Of course this is Newcastle, and if there is a banana skin to be found then you can be pretty sure that NUFC will do their level best to find it so I won’t be shouting just yet, but surely there has to be three teams worse than us in the grand scheme of things?
The goal once survival is assured is to then strengthen the team and carry out a bit of rebuilding work over the summer. We know where there are weaknesses in the squad, and hopefully the chaps who can do something about it over the coming months actually pull their finger out and address those areas of weakness
Ultimately, the nuts of it is about who is brought in, and that is generally where most of the attention seems to go. What about the current crop of players though? Some of them will need shifting on, but which ones? Let’s take a look at who I think we should be waving goodbye to over the summer.
Sol Campbell – The time is up for the former Arsenal defender surely? It’s sad to see as I remember him when he was at the top of his game, as I’m sure many others do. Unfortunately though that kind of performance is a thing of the past from Sol and age seems to be getting the better of him.
He’s out of contract in the summer although he does have an option to extend his stay for another year. If it’s an extension based on performances then I’d like to know where I could sign up to the club as I wouldn’t be much worse.
Alan Smith – To be honest I’d probably try and keep Smithy around, if he agreed to a significant wage drop, as he is supposed to be quite good behind the scenes. He must be, as he isn’t very good on the pitch anymore, and he takes home a huge £60,000-a-week in wages. For that wage there has to be better out there?
I do have some degree of sympathy for him however as I feel that Manchester United ruined him. After the horrific injury that he suffered at Anfield he was dropped back into midfield to play a more defensive role, which ultimately he isn’t that good at. Gettting back to what I said earlier, if he’ll take a wage drop then keep him. If not then try and get rid.
James Perch – Need I say more? I was one of the few who gave the lad a chance and didn’t rush to criticise him like many did at the time. He hasn’t done an awful lot wrong to be honest, he’s just not very good.
I feel Perchy pays for his alleged versatility by not being able to settle in the one position. If you are just employed as a right-back you could probably concentrate on areas of his game a bit more, but the fact that he tends to be played here, there and everywhere probably doesn’t help him as you need slightly different attributes for each position. Perch is the jack of all trades, master of none.
Ryan Taylor – Deep down you knew his name was coming! He is probably the only player signed to just to stop him scoring against us. Signed from Wigan in January 2009 the Scouse lad arrived with a reputation of being a set-piece taker. Fast forward to April 2011 and I’ve yet to see any real evidence of that reputation.
Again I feel that Raylor suffers due to his versatility. He can’t defend which rules him out at right back, and he can’t attack which rules him out on the right wing. He has little pace, has a poor range of passing and can’t tackle and I struggle to see what he brings to the team
Those are my four priority picks for who should leave in the summer. If we could get rid of all of them then we’d probably rake in £2 million from sales, which isn’t great, but it would shave around £6.5 million off the wagebill each year that could be used on new contracts.
Agree? Disagree? Have your own suggestions?
Then why not tell us why by leaving a comment?
I would have kept Ryan Taylor though. How about a decent offer for Jonas in the summer ? I will sell him if we have a replacement!
mithun_toon(Quote)
Nah I think Jonas is miles better than Raylor. Jonas is frustrating, but not as frustrating as Taylor 😡
toonsy(Quote)
Perch,Raylor, Smith, Xisco, Sol, Kuqi, Lovenkrands, Routledge(?)Ashley, Llamesarse 😀
richietoon(Quote)
😉 Good luck with the new job today Toonsy 😀
richietoon(Quote)
I am most likely in the minority but I like Jonas and what he can bring to our line up. Ok he has days when he boils my **** but the work he does on the pitch in taking pressure of the defence on his side of the pitch. A lot of the time he his double teamed as opposition really see him as dangerous. I believe he has allowed Nolan some of his space in the middle to aid in hai 12 goals.
But out would be Campbell, smith, Perch, loverman, Xisco. Although I really don’t think Xisco has ever really been given a fair crack for what ever reason and I don’t feel he ever will.
Waldo P. Barnstormer(Quote)
Cheers rich. Just walking to work now. No car needed 😀
toonsy(Quote)
Waldo – I agree. I bet Jose wouldn’t look as good without Jonas in front of him. He’d still be good of course, but he wouldn’t gave the help that Jonas gives him tracking back and such.
toonsy(Quote)
Toonsy…I meant “good luck” to the new company 😉 😆
richietoon(Quote)
i’m surprised danny guthrie isnt on the list or among the comments so far.
acky3000(Quote)
acky……I almost put him but wondered if we would get better who’d be prepared to sit on the bench.
richietoon(Quote)
I think Guthrie has done ok in the last couple of games. He’s no world beater but he did a jib. He was excellent against wolves.
Rich 😉
toonsy(Quote)
I like Jonas. Holds the ball up well and has been our only attacking outlet (on the ground) at times.
