If we had managed a 0-0 draw yesterday at Wembley, we would be over the moon today.
But a late blunder by Dubravka meant we lost our 13th league game of the season.
Hopefully, there will not be too many more defeats in our final 13 games.
But fans still feel positive today.
Getting Almiron and Barreca in on Thursday has further raised the spirits on Tyneside, and we should be a better team because of the two new lads.
Both have pace and skill and can help Newcastle become a more attacking side in the future.
Even though we lost the game yesterday at Wembley the lads played really well, and they are so committed to Newcastle – it’s just great to see that from all our players.
Jamaal Lascelles – distraught after Spurs’ late goal yesterday
Rafa demands that fighting spirit which is one reason he’s the perfect manager for Newcastle.
Rafa was upbeat after the game, even though we lost and he is looking forward to working with Barreca and Almiron next week.
Here’s some of what Rafa said after the game yesterday:
“It will be good next week with these new players to have time to know their teammates and to train.”
“And to talk – because you have two foreign players who don’t speak much English, so, sometimes to stay around and see what the other players do is helpful.”
“Almiron can help. Barreca too.”
“We now have different kinds of players with pace and when you have competition it is always good for the team.”
I think it has been a good week for the club. To bring in new players, it will be positive for the future.”
“We needed that and hopefully we will see it in the next few games.”
Miguel Almiron will travel to Paris tomorrow and try to sort out all the paperwork for his visa.
He should then be available to concentrate on training ready for our next big test – at Molineux next Monday night.
With Shelvey, Diame, Ki and Dummett all expected to be fit for that game, Newcastle should be able to field a strong team.
And also have a talented bench for the game so that Rafa has some options depending on how the game goes.
This set of players is now what we have for the future, and the manager will be trying to make the team more free-flowing before the end of the season.
And of course, we have another five wins to get to 39 points and potential safety.
Comments welcome.
80 comments so far
lesh
Feb 3, 2019 at 1:12 PM
Comment #41While it appears that Nickson was sent to Atlanta at the end of November to start discussions with Almiron, I’m not convinced that would have been at Ashley’s behest but initiated by Rafa.
That smacks of long-term planning by Rafa and his long desired attempts to bring in his identified top targets in a timely manner.
Almiron brought in on the last day of the window – four weeks later than first possible suggests that the only big influence Ashley’s had has been approving the spend!
Chancel My MBembaship
Feb 3, 2019 at 1:23 PM
Comment #42It’s not even 9am here yet and I’ve just read someone telling another poster not to gloat, having just gloated three comments earlier, and then the very same person who loves to resort to name calling telling someone else not to name call becuade it’s immature.
Just another typical day on this blog.
Chancel My MBembaship
Feb 3, 2019 at 1:24 PM
Comment #43because*
bettyswallocks
Feb 3, 2019 at 1:43 PM
Comment #44Chancel……….. It’s also advisable to refrain from swearing , smoking and drinking.
Oh fcukin ell I’ve left me fags in’t pub.
Lovem or Hatem
Feb 3, 2019 at 1:51 PM
Comment #45Just read the Chronicle’s article on Ashley and the takeover. In that article is stated that there was no issues in relation to Ashley demanding extras for the deal to go through. All he wants is £300 million and that’s it – clean break – no Sports Direct ads etc.
However, this goes against the info disclosed by BamBams and Online Guy, who have stated that 2 parties have demonstrated that they have the funds (£300 million) before they were allowed to due diligence.
So, I still feel something must be going on regarding the takeover and maybe Ashley will announce that things are still proceeding and more time will be given for the parties interested.
Bladey
Feb 3, 2019 at 2:08 PM
Comment #46Do I have permission to post on jibberish,s blog
What a bunch of crawlers on here It nauseous man
ASH IN RAFA IN
the ledge
Feb 3, 2019 at 2:10 PM
Comment #47Well f..k off then you blunt c..t
Ketsbaia9
Feb 3, 2019 at 2:14 PM
Comment #48Best team at the moment:
Dubravka
Yedlin Schar Fernandez Lejuene Barreca
Atsu Shelvey Ki Kenedy
Almiron
Rondon
I would say that our squad is probably in the top 8 of the Premier League now. I believe that we have one of the best defenses in the league. We have 4 quality centre backs and Ciaran Clark who’s not bad too. I would say that we need a new Goalkeeper as cover, two full-backs, 1 winger, 1 holding midfielder, another playmaker and 2 strikers for next season.
the ledge
Feb 3, 2019 at 2:17 PM
Comment #49kets and santon for cover a left back sur
Ketsbaia9
Feb 3, 2019 at 2:20 PM
Comment #50I think these players will be off in the summer:
Joselu – £6m
Ciaran Clark – £8m
Manquillo – £6m
Hayden – £8m
Gayle – £15m
Dummett – £10m
Elliot – £5m
Woodman – £7m
Total – £65m
It will be interesting to see how Aarons and Lazaar do on loan as I rate them both as players. I like Saivet too but Benitez doesn’t.
