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00:00:01
Daily Newcastle: The Footie is Back...Unfortunately!
17 Plays20 days ago
Iain hosts Kevin to review yesterday's friendly with Celtic, to examine Isak's absence from the watching crowd and to try to make (positive) sense of the transfer window so far.
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Transcript
Show Introduction and Banter
00:00:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Newcastle, Monday morning, a new week. Two fresh-faced young presenters for you. If you're watching on YouTube, you can't tell if you just listen to the podcast, of course, but Kev has shaved his stubble off.
00:00:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he tells me it would be Christmas before he needs to have another shave because it grows back so slowly. I think that's rubbish. Kev, how the devil are you doing, mate? I haven't seen you since you were on holiday and all sorts.
00:00:34
KEV
I know, we haven't been on one together for donkey, so I'm really excited for tonight. Well, today, because people listen on Monday morning, but we record it on a night time. But yeah, I'm good and I am fresh-faced, but it's it's mainly just because I'm sick of stubble. I can't grow a beard, Ian. That's a problem.
00:00:49
KEV
I'm not a man like you. I'm not a real man. I can only grow a little bit of stubble. So it will be Christmas by the time I need another shave.
00:00:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
well if i yeah i'll have i'll have santa's beard if i would let it go till christmas um but anyway i another first for me tonight which i've just realized is that i am hosting tonight's podcast lying down which is quite amazing um
00:01:13
KEV
ah Genius. Genius. Don't fall asleep.
00:01:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm recording away from home and the only room that I can get a bit a peace and quiet has got a bed and nothing else in. It's not a prison cell, but there's nowhere for me to stand the the the the laptop other than...
00:01:27
KEV
He's being locked up after his reaction to a Celtic game. He's being locked up when he's staying prison for the night.
00:01:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. No, definitely not.
Newcastle vs Celtic Pre-Season Friendly Analysis
00:01:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Definitely not. However, I'm quite relaxed. I wasn't feeling relaxed yesterday, of course, because the footy's back and I paid me money.
00:01:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I tuned in and I thought, oh, it's De Kasselabak. We've got Alanga. He's coming on the second half. It was so exciting to sit and watch them play away at Celtic in the first warm-up game of the pre-season.
00:01:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I've got to be honest, Kev, I was a bit disappointed.
00:02:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
We got absolutely taken to the cleaners. 2-0 in each half, so we lost 4-0 overall. The whole squad was playing virtually apart from those recovering from injury bar one or two notable absentees, which we're going to discuss later on.
00:02:04
KEV
Yeah.
00:02:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
But first things first, let's talk about the footy.
00:02:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a game review.
00:02:25
KEV
and
00:02:27
KEV
Nice.
00:02:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
m
00:02:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was what we expected, I think. Two separate, well, virtually two separate 11s for a half each. It's how they had approached the yeah the game against Carlisle last weekend behind closed doors.
00:02:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And we did start with quite a strong team, I thought. um Pope in goal. Trippier, Schaar, Botman. Target.
00:02:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, I mean, we needed some left back because Hall's injured, a course.
00:02:57
KEV
Yep.
00:02:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
and um And then we had Bruno in midfield with the but Miley and Willock. trying to remember now.
00:03:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Asulo playing down the middle with Murphy on the right.
00:03:09
KEV
Yep.
00:03:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Barnes on the left that's quite a that's quite a first team choice really I mean I know we would probably bring two or three other players in but they've all got first team experience and um
00:03:13
KEV
That was it.
00:03:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
um what were your impressions Kev because we did get schooled a little bit
00:03:29
KEV
We did, but um i wasn't I wasn't expecting anything massive regardless of a team lineup. I think it was, nobody talks about this, but it was Celtic's fifth preseason friendly. So obviously their season starts a little bit earlier.
00:03:40
KEV
So it was their fifth friendly against our first. So we were obviously going to be off a boil a little bit and off a pace. Boys have just come back from pre-season training. um I'm imagining a lot of fitness in, it in but I think we're in Austria.
