In an exclusive Friday night in The Sun, Amanda Staveley spoke about the dire need of upgrading the infrastructure at Newcastle United. She called the training ground ‘really awful’ while The Sun’s correspondent, Oscar Paul, added that many Championship clubs would be embarrassed by it.
Improving the training ground, something former manager Rafa Benitez implored Mike Ashley to do, is an area of utmost concern to the new board. That is something they can plan to address almost immediately though it will take time to complete.
The board can also draw up a list of January targets. Staveley said in her interview the club could soon attract world-class players. However, she tied that into improving the facilities, which will be a longer-term proposition.
For the next transfer window, Newcastle appear to be targeting players on expiring contracts with Premier League experience. Burnley defender James Tarkowski and Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard are two players Newcastle are targeting according to The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards.
Edwards also reported that the new owners feel the squad is lacking in all areas of the pitch. He stated as many as five players could be added in January. That would cause some serious turnover with Newcastle’s squad already full.
While adding to the squad will have to wait until January and improving the training ground will take some time, an immediate change that could be coming is at manager. A few reports have claimed that Steve Bruce will be replaced before our next match against Tottenham in a week on Sunday.
There have been plenty of speculation as to who the next Magpie manager will be. Tucked away in Oscar Paul’s exclusive in The Sun was a blurb about Brighton manager Graham Potter. Paul stated that the 46-year-old is in the frame after impressing with Brighton this season.
The Seagulls are in 6th place in the league having only lost once all season. That was a 2-0 defeat at home to Rafa Benitez’s Everton. They also have won both of their Carabao Cup fixtures.
Potter has done extremely well at Brighton and could be one to watch. He plays a very attractive brand of football and could truly shine with an improved squad.
He has also worked his way up from obscurity having started his managerial career with Östersund, who were in the fourth tier of Swedish football when he was appointed.
It was Newcastle assistant coach Graeme Jones, a former teammate of Potter at Boston United, who recommended him to Östersund’s then-chairman Daniel Kindberg in 2010.
It paid massive dividends as Potter guided them up the leagues to Sweden’s first division, the Allsvenskan, for the first time in their history in 2015. They reached the Europa League in 2017 after winning a domestic cup.
His success in Sweden landed him at Swansea City in 2018 before he replaced Chris Hughton at Brighton a year later. He’s now reportedly being considered as the manager to get Newcastle’s revolution underway.
439 comments so far
JohnJ
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:12 PM
Comment #1Jail /%%/
Ah So
Now I know!
toon22
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:13 PM
Comment #2Rafael Benitez – 9/1
Decent odds those
JohnJ
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:16 PM
Comment #3Eeeeee
I got first that’s rare for me!
JohnJ
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:17 PM
Comment #4Froggy’s in a JohnJ Sarnie!
coming home
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:21 PM
Comment #5Toon22
Would be Rafa would be perfect to rebuild the club unfortunately it won’t happen
I was gutted when he took Everton job but it makes sense for him
JohnJ
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:27 PM
Comment #6Coming Home
Yes I know exactly what mean about Rafa and Everton – I could fully understand why he took the Job just a shame we didn’t get the new owners sooner but…..
Sadly we’ll have to move on from Rafa now but for me he was ACE – I could fully understand exactly what he was trying to do for and with Newcastle United.
coming home
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:27 PM
Comment #7If Rafa did come back now I think we would win something a year or 2 earlier as he knows what is needed and could do it with less spend than say Conte could
coming home
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:29 PM
Comment #8JohnJ
So true but I did find it hard to move on from Rafa as he was Taylor made for us
Optimistic prime
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:30 PM
Comment #9Magic
Watched it on Amazon.
I’m not staying up until 4, I’ll just watch it when I get up.
Wilder will always have a punchers chance but I expect Fury to beat him like a dog and punish him for several rounds before finishing him.
Fury isn’t a happy bunny and looks menacing, I think Wilder has lost the plot.
Optimistic prime
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:31 PM
Comment #10I was certain Rafa would never be a manager under Ashley!
It happened but not this time, he’s to honourable to walk out on Everton!
Optimistic prime
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:36 PM
Comment #11Potter is under contract for a while (2025) would take £20m to get him.
Is he worth £10-£20m?
If we’re bringing a foreign DOF, would a foreign manager not be better??
Munster Mag
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:36 PM
Comment #12Watching Steve Wraiths takeover programme, marvellous.
Just saw Jason Cundy on Talksport… What a pleb.
Keith P emotional. Top man.
coming home
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:37 PM
Comment #13OP
Wished you were wrong but I think your spot on Rafa stays loyal to his contracts
coming home
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:39 PM
Comment #14I suppose we can still dream anything is possible when your the richest club in the world
Munster Mag
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:40 PM
Comment #15Liam Kennedy was in tears, another great guy.
Jeez lads this is so good.
magicmac54
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:42 PM
Comment #16Optimistic
Prime
I will have to watch it as ive heard great reports about it, also keep up the good work your posts this week they been sheer quality mate, ill probably set my alarm for about 4am, well thats the plan but the moonshine the potcheen might have other ideas tonight mate 😀 😀
Adamn_92
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:42 PM
Comment #17Asked the question earlier but don’t think anyone replied. Does anyone think that some managers may not want to join due to all the negative press around the Saudi human rights stuff? They would likely come under questioning from the media and get a lot of negative press for joining the set up and being part of ‘sportswashing’. It might be that some managers don’t want to risk their reputation with that.