Lovenkrands should go back to Rangers and end his career on a high. Guthrie is a good squad player, gives a bit of much needed depth.
Raylor, needs to move on. Annoyed me recently when he said ‘getting sent off 11 minutes into the second half wasn’t ideal’
No Ryan, it was pretty fooking far from ideal if you ask me!
Moreno(Quote)
Well that’s me at work then. Training all day. Nice. I’ve got my high via on ready and I expect to see many fire doors throughout the day 🙄
toonsy(Quote)
@richietoon agree on the bench filler part. just wondering if he is actually willing to be there for the rest of his career at SJP.
acky3000(Quote)
Kevin Nolan not in the PFA team of the year ? WTF ?
mithun_toon(Quote)
acky…..not if he’s got any sort of ambition about him 😉
Mithun…he plays for Newcastle so no chance 🙁
richietoon(Quote)
NUFC arent “fashionable” yet. lets hope it changes in the next few seasons.
acky3000(Quote)
@richie right mate. Since there will be no England call up for the Captain they can at least added him in the list ❗ 🙁
mithun_toon(Quote)
Newcastle need to put a bid in for shaun Wright-Phileps, he is a brilliant young player who never gets a game and i dont think Newcastle will have to pay much 🙂 ❗ ❓ ❗
georgeNUFCthompson(Quote)
i think Heskey would be a good signing if he wants to leave aston ville he might might be old and not score much goals but he is a quality strike partner and would help Best, ranger and lovenkranks all score goals. Newcastle would only have to pay a small amount for him aswell. 🙂 🙄 😆
georgeNUFCthompson(Quote)
keep lovenkranks we is a good player and so is routlage he is just to young at the minute. But get rid off Soll, Rayler and Xisco.
georgeNUFCthompson(Quote)
If West Ham go down this year i think we should put a bid in for Upson because he is one of the best english defenders, but i don’t think we will partner well with colocinni because there would’nt be enough past and they are both to clumsey.
georgeNUFCthompson(Quote)
Player upgrades/replacements needed for Campbell, Smith, Lovenkrands, Kuqi, Xisco, Routledge, Carroll, Perch, Raylor.
That’s a lot for one summer, tho.
Brisvegas(Quote)
We only need 2 qualtiy strikers 1 back-up winger and a quality center back but thats if are good players all stay at the club, and with 35 million i think he can do that easly but who do you think the players should be (shaun wright-philphs 😉 )
georgeNUFCthompson(Quote)
I generally agree with the names here, and like Toonsy I hope Smudge can remain part of the setup somehow; he’s good people and a key part of the spirit that’s got us up and (hopefully) staying up.
Can’t imagine losing Jonas – daft idea. Stoppit.
As for Perch and Raylor, I’m wondering if we’re just seeing what ‘utility’ players are like and are being unfair? To be honest, I’m more bothered about Raylor’s sending-off than his performances; doesn’t show a great brain. But he has shown ability once or twice and he’s kept his head down and never made a fuss about 1st-team football. As with others – I only want to see him going if we have a better replacement.
Whumpie(Quote)
Oh, and the one position we desperately need a new body for: Managing Director. Lame-**** has no track-record and repeatedly makes god-awful decisions to remind us of that. I’d spend some of the £35m there before anywhere else.
Oh, I wish. 🙄
Whumpie(Quote)
hello lads can any of yous tell me what the probable line up will be against man utd tomorow night??? ive lost track from all the injurys and bans!! i know tiote is back which is massive!! let me know lads 🙂
Army69(Quote)
Not going to happen though. In ashleys eyes owl heed is a safe pair of hands that he can trust 😕
toonsy(Quote)
GeorgeNUFCthompson- In footballing terms Shaun wright phillips is not young, if you compare him to your dad he might be young. but he isn’t.
Heskey is a pile of ***** and i would be appalled if we signed him, embarrassment of a footballer. 🙂
Keep Raylor, who else would annoy Toonsy?
Wouldn’t mind getting rid of Lovenkrands
Jobey07(Quote)
ARMY69 its still a bit up in the air m8,shola and ireland still a bit iffy,nolan still banned ect ect,
hope mrs still holding up mate
icedog(Quote)
if heskey is so ***** why has he played for Engerland all his career, he might not be at his best but he is still very good!
georgeNUFCthompson(Quote)
And he’s been ***** for england. couldn’t finish his dinner (well he could, that’s why he’s so big) but that’s different
Jobey07(Quote)
Heskey is also 33, great sell on value
Jobey07(Quote)
I’d keep perch to be honest, even though he is useless. he does put a shift in and can cover anywhere at the back if we are struggling. I’d keep ryan taylor aswell unless we get seb larsson. Both rb/rm cover. They also arn’t going to kick up a fuss if there not in the squad. I’d let sol go but not sure if he’s helping the young lads. smith and lovenkrands can go for me, we have a small squad can’t just get rid of 5/6 players. Means we’d need about 10 and that doesn’t help with our tight unit were developing.
