Summer transfer windows under Mike Ashley for Newcastle fans are always a torturous process. Will he invest even the bare minimum? Will Charnley dither again in securing targets? And now we have Rafa, will he stay if it looks like we still aren’t ‘doing things right’?
It may be a bit early and it could also be tension from the past, as the window is not really in full swing yet, but I worry already the warning signs are there that Newcastle will make the same mistakes this summer as they did last.
What new and familiar factors is Rafa working against to get what he needs this summer?
World Cup year – holds up deals?
We have he added pressure of it being the World Cup, which is great as a football fan but transfer wise, it unquestionably holds deals up. The top players will of course be playing at the tournament and often banned from National coaches from discussing deals with clubs until their national stint is over. Although Newcastle won’t be in for the likes of Griezmann – it sometimes takes the big deals like this to start and then filter down the rest of the market.
We also may be trying to sign players who play for some of the smaller World Cup participants and like us with Mitrovic, clubs rightly won’t sell until after the tournament in case they do well and suddenly see their value rocket.
Window set to shut earlier – more need for early business
Complicating this further, Premier League clubs voted in favour of shortening the summer transfer window – meaning the window will now shut early August, a few days before the new season kicks off. It means two weeks less of player trading and is good in many respects as it means starting with a settled squad. However, add the World Cup in the mix and Newcastle need to do business and quickly. Ashley won’t spend big money as we know, but that’s more reason to act fast on the targets we’ve been identifying for goodness knows how long. We can’t afford to keep standing still yet you get the feeling he constantly ignores Rafa’s wishes.
Feels like we’re having to sell before we buy…
Already the Ashley machine seems to pushing out our high wage bill and it seems shifting the likes of Mbemba, Sels and Mitrovic is needed before we can bring fresh faces in. This is frustrating.
With us having the full effects of TV money now after a full year back in the top flight, cash flow should not be holding Rafa back. We need to get rid of deadwood, that is clear – but it should not be driving our ability to recruit as much as it appears to be.
Slow to secure targets? (again)
Rafa always states he wants business done early, a clear warning after the slow antics of Charnley and co. that cost us some top targets last summer (Abraham and Cabellero by all accounts). Have we learnt from those mistakes? I’m not sure sure – especially after claims that Ashley won’t back Rafa until he agrees to a new deal, coupled with the fact Benitez won’t entertain any new contract until Ashley proves he’ll show ambition this summer. So, another impasse where we’re wasting time and frustrating Rafa?
In amongst all this, it is reported Benitez wants a minimum of four signings tied up quickly to get some real momentum this summer – and knowing the Ashley/Charnley combination, this seems so unlikely.
With Spain sacking their manager today, another clear threat has resented itself to us and the very real chance Rafa will leave and say enough is enough.
Let’s hope our owner finally learns from his mistakes and secures the long term of the biggest asset we have.
£20M For Mitro ! too cheap
kimtoon(Quote)
3.0 !
kimtoon(Quote)
Y initial thought was 3-0 and I changed it to 2… oh dear.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
So that’s 1 of Chris Waugh’s “8 to watch” as potential NUFC signings already out of our league. I think he must have been taking a page out of Ryders book because Golovin was being tracked by Juve, Arsenal and Man U before the WC. Also said to watch Loftus Cheek and Rashford. I didn’t look closely at the other 5, it was those 3 that sounded so idiotic that I had to mention them and wonder how the hell he can call himself a sports journalist when he writes such shyte.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We can change our minds if he scores a WC hattrick. That’s just a marker, but we should have said “no less than 20 million”.
Putin is getting the legitimacy he craves.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Merino looked OK but was judged as much on potential as performances by NUFC fans. Didn’t feature much after his bad back. I am on the fence on this one but it would be nice to have a sell on clause if he does go.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So, it is being reported that Merino is happy with contract offers from Sociedad and Betis. Isn’t that tapping up? How can they be talking about contracts unless NUFC have given them permission to do so? I am sure that Southampton took Liverpool to the FA for doing this with Van Djik.
