If the final game of last season is anything to go by then Newcastle fans can be optimistic for 2015-16. They put five past Tottenham Hotspur and while the man who scored two of those goals, Georginio Wijnaldum, has left the club, the Magpies undoubtedly have options up front.
Aleksandar Mitrovic scored 9 in the Premier League last season which is pretty good for a 21 year old in his first campaign. The last time Newcastle were relegated they were fired back into the top flight by a tall and powerful forward who sometimes lost his cool. Newcastle who are favourites to win the English second tier in this year’s championship betting will be hoping Mitrovic becomes the new Andy Carroll so they can sell him to Liverpool for something like £60 million next year. The Serbian will undoubtedly lead the line for the Toon next season on the occasions when he isn’t suspended.
If Mitrovic loses his cool and starts punching players from Rotherham United and Burton Albion, Newcastle have players waiting in the reserves. The signing of Dwight Gayle could prove inspiring. The Englishman is undoubtedly a lethal finisher and scored 7 goals in 9 matches during a loan spell in the Championship for Peterborough United in 2012. The price tag was large but Gayle wasn’t really given consistent first team football by former club Crystal Palace to show what he can do.
Aside from the big two, it’s easy to forget about Ayoze Perez. The 22 year-old is far too good to be sat on the bench and will need game time in order to further his career. The club also has youngster Adam Armstrong as well as Emmanuel Riviere who, despite popular opinion, is still actually a Newcastle United player.
It’s quite a task for Rafael Benitez to actually get all of these attacking players into the same starting line-up. The Spaniard played a 4-4-1-1 formation for much of his time at Liverpool but switched to a 4-2-3-1 at Napoli and Real Madrid. Benitez could well start with Rolando Aarons and Matt Ritchie out wide with Ayoze Perez in the attacking midfield position behind either Mitrovic or Gayle.
Failing that, he could go for a simple 4-4-2, a formation which is far more popular in the Championship than the Premier League, and play Mitrovic and Gayle together. Mitrovic/Gayle has something of a big man/little man pairing around it, somewhat similar to the Sam Vokes/Andre Gray pairing which brought Burnley so much success last season. That could be an example for Newcastle to follow in 2016-17.
Newcastle United go into the coming season full of confidence in their attacking options but should heed caution. The Championship is an incredibly difficult league to get out of; just ask Blackburn, Bolton, Fulham, or Wolves. As the biggest side in the division, every club will want to get a result against Newcastle, and add to the fact that most of the players – and the manager – have no experience at this level and it could prove challenging. That aside, the quality of the attacking players the club has should be more than enough to fire the Magpies to automatic promotion.
AMF: This NUFC iteration is nothing like the other teams you mention or, indeed, the last relegated NUFC team. Those teams were in turmoil and we are not, we had a fire sale last time and this time are only letting players go on our terms whilst bringing in some top talent.
Comparing us with Venkys’ Blackburn etc. is no comparison at all.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I could go through what was going on at Blackburn, Wolves, Fulham, QPR and Bolton but I think everybody knows already that they were in a mess financially and managerially when they were relegated.
There is also a precedent for teams who are able to keep the majority of their squad together and attract a top manager getting immediately promoted. Think Hull or West Brom or Norwich. Unless they are in crisis (like the teams you mentioned) the relegated teams are usually pushing for an immediate return to the PL. Often the crisis is the the reason that the teams were relegated to begin with so it stands to reason they will not have a quick return.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
AMF: here is an example of why a team like Blackburn did not bounce back:
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/13492881.Venky___s_remain_committed_to_Blackburn_Rovers_despite___35_6m_annual_loss/
They are in massive financial trouble and have been run by a bunch of idiots. The same thing can be said for the other teams you mentioned.
Blackburn made a 36 million loss last year and 41 million the year before and are under a transfer embargo. That is the main reason for their struggles, not that the Championship is that much of a higher quality, which I doubt anyway. That is one of the things people say but is there any proof? And the parachute payments give relegated teams a massive advantage as long as they are not in financial trouble already.
There have been a few fairytale promotions such as Bournemouth and Swansea but usually it is the relegated teams that are pushing to get straight back within a season or 2.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sorry I meant ATM and not AMF.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I was wondering why you were saying AMF haha
Yeah I take all your points but I think you’re taking what was a throwaway line a bit too literally. Maybe I’m too much of a cautious optimist but I think Rafa will go into the dressing room and be uttering the same thing aka, some big clubs have fallen foul in the Championship and it certainly won’t be the walk-over we think it will be. Or maybe it will? Who knows, just speculation at the end of the day.
