Will Toon be walking in a Kinnear wonderland once again?In an interview with the BBC’s ‘Radio Five Live’, Joe Kinnear has sensationally claimed that Mike Ashley has offered him another two year contract at the club, and added that he is “mulling it over”. He also added that it would still take another three months to fully recover from his triple heart bypass, performed after he complained of severe hypertensive symptoms during last season’s visit to West Bromwich Albion. Joe said:
“I have been offered a two-year contract and it is something I am mulling over at the present time.
“I have told Mike I am not going to go back to football for at least another three months and we will look at the situation then.
“I told him I would refuse to go back for pre-season friendlies as I was not up to it for medical reasons.
“I needed to take time out and re-assess the situation and take it from there. But obviously in another three months the picture might be completely different.
“In the meantime if Newcastle feel the need to go and get another manager then so be it.” (more…)
Hopefully nothing is at 70% offIs it really time to hold our breath? Could the end really be nigh?
Sky Sports News is reporting that Wolfsburg have agreed a £9m fee with us for Obafemi Martins. Though it’s yet unconfirmed by Newcastle, Oba was left out of the squad for the friendly against Leeds, which has given credence to the claims.
Speculation is also mounting about an imminent agreement with Spurs to ship Bassong off to White Hart Lane. Habib Beye threw a paddy after being taken off in the game against Leeds and given his recent comments, he could also be on the way out. Guiterrez, Coloccini and Xisco are all being monitored by clubs in Italy and Spain and Krul is apparently being monitored by Arsenal.
So if the Martins sale becomes fact then it stands to reason the other speculation could materialise into reality. Of course, more pertinently or at least as pertinently, is the implication that if Martins is allowed to leave then the ’embargo’ placed on transfers has been lifted. Which means either new owners are now calling the shots and making their first business decisions. Or Mike Ashley is getting his fire-sale underway and it’s anyone’s guess what that could mean for us. (more…)
Bobby's 'Legends' game this evening at SJP.Well somewhat predictably, one of the top stories today has been United’s 6 -1 hammering by lowly Leyton Orient, a game which I attended and wrote a match report about. Our caretaker manager, Chris Hughton was right to describe the game in the post match interview as “disappointing and embarrassing” , with Coloccini, Enrique and Nolan being the worst of a throughly bad bunch. Only perhaps Beye and Martins came out of the game with any kind of credit, with Gutierrez, Duff and Taylor, and perhaps Carroll, after he came on, being the ‘best’ (a highly relative phrase in this case) of the rest in a truly awful display.
Further quotes from Hughton on the game included:
“We didn’t win and we didn’t perform.”
and
“There are ups and downs in football and this was very much a down.”
Profitable Group bids againA lot of the papers picked up on The Profitable Group’s alleged increased bid for Newcastle United yesterday. Steve McMahon, Profitable Group director, told The Chronicle:
“Our people have been in London all week working with lawyers and attorneys.
“And we have made them a realistic offer.
“We have been pushing ahead and, make no doubt about it, the money is in place – we are for real.
“We initially made a tentative bid to begin with, and discussions then took place. We were told to come back, and that’s what we have done.
“There has been a formal offer and we want to get things done and dusted as quickly as possible.”
If you’re interested you can read about The Profitable Group’s history on their web site, although the only thing on their site relating to Newcastle United is from the 10th June where they confirm their initial interest in buying the club. (more…)
Who said this was meant to be fun? I’m just about beaten into submission because of this sale saga and to be fair there’s not a great deal to write about so I’m changing tack. Clearly this could be seen as reverse psychology, in the hope we’ll hear something the moment I publish this. Yeah you’re right, probably not.
Anyway, rather than recount numerous currently unsubstantiated rumours about who our owners will be, or state for the umpteenth time what a mess we’re in, or how next season is going to be a disaster. Let’s instead, attempt to look back fondly at our relationship with Newcastle United. Specifically, let’s look back at a particular game that really stands out in your memory as being the game you most enjoyed. Could be for any reason – the journey, the result, the overall experience, whatever. (more…)
