Around Christmas time last year, it would have taken a brave Newcastle fan to predict the rise of Mo Diame in 2018.
He was jeered off the field at St. James’ in a mid December defeat to Everton and had put in a series of lethargic and poor displays – leaving fans mystified as to why Benitez kept playing him.
Fast forward six months and he has been instrumental as Newcastle secured an impressive top half finish and without doubt our top performer in 2018.
His turnaround has been nothing short of incredible, but the Senegalese powerhouse is facing another big test this coming season:
He’s actually playing for his NUFC future
It is easy to forget as he’s been our best player in 2018, but he is actually out of contract next summer. He turns 31 next week so will be almost 32 when his current deal expires next summer. He’s been brilliant, but he’s got it all to prove again this season if he’s to earn an extension. It is well documented Rafa needs to trim the wage bill so he might need to assess whether he sees Diame as part of the long term at NUFC.
He may also face competition as Merino has vowed to become an ‘important player’ for us. Let’s hope Merino can use the rise of Diame as inspiration for him to improve his form which has been the polar opposite to Diame, outstanding early season and poor in 2018.
Can he maintain his 2018 form?
This is the important question and he has been so good recently it is hard to imagine him going back to his poor form when he initially joined. His own turnaround coincided with our turnaround in form, allowing Shelvey to thrive – meaning, it would be quite a disaster and setback if he suddenly went back to his form of 2016/17 (or first part of last season)
He really was outstanding and just like we’d be weakened if we lost Kenedy, we’d be set back considerably too if he suddenly went back to his old ways. He has been dominating midfield in some all action displays and did all the dirty work that’s allowed the likes of Kenedy and Perez to shine.
Relying on him maintaining this form is a big risk
It would still be a gamble for Newcastle to presume he’ll be as good in 2018/19 as he has over the past 6 months.
He’s looked a new man and different player all together, but he’s getting older and we can’t forget that he’s actually struggled for the vast majority of his two years stint at NUFC.
Not signing a midfielder to compete with him would be very risky and will be on Rafa’s mind as he formulates his transfer plans this summer. Even if he still performs as he has been recently, an injury would cause us all sorts of problems with a lack of depth in the squad. Ideally, we would have Shelvey, Diame, Merino and a new midfielder firing on all cylinders.
What’s your take on Diame – will he replicate his recent form in the coming season?
My Bobby Robson, more than a manager dvd arrived 😀 , will watch it when I have a spare hour or so.
kimtoon(Quote)
I’m going to put £20 on England to win the WC. Unlikely but there’s always a shock team and if we can get to the QF you just never know. A moment of brilliance or an off day for Germany or Brazil.
Stuart79(Quote)
Why not Stu, someone has to win it and luck/ injuries/ poor refs will all play a part.
kimtoon(Quote)
England win the world cup??? Stuart, now I know why I disagree with you so often. 😆
There’s so many duff players in that squad it’s embarrassing.
georgio(Quote)
The thing is Georgio, I don’t think it’s liklwy we will win but at 16/1 it’s worth a punt as I explained there’s always a surprise team. Also I’m really not sure any team that has Kane, Alli, Rashford or Sterling can really be discounted from having a good tournament.
You’ll struggle to fine a team in the WC who doesn’t have a few “duff” players in their squad.
Stuart79(Quote)
So Leicester sign Jonny Evans for reportedly somewhere between 3-4m. At the risk of upsetting Eric, the lad is still only 30yrs old so even if they only get 2 good seasons out of him, that to me is an absolute steal.
