Newcastle United Blog - brought to you by @ToonBano
From The Sublime To The Ridiculous. Only At NUFC!
In other transfer news, after the signing of wonderkid Davide Santon; NUFC have signed Charlton Athletic goalkeeper Rob Elliott who also signs a 5 year deal! This pretty much makes it official that we will never see homegrown, future England international talent, Fraser Forster in a NUFC shirt ever again.
Talk about going from the sublime to the ridiculous in the space of an hour!!
Only at NUFC!
Talk about going from the sublime to the ridiculous in the space of an hour!!
Only at NUFC!
Davide Santon. It Is Real!
So NUFC have signed Inter Milan wonderkid Davide Santon for £5million and on a 5 year deal.
Several words describe this signing; Unbelievable, Brilliant, Ambitious, Surprising, Suspicious.
Unbelievable: This kid is a genuine wonderkid of European football. He has been dubbed the new Maldini and could genuinely step into any Serie A club he wished, including most European giants.
Brilliant: We obviously need a left back so to replace the wantaway Enrique with a player with the potential to be better than him, for a lesser fee, is truly incredible. He can also play at right back so Simpson better start upping his game because Raylor is on fire.
Ambitious: This signing sends a message loud and clear to European football; NUFC are still a big club. Any future signings will look twice at NUFC as a genuine possibility to play their football just by looking at this signing as well as Ben Arfa and Cabaye. Signing a 20-year-old wonderkid is nothing but ambitious and very impressive for all the NUFC fans to lick their lips over.
Surprising: As I have already said, this kid could genuinely make it in any team he wanted in his native Italy, he is this highly praised. 'New Maldini' is a tag given to him by the highest of pedigree such as Jose Mourinho and Marcelo Lippi, which is high praise indeed. Also given the fact 99% of Italians usually stay 'home' within the Serie A and if they were to leave it would only be to a European Giant like Man Utd, Barcelona or a Bayern Munich, the fact NUFC have pulled this off is very surprising to say the least.
Suspicious: Not to put a downer on this but you have to ask the question 'Why?' has a young Italian 'wonderkid' decided to leave one of Italy's giants to come to NUFC. The obvious answer must be; The Premier League. Our league is genuinely the biggest in Europe and can draw the best of players to it. Another answer must be 'Wages'. You can assume we have gave this lad the maximum we can in regards to wages which is widely accepted as £50k a week. So for a 20 year old lad to get this for 5 years is an obvious pulling tool.
It's worth noting that if this kid is to fulfil his potential then their is a threat he will outgrow our football club if we continue to be a mid-table side. So he could be using NUFC as a stepping stone in his career for a bigger move later on in his career. It is known that he was dropped from the team at Inter and has been criticised in certain games so he may need this fresh new challenge to resurrect his career. To be honest, even if he is just using NUFC as a stepping stone....I am not complaining! If he matches his potential in a Black n White shirt (that isnt Juventus) I am more than happy. Bring it on.
It's also worth noting that NUFC have 'invested' in this boy. They know full well given his age, reputation and the transfer fee, that if he does leave us one day.....he will leave for a hell of a lot more than £5million!
I am glad we have finally got a full back in and the fact it is Davide Santon who all Football Manager players know is something very special indeed, I am surprised but over the moon!
Finally a signing that matches the 'policy' NUFC insist on feeding us. Now, a striker needed please!! You have 24 hours!
Several words describe this signing; Unbelievable, Brilliant, Ambitious, Surprising, Suspicious.
Unbelievable: This kid is a genuine wonderkid of European football. He has been dubbed the new Maldini and could genuinely step into any Serie A club he wished, including most European giants.
Brilliant: We obviously need a left back so to replace the wantaway Enrique with a player with the potential to be better than him, for a lesser fee, is truly incredible. He can also play at right back so Simpson better start upping his game because Raylor is on fire.
Ambitious: This signing sends a message loud and clear to European football; NUFC are still a big club. Any future signings will look twice at NUFC as a genuine possibility to play their football just by looking at this signing as well as Ben Arfa and Cabaye. Signing a 20-year-old wonderkid is nothing but ambitious and very impressive for all the NUFC fans to lick their lips over.
Surprising: As I have already said, this kid could genuinely make it in any team he wanted in his native Italy, he is this highly praised. 'New Maldini' is a tag given to him by the highest of pedigree such as Jose Mourinho and Marcelo Lippi, which is high praise indeed. Also given the fact 99% of Italians usually stay 'home' within the Serie A and if they were to leave it would only be to a European Giant like Man Utd, Barcelona or a Bayern Munich, the fact NUFC have pulled this off is very surprising to say the least.
Suspicious: Not to put a downer on this but you have to ask the question 'Why?' has a young Italian 'wonderkid' decided to leave one of Italy's giants to come to NUFC. The obvious answer must be; The Premier League. Our league is genuinely the biggest in Europe and can draw the best of players to it. Another answer must be 'Wages'. You can assume we have gave this lad the maximum we can in regards to wages which is widely accepted as £50k a week. So for a 20 year old lad to get this for 5 years is an obvious pulling tool.
It's worth noting that if this kid is to fulfil his potential then their is a threat he will outgrow our football club if we continue to be a mid-table side. So he could be using NUFC as a stepping stone in his career for a bigger move later on in his career. It is known that he was dropped from the team at Inter and has been criticised in certain games so he may need this fresh new challenge to resurrect his career. To be honest, even if he is just using NUFC as a stepping stone....I am not complaining! If he matches his potential in a Black n White shirt (that isnt Juventus) I am more than happy. Bring it on.
It's also worth noting that NUFC have 'invested' in this boy. They know full well given his age, reputation and the transfer fee, that if he does leave us one day.....he will leave for a hell of a lot more than £5million!
I am glad we have finally got a full back in and the fact it is Davide Santon who all Football Manager players know is something very special indeed, I am surprised but over the moon!
Finally a signing that matches the 'policy' NUFC insist on feeding us. Now, a striker needed please!! You have 24 hours!
Davide Santon. Really?!
Their is more and more talk in the media that highly rated Italian full-back Davide Santon is set to join Newcastle. If anyone has ever played Football Manager in the past couple of years, they will know that this kid 'turns into' arguably the best full-back on the game.
But back to real life; this kid could arguably play for any team he wanted given his talent, age and reputation. Especially in Italy. So the fact he would join NUFC is a strange one. If he were to sign for us it could only be because we are offering the maximum we can in wages (£50k a week) and he wants to play in the Premier League. But like I said, he could get into any team he liked in the Premier League so to join our club at the status it is at the moment would be a brilliant and ambitious signing, but very suspicious.
Their is also talk that the deal to bring in Erik Pieters could be dead after PSV have pulled out of the deal, presumably because we are playing hard ball over the fee. Where have we heard that before?! Typical! Also other transfer target Frenchman Aly Cissokho seems to have dropped from our interests entirely, which is strange seeing as he is French and all...!!
What is for sure is we need a full back, so any of the above are welcomed. We will have to wait and see as to which one it will finally be...............but if I was playing Football Manager, I'd get Davide Santon asap!
But back to real life; this kid could arguably play for any team he wanted given his talent, age and reputation. Especially in Italy. So the fact he would join NUFC is a strange one. If he were to sign for us it could only be because we are offering the maximum we can in wages (£50k a week) and he wants to play in the Premier League. But like I said, he could get into any team he liked in the Premier League so to join our club at the status it is at the moment would be a brilliant and ambitious signing, but very suspicious.
Their is also talk that the deal to bring in Erik Pieters could be dead after PSV have pulled out of the deal, presumably because we are playing hard ball over the fee. Where have we heard that before?! Typical! Also other transfer target Frenchman Aly Cissokho seems to have dropped from our interests entirely, which is strange seeing as he is French and all...!!
What is for sure is we need a full back, so any of the above are welcomed. We will have to wait and see as to which one it will finally be...............but if I was playing Football Manager, I'd get Davide Santon asap!
Barton to QPR?! I told you it made sense. Hes gone.
So Joey Barton has joined QPR on a free transfer. I wrote an article earlier today on why it made sense http://nufcbano.blogspot.com/2011/08/barton-to-qpr-it-actually-makes-sense.html which included the fact QPR have a new rich owner willing to invest in the team, he can get himself the 5 year contract he wants, he can get wages of at least £50k with this new rich owner, he will probably be given the captaincy, he will get to play in the Premier League still which if he were to go to West Ham for eg he would obviously be dropping down a league, which he isn't going to do. So it all actually makes sense the more you think about it.
My instincts became true and more apparent as the day went on. Photos of him on the train travelling down to London were posted on Twitter by North East journalist David Sedgwick, and then the confirmation Tweets from @Joey7Barton himself by tweeting at 6.30 "Having a medical now......no contract from NUFC. Says it all. My hands are tied."
This is a big blow for NUFC as in my opinion he is our most influential player. Not just on the pitch but also in the dressing room and training ground. He leads by example. Committed, Passionate and always up for the fight. Sometimes literally. But most importantly he had quality. Quality service into the box. Last season he was responsible for at least 14 goals via his delivery whether from open play or a set piece.
Whether you like him or loathe him, HE WILL BE MISSED.
