Lewis Gibson surprisingly left Newcastle United in July of 2017 to join Everton. It was a shocking move for the youngster who still admitted to being a supporter of his local club.
Newcastle were powerless to stop the then 17-year-old as he would not sign a professional contract. The club were able to recoup a decent transfer fee that could eventually rise to £6m.
At the time, the reason given for leaving was due to limited opportunities in the first-team. Gibson did not envision a pathway into the senior team under then-coach Rafa Benitez. This is what Gibson said in the Liverpool Echo after his move to Everton:
“We sat down and discussed what would be the best route for me to play first-team and make my debut competitively. I didn’t really think at the time that Newcastle was right for me and when I was told about Everton I knew the interest they put into me.
“They pushed for me a lot, compared to other clubs, and I felt like this was the right place for me to develop as a player.
“I’ve been proved right so far and I’ve been happy with my decision. I’ve developed a lot as a player. I imagined myself at Everton and knew there was a clear pathway.
“You see the players coming through, Dom, Jonjoe, Davo and people like that, and I knew there was a trust in young players.
“I knew that one of the main things Everton fans look for is for young players to come through. They want to see the next youth player go through. I’m just hoping to be one of them sooner rather than later.”
Gibson is two years into his stay at Everton but has yet to make a first-team appearance at Goodison Park. If he did leave for a chance at senior level football, he is not getting it so far at Everton. Gibson has only played for their Under-23s and not even been sent out on loan yet.
His initial three year deal at Everton now only has one year remaining on it.
The Daily Mail is reporting that Newcastle will try to tempt the 19-year-old to return Newcastle. They also are reporting on another reason that Gibson may have left two years ago.
The article states that Gibson had filed a complaint with the club about Peter Beardsley, and that was a driving force behind his move Everton. Beardsley has since been sacked and found to have racially abused some players while coaching the Newcastle Under-23s.
The article, however, does not specify what Gibson’s complaint was about. It does say that Gibson would be more willing to return to Newcastle now that Beardsley is no longer at the club.
While the report does not state this directly, Lewis could also be tempted to come back because of the emergence of Sean and Matty Longstaff into the first team. A place in the first team at Newcastle looks far more attainable now that it did two years ago. Steve Bruce also is open to giving a youngster an opportunity if he deems them ready.
Newcastle Under-23 striker Luke Charman was interviewed in the Chronicle on Tuesday and this is what he said about Steve Bruce’s appointment:
“It gives you real hope. As soon as Steve Bruce was appointed I knew that this was the best time – if ever there was one – to get a chance as a local lad.
“If the chance comes around you grasp it. But it is encouraging to see lads like Sean and Matty go up to the first team base and doing well.”
Lewis is still keeping track of recent events at Newcastle. This is what he tweeted about Matty Longstaff’s goal against Manchester United.
Delighted for you? @mattylobby48 https://t.co/t9Xk3tPUKp
— Lewis Gibson (@LewisGippa3) October 7, 2019
The Daily Mail pointed out that Gibson is still good friends with both of the Longstaff brothers. His older brother Liam is also still on the books at Newcastle. He is currently on loan at Grimsby Town until January.
We think it would be absolutely terrific if Newcastle could get Lewis back either in the summer or maybe for a reduced fee in January. He has not gotten a whiff of the first team at Everton, and we need to keep our promising local lads at Newcastle.
54 comments so far
toon22
Oct 9, 2019 at 1:14 AM
Comment #1Personally I think the clubs claims in response to Corbyns to be so far away from reality the club should be investigated
To claim he’s not taken any money , while doubling the debt
And having a net spend of 6 million/ year
Let’s what they have said to be insulting at best
NY Mag
Oct 9, 2019 at 1:17 AM
Comment #2toon22,
You’ve got jezzza on the ball, what more can you want 🙂
toon22
Oct 9, 2019 at 1:49 AM
Comment #3It’s seems you hope nobody ever shifts Jabba
Myself i couldn’t care less who can help us
You see the difference?
toon22
Oct 9, 2019 at 1:50 AM
Comment #4You backing what the club said ?
Or maybe you can see just how utterly ridiculous it is ?
