Another season is finally over and it’s been a hell of a ride. It, probably, could only happen to Newcastle United and if someone wrote down the events of the 2021/22 season a couple of years ago, they’d have been ridiculed as a crazy fantasist!
It’s all ifs and buts: What if the takeover had happened this time last year….? What if Bruce had been sacked sooner….? What if Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier hadn’t got injured…?
There’s also the counter to those statements: What if Bruce hadn’t been sacked….? What if Clark hadn’t been sent off….? What if the takeover hadn’t happened at all….?
It’s all mind boggling, but the reality is that we finished 11th after almost everyone having us dead and buried at the start of this calendar year. The work put in by all of the staff, playing and non playing, has been incredible. The belief and fight we’ve shown has been immense and it’s been to a joy to watch unfold. Our form over the last half of the season has been way beyond anyone’s expectations. The table for the last 19 games shows that Liverpool at the top on 48 points, Man City second on 46 points and Newcastle United third on an unbelievable 38 points! We’ve earned 13 and 14 points more than West Ham and Manchester United, respectively, over that period and they have both qualified for Europe! It really is superb and it all bodes well for next season.
Going back to the what ifs, I reckon that if Wilson had stayed on the pitch against Man United and continued, with improved fitness, for the rest of the season, we could conservatively be looking at an extra 11 points, where games would have ended in victory, or draws, with just one goal making the difference. I’ve added our defeat to Everton in that scenario, because, poor though we were, I reckon that had Wilson been playing, we’d have had more of a focal point up front, probably would have scored and may have seen Everton crumble. It’s all hypothetical, but we could very well have qualified for Europe. My head hurts!
For the first time in ages, probably since we finished 5th under Pardew, only to realise that zero investment would mean we’d regress rather than build and progress, I’m sad to see the season end of a season. I’m not including the Championship win under Rafa Benitez, because I was over the moon to have that season end as it did! This time, again for the first time in years, I’m looking forward to next season and am pleased that it starts sooner than usual. I hate the close season. As a kid I enjoyed a summer holiday at Butlin’s, or something similar, playing cricket with my mates and days out at the beach, but nothing is a suitable substitute for watching the beautiful game.
It’s sad that so many players will be moved on. We could have seen the last of many a great servant, who’ve fought to get us promoted and keep us in the Premier League. That is the nature of the game, though. Very few play beyond age 34 and most are coming to the end of their peak by 32. Modern fitness, nutrition and methods used to combat injuries, all help to keep some players beyond their sell by dates, but this time around we need space for incoming players, who we hope will bring more quality to the team and more strength in depth to the squad. For that reason, a number of top players will be moved on. We have to trust Eddie Howe on this. I know I certainly do!
Looking ahead, I feel like that 6 year old, once again, looking to find out when the new season starts and the relatively modern phenomenon of seeing when the transfer window opens, with pure excitement, more greatly anticipated than the best Xmas ever! I know that table for the last 19 games looks very promising, but I’m under no illusions that we’ll finish above Spurs, Arsenal, or Man Utd, as they all have a strong basis and will be spending in the summer, as well. Chelsea are an unknown quantity, because of the situation hanging over the club and if their own takeover goes ahead, or not. However, I feel that we can give all of these teams a good run for their money. They’ll be worried about the old/new kinds on the block, the princes elect! I really can’t believe that I’m even writing about this, if I’m honest. It still doesn’t feel real, somehow after all that’s gone on in the last 15 years or so.
One thing that I will say is that we have a fantastic opportunity to achieve something really special next season. Now, I know that this is a long term project, but I think the circumstances we find ourselves in could prove to be the perfect storm. One that other teams will be dreading!
This is what I mean:
We already have the basis of a great team, with the players we’ve had for a while coming to some real amazing form, along with the new players that arrived in January. That table has shown that. We will have investment in the summer and, perhaps, again in the January window, bringing in some real quality. We can compete for top players on free transfers, but also look at some excellent footballers we have to dip into the market for. We have a new structure at the club, from top to bottom and the pre-season is so important in terms of buys, but mostly in relation to fitness and togetherness, all looking ahead, rather than being concerned about the coming campaign. There’s a new positivity throughout the club.
