It’s safe to say that our number one striker target in January – Feyenoord striker Nicolai Jorgensen – did not have a good World Cup for Denmark.
He lost his place in the starting line up with some inept performances and yesterday when he came on in the second half against Croatia he looked mediocre at best.
Denmark lost 3-2 on penalties after the game ended 1-1 after extra time.
But to have paid £20M for him in January would have been a waste of money.
And that will not help Mike Ashley in completely trusting Rafa with Newcastle’s money in transfer windows.
Nicolai Jorgensen – in action for Denmark
That could continue to be a problem with Rafa signing on long-term on Tyneside – he wants complete control of all transfers and how the money is spent.
£20M would have been money down the drain for Newcastle had we signed him last January,
The Dane looks a decent holdup player but has difficulty scoring goals,
And that’s a good description of a striker we already have at the club – Joselu.
The Spanish striker is useful when we are hanging on for a win and he can come on and play well in holding the ball and calming things down.
He did that a few times last season and Joselu’s a better technical player than he’s given credit for – but he cannot put the ball in the back of the net.
Neither can Jorgensen.
As most fans are saying that was a bullet we dodged.
Nicolai Jorgensen. Bullet. Dodged.#nufc #DENCRO #WorldCup
— Matt (@toonelmatador) July 2, 2018
I hope this Jorgensen is about 48th on Rafa’s list of strikers. Really not impressed by him at all. #nufc
— Kind of a big deal (@grahamcrosby) July 1, 2018
So I’m still not convinced on Jorgensen…definitely not seen £20m worth there! #Worldcup #nufc ??
— Clinton Forde (@FordeHaveMercy) July 1, 2018
Jorgensen has literally been a passenger this whole world cup. Proof again how crap the dutch league is and proof again why he was so far down Rafas Striker list. Worrying thing is, whos below him? #NUFC
— Jarryd Vasey (@JarrydVasey) July 1, 2018
Imagine Joselu and Jorgensen leading the line for #nufc next season ??
— Aaron Olsson (@AOlssonNUFC) July 1, 2018
Think #NUFC have dodged a massive bullet when the Jan move for Jorgensen fell through. Only seen him at world cup and he’s not convinced at all. Woeful technique.
— Jordan Gibbon (@Gibbo2910) July 1, 2018
Good call not to sign #Jorgensen #nufc #nrafawetrust
— Janet Purdy (@PurdyJanet777) July 1, 2018
Jorgensen is a £20M Joselu. No thanks #NUFC
— adam (@AdamLittle99) July 1, 2018
If Rafa still wants Jorgensen he should be able to get him for £10m now. Had a worse WC than Guivarc’h #nufc
— Phillwillkill (@Phillwillkill) July 1, 2018
If Rafa signs that Jorgensen I won’t know what to do! #NUFC
— LeLouvre (@LeLouvre) July 1, 2018
Goalkeeper was already on the floor and Jorgensen still missed. Lucky escape for #nufc
— Craig Forsyth (@CraigForsyth_) July 1, 2018
Jorgensen? #nufc #CRODEN pic.twitter.com/5U3aHX0GOF
— Adam Smith (@ASmithSJ) July 1, 2018
18 comments so far
The next Mike Williamson
Jul 2, 2018 at 10:10 AM
Comment #1I think atsu has to go. do you want 6m to buy a new full back or a 3rd choice lw who will end up frustrated or on loan in championship
Tsunki
Jul 2, 2018 at 10:12 AM
Comment #2It wasn’t the penalty miss that convinced me we need to pass on Jorgensen. It was the hesitation to strike first time when he had a chance on goal. Not what a proper instinctive striker would do.
lesh
Jul 2, 2018 at 10:13 AM
Comment #3This story is based on the presumption that the press reports were based on fact.
