Newcastle were reportedly close to signing PSG defender Moussa Sissako this summer. Both Newcastle and Brighton had offers on the table for 18-year-old but neither deal could not be concluded.
We had hoped that Newcastle would return with a move for Sissako in January to add to the academy. Steve Bruce had said that there were funds set aside to add youth players but the club only ended up adding free agents.
After today’s very disappointing opener for the Under-23s, they need to refocus their efforts on adding young talent.
FULL-TIME: @ReadingFC Under-23s 6-0 Newcastle United Under-23s
A difficult afternoon for the young Magpies as Andrija Novakovich's hat-trick, Thierry Nevers' brace and a goal from Tyler Frost seal the win for the Royals, with United's Owen Bailey receiving a red card. #NUFC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 12, 2019
France Football is reporting that French Ligue 2 side Le Havre is going all out to bring Moussa Sissako in this summer.
INFO FF – Le Havre en pince pour Moussa Sissako (PSG) https://t.co/dJ97OEu7wY
— france football (@francefootball) August 12, 2019
If Newcastle really wanted Sissako and were lining up a winter move for the defender, they are now powerless to prevent him from moving to Le Havre. The French transfer window is open until September 2nd and PSG are said to be willing to sell Moussa Sissako for the right price.
The issue for Le Havre is what price that happens to be. They have thus far not spent any money in the transfer market instead relying on free transfers and loans. It depends on what fee PSG would expect for their academy product whether Le Havre can make the deal.
The Le Havre academy, incidentally, is where Newcastle plucked Charles N’Zogbia from in 2004. The ultimately ended up have to pay the club a £250k as compensation for N’Zogbia.
192 comments so far
jane
Aug 12, 2019 at 11:46 PM
Comment #41i think i need to understand better the specific roles of our midfielders but that will be tomorrow night’s question.
Nicky the ball tosser
Aug 12, 2019 at 11:48 PM
Comment #42Maybe he put Willems on as a straight swap for Shelvey, then realized Willems didn’t have a clue, so switched him with Ritchie. Still, even then he could’ve thrown on St Max for Ritchie and gone 343, instead he took Longstaff off, leaving a bemused Hayden staring at the bench with his arms outstretched in a WTF gesture.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 12, 2019 at 11:48 PM
Comment #43Question for those at the match, I’ve just watched the 30 minutes Sky highlights and I thought that Almiron was fouled in the box.
Was VAR used to see if he dived and for which he got a booking or should he have had a penalty awarded?
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 12, 2019 at 11:50 PM
Comment #44If VAR wasn’t used is this another way for the Ref’s anti Newcastle mafia not to give us any penalties.?
RobLeenio
Aug 12, 2019 at 11:50 PM
Comment #45Cannonball run
Raiders of the lost ark
one fine day
Aug 12, 2019 at 11:50 PM
Comment #46latest email from nust
including the latest on the strawberry place.
seems that the site is still in ashleys hands (son in law) and the sale to developers will only go through if planning permission is granted . This is surely where chi can help .online if your around get onto her mate please .
NUFC Trust:
6 Months On
Dear NUST Member,
The season starts tomorrow and the eyes of the football world once again focus on Newcastle United. With a divide apparent in supporters between demonstrative action and backing the team we’re hopeful that fans are respectful towards each other in whatever course of action they take.
It’s been heartening to see various accounts behind the planned demonstration spread the message that the issue with is with Mike Ashley and not those attending tomorrow’s game at St James’. At the Supporters Trust we don’t advise fans on any course of action, we represent all members and all views are respected.
It’s six months since the current board came together and in that time the Trust has gone from less than 300 members to close to 9,000 people.
It’s essential that with the new influx of members that the board of the Trust be chosen by the membership. For that reason we have started the process on elections to the board and will be communicating the process for applications and voting shortly.
In six months the Trust has come a long way. We have a new and improved website to be launched any day now which allows members to log on to the site and manage their membership.
The football club have confirmed publicly through the Evening Chronicle that the fans forum will reconvene shortly and that they will be looking to meet with the Trust board separately.
Before this meeting we will be keen for member feedback and questions to put to Lee Charnley and other senior people at Newcastle United.
