The best players who we’ve had occupy the role are the ones who were playing for honour, pride, and most importantly, for the shirt. Jackie Milburn, Malcolm Mcdonald and Alan Shearer are all examples of this. Not only did they score regularly, they also did their country proud when called upon.
Andy Carroll’s rather ambiguous departure from Newcastle has left the great Number 9 redundant with a dramatic void in our attack being a by-product of his departure. He wore the shirt briefly after being handed the greatest privilege and declaration of respect by Chris Hughton. A local lad, born and bred in Newcastle, he understood the weight and the power of it.
Sadly he let himself be swayed by other guises. He did the shirt proud and the days of Shearer, albeit briefly, filled our memories as we watched him terrorise and run ragged Premier League defences. Suddenly though his respect for the shirt diminished and he departed for Liverpool to become their No9. I wonder if he pulls on the shirt and regrets the fact that he sees the red instead of the black and white and when he walks out at Anfield he wishes he could turn to the adoring Gallowgate fans saluting their number 9 instead?
However that is the past and this is the present. We need a new No9! It’s in our history, our blood, it’s Newcastle. The problem is that it has to be deserved. In my mind there are three main focal points for a No9 at the Newcastle:
1) Local pride; they have to understand the passion honour and love of the club the region and wear the shirt as if they are wearing the hearts of all the fans.
2) Ability; the No9 doesn’t just go to anyone it has to be earned by prowess in front of goal; leading the line with power, ability, and determination.
3) Nationality; Now this is a debatable topic as I like the rest of you wouldn’t mind David Villa taking up the No9 shirt for us. However I think the attraction and pull of the No9 would mean so much more to a fellow countryman. There is also more of an affiliation with the fans when its one of our own.
Contenders; Carroll could have been something great at Newcastle but he gave it up for other riches so it leaves the door open for others. In a dream world we would all want a local lad wearing the shirt. Why not? We had Shearer.
That’s why I don’t think any of our new signings should get the shirt; they are too fresh to the area they are most likely going to be foreign looking at our targets. They may have the ability, but do they have the strength to carry the shirt?
Now one local lad who is playing steadily for the reserves and is one of bright hopes for the future… Phil Airey. He is young untested and raw but at the moment I can’t see anyone deserving of the shirt .. So why not wait for young Airey to break into the first team and start scoring, because if he does he ticks all the boxes.
More importantly seeing him at a reserve game….The lad has got potential and there is a certain something about him that smacks of potential No9.
Note from Toonsy – A big thanks to Liam Southern Toon for contributing this article.
FJ…to be honest, it all makes sense, sign the blokes when they are at the beginning of there careers, then move them on when they are older, and as we all know harder to get rid of.
I heard an article about Scott Parker at West Ham last week, West Spam want 8 million for the bloke, 29 he is I believe, and earns a shed load of money. Who’s gonna sign him …nobody…and West Ham are gonna sit with the costs for at least the next 2 years…
Ashley will probably get the finances right, time will show if he gets the sporting side of things sorted…looks good so far in my opinion..
Munich Mag(Quote)
What did you get at GCSE spencer?
Jobey07(Quote)
Jobey, B’s and C’s 😆
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
let me guess you got A’s 😉
I’m not going to lie, you are more intelligent then me, but im not that thick that im not going to get a decent job, so I dont give a fu’ck 😆
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
FJ_”I’ll give Ashley time though – he has no excuse to not fix the squad issues this summer. Anything less than a full squad is failure, we have the money and our sales mean we’ve signed two top players for diddly squat so far”
No probs with that
but wots wrong with this
“.He only got 3 years because he is 26 years old. We will never sign a player to an initial contract that will take him beyond 30 years old under Ashley nowadays.”
Makes good financial sense to me.
If at 30 they are still good, then give em a 1 yr extension, no probs. as per manure with scholes. giggs etc
Why should NUFC be crippled with ageing players on long contracts taking the **** ❓ ❓ ❓
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Newkie,
I do believe the length of the deal is solely due to his age. If it is incentive based with a low base level salary, then wouldn’t you want him locked into that for as long as possible? Hell, if Ba managed to let West Ham get a release clause put in, we could get a release clause put in if his knee flared up too much, who knows. I am just fairly certain if Demba Ba was 24 years old, he would have got a 5 year contract.
Shane Ferguson and Nile Ranger recently signed contracts that will take them to 24 or 25 years of age. If we still had them by then, they would then signed another 4 or 5 year deal to take them to 29 or 30.
