It is a FACT that the Newcastle United is a mess from top to bottom. It is a FACT that Lee Charnley does not know what he is doing when it comes to the footballing side of running a club. It is a FACT that Graham Carr has failed in his recent, expensive recruitment drives. It is a FACT that Lee Charnley and Graham Carr were wrong to hire Steve McLaren. It is FACT that we hovered around the relegation zone all season whilst the board dithered. It is a FACT that Steve McLaren should have been sacked before the January transfer window. It is a FACT that the Academy is not keeping up with its rivals. It is FACT that the transfer strategy in place for the last few years has failed.
It is FACT that Rafa Benitez is the first world class manager to grace our club with his presence in our dugout since the late Great Sir Bobby Robson. It is FACT that Rafa Benitez has taken us on a 6 game unbeaten run. It is FACT that Rafa Benitez just orchestrated a 5-1 demolition of a Top 3 side that still had something to play for, even though we did not. It is a FACT that Rafa Benitez represents genuine hope for Newcastle United’s future should he stay.
It is a FACT that Rafa Benitez wants to stay so long as his conditions are met. It is a FACT that his demands are reasonable and logical given the club’s long standing failed footballing and transfer strategy. It is FACT that keeping Rafa Benitez represents more than just signing the first manager more than worth his salt in 12 years. Retaining Benitez represents a change in the structure and strategy of the club from top to bottom. He represents hope and provides a silver lining to a very big storm cloud. Rafa Benitez represents a viable, enjoyable and successful future for Newcastle United.
No other name will do. That is a FACT.
[poll id=”94″]
Sharpy you are right, but we are all allowed the occasionally lapse in standards eh?
I would argue Townsend is our best player.
Shamrock(Quote)
Funny how many people are speculating on those players who should leave. Essentially I want any player to leave if they haven’t got the appetite to play in the Championship.
The players I really want to stay are the young and promising ones, because it should be 100% up to the manager if they stay (i.e. they shouldn’t be too impatient to play PL/CL football, their wages shouldn’t be too high and the fee we got offered probably won’t be crazy), so the likes of Darlow, Lascelles, Perez, Armstrong and Aarons.
I’d say I definitely wanted to keep Mitrovic, but that’s dependent on him getting his attitude sorted out. I’d like Gini to stay too as he has talent. Hopefully Dummett and Colback stay as solid squad players in the PL and important players in the Championship. Not bothered about the rest to be honest…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
The truth is that we have better forwards that Rooney this season – but we also have better midfielders than Rooney too, so other than his experience & presence in the changing room – he wouldn’t get in for me.
Sharpy17(Quote)
TDS – you aren’t bothered about keeping Townsend & Mbemba? 😯
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, his experience of failure at major tournament? He would be on the bench for me.
Shamrock(Quote)
TDS: people always speculate who will stay and who will go after a relegation season. There is the economics of it plus some players will simply not want to play in The Championship. Get used to the speculation as you will be seeing a lot of it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Rooney is yesterdays man now, and I wouldn’t have him anyway near the England squad
Kimtoon(Quote)
TDS: or Anita? We have finally found the spot he should have been playing in. He was too small for a central mid but that doesn’t hurt him on the right.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy
I’d like to if they’ve got the appetite to stay. But that’s what it comes down to really. If Rafa does stay, then I hope he would be able to persuade players like that to stay and they will be committed to the cause. Even players like Goofy should be able to contribute in the Championship! But he’s a waste of space in the PL.
As for players like Sammy and Vuckic, they’re probably on very low wages, so I don’t care that much. Don’t think they yet have what it takes for the Championship though, let alone the PL…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Kimtoon: Rooney is one of the reasons I cannot see us going past the quarter finals. I can’t say it too loudly though as if we do manage to get to the semi-finals I will not hear the last of it from Troy – who thinks we will get to the final. He initially said England would win it but as usual backtracked.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric
That’s the thing…I know about the financial and business side of things, but I really don’t care that much. It bugs me when people comment on grand ideas about our finances when they don’t understand them, yet they seem very keen to comment on transfer fees and wages. Again, I don’t care that much. I care about the players on the pitch. I’d rather we have as big a squad as possible if the team spirit Is right!
