THE WEEKENDER #10
The most successful manager in he modern history of Newcastle United has had enough.
There is a growing sense things might be unravelling at Newcastle United.
The departure this week of Head Coach Eddie Howe three weeks before the start of the season and at the beginning of pre-season training is far from ideal. That is putting it mildly. That Howe has watched Director of Football, Ross Wilson fail to sign any of his top targets and be gazumped by Liverpool and Aston Villa for players can only have been depressing for Howe. To see James Trafford move from Man City to Leeds after three years on the club’s radar would be similarly depressing.
Sadly, it seems inevitable Bruno Guimares will move to Arsenal. Whether the knowledge of that transfer has tipped Howe over the edge is unknown. What is known is that Bruno’s switch to the PL Champions was not planned for this summer in the way the exits of Gordon and Tonali were. Howe has described this close season as “painful” … they are not the words of a man excited by the coming season.
I’m sure Hopkinson and Wilson might be happy at the fee they manage to get for Bruno. However, that satisfaction might not survive contact with the realities of a Premier League season.
Now we learn Joelinton fancies out. The Brazilian is reported to be keen on a switch to the Saudi Pro League and availing himself of the money on offer there. This may have been known since the end of the season.
Just before I sat down to write this … I had fancied attempting a scathing polemic against FIFA and all of its evil works. But there’s just too much of a Black & White flavour to ignore. I’m sure you can wait for my thoughts on Infantino and his plans to enrich members of Donald Trump’s mafia-like entourage by selling football at a knock-down price to them.
Part of the increasing noise around United is emerging interest in Lewis Hall from Man Utd. This has been bubbling in the background all season. Were that interest to harden and Hall did make the move to Old Trafford we might wonder at what the fuck is going on?
Admittedly that at the moment is a hypothetical situation. However, (as a minimum) within twelve months United will have sold Isak, Gordon, Tonali and Guimares (if completed) and made no significant signings this summer.
The incoming players appear little more than youth products with very little experience. I am hopefully doing them a huge disservice and they prove me spectacularly wrong. I hope for that.
We now await the appointment of new Head Coach Matthias Jaissle from Saudi Pro League Club Al‑Ahli. Jaissle has had success in Saudi Arabia and previously in Austria with Red Bull Salzburg. He has won trophies albeit ones many of us wouldn’t recognise if they fell on our heads.
Jaissle has no experience coaching in one of Europe’s top five leagues. He is potentially taking over a squad gutted of quality and experience and replaced proven performers with young prospects. Given we have seen the departures of Lascelles, Trippier and potentially Bruno G and Joelinton, there will be a lack of proven leadership within the playing pool.
This does not mean of course that failure in this coming season is inevitable. Nor does it mean the squad did not need to be refreshed after our disappointing PL campaign last season. But what we have as playing resources at present, begs the question what the target is for the coming season? If it is to finish in the top eight, then I believe that is a massive stretch to achieve. I’d go further and describe it as delusion.
Of course there is time left in the transfer window to bring in more recruits for the new Head Coach. It is inconceivable that does not happen. However, world weary Mags who have been around this club of ours for any length of time have been here before. Being in a position where players are so obviously needed does not always mean they are recruited. This is Newcastle United remember where the normal rules of logic don’t always apply.
As I write, Howe’s departure has not yet been confirmed by the club’s own media. STOP PRESS - NOW IT HAS.
We urgently need to hear from Hopkinson and Wilson. They need to face some hard questions about what is happening and the overall direction of Newcastle United Football Club on and off the pitch.
Its not what it said in the brochure.
Keep On, Keepin’ On …
Michael Martin @TFMick1892.bsky.social
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Last Weekend
Can’t argue with what you’re saying, Mick. Clearly things aren’t right at St James’ at the moment, but history suggests we’ll probably never know exactly what’s gone on behind the scenes to bring us to this point.
I’m a huge Eddie Howe fan and have admired the way he’s conducted himself, often carrying the club almost single-handedly through some difficult periods. But, as painful as the timing is, I’m not getting too misty-eyed about losing him.
Let’s not forget Gordon, Tonali, Joelinton and others were all part of last season’s collapse. We capitulated in both cup defeats to Man City, equalled a Champions League record by conceding seven at Barcelona, were utterly pathetic in both derby games, flirted with relegation when we should have been comfortably pushing for Europe, and then there was Fulham away, where it looked like too many on the pitch simply couldn’t be bothered despite all the usual pre and post-match noises.
Obviously we can’t afford to lose Bruno—though we probably will—and Lewis Hall simply has to stay. But, in truth, a reset felt inevitable. Salvaging a draw at Gateshead through an own goal before getting hammered at Bristol City isn’t a good look however you try to dress it up.
The new bloke might make a complete mess of it. We might sign nobody of any quality. He could fail spectacularly and we could even go down. Right now, mid-table obscurity probably feels like the most realistic outcome. Then again, how many of us honestly expected a great season even before this latest dose of chaos arrived and the shit hit the fan with its usual impeccable timing & accuracy?
As the old song says: “Sometimes I have this crazy dream that I just take off in my car. Well, you can travel on ten thousand miles and still stay where you are.” That line has rarely summed up Newcastle United better.
Sensible, regular information and communication from Hopkinson is well and truly overdue. I can reluctantly cope with a target of finishing out of the bottom three as long as the Club make that target clear. On the other hand if the target is to reach the top (or somewhere close to it) by 2030 then please can we have details of the plan.