Three areas Newcastle MUST strengthen over the coming weeks

With four signings secured some momentum is finally arriving to Newcastle’s summer recruitment drive. Although none have been the big name signings fans crave, they may prove to be useful additions. That being said, Rafa and the club will be aware our biggest moves are yet to come and the spine of the side still clearly needs work. Which areas should be a priority to strengthen until the window slams shut at the end of August?

 

Centre midfield

After wearing the armband against Preston and Bradford, Shelvey’s influence at Newcastle on the rise after an impressive season in the Championship. One problem we had last year was replacing him when he was missing, mainly due to his ill-discipline. We don’t have a player like him, with other options like Hayden, Colback and Saivet being far more defensively minded – as does the seemingly imminent arrival of Mikel Merino.

Isaac Hayden had a promising first season at Newcastle and at 22, has time to further improve. Newcastle are clearly in the market for a holding midfielder (Merino) as well as backup to Shelvey, just to take the pressure off Hayden. James McCarthy has been linked but a £25m price-tag is far from tempting. Gvien Benitez’s fondness to dip into the Spanish market, Gabriel Pires may be a considered as a creative option, but we certainly need reinforcements here. Colback and Diame could yet be axed this summer, along with Saivet, so bodies are needed along with some quality.

 

Number 10

This is arguably Newcastle’s biggest dilemma and problem position at the moment. With Rafa favouring a 4-2-3-1 formation, it is central to his plans and success on the pitch next season. Last year, Diame and Perez mainly played there with neither really making the position their own. Diame just did not score enough goals to justify sacrificing the extra firepower of a 4-4-2 and he was just as effective in the deeper central midfield role. Ayoze again flattered to deceive, despite finishing the season strongly.

We do have De Jong coming back from a loan spell but his abysmal fitness record suggests we can’t hang our hopes on him next year. I think Rafa may use Perez as a backup striker and Diame as a backup centre midfielder, leaving De Jong as a rotation option for the number 10 role. Whether his thoughts, Rafa will want a quality addition brought in here. Match winners like Sigurdsson appear to be out our reach as the market spirals out of control but we could do with someone who can link the play and provide ammunition for Gayle, who needs service to be effective.

Striker

As the old saying goes, goals win games. Newly promoted sides find scoring enough goals to win games as the biggest challenge to acclimatising to the top flight. Gayle carried us over the line last year with 23 goals but doubts remain if he replicate anywhere near this total in the Premier League. There are countless examples of strikers scoring in the Championship to then not deliver against better opposition.

Gayle showed some promise of scoring in the top flight with Palace but was never really trusted to be their first choice striker. He is certainly someone we need to keep and is our most potent attacking option but we need a proven striker too.  Rafa will know this and even looking at our downfall in the 2015/6 season, Mitrovic and Cisse didn’t score regularly enough to keep us up.

We need to break our transfer record to get that top level 15+ goal striker needed to help us compete next year. A marquee striker is always a massive boost to the fans too and even the loan signing of someone like Batshuayi would do the trick, if we can pull it off. We may actually need two strikers with Murphy leaving and Mitrovic seemingly heading for the exit door.

Which areas do you want to see NUFC strengthen? And you would be your ideal signings?

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

About Simon Riddlesden

Lifelong Newcastle United fan and East Stand season ticket holder. Observations from a supporter who has followed NUFC during Champions League participation and through relegation, taking me from Milan to Scunthorpe.

217 thoughts on “Three areas Newcastle MUST strengthen over the coming weeks

  1. Eric, People on social media are breaking news quicker than journos nowadays, pretty much a dying trade unless you intend writing informative pieces that the guy on the street doesn’t know or write club related articles that are not just click bait. With less folk buying rags nowadays and looking on the internet instead you need a higher calibre of writing to get viewings which are usually subscription now or just bung out massive amounts of the same thing everyday to get the clicks and claw back lost rag sales cash. I used to buy a paper everyday, now it’s two or three times a week and only then so I can sit down next to Lewis and read him the sports pages. It’s like story time for him, not the same off the pc as the paper.

