The Sun is reporting today that central midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has held emergency talks with Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez about his situation at the club.
Jonjo has not started a game for the club since last November and there were rumors in January that West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini wanted him for a fee of £20M.
It’s strange because Shelvey was a key man for us last season but with the emergence of local North Shields lad, Sean Longstaff in central midfield can allow Rafa to cash in on the England International this summer.
Jonjo went to see Rafa on Friday morning before the game at Leicester City where Newcastle won 1-0 and it was said to be a tense and frank meeting between the two of them.
Jonjo Shelvey and Rafa Benitez – tense but frank meeting
And the manager is reported to have told Shelvey he’s not in the side because he’s not fit enough – and certainly not match fit.
But you can’t get match-fit unless you play some matches and get sub appearances to get back into games.
Jonjo was an unused sub in the terrific win at the King Power Stadium – our last game before we take on Southampton on Saturday at home.
It seems it’s almost certain now that Shelvey will leave Newcastle this summer but the 27-year-old will be disappointed because he really likes it at the club.
Jonjo joined us in January 2016 for £12M from Swansea and since then he’s played 109 games for us with 7 goals and 19 assists – and was a key player in getting us promoted two years ago.
Comments welcome.
187 comments so far
G
Apr 16, 2019 at 9:52 PM
Comment #121Hoots ffs
ben.g
Apr 16, 2019 at 9:59 PM
Comment #122Carltoon, Shelvey is a quiet lad, not troublesome during training, family man. Something goes off in his head during a match, that what he had been working on. Didn’t work.
Mag :P
Apr 16, 2019 at 10:09 PM
Comment #123‘Boots not boots’
😀
Jib
Apr 16, 2019 at 10:24 PM
Comment #124Apparently Warnock’s son calls him Colin
😀
lesh
Apr 16, 2019 at 10:39 PM
Comment #125Jib
Can we assume you’re still on to name all of the people on the cover of Sgt Pepper’s – not just Albert Stubbins.
Pain in the Blog
Apr 16, 2019 at 10:45 PM
Comment #126Young Mag. You’re not posting much these days. How are you doing?
Mag :P
Apr 16, 2019 at 11:04 PM
Comment #127Pitb
I’m doing fine man.
Just not much to talk about anymore really, most points have been discussed to death. I still read though, I will most likely be more active once the season has finished and rafas contract situation is revealed.
Thanks for caring though. 🙂
carltoon
Apr 16, 2019 at 11:07 PM
Comment #128Ben.g your right know someone who knows Shelvy and he’s a lovely family man. Like you’ve said on field he’s sometimes a liability and while the team is in a relegation fight I don’t think Raffa would trust him
Pain in the Blog
Apr 16, 2019 at 11:16 PM
Comment #129Mag,
I feel much the same myself but always enjoy your contributions. Hopefully things will improve.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 16, 2019 at 11:19 PM
Comment #130I’m a big fan of Hoots, I think every toon fan is, (except those who slagged him at the time who now won’t admit it). But could all those earlier in the season who said they would prefer him back over Rafa please come out and admit it!!!
ben.g
Apr 16, 2019 at 11:21 PM
Comment #131Jail, did anyone really say that about ol’ hoots?
Pain in the Blog
Apr 16, 2019 at 11:22 PM
Comment #132Jail,
I’m with you on that. Not many who are better gentlemen than Hoots.
ben.g
Apr 16, 2019 at 11:24 PM
Comment #133Cartoon, I hope you don’t know who I do, grrrr
OneAlanShearer
Apr 16, 2019 at 11:54 PM
Comment #134Here we go again, hopes get built up on what might be. But factually we never see even half our hopes delivered.
IF we actually had a policy of bring in top quality youth to a level and quantity that we could build on then it would be an exciting future…
However what is more likely is the likes of shelvey and Ritchie will get sold, Rondon won’t be bought permanently. Rafa wont get their full monetary value as part of his transfer kitty and instead bd expected to make 20 million stretch to keeping us up.
Thats the reality, which is painful given what rafa could make of this club.
I almost want rafa to go now just so the false hope stops and we get on with going down next season followed by staying down until we go into administration because that is the only way the drain on this clubs future via mike ashley will stop, he is going nowhere otherwise.
To be clear i dont want us to face that but its the only way the slug will be going any time soon.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 16, 2019 at 11:55 PM
Comment #135ben.g,
Here’s a small list of those that called for Rafas head but don’t seem to post a lot these days!
Laurent Robert The Legend
yogz69
catchy in norway
jimmygscot
lukes26
toonbrother
Aces-of-Eights
Our Toon
BenArfa the magician
Ketsbaia9
kimbo
The list is endless actually
RobLeenio
Apr 16, 2019 at 11:56 PM
Comment #136“I, sir, don’t have a problem with folk copying other people’s stuff!” – lesh, so please allow Jib to do so, if he even does. You have far more of interest to contribute than your consistent nit-picking at the blog’s favourite punch-bag.
