Nothing speaks more about the situation Newcastle United are in than the decision to open talks with Andy Carroll over a new contract. This news comes just days after his name was published on the Premier League website as one of the released players.
This suggests that the club did submit his name as a player they wouldn’t be retaining, before a change of heart has led to discussions being open. On social media, fans continue to debate and get excited about the potential takeover led by the PIF, Amanda Staveley and Reuben brothers. There is no doubt that this deal would likely lead to a much more exciting period following the football club. However, the malaise and lack of progress is holding us back.
There was a new spate of reports about the confidence within Mike Ashley’s camp that the ongoing legal cases will bring a positive resolution. It may come to pass that it does. However, the world of law spins slowly. There are hearings, appeals and delays. The Premier League won’t go down lightly, even if it comes to light that they are in the wrong. This means, a positive conclusion is likely to take time.
If the Premier League were going to accept this deal quickly, they would have already.
In the mean-time, the football club continues to drift in a state of paralysis. The rumour of a new deal to Andy Carroll underlines that point. Not even Mike Ashley’s Newcastle United believe the former England international is still capable of performing consistently at Premier League level. If they did, his name would never have been published on the Premier League website as one of the released players.
Since that decision was made, there has clearly been discussions about the level of finance available this summer, or lack of it. Based on this, Steve Bruce may have decided that it will be better to keep Carroll around to ensure he isn’t left short next season.
A decision to keep Carroll wouldn’t even be a bad move due to his own regression. It would also take up one of the precious 25 places in the Premier League squad, which reduces our ability to bring reinforcements in.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace have shown ambition in their attempts – albeit unsuccessful – to appoint Nuno Espirito Santo and Aston Villa are cherry picking star players from other bottom half Premier League teams, looking to sign James Ward-Prowse after agreeing a club record deal for Norwich’s Emi Buendia. These are sides looking to push forward, while we are left trying to offer a new contract to a striker who has scored just once in the last two seasons. In the campaign that has just finished, he played just 384 minutes in the Premier League.
It highlights the issue of keeping hold of this takeover. There is uncertainty about the short and long term future of the club. Ashley is even less willing to release funds, as he could be selling in the coming months. Steve Bruce is in charge, despite being a poor Premier League coach and there is no ambition to appoint anybody else who may be able to push the club on.
We have managed to avoid relegation in the last two seasons, but there is no doubt that we are merely staying still. In the Premier League, that is a dangerous thing to do, as eventually more ambitious clubs will pass us by. We have already seen Leeds United and Aston Villa push on beyond us. Brentford are a well run club, who will want to push on in the Premier League. They could be next.
This takeover process post agreement has now been ongoing for well over a year. At some point, Mike Ashley needs to move on. I am not believing that it is a choice between this consortium or Mike Ashley. There will be more interested parties out there.
This legal process and ongoing commitment to the takeover is becoming an issue. There are only so many seasons that we can expect Steve Bruce to keep this side in the Premier League without further investment. We will see what the summer will bring, but the transfer business at Arsenal is already a concern. They are set to sell Matteo Guendouzi, Granit Xhaka and Hector Bellerin. Their need to sell Joe Willock is decreasing day on day.
If we don’t bring Willock back, we will already be starting next season in a weaker position than we ended last season in. That doesn’t even bring into focus the need to strengthen the rest of the squad.
It is okay for Ashley to pursue legal proceedings, but he can’t let the team stagnate at the same time. This time next year, he may have lost his legal cases and we may have been relegated.
At this point in time, that seems more likely than PIF owning the club.
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From this. it looks like I would rather have us play Sweden than Ukraine. Only 23 mins gone tho.
Eric(Quote)
We have the best squad left in the competition. Mainly because Belgium have really old defenders and Italy are not as great as the pundits make out. Organized, but their players are mostly average. And Chiellini is 106 years old.
Eric(Quote)
Not sure which of these id prefer us to play.. ideally Ukraine with yarmalenko and zinchenko both out injured. Lol
Gilly Toon(Quote)
While I’m on, I slaughtered Sterling too – brilliant today!!!.
I think he & Kane both benefit from that formation change.
But I haven’t missed that Grealish got the assists today as well – so maybe he needs to be in ahead of Saka – who I also thought did pretty well as well to be fair … then there’s Foden and Rashford ??♂️?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Saka was excellent first half but faded so I guess it made sense to take him off for jack. I really wanted jack to start and he made the world of difference when he came on. We got lucky with mullers miss, had that gone in, then who knows.