We find ourselves in this position, but unlike the teams mentioned before, along with West Ham, we don’t have any extra European fixtures to contend with, so we can concentrate solely on the three domestic campaigns. There’s also the anomaly of a World Cup taking place in the middle of the season! Yes, we have a few players who are internationals and will hopefully be going to Qatar, but most of our current players are skirting around the edges of selection for their countries and may not be taking part. I’d love to see Joelinton partner Bruno Guimarães in the Brazilian midfield and it would be brilliant to see Callum Wilson playing for England and Allan Saint-Maximin dance around the pitch in a French shirt, but aside from some players we may bring in during the close season, there aren’t many who will definitely be going to the World Cup.
That puts us in the position of being able to keep the bulk of our squad together, during that break, keeping up fitness levels, but not totally flat out busting a gut to win the World Cup in the searing heat of Qatar. The fact that most of the aforementioned teams will be sending many of their players to the Middle East may, be an extra advantage handed to ourselves!
It’s all hypothetical, as I say, but it all bodes well for a very interesting and potentially fantastic season. I can’t wait!
It Doesn’t Really Matter…But It Does!
Davy Craig
I always find Davy Craig’s articles difficult to read and end up just skimming them. It is like he has a 1000 thoughts in his head at the same time and tries to put them into some coherent whole but never quite manages it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Maxi dancing around in a French shirt? He’s barely good enough for a Toon one unless you’re actually counting dancing.
georgio(Quote)
Actually, I just read the whole thing and it is not as disjointed as usual. Davy also agrees with me that we have a massive opportunity next season because so many teams are a mess (Man U, Chelsea, Everton) and others are not as good as advertised – Leicester, Wolves, Villa, West ham.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If we are to stick with 4 at the back – and I think most agree we will (it’s beyond that we have differing views – as in 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1) then how many CBs is enough?.
We currently have Burn & Schar as our first choice with Lascelles behind them.
I suspect we will be letting Fede & Clark go the summer. Dummett has signed a new deal, but how often is he fit???.
So we have Burn, Schar, Lascelles & Dummett. Do we need just 1 more??. I know Krafth has been used as a CB but not ideal – it would be in an extreme case I’m sure.
Is Lascelles good enough or do we sell him and get better again???.
Our upturn last season was very much built on strengthening our defence – I think it’s key to any success we have.
Ideally we’d have 4 quality CBs with a 5th younger one in the squad for depth.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Call it lack of ambition if you like, but I think our goal for next season should simply be to exceed our points tally from this season.
We are rebuilding a fractured club and strengthening a relatively weak squad.
We might have a crack at those top 4 positions next season, but if we want to do that on a consistent basis then the most important thing is building a squad that allows that – whilst showing improvement in the points that are put on the board.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The only real difference between 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 is the CAM. Are they primarily part of the attack or more defensive? I think it depends upon the opposition. Against top sides we play 4-3-3 mainly I think we will be having to break down defenses
PremAndup(Quote)
Prem – I agree mate. But this is what I mean about taking the time to strengthen a relatively weak squad.
By that I mean I don’t think we have a real quality DCM or a real quality ACM.
Bruno is box to box and could fit both. Similarly Big Joe. But Shelvey doesn’t have the legs – he’s a passer not an offensive threat and can’t defend to save his life.
Willock is ok but not genuine quality & Longstaff just runs a lot.
Ideally, at this point I’d buy another box to box midfielder – which I’m not sure Paqueta is?!.
In later windows we can buy a number 10 or a DCM.
The key position is the RF role coz whether it’s 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, I don’t think we have a strong enough RF for either.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I agree, Diaby would be nice Paqueta is more CAM than Box to Box which is why I see Big Joe and Bruno playing a double pivot.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Sharpy, re previous article and your comment re Pards leaving Sofia, agree mate good on him, it’s disgusting that that c rap still goes on.
kimtoon(Quote)
Test
Sharpy17(Quote)
Bloody posts aren’t updating again ?.
Prem – I’m really torn mate. Paqueta is top class – would make it into most PL clubs for sure. So without question he’d be an asset.
But for balance and to make – to make us harder to beat, I think I’d rather have a third box to box player – as mad as it sounds.
If it were Paqueta or say James Ward Prowse for example, then I’d opt for Prowse – as things stand right now.
