We’ve played 22 matches, won 11, drawn three and lost eight. I think we would have grabbed somebodies hand off if offered that at the beginning of the season when doom and gloom reigned supreme.
The table looks interesting too. At the top three teams (49, 50 and 51 points) are pretty much fighting for the title and hogging the Champions League places. Then three teams sitting six points behind – these three chasing the last Champions League spot and the solitary Europa League place. Then another gap down to Manchester United on 37 points, ourselves on 36 points and Southampton on 31. The bottom looks amazing with 11 teams spread between 18 and 24 points. So glad we are out of that.
So what could we hope to achieve this season? I think we are safe from relegation and another couple of wins would guarantee it. Looking up we are not going to catch the three at the top and we’re currently seven points off 4th place. If there was only one club to overhaul that would be doable. But there are four which make it harder, and less likely.
Where would we need to strengthen to make that charge? Looking at the table. We’ve scored 32 goal which lags behind the 53 scored by Liverpool, but only 36, 35 and 29 scored by Manchester United, Everton and Tottenham respectively. So a few more goals would not go amiss, but we are not lagging behind the others there. Similarly goals against. We have conceded 28 which is the same as Liverpool. The others have let in 27, 26 and 20. I think that the Williamson/Mbiwa partnership has looked good, but the absence of Mathieu Debuchy has disrupted that and switching M’biwa to full-back has weakened the defence. We need dedicated back up at right-back.
The way I see it we have three choices. See out the season, push for glory or prepare for next season. Seeing out the season is the easy option. Sell no-one, buy no-one and wait for the summer. Consolidate our top-eight position and see what happens.
Pushing for glory will appeal to some. Fourth place and Champions League football would be fantastic. Looking at PaddyPower, Liverpool are 10/11 to take the 4th spot. Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are 2/1 while Everton are 7/2 with ourselves pegged at 50/1. To finish in the top six we are still 12/1. So according to the bookies we would have to do something drastic to get some glory. It may be as simple as starting Sylvain Marveaux and Hatem Ben Arfa which would make some people happy. However, I suspect it would take more than that. We would need to strengthen at both ends of the field and hope that any new additions bed in immediately.
Which leads me to option three – prepare for next season. This season has already identified our strengths and weaknesses. So we could look at who we want to start next season. We definitely need a stronger bench, and we need to give our new players the rest of the season to bed in, as the lads did last term. We can let go now those who we know will be leaving anyway, Yohan Cabaye and Fabricio Coloccini spring to mind, and make sure we have a good pre-season and shoot for glory next season. Why is it always next season?
What would I do? Well get Nicholas Cortese in as Chairman ASAP. Let Joe go. I was a big fan of his at Wimbledon and not as disappointed with him here first time round as some, but Director of Football? Really? WHY?? Alan Pardew I don’t have a problem with, but there are others out there. I would clear out a few players and bring in three or four more. Time for recognising our core players and strengthening ready to move forward.
What would you do? Stick or Twist??
KK
not some the majority do imo They use stories with no substance to throw at him as much as possible totally ignoring any good things he is doing for us.
Santii(Quote)
If all else fails they go back to the he is a “proven liar by the courts”
Santii(Quote)
“Could have been a fantastic owner IF he didn’t keep appointing the wrong people every time”
Fantastic is a very big push to begin with, but the fact is he does keep appointing the wrong people. If Ben Arfa had a brain he could be one of the best players in the world.
While I disagree with some stuff people say about Ashley he has definitely hamstrung his manager in seasons past and will continue to do so while he is here. Hence we will never get a great one for a long term. Hence we will always be average because we won’t spend enough to get a middling manager pushing to the top of the league.
Newkie(Quote)
Well I ****** that right up, only IF was supposed to be bolded 😆
Newkie(Quote)
I see some ex PSG players are saying cabaye should stay at the at toon where he will play week in week out,at PSG he will not and PL is the best lge,I tend to agree as he would be paying 75% tax on his wages in france on top of it
icedog(Quote)
http://www.themag.co.uk/the-mag-articles/newcastle-must-pay-gareth-bale-size-fee-land-cabella-month-nicollin-remy-cabella/?
in his dreams 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
dude that owns them needs a good few stamps on his head in my opion
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
No need to shout Newkie…
JJ(Quote)
TAE-Another French preisdent was saying Kalou would only be sold for 86 million or something. Must be something in the Evian water over there?
JJ-I can’t help it, sometimes it feels like the only way to get through to you two-letter jokers 🙂
Newkie(Quote)
@ NEWKIE
is not ganna be responseable for me actions if that fat dim wit calls us a small club once more 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
KK – I’ve always said that Ashley isn’t the demon that he’s portrayed to be.
