Despite another day full of fanciful transfer links, the Chronicle have confirmed that Newcastle are STILL yet to bid for a single player this summer – with Lee Ryder admitting that the club are ‘not close to making a permanent signing’ as things stand.
It’s been reported recently that Rafa has been given a budget of around £40m (plus money from player sales), however the vast majority of the summer so far (aside from Dubravka’s arrival) has seen players linked with moves away, with little genuine activity with regards to incomings.
Elsewhere, there’s now signs that our Premier League rivals are picking up the pace and getting deals done. June is usually a slow month for transfers (and the market’s slowed even further by the World Cup), but potential rivals Wolves, West Ham and Huddersfield have all been making waves in the last few days – a sign that we need to get our skates on or risk being left behind yet again.
Wolves have signed Portugal’s number one stopper Rui Patricio. He may have arrived on a ‘free’ after cancelling his contract with Sporting, but there’ll have been big competition for his signature, and to sign a player of his pedigree is a real sign of their intentions (and spending power!).
Then to West Ham. Not only have they just announced the signing of highly rated French defender Issa Diop for a club record £22m fee, they look likely to break that record again with a £25m move for Lazio star Felipe Anderson.
They now have a top manager in Pellegrini, just as we do with Rafa, but there’s only one club between the two showing some sort of ambition. It may still go badly wrong at West Ham given the unpredictable nature of their owners, but Rafa could only dream of being given the license to spend this sort of money on these sort of players. Instead we’re yet to make a single bid for a player and the words ‘bargain basement’ are being used already.
Then finally, little old Huddersfield. I say ‘little old’ but they’re also threatening to leave us behind in the market the way they/we are going. They’ve recently confirmed the signing of Dutch international defender Terence Kongolo for an alleged £18m.
Like Kenedy, he arrived on loan in January and impressed, but they appear to have acted much quicker than us in a bid to get their man. Yes Kenedy is a difficult deal to do given interest from elsewhere and the uncertainty at Stamford Bridge, but do you think we’d have signed the Brazilian by now if we’d been told ‘he’s yours for £18m’ after the final day of the season? History suggests no.
We move too slowly, we’re reluctant to pay the going rates and we’re in serious danger of not only losing ground on our Premier League rivals, but Rafa himself.
Let’s hope things get better from here on in. There’s plenty time left to do business, but if reports are true that Rafa wanted ‘four or five’ in by the start of pre-season (less than two weeks time), then it looks like being another frustrating summer for Benitez.
If Ashley really is keen to see him commit to a new long-term contract, he’s got a funny way of showing it.
That was such a stupid free kick to give away.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
It was a good game though. So much drama. I lived in Munich for a while and have German friends so I am not too upset. As long as they don’t knock us out on penalties in the quarter final.
Lucky they have a good football team as they haven’t made any good music since Beethoven’s 9th.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I know I am being boring about this but The Chronic keep writing about this RLC non-story. Even Mr Roy is telling them it isn’t happening. This is their 4th writer saying it, the 3 stooges and the intern have now all written stories about it.
It will not happen, give it up.
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-loan-target-ruben-14820489
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If it happens, I will fly to Newcastle and buy Olly 16 pints and 16 Greggs pies, give him a Hublot watch and jump off the Tyne Bridge whilst singing The Blaydon Races.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I’ve grown bored and very disappointed with the Chronicle to be honest mate.
Sharpy17(Quote)
talk of Richie King swap deal,dont think i like that
icedog(Quote)
Bloody Germans!!! Although we won’t face them until the final now… ?
Fancy a 3-0 Win today if we can put away our chances. It’s going to be roasting so we need to hit them hard early and get a couple of early goals. Kane to bag another at least and Sterling get a goal too.
I’ll be watching it in a bar in Spain. Getting my trips in until we’re barred from coming after Brexit. 😀
Come on England!
Stuart79(Quote)
There’s talk that Rashford will replace Sterling. Either way I think we will win. If Sterling is dropped, what chance do you think the Toon have of getting him on loan?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Its 3.30 in Chicago and the game starts at 7. Just woke up and I don’t think it is worth me going back to bed. Hoping we get through and we have a late weekend game that I can watch in a pub. 7 is a bit early to start boozing, even for me!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
What else should they write? Should they just leave the page blank when it comes to NUFC transfer news?
