But with youth comes inexperience. Our apparent policy of buying youth is obviously admirable but with it comes the inherent risks and problems of progression. As we have seen the EPL is different and not all players adapt. Also surely with a policy of youth comes a responsibility to encourage the progression of that youth. Not that all youngsters are going to progress to full team status, but it would be wrong to buy them and then slam the door in their faces by buying experienced places and blocking that progression.
There has always been a dilemma, do you buy a finished product for this season, or potential. Getting the balance right is a problem. One way is to have plenty of choice and competition. As we do in midfield. Assuming that we play 4-2-3-1 as has been indicated by the match at Gateshead, then when we look at the two midfielders we have 4 to choose from. Gini, Anita, Sissoko & Colback. That’s excluding Tiote & Abeid. And actually in this area all our choices have experience most of them in the Prem. The only youth player is Bigirimana. He even got a run out a Right Back the other day. Here the problem is finding the right combination of players.
In other areas we do not have that problem. With Strikers we only have Perez & Armstrong coming through and out wide only Aarons. In these areas we have some experience, but bringing in a new signing would not hamper the development of youth, for there is insufficient depth. These players will get game time simply because of minor cups and injuries.
For me the real dilemma is in defense. Janmaat is our only rightback, whilst we have 3 left backs none of them fully fledged. So I would expect to see someone come in at least at RB to give competition.
The Centreback pairing is even more problematic. We have three CBs in the last year of their contracts that as far as I can see no fans want them renewing. However we only have 3 kids waiting to move up. None of them with EPL experience. Dummett a full back played there last season so he could be counted as a fourth. But where do we go from here. Does Steve believe that any are ready to be a first choice centreback this season. If so does he play them alongside one of the old stagers. I’m sure Steve would love to have 2 top flight experienced CBs to draw on. But our policy of buying Foreign does not mean they will hit the ground running. In my opinion the purchase of an experienced EPL CB such as Steven Caulker would help resolve the problem. But we find ourselves with 6 CBs already. No club is going to pay 7 or 8. One scenario is that if Steve thinks that there are two ready he may decide to start with them and keep say Colo on the bench. He would be a brave man to take that option, but he is the man on the spot assessing the players he has and trying to decide their future and what is best for the Team in both the short and long term. Whatever his decision I think I will back him to see what happens.
So the good news is that we have a very young squad certainly as contracts run down on the older players. But as this article tries to point out it is inexperienced in EPL terms and has problems in the progression of the academy players coming through. Exciting times.
I have shown, Stu, I am happy to discuss any topic. Calling someone’s opinion stupid is not a discussion, highlighting every negative twist in the transfer window saga is not a discussion, but good luck to you, I actually don’t have much time right now, so I will have to save it for another day. But, I can assure, if I was doing business this window for Newcastle I wouldn’t give a flying f-ck what anybody else was doing, I certainly wouldn’t be altering my recruitment policy because palace bought Cabaye or Sunderland bought somebody, I would be determined to get in the players that I had had a long term commitment to getting in. I think we have a great signing in Gini, I think we have a coaching staff that is going to get the players playing and I am both hopeful and expectant that we will get in a few more class plates before the window closes, and that our boys may actually be bloody good negotiators. Stupid thought, eh!?
LionelSpeed(Quote)
Just take your eyes of your competitors, Lionel. That’s stupid!
Stuart79(Quote)
Lionel – You talk rubbish. Sorry but that’s my opinion. You don’t know me, so don’t tell me I am not a hopeful person. NUFC and my life are totally different. My expectations are low when it comes to NUFC and so are my hopes. But after what’s happened in the last 8 years anyone with high hopes or expectations of NUFC are quite simple moronic insane half bakes. No other way of describing them.
I hope one day NUFC will be as good as they can possibly be, I expect they won’t.
Stuart79(Quote)
Did anyone else watch the Pachuca v Sunderland game? Sunderland are a very dirty tackling, violent side. I thought they should have had at least 2 straight red cards for Rodwell(sp) and Cattermole. Sunderland played well for the first 10 mins then for the rest of the match just got worse and worse. If they are supposed to be using the games to improve match fitness they might want to try running rather than standing around! They were a disgrace. I know we have to play them in the league but I have no idea why any team would give them a friendly and risk getting their players injured. Refs really need to get on them and stop the violent tackles.
Jill(Quote)
What’s this about the toon offering Mitrovic a bonus incentive contract. £33k per week and 16k per win amd 8k per draw?
Basing it on last season’s results that would be £38k per week.
