But whilst hard work will be being put in on the training ground in what is generally a footballers most hated time of the year, it seems as though Alan Pardew and Co will be putting in some hard work with regard to bolstering the squad before the Premier League campaign kicks off.
Speculation is continuing regarding a whole host of potential incoming transfers although as yet nothing has materialised other than the signing of Romain Amalfitano, who officially signed on at St James’ Park when the transfer window actually opened four days ago.
However Alan Pardew remains confident that he will be able to get some players through the door prior to our opening league fixture. Whilst remaining coy in terms of naming names, he does admit that things are moving along quietly, perhaps as they should be?
“We’re working on a few things,” Alan Pardew told The Chronicle. “I know this time last year we’d brought in a couple of players, but we’re very much in the market at the moment.”
“We’re planning to bring in a couple of players, for sure,” he added.
Is “a couple” enough? Personally I’m not so sure, but then again I never predicted us finishing fifth last season so it shows what I know. Time will tell of course.
I hate using the word “patience” as an NUFC fan. How can we be any more patient after going 43 years without even seeing a trophy and only briefly looking like we’d actually win one? All the same though, unfortunately, it looks as though patience will be needed in our hunt for reinforcements.
As an aside, I see our TV fixtures have been announced and already we are seeing what damage the Europa League can do to our fixture list. Our opening game against Tottenham will be shown live on ESPN as will the following league fixture against Chelsea one week later.
The problem is in the middle of that week we will be playing our Europa League play-off first leg which will take place on the Thursday which will mean that we will have two games in three days, or three games in seven days if you like. Nice. NUFC did appeal to the better nature of the Metropolitan Police and UEFA but neither organisation has budged on the scheduling of the fixtures.
Our TV fixture list in full:
Saturday August 18: Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur (5.30pm ESPN)
Saturday August 25: Chelsea v Newcastle United (5.30pm ESPN)
Monday September 17: Everton v Newcastle (8pm SKY)
Sunday October 7: Newcastle v Manchester United (4pm SKY)
Sunday 21: Sunderland v Newcastle (1.30pm SKY)
Sun 4: Liverpool v Newcastle (4pm SKY)
Plus obviously any Europa League games that ESPN or ITV decide to pick up along the way!
Toonsy ,you should know it’s only the top clubs who get their awkard games moved by now. 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
got to agree that ‘a couple of faces’ wont be enough at all, esp when you consider we have shipped out around triple that already. I would also imagine that we will still get that one big name casualty leaving before the close of the window too. You then throw in the european games and we know, as does AP, that our squad is painfully light as it stands. Then you throw in that we will be without some big hitters come january once more for the african cup of nations and we are jsut about able to scrape up a first 11 if we have no injuries.
craig chisholm(Quote)
A striker and a defender might be just about right, and maybe the center back position isn’t the main concern at the moment. Things might change easily subject to injuries to one of our center half though. Plus, I’m really looking forward seeing the likes of Ferguson and Vuckic stepping up and challenging for a place in the first team. Have a feeling that this will be a breakthrough season for one of them.
Toon@Jer(Quote)
Afternoon all! Great read as per!
Can’t believe some people get their knickers in a twist at every quote that’s in the papers!
I could hardly imagine Pardew telling a reporter: who we want, how many we want and when were getting them!
Remember were more than likely competing with other clubs so it would be wise to keep some things on the down low!
Good news if the young lad from Cov signs, if your playing First team at 17, gotta be good.
toonarmy87(Quote)
toonarmy87.. if you refer to me you are probalby blind as i havent complained at all, just said that 2 new faces wont cut it. i couldnt care less how many come or go.
craig chisholm(Quote)
Depends how Pardew means by couple doesn’t it? I mean if he means it literally, as in two, then it probably won’t be enough. I’m guessing (hoping) he means in general though….
