Don’t go anymore. It’s short term pain for long term gain. I know it’s likely to be tough, but don’t go.

    “It’s the only way let let Ashley know he’s not wanted. He’s taking the mickey out of you – playing with your blind loyalty.

    “Stay loyal to your team, but let him know enough is enough.

    “My message to Mike Ashley is this – go. Go now while there’s just enough life in the corpse for someone else to try and revive it. Get out of Toon. Now.”

    I’m on a mission to out this idiot as a muttering fool, I’m not on twitter but would love someone to send this to him for all to see with the hashtag #yourwordsrichard

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  14. What happened to the Mexican CB we were looking at signing on a free? – he’s not joined anyone else from what I can find but there’s been no more mention of him and we still seem to be after a CB.

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  15. I see Jabba has written a letter to parliament in response to the local amp who discussed him in Parliament. He reckons the training ground is fit for purpose because we finished tenth last year and has been greatly improved under his tenure. He more or less takes personal responsibility for promotion. He must think we’re all morons.

    People should read it, it’s quite the comic book.

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  16. Stan Kronke has made an offer to Usmanov to buy all his shares. I bet he sells them and then invests in Everton.

    Strange when you think about it. Moshiri has probably invested about £400m already and they’re only finishing a couple of places above us. Usmanov might as well buy us for £350m and with Rafa given a bit of cash we’d stroll past Everton.

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  17. Stuart79:
    I see Jabba has written a letter to parliament in response to the local amp who discussed him in Parliament. He reckons the training ground is fit for purpose because we finished tenth last year and has been greatly improved under his tenure. He more or less takes personal responsibility for promotion. He must think we’re all morons.

    People should read it, it’s quite the comic book.

    Isn’t it just, he’s well rattled.
    Stand by for major spite incoming .

    Olly, when’s the site problem getting fixed ?

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  18. repost from olly’s other article

    kimtoon

    August 7, 2018 at 09:10

    He says chi hasn’t contacted him but did she not invite him to the commons for tea and a chat which he declined over a year ago. Did he not send her a letter via Lee Charnley saying he would not take up her offer and that in future all correspondence should be directed to lee ?
    Guy seems to be an habitual liar or forgets what he has said or done previously.

    Further more the debt he inherited is due to a lack of due diligence on his part because he was in too much of a hurry to get his hands on the club. Why use it as a stick to beat the fan base with when it’s his error.
    The interest is more than being paid back after 11 years of free advertising for SD which has obviously grown quite significantly in global awareness and profit since he’s bought us.
    There are many reports that the training ground and even stadium itself are showing signs of neglect which needs addressing and any incoming new owner should need cash for updating and repairs/maintenance.
    He may well of topped up our loan after relegation but had he spent on quality players and employed a more ambitious stance we likely wouldn’t of been relegated.
    Finally we now have a situation where a world class manager will walk away because he isn’t being given the tools for the job, with the little he has been afforded very likely too little too late to repair any break down in good will that had maybe existed between owner and manager.

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  19. Kim, the more he communicates the more his lies are exposed. It’s really interesting that he’s trying to finally justify if ownership. It’s also good to see that he’s already noticed the online campaign against Sports Direct and he believes it warrants a mention. This is the only way to get to him. Target his main business’ and the club which is most significantly attached to it.

    He’s rattled.

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  20. Stu, yeah more pressure needs applying so hopefully he’ll reach a point where it’s not worth the hassle anymore.
    He moans about the cash he has put in yet doesn’t seem in any hurry to sell up by the price he’s set, that tells me there is plenty in it for him, but we know that anyway.

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  21. This player bonus dispute needs settling asap, the bonuses are league position related and cup success related aren’t they ? We need the players up for the fight and striving to succeed, if it’s true he wants to scrap cup bonuses then it says it all. Why should the players be arsed when they’re boss doesn’t value them.
    I know they earn good money and are paid to do a job but every other club pays bonuses why should we be different.
    Joey Barton was right , he is trying to treat the players like his sports shop employees , just like he is trying to run the club like one of his outlets.

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  22. He honestly thinks he’s smart doesn’t he?!. I think he believes what he’s saying coz to a degree, it’s true – but he’s blinkered and doesn’t see the big picture.

