Rafa Benitez will give a chance to some of our fringe players on Saturday when League Two leaders Luton Town will be our opponents at St. James’ Park.
We are in a difficult fight to remain in the Premier League this season, and it’s by no means certain we can do it.
This month’s transfer window will be very important, but there seems to be no leadership or decisions coming from the Newcastle owner Mike Ashley who is still on vacation.
The local papers are reporting Rafa still doesn’t know how much he will have available to spend this month – and if that’s true it’s completely ridiculous and unacceptable.
Nathan Jones – Luton Town’s successful manager
We have some good fringe players available and maybe Henri Saivet will get a start.
The two starts he has made this season he has played extremely well – in the League Cup against Nottingham Forst and at West Ham when he scored that cracking goal direct from a free kick.
Young Freddie Woodman may also get his first competitive appearance for the club and players like Chancel Mbemba, Jonjo Shelvey, Rolando Aarons, Mo Diame and Ayoze Perez could also feature.
Comments welcome.
311 comments so far
ronaldo aarons
Jan 4, 2018 at 5:59 PM
Comment #81Newcastle and Burnley interested in £18m Jonathan Viera. @JBurtTelegraph reports.
lesh
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:02 PM
Comment #82Dubai
Could your Dubai based mate/ colleague who suggested that Cantervale would only have been registered to move the NUFC deal on have misjudged the situation? The only reason I ask is that PCP may have other deals on its desk.
Would I be daft in thinking that in transactions such as this that most of the discussions are delegated to the respective parties’ legal and financial advisers leaving AS do get on with other deals? That being so, is it not conceivable that the NUFC takeover is but one project that PCP’s involved in and Cantervale set up for some other deal?
I hope I’m wrong but was just wondering what AS would be doing to fill her time in.
Mister Tuff
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:03 PM
Comment #83Hope Ashley does not demand that players are sold before any come in. We might be waiting a long time.
Benitez has already indicated it’s better to get players in early rather than later
DubaiMicky
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:05 PM
Comment #84Here you go, part 3
http://tombenbow.blogspot.ae/2018/01/sports-direct-ltd-next-chapter-in.html
Ron Knee
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:06 PM
Comment #85“Swansea City manager Carlos Carvalhal is confident he will be given money to spend in the January transfer window – but says he might have to sign “sardines” rather than “lobsters”.” (BBC)
Sounds familiar.
Frank pingles come sock
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:09 PM
Comment #864 days gone not even a sniff of a player
Tommorow will be the same
Saturday – game (so no chance)
Sunday – nope
1 week gone (nothing ) that’s a farce
When we do get a strong link , it takes us usually 3 days of (will they /won’t they) and it’s all over thr online media , then we usually submit a low bid , gets knocked back , another bid , talk of medical , a few days of nothingness then they sign !!
We are not up to the strong link stage yet with anyone
NezzaNUFC
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:12 PM
Comment #87Lesh
Unfortunately no transfers can happen during a takeover but if they are transfers happening it must mean the takeover is completed.
Rafa doesn’t know the budget or he’s awaiting on the new outcome with the new owners?
Either way as I stated before the window opened we will know what is happening soon with transfers connected to the takeover.
Online Guy
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:12 PM
Comment #88I posted early doors this season that Ashley could be toying with the media and the fans as regard selling up.
Ashley likes to keep Newcastle in the news. As we all know no publicity is bad publicity and it drives his other interests ..SD the prime beneficiary of all the is he, will he, has he sold up discussions via various media
I’m wishing hard every day that I wake up to the news that it’s all done and we have new owners.
What could be happening right now is Rafa is beavering away on some big signings and they will all be under wraps and announced as complete and all in at the same time so as not to alert any selling club we have new owners and money to go for higher end players.
I don’t want to ever see ” We worked hard on Selling Newcastle but we did not receive any bids worth considering so Mike Ashley is now taking the club off the market and the club is not for sale at any price.” Chilling.
Don’t trust him.
Jib
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:13 PM
Comment #89Micky
The last sentence is what folk want to hear
” I believe this is a major sign post that we are closer to a takeover”
Interesting that MA might be thinking of re-privatising
SD
One always got the impression that he hated the stock market
NezzaNUFC
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:14 PM
Comment #90Why does Mr Jones look like Carrick lol
NezzaNUFC
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:16 PM
Comment #91Frank
No transfer activity may mean takeover nearly completed.
Mister Tuff
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:16 PM
Comment #92See Armstrong is apparently going out to Blackburn.
DubaiMicky
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:16 PM
Comment #93Job, the fact that he hates the stock market is precisely why he wants to privatise.
Nezza, if you think Rafa doesn’t know what’s going on and how much he has to spend you’re as mad as a bag of frogs.
Dragon64
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:21 PM
Comment #94it is soul destroying this waiting and waiting then still nowt??