We think it is vital there is a transparent relationship between the Trust and Newcastle United and I’m pleased the club are recognising the need for that relationship to prosper. The Supporters Trust exists to represent you to the football club and the board will seek to do that in any meeting with the club.
We have been working hard on a number of key areas in the last six months through communication with the Football Supporters Association, United with Pride, Newcastle United Foundation and other key community partners.
The end of the Trust’s financial year is the end of this month and financial results for the trust will be presented at the Trust’s Annual General Meeting. Details of which will follow the elections that will take place in September/October.
Greg has been working hard on the trust’s continued plan to oppose the development of land on Strawberry Place which was once leased by Newcastle United for the expansion of St James’ Park. You can read more about this below.
Thanks for reading.
Alex Hurst
Chair
Strawberry Place Objections
Representatives of the Trust met with the developers seeking to gain planning permission for the Strawberry Place site earlier this week.
It appears that the leasehold for the land is still owned by companies whose sole director is Michael Murray, the partner of Mike Ashley’s daughter.
This leads us to believe that the sale of this land, announced earlier this year, is likely to be subject to successfully obtaining planning permission.
Bear in mind the lease was owned by Newcastle United and has in effect been transferred to Michael Murray at below market value, to then be sold on again for significant profit – now it appears on the condition of this application being successful.
We set out that we fundamentally believe this land should still belong to the club, not only to safeguard the long term future of the Gallowgate End but also it could be developed to be an attractive gateway into Newcastle United for the local community and visitors to our wonderful city.
It was reiterated to us that nothing has changed since the last planning application in terms of impacts on St. James’ Park as part of this new detailed planning application.
It is unlikely that the application will be determined until late September or even into October so we would continue to urge you all to object to the planning application (reference 2019/0879/01/DET), this can be done online as detailed in our previous updates or by emailing your objection quoting the number above and including your name and contact details to planning.control@newcastle.gov.uk.
We would also urge you to contact your local councillor and MP and ask them to raise this issue on your behalf as your elected representatives.
We fundamentally believe what has been done here is wrong and will continue to work with our legal advisors to safeguard this land for the future benefit of a Newcastle United that wants to be the best it can be and play its role at the heart of our community.
Thank you.
Greg Tomlinson
Board
Volunteers Needed
Thank you to everyone who has sent us their details, we have had 43 members volunteer their services so far!
Member Committees
As a board, one of our top priorities has been to be as inclusive as possible, so far we’ve lowered membership prices 10-fold, we’ve formed a board which includes a diverse range of people, we’ve sent out membership surveys and now we are pleased to announce we’ve formed our first sub-committee made up of members.
Social Media Committee
The social media committee will be supporting the board and freeing up some board members time by creating a social media action plan, implementing it and pushing out regular updates to our members and the public through social media. With a dedicated team behind our social media, we will be able to react and respond to far more than we have been able to in the past.
Future Committees
The social media committee is just the start and the board aims to continue to create sub-committees with expert members who can really push the Trust forward in their chosen areas.
We aim to have a diversity/inclusion committee and a community committee formed next with more coming afterwards.
Want to get involved further?
Do you have a particular skill? Do you work in a sector that could benefit the Trust? Are you passionate about a relevant topic / one of the Trusts campaigns?
Click the link below and fill in the short form!
