What's going on with these two?
The days of loyal players and ‘one club’ players are rapidly diminishing and I would even go as far as to say that academy football is now just a way of guaranteeing that a club will get the maximum return when selling a player, but that’s another discussion for another day.
So I just thought I’d recap a few things about contracts for players at our club. In particular I would like to take a look at seven players and leave you with my thoughts on all concerned.
Joey Barton – Most of you will have read my article on why I don’t think he’d be such a great loss on the footballing side. This view has been enhanced with the projected Yohan Cabaye transfer. I feel that for a player that has given us no end of trouble in his four years here – bar an excellent last 18 months of course – he should really have took the contract offers he’d already received towards the end of last season. The decision looks like backfiring on him – he owes us more than we owe him. I support the stand of the board on this one; we shouldn’t pander to the needs of one player. I reckon however, come December, Joey will sign a new deal.
Danny Simpson/Cheik Tiote – I know Simpson’s contract hasn’t been confirmed but these two show that if you get your head down, put the effort in and keep your nose clean your performances will be rewarded. New deals will be offered if you’ve earned them.
Jose Enrique – For me it would be a dream if he signed a new deal, but I would have no qualms with him if he decided to walk away. Barring his dodgy first acclimatising season has been nothing short of sensational. I would understand if he decided to walk away to a team in Europe because nobody can say that he hasn’t been too good for us for the last couple of years. Also with Enrique the money he is on and supposedly being offered I think it’s obvious he will be making a footballing decision and not a monetary one. For me the board should have had this sorted last year.
Nile Ranger – A sign of the dangers of offering a young, impressionable, troubled kid the kind of money that they have no comprehension or understanding of. For me Ranger has all the talent in the world and should in the future be gracing the premiership and maybe even international football, but sadly I don’t think he ever will. Every manager we’ve had since he’s signed has said that he’s a talent, needs to get his head down and yet he never learns (Keegan, Shearer, Kinnear, Hughton, Pardew).
Surely you’d listen to one of these? Especially since two of them were very good strikers in their day. I think that Alan Pardew has come to the conclusion that you can only tell someone something so many times. He may be improving but if it takes him another two years to develop a proper attitude he’ll already be 22. Worth the wait? Probably not. It’s also worth noting he has signed two new deals since he’s been here – one when Shearer was boss and then one last year.
Alan Smith – I believe Smith is why Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias are reluctant to offer new bumper deals to the likes of Nolan and Barton. Granted by all accounts a top quality cheerleader and no one can knock his effort but to be honest I’m not sure I’d need two hands to count the amount of good performances he’s had for us. Estimated at £60,000-a-week in wages, that works out at well over £2 million a year. We are not getting close to enough back for that sort of investment. I’d try hard and be friends with the boys for his salary!
Kevin Nolan – This is the main reason I decided to write this article. I have no idea why we are currently trying to negotiate a new deal with Nolan. Not because of his ability – I think he’s a good player. Not because of his attitude – he’s the heartbeat of the team for me. A great leader and a good player but he has two years left on his contract. Two years!
Unlike Enrique I think this is a contract we could afford to let run down some more before negotiations for several reasons. He loves it here, he’s already slow and none of the top teams will want him. In two years we’ll hopefully challenging for Europe and will Nolan be a regular? If so he will have earned the deal if not we are back in the position of power.
It’s the timing of these talks that I don’t understand. We could have comfortably negotiated this next year or six months down the line when we have new players in and Nolan, I have no doubt, would have done a sterling job of bedding in the new lads and letting them all know what the standards Newcastle require are.
Now players are going to look at the situation and wonder. If the Captain is having problems sorting things out then where will they stand? The only reason I can come up with for this ridiculous situation is that they have tried, unsuccessfully, to placate fans in the wake of the Joey Barton fiasco and failed.
All in all I think contracts are now essentially just a way of maximising each separate individual, and that doesn’t bother me one bit. For example had Andy Carroll not had a new deal there would be no way we would have commanded £35 million for him.
The key to new contracts is timing. We timed the Carroll contract well, we’ve put ourselves in a great position with Cheik Tiote, but we’ve done an awful job with Jose Enrique.
Football contracts are a murky area with players controlling the power. All we have to do is give ourselves the best possible parachute for their inevitable greed and deception.
