John Carver on Ben Arfa, Gosling and transfers.

John Carver

John Carver
Carver's Toon talk.
John Carver has been speaking in depth to the local press today about a whole host of happenings at NUFC.

From talk of transfers to revelations that both Hatem Ben Arfa and Dan Gosling will be back in pre-season training much earlier than the rest of the squad in a bid to get fit again after such long injury absences – Gosling has played for five minutes since his move to Newcastle last summer while Ben Arfa has been out since early October with his broken leg – Carver has had his say on the lot.

They should both be fine for the start of the season though according to Carver.

“Both Dan and Hatem will be back and up to scratch for the new season,” Carver told The Chronicle. “Dan is going to the US first to have a family holiday, then he’ll do some warm weather training before joining us for the games in the States.”

“It’s the same for Hatem. Last season we knew there was no point in risking anybody once we were safe. Dan and Hatem looked really good in training.”

Having these two back is literally going to be like having two new signings. Hopefully there will be no long-lasting issues and the pair can and do make a full recovery. With medical science the way it is at the moment I would hazard a guess that the likelihood of a recurrence has been assessed using fancy techniques that you or I wouldn’t see at an NHS hospital.

It’s still not a guarantee though and the only way we’ll be able to tell if they are over their injuries is by giving them time. Fingers crossed that they have both made a full recovery and suffer no setbacks. If would be nice to have two ‘new’ faces around the squad.

Speaking of new faces, Carver also insists that Newcastle are working hard to find those players that will “put bums on seats”. With the deal for Yohan Cabaye seemingly done and dusted, albeit not officially as yet, it does give some indication that signing good players is aprt of the agenda at Newcastle.

Carver said: “The manager has already said that he wants players to get bums on seats at St James’ Park, and that’s what we’re working to do. There are a lot of negotiations going on, and there has been progress. But, like everyone else, we’re waiting to hear back from clubs and players.”

“This is a huge club, and not so long ago it was playing Champions League football and attracting top players. We hope, in time, we can get back to that situation, but this is still a club which sells itself because of its fan-base. We’re in a strong position.”

Another indication that Newcastle are busy in the transfer market? Or is John Carver just another one who is towing the party the line? I would suggest it’s the former. I think we’ve heard enough rumours and chat regarding transfers to suggest that we are up to something, but I guess the only way we can really judge it is by looking back on the transfer window in September and evaluating what we have left.

Two bits of good news anyway. One about injuries to two of last season new recruits, and the other about this seasons new recruits. A bit more communication from the club….

I like it!

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

118 thoughts on “John Carver on Ben Arfa, Gosling and transfers.

  1. Well, i think John Carver is saying all the right things.

    On the one hand, he’s letting us know that the club isn’t settling for just any old players and also telling us that things are ticking over nicely on the injury front.

    On the other hand, he’s not giving too much away to get peoples hopes raised to the roof, which in effect is a good thing because it keeps everyone’s feet on the ground.

    I don’t think Carver is singing to anyone’s tune and is basically just telling us how it is.

    Top marks to the fella. 🙂

      (Quote)

  2. Skysports.com understands Premier League trio Newcastle, Blackburn and Wigan are tracking French defender Cedric Hengbart.

    Hengbart is entering the final year of his contract at Auxerre and is thought to be considering his future at Stade Abbe Deschamps.

    The 30-year-old has been a regular in the Auxerre side since arriving from Caen in 2008 and Hengbart is noted as an attacking defender in Ligue 1.

    Toulouse are believed to have made a €1.6million offer for Hengbart as they look to bolster their defensive options for next season.

    With Hengbart having just one year to run on his contract the player can buy himself out of his contract for as little as £500,000 under the Webster ruling.

    The news has alerted Newcastle, Blackburn and Wigan who are all in the market for a new right-back for next season.

      (Quote)

  3. Are we going to buy every available french player , the f**k is Hengbart , 30 years old is way outside the requirements for targets .

      (Quote)

  4. Thats the point Big Dave
    As much as I liked Hughton, nobody seems to want to employ him. West Ham would have been ideal. Apart from his past and history there, he has shown he can take a newly releagated club back up first time round. This would have been the ideal time, come in and keep as many of the players as the board lets him. Maybe, just maybe, Ashley knew what he was doing when he got rid. Suppose we will never know, but does make you think

      (Quote)

  5. Thing is, as unappealing as Big Sam is he is a proven PL manager. Granted it might be hideous, unexciting football, but he’s proven he can often manage with limited resources. Owners would always go for more experienced managers if they’re seeking promotion…Although Hoots would have been a hell of lot cheaper. I’d imagine Hoots still has a lot to prove to the wider world…funny how Toon fans seem to get a lot of stick for the firing of Hoots and everyone was ready to praise the man, and now nobody is willing to give him a job? Hope he gets one soon like, top bloke and top manager.

