You never want to lose one of your best players and it was understandable that new Blackburn (and former Burnley, Bolton and Wigan) manager Owen Coyle, did not want to lose Grant Hanley, who was also the captain of Rovers.
But Grant wanted to join Newcastle and Rafa Benitez – in what the Magpies manager calls his exciting new project at the club – also called the Rafa Revolution or more simply the Rafalution.
Once Newcastle kept coming back, the Blackburn owners finally agreed to sell their star for around £5.5M, after bids of £3.5M and £4.5M were summarily turned down.
Grant Hanley – hopefully he will be smiling soon?
🙂
We are still surprised we got Grant so cheaply given his experience in the Championship – and that he can still improve a lot under Benitez, but there are probably some add-ons to that initial £5.5M fee.
Owen Coyle has today talked in the Lancashire Telegraph about his losing battle to keep Grant at the former Premier League Champions:
“It’s like anything else – we all know that Grant’s a very good player and I said that we certainly didn’t want to lose any of those players.”
“Newcastle were very persistent and kept coming back with offer after offer, and Grant told us that he wanted to go, that he wanted that move to Newcastle.”
“As a manager, you want players who want to be at your club.”
“He’s been here as a kid and he’s been a very good servant to the club, and equally, Blackburn Rovers have been very good to Grant Hanley.”
“That’s with giving him his chance and looking after him with contracts through the years.”
“So that’s the point it got to. It came to the offer they made and it was accepted by the owners and that’s where we are.”
It had been reported that Grant was keen to sign for Newcastle, but you never really know whether those reports are really accurate.
But it does seem Grant was keen to sign on, so he also acted professionally while still at Blackburn – that’s good for him and shows good character and professionalism.
With Jamaal Lascelles looking better in every game and likely to be Newcastle’s new (young) captain for the coming season, Grant will likely fight it out with Chancel Mbemba for the other center-back spot.
We now have three very good young center-backs at Newcastle and it will be surprising if Chancel cannot get his game this season, after he did so well last term after his £11M move from Anderlecht last summer.
But there are a lot of games in the coming Championship season, so all three center-backs will get more than enough playing time.
Rafa wanted competition for places at Newcastle and he’s starting to get that.
And finally, it’s great to have Grant at the club.
Comments welcome.
99 comments so far
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 28, 2016 at 12:57 PM
Comment #41Would be disappointing to lose Ayoze. Given Ayoze’s potential I’d like to think the club will hold out for a value higher than the reported fee the club want for Sissoko.
Ayoze might not have had the best of season’s last year, but he will be an important player moving forward. He did say he would stay earlier in the summer, but an opportunity to move to Barca may be too good to refuse.
I wonder whether Rafa would be able to persuade some of Barca’s young stars to join as part exchange as part of the deal. If he could persuade Samper (unlikely) or a similar level player, then it would soften the blow significantly.
jimmysmith
Jul 28, 2016 at 12:57 PM
Comment #42Bobby, I think it’s almost certain we will be weakened by those who have left, including Taylor, Colo, Cisse and even Obertan. We aren’t on balance bringing in better players. More committed players possibly, but even that isn’t certain either, considering it’s a new season, new league, new manager, fresh start and clean slate. Still, we’ll be very much up there, but I’m certainly not as confident as I was a month ago. Gamez I think was a great signing though, and losing players inevitable I suppose when you take the drop. That’s football.
Ibizatoon
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:01 PM
Comment #43martoon…Fairly sure I’ve agreed with that already. Incomings are essential, but I’m not worried about the outgoings, other than Townsend, so far.
Jimmy…Taylor and Colo have needed to be replaced for ages now. Cisse I could / can live with as a backup, but would find it hard to consider him a miss. It’s your mention of Obertan…are you on the wind up?
Bobbybee
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:03 PM
Comment #44Martoon, he’s not finished yet mate. No point spending for the sake of it when the window’s still open for weeks yet. We’re a Championship club now, attracting top quality is beyond us just now. He’s bought players who not only know this league, but know how to get promoted from it. He’s said already that there’s talks going on, so I believe him. He knows he has to get us promoted or his credibility would shatter. He knows what he’s doing, look at his cv. Pre season nerves mate, you’ll get over it! 😉
martoon
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:04 PM
Comment #45And from that sage known as Lee Ryder:
Lee Ryder ?@lee_ryder · 36s37 seconds ago
#nufc yet to receive acceptable bids for Sissoko, Thauvin, Tiote or Perez – despite recent reports
jimmysmith
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:05 PM
Comment #46For a Championship campaign, not on the wind up for any of them. An epl campaign would be another matter entirely.
clinath@ed
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:05 PM
Comment #47Jimmy…you could take those Four out of the side, and the remaining 7 would still be a better team for it
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:09 PM
Comment #48I just saw a headline elsewhere that we rejected the tiote bid. Hope so, I think he is still the best combative DM we have.
jimmysmith
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:14 PM
Comment #49Hahaha, yeah ok, but I do disagree. The problem is we are signing players to long contracts whoa aren’t better, and we will need to reshape again at the end of the year as a result. Boro have signed ten players to compete, we’ll probably need to do the same, and it might be hard to do, having done so much business now.
