We’ve noticed that when Rafa rates a player, he keeps going after them until he can sign them.
The first time Rafa wanted to sign Irish International James McCarthy of Everton was way back in January of 2017 when Rafa wanted to buy the recently departed Andros Townsend and James McCarthy.
But Mike Ashley refused to sanction any deal thinking the squad was good enough to be promoted the following May.
He was right, but this is the way Ashley has run the club – spending the least amount of money possible while trying to keep Newcastle as a Premier League club.
It hasn’t worked for 12 years, but he still keeps doing it and proving he should not be the owner of a Premier League club.
Since then the 28-year-old Glaswegian suffered a broken leg on January 20 in an attempt to block a shot on goal by Salomon Rondon.
Newcastle want Everton’s James McCarthy this summer
It resulted in the striker accidentally breaking McCarthy’s leg.
The 41 times capped Republic of Ireland International was ruled out for the rest of the 2017–2018 season and Rondon was in deep distress on the field.
According to an exclusive in TEAMtalk today Rafa wants to sign James this summer.
McCarthy is now back to full fitness after an injury-ridden time at Everton but Rafa is good with players that seem to get injuries, and we may be able to get the very talented McCarthy for a decent fee.
And James will have something to prove at Newcastle, so that’s always good – Rafa will help him do just that.
McCarthy wants to leave Everton, with manager Marco Silva not having James in his plans for the Goodison Park club.
In fact, McCarthy has hardly played over the last two seasons for the Toffees (7 times in all and only once last season) so it’s a bit of a risk.
But McCarthy has always been an accomplished player ever since he came into the Premier League with Wigan back in 2009.
If Ashley is still the owner, it may be difficult for Rafa to persuade him to pay maybe £15M (it could be less than that) for a player who turns 30 in September.
If we have new owners, then it’s likely they will trust Rafa’s judgment on transfer targets this summer.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
355 comments so far
The next Mike Williamson
May 29, 2019 at 5:10 PM
Comment #241there’s nothing to suggest this is what dave kitson was talking about. we were told there were a few interested parties and we were told the Kenyon one fell through. it seems this shiek was interested but wanted to wait until we were safe from relegation. Ashley probably knew this. maybe the almiron deal on a loan has something to do with this deal.
Thump
May 29, 2019 at 5:12 PM
Comment #242@ilovetoon: He’s the Secret Footballer by all accounts. It’s a well known industry “secret” – he’s usually bang on tbf, and he holds his hands up when he isn’t. Fair play to the guy.
TO-]JARRA[-ON
May 29, 2019 at 5:13 PM
Comment #243would love us to have city money. I think rafa would be clever with what he got. just hope he has that kind off wedge behind him
geordietom
May 29, 2019 at 5:13 PM
Comment #244just had a thought . hope the take over is all done and dusted before the 4th july . as i’m off to benidorm then imagine all the geordie stag do’s dressed up as arab sheikh’s .we cruised the nile few years back bout my arab gear from their so i’ve got mine even the black and white checked scarf to use as a head dress . so yeah i think i’l put mine in me suitcase when the deal goes through …
Dubai Micky i thought your comment earlier was a bit crap .tell two posters on here to get in touch through e- mail .
and saying ” i’m not putting it on here ” bit shite if you ask me not starting a argument . just thought you would share with the rest of the blog is all . you said loads of stuff about this take over the past few days why not then ? …
Jib
May 29, 2019 at 5:14 PM
Comment #245Anyone notice that Bill managed to post – then scuttle off without any mention of kippers ?
mac the jaffrey
May 29, 2019 at 5:14 PM
Comment #246https://twitter.com/georgecaulkin/status/1133751748496101376?s=21 Fair to say Rafas pushing for that new contract….!
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 29, 2019 at 5:16 PM
Comment #247Watford are tough sellers be looking at 40 or 50 million for Doucoure PSG wanted him in January but couldn’t get him!!
No to McCarthy he’s just a better version of Colback!!
It’s important I feel that we get some players who have experience of the league and can hit the ground running see if we can cherry pick some of the players from our closest rivals:
Get Mooy in and Bakayoko who has been on loan at AC Milan from Chelsea to replace Shelvey and Diame and you have a midfield 5 of real quality with Hayden and Longstaff providing the homegrown grit that you need
Get Ryan Fraser in and Rondon signed
Charlie Taylor or Diego Laxhalt for left back
Would love us to sign Martinez from Atalanta him and Almiron were great together and him and Rondon could be rotated
Dennis Praet for no 10 from Sampdoria he’s been a long term Rafa target
Then sign some of the Leeds youngsters and loan them back… job done haha
ronaldo aarons
May 29, 2019 at 5:17 PM
Comment #248Pushing and pushing for the contract you mean ^^^^^^^^^
😀
Jail for Ashley
May 29, 2019 at 5:19 PM
Comment #249GS,
This is getting way over the top and is nothing short of harassment, it’s not cricket so can you please leave it out.
ronaldo aarons
May 29, 2019 at 5:21 PM
Comment #250Talk is Man Utd have swooped in for de ligt ahead of Barca and now griezmann move has stalled. Apparently senior players at Barca don’t want him at the club.
Never mind, Antoine. I know where you’d be wanted 🙂 Get a old of these bridges.
Genjikai
May 29, 2019 at 5:22 PM
Comment #251The next mile williamson
Interesting what you said about almiron.
In a gary cook interview he said before man city were sold the new owners asked for mancity owners to buy a star player to prove the project. They bought Robinho. Bit different with almiron but clearly hes quality.
beermonkey
May 29, 2019 at 5:24 PM
Comment #252lcbp
didnt bakayoko fail at chelsea and milan ???
