The Journal “understands” that Newcastle are keen to firm up a long-standing interest in the player by bringing him to St James’ Park as a direct replacement for the seemingly outbound Joey Barton.
However I would exercise caution, like I do with all rumours and “understanding”, and won’t count anything as gospel until something more official appears. As it stands it’s just paper gossip but it would solve one of the problems we have with the squad should Barnetta arrive on the banks of the Tyne.
The 26-year-old scored two goals against England at the back end of last season and drew plaudits for his performance in that game. He’s been capped 59 times for his country and has scored eight goals at international level whilst his club career stats stand at 247 appearances with 37 goals from mainly a right wing position.
Getting in a right winger makes sense, even if it does seemingly have to be at the expense of Joey Barton. We have some brilliant central midfielders and having seen Yohan Cabaye first hand at Leeds I feel confident that he will have no problems adjusting to life in the Premier League alongside Cheik Tiote, which means that the only real place of concern in the middle of the park is that right wing.
What would be better? A central midfielder out on the right? Or a right winger out on the right? Bear in mind that whilst Barton did a brilliant job for us out there for us his assist rate and contribution dried up without Andy Carroll to ping balls to. I’m not muddying Barton here or watering down his contribution, but I do seem to recall people saying that same thing throughout the season.
At the end of the day NUFC have to do something or else we face the very real risk of heading into next season with a weaker squad than the one we finished last season with. Signing someone like Barnetta may inevitably not be the answer, but the player is apparently keen to come and at least it would allow people to make a bit of sense of the whole allowing Joey Barton to go fiasco.
In an ideal world I’d keep Barton and sign Barnetta, but unfortunately it’s not an ideal world.
Valle
The reference of £40,000 a week being a ridiculous offer is coming from his agent who says the player is earning more than that already.
Would you move to a worse employer for less money?
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
TLR – a top international playing for Switzerland who are ranked 30th in the world.
We already have Tiote, Cabay and Jonas on the books, all of whom play for much better international teams – so it’s not that far beyond the realms of possibility.
Toon Chicken(Quote)
Anyone know if Pardew has held todays press conference ahead of the game on Saturday? I would imagine there will be no questions about the Italians but a lot on the make up of our squad.
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
TLR the liers confrence is 2pm today
icedog(Quote)
Pardew not’s going until after the second game of the season. I told you that the other day.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
Army, how much more obvious does it have to be that Pardew is not making these transfer decisions? He’s not a manager like Ferguson, who is given control over everything
AndrewT(Quote)
Have you been playing with Bobby’s balls B&B?
Toon Chicken(Quote)
Chicken – You don’t need a seat at the front of Bobby’s train to see that car crash coming.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
This when my appreciation for Mike Ashley is reinforced. Since when is ‘£40K a week a ridiculous offer’ It is money of which we could only dream. I do not think he is needed though so if he does not accept then I think we could focus to our other targets.
Michael12(Quote)
Why oh why oh why?
Why are people saying things like “its disgusting he won’t accept 40k a week, we would jump at the chance!”
Of course most us would. Because the majority of us probably earn between £20-50k a year. If we were offered a job out of the blue that paid around £2m a year we would take it like a shot. And we would never complain, we would try our best not to lose that job as we would never see a wage like that again.
Footballers don’t live in that world. If Barnetta is really on £40k and is playing well then what possible reason could he have to accept job for the same or less pay. Well he could move to a bigger club opening up the possibilities of more success in the future. He would not move to a club like Newcastle for the same pay.
Whumpie, its all very well expressing your amazement that people are prepared to believe this report without evidence, but you doing the same thing, you are choosing to believe the club wouldn’t do this sort of behaviour without any evidence of their innocence. If you somehow know what Barnetta is being paid the you should share it to help lay this to rest. The agent might be slimy, but I doubt he’s any slimier tban Llambias and Ashley.
Pootle(Quote)
No I dont expect lee clark would come and its immaterial whether you believe Pardew owes ashleyy money or not the point I am making is that Pardew is Ashleys man .Ashley owns the club I am not naive enough to think that anything is going to change until it suits those in power but that doesnt mean i have to like it I honestly think that we could have the basis of a solid mid table Premiership side but I dont think Pardew is a good enough manager to take Us forward or the right manager for NUFC this is not based on whether I think Pardew is a Yes Man but on his teams performance on the Pitch particularly the debacle against West Brom I may be in the anti Ashley camp but i still have a season ticket in the sports bar and I still have my pints at the match and even though I may be lining ashleys pockets no one is entitled yo take away the pleasure ( more often pain) that I get from matchday after 59 trophy filled years
steven olsen(Quote)
To be fair steven I tend to agree on pardew, but really he should be judged this season with HIS team and style of play rather than last seasons players etc.
I’m the same about match days too, but I haven’t bought a new strip for a few yrs now, nor any of his tat from SD.
Plus I get my pies from greggs and take them in with us. Its handy when your son is a baker at greggs. 50% discount on all purchases. lol.
Unfortunatly my belly has got 50% bigger n all 👿
Doh!
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Pardew payed 26 won 6 drawn 9 lost 8 win pecentage 26 points 27
steven olsen(Quote)
Exactly, and I would be expecting better this season, seeing as he has had a pre season and brought in his own ( ❓ ) players and will have put his stamp on the style of play etc.
If not, then it will be adieu monsieur fermer la port apres vous.
But I think he deserves as many weeks as Hughton had before being judged. What was that? 12 or something??
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
i THINK CH PLAYED 15 WON 5 LOST 7 DRAWN 3 SO 33 PERCENT WIN NOT MUCH BETWEEN THEM
steven olsen(Quote)