They aren’t new names in the gossip stakes and have both been linked with us before, numerous times. In fact Alan Pardew openly admitted that he is interested in PSG’s Erdinc(g). The Parisian club are apparently open to a sale of the French born Turkish international although, quite rightly, they are trying to get themselves as much cash as they can from any deal and have slapped a £10 million price tag on his head.
Blaise Matuidi is the other one that is being linked with us and it would appear that a fee similar to the Erding one will be required to have any chance of landing the St Etienne midfielder. Upwards of £20 million for the pair will probably rule us out in fairness, even though it shouldn’t, so I guess somebody had better tell that to Pierre Frelot who is the agent for both players.
It seems that Frelot is leaving the door open for Newcastle in the unlikely event that we move for one, or dare I say it, both of the players. I found these little excerpts in The Chronicle today.
“Any player in France would love to come to Newcastle – they are an absolutely fantastic club. All the French lads who go to Newcastle are really enthusiastic about the club and the football public in the North East too.”
“Newcastle has a place in the hearts of French football. Great players like Laurent Robert and David Ginola have played there and enjoyed it and the supporters loved them too. Of course any French player would be interested in Newcastle.”
Remove your tongue immediately Mr Frelot. Great words they may be, but from a football agent they mean precisely zip. You may not mind your clients moving here, but unfortunately it’s not your call.
All there is at the moment is a tentative interest and a load of gossip. Sure it would be great if it came off, but I really can’t see it for a number of reason including but not limited to; the fact that other clubs are interested; the fact that I don’t trust an agent as far as I can thrown them and view this as an attempt to smoke out further interest; and I don’t believe these two players would represent good value for money at the sums mentioned, which would rule us out going by our transfer activity thus far.
As ever, I’ll remain hopeful of deals being done, but logic dictates that when an agent steps in like this there us usually a sinister reason for it.
Guys, I need some advice. I want to book train tickets for our first game on the 13th, but don’t know if I will be able to get a ticket. What are the chances of the game selling out? Also, what station should I go to? (Newcastle Metro or Newcastle NCL)
~ El Toro ~(Quote)
EL T….you’ll get a ticket online no probs…Rail ticket to NCL……Newcastle metro station actually has one of its entrances at NCL so same place really.
richietoon(Quote)
Question for you Geordies- Somthing I’ve always wondered- which of the northeastern newspapers tend get the most right about the club and have the most access to the club. I ask because I tend to read the NUFC news in the Chronical, Journal, Northern Echo, but they seem to contradict each other half the time.
MDS(Quote)
EL-TORO newcastle central m8,get in touch with box-office on net they should give you a idea when they will start to be due oot
icedog(Quote)
Thanks a lot guys. Looks like I will be booking my £66 return ticket then
~ El Toro ~(Quote)
MDS…..these days none of them is the short answer.
richietoon(Quote)
MDS – Anything by Mark Douglas. He writes for most of them but he is more ‘in the know’ than the others 🙂
El T – DJG is a what? 😆
toonsy(Quote)
MDS
RonnieGill. Tends to pander to the masses with eternal optimism and is the late paper read by most so tends to try and report everything.
Journal. Is a bit more swanky, morning paper with more opinion based subjective stuff because they can’t compete for the up to date news.
NorthernEcho. Not really sure, tends to have very similar if not copied stuff as the other two.
Who has the most access to the club? Pretty similar I would have thought between Mark Douglass and Lee Ryder. So neither, whoever gets the scoop first on the day basically.
DJG(Quote)
Richie do you think you will get that much for it after the party Batty had in it mate ❓ there is not plumbing or electric wire left in the place, and I think there is only one pane of glass left intact, I wasn’t at it but Ice was 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave…I’ve taken all that into account 😆
richietoon(Quote)
has davey boy been kicking about lately?
richietoon(Quote)
MDS, this lads not bad MILES STARFORTH he writes for the shields gazette
hitman(Quote)
DAVE divnt blame me i only took the boiler away for batty he said it needed a service,didnt understand why i had to bring all the copper pipeing with it like,said he would tell me later 😀
icedog(Quote)
Mark Douglas is the most reliable for me like, he answers pretty much everyone as well and you can imagine the amount of questions he gets!
dan4toon(Quote)
Thanks for all of the responses. Good information to have…
MDS(Quote)
Howdy, folks. Anything big happening today?
Don’t know either of these players.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Richie no mate I haven’t seen him for a day or so but I will be seeing him maybe tomorrow 😉
ice 😆 😆 😆 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
En Francais: Les Sables Longues sont merde!
Toonpiper(Quote)
FSOTC nowt happening today mate,not even a good rumour to get your teeth into,except some guy saying two players have checked into some hotel,thats about all the rumours today
icedog(Quote)
Ice, this wasn’t just any guy, this was craigcoozy off Ed’s ‘blog 😉
dan4toon(Quote)
Well, Ice, what those two players do to each other in a hotel room is none of my business. As long as they’re consenting adults and…
Oh, wait, you mean as transfer prospects?