Budge123
May 29, 2019 at 5:24 PM
Comment #253Journo on Talk Sport saying clubs position is that no official bid has been received!
Optimistic Oryx
May 29, 2019 at 5:25 PM
Comment #254How long until kick off first match of the season?
Rafa Bingo anyone?
beermonkey
May 29, 2019 at 5:27 PM
Comment #255Genjikai
if almiron was linked to the take over would rafa not be on board by now
cant see it and i dont think ashley is gonna budge on rafa signing he is waiting for his cash and isnt going to do anything more than he has to
geordietom
May 29, 2019 at 5:28 PM
Comment #256i thought FONG’S was a chinese takeaway…
hibbit
May 29, 2019 at 5:28 PM
Comment #257BBC now running the updated story
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48449769
Legolas
May 29, 2019 at 5:30 PM
Comment #258I’m useless at this blogging caper. I post something and it moves on. Lol.
DubaiMicky,
Your email that you sent. Is it anything to worry about or something good ? Can’t seem to see a response about it.
Been off the blog and to many posts to read. Ha ha.
All Aboot Toon
May 29, 2019 at 5:31 PM
Comment #259Jib @ 245
Maybe he’s scuttled off to Craster.
Genjikai
May 29, 2019 at 5:31 PM
Comment #260Beermonkey
Maybe your right clutching at straws i am.
Just want the ashley mess to be over with…
Will believe out ha.
The next Mike Williamson
May 29, 2019 at 5:37 PM
Comment #261could be genjikai,
I was thinking Ashley finally spent the money because he knew the shiek and possibly others would buy if we stayed up. he didn’t want to risk going down. I still don’t understand why he got a loan, but usually if someone alters their behaviour or does something unusual there is a reason.
hibbit
May 29, 2019 at 5:37 PM
Comment #262beermonkey
spot on mate ashlie has scent of the wonga and nowt else matters.
beermonkey
May 29, 2019 at 5:38 PM
Comment #263Genjikai
i think he is almost gone
in a few years the ashley era will be history
BENNY 10
May 29, 2019 at 5:39 PM
Comment #264https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/premier-league-respond-to-newcastle-united-takeover-claims-from-sheikh-khaled-s-bin-zayed-group-1-9794420
That’s next level clickbait! One of the main things learned from being glued to the laptop for the last 48 hours is that the chronicle and gazette are both rags,I’ll never pay any notice of them again.
The next Mike Williamson
May 29, 2019 at 5:42 PM
Comment #265this must be great news for ed & neil’s blog. if it’s true we are about to get a million extra supporters from all over the world.
The next Mike Williamson
May 29, 2019 at 5:45 PM
Comment #266just think. if we’d got moyes instead of rafa, we’d probably be down in the championship and none of this takeover talk would be happening. it seems rafa steadied the ship at just the right time.
Bambams
May 29, 2019 at 5:46 PM
Comment #267It’s all good….
As long as CharnLIE is no longer part of our club…its then even better.
mac the jaffrey
May 29, 2019 at 5:47 PM
Comment #268As far as I can tell from various outlets the PL have declined to comment as have the club, so that’s all anyone can know regarding those two at the mo.
As said above, next level click bait.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 29, 2019 at 5:48 PM
Comment #269@beermonky
Na he’s been good for Milan but they won’t be able to afford him I would say
He wasn’t great at Chelsea but then Conte didn’t really use him properly either
Rafa would use him similar to Sissoko before he left for Spurs breaking between the lines and bullying players all game
beermonkey
May 29, 2019 at 5:48 PM
Comment #270hibbit
he is having his indoor pool emptied as we speak in readiness of 350mill in notes to be poured into it where he will then dive in
just like scrooge mcduck
The next Mike Williamson
May 29, 2019 at 5:51 PM
Comment #271I can’t think what Dubai might be talking about as the Shiek seems to be pretty upfront and open about goings on. Doesn’t seem to be anything left out unless it’s news on Rafa’s contract or perhaps some of the transfer targets. The rest just seems a matter of when it will happen and how much he will spend. How about giving us a cryptic clue Dubai?
beermonkey
May 29, 2019 at 5:52 PM
Comment #272lcbp
how much will he be
there are loads of young english players out there i would like a few of them bought
not sure we could get cheek and hudson odi though
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
May 29, 2019 at 5:53 PM
Comment #273So can anyone clarify what happens to the 61 million Charnley said was available to spend?
Surely we can spend that just now as well as the puma and fun 88 money and our transfer fees they we get in Installments? That should give us 100 million to get the ball rolling or as Ashley pocketed all that before a sale ?
Novocastrian66
May 29, 2019 at 5:53 PM
Comment #274No thanks to Doucoure.
even the stevens
May 29, 2019 at 5:58 PM
Comment #275When this take over happens, I can’t wait for the first picture of st James’ Park from the air showing no signs of sports direct next to Newcastle united, what a day that will be! I think that will be the day it all starts to sink in!
beermonkey
May 29, 2019 at 6:02 PM
Comment #276lcbp
i think we know where that cash is
Thump
May 29, 2019 at 6:03 PM
Comment #277I reckon Mickey had sent an email saying “this’ll wind them all up!” and that’s that.
DubaiMicky
May 29, 2019 at 6:03 PM
Comment #278TnMW, hasn’t Mansour only ever been ton one Citeh game?
Well I look forward to seeing His Highness attend one of ours.
geordietom
May 29, 2019 at 6:05 PM
Comment #279if we do get took over and we do move to a new ground …
the name i thought might be called ” THE BZG STADIUM ”
Mister Tuff
May 29, 2019 at 6:11 PM
Comment #280New Toon strip leaked.
https://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/wpid-article-1325708383287-0f5661e800000578-188992_466x1011.jpg