Amalfitano – One of three through the door
In total three signings have made in the shape of Romain Amalfitano, Gael Bigirimana and Curtis Good. Now these seem to be good signings in terms of the future but they aren’t exactly what I was expecting the club to sign during this transfer window after such a tremendous season last time round.
The saga with Mathieu Debuchy has dragged on for the majority of the summer with no resolution to the Frenchman’s future made. There was the expectation that after Euro 2012 he would be signing for the club but Newcastle’s attempts have been fruitless thus far.
With only three signings made, should the club have made more by this point in time? I expected Alan Pardew and Co to bring in more players to strengthen the squad with more games due to be played in the forthcoming season. But could it be a sign of the times? Clubs are holding out for mega money deals for their players so that they do not lose a valuable asset while other clubs have been put off due to the impending Financial Fair Play rules that come into force this season.
Or could it be that Newcastle are working behind the scenes to try and bring players in that we as fans are not aware of as yet? They might be playing a waiting game and assessing their options of the targets they can actually buy and make a decision whether it is worth pursuing a particular player. Compared to other windows this one has seemed quiet among all clubs in the Premier League, not many signings have been made. Are clubs choosing to stick with the tools that they’ve got?
The start of the season is nearly upon us and hopefully before the end of August we will have made more additions to our squad.
What do you think? Should we have made more signings by now?
« Don’t call time on Debuchy…… yet! | One season wonders or a genuine force? »
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Good article Zoe. I’m sure the club would have liked to have got the Debuchy and De Jong deals done but I’ve no doubt there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes.
Looking on the positive side as things ramp up there may be players become available that we weren’t expecting so it can have a benefit. I’d have preferred to get them in earlier but there’s 4 weeks of the window left – we’ve brought in 3 youngsters – one of which (Bigi) looks ready for the first team squad and no-one of great note has gone yet. I’m still optimistic we will get 2 or 3 in
I know De Jong has gone elsewhere and I’m not very optimistic about getting Debuchy now but I think there will be other targets like Anita and maybe Douglas. We need another striker as well but not sure who that might be – can’t see it being Carroll
Zoe good read and the simple answer is Yes, with less than 2 weeks till the season kicks of we are weaker than what we were, with potentially a lot more games to play.
Yeah you’ll get some saying but at least we kept our big hitters, yeah we did and thats good news, but we still need more.
Zoe ,good read and question. I agree with Dave BUT we have not kept all our top players until the window shuts, still 26 days left to lose someone and I still ain’t comfy that we won’t. Right now there seems as much chance of someone leaving than someone signing .
The answer to the title is clearly “Yes”…
No matter what excuses are made, the club have fallen way short and are starting to put themselves under pressure.
The problem is that in their minds, they will feel they are putting the selling clubs under pressure.
Lille do not need to sell Debuchy, and Twente have no need to sell Douglas and Liverpool do not need to sell Carroll. (these are our supposed target).
I can see both sides playing hardball and us going into the new season without any signings.
It seems Ashley isn’t happy to make a signing unless it means future profit from sales and unfortunately you only get players for less than market value when clubs are desperate to sell.
We all know Ashley isn’t going to budge, but if the selling chairman refuses to budge then we have a stalemate.
Transfers are not easy these days as we keep hearing. Arranging a fee, payment structure, add-ons, agent fees, clauses etc.. So the longer we leave it, the less time we have to sort these issues out… Especially if we are targeting a brand new player and have to start from scratch in all these negotiations.
Like all the summer deadlines before, we may get word of us trying to do a deal but they simply won’t happen. And fans will be sitting watching SkyNews until the window “Slams Shut” and we are left disappointed again.
Quite simply, I feel we need players in within the next two weeks or we won’t get any. Lambias needs to sort out our current targets or move onto plan “B” very quickly.
Sadly we are a victim of our own success.
The clubs now are knowing exactly how astute our transfer dealings are and are digging their heels in over transfer fees.
They also probably know that we are no0w almost financially sound, indeed, better off than the majority of clubs in the EPL and they are thinking, ‘well they can afford it’.
I am comfortable with playing this cat and mouse game, i think we dont need a major overhaul, maybe just a couple of more back up players, but like pards, i wouldnt be disappointed going into the season with the squad we have now!
i think newcastle united should go after le shaarawy and ogbonna to help the squad out le shaarawy is going to be a very good player so if hes at newcastle all the toon fans will love him
This is my opinion,
I feel Ashley felt we’d get offers for Simpson, and that would fund Debuchy. We havn’t and so we try to get Debuchy on the cheap, but it hasn’t worked, so we are settling on keeping Simmo and hoping Tav steps up.
Then.. our interest in De Jong/Carroll was only there IF Ba left. Ba has stayed and so we have no interest in bringing a striker in now unless he is an absolute bargain.
I think they view Good as being decent enough to cover for Colo, Willo, Taylor and Perch if needed. And they won’t buy a quality centre back without one of those leaving.