      (Quote)

  2. Stuart79:
    By the sounds of things we’re battering Bradford but can’t score.

    It’s four nil to the toon mate,Murphy got two,Mitro one Gayle one

      (Quote)

  3. How to solve a problem like Aarons?!.

    If we could keep that boy fit he’s a £30m plus player IMO.

    I’m liking the look of young Murphy too mind. I think that’s £12m very well spent!!.

    Keep Mitrovic?

      (Quote)

  4. I like Mitro and Gayle but we still need another quality forward.
    Murphy off to a flyer, well done lad, Aarons too

      (Quote)

  5. KIMTOON:
    Eric, People on social media are breaking news quicker than journos nowadays, pretty much a dying trade unless you intend writing informative pieces that the guy on the street doesn’t know or write club related articles that are not just click bait. With less folk buying rags nowadays and looking on the internet instead you need a higher calibre of writing to get viewings which are usually subscription now or just bung out massive amounts of the same thing everyday to get the clicks and claw back lost rag sales cash. I used to buy a paper everyday, now it’s two or three times a week and only then so I can sit down next to Lewis and read him the sports pages. It’s like story time for him, not the same off the pc as the paper.

    Totally agree with you. I get a bit frustrated that The Chronicle is not keeping pace with the times. They can have their click-bait but why not also write a few more in-depth stories? I really do think it is Ryder that holds them back. He just doesn’t try anything different and dials it in, as they say over here.

    Stuart: I needed to go on a Ryder rant. I know he wont change but I have to have one every now and again. Arrogant Alan and Ugly John are gone so I can’t get worked up about them anymore 🙂

      (Quote)

  6. Sharpy: I agree with you on Aarons. Every time I have seen him he has been one of the best players on the pitch. Like the proverbial new signing 🙂

    And I would keep Mitro. I go back and forth on him because he scuffs a lot of shots but his link up play is pretty good. I have never seen a player use their chest like him, not even Shearer.

      (Quote)

  7. £30m is a bit of leap, Sharpy. He has potential. If he’s so frustrating. He will need a good couple of season uninterrupted for him to be worth that much. What are the chances?

      (Quote)

  8. Stuart79:
    £30m is a bit of leap, Sharpy. He has potential. If he’s so frustrating. He will need a good couple of season uninterrupted for him to be worth that much. What are the chances?

    Stuart: Aarons is worth 30 million now mate. MBappe is touted for 140 million. Walker for 54 million. Dier for 60 million. Yes, that Dier. It is just insane, so why not 30 million for someone who plays 2 games a season?

      (Quote)

  9. In today’s money:

    Shearer = 8 billion
    Gazza = 6 billion
    Zinedine Zidane = 6.5 billion
    Franz Bekenbauer = 8 billion
    Gerd Muller + 7.2 billion

    Ginger Jack Colback = 8 pence and a copy of last night’s Chronicle with a full colour double page pull out special of Lee Ryder’s insights into NUFC this season.

      (Quote)

  10. Am I dwelling again. Not really. The Chronic have click-baited themselves into the toilet, prices are just crazy and I was correct about Arrogant Alan and Ugly John. Where is Troy, ran away and hid after being 110 % incorrect (is it even possible to be 110% incorrect, oh Eric the Seer. Yes, Chang Kwai Caine it is. Troy Stavers proved it).

      (Quote)

  11. Well good old wearside jack hasn’t changed a few fans saying he was a bloody. nightmare worse player on the pitch,well guess nowt has changed then

      (Quote)

  12. Well I see Rafa has admitted that the problem with the transfers is that we currently have too many players and we need to move some players on before we bring more in. That’s fair enough but it goes to show the problems we’re having from the previous transfer policy of basically buying cheap rubbish.

