The left-back and striker positions have needed filling for some time now, but with just one week to go the signs would seem to suggest that we’ll be continuing our quest of filling those two positions right up until the end of the transfer window.
This is not good news in my opinion as the nearer we get to transfer deadline day the higher the price tends to be as more clubs enter the market place. Also it’s worth bearing in mind that we hardly have a sparkling record of doing deals in towards the end of a transfer window, especially on the final day of the transfer window.
There is an awful lot of brinksmanship going on at the minute and clubs will be bartering against each other to try and get the best deal for themselves. This is of course all part and parcel of the art of negotiation with the latest titbit of news suggesting that Newcastle and PSV are currently haggling over the price of Erik Pieters, with one side wanting £7 million and the other only wanting to pay £5 million.
Now I don’t have a problem with the club trying to get best deal possible. In fact I do much the same myself with everything in real life and use the same tactic when I’ve had to negotiate things at work in the past. The difference is recognising that sometimes you just have to pay the going rate to get the goods you want.
This is where my main issues is with the board. They simply fail to recognise this and try to drive the hardest bargain imaginable all of the time even if it means missing out on players. This is where my opinion on bids made for players like Charles N’Zogbia differ from those who say that we don’t actually bid at all. We do bid, but it’s on our terms and we don’t budge from them.
There is only one week to wait before we can fully reflect on yet another transfer window. I’ve enjoyed a bit of speculation and read most of the reports of players that we’ve been linked with, but it’s only when the window slams shut that we can fully reflect on what has gone on.
I’ve resisted the urge to have a pop at the club as I prefer to wait and see what happens, but if we don’t get the two players in that Alan Pardew wants then there will be no excuses in my book. We have the money and we had the time. It’s not like January where we didn’t have an influx of cash until two hours before the end of the window. We’ve had it all summer. There is no excuse.
It’s odd really as signing a decent left-back and a striker is all it would take to change a lot of opinions and make more people reasonably happy with the squad. If we can do that then I think we’ll end with a fairly balanced squad that still needs work done to it but also ensures that we are covered in every position.
On the plus side I’m struggling to recall a time when the club have been so vocal about getting players in this late in the window, but with only a week to go we don’t have long to wait to determine whether this is an actual statement of intent or whether they are just more empty promises.
I’m prepared either way to be honest.
1st yeeeeeeeehaw 😛
stevey c(Quote)
Waiting sucks.
AndrewT(Quote)
Any idea what time the transfer window closes this year?
Is it another one that goes to midnight? I prefer those.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Well just been reading in reports here in Holland we have today reopened talks with PSV for Pieters . I bet he is in before the weekends game against Fulham .
http://www.vi.nl/Nieuws-item/205807/Newcastle-meldt-zich-opnieuw-bij-PSV-voor-Pieters.htm
Axel(Quote)
It is getting real close and I fear we will be saying how late we left it this time next week hoping that we can sign someone in the last 2-3 hrs 👿
Big Dave(Quote)
Leave it to me, been having words with our savior and the big fella assures me all will be well. Why shouldn’t we believe him?
jay jay(Quote)
I don’t know why everyone is bricking themselves. Everyone knows that the majority of transfers are done in the final few days. It always happens, that’s why you get that bloody sky sports special where they keep cutting to their man on point at all the pl grounds and their count down clock.
Pieters and bendtner in before the end, one of them by the weekend I reckon.
Micky Toon(Quote)
Ice your on the wrong thread again 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
The closer we get to transfer deadline day the sicker I feel about our chances of any signing never mind signings
cheesytoon(Quote)
Not very confident of getting anyone in and I’m sure we’ll be tempted to sell one or more of our better players before the window closes
Hope I’m wrong!
Paul(Quote)
I’ll throw this out before I shut down the old laptop.
Taking the squad as it is at the moment, with Ferguson as left back, youth and quality working at Man. Utd, and R. Taylor as back up, and Best as my preferred striker unless Ba comes good.
