It seems all the paper talk regarding Dwight Gayle’s move to Newcastle United has come to fruition with the 25-year-old reportedly close to agreeing terms with the Magpies.
After a frustrating season at Crystal Palace, it seems the winger has traded a life of substitute appearances under Alan Pardew in the Premier League for seemingly a first team berth in the Championship with Rafa Benitez.
With other potential deals coming thick and fast and the rumours hotting up, this summer could prove to be one of the busiest yet for Newcastle United.
The question is, how will he fit into Rafa and the club’s long term plan? Was he simply signed on the pretence of getting us back up to the football league summit OR assuming we get there, does Benitez believe he can kick on in the North East and be one of the main men to help get us back to where we belong?
Have your say in the comments section below.
Well imo it’s seems Mitro needs someone with pace to bring the best out of him also out of Perez so I can see where he would fit in with either player,now we need a defender with a bit pace and strength
Thanks for the thread Andy
Icedog(Quote)
It surely depends on how he performs over the coming season. I feel confident the gaffer will get the best from him . Good signing like think
Lesley Candlish(Quote)
I still don’t get why anybody is surprised we are buying a keeper. If Krul can pass a medical I think he will be gone, as he only has a year on his contract. Elliot is out until at least October and possibly longer. He had 2 operations, the one on his knee and another on the thigh problem he had suffered for a while.
That leaves us with Darlow for the first half of the season who I am not completely sold on. He is a good shot stopper but is positionally weak and flaps at crosses. He did a decent job after his West Brom nightmare.
Woodman will either be loaned out or join his Dad at Palace.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Cheers for the thread.
I know very little about Gayle, Ritchie or the keeper but they are Rafa’s men – so that’s good enough for me.
Shamrock(Quote)
Ice: I think you are right. Mitro is exceptional at layoffs, especially with his chest, and needs somebody to play off him. That was never going to be Cisse and for whatever reason Perez didn’t seem to be in the right place very often.
I hope Armstrong stays , but would be OK with a 6 month loan. No longer though as he is at the age where he should be breaking into the first team for at least 20 games a season.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ritchie is a right winger so is a direct replacement for Townsend. I hope Andros goes to West Ham or Everton as I do not want Pardew to get such a good player and ruin him.
I also want to see Aarons get some playing time. Every time he is on the pitch he makes things happen (except when Schteve played him at left back).
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Trouble is Aaron’s is made of glass. I had high hopes for him but he can’t stay for. It won’t be long before it really takes its toll on him and he loses half a yard of pace – at which point his career is over. I feel sorry for the lad but can’t see him doing a full season fully fit, which is what he needs. We can’t rely on him as first choice because he simply won’t be there half the time.
Shamrock(Quote)
I read the England inquests in The Sun and The Mirror and they are ripping Mr. Roy a new a-hole. It is a pity they were mute until the Iceland game and never really questioned his tactics or selections. Same with Redknapp and the rest, as Sharpy pointed out on the last thread.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sham: Rafa has a new fitness coach in and new medical staff. Hopefully that will fix a few problems. I wouldn’t have Aarons as our only option on the left but he is still only 20 so there is a chance he can get over his injury problems.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Also, now that we have got rid of Taylor, Marveaux and Obertan we can afford to take a chance on someone who has a history of injuries, especially at Aarons’ price. The only other sicknotes we have on the books are Haidara, Good and Rivierre and I am not sure if they will be around much longer.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I was hoping Arma would get a crack at the 1st team, will Gayle thwart his chances?, Gayle has good pace, why doesn’t Pards rate him ? or is he part of Townsend going the other way?
Kimtoon(Quote)
ERIC that’s the way I see it with Gayle he not a prolific goal scorer but as a partnership I feel the goals will come. with the strength of Mitro I can see 30/35 goals between them and hopefully other players can weigh in with a few.
Will be really huffed if Townsend goes to Pardew who’s sure to stuff him up,funny like as his dad said he thought he would stay and repay toon he’s bought a house in the area,but that means nowt to players these days with the money they have
Icedog(Quote)
Thanks for the thread Andy
Kimtoon(Quote)
Looking at the players Pards has wanted, Colo, Krul , Woodman and now Townsend, plus he resigned Cabaye, doesn’t he look further than the Toon.
Kimtoon(Quote)
You should not be surprised mate Pardew has stuffed quite a few players up and destroyed their confidence
Icedog(Quote)
Well imo Rafa seems to know what type of player is needed to get out of ccc
Icedog(Quote)
Would you take Gayle and Ritchie over Townsend and Thauvin in the Championship? It looks like that is what it is boiling down to with the money being about even when you throw in the new keeper.