      (Quote)

  13. Darlow wasn’t even on the bench tonight. I think what Rafa is saying and what he is doing are two different things.

      (Quote)

  14. Icedog:
    RAFA says they cannot make anymore signings until they move some players out

    Ice – yeah and Krul, Lazaar and Rivière have already been dropped – interestingly the only 2 subs not used tonight were Colback & Saviet – their cards would also be marked for me.

    But who takes these players?! – that’s the biggest problem for me.
    Knowing who should go and getting rid are 2 very different things.

      (Quote)

  15. Mind, unlike Stuart who usually is correct, I still think we will break our transfer record. We sort of have to, given the prices now, right?

      (Quote)

  16. Sharpy17: Ice – yeah and Krul, Lazaar and Rivière have already been dropped – interestingly the only 2 subs not used tonight were Colback & Saviet – their cards would also be marked for me.

    But who takes these players?! – that’s the biggest problem for me.
    Knowing who should go and getting rid are 2 very different things.

    Sharpy mate, we have paid for all of those players in “cold hard cash” as Uncle Ed says. We only pay their wages now. They wont be that hard to shift on frees and don’t really cost a lot when you consider a Lingard is on 100k a week. Yes, that Jesse Lingard.

      (Quote)

  17. Not sure what all the fuss about Aarons is.. The guy has proven nothing long term and only has shown glimpses of potential. He will soon come up against good attacking mids and defenders and his all round game will be pulled into focus. He looks great going forward but I reckon he will flounder doing his defending duties against PL opponents. I am predicting that he will go missing during games and will have limited impact.

      (Quote)

  18. Aussie:
    Not sure what all the fuss about Aarons is.. The guy has proven nothing long term and only has shown glimpses of potential. He will soon come up against good attacking mids and defenders and his all round game will be pulled into focus. He looks great going forward but I reckon he will flounder doing his defending duties against PL opponents. I am predicting that he will go missing during games and will have limited impact.

    If he can stay fit I predict good things from him .

      (Quote)

  19. Hope the stories we are in for West Hams Adrian with Darlow going other way in part exchange aren’t true.
    Don’t get this keeper carry on, it’s a bloody forward we need ffs
    If we were bringing in better than Darlow ,Krul fair enough but I don’t feel Adrian is an up grade.
    Check out Adrians stats here
    http://www.barriesview.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2016-17-premier-league-goalkeeper-stats.png

    and Darlows
    https://www.whoscored.com/Players/70483/Show/Karl-Darlow

      (Quote)

  20. Yes you are Aussie. Of the wingers we’ve got he’s the best with the big IF about his fitness record. Let’s hope injury worries are behind him.

    Interesting our three Spaniards Rafa, Moreno, Antia know that market inside out. I hope their judgements as good as when Rafa signed the unknown Alonso from Eibar! Perez next?

      (Quote)

  21. So Gibson has signed for Everton. There’s a couple of things that bother me about this but the biggest worry is this; Why would a young NUFC fan and local lad want to leave NUFC at 16 to join Everton? That surely is the biggest and saddest indictment of the Mike Ashley era. Apparently he was our biggest hope from the academy. Not much point in having one if they jump ship at the earliest opportunity.

      (Quote)

  22. The problem with Aarons is that it is such a small sample size because he hasn’t been fit. He tore Spurs apart in the 20 minutes he was on in that last PL game he played, but sometimes you just cannot rely on a players fitness and they seem to get unrelated injuries. Think Steven Taylor, Jack Wilshere, Carl Cort and Michael Owen.

    We have bought Aarons’ replacement anyway with Jacob Murphy but I think he is good enough to force himself into the team despite the fact his injuries have meant we haven’t seen as much of him as we could have (shock that I disagree with AMF !)

      (Quote)

  23. georgio:
    Yes you are Aussie. Of the wingers we’ve got he’s the best with the big IF about his fitness record. Let’s hope injury worries are behind him.