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
But maybe you’re right, comparing us to Blackburn is no comparison at all. I’d also point to bigger clubs who’ve snuck back into the Prem by the skin of their teeth. Remember West Ham a few years ago? Some big players and big Sam and they still had to go via the play-off route.
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
I was stuck on Kim’s thread from 2 articles back. Please LINK new articles to the end of threads people. If not the authors or owners, then the posters who notice the new thread is up?
MM I removed the link posted by JayJay. There was no need for rubbish like that on a family blog, I agree. JayJay don’t post smut like that here again.
Cheers for this thread Andy. I’d be happy enough with a strike force of Mitro, Gayle,Armstrong, Perez but do worry we don’t have another physical striker to hold up the ball or head it in the event Mitro is injured/suspended. Trouble is though, sign a 5th striker and some will struggle to get time time. Perhaps Gayle or Perez will cover on the left if and when Thauvin goes. Who knows. For me a Left Back and playmaker are the most important signings at the minute and I’d still like to see a few exits.
Shamrock(Quote)
Corriere Dello Sport are reporting Thauvin to Lazio likely to be announced in next few days. Initial loan fee followed by permanent transfer clause after unknown number if appearances. Total fee around £10m. So either we need a new LW or Perez/Gayle will be covering the position.
Shamrock(Quote)
cheers for that SHAM,i never picked up on that i dont normally miss much on toon lol 😆
icedog(Quote)
makes the girlfriend quote look silly,said she was missing France
icedog(Quote)
Yep Sham, agree on all points mate, especially the last bit. I am a bit jittery about where we have a player who can really make something happen, I don’t see that yet. I do see goals coming from various players now which is good but apparently we still are slow getting forward according to reports. Such a shame we can’t watch some friendlies really, it ranks when you have to rely on the musings of Ryder. Still think Townsend will be a massive miss tbh.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Andy, nice read by the way, kinda agree about the whole cautious optimism thing.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Andy – I hope Rafa is not muttering such things in the dressing room or round the players at all. He and his coaching staff should & would be aware of the challenge ahead, but as the top coach he is, he should be sending his players out to play with confidence – not fear.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Andy – thanks for the article mate.
Personally, I’m not completely sold on those 4 forwards (Mit, Perez, Gayle, Armaz). Is there a 20 goal forward there?, are they strong enough?. I’m not sure, but on top of that I’m also not sure we are strong enough behind them either.
I’m happy enough with Ritchie on the right – but the left and centre, I’m not sure we are strong enough personally.
For me there is still lots to do – LB, LW, ACM and CF. – and if Tiote goes DCM.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Apologies on the whole thread thing guys, as Sham said – if someone spots a new thread then feel free to link to it in then previous one.
9 times out of 10 I do post a link but sometimes if I’m in a rush, I forget.
@sharpy – I definitely think mitro has 20 goals in him if he keeps his nose clean, I guess that’s a big IF.
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
Andy – I will make a gents bet with mate. I bet Gayle scores more that Mitrovic this season (obviously providing both remain fit).
I love Mitrovics passion, I just didn’t see him being mobile enough or clinical enough.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Mitro will score a lot of goals with Gayle getting a Bellamy share of around 14. Aarons, Ritchie and Perez getting into double figures too. Nowt like a bit of optimism eh?
Georgio(Quote)
Georgio – my worry is that I’m not sure Rafa is sold on Mitrovic. He put Cisse ahead of him last season & it’s not like he’s playing much with Mitrovic & Gayle in pre season to develop that partnership.
I also still worry about Aarons fitness mate. He’s already had a wobble in pre season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Okay deal, the loser has to write a love letter to Eric. 😆
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
Thanks for thread mate good reading.i hope it’s old hashed up storeys of selling Perez to Baca for 15 mil,Rafa still wants four or five players it’s said by Brown after talking to Rafa last night
Icedog(Quote)
Ice, yeah I can believe that he wants that many and we should be looking to ship out that many too mate.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Prichard due on Tyneside for medical
Icedog(Quote)
Shamrock, thanks for that post mate regarding Jay Jay, its much appreciated. Way out of order mate, thanks for the heads up.
Munich Mag(Quote)
I know its going against the grain, and people don’t like to hear it, but apart from Rafa saying yes I have seen absolutely nothing to make me particularly enthusiastic for the imminent Championship season. We have offloaded senior pros who were brilliant signings, while bringing in journeyman Championship players and players of admitted yet unproven potential.