00:03:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:03:53
KEV
So... obviously a flight back and all that stuff and not being home for anything in first game against the fifth game and Celtic before playing us on the 16th of July beat Sport and Lisbon who are a really good team as well so Celtic are well into their kind of journey to start their new season they're fully underway and Celtic are probably at 90% 95% of what they're capable of I think because it's their fifth game but It's Newcastle's first. We were miles off it. We did get spanked a little bit.
00:04:21
KEV
But the result to me, it it doesn't matter too much. It's about getting minutes in my legs. it's It's, yeah, I'm not too worried.
00:04:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well,
00:04:28
KEV
There were some good impressions. I thought Alex Murphy did well.
00:04:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
this this will make you feel a little bit better before we get on to individual performances. Last year in pre-season, Celtic put four past Manchester City and Chelsea.
00:04:40
KEV
Yeah. Yeah.
00:04:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, you know, we're in good company here, aren't we?
00:04:43
KEV
Their season starts earlier, yeah.
00:04:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are in good company. And I think two or three extra days, a two or three extra weeks hard training makes a massive, massive difference.
00:04:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
When Celtic's a pretty good team anyway, Champions League team this year.
00:04:54
KEV
Definitely. Mm-hmm.
00:04:58
KEV
Yeah.
00:04:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
and So, yeah, getting into the individual ah performances. Highlights I think we're going to have to talk about is Nick Pope.
00:05:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nick Pope's...
00:05:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, God, what was he doing there?
00:05:12
KEV
Clanger.
00:05:13
KEV
Absolute clanger.
00:05:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was a clanger. It was a clanger. um And it feeds into something we're going to talk about on our um i transfer the window as well later on. and But how do you think they've that first that first team squad performed in the first half, Kev?
00:05:31
KEV
um but we just You could tell what office like the the press was slow. um the They weren't reactive enough in terms when Celtic were kind of trying to come with us and play out from the back. We just seemed so far off boil. I mean, Pope's clanger was horrendous, but I keep saying to people, I'd much rather than drop a clanger in a pre-season game where it means nothing when doing it on the first game of the season and cost us two or three points. So get all the clangers out of the way now. Get all the mistakes out now, lads. that's That's good. That's a good thing. I'm trying to keep a positive spin on everything.
00:06:01
KEV
and But I think overall with kind of how we played, ah think we tried to implement what Hal wants in terms of high press and high intensity, but we just didn't have it in us compared to Celtic. It was, like I say, Celtic are just four five weeks ahead of us in terms of pre-season. And that is, it's a full month. We're a full month ahead of us. And it's just, it showed we were a lot sharper, we're a lot quicker.
00:06:23
KEV
They were a lot better in terms of pressing us, they pressed us really well where we were kicking the ball out of play. And we just look we looked a bit out of sorts. We just didn't look right. But I guess from Howe's point of view, once the third one went in and all the kids started coming on, Niamh, I can't of any off the top my head, but all the youngsters came on. It was a case of, right, let's just get minutes in everybody, get the big guns off, let's avoid injury. This is what we've got to do now. And I think it's all about fitness at this stage. So, yeah, not good performance, but I mean, it's it's all right.
00:06:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, i I don't know if we should switch straight on to the second half. I don't really want to talk about Nick Pope, but that's not the first time he's come hearing out of his box and being undone by seemingly
00:07:00
KEV
A couple
00:07:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
a ball that is too simple to have to deal with because it literally just banked over him. and
00:07:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
thought Alanga showed a few flashes of the second half. You could see his pace, and little flicks and things.
00:07:17
KEV
of little flicks as well. Nice little flicks inside.
00:07:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. and I thought Murphy did very well at left back.
00:07:25
KEV
Alex Murphy was good.
00:07:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought Joe White did pretty well, actually. I mean, I suggested him a couple of weeks ago as maybe, If we sold Willock and Longstaff, we wouldn't have to buy two midfielders to replace them because if he could do a job, but I thought he did all right.
00:07:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Niamh and the guy that did look quite good in midfield, who's obviously a few years younger than Joe white Hearns, came on.