Our Le Toon revolution of replacing all of the opinionated senior players with French do as we say fancies, is almost complete. Their is a week left before we bring in a couple more Frenchies in Cissokho and Maiga to complete the Revolution jigsaw.
Carroll, Nolan, Enrique and now Barton have all gone, with Cabaye, Marveaux, Obertan coming in with Maiga and Cissokho to follow to replace them all.
This may turn out to be suicide or a fresh new looking NUFC that actually does quite well. Either way, its a huge transition in just 6 MONTHS. Which in my opinion is a big mistake. We should have ADDED to the senior players like Barton, not REPLACED. This team will miss Barton's influence big time. This will be proved over the course of the season.
All we can do is hope and pray the powers that be haven't got us into another fine mess!!
My instincts became true and more apparent as the day went on. Photos of him on the train travelling down to London were posted on Twitter by North East journalist David Sedgwick, and then the confirmation Tweets from @Joey7Barton himself by tweeting at 6.30 "Having a medical now......no contract from NUFC. Says it all. My hands are tied."
This is a big blow for NUFC as in my opinion he is our most influential player. Not just on the pitch but also in the dressing room and training ground. He leads by example. Committed, Passionate and always up for the fight. Sometimes literally. But most importantly he had quality. Quality service into the box. Last season he was responsible for at least 14 goals via his delivery whether from open play or a set piece.
Whether you like him or loathe him, HE WILL BE MISSED.
Our Le Toon revolution of replacing all of the opinionated senior players with French do as we say fancies, is almost complete. Their is a week left before we bring in a couple more Frenchies in Cissokho and Maiga to complete the Revolution jigsaw.
Carroll, Nolan, Enrique and now Barton have all gone, with Cabaye, Marveaux, Obertan coming in with Maiga and Cissokho to follow to replace them all.
This may turn out to be suicide or a fresh new looking NUFC that actually does quite well. Either way, its a huge transition in just 6 MONTHS. Which in my opinion is a big mistake. We should have ADDED to the senior players like Barton, not REPLACED. This team will miss Barton's influence big time. This will be proved over the course of the season.
All we can do is hope and pray the powers that be haven't got us into another fine mess!!
Barton to QPR? It actually makes sense.
Sky Sports News has been claiming breaking news that Joey Barton has permission to talk to QPR. Now this isn't really news as Joey can speak to anyone he likes because he has been given the option of a free transfer.
However, if he were to move to QPR it would actually make more sense then you may initially think.
They have a new rich owner willing to invest in the team, he can get himself the 5 year contract he wants, he can get wages of at least £50k with this new rich owner, he will probably be given the captaincy, he will get to play in the Premier League still which if he were to go to West Ham he would obviously be dropping down a league, which he isn't going to do. So it all actually makes sense the more you think about it.
None of the top teams want him and interest in him since the free transfer revelations hasn't exactly been smoking.
Its also worth noting that Joey Barton has not been included in the squad that will travel down to Scunthorpe because of apparently a 'slight foot injury'. Now if anyone knows anything about pending transfers, fake injuries and being left out of squads is the norm. So this worryingly adds to the fire of this rumour.
If history has taught us anything, then if our Captain Kevin Nolan can go to West Ham then Joey Barton can go to QPR.....especially when he has a Fat Man and his croney literally pushing him out the door!
I hope it's all bollocks, but with NUFC you just never know!
However, if he were to move to QPR it would actually make more sense then you may initially think.
They have a new rich owner willing to invest in the team, he can get himself the 5 year contract he wants, he can get wages of at least £50k with this new rich owner, he will probably be given the captaincy, he will get to play in the Premier League still which if he were to go to West Ham he would obviously be dropping down a league, which he isn't going to do. So it all actually makes sense the more you think about it.
None of the top teams want him and interest in him since the free transfer revelations hasn't exactly been smoking.
Its also worth noting that Joey Barton has not been included in the squad that will travel down to Scunthorpe because of apparently a 'slight foot injury'. Now if anyone knows anything about pending transfers, fake injuries and being left out of squads is the norm. So this worryingly adds to the fire of this rumour.
If history has taught us anything, then if our Captain Kevin Nolan can go to West Ham then Joey Barton can go to QPR.....especially when he has a Fat Man and his croney literally pushing him out the door!
I hope it's all bollocks, but with NUFC you just never know!
Relegation Candidates?!
Once again media, pundits, journalists, 'experts', even some of us have put NUFC in the relegation candidates category.
Even though we have only played 2 games, I think it is clear to see for anyone who knows anything about football, NUFC will not be going down this year (as the team stands). We also have a new striker and full back to look forward too, to make us even stronger.
Lets just look at which teams are definitely not as good as us:
Swansea
QPR
Norwich
Wigan
Blackburn
Sunderland (that feels nice)
Teams you could argue aren't as good as us:
Wolves
West Brom
Stoke
Bolton
Teams that are not looking exactly impressive and could have an average season:
Everton
Fulham
Aston Villa
The top 6 is very much the top 6 as far as I'm concerned, but that 7th place is well and truly up for grabs.
This isn't a knee jerk reaction to our relative short success, if anything the rest of the premier league hasn't exactly been impressive.
Get a quality striker in and aim for 7th. If we finish just short, not a bad season is it.
Howay The Lads.
P.S. all of the media people predicting 18th again for us....GFY.
Even though we have only played 2 games, I think it is clear to see for anyone who knows anything about football, NUFC will not be going down this year (as the team stands). We also have a new striker and full back to look forward too, to make us even stronger.
Lets just look at which teams are definitely not as good as us:
Swansea
QPR
Norwich
Wigan
Blackburn
Sunderland (that feels nice)
Teams you could argue aren't as good as us:
Wolves
West Brom
Stoke
Bolton
Teams that are not looking exactly impressive and could have an average season:
Everton
Fulham
Aston Villa
The top 6 is very much the top 6 as far as I'm concerned, but that 7th place is well and truly up for grabs.
This isn't a knee jerk reaction to our relative short success, if anything the rest of the premier league hasn't exactly been impressive.
Get a quality striker in and aim for 7th. If we finish just short, not a bad season is it.
Howay The Lads.
P.S. all of the media people predicting 18th again for us....GFY.
Mr Versatile - Should be 1st choice Full Back!
We've done it! 1-0 to the lads to prove again that NUFC are the undisputed Top Dogs in the North East. Sunderland just aren't in the same league as us when you look at the fact in the 3 games played since we came back up; we trounced them 5-1 on our own patch and dominated them twice on their own dog sh*t covered field!
The winning goal was by emergency left back, Mr Versatility Ryan Taylor. Another absolute beauty to add to his collection. Pick that out you jealous, insecure, inferiority complexed Mackem c*nt! Pardew my french (see what I did there? Genius)
So the question has to be asked, what does Danny Simpson offer compared to Ryan Taylor? I have actually been saying this for quite a while now and I still can't give an answer, apart from maybe he's a little quicker....?
In my opinion Ryan Taylor isn't the best defender in the world, but neither is Simpson, and what Raylor does give us is a genuine goal threat and whenever he plays he seems to make something happen in the final third. Whether it be a free kick, a cross, or a rasping long range effort. Danny Simpson doesn't offer any of these things.
I'm sure NUFC will bring in a new left back before Sep 1st, so when they do, I want to see Ryan Taylor slip into Right Back ahead of Simpson so he can offer us something in the attacking third with not much sacrificed in the defensive department.
Nice one Raylor! You doing us proud! Keep it up lad!
The winning goal was by emergency left back, Mr Versatility Ryan Taylor. Another absolute beauty to add to his collection. Pick that out you jealous, insecure, inferiority complexed Mackem c*nt! Pardew my french (see what I did there? Genius)
So the question has to be asked, what does Danny Simpson offer compared to Ryan Taylor? I have actually been saying this for quite a while now and I still can't give an answer, apart from maybe he's a little quicker....?
In my opinion Ryan Taylor isn't the best defender in the world, but neither is Simpson, and what Raylor does give us is a genuine goal threat and whenever he plays he seems to make something happen in the final third. Whether it be a free kick, a cross, or a rasping long range effort. Danny Simpson doesn't offer any of these things.
I'm sure NUFC will bring in a new left back before Sep 1st, so when they do, I want to see Ryan Taylor slip into Right Back ahead of Simpson so he can offer us something in the attacking third with not much sacrificed in the defensive department.
Nice one Raylor! You doing us proud! Keep it up lad!
Official Line Up
Official Team Line Up:
Krul; Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, R Taylor; Obertan, Barton, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez; Shola Ameobi
Subs: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Marveaux, Lovenkrands, Best, Ba
Assuming its 4-3-2-1. Three CM's, with two out and out wingers.
Scum:
Mignolet; Bardsley, Ferdinand, Brown, Richardson; Elmohamady, Cattermole, Colback, Larsson; Sessegnon; Gyan.
Subs: Westwood, Bramble, Laing, Gardner, Vaughan, Wickham, Ji.
Howay the lads!!!
Krul; Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, R Taylor; Obertan, Barton, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez; Shola Ameobi
Subs: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Marveaux, Lovenkrands, Best, Ba
Assuming its 4-3-2-1. Three CM's, with two out and out wingers.
