The Sun are reporting that Newcastle have set their sights on former Everton and current manager of the Belgian National Team Roberto Martinez.
Last Friday it was reported that the odds on Martinez becoming manager had been drastically shortened.
This is what the Sun is reporting on Martinez today:
Ashley is determined to land a boss with experience of playing or coaching in the Prem.
Ashley will be expected to put together a very attractive package — including assurances over investment in the squad Benitez left behind.
Martinez, 45, can also prepare to pocket a huge increase to his basic Belgium salary of less than £1million a year.
If it is true that Martinez is making less than £1m per year, he could be very well interested in coming to Newcastle. The club would certainly be able to give him a deal at least three to four times what he is making with Belgium.
The issue we see arising is with the “assurances over investment in the squad”. Roberto Martinez is a compatriot of Rafa Benitez and is about fifteen years younger. He will be well aware of what has transpired with Benitez at Newcastle. He may even seek out advice from Rafa as he will be viewed as an icon in Spanish football to Martinez.
There is no way unless it is written in ironclad terms in his contract (something Ashley was reportedly unwilling to do with Rafa Benitez), that Roberto Martinez will fall for “assurances” from Mike Ashley.
Roberto Martinez– Sure Mike, you’ll invest in the squad. I totally believe you.
Under the present circumstances under Mike Ashley, Roberto Martinez would be a very good appointment. He has loads of Premier League experience, is very personable, and plays decent football.
We think he could also win over this squad of players and settle any turmoil that has been generated through the tumultuous past few months.
He also will have experience with managing egos from his time with the Belgian National Team, which is loaded with world-class talent.
All in all, we feel Newcastle United could do a lot worse than Roberto Martinez.
257 comments so far
Nicky the ball tosser
Jul 3, 2019 at 2:43 AM
Comment #1Decent appointment if he does get the cash that was mooted as being offered to Rafa, but any appointment by Ashley that is for more than one year, signals the sale is not happening this summer, if anyone needed more convincing.
Chancel My MBembaship
Jul 3, 2019 at 2:43 AM
Comment #2Martinez is never going to come to Newcastle in our current situation. Even without the uncertainty of a takeover actually happening, why would he want to work with Ashley?
Chancel My MBembaship
Jul 3, 2019 at 2:49 AM
Comment #3One of two things will happen. Martinez signs for us now as manager and gets stuck with all of the crap that Rafa had. No manager with any ambition would want those restrictions. Or he signs and we get taken over and the new owner is stuck with a manager he doesn’t necessarily want. People may say ‘well the new owner might be making this choice and not Ashley’ but I very much doubt that would happen.
It’s more paper talk designed to sell a few extra copies, nothing more than that.
Online Guy
Jul 3, 2019 at 2:50 AM
Comment #4Tony
You have stood your ground in the face of a lot of questions and put downs ..mind I had my doubts when we were all deeply concerned at the events of the day when that statement on Rafa leaving came from the club and Ashley, and you were posting about Cricket in the middle of the maelstrom !
It would have looked to some that you were not particularly concerned about Rafa leaving, hence the inquisition and the doubts that you endured from some ..me included.
You have had to Jump through a few hoops and Betty seems to think your in the Ash camp .
Good Luck !
Nicky the ball tosser
Jul 3, 2019 at 2:52 AM
Comment #5For the money, and if he isn’t being offered the job at a bigger club. If he can stabilize things, get the money to reshape, it’s a decent job for him, because Rafa has built a solid foundation despite the owner.
That of course would allow Ashley to slither out of this too, so it’s hardly anything to be happy about.
Online Guy
Jul 3, 2019 at 2:52 AM
Comment #6The Referee tonight England V USA was first class .. Honest decisions and exact ..she did not miss a trick .
There’s the answer despite predjudice from uz fellas , female refs, I think that’s the answer for the prem league
Female refs , bring them in .
Mind Var is going to bring as many disappointments as it is celebration.
We will be calling its demise and getting rid , eradicating if you like, before September is out.
Online Guy
Jul 3, 2019 at 2:53 AM
Comment #7Predjudice
Tony Baloney
Jul 3, 2019 at 2:58 AM
Comment #8OG: Betty can stick his bollocks up his arse and put Oldarse up there with them.
