The signing of Matz Sels yesterday for around £5M with the expected signing of Crystal Palace striker Dwight Gayle for £10M today and Bournemouth’ midfielder Matt Richie for £12M maybe tomorrow – has caused season ticket sales to soar again on Tyneside, according to a report in the Chronicle this morning.
That’s an outlay of £27M on three players in possibly three days – and it shows the real intent of Rafa Benitez and Newcastle to build a strong team for next season.
Lee Charnley and Rafa Benitez
Working together closely to get the job done at Newcastle
Newcastle are expected to get £13M for Andros Townsend when he moves to Crystal Palace, although there are some rumors – probably unfounded – that he wants to stay on Tyneside.
And tomorrow the £7.3M deal to take Remy Cabella to Marseille will be officially transacted as the transfer window officially opens up for the summer.
So our total net outlay will be only around £7M so far this summer.
Our first home game of the Championship season is on Saturday, August 14th at St. James’ Park against Huddersfield Town and it is now expected to be a sell-out with over 52,000 in attendance.
That game will not be televised live on TV, unlike our first game at Fulham on 6th August.
Dwight Gayle is reported to have passed his medical yesterday and then was seen having a tour of St James’ Park with his representatives with the deal due to be announced this morning once all the loose ends are tied up – so to speak.
The arrival of Gayle, goalkeeper Matz Sels and potentially Matt Ritchie – due in Newcastle today for his medical – has resulted in another boost in season ticket sales at St James’ Park.
There is big momentum and belief growing on Tyneside that we will be able to get back at the first attempt to the Premier League next May.
And Rafa Benitez’ ambitions for the future of Newcastle United seem to be sky-high.
This all sounds good to us – sounds very very good to us.
At last!
Comments welcome.
60 comments so far
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 30, 2016 at 9:25 AM
Comment #1This is going back to the days of Robson and Keegan in that it was impossible for me to get a decent ticket!
Under Pardew and Carver you could get any seat in the house!!
Will try to cross the border for a game or 2 this season quite fancy the Ipswich game in November reckon we will be on form to blow them away by then!
geordie157
Jun 30, 2016 at 9:25 AM
Comment #2Couple of stories doing the rounds about wijnaldum to Roma for 17mill.
geordie157
Jun 30, 2016 at 9:28 AM
Comment #3Can Rafa influence the away ticket policy, as in if you are not a season ticket holder you have to be a member which I’m fine with but you can only purchase one ticket.
That pre season pitch invasion vs Darlington was a long time ago now!
martoon
Jun 30, 2016 at 9:36 AM
Comment #4I’m on the 10 year plan and I’ve still not heard how they are going to adjust the DD payments to allow for the 10% reduction. I’ve got a feeling I’ll just have check the next payment and work it out myself!
I bet Ashley is kicking himself reducing the ST prices – I think they still would have sold without the reduction.
Spoof
Jun 30, 2016 at 9:38 AM
Comment #5geordie
I doubt that a change in policy would make much difference bearing in mind that we are the team that everyone wants to see, away tickets will be minimal because most clubs could sell out with their own fans when we are in town such is the demand for all fans to see us.
Jib
Jun 30, 2016 at 9:41 AM
Comment #6Martoon you get one of these from SD – instead of 10%
jayphoto
Jun 30, 2016 at 9:42 AM
Comment #7Can you only purchase 1 ticket with a membership? Just got mine but I didn’t realise that
Jib
Jun 30, 2016 at 9:44 AM
Comment #8Jay
Just one away ticket
Not just one ST
Spoof
Jun 30, 2016 at 9:47 AM
Comment #9jayphoto
Why just one ticket, Billy no mates lol
martoon
Jun 30, 2016 at 9:53 AM
Comment #10Jib @6 – Do you get the outfit or the girl? 🙂
clinath@ed
Jun 30, 2016 at 9:53 AM
Comment #11I’ve been wondering about the rumours of AT going to Palace. Wonder if we’ve all got it wrong and it’s speculation arrising from the two clubs talking over the DG transfer. What do you think….?
Jail for Ashley
Jun 30, 2016 at 9:53 AM
Comment #12Gayle needs to improve his one in three strike rate and hopefully under Rafas guidance and good players around him he will.
I’m considered a footy know nowt by the fountain of knowledge Jib,yet we have posters on here complaining that we’re not buying top internationals and others saying we don’t need to buy anyone at all. The same posters that called me a “neggar” for speaking out as Ashley tried his best to relegate us are now moaning as we’re starting to look like a club again
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jun 30, 2016 at 9:56 AM
Comment #13For fcuks sake, Ed! Did you go and pack Townsends bags!?!?!
How come the rumours of him wanting to stay are unfounded, but the ones of him leaving are nailed on fact??? I am not saying he will stay, but have some positivity for once!
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 30, 2016 at 9:56 AM
Comment #14@Jail For Ashley
Yeah I am looking forward to having players who give 100% and dont give up!Hopefully from now on we wont see us getting smacked by 4 or 5 goals away from home!
hibbitt
Jun 30, 2016 at 9:59 AM
Comment #15in my mind the back 4 is still the problem area
hope Rafa gets it sorted soon
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:00 AM
Comment #16Clinath
Aye, I think that is a distinct possibility. If AT foes want to go, he could easily do better than Palace. Certainly worthy of a team in the top ten.
