The Shields Gazette have an excellent article out today on how much the Newcastle owners spent on bringing players into the 4 clubs they are now majority owners of – in the Saudi Pro League.
The 4 clubs are Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, Al Ahli, and Al Nassr and they are all majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
And FIFA has just reported that the PIF paid a staggering £701M on new players in the summer and there are no FFP rules governing investment as there are in the Premier League.
Former Premier League players now plying their trade for the 4 PIF clubs in the Saudi Pro League include Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, Ruben Neves, Jordan Henerson, Fabinho, Kalidou Koulibaly, Alex Telles, Edouard Mendy and Sadio Mane.
And EUFA are reported to be considering inviting Al Nassr into the Champions League for next season.
And we shouldn’t forget that Newcastle sold Allan Saint-Maximin to Al Ahli for £22M last summer and he has now played 13 games for his Saudi club with 3 goals and 3 assists.
While at Newcastle Allan played 124 games with 13 goals and 21 assists.
So Allan Saint-Maximin seems to be doing well enough in Saudi Arabia by his stats.
The fact that the PIF can spend a huge amount of money over one summer shows why other top Premier League clubs are alarmed about Newcastle in the future.
We are limited at the moment because of our revenues – but once they rise it seems like the PIF can afford any transfer amount Newcastle need, under the rules of the FFP, where you can only spend so much, based on your annual revenue.
Our owners are working hard to raise the commercial revenues at Newcastle and are doing a good job of getting some stellar deals closed.
Our revenues in a couple of years could be double what they were when the new owners took over – from around £180M to close to £400M.
So that’s why the top PL clubs and the Premier League itself are trying to put restrictions on Newcastle.
It’s a pity they didn’t do that in the past with clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City.
Chelsea have won 5 Premier League championships, 2 Champions Leagues, 5 FA Cups, and 3 League cups since they were acquired by Roman Abramovich for £140m in 2003.
Manchester City, since they were acquired by Sheikh Mansour in September 2008 for £200M, have won the following – 7 Premier League Championships, 3 FA Cups, 6 League Cups, and one Champions League.
Rafa Benitz was right when he said the best clubs in the Premier League are those with the most money.
This is the statement Rafa made back in 2013, while interim manager at Chelsea:
“Football has changed. We know since the arrival of people with big money, the Premier League has changed,”
“To manage a club with common sense used to be fine. To have a good manager like Wenger was fine, and you could achieve things.”
“Now it’s a different world with clubs with big money.”
“You cannot compare the two.”
As far as we can tell, our owners are managing Newcastle with common sense and also have big money available, probably more each year as our revenues continue to rise.
So we wonder how many trophies Newcastle will win in the next decade – even with the Premier League doing everything they can to prevent us becoming super successful – like Chelsea and Manchester City in the past.
What do you think about this?
58 comments so far
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 16, 2023 at 5:29 PM
Comment #41AGM,
I think there must be some kind of club investigation going on and Tonali has been told to keep schtum for now.
mctoon
Nov 16, 2023 at 5:34 PM
Comment #42I don’t think there’s any sentimental or misplaced loyalty for players at the club.
Just a three letter obstacle… FFP.
I think it’s fair to say that without it we’d have made Chelsea look like paupers and seen a spend along the lines of LIV Golf.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 16, 2023 at 5:35 PM
Comment #43Ferran Torres according to BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/67430724
magicmac54
Nov 16, 2023 at 6:04 PM
Comment #44Evening Folks
We really don`t need to sign another Center Forward, Eddie just needs to adopt a little more innovation in the future!! the previous manager used his initiative to devise a very clever and successful formula, playing two deep lying false 9s
Halfway down the street already 😀 😀
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 16, 2023 at 6:30 PM
Comment #45PSG tickets sold out.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 16, 2023 at 6:33 PM
Comment #46Fake news about Schar pulling out of Swiss squad.
From Nufc.com
2023/24:
Schar concern
Wednesday evening saw Switzerland held to a 1-1 draw by Israel in Hungary, with Fabian Schar in the stands rather than on the field or the bench.
The Newcastle defender looked in discomfort during Saturday’s Premier League loss at Bournemouth and following a consultation with the Swiss medical staff, trained only with a fitness coach on Wednesday due to “a slight muscular issue.”
Contrary to reports, Schar hasn’t returned to England and no decision has been made on whether he’ll be involved in Saturday’s home tie with Kosovo or Tuesday’s away game with Romania.
Victory over Kosovo will confirm qualification for the Swiss at next summer’s final tournament.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 16, 2023 at 6:36 PM
Comment #47The Borrowers:
Spot kick success
Kelland Watts (Wigan Athletic):
The Latics confirmed sealed their place at the top of Northern Group D in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night thanks to a penalty shootout victory.
With Kell in the starting line-up, Wigan played out a 0-0 draw at Tranmere Rovers before claiming the additional point from a 6-5 win on penalties – with the Magpie defender on target for the winner.
Joe White (Crewe Alexandra):
The midfielder played his part in Tuesday’s FA Cup First Round replay victory away to Derby County, sending over the 65th minute corner for a colleague to head home and make it 3-1 to the Alex.
There was no more scoring at Pride Park and Joe completed the game.
