If we can beat Huddersfield Town on Saturday at home, then we will be close to being home and dry in the Premier League and likely avoid relegation.
It would be a fantastic 3 points for us, but our players have to be at or near their best.
The Terriers have beaten us twice in our last three games and won 2-1 at St. James Park in August 2016.
Assuming we stay in the Premier League Rafa will need to strengthen the side significantly.
Hopefully, we can sign Martin Dubravka who has looked impressive in the Newcastle goal so far and seems to steady the defenders in front of him.
Martin Dubravka – brilliant in his debut against Red Devils
He will undoubtedly strengthen the side.
Since Sadio Haidara and Jesus Gamez will be released in the summer when their contracts run out, we expect Rafa to bring in at least one full-back to replace them.
Maybe a full-back who can play on either side would be a good acquisition, but left-back would be the priority since we have both Yedlin and Manquillo as natural right-backs.
Since Chancel Mbemba is almost sure to leave Newcastle this summer, Rafa will want to bring in another center-back.
And with Jonjo Shelvey currently being the only real creative midfield player in the team (Merino can grow into one), Rafa will want to sign a playmaker so we can be more creative as a team.
And up front, we could see two new strikers come in, and Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dwight Gayle will likely both leave the club – each for at least £15M hopefully.
We seem to have a lot of wingers at the moment, and if we can sign Kenedy permanently, Rafa will do that.
Otherwise, he could bring the likable lad back for another season on Tyneside – that would be a good move by Newcastle.
So based on this logic, we need the following positions filled with new players this summer:
Goalkeeper
Full-back
Center-back
Playmaker
Strikers (2)
Winger
Getting outstanding players in for those positions should make us a much better side next season.
We expect (at least) Mitrovic, Gayle, Mbemba, and Colback to leave the club this summer.
And hopefully, we will not be fighting relegation for the umpteenth time.
Did I mention we also need a new owner?
Comments welcome.
147 comments so far
Mister Tuff
Mar 26, 2018 at 2:24 PM
Comment #1Jail – good detective work – not that there was any doubt about Jib being Jeff from Benwell.
Absolutely got him by the short and curlies.
Jib and other multiples…………………………………………..OOT
Mr Tubbs……………………………………………………………..OOT
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 26, 2018 at 2:31 PM
Comment #2Just about to post when the bus moved! 🙂
Let me start by apologizing that this comment is neither music nor football related but for anyone watching “Homeland” are they as gobsmacked as me the way it seems to be synchronised with current events in relation to the Russians.
Spooky!!
RobLeenio
Mar 26, 2018 at 2:33 PM
Comment #3I guess the difference could be in which legal entity is registered with the League. In England it could be the club (ie Newcastle United FC) whereas in Scotland it could be the ultimate owners of the club (ie whichever holding company owned Rangers). In that case, when the holding company went out of existence, the League registration became void, whereas Sunderland AFC would not go out of existence, therefore would retain their League registration, no matter what happened to their owners.
I’d forgotten that Short had offered to walk away and write off his debts. Mind, a bit of clever accounting and he’ll probably never notice it….
jane
Mar 26, 2018 at 2:35 PM
Comment #4David Gold and David Sullivan have loaned West Ham £49m but this appears to have increased to £62m because £12.3m of interest has accrued because they charge West Ham 6-7% interest.
https://www.westhamtillidie.com/posts/2017/03/09/west-ham-s-financial-situation-revealed
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jun/01/premier-league-finances-club-by-club
beermonkey
Mar 26, 2018 at 2:37 PM
Comment #5Essex
Is it still as good as I stopped watching it when they killed ginger off
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 26, 2018 at 2:37 PM
Comment #6Jib
Try standing in front of a mirror and say “Wet Spam” three times.
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 26, 2018 at 2:38 PM
Comment #7beermonkey
I think it’s better.
Worth catching up on!
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 26, 2018 at 2:43 PM
Comment #8Can’t say the same about the X Files although the one about the AI restaurant had some very sinister undertones relevant to the way things could be going.
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 26, 2018 at 2:45 PM
Comment #9Can’t help thinking that a lot of poster wait until the bus has stopped before jumping on board!!
Jib
Mar 26, 2018 at 2:56 PM
Comment #10Jane
Gold and Sullivan are shareholders
therefore charging WH is normal
business practice
However
6/7 % is being quite generous to themselves
Jib
Mar 26, 2018 at 2:56 PM
Comment #11https://www.whufc.com/club/corporate-information/ownership
DubaiMicky
Mar 26, 2018 at 2:57 PM
Comment #12So basically Rob, it would be preferential for scum to go into administration, lose the points, kick out all their debts and player’s contracts, get relegated, and start again in division 3 with a clean sheet? If I was Quinn that’s what I’d be looking at.