Would it have been better if he said “a few” instead? 😉
toonsy(Quote)
Don’t think we should take Pardew’s “couple” literally. When someone tells me it will take a couple of minutes it is usually upwards of half-an-hour.
Groucho(Quote)
well toonsy, unless someone is into group sex, the word couple normally means 2 i think. Several means more than 2. anyway, i dont care one jot tbh who comes or who goes. what will be will be. I keep thinking that all these reports linking ourt players away seem to be under valuing them though. Tiote for 20m seems light, krul for 10m is a joke, and so on. ithink cabaye is a 30 million player and tiote 25m at least. krul is 25 million also. Cisse has to be 40 million (if torres is worth 50). I think that we may loose ba and Simmo, thats about all though. Simmo cos we are sick of him and Ba cos he is greedy.
craig chisholm(Quote)
Toonsy…I’d like to take it as I’m just going for a “couple” of pints…..8 hours and several pints later, roll in steaming drunk
richietoon(Quote)
Groucho.. if someone says..’the couple look in love’.. do you imagine a gang bang? 😀
craig chisholm(Quote)
Rich – Or like when you say you’re only going to have a couple of sweets 😆
toonsy(Quote)
When I say can i nick a couple of your chips to my daughter ,she knows half her tea is gonna vanish 😉 ,So I’m hopeing Pards works on that princible.
kimtoon(Quote)
principle not princible 😳 brains gone again aargh 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
if someone said the price was’a couple of quid’ and then asked for a tenner that would be expected ? This word ‘couple’ is going to create a huge **** storm, i can see it coming.
craig chisholm(Quote)
I also agree that if ‘a couple’ literally means only 2 more (excluding Amalfitano) then I’m not sure it’s enough to cover the number of games and injuries to certain positions. At the very least we need a FB, CB and 1 (preferably 2) CF(s).
I know the prev article suggests the De Jong deal is as good as dead, but I haven’t heard or read that Twente have rejected or accepted our last bid. For me we walk away from Holland, we let De Jong know we want him and tell Twente the offer stands but we come away and focus on alternatives, coz if we spend all our time pi55ing about we could miss out on other targets.
I wasn’t expecting us to have everything our own way, or clubs to hand over their players lightly but I thought we would have had at least 2 signed up this week like. I know there’s still tomorrow to go but to my understanding we are miles off signing anyone yet.
Sharpy17(Quote)
there has been some lightening fast movement this week though, we got shot of guthrie, best and fraser with ease and without a long drawn out saga. funny how thats often the case.
craig chisholm(Quote)
Everyone knows the meaning of couple, that’s not disputed. The fact is people take every comment/quote far to literally and get their knickers in a twist over **** all, when I say a “couple” of whatever, I know that a couple means 2 literally, but I rarely mean 2 when I say it and I dare say that’s the case for most people.
richietoon(Quote)
Sharpy@15 There is always the chance we could be quietly working away on a couple of guys not even mentioned yet. That wouldn’t surprise me one bit ,knowing how sneaky we been in the past at getting players in . 😉
I’m trying very hard not to panic ,which goes totally against my nature . 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
Craig….aye, a “couple” of players out already 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Kim…Could you clarify what you mean by a “couple” of guys? 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Good news posted on the other thread by 3HW…
3hourswasted says:
July 5, 2012 at 16:18
James Tavernier @James_Tavernier
1st day back training and I’ve just signed my new contract with Newcastle #GreatDay
richietoon(Quote)
richietoon, now now, dont get your knickers in a twist over a couple of comments!
craig chisholm(Quote)
Hi folks,
Thinking about heading across the pond this summer to visit my brother who lives in Bath and then up Newcastle way to catch our beloved club in a game. Seems like the home opener could be my only option though, schedule wise.
What is the chance of a no-name mook like me getting a ticket for that game? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Richie @20 now,now you know what I meant you tinker.
kimtoon(Quote)
Sharpy..Agree about De Jong, it’s starting to look like Borussia M/gladbach are going to start looking at other targets too(allegedly)
richietoon(Quote)
FSOTC – I’m sure one can be sorted by asking the right person 😉
toonsy(Quote)
Well done on the contract ,Tavs by the way 😀 😎
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – there can’t be that many players that haven’t been mentioned yet?!