Ketsbaia9
Feb 3, 2019 at 2:21 PM
Comment #51Was just going to say that. I would take Santon back as cover. I would also re-sign Kevin Mbabu and Mehdi Abeid. Doumbia and Ferreyra should have been utilised more.
the ledge
Feb 3, 2019 at 2:25 PM
Comment #52Ferreyra up there with messi
Ketsbaia9
Feb 3, 2019 at 2:27 PM
Comment #53Shelvey and Ki are box to box midfielders and not playmaker. Shelvey doesn’t run with the ball enough and always looks for the long range pass. Too one dimensional. Diame is the only natural holding player that we have at the club.
We need someone like Loic Remy and Demba Ba in attack with Rondon. Definitely need flair players.
the ledge
Feb 3, 2019 at 2:28 PM
Comment #54shelvey defo a box to box kets
Ketsbaia9
Feb 3, 2019 at 2:29 PM
Comment #55Ferreyra is a class act.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facundo_Ferreyra
the ledge
Feb 3, 2019 at 2:29 PM
Comment #56kets are you really alex ferguson ?????
Ketsbaia9
Feb 3, 2019 at 2:35 PM
Comment #57Shelvey doesn’t get forward enough. Definitely a box to box player. We need Brahimi. He’s available for free in the summer. Quality playmaker.
the ledge
Feb 3, 2019 at 2:37 PM
Comment #58Brahimi.has the vision of a Pirlo
the ledge
Feb 3, 2019 at 2:38 PM
Comment #59but kets your going to have to move on from fifa 10 time for an update pal
Bianconeri
Feb 3, 2019 at 2:50 PM
Comment #60toon22: while I admire your tenacity,I wish you would stop referring to KBA.
cashlie has parted ways with him for the toon.
Meanwhile all quiet on the western front over this take over.So much for our very own ITk’s
🙁
Ketsbaia9
Feb 3, 2019 at 2:56 PM
Comment #61Rafa deserves to be sacked if we don’t finish in the top 10 this season. No excuse with the players we have now. Almiron will sell for about £150m in a years time.
tenpointnine
Feb 3, 2019 at 3:02 PM
Comment #62Is no one going to point out to kets that his team has 12 players?
bettyswallocks
Feb 3, 2019 at 3:03 PM
Comment #63Well taken goal there from Rashford , not put off by missing a sitter earlier. That’s the beauty of playing in a team that creates plenty of chances knowing you’ll get a chance to redeem yourself. What a different team they look since mardy bollox left.
lesh
Feb 3, 2019 at 3:08 PM
Comment #64Lovem or Hatem @45
Having proven to have at least £300m and being willing to pay the £300m Ashley wants are two different things.
Don’t forget that any buyer would need to spend a lot on players, training facilities and SJP just to bring the club and it’s facilities up to a decent standard after years of Ashley’s neglect.
bettyswallocks
Feb 3, 2019 at 3:08 PM
Comment #65Good prediction Kets.
lesh
Feb 3, 2019 at 3:24 PM
Comment #66Bianconeri
The story I read was that KBA was sacked by SD and Ashley said he’d use Bishop (‘a dear friend’) elsewhere. Along with Barnes and Ashley, he was at SJP after that announcement.
It appears that Ashley’s keen to look after his ‘dear friend’ and who better to pay his fees than NUFC.
DaveD1000
Feb 3, 2019 at 3:24 PM
Comment #67Kets has always been good value but it’s pointless pointing anything out….Kets comes from a different dimension
Ketsbaia9
Feb 3, 2019 at 3:29 PM
Comment #68Haha, well spotted. Was on the ale last night.