I’m amazed bigger clubs have at least gone in for him at that price like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stu – I don’t know if you’ve put your bet on already mate, but Sky Bet are returning any loosing stake up to £10 as a free bet – if you think its that unlikely and I’d have to agree – then that’s a risk free bet ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
It would be interesting to know how many duff players Brazil, Germany and Spain have in their squads compared to Welbeck and Livermore. You could be right though mate and it’s always fun to have a weird punt. Send your £20 to me and I’ll put it on for you 😉
georgio(Quote)
Evans will probably have been vetoed by Jabba. Too old.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – we seem to be on the look out for a CB with Mbemba getting sold (probably). I don’t believe Skrtel at 34 is a real option, but Evans at that price is daylight robbery mate – according to SSN it’s £3.5m paid in 2 instalments ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Off the top of my head I’d rather have Sterling than Ozil. Did you see the PL season? I’d also rather have Kane than most of Spain’s strikers. Not to mention our full backs. Are there any better in Europe?
Stuart79(Quote)
I mentioned duffers not stars Stuart. The big problem we have is a midfield of workhorses and no creativity (Shelvey anyone?) and so called ball playing defenders who make mistake after mistake. Which is fine against the likes of Costa Rica but embarrassing against the big boys.
georgio(Quote)
https://www.themag.co.uk/2018/06/im-going-start-defending-mike-ashley-now-dont-like-newcastle-united/
an interesting article from the mag.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Could be right but let’s wait and see. Both Germany and Brazil have failed to score against us in the last 12 months. And I’m not sure them ball playing defenders you mentioned have made too many mistakes have they? If you wouldn’t mind giving me some examples of the Mistake after mistake” they keep making.
Midfielder “workhorse” Alli, Sterling and Lindgard. ???
Stuart79(Quote)
Henderson Delph Livermore are the duffers I’m thinking of. Maguire and Stones both lost the ball in dangerous situations just last night, mistakes the top teams would have scored from.
georgio(Quote)
Why would that upset me Sharpy? The only thing I have ever mentioned about him was I believed he had a relegation buyout clause. Players values usually go down when they get to about 30 though.
I don’t usually get angry. Some stuff I say is faux outrage for effect. Anger at journalists and Pardew are the things you can take as real from me 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – coz you hate articles where they mention players ages, and I highlighted Evans was 30 – it was a joke mate ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Olly put something up referencing a Chronic/finance expert article about Ashley’s asking price of 400 million being too high. It probably is. But the no-****-sherlock bit was that it would probably be a foreign buyer, if anybody. I think Ashley is the only British owner left. Some have minority holdings but even Bournemouth are foreign owned.
400 million is not outrageous when you consider that Everton want to build a new 500 million pound stadium. I think the Fatman was correct when he put it up for sale at 325-350 but these finance “experts” were saying 225 back then.
As Olly said, comparing us to Sunderland is a bit of a joke at the moment. The only connection is geographical location because the Mackems are screwed and are now owned by the only 2 people willing to make a bet on them.
I think Stuarts 20 quid on England is more likely to pay off than Stewart Donald’s bet on Sunderland.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy: I don’t hate those articles. I find it so weird that they always have to mention their age whether it is relevant or not. But not only footballers. They will write articles and say – Ant, 42 and Dec, 43 went shopping today like their ages have anything to do with it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy: I read a comedic novel years ago called Girl, 20. It is by Kingsley Amis, Martin Amis’ Dad. The premise is that the main character gets a hard-on anytime he reads “Girl, 20” in a newspaper. I can’t remember much more about the book but it does make me aware that tabloids and the Chronic always refer to people and then put their ages when it has no relevance.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Got to agree on Stones, I don’t rate the guy at all .
kimtoon(Quote)
The bloody World Cup starts next week. There is a channel here that does a countdown and it seems like only last week that it was 100 days. It is like when you book a holiday and it is months off. Next thing you know and it is tomorrow and you have to start packing.
Am I starting to sound like Dougal from Father Ted? What do you mean “starting”…
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The VAR will be interesting to watch. I hope it works better than the way it did in the A-League last season. Sure, it picked up some things that would have been missed but it caused all sorts of other outrage.