It’s a sad state of affairs but we just have to make the best of it. « Alan Smith told he can leave Newcastle – Taylor bid confirmed. | Should Barton make amends for the good of NUFC? »
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158 Comments
I agree with the clubs stance on contracts that they should be incentive laden with a lower base pay.
Make the players earn the money.
How can we seriously offer a 28 year old a 5 year contract?
It’s just ridiculous!
Two years is enough.
There seem to be gripes from many when there are players that are on long term contracts which the club cannot get rid of (eg Xisco,Smith ) and yet when they try to avoid this by not handing out elongated contracts they are pilloried for this as well. Talk about win/win situations this appears to be lose/lose
I can see both sides to be honest.
I understand that the club don’t want to be addled with older high earners again, and rightly so…
On the other I can see the point of view of the players who want the best deal for themselves and for their future.
Overall I think a five year deal for Nolan and Four years for Joey is too much. If they are that confident that they will be able to perform then they’ll have no problem getting another deal two years down the line.
I agree toonsy – The trouble is they are seeking security and although they have both performed well this season they are not entitled to it and the club in my opinion dont have time for mucking around.
Bit of a chicken and egg for them both as cant see many top top teams wanting them? so they need to stay with the best team they can…us
Good article Rorycn. I agree.
Toonsy if we have done an awful job with the handling of Jose’s contract how is letting Nolans contract run a good stance to take?
Why not offer Barton and Nolan 3 years guaranteed for lower wages, with the option for extra years if they keep playing top football?
That way we get the option of the shorter deal, they know if they keep the quality, they get the longer deal they want and it is lower wages.
I fear if we remove the British backbone from the team, not to mention the down to earth aspect, we’re gonna lose what got us up and kept us up.
I understand and agree that Jose should’ve been tied doon last year but we don’t know that the club hadn’t tried.
He’s not making his desission based on money so who’s to say that he hasn’t planned all along to wait for this moment.
I fact my gut tells me this is exactly the case. I have a feeling that Jose has been turning down a new contract for some time now.
I don’t think it’s too clever, players will believe they won’t have long term futures despite showing loyalty.
‘Alan Smith – I believe Smith is why Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias are reluctant to offer new bumper deals to the likes of Nolan and Barton.’
Agreed.
Josh….Jose’s young and sought after and can get a move to a bigger and better club and would still have re-sale value at the end of a new contract whereas Nolan may be sought after but doubtful anything else would apply
I think there are two main causes here:
1. Sacking CH and selling AC. Remember how openly Nolan, Barton and others said those things had shaken their belief in the whole thing? Coming home to roost.
2. The harsh new realities of running football clubs. As many have said, players – and even more so their scummy agents – need to accept that we are not going to award daft contracts any more. While the club needs to value their input beyond simple playing ability (stability, leadership, spirit etc.) the players have to accept that to get the dosh they must continue to earn it, not just force clubs into paying them regardless.
Seems they are happy to let all our senior players leave – probably a combination of age and earnings come into play where they know there will be no resale value of Barton / Nolan / Smith and therefore don’t feel the need to extend contracts by more than a year or two.
Doubt this is much of an incentive for players such as Enrique to sign new contracts though – think we might have to buy more than 3 or 4 players this summer
Jay Jay @ 1-0: Or, to put it another way, players need to wake up to the reality of having to continue to deliver to continue to get the big bucks. No more five-year deals with only the first two being of value to the club.
Wake-up time, boys!
I love and appreciate what smudge did for us in the fizzy but he has to be moved on. Let him go back to the fizzy and pick up some of his wages if that will be a sticking point. We can’t afford to have a 60k player be ineffective and even if we have to pay half his wages to move him it’s better than the full 60k.
I agree with letting Smith go, don’t even mind if we paid him up – quite like the bloke and he can’t be faulted for effort, just isn’t good enough for prem.
Best of luck to him at his new club
Good article but how do you class Simpson alongside Tiote, chalk and cheese comes to mind, Simpson on his form of the last 6 months has earned himself a P45 , not a new contract.
The only ray of sunshine today has been Smith leaving and i would be a lot happier if the other journeymen join him, Simpson,Ameobi, Lovenkrands and Perch, who are a combined criminal waste of wages.
Whumpie agree and add it’s not a bad stance for the club to take. Arsenal take a similar stance and they’re doing alright in player recruitment.
We just need pards to have us playing proper footy.
Good comments Whumpie!