      (Quote)

  6. I think Hoots can perhaps be too nice for his own good. He was a great manager for us but there was part of me that didn’t like his tactics when we got a lead. He always seemed to make the team defensive. Whereas with Pards he’s made the time push on for another goal when we have scored. I just get the impression that he is a more attacking manager. I think he’s done a great job and the ability to make signings will allow him to forge his own team

      (Quote)

  7. I saw an interview on skysports with an Julian Dicks.

    He said something like

    “Big Saaam as this reputation of being a manager who employs the long ball but people forget, he managed Djorkaeff”

    😆 Thought it was funny mesel

      (Quote)

  8. I like CH, the man did a great job and should always be remembered for bringing us right back up and essentially saving the club. But it’s not like he was some miracle worker- we had by far the best talent in the CCC (thanks in part to Ashley who propped us up finanicially without the need of a complete firesale). I don’t see much talent on the Wst Hame roster, and there will be less by the start of the season.

      (Quote)

  9. Good words from the assistant that Whoton wasn’t allowed 😆

    I bet Stardust is fizzing reading this 😆

      (Quote)

  10. Carver saying what needs to be said. Excellent assistant. Our whole backroom seems to be working good at the moment.

    Re big sham : he might be proven with Bolton, but my god he doesnt fit West Ham as he didnt fit us. West Ham doesnt have the players to play big shams football. Maybe he wants Smith back as his target man ?????

      (Quote)

  11. AoD – hmm.. We do need a bit of competition for Simpson. If he indeed is an attacking rb, then he might fit our (new?) attractive football philosophy.

      (Quote)

  12. Goose…agree sorta with what you said, but at the same time, Hoots presided over our biggest win, and at the same time there were games under Pardew-Spurs/Sunderland where we should have defended and ran the clock down towards the end, and instead we suffered, we tried to attack, failed, and lost to last minute counters.

      (Quote)

  13. On Fat Sam, I really don’t think West Ham fans would care about tradition and such at the minute. I think what matters to them is getting back up, whichever way they do it.

    Ask them what they want form this season:

    1 – Pretty football that doesn’t really suit the Championship.

    2 – A manager who knows how to grind out wins to get get promoted.

    I bet they’ll go for 2, if even on a temporary basis.

      (Quote)

  14. MDS @12,i agree with you mate,think w/spam will have a hard season along with parker, ba i can see quite a few jumping ship,no doubt big ham will start with not leaking goals,but whos going to make em,and score em,could struggle imo

      (Quote)

  15. Yeah I agree with you Newkie, I have nothing wrong with Hoots. My favourite manager since Bobby Robson. He did a fantastic job for us and he never deserved to be treated like he did.

    Yeah they were disappointing when we conceeded those goals and I was annoyed at one player in particular as we was very far out of position.

    But I’m really looking forward to who we bring in to add to our squad

      (Quote)

  16. Big Dave – 😆

    toonsy – If they want nr. 2, they should’ve gone with Hoots. At least his football is more pretty than big sham. Also I dont think he will be that pivotal for their promotion. I think it will be more a question of how many players they can keep? Think they will have a massive exodus on their hands in midfield and attack.

      (Quote)

  17. Evening Dan the mole. Got any gossip for your adoring public? 😉

    I was going to do something but I’ve completely forgot what it was 😐

    Now I’m off to work. Last one them I’m off for a few days. Nice. Catch you in a bit 🙂

      (Quote)

  18. Getting in good new players is an ongoing process. At the end of the day, we have just returned to the big league, and are getting re-established. 2 or 3 good signings this season, the same next season will see us hopefully improve the whole all round situation. Of course all this transfer speculation needs to be turned into actual signings, but we seem to be trying…time will show if any of these moves come off, but I’m personally quite optimistic…..

      (Quote)

  19. Goose-definitely, be happy with progressive attacking football which Pardew seems to be waiting for…we can wait on that for a couple of years, and then when we have a bad season or aren’t in Europe we can all slag him off/watch him get fired as seems to happen to most of our managers 😆

      (Quote)

  20. Toonsy…. 😉

    I did read somewhere if we were to miss out on Gamiero we’d go in for Wolfswinkel again 😎

      (Quote)

  21. I think Fat Sham is going to do his best to keep Ba, cuz all he needs/wants is a big forward to put balls in the net. Ba does that a lot, although I don’t nobody in the Prem will pick him up, especially one of the newly promoted sides.

    I wonder if they’ll end up keeping Cole, Hitzlsperger, Green, etc.? Should be interesting to watch. SOO glad we don’t have to deal with any of this now and we’re looking to bring the next generation of Entertainers to Tyneside. We’ll also have a solid defense this time around

      (Quote)

  22. Andrew, he started off like a house on fire then vs Liverpool broke his collarbone and missed the majority of the rest of the season.

      (Quote)

  23. AndrewT – If Ba doesnt stay in the prem, he will defo get an offer from places like russia or middle east. Almost sure he wont be playing in the championship next year.