    He’s right, he’s provided an interest free loan of £144m – and the interest off that would have saved us millions. But what as a business man has he done to clear that?! – well he would argue that he tried to sell the stadium name but the fans didn’t want it – so he withdrew that for them (what a saint). But what about the stadium advertising?! – the SD space would probably bring in £3-5m per season – doesn’t sound much against £144m but over the 10yrs that’s £30-50m – which at least makes a dent.
    He will argue that 2 relegations would have taken its toll – but again, that’s down to him recruiting his mates who did a substandard job. The list is long from Wise to McClaren being not only head coach, but board member. Promoting people like Charnley who has not experience, rather than going for someone who knows what they are doing. I’m all for giving people opportunities if they show promise and potential – but this was about saving a buck or two.

    He talks about the training facilities being adequate based on us finishing 10th. To be fair, he’s probably right, I’m sure they are adequate – but only the billionaire owner of a cheap and cheerful chain of sports shops would be happy with ‘adequate’.

    I have to credit him with bringing Rafa in. McClaren was Charnley and Carr’s man – I have no doubt about that. But, whilst I believe Ashley intervened to get rid of McClaren and sanction the spends on bringing in Rafa – look at what else he did. Firstly he left the board to allow McClaren to take his place – stupid fucking move!!. Secondly, whilst he stepped in and got rid of McClaren – he left it far too late, and that decision ultimately resulted in relegation (because if Rafa had 3-5 more games, I think he would have got the points to keep us up). Finally, having done a rare good thing in getting Rafa, he has then went on to show him little support, tried to bully him into signing a new contract and will ultimately be the reason Rafa leaves. But I predict that Ashley will not accept that, and will instead come out with something like ‘it is common for managers to come and go, and Rafa has been with NUFC longer than a lot of managers spend at clubs’.

    You really can’t reason with a man like this. A man prepared to fall out with his own parents rather than admit his wrong.

    Staverley made 3 different offers for the club – all perfectly fair and reasonable. I don’t think he took any seriously, and has no interest in selling the club. I fear we are stuck with this ****.

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  23. Oscar Wilde’s famous quote , ‘ knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing’ could of been written about Ashley.

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  24. The training ground isn’t fit for purpose. Basing one tenth place finish on it as justification doesn’t wash with me. Fit for purpose for him means it has a pitch and a shower.

    The man is a pathological liar. The supporters need to push hard now and run this vile, selfish man out of the club.

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  25. As always Jabba lies and avoids hard facts. He forgot to mention why we can’t compete with Southampton, Brighton, Burnley, WH, Leicester or most other clubs in the bottom half of the PL in either player purchases or training ground quality.

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  26. It’s mind blowing how much and how well Wolves and Fulham have spent. Stack that up against Mike Ashley’s club! Of course you’ve backed the manager Mike.

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  27. georgio – Don’t forget Bournemouth, Huddersfield, Brighton or Southampton but to name but a few.

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  28. I hope there are no protests on Saturday. Support whatever team we have by then and support Rafa. Creating a bad atmosphere is counterproductive, especially with the fixtures we have.

    I think Keegan left 2 days after the transfer window closed but I don’t think Rafa is as hot headed although he has been treated the same.

    I expect there could still be a left back LOAN deal. Would have to be foreign as Kimtoon kindly explained we have used up our English quota now. Mitro loan to Fulham was done on whatsapp as he was in Belgium about to sign for Anderlecht.

    I am still flummoxed as to why more funds weren’t released to Rafa. It is not like if he goes then the players go with him. It has to be some Ashley power trip, like Trump who seems to like to create chaos for the sake of it.

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  29. Mike’s hiring of a QC lawyer to write that defence of his actions show that he really doesn’t like bad publicity. He’s a strange unfathomable ******. Makes strange moves then defends them with even stranger defences.
    Seems like we’re stuck with him though and there’s very little we can do about it. 😐

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  30. Eric Sykes:
    I hope there are no protests on Saturday. Support whatever team we have by then and support Rafa. Creating a bad atmosphere is counterproductive, especially with the fixtures we have.

    I think Keegan left 2 days after the transfer window closed but I don’t think Rafa is as hot headed although he has been treated the same.

    I expect there could still be a left back LOAN deal. Would have to be foreign as Kimtoon kindly explained we have used up our English quota now. Mitro loan to Fulham was done on whatsapp as he was in Belgium about to sign for Anderlecht.

    I am still flummoxed as to why more funds weren’t released to Rafa. It is not like if he goes then the players go with him. It has to be some Ashley power trip, like Trump who seems to like to create chaos for the sake of it.

    That’s what Jabba is banking on, Eric. No protests in the stadium. We can achieve protests and support for the team at the same match. If I was organising one I’d want 10,000 fans every home game to run on the pitch on the 11th minute with **** direct t-shirts on.

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