VOLUNTEER NOW
Bury Opening Fixture Cancelled
Bury FC’s ongoing crisis shows no sign of resolution after the EFL cancelled the club’s opening fixture of the 2019/20 season. MK Dons were due to travel to Gigg Lane to take on Bury this weekend for their first game of the season, however the EFL postponed the game earlier this week – the EFL board saying it was not satisfied with the evidence provided by the club’s owners about its viability…
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Fans for Diversity Conference
The FSA and Kick it Out would love to see you at the Fans for Diversity Conference on 20th September, an afternoon celebrating fans who make a difference in the game, so get the date in your diaries. Where? Amnesty International, New Inn Yard, London, EC2A 3EA – directions here. When? Friday 20th September 2019 (12pm lunch, 1pm start, 5pm close). Register for the event here! Bring your club colour…
Read More
Foxes Fans Angry At ‘Stealth Taxes’
Leicester City have been accused of “stealth taxing” supporters by introducing a raft of new fees on ticketing, car parking and other services ahead of the 2019-20 season. The Foxes Trust and Union FS, the atmosphere group at the King Power, have issued a joint statement criticising the club for increasing the cost of purchasing tickets via the club’s online store. Tickets bought over the phone or…
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Notts County Fans Cover Wages
Notts County fans have rallied around their club by raising more than £4,000 to cover unpaid wages for club staff. As the National League club faces an ongoing financial crisis many of the club’s administrative and support staff have gone unpaid and supporters, led by the Notts County FC Official Supporters Association (NCFCOSA), have been crowdfunding to help plug the gaps. Volunteers from the Ma…
Read More
And Finally…
Now is the time for NUST to build strength in numbers, and make sure we are all part of the solution, for whatever the problem is. We are a diverse fan base, and want to see ALL supporter issues taken up with NUFC by the Trust.
As ever at the Trust we want to hear from YOU and what issues the Trust should be engaging with. Our Chair Alex Hurst is still looking to get both comment and a meeting with the Club on the current status with the first team, manager and takeover.
A key objective of a supporters trust is to strengthen bonds between club and community. We can only do that if the community is fully engaged with us. So we urge you to get family and friends to join the Trust, so we can make a difference and build a lasting legacy for supporter involvement in our club.
Any queries, please contact us at board@nufctrust.co.uk
Kind regards,
Chris Johnson
Member Secretary
Click here to watch our ‘Join The Trust’ video!
FRIENDS/FAMILY NOT SIGNED UP YET?
Please help us spread the word about the new NUFC Trust board and encourage people to join! The more members we have, the stronger we become. Send them the link to the website or our social media!
http://www.nufctrust.co.uk
STAY UP TO DATE
Bleatin' n Bruced
Aug 12, 2019 at 11:56 PM
Comment #47It makes you wonder why some of these newly-vocal posters are so eager to shout down boycotts and protests doesn’t it? I mean if they disagree and want to go to the match then fine ok we heard you get on with it leave us to chat about what should be done to get Ashley out.
But it’s not that is it? They’re not indignant about lack of support damaging the teams prospects of winning – after all Mike has steered us to two relegations with packed houses every other week so that didn’t do much good.
No it’s all about the love of Ashley not the love of the team. They’re trying to hoodwink us into thinking they support something other than the fat man’s cash machine.
I watched highlights and even the official edited version showed loads of gaps. I doubt here was more than 44k there. The anti boycotters claim this shows massive support. Er no we aren’t falling for that are you kidding? Less than £52k at an opening game against Arsenal with a load of new signings and a new manager and that’s supposed to be a coup for the “support the team” crew? Get lost!
Well done the boycotters! No atmosphere in the ground because – why? The real fans, the voices and the 12th Man were outside trying to stop the rot. The silence of the lambs was what you heard inside. Maybe they will get sick when they realise the clocks been turned back five years. Maybe.
Bleatin' n Bruced
Aug 12, 2019 at 11:57 PM
Comment #48OFD are you kidding? 🙂
toon22
Aug 12, 2019 at 11:59 PM
Comment #49BnB
It’s never Jabbas fault
Nicky the ball tosser
Aug 13, 2019 at 12:00 AM
Comment #50Normally you’d have two banks of players, one primarily defensive, the other primarily attacking, for us the wingbacks have both responsibilities equally. But you always strive to maintain shape. After Shelvey went off our attacking players resorted to just running around without any noticeable tactical plan. No shape or discipline. At the time I was angry. Now I view it as quite comical, and probably more down to Bruce not having had enough time in the players to sort it out, and the new players enough time around the group, to understand how we want to play.
boss hoggs atm
Aug 13, 2019 at 12:01 AM
Comment #51August 31st will be a special day, at home to Watford,1st point of the new season lol, can’t get angry anymore, just find the whole situation funny now.
NY Mag
Aug 13, 2019 at 12:02 AM
Comment #52OFD,
Re : strawberry place land
You better tell the NUST to get their skates on, that land transaction is due to go through on 30th September.