RobLeenio
Apr 16, 2019 at 11:58 PM
Comment #137So Man U were taught a lesson tonight, then. Funnily enough, and feel free to call me a fantasist, but I reckon we could have taken them. They had nothing if you remove Messi from the match, and our formation would have given him none of the room he enjoyed in the hole between defence and midfield.
And Dubs would never have let that shot go under him, either. That was rancid!
RobLeenio
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:02 AM
Comment #138I’m stunned that at comment #2 I suggested that JonJo could well be on his way out and for good reason, yet nobody has called me out on it.
I said the same a couple of weeks ago and the debate was hot, and quite rightly so – the guy has been one of our best players for the last two and a half seasons. What’s changed in the last two weeks? He hasn’t even played.
Honestly, I was expecting to take some heat for that comment. I stand by it, I’m just surprised at the lack of reaction.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:05 AM
Comment #139Robleenio,
I copy and paste stuff, especially from nufc.com all the time, I’ve the manners and etiquette to quote them first. I think it’s what’s called cricket old bean 😀
carltoon
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:09 AM
Comment #140Difference is even though people like Shelvey they now see Raffa just doesn’t trust him. He would have played him before now surely.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:10 AM
Comment #141RobLeenio,
I think we’ve got a lot more to worry about than a player who didn’t seem to give a foot, then did and maybe didn’t because then something happened, when a manager who has got shot of Colback and Mitro and kept us up still hasn’t signed a contract.
ronaldo aarons
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:10 AM
Comment #142Jail
I’m sure I recall that wum jarra mick calling for rafas head too. Even if he didn’t he should be on the list anyway!
ronaldo aarons
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:12 AM
Comment #143Rob
I saw that comment and thought about jumping on it but decided to let it slide. Wasn’t really in a debating mood. Did expect a few others to take the bait like.
Tsunki
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:12 AM
Comment #144Wow that’s a lot of narrow band thinking there, writing off jonjo because he doesn’t apparently fit into the “new” toon style of play. Ever thought he might come into his own playing a bit further forward and measuring nice passes with precision in the final third just where our new pace man wants it? Lots of conspiracy theory about Rafa elbowing him out etc but it might be because he got injured and the team has moved along without having to adjust to get him back in, so he just has to bide his time? There’s no way Benitez will be shaping him up to be surplus when you’ve got longstaff and lejeune on long term sick leave and Diame getting measured for a new hip. Give your noggins a shimmy lads, Shelvey is one of the club’s top acts and if you think Rafa can’t use him well stick to subbuteo. 😀
Jail for Ashley
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:12 AM
Comment #145carltoon,
It might be because he gave that interview about playing when injured, maybe Rafa told him to keep that under wraps, did Mitro play much after giving that big interview about being a street thug and a Geordie?
Jail for Ashley
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:17 AM
Comment #146ronaldo aarons,
I seen a jarra mick once post on the BBC website, clearly a mackem wum. About 68% of Jarrovians are for some reason.
RobLeenio
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:19 AM
Comment #147With attention turning to the signings we might or might not make, my thoughts are turning to the players we already have at the club. In Rafa’s World, if we lose one, we have to replace them. I think at this stage of his career he would rather work with the players he already knows and trusts, rather than go for wholesale changes which may backfire.
Therefore, JonJo may still have a place in Rafa’s plans, even if circumstances have run against him in recent months. However, Rafa’s plans may not include him being an automatic first choice and this may not fit JonJo’s own plans.
More important, perhaps, is the plan for Sean Longstaff in the coming season. His injury looked innocuous, he played on through it for 5-10 minutes after the challenge which caused it and he left the pitch unaided, completely in contrast to that of Fabian Schaer, who has suffered an injury to the same ligament (albeit different knees) twice and been stretchered off twice.
I said at the time he was injured that I thought Longstaff would be back before the end of the season. That he was so quickly ruled out seemed odd at the time, but I wonder if Rafa took an opportunity to withdraw him from the front line and start to prepare him for a starring role next season?
Lobby is tall and thin. His height is an advantage, but we’ve seen him struggle in aerial challenges in the box where he should be bossing the contact. Added to that is the fact his long legs have proven susceptible in a challenge.
I wonder if Rafa has sent him for a period of physical conditioning which is not ordinarily granted to professional sportsmen, during which he can improve his physique to a point which will allow his skills to blossom. If he can enhance his presence to the same level as his natural ability, we will have a midfielder as good as Steven Gerrard on our hands, and what better coach than Rafa to bring him to his best?
