Here are some photos taken at the refurbished Benton Training grounds today on what was the squad’s first day back for pre-season training.
There were a few surprises as the players arrived such as Aleksandar Mitrovic and Gini Wijnaldum, who were both involved with International friendlies for their countries, but they were back today.
A smiling Gini Wijnaldum arrives for training
Here are some other players who arrived today.
Daryl Janmaat looks pensive
Aleksandar Mitrovic in deep thought
Why did I get myself sent off in that last game?
Adam Armstrong – a big pre-season for the local lad
Dwight Gayle – did all his interviews and stuff yesterday
Jonjo Shelvey – could be a star for us this season
Kevin Mbabu – got two year contract extension in summer
Big chance for the young Swiss defender
Rob Elliot arrives for rehabilitation on his ACL
Tim Krul seems to walk freely – will he be sold this summer?
Last but not least – Rafa Benitez and his coaches arrive
Has the manager gained a little weight?
It’s all that home cooking all summer long!
33 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:19 PM
Comment #1HWTL.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:20 PM
Comment #2Elliot looks like he is about to steal that car!
stephen1971
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:22 PM
Comment #3mon the rafalution
Jail for Ashley
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:22 PM
Comment #4Years ago there was a poster called PPB who changed his name regularly with those same initials, he was openly Gayle and from Leeds.
Tsunki
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:25 PM
Comment #5Some chortles and guffaws to be had this good eve. 🙂
geordie157
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:25 PM
Comment #6Is Thauvin back for training?
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:26 PM
Comment #7Krul looks like somone p1ssed on his cornflakes
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:28 PM
Comment #8Mbabu looks like he came Straight Outta Compton
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:28 PM
Comment #9Voldamort has gained weight
Belfast
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:31 PM
Comment #10Is Gayle contagious Jail ?
Belfast
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:33 PM
Comment #11Pardews perfect battleplan!
GeordieTwo
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:35 PM
Comment #12Exciting times. Good to see Gayle and Ritchie in. Now get us a couple of good CB’s Rafa please.
Tsunki
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:41 PM
Comment #13Actually it’s janmaat who looks most likely to chaw that motor…
Pardews Priceless Bulls#*t
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:42 PM
Comment #14Yeah jail I’m the same guy. One other name was pardews parsnip bonce
GeordieTwo
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:45 PM
Comment #15Ibiza has been arguing with me that Rafa is not a god. Absolute tosh Ibiza mate. Here is my pantheon of the gods:
Your basic no nonsense discount gods:
Jimmy Nail Ant and Dec, various Monty Pythons
Medium level hard working up and coming gods:
Jackie Milburn Sting Peter Sellers
Star gods:
Thor Zeus Poseidon
The real deal. Top, top god. Your best bet if you need a god to save your club.
Rafa
GeordieTwo
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:46 PM
Comment #16Mildew for England!
Boom, boom, boom boom boom!
Jail for Ashley
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:52 PM
Comment #17PPB,
When I asked you if you were awhile back you denied it. Something tells me Vollans who claimed to be gay recently is up to no good.
GeordieTwo
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:53 PM
Comment #18Now tell me Rafa’s not a god Ibiza! Ha! You can’t do it can you? You’ve seen the error of your ways. Glad that’s settled then….. Harrumph.
GeordieTwo
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:55 PM
Comment #19Trying to tell me Rafa’s not a god. Can’t believe it….
GeordieTwo
Jul 1, 2016 at 5:59 PM
Comment #20Where are the CB’s?
Boom, boom, boom boom boom!
Veltmann
Jul 1, 2016 at 6:01 PM
Comment #21Boom Boom,good to see Wijnaldum back in training 🙂 🙂
GeordieTwo
Jul 1, 2016 at 6:03 PM
Comment #22Oh and another thing. I demand a recount on that whole Brexit thing. Harrumph.
Jail for Ashley
Jul 1, 2016 at 6:03 PM
Comment #23What a shame Ritchie has decided to play for Scotland it would be absolutely class if he had decided to play for England and got in at the expense of Ratros Townsend.