It is either rubbish, underhand Agent shyte or NUFC have given permission.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Real Madrid are totally taking the ****. They are set to “reveal” their new manager tonight on the eve of the Spain/Portugal clash. They have absolutely no class.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
hes now invited Kim Jong -un to WC
icedog(Quote)
I just don’t believe this. Ryder has repeated again TODAY that we may be able to get Loftus Cheek on loan. What planet are these Chronic writers on? He is now a full England international in an area where Chelsea spent 90 million quid on flops – Bakayoko, Drinkwater and Barkley. He is 22 and went to Palace to see if he is PL quality and PL ready – he is. He will either get his chance or be sold for 30 million plus. Please get this through your heads you useless, illogical Chronic fools.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ryder also said we could get Kenedy on loan. I believe there is a VERY slight chance of this but it would be more of an accounting measure. We could get him for a loan fee with a mandatory buy trigger after a certain number of games played. We would have to pay a loan fee but we wouldn’t pay the full 20 mil up front. We know Fatty likes to pay in cash! It would be essentially the same as buying in installments but the money wouldn’t immediately go out of the coffers. Sort of accounting sleight of hand to satisfy Fatman.
That’s the only way I can see us getting Kenedy on “loan” which is the other deal the Chronic love to mention.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It is sort of a loan but not a loan. It is what we did with Merino and Dortmund and also what we did with Cabella and Thauvin and Marseilles. The thresholds were very low to trigger the buy clause but it pushed the payments down the road. That could be appealing given the way the PL TV payments are paid in tranches during the season and the accounts state that we have a surplus of money due on past sales/buys.
I know this accounting stuff is boring but this seems to hold NUFC up and they are paralysed by the headline numbers allowing other clubs to get our top targets. So we end up with Joselu.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Why would Palace sell us Townsend? If anything his value has gone up since we sold him. I saw reports at the tail end of last year that they valued him at 25 million so he is hardly a “cheaper alternative” to Kenedy. They will also probably get bids for Zaha.
I know this is only passing on a story from a crappy South London paper but at 15 million it is nonsense and needs some editorial comment. He is only 26.
When we got Andros from Spurs for 12 million he was surplus to requirements there and hardly played. Now he is established as a very good player in the PL.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The Chronic say it is their “DUTY” to pass on stories from other sources. I would suggest it is also their duty to do some critical thinking about these reports as well as some of their colleagues’ assertions and assumptions and to point out that some of it is nonsense.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sorry to bang on about this but this is the “NEWS”. These are the players the local press are linking us with with virtually no explanation. The casual reader might actually think we have a chance at some of these players.
I don’t even mind them mentioning that Rafa’s budget will not be top 6 every 2 or 3 days because not everybody picks up the paper every day. It does get a bit tedious though.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Rant over. Until the next mind-blowingly stupid thing they say or pass on without critical comment.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I also see that an excuse is being made that the World Cup will be holding up deals. NOT FOR US. Half the teams will be coming home in about 10 days and most of our business would be there and the players that did not go. We will not be looking at players in the French or Spanish squads or England squad for that matter.
To say that we only have 3 weeks after the World Cup ends to shop, as Andrew Musgrove said, is complete nonsense.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I know they all go on holiday, but their Agents don’t. I think Pogba had his medical done for Man U in Miami. This is not like the old days. There are cell phones, video conferencing and elite sporting medical facilities in all developed countries. The only thing left over is that the clubs have to confirm transfers by fax. Who even has a fax?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/rafa-benitez-learns-could-shop-14783650.amp?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&__twitter_impression=true
Why should he put up with this and why should supporters invest in tickets ect when the club continue to be the poor man of the PL?
Stuart79(Quote)
Not news Stuart. A rehash of the same story they have had up for at least 3 weeks. And it is Ryder, who knows nothing. It doesn’t even say anything except we will not compete at the top end of the market and Rafa will have limied funds that he will have to supplement from sales. No **** Sherlock.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Saying that, it is a Mexican Standoff. Where seemingly Rafa will not commit without funds and Fatty won’t provide funds unless Rafa commits. They will both have to come to some compromise or we will all lose.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ok, Eric. Let’s see where we end up on 9th August. I think it will be yet another fudge. We will have another unhappy manager with our best players unhappy and rightly so. They’re wasting their careers up here.
What are you expecting?
Stuart79(Quote)
ive stopped reading anything Ryder writes,as soon as i see his name at the top of the storey i bin it,and to hear him talk i just cringe,how the hell he keeps his job defeats me 😈 😈
icedog(Quote)
Ice, whether you like him or not, if he continued to write things without any knowledge he would not have a job. Maybe it’s the stuff he rights that you don’t like but you can’t blame him if it turns out to be correct. We had exactly the same stories last summer and guess what? He turned out right. Funny that…
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart: I am expecting 3 starters:
1. Kenedy or another winger. It could be Townsend but it would not be for 15 million like The Chronic say. 20 Million or above.
