Football fans across the country are basking in the heat wave and England remarkably making the World Cup semi finals. It is our best performance in the tournament since 1990 and with the likes of Brazil and Germany already sent home, we have a real chance.
Back in Newcastle, Rafa has quietly started pre-season training as we already gear up for the 18/19 campaign. With transfers still delayed, as usual, focus turns towards our incredibly difficult start. Playing four of the top six in our first five games is a nightmare run and already has Newcastle worried we could be near the bottom of the table from the outset this season – unless significant transfer progress is made by the time the season kicks off.
However, England’s success can certainly benefit Newcastle in our season opener at SJP against Spurs.
Kane, Alli, Trippier, Rose and Dier may all not feature as Pochettino must decide if they need a rest after no break all summer due to our success. As Spurs are blessed with many top players, the same can be said of other semi finalists as this will also apply to Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Dembele and Llloris .
Even the likes of Sanchez, Eriksen and Son will also return to pre-season later than usual after competing in this summer’s World Cup – and the latter has apparently picked up an injury which may rule him out of our opening day encounter.
It could work either way, but England's run to the #WorldCup SF's could help us for our opening day clash with Spurs.
Kane/Alli/Trippier/Dier/Rose all part of England's squad. Even if they return on a high, they'll have had a VERY long summer. Belgian Spurs players too..#nufc
— Black&WhiteBarmy (@BlackWhiteBarmy) July 8, 2018
Newcastle on the other hand only had Mitrovic in Russia who in all honestly is very unlikely to be still at the club never mind in our XI come August. We should be fresh and raring to go whereas Spurs might just be suffering from a World Cup hangover.
A bonus three points on opening day would be a big boost for us and take some pressure off our horrendous start.
Here’s hoping Newcastle can continue the feel good factors this summer.
Hahaha! Even West Ham are trying to take our players. Bid £20-£25m for Lascelles… Comes to something when the loony bin think they slate a better option…
Stuart79(Quote)
Or you can look at it like Chelsea have already been burned on Salah, De Bruyne, Lukaku and want to keep their options open THIS TIME.
You would have to say they have made some of the best buys and worst sales in the last few years so why repeat the pattern?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, he only has one more year left on his contract after this.
Stuart79(Quote)
If he only has one year left his fee will be less than when he has two years left, and we can use the cash now where it is needed.
PremAndUp(Quote)
You sure? Then Chelsea are being idiots unless they tie him down to a new contract. Why would they loan us a player who only has 1 year left on his deal? Makes no sense.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
That makes no sense. You must be wrong (although you will never admit it).
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Some of these South American player deals are really dodgy with Agents getting massive kickbacks. Look at the Tevez and Mascherano deal to West Ham. If Kenedy only has a year on his contract, which I don’t believe, there is something funny going on if we can get him on a year loan.
I will repeat myself. It makes no sense.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric It’s one year after he completes a loan to us. Two years now
PremAndUp(Quote)
Contract until 2010
PremAndUp(Quote)
Sorry Stuart: I didn’t quite get what you were saying. You are saying he has 2 years left on his Chelsea contract and not one more year left. So, Chelsea have 2 years to offer him a new deal.
That makes more sense.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Duh 2020
PremAndUp(Quote)
20! I just misunderstood what Stuart was saying. I thought he meant 1 more year from now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Maybe the player himself only wants a year loan ? Maybe he wants to see if Rafa stays on, just a thought.
Kimtoon(Quote)
I shouldn’t be surprised though as some of these deals make no sense. Hulk and Tevez to China? Rooney to MLS? So having some corrupt Agent in charge of Kenedy would not be a surprise.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Actually, I think Chelsea are still idiots to give us a 1 year loan deal on a player that only has 2 years left on his contract unless they are negotiating a new deal.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If he has a blinding season it won’t matter whether he’s got one or two years left of his contract he will be worth a lot of money. More than if we bought him now as we would have to spend a fortune to get someone who would perform as well.
Stuart79(Quote)
If he has a blinding season he can see out the rest of his contract and sign for a free. He will be worth less in 12 months time than he does now.
