The Newcastle United Blog

Written by Dr. Ed Harrison

9:01am Friday, June 14th, 2019

Commented 21 times

Newcastle are still in a state of complete gridlock, and we suppose it will break as we get closer to the end of Rafa’s contract on 30th June.

If the unthinkable happens and Rafa sees out his contract on Tyneside we wonder what happens then.

Four days later on July 4th, the players return for preseason training and on 17th July and 20th July we have games in China as part of the Premier League Asia Trophy.

The three other clubs in the tournament are Wolves, Manchester City, and West Ham – so we need a manager in place for that tournament to represent Newcastle to the world.

If Rafa walks, there is nobody immediately available to take over (excuse the club), and it’s starting to look like the situation Ashley created 10 years ago.

On the left are football novices – on the right is a world-class manager

That’s; when we had been relegated and Mike Ashley refused to sign Alan Shearer to a new deal at Newcastle.

There was confusion everywhere on whether Shearer would get the job – including the Alan himself.

And then with a couple of days left before the players arrived back for training, Chris Hughton was appointed as caretaker manager with Colin Calderwood as his assistant.

We remember it well, and that’s when the press were having a field day and reporting we would be relegated straight down to League One in the coming season.

That similar situation could even happen again this summer, but we hope something is resolved on Rafa’s contract before the end of this month.

It’s like a circus again at Newcastle, and that’s not going to help the image of Newcastle United.

This situation has become so ridiculous it’s even painful to even comment on it.

The Bin Zayed Group is said to be acquiring Newcastle, and two other groups are doing due diligence on Newcastle books.

If this situation goes on and nothing changes, we will lose Rafa at the end of the month, and there will be precious little business done in this summer’s transfer window.

The disaster scenario would be that Mike Ashley then remains as owner as takeover attempts fall through (again), and Rafa is gone.

We wanted it to be the other way round – Mike Ashley is gone, and Rafa stays under new ownership.

It’s such an embarrassing state of affairs at the club its difficult to believe it’s happening.

We thought we’d have two top strikers in by now – but it’s not to be.

Comments welcome.