    Interesting our three Spaniards Rafa, Moreno, Antia know that market inside out. I hope their judgements as good as when Rafa signed the unknown Alonso from Eibar! Perez next?

    So you agree I am right ! ?

    Aarons will be a ghost amongst the big boys.. all flair and no ticker for hard graft.. sorry to burst some bubbles..

      (Quote)

  24. I’m not sure how you can come to that conclusion, Aussie considering he’s only played about 10 games due to his injury record.

      (Quote)

  25. Stuart79:
    So Gibson has signed for Everton. There’s a couple of things that bother me about this but the biggest worry is this; Why would a young NUFC fan and local lad want to leave NUFC at 16 to join Everton? That surely is the biggest and saddest indictment of the Mike Ashley era.Apparently he was our biggest hope from the academy. Not much point in having one if they jump ship at the earliest opportunity.

    I saw something yesterday that the average tenure of a Football League manager is something like 1.2 years. It is cited as the reason why nobody comes through the Chelsea and Man City academies because they are required to have immediate success or they are gone.

    With Gibson it could be about money? If you start waving half a million pound cheques in front of a 17 year old it might turn his head? Who knows, but who have we produced in the last 10 years anyway? Dummett and perma-crock Aarons.

      (Quote)

  26. Same way as you get to most of your conclusions Stuart! I use my powers of guesswork and speculation! 😆

      (Quote)

  27. Whatever happened to that “purples” plan anyway? The idea was you would have 15 or 16 really good players, the equivalent of a purple poker chip (5k, I think) and then buy the best young talent from around the world and have them come through the academy. Did Vuckic kill that idea off? Was it ex-casino manager Derek Lame-****’s idea and died when he left?

      (Quote)

  28. Stuart79:
    So Gibson has signed for Everton. There’s a couple of things that bother me about this but the biggest worry is this; Why would a young NUFC fan and local lad want to leave NUFC at 16 to join Everton? That surely is the biggest and saddest indictment of the Mike Ashley era.Apparently he was our biggest hope from the academy. Not much point in having one if they jump ship at the earliest opportunity.

    Stu – on the flip side we have just signed an NUFC fan in Jacob Murphy who looked pretty decent last night & is a very promising young English player.
    If it’s true that Gibson refused to train then let him go – £6m is a good fee for a 16yr old. Yeah he’s got potential but how many don’t make it.

    Don’t quite get the Ashley bashing on this one?!. He’s probably never even heard of Lewis Gibson to be fair.

      (Quote)

  29. It has to be money with Lewis Gibson. He turned 17 and then immediately signs a professional contract with Everton on essentially the first day he can. Looks to me that they came in waving giant wads of cash and he took it. Total speculation of course, but when he passes his driver’s test and turns up in a Bentley I think we will get confirmation.

      (Quote)

  30. We didn’t develop Aarons, that was done in Bristol at the academy and later with Bristol City. He is highly thought of in Bristol as a down to earth grafter with big talent. Incidentally he never suffered injury problems until joining Newcastle. I’m hoping that now Rafa is on top of the medics at the club that players will have their fitness better managed. De Jong has been much fitter while on loan and that also raises questions.

      (Quote)

  31. To be fair to Gibson, Everton look a better bet than us at this moment in time and if he’s had his head turned so easily by cash as to turn away from home town club then let him get on with it.
    Who knows, if we ever regain any glory he may one day return to Toon like Big Al did, it’s only a 3 year contract.
    They are paying £1m up front to us for him with a possible £5m in instalments dependent on other stuff according to Ryder.

      (Quote)

  32. Too much cash too soon for these young lads which removes hunger to strive to be the best. Look at Tammy Abraham, just bought his parents brand new cars with cash from his new deal with Chelsea.

      (Quote)

  33. Kimtoon: Bristol City released Aarons and he has been at NUFC since he was 17. He may have been a local lad but they didn’t want him. I suppose technically Bristol City developed him but then they tossed him aside.