Even if we performed much better this season then anything less than £50k per week sounds low in the current climate. Surely another club will better that?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Apparently Mitrovic is on his way for a medical. No idea how reliable but some Belgium paper saying it.
Stuart79(Quote)
Sp. Anderlecht news @Sporting_AND 1m
BREAKING: Aleksandar Mitrovic is on his way to Newcastle for a medical! #nufc #rsca [HLN]
M(Quote)
And there in your last post are all my points. I don’t call your opinions “rubbish” or “stupid”, and I certainly wasn’t presuming to know you outside of this blog, I said your comments here, about NUFC, were not hopeful. And considering this little conversation started by throw away jokey comment about you being always “hopeful, you have just proved my point in your last comment. And you even go further, in your always open to a discussion kind of way, by describing anybody who has high expectations and is hopeful as being “moronic” or “insane”. Truly the language of the open debater. Well, and this is the other point really, I really am hopeful and I am expectant that we will get in a couple more class players before the window closes. And, no matter, how stupid you want to label me, Stu, and I am happy for you to judge me on here or in a wider sense if you like, I don’t really mind, I still don’t give a monkey’s what the other teams are dong. I still want the CB I wanted before, that good one, and I still want 1 or 2 good strikers, two good ones! Stupidly simple, really. 😆
LionelSpeed(Quote)
I love to hear the same clichés from every new manager.
Apparently Steve McLaren has told the players to wear the shirt with pride. 🙄
YCMIU 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy…Apparently “you could make it up”…it wasn’t Mclaren who said it 😉 😛
richietoon(Quote)
Sp. Anderlecht news @Sporting_AND 1m
Confirmed. Newcastle are in advanced negotiations with Chancel Mbemba. Deal imminent. #rsca #nufc [LDH]
Sp. Anderlecht news @Sporting_AND 6m
More good news for Newcastle fans….
Sp. Anderlecht news @Sporting_AND 11m
Mitrovic landing in Newcastle http://youtu.be/0WtyIQ79LqY #nufc
M(Quote)
Coming for a medical eh,let’s see if his gob is ad good as his body he should pass,the villa c/h has just failed his medical at Lazio,if he does sign that will end the Austin link imo he would want to be the main man so won’t get both as some rags think
icedog(Quote)
If McClaren has told Cabella he is surplus to requirements it’s his 1st mistake imo.
I find it hard to believe after he’s given clean slates to Bigirimana, Ferguson, Obertan, Williamson etc. Who the world and his wife can see have no future here.
Cabella has been here a year in a **** struggling side, Definately deserves another year
CC(Quote)
CC I agree but they say he isn’t happy here so what can you do,he’s out for two months now so imo he won’t be going anywhere in this window
icedog(Quote)
CC…I don’t believe it myself, like Ice says if he does go it’ll be if reports were true about him not settling rather than SM not giving him a chance. Either way while he’s injured it’s doubtful he’ll go anywhere.
richietoon(Quote)
Now the famous ‘Sky sources’ say he’s due for a medical.
Stuart79(Quote)
Thigh injury are funny old things to get right look how long Jong was out with his before his breathing bag went about six months I think that’s why we got him for 5mil his club knew the crack imo anyway that’s no preseason for Cabella not a good bye for any club
icedog(Quote)
Ah my mistake for reading a **** site on news now, That were claiming SM had told him he wasn’t part of his plans.
Different kettle of fish if Cabella wants away but as you say the injury will probably scupper that. I hope it settles down and he comes back to a confident side playing to his (and the rest of the lads) strengths which wasn’t happening last season or at any time since Hughton left really
CC(Quote)
Cabella is a headless chicken in my opinion. Quite happy for him to go if we can get a reasonable fee and able replacement.
Shamrock(Quote)
SHAM let’s be fair the whole team looked like headless chickens IMO last year
icedog(Quote)
He got into some great positions, but when it came to making a decision i.e shoot/pass/cross he just froze then fell over more times than I Cate to remember. I honestly don’t think he’s got the brain speed or guts for this league….
Shamrock(Quote)
I’d like to see him given another season, to be fair it’s harder to look like anything other than a headless chicken when no fecker makes a run or gets into a good position so that you can pass to them. 👿
richietoon(Quote)
Bayer Leverkusen star Hakan Calhanoglu…now he’s a canny player….if the makkems get there mitts on him that is….
Munich Mag(Quote)
Looks like we got Mitrovic anyway. Done for tomorrow and will fly out for the last game of the U.S. Tour.
