nbthree3

https://www.caughtoffside.com/2022/05/17/valencia-chairman-anil-murthy-liverpool-and-newcastle-are-cities/ Valencia Chairman Anil Murthy has got himself into hot water. A spate of leaked audio has painted him and his dealings in a poor light in recent days. “Liverpool is a s*** city,” says Murthy. “But Liverpool as a club started to globalise itself 20 years ago to have a budget and now it has one of a billion euros. If you go to Liverpool and Valencia there is a great difference, even in the streets of the city. The industry exists, but the club, it’s a club that is local there, it has its fans, its fan groups, but it is very international.” “Newcastle is a s*** city too but a club that has a level of patronage…”

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10826523/Newcastle-Wolves-pre-season-plans-disarray-Ohio-Cup-cancelled-short-notice.html The pre-season preparations of Newcastle United and Wolves’ have been thrown into disarray after a US tournament was cancelled at short notice. Sportsmail understands the Premier League pair were due to cross the Atlantic and take part in the first 'Ohio Cup', along with two sides from Spain thought to be Villareal and Valencia. Plans were at a very advanced stage, according to insiders, with the finishing touches being put to a tournament which would have seen two matches hosted in Cincinnati and two in Columbus. However, both English sides have been left fuming after the plug was suddenly pulled - with barely any explanation. Newcastle are exploring their options. A trip to the Saudi Arabia homeland of their new owners is highly unlikely, given the searing temperatures there in July, which is when the US tournament was due to take place.

You can now

https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/newcastle-united-inside-transformation-eddie-howe-12-hours-days-signings-gameplan-1634831 Hands down the best one I’ve witnessed here,” Lascelles, a veteran of eight years at St James’ Park, tells i of Monday’s ferocious atmosphere. “Opposition players have said in the past, and even before this game, that they’re not looking forward to it. It ain’t because they’re playing against us players, it’s because they’ve got to face these fans and the atmosphere. “I know as a player sometimes when you go to hostile environments it can change the game a little bit. That’s the feeling the Arsenal had today. From the first whistle you could see we were up for it and they weren’t because of that backing.” His work in turning Newcastle around has been seriously impressive: a recovery hewn from intense, 12-hour working days that have shifted the culture. Training sessions are longer and more demanding, tactical insight more effectively communicated throughout the day. Players like Jonjo Shelvey have lost weight while others, such as Joelinton, have improved tactically and technically. “They’re getting proper coaching,” one football insider said. A total culture change, Lascelles says. He wanted Newcastle to be a pressing team and has changed the pace and mentality of training. Players are told to train the way they play. More than that, Howe has fostered a sense of unity within the squad. At team bonding sessions players are encouraged to share details from their personal lives to give an insight into what drives them. A group team photo in front of the packed out Gallowgate End on Monday night incorporated partners, children and close friends of the first team in a firm message that they are “all in it together”. He even praised the local media on Monday night for “sticking with” his team. “It is completely down to the manager,” Lascelles says of the team’s transition from counter-attacking, defensive unit to one that favours an aggressive high press. “The drills he puts on in training, it’s all competitive about winning. Nothing’s about being on the back foot and being negative. It’s about attacking, being on the front foot. When you’re doing that every day, repetitively, and the game plan is to get after these teams it becomes your DNA. “You could see it against Arsenal, we were in their faces, they were making mistakes. The back four is up at the halfway line, we’re in their half whereas before the back four is on the 18-yard box and we’re camped in. To get from there to there is down to the manager and the staff.” “It’s building blocks, it’s step by step but with this manager and this group of players and whatever happens in the summer, along with the owners and fans, you’re ticking a lot of boxes. Put it all together and it’s a good force.” Namechecks DCL 'prime target' and Nunez as summer wishes

He's managed from a worse starting position to outdo what both Rafa and Bruce (albeit with different teams to differing extents) achieved in terms of PL points - 46 points is our best in 8 years

Shows how much we've missed him. But I wouldn't use it as a stick to beat Wood with, they've got different strengths + Howe's admitted that. Most strikers we have over the years don't get treated nicely as they're isolated so much, Joelinton pre-midfield case in point

Real test of the squad's character if they can get a winner in the second half. But we don't play like this for the entire game, we didn't take our chances at Everton (away) and lost + fear that might happen again

It's money we should have spent in the summer but couldn't - Villa spent the same as we have (£93m in the summer and £27m in the winter; we spent £93m in the winter and £25m in the summer) and they are 1 point ahead of us. Obviously £25m in the summer is the total fee for Willock, none of these transfers are all up-front... remember Villa are 1 point ahead despite us being winless in our first 14.