The general feeling here is that the VAR is hopeless and it is far better to go back to decisions made in the eyes of the ref. It’s accepted that it was a trial, and it seems that officials did not quite know how to implement it, thus it ended up moving the process from on-field interpretation to ‘in the bunker’ interpretations.
And being at the ground when a goal is scored loses a lot of the excitement sometimes – yes, the ball is in the net, but is it a goal? What’s the ref checking? What’s going on? Why don’t they tell us what’s going on? Come on guys let’s kick off again. What are you checking? For Chrissake tell us what’s going on! Oh, he was off side in the lead up. That was 3 passes ago, just before he ran past 4 defenders and slotted it home. The linesman missed it. Everybody missed it. How the **** can it be an obvious error if nobody saw it – even the players had no idea.
And then the opposition score … but … wasn’t that a handball in the lead up? What about the push in the back or the guy standing offside? Oh, that’s not obvious, well it looks bloody obvious to me!
Let’s hope they implement it at the world cup better than we did otherwise it will cause world war 3 when the big guns get the decisions and the minnows miss out. As always.
Brisvegas(Quote)
BrisV: they could bring in VAR, Snicker and Google Earth and NUFC would still not get a penalty.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Spurs are really going for it now. They have just doubled Harry Kane’s wages. I really thought they would wimp out but they have players to sell to cover it like Rose and Alderweldereid. Now Eriksen, Alli and others will want the same. It was high stakes poker with the new stadium to pay for. Levy has some ball, I will say that for him.
So, now with even Spurs paying 200k a year to a player where do we stand Fatman?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sorry, I was in the real world and not football for a moment there. Not 200k a year, that would be a lot to most people – 200k A WEEK.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
VAR is just a thing that presents details of an incident.
What is useless is the lack of will or nous by footballing authorities/ officials to be able to use it in any meaningful way.
Perception is made worse by the unintelligible wiittering of pundits who see it as a threat to their never-ending emotive bullshit
GlosMag(Quote)
I see Defoe has dedicated his recently awarded obe/ Cbe (can’t remember which) to the young sunderland fan who passed away recently.
Irrespective of how relevant these ‘awards’ are it means a lot to Defoe and is a worthy gesture by him.
GlosMag(Quote)
Agree, it’s the network rail top brass getting a gong that sticks in my throat.
kimtoon(Quote)
I think Defoe was totally selfless and was had a genuine bond with that young lad.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Now, if we are going to have Queen’s honours then at least have some meaning to them. No automatic knighthoods for Chairmen of banks.
I actually think there should be posthumous knighthoods. It is all about Bobby Moore with the London Press, but he does deserve it. I would be even more inclined to want it for Bob Paisley.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Going off topic from football i guess but i introduced it so here goes ?.
They are clearly a self congratulatiry means to reward a small privileged group so are irrelevant .. automatically rewarding those in power irrespective of **** performance is an obvious example.
That tgey are shared among the public is nothing more than a publicity stunt to appease the masses
That said defoe’s selflessness is worth applauding
GlosMag(Quote)
In London this weekend and just realised it’s trooping the colour. Makes you very proud to be British actually. Nobody does this sort of thing better! Just wish our treacherous MP’s would have confidence in this country like the citizens do.
Stuart79(Quote)
Lewis is watching it Stu, he loves the music and colour, he loves the Edinburgh military tattoo as well.
We do, do it well, it has to be said.
kimtoon(Quote)
And we have had 260 years of it, so should be perfect by now .
kimtoon(Quote)
“VAR is just a thing that presents details of an incident.”
If only. If only.
Unfortunately it needs somebody to interpret the details.
Brisvegas(Quote)
I’ll have to pass on that one Stuart. Your politics are worse than your football knowledge 🙄
georgio(Quote)
Britains richest man has offered the Chelsea owner 2billion for the club,he’s knocked it back,better he bought toon and still have plenty change,if only
Icedog(Quote)
Why isn’t there a thumbs up icon or Like button?