Tiote’s randomly extended contract length of 6 and a half year deal takes him to…… 30.
Cabaye signed a contract that will take him to about 30.
It’s all a numbers game, like I said earlier. 30 is the magic number for us at the moment.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Beardsleys Boots,
I never said it was a bad contract policy to have, my only complaint today has been squad depth. Our contract play with release clauses, release fees, etc. has been amazing recently.
I was just pointing out that watching Newcastle signing players and their transfer targets all revolves around 30. It’s like that Jim Carrey movie “The Number 23. It’s what we seem to be aiming the squad around.
If Enrique signs, his contract is going to be 5 years long to take him to…. 30.
It is going to make Coloccini and Jonas’ contract situation soon really interesting.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Haha, i wasn’t even gunna brag. Nothing wrong with b’s and c’s.
I got 5 a’s, 7’bs and a c.
Jobey07(Quote)
Please lets bin the high school ****, I’m gettin embarrassed 😳
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
aye, education, what’s it ahl aboot man?
Ahh divnt nah. ganti school when ye can’t be arsed, realise thiz **** te sortoot, ganti collidge, walk, orn munny. Job done*.
*but nee time left te sort oot **** like.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Spencer-Aye GCSE was the mugabout year, I got Bs and Cs even though looking back on it A*s would have been a well easy. Who cares about GCSEs though? Its when your 15/16 and supposed to drink cider in parks and start hittin on the lasses, that’s what I did anyway
Newkie(Quote)
Jobey. I’m not saying you were, I dont mind people being more intelligent than me, cos quite frankly I know that I will probably do decent in life 😆
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Newkie, I think I spent most of my time at GCSE involved getting drunk 😆
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
I’m not sure if I could of got A*’s, I could have probably got A’s of I tried really hard, at the end of the day I passed, and thats all I care about 😆
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
FJ- “It’s all a numbers game, like I said earlier. 30 is the magic number for us at the moment.”
and whats so wrong about that.
Old crocked players are worth **** mate. Would you by a house that was worth **** when you’d payed it off???
Nar youd want to get somat back for it.
ffs get a grip on the real world aswell as the world of football, as the two are coming together, whether u like it or not.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Funky-If Ba was 24 there would be less risk in his knees…so yes he probably would have been given 5 years. His knees are worse at 26/7 so naturally he shouldn’t be given 5 years. Bear in mind he only has 6 months PL experience…and even if its incentive etc the base wage could easily be what, 30 or 40k? That’s still a lot of money. West Ham had a cancel clause and so did Ba, so it worked for both of them. Would Ba have a cancel clause with us? Doubt it.
Also the club is supposed to have offered dals that would have put Barton up to 31 and Nolan up to 32, just not the 34/35 they wanted, so 30 isn’t just some definitive cut off IMO.
Newkie(Quote)
Are you not reading?
I never said it was bad, I even posted a second message right after to say – in those words – I never said it was bad.
Might help to read those before accusing people of opinions they do not have 😉
funkyjesus(Quote)
I remember the time……..
I wasn’t at Hey School, I was at Law School.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Last week a bunch of totally cool West Ham lads posted on here, and they ALL had great things to say about Demba Ba. I think he’s a great signing for the toon, cos he gives us that something else up front. Pity we mayy lose him cos of the African Nations cup stuff, but a good toon signing all the same I reckon…
Although the bloke does seem to have issues with injuries, we’ll see what he manages next season. I expect him to put a full shift in, for the toon and internationally..
Munich Mag(Quote)
ye divnt get nowt for a pair in this gime, higher, lower……it’s a 5!
Rodzilla(Quote)
I am off now, have a **** night you plebs.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Spencer- Think just a couple of days, maybe a week of revision on the right stuff for GCSE can get you an A*, I look back on it sometimes and think I should have done more, like compared to now its nothing, but meh there are far more important things in life 😛
Newkie(Quote)
😆 Well, I enjoyed spending my time drunk with my mates 😆
Now, I guess I have grown up a little, and they still do stuff like that, but I only do it for partys and stuff.
I dont think I will look back to regret what I have done, Unless I get a shyte job ofc 😆
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Munich Mag,
who knows about Ba-Ba-Ba, just hoping he’s been brought in as backup to the 2 more CFs we’re about to buy.
