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.
France then if we make it to the final. Happy enough with that like.
kimtoon(Quote)
They had their differences last year .. long may it continue if it helps to stifle manure
Is the special one superficial .. if not he gives a pretty decent impression of it
GlosMag(Quote)
Scum made a good start to season,beaten by Darlington 😆
Icedog(Quote)
C’mon England. This is what might have been! Big Fat Slug with his overinflated ego and silly tash. You can read the words but I posted it for the picture of a very self important man encapsulated in one picture:
https://www.football365.com/news/mediawatch-sam-allardyce-made-this-england-dream-happen
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Love Rafas latest interview about his contract situation. Basically confirms what we thought – he’s keen to stay on, but it will depend on player recruitment.
I really don’t even think Rafa wants to spend huge – break the clubs record on a new forward – yeah, but let’s be right, £17m on a player in today’s market is hardly spending big.
I think Rafa would genuinely be here long term if he receives the right backing – I really don’t understand Ashley’s reluctance.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpie, when I read that I also picked up about Rafa not happy with paying big prices. How much of that ‘reluctance’ is Ashley’s, how much is Rafa’s and maybe they agree on that and therefore trying to be perhaps too clever in market place, putting out feelers and waiting for a bite on the line. That would imply that they don’t have a first choice to pursue , but several for each position and they are fishing to see what happens.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Yeah it’s quite baffling really mate, but we are not dealing with a normal owner here .
He has his own agenda, nufc has to stay in the PL for SD to get maximum exposure but he wants it done at the least expense possible. He is also a sensitive flower which you can see by his comments about not being the pantomime villain portrayed by the media and fans. You know I honestly think he is a bit jealous of the esteem we hold Rafa in and he must be spitting that Rafa isn’t stupid enough to sign an extended deal and stubborn enough to not walk away.
If this owner truly cared for the club and it’s future he would be investing in the training facilities , academy and first team squad to the level required for a PL club .
I wish someone can explain to me how newly promoted Wolves can splash £16m on a defender yet we are struggling and haggling every window over a couple of million it seems.
Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying we have to spend loads to get quality, though in reality you probably do, but the desire isn’t there to spend more than say £15m it seems.
And the desire to upgrade our training facilities certainly isn’t beyond Rafa getting them to repaint it and freshen it up cosmetically which is really telling .
kimtoon(Quote)
Prem, you may well be right but it’s double standards to laugh at offers for our players but expect to buy players on the cheap which is how it’s coming over .
At some point you get what you pay for, all the teams that struggled last year are being proactive and even trying to steal our best player. Can we honestly be certain that if say £35m was offered for Lascelles he will still be our player ? that’s my worry mate, this owner lacks the ability to see the bigger picture in so far as football is concerned. He sees the pound signs only which is fine for SD but not for nufc.
kimtoon(Quote)
Rafa’s most interesting words were “Yeah, I met him face to face but we are still where we are.” I think that is code for “I have my ideas and he doesn’t agree with them.” Rafa might see himself here in 10 years time but I bet it’s not with Jabba.
Stuart79(Quote)
Anyway, C’mon England, you can do this . Croatia didn’t even exist last time we won the WC !
kimtoon(Quote)
Prem – I picked up on that too mate. I didn’t mean reluctance to spend big, it’s this waiting for the PL money to be paid into the account.
I’m probably one of the very few people who agree with, or have no issue with us restricting the spends to what we earn. I think when you look at what’s happened to the likes of Sunderland and Villa – and I reckon the 3 that got relegated this season could go the same way if they aren’t promoted straight back up.
But I would have liked to have seen Ashley hand Rafa the PL money early to get started. It’s guaranteed money coming back to his pocket, but handing it over early would have been a show of support imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think that too many PL fans link spending big with showing ambition. Too me it says that PL teams are the cash cows for every other team selling players. Spending 40m on a player doesn’t signal ambition. It says to me that the buying team has probably bought a 15m player for 25m too much. This year will see more expensive flops purely based on PL clubs spending cash on overpriced ****.
Don’t get me wrong I want players in but not getting wound up about the values..
Aussie(Quote)
I see clubs like Everton and WHU spending big money on individual players, whether that be fees or wages – and that’s makes their fans happy during the transfer window.
But come the start of the season they have 11 players rather than a team.
I look at the likes of Burnley and what Rafa seems to be trying to do with us is build a team – not the big names, not necessarily the best players, but players who fit a system and do a job and work hard for each other.
WH have a new manager and have started to spend a lot of money on players, but I really don’t see them moving further than maybe 2-3 places higher. You’ve heard the phrase ‘all the gear, nee idea’ – and that’s how I view WH.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stu – yeah I read that as being Rafas frustration at having to wait for the PL money. ‘I wanted to get started early, but we are still where we are’.
