There’s no doubt that our double acquisition of Jamaal Lascelles and Karl Darlow from Nottingham Forest for just £7M in the summer of 2014 has turned out to be a stellar buy for Newcastle.
Jamaal is now the Newcastle captain at only 23 years-old and he is improving all the time under Rafa Benitez and his leadership skills are terrific.
Karl Darlow when he first came as part of the first team squad just less than two years ago struggled, but towards the end of last season and during this season has become a very good goalkeeper at Newcastle and first choice.
Karl Darlow – top of our poll
His attitude, temperament and concentration are first class and that’s important for any player, but particularly for a goalkeeper.
We put out a poll on which of Newcastle’s four senior goalkeepers reporting back for pre-season training in early July should be the number one next season – and Karl comes out on top.
It’s been an excellent last year for Karl because he came into the side last March when Rob Elliot was injured on International duty with the Republic of Ireland and he played very well in those last eight games of the season.
This season he has made 28 appearances and in two years on Tyneside as part of the first team squad, he’s made 38 total appearances (36 of those in the last 12 months) and improved a lot.
Comments welcome.
18 comments so far
Chancel My MBembaship
Mar 23, 2017 at 12:17 PM
Comment #1Ed thinks Sissoko’s move hasn’t worked out? I disagree. He’s probably getting a bigger pay packet, gets to live in London (although I don’t see the attraction myself) and doesn’t have to do much. Sounds like a great deal for him. That pic of him looking like a huffy five year old isn’t the face of someone who enjoys playing football.
WWSBRD
Mar 23, 2017 at 12:25 PM
Comment #2magspuggy
Funny ud say that mate because from what I heard Rafa thought the opposite
magspuggy
Mar 23, 2017 at 12:32 PM
Comment #3What rafa wants us to be a stepping stone or that he wanted to keep a player that don’t want to be here..
WWSBRD
Mar 23, 2017 at 12:35 PM
Comment #4In regards to Gini and Sissoko, from what I heard he actively pushed for Gini to leave due to his attitude and the way he went about getting a move whereas Sissoko he was happy enough to keep
magspuggy
Mar 23, 2017 at 12:41 PM
Comment #5I cant recall gini courting the press or doing any bad PR
We all knew he was leaving but at least he didn’t go thanking god and making us look like cnuts.
It was done in house in a professional manner
WWSBRD
Mar 23, 2017 at 12:57 PM
Comment #6As I said at the time mate just because he had a better PR guy doesn’t mean he did things right or respectfully
magspuggy
Mar 23, 2017 at 1:10 PM
Comment #7Still think the bigger problem was that we sold ourselves as a pathway to another club.
I wonder if either would have stayed had we not gone down.
Tbh I would have been happy to sell sissoko @ half the price.
Hopefully players want to be at nufc because they want to become better players and they believe in this club and its future.
WWSBRD
Mar 23, 2017 at 1:33 PM
Comment #8Imo if we had offered some ambition some of those players would of stuck around Cabaye for example I think would of stayed of after he led us to 5th Ashley hadn’t stuck his finger up at that effort but that’s not here or there now
I wouldn’t of been happy with 15 mill for Sissoko like Rafa was getting the best out of him. I’d of happily taken money back on Gini though worse than Sissoko for me
If we keep Rafa then we won’t have to worry about that though I agree…fingers crossed anyway
mindshaft
Mar 23, 2017 at 1:43 PM
Comment #9Gini rarely delivered away from home but I’ve no problem with him leaving – good money and didn’t cry to the press – if everything was done behind doors then that’s okay – exactly how it should be rather than crying to the press about wanting to leave
manxpie
Mar 23, 2017 at 1:46 PM
Comment #10Gini was to ‘devastated’ to talk apart from boasting about his goal tally which was code for his agent had better get his ass in gear quickly
Wat annoys more about him is he had a huge lip on when he wasn’t played in an attacking role but he can’t be happier playing the deep role at Liverpool! only in it for himself
Chancel My MBembaship
Mar 23, 2017 at 1:49 PM
Comment #11The thing that annoyed me most about Sissoko was that he never seemed to whine about wanting a move in an interview with the Shields Gazette or The Chronicle, it was always when he was away in France to one of their papers or magazines. Just shows how spineless he was. Anyway, he got what he wanted and we got what we wanted. All done and dusted now 🙂
toonincheek
Mar 23, 2017 at 1:50 PM
Comment #12If we were seen as as a stepping stone to a bigger club in the PL
– close enough to the truth, based on the managers we had
at the time, and the Owners intent.
Bit different now – just another of the attitude problems that
Rafa is )hopefully) putting right.
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 23, 2017 at 1:50 PM
Comment #13Ed sorry but why is Darlow a ‘surprise’ choice with the fans as number 1 GK. Pretty obvious to me.
I don’t think a manager, I think it was JFK, calling Cabaye Yohan Cabbage helped a lot.
toon kk
Mar 23, 2017 at 1:53 PM
Comment #14I have no problem with sissoko leaving or any other player. After all it can’t of been easy been part of MA regime.
At a club which had absolutely no ambition no wonder some players lost interest. Hats off for those who fort for the course.
Thank god Rafa came in to steady the sinking ship.
Hopefully Mash will back him if we’re promoted or history will repeat itself.
hibbit
Mar 23, 2017 at 1:57 PM
Comment #15Essex Geordie Bill
it was Yohan Keybab (kebab ) that upset him easy mistake for JFK to make lol
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 23, 2017 at 2:04 PM
Comment #16hibbit
Yes, my mistake, I claim old age privilege. 🙂
beermonkey
Mar 23, 2017 at 2:07 PM
Comment #17still makes me chuckle that kebab comment
hibbit
Mar 23, 2017 at 2:09 PM
Comment #18bill
most folk i know can see the funny side of it
but apparently Cabaye flipped and was not amused