Scum:
Mignolet; Bardsley, Ferdinand, Brown, Richardson; Elmohamady, Cattermole, Colback, Larsson; Sessegnon; Gyan.
Subs: Westwood, Bramble, Laing, Gardner, Vaughan, Wickham, Ji.
Howay the lads!!!
Best Bets For The Weekend!
Bano's Bookies Best Bets is back baby!
Second weekend of the new Premier League season. Not the hardest card on the face of it.
An accumulator is always in order. Keep it nice and simple:
HOME Wins for Aston Villa, Everton, Swansea and Chelsea;
AWAY Win for Man City @ Bolton;
Surprising AWAY Win for Spurs @ Man Utd - Man U have a dodgy keeper, No Vidic, No Ferdinand, Not a strong central midfield. Where as Spurs looked awesome against Hearts and Bale and Lennon could do some damage on the break. They are 5/1, get on 'em.
All of the above will get you an accumulator at odds of around 80/1.
Also have been promoting this as best I can, Paddy Power are offering NUFC to beat Mackem's for a special price of 9/2. This is a limited offer and could be gone at any point. The regular is only 13/5. If you want it click here: http://www.paddypower.com/bet/novelt...FF_ID=10059892
Other bet; Shola the Mackem Basher is 9/2 to be first goalscorer. He loves playing Sunderland, lets hope it continues.
Other bet; You can bet on Betfair that a player will be 'shown a card'. I think Cheik Tiote is a pretty safe bet, not just for this game, but for the rest of the season. Worth checking out.
Other bet; Darren Bent 1st g/s against Blackburn is pretty good and Torres 1st g/s against West Brom.
That'll do me!
Keep smiling
Second weekend of the new Premier League season. Not the hardest card on the face of it.
An accumulator is always in order. Keep it nice and simple:
HOME Wins for Aston Villa, Everton, Swansea and Chelsea;
AWAY Win for Man City @ Bolton;
Surprising AWAY Win for Spurs @ Man Utd - Man U have a dodgy keeper, No Vidic, No Ferdinand, Not a strong central midfield. Where as Spurs looked awesome against Hearts and Bale and Lennon could do some damage on the break. They are 5/1, get on 'em.
All of the above will get you an accumulator at odds of around 80/1.
Also have been promoting this as best I can, Paddy Power are offering NUFC to beat Mackem's for a special price of 9/2. This is a limited offer and could be gone at any point. The regular is only 13/5. If you want it click here: http://www.paddypower.com/bet/novelt...FF_ID=10059892
Other bet; Shola the Mackem Basher is 9/2 to be first goalscorer. He loves playing Sunderland, lets hope it continues.
Other bet; You can bet on Betfair that a player will be 'shown a card'. I think Cheik Tiote is a pretty safe bet, not just for this game, but for the rest of the season. Worth checking out.
Other bet; Darren Bent 1st g/s against Blackburn is pretty good and Torres 1st g/s against West Brom.
That'll do me!
Keep smiling
NUFC Official Bid for Strike-r Modibo Maigo
Puppet Pardew has been waffling again today prior to the huge Wear-Tyne derby match tomorrow.
More questions as to 'just where the hell are these new signings Alan?' and the same old answer, 'Dunno'.
He has admitted that NUFC have made an official bid for Sochaux striker Modibo Maigo, who has been on strike for about a week in order to try and force through a move to NUFC apparently, ala Hatem Ben Arfa style. It must be custom to go on strike in France in order to get a move to NUFC these days.....
All we can go on is the clips on YouTube to see whether this lad would cut it at NUFC. If you watch them, he looks quick, big, but screams inconsistency. The fact we have 3 big inconsistent strikers already in Ba, Shola and Best doesn't exactly have me getting excited at the prospect of bringing another one in to complete a Fab-Four. Or would that be Drab-Four....
I hope this transfer dies a death and we bring someone in with the necessary consistency, guile, clinical and reliable qualities we anxiously need. Who that will be is the £35 million question....STILL yet to answered!
More questions as to 'just where the hell are these new signings Alan?' and the same old answer, 'Dunno'.
He has admitted that NUFC have made an official bid for Sochaux striker Modibo Maigo, who has been on strike for about a week in order to try and force through a move to NUFC apparently, ala Hatem Ben Arfa style. It must be custom to go on strike in France in order to get a move to NUFC these days.....
All we can go on is the clips on YouTube to see whether this lad would cut it at NUFC. If you watch them, he looks quick, big, but screams inconsistency. The fact we have 3 big inconsistent strikers already in Ba, Shola and Best doesn't exactly have me getting excited at the prospect of bringing another one in to complete a Fab-Four. Or would that be Drab-Four....
I hope this transfer dies a death and we bring someone in with the necessary consistency, guile, clinical and reliable qualities we anxiously need. Who that will be is the £35 million question....STILL yet to answered!
New signing! Is it a Left Back? Is it a Striker? No, its another Keeper?!
NUFC have signed Charlton Athletic, 25 year old, goalkeeper Rob Elliott.
What? I'm sorry what was that..? So, Newcastle Utd have signed a new goalkeeper. Not a very good one either. For reasons that can only be described for Goalkeeping cover..? What in the blue hell is going on? Are NUFC taking the piss or what?
I'm not having a go at the team bringing in new players but just what the hell is going through the minds of Alan Pardew and his staff?!
Newcastle United may not be the finished article in regards to a completed squad by any means but the one thing, the very one thing we can hold our heads up high and boast about is the fact we have a shower of riches when it comes to Goalkeepers.
On our books we have no less than Steve Harper, Tim Krul (Dutch No.1), Fraser Forster (Future England GK), Ole Soderberg (Future Swedish No.1) and a England U-18 goalkeeper Jak Alnwick.
So can someone with any brain cells explain to me and the rest of us why we would even consider looking at other goalkeepers for the next 10-15 years, never mind actually bring one in on a PERMANENT transfer?!
Now if the goalkeeper we were bringing in was world-class and would go straight into our first team then it may be understandable.....but Rob Elliott?...from Charlton Athletic?....What?
Unbelievable.
The mentality of the some of the people currently employed by NUFC has been questioned without doubt, but this latest signing is simply scary.
I mean if they let Fraser Forster go to Celtic and don't trust any of the goalkeepers we have to be more than capable of coming in at No.3 choice as it were, then there needs to be serious questions asked as to who exactly is coming to these conclusions....and what the hell are they going to do next??
Sell Ole Soderberg? Sell Fraser Forster to Celtic? Retire Steve Harper early? Sell Jak Alnwick? Sell Tim Krul? Give Rob Elliott the No.1 Shirt?
Unfathomable to understand. I'm really going to need someone to explain it because I just can't work it out given the fact I have a brain that works properly.
Here he is!:
What? I'm sorry what was that..? So, Newcastle Utd have signed a new goalkeeper. Not a very good one either. For reasons that can only be described for Goalkeeping cover..? What in the blue hell is going on? Are NUFC taking the piss or what?
I'm not having a go at the team bringing in new players but just what the hell is going through the minds of Alan Pardew and his staff?!
Newcastle United may not be the finished article in regards to a completed squad by any means but the one thing, the very one thing we can hold our heads up high and boast about is the fact we have a shower of riches when it comes to Goalkeepers.
On our books we have no less than Steve Harper, Tim Krul (Dutch No.1), Fraser Forster (Future England GK), Ole Soderberg (Future Swedish No.1) and a England U-18 goalkeeper Jak Alnwick.
So can someone with any brain cells explain to me and the rest of us why we would even consider looking at other goalkeepers for the next 10-15 years, never mind actually bring one in on a PERMANENT transfer?!
Now if the goalkeeper we were bringing in was world-class and would go straight into our first team then it may be understandable.....but Rob Elliott?...from Charlton Athletic?....What?
Unbelievable.
The mentality of the some of the people currently employed by NUFC has been questioned without doubt, but this latest signing is simply scary.
I mean if they let Fraser Forster go to Celtic and don't trust any of the goalkeepers we have to be more than capable of coming in at No.3 choice as it were, then there needs to be serious questions asked as to who exactly is coming to these conclusions....and what the hell are they going to do next??
Sell Ole Soderberg? Sell Fraser Forster to Celtic? Retire Steve Harper early? Sell Jak Alnwick? Sell Tim Krul? Give Rob Elliott the No.1 Shirt?
Unfathomable to understand. I'm really going to need someone to explain it because I just can't work it out given the fact I have a brain that works properly.
Here he is!:
NUFC to beat Mackem's Price Boost!
Paddy Power are offering an exlusive price of 9/2 on a Newcastle victory against the unwashed thanks to NUFC.com and there association with the betting firm. Maximum stake is £10 and is a limited duration offer so it won't be their for long.
The average price on other 'normal' bookies is around 13/5, so this is a stonking offer. Fill yer boots lads, get your tenners at the ready! Click Special Link below:
http://www.paddypower.com/bet/novelty-betting/nufc-special/nufc-enhanced?ev_oc_grp_ids=499526&AFF_ID=10059892
The average price on other 'normal' bookies is around 13/5, so this is a stonking offer. Fill yer boots lads, get your tenners at the ready! Click Special Link below:
http://www.paddypower.com/bet/novelty-betting/nufc-special/nufc-enhanced?ev_oc_grp_ids=499526&AFF_ID=10059892
Alex Song accepts charge on Barton.