I think weve been linked with most players at one time or another. But I know what you mean, I don’t suppose we only have DL and Lanley working on transfer targets. I just mean it’s pointless them ‘flogging a dead horse’ if you like, we need players in and although it’s still early, the window isn’t open for long so we can’t waste any time.
On a positive note, see Tav has signed a new contract with us, so that’s good news at least.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Craig 😆 …tbf I said the other day about quotes in general, people read too much into them and take them too literally…. life as football fan I suppose 😐
richietoon(Quote)
Assuming Simpson leaves as well…
I think three would be enough to be honest…
GK: Krul, Harper, Elliot (enough)
DL: Santon, Raylor, Jonas, Perch, Ferguson, Tavernier (enough)
DR: Debuchy#, Santon, Jonas, Raylor, Perch, Tavernier (enough)
DC: Coloccini, Taylor, Douglas#, Williamson, Streete (enough)
ML: Jonas, Marvaeux, Ben Arfa, Obertan, Ferguson (enough)
MR: Ben Arfa, Obertan, Marvaeux. Jonas, Sameobi (enough)
MC: Tiote, Cabaye, Gosling, Amalfitano, Jonas, Vuckic, Abied, Perch (enough)
ST: Cisse, Ba, De Jong#, Shola, Xisco, Ranger (enough)
Thats a squad of 31 players… which makes it understandable why we can’t really buy without selling sometimes. 😐
JJ(Quote)
There’d be more than enough quality there to challenge for a top six/seven in the EPL and challenge in Europe IMO.
If you arn’t going to use youngsters like Gosling, Abied, Vuckic, Tavs, Fergie and Sammy then what is the point of having them… Then Keegan was right about youth being a waste of time.
JJ(Quote)
JJ – Worth an article that is 😉
toonsy(Quote)
JJ I tend to agree. Our starting 11 is stronger this season than last. We have Saylor & marv coming back. We have Kids a year older. We could add a little where you have indicated. If we are trying different formations then may need one or two more, but basically even if a couple means no more than 2 then we should be OK.
premandup(Quote)
https://shop.nufc.co.uk/cgi-bin/live/ecommerce.pl?site=theclubshop_nufc&state=item&dept_id=15&sub_dept_id=10&product_id=321998
Definitely getting one of those if we hold onto tiote this summer….**** it, maybe i’ll get one anyway! 😆
Newkie(Quote)
Also if Pards means two first teamers then hell yeah I’m all for it, a winger/striker and a right/centre back added to the first 11, provided we keep the rest of what we have, and i’ll be fine. If he means two “squad” players though….we’ll need more.
Newkie(Quote)
JJ.. i think we have too many players and need to sell some more looking at your list. sell sell!!!
craig chisholm(Quote)
Mark Douglas @MsiDouglas
UEFA now offering #nufc hope of re-arranging the Europa League qualifier – IF their opponents agree.
Expand
3hourswasted(Quote)
Toonsy,
Will try tomorrow, been wanting to but I’ve been so busy with lawyers trying to sort out visitation with this (place expletive#)… she’s only letting me see my son for an hour every two weeks at the moment 👿
Craig,
I agree, but can’t see anyone taking them really.
Simpson maybe, but would love to get rid of Xisco and as unpopular as it is on this blog, Shola too…
Thats the three… Then I’d loan Vuckic, Gosling, Fergie and Ranger out for the season.
Then try bring in three quality additions.
It amazes me that people say our squad is small. It isn’t its too big really, just need some more quality. The youngsters also need some playing time in a stronger league than the reserves.