Same thing with Anita…does he want to stay? Does he want to play that position? Is he physical enough for the Championship?
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
You know who Townsend is ideal for right? Pards. We better be careful of Palace making a bid.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
TDS: Finances become the second priority when you are relegated, Manager is 1st. It all revolves around payroll and transfer fees. The finances are not that difficult to understand either. There are only really three sources of revenue – tickets, TV/parachute payments, commercial. Salaries are the main expense. You have to balance these and then sell to get wages off the books and cover any short-term wage short fall. If we do not get promoted then we have to deal with that at the time.
You cannot look at the squad without also looking at the finances because they are entwined.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
TDS – I know what you are saying mate, but how many had the appetite for the PL this season?.
It’s a bit more than that for me, coz I’d imagine someone like Saylor would have that appetite – that doesn’t mean I’d want to keep him.
I think certain players we can afford to loose, others we have to put as much effort into keeping as Rafa.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric
But it’s also speculation about what players are earning and what clauses are in place. So it becomes tricky. And it’s tough to get rid of some players. Colo has another year I believe, but is there a clause to get rid of him? Can’t see anyone matching his wages. Tayls is out of contract, but worth keeping at a lower wage for a season?
It’s tough to get good players in, so I’d always rather keep them and have the best chance to get promoted. Then they’ll have another year’s experience for our next season in the PL.
If Sissoko could play every game like yesterday, he’d be a great asset, Gini and Janmaat were good too. So who do I really think should leave? Cisse, Colo and Goofy…everyone else it just depends for me…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Sharpy
But keep Tayls if he signed a £10kpw 1 year extension and Rafa reckons his fitness team can keep him fitter for longer?
Keep Mbemba if he’s demanding he plays top flight football and want to go to a CL club somewhere?
It’s tricky…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS: it is not that much speculation on what players are paid. There is enough information to get a rough idea. For example: Colo 70-80k per week, Sissoko 60k, Taylor 30k. The annual report also tells you exactly what the total wages are and you can extrapolate/interpolate from there based on the number and quality of players brought in.
For example, we brought in 7 new players this year at a cost of 80 million. I could gestimate that on average they get paid 50k a week or 2.5 mil year. Therefore they added about 18 mil to payroll. It is not that difficult and is an essential ingredient to knowing what the squad will look like next year.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I lifted this from another website:
This season, Rooney has scored a league goal for every 331.4 minutes played; that’s exactly the same as Rudy Gestede. It’s also worse than the following list of players eligible for Roy Hodgson’s England squad: Duncan Watmore, Raheem Sterling, Aaron Lennon, Andros Townsend, Theo Walcott, Glenn Murray, Connor Wickham, Dwight Gayle, Troy Deeney, Dele Alli, Nathan Dyer, Benik Afobe, Rashford, Jermain Defoe, Andy Carroll, Danny Welbeck, Callum Wilson, Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric
I still think there will be enough players who want to leave or the manager doesn’t want to stay…and although I certainly understand the finances well enough to know whether I agree with a decision made by the club, I’m just not going to start speculating when there’s so much we don’t know yet (like who the manager will be). Fair play if you want to though.
As for England, 100% Rooney will go. He’s got the experience and he’s still a class act. Although he’s not an out and out striker, he will offer options. He’s been a part of the England squad for a long time now and he’s captain. No good reason at all to disrupt the squad by dropping him for someone else.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS – not even our lord Jesus Christs healing hands could fix Steven Taylor mate!!!.
Mbemba is young enough (we think) for a season in the Championship. It’s good experience for him & as well as he has been for us this season, I don’t see a CL club coming in for him personally.
