It's A Funny Old Game: As These Two Players Prove
"Football is a funny old game" was the oft repeated saying of great goalscorer Jimmy Greaves who along with ex Liverpool player Ian St John presented ITV's football review on a Saturday afternoon from 1985 to 1992.
For those too young to remember the banter between the two was brilliant with Greavsie firing the quips and Saint cackling "ha, ha, ha," as he doubled up.
Definitely worth watching an episode or two on Youtube.
Who Would Have Guessed?
When Newcastle broke their transfer record last summer to sign Nick Woltemade for £69M and he made a goalscoring start to the season it seemed as if he'd be a big part of the team for years to come.
However, for Jacob Murphy the future didn't look so bright.
Fresh off the back of his best ever season for the Toon - 9 goals and 14 assists - it must have been a bit of a kick in the teeth when £55M was paid for Anthony Elanga who promptly started the campaign in his place.
Murf only had two years left on his contract and it must have seemed that his time at Newcastle was running down.
Fast forward to today and nobody would have guessed how it has panned out.
Woltemade was quickly informed by new manager Jaissle that he didn't fit his all action, quick transition, system and is now plying his trade on loan at Juventus where we and NUFC hope he thrives and can be sold for decent money next summer.
As for Murphy, Jaissle quickly identified him as a presence in the dressing room, black and white through and through who could pass that enthusiasm on to the new signings, and a dependable back up for Anthony Elanga.
Despite being 31 and only having one year left on his contract that meant the club backed Jaissle's judgement and turned down offers of up to £20M in the final days of the transfer window.
Woltemade is away, and Murphy stays.
Big Decisions From A Decisive Manager
What really stands out from this episode of a !funny old game' is the decisive action of Matthias Jaissle.
Many fans thought Big Nick would start afresh under a new manager and fellow German who would work with him to find a role that would justify the big money we spent.
Not so at all.
Jaissle clearly saw what most fans had decided months ago,
Woltemade simply wasn't suited to the pace and physical demands of the PL and was a fish out of water in the fast high intensity game that Jaissle demands.
With a previous member of the coaching team having said privately that Woltemade was sulking and unhappy with his lot at SJP the right decision was to move him on - and a loan was the best option for the club and player.
Leadership and management is all about making decisions, even if they ruffle feathers and go against the grain. Sitting on the fence is a dithering option for also rans.
Jaissle's quick and decisive 'black and white' decisions on the futures of Woltemade and Murphy are further evidence that we have a potential gem of a manager steering the club.
It won't be a funny old game for the Big 6 if he gate crashes their party this season.
But...
We'll be laughing our heads off all the way down the Bigg Market and along the Quayside.
Last Post: Ross Wilson Tees Up Jaissle
Next Post: Eddie Howe
Another from Craig Hope, worth it for the artist renderings of the new training ground. https://archive.ph/60rxT
I honestly can't believe the sudden hate for Eddie. Man we forget fast. We're acting like this current setup has achieved more than him already. CL nights, a cup, wonderful displays....
Anyway, hope you all will stick with this young coach when the tough times come and not jump ship too quick again.
He repeatedly says it, how HE will stick with this young squad win or lose.
We in turn have to do the same.
With them and him too.
How many goals can we expect our squad to score and how many do they score as their records show over a season on average.
Keepers N/ A
Livramento 0.4 goals
Hall 0.75 goals
Botman 1.3 goals
Thiaw 1.25 goals
Schar 3 goals
Dedic 1.75 goals
Burn 2 goals
Ramsey 3 goals
Willock 3.5 goals
Joelinton 6 goals
Miley 1.5 goals
Steur 1 goal
Bamba 0 goals
Nico 3.75 goals
Toure 4.66 goals
Barnes 8.9 goals
Elanga 3.33 goals
Murphy 4.5 goals
Osula 5 goals
Wissa 9.1 goals
Pardo 7.3 goals
So 72 goals all comps.
I would imagine with the start we've had the crowd will be in high spirits anyway for Bournemouth and they'll want to put a show on for Nico.G and MFP, I expect it will be one of the more rare 12:30's where the place is bouncing and especially if we take an early lead.