Dwight Gayle will be our main striker for at least the first four games this season since Aleksandar Mitrovic is banned – a ban he picked up with just over 20 minutes of last season left, when he was sent off against Spurs at St, James’ Park.
Dwight is one of the new players brought in by Rafa Benitez to help us get promoted at the first attempt back to the Premier League.
Dwight Gayle scoring on Saturday against Vitesse
The 25-year-old was signed from Crystal Palace for £10M this summer and is hoping to get in the 20 goal, bracket for Newcastle this season – and that would be very good.
This is what Dwight Gayle has said to the local press:
“Most strikers want to get in the 20 goal bracket,” “Hopefully, I can do that this season. We will see where we go from there.”
“Coming to St James’s Park for my first game just showed again to me just how big this club is.” “It’s perfect for me to be playing my football here next season.”
“There are several things that made me swap the Premier League for the Championship next season. I’m certain this club will only be on the up from now on, and that is only going to be a positive.”
“We have a great manager with great experience.” “I was surprised when I came in just how positive everyone is around the place.”
“It didn’t feel like a team going in to the Championship from the Premier League.”
“There was a great atmosphere and we are all just excited for the new season. We are raring to go.”
“Everyone has been at it in training, raring to go and everyone wants to get in the team for the season ahead. He’s a great manager, a great tactical manager and I will learn a lot from him this season.”
“It’s a tough season made harder by playing two games in a week.”
“There are some great teams in this division. I’m sure there will be some great teams fighting for promotion, and it will not just be a one-horse race, I’m sure.”
“Obviously, we have great players other than Mitro, and everyone’s fighting for their position,” said Gayle, whose pace created problems for Vitesse in United’s final pre-season friendly.
“Whoever the manager picks, I’m sure will be good enough to do the job.”
Gayle has played in the Championship before so he knows exactly what to expect, along with another three of the players Rafa signed for Newcastle this summer.
All four players – Dwight, Isaac Hayden, Matt Ritchie and Grant Hanley are British.
The first real test for Newcastle is at Craven Cottage on Friday night and the game will be shown on live TV in most places around the world – one of the few games that will be in the coming season.
Howay The Lads!!
30 comments so far
Graeme
Aug 1, 2016 at 12:48 AM
Comment #1I hope they BOTH score 20+ goals – the only winner is NUFC!!!
Bring it on!!
Termijn
Aug 1, 2016 at 2:46 AM
Comment #2Martoon
Final League Position: 1st
Final no. of points: 110
League Cup round: 4th
FA Cup round: Semi Final
Player of the Season (Blog): Lascelles
Top goal scorer (TGS): Mitrovic
No. of goals for TGS: 27
lesh
Aug 1, 2016 at 2:55 AM
Comment #3Rafa’s taking to the media pretty well every day. Does he ever go home to see Mrs Rafa?
lesh
Aug 1, 2016 at 3:00 AM
Comment #4And, nowt to do with matters football but I’m listening to a recording of Fred Tackett and Paul Berrere playing at the Cluny in 2008. Wish I’d been there.
Anyone out there at that gig or at the one the did at the Little Theatre with any thoughts on them?
Son of Geordie
Aug 1, 2016 at 3:13 AM
Comment #5It is nice to hear that the vibe is positive in the team. With sissoko coming back I hope it remains this way until he transfers out, and continues thereafter.
Son of Geordie
Aug 1, 2016 at 3:19 AM
Comment #6Rafa will probably rotate mitro and gayle, one game each taking turns. Have Armstrong and dare I say it gouffy, or his replacement if he had s transferred out this summer, coming in off the bench in the second half.
It is good to have some depth if either of them gets injured or red carded ala motto.
Son of Geordie
Aug 1, 2016 at 3:21 AM
Comment #7Mitro not motto. Damned auto correct.
Son of Geordie
Aug 1, 2016 at 3:23 AM
Comment #8Still think we need another proven championship striker brought in, young enough to develop into a premiership striker.
Son of Geordie
Aug 1, 2016 at 3:27 AM
Comment #9Lesh at #3
I remember reading somewhere that sleep is for those that don’t want to be successful. Maybe Rafa is one of those booked who can get by with minimal sleep and still function at 100%.
Me personally, I need r and r to operate on all cylinders.
Son of Geordie
Aug 1, 2016 at 3:29 AM
Comment #10Crikey, blokes not booked.
Auto correct again. Will start re-reading my posts before publishing.
NUFCPaul
Aug 1, 2016 at 3:50 AM
Comment #11If Gayle can stay injury free and the rest of the team can supply the balls, then I can see him getting at least twenty goals, no bother. It’ll be interesting to see if Rafa does rotate strikers (or other positions for that matter) if a player is on fire. It’s easy to lose your rhythm if you’re in and out of the team, but you also have to avoid burning out over the course of a long season in a physical league. If anyone can handle the pressure it’s Rafa. We’ll be okay.
lesh
Aug 1, 2016 at 4:09 AM
Comment #12Son of Geordie
Indeed, sleep and success go hand in hand. Without the former, fatigue can detract from the latter.
I’m knackered – despite sleeping for England!
posada
Aug 1, 2016 at 5:47 AM
Comment #13If we sign another CB don’t be surprised to see Mbemba on his way.
DubaiMicky
Aug 1, 2016 at 6:21 AM
Comment #14We’re going to walk this league, break our points total, and maybe even get to the League cup final – and win it.