Ashley seems to be a very risk averse business man – I suppose you don’t get to be a billionaire taking big risks do you?!. He’s seen the club relegated having given Pardew very little money, then saw us relegated having handed McClaren a lot of money (for us anyway) and I think that’s left him taking the cautious approach – but that’s the wrong move. He doesn’t have to put £100m of his own money in, but he has to trust Rafa more than he is at the moment.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ashley doesn’t sanction sales he just says spend what you make..
Why do people even raise Ashleys name in relation to player purchases . I don’t think he gives a toss who we get as long as he is not shelling out any of his own cash..
Aussie(Quote)
Sharpy, he’s never really given any manager much financial backing or trust in their preferred players right back to KK when you think about it. Steve was really the only one to get a significant amount.
KK wanted Modric but he wouldn’t sanction it, he went for Wise youtube recommendations instead 🙄
He’s like the guy that rents his house for as much as possible to desperate tenants without maintaining it to proper standards. Like the desperate tenants we fans have been watching the rot set in and powerless to stop it. Rafa is the new guttering which has stopped the leak but we are still worried about the other damage that needs fixing .
kimtoon(Quote)
Aussie, Do you really believe he doesn’t sanction player acquisition ?
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim, nope..
Spend what you earn… he doesn’t want to know about the small stuff.
The spend what you earn policy is holding up deals more than Ashleys imaginary need to sanction moves.
Aussie(Quote)
Looking at The defensive midfield place. there are a lot of candidates that we have been linked with, Maia, Ndiaye, Sturaro etc
Stoke have been relegated and have to balance selling best players whilst trying to bounce straight back. Until definite bids are in they are going to try for top dollar on all sales whilst trading for proven championship winners like Ritchie.
Juve on the other hand have just bought Ronaldo with the FFP problems that that brings so may accept a bid for Sturaro which they would not have accepted last week.
I think Rafa revels in this sort of game play. The idea that says I want Zambo from Marsellie for this position and I’ll pay £25 mill or whatever it takes to get him has no spice for him.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Aussie – I agree. I think he’s happy to leave it to Charnley and Rafa (Carr before that). I don’t think this window will be any different.
I can’t speak for anyone else on here, but I mention Ashley because it’s still his club. If the PL money doesn’t arrive until July, meaning there is a delay in recruitment – then I think Ashley still has a responsibility to give the club the best chance. As soon as the season ended and we knew we were 10th, we would have known how much the PL would be rewarding us.
Surely it’s not too much to ask or expect of the owner to hand that amount to Rafa & Charnley immediately – by all means take it back when the PL pay us, but give your manager a fighting chance.
Beyond that it’s player sales, but that takes time.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Prem, I still think that if he misses out on his targeted player for the sake of a few million he won’t be happy. After all, if he is of the same mind set as Ashley and co on fees then why has he not extended his contract ? it makes no sense.
kimtoon(Quote)
And lets not forget his comments on Joselu which were indicating that he wasn’t first choice, it would be mad to even think he was tbf.
kimtoon(Quote)
I got no problem with us wheeling and dealing as it were, if we can nab a tidy player on loan or fairly cheap or on a free then that’s brilliant and kudos to the recruitment team for it. But lets say Ashley really does say spend what you make and I am standing away from it, then does that mean if Rafa has say £40m to spend he can spend £30m of it on a striker or is he being told a certain amount only for each player, is he in charge of who he brings in or not. Joselu would indicate not as Rafa himself alluded to him not being first choice.
kimtoon(Quote)
First question, who is his targeted player? does he have one or several? I think with players he knows like Kenedy & Townsend then they do become priority targets, but otherwise perhaps not.
God knows what happened re Joshula, seemed like a last minute panic buy.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Josh King might still be his main target. I still hope so. Bournemouth are hard up apparently. Him and Ings on loan would do it for me. A proper Dm too. Could that be Drinkwater? Put a bid on for Zinchenko too?
georgio(Quote)
That’s what I mean though Prem, why was he panic buying ? He was really not happy at the end of that window. He said he and his team had worked hard on targets and said that we hadn’t moved quickly enough. It seems like a lot of ground work gets done by Rafa only to be ruined by a lack of commitment and feet dragging by the money men. It’s the same as what KK had really, not much has changed.
kimtoon(Quote)
Prem – Rafa strikes me as a man who knows what and who he wants long before the window opens. He probably accepts that it won’t always come off, but he wants stuff done early – his interview suggests that –
“You don’t want to waste too much time so you know more or less then you go (for it) and that’s it.”
