Time is ticking down to our first match of the new year. On Sunday, Tottenham come to a sold-out St. James’ Park which should be absolutely rocking. This is a match that will have all eyes on it despite Newcastle’s poor results this season.
It’s still unknown whether it’ll be Steve Bruce, Graeme Jones, or someone else on the touchline. The prevailing wisdom is that assistant coach Graeme Jones will have been appointed caretaker manager by then. But who knows at this point.
The dreadful start to this campaign has Newcastle kicking the new era off in a bit of a hole. Three points would be the perfect start to life under our new owners.
Injuries, once again, have wreaked havoc on the squad. The irreplaceable Callum Wilson has missed the last four matches but did return to training this week. Whether Sunday is too soon for our reigning Player of the Season is uncertain at this point.
The same can be said for Martin Dubravka, who hasn’t missed the entire season so far. The 32-year-old is back in training and should be getting close to battling Karl Darlow for the number one gloves.
Jonjo Shelvey is also back in training after missing the last six matches with a calf injury. The playmaker got a run-out with the U23s on Monday. After the match, he revealed he’s had multiple setbacks since the onset of the injury.
Shelvey is itching to play a part in Sunday’s match. He was the first Magpie to be interviewed after the takeover was announced last Thursday and expressed his delight that it finally happened.
The 29-year-old has now given another interview in which he exclusively talks about the takeover. The Mail has published the following comments from our vice-captain:
“Those scenes outside the stadium were incredible. I was going to have a drive down, I wanted to get out there with a beer myself!
“That reaction at the stadium is unique. The fans have suffered a lot in the past, so I think what we saw was a release of frustration and relief that the deal had finally happened.
“Credit to the fans, too, because they have helped push this deal through. It gives us all so much to look forward to.
“I went to watch Newcastle Blue Star on Friday night, my mate plays in goal. There were about 1,000 fans there, fully-grown men wearing Arab clothes, I couldn’t believe it.
“I got off at half-time because I couldn’t really watch the game in the end, but it was mad. They were so happy.”
Shelvey was touched by the reaction from the fans. In January, Shelvey will have been at Newcastle for six years. He arrived during our relegation season and has stuck with the club signing a new deal in March 2020.
The midfielder has also been impressed by the new owners of the club. Shelvey was asked about Amanda Staveley’s initial interviews when she spoke about Premier League titles and the return of Champions League football for Newcastle. This was Shelvey’s response:
“I probably won’t be around when that does happen!. I know how long that could take.
“But to hear someone come in and say that, as a footballer, it makes you want to stay and fight for a place to be a part of it, those aspirations and goals.
“I’ve got 18 months left on my contract, so it comes down to me to show the people in charge what I’m about. I have to look after number one, it’s my career.
“So it is nerve-racking, but I’m a positive person and I’ll try to grasp the opportunity with both hands. There is excitement and nerves, I suppose.”
Staveley stressed patience in her interviews. So it will take time for the new owners to rebuild Newcastle into a top Premier League club. Shelvey likely won’t be around when that happens. However, he can play a part in the interim and help get Newcastle up the table this season.
Shelvey also spoke about the sub-par training ground, which Stavely dubbed ‘truly awful’, and the facilities. He revealed that it has affected the players to some degree but they’ve just soldiered on:
“This is unbelievable for the club. The fans have been asking for this for a very long time. It’s great news for them.
“I understand what the fans want – they want Mbappe and Messi. All I can say is, that won’t come overnight, we have to be realistic.
“In terms of the set-up, we all know the training-ground facilities are below par when it comes to Premier League standard. As players, we’ve got on with it and we’ve had to deal with that to the best of our ability. The money just hasn’t been there. That was hard to accept.
“But the money will be there now. I understand you can’t go spending so much straight away, and it will be a long process, but it’s one that this club and the fans deserve.
“This club can achieve anything it wants now, the sky is the limit.”
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79 comments so far
ITUNDERASHELL
Oct 13, 2021 at 11:28 AM
Comment #41I see a tidal wave of sponsorship money flowing into the toon… Man U will not be happy. … so sad, I could cry!
DubaiMicky
Oct 13, 2021 at 11:30 AM
Comment #42Saudia (the airline) will be renamed and rebranded, so we won’t see them as a sponsor until that happens, hence thinking a 2 year Aramco (they are the second most profitable worldwide company after Apple), and Aramco are going to town on sponsorship (F1 being the most obvious), they also have money to burn.