Brisvegas(Quote)
Short sighted, massive potential with Toon and fraction of the price.
kimtoon(Quote)
have to settle for a smile or frown/anger emoji
kimtoon(Quote)
I guess the location of Chelsea club is more attractive for those people.
funrafa(Quote)
Ice – the fella has shown his hand now mate. If he came in for the toon Cashley would go from 400m to 2bil ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
he would too .
kimtoon(Quote)
2 billion sounds like a lot for Chelsea and it puts into perspective Ashley’s asking price for NUFC which I thought was reasonable at about 350 million. I know it is London but it shows what potential there is if Ashley makes some smart decisions at NUFC, mainly to establish us as a premier league club which begins with getting Rafa on board.
It also shows what idiots these professors are to value NUFC at 200 million. They also compared us to Sunderland who in their current state are basically worth f-all. Chelsea are the mansion on the hill, we are the semi-detached in the suburbs and Sunderland are the rundown council flat in the bad part of town currently being occupied by squatters.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I also think the Chelsea offer has raised the bar on club valuations. Whether they are worth 2 billion or not is a different matter, but there is no way Fatty will budge from his 400 million figure so we may as well forget about a buyout and move on. It won’t stop The Chronic from having Stavely articles every other day though.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Are we a feeder club for Man U now? I could understand the Kenedy loan as there was a chance we could sign him permanently. Maybe Abrahms as well. But, Rashford? There is no hope of a permanent deal so we should just accept that we are second class citizens with no hope apart from mid-table mediocrity and a begging bowl out to the Big 6 asking “please sir, can I have some more”?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Mitrovic just put a couple of £million on his transfer fee.
sidekick(Quote)
Eric – I understand where you’re coming from and largely agree, but at the same time, I would take Rashford on loan I reckon. I think all told his loan fee would probably be around £10m or maybe less – we wouldn’t buy quality like that for £10m. If he keeps us in the PL again – and let’s be right, outside the top 6, that is everyone’s aim before a ball is kicked. He helps to keep us in the league and that’s another pot of money for us to spend next season.
It’s not great, but I think it’s going to be the way if we want players of that quality – and let’s not kid ourselves, if we don’t loan him, one of our rivals would and then they would get the benefit.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sidekick – I still hope Rafa has a change of heart with Mitro like. I really think selling him is a mistake – but selling him to a newly promoted side could come back and seriously bite us on the ****.
I watched him quite a few times for Fulham and there is no questioning his work rate like. Yes he carries the risk of a red card – but then so is Shelvey and he’s stuck with him.
I want to keep Mitro and always have.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy mate, I agree with everything you said, I just don’t like it. I wish we had a bit more ambition.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Mitro hattrick and has 14 goals in his last 18 games for Serbia. I think he has 12 in his 18 (inc subs) for Fulham. Are we mad to sell the Mad Serb? Who are we going to replace him with?
I know that perhaps Mitro doesn’t fit Rafa’s style but maybe he should be a more flexible? We scored 39 goals last year. That is a relegation record under most managers.
I hate to criticize Rafa but I just don’t get what his problem is with Mitro.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Colback, I understand. He gives fouls away on the edge of our box and doesn’t really do anything going forward. Mitro though? Has he even been given a chance by Rafa? The hardest thing to find is a clinical finisher and that seems to be what he has become. His hold up play is as good as Joselu so what is going on? I have never seen a player as good as him with his chest. I just don’t get it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy
I have always wanted to keep Mitro but if Rafa is not going to play him then we have to sell , and for the best price possible.
My real concern is that Rafa would spend the fee on a defender .
Rafa made a huge mistake in loaning Mitro out last season and replacing him with Joselu .
I quite like Gayle , he is difficult to knock off the ball but he lacks a bit of height, and Joselu simply proved why he could not get a game for Stoke.
If Rafa is going to play one up front with a choice of those two we are going to have to rely on our defense to keep a record number of clean sheets next season.
sidekick(Quote)
Man Utd won’t loan Rashfoed. He is too good to go out on loan.