G
Aug 1, 2016 at 6:26 AM
Comment #15Whilst I am confident we will achieve promotion, I am not complacent it will be as easy as some believe it will. Given how the last few years have gone, regardless of results achieving promotion via any means, including play offs would be a success in my eyes. If we do walk it as some suggest, then I will be dreading the Jan transfer window.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Aug 1, 2016 at 6:48 AM
Comment #16Newcastle United transfers: Magpies have bid for Hull’s Mohamed Diame – according to source – strong midfield player – one to replace Sissoko?!?!
G
Aug 1, 2016 at 6:50 AM
Comment #17@16, if thats a genuine one, he would be an excellent signing.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Aug 1, 2016 at 7:07 AM
Comment #18G
Hope so!
ROSHAN MAGPIE
Aug 1, 2016 at 7:11 AM
Comment #19http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-united-transfers-magpies-bid-11687116
ROSHAN MAGPIE
Aug 1, 2016 at 7:13 AM
Comment #20http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/newcastle-united/latest-nufc-news/rafa-benitez-gives-chancel-mbemba-update-ahead-of-newcastle-s-season-opener-against-fulham-1-8043216
GOOD NEWS
Nufc-83
Aug 1, 2016 at 7:18 AM
Comment #21Is this the same Diame who was at West Ham? If so he is a beast and was one of my favourite players in the prem I am very surprised he ended up at hull and not a top club. Sounds silly when he’s coming from hull and sissokho is off to a top team but I think he’s a massive upgrade if it is the same player.
martoon
Aug 1, 2016 at 7:38 AM
Comment #22Hi Guys
It’s that time of the season you’ve all been waiting for – it’s prediction time. Similar to last year but I’ve changed a couple of the categories:
Final League Position
Final no. of points
League Cup round
FA Cup round
Player of the Season (Blog)
Top goal scorer (TGS)
No. of goals for TGS
Can I stress – if you do enter could you put martoon in your post which makes it easy to search for.
Jib – probably open until, say, Thursday night
So far I have predictions from
martoon
clinath@ed
StuW
JamesToon
SUTTY1978
Average_Contents
Spoof
firebug666
Belfast
Bambams
JP…from The Rock
Goromagpie
ShirebrookToon
SPRINGY
Offkey
JAMSHA
geordie157
toontaff2
Our Toon
manxpie
Jail for Ashley
welshgeordie9
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
dannitoon
Tsunki
jimmysmith
Termijn
Apologies if I’ve missed you but if so could you post them again and please put martoon in your post so I can find them!
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Aug 1, 2016 at 8:03 AM
Comment #23Gayle
Biggest surprise to me was how good Gayle is in the air – for a little lad he can jump to a canny height hang in the air and a decent header of the ball. Reminded me a little bit of West Germany’s Uwe Seeler many moons ago
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Aug 1, 2016 at 8:06 AM
Comment #24MARTOOOOOON
Final League Position: 2nd
Final no. of points: 96
League Cup round: 6th
FA Cup round: 4th
Player of the Season: Isaac Hayden
Top goal scorer: NEW STRIKER if one comes in (if got to name a player: GAYLE)
No. of goals: 21
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Aug 1, 2016 at 8:11 AM
Comment #25And my Premiership Predictions
Champions : Man City
Runners up : Man Utd
Relegated: Sunderland, Hull, Middlebrough
Championship champions: I think Norwich might pip the TOON –
jasper
Aug 1, 2016 at 8:14 AM
Comment #26Martoon,
Hope I do better than last time.
Final League Position. 1st
Final no. of points. 98
League Cup round. QF
FA Cup round. 5th
Player of the Season (Blog). Ritchie
Top goal scorer (TGS). Gayle
No. of goals for TGS. 23
Mag52
Aug 1, 2016 at 8:17 AM
Comment #27Martoon.
I’m not on your list, so I’ll post again, with one slight revision if that’s ok.
Final position: 5th.
Number of points: 75
Top goal scorer: Gayle
Number of goals from TGS: 14
League Cup: Quarter Finals
FA Cup: 4th.Round.
Player of the season(blog): Lascelles.
Thanks Martoon.
nico
Aug 1, 2016 at 8:29 AM
Comment #28Final League Position – 1st
Final no. of points – 102
League Cup round – Q-F
FA Cup round – 4th
Player of the Season (Blog) – Ritchie
Top goal scorer (TGS) – Gayle
No. of goals for TGS – 24
davis_toons
Aug 1, 2016 at 3:29 PM
Comment #29Still gutted to lose Georginio Wijnaldum to liverpool.
A Goalscoring Midfielder – Klopp
(plp this is a midfielder that score double digits every season and created alot for mates just to missed)
He never turns up on away games?
Is he playing football alone? Or was it a team game?
(No wonder he went to a club where he NEVER WALKS ALONE)
Was he poorly manage AGAIN?
Yes. The poor former manager did not even know where to place him. Did not even have an idea who was his best team.
Considering his first season and everything new to him in a new country new environment; his performance was excellent.
We are not here even talking about him leading the team. He is just a team player a squad player. Not good enough?
What about talking about Arsenal Star Players Ozil, Sánchez or some some English above average players like Chamberlain, Walcott and some others are even injury prone like Wilshere. Do they perform day in and out?
If comparing to our very own Star Players like Shelvey…Georginio Wijnaldum any day.
I just hope more players like him will come around again. (buy cheap sell high-what more do you expect?…even if you were to keep players like that for 5 years they would still create sell off value for the club..they will never be deadwoods running contracts down, eating up all our cash)
CAC
Aug 1, 2016 at 4:43 PM
Comment #30Martoon
Final League Position-First
Final no. of points-103
League Cup round-Second
FA Cup round-4th
Player of the Season (Blog)-Perez
Top goal scorer (TGS)-Gayle
No. of goals for TGS-21