So as things stand, Ashley and Lambias are happy with what we have, since we havn’t lost anyone of significance.
We won’t buy anyone of significance unless we sell first…
Sounds negative and hopefully I am wrong. We’ll see.
I also thinks Pardew is fully under the impression that Lambias is trying to get players in, but knows he will only go in with half arsed bids and therefore has to cover himself by saying “Its not in my hands”, while at the same time keeping up morale by saying “I’m happy with what I have”.
Meanwhile inside, he will be seething with Lambias’ piss poor efforts.
We’ve fallen prey to our own success. We’ve bought cheap and massively increased values for the players we’ve gotten. Also, with those players we’ve gotten into Europe and increased our revenues and the worth of the club. This means that people are wary to sell to us. As we’ll get the financial benefits, not to mention they probably know that if we come-a-knocking they suddenly realize they have something worth selling…………..at a higher prices. So, its not going o be easy, we can see that now. I am sure we will bring in a player or 2 in a few weeks. Before 8/31 we’ll have the players to cope, and we probably have a squad that can cope til the next window if we need it, but it would be much better if we could get a new central defender at the very least. An extra striker would be nice too, but it cant be Kanoute because he’s sengalese….and come the African cup of nations we’ll lose all of them boys. Need to find another one. Plenty around. Im sure we will get 1, maybe 2 in the next weeks.
Its the the same old story at this time of year as far as Ashley is concerned.Lots of new signings to sell season tickets.If he was going to sign anyone,he would have done it long before now.
Man city – no big signings
Man u – no big signings
Tottenham – no big signings
I don’t see why people are panicking, for me it’s a no. The debuchy deal we cannot help, Lille have moved the goal posts far too often, and de Jong I would have loved but things happen. There’s still a long way to go in this window, we’ve shown we have the cash to bid, I say we’re progressing well and keep the faith, in Pardew and Carr we trust!
In an ideal world of course we should have had more quality signings in by now, but clubs are playing hardball and I will make no grumblings as long as we get them in before the window closes.
Unless you are prepared to pay over the odds for players to secure their services then you have to play the waiting game, usually until the final day.
I will gan off it like if we don’t strengthen. It’s an absolute must with the longer season ahead!
We after a right back to replace someone who hasnt left yet and a back up centre half and striker.
I would have loved to see another centre half in, The right back situation sorted and maybe another striker in, But im not panicking when we have nigh on a month left to do business and have kept the side from last season together…
Did Simpson sign his contract?
Judge Dekka and Co at the end of the transfer window. No one knows our exact stratagies when it comes to player procurement. But as per usual it is our fault when ever a deal hits a hurdle because there is no way another club has owners that are bigger arseholes than ours.. There seems to be plenty of time to lose players and no time to recruit. Our team is set for the first game of the season I reckon and even if we got someone today, I don’t think they would start against spurs.. We do need more players but there is no need to panic too much…
My goodness grief. I agree with Aussie
I think I’ve made my thoughts quite passionately in the last few weeks. The answer is simply YES.
I accept that the 3 players we have brought in look very promising and at an outlay of only £1.4m for all 3 is superb. But as Dave states, we are shorter in numbers now than we were this time last year.
The fact is that every team around us has strengthen, and so far, we are in profit of £3.6m and squabbling with clubs over a £1-2m difference in valuation. I understand we want to be astute and get the best value, but there is a risk we are ‘cutting our nose off’. I don’t want the Lpool way of paying double what the player is worth, but having spent time scouting transfer targets and having done the hard work if you like, we have to ensure that we then get the player in. I know the negotiating can be difficult, but if we are not prepared meet asking prices then we aren’t even going to get to the negotiation with the players. The fact is that we haven’t got close to signing a first team player yet and still aren’t.
I don’t agree or accept that it is an achievement to hold on to our top players. I think it’s ridiculous that that is even being said. The likes of Everton, who have fair less funds available to them, don’t make a big deal about keep their players.
I’m massively disappointed about how things have gone so far, and I know there is still 4 weeks to go but my fear is that we will stick to our guns and continue offering afew mill less than the players valuation.
Morning Troyster, thinking clearly today I see.
@sharpey
If we don’t get the quality players in by the end of the window then your points are valid. Until then we have to give them the benefit of doubt as we aren’t aware of what’s going on behind the scenes.
Who knows, we might end up with Debuchy at a lower price. It’s cat and mouse at the moment.
Be patient.
Good article and I agree with a lot of the comments. As has already been said, we have been victims of our own success to an extent. But I also think the euros are having a knock-on effect.
It’s hard to scout underrated French talent when their national team has been in the spotlight. We probably would have gotten Debuchy through the door for the same price as Cabaye if his profile hadn’t gone up during the euros.
I think this summer will be pretty static, maybe we’ll sign one or two more unknowns but tbh I’d be happy so long as we don’t lose any of our key players just yet. And I’m excited to see what the likes of Marveaux, Abeid, and Amalfitano (his goal against Gateshead was brill) can do. In Carr we trust!