    Maybe there is more to the story and his head was turned. But they did release him.

      (Quote)

  34. Sharpy – It’s not about Ashley knowing Gibson it’s about the set up that Ashley has neglected for the last 10 years. We’ve invested nothing in the academy and have one of the worst records for any academy anywhere. Hes responsible for investment and there’s been a disgustingly low investment in the academy.

      (Quote)

  35. Kim – who wouldn’t leave for more cash? You’re not telling me that if it was about cash we couldn’t match what Everton were prepared to pay him?

      (Quote)

  36. Abraham buying his parents cars is actually a nice story in my opinion. He is now paid 2,500,000 a year so can afford it.

    The Sun did a story on Raheem Sterling where they took pictures of a house he had bought and showed it was a bit blingy and made fun of him for having such an extravagant, spoiled footballer lifestyle. It turned out it was for his Mam. Just one more reason to hate Murdoch and The Sun.

    I cannot fault anyone for giving something back to their parents.

      (Quote)

  37. the kid refused to train since May to get a move who needs a player like that could effect other young kids in the group.get shot i say.and they say tapping up does not happen much.oh aye tell that to the fairys

      (Quote)

  38. Eric , I have no beef with buying stuff for his parents but I think at his age his wages should be lower to keep the hunger but enough to treat mum and dad to a cruise or what ever. As he progresses and gets better the wage increases along with the ability to treat mum and dad and I think he’d appreciate it more.
    Right now him and others have it dumped in their lap after a handful of half decent performances.

      (Quote)

  39. I blame the clubs ,agents and bloody sky for all this money madness, it will all self destruct along with many players. Sad really.

      (Quote)

  40. KIMTOON:
    I blame the clubs ,agents and bloody sky for all this money madness, it will all self destruct along with many players. Sad really.

    me too mate,game has gone money mad no loyalty now those days are gone,shame

      (Quote)

  41. KIMTOON:
    Eric , I have no beef with buying stuff for his parents but I think at his age his wages should be lower to keep the hunger but enough to treat mum and dad to a cruise or what ever. As he progresses and gets better the wage increases along with the ability to treat mum and dad and I think he’d appreciate it more.
    Right now him and others have it dumped in their lap after a handful of half decent performances.

    Of course you don’t. I have read enough of what you say on here to know you are a caring and nice person. You also probably know that I have a big problem with journalists manipulating everything to show people in a bad light or just being **** at their job (Ryder, again, sorry).

      (Quote)

  42. Back to NUFC though.

    There were some very good and instinctive finishes from our lot last night. Murphy looks the real deal. I know it is only one game against a League 1 side (3rd division in old money, right).

      (Quote)

  43. Eric, yep the media have a lot to answer for, no doubt about it, mainly jealousy on the part of many I suspect, or plain nastiness .

      (Quote)

  44. Stuart79:
    Sharpy – It’s not about Ashley knowing Gibson it’s about the set up that Ashley has neglected for the last 10 years. We’ve invested nothing in the academy and have one of the worst records for any academy anywhere. Hes responsible for investment and there’s been a disgustingly low investment in the academy.

    Stu – I agree entirely that the pathway from our youth set up to the first team is poor – I just don’t think that’s Ashley’s fault. I think Ashley will deal with the profit & loss, but in terms of how and where the money is spent – that’s what the board members are there for.

    To be fair, I think that pond keeps getting stocked with new potentials – im thinking players like Mbabu, Satka, Bigi, that young Tunisian lad who’s name escapes me at the moment, Vukic.
    More recently they have added players like Good, Finlay, El-Mhanni, Toney, Fernandez, Yarney and O’Connor.
    Others such as Armstrong, Woodman, Sherry and Barlaser have probably come close.

    If these players aren’t good enough that’s down to the scouting team & director in charge of that.
    If they are good enough, then it’s down to the management of development & either the manager or director in charge of that.

