Whitley mag

The Mackem Witch has got the natives restless with this article. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jan/06/eddie-howe-anxious-to-win-carabao-cup-for-newcastle-amid-stadium-uncertainty By the time Sunday 16 March dawns, Newcastle United’s short-, medium- and long-term future should be considerably clearer. The day itself will see Eddie Howe either leading his team out at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final or rewatching videos of the previous day’s scheduled Premier League fixture at home to Crystal Palace. It all hinges on a two-part Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal, with the first leg in north London on Tuesday night. Howe has frequently reiterated his “burning desire” to end a club trophy drought stretching back to 1969 and the European Fairs Cup. “Arsenal’s a massive game for us,” he said on Monday. “We’re under no illusions as to how big this is for our season.” Given that two of his key players, Bruno Guimarães and Fabian Schär – crucially, Howe’s sole fit right-footed centre-half – are suspended for the visit to the Emirates Stadium, Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing team unsurprisingly kick off as favourites. Yet even if Newcastle’s hopes of reaching a second Carabao Cup final in three seasons are left in tatters, a second Champions League qualification within the same timeframe could still be within touching distance. After all, five straight Premier League victorieshave camouflaged, and perhaps even repaired, the behind-the-scenes fissures that disrupted the team’s early season progress. So much so that, with Sandro Tonali dictating midfield and Alexander Isak scoring freely, Newcastle have risen to fifth. Should they succeed in walking through the currently wide open front door to Europe, Howe may yet be able to retain the widely coveted Isak, Tonali, Guimarães, Joelinton, Anthony Gordon and Sven Botman this summer. But so much for the short term. By mid-March the majority Saudi Arabian-owned club are expected to have finally announced a long-awaited decision as to whether or not they plan on spending around £1bn on rebuilding St James’ Park with an increased 65,000 capacity. The alternative is to invest three times that sum and construct a new, potentially matchday-revenue doubling, 75,000-capacity stadium elsewhere in the city. Either option will almost certainly prompt months of planning wrangles, not to mention the likely need to share the Stadium of Light with Sunderland while a potential rebuild takes place. That would be unpopular in some quarters but there seems no realistic alternative. Moreover, if Milan and Inter can share San Siro, the two north-east rivals can surely cohabit for a while. Howe remains adamant that Newcastle’s much-redeveloped training ground should be regarded as a temporary home until a new weekday HQ, promised by the Saudis when the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) bought the club in October 2021, is purpose built. Right now nothing appears on an opaque horizon, although Brad Miller, Newcastle’s chief operating officer and the man overseeing the stadium decision, is also exploring assorted potential new training ground sites. It is probably no coincidence that Miller’s previous expertise was in airport expansion. Maybe a man who has occupied senior roles at East Midlands, Stansted and Manchester will have an integral part to play if, as expected, PIF shortly purchase a 49% stake in one of the area’s biggest employers, Newcastle airport. Given that the other 51% is owned by seven local councils, with profits used partly to fund vital local services, a PIF-led increase in flights, passengers and billions of pounds worth of cargo could yet fulfil the Saudi’s grandiose pledges to help level up the north-east by boosting the regional economy significantly. Howe has previously expressed doubts as to whether he will remain in post for sufficient seasons to not only see the sort of long-term regeneration painted by the Saudi sales pitch but also the attendant litany of similarly promised league titles and European trophies. With that latter vision impeded by Premier League profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) that restrict Newcastle’s spending power until their commercial revenue streams catch up with the owners’ ambition, a manager anxious to become the first English coach to lift the League Cup since Steve McClaren in 2004 knows time could be against him on Tyneside. It perhaps explains why Howe remains unconcerned that his team’s mastery of the sort of streetwise gamesmanship – or to use the game’s vernacular, shithousery – that has previously reduced Arteta to apoplexy does little to polish Newcastle’s public image. As recently as Boxing pop Day, Aston Villa’s normally urbane manager, Unai Emery, was left incandescent by the antics of Howe’s assistant, Jason Tindall. “I don’t really care what happens outside Newcastle,” said Howe as he endeavoured to improve his club’s record of only one win in 19 visits to the Emirates, where Martin Dubravka could make a final appearance in goal for the visitors before joining Saudi Arabia’s Al-Shabab. “The perception other teams have of us doesn’t really worry me. Outside opinion is almost irrelevant to us. We’re here to win and we give everything to win. Everything we do is to reach the pinnacle in elite competitions.”