Good article exactly right.
FJ@ 8 – according to the Journal, Barton was offered a 3 year extension on lower wages (so another 4 years at the club) and Nolan was offered a further 2 year extension on lower wages (again another 4 years at the club). They both turned the contracts down.
As Toonsy said if they played well they may have got further extensions – can’t help thinking the agents are the ones at fault here.
The club are right not to get rolled over and guarantee big pay-cheques to players who may not be able to cut it in the last 2-3 years of a contract.
At this rate we’ll be lucky to put out 11 players next season, still at least wage bill will be cheap
Bobby, simmo signed a new contract at something like 15k a week. Surely he’s earned that and it’s not like he’s the leagues most expensive fullback. He’s a good option there and if someone else is brought in simmo will be a good squad player that won’t be eating up a big chunk of the wage bill so I don’t see the problem.
I have to presume that if they’re letting players go / not negotiating contracts they have some signings in the bag already
am I presuming to much?
Good article. Wholeheartedly agree with pretty much everything you say. Could it be the case that the senior players are setting a bad example for the younger lads?
I really would prefer it if contract negotiations were kept private and the players and agents were not allowed to discuss them. No matter who is at fault here, publicised contract battles at the start of a transfer window, when we’re desperately trying to recruit quality reinforcements, is thoroughly stupid.
The club aren’t discussing this, so where’s it coming from???
I think Joey Barton is a good midfield player.
You can’t slag your boss off at golf tournaments and on twitter and expect him to extend your contract.
So I think Joey won’t be offered a new contract even if he wants one.
Like the author I don’t know why we are negotiating with Nolan now.
He’s a good pro. He’s not international quality.
No top six clubs are interested in signing him.
He’s great for a team battling relegation or seeking mid-table mediocrity.
See where we are in January, if we’re safe, sell Nolan to a club in trouble for a good price.
We need someone with quality, pace and flair in that position.
Davies
In answer to your last question, it’s coming from the greedy agents and the players themselves. People believe they care about the club first, er.. wrong! they care about themselves first and formost. Me me me, I want to get a 5 year contract that I don’t have to perform consistantly to keep, I want to be in a team that wins me a medal, I want the club to sign superstars to replace my team mates, but don’t sign anyone in my position thats going to be better than me!
No contracts for our best players and 5 yr deal for the dross, thats the problem, god we will miss Nolans goals this season.
Nolan needs to think again if he rekons Ashley will give him a five year deal. Couldn’t care less about Smith. It’s vital we tie Nolan down to a new contract but why this summer? Lets see how Nolan does this season then sit down and talk about a new deal.
Not NUFC related, but interesting stats on wages (in a pretty chart) :
http://www.visualevolution.co.uk/infographics/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/top_100_earners_in_world_football_2011.jpg
DJG – wonderful summary!
Sadly, a bit too true..
Obviously, if Barton shouldn’t get a 4-year deal, nolan shouldn’t get a 5-year deal. I support the club on both decisions. However, I really worry about the leadership void next season if both players are lost. al ofthe things Pardew has said about “adding” to the squad this summmer makes me think that he wants the two to stick around. I personally would love to see both players stick around for at least the next to seasons, possibly 3 if the wages are right.
Oooh I like that Blip
What about tarrabt to replace barton?
MDS – precisely. We need the balance and pragmatism on both sides. Trouble is – if you’re someone who’s only 20-odd and lives to play football, the idea of being out of work at 30 is a big issue, so it’s understandable they’ll push for long contracts and it’s understandable that the club will refuse.
Basically, players need to get used to dropping down the ladder – either in terms of appearences or league – earlier in their careers. Unless they’re Ryan Giggs or Gary Speed.
It’s definately understandable whumpie. But I really doubt they are going to get big deals elsewhere. Maybe in terms of money or years but not both- unless a big club comes in for them which I really can’t see.
I thinj if the club offered them each 2+ years at 40K that would be better than they could get elsewhere. What is Nolan going to do? Go back to Bolton at 20K? Best for them to stay here where we all love them and pay a decent wages compared to everyone outside the Top 5-6.
MsiDouglas Mark Douglas
Just had a chat with Gervinho’s agent. Cagey fella.More in tomorrow’s Journal but suffice to say,he hasn’t agreed to go anywhere yet #nufc
Look at the difference between the wages in the prem and Ligue 1.
No wonder Ashley is recruiting from there. 
Seriously I thought the Bundesliga would be higher up, it’s behind Spain and Italy by quite a lot. I thought it was supposed to be hard to sign from Germany because the wages were supposed to be good?
I agree with the club on its stance over the contracts but at the same time we do need to keep Barton and Nolan for atleast 2 years. Im not too worried tho as its very early days ( esp with Nolan ) and I think it will be worked out. I think Nolan and Barton both need the club as much as the club need them.
Any word on Jose? Im hoping NAylor is coming as cover for leftback.
Any more word on our other transfer targets? Gervinho? Gamerio?
Anyone hear any other rumors?
And good luck Smudger
RAWRCYCLE
Twitter alert!
cwarr07 Colin
Expecting positive news from #nufc today
3 minutes ago
Well Ashley And Owlheed are both on hols this week so no signings until Friday at least
I think that if both Nolan and Barton aren’t happy with the contract offers then the club should rethink the offers they gave them. They don’t need long contracts but ones that will keep them here for another couple of years.
I agree with MDS about the leadership side of these two, if they aren’t committed they might not continue their leadership.
However I think that they will both get resolved in some way, much like the situation with Staylor did
@41. Thanks- probably the long awaited Cabaye announcment. I can’t say I like the rumblings on the gervinho front.
However I think that they will both get resolved in some way, much like the situation with Staylor did
——————
That’s my hope Goose. Nolan asked for 5 but I bet he would take 3.
@MDS I agree, I think Gervinho might have got another offer from somewhere else, I’ve heard about Man City but not sure if that is true. I would just like it when the deals are confirmed. It seems to me Gervinho might not want to come to us if a club with champions league football is looking at him
DJG: the reason the Bundesliga is low is that by law the clubs have to be majority owned by supporters’ trusts. That means they can’t rely on billionnaire blood money, which means they can’t pay daft dosh.
If only they all worked like that.
Nolan’s 28 now so a 5 year deal would take him 33. Personally I think he’s aiming a bit too high, much like Joey did with his contract. I think Nolan would take three and then perhaps an extension after that, perhaps the fact that others have been getting five year deals i.e. ferguson, vuckic and tiote’s 6 year deal might make him think that he could go for a longer contract. He’s been very good for us since we bought and has stayed with us when we got relegated. He deserves a new contract.
Anyone know where Cabaye plays? I haven’t seen much of him and wondered who would miss out a place in the team for him
Still a few with their heads in the sand on the Gervinho front.
This is an interesting topic to discuss/debate on for weeks during the close season.
What i feel is that the squad does still need a strong leadership/captain to stablise it. Remember we are just back into premier league.
Our Last captain ain’t vocal,and unable to lead well.
With Nolan,Barton & Enrique contracts issues,i do understand especially with Enrique situation whereby he is hoping to move on to a bigger club playing european football and a chance to appear for his country.
But here’s the thing,if no clubs willing to take a look at you and wants you at thier club,the only decision is to stay on isn’t it?
I haven’t hear any UCL clubs yet wanting enrique to their side.So i still have the slight confidence he will eventually extend on,but a short 2yrs or so?
As for Nolan and Barton,Both wants to stay on for long,maybe till retirement??
The club is already willing to open contract with Nolan so early,means the club wants to keep hold of key players for future seasons. Hopefully,Nolan thinks carefully about his future as well as for the fans.
Barton,sometimes being too straight forward is not a good thing.
Anyone know where Cabaye plays? I haven’t seen much of him and wondered who would miss out a place in the team for him
——————
Box to Box CM, like Joey only more skilled based on reports of some posters. Specualtion he is the one Joey was referring to with his “they want a younger, cheaper verision of me” comment.
The only worry i have if we do lose 3 captains(Smith included ofc,barton and Nolan). Not forgetting steve harper,as i feel he is reaching towards his end of contract as well?
Will the squad Moral and cohesiveness remain intact? Will the New captain(possibe Colo creamy) able to lead on the new-looking squad?
Cabaya has been variously described as a Box to Box or Holding Midfielder. If we are playing 4-2-3-1 would expect to see him alongside Tiote, competing with Barton, Gosling etc anyone is still available to picked after being sold off to pay gampling debts.
Actually Cabaye plays more often as Deep Lying playmaker,DM this season iirc.
A player to cover for tiote as well.