Leeds down... (not relegated down yet!) Leicester winning

Depending on the results today we'll see... Leeds defeat and they're clearly favourites because of the poor GD. Burnley probably have it all to play for when they get to us. Everton's extra game helps for the time being

I've seen some under Farage's 'sold your soul' tweet, mainly non-Newcastle fans mind

What made lots of people think it was the home shirt they were changing? PCP especially's made a big deal about not changing the core things about the club like relocating the stadium/the ground's name

Adeyemi's already signed tbf

Original intention was a Vision 2030 sponsor apparently (article from October) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/10/18/premier-league-clubs-ban-owner-funded-sponsors-scuppering-potential/ "Prior to the initial takeover approach collapsing a year ago, discussions had taken place around giving significant prominence to Vision 2030, the Mohammed bin Salman-led plan to diversify Saudi's economy away from oil. However, the prospect of advertising such an explicit connection to Saudi's controversial leadership had been fading even prior to a Premier League vote on Monday to temporarily ban owner-funded deals. Now it is two other long-term options - the Saudia airline or potentially a Saudi-based new tour operator - that are being earmarked by insiders as the most likely next shirt and stadium brands." See if anything on that front comes at the end of the season. Shirt colour, trips to Saudi Arabia, we'll probably buy the country's best talent in the future. All tied to the 80% majority owners that bring the most investment

Someone found articles from the time, definitely the official Twitter https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/newcastle-start-twitter-row-with-fan-1321807 Wraith, an actor and event promoter, published a claim that he’d “heard that the rumours of player unrest are allegedly true and that reluctance to buy has upset certain players,” to his 6,500 followers. He added: “It’s a shame because after last season we should be building on the success and we just haven’t. It’s all about saving money. As a club £nufc look set up for a fall again. Threadbare squad and alleged player unrest is a recipe for disaster.” But in a swift rebuttal, that opened up the claims to it’s 106,000 followers, the ­@NUFCOfficial account hit back. The club wrote: “Here we are again, @stevewraith attempting to disrupt the club with unnecessary negative comment. Would have thought league success and a return to European football is worthy of positive comment.

Sure they're on a wind up because we did it to them when they started doing displays the other week

I don't understand that line either

They've changed the colour recently to fit in... orange, yellow/lime green, gold I can remember

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-10814669/Newcastle-stick-decision-launch-green-white-Saudi-Arabia-away-kit.html Sportsmail revealed on Thursday that Eddie Howe's side are set to turn out in a strip which bears a striking resemblance to the green and white of the Saudi national team next season. The shirt has been signed off by chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who is also governor of Saudi's Public Investment Fund, the club's majority owners. But the move has been met with widespread criticism. The club's supporters are split, with many taking to social media in protest. One said: 'I hate this, and I'm a huge Newcastle fan. I just can't get on board with integrating Saudi into our brand and identity.' But Alex Hurst, host of the True Faith podcast, said: 'This was to be expected and I don't have an issue with it. If they changed the home shirt, that would be different. 'But it would be hypocritical of me to welcome the money they spent on the team in January and then criticise when they want to make a change kit with links to their own country.'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-10811061/Are-Saudi-Arabia-disguise-Newcastle-set-turn-green-white-season.html - obviously you've seen it in here but the press have picked up on it now (Craig Hope) Sportsmail can confirm the new away jersey, designed by kit suppliers Castore, carries the traditional colours of the Gulf state, whose Public Investment Fund owns 80 per cent of the club. Newcastle's crest, as well as the trim of the neck and sleeves, have been coloured green on an all-white backdrop, bearing a striking resemblance to the shirt of the Saudi national team. The strip is likely to attract criticism from opponents of the ownership, who had to satisfy the Premier League there was no connection between PIF and the Saudi state before their £305million takeover was approved in October. However, the club will see the design as a chance to increase revenue streams via shirt sales in Saudi, whilst also representing their majority owners. Shortlists are being drawn up and, among the names in attacking positions, Sportsmail understands Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Benfica's Darwin Nunez, Leverkusen's Patrik Schick, Alexander Isak of Real Sociedad and Reims teenager Hugo Ekitike have all been discussed.

Let the summer begin