Some extremely bad news being reported tonight, that Pablo Aimar has signed for Portuguese giants Benfica.
 Kevin Keegan – go to plan B boss
So any hopes (and we had some earlier today) that he would be coming to Newcastle seem to be dead, and to say the very least it is very disappointing.
Setanta Sports, who are of course a credible news source, are reporting that Benfica have agreed a fee of €7.5M (£5.9M) with Pablo’s club Real Zaragoza, and it goes on to say Aimar will be officially unveiled on Thursday, pending the successful completion of a medical.
Aimar is quoted as saying:
“Fortunately, I have always been able to choose where to play in my career.”
“I had other offers, but I always wanted Benfica,”
We suppose this is another player to cross off the list, and it’s not good news at all. The Daily Mirror this morning had an exclusive, in which we had thought they had some inside information, and they reported that Newcastle were on the verge of signing the player.
But this has turned out not to be the case, and we had also thought (hoped) that having just signed Argentine, Jonas Gutierrez would have helped to persuade Aimar to come to Tyneside.
This news may also not be true of course, so we’ll just have to hope something may still happen, but this summer for Newcastle fans, has been a bit tough, to say the least.
But we have to assume Newcastle were one of the clubs in the mix for the star Argentine, and he didn’t want to come.
As we said this morning, attracting players to Newcastle, after two disastrous seasons, is not easy, and Kevin has to start at the bottom – again.
This doesn’t help matters one little bit, but we will have to try to keep the faith.
Kevin and the management team will need to move to plan B, and create a plan C, just in case, if they don’t already have one.
The road back for Newcastle will have its up and downs – and they’re usually downs at the start – which is what we are seeing now.
Also, we have again noticed with the comments on the site, that there are too many fans of other clubs coming on the site and making inappropriate comments.
There mustn’t be much going on at their clubs – or else they are just fascinated with the Magpies.
If any readers come on this site with obvious fictitious IDs for their e-mails, so we cannot contact them, as more than a few have done today, they will be banned from making comments on the site.
Comments are still welcome on this bad news – but please keep them civil.
375 comments so far
sweendog
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:26 PM
Comment #81Doesn’t sound good .. maybe KK might be getting more involved in transfers then??
Ally
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:26 PM
Comment #82Dan if u r correct, these matters should be conducted professionally in a professional manner, and these two dealings were clearly not
brave new toon
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:26 PM
Comment #83this summer is oing my nut in… did we really want him? did we pull it at last minute, because we have someone else lined up? wouldn’t we pay his wages? maaaaaaaaaan!!
still, kk knows what us the fans want.. and I trust him to bring the right players in,
but how fing frustrating is it!!!!, sat all night with the pc on, and ssnews, and back pages of every newspaper strewn around the room doesn’nt help
valle
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:26 PM
Comment #84Daniel… Do we know who decided to pull out?… If it was KK then all might be well and good, but if it was Ashley then we are in big trouble.
sweendog
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:27 PM
Comment #85Sounds like Ashley and KK are getting frustrated with Wise..
bell jan
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:28 PM
Comment #86Forget aimar he is cack anyway
Ally
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:28 PM
Comment #87valle – I wholeheartedly agree with ur comment, if it is Ashley we r in trouble
Tom_Toon
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:29 PM
Comment #88Bosck and Daniel – Are we definitely not going back in for Inler then?
ToonTinka
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:29 PM
Comment #89I hope we get to find out the truth of what is going on behind closed doors.
Something just isn’t right at all
sweendog
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:30 PM
Comment #90The money is obviously there .. just the negotiations aren’t working as expected .. I think Wise etc are out of their depth..
valle
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:31 PM
Comment #91I was just burtsing into a little laugh here… Imagine this, for years some club insiders with to big mouths have told the press about our targest weeks before we got them (or they went elsewhere) could it be that all this is made up to cover our tracks?… Just a far out thought on my part, but it seems strange all this.
Anth
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:31 PM
Comment #92Dan i was informed that there was 2 press conferences booked ,one for tommorow one on monday and i know mondays is still going ahead can your sources confirm this ?
Irish toon9
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:31 PM
Comment #93Newcastle united = Rollercoaster
Eyeball
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:31 PM
Comment #94Kick him in his pips!!!
Thats all I have to say on this matter, Just getting a bit dissapointed about missing out on big targets. I dont wanna sit through another season like last time where we had to wait 6 months before something entertaining happened and we started playing good football!!
Cmon Keegan getting them fired up!!!
“you score 3….fine we’ll score 4”!!!
gorskino10
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:32 PM
Comment #95my view is his quote is a lie he means he could only join Benfica only gave him the cash he wanted so that’s good for us if he was only moneygrabbing. But I disagree with someones view who said kk only signs players who has not been mentioned by guthrie was in the news weeks before we signed him so that was obvious also aimar would of been and now he needs plan D as the others were modeic etc…. Just sign monnet paquet please……..
sweendog
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:33 PM
Comment #96Calle could be true .. if the papers don’t have some stories from KK’s mates etc that is.. seeing that KK’s is gagged .. if nobody connected with KK says anything in the next 2 days all must be well.. IMO
Tom_Toon
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:33 PM
Comment #97Anth? one for tomorrow? Unveiling Gutierrez and Guthrie or a new signing?