Which teams outside of the top 6 have better squads than us?
I would say none.
Lionel Speed(Quote)
Micky, a lot of us feel that way. You can only judge a window when it’s over.
MDS(Quote)
🙄 😯
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE just posted as new thread came up,ill have to stop your bad habits 😀
icedog(Quote)
😕 almost obtained the qualification in the Champions League against the Rubin Kazan (1-1), Bernard Lacombe said the situation in his fullback who is desperate to leave the OL: “Currently, we Aly Cissokho poses many problems because that every day he comes to ask us to leave. That would be annoying a few days before the end of transfer window it goes. After Newcastle made an offer. But the problem is that the English club gives half of what it cost us. If it’s like that, Aly will stay home, “said Councillor Jean-Michel Aulas to RMC Sport.
Big Dave(Quote)
I hope that cwaar on twitter is a bit of a joker. Carlton Cole to Newcastle.
Please don’t be true
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Any inside on joey yet ?
Porciestreet(Quote)
So Cissokho wants to come but we have only offered half what he cost Lyon 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Toby he’s the **** who said Gervinho to Newcastle was a done deal and said he’d give money to the SBR foundation if Nzogbia didn’t sign for us 🙄
jay jay(Quote)
Porciestreet nowt yet
Big Dave(Quote)
For goodness sake there is no way we would go for Carlton cole slow useless and too old.
What’s worrying is we have sold Carroll Barton Nolan and Enrique … And have 3 of those been replaced???
Arguably if we get pieters maiga and barnetta it will be okay but can anyone honestly see that??
Not in. Good mood today
Liam southern toon(Quote)
Nicky maynard not playing for Bristol City tonight don’t know if he is injured or suspended. For me he is worth taking a risk on
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Staying away from this site doesn’t seem to be good, every time I check back something bad comes out of the blue. Here’s the kick in the balls for the win against the Scum anyway eh Toonsy? 😕
Three quality players in before the end? Nee chance
Newkie(Quote)
There is a nasty rumour about carlton Cole doin the rounds.
Porciestreet(Quote)
DAVE aye and if lyon said ok,jabba would have heart attack 😀
icedog(Quote)
FJ 11PM NEXT WEDNESDAY it closes i reckon we will lose another 2 or 3 before it closes and they wont be the 1s some people want to leave
batty(Quote)
**** 2-1 up and thru
Porciestreet(Quote)
PS lets hope it keeps going round and round,round ect 😀
icedog(Quote)
anyone else worried about this maiga transfer, he looks a bit like obafemi martins type of player but not sure he’s our out and out goalscorer, i think Ba is meant to get the goals but he hasnt played well so far, hoping he comes good.
MrFlibbles(Quote)
The Lyon president has said that we have bid for sissoko
Liam southern toon(Quote)
Batty fuk all surprises me about this club, except that so many of our supporters are working as Fatmans financial advisors and trying to look after his money for him
Big Dave(Quote)
BATTY cannot get flight to libya so divnt kna where we will get those caps and chains noo 😀
icedog(Quote)
The good thing about Tiote being a disgrace so far this season is that it will have put some teams off him as they will think he is a one season wonder.
I expect a bid for Coloccini from someone though.
funkyjesus(Quote)
To be fair however barton could be joining Nolan in the championship next year and no other clubs wanted either of them! Shows they can’t have been that highly rated.
If you had told me that Barton Nolan Carroll Enrique and hughton had all left the club a year ago would anyone believe it would have happened?
Liam southern toon(Quote)
FJ yes and they will except that bid
batty(Quote)
dave just let them get on with it halfwits springs too mind 😉
batty(Quote)
Llambias is a khunt.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Howay man lads and lasses. Still plenty of time left,
It’s not going to be like that Christmas when you really really wanted artic explorer action man with the husky dog. You were getting excited all December, looking forward to the big day. When the day came you ripped off the wrapping paper and found beach barbie there instead. A dolls a doll said yer dad, what yer crying for yer big bairn? That’s all they had left in the shop.