Alex Song has accepted his charge of stamping on Joey Barton.
So he should the dirty bastard.
He'll now miss 3 games, along with Gervinho.
Good.
So he should the dirty bastard.
He'll now miss 3 games, along with Gervinho.
Good.
Forster is a Celt, again.
Its been reported Fraser Forster has joined Celtic on a season long loan.
The 'keeper was their last season where he impressed. Thought was he was pushing for the No.1 spot at NUFC this year, but given the fact Tim Krul seems to have claimed the prize and Steve Harper is paramount to have in the squad with his experience, he is off to Glasgow to get first team football. Which isn't a bad thing for us really.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11678_7107768,00.html
I don't think that fumble at Leeds helped his cause to claim the No.1 spot here in pre-season either....
The 'keeper was their last season where he impressed. Thought was he was pushing for the No.1 spot at NUFC this year, but given the fact Tim Krul seems to have claimed the prize and Steve Harper is paramount to have in the squad with his experience, he is off to Glasgow to get first team football. Which isn't a bad thing for us really.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11678_7107768,00.html
I don't think that fumble at Leeds helped his cause to claim the No.1 spot here in pre-season either....
Please burn this Bridge down!
Once again there is more talk of Newcastle Utd enquiring about the services of Wayne Bridge. Now under our current transfer policy (which with transfers like this I am actually grateful for) he does not fit in.
We apparently want him on loan for cover after losing Enrique to the Champions League team Liverpool...oh wait?...never mind...but even on loan it would cost us a 'loan fee' of around £2million. Now given we all know Mike Ashley to be tighter than a duck's ass (once again I am grateful for in transfers like this) I can't see him given out good money to bring in this 31 year old full back. Not to mention his £80k a week wages that will need to be compensated in some manner.
When Wayne Bridge went to West Ham last season, on loan, most people around East London thought it was a good move.....then they saw him play. What was quite evident as soon as his debut was that he was slow, had horrendous positioning, was weak in challenges, couldn't pass a ball for toffee.......basically what he had when Chelsea paid about £10mil for, he's lost it! Big time!
This story has been washed off from my point of view already this summer but you can't help notice it isn't going away. Can someone at the football club, probably Pardew, please come out and say the immortal words, 'We are not interested in Wayne Bridge' to help us all sleep a little better. It makes me feel sick in my mouth a little if we were to bring in this over the hill, incapable of defending, totally overpaid chump and stick him in a Tyne/Wear derby where he would be totally exposed and would go about costing us the game, like he did West Ham relegation.
A Bridge for over troubled water?.........I'd rather play Ryan Taylor thanks.
We apparently want him on loan for cover after losing Enrique to the Champions League team Liverpool...oh wait?...never mind...but even on loan it would cost us a 'loan fee' of around £2million. Now given we all know Mike Ashley to be tighter than a duck's ass (once again I am grateful for in transfers like this) I can't see him given out good money to bring in this 31 year old full back. Not to mention his £80k a week wages that will need to be compensated in some manner.
When Wayne Bridge went to West Ham last season, on loan, most people around East London thought it was a good move.....then they saw him play. What was quite evident as soon as his debut was that he was slow, had horrendous positioning, was weak in challenges, couldn't pass a ball for toffee.......basically what he had when Chelsea paid about £10mil for, he's lost it! Big time!
This story has been washed off from my point of view already this summer but you can't help notice it isn't going away. Can someone at the football club, probably Pardew, please come out and say the immortal words, 'We are not interested in Wayne Bridge' to help us all sleep a little better. It makes me feel sick in my mouth a little if we were to bring in this over the hill, incapable of defending, totally overpaid chump and stick him in a Tyne/Wear derby where he would be totally exposed and would go about costing us the game, like he did West Ham relegation.
A Bridge for over troubled water?.........I'd rather play Ryan Taylor thanks.
Cheik Tiote to leave?
With Newcastle Utd being very much a selling club at the moment...
And Manchester Utd and Arsenal crying out for some central midfield steel...
It could be easy to put 2 + 2 together and come up with £25 million, that Cheik Tiote will be holding up a red shirt on Transfer Deadline day.
There have been whispers that Chelsea are also an admirer of the one man wrecking machine for a while that have gone a bit cold recently, but with Essien out for 6 months there is always the danger Roman Abramovic will get his cheque book out. Which of course Mike Ashley will drool over like a case of hot pies.
There have been other whispers over the last couple of days that Man Utd may make a cheeky £14mil bid, which isn't enough to be accepted even if it were true, but when you look at the fact they have Anderson, Cleverley and Carrick in centre mid.....they are crying out for Tiote. Also when you consider Arsenal have lost Fabregas and are soon to lose Nasri for a combined £60million, they have the means and the motive to drag arguably our most important player down to the big smoke.
Hopefully no bids of any significance come in for the lad and he slips nicely under the radar when the madness of Deadline Day arrives because as we all know by now, NUFC is a selling club where every single player has his price.
Remember..........Sports Direct.com, UK's No.1!
Also would like to add this article made it onto newsnow.co.uk via not606.co.uk. Finally popped my cherry, although they modified it slightly.....and changed my correct spelling of Cheik to Cheick....Cheicky bastards! :D
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/Football/Premier+League/Newcastle+United
http://www.not606.com/content.php/1201-Cheik-Tiote-to-leave?
And Manchester Utd and Arsenal crying out for some central midfield steel...
It could be easy to put 2 + 2 together and come up with £25 million, that Cheik Tiote will be holding up a red shirt on Transfer Deadline day.
There have been whispers that Chelsea are also an admirer of the one man wrecking machine for a while that have gone a bit cold recently, but with Essien out for 6 months there is always the danger Roman Abramovic will get his cheque book out. Which of course Mike Ashley will drool over like a case of hot pies.
There have been other whispers over the last couple of days that Man Utd may make a cheeky £14mil bid, which isn't enough to be accepted even if it were true, but when you look at the fact they have Anderson, Cleverley and Carrick in centre mid.....they are crying out for Tiote. Also when you consider Arsenal have lost Fabregas and are soon to lose Nasri for a combined £60million, they have the means and the motive to drag arguably our most important player down to the big smoke.
Hopefully no bids of any significance come in for the lad and he slips nicely under the radar when the madness of Deadline Day arrives because as we all know by now, NUFC is a selling club where every single player has his price.
Remember..........Sports Direct.com, UK's No.1!
Also would like to add this article made it onto newsnow.co.uk via not606.co.uk. Finally popped my cherry, although they modified it slightly.....and changed my correct spelling of Cheik to Cheick....Cheicky bastards! :D
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/Football/Premier+League/Newcastle+United
http://www.not606.com/content.php/1201-Cheik-Tiote-to-leave?
Football a non-contact sport?
There's been loads of talk of 'the stamp', 'the slap' and 'Joseph Barton'.
I'll keep my opinion of these straight to the point: -
Song should have been off. Disgrace.
Gervinho rightly got his marching orders.
I don't blame Joey for being incensed and dragging a cheat back to his feet, I'd do the exact same thing. However, he did go down too easy (in his own words) which I would never do, not nice to see. However even saying that, 99% of other players (especially Arsenal) would have done the same, so I ain't that bothered. It's the modern game at the highest level unfortunately. Blame FIFA.
But i'd just like to make the point that every where I read and hear 'experts' say that the Gervinho incident was actually a penalty.....because there was 'contact'.
So? So what if Tiote slightly brushed him? DID, HE, FOUL, HIM..?
One of the ways you can foul someone is if you trip them up, deliberately or even by accident. Did he trip him up? Kick him? Push him over? No. He slightly grazed his shin-pad. So why is it a foul? Because he made contact? Total bollocks.
So Football is a totally non-contact sport now is it? If so, its dead.
The tw@t dived. End of.
I'll keep my opinion of these straight to the point: -
Song should have been off. Disgrace.
Gervinho rightly got his marching orders.
I don't blame Joey for being incensed and dragging a cheat back to his feet, I'd do the exact same thing. However, he did go down too easy (in his own words) which I would never do, not nice to see. However even saying that, 99% of other players (especially Arsenal) would have done the same, so I ain't that bothered. It's the modern game at the highest level unfortunately. Blame FIFA.
But i'd just like to make the point that every where I read and hear 'experts' say that the Gervinho incident was actually a penalty.....because there was 'contact'.
So? So what if Tiote slightly brushed him? DID, HE, FOUL, HIM..?
One of the ways you can foul someone is if you trip them up, deliberately or even by accident. Did he trip him up? Kick him? Push him over? No. He slightly grazed his shin-pad. So why is it a foul? Because he made contact? Total bollocks.
So Football is a totally non-contact sport now is it? If so, its dead.
The tw@t dived. End of.
Striker needed desperately
0-0 not a bad result against Arsenal, would have took it before the match.
Altough when you are playing against 10 men for a fair period of time, you expect to get at them a bit more.