@Goose
Nolan …
I think Cabaye and Gosling will both challenge Nolan for his place in the team. Both look international class players.
Gosling could be played at RB but I think he prefers central midfield.
Nolan may become surplus to requirements rather quickly?
Enrique to Barca http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/8118/1/exclusive-barcelona-set-sights-newcastle-defender
Talksport should be renamed to Talkshite, it wasn’t so long ago that they claimed he was def going to AC Milan for 10 million
4411 – If it was to Barca though you’d have to just pat him on the back and say best of luck, and thanks, wouldn’t you? Nobody could knock that back.
Thanks Whumpie and Premandup, that helps a lot. Interesting that he was the one Joey was possibly referring too. I think based on that we would play 4-2-3-1 as Premandup suggested.
AofD I think Steve Harper will retire soon anyway, he’s had a problem with his knee which he has had for a long time. I don’t think he’s at his best at the moment. Will be interesting to see who gets the no 1 jersey for next season. As for losing captain’s I think that Nolan’s contract issue will get resolved, I believe that Colo is very capable of being a captain for us
Geoff777, not have a go but what makes you say that gosling “looks an international class player?
Hmmm. So far I’d say our MF next season is shaping up to be:
————-Ben Arfa————–
Guti————————-Barton
———Cabaye—Tiote———-
That wouldn’t upset me, with Nolan, Fergie, Gosling, Guthrie, Vuckic etc waiting in the wings for injuries/suspensions.
Only worry for me would be an injury to Ben Arfa or Barton, unless the impossible happens and we get Gervinho/another creative attacker.
@Geoff I agree with you, our side at the moment is getting any younger and when Gosling is fit he is a brilliant player. My mum and her brothers and their children are everton fans and when I asked my cousin about Gosling he said he was a great player who showed a lot of promise. He was very annoyed about how we got him but it was such a good way to sign a player.
Gosling can play at RB, which helps if we ever get problems with Simpson but his best position is when he plays in the middle. That’s the reason why he left Everton, wasn’t happy with the way he was played. I also think that he was frustrated with Rodwell, he got a new contract that keeps him at the club for a long time and I felt Gosling wasn’t happy with that.
I certainly think that he will play a part in next season for us
Did any1 hear what Lee Ryder said on TS about contracts? If he knows ne thing it surely would have been tweeted would it not?
I for one think we will lose only one or two this summer but it pains me to say we won’t be successful with our current transfer targets. Even N’zogbia has said he wants europe and tit-tles lol
Toonsy- exactly. Who could blame a Spaniard, or anyone else for that matter, for going to Barca? I always felt we had a good chance to keep him unless Barca, Real, Milan or Man U came for him.
Oh, and Albeid, apparently. Though he looks like a possible backup for the holding role, from what I’ve heard.
Isn’t dani Alves the LB at barca?
Goose
Cabaye also takes all of the corners and freekicks if ya let him. He is a good passer, bit like Tiote gets the ball out of his feet quickly add to that he is a little quicker than Barton so doesn’t get caught as much. Unlike Barton or Gosling though I don’t think you could play him out wide.
@DJG, 66:
“Unlike Barton though I don’t think you could play him out wide.”
#Corrections
I think in some ways i would be rather proud if Barcelona come in for one of our players
I’d still love him to stay tho!!
@41 – whats the positive news on twitter for nufc anyone know yet??
DJG, yeah I discovered that on FIFA that he takes the free kicks a lot. Cool, sounds like a good prospect for us, has pace which we lack a little.
Personally I think we aquiring an excess of Holding midfielders, chasing 2 positions and a shortage of attacking midfielders chasing 3. Still time will tell and that blog has to be written yet.
Eric Abidal is the left back at Barca but he is near 30 or maybe over 30 and has health issues.
Enrique would be first choice left back at Barca I think, it is a problem position for the Spanish national team nevermind the top clubs.
@Goose, the way things are shaping up, we better hope whoever we get upfront is fast. Otherwise the midfield will get to the box before they do, with Tiote, Guti, Ben Arfa and Cabaye in it.
And Heaven help us if our new striker gets injured and they’re waiting for Shola to cross to.
So Graham to swansea for 3.5mil….would have matched them on that to be honest.
Right FJ. Alves plays on the right and Abidal on the left. just checked- Abidal is 32 so, unfortunately, it would make some sense for them to look at Enrique.