Micky Toon(Quote)
Keep calm lads, keep calm!——–It`s not over till the fatman sings, this time next week, we`ll be smiling or shi**tting, not sure which th`o.
My gut tells me we`ll do the deals we all want. ❓
CT(Quote)
Still think tiote’s problem is because he could be fasting. You try eating and drinking nowt all day and then play a game of footy for 90.
Micky Toon(Quote)
Be prepared for another big earner to leave out the blue.
Colo or Jonas or both . It would not surprise me at all. 😕
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Batty @ 35 then we will see if the same ones that are saying good riddance to Joey are still as happy about cutting the wage bill to save money ❓
Big Dave(Quote)
troy iam prepared brother 🙂
batty(Quote)
I still think we should sniff about Armand Traore as left back.
Arsenal have loaned him out for 19 seasons in a row, yet he is still only 21 years old and it’s always to decent teams. We could do a lot worse.
funkyjesus(Quote)
yep colo goes and were down ,i could see us leakin 60 too 70 goals 🙁
batty(Quote)
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_7122337,00.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Atleast we still have smudger to cover for Joey 😈
Big Dave(Quote)
To be fair however barton could be joining Nolan in the championship next year and no other clubs wanted either of them! Shows they can’t have been that highly rated
———————-
No way is Joey good enough for a top 6 side, but I am surprised that only QPR has come in for him. Then again is he good enough to outweigh the possible trouble is how clubs view it I guess.
MDS(Quote)
Troy @ 41 Stardy wouldn’t be too happy with that, you know how hard he took the Hooters break up
Big Dave(Quote)
West spam losing 😆
richietoon(Quote)
This Carlton Cole rumour makes me really worried…. 🙄 …
Munich Mag(Quote)
QPR are the only club outside the top 4 who could and would pay joeys wages.
Micky Toon(Quote)
@batty and Big Dave
Just see how many of those who slate us for being critical burst into a tirade of criticism. Not at us but the club.
I can’t get my head round why they are still hopeful.
For me, it’s inevitable that we will not see quality players coming in and quality leaving. 😕
Season after season, window after window. Nothing changes. Nothing will. 😕
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy I agree remember colos agent said he is contemplating Valencia?
What’s so frustrating is if we had kept all our best players Enrique Carroll Barton we would have a hell of a team
Liam southern toon(Quote)
What says more than any rumour or conjecture is the quote from pardew in that link Dave posted. He calls Alan smith quality and is looking to us him. Bloody hell.
This blog has gone all doom and gloom.
If you don’t have hope, what do you have?
Micky Toon(Quote)
What gets me is we go after unrealistic transfer targets. If we are not going to pay top dollar then don’t shop at Harrods if your budget is suited to Aldi shop there.
Its all part of we tried to sign players but clubs made it difficult for us.
Absolute bollocks.
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
If you don’t have hope, what do you have?
—————
I have hope and I’m proud of it. What else is there? Complainig on a blog all day apparently. Hope I never end up like that
MDS(Quote)
Big Sam and West Ham out the cup at home and booed off.
Been there before.
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Liam I honestly believe that if we had of kept last years team intact and added just 1 or 2 quality players we would have had a real chance of breaking into the top 6 this yr
Micky@ 54 the fatman tends to spoil the little hope you have left
TLR @ 55 exactly, so that they can say well we tried
Big Dave(Quote)
Big Sam and West Ham out the cup at home and booed off.
Been there before
———————–
I’m sure it was appealing football as well 😉
MDS(Quote)
If we let anymore players leave I will be well pssd off, supported nufc since I was a kid sang in the corner been crushed on the barriers, and got to say watched some proper ****, but loved every minute. And not once in all those years did I hear books to balance and fans who were are accountants. Ashley has really brainwashed some fans, if his cheapskate of a chairman was to be believed we would not have a team to support big thanks to Mike for saving us from oblivion we should chant his name he is our saviour.