I wasn’t changing the subject with the cricket, I was watching it at 4 and 5 am and nobody over here that I know is remotely interested in cricket.
Tony Baloney
Jul 3, 2019 at 3:00 AM
Comment #9Goal made in England – Jesus to Fermino.
Chancel My MBembaship
Jul 3, 2019 at 3:00 AM
Comment #10Online Guy – did you see the ref in the England/Cameroon game? I’ve never seen anything like it, and I played Sunday league for decades. I agree that the ref earlier this evening in the England/US game was very good, but I don’t think it’s a gender thing. For me it’s purely down to the individual. It’s a bit like drivers. Are women better drivers than men, or vice versa? It’s neither. It has to be looked at from person to person, no matter what their gender is.
Chancel My MBembaship
Jul 3, 2019 at 3:01 AM
Comment #11I’m waiting for VAR to spot something from that second goal…
Chancel My MBembaship
Jul 3, 2019 at 3:03 AM
Comment #12Looks like it’s staying 2-0 to Brazil then! It looked like the ref was going to look at an earlier incident at the other end of the pitch for a moment there. I hope Brazil don’t sit deep and defend here.
Red card for a frustrated Argentinian player here? Or even their manager at this rate!
Online Guy
Jul 3, 2019 at 3:07 AM
Comment #13Newcastle United as a Football club are done for I’m afraid .
One man to blame ..our almost triple Billionaire greedy owner.
Won’t put his hand in his pocket, no Love for Newcastle United and the people of the North East of England .
How much money does one man need ?
It can only be voracious greed that drives him on and the love of his baby, Sports Direct.
We will always be secondary and a plaything he toys with in his constant attempts to piss of supporters with his incredulous decisions .
He has our Hearts and souls in his hands and is laughing at us.
He does not realise he is now playing with fire ..something has to give, we cannot put up with this any longer .
We are more than a Football Club, much more.
Chancel My MBembaship
Jul 3, 2019 at 3:08 AM
Comment #14We need to make cloning humans our main priority so we can make multiple copies of Pierluigi Collina and we’ll never have to complain about referees ever again. That bloke didn’t take any sh*t from anyone. When he glared at a player with those crazy eyes, you knew not to mess with him.
Chancel My MBembaship
Jul 3, 2019 at 3:09 AM
Comment #15Well said Online, I think the majority of sensible people on here would agree with that.
Online Guy
Jul 3, 2019 at 3:10 AM
Comment #16Chancel
Didn’t see the Cameroon game .
Guess your right about the refs , good and not so good across the gender…..s !
There’s a few to choose from I hear , nowadays !
Online Guy
Jul 3, 2019 at 3:13 AM
Comment #17Chancel thanks # 15 .
Somethings got to give soon…we can’t take this any longer and lay down to him .
It would not be morally right to take this any longer .
Ashley has go e way to far with a whole nation of people .
Chancel My MBembaship
Jul 3, 2019 at 3:25 AM
Comment #18Online – I honestly can’t see him selling the club in the near future. It generates way too much money and advertising for him with the bare minimum of effort (if any at all in fact) from him personally. It’s like sticking your money in the bank and living off the interest.
I don’t know what’s going on with this takeover business, but it’s beginning to look like a very elaborate con from someone online with too much time on their hands.
Spellcheck
Jul 3, 2019 at 3:28 AM
Comment #19Some great opinions on this blog evolved by Dr. Ed and now more so his son. Throughout a terrible illness he has had to put up soooo much BS it beggars belief. We all like a debate but sometimes pointless grudges over the last couple of years have escalated through sheer pettiness. Not so much valued views about the main agenda, our great club.
Chancel My MBembaship
Jul 3, 2019 at 3:29 AM
Comment #20Early night for me. Not expecting to wake up tomorrow to any significant news regarding our club. Enjoy the rest of your evening lads and thanks to Neil and Ed for providing us with this fantastic platform to talk all things Toon (and a few other football related things too).
Night all!
Spellcheck
Jul 3, 2019 at 3:29 AM
Comment #21£30 million for Pérez, take there hands off!!