Stuart79(Quote)
Yes, it is better than making shyte up that will never happen and assuming some gullible 12 year olds will believe it. Or they can have Super Mac having his “back in my day, things were different” moments.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I have tried to avoid the Chonic but Olly and Uncle Ed keep re-posting/rehashing their stories so it is impossible.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just read in The Guardian that Sterling will start so that probably rules out a loan move to NUFC. Loftus Cheek to replace the injured Deli Alli. I honestly could not name a single Panama player so that probably means 0-0.
I am going with 4-0 to England.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, Eric, Eric. I’ve tried to explain to you before. They don’t just “make things up”. The Chronicle either wrote their own stories where they have been told something, usually from a players representative or someone in the club or they re wrote another media outlets story, but they make it known who’s story it is. In my opinion they’re perfectly within their rights to do that.
When something doesn’t happen that’s been in the paper you all say “ha, load of rubbish, told you so!” When in actual fact the paper didn’t say it would happen, they just say things like “NUFC are interested in…” and there’s nothing wrong with that if it’s from info they’ve been given. Just don’t believe hen, but you don’t have to keep going on about them FFS!
Stuart79(Quote)
ERIC go have a drink it only happens once four yrs,if we cannot thump these we should pack our bags and come back
icedog(Quote)
Sorry Stuart: The Chron have mentioned RLC every day for the last week. It isn’t happening so why are they flogging a dead horse? If they have “inside information” on the 400 players they link us with every transfer window then some of it must be from bad sources and they should be questioning these sources instead of mindlessly passing on the links. I would start by not referencing any tweets or The South Croydon Advertiser or The Daily Mail unless it is Craig Hope.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If we get to the last 16 I will go then.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well I’m prepping lunch and just thankful I have a tv in the kitchen so I can give some attention to the game 🙄 I’m not washing up, I know that much.
kimtoon(Quote)
Alright Panama. What are you famous for? A canal built by Yanks and a hat! Your boys will lose to the country of Isaac Newton, William Shakespeare, J.M.W. Turner, The Beatles and Alan Shearer.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Panama Hats come from Equador.
BTW only one of those can play football, and most of the others are dead
PremAndUp(Quote)
Winston Churchill, James Bond, Fish ‘n Chips, Love Island and The Charge of the Light Brigade (although that wasn’t very successful).
Eric Sykes(Quote)
There are 2 remaining Beatles and I have heard that Ringo does a great rabona.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
sod that get a take away 😆 😆
icedog(Quote)
I would of mate but it wouldn’t go down well.
kimtoon(Quote)
Anyway
C’mon England get this done, their national sport is baseball remember so it can’t be that hard. 😉
That’s probs hexed it then. 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
According to wikipedia the origins of the name “PANAMA” comes from an indigenous word meaning “many butterflies” or possibly from a village name that when translated into English means “abundance of fish”.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Oh and can we have a decent ref and a VAR team that knows what it’s doing please.
kimtoon(Quote)
I predict a hattrick for Sir Harold of Kane.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
No, that’s out of the question. Haven’t you been paying attention 🙂 At least Clattenberg retired, otherwise he would be getting himself another World Cup Tattoo. Seriously Kimtoon though, are these the best there are in the VAR room. There are 6 of them and they still fck up.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just because Panama isn’t in Europe and doesn’t have a high profile PL superstar playing for them doesn’t mean they can’t play football. You guys should have learnt this by now.
It may well be that England run all over them, but have you not seen how those teams with no hope have done quite well? Write Panama off at your own peril. Try and keep up with world football, guys. The PL isn’t all there is, you know.
Having said that, I’d be willing to bet that England’ll win it with little or no scary moments. Though, because of you guys and your superiority complexes, I’d love it … just love it if Panama won.
Brisvegas(Quote)
BrisV: if you couldn’t tell I was just farting around. Torres, Panama’s Captain plays for the Seattle Sounders in MLS. I have seen him a couple of times and he is a good player. Hopefully I just jinxed him.
I don’t think anybody on here is a Little Englander, but just like you we get behind our team.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It comes through in many other ways and many other times, Eric, not just today. And not just in football. It’s part of the English psyche.
Besides, I wasn’t being all that serious myself – about wanting Panama to win, that is.
Good luck with the game today. I actually really do hope England do well. They are, after all, my 2nd nation.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Now that I come to think of it, I saw the USA v Panama world cup qualifier on telly last year. I think the US won 4 or 5 nil or something. I can’t remember any of the game, though.