What's clearly evident already is we need a striker of significant quality. Even if it just sheer individual, selfish, quality. Didn't create a single genuine chance and never looked like it either. If anyone has thoughts, or had the thoughts, that Demba Ba would fill Carrolls boots in the team has to be mistaken on the evidence so far. He looks more like Shola's twin brother than a striker worthy of leading the line.
With Cabaye and Tiote in the middle, we look a lot flatter in midfield then last year, where we had Nolan and Tiote in a more diamond formation then anything. Which means we are gonna have to play with 2 out and out wingers. From the evidence we have seen, is on the right it will probably have to be Obertan. Who had pace to burn and is very direct at goal. Looks a good signing already. So Barton may have a smaller role in the team than he would like, if he does end up staying. On the left we have Marveuax or Ben Arfa to come in when they are fit. I cannot seeing Jonas being a regular starter. More lack of creativity from him again.
We definetly need that striker to come in before Sep 2nd or we can look forward to more blank score sheets throughout the season. I personally wanna see Jermain Defoe in the No.9 shirt, doing his thing. But whether he would come up North is a big question. Also, get Erik Pieters in asap at left back. He should be here after this weekend.
Not a bad start though.
Bring on the new season!
Altough when you are playing against 10 men for a fair period of time, you expect to get at them a bit more.
What's clearly evident already is we need a striker of significant quality. Even if it just sheer individual, selfish, quality. Didn't create a single genuine chance and never looked like it either. If anyone has thoughts, or had the thoughts, that Demba Ba would fill Carrolls boots in the team has to be mistaken on the evidence so far. He looks more like Shola's twin brother than a striker worthy of leading the line.
With Cabaye and Tiote in the middle, we look a lot flatter in midfield then last year, where we had Nolan and Tiote in a more diamond formation then anything. Which means we are gonna have to play with 2 out and out wingers. From the evidence we have seen, is on the right it will probably have to be Obertan. Who had pace to burn and is very direct at goal. Looks a good signing already. So Barton may have a smaller role in the team than he would like, if he does end up staying. On the left we have Marveuax or Ben Arfa to come in when they are fit. I cannot seeing Jonas being a regular starter. More lack of creativity from him again.
We definetly need that striker to come in before Sep 2nd or we can look forward to more blank score sheets throughout the season. I personally wanna see Jermain Defoe in the No.9 shirt, doing his thing. But whether he would come up North is a big question. Also, get Erik Pieters in asap at left back. He should be here after this weekend.
Not a bad start though.
Bring on the new season!
Erik Pieters to sign this weekend?
According to Dutch media, Erik Pieters will be signing a 4 year deal on Tyneside.
Hope this is true as he is regarded as a decent defender, when you think of Jose Enrique his defending skills aren't exactly at the forefront of your mind. With also only 2 assists to Enriques name, you could argue he was a bit toothless down the wing as well.
Let's just hope this news is true and we get ourselves a Dutch International quality full back to replace an uninterested non-international overrated 'wing back', for the same amount of money.
Get him in!
Shearer's Birthday
Today is the birth of Sir Alan Shearer OBE.
Seeing as I celebrated Prince Albert's b-day, its seem's only rude not to celebrate Big Al's with this:
Enjoy!
Seeing as I celebrated Prince Albert's b-day, its seem's only rude not to celebrate Big Al's with this:
Enjoy!
The Left Back Plan
So Enrique is officially gone and a day before we kick-off our new season against Arsenal of all teams, we dont have a senior recognised left-back.
Great. You would have thought a professionally run football club would be only in this scenario if the sale was sudden and out of the blue. But of course, this is Newcastle Utd.
For as long as 6 months we have all known Jose Enrique Sanchez wanted to leave St James Park for pastures new. To hopefully, on his side, a 'bigger' club in Europe. So you would think the football club would have had a tight hold on the situation by having some kind of plan or strategy on the matter.
The football club has been sat on there hands for 6 months and they are telling us its because they hoped he would sign a new deal.....
Did anyone in their right mind think that Enrique was going to sign a new contract?
After he didn't sign it back in February, because of the lame see through excuse of because he wanted wait until we survived relegation...
After he didn't sign it after the pre-season break...
After he openly criticised the club's ambitions and transfer policy through the media...
After he openly criticised the club's ambitions and transfer policy through Twitter...
After he openly spoke about his ambitions to leave to join a club that can win trophies and play in Europe...
Well..? Anyone..?
Well this man did (and 2 others fat tw@ts in the board room), either that or he is just spewing out horsesh*t again for us all to lap up and swallow;
"I would be asking why hadn't we got a left back in earlier (if I was a fan)", said Pardew. "The difference was that if Jose had signed we would have been left with 2 very, very expensive full backs which we can't afford when we are trying to build the best side possible". "We offered him a deal (back in February) and he didn't want to sign it, so we had no-where to go".
I mean, what is this? Why is he saying these words? Is he really this incompetent?
Or maybe he just isn't a very good public speaker...
We all fully understand that he doesn't get any help from the owner and his croney in regards to communication to the fans. But at the end of the day, name how many football club's where the chairman comes out and discussed transfers with journalists...? There's not many.
There is no excuse for this constant tripe.
So let's clarify the club's stance on the issue; 'We haven't brought in a left-back - because in case Jose signed a contract that he didn't want - which we knew he didn't want (unless something remarkable happened) - so we "had no where to go" (what does this even mean?) - so now we don't have a left-back in place for the start of season...'
Erm yes ok, that all makes perfect sense. The club have had a Grade A plan in place for 6 months on this issue then?....do nothing, see what happen's and wait for the inevitable.
Don't you just love it when a non-plan comes together?! (see pic below, looks awfully like Pardew...)
Ridiculous.
So, anyway. Looking forward. We are left with a situation of, who is gonna play at left back on Saturday evening?
I've heard Shane Ferguson is back fit but if it were me I would stick Ryan Taylor in their. After all, he played their for Wigan with relative success (notably against us) and the whole initial reason he came to us in the first place was because he was a direct swap with Charles N'Zogbia, as we needed to fill the left back spot he was vacating at the time. A major point on Ryan Taylor's time at NUFC so far that has seemed to be completely forgotten, or more likely missed, by all associated with Newcastle Utd Football Club.
Bring on the new season!!
Great. You would have thought a professionally run football club would be only in this scenario if the sale was sudden and out of the blue. But of course, this is Newcastle Utd.
For as long as 6 months we have all known Jose Enrique Sanchez wanted to leave St James Park for pastures new. To hopefully, on his side, a 'bigger' club in Europe. So you would think the football club would have had a tight hold on the situation by having some kind of plan or strategy on the matter.
The football club has been sat on there hands for 6 months and they are telling us its because they hoped he would sign a new deal.....
Did anyone in their right mind think that Enrique was going to sign a new contract?
After he didn't sign it back in February, because of the lame see through excuse of because he wanted wait until we survived relegation...
After he didn't sign it after the pre-season break...
After he openly criticised the club's ambitions and transfer policy through the media...
After he openly criticised the club's ambitions and transfer policy through Twitter...
After he openly spoke about his ambitions to leave to join a club that can win trophies and play in Europe...
Well..? Anyone..?
Well this man did (and 2 others fat tw@ts in the board room), either that or he is just spewing out horsesh*t again for us all to lap up and swallow;
"I would be asking why hadn't we got a left back in earlier (if I was a fan)", said Pardew. "The difference was that if Jose had signed we would have been left with 2 very, very expensive full backs which we can't afford when we are trying to build the best side possible". "We offered him a deal (back in February) and he didn't want to sign it, so we had no-where to go".
I mean, what is this? Why is he saying these words? Is he really this incompetent?
Or maybe he just isn't a very good public speaker...
We all fully understand that he doesn't get any help from the owner and his croney in regards to communication to the fans. But at the end of the day, name how many football club's where the chairman comes out and discussed transfers with journalists...? There's not many.
There is no excuse for this constant tripe.
So let's clarify the club's stance on the issue; 'We haven't brought in a left-back - because in case Jose signed a contract that he didn't want - which we knew he didn't want (unless something remarkable happened) - so we "had no where to go" (what does this even mean?) - so now we don't have a left-back in place for the start of season...'
Erm yes ok, that all makes perfect sense. The club have had a Grade A plan in place for 6 months on this issue then?....do nothing, see what happen's and wait for the inevitable.
Don't you just love it when a non-plan comes together?! (see pic below, looks awfully like Pardew...)
Ridiculous.
So, anyway. Looking forward. We are left with a situation of, who is gonna play at left back on Saturday evening?
I've heard Shane Ferguson is back fit but if it were me I would stick Ryan Taylor in their. After all, he played their for Wigan with relative success (notably against us) and the whole initial reason he came to us in the first place was because he was a direct swap with Charles N'Zogbia, as we needed to fill the left back spot he was vacating at the time. A major point on Ryan Taylor's time at NUFC so far that has seemed to be completely forgotten, or more likely missed, by all associated with Newcastle Utd Football Club.
Bring on the new season!!
Are Arsenal more disillusioned then us?
It looks like Fabregas and Nasri are leaving the Gunners pretty soon (for £60m, sweet lord) and their fans seem to be as pissed off as us, if not more so.