Sharpy17(Quote)
TDS: I know Rooney will go and will play. He has been shyte at every tournament for 10 years and is a yard slower though. This should be his final failure. I am sure Man U would dump him if they could get rid of his contract.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Townsends in then. Really pleased for him & shows to him he doesn’t need to be a squad player at a top 6 club – he needs to be playing.
Stick with us Andros 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
Actually, whoever the new Man U manager is will probably send Rooney to China where they will be able to pay for him with shirt sales and he will be at about his current level of play.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Good for Townsend, he deserves it. They still have to drop 3 before the end of the month. I would say Rashford, Sterling and Drinkwater are most likely?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Looked at the squad again and they have 4 fullbacks. Mr. Roy will drop a fullback and keep Sterling.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I’d drop Delph, Wilshire & Rashford from that 26 personally.
Sterling offers more pace & width but could also play up front.
If Rooney does want to play deeper, then we don’t need Delph & Wilshire.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well done Andros, lets hope you get to stay in the final squad
Kimtoon(Quote)
Sharpy: I agree, but I was naming the ones I thought Mr. Roy would drop. You know Fleet Street have a massive hard on for Wilshere so if he is even half fit he goes.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Won’t drop a full back. Then there’s no cover at all. I was expecting Jagielka to go as one of 4 centre backs too, but Dier can provide cover there if needed too.
I’m pretty surprised that Delph is in so I definitely expect him and Rashford to get some pre-tournament experience with the squad but then be left out. Not sure about the other to miss out but I reckon Townsend will stay in.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Groucho(Quote)
Sorry Sharpy made a mess of my comment and put it into yours.
Groucho(Quote)
Townsend is probably going to be named NUFC player of the year isn’t he? How many games has he played? Between him and Elliot I think, and Elliot was 3rd choice ‘keeper at the start of the season.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric
I’m not sure if Rooney will start though. He does offer experience and composure these days and can play a variety of roles. I think it depends on the form of our players and also who the opposition is. Would have been crazy not to take him though.
Kane has to be up front surely and there’s a big case for Alli behind him due to their Spurs connection, or Vardy up with him too? Sturridge the sub when we need a goal.
There are lots of options in the squad though and lots of goal threats, which is just what we need.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
You probably will all think I am mad but I think Dummett is in the top 3 for NUFC player of the year. I think he is underrated and we seem to play better when he is in the team.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
TDS: not many good central defenders though!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Carroll absolutely owned Smalling when they played.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Isn’t there always one player in the England team that you think WHY? With me it was always Emlyn Hughes. Now it is Rooney.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Looking at it I think Rashford & Delph are probably nailed on to be dropped. After that I think probably Wilshire or Lallana.
I just think keeping Sterling & Townsend allows a more balanced 4-4-2 if he wanted to go that way against a certain opponent.
They could also play in a 4-3-3 formation.
Either way, the fact Townsend has made it into the provisional squad despite relegation, should make it easier to convince him to stay with us.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Of course I was one of the ones who was happy with Townsend. He’s the one I want to stay more than anybody. Rafa will help with that even if he has a clause.
I agree with Sharpy on Mitro’s tackle too.
Stuart79(Quote)
Carroll owns any central defender when he’s in the mood. The guy is a beast. I think Smalling, Cahill and Stones are all pretty good. Smalling has had a good season. When you’re looking for a player who has had an excellent season AND has performed for the last 3/4 seasons at a consistently high level though…we’re a bit short of those…
Young squad though. Plenty of people who will want slightly different players in (especially West Ham fans!) but that’s always going to happen…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Regards England I think Drinkwater, Rashford and Delph will get left out. I hope Rooney doesn’t start but I fear he will. He’s too slow for me. Our strength now is our pace with the likes of Sturridge, Sterling, Alli, Townsend, Barkley, Lallana and Vardy.
Stuart79(Quote)
My player of the season would be Mbemba. For a 20 yr old rookie in a new league he’s done remarkably well.