I think a midfield of Big Joe, Bruno and Prowse would chip in with goals, but would free up the front 3 to focus on a high press and goals – whilst at the same time protecting our defence.
I’m not saying we should go for Prowse – only a midfielder such as him.
Sharpy17(Quote)
JWP’s biggest asset are his set pieces but we have that covered now. Targett takes a good corner and so does Tripps who will want the ball for direct free kicks.
We dont ever have to see the Shelvey floater corner or Row Z free kick or Longstaff hitting the 1st man again.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Test 1
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric – You’re right, but he’s a really work horse in there midfield too. Gritty, tenacious in winning the ball back for them and works his sock off – would be good right of Bruno with Joe left of him. But I wasn’t saying Prowse specifically – I meant a midfielder like that. John McGinn would be another good example.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think you are not considering the opposition. You want to make us harder to beat. That may be true against City and Liverpool, but the other seventeen clubs we should be attacking as we will be better than them. at least a dozen of them will shut up shop and park the buss. We need to break those defences down We need a CAM more than a CDM. Not only that players like Diaby and Paqueta give their defences something to think about other than ASM. Hopefully he will benefit from that.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem – it’s hard to write this any way without it sounding insulting – so I apologise before writing it, it’s not meant to be insults.
I think that approach is a bit naive mate. you’re right that Lpool & City are different beasts – but you can’t over look the rest so lightly.
Certainly not the likes of Chelsea, Spurs, WH, Arsenal and even teams like Wolves, Leicester, Villa and Man Utd will punish us if we take that all out attack approach you suggest.
Look at what Spurs did to us when we were playing some of our best football last season – teams other than City & Lpool are more than capable which is why it’s the best league in the world. It’s which players like Rodri, Fernandinho and Fabinho are every bit as important to City & Lpool as their attackers imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The name I’ve been looking for has just hit me like a hammer ??♂️ Connor Gallagher!!.
The lad covers every blade of grass – can be that offensive threat but also break down an opponent’s attack.
He would be absolutely perfect right of Bruno with Big Joe left of him.
Put Diaby RF, Wilson CF and ASM LF ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
I may be optimistic, you may be cautious, that’s the benefit of a spectrum of opinions.
I’m not suggesting gung ho all out attack, but we should be treating the likes of the clubs you regards as equals. We only conceded more than one goal on two occasions under how, Spurs and City. Our defence is decent, i’m not saying it can’t be improved, but our real problem is not enough goals, and teams will set up more defensively against us. I think that we should set up 6-4 rather than 7-3. It’s not like our CDM won’t be high pressing.
PremAndUp(Quote)
under Howe. soz
PremAndUp(Quote)
Sharpy: I would take John McGinn as long as we play him as a defensive mid to free up Bruno. With Bruno further forward we wouldnt need Paqueta as much but if he is available I would still prefer him and then sort out the defensive mid later.
Doubt Chelsea would sell us Gallagher but you never know. Their owners might have their own ideas. I think the die-hard Chelsea fans will have sticker shock when they see seat prices over the next few years. The owners absolutely robbed Dodgers fans. The money is coming from a hedge fund and I dont see how you can increase the value that much starting from a base of 3 billion with Man City and Liverpool as your competition.
The Saudis are starting from a base of 300 million so it is easy to see the value doubling and tripling like it did at Liverpool whose owners got them on the cheap because of a loophole.
Maybe the new Chelsea owners will not be able to spot a good footballer and will want their own players and let us have Gallagher?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Prem – I do see them as equal mate, it was you that said above we are better than them in your post.
I merely think we respect them, not fear them – but play with a balance.
We already know ASM doesn’t do defensive work particularly well, and from what I’ve seen of Diaby, he’s not mad keen on it either.
I don’t think it’s high on the list of Paquetas priorities either.
So it would leave Joe & Bruno to take on the lions share – but I actually then think that would take away from Joe & Bruno’s game as both would have to generally stay sat deeper.
But put Gallagher in there instead of Paqueta and the 3 rotate and the threat is harder to play against again coz you don’t know who’s going and who’s staying.