Another option would be Vision2030, in fact in some ways that makes more sense showcasing the Saudi State’s plan for the next few years.
Either way it’ll be worth £100m or so a year for us.
ITUNDERASHELL
Oct 13, 2021 at 11:31 AM
Comment #43I love wailing and gnashing of teeth … so funny and so well earned!
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1505263/Manchester-United-Tottenham-Hotspur-Newcastle-United-SNT
ITUNDERASHELL
Oct 13, 2021 at 11:33 AM
Comment #44Do NOT buy Harry Kane!
hibbit
Oct 13, 2021 at 11:40 AM
Comment #45TheTinman @ 27 if an offer comes in never mind a good one, he’s on big money and doesn’t want to work for it,
everything is against him him going …….age, attitude , fittness.
hibbit
Oct 13, 2021 at 11:43 AM
Comment #46DubaiMicky
was it you that said the new chairman would arrive in the UK on Thursday ??
JP...from The Rock
Oct 13, 2021 at 11:48 AM
Comment #47Look at us – “do not buy Harry Kane” hahaha I just love it. Only last week we were upset we missed the opportunity to bring in Choudhury on loan. What a turn of events.
On Kane I eould love it if we got him. Barcelona were looking to get him as was Man City. He is lethal in front of goal and knows the league inside out. It’s another kick in Spurs and Levy’s teeth if we got him. Could break Shearer’s record here at Newcastle. I would be all for it although his dodgy ankles are an issue.
DubaiMicky
Oct 13, 2021 at 11:50 AM
Comment #48hibbit, leaving Riyadh Thursday, will be there for the match too, so i guess return Sunday night or Monday, he’ll certainly want a look about. Hope they’ve had the decorators in at SJP.
Mund
Oct 13, 2021 at 11:50 AM
Comment #49Sky Sports News
@SkySportsNews
·
3m
? “The players are on a day off tomorrow, alongside Steve Bruce, you would suggest that leaves space for a decision to be made…”
Sky Sports News reporter Keith Downie provides an update on Newcastle United after their recent £300m takeover
https://mobile.twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1448238573245935621
DubaiMicky
Oct 13, 2021 at 11:51 AM
Comment #50Getting Harry Kane? Won’t happen cos he’ll be dropped from the England team – they don’t like players from Newcastle.
ITUNDERASHELL
Oct 13, 2021 at 11:51 AM
Comment #51Harry Kane is very slow and cumbersome… we need pace and skill up front!
catchy in norway
Oct 13, 2021 at 11:51 AM
Comment #52I think a lot of you have miss read this whole situation, I think Bruce gave a big clue out a few weeks ago that he was in the loop, and all of you jumped down his neck and thought the worst when he said it was his job to keep things ticking along. I believe he new back then that the take over was close and that his job was on the line, but kept his head down and his reward is keep his job and will move aside with a nice payout when the new guy is found.
all the things like her txting Shearer and speaking with KK and im sure there are others in the loop like J Reuben would have told close friends, Bruce new exactly what was going on.
ITUNDERASHELL
Oct 13, 2021 at 11:56 AM
Comment #53Kane was a liability for England last night … what a donkey! Spurs will have problems unloading him for anywhere near their asking price.
JP...from The Rock
Oct 13, 2021 at 11:56 AM
Comment #54Mund – how many days off do the players get ffs!!? It’s ridiculous no wonder we’re bottom of the league!
hibbit
Oct 13, 2021 at 11:57 AM
Comment #55i havent got into this picking players lark yet but i’d rather go all in for Erling Haaland than Harry Kane,
Mund
Oct 13, 2021 at 11:57 AM
Comment #56Bruce knew nothing
Mund
Oct 13, 2021 at 11:59 AM
Comment #57JP
Aye mate it’s a joke. Changes are coming tho we just need to be patient but I suspect we have all learnt patience over these last 18 months 😉
JP...from The Rock
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:00 PM
Comment #58Tbh I would prefer Lautaro Martinez who’s only 24 and very fast and lethal but if we went for Kane I won’t be unhappy either. Kane is 28 and in his prime.
Mund
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:00 PM
Comment #59If we brought in Haaland I’d think this was all a dream and I’m in some kind of coma or something as that would be beyond any imagination that I could muster.
I’d rather Haaland over Mbappe
cleveleysbob
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:00 PM
Comment #60There are huge number of important things to do and we haven’t been owned a week yet.
It’s natural after 14 years of neglect and torture, that we want everything put right and I am absolutely 100% happy that everything will be, but it will all take a little time to resolve issues and make decisions and put plans in place.
