Ben Spratt

Was always confident Newcastle wouldn’t lose every game in this difficult run, as some would have had you believe, but their only result so far coming at PSG, where they ultimately could afford to lose 6-0 anyway, probably wasn’t what I had in mind

Still think they’ll look better against teams who have too much ego to sit in as Villa did for long periods. Suppose we’ll find out this week if that’s the case. Worse sides – okay, maybe not plural – have won the Champions League… 🏆

Newcastle lost fairly narrowly to a really good team today, and yet the conclusions we’re apparently drawing are that everything is irreparably broken

A sample of one of the logical reasons:

I have loads of logical reasons, which I’ve communicated elsewhere on social media, for Eddie Howe’s job being extremely safe. Additionally, for sentimental, emotional, illogical reasons, I would simply never sack him, ever

Appears I’ve not been on here to give my thoughts on Newcastle’s very exciting season – flying in the Champions League, another winnable cup quarter-final, lots to love…

Think he could be key to the low-block problem. Howe said as much on Saturday, that his creative attributes would have been a big help in that game

Fjortoft tweeted about it being a done deal, then appear on beIN to basically row back on everything he’d said. Don’t think anything’s changed… yet. But as you say, nice that it matters much, much less now

Idolised and adored. No promises broken by the fans that make this club.

We deserve better than the destructive path you've chosen.

Newcastle United will never be defeated.

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@sicampbell.bsky.social is joined by @tfmick1892.bsky.social, @jonlane86.bsky.social and @benspratt.bsky.social to discuss what impact this sorry summer might have on Newcastle United's season 👀

Can Eddie Howe produce another miracle?

#NUFC

I don’t think Alex Isak’s agent is going to be picking up many new high-profile, high-value clients..

I’m not convinced the narrative has shifted – I think it’s just a natural result of someone struggling to find new ways to sell the same non-moving story for a 50th time. Although perhaps we should take seriously updates on Isak’s thinking from someone who’s happily parroted his agent all summer…

Wissa and a quality midfielder, and let Isak go for a long walk until the Champions League kicks off

Trying to work out if this is Andy Howe or Jamie Reuben

In summary: Newcastle shouldn’t sell Isak now; if Newcastle don’t sell Isak, he’ll play and he’ll score; either way, Newcastle will be great again this season because they have a great team and an even greater coach

While I’m over here, I’d love for some transfer fans to explain to me what they think a transfer request is and how they think it works. Apparently that changes everything for Isak, as if up until now Newcastle have thought he’d secretly really like to stay

Just testing if Liverpool fans jump on this sort of stuff as quickly on here as they do on certain other sites…

If I was Liverpool, I simply wouldn’t have signed my second-choice striker target if it then meant I couldn’t later sign my first-choice striker target

Don't sell Isak (whoever you even are...) YOUSEF HATEM (@yousef-1892.bsky.social) observes the ongoing Isak saga, and worries about chickens coming home to roost.

My latest for the mighty @tfnufc.bsky.social

Nobody works at #NUFC. So let’s hold on to what we have. That means Isak.

open.substack.com/pub/tf1892/p...

"He was a local lad who made the first team, got that goal against PSG and scored the winning penalty in a shootout where we went onto win a cup. Maybe he couldn't win a free kick to save his life, but so what? In this house Sean Longstaff is a hero, end of fucking story"

Yeah, they should absolutely be calling Liverpool’s bluff. You’re not having Isak, and if you want Ekitike, you’re going to have to match Newcastle’s bid and convince the player. Obviously they could very well do that, but make them work for it

Isak goes next year, when UEFA needs Newcastle to make a profit, so if there’s any scope to sign his successor this year, it makes sense to do it now. No point saving PSR headroom for next year when UEFA punishment won’t let them use it…

Just a guess at a possible explanation!

Watch all the breakdowns of Elanga’s game you like, to see why we’ve bought him, but listen to that interview. The kid is switched on, has done his homework, is already using ‘we’ and genuinely comes across as smart and focused. That’s where the value is for Eddie alongside the technical ability.

Looks like he’s had some injury issues at Dortmund, which partially explains why he’s started so few games considering how good he was at SJP

I think at the time of the transfers, you could argue Howe’s Newcastle have overpaid for every domestic signing bar Pope and possibly Barnes. With hindsight, it looks very different. Elanga could easily have the best season of this clutch of £50m-60m wingers (Cunha, Mbeumo, Semenyo, Kudus, etc)

Knew next to nothing of him prior to the links yesterday. A glance at numbers/clips suggests he can do a load of the stuff Schar does but is crucially quicker and better in the air (and younger). Seen some mention concentration lapses, but that sounds a lot like Schar, too!

Brighton was the year after! No idea if Newcastle were in for him again then, although I’d guess not given they already had Isak and Wilson in form and fighting for one position

‘Upset’ Joao Pedro on failed Newcastle United move as Magpies reignite £59m interest Newcastle United have reportedly reignited their interest in Brighton striker Joao Pedro, three years after initially missing out on his signature.

Suggestion at the time was it was basically a done deal until Newcastle realised they could get Isak instead. Quotes here suggest he definitely wanted the move then (obviously not now!): www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/footba...