Let’s have a look at the scores on the doors.
If the departure of Bruno Guimaraes proves to be the last Newcastle United exit of this close-season, his move will signal a 3-0 loss. Another heavy blow to the good ship Newcastle United and all who sail with her after the earlier transfers of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali.
Conversely, an ageing squad in serious need of fresh faces have been boosted by the arrival of a young keeper, a young midfielder and a young winger. Once Johan Manzambi’s World Cup campaign ends, he is expected to become the club’s second young midfield recruit. I make that 4-3 to the Mags.
Those who revel in finding fault with Eddie Howe’s recruitment policy accuse him of concentrating on proven players from the Premier League. This summer, that argument looks as watertight as a cardboard colander.
Not that it ever was based on the facts. When he joined us, Bruno Guimaraes had no EPL experience. Neither had Sandro Tonali. Or Alexander Isak. Or Malick Thiaw. Or Big Nick Woltemade. Even Anthony Gordon was a relative newbie, with only 42 league starts for his boyhood club.
Ewen Jaouen was the opening buy of summer 2026 with a £24m deal done to bring the 20-year-old goalkeeper from Stade de Reims. Then Hoffenheim agreed a £43m move for 20-year-old winger Bazoumana Toure to move to Tyneside.
On Thursday a £23m deal for 18-year-old Ajax central midfielder Sean Steur was signed, sealed, delivered. He’s ours!
Johan Manzambi, who has starred for Switzerland in the past month, registering three goals and two assists, is also only 20. Freiburg, his current employers, are likely to pocket £49m if we get the deal over the line . . .
As facelifts go, this series of tweaks is almost as big as Cher’s.
That’s all well and good but “you win nothing with kids”. Remind me how that assertion worked out, apart from building a TV career for Mr Alan “diabolical defending” Hansen.
This latest article was prompted by Steve Latawski’s interesting take on The Mag abut the imminent departure of Bruno Guimaraes, which the writer suggests is down to several factors.
First, he says our current captain is unlikely to play in another World Cup finals, because he will be nearly 33 in 2030. I find that argument highly dubious. Brazil are hardly blessed with outstanding midfielders and, if the lumbering, cumbersome Casemiro can be an ever-present at 34 this summer, what’s to stop Bruno G from competing in four years’ time?
Steve reckons that with the international door closing, Bruno’s search for club honours has become more important. A fair point, though to say “his medal opportunities with Newcastle United appear to be in meltdown” seems to me unduly pessimistic. Unless you’re a fan of Hansen’s logic.
Which NUFC supporter thought we would win the League Cup 16 months ago, even on the day of the final? My mate Big Nige kept saying “this is our time” on March 16 until I almost believed him . . . but the victory and the manner of the victory were still a surprise to most Mags, I reckon.
If we can lift one trophy, why can’t we lift another? The drought has been broken (figuratively if not literally on the Sussex coast, anyway).
Steve cites the 12th-placed finish and the exit of Isak, Gordon and Tonali as proof that we are going backwards. He also points to the “excessive outlay on Anthony Elanga, Jacob Ramsey, Yoane Wissa and Thiaw” and the £69m spent on BNW, which he says was “way over the odds”.
Let’s wait and see, eh. In my 60-odd years of watching football, many overnight sensations crash and burn just as quickly as they rise to prominence. Equally, those who build their expertise over a season or two of exposure can go on to have long and successful careers.
I wish Bruno G had stayed. He has done great things since joining in the middle of a relegation fight. I don’t blame him for choosing to leave. At the end of his career, which I think will not be for at least five years, he will want a decent medal collection.
Remember, though, he is a professional sportsman at a club unable or unwilling to offer the financial rewards available elsewhere. What would you do if an inferior colleague doubled his wages by walking away from supporters who constantly praised him?
The club have failed to boost the revenue streams as quickly as we all hoped when these Newcastle United owners took control. Until that changes, the management, the team and the fans are fighting with both hands tied behind their back.
In those circumstances, we might be better to build a squad of young, hungry footballers who see St James’ Park as a dream destination rather than hoping established favourites, such as Gordon, Tonali, Isak and, yes, Bruno G will continue, season after season, to show loyalty.
As ever (except when hope was extinguished under the previous owner) I’m looking forward with guarded optimism to the next domestic season. If the transfer result this summer does prove to be a 4-3 home win, that’ll do me very nicely, thank you.