JJ(Quote)
premandup
I think just with Taylor and Marveaux returning. Ben Arfa starting fit, and Cabaye settled and confident, as well as Cisse being here from the start we are much stronger than last season… Without buying anyone. But don’t tell Ashley that.
I also don’t think it garauntees a finish a high up as fifth. We performed above ourselves, rode our luck and other teams were simply abysmal.
Remember, we finished above the Champions League winners! And Liverpool surely can’t be as pathetic as they were under Dogleash! 😆
JJ(Quote)
Toonsy, any idea of which person I could ask to point me to the right person?
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
FSOTC
Batty will get you a ticket, whether it gets you in the ground or not is another story.
JJ(Quote)
JJ we don’t have the money of Chelsea or City. Utd will be top 3. That leaves us competing with Arsenal, Liverpool & Spurs for 4th. Hopefully we won’t be bottom of that mini league, but I doubt we will top it. I’ll settle for 60pts this time round.
premandup(Quote)
Right. Mental note: Don’t buy a ticket from Batty.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
FSOTC…when they go on sale you’ll get them online no probs then just pick up from the ticket office 😉
JJ…Good luck sorting out seeing the bairn more regularly mate, can’t be easy for you. **** deal Fathers get at times.
richietoon(Quote)
FSOTC- you may want to check with Norcal- I think he went over a couple of years ago. Also, I seem to remember someone emailing the club’s ticket office last year and found them to be responsive and helpful.
MDS(Quote)
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11678/7870935/Uefa-give-Magpies-fixture-hope
That’s good, should make the situation a bit easier.
Andymag(Quote)
Andy ,They must of read my post @1 and reconsidered 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
Very realistic Premandup @42. I think battling for fourth will be our goal but a difficult one unless we get Debuchy, Douglas, and a very decent striker in. Will we hand on to Ba when he will only cost 7M? Have my doubts but hope so. The team does look stronger but still don’t know what to expect from Vuckic, Sameobi, Gosling, Tavernier, Amalfitano, and Ferguson and likely no more than one at a time will feature except perhaps in Carling Cup games so they will likely have minimal impact. Vuckic has to have a good season, hopefully will go out on loan and play every game without any serious injuries or the club may decide he is made of glass. Time for Gosling to step up as well.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
That should say hang on to Ba. 😳
GeordieTwo(Quote)
OMGZ only a couple?! We’re only getting in a couple?! Two people?!!!!! Two people is a couple right? And we’re only getting a couple?! OMFG did you hear him he said a couple?! And that means two! ONLY A COUPLE?!!!!!!
*PANIC ATTACK AND DIE*
GAV(Quote)
FSOTC – When I went over…it was a few years now…2004/2005 season.
I emailed the box office before I left and was able to reserve two tickets for the game. Then I went to Will Call (Or whatever it’s called over there) and picked up my tickets.
The only thing is, I don’t think you can reserve the tickets until 3 weeks before the game, not sure if that’s right, but I do remember that may have been an issue. That may have changed, but I am sure if you email the box office or the Contact Us option on the official site (http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/ContactUs) you should get all the help you need. They’re very helpful there.
NorCal Toonfan(Quote)
Kim
Must have done 😉
Andymag(Quote)
Wow, great! Thanks for all the advice, MDS, JJ, Norcal & Richie.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
FSOTC…They should go on general sale a week or 2 before, just keep an eye out and you won’t have a problem getting one.
Andy….The problem with that, is that it’s all up to the other team, and witha place in the group stage at stake they may well tell us to **** off(I would)…..unless they face a similar situation.
Gav…Am I detecting a teeny bit of sarcasm there? 😉 ….a couple of times
richietoon(Quote)
Right on, Richie. Thanks again.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
fsotc…I’m jealous as **** like
…..QPR over the Xmas will be my first one, league anyway, hoping the Europa draw will be kind to me(if we make the group stages)
richietoon(Quote)
Oh, yeah, Richie, when is the Europa draw?