After 14 years of hell, a short while in limbo is required before we step into heaven.
Patience friends, all will be resolved in the fullness of time. 🙂
I’ve obviously taken a chill pill, cause I’ve been shouting for Bruce to go since he arrived 😆
Mund
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:01 PM
Comment #61JP
Martinez is a special player and I believe we could get him.
cleveleysbob
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:02 PM
Comment #62Hey Rom I need help, I’ve caught the patience bug, where the hell did that come from? 😀
Mund
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:03 PM
Comment #63Richard Keys Twitter account is suspended
Hmmm suspect
Or he just can’t handle the amount of toon fans shoving it down his neck 😆
ITUNDERASHELL
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:04 PM
Comment #64What, TWO transfer lists, talk about rubbing their noses in it! I bet the Prince is laughing his heed off after his Country was so unceremoniously snubbed by the crooked 6/19
https://www.90min.com/posts/newcastle-united-transfer-inundated-agent-offers-two-wish-lists
catchy in norway
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:05 PM
Comment #65I will speak with Alf Inge at the weekend about Erling joining us 😉 .
ITUNDERASHELL
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:05 PM
Comment #66Richard Keys! This is hilarious.
JP...from The Rock
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:05 PM
Comment #67Mund – the only thing is we can’t offer these top players European football (yet). But end of the day money talks but hablving said that I don’t want a team full of mercenaries either.
hibbit
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:07 PM
Comment #68jp
i’ve been saying for months as a unit we aren’t fit , and i believe the fitness level has deteriorated even further the season,
i blame or poor training culture is part of problem with our huge injury list and why we have so many repetitive injuries ,
cleveleysbob
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:07 PM
Comment #69Is Martinez the guy @ Atlanta? – if so get him in. His partnership with Almiron was lethal.
Did you see the Saudi’s 1st goal last night, that was a belter, wouldn’t mind him coming as back up for Wilson. Remember we have the whole Saudi football federation to dip into for available talent now, and their training facilities and methods have been supplied by ManU for several years, wouldn’t that be a great kick in the teeth? 😆
Mund
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:08 PM
Comment #70JP
Aye, I totally agree with that mate.
Hopefully they can sell them the vision of what’s to come and offer them the chance to play in the best league in the world and in the best stadium in the country.
Mund
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:09 PM
Comment #71Bob
No mate he plays for Inter.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lyjzIHAeDLw
cleveleysbob
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:12 PM
Comment #72Cheers Mund, it’s a fairly common Latin name, so I wasn’t sure. A bit like Bob in English, millions of us!! 😉
JP...from The Rock
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:12 PM
Comment #73cleveleysbob – no that’s Josef Martinez another speed merchant that I rate highly. Lautaro Martinez is the better of the two and scores for fun in a top league already. Tbh I would love to see either of them or even better both here. I wanted us to get Almiron’s ex partner here before the takeover but now that we have ambition anything is possible and we could snap him up.
cleveleysbob
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:20 PM
Comment #74JP, thanks, both sound good. Imagine if that young (and up till now invisible) lad Munoz turned out good and we had Martinez and Almiron + ASM, pretty lethal up front.
It’s great being able to dream again knowing that nothing is impossible instead of everything being impossible! 8’ve loved this 1st week and nowts really happened yet – crazy!
ITUNDERASHELL
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:20 PM
Comment #75I think we should bring Brian Marwood onboard, We need his skill set and incite from the current best team in the UK!
https://www.mancity.com/news/academy/academy-news/2017/october/brian-marwood-man-city-academy-interview
Rotonda heights
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:20 PM
Comment #76The Big 6.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MHtrM-jf9o
cleveleysbob
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:23 PM
Comment #77Just realised I better copy write that line above before Caulkin gets his hands on it. 😆
“ After 14 years of hell, a short while in limbo is required before we step into heaven.”
JP...from The Rock
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:26 PM
Comment #78cleveleysbob – I know right, the possibilities are endless. We can literally buy Messi and Ronaldo right now if we wanted to. If they want to come or not is a different matter but we CAN afford them! It’s crazy and hasn’t sunk in that no one is beyond our reach and we have ambitious owners that want to make this club great again. I’m still pinching myself. The parasite will be a very distsnt memory in no time and we will be onto much better things. I am loving every minute. I’ve never been this excited since I was a kid in Christmas.
ITUNDERASHELL
Oct 13, 2021 at 12:29 PM
Comment #79Wonga talks!