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00:00:00
00:00:01
Mr Mackay's Monday Monologue
19 Plays20 days ago
Iain picks the positives out of Saturda's draw with Villa, rounds up the transfer shenanigans of the day and provides an alternative Premier League prediction to Michael's no-risk selections.
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Transcript
Ian's Solo Introduction
00:00:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Newcastle podcast, ah part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Ian Mackay. You might have spotted from the Mr. Mackay Monday monologue title that I am unexpectedly doing a solo pod tonight.
00:00:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nicola's not very well, so she couldn't come. Kevin got a bit tied up doing stuff and he's not back in time, so it's me on me lonesome.
Newcastle vs Aston Villa: Performance Overview
00:00:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah What we were looking forward to doing tonight was to have a good old chat about picking the bones out of the the match against Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime.
00:00:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think Michael had a good go at that on his own on Sunday morning for you. um I just have in this first part one or two things that I would like to bring out that I think are really encouraging.
00:01:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And also, first of all, of course... I predicted a draw. I didn't predict 3-1. I did predict 1-1 and it was 0-0 but I thought we'd get a draw and we did.
00:01:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah We'd all said beforehand we were happy to take a point there and then without playing the game and that's what we got and ultimately we're all really disappointed because we were very dominating particularly in the first half.
00:01:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought um to a man the team played pretty well. Bruno was off it a little bit but you know was was made up for by how ah well Tonali and Joe Linton played.
00:01:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Harvey Barnes ran out of ideas a little bit, almost put a fabulous ball through for Gordon to score a header. um And I think the fact that we've ended up with no goals is, in a very lazy way, it's easy to blame that on the fact that Alexander Azak is sitting somewhere not playing with us.
Defensive Strength & Missed Opportunities
00:02:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
But i to be fair, i thought I thought we did show a threat. I thought we carved out a number of opportunities. um I think Konza was sent off in the second half for bringing Anthony Gordon down with a clear goal scoring opportunity.
00:02:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And then it was tough when they went to 10 men, they they were going to be happy to settle for a point and they sat back and we ended up with the now infamous low block that we had to try and break down.
00:02:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I do still think it was a really positive, a positive game for us. Um, I think the fact that we ended halftime, or entered halftime, having had eight shots, um and Aston Villa hadn't had any, so had next G halftime of zero.
00:02:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
No shots on target, no no shots at all. um Testament to how fantastic Schar and Byrne were at centre-half.
00:03:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah And that was even more impressive than it would have been because they did get turned over. They got bossed the last time we played at Villa towards the end of last season when we were hammered 4-1.
00:03:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought they were really, really good. and So Villa had no shots in the first half. We had a number. Alanga possibly could have started his debut or with ah a goal in the first five minutes.
00:03:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
He could have squared the ball to Gordon and it was an open goal, but you can't blame the lad trying to score five minutes into his debut. He just... If he snatched out a little bit, the keeper made a good save.
00:03:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was a shot on target. um Encouraged us for the rest of the half. We bossed them. I thought Anthony Gordon, who, despite everybody saying, oh, it proves that we need a centre forward.
00:03:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought Anthony Gordon was a threat. and He's not six foot forward to be winning headers against the likes of Mings and Konza, of course. But he brings a different threat to the centre forward position. His pace is wonderful.
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
and scarce defenders. ah Interesting after the match that Anthony Gordon said he really enjoyed playing there and he thought as he gets a bit older and more into his career that he'll move off the wing and come more centrally. So, you know, I don't think he thinks he's makeshift.
00:04:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he thinks he's learning his trade as a centre forward. So, ah and I think he should be encouraged because, you know, he looks super keen. um It's really good to see him so invigorated.
00:04:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
and By the end of the match, obviously, Gordon should could have scored, was brought down by Konza, and we huffed and puffed. Didn't really have a lot clear chances to score.
00:04:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ended up drawing 0-0, which was ultimately disappointing because we were so dominant for that game.