@ Mick: I am not panicking, but Tottenham have signed Verthongen and Sigurdsson, meaning your assessment is a bit off. I think these two players (Sigurdsson has already proven himself) will be massive signings for Tottenham, and I would have loved getting both of them up here instead …
@aussie
Docs appointment at 11am. Summit not reet. My mind is all fuzzy and I’m walking into walls!
Is this how you feel daily? Frightening.
Only until I get a beer in my hand mate… could that be considered worry some?
Obvious answer is YES. However agree with aussie, our team is set for the first game of the season anyway.
Of the potential signings, only Debuchy would make our first team. Douglas and Carroll and whoever else would be back up. So no need for panic stations just yet.
Sharpy, it is a MASSIVE achievement to keep all of our players, and if you asked any Everton fan I’m sure they would be adamant that it is a worry for them year on year.
We have to accept that we are more Villa/Everton level at the minute, than Spurs etc.
Even Spurs after their successful years are having to fight to keep their players.
Manchester United have signed Shinji Kagawa, who is a very decent signing.
As Funkness mentioned, Spuds have signed Adeboyor, Verthongen and Sigurdsson, three very decent signings.
And both already had better squads than us to begin with…
Man City really didn’t need to sign anybody. Their squad is ridiculous.
Chelsea have signed big.
Arsenal have also signed some big names and they too had a better squad than us already.
We are fighting for top six along with Liverpool, Everton and the Scum. I think our squad is good enough for top eight. But if we want to push for a top five place again, or cement a ourselves as a top six team, we need to bring in at least two quality players.
JJ a lot of good points you’ve made
I think the fact were in Europe is a plus for keeping our top players, but fail to get back into Europe imo will make it a lot harder to keep our top players.
Troy – Zoe’s question is ‘should we have signed players by now?’ and I believe we should have by now – not by the end of the transfer window.
We have know which positions need strengthening for some time now and Pardew will have submit his wish list along time ago.
Arsenal had the Podolski deal sorted and announced the window even opened and have made further signings since. Spurs sorted the Vertonghen deal without a manager in the club!.
I don’t understand why we are happy to allow the board til the end of the window?!
By not getting deals done the board are failing – who Pardew get the same grace if we were bottom 3 in December? – who people say ‘judge him at the end of the season’ – I very much doubt it.
We may have 11 players ready to take on Spurs, but it’s my opinion that we have had ample time to get at least 1 or 2 of the 3 players we want in. I would have liked to have seen the FB or CB or both in by now. The fact we have none means to me that the board are failing and questions should be being asked of them – not, never mind, they’ll get there in the end.
@JJ Spurs haven’t signed Adebayor yet.
So they are going into the season dangerously short of players up front.
At least we have the same XI that got us 5th intact. Still not sure why the big clamourings for a full back. We have average cover there. We need a back up striker/centre back/goalie far more urgently than we need a full back.
Solano, I think our biggest priority by far is a centre back.
I think in an ideal world yes we should have done but when you play the long game you play the long game.
I am a little concerned though that we have lost 5 first team squad members and only brought in a couple of youngsters.
I would already back Bigi over Smith, and would much prefer Sameobi getting Loven’s game time.
Guthrie is a loss but think Abeid will be looking to step up this year.
Only real loss is Best.
ST – of course I’d be pleased not to loose any of our star players. The point I’m making is that the success or failure of our transfer windows should not be based on the players we don’t loose but the players we bring in!
I have every expectation that the Everton fans will be bricking it most transfer window – but they do not have a billionaire owner!
We were writing last week about where would be an acceptable position to finish in the league and it was suggested that the players would not stick round if we were not achieving top 6. I’d be interested to know the players make of the lack of signings.
It would have been nice if we’d signed a few ‘names’ by now, but I’m not going to panic or judge until the window ends (or the mirror ends
– and if it is a mirror I hope it doesn’t slam shut cos it might brake and we’d be in for 7 years bad luck)
Sharpy @ 28. Looks like you’ve hijacked the ‘reality train’ and hoyed Troy off it.
Bris – nee chance of that mate
I have no intention of arguing or fall out with anyone on the site. It’s the board I’m frustrated with. I just wish they would get the job done and get a couple of these players in.
Yeah we all want that. But we also don’t want to go back to letting our frustrations about Ashley and co to get in the way of debate.
Vegas, letting frustrations about Ashley fog a debate is a every day happening aoung here
Oz, and maybe it’s totally justified as well. Been that way for as long as I remember at Newcastle.
D’oh! It was Westwood in my younger days. Stood outside the ground and protested once. Bloody pirate that guy.
Agree Vegas, but everyone knows the score and the story gets feckin tired after a while..
I think its more important to get players in rather than when. The club is nor going to panic buy to pander to the fans. And from where I sit I see a lot of people on here would like us to buy for the sake of it because club A has bought X Y and Z. Well fuck club A and the horse they rode in on. Winners concentrate on themselves not what others do around them. We are on the right track and will only sign the players who are good enough and fit into our budget. And its the right way of.going about it. We have a good team here and a good management system in place.
