Any Newcastle fans ITT?
General consensus seems to be they overachieved last season on such a tight budget. That tight budget still remains in place, with Newcastle not making any waves in the transfer window so far. Sell to buy policy isn't sitting well with the fans or even the local MP.....
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/11447442/mp-urges-newcastle-united-owner-mike-ashley-to-back-rafael-benitezBenitez has to be a big reason for them finishing 10th last season. Rumours continue to circulate about him leaving. Don't think Ashley is suddenly gonna loosen the purse strings and the window is only a couple of weeks away.
I can see them regressing this coming season, and potentially collapsing if Benitez chucks in the towel. The PL is fairly compact from mid-table down to the relegation spots in that there are a bunch of teams who could just as easily come 10th as they could 18th.
A lot of teams around Newcastle are investing (in some cases pretty heavily) and whilst that doesn't guarantee progress or safety, it certainly doesn't hinder.
6/1 for relegation looks more and more appealing the closer we get to kick off.
No rec at the moment but would be interested in people's thoughts.
https://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/relegationWe have an absolutely awful team.
Only positives are
- Lascelles, amazing captain, leader Vht head could be turned, if Rafa goes he 100% goes
- Shelvey, most underrated midfielder in prem probably, collosal last season, amazing discipline too
- Dubravka is decent keeper
- Kennedy has resigned, however he just had a baby and seems to be in London a lot, could be difficult
Injuries to any of these would be catastrophic.
The rest of our team, particularly our strikers are absolute trash.
Rafa is very very very good though. 6/1 must be an amazing bet, the two players we look like signing are a Swiss centre back for $3m and a Japanese striker who is poor in front of goal.
If I wasn’t a Newcastle fan I would bet huge on it, the only positives I see are Cardiff don’t look good, Fulham’s squad seems very thin and lacking in class, Brighton/Huddersfield look poor. Sure they can spend money, but they are still not going to be much better than we are. Ashley probabky realises this and wont spend anything and if we need to in January will sign a couple of big players to keep us up. Rafa May be gone by then though...
The gap between the top and the bottom is getting huge.