Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TOON OWNERS URGED: NOW SHOP TILL YOU DON’T DROP!
THEY have talked the talk, can Newcastle United’s controversial new owners now walk the walk and keep the club in the Premier League?
Once the January transfer window opens, we will quickly find out – because without any semblance of doubt the fate of the Toon’s season will be decided on which players arrive at St. James’ Park. Former Newcastle player Jermaine Jenas said: “They have to find the right players, the right motives with the right character.”
Easier said than done when you’re slap-bang in the middle of the season – and one not helped by squads being stretched to the limit through Covid issues.
Safe to say the appointment of former Celtic Director of Football Nicky Hammond as a transfer advisor on a shortterm contract has seen eyebrows raised among the Premier League fraternity. Former Arsenal star Paul Merson was scathing, speaking in his role as a Sky Sports pundit. Merson said: “It doesn’t make sense. It’s stupidity at the highest level. I don’t think they know what they are doing anyway at Newcastle.”
The mega-rich Saudi owners have boasted that their aim is to eventually compete with Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea for Premier League titles. They have more pressing matters right now – avoid the drop into the Championship. The change of manager, Eddie Howe for Steve Bruce, has yet to alter the landscape.
The players – as they have proved in recent games – are not up for the task. Defensively they would shame an under-10s side.
So, for the Saudi Public Investment Fund, it’s now or never. Co-owner Amanda Staveley will be leading the transfer negotiations, which will either make or break the Geordies’ season.
One issue that needs to be nailed straight away is the rumour circulating amongst influential people with Newcastle United connections that, despite untold riches, there isn’t a huge transfer budget available to Howe.
Much of the goodwill which has grown after previous owner Mike Ashley’s departure and the Saudis’ arrival will quickly dissipate if a pile of cash isn’t thrown around in the coming weeks.
Only by paying over the odds and smashing the wage ceiling will
Newcastle snatch the players who will make a difference.
Those whose contracts end in the summer will be the most vulnerable to a Toon move.
Players such as West Brom’s England keeper Sam Johnstone, Burnley defender James Tarkowski, Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard and Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette – although the Frenchman is back in favour having taken over the captaincy.
Howe insists on his players having drive and ambition.
He has no time for those who waste their talent – so anyone seeking a big pay-day for minimum return can forget it.
Newcastle have been in much worse positions than this at the beginning of a new regime.
When Sir John Hall was able to persuade Kevin Keegan to end his Spanish exile and become the club’s new manager in February 1992 Newcastle were staring the third tier in the face.
They survived, and within four years Newcastle were challenging for the Premier League title. So can history repeat itself for the new owners at St James’ Park?
Hall warned: “Running a football club is not easy – you can’t just walk in and change it overnight. It’s more than likely that you will make mistakes.
“If you do, you just have to move on, keep going. The difficulty will be in attracting top players because they want to be associated with success.”
Success will be avoiding the dreaded drop – next month’s transfer business will go a long way to deciding that.