Not sure how people can say we have lost numbers. We lost 3 squad players and brought in 3 squad players and looks like the likes of Tav and Sammi going to play a bigger part of our squad.next season so you could argue we have increased squad numbers
Not sure why people think Loven and Smith even need replacing. Rather have Abeid or Bigi than Smith. Gosling and Amlfitano will handle Guthrie’s role quite well I think.
Sure does. In 40 years time a new group of fans will be complaining about the board and the young guys on here will be saying … ‘i remember when we had Ashley …’
We’ll be turning over in our graves.
Let’s just get a decent centre back in, all other positions can be covered for…
Geordie
Are yu little dave in disguise?
Your post is almost aidentical…..copycat
So is this Curtis Good the only central defender we are going to sign this summer? Is he meant for the development squad, to go straight into the first team, a long term replacement for Collo? What is happening at RB and LB? Are we getting another striker? These are all things I would like to know but there is a lot of waiting at this time of year to find out. Not too long to go now though.
Debuchy, Pieters and Anita, of those we’ve been linked to by the media, would brighten me. Not that I’ve seen any of them play but they’re all internationals so they can’t be too bad … and Carroll.
Then I think we’d be ready for the season ahead. Little chance of getting all of them, though. Just getting into the spirit of transfer mania. Might go off to Ed’s.
I think it is essential that we get to a point where we (the fans) can’t agree on a ‘best’ team.
We’re probaly there in attack – evidenced by the debates about 442/433 silliness – but we are pretty sure of our best defence.
Talking too much. Must put the top back on the whisky bottle.
Darn. forgot the emoticons. Spray these at will around previous posts
Might change my name to Rodvegaz
You’ll have to work on your expletives to become Rodvegas mate
Kiss my aura, Dora.
Speak of the devil………..
…whatever floats yer boat Brisvegas.
As for the topic, yeah I’m a bit pissed off we ain’t brought in a recognised defender yet, but we’ve a while to go yet. Our squad as it stands is more than capable to start the season off, and we do have cover for the time being. Quibbling over a million quid for a No.1 target is mildly irksome, but like some say, we don’t know what deals the board are currently negotiating.
(those 4 were especially for you Brisvegas)
Bris, do you want some mora?
…right here on the floora?
I can’t see that flora comment spreading, Rodz
Zappa, baby, Zappa. One terrific musician that guy.
He’s got a spot that makes me hot
…and you ain’t bin to it.
(NO-NO-NO-NOOOO!!)
…I’m a huge Zappa fan Bris. Got about 40 of his albums on vinyl. Never managed to see him perform though unfortunately. Total legend. Him and the Captain, RIP.
Maybe Pards is planning on doing an Arsenal, you know, get absolutey caned and then force Ash to sign some players?
Saw him Sydney about 1975. He played with rainbows exploding all over the place and giant mushrooms popping up everywhere, and all the people had multi-coloured … oh wait, that was before I went into the concert hall
Sharpy@28 Agree with that and Newkie @44 Agree with that.
Wish people would stop making a big deal of us ‘keeping our top players’ ,I should bloody think so. We are Newcastle and we can offer European footie ,great fans and a packed out fab stadium to perform in ,why the feck would any right minded player leave that .
Also there our 26 days left of the window so could still lose a ‘Top player’ yet if Ash gets offered a big enough wad , still lots of twist and turns to come yet
I see Sammy’s out of tomorrows game v Hartlepool, shame the lad needs more games to show that he deserves a place fighting for a 1st team spot.
Bris
Lucky man. 1975, my favourite Zappa era! You will have seen George Duke and possibly Jean-Luc Ponty then. I’ll quit the Zappa talk now as to not piss any of the footie posters off. I’m not drunk so I currently give a shit.
…Newkie, I reckon the way Fatty currently sees it is we’ve got Tavernier back who’s now got some valuable experience under his belt. Abeid and Gosling are looking better (particularly Abeid). We’ve also got Saylor and Marveaux back too, not to mention Vuckic. So my guess is our immediate strengthening isn’t vital. It is annoying though that we’ve needed a centre back for donkey’s now and still ain’t got one.
I’m patient though, for now……
I never really cracked open the Zappa file. There’s so much music that it’s a bit overwhelming for newbies. Any recommendations, oh ye of Zappa knowledge?
FSOTC, if you were thinking of venturing into that world I’d suggest avoiding the earlier ‘Mothers of Invention’ stuff. As an introduction I’d try Apostrophe, Overnite Sensation, Roxy and Elsewhere, Sheik Yerbouti, one Size Fits All, and Hot Rats. That should give you an decent indication.
Thanks, Rodz.
By the way, why anti-Mothers?
FSOTC, I’m not ‘anti-Mothers’ but some of it is a bit zany mate, and might put off the first-time listener.
….it’s quite theatrical. Although his first album, Freak Out is relatively tame and definitely worth a sniff.