Stuart79(Quote)
If Aleksandar Mitrovic signs for the toon then obviously it will just be for a couple of seasons until he moves on to a “big” club. The lad might want to play Champions League football, but that aint gonna happen at NUFC, hence the fleeting stay on Northumberland Street. Fair enough too like, cos by then he’ll be a 40 million pound striker….kerrrrrching, great investment by Ashley….
Munich Mag(Quote)
Sounds like we’re signing Mbemba at the right age; Anything from 18 to 40…
CC(Quote)
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/02/01/sport/football/age-african-football-mbemba/
“the man with 4 birthdays”
M(Quote)
RICHIE@97 that sums it up about perfectly
icedog(Quote)
Stuart79@99, does that second big signing show enough ambition for you to wing your season ticket check towards SJP ?
Must say if we get the big Anderlecht centre half in too then that’s been a canny try from Charnley to put things right…
Munich Mag(Quote)
@98 – his wikipedia page is hilarious 😀
‘Although born in Jamaica Çalhanoğlu opted to represent his ancestral Jamaica at international level, making his senior debut in 2022.’
M(Quote)
I would also perservere with Cabella. He has some good tricks about him, and can finish. He needs this season to break through into the first team…I suppose there will be the question of whether Schteve can guarantee him a place in the first 11 ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
M@105, the lad is as Turkish as they come….hilarious…
There again the German national team is filled with dilutey Germans nicked from neighbouring countries. Worse than the Swiss they are… !
Munich Mag(Quote)
Richie who said wear the shirt with pride?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Richie
My YCMIU, meant You Could Make It Up 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy… 😆 I believe it was you said it 😉 …Simpson, SM’s assistant 😛
richietoon(Quote)
If Missalotavic has signed, I expect to see the back of Cisse soon, with the money being spent on Charlie Austin. Just watch how quickly things move……. 😉
Munich Mag(Quote)
*who said it* 😳
richietoon(Quote)
Missalotavic isn’t officialy over the line until he’s waving the toon stripes above his heed.
Liverpool also though they had signed the dynamic Marveaux before he opted for the wee club up north…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Munich – No, not yet. I want to see what the squad is like when the window is finished. it will be a good start though.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart79@114, agreed there. A good strong centre half in there and we have strenghtened the whole spine of the team.
Could well be enough ambition to excite the unsure season ticket holders…
Getting players signed up at a not particularly attractive NUFC must really be a serious clandestine activity… so many middle men, agents, behind closed doors dealings etc. A whole series of knock-on effects etc. At the end of the day, money talks, and the promise of ambition to try and get to the Champs League…though I hink the biggest sales pitch we can hope for is “come to us and prove yourself and you can move on to a big club in a couple of seasons”… It has worked for us a couple of times already… though Sissoko might be looking again at the small print 🙂
Munich Mag(Quote)
I hate how we use that as a selling point, though. It’s what’s caused most of our problems I think. There was no heart, desire or passion last season or the season before and that’s because the were already looking for their next club as they were promised so why would they be bothered if we went down
Stuart79(Quote)
So toon turned down a offer from Hull to take their c/h Dawson
icedog(Quote)
Dare I feel positivity at the latest news ❓
kimtoon(Quote)
KIM of coarse you can,the fish tank is fixed,the legs on the mend,what else were you thinking like 😆
icedog(Quote)
Stuart79@116, dead right there. Especially when the ex manager was similarly motivated and eventually jumped ship for a “bigger” club 😆 😆
Schteve and his team are all on 3 year contracts apparently. A clever move following the owners love for 5 or 8 year deals which served him so well. Didn’t prove much of much value where JC and Stoney were concerned…though we did get some spondoolicks in comp for Pardew, so that in itself was a good move…..
Munich Mag(Quote)
Ice, very true, got 6 new fishes today, that’s my new signings sorted, don’t hang about me like 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
While it Will be great too get a new signing in ,Lets not forget that the lad is still only 20 and unproven in one of the big leagues . Of course i Will be cheering the lad on but this one does not excite me as much as signing Austin would. Hope we keep Cisse or we Will have a very young forward line with Mitrovic , Perez & Armstrong with only De jong too back them up .
Axel(Quote)
Well some details of the deal have leaked out from the other side: 33grand
wages sixteen grand for each win,eleven grand for a draw,its nice to get a striker in but I would have liked Austin only because he’s done it in the PL its a tough old lge
icedog(Quote)
They are saying he has put on Facebook that he coming to the toon,funny that like as Facebook say he hasn’t got a Facebook account
icedog(Quote)
<<<<<<<<<< well happy about the striker over here 😀
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
good job fatboy but we still need more cb next please
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Need to see the shirt
premandup(Quote)
Rumours in the Belgian mediaThat the Cb from Anderlecht is following him 10 million euro’s they are saying .They Reckon both deals are as good as done.
