At the end of this grueling season and without a break, the Newcastle first-team squad will jet out to Melbourne, Australia, and play a couple of games there.
When you think of the season the players have had, our players deserve time off at the end of the season so it seems like a strange mini-tour to have without our players having any rest.
But yes – it’s all about money and the funds Newcastle will reap by doing this will be part of the current financial year which closes at the end of June.
Any tour Newcastle may do after pre-season training will be part of the next financial year which starts July 1st.
So whatever money we get from going to Australia will help us with the Financial Fair Play rules and this financial year’s revenues.
It may also suggest that Newcastle is right up against the limits of losing £105M over the previous three financial years and the money we get from the Australian visit will help with that.
It’s a 22-hour flight and 21,000 miles to get to Melbourne from Newcastle and I’ve taken the journey to Australia several times, and it’s a long, long (boring) time to be on a plane, especially for athletes like the Newcastle players.
The first game will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 22nd (7:45pm kick-off AEST).
The second game will be at the Marvel Stadium on May 24th ((5:15pm kick-off AEST), and it is interesting to know how much Newcastle will get for this long journey to the southern hemisphere to play just two games.
But with Newcastle these days it’s all about increasing revenue streams.
Newcastle’s final Premier League game of the season is on May 19th at Brentford with a 4:00pm KO.
So Newcastle will play at the huge Melbourne Cricket Ground 3 days after the season ends having made a 22-hour trip to Melbourne.
The only way this makes any sense is for the money – but are we that desperate for the cash?
And it’s a good question how many of our Internationals will make the trip, given there are competitive matches to be played early in the summer.
What do you think about this?
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11 comments so far
G
Mar 19, 2024 at 11:09 AM
Comment #1Wow, just seen the Mike Ashley to buy Sunderland rumour on the Mag website! That would be bloody mental?
G
Mar 19, 2024 at 11:13 AM
Comment #2Its probs b**locks anyway, but heres the link:
https://www.themag.co.uk/2024/03/former-newcastle-united-owner-mike-ashley-to-ride-to-sunderlands-rescue/
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 19, 2024 at 11:13 AM
Comment #3Rh,
Do you listen at all to the managers press conferences, it doesn’t sound like you do given he answers most of your questions in them.
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 19, 2024 at 11:15 AM
Comment #4G,
Can you imagine if he sunk his life savings in to them to prove his hatred for us 😀
G
Mar 19, 2024 at 11:19 AM
Comment #5Jail, nothing would surprise me from that man? I suspect if there is any credence to the story, he’ll do just enough to get them promoted and then run it exactly as he ran the Toon? The only difference would be Frasers Group rather than SD. Wonder if Lee Charnley is brushing up his CV as we discuss this?
magscar
Mar 19, 2024 at 11:19 AM
Comment #6Repost usual atory 🙂
Rotonda
It’s fine to question Eddie and the injuries etc
In fact I hope others have done so and drawn their own conclusions – I have
What is the major difference between last season and this
On the wider issue Liverpool and Spurs have as was likely to be the case improved on what were as poor seasons as we are having but without the extra pressure of CL. Villa have recruited well and no key injuries but the wheels have come off for them at times – Emery isn’t good enough?
So called top 6 recruited well on top of already good squads as did we but what have we seen from our recruitment?
The major ones Tonali and Barnes have barely figured because of a ban and injuries
On top of that we’ve had other long
term key injuries not because of how we train or play but largely freak ones
Now we all surely knew that last season welcome as it was had been an overachievement and to go into this season competing on 4 fronts we simply had to have reinforcements to stand still nevermind progress
The problem we have with injuries (which would have severely impaired us last season if we’d suffered the same) is that we’re operating on a hybrid squad still
It’s made up of rejuvenated flops under Bruce without any strength in Academy to call on as that also needed complete overhaul. Eddie has been trying to bring in round pegs for round holes in terms of the system he wanted to progress us to
It had worked the previous season because we were fortunate with level.of injury and other clubs massively underachieving
You can bring on fresh legs to see games out buy dome of those players are simply not as effective as regular first choices
What happened this seadon is when we have key injuries like Botman, Willock, Pope ,Joelinton Isak and others yes we can bring in a replacement but not like for like in terms of the system which was a success
So some argue that we should change system but the reality of that when you’re shorn of such key players is you resort to low block and use squad like Rafa did and Bruce (not so well)
Until we get to a balanced squad not made up of some willing triers but more and more elite players and quality from Academy then injuries will cost us severely
I don’t care what team, Liverpool or Luton or whatever system you play 433 4241 or the W formation injuries at the level we have suffered will have an impact which make it difficult to produce good performances every week
Other teams have exploited the situation and OK Eddie has struggled to find a consistent formula with what he has left
He has no doubt got some things wrong but I believe in the longer term he will learn from them
So in my view a season like last season without longterm absences and we are in top 6 and still in at least one cup or win one
Others conclude that Eddie isn’t good enough to have done better with the poor hand he was dealt
I can see that argument but don’t share it but maybe because I’ve always been a glass half full kind of guy and not some great analyser of the game – it’s possible 😉
magscar
Mar 19, 2024 at 11:21 AM
Comment #7Mackems will be chuffed if true they wouldn’t have a bad word said about him when he was here 🙂
G
Mar 19, 2024 at 11:25 AM
Comment #8magscar @ 7. Yes, a very ‘Be careful what you wish for’ lesson inbound?
magscar
Mar 19, 2024 at 11:25 AM
Comment #9He’s been linked before but nothing came of it though maybe its now such a distressed brand that it’s a natch made in heaven
Joking apart he will do what he feels he needs to get them into PL and then run on a shoestring to keep at 17th
Which is arguably better for them than last few years and what they were used to for large part of recent decades
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 19, 2024 at 11:29 AM
Comment #10That’s why FFP just isn’t fair, the mackems are a fair sized club, even if Ashley wanted to come in on some kind of vendetta, what could he possibly do for them and that applies to all clubs in the pyramid.
Graeme
Mar 19, 2024 at 2:56 PM
Comment #11FCB & the scum!!! Almost a match made in heaven lol