Is this Rock Bottom?
There is very little reported in the National media on Newcastle United that makes sense.
We are reportedly negotiating for new players. Who at the club would capable of making such decisions? Perhaps this proves once again that Mike Ashley has more control of transfers than he lets on, or are we returning to a Graham Carr-esque model where scouts will have similar control to the 'head coach' when it comes to incomings. Again though, it makes little sense.
Perez has left for £30m - Do prospective buyers now expect that fee to come off the asking price for the club?
Ashley will no doubt cash in a few more players yet - Hayden, Gayle, Longstaff - and with the £30m Perez sale, he could be recouping £80-£100m here. We will pick up unknowns, bargain basement buys and loan players for the season opener as per usual.
This is reality. If any sale of the club was close, there would be no change in personnel, just us accepting Rafa's departure because he was out of contract.
Players have returned to pre-season training this week and found a club in turmoil with no manager. We talk about how us fans are feeling, but what can their moral be like? They'll either be disillusioned and going through the motions or actively pursuing a move away. If it's neither of the above, they'll be a Colback, Aarons or Lazaar - basically players who know they aren't good enough to play for this club so are just happy to be given a second chance. It's a cocktail for disaster.
We hoped for Rafa to stay, Rondon to sign, Perez to be persuaded to stick around, Longstaff to thrive and one or two signings to be added to our ranks to put us in a position to go into the top 10 and beyond.
In reality, Steve Redfearn is currently taking training, there's no Rafa, no Rondon or Perez (who accounted for over 50% of our goals last season), Man Utd are confident of signing Longstaff and we have no manager and not one single signing to get excited about - just returning outcasts and flops who are Championship players at best.
No Rafa, no goals, no direction, no takeover, no manager, no new signings and no hope given this could easily be the team that starts the season vs Arsenal:
Dubravka - Yedlin, Schar, Lascelles, Dummett - Ritchie, Ki, Shelvey, Atsu - Almiron, Gayle.
I agree with those supporters who suggest that as a club we have reached rock bottom.