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 26, 2018 at 3:12 PM
Comment #13I’d have thought they would have to start at the lowest tier of the league pyramid, same as Wimbledon AFC.
Conference North at the highest perhaps.
DubaiMicky
Mar 26, 2018 at 3:15 PM
Comment #14However AFC Wimbledon are a brand new company/team/whatever, they aren’t connected to MK Dons.
A funny story, I know one of the “directors” of AFC Wimbledon, we were having a gin in Portsmouth a while back and I asked him how they got the trophies back, he said we simply asked MK Dons for them and they gave them up immediately.
Oldgit1
Mar 26, 2018 at 3:18 PM
Comment #15@ Dubaimicky how will players contracts be effected, thinking of Rodwell, who is reported to be on 70k a week, he must be really pissed if club goes into liquidation. No doubt there will other high earners at the club ie Kone.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 26, 2018 at 3:21 PM
Comment #16That backtracking was so impressive it should be included in the summer Olympics 😮
DubaiMicky
Mar 26, 2018 at 3:24 PM
Comment #17Cos Oldgit, if the company folds the contracts basically lapse, unless the company is sold as a going concern with all contracts kept in place.
Toondog2
Mar 26, 2018 at 3:26 PM
Comment #18Essex
Homeland very good indeed . The first few series were quite exciting
The last one before current series was not so good I thought .
Interesting there is a Female president so not quite synced
Line of Duty pretty good too
Toondog2
Mar 26, 2018 at 3:28 PM
Comment #19Terrible waiting 3 weeks to comment on the Toon . It’s been like watching paint dry.
Some of the jokes have been good though
How long to KO Essex?
Jail for Ashley
Mar 26, 2018 at 3:29 PM
Comment #20Jeff from Benwell
Mar 4, 2015 at 4:20 PM
Comment #4
https://www.poundsterlinglive.com/best-exchange-rates/convert/best-pound-to-us-dollar-exchange-rate
The ex rate has fallen 7.6% since 2014
Guess what ?
His wealth is down by 7.5 %
Best leave the finance stuff alone Dr Harrison.
I suppose we all call him Dr Harrison and not Ed
Jail for Ashley
Mar 26, 2018 at 3:33 PM
Comment #21Jeff from Benwell
Mar 25, 2015 at 6:25 PM
Comment #2
Jesper
har de MARMITE i Danmark ?
I guess there’s loads of posters that antagonise Jesper in his native tongue as well!
beermonkey
Mar 26, 2018 at 3:50 PM
Comment #22Essex
cheers glad it’s still as good I will go back to it in the summer
when all the junk I watch has finished
toon dog
what’s line of duty about
Toondog2
Mar 26, 2018 at 3:57 PM
Comment #23Beer Monkey
UK Police investigating their own corruption AC12 anti corruption unit
Very well acted
Very gritty and gripping.
On Sony Channel Sunday evenings 9 pm .
Try it and see what you think
beermonkey
Mar 26, 2018 at 4:06 PM
Comment #24toondog
yes I sent that advertised it’s 6 years old from BBC
BUT I didn’t see it first time round so it is in the to watch list
thanks
Toondog2
Mar 26, 2018 at 4:12 PM
Comment #25Beermonkey
Did you see Strike Back series ?
Chris Ryan ex SAS now author wrote it
Also very gripping
beermonkey
Mar 26, 2018 at 4:18 PM
Comment #26toondog
nope I will put it in the list
RobLeenio
Mar 26, 2018 at 4:31 PM
Comment #27Micky, yep, that’s how I see it. No-one has corrected me yet, which I’m mildly surprised about. It wouldn’t be the first time – I think Leeds went into administration and ended up in the 3rd tier, maybe Citeh too? Forest perhaps? Just guessing now, no time to look them all up.
Bobbybee
Mar 26, 2018 at 4:45 PM
Comment #28When we came up we hardly strengthened. Although a few of our players have limited PL experience, it’s fair to say we were basically a Championship squad in a superior league.
If anybody ever questioned Rafa’s ability, maybe now is a good time to reconsider.
If you have a few Championship players in a squad it’s easier to bring them forward, but when it’s the the majority, it gets really difficult.
It showed. After a decent start, the difference started to show and we struggled.