Shamrock(Quote)
As an illustration, and on the headline topic, the NUFC fans are pretty discerning. They were not happy when Diame was played as a number 10 because he was a bit **** at it. They let him know with some grumbling and even some boos towards the end of last year. When he was switched to defensive midfield they also let him know and any time he was subbed off he was given a rapturous reception.
With Mitro, the fans love him. I think there is a reason. Please Rafa change your mind or at least hold out for 40 million. If that is what Villa are asking for Grealish then it is not really that insane a price.
MBappe went for 160 million I think. He really does have to be the next Lionel Messi to justify that! So you can just throw a ridiculous number out there now and some club will pay it.
So 50 million for Mitro. I just put up the price by 10 million within 2 minutes. Why not, the tabloids do it all the time!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Now that I think about it, Mitro is definitely worth 50 million plus a lifetime supply of Greggs’ pies for Mike Ashley. So that’s the equivalent of 75 million.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – it’s not just down to ambition anymore though mate, it’s money at the end of it all. The top 6 clubs have lots more of it than the rest.
Sharpy17(Quote)
As I say that, I agree with Sham. I’d be shocked if Man Utd loan the lad out anyway.
As for Mitrovic. Rafa should be playing him – he is so much better than Gayle and Joselu in my opinion. He may not be worth £50m just now, but a good season in the PL and his young age could well see him getting into that price bracket I reckon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: I don’t think Mitro is worth 50 mil either, I was more referring to the tabloid hype that will now begin with the world cup starting up. They all want to one-up themselves so if he scores a couple of goals it will be 25 million in The Sun, then the next day 30 mil in The Mail, then the day after that 35 mil in The Mirror. Nothing will have changed but the journos are in a **** measuring competition – just a pity that the one that hypes the most probably has the smallest. Neil Ashton of The Sun (ex-Mail) is my guess.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
With costa rica and Switzerland and serbias group, mitro will have a chance to get 2 maybe 3 goals in them games. Other team being brazil. A would keep him 100% but if rafa wants rid his price will shoot up with a decent world cup
Trashley(Quote)
Another win for the Socceroos. It’s been a while since we won two in a row against European opposition. And another chapter in the fairy tale for our secret weapon. Mind you, it was a very tepid affair, settled by an own goal by ex-Mag Tamas Kadar, who plays for Kiev these days.
I add my agreement to the general view that Mitro should stay. But who knows what goes on behind the scenes at Newcastle (apart from Stu, that is … and the thousands of journos receiving hourly briefings by club insiders). Maybe all he needed was a spell somewhere else to get game time that Rafa, for whatever reason, decided he wouldn’t get at Newcastle.
Brisvegas(Quote)
I didn’t think Levy would do it but he doubled Kane’s salary. He just smashed their salary structure but this man is very smart. Giving Kane an extra 5 million a year is nothing now. That is 25 million over a 5 year deal and who would he get for that. Of course he has to pay for the new stadium but Champions League knockout earns you 70 million a year so he did what he had to do.
Erikson, Alli and others will now want parity but Spurs would lose them otherwise.
I must admit I am a bit shocked he is doing this as I thought he might cash in and try to buy replacements on the cheap. That’s not a Jewish slur it just has been what Spurs have done when the bigger clubs came a calling before – Bale, Modrich, Carrick, Berbatov.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
On Rashford. I have no clue if there is any truth to the story of a loan but I do think we would be the best option. We are crying out for a number nine if Rafa insists that Mitro has no future. He would be on the wing at Leicester because they have Vardy and at Everton because they just signed Tosun.
Maybe if Man U sell Martial and buy Bale then this could happen. They will then have 3 forwards who are guaranteed to start – Lukaku, Sanchez and Bale.