I would like to keep Townsend but I think he has made up his mind and that exit clause makes it easy for other clubs.
I still think we will make a profit on transfers which will be used to offset some of the wages. At least 2 of Sissoko, Krul, Janmaat and Wijnaldum will go along with Cisse and Tiote.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ERIC talk is Rafa wants to keep Tiote
Icedog(Quote)
Thauvin is a big girls blouse. He would not cut it in the Championship. I can’t explain how much I detest the little darling .
Shamrock(Quote)
I thought I read Thauvin was extending his loan spell a week or so back ?
Kimtoon(Quote)
Ice: I wouldn’t mind keeping Tiote as he has proved his fitness. We should extend his contract though and for 4 million in today’s market there is no way we would get a better defensive mid.
It makes a hell of a lot more sense to extend Tiote’s contract than it did to extend Colo’s.
It will be interesting to see where de Jong and Saivet fit.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Rafa is buying for championship he’s buying players that’s good enough for epl. He doesn’t want to go back up next season thinking his team will struggle in prem were they need 6-7 players no. He is thinking of buying players that is not only good enough for championship but also good enough for prem then when we do get back up then he will see only another 3 or 4 needed to move club forward to wear they belong
In my opinion Gayle and Richie are too quality and to good for championship intact Gayle is outstanding, look at Ben arfa under pardew at nufc couldn’t get a game and look at him now amazing the same has happened to Gayle can’t get in to Pardews team but under Benitez I think he is not only quality but Gayle mitro and Perez will get 50-60 goals between them in championship with the service Richie gives along with a new left winger. Then when we do get back in prem with a few more changes new players etc they can get a good 40 goals between them under Benitez without a doubt I also believe Richie well
Have a fair share of assists and maybe 10
Goals a season as well so no doubt Benitez is building a good team
John(Quote)
Gayle will be good in the Championship. not sure many teams would by him in the Prem.
Pardew will ask Townsend to play wingback like he does with every winger. look how Bolasie and Zaha faded under Pardew
Gashley(Quote)
JOHN there’s no doubt Rafa knows the crack mate
Icedog(Quote)
This looks like great news if true,let’s hope it is
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/06/29/report-townsend-keen-on-newcastle-stay/
Icedog(Quote)
Couple of new ‘faces’ on here today. Welcome. It’s nice to see new blood. Don’t be afraid to get stuck into the chat ?
Shamrock(Quote)
Ice that’s great to read, I said before he seems to have a good rapport with Rafa and I think that will play a massive part in what he decides.
Sham ,agree, nice to see new posters
Kimtoon(Quote)
KIM they got the storey right when they said a couple of days ago that Gayle had agreed personal terms let’s hope they are right with this .
New bloggers always welcome for me hope they keep it up
Icedog(Quote)
From The Guardian about Andros:
“Despite (Palace) offering £10.5m to trigger Andros Townsend’s release clause, however, it is understood that the move for Gayle is not connected to that deal. At present, the England winger is mulling over the chance to return to London, with several other clubs believed to also be interested.”
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think Gayle is a good signing. He comes alive in the box, knows how to finish and can stretch the defence like no other forward we have on the books. I don’t expect him to be a definite starter though, Rafa loves to rotate the squad and is brilliant at using subs to change a game. Gayle was very effective from the bench at Palace and I think Rafa considered this. You need options in the Championship with the extra games and Gayle provides us with that. When he starts, he’ll offer Rafa the opportunity to alter his starting formation, particularly at home when he can field more forwards. This will make us more unpredictable.
SRF(Quote)
Ice, if that report is true, I can see Townsend becoming a total legend here, will be amazing in this division then go on to take premier no problem as he did in his 11 games with us, but better. The fans will love him even more for staying and I can see him getting a good rapport with the fans and staying for a good few years.
Simon(Quote)
SRF at least Rafa has more than one string to his bow which he has proved more than once in his career unlike a few past manager we have had at the toon
By the way enjoying your threads keep it up please if you can
Icedog(Quote)
Cheers Ice, I do appreciate that. I’m really glad you are enjoying the articles I’ve been writing. I try to spend time writing good articles rather than churn out lots of average ones so appreciate the good feedback, thank you.
SRF(Quote)
All your stuff is very enjoyable SRF, keep up the good work please
Simon(Quote)
SRF – aye you’re doing a canny job fella 😉
I was talking to a lad I work with last night & he was saying that a friend of his bumped into Townsend at the Joshua fight at the weekend.