Had we kept them, they could just have been released once the job was done. We can’t do that with these new signings, and frankly apart from Ritchie, we haven’t signed a premiership player to take us forward.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:16 PM
Comment #50reading back I see others have already spotted it.
On Perez, I will be gutted if he leaves. The other players gone/going were expected to some degree, but perez will be a kick in the teeth. Hope it’s just paper lk
expatmag
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:16 PM
Comment #51Martoon
And no mention if bids for Krul and Janmaat either
jimmysmith
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:18 PM
Comment #52I really hope Tiote stays too.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:19 PM
Comment #53Paper talk. Back to my phone for this site. The desktop site has become unusable
Bobbybee
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:21 PM
Comment #54I’m not believing anything they say anymore. Why would he be so disrespectful to Newcastle? It would be totally out of character for one. It’s down to Rafa again, the lad’s under contract for years yet and I can’t see him letting him go. Just a hunch, nothing more. He’s not the sulky sort so he’ll accept a kb with dignity. One more season kid, then away ye gan, is how I imagine Rafa conducting that discussion. I’m surprised they’re interested tbh, because he was actually pretty average last season, unlike his first season. Imo anyway.
jimmysmith
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:27 PM
Comment #55“Magpies Reject Bids For Tiote And Thauvin”
‘Cmon, thats more like it.
Our Toon
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:30 PM
Comment #56Committed players will only get you so far, you need to have a mix of grafters that are committed and quality. At the moment we are lacking the quality
Bobbybee
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:30 PM
Comment #57The press need to be sure of what shyt they write before being allowed to publish. Can you imagine the damage that might have done between the fans and Perez? There are some who don’t stop and think and might believe Perez said that. They had him almost begging to leave like sissoko. Perez should sue the bar stewards.
expatmag
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:39 PM
Comment #58BOBBY
Most people rake what the press print with a pinch of salt.
LGFUAD21
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:41 PM
Comment #59I’m not overly concerned by Perez.
Maybe Barca have the money and the pull, but the lad has always seemed pretty sensible with his career.
He’s better playing week in week out in the championship than sitting on Barca’s bench or playing week in week out in the Segunda Divison.
I honestly think, some of these lads could really develop in the championship. Slightly slower than the Prem and not as much skill should afford them the time to develop their play in England before taking the step up.
I dont understand how more players dont get their step up from the Championship, Bournemouth have proven that it can be done. While people like Antonio also show it.
Macas
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:42 PM
Comment #60YCMIU – You’re right about the desktop site, it is virtually unusable these days, no matter what browser is used. I wish Ed would sort it out, as it is what I prefer to use.
Thump
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:45 PM
Comment #61If anybody has any issue with the desktop site, grab Ublock Origin. It pretty much decimates any ads, pop ups etc. And you can block specific elements too.
Bobbybee
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:54 PM
Comment #62Expat, I know mate, i’m just annoyed with the whole siuation. Everybody blatantly breaching the tapping up rules and nothing said about it, then stirring it all up by printing blatant lies against a young player. Whilst on the subject, what makes madrid so confident they can get Sissoko for 30m? As i recall it, Rafa isn’t exactly best buddies with madrid is he? Right, calmed down now. 😉 bloody press!
LGFUAD21
Jul 28, 2016 at 1:55 PM
Comment #63jimmysmith
Not necessarily true, I dont think we’ll need a wholesale clearout if we go up.
Shelvey, Colback, Krul, Elliott, Janmaat, Dummet
These are proven premier league players.
Others like
Lacselles, Mbemba, Perez, Mitro and Ritchie (only in this group on account of only 1 season) have shown promise.
Others like Gayle, Gouff, Anita, have experience and could do well as squad members.
Then finally we have Saivet, Hanley, Sels, Haydn and Gamez who are the complete unknowns. – I’d probably throw Aarons into this group as hes not proven fitness enough for me to feel we can rely on him in either league.
I think we’ve been smart. We could’ve spent a fortune on these players that everyone is hyping like Lewis Cook and Dunk but lets face it, they’ve had 1 or 2 decent seasons in Championship and come with no guarantees they can step up.
NOW – Lets grab Robertson from Hull, a winger (probs 2), CB and striker and we’re good.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 28, 2016 at 2:00 PM
Comment #64The press are horrible, yet, if I were to take a gigantic dump on a reporter, and set them on fire, I’D be the one to go to prison!!! Where is the justice?
Bobbybee
Jul 28, 2016 at 2:02 PM
Comment #65😉
Average_Contents
Jul 28, 2016 at 2:04 PM
Comment #66Just read that hippo heed has got mini hippo heed as his assistant. What a dream team THAT is. Talk about jobs for the boys.
England are well and truly fcuked now (we’ve always been fcuked tbh but this is an all time low) even for us.
LGFUAD21
Jul 28, 2016 at 2:05 PM
Comment #67I also reckon Rafa may have driven the tiote bid being rejected.