2. A striker paid for with Mitro money. Either Number 10 or 9.
3. A centre half as cover but also because Rafa wants the ability to play 3 at the back.
After that it would be tinkering around at the edges like it was last year.
I think this would require at least 30 million in addition to sales so it might be wishful thinking on my part. We did spend about 20 million net last year so with the PL payments it is doable – if Fatty wants to.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Formulaic, repetitive, never any insight, written as if using Alan Oliver’s prose template of 30 years ago…
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: also, it didn’t need Ryder to tell us that. Just about everybody was saying it. And it is still that way now. The attitude is – I will believe it when I see it. We all remember Keegan’s words that we would never go anywhere with Fatty in charge.
I think my hopes of what will happen in the transfer market are realistic but I am also not holding my breath.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart, mate. You are seriously giving Ryder credit for saying the same thing last year that everybody else was saying except the naïve kids in the schoolyard. And not pulling him up on the other **** he writes every day 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If it wasn’t for the WC, now is about the time you would see Uncle Ed doing his transfer spend calculations, so I will do it for him. This assumes that Mitro has a good WC which is likely given his form and Serbia’s group:
Mitro 25 million
MBamba 8 million
Selz 2 Million
Darlow 5 million
Colback 2 Million
Savait 2 million
So, that is 44 million.
It could be topped up by another 15 if Rafa decides to sell Gayle or Merino, but he would have to find better replacements so that sort of doesn’t count.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
What everyone seems to be forgetting is aside from Kenedy this is the club who beat ManU, Arsenal and Chelsea in 2018. Tough start? No signings? We’ll see.
georgio(Quote)
It’s almost like Kenedy played no part in our improvement since January…
And Eric, you’re transfer evaluation above is so mad that I don’t even know where to start…
Stuart79(Quote)
Why? In think we got an offer from Boro last year of 5 mil for Darlow. Anderlecht are only 500k off Selz’ valuation. Sissoko’s valuation doubled after a good Euro so 25 mil for Mitro is not unfeasible. They are close to an 8 mil deal on MBemba.
Are you questioning the 4 mil combined for Saivet and Colback. Ok then, forget that, and it is 40 mil.
Any of the relegated teams would pay 12-15 mil for Gayle and Morino seems to be in that bracket as well.
Tell me where I went wrong.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I reckon we could get 20 million from Palace or Fulham tomorrow for Mitro. See what happens in the World Cup and another 5 is not unreasonable. You haven’t been paying attention Stuart. Van Djik started at 45 million when Liverpool decided they really wanted him they paid 75. Sigurrdson was 25-30 and went for 45. And they aren’t even strikers. The transfer market is insane.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
got to wonder about all these storeys re transfer money for Rafa how the hell is he putting up with it if true???,if Rafa walks we are in big trouble
icedog(Quote)
I’d like to know who number 49 is on the list of 50 strikers… I need something to get excited about after the World Cup ends. We can swoop for the colossus player on loan who scored 5 goals in the last 5 seasons…
????
Dubai Toon(Quote)
It might be Shola…. ?
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Dubai – I’d rather have Shola back than see Joselu again.
georgio(Quote)
NOT a new thread, but this is quite telling and seems part of Ashley’s devious/misleading approach…
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2018/06/15/reporter-reveals-what-hes-been-told-on-nufcs-transfer-budget-good-news-but-theres-a-twist/
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Me too…
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Olly: The Fatman already pulled that trick with Rafa last year so I am sure he is wise to it now.
I would definitely agree that they will include Agent fees in the transfer budget but if wages are offset against outgoing wages then that shouldn’t be a factor. I think that’s why they are so intent on shifting fringe players and their wages off the books.
Unless they are idiots, they should set a wage number like 100 million, which is about 60% of turnover and tell Rafa that he has to factor in who he buys and sells to fit this number.
Make it sort of like a wage cap. It really is pretty simple as long as all parties know the rules.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Also Olly: I am sure Luke Edwards is spelling this out for people who do not follow NUFC closely. Anybody that does, knows that this was Rafa’s main problem with what he was told last year. Fool me once… etc.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Since Rafa is pretty much in charge of everything football, all Ashley has left are stupid accounting tricks. There is no Dennis Wise, Tony Jimenez, Derek Laimbastard or Joe Kinnear to meddle now. The only obstacle left is to give Rafa a real budget and let him spend it how he wants with no accounting tricks.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well for a start you’re assuming Rafa gets the money. He won’t, he will get it in instalments. I’m also not convinced we will spend more on a striker than we receive for Mitro. History tells you we won’t.
