Newcastle have announced they will play Portuguese side SC Braga in a pre-season friendly at the Estadio Municipal de Braga on Wednesday, 1st August, with kick-off at 7.30pm.
That’s the fifth friendly game to be arranged for pre-season and the second in Portugal where we play Porto on the previous Saturday before we play Braga on Wednesday.
The Newcastle squad will remain in Portugal between the SC Barga and FC Porto games.
Abel Ferreira – SC Braga head coach
The final pre-season friendly is against FC Augsburg at St. James’ Park on Saturday 4th August and that’s one week before we play Spurs at home to open the Premier League season.
Here are the friendlies arranged with all times local:
[table “73” not found /]What do you think?
Comments welcome.
74 comments so far
lochinvar
Jun 14, 2018 at 1:11 PM
Comment #1I thought that tapping up players without an official approach to their club was illegal, yet alone offering them a deal . Or is that just for Managers ? Time for sanctions or is the Mundo Deportivo just a rag like the Mirror ?
Spanish daily Mundo Deportivo are reporting that Real Sociedad’s discussions with Mikel Merino have gone well.
The 21-year-old is said to be pleased with the initial deal that Sociedad have made to him.
They are offering him a four to six-year contract, but they want Merino to first decide he wants to join them before they start official negotiations with Newcastle about a possible transfer this summer.
They believe that it would be a waste of time negotiating with Newcastle if the player is not keen to join them.
hibbit
Jun 14, 2018 at 1:13 PM
Comment #2Jail for Ashley
Jun 14, 2018 at 1:00 PM
and i still think its sensible advice what good does it do ranting and raving on here ?????
lochinvar
Jun 14, 2018 at 1:17 PM
Comment #3Please tell me that when the FA switched on their Super E.N.I.A.C. Computer to generate the new seasons fixtures that it hadn’t be hacked into by Sky.
Spurs first home game at their new Stadium agains Liverpool ?
Nothing to do with viewing figures and advertising revenue then ?
Just a pure coincidence, a marriage of convenience, lucky result.
Yeah right. Wake up and smell the coffee.
AncientC
Jun 14, 2018 at 1:23 PM
Comment #4So Merino has been given permission to speak to other clubs? If that is true, he is as good as gone. That will certainly mean a new CM coming in during the summer, although I don’t necessarily expect to see Mbemba replaced. Hayden looks like he is being fitted up for a future at CB and Clark is a great back up.
Ron Knee
Jun 14, 2018 at 1:40 PM
Comment #5Let’s hope we’ll be able to watch some of these friendlies.
geordiesteve520
Jun 14, 2018 at 1:48 PM
Comment #6@RonKnee
There are two potential scenarios for the Fulham game both involving Mitro.
1 – We keep him, he relegates Fulham…
2 – We sell him and his shows us up…
Ron Knee
Jun 14, 2018 at 1:51 PM
Comment #7geordie
… and relegates us!
ronaldo aarons
Jun 14, 2018 at 2:25 PM
Comment #8Not only do we need first team additions but we let go of a host of u23 player from development squad. Wonder what’s going to happen there?
jazzyp
Jun 14, 2018 at 2:28 PM
Comment #9Hibbit
And what good does it do just accepting your fate as an Nufc fan mate.
I agree with Jail… Why should we just keep entertaining Ashley’s drivel every transfer window.
It’s Early days lads…Don’t worry next week we will sign someone,Or maybe the week after that.I bet we will sign a player once the world cups done. And let’s not forget the good old players are still on holiday excuse.
Same old same old buddy every year
Tsunki
Jun 14, 2018 at 2:29 PM
Comment #10Well considering how well our back line held against some top teams last season I reckon Rafa will be hard to persuade letting any of our back line go out the door.
swemag
Jun 14, 2018 at 2:43 PM
Comment #11Nice, two games in 4 days, looking forward to this. I hope they have signed some players by then.
Nostradamus the Geordie
Jun 14, 2018 at 2:47 PM
Comment #12Honestly the rumor mill on transfers is getting a little tiresome, the first signing we need is Rafa and guess what he really wants to play for Newcastle. Mitro to Fulham? They are trying to purchase Ayew, I’m not sure after what Mitro did for them why Ayew would be there first signing. Honestly I feel Rafa doesn’t have the backing he really wanted with funds, he will be selling players so he can up his kitty and then know’s how much he has to play with. Not the best scenario but maybe one he is working on, as for the fixture list.