Ketsbaia9
Feb 3, 2019 at 3:31 PM
Comment #69Ashley will want £321m for the club now we’ve paid out for Almiron.
clinath@ed
Feb 3, 2019 at 3:32 PM
Comment #7012 players Kets…..
Ketsbaia9
Feb 3, 2019 at 3:34 PM
Comment #71We have the best crop of centre backs I’ve ever seen at the club. Schar, Lejuene and Fernandez were great signings for just £18m.
chicousa
Feb 3, 2019 at 3:35 PM
Comment #72Ketsbaia @48
You may want to count the number of players you’ve chosen as the best current lineup…
😉
Bambams
Feb 3, 2019 at 3:36 PM
Comment #73Lovem or Hatem
I was told the first price had advertising and merchandise contracts attached , I then was told Kenyon wanted a clean break with ASH and everything to do with SD – it was my belief and I would imagine a lot of others on here that if the new buyer was to improve the team, they would want reward for their outlay in extra shirt sales than Ash have a bit.
When ashLIE then stated the buyer could have extra time to get finances I was told he had stated another fee for clean break.
It could, ‘could’ now be if Ash really wants to sell he has removed the two conditions or maybe one. I only read this latest report was no advertising, I don’t think it mentions merchandise.
Hopefully a little movement between both parties might happen.
The biggest hint yet, in my opinion that something might still be happening is the Barclays bank loan rather than Ash loaning himself the cash to buy – this suggests the next owner will need to take on the payments. There is no reason why Ash doesn’t use the huge windfall he has unless he is taking this to repay his own huge loan to the club.
Just my opinion and I have had nothing further from source since my birthday when I reported ash was prepared to roll with the club not expecting a takeover.
The next Mike Williamson
Feb 3, 2019 at 3:49 PM
Comment #74Jail,
Can you repeat toon brothers comment. He can come up with some hilarious statements.
Lovem or Hatem
Feb 3, 2019 at 4:06 PM
Comment #75@ BamBams
Totally agree with your post above (#73). I still think Ashley has done things over the last few months to put the club in a position to sell. However, as we all know he is ruled by greed and wants as much as he can for the club including having continued involvement with advertising and merchandise.
Hopefully, he is relenting and a clean break will happen but he is going to squeeze the buyer for as much as he can. I too think that the use of a loan from Barclays is unusual for Ashley and was probably done, as you say, for potential owners to take that loan on.
Considering he had dismissed Staveley’s bid in Jan 2018, he is going to give more time to this takeover process, probably once NUFC are free from relegation a takeover maybe concluded.
The next Mike Williamson
Feb 3, 2019 at 4:12 PM
Comment #76I was sure Ashley didn’t want to keep ties with us. He hates us. We are the bane of his life and he doesn’t need the pennies we give him.
martoon
Feb 3, 2019 at 4:17 PM
Comment #77Kets – when are you going to realise that Santon was an OK player for us going forward but a very average defender and a right footed LB. Now he’s a few years older and his abilities will be diminishing we certainly don’t want him back. I’d rather have Dummett any day – not as good going forward but a far better defender oh and he’s left footed!
Bambams
Feb 3, 2019 at 4:29 PM
Comment #78Lovem or Hatem
I can’t recall where I read it or maybe someone has mentioned it to me, but somewhere along the line it was reported/rumour Ash may have an agreement once we are safe from relegation – but this goes against what Kenyon allegedly said about still wanting us if we dropped to Championship.
It’s the Barclays bank loan for me, but I might still just be clutching at straws.
Cheers fella
Lovem or Hatem
Feb 3, 2019 at 4:45 PM
Comment #79@ BamBams
Keeping posting the info, if you hear anything new – it is much appreciated by me and others. Maybe Ashley wants to take credit for breaking the transfer record but pass on the costs to potential new owners, thats maybe the reason for the Barclays loan.
I will be interested to see what Ashley says about the takeover – hopefully it comes directly from him in a live interview and not a press release.
lesh
Feb 3, 2019 at 5:27 PM
Comment #80Bambams @73
What you’re saying makes sense and I wouldn’t be surprised if the announcement the Chron expects from Ashley might be either one to attract potential bidders who’ve previously looked and walked.
Alternatively, he may say that says he proposes to rebuild the club himself – thus trying to move things on. Of course one must worry about his idea of rebuilding!
But and given the way he seems hell-bent on buying every high street in the UK, maybe he needs some readies to help him on his way.
Just some random thoughts of a Sunday