Without PSR issues this would have been a big chance to buy in a position of strength. If we could have landed a top drawer right sided attacker this window, with the momentum we’ve got at the moment we could be looking at a top 3 finish.

I’m sure he gave the ball away on the edge of their area and they had a dangerous break away towards the end. I’ve got nowt against the lad think he’s been a great servant, but it’s been night and day since he was dropped.

Good shout was thinking this yesterday, can thread an intricate pass unlike Longstaff and might just be suited to the advanced role.

Point 3 should result in a good shoeing regardless if they’re a tourist, the day opposition fans sit side by side it’ll be truly Americanised and no way back.

Bit overstretching going on here don’t think anyone is against new fans and building a wall around NE1, however the atmosphere and culture of the club needs to be protected. It’s very much up to the club to strike a balance that allows new fans to grow the brand, if those new fans want to come and sing even better, create an enclosure that allows like minded people to stand together, but it’s very reasonable to not want the Gallowgate full of football tourists who don’t even get up to celebrate a goal and gawk through a camera lens the full 90 mins.

It’s scandalous to knowingly issue a paying customer with a fake ticket, the fact where the only club following this practice says it all. I think there’s some right cunts involved in ticketing at NUFC who should have been pedalled post takeover, the fact where paying club staff to travel to away games to enforce this policy smacks of jobs for the boys and power trip.

Southampton are gone would imagine our best chance of getting Dibling is to strike this month. Come the summer think competition will be much tougher, might be one they try to structure a deal where we pay after the PSR deadline.

Aye NUST and this fan advisory board are fucking shite, NUSC seem to be the only lot trying to represent the ordinary match going fan, but as there not a democratically voted organisation the club won’t listen to them.

Disgusting and sums up the attitude of some of these club staff in the ticket department, treat fans like dirt when they’ve spent money on travel etc. Worth reminding folk that where the only club who carry out these checks without any prior warning, I’m sure legally there might be grounds for taking the club to court on this, in what world are you sold a ticket knowingly that is not going to work.

Certainly not a sign of much confidence in Kelly.

Aye Caulkins fucked.

Dubravka starts good game this.

Great signs of growth and why PIF consider it a long term project. Amanda turbo charged the club following takeover, but clearly that model wasn’t sustainable and where now going through a period of adjustment. Agree patience needed but we’ll get there with continued growth and smart investment, the stadium project will be massive when its announced.

One for our Irish fans. Newcastle United complete deal for winger in January breakthrough as rivals beaten to transfer The Magpies have won the race for an Irish whizz-kid who they believe can go all the way on Tyneside Lee Ryder Newcastle United will unveil an exciting new signing on January 28 after completing a move for Irish whizz-kid Kyle Fitzgerald. The teenager will arrive on his 18th birthday to sign a professional contract with the Magpies before joining the Under-21 set-up. Chronicle Live understands the deal for left-winger Fitzgerald is complete, and his move will be confirmed later this month. Already capped by the Republic of Ireland at youth level, Fitzgerald is believed to be highly-rated by the Magpies and deemed a player they see with a genuine pathway to the first-team. But he will use the early part of 2025 to settle in on Tyneside. As reported by Chronicle Live last summer, Fitzgerald won his move to Newcastle after impressing on trial. The club are believed to have beaten Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton & Hove Albion to Murphy's signature.

Hopefully getting big earners such as Trippier, Wilson and Almiron off the books next summer will help in the short term. I’m shit with numbers but if we qualify for Europe we look way off hitting the 70%, both us and Villa look up the creek as it stands.

Yeah Solanke, Son, Johnson and Kulusevski could be a handful and especially with a makeshift CB partnership.