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
10th of August for the round we join the competition in.
richietoon(Quote)
I think I found it. The 2nd round of qualification looks like July 19-26, so we should know something shortly thereafter, if I’m understanding this…
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2013/matches/round=2000353/index.html
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Fc Twente are playing a Europa game tonight, no De Jong or Douglas….that to me would say they’ll be sold and it’s to avoid them being cuptied(possibly)
De Jong could have still played tonight and then if Borussia M/gladbach were to buy him he would have still been eligible to play in the Champions league for them, if he signed for us however….. 😉
richietoon(Quote)
De Jong and Douglas not included in Twente’s squad for their european qualifier – so they’re not cup tied. Apparently that german club have also begun to look elsewhere, seems de jong is being priced out of a move, twente will budge nearer the end of the window.
floydy(Quote)
oh richie you beat me to it!!! 👿 😀
floydy(Quote)
FSOTC…this is a decent link(especially for Wiki)…dates are about halfway down, we start in the play off round
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012%E2%80%9313_UEFA_Europa_League
richietoon(Quote)
Oh, FSOTC one other thing. Be specific about where you want to sit if you can. I didn’t say anything and they gave me a couple (I MEAN 2) tickets at in the Platinum Level near midway of the pitch…great view and I don’t regret it one bit, but the tickets were a bit more expensive than I had hoped, and may have been cheaper further up the stands. The nice part about that section was the bar or lounge associated with it, so had a few pints before heading out to watch the match, but like i said, it was a bit pricey.
I am very envious. I keep trying to find ways to go back…including a grueling “weekend” visit for a game, but the wife says I have to take her, and then a weekend turns into two weeks and finances get totally shot to hell…so the trip never happens.
Right now the pipe dream is the game away to Arsenal on 29 Dec.
NorCal Toonfan(Quote)
Floydy…it was close, I almost had to try typing with 2 fingers 😆
richietoon(Quote)
NorCal…..there’s always the Europa, then you can combine it with a short holiday to a country with better weather than Newcastle 😎 …and you can’t beat Euro away games, absolutely fantastic……I’m going to be gutted if we don’t make the group stages like 😐
richietoon(Quote)
Reference the seats..if you book online you get to choose your seat 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Aye, Richie, that’s very true. However, my priority is to get back to SJP before I do a game on the continent…
NorCal Toonfan(Quote)
NorCal….a couple of days to UK for a Toon home game, followed by a flight to th continent to take in a midweek Europa game, few days break then back to the U.S……sounds easy, now to sell the idea to your lass 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Richie- de jong could still be tied as M’gladbach could end up dropping to Europa after the CL group stages right? Not that they would care much at that point I’m sure….
Norcal- yeah I’m thinking about the long weekend thing this year. Not as bad for me as I’m about a 4-hour flight closer than you are.
MDS(Quote)
OMFG! re: Gav@50 did he died?
That’s too young. 😥
..think I’m on the realistic tip with JJ here.
NUFC (**** knows if other teams are doing it) seem to be going at it on a ‘utility angle’. By which I mean have a smaller first team squad made up of players who cover more than one position well. JJ’s 30 is sort of what I mean. I think another 3 will do, but simply because we have these players at our disposal who can slot into the proverbial holes when needed.
We’re building a Switcheroo squad!
YEEEEE-HAAHHH 😯
(ah ****, that’s Buckaroo 😳 )
Rodzilla(Quote)
Rod ,buckaroo 😎
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim, kerplunk 😯
Rodzilla(Quote)
…compleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetly off topic, but dunno if anyone else has go Traffic Cops on on BBC1. ‘PC Ross Clark of Beds and Herts Road Policing’ is the SPIT of Luis Enrique.
(maybe he’s moonlighting?)
…plenty of car crime ganin on where he is anyway
Rodzilla(Quote)
Rod Jenga ❗ 😉 I had frog jenga in the spring in my pond ,a tower of 10 frogs all at it 😯
kimtoon(Quote)