Too many years of absolute pish decision making and even worse management have worn me down, and the perpetrators are still manning thd bridge
..think for a second where we would be if Rafa had of given up on us..?
I’ll support the toon through thick and thin, but noone is going to convince me that having turned over Doncaster, Southend and Bohdmians 3rd team that we have turned the corner. The toon need open heart surgery and Rafa has just picked up the scalpel..
Its my opinion, and so be it.
Munich Mag(Quote)
well Tiote and Thanvin on the way out anyway
icedog(Quote)
and Siko will be gone soon
icedog(Quote)
I hope this Perez to Barcelona is rubbish and it appears to be. We might end up losing too many of our first team squad if he goes along with Thauvin, Janmaat and Sissoko. I have wondered how these players would perform under a good manager and perhaps we will not see it.
The problem is finding replacements in this crazy market, but I suppose it works both ways and our selling price will be sky high so we will be able to afford the replacements.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
To echo MM just a bit. The problem is that we are selling PL calibre players but are a Championship team. Will we be able to attract similar quality when the likes of Janmaat are sold? I think we now have to look abroad again. We have enough with Championship experience.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Andy: I wasn’t having a go at you. I was just pointing out that some of the relegated teams like Cardiff, QPR and Blackburn were in such a mess that they were never going to get immediate promotion and we are in a completely different position.
Hull were a mess because the owner’s son is supposedly a **** and the owner, who is not well liked anyway, is sick. That might explain some of their struggles and Brucie may have actually done well to get them up via the playoffs. I expect them to get relegated.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You would think that with Rafa having final say on transfers that we would get quality players in. He will, after all, have a significant transfer budget after selling Gini and Sissoko. However, they are PL quality and we will no longer be fishing in the same pool as we are a Championship team. That is really my only concern but I think having Rafa might mitigate that a bit and I see our current squad as the best in the Championship. If we had got the current additions whilst we were still in the PL I wouldn’t be complaining so I won’t when we are in the Championship, although I would still like a statement signing.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I see Arnautovic has signed a new Stoke deal. I did think the transfer to Everton made no sense.
Shamrock(Quote)
Eric, Rafa is taking baby steps at the moment assembling a squad to win promotion, before moving onto statement signings so to speak. Its always a bad sign when players who were not deemed good enough suddenly become key players in the group…invariably this is a sign of a general drop off of quality in the group.
Ashley is keeping a real low profile while Rafa culls the dead wood and wantaway superstars out of the squad, Collo, Cisse, Tiote, Wijnaldum etc all big earners being moved on with journeyman players stepping in to replace them. An absolute genius is Rafa, he’ll hopefully gain promotion with a huge transfer plus, whilst playing to full houses at SJP. Fingers crossed that he can pull it off because big money players like Shelvey etc havent bothed to turn up as yet…
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM: the only significant players to leave so far are Gini and Townsend. I think we probably got a like for like with Richie for Townsend so Gini is the only real loss. Others that have left will not be missed:
Colo
Cisse
Taylor
Obertan
Marveaux
What we must do is replace any further exits such as Sissoko or Perez. Krul has already been replaced and we have cover for Janmaat who I hope stays anyway.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
at least Shelvey is putting some work in coming back early and shedding two stone,Brown said he ran the game against Southend mind one should against a team of that class
icedog(Quote)
We’ll all be a little jittery until we have a few matches to comment on. Looking at the first 5 it’s Fulham (a), Huddersfield (h), Reading (h), Bristol (a) and Brighton (h). From that lot I would hope for 11 points. No less than 8 please Rafa.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Kimtoon(Quote)
Sissoko to Real Madrid ?????? !!!!!!!!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/07/27/real-madrid-close-in-on-newcastle-united-midfielder-moussa-sisso/
Anything is possible. Remember Real Madrid signed perma-crock Woodgate from us, WHEN HE WAS CROCKED.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
WTF: a 22 year old Liverpool right back with 5 PL appearances costs 6 million pounds !!!!!!!
http://www.football365.com/news/bournemouth-seal-6m-signing-of-liverpools-smith
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If the Pritchard medical is right then Rafa must really rate the lad – injuries & a reported £9m fee & he’s still pressing ahead with it.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sham – sorry I missed this one yesterday. Can’t say I’d be happy sending him out on loan again mind. If he wants out then sell him & get the money in now, but to loan him & then get £10m just gives his missus more time to twist and decide she don’t like Lazio either.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Andy – sorry mate, I got busy yesterday & missed this one too.
