The Newcastle United Blog

Written by Dr. Ed Harrison

11:16am Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022

Commented 112 times

Newcastle will strengthen the team again in the summer transfer window after the recruitment team did such an excellent job of doing that in January.

Bringing in Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Burn, Matt Targett on loan, and Chris Wood was a masterstroke.

Trippier, Burn, and Targett immediately strengthened the defense: Trippier was simply magnificent when he came in, but has unfortunately been out injured since mid-February.

Dan Burn has been very solid at the back and surely Newcastle will sign Targett for £15M in the summer from Aston Villa: that seems a no-brainer.

Chris Wood has led the line well but has been disappointing with his goalscoring – just 2 goals in 15 appearances, and of course, we have to remember Callum Wilson has been out injured since the end of last year.

Wilson is unlikely to play again this season.

Bruno Guimaraes will quickly become a world-class player and for around £40M the Brazilian seems like a bargain buy for us.

If we could only play our full side – with Trippier and Wilson in it – we could see quickly how much we have improved this season under Eddie Howe and currently sit 10th in the Premier League.

The biggest weakness is in scoring goals, but this year we have done very well in defense and and only conceded more than one goal once in a game.

Striker is a big weakness, and a top striker must be brought in – that’s the number one priority.

Since we are so short of goals – only 40 goals in 35 games, we could also do with a goalscoring winger.

We also think Eddie Howe will want a goalscoring central midfielder brought in, and we are hoping that will be Bruno’s best mate – Lucas Paqueta.

As we discussed yesterday a young center-back is needed and we also need a new goalkeeper to push Martin Dubravka for the goalie jersey.

It’s been good to see Martin back to his best form this year.

So in short we need a striker, winger, central midfielder, center-back and goalkeeper brought in this summer.

They need to be top class – of course – but also they must have the right character – that’s extremely important.

Eddie Howe will go for quality rather than quantity this summer, and as we have seen this season, we have to have good backups in every single position.

Having our top striker out injured for half a season has cost us many points this season – that kind of thing cannot be allowed to happen from now on.

What do you think?