Despite the limitations Rafa persevered and slowly but surely has transformed us into a PL side. What an incredible achievement.
Two scapegoats, Dummett and Diame, are now guaranteed starters. Dummett having England and Wales both interested in playing him, whilst Diame now bosses midfield.
It’s taken time, but why would it not? Yes, we still have Championship strikers, which makes the achievement even greater.
We were greatly limited, yet slowly but surely he’s improved every player at the club. Anybody can go out and buy success, but it takes a special coach to improve players to the extent Rafa has.
A win on Saturday will virtually assure our position in the PL next season, basically down to the tactics many moaned about. Our GD is worth a point and will see us finish ahead of any team we have the same points as – which will assure more money in the pot.
That said, he couldn’t have done so without a bunch of players proud to wear our shirts and willing to match a lack of ability with sheer determination and effort.
All things considered, I view this season as a massive success.
Just imagine if he gets backed next season? Please Ashley. Sell up, move on and give the club a fighting chance.
Bobbybee
Mar 26, 2018 at 4:49 PM
Comment #29Hope my post about football hasn’t upset anybody! 🙂
Bobbybee
Mar 26, 2018 at 4:56 PM
Comment #30Can’t wait for Saturday. Two games in six weeks just doesn’t cut it for me. The importance of the game won’t be lost on any of the 52k in the cathedral and I expect a cracking atmosphere. Three points, with Uncle Alan still to turn up with his team, and we’re safe.
Chelsea hate coming up here as well, so a point at least can be expected there.
West Ham v Southampton is a massive game for both sides and might determine the fate of either side. Yep, I can’t wait for Saturday! 🙂
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 26, 2018 at 4:59 PM
Comment #31Toondog
118 Hours 4 Minutes
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 26, 2018 at 5:05 PM
Comment #32Ivan Toney scored again for Scu^thorpe, that’s 4 in 7 games. Reckon he’d be more of an asset than that loanee we’ve had in the treatment room since we got him!
Toondog2
Mar 26, 2018 at 5:11 PM
Comment #33Bobbybee
No problem .
It’s very difficult waiting so long for the games. 3 weeks is ridiculous from one game to the next
Roll on Saturday and hopefully another 3 points
HWTL
Toondog2
Mar 26, 2018 at 5:12 PM
Comment #34Essex
Thanks
Jail for Ashley
Mar 26, 2018 at 5:16 PM
Comment #35Bobby,
It wasn’t helped by the unfortunate coincidence of Lascelles getting injured at the same time as all the takeover talk started.
RobLeenio
Mar 26, 2018 at 5:20 PM
Comment #36Bobby, that’s a pretty good summary of our season and definitely a good summary of Rafa’s strengths. You wonder which of his peers would have bothered to stay with us through our relegation and the sh!t that’s been flowing his way from the fat man.
Quality blended with sheer class makes him the man he is and why we are so lucky to have him here.
Munster Mag
Mar 26, 2018 at 5:22 PM
Comment #37Bobby yes agree rafa has improved players or certainly got them organised etc. But to play devils advocate here and to balance the argument in not sure how we can say we have a chanpionship squad. Merino shelvey lascelles dummett Lejeune Ritchie Gayle atsu. These are premier leaguers and internationals and two of them are good enough to play for england. That independent review rated us at 13th most valuable prem squad. We are not Nottingham forest Bobby. Jail will spill his coffee now but he knows I rate rafa, I just don’t do fawning and won’t blame a crap performance or odd subs on the owner all the time. Btw I think we cud go as high as 10th….gwan rafa
Bobbybee
Mar 26, 2018 at 5:24 PM
Comment #38Jail, maybe Lascelles not getting selected for England has done us a favour. Ritchie may or may not be fit for Saturday thanks to pointless friendlies, but we have plenty cover on the wings. Lascelles getting injured would’ve been a disaster.
Are you going Saturday or working? Should be a belting atmosphere imo, with so much resting on the game. If we play like our last two home games we should win comfortably I reckon. Another early goal would be perfect.
Munster Mag
Mar 26, 2018 at 5:26 PM
Comment #39Rob any thoughts on that? Fwiw, I think rafa is doing a better job this year than last because we had a noticeably superior team to other teams in that league. That was balanced against Hughtons experience and his teams experience.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 26, 2018 at 5:29 PM
Comment #40Bobby,
Unfortunately I’ll be working but I’ve got my tickets for the Leicester game and I’ll catch Arsenal and then Chelsea at home, I haven’t done to bad this season to be honest.