After a whirlwind few days heading into this past weekend, Newcastle have a momentous week ahead of them as the club prepares for the first match of the new era. Steve Bruce and the squad have been off for the past three days but return for training today.
Amanda Staveley will meet with Bruce and the players this afternoon. It is expected that Steve Bruce will be relieved of his duties at some point this week with Graeme Jones inserted as caretaker manager.
While there is so much work to be done behind the scenes, the match against Tottenham on Sunday is of massive importance. Newcastle are stuck in 19th place in the table without a win and that needs to change very quickly.
The new owners are currently taking stock of the club after the sudden reversal of fortunes last week. But that hasn’t prevented them from communicating with the fans extensively over the past few days.
Staveley has become the new face of Newcastle United after a flurry of interviews on Thursday and Friday. However, we’ve also heard from Jamie Reuben as PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who has assumed a non-executive chairman role at the club.
Al-Rumayyan penned a wonderful open letter to the fans last week. He’s since taken the time to explain what his role with be with Newcastle United. Here is some of what he said as published in The Chronicle:
“Whilst we are newcomers to Newcastle, we are investing alongside people who have been committed to this Club and this city for many years.
“Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners is a key part of our investment group. Jamie Reuben and his family are already significant investors in the city of Newcastle.
“The role of my team at PIF is a bit different.
“Our job is to look at the bigger picture – so we will be working with the rest of the Board to set the overall strategy, monitor how that is progressing, and determine the changes we need to make.
“You will hear from us less often, but I can assure you that we will always be actively engaged.”
PIF has an 80% stake in the club and will basically be financing the ambitious plans of Newcastle’s rebuild. Al-Rumayyan will take a less visible role than Staveley but will certainly be involved in the key decisions to take this club forward.
The fact that he’s already communicated to the fans on three separate occasions in less than a week speaks volumes. After his statement above, he again expressed his gratitude to Newcastle United supporters saying:
“I want to thank you all for the support you have given to this Club.
“Without fans like you, there is no Newcastle United Football Club and we will never take your support for granted.”
Here is an outstanding YouTube video made by a Newcastle fan welcoming our new owners to the club.
85 comments so far
Paul141726
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:14 PM
Comment #41Just read that Amanda would like to upgrade the training facilities ASAP. A great first step to get the players in much better shape ( I really think our fitness leaves a lot to be desired) and even attract those players who will put in the work to make this team into a powerhouse. Those that just go thru the motions can do one and leave, or be left behind.
dougie
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:16 PM
Comment #42The sooner the stench of Bruce is gone the better the deluded arrogant fool.
¥
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:18 PM
Comment #43swemag: We can build a new stadium 300yds away. The other side of Leazes Park. That is what SJH originally suggested, rather than sink costs into extending the ground.
Zhongguo Geordie
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:18 PM
Comment #44I don’t know what attendance we could get, but at least 60k and there’d be extra foreign fans and fans from out the city.
lochinvar
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:19 PM
Comment #45Development of SJP has long been a discussion and the most visionary view was some years ago that the Gallowgate could be developed to mirror the Leazes Stand by building over Strawberry Place even leaving a road underneath that wpuld be closed on match days and turned into a plaza.
I suspect that moving the stadium eastwards is viable. Rebuild the Leazes further into the back of the Park and move the Gallowgar forwards and upwards. Then fill in the corner between the main stand and the Leazes.
East Stand remains the challenge but with the investment involved the Georgian block cod be relocated (sacrilege to many) to nearby allowing the East Stand rebuild. Or buy the Georgian block (allowing students to be moved into new accommodation elsewhere and incorporate the East Stand and Georgian buildings being into a wonderful fusion of hotel and facilities within the East Stand.
Might give us 70,000 capacity, a state of the art ground with unique preservation of older property nearby.
JP...from The Rock
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:20 PM
Comment #46I’d be very happy if they upgrade the St James’ capacity and gave it the TLC it deserves. Just love it and the location is superb. Don’t know what our new owners thoughts are on that if they find space is limited to expand training facilities and emulate them.
But I trust they’ll make the right decisions unlike that baffoon AshLie.
IrishRob
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:20 PM
Comment #47I’m uneasy about the Bruce situation if they really want him gone before the Spurs game then why isn’t he gone today especially considering we have Jones to steer the ship in the interim. Also giving Jones as many days as possible to implement his tactics fully without interference would stand to help us beat Spurs even more.
Really doesn’t make sense this at all keeping him for another few days if their intension is to fire him before Spurs. Unless Craig Hope is just trying to get clicks.
catchy in norway
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:24 PM
Comment #48Dougie
What a horrible little man you are.
Would you take charge of your home town club.
Where would you rank you in your job, are you outstanding in your chosen profession, are you so sort after , that you command twice the average of what you get paid.