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
DAN4T eds blog has been doon last few hours m8 😐
icedog(Quote)
Barnetta to sign by the weekend Dan 😉
jay jay(Quote)
😆
icedog(Quote)
Continuing the adult oriented theme, Craigcoozy sounds like the alias of a porn star.
Craigcoozy in “Budapest Whorehouse IV: This time it’s Personal.”
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Ice, I just remembered him off when I used to go on years ago and he would say who has checked in where.
That was around the time when my opinion didn’t matter according to some of the bloggers because I was too young 🙄
Jay, you should start a Twitter account to rival Cwarr07 😉
dan4toon(Quote)
With all these francophone players coming in, I hope Pardew’s got something in mind to avoid clique trouble.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Dan @ 164 I noticed that he answers and RT loads of stuff which I think is good, and makes his followers realise that he does take notice.
That is one of the thinks that I noticed about some of the Players alot of them dont really bother which is a bit sad as after all the support the fans and followers give them, it wouldn’t kill them to make a habit of 1 or 2 rt or replies every now and again.
I got a tweet lastnight asking to report and rt some child abusing peado fuking scumbags so I reported them and retweeted to some of our players because a rt from them gets to thousands of people and none bothered
Big Dave(Quote)
Toonpiper-
Oui, je suis d’accord. Les sables longs sont merde. C’est vrai. Si je comprend correctement, tu parles le francais tres bien, n’est-ce pas?
OHurley(Quote)
FSOTC- 😆 😆
OHurley(Quote)
‘I got a tweet lastnight asking to report and rt some child abusing peado fuking scumbags so I reported them and retweeted to some of our players because a rt from them gets to thousands of people and none bothered’
Im not suprised they didn’t. Remember they can tweet something and it’s in the papers the next day Dave. Not like they are you or me.
DJG(Quote)
Dave, yeah none of them reply or RT much which is pretty daft. Gosling never even tweets now.
dan4toon(Quote)
DJG how would it look bad if a player tweeted to ask their followers to report a peado to twitter to try to get them banned of twitter to stop them spreading there sh1te. They were called @fcklilgirls and @ProRape and all of the stuff was totally disgusting, but twitter has removed them without their help.
But I really cant understand what harm it would have done to players and if it did make the papers that would be far better 😕
Big Dave(Quote)
Was thinking the same thing, DJG. Nobody gives an eff what one of us tweets, but a player? That’s a walking dollar sign with a bullseye on its back.
If dollar signs have backs, that is.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Matuidi would be amazing. Can’t see it happening but hey who knows. Would send out a message like
Raffo(Quote)
Never seen him play, Raffo. What’s he like?
If it’s pacy, tricky winger, don’t we seem to have a batch of them now?
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
reet thats me outta here catch you’s tomorrow sometime 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
So long, DAve.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Evening lads… so barnetta that porter could have meant anyone! 😆
Whatever happens with the toon this year we can all be optimistic… Good noises are coming out of the club and this can only stand us in good stead
Liam southern toon(Quote)
Eveeninggg ladss.
Jobey07(Quote)
@Liam
Good noises are coming out of the club? 🙄
Not according to Barton, Enrique, Nolan .
Sounds pretty poor to me.
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
hey Bobby, what has Enrique had to say? I mean, I know he’s stalling on the contract and probably out the door, but has he actually come out and said something I may have missed?
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Not recently but has stated the club have broken promises.
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Demba Ba arrived from German side Hoffenheim after first failing a medical at Stoke. While Tony Pulis called him a ‘ticking time-bomb’ West Ham stepped in and took a chance. Ba has been repaying that faith ever since.
While at Hoffenheim, Ba missed long periods of football with a knee injury and prior to the aborted transfer to Stoke, he also failed a medical at Stuttgart.
A Senegalese international, he averaged around a goal every three games prior to joining West Ham but since his move, he has found the net four times in his first four starts.
Is he being overrated by some Toon fans?
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Hard to say with Ba. Looks like a big gamble to me, but Ashley’s tight fists will have seen the club negotiate a deal based on appearances and performance, methinks.
If he plays great and scores bucketloads of goals, Fatso could be on the hook for a big payday, I guess, but it will be worth it.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Also, it’s weird, but sometimes a player goes on a huge tear and then drops off the map, right?
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
BSN9
It’s a gamble but at least he was on a free + pay as you play. You can see why he only got a 3 year contract.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Good to see Bobby keeping the good work up!
Don’t trust these bastards as far as I could throw em!
Think we might end up with a net spend of 15m this summer. Not bad some might say, but not too canny considering we have 30m in the bank!
Stuart79(Quote)
His premier league record is no better than Bests.
My concern is Ashley and Pardew have Ba as being our main striker with HBA, Shola and Best.
These are the four we will start the season with. Loverman will move on.
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Bobby seems like you only exist to cast doubt mate. Yes Ba is a gamble, we all know that,but look at what he is actually cabable of compared to the likes of Ameobi and Lovenkrands, which are currently the alternatives. I’ve looked at his scoring record and however you try and dress it up in your post, it looked pretty decent to me I must admit, compared to our current options. He isn’t bad at all and a genuine international. Anyway who says he will be the only striker coming in this summer? We could get another striker yet and with the two of them I would say we are better off. Surely you can’t argue that his scoring ratio was impressive at West Ham in a BOTTOM team of the league last season.
