There is a report today that Newcastle’s Chief Scout Graham Carr may leave the club in the summer after Rafa Benitez has come into the club and will be given full control of all transfers into and out of the club.
That’s something Graham Carr has been controlling for a number of years now as the Chief Scout, but he has been acting more like a Director of Football for a while now.
Graham Carr – could leave Newcastle
There was a meeting of Rafa Benitez, Lee Charnley and Graham Carr last Thursday in Newcastle and The Telegraph are reporting that Carr was told that Benitez will be in full control of all transfers at the club from now on.
Graham Carr is apparently not too happy with that change and will consider his position at Newcastle.
The meeting was said to be amicable and constructive and Graham is willing to stay until the end of the season and see whether Newcastle are relegated to the Championship.
Whether that will change anything we don’t know and it would depend on whether Rafa stays with Newcastle if we are relegated, but that appears to be extremely doubtful for a manager who would be in big demand in the summer.
Carr will have reduced powers at the club if Rafa stays and could even be taking direction from Benitez as to which players he should be scouting for Newcastle and Rafa may want to bring in his own man in that position too.
Graham is on an eight year contract at Newcastle that runs until the summer of 2020 and he turned 71 last October.
He joined Newcastle from Tottenham back in February of 2010 and while some of his initial buys were stellar with players like Tiote, Cabaye, Demba Ba and Debuchy, things have not been too good these last couple of years.
Three French failures in the last eighteen months that Graham brought into the club have been Remy Cabella, Manu Riviere and Florian Thauvin.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
11 comments so far
Jib
Mar 22, 2016 at 7:31 AM
Comment #1Ian Toon
If press rumours are to be believed , it was Benitez’ people that actually approached the Toon.
If that is true then possibly Charnley had decided to limp along until seasons end with McClaren.
So the question of getting Rafa in before the La Manga trip had never entered anyone’s head.
For Manuel García Quilón to believe NUFC would listen favourably to an approach and contemplate sacking SM , someone would have had to to put it out there on the grapevine , Ashley associates perhaps ?
Ian Toon
Mar 22, 2016 at 7:35 AM
Comment #2Jib- Thanks for that. A further addition to the memory bank.
Do we know which players are going to be away on International duty and not training with Rafa?
Enjoy your day.
magscar
Mar 22, 2016 at 7:41 AM
Comment #3Seem to recall he threatened to walk when Kinnear was appointed as DOF and was persuaded in a meeting with Ashley to stay. Obviously aware that his wings were to be clipped by Kinnears arrival and got in first. Frying pan and fire now spring to mind when realising the growing power he had on football matters.
Presumably the network of scouts can remain so it is only his influence that would disappear. Relegation and if Benitez goes he may hang on – another reason to please stay up!
Will Ashley completely abandon Board if we go down with the additional costs involved? Conventional wisdom would say yes regardless of cost if we want to come straight up but I am beginning to fear that we could get the worst of both worlds – down and Board retained!!
Jib
Mar 22, 2016 at 7:41 AM
Comment #4Courtesy of Niall and Biffa
NUFC.com
Aleksandar Mitrovic (Serbia):
Wed 23.03.2016 Poland (a) FR
Tue 29.03.2016 Estonia (a) FR
Georginio Wijnaldum (Holland):
Fri 25.03.2016 France (h) Amsterdam FR
Tue 29.03.2016 England (a) Wembley FR
Moussa Sissoko (France):
Fri 25.03.2016 Holland (a) Amsterdam FR
Wed 30.03.2016 Russia (h) Paris FR
Rob Elliot (Ireland):
Fri 25.03.2016 Switzerland (h) Dublin FR
Tue 30.03.2016 Slovakia (h) Dublin FR
Rolando Aarons (England U21s):
Sat 26.03.2016 Switzerland (a) Thun FR
Alex Gilliead (England U20s):
Sun 27.03.2016 Canada (h) Doncaster FR
Adam Armstrong / Freddie Woodman
(England U19s)
Thu 24.03.2016 Georgia (n) Cartaya ECQ
Sat 26.03.2016 Greece (n) Lepe ECQ
Tue 29.03.2016 Spain (a) Lepe ECQ
Kyle Cameron (Scotland U19s):
Wed 23.03.2016 Belgium (n) Kostrena ECQ
Fri 25.03.2016 Croatia (a) Rijeka ECQ
Mon 28.03.2016 Bulgaria (n) Kostrena ECQ
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Mar 22, 2016 at 7:44 AM
Comment #5If Carr leaving/pushed, could this signal that whatever happens – Rafa is staying – the ‘RAFA REVOLUTION’ his own coaches scouts etc., and hopefully Charnley goes to!
Anyway back to this season
In the last 8 games if we are going to stay up we have got to buck the history trend of Newcastle United against them…
A Norwich City – Not won there since 1993-94 season drew last two time 0-0
A Southampton – Not picked up a point at St Mary’s since back in Premiership lost last two 0-4 – last win 2004-05
H Swansea City – decent record – lost last year
A Liverpool – Not won since 1993-94
H Crystal Palace – decent record drew last year
A Aston Villa – decent record but lost in relegation season Deja vu
H Tottenham – lost last 3 at home
H Man City – not won home or away since returning to premiership
sing in the corner
Mar 22, 2016 at 7:45 AM
Comment #6Mixed feelings on this report. Undoubtably Carr has led a ‘Charned’ life 🙂 for a while now. He is accountable for too many poor signings and misuse of funds, therefore should go. But to let him hang around and see if Rafa jumps ship at the end of he season, with the implication being he will carry on as before if Rafa does scarper, is just more of the same dodgy management.
Hopefully Rafa will be here and have full control.
Jib
Mar 22, 2016 at 7:47 AM
Comment #7Magscar
I believe the opposite.
If the worst should happen , I believe Ashley would try his hardest , and pay what it takes , to talk RB into staying .
Munster Mag
Mar 22, 2016 at 7:56 AM
Comment #8As someone who has been banging on about Carr for a long time now, I would be happy to see him retire. It was probably Leicesters exploitation of the french market that really exposed how poor he has been, and how overly tuned into Mondial players he is, and how onsessed he was with lightweight wingers. I have no doubt he was instrumental in choosing McClareb, given Charnleys limited knowledge of football, and he also steered us towards Remi Garde who has been a shocking appointment by Villa. A favourite of Ashley and a really overrated scout.
Jib
Mar 22, 2016 at 7:56 AM
Comment #9Wallpaper for Tsunki
magscar
Mar 22, 2016 at 8:06 AM
Comment #10Jib@7
Would like to think so but it may mean Ashley again dipping into his own pockets depending on what is in “Club ” bank account and not so sure all factors are the same as last time.
I have been harbouring the hope that even if the worst should happen that Benitez will have seen enough and be persuaded by commitments made and to be reinforced to stay for at least 1 season. There is no way that possibility would be giving an airing in public by him or Board whilst the fight goes on.
Menelauos
Mar 23, 2016 at 1:35 AM
Comment #11As much as its correct he had some good initial signings, he’s been terrible since.
missing out on signing players like Bony, Aubameyang and Lacazette and getting Rivere for slightly less. Leicester get N’Golo Kante we got Cabella got more.
West Ham got Payet, we got Thauvin.
Carr. OUT.