FourFourTwo UK – September 2019

FFTVERDICT

FourFourTwo Season Preview 2019-20 29

FABIANSCHAR

Oneofthebiggestbargainsof2018-19,Schar

joinedforjust£3.5mandfinishedtheseasonas

oneofthePremierLeague’smostwell-regarded

centre-backs.KeepingtheSwissdefenderwon’t

beeasy,butit’skeytoNewcastle’scampaign.

KEY PLAYER

19

TH

“What if Rafa goes?” fans

asked – now they’ll find

out. It may not be pretty.

VIEW FROM THE STAn DS

NUFC THREAT LEVEL @NUFCTHREATLEVEL

The big talking point among

the fans is The Takeover. The

Sheikhover. The Fakeover. It’s so

exciting a prospect that many

forgot to panic over Rafael

Benitez’s contract expiring.

This season will be different

because by the time we play

Arsenal on the opening weekend,

we could be anywhere from the

highest of highs to complete

turmoil. You know. The usual.

The opposition player I secretly

admire is Sergio Aguero. I’m

absolutely terrified of the man.

Save the date for the FA Cup

Quarter-Finals, because if Mike

Ashley’s club have a game on,

it means hell just froze over.

Our most underrated player is

Fabian Schar – a ball-playing

centre-back with a hint of Philippe

Albert about him. A lot of fans

would say Martin Dubravka, mind.

The pantomime villain will be

Jurgen Klopp. He’s a lovely man,

I’m sure, but no one stays that

popular for that long.

The best away ground is Villa

Park, where I’ve seen us win most.

The best away fans are Man

United’s, who consistently make

a lot of noise... about Alan Shearer,

who turned them down over 20

years ago.

The one change I’d make to the

club would be the ownership.

Our next manager should be

Marcelo Bielsa. His fortnight

in charge would probably be

exciting for everyone.

This season we’ll finish building

the brand new training ground

Joe Kinnear unveiled plans for

back in 2013. Maybe.

FIVE-POIn T PLAn

1

SELL THE CLUB

If the Magpies are ever going to
achieve anything beyond mid-table
mediocrity – at best – then they
need to rid themselves of the restrictive
grip of Michael James Wallace Ashley.
Unfortunately, any hint of a takeover
has been met with belligerence and
a refusal to budge on price and terms.

2

REPLACE RAFA BENITEZ

This is far, far easier said than
done, no matter the identity of
the Spaniard’s replacement. It
was nothing short of a miracle that one
of the few available elite-level coaches
in world football took over and wanted
to stay. The fear is that Bruce signals
a return to the head-coach-and-
recruitment-committee model that
served Ashley so well under Steve
McClaren. This is clearly a brilliant plan.

3

RETAIN OR REPLACE

SEVERAL KEY PLAYERS

With the news of the Spaniard’s
departure, a number of players
were said to be also considering their
futures. Rondon has returned to West
Bromwich Albion and Newcastle don’t
appear willing to meet the Baggies’
valuation for him. Ayoze Perez moved
to Leicester for £30m. Sean Longstaff’s
breakthrough has seen him linked with
a switch to Manchester United. Isaac
Hayden has wanted to return to his
London-based family for quite a while.
Newcastle may need a major squad
rebuild, but with very little to play with
financially, unless a takeover is actually
imminent, then achieving that could be
the club’s toughest task this summer.

4

REPLACE LEE CHARNLEY

AS MANAGING DIRECTOR

Unfortunately, this isn’t going to
happen, as Charnley has met
every metric that the owner considers
important for his vision for the club:
bring the wage bill down; keep the net
spend down; focus more on loans and
bargains. Charnley is not a football man
and he’s not even a businessman. He’s
a Mike Ashley man, pure and simple.

5

JUST SELL THE CLUB,

FOR GOD’S SAKE

Yes, this is the same as point
No.1 – but honestly, without
this happening, is there any point?

SEASOn PREVIEW

TheStrawberry

does a good pint

and a fine fishfinger

bap, but don’t wear

your matchday

colours – most

away fans are kept

by the station.

Forrationalthoughts

in the North East, you

can’t do much better

than local journalist

@GeorgeCaulkin

• great contacts and
  he stands up for what
  he believes is right.

Boththeclubswho

united in 1892 to

form NUFC played

in red and white.

The black and white

started from 1894.

Lineyourstomachwithastottie

cake– a flat, round loaf filled

with ham, pease pudding or

bacon, egg and sausage. Yum.

Stayovernight– Newcastleis one

of the UK’s best nights out, with big

markets, friendly locals and a lively

quayside. Just eschew Sports Direct.

MATCHDAY PACK

AWAY PUB

SIGn ATURE DISH WHILE YOU’RE HERE...

DID YOU MUST FOLLOW

K nOW...?

AUGUST

11 Arsenal (h)

17 Norwich (a)

25 Tottenham (a)

31 Watford (h)

SEPTEMBER

14 Liverpool (a)

21 Brighton (h)

28 Leicester (a)

OCTOBER

6 Man United (h)

19 Chelsea (a)

26 Wolves (h)

NOVEMBER

2 West Ham (a)

9 Bournemouth (h)

23 Aston Villa (a)

30 Man City (h)

DECEMBER

3 Sheffield United (a)

7 Southampton (h)

14 Burnley (a)

21 Crystal Palace (h)

26 Man United (a)

28 Everton (h)

JANUARY

1 Leicester (h)

11 Wolves (a)

18 Chelsea (h)

21 Everton (a)

FEBRUARY

1 Norwich (h)

8 Arsenal (a)

22 Crystal Palace (a)

29 Burnley (h)

MARCH

7 Southampton (a)

14 Sheffield United (h)

21 Aston Villa (h)

APRIL

4 Bournemouth (a)

11 West Ham (h)

18 Man City (a)

25 Watford (a)

MAY

2 Tottenham (h)

9 Brighton (a)

17 Liverpool (h)

FIXTURES