Jib
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:05 AM
Comment #17Jail for Ashley
“I’m considered a footy know nowt by the fountain of knowledge Jib”
True
But it doesn’t make you a bad person
😀
lesh
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:07 AM
Comment #18LCBP
Cross the border? You’d better do that sooner rather than later while your passport’ll be accepted!
expatmag
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:12 AM
Comment #19Peopke are panicing about Townsend as though he were Messi….for crying out aloud.
Decent player but no world beater and if we sign Ritchie, adequately replaced.
This transfer window is not the most crucual in my opinion. The next two are more impirtant assuming we gain promotion
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:12 AM
Comment #20@Lesh
Ha ha aye pretty sure they are already resurrecting a wall at the borders to stop us Scots coming into England 🙂
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:14 AM
Comment #21If we could just keep Townsend him and Richie could destroy teams !
Would also give us width on each side so opening up the pitch in the middle for the likes of Perez, Shelvey and De Jong to operate effectively who all need time on the ball and movement ahead of them to be really effective
SPRINGY
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:17 AM
Comment #22hibbitt
with questions being asked about the back 4 and a few earlier about def/mid….im assuming lascelles will be one of the cb’s….would pushing mbemba into the def/mid position and then bring in a cb to play with lascelles and a young cb as cover be worth thinking about?….dont know whats happening at right back tbh but i expect dummett to be the left back….your thoughts?
Jib
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:17 AM
Comment #23I see Nicola Krank…. sorry Sturgeon got the cold shoulder in Brussels yesterday.
They were very gallant and polite but she got the brush-off big style.
hibbitt
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:19 AM
Comment #24expatmag
this is by far the the most important window if Rafa gets it wrong and we don’t go up at the first attempt it would be catastrophic for the club the fans and the city
buying players in the prem for a prem cub will be a lot easier for Rafa
j.tudor
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:19 AM
Comment #25Still no defense improving players coming in you win games with a solid defence score lots but concede more is not what I want to see
Al Yalayis Lad
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:21 AM
Comment #26Does anybody have any real intel on SDJ?
I would like to see him get a chance, you can never judge a player unless he has played 4 or 5 games off the trot. last season we had a min run in the 3 games he started, then he was dropped and sicknoted.
I like him, brings stability to the middle of the park, I felt last season when we played well, we were still running around like headless chickens a bit, he could the be man
Spoof
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:22 AM
Comment #27LCBP
Both Townsend and Ritchie are best when played on the right, sorry but it does appear to me that Ritchie is to replace Townsend and not to play alongside.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:25 AM
Comment #28@Springy
I have been thinking that Rafa will probably look to transform Mbemba into a DM a bit like Dier at Spurs
Chancel is fast , strong , great on the ball and can sense danger but he is not that tall so I could see Rafa getting in a more experienced and taller defender at the back to partner Lascalles !
Mbemba protecting with Lascalles and Dunk would be solid as a rock for the next few seasons!
Spoof
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:27 AM
Comment #29Al Yal
Very rarely is he fit enough to play 5/6 consecutive games on the belt, we are best getting rid of him.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:27 AM
Comment #30@Spoof
I have seen Richie play on the left for Bournemouth a few times he sometimes switches wings mid game as well so that could also be done !
But yeah Townsend is probably on the way out so it doesn’t really solve our wing issues as we are still a left winger down and still have no back up wingers either! So we need a lot more players signed then !
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:27 AM
Comment #31Wee Jimmy Krankie can’t complete a sentence without saying the word “Scotland” at least once. She is carrying on like a petulant child, and I have even heard Scottish people saying she is going to knacker the country, and a change of leader is required. I don’t hate the scots, even though it often seems they hate us, and I don’t want to see the scottish people up sh1t creek because of her
carl
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:31 AM
Comment #32Those questioning Dwight Gayle’s goal return do need to review the stats. Starts: impact sub.
expatmag
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:32 AM
Comment #33Hibbitt
In my opinion, the squad that came down should be good enough to get back up with a bit of tweeking here and there.
Lets be honest here, if Rafa had come in a month earlier, we would more than likely avoided relegation easily.
If we need to e ga ce the squad in January to ensure promotion and if we do succeed, then next summer eill need to be spot on in recruitment to ensure the right playrs are retained sold snd bought to avoid any further relegation battles
expatmag
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:33 AM
Comment #34enhance
outside the box
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:39 AM
Comment #35seems to be that ritchie would be townsends replacement ….very similar players….still await defender though ….grant hanley may fit the bill?
SPRINGY
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:42 AM
Comment #36LCBP
its just something thats been on my mind for a while…rafa may want to try and build around mbemba and lascelles…one big tall and powerful leader type and the other strong and quick..but both very young…since tiote is rumoured to be on his way,colback and anita, altho willing workers do seem to lack something…and saivet….who knows???….may be interesting to see how things pan out at the start of the season.
carl
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:44 AM
Comment #37Grant Hanley would have been watched playing for Scotland along with Ritchie. Good call.
hibbitt
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:45 AM
Comment #38expatmag /
sorry mate but the squad is not not good enough for the rigors of the championship
Rafa needs it sorted before the season starts not hope we will be ok till january
the back 4 is still a major concern and has been for a long time now
martoon
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:47 AM
Comment #39Jib & YCMIU – I’ve never noticed before but now you’ve pointed it out her and Jeanette Kranky – separated at birth 🙂
carl
Jun 30, 2016 at 10:53 AM
Comment #40” bit of tweaking” – you couldn’t make it up. We’re looking to be promoted not relegated for a second consecutive season.