00:07:49
KEV
yeah that Hearns impressed me more than
00:07:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought he showed Willing. And I did think at the various stages, certainly in the first half, that Asula showed he's got some pace and he's got some aggression.
00:08:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, he was he was getting in front of the the defenders who thought they had him covered several times.
00:08:09
KEV
Yeah.
00:08:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean, he did sweet Fanny Adams with it once he got there. But, I mean, that's that's the hardest part, isn't it?
00:08:17
KEV
I think Asula's just so raw, isn't he? just He's got all the makings of, especially just because of his attitude and his sheer mentalness, which isn't a word, but how crazy he is.
00:08:29
KEV
He's got the opportunity to be a proper cult hero, but he's so raw. I can see why, know fans were screaming out for Asula to get minutes at the back end last season, but I can see why Howe was a little bit more reserved. He just needs he just needs polished.
00:08:41
KEV
But I think it's weird because I think he's got the physicality of kind of what Wilson had at Wilson's peak he's strong and he's a big lad he's fast he can win headers but he's also got really good feet not as good as Izak but he's almost like a combination of them too so I'm hoping he fulfills his potential and he he actually genuinely becomes a ah squad player this season coming but we'll see I guess
00:09:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Now, I know we're going to talk about this in part two.
Transfer Rumors and Strategies
00:09:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah No sign of Isaac or Joe Linton, which is fine. They were both injured at the end of last season.
00:09:16
KEV
Mm-hmm.
00:09:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Eddie Howe said beforehand that they were managing the minutes. And therefore, we, of course, expected to see them with the squad, having flown back from Germany, sitting, and cheering them on in the crowd.
00:09:28
KEV
yeah
00:09:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Isaac wasn't there. And the fact that he wasn't there and that Eddie Howe said after the game, no, I sent him home. I sent him home so he wasn't distracted by all of the noise around him.
00:09:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
that That's given all sorts of conspiracy theories oxygen. And there is so much flying around about sir our ah talisman.
00:09:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's who we need to keep. We just turned down 120 million plus from Liverpool for it. and We're going to have to delve a bit deeper in here and see what might be going on, Kev.
00:10:08
KEV
Yeah.
00:10:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's draw a veil hastily over a bit, hammering off Celtic, and hope that we can we can get some decent days training in. Maybe say Tino coming back, maybe see Isaac and Joe Linton coming back before we play Arsenal next week.
00:10:27
KEV
yeah
00:10:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Meanwhile, Ken was saying,
00:11:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
There he went.
00:11:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Part two. The disappearing Alexander Rezac. Well, my interpretation of what's going on with this chap is that Liverpool made a soft inquiry as to whether we might be able to sell him if they were prepared to smash the British transfer record.
00:11:11
KEV
should
00:11:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
We said, no way, Jose. And and they then said, well well, if you don't do that, we're going to have to go after Eketike, which we know you're looking at. Now, did you think it was bullying?
00:11:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought that's That's the natural thing for them to do. If they can't get the best striker, go for the next best striker who's available, which was Eketike.
00:11:47
KEV
Yeah.
00:11:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm more than happy that they've gone and done that and left us with Izak. Surely that closes the door on Izak going anywhere until our owners, through a different team that they own, say that they want to buy Izak, which is strange.
00:12:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they're to talk on 200 million was mooted. I was hoping it was going to be us starting to take a leaf out of the Chelsea book. Let El Al-Hilal buy Isaac for 200 million.
00:12:07
KEV
Yeah.
00:12:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And as part of that deal, which happens all the time, have them loan him back to us for the next two seasons. And that would be nice, wouldn't it?
00:12:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why are they not talking about that?
00:12:29
KEV
That would be amazing.
00:12:31
KEV
I mean, it would be a amazing if it happened, but imagine if we even tried to do what Chelsea did, how quickly the Premier League would close us down and say it's not fair market value and all this rubbish.
