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Robbie Savage describes Newcastle United situation in two words…”Absolutely astonishing”

5 years ago
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Robbie Savage has been looking at how each of the 20 Premier League clubs have performed so far.

Commenting on and grading each team, not surprisingly it is a case of the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City getting top marks.

When it comes to Newcastle United, Robbie Savage only needs two words to sum up where the club is at, a few days before Christmas 2005.

The player turned pundit declaring ‘Absolutely astonishing’, however, he is not talking about the style of football NUFC are playing this season…

Instead, Savage explains: ‘After all these years, and all the money in English football, it’s incredible that Michael Owen is still their record signing – way back in 2005. Absolutely astonishing.’

The former Leicester midfielder says that on that basis and the squad he has to play with, Rafa Benitez has done a really good job to not have Newcastle in the relegation zone at this point.

Not many, if any, Newcastle fans would disagree.

We all know the stats, Rafa not allowed to pay more than £10m for any player since promotion, a £20m+ profit on transfer deals in the summer rather than any net investment in the team, and so on.

The situation is maybe best summed up when you look at one of the comments Robbie Savage gives when grading Everton this season, saying ‘Richarlison has been good value for money at £44million’, yet you still get the local north east press talking about other clubs wanting ‘massive money’, when the likes of Atlanta United are saying they want £20m+ for Miguel Almiron.

In the context of all Premier League clubs now, £20m+ is not ‘massive’ for the odd individual signing, the likes of Bournemouth, Fulham, West Ham, Palace and most others have already spent that in past windows, with no doubt many more such signings of that ilk to come in the very near future.

Robbie Savage gives each club a grade for this season so far and what he thinks of Newcastle’s situation, talking to The Mirror:

(A+) Liverpool, Man City, Tottenham

(A) Chelsea, Arsenal, Wolves

(B+) Watford, Brighton, Cardiff

(B) Everton, West Ham, Bournemouth, Leicester

(B-) Newcastle United

(C-) Crystal Palace, Southampton, Huddersfield

(D) Burnley

(D-) Fulham

(E) Man Utd

“Newcastle United:

“After all these years, and all the money in English football, it’s incredible that Michael Owen is still their record signing – way back in 2005.

“Absolutely astonishing.

“On that basis, and with the squad at his disposal, Rafa Benitez has done well to lift them clear of danger after having to wait until November 3 for their first win.”

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