I feel its good getting these games out the way quickly so we can focus on the whole season, but no one knows what type of team we could have at the start of the season and we actually could have some good additions to the squad that may make us harder to play against than last year. For me, watch the world cup for the next four weeks and then see where the club is after that. I cant see much business done while the players are playing in the world cup.
hibbit
Jun 14, 2018 at 2:49 PM
Comment #13jazzyp
never said for one minute we should accept any of Ashley’s shit and definitely don’t think we should,
but what good do people on here do ranting and raving at each other over unfounded press stories, have a go at Ashley by all means or his regime (you better than most know what an easy ride Charnley and Bishop get at games) but really it’s pointless on a blog full of like minded fans !!!
jazzyp
Jun 14, 2018 at 2:58 PM
Comment #14Hibbit
It’s called a debate buddy,Everyone entitled to there opinion as we say.
This Summer we all know what money is available to the club,Yet the coffers are seemingly still empty and that’s where the frustration is growing from yet again no early progress in the transfer market.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 14, 2018 at 3:00 PM
Comment #15Wouldn’t surprise me if we are waiting for Mbemba and Selz to get off the wage bill before the next batch of signings come in?
Its not just the transfer fees that will bother Ashley its the wages that you need to pay a player who signs for 20 million they aren’t going to be happy on 40k a week !
I remember reading an article ages about Ashley and saying he was actually sickened by how much football players got paid regardless if they played or not (can kind of agree with him on that point) but its a sport and you have to compete and to do that you have to pay the going rate or be left behind!
hibbit
Jun 14, 2018 at 3:05 PM
Comment #16jazzyp
OK bud, but i did think that’s what i was taking part in with jail when i expressed my opinion
lochinvar
Jun 14, 2018 at 3:10 PM
Comment #17LeeCharnleyBP
Ashley might be sick about how much players earned but it doesn’t stop him taking his own wad from all over the place, but it’s his companies.
Some SD employees benefited from share options and bonus payments but that has to be offset against the lack of contracts and working conditions for many of their employees.
Charnley must be unhappy that Ashley takes his venom out on him and only pays him £150,000 or like Pardew has he been at the roulette wheels ?
Tough for some.
Still could have been in advertising.
Martin Sorrell gets £19million in bonuses” for leaving WPP.
Pass me the smelling salts.
jazzyp
Jun 14, 2018 at 3:20 PM
Comment #18Hibbit
Do you see any path of change this window to suggest Ashley will try and do the right thing by Nufc or Benitez??
I would love to be wrong mate but I just don’t see it happening this transfer window or any other why Ashley is here.
A pathetic excuse always follows Ashley around like a bad rash
hibbit
Jun 14, 2018 at 3:30 PM
Comment #19jazzyp
i don’t see any hope of change as long as Ashley owns us,
it’s his way or no way
that’s how he works and that’s how it will be till someone comes along and buys us when that will be i don’t have a clue
Mister Tuff
Jun 14, 2018 at 3:39 PM
Comment #20Mitro and possibly Merino leaving sounds about right/believable ( when compared to some of the tall tales the press tell).
Mbemba away is also probable.
Cannot see why it is reported there exists a duel between Rafa and Tubbs re his contract – bearing in mind there is a year left on his contract. Rafa is wise enough to sit back and see what Mr Tubbs offers/has planned – would seem the sensible thing to do.
Tubbs is not to be trusted.
Folks saying Rafa has the whip hand currently – is bollocks – Mr Tubbs has the whip hand. He will always be the winner.
magic hat
Jun 14, 2018 at 3:40 PM
Comment #21If you play along with Ashley’s way the best bet is to do a few things right. Develop the best youth players, as that’s gets you good money in future and saves on fees. Reduce the wage bill by having a small but quality, none injury prone squad. Buy quality young players and loan them out if they aren’t ready so other clubs pay their wages. Add sell on fee % and optional contract extension clauses where possible. This is the way to a sustainable model and I think it’s also what in some ways Ashley has tried to do with the young player recruitment. Selling players at tiger peak 28 – 29 make sense but only if you’ve got a younger player ready to take their place.
This window may well be more about clearing the decks of the players we don’t need and then brining in quality over quantity. Personally i’d Be happy with 5 out and 2 in!
Jib
Jun 14, 2018 at 3:50 PM
Comment #22jazzyp
Is right
Get your whine in early
Ha ha ha
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 14, 2018 at 3:50 PM
Comment #23Thing is Haidara, Gamez , Good , Mbemba , Selz will be pretty much gone soon and none of them really played or were good enough !
Dubruvka in and another player or 2 would replace all of the above as they never played !
hibbit
Jun 14, 2018 at 3:52 PM
Comment #24magic hat
5 out 2 in would leave a small squad very short of cover through to the january window , players off form injuries all have to be taken into account when buying and selling players and will be at the other 19 prem clubs but obviously not at this club with Ashley in control
Jib
Jun 14, 2018 at 3:57 PM
Comment #25Sometimes a friendly can be arranged twixt teams
because they have done some business behind the scenes.