OT- everyone psyched for the start of the Gold Cup tonight?
i have a strange feeling we will be seeing a totally new midfield in next few seasons.
And that gutteriez will eventually leave.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6969648,00.html
@blip, yeah I hope so. I don’t exactly want to rely on Shola to get there as he won’t. Is Guti a player you would like to get or have we been linked with him?
The only thing that may be an issue with Enrique to Barcelona is the whole Catalunya aspect. The division in Spain is as heated as Celtic/Rangers at times and if Enrique is a Real Madrid inclined player, he may not be interested in Barcelona. If he is Barca or even neutral to the whole thing, then I imagine he would go in a heartbeat.
It would be good to sell him to Barcelona too, as we may well get a player in exchange or at least a loan in return and just the prestige of selling a player from Newcastle to Barcelona would make other players we’re after think “they have some high quality there”.
Newcastle uniteds very own cafu, has been offered a 5 year contract.
Wowzers.
@Goose Not if we’re looking (as apparently we are) to bring squad age down. I’m just to lazy to type Gutierrez.
Unless you were teasing, in which case… well played, sir.
And the big news on the #nufc front that everyone’s been twittering about is Simpson getting a new contract #FAIL
That offer to Simpson suggests to me that the club are willing to give younger players five year deals but not to the older players. Very interesting if this is correct.
blip goose is a girl.
@blip, haha it hadn’t clicked that you were talking about guiterrez, I just thought of the midfielder guti instead
@DJG thanks for pointing that out to blip!
comment 83…..Goose…..
Has the penny dropped their mate???? LOL that is what the club have been saying for months on end
The policy is now to invest in youth. We won’t be buying players whom have passed their mid 20′s becuase they won’t have a sell on fee.
similarly the club don’t want to end up with any more Nicky Butt, Geremi, Alan smith scenarios where we end up with players whom are well passed there sell bye date picking up huge wages with no sell on value.
It’s not just interesting but absolutely fantastic business and completely the right way to go. Man Utd and arsenal only offer players over the age of 30 one year contract extension/deals and so should we.
I think we can all sleep just that little bit easier knowing that the right back posistion is nailed down for the next five years…
Though if it is true, then well done to the lad, personally I think we should be getting a better right back, certainly within the next 5 years id hope we have one, unless simpson improves, he is still young,
Talk to me Goose
Consider me schooled. Sorry for the assumption!
As for Simpson, maybe he’s been the subject of a £35m bid?
Haha, I know they’ve been saying that jedi. Just wondering how Barton and Nolan would react to hearing this. They might feel a little annoyed about Simpson getting a 5 year deal.
Yeah I agree, we don’t want to end up like we did with Nicky Butt, so in a way it is a great policy to have.
Jimbob
Posted June 7, 2011 at 4:10 PM
I think we can all sleep just that little bit easier knowing that the right back posistion is nailed down for the next five years…
Stop it, im starting to panic about us starting next season with full-backs of Simpson, Ferguson and N Taylor.
@blip that’s ok, don’t worry about it
@wolfie, why should I talk to you?
Pointless worrying about who will be playing in what position, until we have finished bringing people in.
I’m sure Mike will be happy to sanction a bunch of quality signings and then we will see what are are working with.
Goose, you shouldn’t have to, i was just re-enacting a scene from Top Gun when Maverick is holding Gooses identity tags in a dog fight and he says “talk to me Goose”
Thanks to Toonsy and Richie, for what you’s said on the other thread, RE exams
Ah true abidal
Barcelona want enrique
DJG, I love reading all this tranfer speculation, its totally mental the majority of it
its mostly because twitter has exploaded this year, and people want to believe the unlikely. Its early days yet…
Hehe. Sir goose
Jobey – What? That we hope you fail them?
Jobey, Goose has a Vagina
Toonsy- c@nt.
and i knew there would be a reason you were sniffing around wolfie, guess i’ve found it now
@wolfie, that’s cool. I’ve never seen Top Gun before though!
RE all the transfer talk, it’s interesting but part of me wants the club to confirm if we have got anyone. I’m sure they will but the speculation doesn’t help either
Wolfie @ 95 FFS. Memories
@wolfie, @Jobey very funny!!!
5yr deal for Simpson, joke
Aye it does Toonsy lol.
I feel the need….the need…for speed.