I think it’s safe to say we **** about in the transfer window, haggling and taking our time getting deals done – that again must frustrate Rafa. I think Rafa had a system in mind and saw Abraham as a key piece – once he was out the picture I think Joselu was maybe the closest available alternative.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Are we selling Merino or not? It is not just buying that drags on at NUFC. This one would seem simple, he has a buyout clause you trigger it and send us the cash, right? Especially since it seems he has already agreed personal terms. What’s the holdup?
I think I know what it is. When a player has a buyout clause the seller can demand all of the money up front. I read it somewhere when the Neymar deal was going on and that was supposedly what held up Lejeune for so long.
I am sure it will get done but everything seems to take forever at NUFC and it gives the impression that we are understaffed or that we are pissing around.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I don’t know how Everton, West Ham and Leicester can think they can buy our players. Isn’t it a sideways move? I can understand Spurs because they have a very strong team and CL football but West Ham?
Everton: spent a load of money on relative ***** (Rooney, etc.). Last won the league over 20 years ago when the normal big powers were in the doldrums.
West Ham: Underachieved for their entire history.
Leicester: amazingly won the league in a catching lightning a bottle season. The only thing they have ever done in their history.
I could understand Lascelles leaving for Chelsea or Liverpool but not for these clubs. Another good season at NUFC and he can double his money at Man U or one of the other top 6 so why fart around at Everton?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
One of Rafa’s issue is that he sam spend the money how he sees. If he wants to splash it all on one player he can’t. Anybody who doesn’t think Ashley has a say on the actual business of transfers must have missed the bit in January when absolutely nothing happened until 20th January when he got back off his holidays. He also refused to let Rafa sign a new keeper last summer because he said we already had too many.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart. I accept that it is highly likely that Ashley will have criteria in place which says if you want to spend more than x on a single player, or whatever. I find it difficult to accept that he is involved in every deal having to sign every deal off. In industry every manager has a budget with restrictions. To use the fact that he is on holiday therefore nothing happens, and you cant have a new keeper til you’ve sold one is hardly in itself evidence. Yet you state it as fact. Without direct quotes from Rafa or Ashley, or access to minutes of meetings it is at best a spurious correlation. You may be right, but I have no real evidence of it.
PremAndUp(Quote)
It worries me a little bit that we haven’t moved out the players Rafa doesn’t want yet as well. I know there’s little we can do if clubs aren’t making the bids yet – but I think we need to take a bid of control by setting a deadline date – if he’s not bought by a certain date, he doesn’t leave. Force Fulham’s hand a bit on Mitrovic for example, coz I’m sure they will happily leave it to the last minute knowing what they are getting, but giving us little time to buy a replacement.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Perhaps Mitrovitch wont sign til he gets back off his holidays 😆
PremAndUp(Quote)
West Ham signings Anderson from Lazio for £37m. Don’t worry guys, we’re looking at Rondon.
Stuart79(Quote)
Prem, I know it for a fact. I’m not asking you to believe me. I know the truth and that’s all I’m interested in. Rafa didn’t even know his budget for January until Jabba got back from his holidays.
Stuart79(Quote)
Sharpy: I think that our unwanted players will be shifted in due course because they are decent players at reasonable prices in this stupid market. Mitro, Mbemba, Merino will be sold. We may even sell Ritchie if Rafa prefers Townsend.
The others are fiddling at the edges, failures or squad players that I could not really care less if they stay or go (should I start singing a Clash song?):
Aarons – 1 mil.
Armstrong – 1 mil
Sels – Anderlecht will be back in at least for a loan
Saivet – somebody will loan him
Colback – who really cares at this point and he only has a year left. Loan.
We could also sell Darlow and there would be takers at about 5 million.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The depressing thing is that even if we sell all of those players that the total made would only be enough to buy Kylian Mbappe’s left *******.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Even his left ******* would be worth more than that lot!
georgio(Quote)
And then there is Joselu. He doesn’t look a bad player until it comes to scoring goals. He fluffs his lines. I have a really hard time deciding on Joselu. He is not a good backup striker but can be good for 20 minutes at the end of the game to hold the ball up. In that way he might be useful?
But then again he is a non-scoring striker. That’s why I have a hard time deciding and I will certainly not slag him off like some twitterites do.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Maybe make Joselu a midfielder? He seems to have the skill.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – you’re losing the plot on this one! You write like someone who hasn’t seen Joselu play.
georgio(Quote)
He’s a non-scoring striker which seems like a bit useless but then Rafa plays him and I respect Rafa. If you read what I said it is apparent that I am confused by Joselu, his role, his talent, his appeal to Rafa.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Croatia have the talent to beat us but must be knackered by now. We also have the talent to beat them and probably have the better squad. So, 60/40 in favour of England? Football’s coming home.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
That’s a massive problem for a striker, Eric.