(sorry for Zappatising your thread Zoe, Brisvegas started it)
…or should I say, Zappotaging.
Rodz-Aye, in terms of strikers we’re not too thin, if Cisse or Ba get injured i’d be happy with the other one spearheading a 4-3-3 with Benny and Marv providing the service which should also allow Sammy and Vuckic some game time up front every now and then. Centre back though…as good as Tavernier looks at both RB and CB, I worry he doesn’t have the frame for it. Especially if he’s forced to play alongside Perch or something…
Probably a victim of Perch playing so well last season as well, Ashley thinks he’s a centre back.
Bris/Aussie – sorry for the delay, but I’m not letting by frustration with Ashley and Co. cloud any debate … in fact, I’ve never mentioned Ashley
Zoe has gone to the trouble of posting an article which I have answered, but evidently the view I and others share about the lack of signings so far has become tiresome and boring
I’m still unsure about what’s going on regarding RB and LB. We seem to have plenty of players who can play in each of those positions, but that’s assuming they’re not already playing elsewhere on the pitch. I.E. Santon, Jonas, Perch, Raylor. I think we’ll see a lot more of Jonas in a full back role this coming season.
Sharpy, my comment was not aimed toward you mate
just stating that Ashley bashing always gets a good run on here.. I’m over the whole transfer thing.. If we get some one in then great, but if we don’t I’ll still be supporting regardless and hope the young guys do us proud..
Aye, he’s good at what he does, breaking up play and simple passing, he’s good cover for both centre back and defensive mid. I still don’t think he’s got the positioning for a full back, and whilst some people seem obsessed with the fact that simmo doesn’t get “stuck in” and Perch does, I don’t think Perch can cope with people skinning him which obviously happens a lot more on the wing, and therefore he’s not a full back really..
Problem is then if we get a back line of say, Simmo, Willo/Perch/Raylor no one of the feckers can pass, none of them can really bring the ball out and none of them are too comfortable under pressure. That’ll just result in constant hoof balls and the entire team relying on Tiote and Jonas to stop the ball getting back to us…
Jonas at full back will be interesting, but we’ll have to tell him to cut the diving around if he’s defending for us
I stopped calling Ashley ‘Fat Bastard’ a while ago now Aussie. He just gets a semi-affectionate yet still derogatory ‘Fatty’ these days.
I think a few our our young players will do us proud this season too. Abeid has impressed me pre-season, and Amalfitano looks good too.
Fark knows about Ferguson.
I work with a Lpool fan who lives in Hartlepool about 10mins from the ground and goes to their games with his dad and brother. Asked him if he fancied going to the game tomorrow and he was going along to get us tickets today. I obviously meant with the toon fans and he’s got the tickets at the pool end … The fecking family enclosure?!
Still, I’ll get to see the boys. Hoping Amal, Bigi and Good get a run out, actually hope Marv and Abeid do too coz haven’t really seen a great deal of those 2 yet
…shame there’s not enough time to get one of these delivered!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220867689219?hlp=false&var=520050620557
Sharpy
You’ll have to behave yourself there lad
Rod – I reckon it would be my neck in that noose wearing that t-shirt like
Newkie – tell me about it mate, I have a reet potty mouth at the matches normally so I’ll have to try and kerb it abit… let’s hope Oba plays well if he’s on coz he can be frustrating enough to turn the air blue
I got a free admission for a game at Hillsborough once (the season we howked them 8 nowt at SJP), a mate of mine who worked there ‘smuggled’ me in. I was on my own and got put in the family enclosure bit. I could still join in with all the Toon chanting though cos the away fans were directly above me, but I had to eff and blind a tad less than I’d have liked. Good day though, we won 2 nil, I got 5 free pints at the bar and found a fiver on the way home.
Rodz
Sounded like a good day out
Hard to be patient at this point. I still think we are trying to lowball teams and that is no longer going to work. I think we will still sign 1 or 2 players but that is all. Most likely Debuchy will finally come to us because he is extremely unsettled now and we definitely need a RB with Simpson having not signed a contract and not convincing going forward or on defense. As Troy and Aussie say wait til the end of the window to let the owner know how we feel.
Indeed it was Andy@81. I’d like to see Sheffield Wednesday back in the Premier League again. They’re back on the rise after a pretty torrid 10 years or so. Proper club, good fans and stadium.
The worrying thing is the lack of progress. I still think its too early to criticise but they are leaving it late particularly with our main targets looking dead and buried in the water.
I can’t wait to get back to the Ashley bashing mode again tho.
Problem of the damp wall in my downstairs loo has just become clear whilst scrapeing the old paint off the wall the hiss I but no one else has heard for weeks suddenly got louder !. Next bit of paint to come off revealed a small 10p sized hole in plaster with water coming out
So I start knocking off plaster having turned off stop cock to find an old lead pipe that’s been crimmped flat now leaking 
Here now with no water and waiting for big bro to call and attempt to patch up for me . Moral of this tale is never try to patch up a leak long term .With this in mind ,please Mr Ashley get us our CB to prevent any leaks in future, 
At least we have £40m in the bank with all our revenue streams.
Wheres that big fruit dave
2-1 for Japan in the women’s semi…
missed penalty, goal mouth scramble… good game.
We really need a quality center back. Without that, we’ll be screwed
Troy @ 86 it won’t do us that much good lying in the bank if we have to rely on Shola to score goals If ? when the Demba’s are away, and it won’t make it any easier if Collo or Saylor pick up an injury
Dave-Hopefully the Ivory Coast will knock out Senegal in the qualifying match and we won’t miss the Demba’s for the ACON.
@BD
I forgot to put a smiley face at the end of my post, indicating it was a piss take.
Seriously tho, I would imagine £40m won’t be far from the truth with the new tv deal.
I agree, it’s nee good in the bank.
Ashley might not think so like.
Troy I knew it was
Newkie yeah hopefully but really we shouldn’t be relying on them getting knocked out because up to now we have no one to take their place
The same as Colo getting back in the Argy team which im pleased for him but it’s only 3 days before we start the prem and if he picked up an injury we could be fuked unless we do get someone else in
Newkie
Yeah the best we can hope for is Ivory coast beating Senegal then the Ivory coast being knocked out of the group stages, the latter being highly unlikely.
Well Spain won the Euros without any strikers…
In all seriousness, if we lost them both then we would struggle but on the positive side it would force Vuckic, Sammeobi and Obertan to all sake a claim for a forward role…Shola well, we can rely on him for 30min each match as a sub
Defence is the big issue, Colo deserves his call up so we can’t argue with that….if he does get injured, maybe the board will sign someone.
stake*
Newkie
If colo wasn’t called up there would be questions asked, he was in the PL team of the year and Argentina’s defence is a bit poor. If he gets injured though then I’ll be raging.
Newkie I always had high hopes for Vuckic but he just doesn’t look like he’s kicking on to the level I thought he would get to, As for Sammi he has flash’s of real raw skill but always reverts back to making stupid decisions, a bit like Kaz Lua Lua.
though just don’t think after getting shot of Best and Lovens we should have to try to force 2 MF’s in Vuckic or Obertan to play as strikers, but hopefully we’ll get a proper striker in
Andy-Aye, but then they did have Maradonna as their manager, so nothing would surprise me. They’re the NUFC of the international footballing world
Dave-I know exactly what you mean about Vuckic, but perhaps if some matches are forced on him in succession then he’ll show what he’s about, he was very hit and miss last season with some very nice pieces of skill and a good loan at cardiff mixed with several troublesome injuries. I would much rather have him about than Loven nowadays anyway..
As fir Sammy, he’s still very young and the only way he’ll learn to stop making those mistakes is real match experience. The annoying thing about oru situation is that we have enough players to keep the youngsters from getting experience but not enough to risk them out on loan
As for Obertan, I think he sees himself as a forward, or at least a very forward winger in a 4-3-3 so I don’t think it would be too much of an ask.
Newks@97……”well Spain won the Euros without any strikers”
hahaha, excellent and appropriate observation
…we have got about 267,000 midfielders at the moment, and I must admit for the first time in a long while we actually have a lot of attacking options from midfield up.
Re: my own comment @80, just done a quick Google to read up on that match against Wednesday I went to, the season we beat them 8 nowt, and stumbled across a pretty good stat. site if anyone who never knew about it fancies bookmarking it:
http://www.11v11.com
…just been checking the line-up for that match cos my long-term match-memory is shot to shit:
http://www.11v11.com/matches/sheffield-wednesday-v-newcastle-united-26-february-2000-260/
We had Temuri Ketsbaia, Duncan Ferguson and Alan Shearer as our forwards that day. Hahaha, enough to strike fear into any defence!
Ketsbaia, ahhhhhh, always had a soft spot for the baaaaldy coot.
…Gilles De Bilde in their squad. I can remember us being linked with him for quite a while. Affectionately known to Wednesdayites as Bob.
Gilles De Bilde
Can he fix it?
Gilles De Bilde
Can he fuck!
…oh how the calibre of Premier League centre forwards has progressed over the years.
To answer the question all our transfer dealings should be sorted by the 1st July so everybody is available for preseason. Never gonna happen. So far squad players out, squad players in. No movement in the Starting 11. Overall no probs. Pieters still waiting for medical to clear. Douglas waiting for Dutch citizenship to be completed. Debuchy who knows. Anita who knows. Carroll who knows. Stay tuned to this channel for next week’s thrilling installment of “I always dreamed of playing for Newcastle as a kid.”
…Batty, have you sold my bike yet?
not yet Rod been offerd 10 bob but you sed you wanted a quid
Well Batts whats happening you silver fox
I can’t believe you stole Rodz mountain bike , so now he has to use a goat 
Ice where are you and Richie hiding
Prem, there’s an article waiting to be written there mate.