So looking at the match on Saturday, this could be the best possible time to play them and seeing as they crumbled like a pack of cards the last time they were at St James Park, I hope we hit 'em hard and hit 'em fast.
Could be a cracking game.
......4-4 part II.....?
So looking at the match on Saturday, this could be the best possible time to play them and seeing as they crumbled like a pack of cards the last time they were at St James Park, I hope we hit 'em hard and hit 'em fast.
Could be a cracking game.
......4-4 part II.....?
Patronising Puppet Pardew - Piss Off.
Puppet Pardew has been moving his lips with a couple of southern fat cats hands up his ass again.
He's now patronising NUFC fans by 'stressing' we need to re-evaluate our status as a football club.
"Maybe 10 years ago, we would be able to rival the Arsenal's and Manchester City's and Chelsea's of this world in terms of transfers"
"But that looks difficult at the moment until such times as we grow the club and show on the pitch that we can bring some success, then hopefully keep our better players and build on that."
Do us a favour Pardew, shut the f*ck up.
Hands up who thinks we can compete on transfers with Arsenal, City and Chelsea?!......Anyone?....any at the back?......No? Didnt think so. So do we need to be told this ridiculously, patronising, obvious point? No, of course we don't.
Do these clown in charge of our football club have any respect for us? Do these people have any concept of how the average Toon fan thinks? Have they ever spoken to a Toon fan in their life?
I'm sick to the back teeth of these non-quotes from Pard's, which are never lacking in total contempt for Newcastle Utd fans.
Looking at these quotes a bit closer you realise how much of a joke they are. 'Keep our better players', 'build success on the pitch', 'grow the club'. Laughable.
In 6 months, the main players that have had relative 'success on the pitch', that has 'grown the club' from Championship minnows to Premiership mid-table solidity, have all been shipped out the club with none of them left to 'build on'.
Carroll, Nolan, Enrique have all been sold by the club with Barton set to join them out the door unless he digs his heels in. How does this fit into building on success and hanging onto our better players? Simply, it doesn't.
His constant reminders to the fans that any of the 'big' clubs can take one of our players whenever they like, as long as the fee fits isnt needed and isn't very eye opening. WE KNOW every player has his price, as Mike Ashleys antics has shown us all what plan he has in the club.
Bring em in cheap, bring em in young, Sell em on.
Facts are we dont have any plans other than this. We aren't building for success, we are reducing the loan owed to The Fat Man. End of.
This 'business plan' doesn't help fans' cause with the hope we will hold onto Tiote or Coloccini before the transfer window slams shut at the end of this month. Sevilla and Valencia are sniffing round our captain like a fly round sh*t and Tiote isn't exactly short of admirers after his revelation last season. Chelsea being one of 'em. The fact that any Toon player has his price is also not exactly a stumbling block for any of these clubs in being able to acquire our best assets.
Why doesn't Ashley just have done with it and have a 'Everything For Sale' sign next to all the hideously oversized Sports Direct logo's spead all over the once classy looking stadium?
Toon fans can just about tolerate Pardew as long as he stops with these ridiculous interviews and quotes sent out across the sports media world. If he continues, the fans are gonna fully associate this plank with the two dodgy croneys we have in our board room. Which in turn, will only bring hurt on Pardew's door.
Toon fans aren't afraid to vocalise there discontent for a manager. If AP insist's on looking back at the clubs past in regards to finances, then maybe he should have a look back at some of the managers spells as well.
Grow a spine, have something meaningful to say, or just shut the f*ck up.
He's now patronising NUFC fans by 'stressing' we need to re-evaluate our status as a football club.
"Maybe 10 years ago, we would be able to rival the Arsenal's and Manchester City's and Chelsea's of this world in terms of transfers"
"But that looks difficult at the moment until such times as we grow the club and show on the pitch that we can bring some success, then hopefully keep our better players and build on that."
Do us a favour Pardew, shut the f*ck up.
Hands up who thinks we can compete on transfers with Arsenal, City and Chelsea?!......Anyone?....any at the back?......No? Didnt think so. So do we need to be told this ridiculously, patronising, obvious point? No, of course we don't.
Do these clown in charge of our football club have any respect for us? Do these people have any concept of how the average Toon fan thinks? Have they ever spoken to a Toon fan in their life?
I'm sick to the back teeth of these non-quotes from Pard's, which are never lacking in total contempt for Newcastle Utd fans.
Looking at these quotes a bit closer you realise how much of a joke they are. 'Keep our better players', 'build success on the pitch', 'grow the club'. Laughable.
In 6 months, the main players that have had relative 'success on the pitch', that has 'grown the club' from Championship minnows to Premiership mid-table solidity, have all been shipped out the club with none of them left to 'build on'.
Carroll, Nolan, Enrique have all been sold by the club with Barton set to join them out the door unless he digs his heels in. How does this fit into building on success and hanging onto our better players? Simply, it doesn't.
His constant reminders to the fans that any of the 'big' clubs can take one of our players whenever they like, as long as the fee fits isnt needed and isn't very eye opening. WE KNOW every player has his price, as Mike Ashleys antics has shown us all what plan he has in the club.
Bring em in cheap, bring em in young, Sell em on.
Facts are we dont have any plans other than this. We aren't building for success, we are reducing the loan owed to The Fat Man. End of.
This 'business plan' doesn't help fans' cause with the hope we will hold onto Tiote or Coloccini before the transfer window slams shut at the end of this month. Sevilla and Valencia are sniffing round our captain like a fly round sh*t and Tiote isn't exactly short of admirers after his revelation last season. Chelsea being one of 'em. The fact that any Toon player has his price is also not exactly a stumbling block for any of these clubs in being able to acquire our best assets.
Why doesn't Ashley just have done with it and have a 'Everything For Sale' sign next to all the hideously oversized Sports Direct logo's spead all over the once classy looking stadium?
Toon fans can just about tolerate Pardew as long as he stops with these ridiculous interviews and quotes sent out across the sports media world. If he continues, the fans are gonna fully associate this plank with the two dodgy croneys we have in our board room. Which in turn, will only bring hurt on Pardew's door.
Toon fans aren't afraid to vocalise there discontent for a manager. If AP insist's on looking back at the clubs past in regards to finances, then maybe he should have a look back at some of the managers spells as well.
Grow a spine, have something meaningful to say, or just shut the f*ck up.
Xisco go...walk out the door...
It was earlier reported today that this waste of space that has been sucking on a £50k-£60k a week wage since Wise/Jimenez made this genius piece of transfer wizardry, had joined Deportivo on a permanent deal.
http://www.riazor.org/xisco-vuelve-a-casa-1017288
However, the Deportivo chairman has confirmed it is only on a season long loan.
To be perfectly honest as long as depor are paying a huge chunk of his £50k-£60k wages, I aint bothered. Just get off the wage bill. Pure waste of very good money.
Nothing personal but Fuck. Off. Back. To. Spain.
http://www.riazor.org/xisco-vuelve-a-casa-1017288
However, the Deportivo chairman has confirmed it is only on a season long loan.
To be perfectly honest as long as depor are paying a huge chunk of his £50k-£60k wages, I aint bothered. Just get off the wage bill. Pure waste of very good money.
Nothing personal but Fuck. Off. Back. To. Spain.
You take your one Dane in, your one Dane out?
According to The Chronicle (best paper in the world), NUFC are seriously considering putting a bid in for wannabe best striker in the world Danish International Nicklas Bendtner.
Now whenever I've watched this lad play for Arsenal he always leaves me with a sense of nothingness. He is the epitome of the 'Hit and Miss' striker. Full of talent, shows it on occasions (against Toon to boot, see below), but just isn't consistent enough to be considered reliable.
However saying all of that. When you look at what we have at the moment and as long the fee is modest enough, I would welcome this still quite young, talented, hit and miss striker. As having Hit and Miss in the team is a lot better than having nothing.
Speaking of Danish strikers, The Chronicle in the same piece http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/08/11/alan-pardew-lining-up-bendtner-bid-72703-29217258/#ixzz1UiOjmqzB also reports that Peter Lovenkrands could be on his way back to Rangers. My view on Peter is he has always been on the fringes of the side, who is capable of chipping in with a goal or assist now and again, and has never set my world on fire. A nice solid pro. If he were to leave, he wouldn't really be that missed.
If I were given the choice between young, arrogant, talent, with flashes of brilliance - or experienced (old), solid, average, reliability...........I'd take the former every day of the week!
But that's just my personality!
Now whenever I've watched this lad play for Arsenal he always leaves me with a sense of nothingness. He is the epitome of the 'Hit and Miss' striker. Full of talent, shows it on occasions (against Toon to boot, see below), but just isn't consistent enough to be considered reliable.
However saying all of that. When you look at what we have at the moment and as long the fee is modest enough, I would welcome this still quite young, talented, hit and miss striker. As having Hit and Miss in the team is a lot better than having nothing.
Speaking of Danish strikers, The Chronicle in the same piece http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/08/11/alan-pardew-lining-up-bendtner-bid-72703-29217258/#ixzz1UiOjmqzB also reports that Peter Lovenkrands could be on his way back to Rangers. My view on Peter is he has always been on the fringes of the side, who is capable of chipping in with a goal or assist now and again, and has never set my world on fire. A nice solid pro. If he were to leave, he wouldn't really be that missed.
