Newcastle United were beaten 7-2 by Barcelona to end their Champions League adventure on Wednesday, and the fallout will be felt far beyond this week.
That has formed the basis for a lot of the questions you have sent in for this week’s Newcastle Confidential.
Here, our chief football reporter Craig Hope takes you through the very latest from inside St James’ Park…
Any news on Sandro Tonali’s injury? (various)
I understand he had an MRI scan on Thursday morning and the results are positive. The issue is around his upper leg – groin/thigh/hip – and it was enough to force him off in the second half at Barcelona.
It did not sound good afterwards and Eddie Howe said he was a doubt for Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby. That remains the case until swelling subsides, but there is hope today that the injury is not serious. That gives him a chance for this weekend at the very least and Newcastle will know more on Friday.
Tellingly, there are no plans for Tonali to withdraw from Italy’s squad for their World Cup play-off matches. He is said to be feeling much better after the scare of what looked at first to be a serious problem.
Sandro Tonali’s injury, which forced him off against Barcelona, may not be as bad as first feared
Where was Yoane Wissa in the dressing-room picture after the 1-0 win at Chelsea? (various)
I’m told there was nothing untoward behind his absence and, rather, he was in the toilet!
A few fans have noted that Wissa did not look best pleased during the post-game celebrations on the pitch, and that is understandable given he was an unused substitute and has hardly featured of late. Again, in Barcelona, he did not get off the bench.
Wissa needs this season to end, you feel. He has not been able to catch up with his team-mates and, even though he was given a run when first returning from injury, Howe has to pick the team that gives them the best chance of winning.
Right now, Wissa is too far off it, physically and perhaps even mentally to be included.
The picture post-Chelsea that started a thousand rumours…Where is Yoane Wissa?
What does the club feel about Tonali’s agent’s comments? Do they fear another Isak situation? If so, will they learn from mistakes? (ClareBremmer)
There is growing exasperation at the media comments but also an understanding that they have to manage this situation far better than they did Isak’s.
If Tonali expresses a want to leave and a viable offer lands, it’s best to do business early rather than late. The preference is to keep him, of course, and there is no indication of him being unhappy at all. But that does not mean more money and Champions League football elsewhere would not appeal to him.
My feeling on this is that Tonali could go this summer.
Are the club prepared to take a financial hit and cut their losses on a few of last summer’s buys? (Bronto1) and..
What’s the word around selling Nick Woltemade and/or Wissa this summer? (NUFC_USA)
To make a sale, you need a buyer. I don’t think there would be any market for Wissa this summer, especially not given the £55million Newcastle paid for him. His family have moved to Tyneside and his children are in school – he wants this summer to prove his fitness and come back stronger next season. All of the information I’ve picked up points to Wissa still being at the club.
Woltemade is slightly different. Not in the messaging – again, the only word coming back to me is of a will to work with him and find a way to make him more effective in the Premier League.
But he is a younger man and perhaps more open to a move, especially given what are obvious compatibility issues with English football. Again, though, you need a buyer to make a sale.
The word from Germany is that Bayern Munich are monitoring his situation but he is not a live target for this summer. Could that messaging be a tactic? I suspect if there were a cut-price deal to be done, and on the back of a decent World Cup, Bayern would explore the possibility of signing Woltemade. I feel that this is one to watch over the coming months.
As for the others, Jacob Ramsey and Malick Thiaw have done well and will stay. Anthony Elanga is a project Newcastle will continue to work on, although a big improvement from the player is needed next term. Aaron Ramsdale will likely return to Southampton when his loan deal finishes.
Nick Woltemade featured against Chelsea (above) but did not get off the bench in either of the matches against Barcelona. Could he be on the way to Bayern?
Is Woltemade being made a scapegoat for failings on the pitch by the rest of his team-mates? (NUFC360)
If, by that, you mean by Howe, then no. The manager picks the best team based on more information than we have – he sees them in training every day.
If Woltemade wants to play, it’s down to him to make that happen. He’s been given ample opportunity as a striker and more lately in midfield. Barring his brilliant start, neither position has really worked.
I feel for him in the midfield role, though. I don’t think it’s doing him any favours.
So, Howe doesn’t want to play him at No 9. He’s not particularly suited to No 8 and Newcastle don’t use a No 10. That, for now, leaves him no place in the best XI.
As for wider coverage of Woltemade and the idea of him being a ‘scapegoat’… I understand the want for some supporters to protect a young player in his first season. But he’s also a £69m club-record buy, so inspection comes with the territory.
The analysis of his recent performances are motivated by just that, fair analysis. He’s not been in great form and we have to reflect as much. That opinion is supported by him not playing a minute over two legs against Barcelona, two of the biggest games in the club’s recent history.
How are the club preparing for a potential right-back crisis? No Krafth, Trippier or Livramento next season maybe. And what about cover at left back? (Rafferty’s Jukebox)
You’re right, there is a chance Newcastle will need to sign two right backs this summer. Trippier and Krafth are likely to leave when their contracts expire, while Livramento has not yet shown a desire to sign a new deal. He has two years to run and, amid strong interest from Manchester City, an offer would have to be considered by Newcastle.
At left back, Lewis Hall will likely be discussing improved terms given his brilliant form and he is very happy on Tyneside. Still, Newcastle need cover and depth in the position.
Tino Livramento has not yet shown a desire to sign a new deal. He has two years to run and, amid strong interest from Manchester City, an offer would have to be considered by Newcastle
To that end, I can reveal that the recruitment team were represented at Brentford versus Wolves this week. I’m told there is interest in Wolves left back Hugo Bueno and, given the situation at right back, Brentford’s Michael Kayode is perhaps one to keep an eye on.
However, the relationship between Newcastle and Brentford took a hit during the protracted negotiations for Wissa last summer. Scouts are watching lots of games but we are arriving at a point when top targets will be finalised.
Will Eddie Howe ever come under pressure from journalists? Steve Bruce wouldn’t have survived a 7-2 defeat (TyneBridge1990)
Howe has delivered a Carabao Cup and taken Newcastle into the Champions League twice, from a starting position of 19th that he inherited from Bruce. The Barcelona loss was not good, but there needs to be context.
I think I’ve shown over the years that I will say it as I see it with any manager, and that’s the same with Howe. What I see is the best manager in the club’s recent history.
Were Howe’s top targets in the summer Ekitike, Pedro, Mbeumo and Cunha and if we could offer £350k a week would they be in a black and white shirt? (HappyClapper)
Certainly the first three were actively pursued and Matheus Cunha was on the list but not followed up when the window opened – there was an acceptance he was going to Manchester United.
The idea of being able to offer £350k a week is hypothetical – Newcastle can’t right now – and of course that could sway things. But dealing with more realistic swing factors, Newcastle need to make off-field progress and improve the optics around the direction of the club under PIF.
The owners have not spoken for what feels like years now and there is no training-ground or stadium announcement to signal ambition and intent. Things like that matter.
Matheus Cunha was on Newcastle’s list but interest was not followed up when the window opened as there was an acceptance he was going to Manchester United
Are we still going to be one of the world’s top clubs in four years’ time and does Bruno Guimaraes want out? (KarlChambers87)
For starters, reports today of Guimaraes being in talks with Manchester United have been met with bemusement inside St James’ Park. Does he want to go? That is a question for Bruno, but nothing I have heard would suggest so. That isn’t the case with some others.
As for the top club in the world… no, if we’re being honest. But I admire David Hopkinson’s ambition and it speaks to the messaging I reference in the previous question.
They have to try to be that and Hopkinson is a force for good in that regard – but Newcastle are too far behind and too bound by financial rules to make that leap by 2030, I suspect.