He was having a bit crack with him & asked him if he was staying & Townsend reply was that he didn’t know what was happening.
To be honest, having met the friend before I would have just told him I was staying – in fear for my own safety 😆 he’s a big lad!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I also think that Gayle is a good signing. His record suggests he’s a 1 in 3 goal scorer which should see a return of around 15 goals if he maintains that form and if he can get around 10 assists over the season as well then I think that would be a decent return for the money.
Sharpy17(Quote)
What does worry me a little bit is that these 3 signings will mean £25m spent – and still no defender as yet.
I know we have got around £7m for Cabella & there will certainly be others sold. But I want to see a few defenders in now so they have the bulk of pre season to prepare.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I just checked out Matt Ritchie on Youtube and he is 2 footed. He scored from outside the box with both left and right. Seemed to play as a right winger mainly so is probably a direct replacement for Townsend although he doesn’t seem to have the same pace.
I know it is dangerous to get your info from Youtube but where else would I get it and I am not the scout 🙂 I was just interested to see the sort of skills he has.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
How come The Chronicle cannot do maths? They are saying today that NUFC are set for a 25 million double signing. They report that Gayle is 8.5 million, with 2 mil in add ons. Then say Ritchie is 12 million. These are their fkin figures and it comes to 22.5 max, not 25.
They then go on to say this is on top of the 5 mil spent on Sels. They said 4.5 mil yesterday.
No wonder there is confusion on what we spend on players. I have seen the Chronicle quote anywhere from 8 mil to 12 mil on Cabella, depending on the day.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
When a new person comments on the blog….
https://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/58217862.jpg
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
Andy – do you mean you have that set up as an automatic email reply? 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Off track for a moment Ime a bit shocked on the amount of money China is spending on football one club there has just payed 55 mill for Hulk where’s all this money coming from??
Icedog(Quote)
That’s a great idea Sharpy!
On the topic of Gayle, I think he got a bit of a *** deal at Palace. After already having experience in the football league and think he’s perfectly suited to it – good signing Rafa!
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
L’Equipe saying Ben Arfa is getting his move to PSG 😯
Saints also after him but if he CAN get his move to PSG he’d go there even if it’s to sit on the bench I reckon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Dwight Gayle reminds me so much of Bellemy in his play. He’s got bags of pace and tends to operate down that left channel. He might not be a prolific goal scorer, but he’s real threat and will give our attacking line a different dimension.
If we could have him down the left & Townsend down the right – that pace would be killer.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Gayle would be a good signing Andy. His the sort of player we should have gone after in January but the way McClaren doing things it still wouldn’t have saved us. We have a world class manager now so I expect a good season ahead.
Icedog right we need a CB. Getting rid of Colocini is a big must. Colocini just pay out your contact and GO.
Terry(Quote)
Sharpy he reminds me of Bellamy too. About the same sort of goal ratio although I think he lacks the basic skills that Bellers had. We probably couldn’t do much better really. Richie’s a decent player too with a one in four scoring record. Not much different to Townsend but nowhere near as quick.
Overall not bad business and should keep the likes of Riviere, Gouffran, Cisse, De jong away from the team.
Georgio(Quote)
So Townsend is going to Palace. Very disappointed of course. Can understand him wanting to play PL footie but I would have respected him more if he’d have moved to a better and bigger club than Palace.
Stuart79(Quote)
Surely far to lazy for Rafa at least I hope so
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/06/30/report-newcastle-united-in-talks-to-sign-dimitar-berbatov/
Icedog(Quote)
Stu, I’m really not happy about that. It has to be money motivated cause to pass up playing for Rafa in favour of Pards is madness even if it is the PL. Did he not see how **** Palace became under Pards? Think the lad could really regret going there.
Kimtoon(Quote)
KIM your dead right,but serves him right,at the prices decent players go for now with the tv money Ime very surprised a bigger club never came in for him,then again why didn’t clubs come in for him while he was at Spurs just makes you think like,must not take much notice of his dad as he said he would stay after buying a house here,oh well we have to move on I guess
Icedog(Quote)
SSN, confirm townsend having medical at CP, £13m, more reason to hate that smug ******* Pards. Disappointed in Andros, really disappointed. Wouldn’t mind betting we wave to him and the Palace team as we pass each other next may. Will be amazed if they stay up, they were in terminal decline under that clown.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Plus we are still stuck with Colo, Thauvin, Gini, Sissoko, it’s obvious which players are rated . Don’t want us to keep players who don’t wanna be here, get what we can and replace with fighters. Suspect Krul and Perez off next.
