trooper

Another signing Rafa wanted PSG have offered Napoli €7M for Pepe Reina and a €3.5M salary to the Spanish goalkeeper.

It's hardly a surprise really the way things have been playing out in the media.

Still got contacts who are itk probably

This from the Daily Mirror Shay Given offers his insight into the growing problems between Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez and Newcastle owner Mike Ashley. Having spent 12 years at Newcastle, Given still has contacts at the club. And, with news growing that the Spanish boss is increasingly frustrated at a lack of big money signings, Given has been told that the two of them no longer speak.

Plastic Rafa

Expects too much Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez wants four more signings this summer Benitez wants to add a defender, goalkeeper, creative player and a striker before the end of the month.

Absolutley

Newcastle are struggling to strike deal with Sampdoria for Dennis Praet, a long-term target of Benitez. There is no chance of the Magpies’ triggering the release clause in the former Anderlecht star’s contract which allows him to leave for £22m.

We've no real fret up front i honestly dont think this Joselu kid is the answer. With Gayle not fully fit/interested & Mitro frozen out we need a proven quality striker. It's the old "goals win games" without them we'-re going to be in trouble. Will Rafa stay? who knows, is this the premiership squad he had in mind ? i doubt it.

Apparently after signing Joselu on Friday Rafa said "the search for a striker is finished" If we havevto go through the season with Gayle & Joselu as lone strikers we're in trouble.

From todays press conference RafaRafa on fans: "They know the situation and so do the players. Some players need to go." on selection v Forest: "We will see new players come in tomorrow because we must use the squad Winning games changes everything." We knew in the Championship we needed Championship players now we need to move players. We are working on that." knows nothing about the West Ham job rumours We are closer to outgoings than 2 days ago, but still I am not sure how close. We are working on incomings behind the scenes" We have a cup competition & we'll try to do well again but I will not lie: we have to use the squad we have to try & progress" Thinks Forest will do well this season not to well tomorrow night Will use the other players, maybe one player from the U23s too, because we have to be sure we have a squad to play this game"

He had a rest on Sunday

Rafa doesnt like to play 2 up top though, plus we dont have that quality player up front to play the lone striker game.

Joselu's only a squad player we're in serious trouble mate if thats it regarding strikers. Just been reading Gayle will miss the Forest game with illness, Mitrovic can't get a game it's not looking to clever if we're not looking to sign a quality striker.

Keen to avoid a relegation battle, West Ham are drawing up contingency plans to replace Slaven Bilic and Rafa Benitez is on their shortlist, according to the Mirror.

Dwight Gayle has been suffering with an illness and could miss the game with Nott'm Forest #nufc

Lucas Perez latest According to the Press Association, NUFC are one of seven clubs interested in the Arsenal forward. Rafa Benitez admitted he liked the player earlier in the window but Arsenal’s asking price of £13.4 million was deemed too much. Joselu has since arrived on Tyneside and Benitez said on Friday that the striker business is now finished. IF we're not looking for another striker we're " Donald Ducked"

Rafa..."We will see what happens, it's still 11 days, but I don't see an easy window yet." IF we've got everyone we're getting we're going to be in big trouble.

West Ham rule out loan deal for Andy Carroll as Newcastle United play down return Reports suggest that West Ham will not allow Andy Carroll to return to Newcastle United on a loan deal

Like a redundancy ?

What ever they're on it's all dead money going to players to either train & not play. Or even be loaned out were it still cost

The 50-year-old said he once spotted striker Les Ferdinand's manhood in the dressing room and was so impressed he asked if he could have a "hold of that thing". Gazza says he then scored and "played a blinder" which led to the regular pre-match ritual, He said: "In the dressing room, Les Ferdinand, I swear down, when he took his clothes off, you should have seen the size of his f***ing c**k. "He made mine look small. I went ‘Les, Les please, please let me have one f***ing hold of that thing’. "So he let me have a hold of it. And I went out played a blinder and scored, right. I thought ‘f***ing brilliant’. "So the next game at Wembley, ‘Les get it out’." Sir Les denies any knowledge of this saying Gazza's "away with the fairies" He said: "In the dressing r, Les Ferdinand, I swear down, when he took his clothes off, you should have seen the size of his f***ing c**k.

No wonder Rafa's having trouble shifting players just reading about Colback on £70,000 a week still got 2 years left on a 5 year contract. De Jong got 3 years left on a 6 year contract. They may not be worth much in the transfer market but the wage bill will be crazy for players not playing. One worrying fact i took was although we got Colback on a free, if he sees out the rest of his contract he'll have cost the club £17.5 million. Yet there's loads of them De Jong, Riviere, Mitrovic, Saviet, Krul there's probably a few others. Even if we loan them out we'll have to pay a portion of their wages.

Spot on Ewerk we're all waiting for THAT big signing i.e. a bit of quality to the team not just another squad player. A couple of the new lads only got a start today because of injuries & Shelvey's suspension.

I know some people are probably sick of the comparisons but the similarities between Keegan & Benitez are uncanny. Obviously the Liverpool connection, but for us 2 brilliant footballing brains, man management skills, loves the fans, loved by the fans. But the most important part willing to stand up to Ashley. Keegan was supposed to have control of transfers we no he didnt. Last week Ashley told us Rafa has control over transfers "Lee answers to Rafa let me be clear about that" he obviously doesn't. Rafa telling the press several times he doesn't know whats happening regarding transfers. In the end Keegan walked going to court & proving Ashley was a liar sadly i can see the same thing happening again & in the end the biggest loseres will be the fans & NUFC.