I read Rafa was meeting Ashley yesterday but I doubt it was much more than a handshake and a friendly chat. The serious talks I believe will begin on Wed with Charnley. By all accounts he wants to keep all of the players. We’ll see after agents come banging on the door. I still expect at least 10 to leave although not many will be first teamers, possibly Cisse, Tiote, Taylor and Colo. (no telling what Sissoko and Gini will do)
Georgio(Quote)
Sharpy
Relegation isn’t relevant to this squad though. He’s played in the PL all season for us. At least next season there’s no international tournament at the end. It’s the best season to be in the Championship for an international player!
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
It is a myth that Smalling has had a good season. Perpetrated by stupid commentators – if you say it enough times it must be true !!!!!!! De Gea has bailed him out.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
TDS: there is one in the middle though the ACON and MBemba is Congolese.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So the meeting with Ashley lasted 2 hours last night and was positive. Bet Ashley was pissed and agreed to everything. Only when he reads Charnleys minutes of the meeting will he realise what was said…
Stuart79(Quote)
TDS: Congo have qualified as well so that is MBemba missing for 4-5 weeks in Jan/Feb of 2017.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
THAT had to give us a bit of hope. We all knew Gini and Sissoko had talent but weren’t sure where they had hidden it, especially in away games. If they can just harness it they will be either very saleable assets or will destroy The Championship. On the surface Gini is a big success – 11 goals in his first season in the PL (all at home).
We just beat the team that everybody was tipping for the title a month ago 5-1. Harry Kane didn’t get a sniff, and that was with us playing Steven Taylor FFS. Was Kane even on the pitch?
The defense is more solid and we have skill players. Nutter Mitro is probably the best hold up player in the league and just needs someone to play off him. Aarons is a breakout talent.
What we need is someone to mould this group together. Hopefully Rafa, but please not a Carver, Pardew or McClaren type.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Aussies: do you know England play Australia at The Stadium of Shyte on May 22nd? I am going to send our special reporter, and Mackem lover, Troysta there to do a special report.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Shocking fantasy league performance and apparently none of my players even wanted to play, win the league at an absolute canter and then a mare on the last week, St Totteringham’s day indeed.
Have to say I really enjoyed the game yesterday, but a bit down again today. Why, why, why? McClaren was given far too much time and I’m afraid the fans didn’t put enough pressure on him early enough. It may not have been our decision to make, but at the heart of it Charnley is a coward and would likely have gotten shot of Shcteve if the atmostphere had become poisonous enough – Ashley was happy enough to sanction Rafa with the cash so not hard to think he’d have done it a few games earlier. Should never have appointed that useless ***, but it goes to show that sometimes the fans actually do make the right noises – although we definitely haven’t always in the past.
Newkie(Quote)
Nobody has given Carr more stick than me about his choice of McClaren, but he didn’t buy bad players this year. Maybe young and inexperienced, but not bad. Mitro, MBemba, Wijnaldum have stacks of talent. Who knows, Saivet and Thauvin may as well, we haven’t seen enough to tell. Shelvey is far from a bust and Townsend is obviously very talented.
So, they picked the wrong fcking Managers. That was Charnley and Carr’s biggest failing.
Probably spurred on by the Fat Lad who wanted to do it on the cheap because that was his model before.
Now he knows…
That rarely works in football and never works in the long run. Even when Clough and Peter Taylor were being brilliant and took Forest to the title they changed their approach and bought Peter Shilton and Trevor Francis later. Leicester will do the same next year if they want to succeed again.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – exactly, I’ve said it time and time again, the players we bought aren’t bad players. This is not a worse squad than last year, or two years ago, or 5 years ago. Mbemba has shown that actually he is decent when he isn’t left to the dogs and played alongside Colo or, god forbid, Taylor. Lascelles took huge stick when we signed him, but both of them look comfortable on the ball and playing together as well.