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112 comments so far

Raj of Hailsley
May 3, 2022 at 11:19 AM
Comment #1
I’m having a first instead of a repost 😀
0
Raj of Hailsley
May 3, 2022 at 11:19 AM
Comment #2
ch,
We’ve been able to double or treble his wages, we can’t do that with Jesus.
0
Mund
May 3, 2022 at 11:20 AM
Comment #3
Tyran
They were fantastic mate and why I was saying last night they are relaxed with the Dan Ashworth situation and feel they don’t need to pay the compensation.
It’s important to have proper footballing minds involved at the club on all levels.
Look at City and the staff they have on the books and that’s how we will end up with experts all over on all subjects
1
captainmarvel
May 3, 2022 at 11:21 AM
Comment #4
Having the Brazil colours as the second strip would be a no brainer for me..
10
clinath@ed
May 3, 2022 at 11:22 AM
Comment #5
I think Dr Ed has been reading my posts….
2
coming home
May 3, 2022 at 11:23 AM
Comment #6
Jail
Well if we can’t get Jesus I would go for schick
2
NY Mag
May 3, 2022 at 11:24 AM
Comment #7
Clin,
I can’t see why dr Ed would when nobody else does 😀 (joke)
4
Mund
May 3, 2022 at 11:24 AM
Comment #8
Cap
I concur and especially if we plan to bring in more Brazilians
3
NY Mag
May 3, 2022 at 11:25 AM
Comment #9
If we can’t get Jesus, I would go for Peter or Paul 🙂
7
CLINT FLICK
May 3, 2022 at 11:26 AM
Comment #10
I’m not that interested in players who care more about playing in a ready made CL outfit, over actually taking a team there.
There’s ambition/glory, then there’s personal ambition and glory hunting.
3
Davas
May 3, 2022 at 11:26 AM
Comment #11
I think one of the bonuses of having a DOF is that it frees up EH to just work with the team during pre-season instead of having to deal with transfers as well.
3
CLINT FLICK
May 3, 2022 at 11:26 AM
Comment #12
Bruno’s shown the way!
1
Mund
May 3, 2022 at 11:26 AM
Comment #13
But what if Peter flies away and then Paul followed
NY grab my coat when you get yours 😉
3
NY Mag
May 3, 2022 at 11:27 AM
Comment #14
Mund,
Mine was bad, but yours was worse 🙂
3
captainmarvel
May 3, 2022 at 11:28 AM
Comment #15
Is Ronaldo’s contract up? Just asking for a friend..
1
CLINT FLICK
May 3, 2022 at 11:28 AM
Comment #16
A few extra sheckles and we could employ judas…
Cloak!
1
TOM
May 3, 2022 at 11:28 AM
Comment #17
I really hope we go for two pacy forwards in the summer a ball winning centre midfielder and another winger who knows when to pass the ball
2
Raj of Hailsley
May 3, 2022 at 11:28 AM
Comment #18
ch,
I think Jesus is unrealistic given his wages and fondness for playing in the CL. Ihneacho is very achievable given the way Rodgers treats him.
2
Mund
May 3, 2022 at 11:28 AM
Comment #19
Cap
He has one more year
1
CLINT FLICK
May 3, 2022 at 11:30 AM
Comment #20
Jesus could resurrect his career here.
5
Tyran21
May 3, 2022 at 11:31 AM
Comment #21
I think Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi might be doing the DOF role at the moment. Think Mehrdad Ghodoussi tweeted about it awhile ago?
2
clinath@ed
May 3, 2022 at 11:31 AM
Comment #22
NY….hahahahahaha how very dare you. 😉
2
NY Mag
May 3, 2022 at 11:32 AM
Comment #23
Oh dear, what have I started 🙂
Jail, I think Ihneacho is a realistic target
1
NY Mag
May 3, 2022 at 11:34 AM
Comment #24
Clin,
Sorry mate, just joshing with you 🙂
Your posts are always very sensible.
1
Charlie in the Gallowgate
May 3, 2022 at 11:34 AM
Comment #25
Strengthen
Would strengthen the spine up the middle
Ball playing Goalkeeper
Ball playing centre half
Central midfield
And the most important for me a goalscorer – whether a ‘centre forward’ or ‘inside forward’
3
TOM
May 3, 2022 at 11:34 AM
Comment #26
Gabriel HAY-SOOS
0
clinath@ed
May 3, 2022 at 11:36 AM
Comment #27
NY…very Sensible.?
That’s worse than calling someone cute!
No wonder no one talks to me on here 🙁
4
Tyran21
May 3, 2022 at 11:36 AM
Comment #28
Edward Nketiah realistic too, but I think he wants more first team football.
2
NY Mag
May 3, 2022 at 11:36 AM
Comment #29
Charlie,
That makes sense, let’s hope Eddie and the team are on the same wavelength 🙂
1
NY Mag
May 3, 2022 at 11:38 AM
Comment #30
Clin,
Ouch, you took me out with one blow there…… 🙂
1
captainmarvel
May 3, 2022 at 11:38 AM
Comment #31
The owners focus will be on all fronts, the first teams of both men and women, youth teams of both, plus the academy which is going to take huge investment too..
What a summer it is going to be both relentless, and very positive..
2
coming home
May 3, 2022 at 11:39 AM
Comment #32
I’m not sure Ihneacho is as good as Wilson he doesn’t score much, only 4 this year in 24 games
2
clinath@ed
May 3, 2022 at 11:39 AM
Comment #33
Tyran.
Was sure about him at first, but watched him over the last few weeks and he’s grown on me. Good movement and always create a handful of chances.
I’d push the boat out for him.
0
captainmarvel
May 3, 2022 at 11:40 AM
Comment #34
Will that bring more females to the blog?
1
the crown princes nashers
May 3, 2022 at 11:44 AM
Comment #35
like ive said before we also need english players in our squad, ward prowse would be a good start also other english players philips of leeds another good player but these will cost a lot of money along with foreign players
like people have said, reserves need built up also the academy and womens football along with the training grounds ect ect all take time to do, rome was not built in a day 🙂
1
Romford mag
May 3, 2022 at 11:52 AM
Comment #36
john de baptizer !
Good with both feet !
4
TOM
May 3, 2022 at 11:52 AM
Comment #37
Well all i can say is its gonna be a long summer window . all the speculation about what players we are gonna get all the players that will be linked with us .
1
TOM
May 3, 2022 at 11:53 AM
Comment #38
Rom .
BAB AND TIZER sounds good mate .
2
Raj of Hailsley
May 3, 2022 at 11:54 AM
Comment #39
ch,
A lot of those have been subs, Leicester have been all over the place this year with Rodgers rotation as he can’t seem to get it right. He prefers Barnes when fit which doesn’t allow him a run in the team. He’s still only 25 and is a PL veteran, I could be wrong but seems just the type of striker we need and a very realistic target.
0
NY Mag
May 3, 2022 at 11:57 AM
Comment #40
CH,
He’s fit more often than Wilson, which is a good a good start.
Don’t get me wrong, I love callum Wilson, I think he’s a superb player, but if he ain’t fit, then he’s no good to us.
4

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17 February, 2023

I have an update on what's happening with my treatment for prostate cancer.

Last week, my oncologist called me late in the day and said he thought it was best to terminate my treatment with radium 223 dichloride because it was having such a negative effect on my health - specifically my digestive system.

I had completed 3 of the planned 6 infusions.

They had looked at the bone scans and three CAT scans I had early last week, and they showed no signs of the cancer spread being slowed or stopped: in fact, it was continuing to spread and my PSA account continued to rise.

The only treatment left now is to go back and have another bout of chemotherapy with docetaxel being the medication used.

I understand this will be a 7-month job with 10 sessions 3 weeks apart - almost double my first chemo treatment in Apil 2017, when I has 6 treatmnts.

The problem I have is that I'm in a very poor physical state right now, due to my digestive system being basically torn apart by the radium 223.

The radium 223 has leaked into my digestive system and caused me to have severe diarrhea, nausea, and heartburn, and it was (is) very serious.

They said it was too dangerous to proceed with the radium 223 treatment, with little benefit being shown.

I am also suffering from severe exhaustion, basically, because I have zero testosterone, and all the treatments I've had for the cancer, have further lessened the energy available to me.

It reminds me of the saying that if cancer doesn’t kill you - the treatment will (laugh).

It will probably take up to 8 weeks to get back to a physical state where I can start chemotherapy, and that's where I am now, but the cancer continues to spread in the bones.

I've also been put in touch with the dietitian from UNC Healthcare, who will help me get back my health - she is very helpful.

So that's where it stands it's been quite a journey over 12 years and I think I've had almost every treatment available.

It has really taken a toll on my body and on my energy, but that's where it stands and obviously, I'll do the best I can in the upcoming months with chemo and hope I can get through it.

It is as it is - and another challenge in life.

Ed Harrison