Keegan in showdown talks

[kennethlindheim]

Kevin Keegan has been summoned to London tomorrow for talks with Newcastle United's billionaire owner Mike Ashley after the retail tycoon reacted furiously to his extraordinary outburst following Monday's defeat by Chelsea.

Keegan is understood to have angered Ashley with his remarkably downbeat assessment of the club's future and in particular the claim that they were "a million miles away" from the top four.


Frustrations: Kevin Keegan has been summoned by Mike Ashley
Although reliable sources insist he will not be sacked, Keegan's volatile nature means there must be question marks over his future just four months after he returned to the Tyneside club.

There are also no suggestions at this stage that Keegan, who has three years left on a lucrative contract, might quit. But his working relationship with Dennis Wise, Newcastle's executive director (football), has again been questioned in the last two days.

Following his gloomy comments and attack on Ashley over a lack of transfer funds, Keegan claimed he was simply being realistic. But his remarks have, unsurprisingly, gone down badly among Newcastle's players.

Keegan wants to be given £80million to strengthen his squad for a push for a place in Europe next season. But the former England manager will be told that he will have to make do with much less.

So far Keegan has been left in the dark over the exact size of his summer transfer budget. But his concerns would not have been eased yesterday by the collapse of striker Shola Ameobi's £4m move to Stoke City.

Mike Ashley summons Kevin Keegan for talks - Football News - Telegraph

It's dangerous to challenge the board about their ambitions, but Keegan is right. I have no problem with the board wanting to invest in up and coming talents, but if Ashley want's to challenge for Europe, he have to make big funds available. The current squad just isn't good enough. Without heavy investment we can't hope to improve on this season.

[hanuma]

You need a top fullback, centreback, central midfielder, and forward who are going to cost a minimum of 10 million each, so that's a minimum of 40 million. That's just to get up to the Everton/Pompey level. You then need much better depth which might mean another 20-30 million in 4-5 players. That's then the best part of a whole new team added to your current crop of decent players (Given, Taylor, Barton, N'Zogbia, Owen, Martins, Viduka) which will take a bit of time to gel.

[kennethlindheim]

Newcastle are so shite that almost a whole new team is needed.

We need two new centre backs, one have to be a leader (Dunne/Campbell), and since we only have one rb and one lb, we have to bring in some more cover. The midfield is a weak link and I think this will be further exposed next season. A couple of new midfielders must be a priority. A real quality playmaker and a couple of new out and out wingers is essential along with a striker as our strikers are very injury prone.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Riise should have a high priority. He can cover left back and wing.