Newcastle United had a pretty frustrating summer transfer window.
From Newcastle‘s sporting director Paul Mitchell to the manager Eddie Howe, many are now asking who is to blame for such an uninspiring window.
Only 12 months ago, the Toon Army faithful were preparing to play in the Champions League, but now they won’t be playing in Europe at all and they haven’t brought in the signings they wanted.
All summer long, Newcastle chased Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, but despite record bids, he stayed put and it left the club frustrated.
But whilst that transfer saga stole the headlines, Darren Bent has claimed that another deal wasn’t allowed to happen.
Newcastle beat Tottenham 2-1 on Sunday, but they were fortunate to get the win because Ange Postecoglou’s side were by far the better team.
Bent was critical of Nick Pope in between the sticks and how he didn’t hold onto the ball just before Dan Burn fired the ball into his net.
What’s interesting is that, in the summer, there was talk of Newcastle bringing in another goalkeeper, but nothing materialised.
England international Aaron Ramsdale was mentioned as he looked to leave Arsenal after being dethroned to the bench by David Raya.
Bent has interestingly claimed that Pope’s national teammate wasn’t allowed to move to St James’ Park this summer, as he told talkSPORT (03/09/24 at 4:40 pm).
Instead, Ramsdale secured a £25 million transfer to Southampton, with the 26-year-old joining his boyhood club.
Aaron Ramsdale at Newcastle United
“Nick Pope, by the way, his performance and some of his saves, honestly bad,” said Bent about Newcastle beating Spurs.
“I think he needs to look at that. Just hold onto it (lead up to Spurs goal). It’s not travelling. Whatever happens to keepers holding onto it? There was a time before when he nearly cost them by making a silly save. They said on commentary ‘just save it’.
On Ramsdale going to Newcastle: “I don’t think they would have allowed him to go. I know he is a Southampton fan, Ramsdale. But he has done it before (fought relegation) and it got him a move to Arsenal.”
Eddie Howe’s future at Newcastle
You wonder what all of this now means for Howe’s future at Newcastle because there are those well-documented links to the England job.
If Newcastle can continue their positive start to the new Premier League season – even if the performances haven’t been great – then the mood will take care of itself.
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But you can just sense, the team suffering a few injuries, going on a bad run, and then the negativity will start flowing around the place.
Newcastle just need some injury luck from now until January because you sense that they will bring a few faces in.
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