How can any money be too low. Not because his ability. But we signed him for £3.5m and he’s on crazy money I hear. Surely with one year left, we’d take anything if we wanted to.
I think Rafa has said he can use him in the championship.
Either way. We must replace with a like for like combative DM. We always looked better when he was at his best.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 28, 2016 at 2:06 PM
Comment #68A_C
Who’s mini hippo heed? I must have missed that one
Rotonda heights
Jul 28, 2016 at 2:06 PM
Comment #69jimmy
how the hell are we weakened by taylor and obertan leaving?
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 28, 2016 at 2:08 PM
Comment #70I am horrified that Fat Sam has a mini-me 😮
Average_Contents
Jul 28, 2016 at 2:08 PM
Comment #71Mark
Sammy Lee. I know….
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 28, 2016 at 2:10 PM
Comment #72Sammy Lee!?!?
Oh ffs. Can we not just shoot the entire F.A.?
Average_Contents
Jul 28, 2016 at 2:11 PM
Comment #73I’ll get the rifle. Who’s driving.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 28, 2016 at 2:11 PM
Comment #74I think i might start supporting Iceland.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 28, 2016 at 2:12 PM
Comment #75We’ll hire a minibus and a driver, that way we can both shoot.
expatmag
Jul 28, 2016 at 2:12 PM
Comment #76AC
Sammy Lee?
expatmag
Jul 28, 2016 at 2:14 PM
Comment #77Rotunda
Two players as yet, not replaced
Tsunki
Jul 28, 2016 at 2:14 PM
Comment #78Doesn’t the small Fat Sam orbit the larger one, like a moon?
On the Perez thing, I think these are the type of journalists who can barely drag their fat fingers across a keyboard. If Perez went to Barcelona he would be playing no better standard of football than we are in the championship, and much less. What a dozy, half-witted hackfest this transfer speculation lark is.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 28, 2016 at 2:17 PM
Comment #79Tsunki
Yeah i am sure Stephen Hawking could explain the physics of it. His voice would also be more exciting than the football England will be playing
Spoof
Jul 28, 2016 at 2:20 PM
Comment #80I see the topic of quality is getting discussed again, I am on the side of concern, not panic but concern, if you look at how we finished last season and have a look at that side and then compare what we could look like this season then there is plausible reason to be concerned, keeper, defence and strikers are not of concern as I actually feel that we are stronger, the defence is far stronger for me as we now have Hanley to challenge Lascellas and Mbemba, those two have proved to be a very good pairing but they aren’t assured of a starting place due to Hanley and at right back we now have a specialist right back in Gamez, because last season our best form came with Anita filling in at right back so replacing him with a specialist right back has got to be a major improvement, so defence is much stronger and deeper in good quality numbers as well, and up front Gayle in with Cisse out for me is a strengthening as well, apart from that the only possible change is a returned Armstrong who a year older and with some much needed first team experience will hopefully make our striker position that little bit stronger as well.
Then there is the midfield, look at the midfield which finished so strongly last season, for the best part of that run we had Tiote, Colback, Gini, Sissoko and Townsend, that midfield five were great and done a great job of protecting the defence and allowing us to be dangerous going forward, all areas of a football team are important but without a good midfield you are buggered, and out of those five who will remain for next season, I expect it to be the solitary one in Colback and there is a distinct possibility that he may not even start so it could be a totally different midfield five which is an alarm as we don’t know how good the new five are going to be.
Hayden could be anything and its all well and fine saying that he has had a great pre-season and looked the part, sorry but that is meaningless and he could prove to be another who looked to have potential but it never matured, there is a risk with this lad as he is an unknown, his possible partner in the defensive two could be Shelvey and we do know that he comes with a risk due to his temperament, hopefully Rafa will get his head sorted and we see the best of him but again he is a risk, the attacking three replacing Gini, Sissoko and Townsend could very well be Aaons, Perez and Ritchie, first of all Aarons, full of potential but will he deliver and will he stay fit long enough to make a useful impact, if not then were looking at the Gouffran’s and his natural position is as an out and out striker so that is a concern, then we have Perez, I actually feel sorry for him due to the fact that he has barely played two consecutive games in the same position as he has usually been played to make the numbers up and has played left wing, right wing and as a striker, but now he is our leading contender if not our sole contender to be our number 10 and that has got to be a huge risk as he is not a number 10, so that leaves Ritchie, thank god we have Ritchie as out of the possible if not probable midfield five he is the only one who you can look at and say yes, you know that he will do a decent job for you.
Yes I know it’s difficult to get top quality into the Championship, and I’m not criticising our transfer dealings all I am doing is looking at where we are and what we have and I am raising some concerns, which I feel are fair.
In an ideal world Hayden will be a better DM than Tiote, Rafa will get into Shelvey’s head and get the best out of him, Aarons will stay fit and prove to be one of the best wingers that we have ever had and Perez will finally find a regular place in the side and go on to be the quality central attacking midfielder that so many of us seem to feel we lack, but then again they may not and that is why there is so much concern.