But he does make some fecking stupid decisions. Also, he is the current custodian of NUFC and with it comes a responsibility that I don’t think he fully appreciates or understands.
The bloke has every right to recoup his loan money – no problem at all with that. But whilst doing so he should really be looking to get the best out of the club.
But as I said before, I don’t think that has ever been his desire. I think he bought us as a weekend retreat. A place to kick back with a beer and watch a PL match in his back garden if you like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
reports of cissie to turkey,more **** maybe,loan then transfer later,don’t know where these storeys come from,one rag reporting it
icedog(Quote)
Ice – I’d have to agree with those ex players to be fair. But you know that his agents will be in his ear and I think it’s only a matter of time before Cabaye is away.
As well as he’s playing at the moment, if we are offered £20m for him I’d sell. It’s a Carroll type offer and Spurs strengthen their squad selling one player for big money to buy 2 or 3 in return.
Sharpy17(Quote)
SHARPY agree 100% only draw back is would jabba re-invest the cash I doubt it another 2/3 means more wages to pay out in his eyes,think we would need to clear up the deadwood first to ease wage bill mate
icedog(Quote)
Regarding Cabella – I think we are offering a very fair price personally, but if the Man from Monty doesn’t he should just say that and stop being such a bellend!.
Then we can move on and be looking to buy Siem De Jong, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Moussa Dembele, Tom Ince or some ****** else.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ice – yeah sorry mate, that’s what I meant. If we clear the likes of Jonas, Marv, Gosling, Saylor, Raylor, Obertan, Amalfitano – I bet that’s around 200k pw in wages and generate maybe £10m in fees.
Then sell Cabaye for £20m and his wage 60k pw? and I think that would allow us to strengthen the squad.
It may not buy us superstars but we could pick up 4-5 very good players for that I reckon. When you consider Raylor and Saylor haven’t played much or at all over the last 2 seasons. Gosling, Marv and Amalfitano have never really featured then I think we can loose 8 players for 4-5 who will play in or challenge the first team.
But it’s not you I have to convince is it mate?! 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
£20m or more for Cabs is good business considering we paid £4m for him but I do think we will miss him, it’s not easy finding players like him.
KIMTOON(Quote)
SHARPY kna its not me mate,but my line of thought is with you all the way,let’s hope jabba reads the blog lol
icedog(Quote)
Well not at £4m anyway 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Ice, if he reads this blog we defo won’t get anyone 😆
KIMTOON(Quote)
KIM I think he’s the only player that hasn’t been pardewed 😆
icedog(Quote)
We’ve still got this guy as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E79a4zvlKv0
Four goals this season, shame we couldnt loan him to the championship-might be easier to see what he’s actually like then!
Newkie(Quote)
KIM @95 oh that’s below the belt 😀 😀
icedog(Quote)
Ice ,True though, if he’s a sensitive flower he’s best off not looking on here for an ego boost. 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Going to go out there and say I think Cabaye will fetch closer to £30M than £20M…
If he carries this form into the World Cup and France do half-decent then his value will sky rocket.
He’s the one of the few players we have that could fit into most top sides in the world when playing well.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
The latest rumours I’m reading around the window are getting weirder by the day. That guy at Montpellier, JFK’s still just hanging about at home, De Jong’s fifth choice in Germany – it’s definitely looking like zero happening in Jan. Don’t mind actually. We’ll need to replace Cabaye (with Anita?) and maybe Cabella when Benny goes. I’ll be sad to see that but he’s not getting game time, looks overweight and although he does what Pardew wants now it doesn’t suit him one bit. Could all have been very different for Hatem but I think they’ve said that everywhere he’s been. Shame.
georgio(Quote)
ST thing is a player is only worth what another club is willing to pay,and it seems no PLclub is willing to pay anywhere near 20mil
icedog(Quote)
Manure gonna have to stump up £40m for Mata sky reckon, Christ we could build another team of cheap frenchies with that 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
KIM@103 no we could not jabba would take three parts of it and leave us with the dregs
icedog(Quote)
Ice ,True 🙁
KIMTOON(Quote)
KIM while its a little quiet, how is Lewis coming sometimes you give update but not for a while now I think,sorry for being nosey but I do think about him
icedog(Quote)
Kim – agree it’s stupid money for Mata but that’s where we’re heading. If they thought Fellaini was worth £28m then it makes sense 😛
How you doing down in the west country? Always wanted to ask – what got you obsessed with the Toon in the first place?