00:12:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:41
KEV
ah think that Al-Halal won't so weird because obviously it's very similar. and i don't know if it's, I think it is the same owners technically, but I don't really run the club. But I genuinely can't see that happening at all. even Maybe there's been somebody saying inside the club, I'd like Isaac, as everybody would. think every club in the world would like Isaac.
00:13:00
KEV
and And I think someone's then just been a fly on the wall or somehow got a hold of that information and been like, oh, I'll have that and I'll want them.
00:13:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:13:07
KEV
And it's like, I just don't, I genuinely don't see I genuinely, I sound crazy saying this, but I think it was just at the minute some sort of agenda to try and disrupt Newcastle. It's like, Newcastle want Mbemo, right? Man U's going to go get him, so we'll stop him from getting him.
00:13:22
KEV
And then Newcastle want Trafford, right? Okay, we're going to stop that happening because Man City's got a buyback clause, so we'll get Man City to get him. Newcastle want Eketiki, right? Liverpool will come and get him.
00:13:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:13:31
KEV
and Newcastle want Joe Pedro, Chelsea will come and get him. it's like um I said it before, it's like the Mr Bean sketch. where he keeps looking over the other guy's paper all the time to get answers. And it's just every other club looking at Newcastle's transfer wishlist and thinking, well, they must know what they're doing because they've done really well. We're just going to take whoever Newcastle want.
00:13:50
KEV
But I don't think there's much. I think Isak's staying. I think it was it Luke Edwards said, for those hard of hearing, there's absolutely zero chance of Isak leaving unless it's an absolute astronomical bid, which in our eyes would be 200 million plus.
00:14:03
KEV
um I think there's no chance, absolutely no chance of Isak leaving and this window unless we somehow sign Lamin-Yamal and ah don't know, who's the other massive strike winner? Mbappe, I doubt we'll get either of them two. But unless them two come in, think Isak's pretty safe.
00:14:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I wish I had your confidence, Kev, because I think Al-Halal, who are looking to, they've still got eight years yet before they host the World Cup. And they want to be on a par with the rest of the world.
00:14:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean, Al-Halal did not, but they did not man City out of the Club World Cup.
00:14:32
KEV
We can have him in four, yeah.
00:14:34
KEV
but We can have him in another four.
00:14:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, so, and that was reported by, i think it was, I've forgotten the fella's name, but I think it was a Sky Sports, senior Sky Sports reporter in Italy, I think, or Germany, one of the two.
00:14:48
KEV
Hmm.
00:14:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, it was a really, really solid source that reported Al-Hilal's interest in Izak. Now, whatever. If he went and sat in the crowd alongside Joe Linton, waved at the fans for a little bit, and then went back in the coach to Newcastle before they get prepared to fly out to Singapore, I think they're going to first, there wouldn't have been anybody talking about anything, would there?
00:15:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's the fact that Eddie Howe has, he admitted, he sent him home because he didn't want him distracted by all of the attention that he would have got. Now, would he have got attention sitting in the crowd at Celtic Park?
00:15:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think he would have done. i don't would anywhere near the attention he's got now because Eddie sent him home.
00:15:41
KEV
yeah
00:15:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just was reading all sorts of things about Isaac's gone on strike. Isaac's refused to play. Now, at I think Eddie said he was never going to play in this game because of we were managing his minutes.
00:15:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I just don't don't get the sending him home thing. And that's just sort of stirred up a whole lot.
00:15:57
KEV
well It is a bit strange. yeah I don't know if Hal was maybe worried about the fan reaction from Newcastle fans, even though obviously he's still held really well with us. He's held in high regard. I don't know what the thinking is, to be honest, but I like what Hato's been honest.
00:16:12
KEV
I like what we haven't just got a, he was never going to play this game, he's at home doing whatever. I like he was like, look, there's loads of speculation about him. I decided to send him home. I think it's what's best for my player.
00:16:22
KEV
And then he did follow up after that when he got asked again in the proper post-match conference. and He did save it as far as he's concerned. concerned He expects Ezek to be here this season. So he did kind of correct himself after he had time to think about maybe how he worded it or how he said it.
00:16:38
KEV
and But it was on Sky Sports about two or three hours after the game that Howard came out and said,
00:16:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:16:44
KEV
Well, actually, I expect him to be here. I can't say anything for certain because you never know. But I fully expect him to be a Newcastle player come come start the start of season. So I don't think... I think Howe maybe just made a slight mistake or didn't really pick his words as wise as what he normally does.
00:16:58
KEV
His guard was maybe a little bit down with it being a pre-season friendly. But yeah, you're right. If he sat on the stands and gave us a wave, I don't think it would really matter that much.
00:17:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:17:05
KEV
But I still don't think it matters that much that he sent him home. He's our player. I can't see him not being our player unless we sign, like I say, an absolute world-class striker. Gone are the days of Ashley just cashing in on anybody when he can.
00:17:19
KEV
i think unless there's a solid plan. I think if Tiki had come in, might be having a different conversation now with Al-Halal on the table. It might be a bit like, well, we've got a replacement. Can we now get 200 million for him?
00:17:31
KEV
and But with us not signing a striker, I can't see him even until we sign somebody big.
00:17:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I would hope that you're right. I do du i much prefer going down the line that Al-Hilal will give us market value for him, which we know is in excess of 150, and in the terms of the transfer, loan him back to us for a season.
00:17:47
KEV
Mm-hmm.
00:17:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
That happens all the time.
00:17:56
KEV
It does, but I don't think Newcastle aren't allowed to do that.
00:17:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
When you're buying young kids...
00:18:00
KEV
We get threats so different. like these this These FFP rules were brought in because we have our owners. Imagine if our owners then give us £150 million but let us keep the player for two years.
00:18:13
KEV
I don't think there's any rules to stop it, but I bet you would find a way. The Premier League would bring in some sort of emergency meeting and Liverpool would pipe up about... how it's not fair market value and all this crap and how he shouldn't be getting loaned back. It would cause carnage. I'd love to see us do it, Ian.
00:18:28
KEV
I'm with you.
00:18:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know.
00:18:30
KEV
But imagine the reaction.
00:18:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's just disrupt them.
00:18:31
KEV
Imagine the reaction.
00:18:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's disrupt them. Okay, well, let's hope we can see Isaac continue to have a smile. Because Isaac had traded in Germany. He had plenty of smiles on his face.
00:18:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
White quite white water rafting and all the rest of it.
00:18:44
KEV
Yeah.
00:18:47
KEV
think he's happy. i think he's happy. I think he'll be here.
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know.
00:18:49
KEV
um um I think a lot of it is media talk. I think we'll want it unsettle. Newcastle a little bit. And we know, look, the media know how reactive and how over the top Newcastle fans can be sometimes.
00:19:00
KEV
And the media want to get clicks and they want to get reactions. And we know that the Newcastle fan base is going to give them most reactions. So they can start talking about Isak leaving and going to Liverpool or he wants Liverpool or he wants Al-Hilal and all, they just want reactions and clicks. So I'm i'm not too worried.
00:19:17
KEV
Isak looks happy. He sounds happy. And Howe says he's he's confident he's going to be here for next season. so That's enough for me at the minute, I think. Unless we sign a superstar, I think he's going to be there.
00:19:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
There are no super-restars than Alex Izak, though.
00:19:32
KEV
There you go.
00:19:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, let's say let's let's at least see him one more time in the Champions League for us.
00:19:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Get us pushed through to the semi-finals or something.
00:19:39
KEV
are.
00:19:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go on. Anyway, and I want to talk about the transfer market for us and where we are with it in part three.
00:19:41
KEV
The final, imagine.
00:19:47
KEV
Oh, it's a whirlwind.
00:19:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
and It has been, loud by and large, quite disappointing. You've already mentioned... a ludicrous A ludicrous conspiracy theory that the rest of the Premier League are conspiring just to pick every single player that we're...
00:20:07
KEV
Don't let Newcastle sign anybody.
00:20:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not. There is a different reason for it, Kevin, and I'll explain it to you in part three.
00:20:13
KEV
ah Thank you very much.
00:20:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
But before that, please give us the Zencastr advert. Do the OG, mate.
00:20:18
KEV
Yeah, old school. I haven't done this for ages, but we'll give it a go. Do you have a story to tell that the world needs to hear? Have you struggled with reaching new audiences who are engaged with your story?
00:20:29
KEV
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00:20:41
KEV
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00:20:54
KEV
Ready to tell your story? Check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster. And that link is definitely still in the show description, even more about it all that bit.
00:21:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
is All the links are in the show description. and
00:21:07
KEV
Educators, Ian, what's happening?
00:21:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, part three.
00:21:09
KEV
ah chi Educate me in the transfer window, what's happening?
00:21:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, tell me what you think. It's ah it's a theory of mine.
00:21:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:21:15
KEV
Come on.
00:21:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
We have had a complete change of philosophy when it comes to buying players. we All of our success since the takeover has been in unearthing gems. I don't mean discovering brand new talent at all but they've been on doing the proper research finding somebody who we think this fella is going to be world class not world class yet finding a Bruno finding a Botman finding a Tenali moving in bringing him through 18 months two years later you know they are world class at Newcastle and nobody's been competing with us to get those people might have looked at them
00:21:34
KEV
Yep.
00:21:44
KEV
yep
00:22:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
because they've looked at 10 up-and-coming midfield players that ah that look like they could be good.
00:22:07
KEV
Mm-hmm.
00:22:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
We haven't done that, this this this transfer window. What we've done is thought, right, we've got no PSR restrictions, so we've got a few million, or 150 million to spend, and we've gone shopping straight to the top table.
00:22:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've gone after the sort of players that Man City want, or Liverpool want, or Chelsea want, When it comes down to, well, we could pay for Joe Pedro.
00:22:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're saying that Chelsea can pay for Joe Pedro, which might be the transfer fee, but not on the wages. don't know how much Chelsea are paying him in wages, but it'd lot more than we would have offered him.
00:22:43
KEV
It'll be astronomical, yeah.
00:22:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
you You know, they they they can. They've they've got they've've got the clout to be able to, you know, meet the same transfer fees that we can now meet. But, you know, what have we got?
00:22:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gordon and Bruno at £160,000 as our top top performers, top players.
00:23:01
KEV
Yeah.
00:23:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I guess Isaac's going to have to be offered a lot more than that to get him to sign an extension to his contract. But we are seeing, I think we're reaping the fruits of changing our transfer philosophy too early.
00:23:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't mind us going for a good player and sticking with him. When we've got a little bit of an edge, Anthony Alanga knows half the Newcastle squad from having been i Man United player
00:23:25
KEV
Great signing.
00:23:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
training camps with him when he was 16 or playing in the in the national team with Izak and with Kraft having turned upon Osula's TikTok for for so so many years because they were at this training camp years ago.
00:23:30
KEV
Mm-hmm.
00:23:41
KEV
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
00:23:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Botman was there. Mental. That's why we get Alanga. Alanga's another player that that that the elite teams could have gone after but they didn't because they knew the edge that we had.
00:23:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
say i say Can you stop trying to buy the sort of players that these elite teams are wanting to buy as well and go back to what you do best?
00:24:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nixon is fantastic. You must have a huge black book of talent that nobody has particularly discovered yet. Maybe that's where Scalvini comes from, although he's 50 million plus.
00:24:17
KEV
Yeah.
00:24:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I haven't heard of anybody else going after him yet. There are two other guys. theres another centre-half in Italy and a centre-half at Valencia. who have been scouted. There are under 21 internationals.
00:24:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is the sort of player that we want to get, bring in and watch the 35, 40 million that we spend on them become 75, 80 million after a season and a half. That's what we've done before.
00:24:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's what we did with Anthony Gordon. Took a chance, if you like, earlier than the elite teams were willing to take it.
00:24:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we've cashed in on Bruno, onternali onmb boman on on Gordon. Less so on Barnes, but I'm not sure Barnes has got that much ceiling that Gordon had when we got him.
00:24:51
KEV
Yeah.
00:25:03
KEV
Yeah. think Barnes was a here and now one, wasn't he?
00:25:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'll shut up now.
00:25:06
KEV
Yeah.
00:25:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll shut i'll show up now. And then what do you think?
00:25:09
KEV
I think, no, to be fair, obviously my one about all the other clubs doing the Mr Bean and just copying off us was a bit tongue-in-cheek, but I think what you're saying is bang on. We are trying to now... compete with the Man City's and Liverpool's to sign players, which is a lot harder.
00:25:24
KEV
I also think was a little bit of Newcastle cleverness here because when you look back through history, i've I've just done what you've done really, but I've just looked back at what happened. So if you remember before we signed Tonali, we were linked with Barella, Nicolo Barella from Inter Milan and everyone was like, we're never going to get him.
00:25:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:38
KEV
And it was kind of like a smoke screen and then all of a sudden Tenali had signed and and was oh how have we got him I thought they were going after Barella how have we got him and it was very similar with Izak Izak wasn't mentioned that much at all really other than like two or three days before he signed and everyone was talking oh hang on that was maybe a smoke screen and Izak's come in and And I think I remember it with Botman as well. There was talk of Diego Carlos. Remember, he's at Villa now.
00:26:05
KEV
There was a big story about Carlos, big smoke screen on Newcastle going to get him.
00:26:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:26:09
KEV
And all of a sudden, out of nowhere, nobody had talked about Botman, but Botman comes in. So I think Newcastle are very, very clever at doing this. But Eketiki won this time round, the £70 million pound bid.
00:26:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:26:20
KEV
It didn't make a lot of sense. I was really excited to imagine a great strike partnership in the days of Ferdinand and Shearer and Bellamy and Shearer and CeCe and Barr. I was so excited for it. But it just didn't make a lot of sense, does it? Spending £70 million pounds on a position where you don't need immediately...
00:26:37
KEV
Was Ekotiki a ticketckier smokescreen for maybe a WISA or somebody else we might see break Monday morning as we're talking now to listeners? Is something going to break where it's like, hang on, Newcastle's in advance talks with God knows, somebody we've never heard of, like you've just said, somebody we're going to turn into world class.
00:26:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:26:53
KEV
And Ekotiki was just a smokescreen to maybe keep other people talking about things which doesn't make a lot of sense. So... Newcastle have done that a lot. I've mentioned three examples there with Bottman, Izak and Tonali. There's always been another player beforehand who we've missed out on.
00:27:06
KEV
And I think the club are just doing that again. I think they're very clever. They'll have loads of different targets. You mentioned the guy from Juventus, that Nicolo Savona, um young Italian defender. He could come out of nowhere. He could be that player of we were just sending smoke screens out with Traffords and whatever.
00:27:22
KEV
And I still think on the Trafford one, if we really wanted Trafford, we would have him by now. Again, I don't know how much of that is. We know Man City have a buyback clause.
00:27:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh.
00:27:30
KEV
Can we get City to take him? The TK one might have been, but look, we want to keep Isaac. We would love Liverpool or Man U, who both need a striker to go in for a guy we go in for.
00:27:41
KEV
So why don't we have some talks, make a bid, try and sell them a dream, and then we keep Isaac. I don't believe this 100%, but when you look back on the examples I've given, it's happened a lot with Newcastle under this regime and under Eddie Howe.
00:27:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:27:56
KEV
It's almost like, for me in my head, it can't happen that many times and it'd just be a coincidence. I think there is smokescreens sent out and Ekiteke one didn't make a lot of sense. The £70 million pound of our budget going on another striker when we need a goalkeeper, ah defender, and now Longstaff's left another midfielder.
00:28:15
KEV
I think the smoke screen getting sent out again. I think we've done it in the past. I think it's happening now. Don't get me wrong. I think we would have loved Pedro and I think we would have loved Deketiki. Of course we would have. But I'm not 100% convinced the club went in with the belief of this is going to be our player.
