Joselu: Still has alot to prove Newcastle United’s return to the Premier League is just reward for their impressive Championship campaign last season when they finished as champions, one-point clear of second placed Brighton. Newcastle’s front line were on fire last campaign out scoring every other club with 85 goals, and yet it was their back four who were most impressive conceding only 40 goals in 46 matches.
This was no mean feat in what many recognise as the most competitive league in the world. To put it in perspective, Newcastle managed to score more than twice as many goals as they conceded and more than Wigan and Blackburn combined. How they will fair against Premier League defences across the course of a season is unclear, but with just nine goals in their first eight matches they are unlikely to meet the dizzying heights of last season, even with the arrival of Joselu from Stoke City for £5 million in the summer. Joselu is priced at massive 5-1 to score more than 10 league goals this campaign, which tells you pretty much everything you need to know about where the Spaniard’s season may be heading. (more…)
Smith & Taylor - staying or gannin'? The general consensus in the press is that things will reach a conclusion regarding Newcastle’s new owner soon. I don’t think the press actually have a clue who will be the new owner and I’m sure they just make most of it up, but I think they’re probably right that something will be announced by early next week.
Why do I think that? I don’t know – it just feels about right. Call it gut instinct. In fact let’s call it ‘sources close to the club‘ – my fictional sources are as valid as the fictional sources the press use.
So, let’s reword that: sources close to the club insist the new owner will be in place by next week. Now I’m sounding like a real journalist.
What I wanted to do was speculate as to what needs to be done in terms of players when the new owner takes over.
We have already started pre-season training and our first pre-season match is on Saturday 11th July. It’s feasible that the new owner will be in place by then and a new manager will have been appointed, particularly if that new manager is Shearer because he’s just sat around with his thumb up his bum waiting to get started. If the new owner doesn’t favour Shearer then it might take a bit longer to get a manager in place. (more…)
Is Mike Ashley having one more closing down sale? According to The Times, there has been a frenzy of interest in our squad since we announced our ‘everything must go’ sale. Hard to believe, I know but this is what they have to say –
“Newcastle United have received a number of inquiries relating to the availability of their first-team squad members in the 48 hours since it emerged that every player would have his price this summer.
On Tuesday The Times revealed that offers would be considered for the entire playing staff as Mike Ashley, the owner, continues in his attempt to overhaul the relegated side before a £100 million sale. (more…)
