Positives from the 2015/16 Season we hope will carry on into 2016/17

I know what you are thinking, it must be very hard to pick out the positives from last season. We had a manager in Steve McLaren who talked the talk but couldn’t walk the walk, half the team only playing for the name on the back of the shirt rather than the one on the front and one of the worst seasons (if not the worst) I have ever seen from a Newcastle Squad.

Now the dust has settled, me, like everyone else, is ready for the season ahead and looking forward to getting behind the team in their push for automatic promotion to the Premiership. On reflection of last season, I think there are a number of things which need to remain in order for us to achieve this:

Lascelles’ Passion – After a shaky start to his Newcastle career we really saw Lascelles start to step up and shine towards the back end of last season. After our 3-1 loss to Southampton away on 9th April Lascelles gave a no-holds-barred interview showing nothing but passion, which asked more from himself and all of the Newcastle players. From this moment on he had started to win our hearts and his rise in popularity has risen ever since – to the point where some believe he should be captain this season. Whether Rafa decides to make him captain or not, if he shows the same amount of passion this season it will do nothing but wonders.

Lascelles and Mbemba’s Partnership – Another positive towards the back end of last season was the ever growing partnership between these 2. This will be the first season since our last Championship campaign that our defensive partnership back then, Coloccini and S Taylor, will not be in our squad. With their riddance it is also great to see Rafa is finally starting to build on our defence (which has been needed for some time) with the introduction of a very experienced Jesus Gamez from Atletico Madrid. I am hoping there are more to follow, but whoever comes through the door, I believe we should open the season with these 2 still solid in the middle of the defence. Being only 22 and 21, if they can carry this on, it could pay huge dividends to Newcastle United for a long time to come!

Adam Armstrong – Although he was playing out on loan at Coventry last season, the 19 year old Geordie striker managed to bag 20 goals in 40 games! The local lad is probably going to be one of Rafa’s hardest decisions in regards to where he should be playing this season. He gained a great deal of experience and confidence down in League 1 with Coventry but the question is do you do the same again or take the risk and have him along side our strike force of Mitrovic, Gayle & Perez? Either way I am excited to see what he can bring to the table this time around.

Depth in Goal – Some might say that having to resort to our third choice goalkeeper for a second season in a row was a nightmare of situation last season – but I beg to differ! With Tim Krul out injured up stepped Rob Elliot who put in so many top class performances before his injury. Next up was Karl Darlow, a Keeper who only had Championship experience at this point, but again out he shone with some fantastic saves and performances! This made our first purchase of Matz Sels an interesting one for me, but with Elliot our injured until November and rumours flying left, right and centre of Tim Krul’s departure it does make sense. Even if the rumours become true I feel very confident in the Goal Keeping position with Elliot, Darlow, Sels and Woodman on our books.

The Rafalution – Rafa Benitez – simply the signing of the summer. We have already seen the huge impact he has had in bringing in top quality players to the club. Since his take over he has made a huge impact and I am so excited to see what he can carry on doing for us. Hats off to the board aswell for managing to keep him even through our relegation – although by the sounds of it the Toon Army was the real winning factor.

88 thoughts on “Positives from the 2015/16 Season we hope will carry on into 2016/17

  1. Hey guys, this is Gallowgate Geordie. He emailed us last week about writing for NUFC Blog and produced his first piece today.

    Everybody be nice! 🙂

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  2. With 5 players already in things look very promising. But we’ll have to see them in action a few times to be able to judge things better. I especially like the signing of Gamez, and it looks like we’re serious about trying to land Hanley. Well done Rafa!

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  3. welcome GG thanks for the thread,theres a few fans wondering how A Armstong if he will get a chance or shipped out on loan,hard for the lad to impress while carrying a injury

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  4. It appears we have Favio Silva in on trial. If true there is very little known about him that I can find. A 20 year old striker. Played briefly for Torreense. 8 goals in 11 appearances. 2 goals in 3 for the Portugese U19’s. Hard to find anything about him. Owned by Benfica but seems to be having trouble agreeing to loans.

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  5. I’m here on behalf of the kgb G2 but don’t be telling anyone.

    Operation neutralise Troy Stavers.