Newcastle are interested in signing Southampton’s teenager star Tyler Dibling in 2025, and are monitoring the situation of James McAtee at Manchester City. Dibling was close to joining in the summer of 2022 and met with club staff during a visit to Tyneside. He had earlier caught the eye of Eddie Howe and the recruitment team after scoring a hat-trick for Southampton Under 23s at St James’ Park when aged just 16. Former sporting director Dan Ashworth was tasked with leading the chase, but Dibling eventually signed for Chelsea, only to return to the Saints within two months after failing to settle in London. Sources have confirmed this week that the Magpies retain a strong interest and, with new sporting director Paul Mitchell having links to Southampton, we understand they are being keep abreast of his situation. Dibling can play as a midfielder or out wide and, despite Southampton’s struggles, he has impressed during 12 league starts that have brought two goals this season. The 18-year-old’s contract expires in 2026 and the club have an option to extend by 12 months. Talks over a new deal have taken place without a breakthrough. The England Under 21 ace is expected to remain on the South Coast this season but, come the summer, Newcastle would be in a strong position to compete for the signature of a player they rate extremely highly. However, were Liverpool to firm up their interest in the player, we have been told they would likely be at the front of the queue. Advertisement Meanwhile, City midfielder McAtee also has admirers within St James’. Like Dibling, he can play as a winger and fits the profile of young English talent which Howe and the club have targeted in recent seasons. Newcastle are interested in signing Southampton's teenage star Tyler Dibling this year Newcastle could move for Dibling, 18, this summer, but may face competition from Liverpool They are also monitoring the situation of Manchester City's £25million star James McAtee The 22-year-old, who has a price tag of £25million, has a host of clubs from home and abroad interested in signing him this month, with his first-team opportunities limited to just three substitute appearances in the Premier League this term. For now, Newcastle’s focus is on outgoings and sources continue to insist that major incomings are unlikely in January. Were McAtee to stay at City, it is an interest that could be followed up in the summer. MIGGY IN A MUDDLE On the subject of sales, there is no guarantee Miguel Almiron will agree to a move away from Newcastle this month. Advertisement Mail Sport revealed this week that the club have received an offer in the region of £5m from a Brazilian top-flight team. However, we understand Almiron would prefer to return to MLS, where he spent three years with Atlanta United before becoming Newcastle's then-club-record signing for £21m in 2019, or stay in Europe. The stumbling block is the financial expectation of the winger and his agent. It is also said he is not desperate to leave, despite making just one league start this season. Charlotte FC retain the strongest interest in the Paraguayan, while Leicester asked about him in the summer and are again watching the situation. It all leaves Almiron’s future up in the air as of now. Newcastle need to sell to buy this month - even then they could opt to delay incomings until the summer - and midfielder Sean Longstaff is also available for transfer. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Martin Dubravka will remain while he is in the team, but that situation could change at the end of January if Nick Pope returns with no complications from a knee injury. Dubravka’s representatives are thought to have agreed personal terms with Saudi club Al Shabab.

If it was truly about fair play and sustainability they’d set the same upper spending limit for everybody and providing the owner pays off the debt within a time frame you’re good.

Due to protectionism the elite are killing all excitement in the game, it’s a fucking shambles and the sooner someone brings this charade to a courtroom the better.

Qualify for Europe and dream of signing better players….nah qualify for Europe and you’ll have to sell your best players fucking joke. How Masters can keep a straight face when he comes out with his cartel drivel of ensuring an equal playing field is scandalous.

Newcastle make Mooney move According to The Sun, Newcastle United have approached St Mirren over the signing of young forward Evan Mooney. Chief Football Writer Robert Grieve reports that Newcastle and Arsenal both made official approaches for the 17-year-old last night, signalling their interest in landing the teenager. It’s believed neither club have launched a bid as of yet, but a formal approach has left the Scottish Premiership side braced for ‘serious bids’ as a number of top clubs track the striker who can also operate down the right. Mooney has bagged a goal and an assist in just 61 minutes of league action for St Mirren this season, scoring in their 3-2 win over St Johnstone and coming off the bench to set up a stoppage time winner against Rangers on Boxing Day.

If we could get a right sided forward such as Dibling/Bakayoko would be a huge boost for the remainder of the season. I get the impression it’s wages where we’re sailing close to the wind on for PSR, if we could shift a couple off the wage bill it might give us room to do something.

Canny article in True Faith which I think gives a lot of hope that we could get permission to build on Leazes Park if done right. https://tf1892.substack.com/p/a-new-stadium-in-leazes-park-not?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

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