Probably not, the guy never once said he is the best manager out there, he said he would love the chance to manage his home town club, he has given it his best shot, he didn’t relegate us, so why the hate, Rafa’s win% at nufc is only slightly better, but he had a full season in the championship, without that he is pretty much exactly the same, same poor football, but one is world class, apparently
Davas28
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:25 PM
Comment #49The blog is a great read now. It takes forever to catch up.
On the ground issue, my preference would be to keep it where it is, if possible, unless a new one nearby would have the same or better visual impact.
On the size, although Barcelona and real Madrid have big grounds, looking at their average attendance, they must rarely fill them.
lochinvar
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:25 PM
Comment #50Benton should be history.
The new Training facilities and Academy should be a new visionary project.
Always thought that trading Benton for Bullocksteads near to the Falcons Ground is where a sporting complex could work. That allows students to have a near and more accessible City Centre sports complex.
Davas28
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:27 PM
Comment #51I guess the good thing about a brand new stadium is that they can be designed to maximise the crowd acoustics
Paul141726
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:28 PM
Comment #52Lochinvar, maybe you could put that suggestion on the training ground in Amanda’s pretty ear. Great idea Mate!
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:29 PM
Comment #53swemag,
If ticket sales are such a small percentage of revenue then why are all the ambitious clubs expanding stadium capacity?
ITUNDERASHELL
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:31 PM
Comment #54I will leave these here for you.
https://www.businessinsider.com/neom-what-we-know-saudi-arabia-500bn-mega-city-2019-9?op=1&r=US&IR=T
Think bigger MUCH BIGGER!
lochinvar
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:32 PM
Comment #55Bruce’s deapture is not delayed its just being well managed and dignified (start as you mean to go on).
Severance package and legal documents require some organisation. And there’s the other two Steves to go as well.
Wednesday maybe even Thursday and it’s all change.
Jones in charge for Sunday is fine.
I know we need and want the three points on Sunday but a draw or win is acceptable!
After the myhem of Sunday get down to the real job in hand.
simon376
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:32 PM
Comment #56While renewing/rebuilding training facilities or new ones from scratch, can we not hire somewhere decent in short term? Bet Gateshead stadium would have everything needed for now including a pitch
dougie
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:34 PM
Comment #57Catchy.No one gives a rats ass what you think you little ballbag,do everyone a favour and fcuk off.
check the toastie
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:35 PM
Comment #58Absolutely the right thing to do is for Bruce to be spoken too and told thanks for all that you have done under difficult circumstances but we are now going on a different journey. The right way to tell someone hes sh1te and unwanted.
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:35 PM
Comment #59swemag,
You also can’t compare Ashley’s shoddy renaming of the stadium just to ‘showcase’ what could be done to billionaire owners building a new stadium in the vicinity of the old one at no cost to the club at all.
lochinvar
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:35 PM
Comment #60ITUnderashell
Are you suggesting that we build over Sunderland and create Newcastleopolis?
The mega City of Dreams.
Doesn’t bode well for Gateshead either. Can’t be having that. Need to build over them.
Adamn_92
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:37 PM
Comment #61Catchy, Rafa got promoted first time of asking from the Championship, meaning he had essentially a championship squad for his first season back in the prem. He done relatively well and realised that defence was a big issue so focused heavily on sorting that out. Which he did. Still without much reinforcements or budget to work with, he made us a hard to beat side and played to the strengths of what he had available to him. When he was allowed to spend a bit of money we signed Almiron and our attacking stats instantly went up and were amongst the most impressive in the league.
Bruce inherited a well drilled squad with more attacking talent in it. We didn’t improve. Our defence got much worse. Our attacking stats got much worse and the players value and apparent abilities seemed to decrease.
The simple reasons why one is better than the other is:
One has better managerial records/stats over their career
One was improving us steadily, the other has made us worse steadily
One has proved himself in different countries, one has never been abroad to manage
One gets the most of his players and increases their value, the other get’s less from their players and their value decreases
Now can we please move on from Rafa and Bruce debates/comparisons. They are tiresome and ridiculous. Rafa isn’t coming back and Bruce will soon be gone, let’s move on. That’s my last ever post on it for the blog.
sparky55
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:37 PM
Comment #62The current SJP is on prime real estate but I’m pretty sure it can’t be developed (some kind of restriction on the land registry I believe)…so on that basis I think they’ll just make SJP as big as it can be because they’ll get no financial benefit from moving the ground and reaping any rewards of redeveloping the site.
Remember…it’s always about the money!
Sheikh rattle and roll!
Jamesthefirst
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:38 PM
Comment #63Lots of talk about who we are going to sign in January. The consensus with the papers is that we will try and sign at least 5 new players.
That means, at least 5 of the current 25 man squad have to be sold in January to make room for that.