NY Mag
Oct 9, 2019 at 2:02 AM
Comment #5I don’t recall ever saying or even contemplating such a thing….however, I know truth and facts are not in your repotoire 🙂
lesh
Oct 9, 2019 at 2:05 AM
Comment #6Mr Frog and NY Mag
Whilst Ashley claims he’s taken nothing from the club by way of dividends and/ or salary, what’s overlooked by many is that he’s been very cute in taking money out of it via arrangements with SD and other subcontractors.
But most overlooked is the way he’s managed the club’s finances ‘self-sufficiently’ to the extent it’s been starved of funds for the playing side of the business to the point of two relegations. Being the man who, in the eyes of Robbie Savage, Keyes, Wise et al, has put his own money in to get the club promoted twice, he’s loaded debt onto it.
So, the club lives within its meagre means and has nothing to invest, yet the money it owes Ashley mounts up.
Ashley’s owed £140m or so and like it or not, that is money he’s indirectly taken from the club.
When will people wise up to Ashley’s game? When will they see he’s a spiv, a con merchant who’s profiting from the gullibility and loyalty of Newcastle United’s fans.
lesh
Oct 9, 2019 at 2:09 AM
Comment #7NY Mag
I’m happy to bow to your superior knowledge of corporate finance, stand corrected if my argument’s wrong. Feel free to pull it to bits.
lesh
Oct 9, 2019 at 2:11 AM
Comment #8NY Mag
It’s late and I’m tired so if you’ll forgive me, I’ll say good night or to you, good day. I’ll pick up your thoughts later.
dougie
Oct 9, 2019 at 2:18 AM
Comment #9Sports Direct FC at its finest with its response to Corbyn.Disgusting how they can be arsed to release a statement just because a second rate communist politician in the public eye has something to say about the running of the club.They can’t even be bothered to engage with the fans at any level.Its a zombie club with no ambition except to keep the parasites tat shop empire in the public eye.The squad has got relegation written all over it.No goals,no creativity and a manager with the worst record in Premier League history in charge,what could go wrong.No doubt the deluded sheep think we’ve got the new Scholes and Carrick in the midfield now because we scraped a win against the worst Man Utd Premier team in history.
lesh
Oct 9, 2019 at 2:20 AM
Comment #10NY Mag
I should’ve qualified ‘Ashley’s owed £140m or so and like it or not, that is money he’s indirectly taken from the club’ by adding ‘by way of tax breaks and other benefits from his loans the club.’
NY Mag
Oct 9, 2019 at 2:20 AM
Comment #11Lesh,
You surprise me, you come across as quite an intelligent person.
I’m not gonna try and explain about loans v equity v legality (it’s pointless).
I’m also not gonna give a lecture on losses over the years.
Of course Ashley is no good for us, I want better – but he’s not the devil incarnate that’s made out.
NY Mag
Oct 9, 2019 at 2:43 AM
Comment #12Lesh,
I apologize for the previous comment, ive read it back and it sounds condescending (that wasn’t my intention).
I see where you are coming from and I understand it, but not living in the UK (and especially not living in the NE anymore) I don’t see things from the same perspective. I have a very different (corporate) view of things, and of course every time I watch the team play it reminds me of home (which for me is happy memories). So I don’t have the same scepticism as other people.
I “get” the acrimony towards the clubs ownership, I have never (ever) tried to go against that, it’s just that I cannot actively support it from my remote location.
bettyswallocks
Oct 9, 2019 at 6:15 AM
Comment #13NY Mag………….. Fair enough if you’re judging only what you see on the pitch but this club means more than just 22 men kicking a ball about to most fans. Ashley is a self confessed cheat and he is also a spiv , shyster, leech, con man etc etc. How can we be blasé about such an individual owning our club? Pride in our club’s heritage and the way it is perceived also mean a lot to us and he operates with total disregard for any of that.
Jib
Oct 9, 2019 at 6:17 AM
Comment #14NY
Don’t feel bad
Lesh invites condescension
bettyswallocks
Oct 9, 2019 at 6:25 AM
Comment #15Jib………….. Lesh is the most condescending member of this blog. He genuinely believes that his views and vision for the country under a Marxist Corbyn government are beyond reproach and anyone who disagrees is a poor misguided soul who has been hoodwinked by the other side.
Jib
Oct 9, 2019 at 6:43 AM
Comment #16The issues with NUFC (and sport in general ) should be above politics
I think TMG are foolish for allying themselves with a marmite figure like
Corbyn.
Reagan boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics in 1980 because of Russian
military involvement in Afghanistan then Bush sent troops there in 2001.!!!
Genjikai
Oct 9, 2019 at 7:33 AM
Comment #17So Ashley hasnt asset stripped from the club?
Ashley sold the land to one of his companies for £6 million.
6 years later the amount had not been paid the the club wrote it off as bad debt.
Then Ashley sold the land to his son-law Michael Murray for £10 million. Sports Direct then paid Michael Murray £11.5 million.
Plans were submitted and passed but then plans were drastically changed and have been resubmitted.
If the new plans are passed the land with planning will be worth £60 million and an agreement is in place for this.
Jib
Oct 9, 2019 at 8:04 AM
Comment #18That’s not asset stripping
That’s selling something he bought for a profit
What’s the other phrase TMG use ?
Ahh yes
NUFC is Ashley’s cash cow
Anything less like a cash cow than a PL club would be hard to find
Lindisfarne
Oct 9, 2019 at 8:11 AM
Comment #19What Jib means to say is, that the increase in value of Strawberry Place reflects the considerable amount of work put into it in order for it to realise its full economic potential. The question is why not do the same for NUFC and have the club free of debt completely and challenging on an equal basis with the best of the PL teams.
….. its not a sprint its a marathon comes to mind.
Jib
Oct 9, 2019 at 8:24 AM
Comment #20“Lindisfarne
Why not do the same for NUFC and have the club free of debt completely and challenging on an equal basis with the best of the PL teams.”
Perhaps that would have been achieved if , as Kevin Miles said recently , folk had engaged with MA
instead of calling him names and accusing him of stuff for which they have no evidence .
RobLeenio
Oct 9, 2019 at 8:59 AM
Comment #21Jib “Perhaps that would have been achieved if , as Kevin Miles said recently , folk had engaged with MA”
Can you explain how that would have been achieved? The NUST have been trying for years to engage with Ashley and his leadership, without ever having openly criticised him, supported protests or otherwise undermining the regime. They’ve had no success.
The fans’ forum, which the club is specifically bound by Premier League rules to hold every quarter, has not been held for over a year.
The invitation which Ashley issued to allow an independent auditor to look over the NUFC finances was accepted, yet Ashley has refused further contact on this point and is yet to grant access as he promised.
Chi Onwurah tried for years to meet with Ashley. When she finally met him in January this year, she was told very firmly that any future discourse should be held via Charnley.
I know you said that the relationship with Ashley was damaged by fan unrest, but I would suggest that prior to the Keegan farce (proven by a Court to be the fault of the club, rather than Keegan) the relationship was very good. And yet, even then, there was a distinct lack of effective, constructive and formal discourse between the club and its fans.
Opportunities have been missed and the club has made no effort at all to build bridges with its fans. If there is one thing which defines the Ashley era more than any other, it’s the ‘us and them’ attitude which has grown and, in my eyes, been actively encouraged by the club.
I’m surprised at the comments from Kevin Miles, a Geordie and ex-RGS pupil. Very odd that he should be so unaware of the efforts that have been made by the fans to enter constructive discourse with a seemingly unwilling partner.
Ron Knee
Oct 9, 2019 at 9:07 AM
Comment #22RGS – What do you expect?
RobLeenio
Oct 9, 2019 at 9:08 AM
Comment #23In other clubs being a bit sh!t too news.
Last night, Spurs U21 played the same Colchester team that played the Spurs 1st team last week.
The Spurs 1st team lost, but their U21 colleagues won.
😀
RobLeenio
Oct 9, 2019 at 9:12 AM
Comment #24Ron, I was going to mention a certain other poster’s connection to RGS, I did wonder if perhaps they knew each other, but thought ‘meh’.
lesh
Oct 9, 2019 at 9:15 AM
Comment #25Good lord
We’ve a new double act in Jib and Bettysbollocks – the former’s a liar and the other believes every word he says. Sounds just like Boris and his followers.
Ron Knee
Oct 9, 2019 at 9:16 AM
Comment #26Do you mean Jib, Rob? He went to DABS, like me.
Jib
Oct 9, 2019 at 9:19 AM
Comment #27Kevin Miles is the Chairman of The Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF)
Perhaps the NUST should have tried to use his good offices.
Jib
Oct 9, 2019 at 9:20 AM
Comment #28Ron
I think he believes Fraser Forster is a poster
Ron Knee
Oct 9, 2019 at 9:22 AM
Comment #29Could be, Jib.
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Oct 9, 2019 at 9:23 AM
Comment #30Jib@20
You always say The blog and social media aren’t are a true reflection of Nufc fans as a whole.
Surely if Ashley is as fair and balanced as you say he would have realised this and not punished everyone for the actions of the few????
Or it could just be bullshit to excuse his behaviour.
Jib
Oct 9, 2019 at 9:26 AM
Comment #31#BoycottAshley ( OP)
I’ve scrolled back
Cannot see anywhere I’ve said
” Ashley is fair and balanced ”
It does help if you don’t make stuff up
Classic TMG
Thanks for the example pal
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Oct 9, 2019 at 9:40 AM
Comment #32Jib
Should I rephrase and say “make out” Ashley is fair and balanced.
Before you deny that, you always have a reason Ashley isn’t in the wrong..
Just to add a bit more you’ve also said in the past Ashley “flies by the seat of his pants” does things “his way” and “only listens to people he trusts”
Instead of saying people should engage with Ashley try telling people how too, doesn’t look like many of his piers or colleagues have faired very well trying in the past.
Jib
Oct 9, 2019 at 9:41 AM
Comment #33or his peers even
Jib
Oct 9, 2019 at 9:44 AM
Comment #34#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Instead of saying people should engage with Ashley try telling people how to
I did
I said
Kevin Miles is the Chairman of The Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF)
Perhaps the NUST should try to use his good offices.
RobLeenio
Oct 9, 2019 at 9:48 AM
Comment #35Ah, my bad
Anyway, the point remains, Kevin Miles really should have considered what he was about to say before he said it. It’s a typical politician’s response calling for more dialogue where actually, one side has been wanting to talk for years but the side which is most important in this is unwilling.
I wonder if there is some kind of law which allows for the summoning of a party to a meeting when there are grievances which need to be aired and normal invitations have been ignored? It’s possible that an MP has that power, though may be unwilling to use it for fear of being seen to abuse Parliamentary privilege.
An ancient Newcastle-specific bylaw would do the job. Maybe there exists something around use of land owned by the freemen and how that relates to / impacts the citizens of Newcastle (by extension, fans of NUFC).
At the very least it would get some media attention and allow TMG, NUST or whoever to publish the questions they would like to raise in a memorable way.
I wonder how much contact there has been between the various NUFC supporters / protest groups and the Freemen of the City of Newcastle?
Jib
Oct 9, 2019 at 10:07 AM
Comment #36Rob
The council taxi inspectors once took me to court for leaving my taxi unattended
My solicitor Clive McKeag (Gordon’s brother) found they were using a city bye law
from 1846 , which also stated all taxi’s should furnish enough hay for a days feed for a horse.
My case was dismissed
JohnJ
Oct 9, 2019 at 10:07 AM
Comment #37It seems to me as clear as a sunny day that Mr Ashley has no interest in Newcastle United other that the financial return it can bring for him!
Does he give a sh1t about improving the teams league position? Not at all – all he is looking for is a final position of 17th or a little above!!!
We, the genuine supporters, know only too well what OUR team should be aiming for and that’s a place in the top half at the bare minimum – we should be looking at being in a fight for a top six spot and Europe.
Is that going to happen? Sadly it wont as long as “The Slug” is involved with NUFC.
Bants
Oct 9, 2019 at 10:14 AM
Comment #38Have you seen those passengers kicking off on that Nowegian cruise ship?
I reckon the real reason is they’ve discovered that geordietom has booked up for the next trip!
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Oct 9, 2019 at 10:16 AM
Comment #39Jib
Suggesting something they’ve been trying to do for years…
Ok
RobLeenio
Oct 9, 2019 at 10:17 AM
Comment #40You weren’t feeding your taxi with hay? Shame on you!
I know that resorting to bylaws to get anything done is less than guaranteed to achieve its goals, but it’s a story that the local and National media would love to run with.
“NUFC fans use 300-year-old laws to summon owner to meeting”
I reckon that would raise some eyebrows, even if it didn’t actually get Ashley up to Newcastle.