Significance of the Draw
00:04:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
However, looking at some of the stats, um that was only the third shutout that Aston Villa have suffered at home in their previous 49 games.
00:05:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And in fact, they had won each of the last eight of their home games in the Premier League. So that's a great place to come away with a point. and And we shouldn't lose sight of that because all those points will add up at the end of the season and Villa in their 19 games will probably end up whacking 13 or 14 teams at home. So we've got a good point there.
00:05:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I also like the fact that at the end of the match, Filler had a expected goals of 0.13. nat point one three So we really shut up.
Defensive Strategies & Player Competition
00:05:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
We really shut up shop. And that, two years ago, when we qualified for the Champions League the first time, it was based on the quality of our defence and of not conceding goals.
00:05:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And if that's a sign that we're going to do the same thing this season, that's great. and And I think that can only be helped by the fact that both LaSalle's and Bottman are approaching fitness.
00:06:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Malik Chow has been signed to give us the opportunity to rotate. The main observation now was going to put out there, I think Byrne and Shah were as good as they were because they know that Chow and Bottman and LaSalle's are sitting on the bench waiting for them to put a foot wrong.
00:06:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
to be given their next chance. um Equally, although he didn't have a lot to do, but he did have a little bit in the first half of the second half, I thought Nick Pope played quite well.
00:06:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
He made a couple of good saves. His distribution looked pretty good, better than normal. um and i'm wondering if he had to play really, really well, because he is responding to the challenge of having a legitimate match ah rival for the number one shirt in Aaron Ramsdale.
00:07:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I hope so. That's what the new signings are supposed to do. Invigorate the squad, give new life into everything else and and get everybody working really hard. So hopefully m that's one of the benefits of the new signings that we've got coming in.
00:07:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I am going to go into signings um in the
Jacob Ramsey's Signing: A Midfield Upgrade?
00:07:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
second part. I'm not going to dwell on who else has come in just yet because I was talking about the match. um So yes, I got the prediction of the draw correct.
00:07:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Newcastle get a point away at Aston Villa, which 46 of the previous 49... I've got that wrong. Sorry, none of the last eight player eight teams to play at Villa Park have managed. and So I think that was a really encouraging performance.
00:07:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And rollland of roll on next Monday night when we have our home game first home game of the season against Liverpool. That will be feisty, I think.
00:08:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, I am going to pause there. Here's Ken telling you all about Bionic.
00:08:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was the Bionic advert recording with the giant pause that catches you out, but I was ready for it. um So it didn't catch me out. Anyway, welcome back. And it's part two.
00:09:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I'm going to just whiz through. i think as we do this every day, we need to log and record as and when things are ah happening. and
00:09:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
First and foremost, welcome to Jacob Ramsey, signed ah from Aston Villa for a fee of £39 million pounds and announced on Sunday, I think, officially as a Newcastle player.
00:09:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
If he's the replacement for Joe Willock, then that is a massive step up. He was aspiring to um play for England a year or two ago.
00:09:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was part of the same under-21 England team that won that will come to Anthony Gordon was player of the tournament for. So he has a high
Complexities in Signing Johan Wisser
00:09:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
ceiling. And I don't think, if you believe Michael, when he's been played in slightly the wrong position at Villa down the left, I don't think he's had an opportunity to get to his ceiling yet. So fingers crossed, we will get to see that Eddie will eke out a little bit more um improvement from him.
00:10:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll see him taking a more central midfield role. And, uh, Yeah, great addition to the squad.
00:10:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
News this day about our impending striker, Johan Wisser, who we've been promised is coming in for a month or something. ah First of all, he has deleted all of references to Brentford um and put a black disc where his face is on his Instagram page.
00:10:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he's just got rid of all of his pictures of him and his Brentford kit. So he's clearly keen to leave Brentford and join Newcastle. But I think Brentford have pulled a bit of a fast one.
00:10:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
We all hoped that the signing of Watara from Bournemouth was the domino that could fall, that would allow Brentford to do a deal with Newcastle for Wyssa. But today it emerges that they think that Watara is a replacement for Brian and Waymo, who of course they sold at the start of the window to Manchester United.
00:11:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And therefore they're going to need another striker signed before they can let Wisser go. Or of course, it'll take a fee of about 60, yep, 60 million pounds to get him.
00:11:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's reported, which of course is way too much for a man and already 29 and missing for six or seven weeks in the middle of the season at the African Cup of Nations.
00:11:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
So where we go from here, I don't know. We look for other strikers, presumably. um I don't think we'll sign off 60 million for WISA.
00:11:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everything is still open. Brentford might sign another striker and get a bit more realistic. I mean, they were talking about 25 million at the start. and that That seemed to have crept up to about 40 million to get in by the end of last week.
00:12:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
But to jump in a day or two up to £60 million is just silly. What that does do, we're talking about incomings there and looking at outgoings, what that does do is make it even less likely that Newcastle will have sufficient striker cover in by September 1st to allow them to strike a deal for alex Alexander Izak with Liverpool.
00:12:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
and watch this space. There's an impasse there. It's all up to Isaac himself. When Isaac says, Soz guys, I do want to come and play with you and train with you.
00:12:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's ready to welcome him with open arms. And why not? He's the best striker in the world. ah Certainly, um
00:12:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
in my opinion, if
Exploring Striker Options & Alexander Isaac's Future
00:12:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
he'd been playing against Aston Villa, even without the training, we'd have won that game. I think even the space that him playing centre forward would have created for everybody else would have got us a lot more chances.
00:13:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the Newcastle crowd on a Saturday's game certainly yeah let him know what they thought about him personally. So all of this stuff's going on. You don't know if he digs his heels in and he doesn't want to play, but will he do that in a World Cup? Yeah.
00:13:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Does he want to look that um disrespectful? or blasé about his contractual obligations um when he's trying to get a contract with Liverpool. i don't I don't know. I don't know what's going to happen with it.
00:13:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I hope we're are able to sign Wisser. And somebody suggested that we could have a word with PSG and see if they don't want to swap Ramos plus some cash for them to take Isaac.
00:13:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
That would be perfect, but there's only two weeks left. I don't think there's any time for us to do anything like that.
00:13:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Excuse me. Other little things that came out. um There was something I was reading yesterday somewhere. Sorry, I can't give the reference.
00:14:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
About Davide Frisante, very good midfield player, Italian international at Inter Milan, being on the radar to come in and play midfield. um But I also heard, you know, he was agent Tonali had been lining that one up for us, apparently.
00:14:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Probably made a nice story. Might have been true sometime last week, but I think the signing of Jacob Ramsey has spent the money that we have for a midfielder rather than going and trying to get him. um Maybe we could go and get him if we sold Isaac and had lots of cash.
00:14:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I don't think... I mention it because Frazante has been linked and he's a great player, great quality. But I think Ramsey's in, therefore that's probably it in terms of midfield players.
00:14:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Unless we can get him on loan. But why would leave on loan? I'm not sure. Loan to buy? I don't know. He's a great player. and But there you go. I mention it. What else have we got? um
00:15:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, today they're all talking about the only guy being left for us is Gonzalo Ramos at PSG. and He is a fantastic striker. He has been on our radar for a number of years.
00:15:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think... You know, he was dismissed as being a bit too expensive um when they were talking about him because he was going to be 65, maybe 70 million.
00:15:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
If Witter's price has gone up to 60 million, I would argue he's not expensive anymore. In fact, he looks a bit of a steal, bit of a bargain. And if we could persuade them to take Isaac to boot, that would be wonderful. um But certainly he is a calibre of a striker that we could bring in.
00:15:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
that would allow us to do a deal for Rezac, whether that's to Liverpool or to anybody else. And let's be honest, we all really will be glad to see the back of him and not have to think about it any anymore, rather than try and suffer the yeah banter and pain of trying to reintegrate him.