Bleatin' n Bruced
Aug 13, 2019 at 12:05 AM
Comment #53Nicky it doesn’t take much analysis really. Bruce had these players bought for him to wedge into the team. He’s not the man to fashion and mould gem into swell oiled machine . Especially when the parts are for different machines. Like it or lump it up front. These players will either magically gel or more likely they will create mayhem and confusion followed by complaints, poor performances, fake injuries, and at least one going on strike. We are back in McCardewland – set your watches to 2004!
Nicky the ball tosser
Aug 13, 2019 at 12:14 AM
Comment #54Yeah, well, if it continues, I agree, we’re goners. We’ll continue to get beat and players will begin to lose the belief and discipline Rafa so expertly instilled in them. If that happens, it’s over.
I think Bruce is better than that though, and at this stage I believe he’ll sort it out, sufficiently to keep us up anyway. He’d have to pull a real McDuff, to take this group of players down.
toon22
Aug 13, 2019 at 12:21 AM
Comment #55NY mag
Iirc planning permission hasn’t been granted yet
Might turn out they won’t let em build anything on it
Lot of money for a car park 😉
Online Guy
Aug 13, 2019 at 12:21 AM
Comment #56Iv just been informed that several thousand tickets were given away on Friday ..corporate members families ..local businesses and Shop staff.
I was right although it pains me to say it . They papered the house .
If one takes a look at the rows of seating that are empty for each stand and works out an average you will get the ballpark figure for the attendance .
What you will see is a lot of people who have never been to a football match in their lives, hence the eerie silence . There was no noise or support because the ground was full of people that went along free for the novelty of it .
Mike Ashley has reduced us to a non- entity of a club .
To all the people who went to the match yesterday , and I don’t give a damn what you say, your a bunch of weak easily led pathetic morons.
Posada your posts are pathetic .
Online Guy
Aug 13, 2019 at 12:23 AM
Comment #57The real attendance in monetary terms for Ashley yesterday was near 38 thousand.
NY Mag
Aug 13, 2019 at 12:28 AM
Comment #58toon22,
Indeed it is a lot of money for a car park.
But that’s the deal – Agreed the deal on 30th November 2018, with the transaction to go through on 30th September 2019.
So come the 1st October, Ashley (or Michael Murray) won’t care about planning permission
Online Guy
Aug 13, 2019 at 12:32 AM
Comment #59Now let’s get on to team matters
No disciplin Sunday..Very very sloppy play.
Bruce had no no no plan B .
The players are talking about Bruce and how he’s a decent guy ..I would say he’s not as disciplined as Rafa when it comes to tactics and discipline..has a good laugh with °The Lads” !
Players relaxing …getting sloppy ..not as compact or together as when Rafa put a team out. ..and lost on formation and how to handle progressive opponents, as Arsenal showed.
The second half was seriously bad…players were unsure as to how to handle it.
We looked like a mid table championship team.
Online Guy
Aug 13, 2019 at 12:46 AM
Comment #60Can’t get my head around the fact that Ashley only met Rafa on 3 occasions and avoided Rafas phone calls, in turn treating Rafa with no respect at all .
Rafa would know because of the lack of respect and lack of ambition displayed by Ashley that he was getting nowhere with this owner and decided to leave at a certain point .
In effect Ashley was getting rid of a World Class Manager !
Rafa with ambition to grow the team and the Football club has obviously been at odds with Ashleys non ambition and to keep us running on fumes season on season ..cant have any ambition as long as Newcastle United and Sports Direct adverts can be seen around the world thats all thats required.
Win something ? Be a contender? Get into Europe ? Not with Mike Ashley and his first priority sports direct .
Posada
Bills son
Baloony
And all Ashley backers …you can argue with me tomorrow and I won’t be holding back .