Rorycn(Quote)
so what if he is 33 there are plenty of brilliant players older than him, and you must be stupid if you think he is fat ❗
georgeNUFCthompson(Quote)
Welll, he’s not exactly mobile. We signed Viduka he was useless, Heskey would be the same
Jobey07(Quote)
aye shes stil hangin in there ice dog 🙂
Army69(Quote)
If we signed Heskey I literally don’t know what I’d do 😡 On the plus side, think of the shirt sales though eh? 🙄
DevonMag(Quote)
So are we wanting to keep players on tens of thousand, who hardly ever get a game because they’re good for moral/team spirit?…..hire chubby brown, he’s cheaper 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Campbell, Perch, Smith, Guthrie, Routledge, Lovenkrands and Xisco will leave imo which will get about £6 million and save roughly £180 thousand a week in wages.
I do feel R.Taylor will stay though 😉
dan4toon(Quote)
Agree with Dan, Ryan Taylor should stay 😆
Perch, Lovenkrands, Guthrie, Jonas, Routledge, Xisco, Smith and Sol would all leave if I had my way. People might disagree about Jonas but I rekon we could get about 6 or 7 million for him off an Italian or Spanish team. He offers very little apart from getting us fouls, if we want to improve Jonas needs to leave or just not play at all.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
I can’t believe people are still on about players like Heskey – and even SWP. Why even mention them?
We know what our model is, the club’s sticking to it and we need to tune in to it. SWP is 29 for chrissakes. And a bit of a git. So our chances of getting him cheaply, on a lowish salary, getting him buzzed up and fully into all things Newcastle, then selling at a profit?
Zilch. Move on.
Whumpie(Quote)
Oh, and I’d like to stick up for Perch a bit. He’s done some good work for us – yes, some bad days, but that’s part and parcel of our recruitment policy. Simpson – perfect example.
Whumpie(Quote)
Sorry but I have to stick up for Raylor here.
Two set picese come of the top of my head…
The one against ipswich last year
and the one at Derby that hit the bar.
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Bit delayed on the old Carroll front, but have any of you watched this before?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFB_A5aUsto
That is not a man that was forced out. I’m still a bit unsure about how I feel about the transfer, I don’t understand why the club would have rejected earlier bids if they had wanted to sell, there wouldnt have been any way of knowing Liverpool would up the offer surely?
Regardless, whether or not it was a good deal (as amazing as it wouldve been to have a new geordie No9), hinges on the summer transfer window.
I would definitely keep Routledge, and maybe Guthrie. Routledge has shown that he is on the fence of top class Champ player/ mediocre Prem player and would get into half the teams below us. That is fine for backup for now I think, there are bigger holes in the team and he isnt on huge wages.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Whumpie, I agree to a certain extent, obviously he isn’t one to start every game as shown at the start of the season but when he’s had to come in the odd game in what ever position he’s not done too bad.
I do feel he will leave but wouldn’t mind to see him stay as he will only get replaced by someone with the same ability.
dan4toon(Quote)
Seb Bassong to return?
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Andrew – analyse our goals this season, then take away Jonas’s contributions. We’d probably be in the relly zone by now. He’s been fantastic recently – not totally consistent, but so much of our best work comes down that wing and he sets up so many now. It’s just that it’s not often from a direct cross to the striker, which is what people expect. But it’s usually Jonas who gets the ball into the danger area by going past players in the first place – something we desperately lack elsewhere on the field.
Also, Guthrie – he’s shown that he’s a great stand-in for Tiote and gives us more attacking options than him too, so a very useful player – why lose him?
We seem to expect all our players to be perfect all the time. News: we’re not that club any more. And if you think you can buy it, try talking to Chelski who’ve got £50m worth of Spanish fekking book-end on their hands.
Whumpie(Quote)
I think Guthrie will leave to further his own career if nothing else and Pardew will probably let him go as he has Gosling coming back to replace him.
dan4toon(Quote)
Whumpie
Jonas is utter sh1te, every single game he fecks our moves up, he can’t cross at all. I dunno how people can stick up for him – because he runs with the ball gets past a few people them loses it?
Every time he gets in a good postion he messes it up, he has no end product at all, he never has. It happens every single time I watch him.
When I ask people what is Jonas good at people usually say he gets us fouls…Did we pay 7 million for a player to get us free kicks? Jonas is a very, very lucky man he has had Jose behind him since he has been here because if it didn’t he would look even more rubbish than he is.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Them three plus routledge/xicsco/lovenkrands/guthrie for me, providing we can bring in substantial replacements to make a half decent squad and not just starting 11.