I saw most of the CONCACAF qualifiers, mainly highlights, through ESPN. Panama never impressed me. I was very surprised they qualified.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Panama’s great hope is Perez, aged 37. Played for 18 different teams in 10 countries. Has a very good goal record but he might have slowed down a bit. I would like him to score as long as England are 5 up at the time.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Changed my prediction. 4-0
Stuart79(Quote)
I watched a few of those games and it was a bit of a joke group that the USA still failed to qualify from. I watched them against Trinidad and Tobago I think it was, and the pitch was like a cows field, worse than a Sunday League pitch in England.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It’ll be an interesting experience to see how the Poms cope with the heat. And it’ll be interesting to see how you guys respond to it. There’ll be no helter skelter football of the PL in this game.
I’m quite impressed by Southgate. I think he shows a great grasp of the game by talking about how to play in the heat. Maybe you guys are learning after all 😉
Brisvegas(Quote)
Panama are ranked 55 in the world. For the sake of comparison, Scotland are 42 and the Aussies are 36. Burkina Faso are 52 and I bet most of us wouldn’t even know where that is 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Not confident or arrogant enough to go for 7-0, Stu?
Brisvegas(Quote)
Brisvegas(Quote)
He elbowed him in the head. VAR.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
There really isn’t much point of having VAR when England are playing is there…?
Stuart79(Quote)
I knew roughly where it is. I knew it bordered Ivory Coast but since I have never been to Africa (is Egypt Africa, been there?) it is not as familiar a map as Europe or The Americas.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Get in. Set piece masters.
Shamrock(Quote)
Get in!!!
These are bunch of hearing bastards too!
Stuart79(Quote)
The bloody tossers with trumpets are there. I wish they would stay home. They spoil all crowd spontaneity. If I hear The Great Escape one more time…
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sheareresque penalty that
Shamrock(Quote)
Great penalty from Sir Harold. These tw@ts are trying to intimidate us.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Cheating little ***** this lot!
Shamrock(Quote)
Lots of people saying Belgiums beating of Tunisia put our performance in perspective. Wonder if they’re saying the same about this…
Stuart79(Quote)
Not yet Stu. We are 2 up. Belgium beat them by 3. Looking good so far though. We seem to be the set piece masters of this tournament so far, which is a good sign because thise small percentages are going to matter in the big games.
Shamrock(Quote)
It’s actually been a pretty dire performance so far from England. Sign of a good team?
Stuart79(Quote)
Belgium/Panama was 0-0 at half time.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sham, just making the point. People all over Twitter were saying this after Belgium were 2-0 up. It’s as if people are actively trying to dampen England enthusiasm
Stuart79(Quote)
Probably a good thing.
And what a goal that was!
Shamrock(Quote)
Goal of the tournament so far.
Stuart79(Quote)
Now we have goals tbeoughoutvthe team, not just through Kane. Looking like we may well go far this year.
Cant wait to see we go against Belgium.
Important to keep a clean sheet now and show we can keep our discipline defensively.
Shamrock(Quote)
What a great finish.
Fantastic pen from Kane too.
Sharpy17(Quote)
**** me. Set piece specialists.
Shamrock(Quote)
I love that Panama are doing everything to get under our skin, yet we are just getting on with it.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stones 2, Messi 0.
Shamrock(Quote)
My 4-0 prediction might be low. Stone for golden boot ?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Love that!! Proper team goal that one.
Sharpy17(Quote)
We have Ian Wright on the panel here. Not sure if he will be able to talk he will be so happy.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I have to go to work at 14:20 ?
Shamrock(Quote)
Sru I think we can say we are showing Belgium how it is done now!
Shamrock(Quote)
Panama can’t cope with the movement. They haven’t got a clue in defence.
Some great goals, excellent penalties. Maybe 7-0 is a reasonable expectation, maybe go for double figures 😆
I’m quite enjoying this version of an English team. Reminds me of German teams from 30-40 years ago.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Guess where they just showed for crowd reaction?
Times Square Necastle Upon Tyne. It was sunny. Where is that?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And lucky with VAR as well
Brisvegas(Quote)
The Ref called the penalties so VAR had nothing to do with it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I know it’s only Panama, but in the past we would have pissed aroundagainst an opponent like this. Taking extra passes and playing possession football and making hard work of it – 1 or 2-0 win.
Really enjoy watching this group of players & this formation.
Sharpy17(Quote)
To overturn a penalty VAR has to see a clear and obvious mistake by the Ref. Neither was even referred back to the Ref so VAR had no impact on the decisions.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Will Kane claim that goal 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Told you Sir Harold of Kane would get a Hattrick !!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Panama have the happiest fans I have ever seen for a team 6-1 down 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)