…trouble is, by the time they get to play for us they’re no longer kids, and money is the biggest heed-turner these days for the most talented; just ask world-renowned uber-footballer Charles N’Zogbia.
Dave
…the goat is doing just fine mate anyway. I’ve decapitated it and replaced it’s heed with a bull’s though. Goat horns were a bit too narrow for me, not being a road bike man, always preferred cow-horns for that extra width.
…plus, I couldn’t fit my spare gear shifters onto the goat horns.
Downside is the goat won’t move any more. I must’ve put a washer the wrang way roond or sumik when I was replacing heeds.
dave @ 107 rod is more into sheep
Rodz
Ketsbaia was one of my favourite players ever, loved him as a kid! Georgian Geordie, absolute nutter 
Newkie
I’ve always felt England were the NUFC of the international world as they haven’t win anything for decades despite coming close on a few occasions and the unrealistic aims of the past are being thrown away by its fans.
Ketsbaia was a Geordie legend, we all remember when he hoyed his kit off after scoring a goal and kicked seven colours out of the advertising hoardings at the Gallowgate End !
He was a canny player an aaal…
Bats, aye, horses for courses as they say.
Goats for riding, sheep for, err…..ahem.
Newks and MM, hahaha, aye he’ll always be remembered for the (in)famous advertising hoarding radgie attack
I was as frustrated as he was at the time though for not getting enough game time. Wore his heart on his sleeve that kid. Exactly the type of player we need at NUFC, and going on our recruitment over the last few years we seem to be screening them pretty well.
This is a dawning, of a new era.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXZfi4bVjD8
(unfortunately the track I wanted is just the intro to the programme, I’ll be bookmarking that for later anyway, with my trilby and wraparooond ska shades on)
Batts aye he was but he likes the chase and the goats go faster
Rodz I think your going the wrong way Lad if you watch the fastest ones in the olympics they all have narrow bars them wide ones are old school
Andy ” the unrealistic aims of the past are being thrown away by its fans.” ??
Dave, fuck the limpics mate, and ahl that ‘strategic’ slow start velodrome shite is bollocks and for lycra cycle ponces.
If ye want te race someone, race the fuckers. Bollocks to all this slipstream shite and waiting for someone to make the first move.
…GAY!
…Riders Ready Pedals Ready GO! …is my philosophy, as I’m sure Witters would agree if he’s aboot.
…ahl getting quite metaphorical noo like.
Fatty with his ‘track cycling’ philosophy, is currently competing with the impatient BMX racers and Doonhill Moontin Bike big boys.
We’re all on the same tricky track, and Fatty is taking a gamble with his semi-slicks.
MM@113 I was gonna post that as that was a classic ,funny moment .That bloke loved the Toon , was a complete nut job though bless him.
Rod bmx is in the games
…I prefer wide handlebars anyway Dave, they give me more control in adversely unpredictable situations. So in a cow v goat battle, I’m always on the cow
(if that makes sense)
Bats, aye a know mate, boot fucking time!
…30 years later 
…think it’s Thursday this week, when the moontin biking starts as well, will have to check though…
re:119 for any pedantic fuckers, yeah I know bulls have horns, not cows. figure of speech.
Ketsbaia was kicking those boardings as if they were Dalglish himself. Who can’t love him for that?
Andy-No chance, almost all England players are has beens or mercenaries. NUFC used to have a fair few of those, but no longer!
Alright lads,
Glad to have created some good discussion between you guys about this. Just struck me last night how I expected us to sign more players by now. Thought would be an interesting one to write about
Newkie
Alright Newcastle of 3-5 years ago is like England. We’re now like Italy, with lots of up and coming great players mixed with experience and have got a very intelligent midfield with a powerful strike force.
Andy-As long as we don’t lose in a final like Italy, sounds good to me….
Eyup Zoe
. Indeed, twas a wisely-chosen topic.
…nice to see you back in the frame
…much better than the usual awld shite per…. ‘NUFC looking at….”…”NUFC target says……”…..Newcastle United linked with….”……….”Hi, I’m Ed……”…
…..kind of bollocks.
Should we have made more signings by now though?
…does Ameobi shit in the woods
I’ve been busy Rod. This summer has been mental with preparing to go to university.
It just popped into my head and I had to write about it. I think the problem is that there hasn’t been that much to write about this summer. I know I’ve found it hard to write articles on different topics recently but this one came to me.
In answer to the question, yes I think we should have five or six players by now. The majority of them being players who are to improve the squad to the next level so that we have a competitive squad for Europe etc. One or two should be for the future.
Hopefully the club make a few more signings in the next few weeks, with a tough season ahead I think it is vital that we add more to our squad. That way we can replecate or perhaps better the position we finished last season.
…indeed Zoe, sorry yeah, I added the rogue question mark above before I refreshed the page, so discount my previous comment.
As for there not being much to write about, that’s your artistic license mate. The whole point of being artistic is to make boring shit appear interesting. Good Luck with it all anyway Zoe
…it’s a jungle oot there!
