This potential move would of course add to the signature of Hatem Ben Arfa that we have already secured this window.
If we could get Larsson through the door aswell it would be pretty good, but would there be any room for any more signings during this transfer window?
Alan Pardew said the other day that he expected to get “one, maybe two, new faces” through the door, which could be taken either way I suppose. I hope Pardew gets another two through the door to be honest, but the question is just who that additional face could be?
Talk is still emanating from France suggesting that the club are interested in signing the French/Moroccan forward, Youssef El-Arabi. A fee of around £4 million has been mentioned, and with the forward having a fairly decent goalscoring record and a decent assist rate you could perhaps see the merits of looking at the 23-year-old.
Talk of Karim Ziani seems to have subsided though after his club distanced themselves from rumours suggesting that the player had agreed a move to Newcastle. I guess that one can pretty much be ruled out.
Anyway, I’m getting a bit off track here. I’d like to know where you would strengthen the team?
I like the look of that El-Arabi to be honest. He looks like he knows where the back of the net is and can cause trouble. Of course, it is the French league that he is currently looking good in, but perhaps he could do a job over here?
I’m not trumpeting the signing of the lad as, quite frankly, I have no idea whether or not we are actually after him. I do like the idea of us being linked with players like him though. He looks like the kind of player that can play in and around Andy Carroll, and that is where I would like us to strengthen this window if we are to get any more signings other than Ben Arfa, and potentially Larsson, through the door.
So come on then, where would you strengthen the team?
i also would like to see a gamble on austin Ross. he hasnt done it in the CCC but he came from poole i think where ha got something like 50 in 50. then straight to swindon and smashed it there. well worth a punt in my eyes. buy him now, loan for rest of season to swindon, then pre season with the squad
rambo87(Quote)
“I love monsieur T but he could do with a bit of macherano’s class on the offensive side” 😯
Sorry Jersey, but I don’t think you could be more wrong. Mascherano offers next to NOTHING going forward. He has scored one or two bangers at Liverpool and it makes people think he contributed more offensively than he actually did. Tiote is superior going forward. He dribbles, passes and retains possession far better.
El Toro(Quote)
Isn’t Swindon in league one?
I believe he’s 23? Am I wrong for feeling that’s too old to pluck a player oot the third division?
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
Rambo-how about if i said-Bridge is nowhere near in the same CLASS as Enrique :D?
NewkieBrown(Quote)
You’re dead right, they are a league one team. No idea why I had them down as a Championship side. Hes only 21 though, and to be fair we were trying to pluck Beckford at one time from a league one side, who I think is 26/27!
Ross(Quote)
Aye swindon is league 1. Howay we’ve already got a 23 year old CCC striker in Best, lets not pick up anyone worse 😀
NewkieBrown(Quote)
And Austin has 31 from 51.
Ross(Quote)
El toro, I have to disagree right back 😆
You have to remember that masherano’s role at Liverpool didn’t require too much offense due to the class around him. But when called upon he showed his class. Much like essien. Hold, defend, hold then well timed push.
Tiote is strong on the ball and is a good passer but does lack scoreing ability and also the vision for that “killer” pass. He tends to make the safe pass and he also has a bad tendency to want to pass it to his right which teams will start to exploit. How many times has Joey seen the ball that should be played and in frustration will run up to Tiote to take the ball and make the pass because he’s delaying on the ball.
I don’t want this to sound like I’m slaggin him off. I love the guy. I think he will get better once he gets more comfortable and learns the language.
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
Larsson at training ground apparently.
DJG(Quote)
There was talk of him being available last week, a fee of 1.5 million I think. Or talk of both us and I think Fulham being interested anyway.
Ross(Quote)
Aye we did but it ended up being a good thing we didn’t 🙂 So far…
At 21 its a good shout at the right price.
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
Jersey-to be fair mate I’ve only seen him take one shot, and that was poor i’ll give you that-still he’s rarely been in the position to shoot but he generally finds the pass, its hardly defence splitting but he plays the simple passing game and thats what i’d ask of him to be honest, its up to us to get a more creative player like Barton alongside him. In open play with our full backs steaming forward as both (simpson and enrique) can run and cross, or at a set piece (colo/willo/taylor) are all in the box-tiote has to remain back, who else is going to make the killer tackle to break up the counter attacks and stay back far enough to do it? we can’t ask everything of the lad, and nor can we stick all of our players in their box 😀
NewkieBrown(Quote)
Would you say playing the killer pass and finding the net is Tiote’s job though? You mentioned the attacking class surrounding Masch at Liverpool and I’d argue that there really should be someone like Barton playing alongside Tiote instead of out on the wing, thus acting as our bit of class and allowing Tiote to do the dirty work of clearing up the mess and just keeping the game ticking along by playing the simple pass.
I’d love him to play like Essein’s twin, but for me Essien is the best in the world for his position, he’s a hard act to follow.