Money talks of course, but I would t be surprised if some managers have cold feet about joining or are advised to stay clear by their friends and family etc
Optimistic prime
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:43 PM
Comment #18Magic
Up at 4, go you.
What’s you feeling?
toon22
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:44 PM
Comment #19Rafa is the only manager out there that can walk into the club and know whats here
He knows 80% of the players
They also know him
We are in the relegation zone and cant take any risks
Rafa also wanted to build the club, wanted the project
Pay Everton whatever they ask for
AnyToon in Indiana
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:44 PM
Comment #20I can’t see Rafa walking out either but we never saw this coming. It is sad because I think his mindset is the epitome of what this club is now after. All about vision, character, doing things right. For all those reasons I for one would not the want the likes of a Conte. I have a really good friend who I work with who is Italian, is from northern Italy and although an AC Milan fan, when he saw about the takeover and links to Conte…he just laughed and said “yeah, good luck with him” I want people that think about the club, the fans, and the bigger picture…not about what they want for themselves at all costs.
Optimistic prime
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:45 PM
Comment #21Adamn
No, not at all.
It’ll pass soon enough.
I’ve said many times the only decent thing in a newspaper is fish n chips and they banned that, the footers.
toon22
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:46 PM
Comment #22Get Rafa in on a 4 year deal
Get him to build a team, and all the rest of the things
Involve him from the start as hes got a clue what hes on about
Once hes finnished we get the dream guy in, the sexy manager who will play whatever footy desireable
Right now we are very far away from anything like it
Optimistic prime
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:46 PM
Comment #23Is Keegan on Twitter?
Has he said out?
I’ve seen various ex players etc but I’d have thought KK would’ve gave a interview, if I was a Journo I’d be looking for him.
AnyToon in Indiana
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:47 PM
Comment #24I do think Rafa and his wife have probably had a few long discussions the last couple of days though.
Adamn_92
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:47 PM
Comment #25OP
It’ll pass I’m sure, just wondering if some managers may want to wait for that moment though.
toon22
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:47 PM
Comment #26Rafa dont have to walk
We can buy his contract
If Everton agree to sell him
Its no different to signing a player
toon22
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:49 PM
Comment #27Literally
Hes the only guy that has a real chance of turning it around quickly
The best managers arnt going to want to walk into the mess were in
Unless we can pursuade Pep
That seems unlikely
JohnJ
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:50 PM
Comment #28Maybe this has been mentioned earlier (It’s been hard keeping up with all the posts)
But it seems tor me that The CAT case obviously rattled a few canisters in the EPL management circles! (Including Richard Masters)
It’s no co-incidence in my mind that things moved on at a pace unknown in the Premier League after the CAT case!!!! No need for Arbitration in January now eh?
As for the other 19 clubs they are all hypocrites I’m 100% certain they would have snapped the hands of the consortium had they been offered the same deal!
swemag
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:50 PM
Comment #29Having followed him in Sweden with the things he did there I am a massive fan of Graham Potter. Some managers have that obvious and special aura where they just get players playing to the same tune and with a lot of belief. (Bobby Robson comes to mind) He is one of those. His teams always play to win regardless of who they face. Always with confidence.
However, if he is to cost 20 million I think Eddie Howe is a better short term option until we reach the next level.
AnyToon in Indiana
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:52 PM
Comment #30https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/12430231/lewis-sent-off-for-time-wasting
wow…in the 36th minute????
swemag
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:53 PM
Comment #31Rafa ain’t walking out on Everton. He got his family in Liverpool and the project there is interesting enough for him. They might be challenging for top 4, who knows.
magicmac54
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:53 PM
Comment #32NUFC Matters last night was superb, the only down side was when Keith Patterson started crying it got me all emotion also i really started welling up big time, this week has been like being on a roller coaster . guys as far as iam concerned there simply would have been no takeover without Keith Patterson, that gentleman started it all of and got the ball rolling, he will always be my hero, a really good guy, who is decent honorable honest and shows so much empathy, what a great human being.
Optimistic prime
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:55 PM
Comment #33I’m just wondering if they’ll go for someone in a job.
They’ll want to get their first choice, if he’s at a club it’s not guaranteed he’ll come, even Rafa.
I think it’ll be someone whos available without a club, even if it’s only until end of season.
If they don’t want to rush into anything a caretaker ticks the right boxes.
/%%/
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:57 PM
Comment #34OP,
Is that what time it’s on, foot that for a game of soldiers 😮
magicmac54
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:57 PM
Comment #35Optimistic
Prime
It could go either way, but i hope Tyson Fury wins, he is great to watch and entertains
SholaShow
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:57 PM
Comment #36Swemag
Yep, ship has sailed. He waited as long as he could.
Optimistic prime
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:57 PM
Comment #37If Ragnaroc is going to be DOF, maybe he’ll take the reins until end of season with Jones and a few others.
toon22
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:58 PM
Comment #38Everton are skint
We suddenly arnt
He was fine staying put a few years ago
Just saying
Optimistic prime
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:59 PM
Comment #39Poster formally known as jail.
Around 415 I believe.
I’ll watch it eating breakfast after I’ve walked dogll
/%%/
Oct 9, 2021 at 8:59 PM
Comment #40OP,
I feel the same, not comfortable getting a guy who’s willing to ditch his club, especially someone like Rodgers, Potter or Frank who seem to have very good relationships with their owners.