City are an obvious example with Rodri, KDB and Silva. I know Rodri usually sits more than not but KDB & Silva are fluid – but Pep still plays with that sitting midfielder rather than the 10 as you’re suggesting for us – and their quality throughout is far greater than ours.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric – not just that mate, Chelsea lose defenders this summer I think mate – Alonso, Aspa what’s his face, Rudiger & Christensen all on a free.
Add to that Lukaku wants out and it could well be an expensive start for their new owners – they may need to sell a few fringe players to fund a rebuild.
I agree that it’s unlikely though.
Sharpy17(Quote)
It may be time for Chelsea to curb their spending and start introducing some of these loanees into their first team – the likes of Gallagher in place of Jorginho, Borja for Lukaku to bring some money in for a change.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: I think the new owners have said their budget is 175 million. It will be mainly defenders though as you say. It is also probably net after about 60 mil for Lukaku to Inter.
How would you like to be his agent if you get a split of the transfer fees. He must be the most combined fees in history!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – yeah and every club is going to know of their need for defenders so will likely hold out for too whack.
Chelsea have been after Jules Kounde for an age – I bet they don’t see much change from £60m if Sevilla have any sense – if Maguire is £80m they are still getting a good price.
Don’t know if they’ve got any youngsters coming through, but if not – all that money will go to replacing those 4.
Lukaku is a total mercenary. He’d only been back a few months before talking about wanting to go back. To think they got him in and let Abraham go – mental.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Talk we’ve sorted a 5 year deal for Ekitike – wow that would be one hell of a statement first signing imo.
I know he’s young and untested in the PL – but he plays in France with such confidence and is clearly a raw talent. The intriguing thing for me is where will he play – is he signed as a CF, is he that RF .. or dare I ask is he replacing ASM as he can play LF too?.
Hope it’s not the latter. He’s a signing that would certainly strengthen our forward options as we are. I’m playing devils advocate – I’m sure he’s not to replace ASM.
Would be a great first sign ??????
Sharpy17(Quote)
He’s primarily a CF but I know he can play second striker. Given his age, he’s only 19 I think he will be brought slowly into the team covering Wilson. I wonder if Howe is going to play 2 up top>
PremAndUp(Quote)
I think Ekitike will need to put some weight on to play CF in the PL. Will probably be a right winger which will mean the end for Miggy.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
There has been an explosion of NUFC Youtube channels. It started with the True Geordie but they are popping up everywhere. I think Wraith has the 2nd most subscribers with 45k. On the whole, I like the channel and think Wraith is a good moderator. I dont like Mick Lowes though, he doesnt know what he is talking about and his speech pattern where he repeats the same words 2 or 3 times in a sentence annoys me. His typical start to a sentence is “and I’ll tell you what, I’ll tell you what, I’ll tell you what”. Listen to him and you will see.
The rest are OK except for one thing – he employs all his mates for a couple of shows – The Three Amigos and Geordies Everywhere – they all think the same way and agree with each other all of the time. They all are older, 50+, and came through NUST and are involved in some way with the food bank. If you want any debate or critical thinking this is not the place to be.
The other thing they do is to say they know some information but cannot tell the audience because they have to protect their sources. So, why mention it then?
It is still not bad though.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
With Pogba leaving his biggest fan at The Guardian, Jamie Jackson, wrote a puff piece on him painting him as a flawed genius. The below the line comments though, ripped Pogba a new arsehole. They were mainly MU fans and said he was the biggest waste of time and money in the history of football (what I have been saying for years). I think Man U have been set back for years with the signings of Pogba and others – McGuire, Wan Bassaka etc and long may this continue.
Ten Hag cannot fix this in a year and giving Rangnick the DoF and then changing their mind shows they still dont have a clue. It will take a lot more than letting Woodward go to fix them. We can definitely finish above them this year, they need players in every position except goalie.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I actually think it is Pogba who has held Man U back for the last 6 years. Their managers have not known what to do with him but have been tasked with building the team around him. This is impossible. He is an inconsistent, narcissistic show pony more interested in instagram likes than football. He was epitomized by that Swiss game where he scored the 1st goal and he spent 1 min doing his pre-rehearsed dance moves. The Swiss then proceeded to stroll past him for the rest of the game and score 3.