1 Martin Dúbravka
2 Ciaran Clark
3 Paul Dummett
5 Fabian Schär
6 Jamaal Lascelles
7 Joelinton
8 Jonjo Shelvey
9 Callum Wilson
10 Allan Saint-Maximin
11 Matt Ritchie
12 Jamal Lewis
14 Isaac Hayden
16 Jeff Hendrick
17 Emil Krafth
18 Federico Fernández
19 Javier Manquillo
21 Ryan Fraser
23 Jacob Murphy
24 Miguel Almirón
26 Karl Darlow
27 Freddie Woodman
28 Joe Willock
29 Mark Gillespie
34 Dwight Gayle
36 Sean Longstaff
Which 5….
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:38 PM
Comment #64catchy,
Bruce, like Carver would have definitely let players know their time was up via text if Churnley ordered it. Did he even get back to AC when his deal expired, no, he didn’t, the bloke is a shitehouse and good riddance to him.
sparky55
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:38 PM
Comment #65@check the Toastie…Bang on mate!
Sheikh rattle and roll!
Mund
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:39 PM
Comment #66Can’t understand the love for Bruce
He isn’t a good coach no matter what anyone says as 999 games have shown that. He is two seasons in and still trying to find his way, ie tactics, formation and team selection. That is worrying for anyone at any profession and wouldn’t be accepted.
He has disrespected the fans on many occasions and fundamentally what it boils down to is he is crap and wouldn’t get a job at any of the other 19 clubs or any promotion contenders in the championship.
Simple he is shite and shouldn’t be anywhere near this football club.
Mister Tuff
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:40 PM
Comment #67Leicesters new training ground – looks great.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=leicester+city+new+training+ground&&view=detail&mid=51179524E317F71762CE51179524E317F71762CE&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dleicester%2Bcity%2Bnew%2Btraining%2Bground%26FORM%3DHDRSC3
ITUNDERASHELL
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:43 PM
Comment #68#60 lockinvar
I would assume Sunderland is in the catchment area and has port facilities.
sparky55
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:43 PM
Comment #69raj@53…twelfth man syndrome…pushes the team on!
Sheikh rattle and roll!
Adamn_92
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:44 PM
Comment #70Anyone who willingly chooses to play Hayden as an attacking midfielder has lost the plot.
catchy in norway
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:47 PM
Comment #71Rafa did not not have a championship squad, if that’s the case he took a premiership squad down.
And even if it was a championship squad, his squad was worth more than one hundred million more than the next closest to us. And Brighton with Chris H almost beat us.
Jamesthefirst
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:48 PM
Comment #72The Reubens are property kings. St James’ Park sits on prime real estate in the centre of the city.
It really wouldn’t surprise me if their interest in the club, is for the property itself and selling St James’s Park so they can build flats and a shopping centre, with the new ground being further out. Years down the line, but property is what drives them, not football.
Tim the toon
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:49 PM
Comment #73James
The five players I would look to move on/replace would be Gayle, Shelvey, Clark and Hendrick; we also don’t need to have 4 ‘keepers registered.
That gives us the 5 slots you are talking about.
Obviously we would need to replace in those positions.
catchy in norway
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:49 PM
Comment #74Mind,
Welcome to my world, most of you think God has been our greatest ever coach, simply just rides all the other managers who were there before him then falls off when he is found out
catchy in norway
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:52 PM
Comment #75Raj,
That’s John charver.
And I’m not sure were any manager fits into buying players these days, isn’t it lawyers and accountants that buy sell negotiate.
Jamesthefirst
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:53 PM
Comment #76Tim the toon – good choices but don’t see Clark going just yet. Not until the summer.
Gillespie
Gayle
Hendrick
Krath
Fraser
Ritchie
And send Woodman out on loan. That frees up 7 spots for new players.
Bambams
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:55 PM
Comment #77Sparky55
Not sure if you saw my reply the other day mate, can’t do Norwich match, off to Fuerteventura with the chaps !
Let me know when next up mate and we will do the catch up.
Adamn_92
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:55 PM
Comment #78Took us down? He had barely anytime to turn round a sinking ship yet still managed to go the last 6 games unbeaten. If you think he had such an amazing squad in the Championship, how do you view Bruce’s failure at Villa with arguably just as good of a squad if not better?
Said I wouldn’t comment more haha i’ll stop now
Jamesthefirst
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:56 PM
Comment #79And I would sell Joelinton the first chance I get.
Never in a million years is he good enough for the PL. He, like Bruce, is indicative of the old regime. Slow, lazy, and completely out of his depth.
He won’t get a game when the new attackers come in January.
Tim the toon
Oct 11, 2021 at 1:57 PM
Comment #80James
As far as I’m aware, the club does not own the ground, so it cannot be sold.
Also, we would need 3 ‘keepers, so keep Gillespie and send Woodman out on loan?
I’d like to see Fraser getting a proper chance as well