I blame that useless twit Roy for Andros leaving, if he’d gone to the Euros he may of stayed with Toon. 😉
Kimtoon(Quote)
So Rafa tried to get it to be a loan deal for a season but Palace wouldn’t be on and wanted it a permanent deal
Icedog(Quote)
Think Andros leaving has put a bit of a dent in our promotion challenge .
Kimtoon(Quote)
I think Townsend rushed into this. He should have waited as I am sure that when West Ham sell Payet they will be in the market for a winger. Everton will be probably be flush with cash soon as well after Lukaku and Stones go.
I am not sure if the fact that Townsend tracks back naturally is a good or a bad thing. Will he be happy playing as a second right back for the 1st 20 minutes and last 20 minutes of every game?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Don’t worry mate he will regret it,yes we will miss him but Rafe nee mug he will have it covered I have no doubt
Icedog(Quote)
At least if we get Ritchie it will be like for like with Andros, even if it is a bit of a step down. And we have added pace up front with Gayle.
I think we will loan Coloccini to San Lorenzo for the last year of his contract. Let me explain. He has a clause in his deal that triggers another year if he plays 16+ games this season. That is the last thing we want, and we certainly don’t want him skulking around the training ground either. If we loan him out we can get at least a small part of his wages paid and can spread the rest out over the year rather than pay it all in one go.
I have no inside information, I am just looking at what would be logical given what has been said and reported.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice: I think Andros will regret it as well. Pards could not figure out how to use Tevez or Ben Arfa so there is a good chance that he will waste Townsend as well. I have no faith in Pards as you probably know from my previous posts 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’ll do a running accounting, since The Chronicle are so **** at it:
Probable ins: Sels 4.5, Gayle 10.5, Ritchie 12 = 27 million
Probable outs: Cabella 7.5, Townsend 13 = 20.5 million
(13 million for Townsend has been mentioned several times so I went with that even though I have also seen 8.5 and 11.5)
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Would have taken Ritchie If we’d stayed up, Really good signing
Gayle I like as well, He a right place right time in off the **** striker we’ve lacked since Cisse lost it during his post spit lay off
CB & LB next please (Caulker & Mbengue ??)
CC(Quote)
Just looking at how things stand so far and how things might look going forward. Sels in, Gayle on the way and probably Ritchie as well. Townsend out and probably Sissoko and Wijnaldum. About what I would have expected. Townsend was never going to stay after his performances with us. Lots of interested teams to drive up his wage demands. Sissoko may be harder to sell than he and his agent thinks. We’re getting good players in and players with attitude problems will be sold. I think Gayle with Mitrovic makes a lot of sense.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Berbatov???? That way leads to madness. Don’t go there.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Press getting things back to front mate,it’s Newcastle in Aussie that were trying to sign him,but I believe he’s going to sign for Melbourne City,as their rivals have signed Carhill
Icedog(Quote)
Would never think you would pick on anyone mate 😆 😆 😆
Icedog(Quote)
Ta ice mate. Berbatov was hopeless in his last season at Fulham let alone now. I used to admire his play but he’s well past it.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Surely Krul must be leaving as well or why bring in Sels? It’s probably the right time for him. Has lots of time left in his career if he can stay healthy. Perez will be interesting. Can he take advantage of playing in the Championship to really impress Rafa? Do bears **** in the woods? Of course he can! We still need at least 2 defensive incoming. These are harder deals to make, especially CB’s.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
CC Don’t rate Caulker mate,Spurs shipped him out when his early promise didn’t come through,he’s played very poor at QPR,if Brighton would part with Dunk I would pay what they wanted
Icedog(Quote)
Anyway mate a far to lazy player for Rafa liking
Icedog(Quote)
Townsend disappears into mid table obscurity coached to oblivion by the famous Alan Mildew! Big mistake Andros.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
At last he’s gone
http://www.themag.co.uk/2016/06/coloccini-agrees-move-san-lorenzo-reports-newcastle-united/
Icedog(Quote)
Townsend is a little mug! used us as a stepping stone after we got his career back on track.
Shown a lack of class here and disrespect to the Toon faithful
Pardew wll have him on the bench within months
Gashley(Quote)
Ryder saying Ritchie has taken his medical:
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-set-land-matt-ritchie-11550605
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice: I know I go on rants but I am usually on the right side of the argument like with Carver and Steve Black.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
That’s good news ice mate. Now we can bring in a couple of decent CB’s to replace Colo and Saylor. I hope that’s what will come next in terms of signings.
GeordieTwo(Quote)