NY Mag
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:19 AM
Comment #148I can’t see Rafa letting Shelvey leave when it’s almost certain that Hayden is leaving and there’s doubts about Diame’s future
carltoon
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:19 AM
Comment #149Well Raffa isn’t using him for what ever reason. A few minutes at the end of games is no good. While I think Haydon is good he’s not in the same class as Shelvey. Why do you think he’s not getting a game.
ronaldo aarons
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:21 AM
Comment #150I put this together earlier just to look at
GOALKEEPER
Martin Dubravka
Freddie Woodman
Karl Darlow
FULL BACK/ WING BACK
DeAndre Yedlin
Javier Manquillo
Paul Dummett
Matt Ritchie
CENTRE BACK
Jamaal Lascelles
Fabian Schar
Florian Lejeune
Federico Fernandez
Ciaran Clark
CENTRE MIDFIELD
Ki Sung Yueng
Sean Longstaff
Jonjo Shelvey
WINGER/ATTACKING MIDFIELDER
Ayoze Perez
Miguel Almiron
Christian Atsu
Jacob Murphy
STRIKER
Solomon Rondon
Yoshinori Muto
Joselu
Basically, just a list of players who are pretty much leaving like diame, Hayden, Kennedy, Elliot or at at least won’t be in the squad such as Aarons, colback, saivet etc if they can’t be sold. Just put rondon in there just for arguments sake, could have put Gayle instead up swapped them.
Got a team of 22, so can make additions before upgrades take place, for example, wing backs, striker, winger.
I think though if we lose a homegrown player from this list then we need one in to make sure we add one.
To me looks like a bit of a big job as I mentioned to another poster a few months back. Going by experience we won’t do everything we need, perhaps won’t have Rafa (very likely imo) and will be left disappointed again when the first match kicks off.
ronaldo aarons
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:22 AM
Comment #151Jail
Yeah I think jarra mick actually slipped on his keyboard and pressed the m instead of the d 🙂
RobLeenio
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:23 AM
Comment #152Tsunki, thanks – that’s actually exactly what I was hoping for. I may not agree, but I do appreciate the point of view.
Nice avatar, btw
Ronaldo, howay man, I rely on you to tell me when I’m talking cr@p.
RobLeenio
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:25 AM
Comment #153Jail @138, it’s a matter of time, I think. After all, as you’ve said yourself, where else does Ashley go if he doesn’t get Rafa without inviting the wrath of the entire football Universe upon himself?
ronaldo aarons
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:29 AM
Comment #154Rob
Sometimes when things are obvious they don’t need to be said 😉
RobLeenio
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:32 AM
Comment #155jail, you missed the irreplaceable jesper fugelsang from your list, another who suggested Rafa should potentially be replaced and hasn’t been seen for many a month.
Unlike some on your list, I genuinely miss our friend from Denmark, who always provided good copy.
Tsunki
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:33 AM
Comment #156Complaining about shelveys lack of goals and “insisting” on drawing passes from deep in defence? That’s a bit rich when you consider he’s been a lifesaving outlet for a flagging team with a nonexistent midfield and a toothless front line. Seems a bit ungrateful and not a little unobservant to dismiss what he did to save us from the drop last season. People relying on catchystats should try just watching a game sometime instead of flicking the beads on their abacus and using a scientific calculator.
RobLeenio
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:34 AM
Comment #157Fair play ronaldo, next time I don’t see you comment on something, I’ll just assume you did anyway mate
😉
Tsunki
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:37 AM
Comment #158Jesper is a gummy man-child who couldn’t take a ribbing. Good copy? Bland as Jane’s blancmange. He comments on games he never even saw highlights of. Didn’t bother supporting us when we were worthless champo grunts. Now he’s run out of puff and decided to perfect his dim sum technique and technical curtain pleating instead.
RobLeenio
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:40 AM
Comment #159I was at SJP for the FA Cup match vs Blackburn when Shelvey, Perez and Atsu were introduced in the 2nd half and we rescued a draw. Dark days, early in the season when we couldn’t buy a win at home.
Shelvey added a directness to our play that was entirely missing before he came on, He was the single most important player in our recovery that night and gave us the chance to draw and subsequently win the tie at Blackburn’s ground in the replay.
Arguably, that away win ignited our season and gave us some belief that we could survive.
He’s an important player for us, no doubt at all. But will he accept a reduced role in the team as other players grow and his role is diminished? I’m not sure.
Tsunki
Apr 17, 2019 at 12:42 AM
Comment #160Just for the record i hate it when people copy and paste other people’s original material and make it look like their own. At least have the grace and civility to precis it with an acknowledgement, it’s not that difficult is it? I remember when i first thought that life was but a walking shadow that we would fight on the beaches when I had a dream under pressure dum dum dum da da dum dum…