    For me it’s down to Charnley who has the overall running of the club, rather that Ashley.

      (Quote)

  45. icedog:
    Emmanuel Riviereoff to Turkey about bloody time,waste of space

    Ice – hope its true mate, him & Saviet are my biggest concern. They’ve had a horrible spell with us & I can’t see too many clubs eyeing them up like.

      (Quote)

  46. Wayne Rooney looks about 50. He is playing pre-season games and it just struck me that he looks about 50. I am telling you man, when John Carver turned 50 I told me Mam that he was only 50 and she wouldn’t believe me. She said she thought he was the Sith from Star Wars or that Davros character from Doctor Who. Nah, I said. Just a pickled walnut with hair.

      (Quote)

  47. Sharpy17: Stu – I agree entirely that the pathway from our youth set up to the first team is poor – I just don’t think that’s Ashley’s fault.I think Ashley will deal with the profit & loss, but in terms of how and where the money is spent – that’s what the board members are there for.

    To be fair, I think that pond keeps getting stocked with new potentials – im thinking players like Mbabu, Satka, Bigi, that young Tunisian lad who’s name escapes me at the moment, Vukic.
    More recently they have added players like Good, Finlay, El-Mhanni, Toney,Fernandez, Yarney and O’Connor.
    Others such as Armstrong, Woodman, Sherry and Barlaser have probably come close.

    If these players aren’t good enough that’s down to the scouting team & director in charge of that.
    If they are good enough, then it’s down to the management of development & either the manager or director in charge of that.

    For me it’s down to Charnley who has the overall running of the club, rather that Ashley.

    What board members? Last I heard about board members was it was Fatty, Carr and McClaren.

    They haven’t mentioned a board since and have given Rafa full control. Which is a good thing.

      (Quote)

  48. Also Sharpy:

    Charnley is in charge of the financial side. Him and Carr made a massive power grab that resulted in McClaren and a huge failaure. He has gone back to his knitting and Carr is gone. Charnley is on about 300k a year and Rafa is on 6 million. The man making a 20th of the Manager’s salary does not tell the Manager what to do.

      (Quote)

  49. Eric Sykes: What board members? Last I heard about board members was it was Fatty, Carr and McClaren.

    They haven’t mentioned a board since and have given Rafa full control. Which is a good thing.

    Eric – Stus initial point was referring to the last 10 yrs, not just as things stand now.
    But even up until recently, Graham Carr was chief scout – so he would have been responsible for scouting local young talent and those scouts looking further a field.
    If they found a player, they would have reported back to Carr who would have fed that in to Rafa – if they then decided they wanted that player they go to Charnley – not Ashley.

      (Quote)

  50. Here’s a timeline:

    Carr and Charnley made a power grab when the Fatman was disinterested.

    They appointed Ugly John.

    They sacked Ugly John and appointed Schteve as COACH. Keeping control for themselves.

    But Schteve is not so stupid as he looks and had himself appointed to the board.

    They spent all of the money on Carr’s advice

    Somehow Rafa appeared like Mr. Benn to save Charnley’s job.

    Charnley went back to his knitting (accounting) and Carr was sacked giving Rafa complete control of the club. Which is what Rafa was after all along.

      (Quote)

  51. Sharpy17: Eric – Stus initial point was referring to the last 10 yrs, not just as things stand now.
    But even up until recently, Graham Carr was chief scout – so he would have been responsible for scouting local young talent and those scouts looking further a field.
    If they found a player, they would have reported back to Carr who would have fed that in to Rafa – if they then decided they wanted that player they go to Charnley – not Ashley.

    I disagree. But that is OK. It would be boring if we all had the same opinions. Talking about being wrong, where is Troy 🙂

      (Quote)

  52. Eric Sykes:
    Also Sharpy:

    Charnley is in charge of the financial side. Him and Carr made a massive power grab that resulted in McClaren and a huge failaure. He has gone back to his knitting and Carr is gone. Charnley is on about 300k a year and Rafa is on 6 million. The man making a 20th of the Manager’s salary does not tell the Manager what to do.