Stuart79(Quote)
I never assumed Rafa would get all of the money or that we would spend more on a striker than we receive for Mitro.
We have had the discussion a few times that it is crazy to spend cash and receive installments so you know I am on the same page as you with that.
In fact, that is the other accounting game that Ashley can play. I was going to explain that but I didn’t want to turn this into an accounting blog.
What I was trying to do was figure realistically what would be available IF Ashley didn’t play accounting games. It is a big IF, I agree.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The problem is Eric that Jabba will only allow him to spend what’s physically in the bank. That’s a massive draw back when it comes to timing of purchases as we’re waiting for the cash from Sky to go in mid July (although I’m still struggling to understand where the £15m has gone that we bid for Jorgenson in January) and when we pay it all up front and receive in instalments. His rationale is so we can get a cheaper purchase price but when it restricts your overall transfer policy it doesn’t make sense. In fact his entire transfer policy has not only cost him millions and millions in relegations it’s also cost us 10’s of millions in players sales.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart: the last accounts did show that they were paying in installments for some players. I do agree that it seems that Ashley will not free up money until it is physically received by NUFC which doesn’t make much sense if you know it is guaranteed by the PL or a club like Liverpool and Spurs and is due in a due weeks.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Don’t expect anything re transfers and you won’t be disappointed. We’ve had 11 years of ***** under the fatman on the transfer front apart from when he inexplicably gave a stash to Steve.
History tells us this owner penny pinches and treats the club like SD, I’m resigned to total inaction in the early window and scraps at the end. I won’t be shocked just sad that it continues and he still owns us, it’s a living nightmare.
kimtoon(Quote)
great save from Suarez shot that mind
kimtoon(Quote)
Sign him up. We need another goalkeeper. Olly just linked us with another from Sociedad.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I don’t know how Ashley doesn’t understand how we are screwed if Rafa leaves. He has handed all of the football decisions over to him, and:
* there isn’t a board of directors
* there isn’t a Chairman
* the MD (Charnley) gets paid 1/40th of Rafa’s wage
* Rafa does most of the scouting
* they are Rafa’s coaches
* Ashley has no interest in the football side of NUFC
It really is RafaNUFC. The club is stripped bare if he leaves.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This game has been awful. Fair play to Egypt, they have been really disciplined in their performance, but Uraguay have been so slow in their build up play and so wasteful with their passing.
Sharpy17(Quote)
he looks two stone overweight to me,what a **** game i was bored to tears
icedog(Quote)
toon bid 20 mil for townsend
icedog(Quote)
I would take either Andros or Kenedy at 20 million. Chronic were suggesting we could get Townsend back at 15. That ship sailed you morons. Same as the Loftus Cheek ship and the Rashford gangway that we never had even a foot on anyway.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice: that was tongue in cheek, we have plenty of goalies and need rid of a couple now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
sorry Eric it was Suarez i was on about
icedog(Quote)
Do you believe it. I don’t.
funrafa(Quote)
The only thing wrong with the Townsend story is the the figure! Now this is the definition of click bait
Stuart79(Quote)
It’s certainly the WC for last minute goals so far…
Stuart79(Quote)
Well that was a great OG. Very well taken. Bloody awful game though!
Shamrock(Quote)
fell asleep mate, says it all 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Why pay £20m for a player you already sold, makes no sense to me. Also would rather that type of cash went on a forward tbh.
I don’t actually believe this story.
kimtoon(Quote)
I don’t either.
Looking forward to Christiano against Ramos!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And in other NO-****-SHERLOCK news – we should wait for the group stages of the WC to end until we decide the fate of Mitro.
No downside…
Big upside.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Agree with Stu that I don’t believe it because of the 20m. I don’t believe MA would allow to bid Townsend for 20m. Actually I don’t believe MA would allow to bid any one for 20m.
funrafa(Quote)
Brilliant game this so far
1.1
kimtoon(Quote)
thrilling stuff, proper football
kimtoon(Quote)
Yeah thats the difference between elite sides and conference standars sides I suppose!
Shamrock(Quote)
that man Ronaldo again
2.1
kimtoon(Quote)
Wtf De Gea?!
Shamrock(Quote)
costa and Ronaldo trying to out do one another
2.2
kimtoon(Quote)
What a game
3.2 to spain
great goal too
kimtoon(Quote)
That was an absolutely peefect strike.
Shamrock(Quote)
Tell you what Sham, the final has some living up to do to match this game.
kimtoon(Quote)
Wouldn’t fancy England against either of these
kimtoon(Quote)