And Hail wor Ashley , I’ll deal with you later . Anymore ?
toon22
Aug 13, 2019 at 12:53 AM
Comment #61NY
Let’s see them sell it if you can’t build on it
If only we knew someone who works for Newcastle council
😉
toon22
Aug 13, 2019 at 12:55 AM
Comment #62As for giving the tickets away, it will end the same as it did for the Mackems
Nobody will want them in the end, even for free
You need to be a supporter to sit through the rubbish on offer atm
NY Mag
Aug 13, 2019 at 12:58 AM
Comment #63toon22,
If you know someone on the council, then good luck to you mate 🙂
I don’t have any desire to see the land sold. But, remember, it’s a double edged sword – no planning permission = no ground expansion (people need to be very careful about what objections they make)
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 13, 2019 at 12:58 AM
Comment #64OK so no one on at moment who was at the match, I’ll try again later today!
toon22
Aug 13, 2019 at 1:00 AM
Comment #65NY
At this point I doubt any fan cares about the ground expansion as it’s going to be a very long time indeed before the club needs it
If it’s going to hinder Jabba it’s worth it
NY Mag
Aug 13, 2019 at 1:01 AM
Comment #66Sorry bill,
I was not there…..
toon22
Aug 13, 2019 at 1:01 AM
Comment #67Sit back and watch Jabba asset stop the club ?
Nope
NY Mag
Aug 13, 2019 at 1:02 AM
Comment #68toon22,
Ok, understood….fair point
IrishRob
Aug 13, 2019 at 1:02 AM
Comment #69Naah it was a bit Shít Jane. Not much icecream and more biscuity than brownie, v small too.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 13, 2019 at 1:03 AM
Comment #70OLG
I honestly do not see any of them being Ashlie backers despite the accusations aimed at them, please do not become toon22, it’s bad enough with his repetitive blather.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 13, 2019 at 1:06 AM
Comment #71NY Mag, you weren’t, call yourself a supporter, it’s only a 6000+ mile round trip for goodness sake! 🙂
NY Mag
Aug 13, 2019 at 1:08 AM
Comment #72Bill,
I know, shame on me 🙁
Online Guy
Aug 13, 2019 at 1:08 AM
Comment #73One Fine day
Already spoke to her about it .. had long conversation with her sec initially ..will get onto it again Tuesday Morning and report back on what’s said.
Online Guy
Aug 13, 2019 at 1:12 AM
Comment #74Wor Bill
I’m fuming at some of the posters that are obviously here to cause trouble and that’s their aim ..I will have a pop at those people . Its a serious issue when it comes to Ashley and they seem to be in favour of him ! not having it.
I know what you mean though so noted.
Cheers Bill.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 13, 2019 at 1:15 AM
Comment #75Although to be fair it sounded as though he was having a sensible grown up discussion with NY Mag!
NY Mag
Aug 13, 2019 at 1:19 AM
Comment #76OLG,
Why be fuming at anonymous posts on the internet? surely what you should care about is what happens in reality.
The only name you mentioned that has in any way gone against the grain is tony. And he’s only saying what he says as a protest against people who he perceives as tarnishing him wrongly when he first started posting.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 13, 2019 at 1:20 AM
Comment #77OLG
I agree that there are trouble makers on the blog but not necessarily the ones always getting the blame, as I’ve said previously there are some who cherry pick bits of a comment and then use that sliver to beat certain posters with, that’s what really gets up my nose.
NY Mag
Aug 13, 2019 at 1:21 AM
Comment #78Bill,
Perception has changed……I’m not the KBA bad guy any more, it appears that there is far worse out there 🙂
one fine day
Aug 13, 2019 at 1:25 AM
Comment #79brucie/tzunki
Not sure what you mean mate 🙂
If they knock back the DA on sept 30th it can take months years to re submit.
this is where the council have to pull out the stops, throw in a few spanners and act in the public interest and look after what is the biggest draw card the city has .
If fans cant buy the city maybe with help from the council they could buy it back from Ashley(assuming the goals aren’t moved) then sit on it as an investment.when new owners eventually decide to extend then it can be sold back at current market rate.subject to an agreement on what is planned .its prime land in the middle of a major city ,no one will lose on this …other than a few students looking for dogs in the short term .
just a thought ….now i shall wait for the friends of mike to arrive with the acid spray.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 13, 2019 at 1:26 AM
Comment #80NY Mag
What, you’re not part of our select club anymore, hope you got your back pay!