I won’t slag him off because he’s not good enough.
Stuart79(Quote)
Jean-Michael Seri to Fulham for the gargantuan fee of £35m. Aka the current market prices to most clubs.
Stuart79(Quote)
But we can’t and won’t compete with other clubs Stu, you should know that by now.
kimtoon(Quote)
Stu – not entirely accurate mate. His but out price is £35m but Fulham only want to pay £18m. Chelsea, Napoli and Dortmund are all after him too – so he isn’t going to Fulham.
But this is why we should be setting Fulham a deadline for Mitrovic imo. They are going off looking at other players because they think they can come in last minute for Mitro knowing they will likely get him coz Rafa doesn’t want him. In doing it that way it hugely restricts our time to spend that money.
That or offer him to Palace as part of the Townsend deal.
Ritchie could be swapped with Ndiaye from Stoke instead maybe.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Arsenal have made the signing of the summer. Torriera will be a star and mean they won’t be run over any more.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I have a bit of an issue with this ‘we won’t compete with others clubs’ based largely on the fact it’s what I heard a lot last summer too.
I heard it when Swansea got Abraham over us. I heard it again when they signed Bony and again when they loaned that Renato (or whatever he was called). I heard it when WBA bought Rodriguez and again when WH signed Hernandez.
I heard it a lot while Everton were spending their money too, and I confess I allowed it to worry me last season.
Then I watched a lot of the signings that we didn’t sign turn out to be not that good. At the same time I witnessed Rafa moulding our players into a very solid outfit.
Then it happened all over again in January. I saw Rafa loan a keeper I’d never heard of and also loan a young left winger with good credentials but little experience.
Other clubs were spending big again and again we were being left behind (according to some). Yet Rafa carried on and developed a team that went on to comfortably finish 10th in their first season back in the PL.
So I won’t care what other people spend, or who they get. I will keep faith and remain confident in Rafa will get what HE needs, and not worry about other clubs.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Will he get what he wants though Sharpy, he clearly didn’t in previous windows he as good as said so.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – if you are talking what he WANTS – most probably not. Will he get what he NEEDS – I think so.
Sharpy17(Quote)
God I’m getting nerves for tonight now like.
I was 11 when Italia 90 happened and it’s not been much fun watching England since then. But tonight I could see England reach a final – my boy could see England reach a final.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I predicted semi-final and then went back on it because it is England. Just like NUFC, if you give them your heart they will break it. But really hope we get to the final now.
Will Rooney retire after the WC? No, the guy in the waistcoat decided you weren’t the one who decided if you played for England or not. Gareth has made some good moves and showed a lot more guts than I though he would.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
96 and 98 were good.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
96 was 3 Lions on a Shirt. Shearer golden boot. I know it wasn’t the WC but out in the semis to Germany.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just get pissed, Sharpy. That will calm the nerves.
Stuart79(Quote)
Eric – aye 96 was good, I got on board largely thanks to Big Al and Gazza – but I’m probably going back to 90 to find a WC side I bought into as much as this one ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stu ?? I’ve had a rule. Different drink each round. Bishops finger tonight, nee idea what it tastes like but there’s enough for extra time and pens ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Bishops Finger sounds like a really strange name for a drink.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – real Ale stuff mate
Sharpy17(Quote)
Have you seen the Southgate look a like in the crowd ? he’s a ringer for him.
Sharpy17(Quote)
C’mon then England, u got this. 🙂 just one more game for a shot at glory.
kimtoon(Quote)
he should be charging for selfies the amount he’s doing 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
What ever happens next , the lads have done us proud so hopefully no ramifications or scapegoating.
kimtoon(Quote)
only 3 England starters were alive last WC semi-final.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The boy just joined in the National Anthem – the hairs on the back of my neck we’re going crazy!!!.
C’mon Boys!!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Get in son!
Shamrock(Quote)
great start.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
**** me what a free kick that was
kimtoon(Quote)
I suppose getting famous for looking like Gareth Southgate partly makes up for looking like Gareth Southgate all of your life.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I don’t want to put a damper on anything but I wish the tossers with trumpets would just fck off.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
you know I knew he was gonna score , just knew .
kimtoon(Quote)
What a freekick Tripz – class son!!.
The boy went crazy – he doesn’t even like football yet ?. This could be the turning point!!
Bishops finger tastes so much sweeter now ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
We win this WC and that lad will be set for life!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
keep getting these corners lads
kimtoon(Quote)