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Daily Newcastle - The Isak Saga from Afar
17 Plays18 days ago
Iain hosts former football-PR man and GSPN Supremo Nick Britten to pick the bones out of Alexander Izak's first direct utterances on his current situation and Newcastle's swift response, to determine if there are any clues as to how the saga will be resolved.
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Transcript
Introduction and Guest Setup
00:00:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, that should have woken up all of you Daily Newcastle listeners. You've never heard that before, have you? I hadn't heard it until a while ago, and I must say it's a massive improvement. My name is Ian Mackay. I'm here on the Daily Newcastle, proud to be part of the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:00:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Obviously, we're going to chat about the Alexander Izak situation. I was going to do a solo, but I don't have to because I have invited, and he has accepted,
00:00:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
His Royal Highness, Mr Nick Britton, Global Sports Podcast Network Supremo himself and an ex-PR advisor to Derby County, no less, to come and chat to me about this alex Alexander Ezak situation. I was a bit concerned. I might just be ranting for 30 minutes, but we're going to have a proper discussion about it.
Alexander Isak's Apology and Newcastle's Response
00:01:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And hopefully Nick can interpret some of the words from the two statements that came out last night. Nick, welcome to the podcast.
00:01:11
Nick Britten
Thank you very much. It feels like a long time coming in. And I've got to say, over the summer, I've been itching, itching to get involved with the alex Alexander Isak story, because it is an extraordinary story, whichever way you want to look at it.
00:01:24
Nick Britten
And there's still, one feels, a twist and a turn to happen before it's all resolved. So it's very, very good to be here. And thank you for having me on.
00:01:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're very, very welcome. I do think you're right about that. i have a sneaking suspicion that by the end of the transfer window, um it won't be finished. we'll We'll go into another transfer window come Christmas and it will all still be up up for grabs and up for discussion. But we'll get on to that later on.
00:01:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Obviously, big news in hopefully throwing some light on what on earth is going on because it's all been cloak and dagger-y.
Nick's Perspective on Broken Promises
00:02:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Newcastle haven't said anything about the situation, apart from a very tactful Eddie Howe continuing to say that he wished that alex Alexander Izak was training with us, he wished he could pick him to play for Aston Villa.
00:02:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And a lot of hot air or a lot of observation being made by various journalists and social media guys, presumably having been briefed by the Izak camp.
00:02:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Lots of liver noisy Liverpool fans saying that we ought to free him and he should go on hunger strike or something like that. and But last night, there seemed to be some... The main participants commented.
00:02:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah First of all, Alex Izak apologised for not attending the yeah Footballer of the Year Awards or the Team of the Year Awards because he didn't feel it was right. He stated, and I know you'll go into more detail because being in PR...
00:02:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
you're going to and think the words are important. I haven't got that in front of me, but Isaac said he felt that because of broken promises, the trust has been broken and it was better for both parties to move on for there to be change.
00:02:59
Nick Britten
Yes.
00:03:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Newcastle just before midnight came straight back to say there's never been anybody at the club ever promised that he was be able to move this summer to say that, um,
00:03:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
to say that there yeah there's never no one's ever said that, that we were a ah clear that if there was to be a sale, there were two very clear conditions that had to be met, none of which have been, and they didn't foresee that any of those conditions would be met before the end of the transfer window.
00:03:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then they said, we're a great big happy family. Alex is still perhaps a little bit of a black sheep of that happy family, but we're here for you, son.
Contractual Obligations and Similar Situations
00:03:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
once you've finished your tantrum, to be welcomed back into the bosom of your living brothers and sisters.
00:04:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think I've paraphrased that.
00:04:03
Nick Britten
Broadly summed it very, very well, yes.
00:04:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:04:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, and what should I say? Pick the bones out of that. First of all, what is the outsider's view of this situation that's going on? I feel that we are very close to it to be able to have any sort of objective view to it and I mean I'm I'm far more objective about it than either Nick or or Joe or Kev they they are they are varying between letting him rot in the reserves for three years and actually transporting him to Australia and never letting him come back but that's where we are but we're very pro Newcastle what does it look like from the outside Nick
00:04:49
Nick Britten
Well, I'm well aware of how the Newcastle ah fans feel about this. I listen to your podcast every day, ah often with the phone quite a long way away from my ears. it's It's an interesting... I mean, look, this is not the first time player's gone on strike. It's not the first time ah player's down tools, and it won't be the last time.