Wow, another 5yrs looking at wide open spaces in the right back position exploited by the opposition, what a prospect.
…You never close your eyes anymore when i kiss your lips….
You never know Bobby. We might get a proper right midfielder to play in front of him and help him instead of a central midfielder who drifts inside to his natural position all the time
We’re buzzing the tower goose
MDS @ 75…I am.
Bum bum bum bum……….you shake my nerves and you rattle my brains, you look at me like a man insane, you smell my bum, you sniff my crotch…..goodness gracious…great balls in the underpants.
I think that’s how it goes .
@Jersey ???? I’m a bit confused
Goose, you have to watch Top gun, to appreciate it, oh and when you do, have a box of scotties at hand to wipe yourself, the lasses in my day used to hahahahaha
Tom cruise and Val Kilmer…….. not that i fancied them like lol
Toonsy, Partly true about the cover but howay, Simpson has had a crap season and surely players should be rewarded for performance rather than their age.
Simpson will get better.
Wolfie, he needs to, liability at the moment
Thanks NorCal! Tongue and cheek comment for you and OH since I’m sure we’re the only three on here who knows what it is.
Granted he’s been caught out a few times i agree.But i think with him having a first season in the prem properly, he will do a lot better next season,especially with better cover.
But why take a chance on him, how many good games has he had for us compared to bad games, his touch is rubbish, positionaly poor, how the hell can we sort him out yet ignore a 14 goal return from our captain?
@Wolfie, I will watch it sometime then
I agree that at times, Simpson doesn’t get close enough to an attacker but that will all change. I certainly know that it takes time to learn a position and develop as I play footy myself
Slider: Who’s butt did you kiss to get in here?
Goose: Well, the list is long, but distinguished.
Slider: Yeah, well, so’s my Johnson.
Bobby….Simpson is young and learning and will get better im sure of it. Nolan still has 2 years left on his contract, why rush into anything.
Nolan can easily wait till next year,assuming he does the business that is.
bobby because Simpson is cheap and Nolan isn’t. Simples.
MDS hahahahaha
Toonsy….you big studdddddddddddddddddddddd…
take me to bed..or lose me forever HAHAHAHAH
this notion that Simpson will miraculously improve next season is rubbish. He’s been playing as a RB for probably 15 years or more. He technically isn’t THAT bad actually but he simply cannot grasp the positional side of the game. Simpson is half way through his career, not starting out and he will make the same mistakes over and over trust me on this.
My only hope is that this does not set the tone for the window, bargain here, bargain there, last minute poker games and the manager saying that we were in for god knows who, season ticket deadline should coincide with the close of the transfer window, that way they would be forced to match the fans ambition instead of continually taking the piss.
Ok, so what we seem to have arrived at is:
1. Good sense by the club: long deals for younguns, short for olduns. Olduns need to get used to it. If it’s good enough for Giggs at 37…
2. We would like Nolan and Barton to stay, but not if they’re expecting us to pay their pension. We need them, but if they claim they can play beyond 33 then they have to prove it year to year.
Seem sensible?
As for Perch, I’m pleased for the lad. I think he’ll be an understudy to another RB and come good. He’s shown a few times how good he can be, and AP and co have seen that.
DJG, that’s the beauty about opinions, we can all choose one and mine happens to be that Simpson will get better.
Now if the coaches and manager and owner believe he will progress, them i aint gonna argue with them, cos they know a lot more than i do, because they work with him every day.
As soon as Fergie realised he was flogging a dead horse after a few loan spells he kicked his ass out the door. Fergie doesn’t mess around, you have to learn quick at Man United or your oot.
Blimey, the knives are out today, aren’t they? I hope Simmo doesn’t read this. I’d be looking for offers if I thought my ‘supporters’ thought like that.
Wolfie. That’s a very balanced opinion.
What’s it doing on here??
stardust or bobby shint aboot
MDS 4
Goose, another top gun reference. Sorry
Whumpie, do you actually watch games or are you the resident WUM?
whump @133 agree m8
Didn’t they just hand Ranger a 5 year deal? He didn’t last very long then.
@Jersey that’s ok
As I said before, he’s on something like 15k a week…, what’s the problem with signing him at that? He’s at least a good squad player and worth that….