00:16:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's where I am. i I don't want to see him in black and white any anymore. Let us know in the comments below what you think. can't believe I'm saying we don't want the best striker in the world to play for us again, but there you go.
00:16:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's where I'm coming from. and I don't really have any more talk about on the transfer. What else have we got? Sheikha Bramsey's um Whistle's expensive.
00:16:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fratezi's not coming. Gonzalo Ramos linked. That's it. That's it today. um Probably end of part two, so I'll give you the Zencastr advert. Here we go.
Listener Engagement & Striker Suggestions
00:16:53
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00:17:14
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00:17:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
straight no jokes nothing straight for you this is very businesslike because I'm talking to myself basically I'm talking to you lovely people talk back to me let me know who you want the striker there's still two weeks have you got any secret fancies over in Europe up your sleeve that nobody's mentioned yet and because I think you know you could send your answers through to Newcastle United at St James's Park Newcastle UK They'll be really, really interested in hearing your suggestions. um
00:17:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Part three.
Premier League Predictions & Team Prospects
00:17:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
What Michael also did, I think on Saturday, was his predictions for the Premier League this year. And Michael, I get where you're coming from, but they are so dull.
00:18:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's like it's almost not worth playing any matches this year. Picking Liverpool to win and Man City to be second and then Arsenal and then Liverpool and Sunderland to finish bottom of the league.
00:18:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, you know, it might happen. I know it might happen. But that's not what football's like, is it? There's always a surprise package. I've done mine. and And like I said to you when we briefly talked about it at the end of last week, my top four was completely different to you.
00:18:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Also, Michael, what are you talking about? Newcastle finishing sixth. We've got a much stronger squad than last year and we were up for second going into the second last game of the season. I think you've underestimated where we're going to be.
00:18:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, let me run through briefly from number 20 upwards where I think the teams are going to finish. and
00:19:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
can't get away from the fact that Burnley will finish 20th. I don't think Cal Walker's enough.
00:19:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Really feel for this team and you can see why they're digging their heels in about letting Wisser go when they've already lost Mbwemo, Thomas Frank, Damsgaard, if Wissau went as well, I mean, and they looked dreadful on the first game of the weekend.
00:19:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wissau wasn't playing in that, so the post-Wissau years would look like what Brentford were like on Saturday. I've got them second bottom, number 19. ah Equally dreadful.
00:19:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And swapped a few positions um after I saw how they performed it at Sunderland.
00:19:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've got West Ham. They've lost Kudus. They've got Bowen. They're relying on Bowen. So you take Bowen out of the game and who else have they got? I've got West Ham in 18th.
00:20:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sunderland made some great signings and started with a really, really confidence-boosting 3-0 victory at home. I've put them in 17th because I still think they are. They're going to struggle, but not as much as the previous relegated teams will because some of these Premier League teams are weak and they haven't strengthened.
00:20:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
In 16th, I'll get my numbers right, hopefully. In 16th, I've got Wolves, who've lost Aitnori, I hope I tell you how pronounce it, and Kunia, still have some good players, but that's a lot to come out of the team and I haven't seen much replacing them.
00:20:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Leeds, and Leeds, and Leeds, and Leeds, I've got 15th, which is pretty good for a newly promoted side, but they are a big team. ah Bournemouth in 14th.
00:20:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
out I was quite impressed with Bournemouth. Semenyo looks great. They've kept hold of Kluivert, Christie. A number of good players there still, but um yeah, don't know how the defence will line up.
00:21:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
It certainly won't be as good as having Hoyssen and Zebany. zibarni i call can't say anyway When your two centre-halves are both signed by PSG and Real Madrid after one season, you know that's a defence it's going to struggle to replace.
00:21:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
um What was that? Bournemouth 14th. Fulham 13th. Palace, because they're always going to finish 12th. I've watched Palace draw with Chelsea.
00:21:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thought they looked really good. Not sure how long they will keep looking really good if they sell Eze and they sell Gehi. But the manager's great. Glasner's great.
00:21:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
He no doubt will find replacements. He'll be scouring the championship as we talk now. 11th, I've got Brighton.
00:22:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
10th, this is probably my surprise package. I've got Everton. think Moyes had a great run at the end of last season. He's brought Jack Grealish in for a little bit of flair.
00:22:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Don't know how they're getting on tonight against Leeds. It was goalless. with about 20 minutes to go. and So that's top 10 finish for Everton. Ninth, Forrest, or low, Forrest.
00:22:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was after they'd lost Alanga and replaced him with a decent winger, but not on Alanga. I think today they've brought in a very good striker from France, Calamuendo or something like that.
00:22:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
and that might That might push them back up. But anyway, I then got Spurs in seventh. Manchester United, sorry, Spurs in eighth that is, isn't it?
00:22:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Manchester United in seventh. Too much better season for those two teams. m But when you look really good against Arsenal going forward, Mbwemo and Cunha look like they've been playing for Man United for years.
00:23:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sesco looked a bit... Sesco looked like he's going to be out a threat once he adjusts. But...
00:23:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
address the goalkeeping situation really address the midfield situation so yeah i don't think Man U are going to be too fantastic I got um Villa in sixth Villa in seventh even I put Chelsea in sixth yeah everyone's got them higher up I just think Chelsea are a totally unstable side and and another year where they have to bring in some expensive players to bed them all together.
00:23:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
um i know they've replaced Jackson with Joe Pedro and Lapp. and Jackson did do 15 goals in each of the last two seasons. so I think something like that.
00:24:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
so He's hard to replace. They lost Madueke, who are quite rated. don't know if um this Gittins fellow will the shape up to be as good as him.
00:24:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think they've strengthened this their squad. They still have Robert Sanchez in goal, who is not quite as bad as Onada, but he is a mistake waiting to happen. and So I'm not sure Chelsea have improved. um and I know Arsenal are supposed to have done, and I've got them in fifth.
00:24:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't know. ah just keep remembering Jokeresh when he didn't do much at Brighton, and there was OK at Coventry in the championship. and And he's yet another Portuguese striker who's come in for big bucks like Darwin Nunes.
00:24:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
So maybe Arsenal haven't quite got the striker that they hope they got. I've got them to finish fourth anyway. Newcastle in third. See that, Michael? That's support. All blunt blind faith, probably.
00:25:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But no, I think we've really strengthened the squad. I think we've got Alanga instead of Alnaron We've brought in Chow instead of Lloyd Kelly. We've got Ramsdale instead of Dubravka.
00:25:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ramsey has come in for Longstaff. um Another signing or two, if it is Wisser for Wilson, or any striker that stays fit for Wilson, is going to be a big step up on that.
00:25:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah If Isaac has to continue playing, and then we haven't lost him. ah But, yeah, I don't know why everything is so doom and gloom at Newcastle. We've strengthened the squad in every area that we wanted to strengthen.
00:25:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we're still shopping. I've got Liverpool as runners-up, which means that I've got Manchester City to win the title.
00:25:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just think that they did a lot of their shopping in the January window for this year's title. Malmouche looks fantastic. Anna has six months premiership experience now.
00:26:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think the yeah their player of the season won't be Rodri. I think it'll be I don't know you pronounce his name, the Dutchman Reindeers? It looks like reindeers.
00:26:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Him, he looked absolutely wonderful in a quite routine 4-0 spanking of wolves that I watched. Anyway, that's my prediction for the title, Michael. Different to yours.
00:26:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll have to remember we've done it and check in nine months' time.
00:26:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
My name's Meenian Mackay. Thank you very much indeed for listening. um I'm sure there will be more than just one of us around for tomorrow and there will be some conversation going on.
00:26:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
In the meantime, if you disagree with my choice of Premier League finish, please let me know in the in the notes. don't think Newcastle going to finish third.
00:27:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
You haven't paid attention to what's been going on. um We'll see you soon.