    Eric – sorry mate but that is nonsense. It’s not the salary that holds the power, it’s the role. Could Charnley sack Rafa? – yes. Could Rafa sack Charnley – no.

    It isn’t about anyone telling anyone else ‘what to do’. It’s about working together to achieve a common goal.
    Rafa gets the big bucks coz he manages & coaches some big egos & is ultimately the face of success or defeat. He deserves the money coz there is far less security in his role than managing director. But that doesn’t give Rafa absolute power.

      (Quote)

  53. Eric Sykes: I disagree. But that is OK. It would be boring if we all had the same opinions. Talking about being wrong, where is Troy

    Eric – I’m intrigued though. So how do you think the scouting system works?

      (Quote)

  54. Sharpy17: Eric – sorry mate but that is nonsense.It’s not the salary that holds the power, it’s the role.Could Charnley sack Rafa? – yes.Could Rafa sack Charnley – no.

    It isn’t about anyone telling anyone else ‘what to do’.It’s about working together to achieve a common goal.
    Rafa gets the big bucks coz he manages & coaches some big egos & is ultimately the face of success or defeat.He deserves the money coz there is far less security in his role than managing director.But that doesn’t give Rafa absolute power.

    I almost totally disagree, but not quite. Charnley did make a power grab with Carr and it failed.

    But, you are correct about the tenure issue and that is partly why Managers get paid more than the MDs at football teams. But it is not the whole story.

    A 20 to 1 difference in pay between Rafa and Charnley shows you that Rafa is in charge. Charnley is in charge of the books now which is very important to Ashley but he cannot sack Rafa. That would be up to Ashley.

    Charnley has shown himself to be a very smart accountant and a **** football man. He should stick to his knitting.

      (Quote)

  55. Ashley makes the appointments of the staff responsible for he infrastructure of the club over the last ten years. He’s appointed Jimenez, Wise, Vetere, Kinnear, Charnley and Carr. All with the responsibility for transfers and club infrastructure. How many of them would you say we’re a success and improved the infrastructure of the club – including the academy?

      (Quote)

  56. Sharpy17: Eric – I’m intrigued though.So how do you think the scouting system works?

    I think Carr had influence but it was always Rafa’s plan to force him out and put his own men in charge. I think it was always Rafa’s plan to have NUFC become Rafa United otherwise he would not have taken on a poisoned chalice like NUFC.

      (Quote)

  57. Eric Sykes: I think Carr had influence but it was always Rafa’s plan to force him out and put his own men in charge. I think it was always Rafa’s plan to have NUFC become Rafa United otherwise he would not have taken on a poisoned chalice like NUFC.

    Eric – but that hasn’t happened. Rafa hasn’t brought his own man in, they have promoted from within again – I can’t believe that would have been Rafas choice

      (Quote)

  58. Stuart79:
    Ashley makes the appointments of the staff responsible for he infrastructure of the club over the last ten years. He’s appointed Jimenez, Wise, Vetere, Kinnear, Charnley and Carr. All with the responsibility for transfers and club infrastructure. How many of them would you say we’re a success and improved the infrastructure of the club – including the academy?

    Charnley seems good at what he does, NOW. Carr had hits and misses like all scouts. They made a failed power grab and Rafa turned up. I think Benitez wants control of the football side and wants accountants like Charnley to be just accountants.

    I think Rafa wants complete control and Charnley is his underling and will not question what he does because he knows that failed when him and Carr tried to run the club.

      (Quote)

  59. They promoted the new chief scout probably because they saw he was competent and had new ideas. Benitez has his own scouting staff in addition to him. They probably were sick of Carr just taking any player that the French Sporting Agency – Mondial – said was a bargain?

      (Quote)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *