The news that Dan Ashworth wants to leave Newcastle United for Manchester United is currently dominating football headlines.
It’s no surprise, however, that Jamie Carragher has weighed in on the subject, once again allowing his mouth to run before his brain can react.
We’re not saying what Carragher is saying is incorrect; it’s just the manner he delivers it, as if he’s intentionally attempting to irritate us.
Speaking on The Overlap about Dan Ashworth’s impending departure, Carragher discussed the problems Newcastle faces in breaking into the “top six” due to FFP, but it’s not what he said, but how he said it.
Jamie’s words won’t go down well
In full, Carragher said the following about Newcastle United:
“When Newcastle’s owners came in and people were talking about the investment being huge, I was never, from a Liverpool point of view, thinking ‘this is the new team in town’ or ‘this is going to be another City or Chelsea’. I think it’s more difficult now with FFP.
“I do think Newcastle had such a great season last season but they have almost hit a ceiling a little bit when you think ‘how do you make that next jump?’ People will look at some of the players they’ve got and Dan Ashworth, and maybe even Eddie Howe at some stage.
“If Gareth Southgate leaves in the summer, you’d imagine the FA would go for Eddie Howe, wouldn’t you?
“I think that’s a big blow for them {Ashworth leaving]. Newcastle are a huge football club but they’re never going to be Man United so if Man United come for one of their players or a manager or sporting director they’re going to go and I think it’s a great appointment.”
It’s funny Carragher says we’ve hit a ceiling when his mate Klippety said we didn’t have one
Breaking it down, the initial statement holds true. Financial Fair Play (FFP) has effectively prevented us from challenging the “big six” in the foreseeable future. We always knew that reaching the summit wouldn’t be as straightforward as it was for Chelsea and Manchester City.
Regarding hitting a limit, yes, we have encountered constraints, but these restrictions are imposed by the Premier League and its select group. They stem from FFP regulations and other rules that seemed to emerge coincidentally after the Public Investment Fund (PIF) took control of our club. Interestingly, didn’t Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool once claim we had no such limit? It’s a bit contradictory.
The Football Association (FA) may pursue Eddie Howe, but with Dan Ashworth no longer a factor, internal conflicts at the club should diminish, making Howe less inclined to depart.
Lastly, the most contentious point – “They’re never going to be Man United.” It’s a statement that screams Sky Sports. Yet, Manchester United isn’t the same force it once was. They’re still riding on the coattails of Sir Alex Ferguson’s legacy, which is slowly eroding. While we’re far from their stature, our trajectories diverge significantly at present.
Yes, Jim Ratcliffe could steer everything flawlessly, and Manchester United might regain their former dominance. However, that’s an uncertainty, whereas our upward trajectory seems evident. So, to assert we’ll never reach Manchester United’s level? Firstly, that’s fine by me, given their reputation, but more importantly, predicting the future, Jamie, is quite the challenge.
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