If we can just get rid of the useless players on huge wages (almost 200k for just Colo, Taylor and Cisse) then I’d love to think we oculd convince the rest to stay, with maybe one sacrificial lamb in Sissoko. But that’s a dream situation, and just like with Benitez, I can’t really see Gino or Townsend staying.. 😐
Newkie(Quote)
Wise words in that last para Eric!
Apparently Rafa’s been meeting Charnley again today. I think he’ll stay or He would have just left for home otherwise. Unless an offer from a really big club comes in. Can’t think who that would be though.
Georgio(Quote)
Looking at the England midfielders again I’d be pretty pissed if I was Mark Noble not getting in ahead Wilshire, Henderson & Milner to be honest.
Sharpy17(Quote)
…. and Delph for that matter. Only Drinkwater and Ali you would say have had better seasons than Noble.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Actually, it was the seat warmer, Ugly John, that I really got annoyed with Carr about. At least Schteve had had some success and you might think he had about a 30% chance of doing mediocre ? 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We look light on defenders for the Euros. Both in numbers and quality. Not convinced but good luck anyway.
Shamrock(Quote)
Central defenders Sham!
Stones – unproven
Chelsea even dropped Cahill for a while.
Smalling, c’mon he is not very good.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’m with Eric, I think the bad choices have been with the managers. Big Sam was ok to have stuck with for a while, but Ashley made the weird decision to ditch him and appoint the (unemployable) NUFC legend of KK. Then to make matters worse, he expected him to work in a structure that everyone knows he wouldn’t work in! Then JFK?? One of the weirdest ever in the PL surely? Then Shearer? I can’t recall if there was a steady, experienced hand available, but that would have been the better choice at the time. Maybe if there wasn’t, that was the next best option…
Hoots was the right manager at the time I think, and I even think Pards was an ok manager to establish us in the PL. I think his failings were more to do with him not being able to impose his needs in the transfer market.
But Carver and McClaren were more bad choices sadly.
I don’t think we’ve done badly overall when it comes to transfers, not when you compare to other clubs. But our managers have not been strong enough to push for certain signings when we needed them. We all know signing a first team centre half was well overdue last summer. A prospect in Lascelles coming back from loan and a young player from abroad in Mbemba were both good news, but we were already a few windows late. I can’t imagine Rafa just letting that slide. He’d be in with Carr telling him to scout out more possible signings, in with Charnley telling him to make sure he got one over the line, using his own contacts, and if things weren’t moving quickly enough, he’d be in with Ashley telling him that we’d be in trouble if we didn’t sign a centre half and/or he’d quit if they didn’t do everything they could to sign one.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Noble was never going to get picked. What’s the point in picking someone of that age, with no caps, as a backup for the Euros. Delph at least is young and has potential to grow. Noble has had a good season and has been solid for years, but he’s hardly spectacular. I bet several of his goals have been pens too.
And Cresswell? Ahead of established Rose and Bertrand? Why? Baines and Shaw would have had cases as well as Cresswell too.
Antonio? A 26 year old having his first ever decent season in the PL and being played in all sorts of positions? Not for a tournament with zero caps.
Lots of Hammers whinging on social media right now. I wouldn’t have minded some of their players in the squad, but at the expense of who? Nah. Squad is ok in my eyes. Delph, Rashford and one other midfielder to drop out I think. Townsend to stay in.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Wilshere is much better than Noble and has time on his side if he can just stay fit. Henderson is at least as good, and has the experience of Europe and international. Milner likewise, plus can play in a large number of positions. Noble is a good player, but the only one I’d be happy to have seen him displace is Delph.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
English central defenders? Ok…no Rio or Terry so no truly top class players in that position, but the ones we have are solid, we have an excellent goalkeeper, we have good defensive midfielders to provide cover and the whole defence has been playing together for a while, so they should be able to work together well.
Anyone seeing a big problem with the the squad selection, must have a bit of a problem quite frankly…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS: I would drop a right back as Milner can cover that position.