Spellcheck
Jul 3, 2019 at 3:30 AM
Comment #22Keep the faith
Tony Baloney
Jul 3, 2019 at 3:36 AM
Comment #23Have to get up at 4.30am to watch England NZ at Durham, so off to bed as well. JFA will be there. If he posts a message from there will be a shill as well for changing the subject to cricket?
I have lost count how many music conversations I have seen on here!!!! But that’s OK is it?
NY Mag
Jul 3, 2019 at 3:39 AM
Comment #24Tony,
Just rise above it 🙂
Nostradamus " Mike Ashley The Clown "
Jul 3, 2019 at 3:42 AM
Comment #25Chancel I remember collina total awesome ref, his stares and players thinking they would turn into flames.
Link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p8_igOVP6lQ
Tony Baloney
Jul 3, 2019 at 3:54 AM
Comment #26NY Mag: I will mate. I was a bit upset today with a couple of them who were nasty to me. I knew what I was getting myself into so I shouldn’t care. And others have made remarks which I knew were coming but I didn’t mind. I can stick up for myself.
I sort of wasn’t ready for what I have said to be SO misinterpreted though. You live and learn and keyboard warriors will always be keyboard warriors.
geordietom
Jul 3, 2019 at 3:56 AM
Comment #27is it safe for me to post ?
Tony Baloney
Jul 3, 2019 at 4:02 AM
Comment #28No Tom: get lost.
geordietom
Jul 3, 2019 at 4:03 AM
Comment #29tony ok …
i’am gone …
geordietom
Jul 3, 2019 at 4:04 AM
Comment #30tony …
we both got jumped on today mate . all i was doing was making a point …
Tony Baloney
Jul 3, 2019 at 4:08 AM
Comment #31It has been a very strange day on here and I put it down to all of the uncertainly at the Club. I have had some flak directed at me and Geordie Tom had some weird stuff said to him from someone I didn’t expect it from. I will say again that I am guessing this forum might be a release for Tom when he is going trough a difficult time. I was more than happy to talk about his trip to Pompeii and understood why it was something meaningful to him. I certainly didn’t take it as any defense against a few sly digs on here.
Anyway Tom, you and me in the firing line today. Who will it be tomorrow 🙂
Tony Baloney
Jul 3, 2019 at 4:11 AM
Comment #32Geordie Tom: I don’t mean to speak for you, so say what you want.
geordietom
Jul 3, 2019 at 4:15 AM
Comment #33dunno Tony mate . you got my point about my wife wanting to go to pompeii . what i dont get is they go back like three years to chuck stuff at you crazy man . better not mention my missus ..it might kick off again . i reacted wrongly but she’s my wife . Tony i dont believe for one moment that you are a Shill or P/R …
cant see why Ashley would put anyone on here to disrupt us he’s good at doing it himself . but what happened today wont stop me saying what i want on here . i dont slag peoples wives off call disabled kids ect ect its a no no in my book …
Tony Baloney
Jul 3, 2019 at 4:17 AM
Comment #34And if there are any grammar police around I know it is “you and I” and “me and you”. For some reason it just sounds better to me – me and you – so that’s what I say. I am such a risk taker with the English Language me like!
geordietom
Jul 3, 2019 at 4:18 AM
Comment #35tony i’ve got a cousin in the R.C.A . mate when i talk to him on the phone i cant get a word in its what you yanks do lmao…
yes i do know canada is a different country …
geordietom
Jul 3, 2019 at 4:20 AM
Comment #36Tony say as you like mate . speak like you do to your mates . i’ve been on here 3 years now . i still get called a newbie …
geordietom
Jul 3, 2019 at 4:21 AM
Comment #37i only got up to have a cup of java …
that was over 2 hours ago …
Tony Baloney
Jul 3, 2019 at 4:25 AM
Comment #38Tom, I am not a Yank. I am from Newcastle. Lived there until I was 19. Then Munich, Leicester, London, Chicago.
geordietom
Jul 3, 2019 at 4:29 AM
Comment #39Tony i know mate it was a joke i put lmao i should of put lol .
my cousin in canada ever though he’s lived there for donkeys years still says he’s a geordie . did’nt mean any harm mate …
geordietom
Jul 3, 2019 at 4:30 AM
Comment #40i’am off now mate catch up later ta for the chat …