Whitley mag

Some great memories in this and a reminder of how great our support has been over the years. Such a shame the constant Howay The Lads chant has died out over the years. Unbelievable support at Wembley when Hughes went up the stairs to lift the cup for the scousers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGEIocazs4A

I can’t see him going for less than 50 million with the interest now, just can’t see it ship has sailed.

Aye, Mark Douglas and Craig Hope below have written similar today. Matfen shutters are down Finally, if you want to book a room and be part of the Saudi summit at Matfen Hall next week… you can’t! I know, because I’ve tried! This time around, Newcastle have exclusive use of the rooms at the plush Northumberland hideaway. As revealed by Confidential last Thursday, all of the PIF bigwigs will be in town for the off-site meeting, during which infrastructural projects such as stadiums and training grounds will be top of the agenda. An announcement on the £200m training ground development at Woolsington is likely to follow. It was during last year’s summit, with chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan in attendance, that I had a coffee in the bar at Matfen Hall when all of the hierarchy broke for lunch. My presence raised some eyebrows and certainly lowered their voices. All good fun, and all in the name of information and colour for the readership!

That’s the problem though we paid top money for PL squad players last season. Tavernier wouldn’t be cheap and though I think any fucker would be better than our current wide players, it would reek of lessons not being learned.

Mark Douglas confirmed the other week it’s a mix they’re looking at.

That was the moment, Bobby in charge of that Keegan team could have been special.

Undoubtedly, we don’t want to fall into the trap of a Spurs and end up in a dangerous cycle of huge pay offs to overrated managers. He’s had poor spells but none of this magnitude, if he turns it around I’ll tip my hat to him. I can’t see it but if they stick with him then clearly I hope you’re right, as nobody wants to see us in crisis in September scrapping around for a replacement. The club had 2 defining moments in my lifetime where success could have been built; Dalglish and Souness, this is very similar and they need to get it right.

I really like the bloke and appreciate everything he’s done for the club. Some think he’s got enough credit in the bank to put things right which is fair enough. I want the best for the club which in my opinion is a new manager to have a full pre season, not in a crisis situation next September.

Give over man, Staveley gave him everything he wanted, hence why they got bombed out and we had 3 windows of no activity.

750 million over 5 years puts us at the top end of the PL for spending power. I don’t disagree they need to do more, but he’s had massive autonomy in comparison to many managers, who have players imposed on them by a DOF.

The project has gone stale like the manager, but backing the manager with 750 million to spend over his tenure is one thing nobody can criticise them for.

It will be untenable if he loses the last 5 games, apart from Gordon who are these bad eggs we’re meant to be getting rid of is my question? Apparently Botman was supportive of Isak’s stance last summer, are we getting rid of him after signing a new contract, is he now a bad egg that we can’t win a game to save our life’s? I’m also interested in how we are funding this huge rebuild, of a squad that this manager built by the way? We are due a UEFA fine, have no European football next season to attract players and it’s a World Cup year. The project is on its knees and needs a shot in the arm, sticking with Howe after losing another 5 on the spin would be unprecedented and I think would put us in serious relegation danger next season. PIF, Hopkinson and Wilson are asleep at the wheel if he’s still in charge after losing next 5.

Big mistake in my opinion, I’m hoping Kennedy has got this wrong. I don’t see how if this run of results and performances continue for the rest of season, we can just say go again Eddie, I think this ends very badly early next season and we’ll be right in the shite.

It’s a giveaway when we paid 55 million for Elanga in comparison.

The defeats have been fucking cowardly at times this season and compounded by 2 of the meekest Derby surrenders I’ve witnessed. That winner was fucking embarrassing on Saturday and just one of many this season. The fact that half the team don’t look arsed is one of the most damning aspects for Howe currently, if he can’t get a reaction after that derby performance it suggests deep lying issues in the camp.

Our best winger by a mile, being left with the other 3 is the stuff of fucking nightmares.

Owen Brown.

Bollocks, it tells me he played a raw young forward up front, because he wasted a fucking fortune in the summer on one and he doesn’t know how to utilise the other one.

He got a great tune out of them as well.

Except when he doesn’t play them and they’re stuck on the bench.

Snippets from Mark Douglas article today below: The club is begging for change and it is coming. Recruitment is already pivoting under Wilson, whose relationship with Howe and conviction in the manager is his best protection against flat-lining form. I hear optimistic noises about the profile of player they are attempting to sign this summer, even if there will be painful sales to absorb. An optimistic take is that Howe comes along on that journey, chastened by poor form and convinced by Wilson that a part-data, part-global recruitment policy will arm his team better. The version of events that lays the blame for Newcastle’s problems at the feet of the players negates to mention that Howe has had more influence than almost any manager over the composition of the squad. The chaos that saw a director of football quit and a chief executive out of action wasn’t his fault but Anthony Elanga, Aaron Ramsdale and Yoane Wissa were his picks. Howe’s tendency to opt for tried and tested in the transfer market brought Newcastle to Ramsdale, who isn’t good enough. Sunderland plucked Robin Roefs from the Eredivise while Manchester United took Senne Lammens from the Belgian Pro League. Newcastle should have been shopping in those sort of markets. One Premier League rival summed Newcastle up in one word this weekend: tired. Making a decision on Howe’s future now is the first step to re-energising a club on the brink of crisis

Couldn’t give a fuck what his attitude is like now, he shouldn’t play for the club again this season.

Not so sure he worked that well with Ashworth, I think he got everything he wanted under Staveley, just watch the documentary when we signed Gordon.

Arsenal fan on 5 live earlier saying they’d rather be playing us than Wolves. Hard to disagree, the rest of the country have cottoned on we’re fucking shite and will roll over like spineless cowards again.

Ndiaye would instantly become our best forward, head and shoulders above the useless cunts on display yesterday. This is the same squad that Howe said it was difficult to find players to improve us as well. Apart from Bruno, Hall, Tonali and Gordon I’d say they’re all very easily upgraded on.