JG- sorry for the ommission
ive heard of joeys brother he says joey will defo be here next season
I agree DJG, you’re spot on about Man Utd, but remember….it took a lot of years for Man Utd to get all this into place and were lucky enough to have a manager in and coaches that could spot the potential early and utilise it.
We aren’t anywhere near that yet, so we have to carry on with what we have until we produce the players that can go one better and adapt quickly.
If we all had similar squads to Man Utd, then every club in the prem would be fighting it out for the title.
We as a club are going the right way about it at the minute, in getting younger players signed up and giving the older ones contracts to suit their age, because it keeps them on their toes and makes them put the required effort in to gain extra year(s).
We don’t want players aged 28 sitting on 5 or 6 year deals in the comfort zone do we.
But we do want the younger ones to sign the 5/6 year deals, because it all makes perfect sense for the future.
Naturally, the older ones will whine about it and some will hanker for a move. But who will pay them the wages that we are paying them?
Simpson is still at an age where he can have drastic improvement and if we have him on a 5 year deal, any future sale is gonna have a rather large profit for what we paid.
I like him anyway, he isn’t perfect but no one is and I have no discomfort with him playing. At least he didn’t look bored like his counterpart on the left as the season went on.
Again – look at Manure. They just demolished the prem with a load of key players in their mid-thirties, all on short contracts. It’s about building trust and loyalty, and about ensuring the players have it in their interest to stay in shape.
Can you imagine any player doing what Giggs does to stay fit if he knows he gets paid for 5 years regardless?
Manure – dammit – have a lot of things right.
Nobody. So eventually they will put their dummies back in and stay. Simples. After dragging our club through the press yet again, cheers Joey. He may go on about our owner being tight, well I’d like to see him find another one that will match his wages next season at a club the size of this one.
Well said, Funky. I’m not saying Simmo is about to be poached by Real, but he’s good value, keeps his nose clean and is improving. And he can get a cross in, too. I just think expectations are a bit unfairly high here. If they’re not Enrique standard, they’re crap. Forget that you can buy four Simmos for one Jose.
FJ spot on
Ok, cruel question: if you could have either Nolan or Barton stay, who would it be?
For me, it’s a close-run thing. Nolan is the more level-headed and consistent leader, but Barton provides the kind of passion and spark that’s infectious.
I think Nolan – just – because I don’t ever expect to see a back page with a horrific headline about him. If you’re going to keep someone for their impact on team spirit, pick the one without a latent ability to explode.
Ideally…. keep both!
They had players in their 20′s aswell including the 2 strikers but I know what you mean.
Don’t want to be mr negative, just had a lil look on Ed’s blog, and he has quotes there from Gervinho’s agents/advisors (from arsenals blog) stating that gervinho is in talks with arsenal, man city and other english clubs but he can’t say anthing due to confidentiality.
Now either our name wasn’t mentioned because ashley has put in the confidential agreement.
imo i think he will choose either man city or arsenal
, i hope not though.
Whumpie
‘Can you imagine any player doing what Giggs does to stay fit if he knows he gets paid for 5 years regardless?’
Whats kept him fit is his obssesive diet and all the shagging he gets up to.
Well whumpie, I’ll answer your question , the same as you in, ideally I’d like to keep both but football as Greavsie used to say “is a funny old game”.
I’m never happy about good players leaving but that has been part and parcel of football since day one for any club.
The point is, we still go on regardless, hopefully better.
To enable us to become better, we need a team of players that continue to work as a TEAM and we also need young players to grow together as a TEAM .
That’s what wins you things.
Hanging onto players that think they can decide they own contracts and wages is a no go for me.
The club have to take a stance and be tough, then it’s down to the individual player to decide if he wants in or out.
I want players that nail their colours to the mast and i don’t give a monkeys how good they are if they don’t show that allegiance.
DJG @153. Well if that’s what it is, he must have done the leg work by running round with the lass stuck on his knob,like a Chinese man running about with a rickshaw lol
Be careful what you wish for, a team with no heart and experience will struggle, no good running around like heedless chickens if you havent got the composure to put it in the net, take Nolans goals away and look at what was left, scary.
Wolfie, Ardiles had that idea of young quick players and we nearly ended up in the 3rd division
Bobby, yes he did, but what Ardiles done wrong was,he hoyed too many in at once. Basically players who has very little experience but who were technically gifted.
What i’m talking about is, young players as in 23/24 age bracket not 17/18/19 year olds being the nucleus of a team.
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