Braga ended up fourth in the Primeira Liga and have some canny
players – watch this space
dig-n-dig22
Jun 14, 2018 at 3:57 PM
Comment #26Lesh previous post
TBH, I thought Rafa would walk after the the poor Jan window but other bloggers on here were convinced he would see out his contract so I am going with that, I think Rafa’s wish list will be a big one but I think it will depend who is still available on his wish list during the last 2 weeks of the window because I think that is when Ashley will release the funds.If Rafa is happy with that situation then that,s fine but if he isn’t, he may walk but I still think he will make some good signings if he stays. If we retain the the squad that served us well in the second half of the season then I Don’t see a problem bedding new players into the team and why should we fear Spurs,Chelsea,Arsenal at home after last season’s results.?
magic hat
Jun 14, 2018 at 3:59 PM
Comment #27Actually 5 out and 2 in would be fine as we’d still have a 25 man squad of senior players. As far as I can tell. 2 per position plus a extra keeper n striker and utility player. We could get rid of sels colback saivet lassar and arrons and still have enough players. As all of those 5 were out on loan!
hibbit
Jun 14, 2018 at 4:03 PM
Comment #28magic hat
add these 5 to your list and the squad starts to look very thin Haidara, Gamez , Good , Mbemba , Selz
jazzyp
Jun 14, 2018 at 4:22 PM
Comment #29Plank at his finest yet again
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 14, 2018 at 4:37 PM
Comment #30Still quite a few players to get rid of that are on decent wages Aarons , Colback etc as well
Just shows you how much money wasted under the Carr days that we are still kind of paying for as well
awaydays
Jun 14, 2018 at 5:43 PM
Comment #31Anyone watching the Russia game ? Best player on the pitch by a country mile … alexsandr golovin dont know much about him seems very good on the ball
lochinvar
Jun 14, 2018 at 5:45 PM
Comment #325 Out, 4 in sounds better.
Dubrovka’s in so I’ll settle for 3 in and maybe an extra bonus buy if we’re lucky
Tsunki
Jun 14, 2018 at 5:48 PM
Comment #33Jane’s prediction of a sticky start for Russia a bit off the mark. Can’t have your finger on too many pulses I guess. 😉
Tosun A. Wobbler
Jun 14, 2018 at 5:58 PM
Comment #34Rafa seems to have a talent for signing good players on a shoestring budget. One I’d like to get in is Mokele Mbemba from the Congo. He’s a blood and guts monster and would rip any defense to bits. Added bonus, we’d get him for nothing as he’s currently free.
Tosun A. Wobbler
Jun 14, 2018 at 5:59 PM
Comment #35Mbemba = Mbembe
lesh
Jun 14, 2018 at 6:03 PM
Comment #36Dig-n-dig
If we retain the players that saw us through last season?
You must’ve overlooked the fact that Kenedy’s gone so we’re one key player down before we start.
Rafa wants new players in early so he can get to know them, them to get to know him and his requirements of them, they get to know their team-mates and how they play. Did he get all of his new players in early last window? Do you think that scratching around for and introducing new signings when the season was under way might just have contributed to our poor start? If so, Ashley should see that and change his way but as he’s focused only on the money, he doesn’t care a jot.
lesh
Jun 14, 2018 at 6:09 PM
Comment #37Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Your point about carrying the expensive dead-weight of players signed via Carr but more importantly, approved by Ashley has validity. One would have thought that Ashley would cut Rafa some slack, allowing him to sign players before off-loading the surplus. But no, he’s so obsessed with the cash in the short-term that he puts the clubs Prem status at risk every season.
dig-n-dig22
Jun 14, 2018 at 6:42 PM
Comment #38Lesh 36
I didn’t overlook Kenedy, I would love to see him back but he wasn’t available for the Chelsea game but the team put in a great shift, I definitely think Kenedy was influential in turning our season around, that’s why I think if he is available we should buy him but if he isn’t, then we have to get on with it.I would beg to differ whether our poor start was down to lack of understanding between players. I think it was more down to key injuries especially at the back early in the season and of course Shelvey spitting out his dummy, after all Kenedy and Dubravka didn’t need weeks to play their way into the side, it was instant.
jane
Jun 14, 2018 at 7:15 PM
Comment #39“Jane’s prediction of a sticky start for Russia a bit off the mark.”
thanks for mentioning this Tsunki i’m sure you will pointing out any predictions i get right too.
Russia played well and several good goals.
ronaldo aarons
Jun 14, 2018 at 7:22 PM
Comment #40In the World Cup sweepstakes I’ve got going on, I’ve got egypt and Uruguay. Both got no chance really of winning and both are in the same group. Talk about stitched up.