If I were given the choice between young, arrogant, talent, with flashes of brilliance - or experienced (old), solid, average, reliability...........I'd take the former every day of the week!
But that's just my personality!
Adios Jose!
After all the talk, and the Twattering sorry Twittering, and the dragging on, this poor man's 'saga' looks to have come to a close.
Jose Enrique is in the North West to complete a medical to join Andy Carroll in Scouseland as Liverpool and Toon agree a fee of around £6million.
As disappointing as it will be to see the decent left-back go, it was always gonna happen. So i'm just glad its happened before the start of season and not on deadline day. Where we could have found ourselves in an 'Andy Carroll' situation of not having, or having the time, to bring anyone in to replace him. We have 3 weeks to find that somebody which is more than enough time.
There has been very strong speculation that PSV left-back Erik Pieters is the man to come in and takeover the No.3 shirt, who is a full Dutch International and highly rated in Europe. He wont be that expensive and the money coming in for Enrique should more than cover the fees needed to bring him in.
However, this lad has just come back from a knee injury so if he were to join us, he would join our other signings this year of Demba Ba and Silvain Marveaux along with Ben Arfa and Dan Gosling, in the 'injury prone' category as we cant be 100% sure if their respective major injuries will hold up all season.
Jose Enrique's 4 years of service has gone from average, to good in the Championship year, to then cracking service last season. He obviously doesn't wanna play for us any more so to get back the fee we paid for him isn't a bad thing, but he definitely is a player worth a good £10million of anyone's money in the current market. The fact he only had one year left on his contract has depleted his transfer fee considerably.
But I wish him well and will move on quite quickly. After all, he's only an above average left-back IMO. There's plenty of those around.
Adios amigos!
Jose Enrique is in the North West to complete a medical to join Andy Carroll in Scouseland as Liverpool and Toon agree a fee of around £6million.
As disappointing as it will be to see the decent left-back go, it was always gonna happen. So i'm just glad its happened before the start of season and not on deadline day. Where we could have found ourselves in an 'Andy Carroll' situation of not having, or having the time, to bring anyone in to replace him. We have 3 weeks to find that somebody which is more than enough time.
There has been very strong speculation that PSV left-back Erik Pieters is the man to come in and takeover the No.3 shirt, who is a full Dutch International and highly rated in Europe. He wont be that expensive and the money coming in for Enrique should more than cover the fees needed to bring him in.
However, this lad has just come back from a knee injury so if he were to join us, he would join our other signings this year of Demba Ba and Silvain Marveaux along with Ben Arfa and Dan Gosling, in the 'injury prone' category as we cant be 100% sure if their respective major injuries will hold up all season.
Jose Enrique's 4 years of service has gone from average, to good in the Championship year, to then cracking service last season. He obviously doesn't wanna play for us any more so to get back the fee we paid for him isn't a bad thing, but he definitely is a player worth a good £10million of anyone's money in the current market. The fact he only had one year left on his contract has depleted his transfer fee considerably.
But I wish him well and will move on quite quickly. After all, he's only an above average left-back IMO. There's plenty of those around.
Adios amigos!
BOOM! BOOM! Cheik's Back In TOON!
You heard.
Visa sorted. Back in Toon. Ready smash another one past the Arse!
BOOM!
Visa sorted. Back in Toon. Ready smash another one past the Arse!
BOOM!
Coloccini to Valencia?
I dont usually take any notice of mediocre transfer gossip, but this rumour/story doesn't seem to be going away.
Their is more talk of Valencia wanting to take our new captain away with the lure of Champions League football.
I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but where would we be without Coloccini?
If we lost him for this season, we would look quite f*cked at the back IMO.
I just hope this is all bollocks and will die a death soon.
Although we all know under Ashley, every player has his price....
Their is more talk of Valencia wanting to take our new captain away with the lure of Champions League football.
I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but where would we be without Coloccini?
If we lost him for this season, we would look quite f*cked at the back IMO.
I just hope this is all bollocks and will die a death soon.
Although we all know under Ashley, every player has his price....
Shola signs
'Veteran' striker Shola Ameobi has signed a new 2 year deal extension to keep him at St James Park for another 3 years.
He getting a testimonial anytime soon....?
He getting a testimonial anytime soon....?
Dont Be Krul
Seeing as there is "panic on the streets of London" to quote @Joey7Barton's hero Morrisey, we will not witness Tim Krul stepping out against England, and possibly Andy Carroll, at Wembley.
Never mind.
I've heard of Premier League managers not wanting these meaningless friendlies to go ahead, but getting these kids on the scene is a bit extreme....
Oh, and the crime wave is heading North.....!!
Never mind.
I've heard of Premier League managers not wanting these meaningless friendlies to go ahead, but getting these kids on the scene is a bit extreme....
Oh, and the crime wave is heading North.....!!
Vive Le Toon Revolution!
With every player signed and sold we seem to getting rid of our British grit, determination, desire, passion, fight and Bulldog attitude which was our best weapon and key strength last season and replacing it with French arrogance, skill, pace, creativity and je ne se qua.
Carroll, Nolan and Barton epitomised these traits.
Pardew has said that we needed more creativity in the squad and I agree with him.
He also said we need more pace and I agree with him.
He also said we need to keep the ball more and control possession and I agree with him.
However, what the club are doing to the team at the moment, I don't agree with.
We should be adding to our British core strength we had last season, not replacing.
We should have a squad that has the Carroll, Barton, Nolan philosophy of never say die, smash the opposition, sheer bloody mindedness to win. With the Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Marveaux controlled, creative, skillfull, pace, influence to go with it.
Unfortunately, due to a lack of intelligence? foresight? strategy? we aren't doing this. We seem to have a 'grass is always greener' approach to our season last year of; well the English technically lacking lads did well last year, but this year I want more technique.
Thats fine. But dont rip the heart out of the team that did very well last season completely. Because what are we left with..?
Do we think these French lads will play with the same intensity as we did last year...?
Do we think these French lads will want to know on a cold, wintery night down at Stoke/Bolton/Swansea...?
Do we think these lads will be interested or up for the fight of a relegation scrap if it materialises...?
I think I know the answer.
Our football club (through guile or stupidity) is taking a huge risk in creating a 'nothing but european' flavour to our team. That may play like France from the World Cup '98 one week, to play like France from the World Cup 2010 the next.
We will have to see how this season turns out, and see where we are come the turn of the year.
January transfer window could be interesting this season.
Vive le Toon!
Carroll, Nolan and Barton epitomised these traits.
Pardew has said that we needed more creativity in the squad and I agree with him.
He also said we need more pace and I agree with him.
He also said we need to keep the ball more and control possession and I agree with him.
However, what the club are doing to the team at the moment, I don't agree with.
We should be adding to our British core strength we had last season, not replacing.
We should have a squad that has the Carroll, Barton, Nolan philosophy of never say die, smash the opposition, sheer bloody mindedness to win. With the Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Marveaux controlled, creative, skillfull, pace, influence to go with it.
Unfortunately, due to a lack of intelligence? foresight? strategy? we aren't doing this. We seem to have a 'grass is always greener' approach to our season last year of; well the English technically lacking lads did well last year, but this year I want more technique.
Thats fine. But dont rip the heart out of the team that did very well last season completely. Because what are we left with..?
Do we think these French lads will play with the same intensity as we did last year...?
Do we think these French lads will want to know on a cold, wintery night down at Stoke/Bolton/Swansea...?
Do we think these lads will be interested or up for the fight of a relegation scrap if it materialises...?
I think I know the answer.
Our football club (through guile or stupidity) is taking a huge risk in creating a 'nothing but european' flavour to our team. That may play like France from the World Cup '98 one week, to play like France from the World Cup 2010 the next.
We will have to see how this season turns out, and see where we are come the turn of the year.
January transfer window could be interesting this season.
Vive le Toon!
Obertan joins Le Revolution!
Gabriel Obertan has signed on a 5 year deal for a £3million transfer fee.
Pardew has brought him in to "Add pace and skill" to the team, as that was "lacking away from home last season".
Obertan becomes the 6th permanent signing in a row who have been born in the suburbs of France and joins Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Abeid, Marveuax, Ba in what is becoming a French revolution on Tyneside.
Obertan has said on the move, "Newcastle is a big club with history" and added, "I really need a club where I could play more games.
This Gabriel Obertan signing is something of unexcitement to be perfectly honest. He isn't what I would look to, to take the team forward or to even clean the boots of the soon to be departing Joey Barton. Let's face it, he has been a total flop at Man Utd and has done nothing to suggest he is capable of playing in the Premier League.
This team is looking more like Clairfontaine Academy FC with every player that comes in and every player that leaves, one after the other.
However, like any new NUFC recruit, he will be given the chance to show us what he can do with a clean slate and blank canvas.
Vive Le Toon!
Pardew has brought him in to "Add pace and skill" to the team, as that was "lacking away from home last season".
Obertan becomes the 6th permanent signing in a row who have been born in the suburbs of France and joins Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Abeid, Marveuax, Ba in what is becoming a French revolution on Tyneside.
