Frustrations within the Newcastle United fanbase are reaching their peak, and club legend Alan Shearer has publicly joined in the vexation of the Geordie nation.
Eddie Howe has done an incredible job to guide us back to Champions League football and end our longstanding trophy drought. Little has been done to help the gaffer over the past few seasons to strengthen our position.
Three windows have passed without any major incomings and, though Anthony Elanga has signed on this summer, a general lack of action from the suits away from the pitch have led Alexander Isak to tell the club he is “exploring his options” this summer.
Shearer gave his thoughts on what Howe’s next steps should be now that his talisman has essentially placed himself in the shop window, and shared his disappointment with the Club’s handling of business.
Shearer frustrated by Newcastle mess
Eddie Howe must do all he can to convince Alexander Isak to stay at Newcastle for at least another year, says Alan Shearer.
Shearer, who famously showed loyalty and fulfilled his dream of playing for his hometown club when he rejected Manchester United’s advances in 1996, asserted that nobody is bigger than Newcastle United.
However, speaking to Betfair, Shearer feels communication from the club has been poor, believing Isak’s recent absence from our trip to Asia could’ve been dealt with better:
“If they thought people wouldn’t see through that (Isak not travelling to Singapore)… it was disappointing. They should’ve just told the truth straight away. I understand it’s a very difficult situation for them but it is what it is.
“Eddie Howe has to use all his persuasive powers to do what he can and try to make him stay at least one more year. If that can’t happen then it is what it is. You have to get the very best deal for the football club and if someone is prepared to pay north of £150million, and if he really, really wants to go, you can’t step in his way.
“Isak has been brilliant for Newcastle, helped us achieve our dream of winning a trophy and if there’s no way whatsoever that he can be persuaded to stay at Newcastle, then they have to get the best deal possible and if someone’s prepared to pay what they want, you have to say thank you and build for the future.
“There’s no individual bigger than the football club.”
Is Isak damage done?
If Isak wants to go and our fee demands are met, should we let him leave? That’s the ultimate question – but it’s important to remember we ultimately have most control in the situation.
The Swede’s head has definitely been turned. Whether to do purely with his own ambitions, wage demands, our lack of off-field progress and squad building, or a combination of the three, his head has turned.
A bad egg spoils the batch as the saying goes, if he requests to leave and we deny him then we risk the 25-year-old kicking off – or not playing. Additionally, it would see the prospective fee of £150m decrease window by window as he nears the expiry of his contract.
But is the damage irreversible now, if he is convinced to stay and the forward agrees to a new deal after talks with Howe and the situation is salvaged, there will be a stink hanging above Isak’s head about his consideration of leaving.
He would certainly be granted forgiveness a lot quicker if he starts the season well, and continues to help us build on a historic 2024/25 campaign in our return to the Champions League.
There is a stink….But who caused it!
Joseph(Quote)
‘a general lack of action’ is totally unfair and inaccurate. That is insinuating they haven’t bothered trying to improve – absolute rubbish. They have seriously tried to sign multiple players, especially strikers, all summer. The names are listed on here every day! They haven’t done so because the system is rigged and deliberately designed to hold the toon back. You can say they haven’t got things right, looked at the right options or whatever but it hasn’t been for want of trying. Please don’t turn into one of those sites that are damaging the club we all support, think about how you are writing, even if it’s a bit clumsy it can add to the negativity in the current climate
East stand(Quote)
And it’s not that which has led to poor bairns Isak considering his options…It’s ££££. Pure and simple. Don’t make excuses for him. There’s also plenty of window left btw
East stand(Quote)
He wont out he will not get every game in liver pool. Malcom. Macdonld whent to arsenal same ting will happen to isak
R anderson(Quote)
Dining at the captains table now and the competition is fierce
Some didn’t want to come
Some went to more successful clubs money
Need to stop penny-pinching and get these deals over the line
Blythfilz(Quote)
Daily denigration with the usual whatifery and if this or that happens🥴 .. the negativity is ridiculous .. many folk are frustrated that the media and blogs are producing the same “stories “everyday without any facts only sources said , it’s believed , insiders say .. pure click bait that is dragging the clubs reputation down .. shameful stuff ., Newcastle are doing just fine trying to buy the best players that other legacy clubs want ., it’s not lazy or mismanagement or cash it’s a competitive reality ..
At the end of August we will have a huge amount of cash flogging isak or he stays plus a bunch of new players who will improve the squad ..
Mike(Quote)
Mike, this is actual quotes from Shearer…
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
ABSOLUTELY!
Trafford agreed to come A YEAR AGO. If we’d completed the signing, for the same of 5 million quid, he’d have been in Singapore now!!! Instead we arsed about, left him and Burnley hanging, Edisson started wanting out and City walked in, paid almost what we’d offered and they accepted it. He could have been ours weeks before City even thought about him.
But it offer was low ball.
Ekitike: Our offer was low ball.
Wissa: Our offer is still low ball
No doubt any others we’ve made have been placed trying to save a few mill rather than improving the team being a priority.
Get the ffffffing major ones signed. So much for poor Eddie “signing them early” – I’m just shocked he’s not pissed off enough to leave himself!!! He’s been left absolutely in the ***** by PIF. They need to show the ambition they promised in the early days or something else will go wrong.
I’m still waiting for the June announcement about the new stadium. Anyone else?
Steve Clancy(Quote)
WHAT’S THE POINT HAVING ALL OF THE ISAK MONEY AT THE END OF AUGUST? WE WON’T HAVE TIME TO GET A REPLACEMENT.
If he’s going to go, get him sold ASAP and then FINALISE SOME DEALS. I’m sick of hearing We’ve had discussions with xyz club or player. If the scouting has been done and they fit the right criteria SIGN THEM. Otherwise we’ll end up with 130 million quid (not 150 imho) but only one striker. And I like Will Osula; but I don’t think he can lead the line 2x a week all season and have is competing for top 4 again. He needs help.
WE HAVE PRIORITY PLACES THAT NEED FILLING. GET THOSE DEALS FINISHED. QUICKLY.
Steve Clancy(Quote)
Isak is under contract for 3 more years. The club has the upper hand. Tell him he can go next year and NOT to another PL club. End of. If he pouts just remind him that his behavior will be noted by other clubs.
LA Toon(Quote)
I hope we get Wissa in for starters – even if paying over the odds – because it’ll steady things and at least get us a replacement for Wilson.
THEN, well we’ve got to give an ultimatum: we’ll only let Isak leave up to a certain date, because we need time to replace him. And there’s no point going for Sesko just to see him choose Man U at the last second. Armed with a huge wad of extra wonga we should be able to find a young talented striker abroad whilst keeping negotiations quiet.
I really hope Man City take the title next season. The only one of the “big” four or five I don’t mind… (I should 1.stop reading Toon non news every day and 2. stop posting on here and just read a good book)
Adam(Quote)
If Isak complaining about pay and lack of ambition for the club.
One thing I have to say, that’s why they paid £63 million for you pal to help them climb the table and get back to winning ways.
If he just wants more money because they won what? The Carabao cup!… Come on let’s see what your really made off. Where’s the champions League trophy if the cabinet if your that good???
Jonathan D Bentham(Quote)
It smells of PIF wanting out.
Malcolm Patterson(Quote)
Eddie Howe has to go. He is gutless and no fights in him like the other managers. The current mess and slowness and gutless in the tranfer markets only proved that NUFC has a faked rich owner and a useless manager who chose to stay out of troubles towards the club mishandlings including Isak case and failures in coming up with the extra few mils to close the deals.
J(Quote)
What a load of utter nonsense.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)