He was good at Juve because he had Pirlo next to him and the best defense in the world behind him. He could try his tricks in the hope that one would come off because Juve only needed to win 1-0. It was different at Man U. He had to be the main man and he failed miserably making him the worst buy in the history of football.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Pogba is a cautionary tale for NUFC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just to labour my point for yesterday a little more ?
I’m watching SSN while eating my breakfast and they have the PL stats running down the right of the screen. PL most touched last season:
Cancelo – 3905
Rodri – 3243
Laporte – 3165
TAA – 3106
Hojberg – 3058
Top 3 City players & all defensive – but all 5 defensive players as well.
But the one thing you couldn’t label City, Lpool or Spurs as is defensive.
The successful teams control the play & retain the ball. Other teams can’t score against you if they don’t have the ball. Number 10s may help you get goals, but that doesn’t necessarily mean wins.
If we want to get up in those top 4 spots, we have to become a team that controls the game more and need the players that help us achieve that.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric – I wouldn’t take Pogba, but him going to a Juve, RM or PSG might throw up a player leaving one of those clubs that we could take advantage of ??♂️
Sharpy17(Quote)
I have been a bit critcal of Longstaff but he has done OK lately. I am not sure what his position is but could he play defensive mid? I sort of feel sorry for the kid and really think now that he was Bruced. He got a long term injury under Rafa and returned under Bruce where everybody has admitted the training was not up to par. Moreover, I think Sean has either said or intimated that Bruce ignored him. That would sap your confidence. He was still a young lad of 22 when Bruce took over.
There seem to be quite a few of the higher profile fans that know the Longstaffs and a lot have said that Bruce treated them badly. Maybe it is because they have a relationship with their dad but I can certainly believe it.
I think we have to give him a clean slate now under Eddie. On current form he is 5th choice. Still behind Shelvey and Willock and our 2 definite starters Bruno and Big Joe. But, it will be interesting to see if he can continue his form of the last 2 games where he looked good.
We had 2 wasted years under Bruce and it was worse for Sean because a footballer’s career is short. I think we would all have taken 5 mil for him from Rafa 6 months ago.
If we are to accept that Fraser, Krafth, Schar and Big Joe were Bruced then I think we can probably say the same about Sean. Nobody is suited to the dreaded 9-0-1 formation.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Could be right about Sean Eric. He was looking really good at the end there.
Ekikte is often played RW. Could be a good dual purpose signing.
georgio(Quote)
Georgio: the advice to Sean was almost universal that it would be better for his career if he left. But Eddie has shown faith and I hope it works out for both of them. Worst case is that he leaves in a year a better player, like the ones I named above.
I reckon Ekitike is close. My reasoning is that NUFC.com have mentioned the transfer and they hardly ever jump the gun.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Maybe Bruce didnt like Sean Longstaff because Steve wanted to be “the only Geordie in the Village”. Like that Little Britain show where he wanted to be “the only gay in the village”. I wouldnt put it past Bruce to act that shallow. I sort of hate Bruce the more time passes, you would think it would be the opposite.
Now I have a vision of Bruce stuffed into that leather outfit in the Welsh pub. Please make it go away!
* I didnt like that Little Britain show, they kept repeating the same “jokes”.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Not sure if you can really tell a lot from Youtube highlights but what I noticed in Ekitike’s. He has really quick feet. He likes to nutmeg people and likes a back heel. He is very skinny.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
First thing we do with Ekitike is get him in the gym with Big Joe and Wilson. Wilson looks like he has added even more muscle since he got back without affecting his pace.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
What the hell is drug cheat Rio Ferdinand getting an OBE for. Wasnt he suspended for a year? He is also a **** pundit and should have his Man U medals taken away just for what he does now.
There is a record of them f-ing up honours. All of the bankers that precipitated the 2008 financial crisis. Sir Jimmy Savile. Lord Jeffrey Archer.
There should be protests at the Queens’ street parties against Rio’s OBE 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We should just be Brexiting the Monarchy
PremAndUp(Quote)
Sharpy, It shows just how comfortable on the ball your defenders need to be if you are going to try and copy City.
Just to labour my point from yesterday
I think that is admirable, but we are a long way off having that quality of defender. Despite that I still argue that our defence is not bad. Since the beginning of Feb we conceded 16 goals in 17 games. But 10 of them were in two games against spurs and city. I agree a CDM might have helped against the big boys.
On the attack I think that the teams we face will be more defensive against us next season. 23 goals in the same 17 games mainly without Wilson, is excellent and for me the area where we can improve.
34 points in 17 games was third in the form charts. and equates to 76 pts in the season. We can replicate that and even improve if we strengthen the squad. Third or Fourth is not only achievable but we have already demonstrated the capability. Bring back entertainers.
PremAndUp(Quote)
One thing that is going under the radar is that we need a new kit sponsor. That abomination that Castore produced as their 1st effort should have been one strike and they are out. They may be upstarts, but if we are going to play in the big leagues now we need a big league sponsor – Nike, Adidas or Puma. They can also afford to pay a lot more than Castore and that is what we should be looking for.
I am not sure how much longer the Castore contract has to run. Probably at least this coming year and I bet we dont get more than 5 mil from it. I think Man U get that for their training kit or sleeve sponsor. Seriously, I would buy them out if this goes for more than one more year. We will have European football and be much more attractive to the big boy sports retailers.
That kit did it for me. Whoever couldnt see the number “4” on it and approved it needs shot.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The thing about Castore is that we were promoting their brand as much as they were sponsoring us. A successful NUFC or Villa are too big for Castore. They should be sponsoring Sunderland or Burnley.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I agree with Prem. 3 more 1st team additions and we can shoot for the moon. I am sick of fans saying we should walk before we run and even sicker of John Barnes saying we should be happy with 10th. Aye like, when we should have been happy with Kenny bringing in 34 year old Barnes, Rush and Pearse taking us from runners up to 13th. STFU about NUFC John Barnes and stick to Liverpool.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I dont agree with anybody on blogs, on youtube, the pundits who say that top half is what we should aim for. Yes it would be progress, but 8-10th would also be failure given who we are likely to recruit. These people have no vision or faith. They still dont get that we are the richest club in the world and the Saudis have much higher ambitions for us than essentially treading water. Their plan is to be top 6 at worst, even next year. And it is doable with the state of Arsenal and Man U.
Man U need a total overhaul and Arsenal do not have a very good squad.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Agreeing again Eric. Massive improvement eh? Move on up from 11th to 9th. John Barnes?
Do people not understand The Richest Club in the World?
georgio(Quote)
What if this site actually worked like it should?
What if my details were actually saved?
What if there was a notification of a new thread so I wasn’t talking to myself?
?????
Annoyed(Quote)
I looked at Ollie Wilsons season grades and agree IF IT IS FOR 2022 only (apart from goalies). For the whole season with Bruce/Jones for 11 games and then Eddie taking a while to get his ideas across, I think some of his ratings are a bit high.
I will be generous and believe they are 2022 so I am very much in agreement with Ollie on most. Eddie has said Lewis will have the pre-season so I dont think there is a decision made to move him on as Ollie thinks there is. I want to see him get a chance when he is not injured.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
reports saying Hugo Ekitike is not keen on joining toon wants a bigger club
icedog(Quote)
Ice – I’m not sure if that’s just paper talk mate.
He’s spoken of his reasons for not coming in January and I totally get it to be fair to the lad. He’s only 19 and it did all happen very quickly for him. I get why he might have freaked out a bit and wanted to stay put – even more so when you consider we were bottom of the league at the time as well.
But if he sacks us off again, I won’t be as understanding. We’ve gone back very early in the window as well – proving to him that we see him as an important addition.
We are a considerably bigger club than he’s playing for now. Definitely a step up in leagues & are offering him a chance to grow and develop with us.
We don’t want to be getting mugged about. If he doesn’t want to come, move on.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ekitike will be 20 in a few days and has only played a handful of games in France and is not even a full international. If he goes to a “bigger” club, how many games will he get? Juve, PSG, AC Milan? I could see him warming the bench for a season even if they are willing to spend the money. The only team I can really see having a gap for him is Arseanal but will they really spend 35 mil on a teenage forward when their defense is so ****?