Obertan has said on the move, "Newcastle is a big club with history" and added, "I really need a club where I could play more games.
This Gabriel Obertan signing is something of unexcitement to be perfectly honest. He isn't what I would look to, to take the team forward or to even clean the boots of the soon to be departing Joey Barton. Let's face it, he has been a total flop at Man Utd and has done nothing to suggest he is capable of playing in the Premier League.
This team is looking more like Clairfontaine Academy FC with every player that comes in and every player that leaves, one after the other.
However, like any new NUFC recruit, he will be given the chance to show us what he can do with a clean slate and blank canvas.
Vive Le Toon!
Pavlyuchenko for £10million?.....erm no.
According to the Daily Express, NUFC have made a bid of £10million for Roman Pavlyuchenko.
There are 3 things wrong with this 'gossip'
1) We aren't offering £10mil to anybody, for anybody, in 10million years.
2) Hes 29, which obviously Fleet Street havent picked up on yet, is not in the clubs transfer policy.
3) Hes shit.
On the other hand, we ARE going to be signing Gabriel Obertan soon. Who is:
1) Worth £3million, which is in our transfer policy.
2) 22 years old, which is in our transfer policy.
3) Hes French, which is in our transfer policy.
....You could argue hes shit, but lets give him a chance....
There are 3 things wrong with this 'gossip'
1) We aren't offering £10mil to anybody, for anybody, in 10million years.
2) Hes 29, which obviously Fleet Street havent picked up on yet, is not in the clubs transfer policy.
3) Hes shit.
On the other hand, we ARE going to be signing Gabriel Obertan soon. Who is:
1) Worth £3million, which is in our transfer policy.
2) 22 years old, which is in our transfer policy.
3) Hes French, which is in our transfer policy.
....You could argue hes shit, but lets give him a chance....
How not to spend £35million of transfer money
It seems from the comments we keep hearing from Derek Llambias that the money received from Liverpool for the services of Andy Carroll has been used up.
Some people simply don't believe this due to the enormous mistrust of anything this man/puppet/scheister says.
So lets look at where the transfer money we received has been utilised.
Agent and signing on fees for Ba, Marveaux, Cabaye.
Money put aside for 'possible January signings'
A contract for Jose Enrique if he wants it.
(unconfirmed) - To go towards the wage bill.
(Unconfirmed) - Undersoil heating for the training ground.
(apparently) - Money for a new striker.
Now lets give Mr Llambias the benefit of the doubt for once. Lets say he is telling the gospel truth about the above. Lets say all of the figures add up and yes indeed the money has been used up.
Then the issue isnt, when are you gonna spend it?, but just what the hell do you think your doing wasting transfer money in this way?!!
I completely understand running a football club as a business, if I were charge I would do the same. But what seems to be completely absent from our current administration is the Football Club as a business lives and dies by how good/bad the Football TEAM is.
The income the business of the football club makes, is 100% dependant on the team on the pitch. If you qualify for the Champions League you make an extra £40mil, if you get relegated from the Premier League you lose £40mil. Being the biggest examples to use.
When Newcastle Utd Football Club received £35million for one player, they had a chance of investing in the team to fast forward our development and rise and rise up that league table, quicker than estimated/planned. Not to mention the deadwood we would sell with every player coming in to take up their squad numbers in the squad. So really you could take that £35m and add another £15m -£20m at least.
But yet what have we done?:
FACT - Zero NETT Spend on transfer fees.
FACT - Sold top scorer and club captain.
FACT - Wage bill hardly any different seeing as Nolan and Campbell takes £90k off as the 3 new players adds about £100k on.
FACT (will be) - Will sell Jose Enrique to the highest bidder, which also in turn rights off this 'contract' we have offered him, which also will take his £50k wage off the wage bill, as well as inject us with even more transfer money. Probable around £10mil.
FACT -Have brought in injury prone, unproven in the Prem League, French fancies who come december might not like the cold and not put a full shift into the team. We will be TOTALLY relying on these signings to see what kind of season we will have. Scary.
The most logical way of using the Transfer Money we received, for one player, is the following:
Bring in at least 2/3 quality proven strikers.
By all means bring in the signings we have made so far, seeing as they haven't cost out! To add to this, a proven Premier League midfielder or two to bolster our engine room.
Bring in a left back, a centre back and right back at least, as our defence was our weakest area last season.
Sell Jose Enrique for at least £10 mill to whoever wants him, but try and sell him to a foreign team. Maybe even Jonas aswell for about 7-10mil to a foreign team.
Sell other deadwood to reduce wage bill and bring in modest fees to add to transfer kitty. ie Smith, Ranger, Best, Lovenkrands, Xisco, Routledge etc.
At the end of August Newcastle should have a quality 25man squad, with depth, that can genuinely challenge the top 6.
Without breaking the bank as the Carroll, Nolan, Enrique, Deadwood money will more than cover the expenditure on Quality and Quantity.
Now all of the above would create MORE Income to the Football Club as a business as it would perform better on the pitch. Higher league position/good cup run/European qualification/cup winner....just some of the possibilities.
Which in football business terms is the basic essence of success.
Better team = More income. If you can create this equation by not having a significant NETT expenditure inc fees and wages....YOU ARE LAUGHING!
But do you hear anyone laughing wearing Black and White?
Somebody needs to tell all of these football club owners this very simple fact of business life at a football club. Including Gold/Sullivan/Brady down in the Championship for e.g.
But as far as we are concerned, we will be destined to be hugely handicapped by our own administration as they cant even buy a decent team when somebody gives them £40 million plus to use!
Useless. Absolutely useless.
Some people simply don't believe this due to the enormous mistrust of anything this man/puppet/scheister says.
So lets look at where the transfer money we received has been utilised.
Agent and signing on fees for Ba, Marveaux, Cabaye.
Money put aside for 'possible January signings'
A contract for Jose Enrique if he wants it.
(unconfirmed) - To go towards the wage bill.
(Unconfirmed) - Undersoil heating for the training ground.
(apparently) - Money for a new striker.
Now lets give Mr Llambias the benefit of the doubt for once. Lets say he is telling the gospel truth about the above. Lets say all of the figures add up and yes indeed the money has been used up.
Then the issue isnt, when are you gonna spend it?, but just what the hell do you think your doing wasting transfer money in this way?!!
I completely understand running a football club as a business, if I were charge I would do the same. But what seems to be completely absent from our current administration is the Football Club as a business lives and dies by how good/bad the Football TEAM is.
The income the business of the football club makes, is 100% dependant on the team on the pitch. If you qualify for the Champions League you make an extra £40mil, if you get relegated from the Premier League you lose £40mil. Being the biggest examples to use.
When Newcastle Utd Football Club received £35million for one player, they had a chance of investing in the team to fast forward our development and rise and rise up that league table, quicker than estimated/planned. Not to mention the deadwood we would sell with every player coming in to take up their squad numbers in the squad. So really you could take that £35m and add another £15m -£20m at least.
But yet what have we done?:
FACT - Zero NETT Spend on transfer fees.
FACT - Sold top scorer and club captain.
FACT - Wage bill hardly any different seeing as Nolan and Campbell takes £90k off as the 3 new players adds about £100k on.
FACT (will be) - Will sell Jose Enrique to the highest bidder, which also in turn rights off this 'contract' we have offered him, which also will take his £50k wage off the wage bill, as well as inject us with even more transfer money. Probable around £10mil.
FACT -Have brought in injury prone, unproven in the Prem League, French fancies who come december might not like the cold and not put a full shift into the team. We will be TOTALLY relying on these signings to see what kind of season we will have. Scary.
The most logical way of using the Transfer Money we received, for one player, is the following:
Bring in at least 2/3 quality proven strikers.
By all means bring in the signings we have made so far, seeing as they haven't cost out! To add to this, a proven Premier League midfielder or two to bolster our engine room.
Bring in a left back, a centre back and right back at least, as our defence was our weakest area last season.
Sell Jose Enrique for at least £10 mill to whoever wants him, but try and sell him to a foreign team. Maybe even Jonas aswell for about 7-10mil to a foreign team.
Sell other deadwood to reduce wage bill and bring in modest fees to add to transfer kitty. ie Smith, Ranger, Best, Lovenkrands, Xisco, Routledge etc.
At the end of August Newcastle should have a quality 25man squad, with depth, that can genuinely challenge the top 6.
Without breaking the bank as the Carroll, Nolan, Enrique, Deadwood money will more than cover the expenditure on Quality and Quantity.
Now all of the above would create MORE Income to the Football Club as a business as it would perform better on the pitch. Higher league position/good cup run/European qualification/cup winner....just some of the possibilities.
Which in football business terms is the basic essence of success.
Better team = More income. If you can create this equation by not having a significant NETT expenditure inc fees and wages....YOU ARE LAUGHING!
But do you hear anyone laughing wearing Black and White?
Somebody needs to tell all of these football club owners this very simple fact of business life at a football club. Including Gold/Sullivan/Brady down in the Championship for e.g.
But as far as we are concerned, we will be destined to be hugely handicapped by our own administration as they cant even buy a decent team when somebody gives them £40 million plus to use!
Useless. Absolutely useless.
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