      (Quote)

  24. Thought you were working toonsy??? 😀 You at a red light??? 😆

      (Quote)

  25. Newkie- that’s so true when we don’t like our managers 😆 I think Pardew will make us a more attacking side, he was known for that style of play when he was at Southampton. I think for him he wants to have the right type of players who will do that

    Does anyone know what our away shirt looks like for next season? I’m not sure whether to get the home kit or wait for the away one

      (Quote)

  26. Interesting, thanks for the link. Just looks like the training tops. I’m not sure about it.
    I’m a fan of puma’s boots, the king xl’s were some of the best boots I ever had but their shirts for us have been horrible so far. But who would you like to take over the deal then?

      (Quote)

  27. aye Puma King is a great boot. Use it meself with great precision.
    I like Umbros kits actually. Wouldnt mind Adidas or Nike either. You??

      (Quote)

  28. Yeah they are great boot, after I’ve had them I’ve had several boots and now looking for new ones for next season. But there’s too many to choose from.

    I really like nike, I have barcelona’s away kit and I love that design. I think adidas won’t come back to us. Also I like what le coq sportif have done with everton’s kits the last couple of seasons.

      (Quote)

  29. yeah nike does a neat shirt. Although I would rather have more stripes, like juventus, than barca’s home shirt with less bigger stripes.
    Only thing I have against le coq sportif, is they had everton playing in pink shirts 😯 Like their home shirt though!

      (Quote)

  30. yeah, more stripes is good on our shirts. Oh yeah, my mum loved that though(she’s an everton fan) The home shirt is really good, just has that air of classic about it

      (Quote)

  31. Hmmm, that’s very interesting. That’s not far off that potential newcastle one, it has to be the right type of orange though

      (Quote)

  32. It has to be an attacking orange, not too salmony as that has a pacifying effect.. there’s a psychology to colours!

      (Quote)

  33. themichaelowen michael owen
    by cwarr07
    Just to answer some of your tweets. Prefer playing less often in a top team than every game in a poor team. Been there a didn’t enjoy it.<<<< gutless b@stard didnt even try in his last games 👿

      (Quote)

  34. Such a dig at us, so unfair. He never even put any effort into his games. We just paid him for being injured 👿

      (Quote)

  35. Batty I told him it couldn’t be our team because he didn’t play that much, and that he enjoyed the wages he was on 👿

      (Quote)

  36. RaRaRa, sorry for anyone following me, may have seen multiple angry posts at the f*cking toad.

      (Quote)

  37. owen is all for owen,wonder what the players he played with think about it as he is more or less saying they were ****

      (Quote)

  38. Well, you know who you can thank for bringing him to the Toon.

    And to think some people on here actually want us to go back to those days. 😕

      (Quote)

  39. 4411
    Like a couple of the retaliations to the Michael Owen:

    Manchester United have extended Michael Owen’s contract. They stapled a bit of paper at the bottom saying he’s ****.
    &
    Did your horse actually run? Or did it get a winner’s medal just by turning up in the paddock like its owner?

    What a c*nt he is!!!

      (Quote)

  40. its his sly dig at the toon fans,as he found out the fans here hated him.little skunk 👿

      (Quote)

  41. theres been a topic with me and my friends recently and I’d like to see other opinions lads (and lasses!)
    Do you think that there is any song that represents newcastle as a club? fans included? if so which one?
    theres a few that stick out atm the moment for me
    nelly – just a dream
    What might have been – ?????
    opinions?

      (Quote)

  42. OH MY GOD
    Biggest piece of sh*t we have ever had to play for us.
    For Owen alone I’m thankful for the Ashley regime. (recently anyway)
    I dont care much for Piers Morgan but I’m glad he is giving Owen some stick, I wish he actualy had the balls to answer people. He’s the f*ckin reason we got so poor.

    Are there any footballers any of you hate more than Owen?
    I know I cant think of one

      (Quote)

  43. Elfy is Just aDream on a youtube vid of us winning the champ? Cos I know it definitely worked well with that!

      (Quote)

  44. solanostrumpet yeah it is:D gr8 vid, just wondered what other songs suit newcastle

      (Quote)

  45. Just had a little chat with Steve Wraith and he claims we have a 20k wage cap and relegation is a big possibility next year. 😆 😆 😆

      (Quote)

  46. Here’s something that Jose tweeted to Barton, was in Spanish but translated via google

    I keep hearing rumors. I try to ignore, but to confuse people

    Think that could be about Liverpool coming in?

      (Quote)

  47. @jobey

    I’m the biggest critic of the toon wage cap being so low but I don’t believe it’s that’s low.

      (Quote)

  48. BSN9- aye, he’s a daft bassart. How could we attract cabaye or ben arfa on that. we’d be miracle workers

      (Quote)

  49. re: Michael Owen saying on Twitter he’d rather sit on the bench for a top club then play for a struggling team?

    A Scouser who isn’t willing to work for his money, what’s new there?

      (Quote)

  50. Solanos trumpet @ 65 yeah , although i can’t stand the money grabbing dwarf their is a fair few footballers i hate more . The entire playing staff of the unwashed down the road . 👿

      (Quote)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *