I doubt Amanda Staveley will read this – she’s too busy working away to make Newcastle United great again – but I had to say a few words about the lady who made all of this possible.
Way back in October 2017, she and husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi were spotted at St James’ Park, taking in our Premier League clash with Liverpool; a match that ended all square after Joselu’s fortunate finish at the Leazes End.
The following four years was a rollercoaster and one she had every reason to get off after bids were rejected and her name dragged through the mud by a certain Mike Ashley, who described talks as “exhausting, frustrating and a complete waste of time.” She didn’t give up, though.
In April 2020, more than two years on from her initial bid, breaking news revealed that PCP were in advanced talks to seal a deal alongside PIF and the Reuben Brothers. Even then, an excruciating delay followed, as the Premier League stalled and rival clubs lobbied against a £300m deal, seeing PIF withdraw their bid – albeit temporarily – in July 2020.
Our hearts sank and so did hers, telling The Athletic she was “absolutely devastated” and “angry” after the takeover bid fell through for the second time. But, once again, she didn’t give up.
Legal proceedings began, fans rallied – which she encouraged after liaising with the NUST – and we FINALLY got the moment we’d all been dreaming of, with a deal announced just after 5pm on 7th October 2021; almost exactly four years on from her first visit to St James’ Park.
That’s just the story of how it all unfolded, yet it shows how fierce, determined and dedicated Amanda was to getting this deal done. Yes, she is an investor and deal broker, but it was clear from day one how much she cared about Newcastle United, our fanbase and bringing the good times back to a city crying out for change at their beloved football club.
Since then, she’s been the perfect custodian for Newcastle United and deserves so much praise and love for keeping the faith when others lost hope.
Thanks you for never giving up on our club. Thank you for always keeping us updated with your plans and speaking with such positivity and passion.
Thank you for your attendance at games – home or away – alongside Mehrdad and Jamie Reuben. After Mike Ashley’s absence became normal, we don’t take your support for granted.
Thank you for appointing Eddie Howe; the perfect man for this exciting project and manager who is already taking this club to the next level.
Thank you for engaging with players and showing you care. Investment is one thing, but it’s clear Newcastle United is one big family now when you watch how you hugged and thanked everyone involved after our final home game of the season.
Thank you for dreaming big. Our cup final defeat hurt, but your post-match interview on talkSPORT was inspiring and reinvigorating, vowing to guide the club towards titles in the near future.
Thank you for your involvement in the women’s team. You vowed to work on every department and Wor Lasses are already reaping the rewards of that. You’ve not only helped inspire them to promotion, but left a new generation of young female Newcastle fans desperate to play football.
It’s clear you care deeply. I re-watched the post-match scenes from Monday’s game and it was quite emotional to see you wipe away the tears after that hug and message of thanks to Eddie Howe.
We are in the Champions League. We are in love with our football club once again. We are a city united and we have you to thank. Without your hard work and perseverance, none of this would be possible.
Thank you, Amanda.
Another delay in the post going up
Sharpy17(Quote)
I see we’re interested in Tosin from Fulham. He’d be cheap and a very good passer out from the back. Excellent cover/competition for Schar.
georgio(Quote)
Olly, the issues are the same as when it happened before. Other posters details appearing, now I have premanup details, and when you comment it doesn’t appear until you leave the page, then go back and refresh. Then I see my comment. Thanks for whatever you can do mate.
Maybe need another thread now too as this one’s been on a while. Tonali signing post maybe? 👍👍
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Man Utd seem to really be having a mare getting Mount signed up.
It’s a weird signing imo – not the player they desperately need to be prioritising imo but I really couldn’t care. It’s just great to see them struggle while we walk through the signing of one of the best young midfielders in Europe.
I really struggle to think of a Chelsea player I’d really want – Pulisic maybe but not too fussed 🤷🏼♂️.
If Arsenal sign Havertz then I’d defo sound out Arsenal about Nketiah
Sharpy17(Quote)
Tonali is a good signing BUT can he handle the PL a lot of so called stars have came and done nowt so lets hope he can
icedog(Quote)
site messed up again!
