So this Almiron deal that was muted before the window even opened has been dragging on for over 4 weeks because??? EDIT - since the 1st December we'be been looking at him seriously and according to the quotes there Rafa was under the impression he was coming in early doors as well. https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/foot...el-almiron-transfer-newcastle-united-13671420 We've eventually increased our offer (by 25% no less from £16-20m as they've been asking us to do for weeks - unheard of in Mikey's time) why? Because they came to their senses and good will? Rafa categorically refused to rule out the possibility he may not see his contract out, granted he didn't say "I'll leave" but he said lets see at the end of the window - a very indirect threat. He also refused to give a reason why fans should renew season tickets, while they are being canceled en-mass For me, it's clear. They felt the squeeze of Rafa and the fans over the last week, stumped up the extra £4m and low and its all rosy again (especially considering last nights result). Even if it was a deliberate ploy by the muppets at the top - why leave it till the last few days to get it done? Almiron could have been in in the first week of the window if they'd just got on with it and had 6 games already (including 3 very good wins) to acclimatise to the league, our system/formation, his new home and the glorious weather up there and that's excluding Man U and 1st Leg vs Blackburn at the beginning of the month. He now has 12 games this second half of the year where he could have had 18 inc 2 cup games to get settled and get .
Rafa's threats are like trying to have sex after an 8 ball of coke which has too much speed in it. Its like playing snooker with a piece of rope. Have we suddenly forgotten all of the other windows where they ****ed him over and still turned up the next week looking all smiley with his fat smug face. he couldn't give a **** about the manager, fans or the football club bar it making Sports Direct massive. He hasn't suddenly changed.
I disagree, he's never been faced with a manager refusing to beg the fans to renew season tickets while they are being cancelled in such numbers. He's never had the kind of media pressure he's been getting off people like Jake Humphreys, Craig Hope, Luke Edwards, even the Chronicle to a certain extent. He's never had a manager come out and say if I don't get the two/three players minimum I want I may well just jack this in after the window closes. He's never had several different fan groups all organizing protests at the same time - the odd one here and there of course but Leaze Flags, If Rafa Goes We go and United Against Ashley all pooling together and pulling in the same direction.He also hasn't had a season go by where he's made a £20m profit on player trading and then has to release the accounts later having said "Rafa will get every penny" and then show where the moneys gone. He's never had all of this at the same time when he's said "we are close to selling the club" only for it to fall through during the window. It's all an accumulation which where, on its own in each individual case, probably doesn't worry him to much but for ALL of that to happen in the space of a month will be pretty daunting - I don't care how thick skinned you are - you can't explain that all away in one ****ty presse release through your mates and you'll realize you are in the **** and need to do something - like sign an unproven 10/winger from USA for a record fee. There is mounting pressure on him and the top brass at the club and it needs to continue from all sides - fans, management, media etc. Just because we've broken the record signing (I hope that doesn't come back to bite me) and beat Man City doesn't change the fact he needs to go and we need to continue to demand it.
We will have to agree to disagree. You are pointing to a few little bits of pressure this season. You seem to forget that Ashley has been under pressure of all sorts with disgruntled employees for the past 30 years or more! You think Newcastle United is the worst this guy has had it? I mean this scenario at Newcastle doesn't even match up to the recent SD troubles. Nah Rafa, the fans, the media have had no impact on Ashley at all. He just releases the reins now and again when it suits him. He did it under McClaren. He'll do it again in about 3 or 4 windows time. He'll throw the fans a bone and then revert to type.
I tell you what proves Pouchy's point - why isn't Ashley "apologising" on TV a day before signing Almiron, for example? Where's the PR spin on that? Ideal chance, but he's not fcking bothered. He allegedly met Almiron himself at the airport and escorted him onto his private chopper. No photographers present. The man does not care - I think what he is pleased about is hammering Atlanta down £20m and bagging himself a player who has a chance at becoming the next Coutinho. Ker-ching.
Bewildering that anybody could think Rafa's threats (if indeed there were any) had any impact on our transfer business. We probably just had a really healthy surplus and he saw a no lose scenario. Worst case? He loses about 10m-15m on Almiron and/or we get relegated. I'm sure he'll cope. Reality is he knows he has a good manager, we are probably staying up, and Almiron will make him 10m-15m in a couple of years. I think they are looking at through a normal humans eyes. One which embraces compassion, caring etc. He is as cold as ice and is like a ****ing shark with its prey when it comes to money.
Does the Almiron signing mean that Rafa will stay beyond this season if we stay up? I could see him staying on a rolling 1 year contract but I don't think the club would agree to that. **** knows.
Signing of Almiron raises a lot of questions: Is Rafa staying/ Is this a ploy by Ashley to try and quell the masses? What formation will we be playing going forwards? Have we broken the record or are these incentives there to make sure he does well and we sell him at a profit in a year or 2 without having to pay up the full amount? Best to not look to hard at it and pray for the best.
We've broke our record, brought in two players, shifting lazaar, Murphy and Aarons on loans and now Charnley releases a statement thanking rafa Is it opposite day today?
New strategy obviously, Ashley to Charnley, okay go out and mess with their heads. Do the exact opposite of what those whinging Geordie twats expected, that will teach em...... hahaha.
I would actually be ok with that. We've been a stepping stone before for the likes of Cabaye etc and were able to enjoy those players whilst here and make a profit on them (the money may not have been reinvested but that is a whole other issue). When we are buying limited players with bargain bin budgets we end up with triers but nothing to get excited about and nobody lining up to take them off our hands! Except for a select few clubs, every club is a selling club. I would just be happy to have players here that other clubs actually want!