I would take Carroll as well. But Mr. Roy doesn’t agree.
As far as Vardy goes, I would take him but he only scored 5 goals last years so he is still a bit of a risk. A risk worth taking though.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy – Woy is totally obsessed with Liverpool ever since they sacked him, he’s so desperate for their acceptance it makes me sick. I wouldn’t put noble in the squad, at all, he’s had an ok season in a side which has overachieved, but he will never make it for England so I don’t see the point taking him. Milner is so past it, he shouldn’t get anywhere near defensive mid ahead of Dier let alone on the wing, but who knows where Woy will have him…
Not bad squad, happy for Andros. If he can still be our player and come back to us next season I’ll be even happier 😆
Newkie(Quote)
TDS: the centre backs for England are anything but solid, man. I would suggest they are the worst of the top 8 teams at the Euros.
Can you compare them to Ramos and Pique?
Hummels and Rudiger?
Chellini and Barzagli?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Defoe should have gone though. That is why I don’t really trust Mr. Roy because Defoe was such an obvious choice and he didn’t take him.
Kane, Vardy, Defoe, Sturridge is a great choice of forwards.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Newkie: did you watch Dier yesterday 🙂 I know it is a small sample, but still…
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric
What’s the point in dropping a right back, Milner maybe having to play several matches in that position, just to get an extra midfielder or striker as backup? No chance. I want a proper backup in all positions and we have 2 good right backs.
Carroll would be a nice shock option when needing a goal, but so could Sturridge in a different way. I suspect Carroll’s physical approach wouldn’t go down as well with European refs either.
Didn’t say our centre backs are excellent, just said that they’re solid. They’re certainly not terrible.
It may not be the best squad ever but we’ve got some exciting players in there, played some good football recently, and hopefully there will be some good games. My point was, I don’t think there’s much to complain about in the squad…it’s not as if he picked Baines and Carrick ahead of more promising, younger players.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Defoe is a poacher, doesn’t do much else. He works well when the whole team revolves around giving him chances. Kane is at least as clinical and offers so much more, Sturridge is also a finisher and has pace and youth. Defoe wouldn’t add anything that we don’t have converted in Kane, Vardy and Sturridge in my opinion. Though I’d take him over Rashford if one of those 3 got injured.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Eric – so what are you saying, you wouldn’t have Lloris as your England keeper? Or Tongy and Toby in defence? Kane was gash too so would you play Rooney ahead of him?
They would walk into the England side, even if they were all embarassed by a pathetically relegated NUFC 😆
Shows the danger of pace, which we have lacked for years, both at England and NUFC actually. Sissoko Townsend and even Gini running at them had them falling over each other, they had a mare but they aren’t bad players.
Newkie(Quote)
C’mon TDS, Defoe almost single handedly kept Sunderland up. A poacher isn’t bad when you need a goal. Gert Muller never did anything for Germany except score goals. SCORE GOALS. The hardest thing to do.
I would probably go with the other strikers but I would choose defoe ahead of a 4th full back or any of our center backs as they are all *****. At 5-2 and a centre forward, Defoe would probably be better than Stones 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Alderweireld-Vermalen
Varane-Zouma
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’m not saying Roy should not have picked our defenders. He had no choice in picking those names. They are the best available. I’m just not convinced our best is good enough on that stage. Don’t take the qualifiers as a gauge. We usually qualify well then fall flat on our face when it matters against good teams. I hope we do well but don’t think we are strong enough defensively or in midfield tbh. Where are the world class players? Maybe Hart, Kane has potential, Alli has potential but Hart is your only established top of the line player in any one position. I will back us for quarter finals. Not much more than that, especially knowing that Rooney will be taking a valuable place in the starting line up and will hold the team back.
Shamrock(Quote)
Newkie: that is not what I said at all. You must have misunderstood.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sham: somebody agrees with me about Rooney:) Good Lad 🙂 (as Brian Clough would have once said)
Eric Sykes(Quote)