There is some sense to this but who knows with The Mail.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Would you rather have Rashford on a Loan or Bas Dost as a signing
PremAndUp(Quote)
Man Utd will be competing on all fronts, with loads of fixtures. Wy would they let Rashford go when a) he could arguably be an automatic starter in her side depending on form etc, b) he is so versatile and extremely useful from the bench and c) they will need quality as an option outside the starting 11 if they are going to remain competitive in Al of the competitions including Champions League?
I just don’t see it. He is not some prospect any more. He is a legit talent that can offer them a lot this season and still develop in himself.
Shamrock(Quote)
Prem: Bas Dost again 🙂 The Chronic are even making fun of themselves because they keep bringing it up – it doesn’t stop them bringing it up though. It is like that Fast and Furious franchise or Star Wars, how many times must it be repeated? How many times do you have to see a million car stunts before it gets boring or another rehash of Homer’s Odyssey before that gets boring? A long time ago for me 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sham – I agree. It’s not even like Rashford is going to seek regular footy to ensure an England spot either is it?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The fact that Rafa wont play Mitrovitch indicates that he does not want a big No 9 with crosses into the box. So what does he want?
Bas Dost is versatile and although a big man just get him the ball and he scores.
Maybe a false 9 like Moussa Marega from Porto.
If not Mitrovitch then what style does he want?
PremAndUp(Quote)
Something isn’t right about Rashford and Mourinho. It might be Rashford who wants to leave and if he does I’d take him on loan. Not many could afford him permanently.
Stuart79(Quote)
Prem: you could do a pretty good YouTube compilation of Mitro since he left and played for Fulham and Serbia. Should we send it to Rafa?
I don’t get MBemba either. I thought he looked good when he was playing at left back. He can also play center back and right back. Why wouldn’t we want a versatile backup?
I like Dummett but he has dodgy hamstrings. Yedlin is good as well but sometimes I think that Ritchies has to graft a bit too hard to cover for him and then neglects his attacking instincts.
Oh, well. Should be sorted but not until we have been linked with 824 players, with The Chronic putting up stories about us being interested in Grealish but that we wont get him.
HOW IS THAT A FCKING STORY? They may as well say that a Chicago man in his early 50’s is interested in dating Keira Knightly for all the sense it makes.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I still think Liverpool is the place to be looking for a CF – both Ings and Origi seem surplus to requirements there and I think both would be better than what we have with regular game time.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Question to those who think that Mitro is the answer. Who have we got that can provide crosses, because I can only think of Yedlin. If we are going to keep Mitro then who do we buy to supply crosses ?
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem –
https://youtu.be/sg8wsESV_9E
Here’s some of the goals Mitro scored with Fulham. They aren’t traditional crosses into the box and scored with a Mitro header. Yes he’ll need balls into the box from wide areas or balls over the top or through the middle – but any forward would.
Of those we currently have – Ritchie, Yedlin, Shelvey can provide those. We already know we need to either get Kenedy back or an improved wide man – so that wouldn’t change whether it’s Mitro or a newbie.
I’m not saying Mitro is the answer mate. But I am saying that the lad is a bloody good CF – certainly better than Joselu and in my opinion better than Gayle too.
I know these goals are in the championship and I know there’s a red card in him. But I think he can make the step up to PL and I’d still want another CF in (with Gayle and Joselu out) and Mitro would be back up to a better player coming in hopefully.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Prem – Ritchie knocks a lot of crosses in but I think there’s much more to Mitro’s game than that. He’s superb at holding the ball and dropping a good pass off. Mitro or Rondon? Definitely Mitro for me. Rafa’s point is when you play 451 he’s not the man to chase after Shelvey’s long balls and we do play 451 against all the good teams.
The other links – worth remembering that Bas Dost only scored 40 goals in 4 years in Germany. Perez rate.
See the chron is linking us with Rondon. In one article he’s called Soloman and is 28. In the other it’s Solomon and he’s 32.
I’d take Rashford on loan. As if!
georgio(Quote)