Love the way we approach new signings these days. Howe picks players for very strategic reasons. Tonali will be perfect in so many ways, DM, double pivot and box to box. Big, strong, quick and brick wall competitor. Pirlo says he’s the best player in SerieA.
He’s exactly what we need. 10/10.
Left back next.
georgio(Quote)
My worry as well mate
kimtoon(Quote)
Well if Pirlo rates him that’s good enough for me.
kimtoon(Quote)
I’m really, really missing weekend Football already ☹️☹️☹️
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Spot on mate I loved him the greatest m/f for me,a nice guy too
Icedog(Quote)
Be nice for the deal to finally get confirmed mind.
I’m not overly concerned after his agent spoke at the airport the other day, but it would be nice to know this ones in the bag 🤞🏼🤞🏼
Sharpy17(Quote)
Doesn’t that Gabri Veiga play for Celta Vigo? Rafa’s new club. Could be a leg up there for a terrific player?
georgio(Quote)
no way would sign him yet hes playing for under 23s if he got bad injury we would be in the *****,just wait until hes finished playing its safer mate
iceedog(Quote)
Ice – I know you’re right mate. Imagine £52m then the next day he breaks his leg playing against Andorra U21s man 🤦🏼♂️.
I think I’m still scarred from Loic Remy the dirty rat. I know we’re a different club now – but look at City steaming in on Rice coz Arsenal haven’t got business done.
As Dec would say ‘get it in the bag’ and move on to the next signing please!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m really torn with this Maddison saga.
I think he’s a real quality player & would add goals & assists to our squad – my dilemma is I really don’t know where we’d put him without changing the formation – and I wouldn’t want to mess with something that works so well.
I’ve suggested before he play wide right, but I think that’s just me trying to wedge him into our side – he’s a more central player really. But now we have (or soon to have) Tonali, who would you drop for him in the middle?
I’m also conscious that someone is already likely out now Tonali comes in (soon).
I’m so keen to leave room for Anderson to progress too – probably still too early for Miley, maybe a loan move for him 🤷🏼♂️.
I guess what I’m saying is I don’t want Maddison to go to Spurs, but I don’t think we have room for him either 🤔🤯
Sharpy17(Quote)
I do see a change in midfield tactics, Sharpy.
ATM we play with a progressive no 6 (Bruno) with two No 8s (Willock and Longstaff) which has been solid and industrious but not particularly creative.
With Tonali we have another player very much in Bruno’s mould. A progressive no 6 who can play the long pass and move into aggressive spaces.
I would expect to see us play both Bruno and Tonali together in the base of midfield either moving forward as needed. I would then see an advanced no 8 / 10 able to create havoc in defences a role I think Szoboszlai is better suited to than Maddison. I would see this option as suitable against parked buses.
The alternative is to put a static no 6 such as Thuram or Guillamon and move Tonali and Bruno up to Number 8s. I see this option as more useful in open games against better opposition, such as in Europe.
Either way, it moves Willock, Longstaff, Anderson and Miley down to the bench.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem – I think you’re right mate, and Bruno & Tonali are hybrid midfielders capable of both – I’d probably through Joelinton into that too thinking about who we have.
So yeah that creativity & more focused attacking midfielder through the middle is definitely a player we don’t really have.
Having the midfield we do I think was a big factor in how defensively solid we were last season & helped with only 4 losses imo.
But it was also probably the reason we got as many draws as we did – particularly that period after the WC where we hit a bit of a dip in results (I say results because I don’t think we were playing that badly during that period).
If the fee of £40m Spurs have agreed is true, then I think they are getting a really good deal for Maddison they’re like – but that squad needs so much more!!.
A keeper & whole new back 4 for starters.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Is Livramento the right signing? He’d be back up to Trippier for at least a season but we already have Krafth, Ashby and Manquillo. Now they might not be good enough or moving on but how ambitious is young Livra?
Pleased the Maddison saga is over. I never thought he had the bottle for the Toon midfield.
I’d like Veiga or Slozboz. And a left back.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Sorry Prem – our site gremlins are back.
georgio(Quote)
Liverpool now after Sloboszlai now apparently! 😳
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Prem – I think Livra is a talented young player & a deal to move Fraser the other way would be a great bit of business …
But, he’s injury worries me a bit. An ACL is a bad one & what long term problems might that have – you’d hope the medical would clear that up like & we put faith in Ices mate.
I don’t think Krafth is good enough & I’ve never been sold on Ashby. The lad was WH third choice – if he was that good he’d have been knocking on their first team.
Manquillo has never really done much wrong when he got in, and isn’t a bad cover for Trippier – but he’s not competition for him & not long term replacement either – but I’m not sure Livra is either.
I said a while bad & still think it – Walker-Pieters is who I’d be after, but I think he’d want first team football.
It’s a tricky one really.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I tend to go off other fans reactions and WHU fans all seemed sad to see Ashby leave so I’m for giving him a chance
KWP plays more LB than RB so is up against burn/ targett and just a rehash of them. He lost out to Livramento and if Newcastle considered him as a RB he’s less progressive than Trippier. So he’s versatile which Howe likes but not a progressive back which Howe doesn’t like. Feels like a no.
Onto Livramento and the complexity is cost. Southampton will hold out to see if Chelsea are interested in buy- back (£50m) which kicks in in June. If not, They’ll want big money as Chelsea have big slice on profits Southampton make.
Injury is a risk but you’d hope nufc have good medics to pick up anything long term and it didn’t seem to put them off Tierney.
Then its down to how much the coaches think injury reduces his progressiveness
As for ambition the chance to work in a club on the up, with a coach who’s star is rising and alongside an experienced international, trophy winning mentor who’s gone 30 sounds an amazing opportunity. Maybe how patient is he is a better question?
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Doh! For June read July
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
well my mate has been on call all week speaking to him he expects next week as well so something is cooking imo
iceedog(Quote)
I had a bit of a wobble yesterday with Spurs getting Maddison done so quickly – it was following on from the other clubs getting their business done early too though.
I was annoyed coz it feels like we are dawdling a bit – I love that word coz I knew what it meant when my Gma used to say ‘stop dawdling’.
But I think I talked myself out of it & realised that my feelings were about past owners & windows and these newbies haven’t their way of doing things – ultimately they bring the right players in.
I would be happier if our key players are brought in earlier so Howe has time to work with them pre season. We might get the right players in but we held Bruno, Isak & Gordon back because by the time we’d got them signed they weren’t ready in Howes eyes & we didn’t benefit from the additions as quickly as we maybe should have.
I think the fact Tonali STILL hasn’t been announced yet brought about that wobble too – really don’t know what the delay is now 🤷🏼♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Frustrating times as we watch prospective targets going to other clubs. Eg Veiga, Guler etc but really the window only opens tomorrow. Conversely I’m glad we didn’t get Maddison or Mount.
However it would be good to get new players early. Tonali will arrive shortly and I expect some surprises will follow.
georgio(Quote)
It’s difficult because NUFC are still a bit of an unknown entity, with little history of success – it’s not even like to have a rich history in European football.
Liverpool & Chelsea haven’t qualified for European football this season, but they can pay the wages & you’d expect them to come again this season – so new signings will still see moves to them as one season out of the CL but then back on it.
NUFC aren’t that yet – we could still be see as a one season wonder by some potential new signings.
Having players like Bruno, Botman, Isak and hopefully Tonali soon – top young players, that should encourage others.
But as we are now, we will still be second choice to the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and the other ‘top 6’ clubs for a few more seasons yet at least.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ollie – the sites on it’s knees. Maybe a consequence of not changing the featured article which has been unchanged for weeks. The site looks dead. Why not take the best of the articles and use that instead?
georgio(Quote)
and change it every week. Something new to talk about . . .
georgio(Quote)
Hi mate.