00:28:29
KEV
I think when that happens, like Isaac Tenali and Botman, it happens very quickly. um So that's kind of a bit of an add to your theory of are we just kind of trying to play the big teams a little bit?
00:28:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:28:40
KEV
We're also trying to get them. Of course we are. But actually, we've got a full list of players like you've just said who we believe can make world-class, who are more realistic targets, who will just go under radar and come in.
00:28:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, should we expect Sesco signing before lunchtime tomorrow?
00:28:57
KEV
you go. Done. I bet you it's advanced. It's done. Nobody knows about it.
00:28:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:29:00
KEV
Negatiki was a big smokescreen. It spent £60 million on CSGO.
00:29:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
No! Hey, look, I'm... I said two weeks ago, right, this isn't happening, but I did say two weeks ago that Arsenal were taking ages to sign Jokeres.
00:29:14
KEV
Yeah.
00:29:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm sure I heard today that Man United or are chasing after him.
00:29:19
KEV
Apparently so.
00:29:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that deal's not done. Would he not what do you trawl over broken glass to play up front with Isaac and Alanga?
00:29:28
KEV
It's the Swedish tree, isn't it? Could D make a bid? Have we been working on it? We've got no idea. That's the thing now, right? You've got so many... so-called in-the-know accounts who pretend to know what's going on inside a club but we've got no idea the only person who does know is Fabrizio Romano and he's getting loads wrong recently he announced somebody signed for Sunderland yesterday and then announced today but it's actually off completely So I'm like, even he doesn't know what's going on.
00:29:51
KEV
I think the clubs are all playing each other a little bit. There's a massive merry-go-round of, well, if he's going to leave, we'll take him off you, but we can't take him off you until he leaves.
00:29:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:30:00
KEV
It's carnage. You have to wait to trust the club. And I've said on a previous pod, come the start of the season or come September first We will have, no matter what, whether Isaac's there or not, or whoever's there or whoever isn't, we will have a team full of players who are one massive group in a great community and family like we've always had at Newcastle under Eddie Howe.
00:30:19
KEV
We'll all want to be there come September 1st, whoever is there. And we have the best manager in the league to kind of guide them through the Champions League campaign. Defending the League Cup, by the way. We defend the trophy this season.
00:30:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes
00:30:32
KEV
The FA Cup as well go for that and we've got to do well in league again. So I trust the club. but I trust the ownership. I think there's more than me to be eye here. Like I've said about the Carlos situation and the Eketiki situation two years ago and the Barella situation, it was all smokescreens to get somebody else. So I think the club know what we're doing. It might not seem like it sometimes, but we just have to keep the faith.
00:30:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Keep the faith. I will keep the faith, Kev. You've talked me back into it.
Looking Ahead to Upcoming Games
00:30:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um i'll let up I'm hoping that but they keep training hard as well so that we can um we could put up a better fist of it against Arsenal out in Singapore.
00:31:03
KEV
Yep.
00:31:08
KEV
Yeah. I think Arsenal's at a similar stage to us pre-season, so I think you'll see a lot of sloppy notes on both sides.
00:31:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Because... Yeah...
00:31:14
KEV
Whereas, like I said, Celtic are a month into their pre-season. They're getting ready for the season to start very soon. So, like I say, for us, we're behind. Arsenal, I think we'll win.
00:31:24
KEV
I don't know why I think we'll win. There you go.
00:31:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
um We always beat Arsenal, don't we?
00:31:29
KEV
ha, ha, ha!
00:31:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
That'll be why. Right. and Well, thanks very much, everyone, for listening. That's me, Ian McKay, having hosted you, Kevin Esther, to talk about the lovely magpies, the terrible outcome of the game yesterday, the typhoon, whirlwind, hurricane, tornado that is the current transfer market.
00:31:50
KEV
Keep up my butt if you can.
00:31:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And actually... We know as much as you know, as much as anybody else knows about who's coming to Newcastle. We'll leave it there.