Ross(Quote)
newkie brown that is a perfect sentence to describe old bridgey 😆
the bull is far superior
does anyone know much about the young strikers at the club such as donaldson and airey in terms of how they are developing. i know we let 2 go last summer i think in ngo baheng and danquah so if these guys arent good enough we will get rid. i think i saw one of them is now maybe at aldershot or somewhere maybe even non league
rambo87(Quote)
The concern for me is that his level of competition has been low. I believe Swindon were in league 2 when he arrived? Like I said at 21 and 1.5 mil may be worth the risk, and I like the idea of loaning him back and assessing him in preseason.
One negative I’ve heard about him is that he’s slow. Really slow.
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
where’s that from? I love the transfer window!!!! 😆
pearceet(Quote)
Donaldson is a central midfielder isn’t he, and I think he is away on loan somewhere, sure him and someone else went away to play not long ago
I Love Mike(Quote)
someone on .org who says their at the training ground, don’t know if it’s true or not lyk. ❓
DJG(Quote)
To be fair I’m saying he’s worth a punt purely on his goal scoring record and his age, I haven’t seen much of him. His goal scoring record before Swindon was a goal a game at times but like you say the competition will have been at a far lower standard. At 1.5 mil I’d give him a go. As for his speed he may be a poacher, right place right time sort of lad, but like I said I haven’t really seen him to have an experienced opinion, If that’s the right word, lol.
Ross(Quote)
Absolutely. I’m not trying to slag Tiote or say he’s not good enough. I think he’s quality and exactly what we’ve needed the past few years.
My comment was that the killer pass and shooting ability he doesn’t have, mash does, so I was just disagreeing with Tiote being “far superior” to masherano. But like I said I’d rather have Tiote anyway as I love his attitude and I believe he’ll get even better once he can communicate better with the others. Imagine standing in the middle of the pitch with players rushing at you from all angles and you have to use your instincts to make a play cause you can’t understand what your mates are yell to you lol. Add 50000 singin Geordies and I’d have to fake an injury 😎
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
If they’re going to pay that much in wages, wouldn’t they be better doing it at the other end of the pitch as it’s goals they’ll need to stay up 🙄
richietoon(Quote)
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2011/01/11/korean-fans-epic-bid-to-see-newcastle-united-72703-27966082/
Korean toon fans. 😛
DJG(Quote)
i thought he was a striker i love mike. he is on the new pro evo anyways!!!
hes not on loan though just checked wikipedia. also says he can play mid or up top.
when did fabio zamblera disapear?? i thought he was the new del piero when we signed him 😆
rambo87(Quote)
Donaldson played center forward for the reserves. He played mid field his only first team start in the cc. I think he went out on loan but not sure.
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
New article coming up. Funnily enough it’s talking about the younger players actually 😆
toonsy(Quote)
I agree with your points about Tiote, but just feel you overrate Macherano.
“killer pass and shooting ability he doesn’t have, mash does”
I don’t think Mascherano possess either of those skills you just mentioned.
El Toro(Quote)
possesses*
El Toro(Quote)
He’s still in the squad but has a knee injury.
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
That’s quality
El Toro(Quote)
my bad, must have just been talk of him possibly going on loan to get some games
I Love Mike(Quote)
was it u that said about great minds toonsy earlier 😆
rambo87(Quote)
That lot are mental, that’s class!..good luck to them, hope they get here.
Ross(Quote)
😆
toonsy(Quote)
It’s about time. This ones over 2 hrs old already 🙄
🙂
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
It’s up now anyway 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
👿 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Been at work since Sunday night. Just got out about an hour ago and I’m so tired instead of driving home Im sitting in the car posting…
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
Does “Andrew” use the blog regularly? Dunno who his alter ego may be but on the “people who like .info on facebook” section at the side, his profile picture is him with pac man, that’s class!
Ross(Quote)
We might need a new central defender if any of the rumours about Sol and Arsenal are true. He’s supposed to be ill but he looked fit as a fiddle on Sunday afternoon when he was on the same flight as me down to London.
SpartanChris(Quote)
If we lose Campbell and Kadar loan for a month, we’ve gone from 5 to 3. 😐
DJG(Quote)
6 to 4. Perch can play at CB
El Toro(Quote)
Tiotes appeal thrown out by FA – 3 game suspension starts immediately 🙁
Cheik Tiote, Newcastle United FC
Stevenage FC v Newcastle United FC
The FA Cup Third Round Proper, 8 January 2011
Dismissed for serious foul play
Claim made for wrongful dismissal
Claim dismissed, three match suspension to commence with immediate effect
4411(Quote)
I love mike
I was being sarcastic, Taylor has been great since coming back and Williamson has cost us as many points as Perch this season but people are oblivious to that and constantly slate poor old Stevie…
CC(Quote)
Not sure I beleive that Larsson is at training ground. Would like to think so but Brums number 2 Peter Grant reckons Seb will be involved in League Cup semi tonight v’s West Ham. Hope I’m wrong tho
knocky(Quote)
To answer the question can I have Yoseef and Ozan Ipek please.
Premandup(Quote)