😯 you’re a sick man!!!. I’d rather bet you everything I own 😆 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Some of these transfer fees are piggin nuts man 😯
Kimtoon(Quote)
Has anybody actually seen a story confirming we have had a bid accepted for Pritchard, or that hes in for a medical? I’ve seen it mentioned on here but not anywhere else.
Shamrock(Quote)
Yeah I know that bud, and it’s food for thought the kind of state some of these clubs were in after relegation yet we seem to be in good shape.
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
Sham – I’ve seen & heard nowt so far today on any transfer.
Sharpy17(Quote)
icedog(Quote)
Newcastle Supporters Worldwide
icedog(Quote)
toon knock back deal for Tiote he now back training with first team,bloody strange!!
icedog(Quote)
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/10515134/newcastle-have-turned-down-bids-for-cheick-tiote-and-florian-thuavin?
icedog(Quote)
Cheers Ice, guess we’ll find out soon enough. Interesting on Tiote and Thauvin. Tiote in particular still has something to offer the team so it’s good to see the club standing firm until the valuation is met.
Shamrock(Quote)
SHAM its Perez i dont want to see leave,will he want to be forth choice striker at barc??
icedog(Quote)
No Ice. Can’t see it happening. Especially since he would know he is about 10th choice by the sounds of the number of knock backs they have had. He will know he will sat on the bench just in case until somebody more prestigious becomes available and then he will be out on his ear having lost a coupme of very important development years sat warming a bench. He seems to be settled here and will be looking at Rafa staying here and drawing inspiration from it I would think. *Unless Barca offer him absolutely silly money of course.
Shamrock(Quote)
I think Rafa has sussed Perez out and can see him being our 20+ goal scorer this season by the way.
Shamrock(Quote)
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10502787/statsports-the-training-technology-used-by-arsenal-man-city-barcelona-and-more
Quite interesting piece. Don’t k kW if Newcastle does this? If not, we should think about it given our injury problems.
Shamrock(Quote)
City v Dortmund friendly =£7 on Sky …. robbing bar stewards!!!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
you’re not wrong mate
Kimtoon(Quote)
Portland are a Pacific Northwest team who have just made an offer for Steven Taylor to sit on their physio’s table for 6 months, followed by 3 games at right back, a ruptured ******* and another 6 months out.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The sooner we shot of Thauvin, Tiote, Sissoko the better.
Would somebody please explain to me why Barcelona would want Perez. Ok he is good, but not that good. I’m not even sure where he fits into our team let alone theirs. Ok back up I understand, but is he even that good? His stats are not that good, a goal every 3.75 games? only 2 assists? What is going on
Premandup(Quote)
Is it true the Al Jazira bid for Tiote was 750K? A bit of a cheeky back hander if it was. Especially if the quotes of his wages (3-4M a year) are true. I should think we’ll want 4-5M for him won’t we?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
The rumours around Perez sound like complete bollocks to me. A 15M pound bid for him from one of the Spanish giants? He hasn’t been so impressive that they would throw that amount of cash at us. I think he’s a fine young player with a lot of potential but I just don’t believe those rumours are true.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eT7P7JOBSkM
Anita goal the other day. Benitez is raving about him, saying he is very intelligent tactically and can play almost any position well. Apparently he has been left back a lot this pre season and done well. Maybe that’s where he will play this season?
Shamrock(Quote)
That’s a huge part of Anita’s value to us. He can play at RB or even LB at a pinch or in the midfield. Every club needs a utility man like that.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I agree that Anita’s versatility is valuable, but what is his best position? It seems like it’s probably RB, but we also have Janmaat and Gamez there, not to mention Sterry and Mbabu. I know Janmaat played at RM the other day, but does anyone really see him displacing Ritchie at that spot?
Overall, squad balance seems to be a bit of a problem. In terms of depth, we’re well set at RB and CM/CDM, and even ST if you’re just talking numbers. But what’s going on with the left side of the field? At LM, we’ve got Aarons (relatively unproven, often injured), Thauvin (who we’re apparently willing to let go), and Gouffran (who no one wants to see getting meaningful playing time). At LB, it’s Dummett (who I’d rather see as CB/LB cover than as 1st choice LB) and Haidara (who’s always injured, and maybe not good enough anyway).
Who’s going to start on the left side against Fulham next week? And more importantly, for the rest of the season? Having depth is great, since we’ll have plenty of midweek games, but that just makes the lack of options at LM and LB all the more glaring.