georgio(Quote)
Ice, he isn’t too bad. I’m waiting on an appointment for a barium meal and another video fluoroscopy for him as he has these random puking episodes about 2-3 times a month. Gonna investigate if it’s acid reflux and check his swallow again. He doesn’t drink out his cup anymore we put a special thickener in his drinks now and spoon feed it to him, cuts down the chance of another aspiration event. Still having daily little seizures but he always will sadly, seems ok otherwise though , thanks for asking.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Georgio@ 107, Supermac first got me interested really, just like the club and the city.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Supermac Kim? Thats a long long time ago! Thought it might have something to do with Cole and the entertainers in the nineties. 😛
georgio(Quote)
KIM thanks for update you have your work cut out girl,hope your appointment is not to long in coming but it is the NHS like hope something pops up that helps yous both,I admire you girl good luck,keep ganning lass 😉
icedog(Quote)
super Mac eh,still see him the odd time in a couple of local shops he not a bad guy,once got a couple of tickets off him for the P. club,well my son did like
icedog(Quote)
Ice, thanks
Georgio, yeah I’m 53 next month, was around about 1972-ish when I first got interested but I also followed Bristol City back then ,used to go in the park end every home game and went away a bit when I was allowed 😆 only if my big bro was going to escort me. Fell out of love with City due to the total lack of ambition and feckless ownership and started following Toon more from 80’s onwards really. When I started work in 76 I couldn’t get to Saturday matches anyhow so that was that.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Georgio ,Cole is a classic example of the lack of ambition of Bristol City ,they always sell their best players, what a player he was too.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Joe is very quiet very unlike the gobshite 😕
icedog(Quote)
Ice ,It’s the only time he keeps his trap shut,transfer window 🙄 I suppose we should be grateful really.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Very grateful 😉
georgio(Quote)
Big pile of ironing winking at me 🙁 , can’t ignore it forever I suppose, laters lads.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Never understood why a city the size of Bristol didn’t have a PL club. Mus be the biggest without one when you consider Wigan, Norwich, Blackburn etc.
georgio(Quote)
GEORGIO I lived in bristol for six mths working,it was like a small scum/toon with city/rovers never seemed to get a big crowd to support a PL team IMO.
you wonder where some of theses rags dig there ***** up,now they are saying cissie will not move unless he gets 3mil a yr tax free when has he said owr like that ffs
icedog(Quote)
Very enjoyable article Premand. I would prefer to prepare for next season If Cabaye goes and we get Cabella it may not be too bad. But the striker situation is top priority for me. We can’t have Cisse entering a new season sitting on the bench. Since Remy will probably be gone we’ll need a dominant striker signing first and foremost. Strengthening on the wings would be next for me as well as sorting Benny out. As it looks now he won’t get in our starting 11 often enough to want to stay. Then we have defense with Colo probably leaving. Not as urgent there but still we will need at least 1 incoming CB. Then to the dead wood. We all have different opinions on who they are but surely there are decisions to be made. And like you I want rid of Joe mate.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Best wishes to you Kimtoon. You’re doing an incredible job there lass. I’m worried about my mom now as she seems to be losing the use of her feet! She has a severe form of postulating psoriasis (it sounds horrible and it is) which is definitely getting worse and spreading up her legs now. The docs can’t seem to do a thing about it. My dad is absolutely spent with it. 🙁
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Newkie – I’d keep Abied for another season or 2 personally. The kid does have something about him and I reckon if it clicks he could come good. I don’t imagine his wages are huge either. Campbell and Newton are doing canny up in Scotland as well – I’m sure Campbell scored again at the weekend.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy he got a goal and an assist playing wide right. He looked good.
Newton is out of contract again in the summer and i think will maybe stay at St Mirren permanently.
Santii(Quote)
I wouldnt go for any of the options as i dont regard A £20m annual transfer kitty as pushing for glory, Just a standard bare minimum spend for a club raking money in hand over first like NUFC.
We are as ever under Ashley a handful of players short of a really fine squad, A striker or two, A pacey creative spark and a versatile defender would do imho…
CC(Quote)
CC think jabba has it sussed mate,rake about 60/80 in ,then spend only 20mil sounds like a good idea (to him)
nee thought of club and fans like,just stay in PL
icedog(Quote)
I think we have 10-12 very good players in our squad just now.
If getting rid Saylor, Raylor, Jonas, Gosling, Marv, Oba, Amalfitano for around £10m then Cabs for £20m and saving around 250k pw on wages. That would get us 4-5 players to increase those 10-12 to 14-16 for the first team squad and would then allow the young uns to get a game and leave some money in the wages kitty for better wages to retain our better players.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ice
One thing Ashley has done well on the whole (Certainly since we got back up) is recruitment. We have picked up some bloody good players for relative peanuts.
We just need a few more its not asking for the world ffs
CC(Quote)
Santii – if Pardew played him wide right there’d be hell on 😆
I’m only joking, I know the SPL is a far different league. I do wonder if Campbell could be a Gouffran type forward though rather than an out n out CF.