Anyway, nice result for us.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Seb Larrson still playes for Sweden. Didnt he play for the Mackems like 22 years ago?
Eric(Quote)
The Swedes have taken over.
Eric(Quote)
I have the answer … Graham Jones!! The FA stepped in and told Southgate if things don’t change they’d sack him – he turned to Jonesy ???
Sharpy17(Quote)
England can beat both of these teams.
Eric(Quote)
Would be funny if Krafth scores to win it. Either normal time or pens. He got much better towards the end of the season.
Eric(Quote)
Off to Wembley. There is no way this Ukraine side will beat us.
Eric(Quote)
So, Ukraine it is. A few injuries for them and a tough long match today. We should be able to beat them. However, we should’ve beat Iceland so nothing taken for granted. Onwards and upwards. ??
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly: that was Mr Roy not taking it seriously and going on a Seine Cuise with his deputy Ray Lewington the day before. Mr Roy said Ray hadn’t been to Paris before so he needed to do a bit of sight seeing. Hopefully they managed to squeeze in some shopping for the Mrs. A Louis Vuitton purse, maybe a Hermes scarf, some brie, a croissant and some snails.
Eric(Quote)
Some really strange things happened today:
1. England beat Germany in a tournament and not just a friendly.
2. The Mackem Toddler had a really good game. He had a couple of his usual tantrums but I will let him off this once.
3. Steve McManamen wasnt annoying even though he said Southgate picked the wrong formation. It was easy to see he would go for wingbacks because of the way Germany play, but that is why Steve gets the big bucks and I was watching from my couch 🙂
Eric(Quote)
OK I am going to make an early team prediction. I think he will go 4-3-3.
Mackem Toddler
Walker McGuire Stones Shaw
Phillips Rice Henderson
Sterling Kane Grealish
The only problem is who takes corners. Probably Henderson. He will go with experience and hold back Saka and Foden in reserve.
I am not Shaw’s biggest fan but he did do some good things against Germany. Same with Rice who I think is more overrated than not good. It’s a West Ham thing as I have said many times before. They act like he is Bobby Moore.
Eric(Quote)
I watched the France-Switzerland game again. I have to say I really like extra time because the commentators run out of stupid facts that they have googled and just tell you about the game going on in front of you. John Champion might have lost his note/I-pad because he wasnt telling me that the Swiss hadnt beat the French in a competitive game since 1934 or the name of Paul Pogba’s hairdresser.
Eric(Quote)
So, Rafa back in the PL. That should keep The Mag and Harrisons busy.
Blue BIndippers put up a flag at a house they thought was Rafa’s saying “We know where you live”. Problem was it was the wrong house. You couldnt make it up!!!
I wonder if he will get any money because that squad is very inconsistent. James Rodgriguez is the most overrated player in football. He had a couple of good games at a WC 10 years ago and has lived off that since. Do you know he has something like 100 million instagram subscribers?
Eric(Quote)
I dont hate Paul Pogba. He had his best game for years against the Swiss. But that exaggerated and choreographed celebration! It was almost karma that the Swiss came back to win. He obviously thought his work was done for the night. For once he didnt play like a show pony, but he acted like one after he scored.
Eric(Quote)
So Rafa is a toffee then.
I’m not disappointed coz I never really bought into the Rafa hype, but anyone who gives him **** is just thick imo. Why wouldn’t he take a job in his doorstep at a club with potential to grow & owners that will back him.
Personally, I think this move will really allow us to see how good he is. I think Everton are in a similar position to where Liverpool were when he went there – he made it work there, so we will see.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Gutted about Rafa, was hoping he’d come back and take on a project if we got took over. Ah well, all the best to him.
I see we have signed Big Duncs lad Cameron, if he is as good as his dad, well .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim – Rafa defo split the fans, not love or hate but certainly take or leave.
If it were him or Bruce – well it’s no contest really is it. But if it’s a buy out with a choice of managers, Rafa wouldn’t make my shortlist.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Nuno Espirito Santo to Spurs on only a 2 year deal. That shows Levy doesnt really trust him. He lost the plot at Wolves a bit last year. Now the question is what happens with Kane?