Axel(Quote)
That would be nice
Cabella and Good injured aparently. No change.
premandup(Quote)
AXEL hope your right we need two c/h imo quick sharp
icedog(Quote)
Jesus PREMANDUP the season has not even started and they are already getting injured . Has Good ever been fit ? He Has even more injuries than Taylor .
AXEL(Quote)
its all looking promising. we’re obviously seeking decent signings and willing to spend so there is a change of policy which is refreshing.
I’d like to see us keep sisoko but I’m not hopeful. I’d expect a couple to be sold to balance the books/adhere to the 25man squad
I’d sell Tiote, Rivi, Willo, Obertan, Goofy and release Bigi, Fergy, Vuckic etc
Will we go one better and try for Austin as well?? If we keep Cisse & didnt get Austin, I’ll be happy enough
Gashley(Quote)
Finally we have a tall forward who is not named Ameobi. It should help out Timmy the hoof with his distribution.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Having watched a compilation of Mitrovic goals; I would say he looks like a old fashioned number 9. 6’2″+, strong header of the ball, doesn’t get bullied, very calm finisher. Prefers to take his time and pick a spot. He has 13 caps for Serbia, who tend to produce big strong players (Nikola Žigić) and has scored in champions league against Arsenal, which is fair enough. But the league he is going to is very different from what he has been up against so far and he will get a lot less time to turn and pick shots in the prem. It will be interesting to see how he fairs. I don’t doubt that he will be physical enough, it’s the work rate and sheer lack of time on the ball in the premier league that suggests to me he will need to adapt.
DJG(Quote)
Also our policy of youth is good but worth remembering a 21 yr old (in Sep) player is not the finished article. Especially an experience position, such as ‘keeper, centre half, centre forward etc.
DJG(Quote)
DJG you must have read my article 😀
premandup(Quote)
Has he been sighted in Toon yet?
kimtoon(Quote)
Finally getting a couple of players in excess of 8 figures may mean the mismanagement of the past few years has been acknowledged. I think the near disaster since January forced Ashley’s plump little hand. A litmus test for our squad before the new signings would be – who would you be really upset to see leave? Most of the players you would keep were either inconsistent or injured. Colback is tidy, De Jong and Aarons could become stars and Sissoko has shown glimpses. You wouldn’t be devastated if any of them left though.
Don’t get me wrong, I think there is potential in the squad, but so far that has all it has been – potential. Pardew and Carver should take some of the blame as should the medical staff and trainers. In fact there is enough blame to go around for all of the club and it looks like they may finally have realised it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I have no bad feelings towards Rivière, as I think he has done his best, which is all we can ask. If this signing goes ahead, (I’m waiting till he actually is seen holding the shirt on the official website 😉 ) it will probably limit Rivières’ opportunities greatly. I also think that Mitrovic and his daddy may be in for a shock if he thinks this move is a bit ‘beneath him’. Mitrovic may well be a class up from Rivière, but they are not incomparably dissimilar. Rivière scored 13 goals in League 1, in the season before his transfer to Newcastle, which is a better standard than in Belgium. So his daddy needs to chill out. 🙂
DJG(Quote)
Of course Premandup. 😀
DJG(Quote)
I hope the lad does well but this PL is tough to adapt to,although not a striker Cabella had scored 25 in 90 odd games with many assist but didn’t
show much of that here,needs another year imo,just saying I hope this lad does better we need him to
icedog(Quote)
Austin would have scored us nailed on Premier League goals, which you can’t really say about Mitrovic at this stage. But QPR are being greedy wanting £15 million. Do they really want to lose him for nothing next season? Is their daft owner happy to plough more money in? They may finish 1st or 2nd but equally they may not. Austin may leave for nothing. Their owner Tony Fernandez is stupid, he bought the wrong horse. Leeds, Palace?! the Sheffield clubs, all could make a better go of the premier league than Rangers. What a loser. Leicester and Bournemouth will show Rangers how it’s done. Spending money his club can’t afford, you should shake Leicesters hand off for £13 million, where is the money coming from? (Fernandez) “I don’t think I will be exploited any more. I think I allowed myself to be exploited but that’s my choice.” >> Get your money back and ditch the fools. = liquidation
DJG(Quote)