21 comments so far

Frank pingles come sock
Jun 14, 2019 at 9:04 AM
Comment #1
Geoff hurst
0
Frank pingles come sock
Jun 14, 2019 at 9:06 AM
Comment #2
Repost
Longstaff to man united news isn’t false
Man united do have genuine interest and do want to sign him.
Longstaff is aware and is giving it thought (IF Rafa leaves)
If Rafa stays , he wants to stay
He has to think about his own future , and if Rafa leaves it shows the club have no ambition at all
Longstaff has ambition
If Rafa goes he has a hard decision to make , he loves newcastle , but he also wants to become a better player and progress
He also thinks if Rafa leaves a few others will want to be away (mini revolt)
He also knows nothing in regards to the takeover
Same as us.
He is back at training now and has had a painful recovery , learning how to walk again was the first thing he had to do , as his leg had bent out of line
He’s running now and getting fitter and stronger by the day , but this injury has knocked his confidence
All the above is 100% true
2
Tony Baloney
Jun 14, 2019 at 9:06 AM
Comment #3
Dubai Micky: I got up to watch the cricket. Have decided to do a drinking game and have a shot of vodka every time Jon mentions he is having a drink. What’s the betting I don’t make it to the second inning. Hoping for a rainout.
0
RobLeenio
Jun 14, 2019 at 9:07 AM
Comment #4
Someone was asking yesterday what’s special about the 14th June.
73 years ago today, Donald John Trump was dragged kicking and screaming into the World to make life better for all its citizens and absolutely not to feather his own nest.
Apart from that, it’s Friday!!!
😀
2
Binney
Jun 14, 2019 at 9:11 AM
Comment #5
Every day this takeover saga drags on I’m getting less and less optimistic… Surely if they meant business it would have been sorted by now.
WTF is going on? Could really do with an update.
5
RobLeenio
Jun 14, 2019 at 9:12 AM
Comment #6
Frank, good bit of writing, that mate. Would be a disaster if we lost our most promising youth player for a generation because the club couldn’t get its act together.
He’s a great lad, fully immersed in the community – was handing out awards (plus selfies, signatures and smiles) on two consecutive nights at the North Shields FC youth presentation evening last weekend. He’s never forgotten where he’s come from. Grounded.
I also know he recently bought his first home. Not far from his folks and in a nice part of town. He’s got his roots down but no reason he couldn’t move on if he felt he had to.
0
Mindshaft
Jun 14, 2019 at 9:15 AM
Comment #7
Somebody asked what was happening today …. No idea about toon but U.K is surely taking this whole pc thing a bit far ..
A ban on adverts featuring “harmful gender stereotypes” or those which are likely to cause “serious or widespread offence” has come into force.
The ban covers scenarios such as a man with his feet up while a woman cleans, or a woman failing to park a car.
The UK’s advertising watchdog introduced the ban because it found some portrayals could play a part in “limiting people’s potential”.
1
Mindshaft
Jun 14, 2019 at 9:18 AM
Comment #8
I’m not sure about a mini revolt from players , friends who comes in as replacement… Changing managers is part and parcel of game for a footballer …
0
Tony Baloney
Jun 14, 2019 at 9:18 AM
Comment #9
Robleenio: it is also flag day in the US, They have national days for just about everything here – Secretary Day, take your daughter to work day.
Today is also National Strawberry Shortcake Day and National Bath Day.
If I didn’t know better I would think it was all a marketing gimmick. There aren’t enough days in the year so Flag Day has to share!
0
Mindshaft
Jun 14, 2019 at 9:18 AM
Comment #10
Depends who comes in … I need to turn autocorrect off
0
Posh_Geordie
Jun 14, 2019 at 9:26 AM
Comment #11
Nothing new to talk about and I’ve ran out if ways to say the same thing. Still plenty of time. Same shoite stiring in the media.
Keep calm
And
Carry on
I’ll give it a week then if no news I’ll start my pessimistic posts again haha
0
RobLeenio
Jun 14, 2019 at 9:28 AM
Comment #12
“If I didn’t know better I would think it was all a marketing gimmick” – Lol, you may be onto something there…
;-
2
Tony Baloney
Jun 14, 2019 at 9:28 AM
Comment #13
I am not even sure what a strawberry shortcake is. A type of dessert? And National Bath Day? So you have one bath a year? Maybe the lot who were reminiscing about the 1950s the other night had one bath a year? Hot water, we were lucky to get tepid and we used to use the bath water after 6 of us had been in there for me Dad’s tea.
0
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 14, 2019 at 9:29 AM
Comment #14
It’s all going to be fine.
I have zero information but this time it has to be different.
Players like Longstaff must be given a reason to stay and develop and represent ‘their’ team.
Have been holding off having a drink until the change of owner is announced, but it’s getting harder by the day to not just open up the bottle and watch the world through the bottom of a glass.
2
Optimistic Oryx
Jun 14, 2019 at 9:32 AM
Comment #15
Recapture of the Falkland islands 14th June 1982
1
RobLeenio
Jun 14, 2019 at 9:32 AM
Comment #16
Tony, it’s a shortcake biscuit with strawberries.
Or…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yYAh-tJRII
Bet that’s never ever been posted on a footy blog before.
ahem – I only know about it from my daughter, honest!
😀
#NUFC
0
ToonRich
Jun 14, 2019 at 9:34 AM
Comment #17
Mindshaft @#8, it is part and parcel of the game…however the players revolting would be just. They will have probably been promised certain things before signing their contract, perhaps revolting against the owner from the inside would help the overall outcome?
Many of the players will feel just like us; the club is not matching their ambitions, lack of improvement in and around the club…the list goes on!
Why have the supporters club not forced the issue – dont clubs have a duty to the fans to communicate?
0
DAVE..TOON..9
Jun 14, 2019 at 9:46 AM
Comment #18
i totally agree with Binney …i was so confident takeover was happening this week , now i am starting to worry , the thought of another season with fat Ash in control is hard to take , Rafa will deffo walk if fatty is still here , we just need information …. if fatty stays its no games for me this season,no sky sports and no BT sports im done
2
DAVE..TOON..9
Jun 14, 2019 at 9:47 AM
Comment #19
might go and watch the heed instead
2
Geordie-john
Jun 14, 2019 at 1:38 PM
Comment #20
Mr Blobby
1
wyntheleap
Jun 14, 2019 at 4:54 PM
Comment #21
Well think most people wanted rid of the owner, things look like this could finally happen, the manager has received a new contract which he is still to sign, so we await his response, no one else’s on that issue. Also gossip about missing out on signings, all from reporters who haven’t a clue, or usually even heard from somewhere?
What do people want, let’s do this in stages, 1 New owner. 2 Manager signs contract or if not new manager. 3 Look at transfers in and out. 4 Renew Season Tickets. 5 Look forward to the new season with a positive outlook for once in a very long time. HWTL
0

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17 February, 2023

I have an update on what's happening with my treatment for prostate cancer.

Last week, my oncologist called me late in the day and said he thought it was best to terminate my treatment with radium 223 dichloride because it was having such a negative effect on my health - specifically my digestive system.

I had completed 3 of the planned 6 infusions.

They had looked at the bone scans and three CAT scans I had early last week, and they showed no signs of the cancer spread being slowed or stopped: in fact, it was continuing to spread and my PSA account continued to rise.

The only treatment left now is to go back and have another bout of chemotherapy with docetaxel being the medication used.

I understand this will be a 7-month job with 10 sessions 3 weeks apart - almost double my first chemo treatment in Apil 2017, when I has 6 treatmnts.

The problem I have is that I'm in a very poor physical state right now, due to my digestive system being basically torn apart by the radium 223.

The radium 223 has leaked into my digestive system and caused me to have severe diarrhea, nausea, and heartburn, and it was (is) very serious.

They said it was too dangerous to proceed with the radium 223 treatment, with little benefit being shown.

I am also suffering from severe exhaustion, basically, because I have zero testosterone, and all the treatments I've had for the cancer, have further lessened the energy available to me.

It reminds me of the saying that if cancer doesn’t kill you - the treatment will (laugh).

It will probably take up to 8 weeks to get back to a physical state where I can start chemotherapy, and that's where I am now, but the cancer continues to spread in the bones.

I've also been put in touch with the dietitian from UNC Healthcare, who will help me get back my health - she is very helpful.

So that's where it stands it's been quite a journey over 12 years and I think I've had almost every treatment available.

It has really taken a toll on my body and on my energy, but that's where it stands and obviously, I'll do the best I can in the upcoming months with chemo and hope I can get through it.

It is as it is - and another challenge in life.

Ed Harrison