When the season is in full swing I post a preview and a match report each week, so two new threads each week. When it’s transfer window season, these stop and the long articles in main thread aren’t quite as regular. You’ll see I post so many transfer updates in the news section of the site (below top banner / main threads). I struggle with ‘the site looks dead’ – feels like a bit of an insult to all of the work I’m putting in, especially when I still try to change the main thread with a longer article (which takes time to write) every now and then.
I am working on the site bugs, I cover all of the news and rumours, we’ve launched a new podcast, I’m working on exclusives – which take time but add a lot of value to the site – and I try my best to keep the regular commenters happy, but I struggle with the criticism when I work so hard and can’t do everything all of the time.
I’ll get another article moved to main thread soon – hopefully that helps.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Olly – I feel like Georgios comments were more advice than criticism. The ‘site feels dead’ comment is more that the main article has been a message to Amanda for a few weeks now – and it was written a week or 2 before it was made the main article.
We know you are busy with the site & the first few comments on this article thanks you & the team for that.
I think all Georgio is saying it can you make one of the news stories a main article once a week 🤷🏼♂️ you’re writing it up anyway so 2 birds n all that.
I know you get some people coming on only to criticise but recognise who they are mate. Asking for a change to be made isn’t criticising & those who post regularly are on your side.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The fact that Szoboszlai looks like he’s going to Liverpool after we’ve been linked so heavily with him doesn’t really bother me too much. I don’t know too much about him but the position he plays doesn’t really fit our formation or how we play under Howe.
What does bother me though is just how vocal Klopp was about Liverpool not being able to compete – then they go and spend.
What’s equally frustrating is there’s not a journalist brave enough to pull him up about it!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Perhaps I took it the wrong way, but ‘the site is on its knees’ and ‘the site is dead’ in one comment makes it slightly more critical than geared towards advice, in my eyes. Also seems a bit harsh when there’s so many articles going up each day – suggesting the entire site is dead because one section has gone quiet (it always does at this time of year, as it’s my break from previews/match reports twice-a-week) is a bit much, for me.
As you know, I post longer, in-depth pieces on the main thread, not news stories that will soon become very outdated, so I will look for another piece to add to the top banner of blog, creating a new thread for discussion.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Olly – I think you picked up on it yourself though mate – in the close season those longer pieces are a lot more difficult to put together with nowt much happening.
Just use on of the news stories per week as a main article – for example the last one on Tonali would work as it’s more than just rumour 🤷🏼♂️.
I was going to say far be it from me to tell you how to do it – but that’s arguably exactly what I’m doing 😂 but it’s meant in a good way 👍🏼.
You’ll know what articles you’re putting out day to day. Rather than that extra work close season just use a news story – especially while you’ll have that extra work getting the podcast established as well 🤷🏼♂️ just a thought mate.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Couldn’t agree more mate Klopp is a bloody hypocrite .
kimtoon(Quote)
Apologies there Ollie. I really do appreciate all of your hard work. The reason I even mentioned it is that nothing was moving on the main feature and newcomers would probably assume the site is out of date. No discussion = no crack for us fans.
georgio(Quote)
I appreciate that mate, I just wouldn’t want to have a news piece in the top banner / main thread, as it never takes long for news to change and it’s not in keeping with the sort of pieces we put in that section. If anything, putting a transfer rumour in there and leaving it would make blog look even more out of touch (as the news section below main threads updates every day, as people who read site regularly will see).
Anyway folks, new thread!
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2023/06/25/why-im-so-excited-for-this-summer-next-season-and-beyond-what-a-time-to-be-a-toon-fan/
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
He’s playing games.. so another way to look at it is those words were directed at the clubs owners to encourage them to invest and not a poke at Newcastle or other clubs
Agreed on the journalists. i get that the clubs beat writers will be all giddy about klopp but the north west love-in from the national media is nauseating
GoWest!Mag(Quote)