Pardews Priceless Bulls#*t
Jul 1, 2016 at 6:04 PM
Comment #24Jail whether I was gay or the old ppb
GeordieTwo
Jul 1, 2016 at 6:04 PM
Comment #25Yes it is Veltmann mate. Now all we have to do is find his plums. Where were they for away games last season?
Pardews Priceless Bulls#*t
Jul 1, 2016 at 6:06 PM
Comment #26Oh ps I was pardews plan b toow
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 1, 2016 at 6:08 PM
Comment #27Everytime I’ve watched Ritchie he has put cracking crosses into the box. Done it early as well. I think Rafa is building a supply line to suit Mitro with Arma, Gayle and Perez picking up the pieces in and around him. I actually think that we have the got the better wide man with Ritchie in and Townsend leaving.
carl
Jul 1, 2016 at 6:10 PM
Comment #28BandB
I renounce the pervasive evil of Tuffism and the moral bankruptcy of Tuffist apologists.
Veltmann
Jul 1, 2016 at 6:11 PM
Comment #29😀
Jail for Ashley
Jul 1, 2016 at 6:12 PM
Comment #30PPB,
Both.
Pardews Priceless Bulls#*t
Jul 1, 2016 at 6:17 PM
Comment #31I am the old ppb. I have had my…. Moments but I’m not gay. I am also not Carl or ian
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 1, 2016 at 6:17 PM
Comment #32Good luck to Townsend though, no resentment from me. He joined us and performed to the best of his ability and earned himself a move. More than many have done in the past when they wanted out.
Still work to be done, but it does look like a lot of ducks were in a row, and Rafa and Charnley are just picking them off now. Looking forward to the next few arrivals – and interested to see the next couple of departures.
Fostino
Jul 1, 2016 at 6:24 PM
Comment #33Exciting week for the toon. Benetiz is sorting the squad early.
Contract Players
Aarons, Rolando
Ameobi, Samuel
Anita, Vurnon San Benito
Armstrong, Adam James
Barlaser, Daniel Tan
Bigirimana, Gael
Cabella, Remy
Cisse, Papiss Demba
Colback, Jack Raymond
Coloccini, Fabricio
Darlow, Karl
De Jong, Siem
Dummett, Paul
Elliot, Robert
Gillesphey, Macauley (Offer)
Gilliead, Alex Nicholas
Good, Curtis
Gouffran, Yoan
Gutierrez, Ayoze Perez
Haidara, Massadio
Heardman, Tom (Offer)
Janmaat, Daryl
Krul, Timothy Michael
Lascelles, Jamaal
Mbabu, Melingo Kevin (Extended)
Mbemba, Chancel Mangulu
Mitrovic, Aleksander
Riviere, Emmanuel
Roberts, Callum
Saivet, Henri
Satka, Lubomir
Shelvey, Jonjo
Sissoko, Moussa
Smith, Liam Phillip (Offer)
Sterry, Jamie Michael
Thauvin, Florian
Tiote, Cheik Ismael
Toney, Ivan Benjamin Elijah
Townsend, Andros
Vuckic, Haris
Wijnaldum, Georginio
Woodman, Frederick John
Here’s our current squad. Posted by sky earlier. We can add gayle..Sels and Ritchie to the list. With andros gone that means we have a squad total of 44 remaining.
I think if we lost thauvin. .cabella..goofy..riverie..cisse..haidira.. bigi..Sammy. .vuckic..colo..It would do us good and reduce squad by 10 more (34)
We may very well lose..wini..De jong. .sissoko..tiote..janmaat..krul. The first 3 I hope we keep so we will say 31 remaining.
With 11 youngsters who’ve barely played any first team footy with the toon (woodman. Sterry. .Smith..Sakta. ..Roberts. ..heardman. ..gillisphey..gilliead…barlaser..armstrong..rolando.) I can only see a handful being involved so we will say 5 which means our playing squad is 25.
We may very well sell the likes of good…Elliott due to injury concerns or they may very well be injured long term so the playing squad is 23 now.
This in my opinion leaves room for improvements needed in the wing back positions and we may very well need a cb too although I like lascalles a lot. ID nearly wait till next year to get a great new no.9 presuming we are p.l. Grade and a new c.m. Too.
Sorry..essay over