Matty Bondswell (Newport County):
Tuesday evening saw County beaten 0-1 at home by Bristol Rovers in the EFL Trophy – a result that ends their interest in the competition. Matty played the entire 90 minutes.
Jeff Hendrick (Sheffield Wednesday):
Millwall left Hillsborough with a 4-0 victory in the Championship on Saturday as Jeff came on at half-time with the Owls already two down.
Harrison Ashby (Swansea City):
Harrison started for the Swans at high-flying Ipswich Town in the Championship on Saturday. The visitors took a shock lead but the Tractor Boys went 3-1 up before Swansea were reduced to ten men.
Our man was substituted with a minute to go and City got a second goal deep in added time.
Ryan Fraser (Southampton):
Ryan started for the Saints on the bench as they beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 at home in the Championship on Saturday. He replaced goalscorer Will Smallbone in the 55th minute and the Baggies soon levelled.
However, ex-Magpie Adam Armstrong got the winner for Southampton 11 minutes from time.
Jamal Lewis (Watford):
The Hornets went goal crazy as they stung Rotherham United 5-0 at Vicarage Road in the Championship on Saturday.
Jamal started the game and was subbed in the 68th minute when it was already 3-0.
Max Thompson (Northampton Town):
Max kept a clean sheet for the Cobblers as they saw off visitors Burton Albion 2-0 in League One on Saturday.
Jay Turner-Cooke (St Johnstone):
Jay remained on the bench as the home side beat Ross County 1-0 in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.
Cameron Ferguson (Forfar Athletic):
It finished 1-1 at Station Park with Clyde in Scottish League Two on Saturday. Cameron joined from the bench in the 77th minute with his side trailing 0-1.
Rodrigo Vilca (Vozdovac):
A bad day for Rodrigo and his side as they were beatn 0-3 at Radnicki Kragujevac in the Serbian Liga on Saturday. Our man started the game but was one of three half-time substitutions when it was already 0-2.
Isaac Hayden (Standard Liege):
Liege were on the wrong end of a 0-6 thrashing at Antwerp in the Belgian First Division on Saturday. Isaac played for the opening 69 minutes, taking his leave with the score standing at 0-4.
Yankuba Minteh (Feyenoord):
A 1-0 home victory over AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie on Sunday was achieved with the injured Minteh – the fifth league and cup game he’s missed to date.
It’s reported that the player has visited Tyneside for treatment on his unspecified muscle problem, the first time that he’s actually been to Newcastle.
Garang Kuol (Volendam):
The Australian international was a 64th minute arrival from the bench on Sunday, with his side trailing 1-2 at home to Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie. It finished 1-4.
9
Nov 16, 2023 at 6:37 PM
Comment #48Wynsleap@31 This forum is all about opinions, and all the better for it. Reading your post, there was hardly anything I agreed with.
Sell Wilson? How much do you think anybody, anywhere, will pay for an ageing sick note?
Dump Tonali? You either have impeccable, laser-like abilities to judge a player’s ultimate use in EPL, or you’re being just a tad precipitate.
Get rid of Lascelles – can you imagine how we would have covered Botman’s absence, and will continue to cover his apparently prolonged future absence, without our club captain/warrior?
So, isn’t it interesting how two keen supporters of the same team can have such opposite views.?
All the Best,
9
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 16, 2023 at 6:43 PM
Comment #49Jail @15 He is fitter than 1/2 of our team as he has played more minutes. Just go through our injury list and total them up. TTT can help with the figures 🙂
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 16, 2023 at 6:44 PM
Comment #50SirP,
But he isn’t fit now.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 16, 2023 at 6:45 PM
Comment #51https://twitter.com/DeadlineDayLive/status/1725068940139786457?s=19
Newcastle are weighing up a January move for Bayer Leverkusen’s £20m-rated Germany defender Jonathan Tah.
(Source: Sun Sport)
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 16, 2023 at 6:57 PM
Comment #52Jail, most of our team isn’t fit now.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 16, 2023 at 7:00 PM
Comment #53Ha ha
https://twitter.com/HLTCO/status/1725067840842064313?s=19
The Taco Taker
Nov 16, 2023 at 7:21 PM
Comment #54Arteta has been charged by the FA – Rule E3 – “A Participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour.”
Maximum punishment is a 1 game touchline ban and a £8k fine if he accepts the chare or 2 game touchline ban and £12K fine if he denies it but is found guilty.
Mister Tuff
Nov 16, 2023 at 7:27 PM
Comment #55TTT – well that is a crap punishment. I’m sure in general part of the ethos in sanctioning people for their bad/poor behaviou.r is to be so relevant as to not make them do it again or to frighten off people considering similar behaviour.
This penalty will do neither – complete joke 8k fine for a multi millionaire is like a flea bite.
He’ll do it again.
Terrible decision.
The Taco Taker
Nov 16, 2023 at 7:29 PM
Comment #56That is the rule as it stands it is the same for everyone. I agree it is weak though.
NY Mag
Nov 16, 2023 at 7:39 PM
Comment #57Taco,
I thought Rafa got fined 50k when he spoke bad about the referee?
The Taco Taker
Nov 16, 2023 at 7:48 PM
Comment #58NY Mag,
I am just going by what the rule says it say £8/£12k max