I wouldn’t blame Newton if he didnt sign another deal with us and opted for a permanent more long term deal with St Mirren. Would be a shame though coz I actually think he looks a far more effective player than Obertan – who is currently making our bench on a weekly basis 🙄
I think players like Newton, Ferguson, Dummett are all canny enough squad players to have for now really. They aren’t brilliant but would do a decent enough job standing in for injured/suspended first team players.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Cant see either Taylor leaving, No way they would have spent so much time on Ryans rehab just to let him go. Steven is a lot better then given credit for like Williamson was when he was a joke figure and will show that between now and the summer imo.
The rest obviously will be off sadly in most cases and fucking wonderfully in Obertans…
CC(Quote)
CC – I think it depends on how that £20m is spent to be fair. We have to spend within our means, and £20m spent wisely could go a long way.
What we need is for him to commit to spending that kind of money each season – coz lets be right, so far we have spent £2m on loaning Remy.
THATS not good enough IMO.
Sharpy17(Quote)
SHARPY who’s to know how jabba wants to spend the 20mil he said he will put in every year,maybe the wages have to come out of that,who knows the workings of his mind,sure we don’t mate
icedog(Quote)
CC – The Taylor boys are too injury prone for my liking and both will be on decent wages, certainly Steven will be. Will Ryan ever get back to the player he was – which in fairness, wasnt brilliant anyway.
I agree with you, I’m simply saying if we were being ruthless and clearing out the dead wood.
I’d probably keep Saylor if he could go 6 mth without being injured.
Sharpy17(Quote)
G2@122, That’s awful for your mum, it’s rotten seeing them deteriorate, I have the same situation with my parents now like. Mum is hoisted and really frail due to strokes and vascular dementia and Dad is increasingly frail since a massive stroke 6year ago , not looking forward to old age one bit mate,good luck to you anyway.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Ice@132,That’s the thing isn’t it, even if we get £20/23m for Cabs he won’t put it all back into club imo.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Ice – I honesty think if he were to clear the dead wood (ie the players I’ve mentioned) he wouldn’t need to spend £20m per season.
We’d have a squad of around 15 very good players – starting 11 and bench with some canny enough young uns behind them.
It would likely reduce the wage bill a bit and then Carr and JFK could focus on quality young players round the globe for the future and as natural replacement for those we had in the 1st team.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim we would be lucky to get a third of it for players as the rest would have to cover the teams wages, Dubai, undersoil heating bill etc etc
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE, Yep, you got it.
KIMTOON(Quote)
KIM jabba is all about making money not spending it,just stay in the PL and he’s a happy bunny,why spend chasing a place in Europe with very little return would he spend another 20/30mil to get into CL you have to get into the later stages to get real cash not a gamble jabba would take imo 🙁
icedog(Quote)
I would love an update on the famous 7 year plan cause I don’t see anything that says we are any nearer winning/achieving anything. We are just there really, not **** but not excelling either. 7 years on where are we in terms of what the plan was?, are we supposed to be cup winners by now?, or maybe title challengers?, or perhaps the 7 year plan was just to be self sufficient cash cow.
KIMTOON(Quote)
I love all this conspiracy talk of Ashley taking newcastle’s money and putting it into his own pocket… Fantasy is my favourite type of book aswell.
Where was Ashley on September 11th or /7/7 hmmm the plot thickens.
Santii(Quote)
Ice
True. I think France will have a good WC though, which will only see his value rise from what PSG are believed to be willing to pay.
Prem
Good article btw.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
there is a real good write up by The Mag on agents fees payed by the toon makes you think there could be something in it,sorry cannot copy and paste with this tablet,but worth a read,its on news now page
icedog(Quote)
http://www.themag.co.uk/the-mag-articles/newcastle-use-middlemen-reason-massive-agent-fees/
KIMTOON(Quote)
KIM thanks mate,did you read it and what do you think???
icedog(Quote)
Ice ,yep interesting read that and the writer points out what immediately sprung to my mind about Swansea,Saints,et al all spending big yet with smaller agent fees apparently. So if we are paying for the service of a middle man say for instance then it begs the question why do we need JFK, isn’t all that part of his job 😕
KIMTOON(Quote)
that’s what I was thinking Kim
icedog(Quote)
Does anyone know that the average agents costs are though?
Over the last 2 windows we’ve signed 6 permanent players a 1 loan player – so around £1m on agents per signing.
But we paid next to nowt on transfer fees – around £15m on the 6 players and £2m on Remy. But we got about £7m for Ba.
So I make that around a £16m net spend on fees and agents.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim – to be fair, JK was not here when we signed the 5 last Jan so can’t really be held responsible for those figures
Sharpy17(Quote)
the mirror reporting Moyes has bid 20mil for cabaye to fit in with mata,more rag **** or what??
icedog(Quote)