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  6. That’s the bad side of having more articles on new now folks.

    Attracting riff raff like me. 🙂

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  7. GG, Nice summary thanks.
    Re- Arma, I want him to get a chance with us this coming season, at the end of the day this is the championship not the PL. If he can’t get in now then what chance if we’re promoted. He has shown his ability, for me League one , two, three or the championship or PL matters not, you either know where to stick it or you don’t. He has shown he has ability in spades, I would play him but if he struggles loan him out in January . I would still bring in an experience proven goal scorer though as there are more games and we can rotate more and hopefully not see our forwards suffer burn out. Maybe keep Arma for the cups and easier league games, if there are any.

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  8. Belfast:
    I’m here on behalf of the kgb G2 but don’t be telling anyone.

    Operation neutraliseTroy Stavers.

    Belfast, we’ve not seen a post from mr stavers in a long while, not since he tipped England to win the Euro’s 😀

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  9. GG – I hope Andy has made it clear that once you submit an article there is a contract & you are tied in now mate 😆
    Thanks for the article mate, and congratulations finding as many positives 😯

    I agree with you mate, although it was the latter part of the season, I think Lascelles (and Darlow) was a surprising bonus – could he be candidate for captain next season?.

    I think last season was a disaster but the Phoenix has defo been Rafa & the changes the club have made to keep him.

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  10. This is the contract I give all new writers….

    https://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/58217862.jpg

    Sharpy17:
    GG – I hope Andy has made it clear that once you submit an article there is a contract & you are tied in now mate?
    Thanks for the article mate, and congratulations finding as many positives?

    I agree with you mate, although it was the latter part of the season, I think Lascelles (and Darlow) was a surprising bonus – could he be candidate for captain next season?.

    I think last season was a disaster but the Phoenix has defo been Rafa & the changes the club have made to keep him.

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  11. On the topic of the article, I really hope Armstrong gets a chance. He’s die-hard NUFC, has been banging them in at Cov and only 19.

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  12. I reckon Eric is Brick in this instance 😆

    ‘Eric, where did you get a hand grenade from?’

    ‘I don’t know.’

    Kimtoon:
    Andy, Love Anchor man, good clip choice ?

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  13. Neutralize Troy Stavers Belfast mate? Or did you mean neuter Troy Stavers? It can’t be done. The man has balls of steel. Harrumph……

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  14. I’m really curious to see who actually does get sold. Neither Sissoko or Wini want to stay I don’t think, so at least one of them will go. Surely Krul will go. Same for De Jong. Really disappointed in what happened with him.

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  15. Some people still insisting Rafa is not a god. Well it just isn’t true. I spoke with him today. Did you all know that Rafa poops gold nuggets for example? Well he does. He also actually flings himself through the air for short trips instead of taking a car. Amazing really……

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  16. Is it worth our while hanging on to two disgruntled disinterested players at any cost? If they don’t wanna be at Toon I would take the best offer. Keeping them around could prove more costly than dropping a few mil on the asking price in the long run.

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  17. Kimtoon:
    Is it worth our while hanging on to two disgruntled disinterested players at any cost? If they don’t wanna be at Toon I would take the best offer. Keeping them around could prove more costly than dropping a few mil on the asking price in the long run.

    your right mate but i think they will get close to what they want,there is a lot of new money floating about the PL this year,and Rafa knows it he will be advising penfold dont worry

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  18. Ice, I haven’t seen one fan of Pool or Arsenal who thinks he’s worth that much. most reckon £12m tops

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  19. I think we’ll get good coin for those two. Rafa will see to it. I saw him hurtling over the North Sea recently on his way to Europe to see what kind of business he can do over there. Look to see both of them gone before the season begins and Rafa with more money to bring good young players with desire in.

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  20. Sissoko keeps banging on about Arsenal, but with all the midfield players they have would they really want or need him? – not as much to have to pay £20m plus for his services.

    So Liverpool then? – would they pay £20m plus for his services. Well if they get £15m for Jordan Ibe then I think I’d want at least £25m for Sissoko.

    Gini wants to go to Spurs, well I would say £25m is a fair asking price for him too.

    If any of those clubs have players we are interested in, then I would say they should do what they can.

    I don’t think we owe Sissoko or Gini any favours at all, and if they are allowed to leave then it’s on our terms, not theirs.

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  21. Kimtoon:
    If we get £20m that’s 18m profit isn’t it?

    aye thats about the profit we would make,i would prefer they went to any club but Spurs because that chairman is the biggest greedy swine in the PL worse than jabba

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  22. Ice – as long as we get the right deal for us I really don’t give a toss where they end up.
    Kims right, if they don’t get their move they will like only sulk & cause unrest.

    Spurs have a number of fringe players who I would happily see us take on – Bentelab, Mason, Carroll, Pritchard for example and all could be added to improve our squad.

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  23. If I was Sissoko or Wijnaldum I’d also want to be out of here.. The Premier League is the only place to play…

    It was a fantastic piece of business to get them to sign for us in the first place, and now we are going to make a massive profit on Sissoko, and probably break even on Wijnaldum…..

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  24. Really happy for Christiano Ronaldo and Portugal…. no-one saw that one coming !!

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  25. Munich Mag:
    Really happy for Christiano Ronaldo and Portugal…. no-one saw that one coming !!

    Not bad for a team who finished 3rd in their group

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  26. Kimtoon:
    What is it with Pards, now he wants Santon at CP.

    He didn’t want him when he was at the toon,cannot work the **** out

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  27. Trying hard to get interested in the Championship but it’s proving to be a bit of struggle…

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  28. Munich Mag:
    Trying hard to get interested in the Championship but it’s proving to be a bit ofstruggle…

    Have faith MM, we’ll light it up hopefully

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  29. Munich Mag:
    If I was Sissoko or Wijnaldum I’d also want to be out of here..The Premier League is the only place to play…

    It was a fantastic piece of business to get them to sign for us in the first place, and now we are going to make a massive profit on Sissoko, and probably break even on Wijnaldum…..

    Munich – it’s a shame they were so keen to play PL footy last season innit?! 👿

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  30. KT the whole madness at the toon over the last 3-4 years has taken its toll mate… can’t be arsed at the moment, hopefully things will pick up though..

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  31. Sharpy 17 …they are both flakes, it stands to reason that they will want out once they realise it’s not what it said in the brochure … the big question is, are there clubs out there who will match there own “ambitions”, and … cough…. cough up massive spondoolicks to take them off our hands…? I reckon they will both be out of here by the end of the transfer window..
    Wijnaldum is a bit player, not the main man, never will be….he’ll look good in a better side, though he may struggle to stay in the team..

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  32. Munich Mag:
    Sharpy 17 …they are both flakes, it stands to reason that they will want out once they realise it’s not what it said in the brochure … the big question is, are there clubs out there who will match there own “ambitions”, and … cough…. cough up massive spondoolicks to take them off our hands…? I reckon they will both be out of here by the end of the transfer window..
    Wijnaldum is a bit player, not the main man, never will be….he’ll look good in a better side, though he may struggle to stay in the team..

    Munich – I’ll have no problem seeing the back of both of them. But by the same token, we shouldn’t make it easy for them as they are both on long contract which was beneficial to them then. Sell them but get the best possible deal. We can cope without them for sure, but we are rebuilding & the money we get from those 2 players could play a big part in how effectively we do that.

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  33. Kimtoon: you go girl… The Troysta needs that knife twisted in his back for his predictions.

    Actually, I hope everything is OK with him as it is unusual for him to stay away this long. I know I sometimes get into it with him but I think he knows there is no malice from me. As to how I take his stuff – I think he is crazy, but fun sometimes.

    If you are reading this Troy, get your **** on here and take your punishment like a man. “mark or mock my words” indeed!!!!

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  34. I was guilty of making a snap judgement on Darlow after that West Brom game and thought we had another Alnwick. I think he proved a very good backup and could probably play for a lower level PL team. I rate both Elliot and Krul above him for whatever that is worth.

    As for Lascelles and Mbemba, I think we forget how young these players are. I think back to some of the stupid stuff I did when I was 21 and think thank God I didn’t have the spotlight on me. Same with Mitro, he is just a kid as well.

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  35. As for Sissoko, I think he has been a changed player since Rafa got his hands on him. Anything close to 25 mil though and I would sell. We have seen enough of him to know there is rarely any end product. He could be good in a top team though and given the right motivation. He was definitely held back having to play under Pards, Ugly John and the Wally. It would be interesting to see how he does under Wenger or Klopp.

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  36. I predict Toon to spank the Championship and regretfully I predict the PL to spank Bournemouth. Soundly.

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  37. Shamrock:
    I predict Toon to spank the Championship and regretfully I predict the PL to spank Bournemouth. Soundly.

    I can see Scum dropping too, especially if Fat Sam leaves for the England gig

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  38. Shamrock:
    I predict Toon to spank the Championship and regretfully I predict the PL to spank Bournemouth. Soundly.

    Sham – I reckon the newly promoted teams will struggle the most mate. Of the PL sides I think the likes of the Scum & WBA will be down there too. Bmouth will be bottom middle half of the table I reckon.

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  39. Kim – I see you’re sitting on the fence this time!

    I’m not sure I understand any of this. All Sissoko did was run fast – again and again. His shooting and passing were as poor as ever. And that’s supposed to be worth £35M?
    Rafa must be rubbing his hands and thinking what he can get for that sort of money.

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  40. I think Bournemouth will really struggle. They are dismantling their band of grafters and attempting the big money buys. I know they have to try and adapt for the long run – but it’s a big ask. Players like their Captain Elphlick and Ritchie were massive for them. Not just effective grafters, but the nucleus of their spirit. If they can’t replicate that then they are done I reckon.

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  41. Hi everyone,

    Thank you for all your positive feedback!

    I have to agree with you Kimtoon that it would be great to see Armstrong given a chance in the team for the first half of the season then a decision made from there!

    Hopefully you will hear from me again soon!

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  42. Sham, agree and the rest of his family too, his sister and her stupid facebook thingy she got going to try and paint him as the victim.

    GG, hope to see more articles mate.

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  43. Kimtoon:
    http://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2016/moussa-sissokos-agent-attacks-newcastle/

    Well tough **** you blood sucking parasite, if your client don’t like it he shouldn’t of left his best displays for France. How about turning it on for the fans of the club that pay him.

    Kim – this guy is bloody stupid. So a fee stays the same regardless of how his player performs. So if his player plays well we can’t up the price – does that mean he also doesn’t come asking for better wages for a player playing well?.

    Sit your **** down & keep your gob shut mate, or you may find this becomes a far longer & far more difficult process than it needs to be.

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  44. Sharpy I have had it up to here with sissokos agent/uncle and sissoko himself banging on about how sissoko either, A, loves Arsenal or
    B, needs to be playing at the highest level
    Do me a favour and naff off once and for all, you really aren’t as good as you think you are. Oh how I love to watch him run up and down and fecking sideways with no end product.
    Rant over.

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  45. Say what you will about Gini, Krul and Janmaat, they probably all want away but so far we haven’t had any of this bleating and woe is my client bollocks . Excuse the French , or rather don’t in this case.

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  46. We are being linked to Crouch now. He would do for a year. I think we need another big fella up front.

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  47. Sham, he is quickly turning into a distraction the club and more importantly the squad don’t need. We have some good lads come in all bigging the club up and chuffed to have joined, some even dropping a division to come. But this guy acts like we are holding him prisoner in a doss house or something. OK we get it you want out, now shut up.

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  48. 35 million for Sissoko take the money and run. No more Steven Taylor, No more Colocini, great news for the club. At least Rafa had the guts to get rid of the worst defenders in Newcastle history and start again with Lascalles and Memba. I doubt Steve McClaren or Alan Pardew would have the sense to do that even thou its painfully obvious. No more Obertan or Marveaux either. Sad to see Townsend leave and I dont know much about Richie so i dont know if his a good replacement or not really.

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  49. Terry I would be happy with us getting £20 or even £15m for Sissoko just to get shot of the attitude mate.

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  50. It’s not like we’re in a Charlie Austin situation here, where the player has given 100% every game, I can understand why they wanted top dollar and to hang on to him. With us we need shot before his attitude infects others.

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