DJG(Quote)
I’m not especially clear on this–does or will HBA play “in the hole” behind a main striker?
Isn’t he a winger by nature, or do I have that wrong?
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
And what you want us to turn into Pompey or leeds almost to the brink of adminastration? If it wasnt for Mike Ashley thats were we would be thanks to the high spending of Shepard on all the big flops we have had over the years
N.Irish Toon(Quote)
@stu
I have no faith in this regime.
I fail to see where or how others get their optimism.
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
@DJG
not a great record at all. 1-3 wherever he’s been and playing in a less competitive league.
As I say, if you look at Bests premier record, it matches Ba’s but I wouldn’t rate Best as an established premier striker. He has a lot to learn yet.
As far as other strikers coming in, well, we’ll see.
Me thinks not.
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
FSOTC
He is a playmaker midfielder. He could play as a supporting forward behind a main striker due to his dribbling ability and suitability to play centrally. I doubt he will though I still see him as a winger but you never know Pardew might try him there if you believe his quotes so far.
DJG(Quote)
@NIT
No need to turn into Pompey or Leeds but at the same time, no need to turn into Bolton or Everton either.
It’s called a balance. Shepherd was one end of the scale and Ashley is the other. Somewhere in the middle would do me thankyou.
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
I looked at his stats a while ago and HBA doesn’t really seem like an assists provider, based on what I saw. Buzzing around a big striker, he could cause a lot of trouble, I suppose, but I would have figured him for Mr. Assists.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
@BSn9
Fair point but what happens if we spend some money this summer witch i think we will. Will you still be so gloomy about our team?
N.Irish Toon(Quote)
Aye but Bobby I was there and I though what the hell when his name was called out on the radio. He score 3 against a VERY POOR west Ham in what was essentially a training match 5-0 it finished. After that he connected with one that look like he tried to head it; it bounced off his head cam down and he kicked it in. Some of the others were a bit dodgy aswell apaert from the header against Brum which was a good goal against another relegation team. If you are trying to tell me Best would be as good next season im afraid your barking up the wrong tree mate and I’m telling you now Ba is a decent striker that other prem clubs want (unlike Best) and I think he will do well for us next season mate.
DJG(Quote)
@DJG
I’m a realist that’s all and won’t listen to any flannel from over enthusiastic dreamers.
Ba does not impress me as a main striker. All well and good if he keeps fit and plays as back up but I have analysed this regime long enough that they may well run with the 4 players I’ve mentioned.
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Fans – sorry mate been busy. Deep lying playmaker. Sat alongside tiote will be a great combo, with cabaye just in front of them will give so many options. He would play WITH tiote not replace. But too good to be true I think.
Raffo(Quote)
1899 Hoffenheim 97 (37)
Bobby, thats BY FAR the worst and I don’t know where you learnt maths but even that isn’t 1 in 3. 😉
DJG(Quote)
@DJG
I appreciate you have your views on Ba but let’s not forget Ba scored 4 goals in his first 4 games at west ham. He only scored 3 in his next 9.
He has failed 2 medicals!
I am not particularly impressed with his career record.
Would you be happy if he was our main striker for next season?
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
@DJG
yeh sorry 1 in every 2.9. 😆
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
2005–2006 Rouen 26 (22)
2006–2007 Mouscron 12 (8)
2011 West Ham United 12 (7)
Much less than 1 in 2. I know the first two league don;t count but still look at West Ham stats. and with 2 failed medicals! 🙄
DJG(Quote)
@NIT
why would I be gloomy if we spent some money on good players and started with a better first 11 than last and better squad?
I say these things because history tells me we won’t .
I predicted the sale of Barton, Nolan and Enrique back in February and I was mocked.
It will happen and if so then we will be worse for it IMO
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
@DJG
7 goals in the premier and you think he has made it. 😆
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
97/37 = 2.6 actually.
And thats his worst rate. In the bundesliga. So not bad at all, whats Ameobi got 50 in 10 years 😕
DJG(Quote)
@DJG
Would you be happy if he was announced as our replacement for Carroll?
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
@DJG
Shola? Bad comparison. That destroys your opinions on Ashley, the fact he is going to keep him.
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Got to get to bed but I want to know your answer if you would be happy with Ba as our main striker next season?
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
I couldn’t care less about Carroll. At the min he’s in the treatment room. To answer your question no because I don’t think he will be the only strike to come in but answer this question, how much did Ba cost compared to Carroll and whats the difference between their prem ratios?
DJG(Quote)
So you won’t be happy with him as our main striker.
Great faith in the lad then. 😆
Mark my words again. Another one that I will show my **** in Fenwicks window if we purchase another striker.
Strikers cost money and Ashley won’t spend it.
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Got to go cos I’m up early .
Leave a question and I’ll answer tomorrow. 😉
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Bemba Ba = £signing on fee
2011 West Ham United 12 (7)
1 in 2
Andy Carroll = £35M
39 16
Less than 1 in 2.
DJG(Quote)