PremAndUp(Quote)
World shattering news: Steven Taylor signs for Wellington Phoenix.
“As soon as I was aware of the interest, I knew it was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up,” Taylor said.
“I know that I am joining an exciting project under Mark (Rudan – the coach) as well as playing in one of the best leagues in the world in the A-League.”
Brisvegas(Quote)
Is that walking football Bris?
PremAndUp(Quote)
Walking football is pretty good. I’ve been playing it for a couple of years now. Good exercise for a 65 year old with dodgy knees.
But I suppose you were doing the usual pommy thing (Yawn). Yes, the A-league is more leisurely than the EPL. When you play in 30 degrees C and 70% humidity each week that isn’t surprising though is it.
Brisvegas(Quote)
I would not sell Lascelles for anything less than £60m. First off he is a solid, goal scoring home grown defender and secondly he is vital to the leadership and team spirit of the squad. You cant really replace that very easily.
Shamrock(Quote)
Soz mate, I was having a dig at Steven not the A league. I have a nephew who played for Adelaide a couple of years back as a youngster. He had played for Bury as a teenager but they hadn’t taken him up so having relatives in Adelaide he thjought he would try his luck there. Very talented, everybody said he looked and played like owen Hargreaves, but the problem was stamina. He was a good 70min player.
PremAndUp(Quote)
I realise you were having a go at Taylor, Prem, but the reflected comment – whether meant or not – is what resonates. But we’ve been here before, so let’s forget it.
I reckon Taylor will find it hard going in the A-league. He might get a game in our walking football team, though. Walking football is great fun. I’m the third youngest person in the team – the youngest is 14 years old, great granddaughter of the oldest guy, who is 78. We have a great time.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Can’t think nufc have upper hand wrt Kennedy.
cfc have the power here they own ‘the asset’ and can afford to wait to see if he develops into something they want to persist with or move on. Not sure what nufc can do to sway that whatever your thoughts are on nufc transfer dealings.
Why would cfc restrict their options now?
GlosMag(Quote)
Others are saying there is a buy clause in the contract.
georgio(Quote)
I dont really care what deal we are gwtting Kennedy on. He is a good player that we will have had for a year and a half. Usually we lose good players anyway after that length of time. For now, that position is covered well and we can focus on putting money into the numerous other positions we need to improve.
Shamrock(Quote)
Im backing Sterling to score against Croatia. 2-1 England.
Shamrock(Quote)
Yep, lad deserves a goal, played well Saturday .
kimtoon(Quote)
If true, that we can get Townsend for 17 million, then why not as we can probably get close to that for Ritchie. I don’t think there is much between them but it seems like we have been linked with Townsend so often that Rafa must prefer him. As for the valuation, I would go with Sky as they seem to have the best connections. I have seen various reports saying 15, 17, 20, 25 and 27 million so it is sort of like transfer bingo.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I hope that Sterling scores too. He has played really well without getting any luck, sort of the England team Dwight Gayle. If it is not working after 70 minutes, take off the little lad who can dribble and replace him with the big lad who can dribble – Ruben Loftus Cheek.
When the loan for Kenedy is completed can we also end this RLC ****?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And after the Kenedy loan deal is done I will gloat and say that I feel completely vindicated that I trashed The Chronic story stating we should be watching RLC, Golivin and Rashford at the WC as possible players NUFC could sign. I am OK with a bit of clickbaiting now because that is a necessary evil and how they make their money. But, coming out with such obvious shyte just makes them look stupid and makes you question everything they say.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Since we cannot loan more than 1 player from any other Premiership team, the Kenedy loN means no other loans from CFC… we can buy of course. but they will not sell RLC… there was a story that we will get another player from Chelsea though.. maybe buying Batshuayi? ……. ????
Dubai Toon(Quote)
I mean, if a dealer sells you a used car and the engine falls out the next day are you really going to go back there for the next car? That’s the way I feel about The Chronicle at the moment.
I know the transfer window is silly season, but does it really have to be STUPID season, repeating every piece of **** in the Sun, Mirror, Mail, South London Gazette and Twitter?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If this wasn’t Ashley, I would say that we have done very good business for Dubravka, Kenedy and Ki for next to nothing, allowing us to make a big splash for a striker and attacking midfielder. But it is Ashley, so I still fear another Joselu although theoretically we should have about 80 million in the kitty.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
There’s Abraham, Zouma and Drinkwater available at Chelsea.
georgio(Quote)
The link to Bruno Fernandes is also gathering pace but it would be at least £20m 😳
georgio(Quote)
Batshuayi would be a stretch. He cost Chelsea 33 million and had 7 in 10 at Dortmund on loan. Would be nice though and hasn’t been reported in The Chronic yet so there could be some truth to it. Lee will tell us, via twitter, as Batshuayi is checking into the RVI for his medical. He must have some kid stationed outside the RVI and Benton paying them 2 quid an hour to tweet him on their summer holiday.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I don’t know if that was tongue in cheek mate, but Fernandez just signed a new 5 year deal today.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Downie and Ryder having a verbel battle on twitter over a bid for club captain Ryder saying there has been no bid Downie saying oh yes there was so they are going back and forth now 😆 😆 😆
icedog(Quote)
Ryder saying hes trying to unsettle the captain
icedog(Quote)
Wouldn’t surprise me mate, hate Sky, necessary evil if you wanna watch live games sadly.
kimtoon(Quote)
Would be fuming if we let Lascelles go mind, especially to WH.
kimtoon(Quote)
no your not mate Bein sport shows every single game
icedog(Quote)
Don’t think I have that mate
kimtoon(Quote)
no now Kim i told you how to get it,you have bad memory lol
icedog(Quote)
you have to put up with Keys and Gray like 🙁 🙁
icedog(Quote)
I think it would take bids in excess of £50m for NUFC to even consider selling Lascelles like – that coupled with the fact that at the moment, Lascelles loves playing for and captaining us means I’m confident he’s going nowhere.
However, if we don’t improve and ultimately loose Rafa – things could be very different come next summer.
Sharpy17(Quote)
sod that
kimtoon(Quote)
A Chelsea player we could probably get is Marco van Ginkel – he’s still only 25 and has never been given a chance at Chelsea. He was on loan at PSV last season – played 35 games and got 16 goals with 4 assists.
He’s a player who could play midfield or #10.
Sharpy17(Quote)
And John Cross who always does his skype reports from a computer pointing straight up his nose. They give him like 15 minutes and he always spends the first 10 talking about Arsenal. There are 19 other teams in the PL “Crossey”.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If we had even half a chance of getting Batshuayi, I’d pay whatever it took.
But I think more our price range would be Abraham – and I’d probably take him ahead of Rondon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
There seems to be a pattern now at the papers:
1. there is a good chance that we will sign a player that has been at the club before. But there will be wild speculation of if it will be a loan or 10 quid or 30 million quid.
2. we will sign players that the papers had no idea we were even considering and then Ryder will say he is having a medical, after never mentioning him before.
3. we will be linked with some random player for 20 million and then a day later he will be transferred to Dortmund or Monchenglabach or sign a new 5 year contract.
Do they just put up a list of players names on a wall and throw darts at them and make up a story?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Tammy Abraham does not excite me. Reckon he would be an expensive flop, much like Berahino.
Shamrock(Quote)
So, who will England face in the WC Final?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We could be trying to put the Swansea relegation strugglers back together with Ki, Shelvey and Abraham. Add in an Ayew of 2 and we would be set – FOR RELEGATION 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sham – I know what you mean – I wouldn’t get rid of Mitrovic to bring Abraham in – but Rafa wants a replacement and Abraham was someone he wanted last season.
Of the realistic option, who would your preferred choice be?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ronaldo to Juve. Who saw that one coming None of the Journos anyway? It means Hazard or Neymar to Madrid and Gareth staying.
I have watched a lot of Real Madrid games and there was something there between Gareth and Ronaldo. Christiano would be the last one to congratulate Bale when he scored – every time, last and begrudgingly.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – both are very good – beat either in the final and we’d have earned it – as in, we would have had to beat a top side.
Mbappe looks so dangerous for France, but I think Belgium have more dangerous players I think.
Should be a good game this one.
Sharpy17(Quote)
To be honest mate, I dont know a lot of footy players any more. There are not many from the lower half of the PL that I would take – because they are all much of a muchness conpared to what we already have. I have seen Abraham at PL level though and I dont think he has what it takes. And I know he would be expensive because he is English. No thanks. Next!
I dont think at this stage that there is any point in signing a striker unless it is a proper goal getter. And that will cost, so Ashley – pull your finger out!
Otherwise whether it be Gayle, Abraham or Mitro – we will be stuck in lower mid table to relegation. I agree with Eric too that we need an attacking midfielder. The defense will do for now. It os sharp teeth qlwe have been missing. Concentrate on that.
Shamrock(Quote)
I have to put up this picture of Duchamps again. For you younger bloggers it is his brother – Albert Steptoe.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=ixANmmo%2f&id=574B803268E77E64F03BD396982F8F75988100F8&thid=OIP.ixANmmo_NBjFG04lcPuCWgHaFj&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fstephenjacks58.files.wordpress.com%2f2014%2f09%2f7.jpg&exph=576&expw=768&q=albert+steptoe&simid=607999691732092216&selectedIndex=0&ajaxhist=0
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ive watched every Belgium game this WC and Nacer Chandli has had a good game on all – and has started well as a RWB tonight – not his position at all. Was he injured last season or did Pardew just not play him at WBA?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Must admit don’t have live footy package as will never have sky. Managed to avoid bein while based in middle East but i guess they have iPlayer like facility so I can avoid the keys / Gray nightmare ?
GlosMag(Quote)
Sham – I wish we knew a bit more about Danny Ings fitness coz he’d be my preferred choice but there is a massive question mark over the effect his injuries have had on him.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I hate players feigning fouls but having just watched Pogba try to stay on his feet as his run was blocked right in front of ref you can understand why they try it on.
GlosMag(Quote)
And there goes Pogba diving ? .. So obvious it was gonna happen
GlosMag(Quote)
Belgium had upper hand to start and while he wasn’t getting the ball, Lukaku was moving the French around so well. Last ten have seen France come to the fore and so Lukaku dropping deeper .. he Needs to stay on defenders shoulders
I now understand all the fuss about Kante.. been instrumental for france
GlosMag(Quote)
Belgium do look like they go through periods of huge self doubt. France running rings round them here after they conceded.
Stuart79(Quote)
Giroud has went the whole WC without having a shot on target yet – not a single shot on target.
How do you manage that in a team like France with all that creativity?!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well well. Good performance France.
If we reach the final, we cannot lose to the French ffs!
Shamrock(Quote)
Nowt to be scared off
Stuart79(Quote)
Sharpy – the French have created almost nothing this World Cup. They’ve been pretty reserved imo.
Stuart79(Quote)
So… France it is… we need to find a way to keep M’bappe Out the match… and there is that small matter of Croatia too.. ?
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Stu – they had 19 shots in tonight’s game alone mate – they create, they just don’t hit the target often.
France played well tonight, but I agree, they would have been my choice of the 2 – Belgium scared me more. But Mbappe is tremendous and Griezmann is always a threat.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Belgium classic group of individuals less than the sum of their parts. Thats in no small way down to having a limited manager like Martinez
France worthy of their win and much more of a team.
Kudos to Deschamps for pulling a bunch of self obsessed, facile tarts like Pogba into a team.
Was kinda hoping Belgium would win from an England pov as I think we’d struggle more against France.. still a small matter of Croatia first.
Going back to the subject of this blog it shows the benefit of a good quality manager like Benitez who has Newcastle far more than the sum of their parts
GlosMag(Quote)
Glosmag: what are the chances of a self obsessed, facile tart like Mourinho making a go of it with a self obsessed, facile tart like Pogba next year.
Something has to give.
Not sure if Jose is facile, but he certainly is a tart.
Eric Sykes(Quote)