Signs aren’t good as United drag their feet
THE biggest unwritten law on our high streets is don’t insult the customer.
Businesses cannot afford to alienate those who make the cash register tinkle.
Yet Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley stand accused of such indifference.
Because in not producing one new signing by the end of June this transfer window, they have turned the elation of promotion into yet another low.
In doing so the holders of the Newcastle purse have disregarded their loyal fans who regularly turned up 50,000-plus strong to watch the likes of Burton Albion; irritated and annoyed a world-class manager; and failed to bolster the hopes of players who know only too well that United’s squad needs greatly strengthening.
Of course there is still plenty time for action in the transfer market before the deadline of 11pm on August 31, but with players about to return to training and friendlies looming, valuable time has been wasted in bringing together a squad which needs to gel.
So far Lee Charnley has been unable to negotiate to get a single deal over the line and has been unable to bring to a successful conclusion outgoing deals to increase Rafa’s spending power.
United’s player rota is top-heavy thanks to previous disastrous business and is in desperate need of a clear-out which would lead directly to Rafa having more financial clout. Decent fees, not loan deals, are required for those leaving.
Loans merely mean the players concerned return, such as Siem de Jong, Henri Saivet, Emmanuel Riviere and Tim Krul. The same old problem arises a year down the line. It will with Matz Sels.
I’ve already stated this week that I don’t expect Benitez to walk out in a tiff – he is made of sterner stuff than that – but for goodness sake don’t humiliate the man after slamming shut the transfer door in January, because everyone has an eventual breaking point. I know a lot of summer transfers are completed in July and August, but not in an ideal world. Brighton already have three newcomers and so have Everton.
Bournemouth, supposedly not in the Newcastle’s league when it comes to financial clout and gates, have splashed £20m on defender Nathan Ake and paid Jermain Defoe his weight in gold, while Newcastle sweat to see if Yoan Gouffran will accept a new contract to stay and have only completed one deal for a guy who spent all last season with us – Christian Atsu (left) – and therefore is hardly a new face.
The way fans see it right now, United are unable to compete with Bournemouth (and Watford for that matter) in the transfer market – a dreadful indictment of a proud club.