Last September, it was announced that the search for Darren Eales’ replacement was underway as our CEO was sadly battling blood cancer.
Fast forward to May, Paul Mitchell then confirmed he was stepping down as our sporting director, leaving Newcastle with two major roles to fill.
In that wait for two much-needed replacements, we’ve seen a chaotic summer full of rejections, no stadium update, next to no communication, an unwanted Alexander Isak saga, few signings and far too much work for an exhausted Eddie Howe.
It reflects very badly on our owners that neither position has been addressed in what was meant to be a transformative summer for the club, and Alan Shearer isn’t a happy man.
Speaking on the Rest Is Football podcast this week, he described the lack of appointments as “nonsense”, summarising our pre-season and summer as an “absolute disaster” so far:
“Disaster pre-season. Absolute disaster. Where do I start? All of the talk has been about Isak. It has been a disaster for them, it really has.”
“For whatever reason, I’ve said about the chief executive and the sporting director, I think it’s nonsense they haven’t had those in. Whether that’s hampered them or not, I guess it has.”
“After what should have been, I thought, a time for Newcastle to kick on, after winning a trophy, after getting into the Champions League.”
“I thought it was the time to go out and bring in three or four big players and I thought that was going to happen.”
Things MIGHT be saved to a certain degree if we follow Malick Thiaw’s arrival with Yoane Wissa and at least one midfielder, but the big question that’s dictating our next steps is Alexander Isak’s future.
Shearer wants the Isak saga sorted as “quick as possible.” He’s unsure if Howe can convince him to stay, but points out that we already needed a striker this summer, adding to the mammoth task facing the club over the next three weeks:
“They need to sort the situation out as quick as possible with Isak. I guess he stays until they get someone in. Eddie can maybe talk him around.
“They needed a forward anyway, so they need two centre-forwards now.”
Does he know why there haven’t been appointments. There may be employment and contractural issues for parties when they can start and leave.
Why doesent he find out and tell the rest of us.
Three quality signings have been made and a situation with their main striker the club didn’t create. Can we concentrate on that instead of focusing on negative things.
Shearer seems to ignore PSR factors.
The little birdy(Quote)
they all do, they all seem to pretend that PSR isn’t a thing that clubs have to abide by despite seeing the likes of Everton getting docked points for it.
But then for the cosy cartel of “legacy” (odious term) clubs it doesn’t really apply does it? they can spend what they want to sell their own assets to themselves can’t they?
Johnny Mac(Quote)