GeordieT

I mean, you can believe me or not - won’t lose any sleep either way. Largely a casual reader of the forum, not on social trying to build a following or get some kudos, nothing to gain - far much more to lose - hence the intentional vagueness. But if you look back at the last half dozen posts on this over the last 3-4 years [including in March that they had no sponsor and were scrambling] from me on this they’ve all been correct. It’s a very limited and rather dull subset of information. Not proclaiming to know how we will spend the Gordon monies 😂

Understand this was being touted at c. half the price of the existing Sela deal, on a one year interim basis, as recent as a few weeks ago. Would be a surprise at this stage if it’s anything but a backwards step commercially.

Djed Spence. Jesus.

https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/newcastle-face-transfer-loss-wissa-4359485?ito=link_share_article-top Pound for pound will surely end up worst transfer of our modern history.

Times running it as well.

Barcelona fans absolutely everywhere. Not even trying to be inconspicuous.

Ironically I was talking to a senior chap in the commercial function before Christmas and he described Hopkinson as a ‘breath of fresh air’, was talking to the fact he was taking a hands on approach to driving the sponsorship funnel himself and was otherwise generally, very impressed. Whether that says more about the previous role holder(s), I don’t know. But sorry state of affairs if revenue goes backwards.

Posted a couple of years ago that I’m connected to a company the club have courted for sponsorship. Have it on good authority, that as it stands right now there is no confirmed front of shirt sponsor for next season. Potential even for an interim one year deal - whilst they seek out a long term partner - which would be at a huge reduction to what we have received from Sela. Club against it with the Adidas dates. Suspect - and this is only my inference, that Sela will eventually renew for a singular year or longer - but that has not been greenlit in Saudi. All stems from PIF being seemingly glacial in their decision making and quite frustrating to work with. Not sure on the exact timelines of this but certainly since the takeover they effectively vetoed a training kit sponsor put forward by the commercial team as they considered it poor value.

And it’s also good for the match going fans. Some incredibly adventurous away trips in there. Lot of fun to be had.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/02/08/newcastle-sandro-tonali-high-on-man-utd-shortlist/ This summer is going to be so shit.

As it happens saw earlier today a Gary Neville clip talking about his performance against WBA which led to him retiring. Simply had a nightmare of a half, got subbed - said it made him realise he wasn't up to it anymore and had to retire. Parallels with today’s game. Trippier has been a wonderful servant but he’s labouring now. If he wants to continue playing unfortunately it can’t be here.

Tough watch today. Certainly feels like he recognises he’s under the most pressure in his tenure. Success has a quiet way of sowing the seeds of stagnation. Lot of us will have seen it in our own professional lives: some of the most successful businesses gradually go stale, even when led by highly capable and respected leaders. The same strong leadership that provides direction and stability has a fallacy within it: over time familiar strategies, habits, and assumptions can become entrenched, limiting responsiveness to change. Eddie has brought structure, belief, and clear progress, but over time the same systems, ideas, and personnel have simply become too familiar. But long term success requires a willingness to keep evolving and injecting new ideas to sustain momentum. Hithero, unfortunately he’s not shown that he can add a different dimension. I still hope he can turn it around and would give him the season, but he may well have taken us as far as he can—and that’s fine. As the adage goes, ‘what got us here won’t get us there’.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/transfer-deadline-day-live-updates-news/1wzrE4AxaucI/47Lw9JWJlg9o/ Ornstein reporting his agent did broach the subject with Arsenal.

It’s a fair enough offer, but suspect that sort of sum would still be available in the summer. Understand the apprehension about wanting a body through the doors of our own first.