2026/2027 - what kind of season will it be?

[Ragatino]

Thanks for your inputs, I agree with you both.

The most concerning thing for me is that the scouting and recruitment has been messy lately; it's like we've been unprepared. There are so many bargains to be made around Europe that it should be possible to build a robust side for the coming season without overspending.

I understand what you're saying but I think it's not a case of not being prepared.

Mitchell bailed yes. That was a disaster, a man with a rep for having an outstanding networks, all the contacts and getting deals done.

However, last summer, the targets were identified and work was done early to secure the targets.

Delay, Joao Pedro, MBummo, Ekitike were aggressively perused early on. As we know the issue wasn't scouting it was signing the players identified.

Were players identified realistic? Yes

The issue was that clubs offered double salary NUFC can afford.

Going down the list of targets was where it falls down. Mitchell offered nothing.

Before he became the manager Eddie had spent time across Europe, identified Ekitike, Sandro, Bruno, Sven etc etc that he wanted to bring in.

These targets, when cross referenced with our head of Recruitment Steve Nickson, clearly these players were on his top recommendation list too.

As I've mentioned on other posts. Eddie's focus has been solely on the team and matches.

The break down has been in closing deals and identified player targets through the door.

The club must improve on delivering the top targets identified.

I believe that is where the problems lie.

[HughieG]

Were players identified realistic? Yes

The issue was that clubs offered double salary NUFC can afford.

Which was a predictable outcome, I would say, Raga.

Hence the need to be looking at sub-top European league talents, as well as the Ligue 1, Bundesliga and the Serie A - which we have done with some success previously. There's bundles of talent to be found for half the price of what we would have paid. Sure, we also need to be going af the elite, big players - players that are on the cusp of greatness, like Ekitike was and is - but I think it was wrong not be seriously exploring other European transfer avenues than going after massively overpriced players. Obviously those signings are more of a gamble, but so was Elanga and we could have had brought three talented wingers in instead of him.

The situation with Isak would have been hard to handle regardless, but we should have been more proactive in the window - we must be more proactive and in control of events in the coming transfer window if we want to build a serious squad.

[Ragatino]

Which was a predictable outcome, I would say, Raga.

Hence the need to be looking at sub-top European league talents, as well as the Ligue 1, Bundesliga and the Serie A - which we have done with some success previously. There's bundles of talent to be found for half the price of what we would have paid. Sure, we also need to be going af the elite, big players - players that are on the cusp of greatness, like Ekitike was and is - but I think it was wrong not be seriously exploring other European transfer avenues than going after massively overpriced players. Obviously those signings are more of a gamble, but so was Elanga and we could have had brought three talented wingers in instead of him.
.

Without a DoF or a CEO getting a makeshift team of none specialists to try and do deals when the Cartel's full entourage rock up and start pointing out the fact that they are... in Sesko's case "We are Man United, we're here, DoF with Euro Creds and a full team. Newcastle United are sat in the hotel down the road, the stats guy and a member of the board. Where is there plan? Not credible."

Last summer the club just looked amateur.

I dunno if Elanga was a 'gamble' the lad laid on 20 assists whilst at Forest. If anything, it was a low risk signing. Same with Wissa, 19 no pen Premier League goals.

The club could have gone and got Akliouche from Monaco & gambled on a lad from the continent.

Again I go back to the fact that the structure above Howe has been a sh"t show. Ashworth, Mitchell, Amanda being pushed out by Eales and his cliche. It's been destabilised through out.

The Whole Isak contract transfer situation is one of the biggest sorest wounds from that lack of professionalism at the top level.

Everything flows down from the top.

Stability is key. City as the perfect example of a stable professional club. Txiki leave Vianna is brought in 6 months in advance to work along side Txiki to ensure stability. They Sign Guehi & Semenyo after an excellent summer of business.

Over the other side of the city the once great Red Filth are a basket case of instability. The revolving door in the C-Suite and dugout minimised by them over paying outrageously on wages for players that would struggle to make the bench for the Citizens.

Newcastle United are still growing into those levels.

A phrase I've been using for a few years now is 'Growing pains'. Newcastle United are certainly experiencing growing pains.