Jostoon(Quote)
MDS its going up we are going for,not cups 😉 😉 😆
icedog(Quote)
Dave, I understand what you are saying and for some fans Ashley seems to have really spoiled their fun and they no longer seem to be enjoying supporting the team.
I won’t criticise people who feel that way, and I’m not one who says judge them by the end of the window as I already know what they are like.
However, I still think we will get in players before the end of the window, bendtner didn’t travel with arsenal, so who knows.
Cissoko is looking on and so is peters.
For me pieters is the one as pardew has been out to see him personally.
Micky Toon(Quote)
Ice 😆 😆 😆
MDS(Quote)
Jostoon, I agree. Never has a set of fans been so obsessed with club finances than we have been since Ashley took over. I don’t give a **** about how much agents cost,new undersoil heating for the training ground costs,etc.. I just care about the players we have. I don’t car what wages they are on, just how good they are.
They say football is a business now. It’s even turned ordinary fans into accountants.
Micky Toon(Quote)
MT says Cissoko is looking on and so is peters
could be both if collo goes,pieters can play c/h too 😉 😉
icedog(Quote)
Liam and Troy, gotta disagree, we have got a good team, we just need a real left back and a decent striker, not sure we’ll get the latter, though hopefully, will probably get a left back.
Krul, our defence, plus a choice of tiote, cabaye, ben arfa, marveaux, gosling, guiterrez, obertan, vukic and guthrie + ba and best is a good team/ squad, with a few youngsters and old hands, in Harper, Smith, Ameobi thrown in.
We will probably be a better team this year even without any more additions, the only player really missed, going on his start to last season, is Carroll.
Lionel Speed(Quote)
Please don’t tell me anyone’s actually surprised?
batty – I totally agree about others going, Collo will be the next one.
Ashley has a plan – he wants to rid the club of the higher earners (however good they are), reduce the debt to himself by repaying himself with TV money (and filling the hole that leaves with the sale of our best players), leaving the club with a low wage bill, making a healthy profit and still in the PL. He will then try and sell.
anyone who doesn’t see this are morons or worse still ignorant.
Not bothered now to be honest, i’ll keep going, expecting very little knowing that with every day that passes we’re one day closer to Ashley selling up, fcking off and giving us our club back.
Stuart79(Quote)
😯 😯 😯 🙄 🙄 😆 😆 😆
batty(Quote)
@ lionel
batty(Quote)
Another strange day. Barton is having a medical today. Pardew says we are into brinksmanship to get players. How are we in a strong position to play this sort of game? PSV don’t need to sell Pieters but we desperately need him. Sochaux don’t want to sell Maiga but we desperately need a striker. How is waiting a few more days going to put us in a stronger position? Ashley, Llambias and the board are dreaming if they think these teams have to cave in to us and sell cheaply.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
@MDS
Do you believe what you write though or do you do it to make yourself feel better?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Ice it’s the reason I can’t get a name on my new shirt. I dont know who will be left 😉
Micky Toon(Quote)
agree stu 😉
batty(Quote)
Ashley has a plan – he wants to rid the club of the higher earners (however good they are), reduce the debt to himself by repaying himself with TV money (and filling the hole that leaves with the sale of our best players), leaving the club with a low wage bill, making a healthy profit and still in the PL. He will then try and sell.
—————————–
I think most people on here take that as gospel. The one thing the club has been honest about is the statements made after promotion which said as much. That’s why I don’t understand why people get so upset about players leaving- the club told us 2 years ago what was going to happen.
MDS(Quote)
said a few times before season started that joey nolan,jose,collo jonas would go off the wage bill,i got stick for it,well thats 3 oot five and we arnt there yet,they might hang on till jan
icedog(Quote)