Charlie Prince(Quote)
I think we’ll see Dummett start at LB if he’s fit Charlie mate. If not then Gamez at LB and Anita at RB. You’re right, the left side of the pitch is far weaker for us. Possibly Perez will have to go on the LW side. Is Ritchie going to be fit for Fulham? I think it’s going to be Gru in the no 10 role to start with anyway. Lots of question marks.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2-
Yeah, I think Perez is probably the most likely option on the left at this point. I have no idea if Ritchie will be fit for Fulham, but I do expect him to more or less walk into the first XI when fit. Based on preseason, I guess we might see Janmaat or even Anita start at RM. You’re probably right about Dummett starting at LB, but I’d really like a better option there, especially because you’d expect us to be on the front foot much more often this year.
Charlie Prince(Quote)
A lot of us have been on about LB and LW for a long time. I hope Shelvie plays well in the centre for us as well. I have the same concerns at striker as most. We seem to have committed to this very young group with no older more experience man in there. I know it get expensive to bring one in but the cost of not going back up is fairly high as well. Still, there is the January window in case we need it Charlie mate.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
It’s Shelvey isn’t it? 😳
GeordieTwo(Quote)
So, is this the latest thread where comments can be made or is there another lurking in amongst all the ads and commentless stories…? Sorry guys but this is getting worse than Ed’s blog… Too many threads and most not allowing comments meaning no real point in the thread.
I used to really enjoy coming on here, but now it just not interesting anymore. I thought, (perhaps foolishly) that the point of this site was to post a good thread on something Toon related and then we can all make comments and observations on the topic … Now sometimes there’s a link at the bottom sometimes not, the good threads are lost in all the **** ones, and ads everywhere. Disappointing…
Dubai Toon(Quote)
It’s not that bad Dubai mate. You found your way in at least. Now you have all the excellent comments from Charlie Prince and me to read. 😆
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2-
Striker is something I’ve been thinking about, too. I’m somewhat optimistic that Mitrovic and/or Perez can come good this year, but I realize that’s a risk.
A lot of people seem to be saying they want a proven, 20-goal-type scorer to come in. Does anyone have an idea of who that could be? It just seems like most players of that kind will be holding out for offers from first division teams, either Premier League or abroad.
The top scorers in the Championship last year were Andre Gray (25), Ross McCormack (21), Abel Hernandez (20), Jonathan Kodjia (18), Nahki Wells (17), Tomer Hemed (17), Jordan Rhodes (16), Moussa Dembele (15), Chris Martin (15), and Fernando Forestieri (15). Gray, Hernandez, and Rhodes are all now in the PL. Would any of the others interest us? How much would they cost? I know nothing about any of them. Are there other players from abroad who would fit the “proven goalscorer” description, and would we have a realistic shot at landing them? Having Rafa allows us to reach beyond other Championship teams, but only to a degree.
Charlie Prince(Quote)
Very tough question Charlie mate. I think that’s exactly what the club is struggling with. If the papers are to be believed we went after McCormack. Now Norwich appear to have the best chance of signing him. He would have been good for 10M but we’re not going to get into a bidding war with a Prem club for him. I don’t think any of the rest you mentioned are worth a huge fee personally. But if we’re in a dog fight in January we may have to really force the issue with some cash.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Welcome CP
I see a agent has tweeted that he’s at SJP now but doesn’t say who is the agent of,mmmmmm,guessing game starts now
Icedog(Quote)
Good points re; strikers Prince. I’d like to.see Armstrong get game time this season so would be happy to trial a 4 of him, Perez, Mitro and Gayle. If it’s not working out then we buy a ‘proven’ striker in January – wherever that would come from. I can see Perez getting quite a few this season and am hopeful.armstring can carry his form through from last season with Gayle running defenders ragged and Mitro bullying them – thus opening space for natural finishers aka Perez and Arma to slot the ball away. I believe Ritchie and Aaron’s will chip in with a fair few goals too and we have yet to sign an attacking CM, who will be expected to contribute. As you said earlier, LB and LW need sorting along with an AM then maybe a.striker if something special comes up.
Shamrock(Quote)
Me and KIM are fed up with it mate at times we don’t know where we are
Icedog(Quote)
I’m a bit puzzled because I’m not having nearly as much of a problem finding the correct article. Is it something to do with whatever platform people are using to access the blog? I just use a plain old desktop computer with an old Windows 8 OS running it.
GeordieTwo(Quote)