Season ticket public sale dates:
NOW (STs not sold during 16/17)
Mon 26.06.2017 (STs not renewed for 17/18)
 
2017/18:
Bundesliga 
double date

Newcastle will return to Germany for the first time since the Schalke Tournament in 2014, with two friendlies against Bundesliga sides now confirmed as follows:

Sat 29.07.2017 FSV Mainz 05 (a)



Following visits to Hearts, Preston and Bradford, the Magpies head to the Rhineland and the city of Mainz, whose hometown team finished 15th in the table.

It's a 4pm kick-off (local time) at the 34,000 capacity Opel Arena that opened for business in 2011.

This will be the first senior meeting at competitive or friendly level between the two clubs and we've failed to unearth any player or coach with both on their CV.

Wed 02.08.2017 VfL Wolfsburg (n)

Moving around 200 miles to the North East of Mainz, United return to Lower Saxony and a game against a Wolfsburg side who finished sixteenth (level on points with Mainz) and only preserved their top-flight status thanks to a relegation playoff victory 

Rather than their 30,000 capacity Volkswagen Arena home though, they'll face us at the AOK Stadion - a 5,200 capacity venue near the Arena opened in 2015 and hosting reserve, academy and women's sides.  

Kick-off is also at 4pm (local time).

We've never faced Wolfsburg competitively, although coming close in the 2001 Intertoto Cup when French side Troyes beat the Germans to set up a tie with us.

However the two sides have met in a friendly fixture played in Germany at the end of our successful promotion season of 1964/65.

3,000 fans saw United win 3-1 at the Stadion am Elsterweg, with Willie Penman (2) and Bobby Cummings scoring in the second half after the visitors trailed 0-1 at the break.

In terms of player/coach connections, Obafemi Martins swapped Tyneside for Wolfsburg in July 2009 for a reported £9m fee, a year before Steve McClaren was installed as head coach but lasted less than a year.

McClaren also took strength and conditioning coach Alessandro Schoenmaker to both clubs. 

Magpies v Bundesliga sides - PL era:

In Germany:

1999/00 Bochum lost 2-3 (Friendly)
2001/02 Munich 1860 won 3-1 (Intertoto)
2002/03 Bayer Leverkusen won 3-1 (CL)
2006/07 Eintracht Frankfurt drew 0-0 (UEFA Cup)
2014/15 Schalke 04 won 3-1 (Friendly)

Outside Germany:

2001/02 Munich 1860 won 3-2 (Intertoto) SJP
2002/03 Bayer Leverkusen won 3-1 (CL) SJP
2003/04 Bayern Munich drew 2-2 (Friendly) SJP
2008/09 Hertha Berlin lost 0-1 (Friendly) Mallorca

Five games confirmed by NUFC so far:

Fri 14.07.2017 Hearts @ Tynecastle
Sat 22.07.2017 Preston North End @ Deepdale
Wed 26.07.2017 Bradford City @ Valley Parade
Sat 29.07.2017 FSV Mainz 05 @ Opel Arena
Wed 02.08.2017 VfL Wolfsburg @ AOK Stadion

Tbc:

Sun 06.08.2017 tbc Hellas Verona tbc @ 

2017/18:
Dutch departure

Former Magpie Haris Vuckic has quickly found a new club following his release by United, agreeing a three year contract with Eredivisie side FC Twente. 

The Slovenian forward who turns 25 in August spent time with the Dutch club on trial last March, making the last of his 24 competitive senior appearances for United bacl in January 2015 (an FA Cup defeat at Leicester).

Loan spells at Cardiff City, Rotherham United, Rangers, Wigan Athletic and Bradford City while at SJP all failed to bring about any permanent move.

Latest:
Custodian repatriated

Newcastle United goalkeeper Matz Sels has now officially completed a season-long loan to Belgian champions Anderlecht.

Belgian newspapers reported that the 25 year-old passed his medical earlier this week, but formal confirmation of the move was delayed until an agreement over financial terms was reached.

He'll reportedly become Anderlecht's highest earner, although the % of wages they'll pay is unclear.

Nieuwsblad assert that there's no provision for the loan to become permanent after a certain number of appearances, Anderlecht looking to promote teenage prospect Mile Svilar to senior team duty and having the more experienced Frank Boeckx sidelined.

This is the third bit of business between United and the Brussels-based club within two years, following the arrival of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Chancel Mbemba at SJP during July 2015.

The costliest custodian in United's history at £5m, Sels was the first signing made by Rafa Benitez and made his debut at Fulham - with Karl Darlow on the bench, Rob Elliot injured and Tim Krul departing on loan. 

However his unconvincing form saw him replaced by Darlow after the opening nine league games and his pitch time was restricted to Cup ties thereafter - including an EFL penalty shootout loss at Hull City.

Under contract until 2021, Sels ended the season as third choice behind Elliot and Darlow - and with both Krul and Freddie Woodman returning from loans.

What looks to have been his last Newcastle game came for the reserves before less than 500 fans in May - in stark contrast to the Champions League Group Stage action that awaits him next season.  

Parting:
Carr Toon time ends

NUFC press release, Wednesday evening:

Newcastle United’s chief scout Graham Carr has today parted company with the club by mutual consent.

Graham has been United’s chief scout for seven years, taking up the position towards the end of the 2009/10 season which saw the club gain promotion back to the Premier League under former manager Chris Hughton.

Graham was instrumental in identifying players from across the UK and Europe, including signings Yohan Cabaye, Matthieu Debuchy, Vurnon Anita, Moussa Sissoko, Papiss Cisse and Cheick Tiote.

Managing Director Lee Charnley said: “It has been my pleasure to work with Graham over the last seven years as both a colleague and a friend. He can count some of Newcastle’s most successful players in recent years as his ‘finds’.

“Everyone connected with Newcastle United wishes Graham the very best for the future.”

The club is now reviewing its scouting operation and will make an announcement on any further changes in due course.

Now that's what I call Rafa's Way....

The son of Newcastle reserve Wilf Carr, Graham joined United as a schoolboy but failed to win a professional contract and left the club during 1962.

Playing league football for Northampton Town and York City before moving into non-league circles as both a player and manager, Carr's scouting career began in the mid 1990s with Coventry City.

Later working for Spurs, Manchester City and Notts County, then-Newcastle boss Chris Hughton brought him back to Gallowgate as a scout in 2010.

Carr's observations resulted in the unexpected award of an eight year deal in June 2012, after the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa, Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse and Yohan Cabaye were all signed during his watch.

His contacts also resulted in the capture of French quintet Moussa Sissoko, Mathieu Debuchy, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Yoan Gouffran and Massadio Haidara during the January 2013 window.

More recently he oversaw a large-scale recruitment exercise to provide Steve McClaren with Aleksandar Mitrovic, Gini Wijnaldum and Chancel Mbemba. His involvement in the mass transfer activity of last summer was comparatively minimal though.

Less memorably deals for Shefki Kuqi, both De Jongs, Sylvain Marveaux, Emmanuel Riviere, Remy Cabella, Florian Thauvin and Henri Saivet were also struck.

In his defence, some of those ended up here after other targets suggested by him were ruled out on financial or age grounds.

The 72 year-old has always denied responsibility for Gabriel Obertan - and we still don't know exactly who brought Facundo Ferreyra and Seydou Doumbia here.

His network of scouts also brought a good number of domestic targets to the attention of the club, but failures to complete deals ensured that many didn't end up on Tyneside - principally Dele Alli.

Carr's departure from the club underlines the change on Barrack Road since Rafa Benitez arrived, with the previous structure that saw managers restricted in their role giving way to a more conventional set-up.

Only making occasional visits to watch the first team in person, his favouring players who looked fine when in mainland Europe but were unsuitable for Premier League action arriving ultimately cost us dear.  

PS: Presumably Carr's exit from the chief scout role also means that he's no longer on the board.... 

Competition time:
New strip giveaway

Thanks to our sponsors The Protector Group, one lucky NUFC.com reader will soon be receiving a new 2017/18 season Newcastle United home shirt.

In order to be in with a chance of winning this prize, we simply require you to answer this question by emailing comps@nufc.com with the subject Shirt:

The Magpies failed to score against just one side in the league last season (2016/17). Name them. 

Closing date is Tuesday July 4th at 5pm and we'll contact the winner via email the same day. Entries welcome from anywhere on the planet but winning entrant must provide a UK address for delivery.

One entry per person please, shirt can be provided in any child or adult size as required and is a replica design, not the "authentic" one also available. 

Established in 1994, The Protector Group offer all types of security cover including Mobile Patrols,
Access Control Systems and CCTV installation.

Contact them on 0800 316 1144 or online here

Inbound claim:
Enter Florian?

Reports from Spain claim that agreement has been reached over the terms of a transfer bringing Florian Lejeune from Eibar to Newcastle United.

The 26 year-old central defender is known to have a €10M release clause in the contract he signed last year following his move from Manchester City. 

El Diario Vasco claim that United had attempted to negotiate staged payments of what will be Eibar's record fee, but will now pay all of it up front.

Paris-born Lejeune played second tier football in his home country before signing for Villarreal B in 2011, debuting for their first team later that same year.

Later featuring for French side Brest on loan and Spaniards Girona, Lejeune - who has also played as a defensive midfielder - joined Manchester City in 2015 before being loaned straight back to Girona.   

By June 2016 he'd signed a four year contract with Eibar, helping them to a tenth-place finish in the Primera Division and starting 33 of 38 league games.

It's reported that Eibar will spend some of the fee for Lejeune on Samu Saiz from fellow Spaniards Huesca, whose promotion playoff hopes ended with defeat to Getafe last Saturday, freeing up their target.

2017/18:
Fixtures

2017/18 fixture list is online here

2017/18:
Reserve pre-season

Three games confirmed by NUFC so far:

Mon 17.07.2017 Darlington @ Northern Echo Arena
Thu 27.07.2017 Celtic @ Whitby Town
Sat 29.07.2017 Whitby or AZ @ Whitby Town

Date tbc Whitley Bay @ Whitley Bay

2017/18:
Departures etc.

NUFC confirm that Vurnon Anita, Sammy Ameobi, Lubo Satka and Haris Vuckic will all leave the club when their contracts expire later this month.

It's anticipated that Satka will remain with his current loan club DAC 1904 in Slovakia, while Slovenian Vuckic has signed a permanent contract with FC Twente. 

The permanent departure of loan player Florian Thauvin to Olympique Marseille was finally ratified, while Kevin Mbabu has also made his temporary posting at Swiss side Young Boys permanent. 

Talks over a new deal for Yoan Gouffran continue. 

Reserves Gideon Adu-Peprah, Jamie Holmes, Ben Smith, Stefan Broccoli and Daniel Lowther are all leaving but professional deals have been offered to Sean Longstaff, Dan Ward, Jack Hunter, Paul Woolston, Michael Newberry, Tom Heardman, Luke Charman, Owen Bailey and Nathan Harker.

Extensions to existing deals go to Owen Gallacher, Mackenzie Heaney, Owen Bailey, Nathan Harker, Yannick Aziakonou,  Ben Kitchen, Oliver Long, Lewis McNall, Callum Smith and Craig Spooner.

Two-year Academy scholarships go to Max Allen, Ryan Barrett, Thomas Cole, Sam Joyce, Deese Kasinga Madia, Jack Young and Oisin McIntee.

Squad:
Headcount 

Current squad - limited to anyone still on the books who has played a competitive senior game for us:

Status tbc (1):
Yoan Gouffran.

2018 (5):
Jesus Gamez, Curtis Good, Massadio Haidara, Tim Krul, Daryl Murphy.

2019 (2):
Jack Colback, Mohamed Diame.

2020 (9):
Adam Armstrong, Karl Darlow, Siem De Jong, Rob Elliot, Jamaal Lascelles, Chancel Mbemba, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Emmanuel Riviere, Jamie Sterry.

2021 (12):
Rolando Aarons, Christian Atsu, Ciaran Clark, Dwight Gayle, Grant Hanley, Isaac Hayden, Achraf Lazaar, Ayoze Perez, Matt Ritchie, Henri Saivet, Jonjo Shelvey, DeAndre Yedlin.

Undisclosed (6):
Dan Barlaser (signed in 2015)
Paul Dummett (signed in 2016 tbc)
Yasin Ben El-Mhanni (signed in 2016)
Stuart Findlay (signed in 2016)
Callum Roberts (signed in 2015)
Ivan Toney (signed in 2015)

Loaned (1):
Matz Sels (2021)

Non-first team (12):
Sean Longstaff (contract offer made)
Dan Ward (contract offer made)
Jack Hunter (contract offer made)
Paul Woolston (contract offer made)
Michael Newberry (contract offer made)
Luke Charman (contract offer made)
Tom Heardman (contract offer made)
Callum Williams (tbc)
Kyle Cameron (tbc)
Macaulay Gillesphey (tbc)
Alex Gilliead (2018)
Freddie Woodman (2020)

Unlikely lads #1:
Transfers 

Old boys on the move: 

Sam Allardyce Crystal Palace to (his) villa
Gael Bigirimana Coventry City to Motherwell
Adam Campbell Notts County to Morecambe
Ryan Donaldson Plymouth to Hartlepool United
Stuart Green Cleator Moor Celtic M
Peter Lovenkrands Rangers (youth coach)
Ryan McGorrigan North Shields to Blyth Town
Matty Pattison Blyth Spartans to South Shields
Nile Ranger Southend United to HMP venue TBC
John Robertson Hearts C to Inverness CT M
Haris Vuckic NUFC to FW Twente
Andy Woodman Whitehawk FC to Greggs

Unlikely lads #2:
Hoyoots 

Former Magpies looking for new clubs include:

Joey Barton (Burnley) (NB: 18 month ban)
Sebastien Bassong (Norwich City)
Leon Best (Ipswich Town)
Paul Bracewell (mackems - coach)
Shay Given (Stoke City)
Danny Guthrie (Blackburn Rovers)
JJ Hooper (Port Vale)
Brad Inman (Peterborough United)
Conor Newton (Cambridge United)
Gabriel Obertan (Wigan Athletic)
Remi Streete (Port Vale)
Mike Williamson (Wolves)