NewkieBrown(Quote)
Fair point, Dan. Shame – I like the guy.
Whumpie(Quote)
I just think if we want to improve we need better than Jonas, fair enough he probably isnt as bad as I make him out to be but what does my head in when people thinks he’s good. I watch him every game and he makes the same mistakes over and over again.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Andrew, you’re either watching the wrong player or you don’t know what his job is. Judging by your avatar, I’m guessing you’d like him a lot better if he’d got a couple of violence convictions to his name. 🙂
Sorry – bit of a dig. What about his MOTM performance recently? And not long before that he set up both our goals with perfect crosses.
It’s all subjective of course, but I’d suggest you need to update your opinion of the guy based on more recent performances.
Whumpie(Quote)
In your 4 strikers poll you’ve missed:
Mahatma Koat
Mustapha Turnoot
Ben Downe
& Phillip MacCrevice
Comedy Genius or what
whoarya(Quote)
Andrew – your latter post kind of makes mine redundant! Yep, agree that he’s been very frustrating, and seems to be a blind-alley specialist a lot of the time.
But recently the sheer quantity of runs means that even if 90% of them end in nowt, the 10% tend to lead to goals. And he’s put some nice crosses and through-balls in too. End product, no less!
(Should hope so for what he cost, mind 😛 )
Whumpie(Quote)
Also-re Jonas, I guess everyone remembers how fired up he was after he lost his place to Arfa? If we can sign up a decent attacking winger to give Jonas some competition I think we’ll see a fair amount more from the lad. Fair enough you could say he should be playing at his best anyway, but I still think we can make use of him.
NewkieBrown(Quote)
Whumpie I have had a season ticket for four years and go to away games when possible.
I’ve seen enough of him to have an opinion on him, I like his work rate, he wants to do well, but it doesn’t help when help when he can’t cross.
Doesn’t look like im going to agree with you on him but we all have different views on players. I don’t want him to have a couple of violence conviction – I want him to learn how to cross a ball, do you see what he does during the warm up before games? When we start to cross he leaves and goes down the tunnel.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Andrew – it’s a very interesting viewpoint, as I know how much more you see of a player if you’re in the stands each week. Pardew recently said that he ‘drives him mad’ – perhaps the warm-up thing is part of that.
But surely you’ve seen some improvement recently, or is that just something that’s come across on the TV?
Whumpie(Quote)
Benny and Gosling will be like new signings for us next season. They certainly plug some holes in the squad creativity-wise.
I can’t see us losing many players, but it’s about more than ability – it’s about value for money, especially with the players still on overpaid contracts from a few years back.
Whumpie(Quote)
@60 Agreed
I can’t wait to see Gosling return, we have all seen what Ben Arfa can do, going to be exciting to see how Gosling does when he comes back. Lets hope he can come on a few times before the season ends but the main thing for him is to have a great pre season.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
acky 3000,Stay assured,it willl 😎
arrowhead(Quote)
I’ll never understand that.
We get Simpson and Barton on one wing and get who ever is upfront and Nolan in the box and there’s only Jose on the other side because Jonas wants to do his hair or something.
dan4toon(Quote)
Meh – all I see of Jonas is him taking the ball through the midfield and past two or three players. Something nobody else (apart from perhaps Jose) seems keen to do.
He may well have attitude problems, he does look like My Little Pony’s ugly brother, and appears to have left the hanger in his shirt. But I think his recent form has been pretty good.
As someone’s said: competition for a place tends to focus the mind.. 😈
Whumpie(Quote)
Xisco scored yesterday for Deportivo la Coruna. Bring him back!
kidding, obviously.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Sometimes Jonas can be a big hindrance to Jose.
When Jose goes on these lung bursting runs, Jonas should run to take a opposition midfielder/defender with him but he just stands there and gets in the way of Jose.
But he does do a lot defensively for us.
dan4toon(Quote)
To sell Jonas would be madness he is far to valuable for us.All this nagging about lousy end products is shortsighted and lacks perspective.Well I’m far from objective here since I love the man and his footballing style.To loose Jonas in addition to Carrol would turn Newcastle into a Nocastle IMO. 😥
arrowhead(Quote)
I used to be very critical of Jonas, but I remember one game where he was out injured or suspended and we were completely lost without him he does a lot for us…
if only he could improve the final stages–shooting, crossing & the final killer pass…
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Also important to remember is the amount of free-kicks and corners Jonas wins.
United For Newcastle(Quote)
I’d like to see him shoot more, actually. With Nolan running in late to pick up the scraps and the strikers sniffing around, they could get some rebounds and put one or two away. Scrappy stuff, but you see it work a lot.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
looking at the post i don’t think Jonas is very populer so i think anything over 10mill would be great.
georgeNUFCthompson(Quote)