NezzaNUFC
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:21 PM
Comment #95Micky
He knows what’s going on (the situation) but to fully know how much he is getting for this window is farce.
If the takeover is indeed completed then he will know how much he has but if not it’s anyone guess really.
Dragon64
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:24 PM
Comment #96ya right DM he is a TWAT and how no one has punched that fat twats smirk on that face is unreal….
NezzaNUFC
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:25 PM
Comment #97Online guy
I could imagine what the fans will do if that ever happens.
Season tickets will surely drop and the media will have a field day with criticism against Mike.
But us fans will suffer the most in this predicament and tempers will be flying.
NezzaNUFC
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:31 PM
Comment #98Hmm I wonder how long it takes for a massive amount of millions to be transferred from one account to another considering the security.
3-6 days maybe?
DubaiMicky
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:33 PM
Comment #99Nezza.
An hour tops, probably a lot less.
Online Guy
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:35 PM
Comment #100Seriously
NEZZA
Ashley needs drummed out of town ..absolute disgrace as an owner of Newcastle United
We are still here, we are still proud…Ashley is hopefully selling up now before it gets any more embarrassing for him.
I heard that Ashley has asked for 15 million quid on top of any proposed bid for the club so he can give it to give to local charities next year. All kinds of rumours flying around.
Reilly
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:35 PM
Comment #101it all makes sense now.jibs a 92er. 😆
Online Guy
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:38 PM
Comment #102Dubai Micky
Thanks for keeping uz all warm over the last month or so with some insightful info
Its well received here. Thanks mate.
bettyswallocks
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:39 PM
Comment #103Online Guy……. How can I help you my dear chap?
NezzaNUFC
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:40 PM
Comment #104Online guy
Should be chased out of the UK along with his tatty shops!
Micky
Only small amounts can be transferred in less than hour, massive sums need to go through security check before transferred into another account.
lesh
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:42 PM
Comment #105Nezza, Dubai, Bettys et al……..
Frustrating as it is, we can but wait……. What will be will be and we mere mortals can do nowt to affect the outcome of discussions.
However, Dubai’s pal, Tom thinngy’s analysis gives us hope as he’s closer to Ashley’s thinking than me so….. Fingers crossed that we hear of the sale, a satisfactory conclusion, soon.
NezzaNUFC
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:44 PM
Comment #106Lesh
True, as to why I have party poppers and even spare crackers for the occasion 🙂
DubaiMicky
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:45 PM
Comment #107I’m sure it’s not the same when its coming from the mega wealthy. Or perhaps the cash is sitting in an Escrow account – like buying a house?
Online Guy
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:45 PM
Comment #108Hi Betty
Loved your links other night
Laughing before bed time wasn’t good for me …good Craic.
NezzaNUFC
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:47 PM
Comment #109Micky
Maybe just maybe, I was thinking about escrow and as you have stated the mega rich usually do deals this way for quick succession.
posada
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:48 PM
Comment #110Someone mentioned Bob Stokoe in that he captained our FA Cup winning side and managed another side to win it.
Milburn apparently supported that other side as a boy and spent many happy years there reporting for the News of the World.
Tiddler Horsfield reckons he was on the bus with them when they went to Wembley.
My Dad used to like all North East teams to do well and meant it.
What’s changed.
For me a lot is to do with modern life. Up until the 70’s working folks in the region were in the same boat. The same unions re ship building on the Tyne and the Wear.
Also, the NUM.
It was supporting each other first and football was second.
In the modern world all those jobs are gone, but football remains.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:50 PM
Comment #111Jib…you should listen to Online Guy he’s very wise!
…you could learn a few things!
Online Guy
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:51 PM
Comment #112Ashley and his minions usually release important news after 22:00hrs…not sure if that’s to give the media the runaround.. Days Not over as regards major news. I live in hope.
lesh
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:52 PM
Comment #113Nezza, Dubai
Surely if foreign money’s been sitting in Escrow for a while, its source and status will have been checked pre final transfer?
Nezza
You’ve no need to worry about crackers to celebrate completion, you’ll never be short – there’s a few who make mischief and post on here.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:52 PM
Comment #114Online Guy…Betsy loves his pictures! We should all be flattered knowing the time he devotes to it 😉
RUNAWAY777
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:53 PM
Comment #115Debenhams shares down 15% could not happen to a better person then ashley shame it was not more pmsl
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:55 PM
Comment #116For some reason Betsy reminds me of Li’l Sebastian
lochinvar
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:56 PM
Comment #117Nile Ranger is available to sign having been sacked by Southend
Any takers ?
Thought not
Online Guy
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:56 PM
Comment #118Lily Aber.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:56 PM
Comment #119On the other hand it would be a shame if Debenhams went down and all those people lost their jobs.
Online Guy
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:58 PM
Comment #120Lil’ Abner!,,, this spell checker is hilarious . Invents words that one might expect Trump or bush to come out with.