Whitley mag

Key summer for Howe but even the top managers are only as good as their recruitment, needs to be backed to bring in 4 first team players and most importantly needs to nail it this summer and actually improve the starting 11.

Where in the FA cup 5th round why anyone would want this season to end is beyond me, if we get knocked out that’s another matter, but years gone by cup fever would be gripping Tyneside now and that’s with us having far worse teams than we have now.

Sad to hear fanbase has changed no doubt about it, undoubtedly an awkward situation and not helped by ballot.

Did you explain it’s the standing section and politely tell them to fuck off ?

They look a handful up top with Tavernier, Semenyo and Solanke, hopefully lessons learned from Luton and Forrest at home.

Don’t think the current version of Callum Wilson is particularly a miss, looks laboured and struggles to hold the ball up recently. We might miss having a focal point especially at home, but a front 3 of Barnes, Gordon and Almiron could be electric if they click.

If we are staying at SJP I want to see it completely transformed like the Bernabau has been. Think just extending the Gallowgate would be a short term fix at huge cost, I’m hoping they’ve got something up their sleeve that blows everyone’s mind and makes SJP one of the best stadiums around.

All part of the negotiation not a chance they wait 12 months for him.

I’m sure someone on here a while back said the council had actively encouraged club to look at this site but they weren’t interested. Just hope they know more than they’ve let on about feasibility of expanding SJP, or we could be left with no options bar an out of town stadium, which would be unpalatable to vast majority.

Think Castle Leazes is the only alternative for a new stadium now and that comes with massive issues to overcome. Hopefully, these architects can come up with something spectacular for a full renovation of SJP in line with the Bernabau.

I think Hopes article below whatever you think of him sounds very probable. I don’t think Ashworth has fallen out with anyone, but the decision making process is probably slowed by PIF and Howe does have final veto on transfers, whether folk think that is the right approach or not. ‘When Dan Ashworth gave his opening speech to Newcastle’s recruitment team at a hotel overlooking the River Tyne, he told them he would not be at the club forever. There was, he said, an optimal period for a sporting director to do his work before leaving with his processes in place. But neither he nor anyone connected to Newcastle believed that time would come just 20 months later. The truth is, Ashworth’s work at St James’ Park is not done. Far from it, in fact. And that, in part, is one of the reasons he will likely leave for Manchester United. What Ashworth hoped to implement at Newcastle will take longer than he expected, and some of what he had hoped to influence has been beyond his control. He has not been handed the keys to the kingdom. Rather, they will forever reside in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where we can reveal Ashworth attended meetings with the club’s majority owners at the start of last month. There, it is likely he was asked about his own future, given Mail Sport reported before Christmas that the 52-year-old was expected to become Man United’s new sporting director, once Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS deal was ratified. He is close to Sir Dave Brailsford – INEOS director of sport - and a formal approach is now being prepared and expected within St James’. But why would Ashworth want to go? It is important to state that, to our knowledge, there has been no fallout and all relations remain good, even if there is a want among Newcastle’s hierarchy to avoid a period of prolonged speculation. If Man United want him, they need to knock at the front door. When that approach comes, we expect Ashworth will tell his current employers he wishes to go. It is thought Newcastle would demand compensation in excess of £6million and insist on a period of gardening leave of up to a year. Their preference would be for him to remain, but an agreement is now likely to be reached as early as next week. At Old Trafford, sources say, Ashworth would have far greater control. There is the lure of an increased salary, being closer to home and, significantly, the draw of being the man charged with re-aligning the biggest club in the world. Those are the pull factors, but what about the push? It all comes back to autonomy. Ashworth uses an analogy about being ‘the man at the centre of the wheel, connecting the spokes of the different departments’. At Newcastle, however, there is more than one wheel, and all roads lead back to Riyadh. Decision-making at the club is ‘process driven’, and very little is signed off without the say-so of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. This can often take weeks. Sources also say there are ‘blurred lines’ over the original plans and remit to which Ashworth signed up when joining from Brighton in the summer of 2022. There are also the UK-based owners - Amanda Staveley, Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Jamie Reuben. Again, sources insist Ashworth has a good relationship with all concerned, but his approach to business is measured, whereas others can sometimes be led by emotion, even if well intended. With Eddie Howe, meanwhile, Ashworth is not part of the manager’s inner circle. That is not to suggest friction - they get on well and there is mutual respect - but that is just how Howe has always operated. Along with coaches Jason Tindall, Stephen Purches, Graeme Jones and nephew Andy Howe - head of technical scouting - he has a close-knit group in which he confides. Ashworth arrived eight months after the head coach and the chain of command was already established. Howe has the final say on transfers and, contrary to wider belief, Ashworth is not a talent-spotter. Rather, he oversees recruitment and negotiates and concludes deals. At Newcastle, his focus has been as much on revamping the scouting network, from academy to first team, both domestically and globally. But to the backdrop of his efforts have been financial fair play rules and the frustration of a strict limit on spending, evidenced by a January window in which Newcastle made no signings. For Ashworth, there will be a realisation that progress at Man United, by comparison, would be accelerated. Ironically, we understand there are scouting meetings on Tyneside this week, with foreign scouts flying in for debriefs and planning summits led by Ashworth. They usually have a group meal the night before attending a home game, and Newcastle host Bournemouth on Saturday. For those present, it could well have the feel of the Last Supper’.

Not the best source but expands on articles where he isn’t happy with the role at club. If true a bit worrying as surely he was brought in to have final say on football matters. https://www.footballinsider247.com/dan-ashworth-eddie-howe-and-too-many-voices-why-newcastle-chief-is-quitting-for-man-united/

A large part of the other 14 are complicit with owners happy to trundle along and not have to invest. Until an independent regulator seizes control self interest and greed will rule. On a positive note we will get there it’s just going to take longer than we want.

Edwards article is actually quite a good read for once and it certainly confirms where not a soft touch who rolls over anymore. No way will the Mancs wait 12 months for him, if they want him it’s going to cost big money.

The only thing that bothers me is the intel on us he takes with him, would hope any settlement includes not being able to sign our players.

Watch out for 5 year contracts for Lascelles, Ritchie and Dummett before Friday.

The only thing I’ll say is that I think the transfer strategy has been very risk averse since he signed. I was expecting a bit more in terms of South American market as Brighton have exploited. Whether that would have come down the line we’ll never know now.

It won’t be Michael Edwards from a couple of things I’ve been reading, the reason he turned down Liverpool is because he’s started his own analytics business and is prioritising that.

I really hope we play hard ball over the compensation here and if they want him without the gardening leave it’s an extra 10 million on top.

Wonder why Edwards snubbed a return to Liverpool, would do anything it takes to get him in if the worst happens here.

I think Man City’s head of football operations is jumping ship to join them as well, couple of big coups for them if they get Ashworth. But as someone just said above we’ll move on if it happens, the project is still one of the biggest in football, the only concern being how long it took to appoint Ashworth and we really need someone in place for the summer.

I could see Howe being high on Brailsford’s and Ashworths list, but would probably depend on us pipping them to Europe and bagging the FA Cup this season to give it the optics required for their fanbase. It does seem Ratcliffe has been given the keys to the football operations, so I’d expect a completely different approach from them going forward.

Think Brailsford also being pals with Ashworth can’t be underestimated, he’ll undoubtedly have been in his ear. Be interesting to see if Te Hag gets the bullet whether he’d come calling for Howe as well in the future. Thats why I’d be very wary just appointing his replacement on the basis that he can work with Eddie, we need to source the best replacement for the long term aims.

He’ll be the favourite for the job and been at Bournemouth since 2014 so will know Howe well. Been strongly linked with Liverpool job as well.

Michael Edwards still out of work, would be an obvious target if he could be tempted.