There’s no way the top 4 in Spain would play him even if they could afford him. His only real other options are the likes of Dortmund or Hoffenheim. We will be bigger than both in a couple of seasons as he matures and looks to get into the French team.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am going to have another go at Castore. They were supposed to release the new strip for sale today but c@cked it up. They are a bunch of amateurs. I will say again that the “4” shirt is a joke and should never have got through the final check. According to NUFC youtube channels the sizing is way off and they shrink. Does anybody have one to verify this?
I think the sooner we rejoin the big leagues in terms of shirt manufacturers the better. Nike, Puma and Adidas pay the top 4-6 clubs and fortune and Castore pay a pittance. It is also a legacy of Ashley and I bet they signed on because his tat shops would sell their gear.
I know this a weird thing to get worked up about but getting rid of Fun88 and Castore will be expunging our club of the last vestiges of the Fat Man.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
From what I’ve seen of Ekitike the lad looks good – how good is a complete unknown.
He’s a young lad who has just broke through really – he wasn’t never really a threat the top teams in France had to consider – but now he is, and next season he may well not be as effective with defenders knowing what he’s about.
He’s played in a half decent team in a bang average league.
He looks good & im sure our scouts have done a thorough job on him.
If we get him great, if we don’t I won’t lose sleep & im pretty confident we’ll still get a very good alternative ??♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’d still prefer Martinez from Inter. Still surprised though that Hope and .com both jumped the gun.
georgio(Quote)
Georgio – I think you’d be talking Nunez money plus for that lad though.
If what we are looking to recruit is a back up to Wilson because we still see him as the main striker – then I’d be happy with Cucho Henandez from Watford.
Ekitike is probably a better ball player & can play wide & centre, but Henandez is more of a goal scorer – and with ASM, Bruno and Diaby (hopefully) creating chances, I reckon the lad would score goals.
Sharpy17(Quote)
With what is rumoured, and I think it is only a rumour, that Ekitike is looking for a “Bigger” club than NUFC I did a bit of navel gazing and thought about what clubs he might be thinking of and his chances of getting into their 1st team for more than 10 games next year. I am ignoring the fact that we will be above a lot of these clubs in 3 years and will be in the QF of the CL.
Milan – no
Inter – no
Napoli – no
Juve – no
PSG – no
Real – no
Barca – no
Athletic – no
Sevilla – possibly
Bayern – no
Dortmund – possibly, they play youth
City – fck no
Liverpool – no
Chelsea – no
Spurs -no
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ime just a tad worried if he can handle the PL hes very thin and easy pushed off the ball and for sure he will get stick from defenders,can he handle it i have my doubts,yes he has skills but i worry about him being able to handle the PL
icedog(Quote)
I still think the only alternatives for Ekitike are Arsenal and Dortmund.
Arsenal are really a 7th place team and have to spend a fortune to stay in their false position of 5th. They have their own youth and need established players in both defense and attack. They would be mad to spunk 40 mil on a 19 year old with 20 Legue 1 games in the hope he is the next Henry.
Dortmund might just be an option, although 40 mil is a bit steep for them.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice: I said earlier he needs to get in the gym with Wilson and Big Joe 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am looking at Ekitike as a boom or bust player. I agree with Ice that he might not make it in the PL but he has quick feet and good positional sense so he just might. If we sign him he needs to put on a stone before Xmas. We have to keep our fingers crossed Wilson stays fit and ease Hugo in on the right. It would be the end of Miggy, but I am not really bothered about that. Murphy and Fraser are OK backups.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Bearing in mind he’s 6′ 3″, when he fills out he’ll be fine. I’d far rather have him as Wilson’s back-up and Long term replacement than as our main man on the wing
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem: from the little I have seen of Ekitike he reminds me of Gabriel Jesus so I would definitely sign him. In fact, I would pick Jesus ahead of him if he would come.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Is it harsh to say I’d be fine with us selling Lascelles to Forest and replacing him with Jason Denayer on a free transfer.
I think Denayer is a better CB and certainly better ball playing CB than Lascelles.
I also really like Nathan Ake. I think he’d be perfect for taking us to that next step up. I know Botman is young, but Ake has all the PL experience we’d need to make a charge on those top spots – would he want to leave City for Newcastle?!. He’s played for Howe before so that may work in our favour if he decided to leave – but he’s played quite regularly for City & is guaranteed to win stuff there in the remaining 5 or 6 years of his career.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I get the concern over Ekitikes build, but there have been many slim built players who have done just fine in the league.
Mahrez at City, Diaz at Liverpool isn’t a big lad, Martinelli at Arsenal – even players like Kante & Silva aren’t big lads. But they all play with a level of aggression. They make themselves difficult to get off the ball – unlike Miggy & Perez when he was with us. They spend more time on the ground looking for freekicks than actually aggressively competing for the ball.
I think it would all be down to Ekitikes approach to playing in the PL.
I agree he’d still have to bulk up, but he’s only 19 and would have to wherever he goes.
I remember a young Ronaldo coming in at Man Utd thinking, he’s too slight to make it in the PL – that weedy little pleb proved me wrong. I guess it depends on the level of ambition of Ekitike himself really – pace is a big bonus as well though.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I was just thinking. I want to see somebody holding the shirt, Anybody because we are only linked with decent players. Maybe Denayer on a free. Then I saw your piece. Totally agree
PremAndUp(Quote)
Can we move on from Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Everton are going to want 60 million and there is no way he is worth that. Having watched a lot of PL football the best English striker not named Kane or Wilson is Ivan Toney.
They show 5 live games every weekend in the US and you can watch replays of the other 5 if you want. I have seen quite a lot of Toney and think Rafa made a massive mistake (not the only one).
The good thing about games in the US is that they end at 1pm so you have the whole rest of the day to do whatever you want. If I have gone to the pub that is usually sleep 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I watched Wraith’s 3 Amigos and the consensus was that Targett is a no go now and he will sign for a Southern club. They do seem to have some connections at the club, especially Keith Patterson who started the CAT case. I had stopped watching them for about 6 months before the takeover because all they would do is spend an hour saying they had information but couldnt tell us because it would break a confidence. They are still doing the same with players but they are discussing some of the links. The problem is that you dont really know what is authentic and what is noise. I think they might be right on Targett though.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Getting back to Castore. I am watching an Adam Pearson video. He seems like a good kid and follows NUFC all over, although he does mumble a bit. Anyway, he is wearing a Castore Toon top and I noticed that it has a crappy stick on badge rather than an embroidered one. How much are they charging for these replicas? 80 quid or summink, and they are putting out shoddy merchandise.
Castore Out.
Fun88 Out.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – my favourite top was the ASICS one with the blue star ??.
I really liked the adidas strips too though.
I’d love the sponsor to be something like the SBR foundation or Shearers charity – but I expect it to be something like LIV golf or something Saudi related.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: I have a retro 2nd strip – grey pinstripes with the blue star in the middle. I also have a sweatshirt with a 12 by 12 crest on the chest. I never bought a B&W striped shirt because of American Football Refs. Me Mam sent me one ages ago with the Broon Ale Logo but I must have lost it during moving house which I have done about 5 times in the last 20 years.
As you can see, I am really not happy with Castore and want them gone ASAP. If they do another stick on crest they can just f-off.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I also bought a tin St James’s Park, NE1 street sign last month which is on my hallway wall. I was shocked, I got it on Amazon for $20 shipped from the US in a day. I was expecting to have to spend 50 quid at the club shop and have it shipped for probably another 30.
They have a lot of places I can buy retro kits so I dont have to waste my money on Castore trash.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Back to ranting about Castore. I just think they have been given a free ride for that awful “4” strip. The design is terrible and the badge is terrible. I cant believe I let that go for so long. Anybody who wasted 80 quid on that deserves their money back. Plus, it was one of the last legacies of Ashley. We do not need upstart tat merchants in the mould of Ashley producing our strips, especially at the cost they are charging. My guess is they probably cost $10 to produce so we should be seeing a lot more money from them from now on, or better still, they should stick to making strips for Villa.
Castore Out
Fun 88 Out
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think we will have the 5th best team in the PL at the start of the season. City and Liverpool are untouchable but also the new Chelsea owners will spend 175 mil. Then there is Spurs. Levy is going to give Conte 200 million. With that, he can win something. Not the League, but the FA Cup or even the CL. Any team with Kane and Son, at their peak as they are now, and the sky’s the limit. Conte has to fix their defense.
So, I reckon we will finish 5th.
Eric Sykes(Quote)