Hey Rodz. Still here? It’s tomorrow morning, mate. New day starting up an’ all. Sunny. Blue skies. Still a bit cool. though. Lovely day for taking the dog for a walk in the park and contemplate transfer strategies. Think I’ll do that this very minute.
Hmm, and I think I’ll contemplate the convergence of Sharpy with Bobby Shinton.
Thanks a lot Rod, I’ll still be writing on here whilst I’m at uni. So will be able to keep people up to date with how I am doing.
That’s hyper-cool, Zoe (I think that’s what the kids say today innit).
Indeed, grab the goat by the handlebars, or whatever the fuck the saying is.
…well good morning young Bristol-fashion Burgers, (carpet rolled out…….
cant wait for season to start!!!!!
me either!!!!
Bobby Sinton number 9 RIP.
Never take the mick out the dead.
You know who you are !
Sinton ? ! Shinton
Love you Bobby.
Bobby was a dick that had a big mouth! Its not very often you could say that some one deserved to be killed in a Mafia style hit!
Troy, I can remember yee walking for Ringtons Tea in thi sivintees, driving rund in the shitmobile. A niva forgeit a face like. Yee used te dee the runds rund mi estate in the mid sivinties. Drissed leyk a horse in a badly-fitted jellyfish costume, with flared troosaz anarl.
@Aussie
My memories of Bobby were great. A gentleman who never swore but spoke his mind with valour and honesty.
He was on the verge of a knighthood until Toonsy banned him for the 9th time!
If it had been the Olympic year, Wor Bobby would have been competing with Micky Phelps for the most honours!
@Rodzsta
I once boxed wearing stiletto heals cos Wor lass put her shoes in me kit bag instead of me boxing boots.
She was in the crood cheering is on until a warked in the ring.
The crood wu lovin the craic like!
woo hoooo
…And in your dreams…
You can see yourself…
…as a prophet
I just can’t believe, you are such a fool…
…….pick a proppa floor nixt time
(…kind of Noel Edmonds type of advice, as opposed to Grant Mitchell, or sumik, innit)
@Rodzsta
Ewe torkin Timmy ? (you talking to me )
When he boxed, he was affectionately known as Troy “canvas back” Stavers
…you’re up early Oswaldo, some hoosiz te brek inti like?
Aussie my old fruit bat. Howya doing?
Bobby was a character wasn’t he?
Love you Bobby ( he hated being called Bob)
Loved the Toon. Spoke the truth. Loved his baccy.
na Rodz, my nocturnal cider swilla, I’m not up early, your up late
Troyster,
I hated Bob, he really was obnoxious, i think the large turn out to his funeral was because everyone was keen to make sure he was actually dead!!
I’d say five to one was OK. My mate here (just below) I’m, sure will verify:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DfG1SNydnc
I came home from work yesterday to find my wife had left a note on the fridge. It read ‘this is not working, I have gone to stay at mums’. I opened the fridge and the light came on and the beer was cold, so fuck knows what she was on about
My wife has no nose.
Really? How does she smile?
…sorry!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHNa1k0DMj4
The Europa draw happens on Friday. What’s the chances of us getting Twente?
Vegas, the odds are Twente/1
sorry about that one
Bris
Why do you ask? Is Lille in the CL or Europa this year cus I think it would funny if we played them.
Yeah, Lille would be interesting. But I think they’re in the Champs League, a qualifying round maybe. If they lose, though, do they drop into the Europa? I’m not clear on what happens there.
Btw, Oz, I
ed at your pun.
I have a new swear word/words , ‘lead pipes’ . Am having a nightmare with a buried lead pipe in dividing wall that has sprung a leak
Bloody chaos here last night ,tried to blank it off in room above only to find water was coming from opposite direction so now have two leaks to fix 
.Bloody old victorian house, bloody lead pipes and bloody DIY stores who only sell 7lb lead weights when I need 5lb ones ,idiots . Can only hope Toons defence is less leaky this season and NO patching up allowed.
@begas
Btw, Oz, I
ed at your pun.
(cringing)
Begas
Did it give you a fuzzy feeling inside.
Troy is just jealous that no one laughs at his recycled jokes
come on tell us the Kung Fu/ grasshopper one again 
woo hoo
Kim you need to get your pipe reamed and plugged
Just seen the olympic’s tally there 18 golds and 3rd place for GB but I don’t know where the Auzzies were as the list only went down to 10th place
Take it easy there BD, we are leaving our run late
Dave ,Reckon I need a week in the seyschells or something ,my piggin stress levels lately are through the roof .
Anyway have we signed anyone yet
@BD
The Aussies are hiding their dismay very well.
We all know they are gutted.
I love that grasshopper joke. It sneaks up on Faussie like Basil Faulty does on Manwell.
He never sees it coming unlike Begas. He always sees Begas coming.
Manwell – I see you are using the traditional spanish spelling there Troy..
The 13 years you spent in primary school were lost on you weren’t they mate
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