It’s coming up to that most wonderful time of year again. The hope, excitement, intrigue and mystery of whether you’ll get what you want is almost too much to take. That’s right, another transfer window is almost upon us.
Ever since the takeover, how many Newcastle fans have actually enjoyed a transfer window? Despite our recruitment being mostly very good since we waved goodbye to Mike Ashley, they can be so tedious.
The constant links, speculation, RSI in the thumb as we refresh in need of the dopamine hit of a new signing, while e-experts claim to know everything about the 17 year old left back you’ve been linked with from the Latvian second division. Everyday words like “considering”, “preparing” and “monitoring” lose all meaning. Exhausting.
It also feels that every single transfer window that Newcastle enter is the most important one yet. Crucial. Transformative. Other such adjectives.
The next two really are though, and could shape the direction of travel of the club for the next few years.
Whatever your current thoughts on Eddie Howe, it’s quite apparent that last summer, and for the second one running, the club massively let him down. Before anyone reading mentally argues about how much money he spent, it’s more referring to the huge vacuum of leadership that existed above him going into such a crucial window, especially after he delivered such a historic season.
Going into last summer without a CEO and DOF was a huge failure on PIF’s part, one that is apparently still reverberating around the corridors and changing rooms of SJP and Benton.
David Hopkinson and Ross Wilson are now in place, they’re talking the talk, and boy, do we need them to walk the walk, especially Wilson. To say he has his work cut out for him is an understatement.
A cynical person could argue the DOF position at Newcastle has become a poisoned chalice, after both Dan Ashworth and Paul Mitchell had such fleeting tenures. Frustrations with Howe and the ownership were muted, but the simple fact is that Wilson needs to perform major surgery on the squad, and our head coach surely has no choice but to follow his lead. After his public plea for dynamism and haste fell on deaf ears last summer, Howe, and indeed all of us will be praying this time that the club made the right appointment and the Scotsman can deliver. He certainly has previous.
He made 29 signings at Rangers from 2019 to 2023, and while there is a healthy debate around pub tables in Glasgow as to the success rate of said signings, those in his corner point to their first (and only) league title since 2011, and a Europa League final appearance.
He then went on to make 43 signings at Forest from April 2023 until we snaffled him in September. Whilst Newcastle gladly need nowhere near that level of turnover, it isn’t unreasonable to suggest 10 in and around the same number out by the time the 2026 summer window closes is essential if we aren’t to be left behind. That’s also without the caveats of not yet knowing if there will be European football next year, and then the annoying possibility that the lack of which, means even more amorous glances will be cast at the class lads by the establishment.
Going through the squad positionally, the goalkeeping department has been one of the strangest and baffling aspects of Howe’s stewardship. So much so we’d probably all watch a Netflix documentary about it.
An elite, ball playing, starting goalkeeper is needed. Decisions on the futures of Pope, Vlachodimos and Ramsdale need to be made, whilst Mark Gillespie and John Ruddy will surely not be renewed.
If the goalkeeping department is in need of surgery, the defence is a major cause for concern, on the open heart waiting list.
Trippier, Lascelles, Krafth and Targett all need to be moved on, and that’s before we even get to Schar and Burn, who will both be 34 by the time next season starts. There might even be time to finally find out just exactly what is a Harrison Ashby? Will Alex Murphy ever be good enough?
Factoring in age, contract lengths and varying degrees of ability, it’s hard to see much money coming in from these departures, but then again, perhaps we shouldn’t underestimate a man who once managed to sell Anthony Elanga for £55m…or Vlachodimos for £20m.
At least one centre back is needed, as are two full backs who can not only push Livramento and Hall, but their inclusion doesn’t mean such a drastic change in style.
The midfield isn’t exactly on life support, and boasts some wonderful talent, but it would benefit greatly from an injection of technical quality, creativity and greater ball retention. Ruthless and huge decisions need to be made on players such as Joelinton and Joe Willock, who are not only injury prone, but entering the final throes of their contracts.
The wide forward pool is another than many feel needs a rethink. Gordon, Barnes, Murphy and Elanga (benefit of doubt given) are good players.
All quick, all inconsistent, all not great at passing or keeping the ball. A mercurial player capable of unlocking defences and being a regular goal scorer would be a genuine game changer for this squad.
Quite how such a seismic turnover would sit with Howe is unknown. The narrative that he wants complete control of recruitment seems a lazy one thought up by his harshest critics. He wasn’t overly keen on losing Wood, Shelvey, Anderson, Minteh or Kelly, but he went with the flow.
In a recent press conference, he talked up Wilson’s potential value, highlighting that a lack of knowledge of the market outside the PL had hindered the club to date. He was also quick to wax lyrical about the appointment of Atalanta’s highly regarded Sudarshan Gopaladesikan, or “Suds” as the new technical director, highlighting that it was a step into a more data driven method of recruitment.
Having this new dynamic, combined with PIF’s resources, Steve Nickson’s eye for talent, Wilson’s dynamism and efficiency for getting deals done and Howe’s ability to develop players, we should be onto a dream ticket. You find yourself wondering what could possibly go wrong.
Then you remember, this is Newcastle United.
Very good and balanced article.
Nick Dryden(Quote)
The elephant in the room is Howe, it’s all very well and good finding these players, scouting them and then passing them to Howe for final word but will he go for it.
As much as Mitchell was a bad appointment and his brash way stirred the pot from the beginning he was very good at identify and purchasing good players you just have to look at Monaco and the signings he made there.
Anyone thinking he had a hand in any of our transfers needs a reality check, he didn’t that’s why he left.
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
You can bring in players who have all the potential in the world but will Howe give them the opportunity in the first team, that’s the question?
Joseph(Quote)
A better analysis of the true state of affairs ..this is Howe the squad was assembled ., Mitchell was a convenient scapegoat
Mike(Quote)
Great article on Wilson what’s at his door.
The options of change are clearly there for all to see and you won’t have many arguments .
My Concerns
1
Eddie stubborn streak
2
Time frame to achieve
Required / desired change
We are talking major change in a window that every one does not wish
Again repeat How Long ??
Trevor Thailand
trevor(Quote)