Daniel
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:33 PM
Comment #98It was the money side of things that pulled the plug. Everything was fine up until last night, no medical was undertaken so it wasnt like he is injured. Im just hoping its because something better came along, but thats the optimist in me.
This is the sort of thing that almost made keegan walk the first time he was at newcastle (according to his autobiography at least) so im worried on that front too (ive had no news on this front tho)
Very little information comes from our end TT – im only reporting what ive been told
Aimars gone!
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:33 PM
Comment #99its on zaragozas official site hes gone to Benfica.. FFS
AndyNUFC
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:33 PM
Comment #100I’m not convinced at all by the lack of signings, dan, gimme some hope here mate… are you aware of how much an influence Keegan has in any of these transfers?
valle
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:35 PM
Comment #101gorskino10… Where did you read about Guthrie weeks before he signed?… I read NUFC news sites using newsnow all day and i only saw it the night before it happened, and then it was only a rumour, no exclusives and quotes.
Hammy
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:35 PM
Comment #102OOOooooohhhhhh,
I’ve just washed down 3 bottles of painkillers with a can of Red Bull………..I have an antidote beside me which I can take if Newcastle sign anybody of note in the next 24 hours, I’ll just have a quick nap and check the blog a little later…..
Daniel
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:36 PM
Comment #103Anth – they always pre book them to get the press there so tomorrows was for Aimar, ill text my mate to find out the crack for mondays
Bosck
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:36 PM
Comment #104know no more than daniel. supposedly with imler we reached the right figure to trigger release clause but then failed on terms.
Anth
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:37 PM
Comment #105i know tommorows is canceled,
keegan has been told that he cant speak to the press untill next monday
Does mike ashley love the club 31st of august will tell us alot wont it
valle
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:37 PM
Comment #106Daniel… You say the money side, but that means it wont have been Keegan that wanted out of the deal then? or dont you know about that for sure?
Daniel
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:37 PM
Comment #107Guthrie said in the press (or one of his friends did) he was going to be signing. It was around the time of the mooted exchange with Milner. Ill see if I can hunt down a link
scott9
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:38 PM
Comment #108i said i wud not b happy until the deal went through i had a feelin someting like this might happen we alwaqys get let down all the time nothing ever goes right for us y does this always happen gutted we were to slow he was keen on comin to us so y didnt we do the deal quicker im begining to hav serious doubts about michael ashley
sweendog
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:38 PM
Comment #109Doesn’t bode well Daniel .. must be a signing on Monday .. probably Cuellar..
bailey
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Comment #110Think it is time KK started speaking and telling us the truth about these alleged targets. Were we after them or not. It all very well blaming newspapers but until something is said from the club then rumours will abound. I am all for NUFC showing a bit of discretion but think they have gone too far.
Also cannot believe some of these players were on THE LISTS. So where are those alleged targets.
I would rather the club came out and said they were signing nobody. It would really PEE me off but at least I could stop wondering and could get off this daily roller coaster ride. Also read that Owen will likely just let his present contract run down.
Anth
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Comment #111Dan I heard a slight whisper about an brazilan striker who plays for inter, that we have made initial enquires about him im sure you know who i mean , you heard the same ?
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Comment #112What sort of targets are we going to get?? if wages are low???
Fans are wasting there time if we think we are going to get Proven quality or better than we have he doesn’t want to spend money!! yes we’ll get signings but of what quality???
ASHLEY TO SELL UP!!!
Hammy
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:41 PM
Comment #113Aye Robbie Elliott, player coach on £5000 a week… great stuff
scott9
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:41 PM
Comment #114does ashely not understand we r gonna hav to offer high wages because were not in eurpope other whies they just wnt come aimar is a qaulity player i am really disapointed with this
Daniel
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:41 PM
Comment #115Here is the link for Guthrie. Its tribal but it quotes the Journal
http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=98736
June 17th, signed July 10/11th
Hang on – tribal got one right???
Irish toon9
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:42 PM
Comment #116We’re def in trouble if ashley pulled the plug..KEEGAN WILL WALK
scott9
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:43 PM
Comment #117players we shud hav been in for
inler doesnt luk likely
aimar gone
crouch gone
sidwell gone
come on now get it sorted
sweendog
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:43 PM
Comment #118I heard we were looking for a striker but I don’t think Adriano is it..
AndyNUFC
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:44 PM
Comment #119The fans don’t like this… does Keegan like it? I don’t think so. What the f***s the point in having a manager that doesn’t manage players he wants.
Anth
Jul 16, 2008 at 11:44 PM
Comment #120yeah its him , he’s just finishes a loan at sao paulo