Anyway, who the hell does Ashley think he is? Has his judgement proved to be beyond question? Will he accept that his errors of judgement have cost the club a fortune? Will he accept that appointing Wise, Llambias, Kineer, Pardew, McLaren and Carver, going on the drink while waiting for the Mansours to get in touch and taking the pi$$ out of Keegan were ill-judged decisions?
Ashley epitomises a very dangerous pairing of arrogance and ignorance and should allow Rafa some slack – we all make mistakes, don’t we Mr Ashley?
lochinvar
Jul 2, 2018 at 10:19 AM
Comment #4Rafa does it again.
Saves £20m by not buying Jorgensen.
Master tactician.
Use the money as a down payment on a striker that knows how to score.
SJP could be an electric place to be next season.
Bobbybee
Jul 2, 2018 at 10:19 AM
Comment #5Lesh, I know mate, you’d think he owned the bloody club… 🙂
martoon
Jul 2, 2018 at 10:20 AM
Comment #6The next Mike Williamson @1 – I can’t agree about Atsu. If you remember he had a very good pre-season and start to the season and then his form went down-hill. We now know this was due to a long term injury which he has now had an operation on and hopefully be fit for this pre-season – he should be given a chance.
Ben Afri
Jul 2, 2018 at 10:22 AM
Comment #7I doubt very much Ashley pays close attention to football.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 2, 2018 at 10:24 AM
Comment #8Jorgenson would have been another in the Guivarch, Tomasson, Luque (?) mould. A lot of money for cr^p.
This new young lad looks more what we need.
I see El Mhanni is still on the books, thought he’d gone already.
martoon
Jul 2, 2018 at 10:25 AM
Comment #9lochinvar @4 – When you think about it only paying £5m for Joselu instead of £20m for Jorgensen was a genius bit of business and yet people still complain about Joselu 😉
ronaldo aarons
Jul 2, 2018 at 10:27 AM
Comment #10Not defending Jorgensen but you really can’t judge a player based on the World Cup or the euros.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 2, 2018 at 10:28 AM
Comment #11Wonder if we’ll keep Mbemba and Saivet by default with nobody wanting them.
Still think we could get some useful mileage from them.
Bobbybee
Jul 2, 2018 at 10:29 AM
Comment #12Martoon, agree on that matey. He had that fatty pad removed from his knee which was clearly holding him back. He might not be quite ready by the start of the season either, despite starting his preseason earlier than most. He’s making a great effort to get fit in time and showing the kind of commitment we love in our players.
We should see that extra yard of pace back that he showed earlier in his career – the reason Chelsea signed him.
ronaldo aarons
Jul 2, 2018 at 10:29 AM
Comment #13So we are seemingly looking at kenedy and selling Ritchie to replace him with Townsend. Just curious, would people prefer Townsend or the previously linke traore at boro?
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 2, 2018 at 10:31 AM
Comment #14Ronaldo
Perhaps not but it’s the places where they should be shining, if they can’t do it there I’d be very dubious about them doing it in the EPL which is probably a tougher ask!
c-dog
Jul 2, 2018 at 10:31 AM
Comment #15The club needs to ramp up its production of edited YouTube compilations of mbemba. They can make any player look sensational.
ben.g
Jul 2, 2018 at 10:33 AM
Comment #16£20mill was what his club wanted for him. We bid 14 or 15 mill and did not increase the offer.
Jorgensen was on fire in the Dutch league when we were biding for him.
Any player can just lose form. Imagine being Swansea paying £30 odd mill for Wilfred boney!
Chelsea had Morata drop off as well.
A lot can happen in football
ronaldo aarons
Jul 2, 2018 at 10:35 AM
Comment #17Essex
Unfortunately, not everyone can or will shine at a World Cup. If they do, it still doesn’t mean they’ll hack the premier league. There’s many players who haven’t done well at a World Cup but done well in the premier league and vice versa.
posada
Jul 2, 2018 at 10:41 AM
Comment #18If they want Jorgenson, particularly at 20 million, there is something seriously wrong with recruitment at the club.