Debate on Isak's Future and Newcastle's Strategy
00:05:06
Nick Britten
But this has seemed to have been dragged on for a long time, and it's an unusual... story at an unusual situation, more made more so by just the behaviour of the player himself. Because something's happened, isn't it? Something's happened at the back end of the season where Isaac has felt, right, that's it. I'm due a move out of here.
00:05:26
Nick Britten
and ah and And therefore, I'm going to get it. And if you think back to that time when Newcastle travelled to Celtic and he had a bit of an injury and he wasn't going to play and all that, but then he suddenly got dispatched back to er St James' Park and then didn't go on the tour ah to South Korea. And then he's training with his former teammates and he's training on his own.
00:05:45
Nick Britten
He obviously feels incredibly aggrieved at something. Now, he has made reference in this statement to promises being made. As always, i mean, it's a very easy get out, isn't it?
00:05:58
Nick Britten
It's a very easy get out to say, oh, yeah, somebody behind the scenes told me this and to take it out as well.
00:06:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:06:03
Nick Britten
The reality is he's under contract. And whilst he's under contract, the club can and will and should rightly be able to dictator dictate excuse me but dictate what happens to him, where he goes, whether he plays, whether he's sold, et cetera, et cetera.
00:06:19
Nick Britten
So... we've We had this kind of all this drama at the start of the season and we kind of expected it, I think, to be sort of sorted out quite quickly. I don't think anybody would have expected it to be rumbling on into the last week of the transfer window with this impasse still very much in place where Izak isn't training with a club, so he's training on his own.
00:06:41
Nick Britten
Newcastle are just saying, well, we're waiting to see what you're doing um waiting to see what Liverpool are doing. Liverpool saying, were waiting to sort of see what happens, you know, in our business and we might put in another bid and we might not. And there's every chance actually come September 2nd that Newcastle will still have Alexander Ezek on the books.
00:06:58
Nick Britten
And then comes the situation of, well, we can't afford to just let him rot. We've got to have to play him because A, he's a very good player. And B, we haven't got anybody else who's as good as him because we've not been to go out and buy anybody.
00:07:13
Nick Britten
And what happens then, and we have seen it before, is that he's going to have to He's always got a choice, hasn't he? Either really, really doubles down and literally goes on strike, in which case you've got potential legal recourse and it'll get was very, very, very messy.
00:07:26
Nick Britten
Or he does what he should do. And in fact, what he should have done quite a long time ago, which is apologise for his toys being thrown out of the pram, get his head down, work hard, play for Newcastle and see what happens.
00:07:39
Nick Britten
Because that's what's happening elsewhere. I mean, think of the... If you think look look down to South London, look at Eber Echieze, who's been linked with the move to Spurs for a long time. And he's been playing for Palace, played at the weekend. He's due to play tomorrow night in in the Europa Conference League, if he's still a Palace player. But the the deal with Tottenham has always kind of been going through. But he's he's behaved...
00:08:01
Nick Britten
in in a completely opposite way to somebody like Isaac. Now, my opinion of this is fairly straightforward, and it is this. The club, to all intents and purposes, owns him. They own his registration. He's under contract, which he signed. He was very happy to sign that contract.
00:08:14
Nick Britten
And therefore, he must abide by the terms of that contract unless it is agreed by both parties that something changes, i.e. he either gets a new contract with a wage rise or he's sold.
Analyzing Isak's Options if Liverpool Backs Out
00:08:24
Nick Britten
But if one party doesn't agree to that, the other one can't simply say, well, I just want to go my own way.
00:08:30
Nick Britten
And he's talking about a very, very, very,
00:08:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interestingly, i' sorry to interrupt there, Nick. I do think that um that's that is the promise that was broken. I think when Amanda Staveley was there, she said he would get a new contract, he get a big pay rise. I mean, we value him at 150 million, but we're paying him like a guy who's worth about 45 or 50 million. um Unfortunately, she left and Paul Mitchell coming in, who was quite offhand and ruffled a few feathers apparently,
00:08:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
had looked last year, seen he still had four years of his contract and seemed dismissed, you've got four years left on your contract, you don't need your contract looking at. like can I can um imagine that would be a bit of a sickener.
00:09:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I know we're saying Alexander Izak is a fantastic player. However, he was rubbish at the start of the season. He was fantastic in that middle section. He wasn't very good for the last 10 minutes, the 10 games.
00:09:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
We were saying, well, they're having to play him, but he's carrying a groin injury. He wasn't. He wasn't. This was obviously starting to fester and come back up again. And and he he'd done his bit. He'd won us the cup. and Perhaps wasn't keen that we qualified for the Champions League because that might have been one of the things that was promised that would get him his move.
00:09:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know. It's all speculation. And I'm just adding to it now. I'm going to.
00:09:51
Nick Britten
Yes, but but even even in that case, Ian, even in that case, you know, that's life, isn't it? That's life.
00:09:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:09:58
Nick Britten
And it's all very well somebody saying one thing, but if they leave the business and somebody comes in and says something else and you're still under contract, well, I'm afraid you've just got to suck it up and live with it and, you know, live with your 160 grand a week or whatever he's on and wait for the appropriate time.
00:10:13
Nick Britten
Or, or... If you are intent on moving and if you are intent on trying to force a move, do it in the right way. And part of the problem, I think, and one of the reasons Newcastle have quite rightly dug their heels in on this is because of the way he's gone about it.
00:10:30
Nick Britten
They are not going to support a player moving away if he's going to down tools, go on strike, make it as difficult as you can for the coaches, make it as difficult as you can for the players, the supporters, the business in general,
00:10:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:10:45
Nick Britten
They're not going to do that.
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, we've got a long...
00:10:47
Nick Britten
If it is the case that he's been promised to move away, and nobody really knows that because nobody's seen any evidence of that. We've only got his own word for that. If that's the case, well, okay, but then go about it in the right way.
00:11:00
Nick Britten
And if the move doesn't happen this summer, look at, look at, there's precedence. Look at Hurricane. Look at the hurricane situation at Tottenham. You know, he says, he says he was promised to move a couple of times.
00:11:11
Nick Britten
And Daniel Levy dug his heels and said, no, no, not this year. And then we got they got to a stage where where essentially it said, right, OK, stay with us for this year and we'll let you go next year. And Kade got his head down. He scored a shed load of goals for Tottenham and he got his move.
00:11:26
Nick Britten
That's the way to do it. That's the way to behave properly. And I think if Izzak had done that at the start, then, hey,
00:11:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. a
00:11:32
Nick Britten
hey Newcastle might have been more willing to support him in his move away this summer, depending on, of course, whether it suited the business and they could get players in to replace him.
Newcastle's Control and Future Implications
00:11:42
Nick Britten
Or B, at least put something down a little bit firmer, which would have said, OK, well, look, this is all a bit late in the day.
00:11:47
Nick Britten
Stay with us for this year and we'll get down a written agreement that you can leave you know next year. But none of those things are happening.
00:11:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, we've got...
00:11:53
Nick Britten
what i' really really interest What I'm really interested in is whether Liverpool are now looking them going, he the sort of character we want in the building?
00:11:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go on.
00:12:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, that's... ah Well, that's to be seen, isn't it? What I was going to say was that we have a we we do not begrudge Alec Isaac wanting to better himself.
00:12:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
We have a long history, a long and happy history of selling our best players to Liverpool, in fact. I'm thinking of Peter Beardsley. Earlier than that, Terry McDermott and Alan Kennedy,
00:12:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:12:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jose Enrique, Andy Carroll. They've all been sold to Liverpool. They all remain, to a different extent, heroes at Newcastle. I know one or two of them came back, but some of them didn't, and they're still heroes at Newcastle because they did it the right way.
00:12:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is the wrong way. um I'm going to pause there, Nick, so we can get an advert in. Otherwise, we'll be on for an hour. We could be on for an hour, but... Let's just say have a word. Is this still the dulcet tones of Ken? We'll find out.
00:13:14
Nick Britten
family. We love people.
00:13:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's shorter, so it's got to be played more regularly. It's shorter, it's and it's good.
00:13:48
Nick Britten
I like it. I like it. It's great.
00:13:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I love it.
00:13:50
Nick Britten
No, it's good. It's good.
00:13:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Back to part two. The other...
00:13:53
Nick Britten
No, it was Ken's reading of the Bionic ad that makes me want to go and have a shower every time i want to hear it.
00:14:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
m The other broken promise, of course, if they have talked, and he's told them this at the start of the season, Hal would have said, Alec, of course, Of course you can go if you want to go.
00:14:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're really pleased that you're here and that you're here for this season. Let's be good this season and see what it's like next year. What will have to happen is that we're going to need a replacement for you and they're going to have to pay the right amount for you, which are these conditions.
00:14:21
Nick Britten
Thank you.
00:14:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, Newcastle's statement, they say they haven't had anybody promise anything like that anyway. But I'm sure if if they've talked about it, those conditions would have been made clear.
00:14:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And they are clear. Everybody knows those conditions. um They talked about 150 million valuation before the end of the season, and if anybody wanted to come for him. um So, yeah. And I would just like to observe, by the way, that any broken promise that can't be proven doesn't carry as much weight to be acting upon as that written contract that Ezek signed that still has three years to go.
00:15:09
Nick Britten
Well, correct.
00:15:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:15:09
Nick Britten
i mean, I'd like to see production of an email or a letter or some kind of what we call a permanent ah copy of record that says, yeah, we'll let you go.
00:15:20
Nick Britten
Because otherwise, it is a very, very easy thing to say. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I've been promised this or I've been promised that. Well, okay, let's hear a bit more about who and when and where. And can you substantiate that? Because if you can't, well, it doesn't really mean very much, does it?
00:15:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, his agent has been um painted in a dubious light because of previous acts. I mean, he's banned from some of the Dutch clubs from even ah even being on the premises for how he's acted before.
00:15:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I believe he's this is his last big deal. that is This is a pension that he's creating by forcing this deal through. um And if he hasn't logged a discussion where that promise has been made, then that's on him.
00:16:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Three years earlier, he's negotiated the contract that doesn't have a release clause in it. That's on him too. Now, know Isaac is his own man and he's made these decisions himself. And that's why there's a lot of personal vitriol towards the chap from the Newcastle fans.
00:16:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I do think a large ah ah a large slice of it is going to be the advice that he's had from this this chap. Yeah. Anyway, that was what Isaac said. Newcastle came out quite clear with quite short statement, but very much to the point, as I said, reiterating they have got nowhere near either of the two conditions that were needed to be able to facilitate a sale, that they don't foresee that taking place before the end of the transfer window, but the door left wide open, and almost talking to him like he's
00:16:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
a child that's going to come to the end of his tantrum eventually, and his loving family would welcome him back with open arms. Now, those two um statements that were issued, there must be some football PR ah spin.
00:17:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Have we got everything that we need out of those, Nick? Or is there something else that we could possibly be reading into those?
00:17:22
Nick Britten
Well, if you look at if you look at the exact statement to start with, That was quite clear in terms of what he felt. He feels he's kept quiet long enough. the The timing last night was the right time to come out of it because he was involved you know with the PFA Awards, etc.
00:17:38
Nick Britten
ah And um he's played the card that a lot of players play in these situations. We've seen it before. This is not new news. I've kept quiet for a long time whilst others have spoken. So essentially...
00:17:49
Nick Britten
putting it out there that everybody's had their say and therefore by association with those words, half of it isn't true. you know I'm the only person who knows the real truth in all of that is is is what sits behind a sentence like that. He then goes on to say promises.
00:18:03
Nick Britten
The reality is, that's an interesting phrase, the reality is promises were made, the club has known my position for a long time and to act now as if these issues are only emerging is misleading.
00:18:14
Nick Britten
Now, again, okay But at what level have you had those conversations? And we've talked about it a moment ago. What proof have you got? what is ah What is a snatched conversation in a corridor?
00:18:27
Nick Britten
What does it mean to two different parties? To Newcastle, does it mean, yeah, okay, we kind of know where he's at. Whereas to Izak, it means this is an absolutely sworn affidavit in my mind that I'll be gone at the end of the season and they'll sell me to a better club.
00:18:39
Nick Britten
So... It's just smoke and mirrors in terms of how different parties interpret these things without any kind of proof one way or the other. So when promises are broken, trust is lost, the relationship can continue.
00:18:51
Nick Britten
Now, when I heard him say this, that promises are broken and trust is lost, I took that to mean, well, I haven't got my own way, so I'm not very happy. that's what i That's kind of what I took from that.
00:18:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
e It is a little bit.
00:19:01
Nick Britten
and You know, why change the best interests of everyone, not just for myself? So he's having a dig there. Who's having a dig there at a club? at the swabbing what's he what's What's he trying to say? Why change in the best interests of everyone? Is he saying to Newcastle, well, you've got to pack up your lying and you've got to pack up, you know, trying to stitch me up? It's a very odd thing to to end on.
00:19:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I like the double-edged sword that he's not realized that he's slicing his own throat with when he says... about ah pretending that this news has only recently emerged is disingenuous because 150 million offer replacement already bought.
00:19:34
Nick Britten
Thank you.
00:19:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's That's not just recently emerged. Those conditions of how he could be sold have been well established for a long, long time.
00:19:44
Nick Britten
and know
00:19:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And Liverpool offered 110, that's a way off.
00:19:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And obviously, not only have we not got to replace him for Izak in, and it's not for the one of trying, of course. The world documents how many strikers we've gone for who we've turned down.
00:20:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And by the way, if Liverpool really want Izak, what are they doing coming in at the 11th hour and pinching Eketike when we're about to sign him? That just doesn't make any sense whatsoever.
00:20:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
um i mean, that's probably what's really... annoyed Isaac, you know, his deal was there.
00:20:26
Nick Britten
I imagine.
00:20:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then it and then it then it's Liverpool that got in and picked Eketike.
00:20:27
Nick Britten
Yeah, I imagine. Yeah.
00:20:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, they then say, oh, yeah, but we still need another striker. And I know they do. They've sold Diaz and Nunes and, of course, tragically lost Jota. They do need another striker.
00:20:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I don't know if they need to spend another, you know, 100 million plus on another striker. Anyway, apparently went to sniffing after Wisser last week, which is, again, it's crazy. It's amazing. Don't really know what's what is going on. m I've lost my thread a little bit there, Nick. I do apologise.
00:21:00
Nick Britten
Well, that's okay. i mean we had We had his act statement, then we had Newcastle's statement very, very quickly released.
00:21:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:21:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:21:05
Nick Britten
I'll tell you what, that was that was a very interesting move in itself that they the the club put out a statement so quickly, isn't it? You don't often see that. It might be the next day or the day after. To release a statement within you know a matter of minutes, almost an hour or so, ah tells you, I think, it tells you where Newcastle's head is at with all of this.
00:21:25
Nick Britten
They're not prepared to be mucked around anymore. They're not prepared to sit and listen and hear all the stuff that's being talked about them or allow, more importantly, alex Alexander Eysak to really grab hold of this narrative.
00:21:40
Nick Britten
So they shut all this down very, very quickly. I thought their statement was pretty hard line. I thought it was very interesting. and i thought it was a good statement. And if you look at it sort line by line, if you like, you know, they nail it in the first sentence. He's under contract and nobody's ever said he can leave. Simple as that.
00:21:58
Nick Britten
Simple as that. So, okay, what they're saying there, Alexander, you say, okay, you want to tell us that people have said you can leave? Well, come on, do your best. Tell us. Show us the proof. Because as far as we're concerned, there's no proof whatsoever.
00:22:12
Nick Britten
ah We've listened to their views. We've listened to their wishes. So they they've kind of opened the door in terms of... We've spoken to him and we've told him. We've told him where we're at. We told and we understand where you're at, et cetera, et cetera.
00:22:23
Nick Britten
And that is, as you've referred to earlier on, Ian, these conditions being met. Now, the really interesting line is the third line here where it says we do not foresee. And foresee is the fascinating word in this. We do not foresee.
00:22:34
Nick Britten
those conditions being met. Now, that throws the ball very clearly back into Liverpool's court to say, well, we're not accepting this deal and we don't think you're going to come forward. So if you want him, you're going to have to come and meet our valuation.
00:22:49
Nick Britten
And it's telling Isaac that, well, okay, you know, that means you're going to stay at a Newcastle player.
00:22:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
absolutely
00:22:57
Nick Britten
and And throws the ball back into his court in terms of, well, it's going to be up to him how he reacts to this. And we'll come to that in just a moment. And then it finishes, you know, Proud Football Club, Proud Traditions, et cetera.
00:23:09
Nick Britten
Excuse me. And then Alex remains a part of our family. And we'll be welcomed back when he's ready to rejoin his teammates, which I thought was a great was a great way to end it.
00:23:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well,
00:23:19
Nick Britten
Because it was just right. You know what? Let's put all this crap behind us. We all know where this is going. We all know where this You might as well stop all this nonsense and come back and we're ready for you. equally Equally, that that last sentence could easily be, well, we have to say that.
00:23:33
Nick Britten
Because if we don't say that and we don't make it clear that we are prepared to hang on to him, it might just encourage Liverpool to to keep throwing in low ball offers at us.
Isak's Potential Return and Reconciliation Strategies
00:23:42
Nick Britten
So I think a lot of that statement was based around saying to Liverpool, we'll sell him to you, but we're not mucking around.
00:23:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
well
00:23:48
Nick Britten
So stop your nonsense if you want him, pay him what we're asking, and we'll give him to you.
00:23:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's right. Now, I think that that that's clear that Newcastle are resolute in getting full value.
00:24:04
Nick Britten
As they should be.
00:24:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
probably Probably also, there's still 10 days in the window and they did bring two players in ah last week. So they probably still hold out hope of getting two strikers in, Wissett finally comes.
00:24:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But Izak... Sounds as though he's going to be digging his heels in it's going to be a problem. However, I think there's something in his statement which leaves the door open as well.
00:24:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I'm going to do this and then ask you to do the Zencastr advert, please.
00:24:50
Nick Britten
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencastr came out the clear winner. This is true. It's not just an ad, by the way. We did when we were creating the GSPN couple of years ago. We looked at all sorts of platforms.
00:25:03
Nick Britten
And Zencastr was indeed the best. With 4K video recording from your phone, AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs in brackets, all those swear words coming out of the Geordie mouths.
00:25:16
Nick Britten
It's super easy to start a podcast. It sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencastr.
00:25:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's incredible, Nick. Nobody interrupts the advert to actually verify the facts that are being told on us on a sales piece before.
00:25:34
Nick Britten
I have a good question.
00:25:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
That that is very, very good.
00:25:36
Nick Britten
I have a good question.
00:25:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And ah to be fair, if you're a little old bloke like me who's not very tech savvy, but you can produce your own podcast on your own, it just shows how easy and efficient it is.
00:25:40
Nick Britten
have good question. I have good question. Yes.
00:25:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, go back to what Alexander Izak said in that last paragraph about where he was.
00:25:50
Nick Britten
So... she
00:25:55
Nick Britten
yes and so
00:26:00
Nick Britten
and so of Again, I wonder i wonder what he's... I'd like to get sort of get inside his head a little bit here and think about what he's thinking because he's assumed, okay, he assumed that by now he'll be a Liverpool player.
00:26:14
Nick Britten
If you think back two months two months ago, end of the season, he assumed by now he would be Liverpool player. These things, you don't just go on strike if you don't know that a player that a team wants to sign you a club wants to sign you.
00:26:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:26:25
Nick Britten
You don't do it in the hope that something might come along. You do it because you've had firm promises from the buying club that they're that they're going to go in from. So his last his last sentence was, look, when promises are broken, trust is lost.
00:26:36
Nick Britten
The relationship can't continue. That's where things are for me right now. And it's those words right now which I think are interesting because football can change and attitudes change. I remember back in the day, Pierre Van Hooydok went on on strike at Nottingham Forest.
00:26:54
Nick Britten
And he and you know he was the burning effigies and all this kind of stuff was going on. And then he didn't get his move. was a very similar circumstance. He had to come back to Forest. He came back to Forest, scored a couple of goals, kissed the badge, and everything was right in the world.
00:27:08
Nick Britten
And that can happen in football. And that can happen in football. And I can see a way back for Izak here. ah don't It shouldn't be easy for him. And he has to understand the situation that he has caused by his own behavior and the effect that that has had on his teammates, on the supporters, on the manager, et cetera, et cetera.
00:27:26
Nick Britten
But if he decides that what's right where things are for him right now aren't where things are for him right now on September 2nd when he wakes up and the transfer window's closed, then there is an opportunity here.
00:27:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely, absolutely.
00:27:38
Nick Britten
And i can very you know I can see a situation if Izzat finally sees sense, and it will take him to change his attitude on this and see sense, where he does come back to Newcastle.
00:27:52
Nick Britten
Newcastle might well need him because... Let's face it, if the season started right now, the you you guys are struggling up front. And we saw that in the opening game against Villa. Lots of chances created. Nothing put in the back of the net.
00:28:05
Nick Britten
You've got the ammunition. You've got the wide guys coming in. You've made some very astute signings, I have to say. I like Jacob Ramsey. think it's a very clever signing. ah And, you know, Alanga will do a good job for you.
00:28:16
Nick Britten
He was needed. I'm very keen, by the way. Sorry, I'm digressing. But I'm very keen on the young lad you brought in from South Korea, who um I did a little bit about on the Road to the World.
00:28:26
Nick Britten
Sorry, Road to World Cup 26 podcast that I do every week. A quick plug for that. Global Sports sport Network, Road to World Cup 26, out of Friday.
00:28:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:28:35
Nick Britten
And when we looked at South Korea a few weeks ago, and I did a little thing on him. I had to look into him because I knew he was on his way St. James'. He's very, very... highly regarded in South Korea, very highly regarded.
00:28:47
Nick Britten
They think he's going to be a superstar.
00:28:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, he's still with the first team. um He made two or three really good cameos, and not just in Korea.
00:28:51
Nick Britten
Yeah.
00:28:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think he Did he come on? he started against, um, Espanyol and he played for an hour and he looked really good.
00:29:04
Nick Britten
Yeah. Yeah, so so, you know, so, well, I hope so.
00:29:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I, I hope we, I hope we hang on to him as well. Um, but we're,
00:29:12
Nick Britten
But with him and Alanga and Gordon and Barnes, you've got the ammunition.
00:29:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
well, we definitely need, we definitely need a striker and I don't know if i've already said, but I've done, if I've already said, but with camp, with Wilson going, we are desperate to get, um,
00:29:18
Nick Britten
But that's not it. You need to struggle. You need struggle. You need to struggle.
00:29:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wisser signed up. We made a £40 million bid today, £35 plus £5, and that's already been rejected.
00:29:38
Nick Britten
right
00:29:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Brentford playing hardball the same way as we would, I guess, if we were being lowballed by Liverpool for Rezac. It's the same. I can't blame them. It's frustrating.
00:29:48
Nick Britten
It is same. It is the same kind of thing.
00:29:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's frustrating, but I can't i can't blame them. um I'd rather go and pay the full whack for someone like Strand Larson even, can't believe I'm saying this, but he has scored a lot goals.
00:30:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or even a Nicholas Jackson in the hope that Eddie could exercise the evil spirits out of him and turn him into a half-decent player. and
00:30:09
Nick Britten
I think I'll be with you on Strand Larson, I'll be with you on WISA.
00:30:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
a
00:30:13
Nick Britten
We part company, I'm afraid, Nicholas Chapson.
00:30:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
you're doubting You're doubting the skills of ed of Eddie Howe there, I think.
00:30:17
Nick Britten
but i
00:30:21
Nick Britten
He may be a magician, but he's not he's not a miracle. ah the yeah
00:30:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
No,
00:30:26
Nick Britten
Yeah, I mean, look, Wilson going... Wilson, let let's be let's be frank about this, Wilson isn't the answer, he's even if he stays, is he?
00:30:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
no. no
00:30:32
Nick Britten
He's not going to get more than a few games out of him. His pace has gone. I'm quite surprised. I'm pleased for him because i like him. and He's had a great career. I'm quite as surprised he you got signed by ah Premier League team, although it is West Ham. and and so But even if he stays, that kind of just papers over the cracks.
00:30:49
Nick Britten
And if you're left with Willis Sula as your only kind of recognised number nine, then he's going to have to have the season of his life. So, Wissler, if he comes through door, and I think that will happen, I still think you need another striker.
00:31:00
Nick Britten
and and And the question then is, is that striker going to be Alexander Isak?
00:31:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
We do.
00:31:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is it Alexander Izak? How do you, what do you think? From inside, I think from what Newcastle said yesterday and his right now, I think that i think that's what's going to happen.
00:31:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think yeah I think I'm 80% sure that Izak will spend the first half of September reintegrating himself into the squad.
00:31:20
Nick Britten
Will it...
00:31:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's a, is there a, ah ah international break at some point coming up yeah i I think he's there after the international break what do you think
00:31:33
Nick Britten
Yeah, early September. Yeah, early September. So first of September.
00:31:42
Nick Britten
Well, it solely depends on Liverpool. That's it. It solely depends on Liverpool. Well, no, actually it doesn't. It depends on Liverpool and it depends on EZAC. So scenario one is Liverpool cough up what Newcastle are asking.
00:31:53
Nick Britten
and they sell him. Scenario two is Liverpool don't cough up, or they walk away, or they decide to give it another few months and try again next year, what have you, or just shift their attention, as is the way with football.
00:32:05
Nick Britten
Izak then has a choice. He can either still down tools, or he can do the decent thing and and look to support the club that pays his wages and that he's under contract to, eat humble pie, swallow his pride, and come back and do his best in a black and white shirt for the season.
00:32:22
Nick Britten
I mean, there are there are there are make one or two randoms that could happen in there. Somebody could come in from him late in the day from Saudi ah um or, you know, the things could happen outside of that. But the but the reality is either Liverpool buy him or Newcastle can't afford to have him rotting away somewhere, paying his wages and not playing for him.
00:32:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, i think I think the solution personally is that will Newcastle make yet another ah contract offer to him? Because I believe he's turned down 250,000 from them.
00:32:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think weve i think we got offered a contract to get let him sign that and come back into the fold.
00:32:59
Nick Britten
Yeah.
00:33:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
We include a release clause that kicks in next summer um so he can get his move next summer. And then he's got he's got a clear year to knuckle down, concentrate, enhance his already good reputation and and get picked to play for Sweden at the World Cup.
00:33:17
Nick Britten
yeah
00:33:21
Nick Britten
And that might be a way. We saw it with Morgan Gibbs-White, didn't we, earlier in the summer when his agent to force the move to Tottenham.
00:33:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:33:27
Nick Britten
ah He was three-quarters of the way down to White Hart Lane before Forrest dug the heels in. And the next thing you know, he signed a new contract. Nottingham Forrest are the great love of his life. It was all a horrible mistake and nobody meant any ill by it. And here we go again.
00:33:40
Nick Britten
And football supporters have very... They have long memories, but they also have short memories. And what they really want to do is see their team win on Saturday afternoon. And if Isaac does come back and...
00:33:53
Nick Britten
does start scoring goals and does propel Newcastle you know into the top four, five, six of the Premier League and make an impact in Europe, well, let's face it, all will be forgiven, won't it?
Conclusion and Teasers for Future Episodes
00:34:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think so. I think that's right. um Anyway, look, Nick, we've we've gone over our half hour. So thank you very much indeed for joining us. That would have been a lot longer, a lot more angry and much duller if I had done a solo.
00:34:19
Nick Britten
you.
00:34:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm really grateful for you to respond at the 11th hour and have a sensible discussion around this.
00:34:25
Nick Britten
have
00:34:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I'm also really grateful that that as a neutral, you appear to be entirely backing Newcastle United stance and thinking that Isaac is actually reverted to a six year old child, had a big tantrum, thrown all of his toys at the pram and it is now going to come back looking down at his feet and hope that his happy family will welcome him back.
00:34:46
Nick Britten
next slide.
00:34:51
Nick Britten
Yes, not my words exactly, but the sentiment is broadly there. I think when ah when a club owns the player's registration and the player has signed a contract, he should abide by it unless both parties agree otherwise. And when they don't, as is situation here, ah the club should have the final say.
00:35:07
Nick Britten
But it's been a real pleasure, Ian. Thank you very much indeed for having me on.
00:35:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're very welcome and thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in. You've got a special treat tonight with the man just two steps down from Keir Starmer. No, I was going to say God, but then I thought that would offend half of the people in the world, certainly Americans.
00:35:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Our Supremo, Mr Nick Britton. It's been a pleasure. ah We will be back tomorrow. um Also, we're already talking about some new... ah extra bonus podcasts with the Liverpool boys coming out on Monday morning. So we've got to record that on Sunday with them. That'll be good.
00:35:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
No doubt alex Alexander Uzak might get um mentioned once or twice during that chat. Thanks for listening. We're back soon.