Eric(Quote)
Where did this narrative come from that Pep never played Sterling. He played 31 PL games last year and had averaged 33 in his City career. I do think Pep had Foden ahead of him in the pecking order but Foden is pretty much expected to be a super-star.
Sterling has scored 15 goals for England in his last 20 games. I am glad that Southgate stuck with him. I never wanted Gareth in the first place because he didnt have the record to qualify. I think his selections have been good and he looked after McGuire and Grealish after injuries.
This was in no way the best Germany team but they still had to be beat. I might be changing my mind a bit on Southgate.
I still think the Mackem Toddler has a mistake in him though.
Eric(Quote)
Eric – I’ve heard a few people say that about him last year & think it’s a bit harsh really. Wolves sold some of his first team players in Docherty & Jota and then Jimenez was out for pretty much the whole season – so without Jota & Jimenez they had no real forward – they replaced Jota with an 18 year old kid.
I think a lot of things were made difficult for them last season. He did ok based on what he had imo.
The problem he will have at Spurs is there are a lot of players overhyped imo. I think they have a world class player in Kane and a very good player in Son – the rest are slightly above average or worse imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric – Pep was asked about not selecting Sterling and said it was a conscious decision not to select him coz he wasn’t in form or training well or something like that. He wasn’t saying he wrote him off, just that there were City players ahead of him.
He’s a good player, but frustrating at the same time. He can have 3 awful touches, miss 3 sitters – then the talent kicks in and he scores or assists and that goes on to win the game (maybe I’m exaggerating with as many as 3, but you know what I mean).
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think Luke Edwards is correct and there is no way a takeover would go through before the start of the season. However, if Ashley wins the arbitration we could sign Willock for say 25 million. Just do what every other club does and pay in installments – 5 @ 5mil. THat way if the Saudis were approved they would be on the hook for 20 mil of the fee.
We need Willock as our midfield is short on numbers and short on talent. Would Arsenal sell? Probably. They still think they are the old Arsenal which Willock would not get gametime for every week. He is probably a mid-table team talent, but he is what we need.
Eric(Quote)
I have seen it said that if Ashley wins the anti-competition case he will get the full proposed sale price of 350 mil. How is this possible as he will still have the asset? I think it is just somebody making assumptions with very little basis in fact and then others picking up on the story.
Eric(Quote)
I would love someone to explain how the fan attendance is working. The Germans were only allowed 2,000 at Wembley and Rome have banned all England fans.
For Germany there were 42k allowed in but for the semis and final that has been raised to 60k which is about two thirds capacity. What if England dont make it? Who will fill Wembley? If they wont let Germans in would they let the Spanish or Danes?
It seems this Delta variant is the worry but it doesnt make sense to expand capacity where you will definately not be 2 metres apart.
And you are still getting cases even among footballers. Mount and Chilwell had to quarantine even though they tested negative.
I dont understand any of this.
Eric(Quote)
NEW THREAD
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2021/06/25/nufc-player-ratings-marks-out-of-10-for-all-25-players-to-feature-in-2020-21-from-3-10-to-9-10/
Been meaning to move this to the top banner of the blog!
Also, Georgio – have you seen the email I sent back to you?
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
I checked and there were 28,000 covid cases today which is the highest in 5 months and the same as January when there was a total lockdown. Boris is also saying there may need to be further retrictions after July 19th which was slated as the date to remove all restrictions.
That aint going to happen. There will be more restrictions. But they see these numbers and still open up Wembley. I wouldnt go unless I was vaccinated.
The Govt and Local Authorities seem to be making things up as they go along. After like 16 months of this you would think they would have a plan for spikes by now. But no, they are burrying their heads in the sand.
The Wembley super spreader event will turn out to be a much bigger deal than politicians are making out. It is pretty stupid given the current numbers, especially when most fans will be from London where I think you are probably most likely to catch this new variant.
Eric(Quote)
I think that’s BS mate, he’ll likely get more like £50ml in compo if that. I had to laugh at the statement he’s put out regarding the take over and the ongoing court cases. He is asking for transparency in proceedings and for it all to be made public. He says fans of all clubs deserve transparency from PL , yeah just like the transparency Toon fans get from him and the club !
The brass neck of the man, but then I shouldn’t be surprised really.
KIMTOON(Quote)
11h
Newcastle, a club that can’t bring itself to talk to its own fans, pushing for openness from the Premier League is absolutely hilarious. #NUFC
George Caulkin
KIMTOON(Quote)