…along with the LB, RB and RW
Rodzilla(Quote)
Ok fair nuff FJ, all I’ll say is if they are still CLASS at 30, then give em 1yr extensions, on going until they become ****.
If they want to stay, they will.
simples.
Nolan got lucky at WHam, I’m certain he wouldn’t have got a 5 yr deal anywhere else..
Howay man are you seriously telling me u would have given him a 5 yr extension at the Toon ❓ ❓ ❓
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
funkyjesus@320, eat Scatt Brown
Rodzilla(Quote)
Luka Modric…signed a six year deal for the spuds last summer…now Chelski want him…so he’s….of course…gonna be outahere…..
We need to get real…the player has the talent, not the club, contracts aint worth anything when the player wants to move on…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Spencer-aye, exactly.
Its weird, some of my house mates do the standard business/economics sh*te, and one of them seems to have this 10 year plan about where he’s gonna work, which promotion’s he’ll target, when he’ll become a partner, blah blah blah.
Then there I am with absolutely no clue, but to be honest I’m not fussed at all, I just want to enjoy what I do with people I like, I’m fine earning 20k for years and years, I don’t buy fancy sh*t and I don’t intend getting a big mortgage or pimping out a house with materialistic sh*te. Meh, S’all good 😀
Newkie(Quote)
BB …would you have given Nolan a five year extension at the toon 😕
Munich Mag(Quote)
Rodz.
Is pished again oh oh 😯
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
FJ – check oot me avatar man. The sexy beeatch is wearing B&W.
Whey too cool 4 u
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
@327- more or less my feelings, decent house, decent car. that sort of stuff and ill be happy.
As for your mate, you cant plan that far ahead 😆
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Rodzilla…don’t hold your Zimbabwean breath mate…Demba Ba Ba bA is gonna be wor main striker next season, backed up by Sola and Leon the Beast… 😯
Munich Mag(Quote)
oh, and a fit as fook lass 😆
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
al tel you what lads ive had a nyt in with me lass and shes fecking sick of me , al she says ive talked about is demba ba and newcastle!! haha im so romantic 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
Army69(Quote)
Army69…get her put straight man 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Jobey07@307
Fu<king swatty get.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Spencer-@333-s’all I’m after
Army-Good lad 😎
Newkie(Quote)
@337 😆 😆 😆
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
its got 2 be done haha , cant waaaaaaait for arsenal!!!!
Army69(Quote)
Rod – 😉
Jobey07(Quote)
MM no chance. The 2+2 was a good deal imo.
Typical Greedy fecking deluded football player.
But wot do I kna ❓
I honestly do think the Toon model will be adopted throughout the prem, barring the mega rich clubs who dont give a toss about such trivialities as money. 👿
To me it makes sense, but then again I’m just a thick Geordie, wot do I know???
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
must admit Jobey07, your post at 340 must be commendable, if only for the diagonal symmetry from Cabaye’s right cheek to the left of the smiley.
Rodzilla(Quote)
MM disagree with your comment @ 332
Think we will get another striker in later in the T/F window.
After we have sold 12 more of our squad 😛
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
al the yungins are gonna love it at the match when demba scores ” BA BA BLACK DEMBA HAVE YOU ANY GOALS , YES PARDUE YES PARDUE , IVE ALSO GOT A GAMMY LEG ” 😆 😆 😆 😆
Army69(Quote)
BB…this is probably the way most clubs have been going about things, apart from the clubs with squillions to spend, and we’re only just getting wise to it.. 🙄
Munich Mag(Quote)
probably more the “Bolton model” than the ” Arsenal model”…though the “Arsenal model” has a nicer ring to it 🙄 🙄
Munich Mag(Quote)
Army-The song should read Ba Ba Raindbow Demba 😯 😆
Newkie(Quote)
ooo er missus 😳 😆
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
when’s them pizzas arriving then Toonsy?
Rodzilla(Quote)
My goodness grief the nighty night club are excelling themselves tonight. Is this a Footy blog or a social network.? 😯
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Reet can hear the wee woman snoring, so its safe to get to bed.
Night lads
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Listening to Led Zeppelin at this mo *** 😀
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
[email protected] cannae sell any more can we…? 😆 …we’ll be left with a team of bairns on the bench…bit like last season.. 😯
Munich Mag(Quote)
BSn9 I wasn’t calling ye a wee woman
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
TGSupreme…Led Zeppelin are the greatest…6 pints of brown ale and a rendition of “Stairway to Heaven”…the dogs bollocks mate…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Robert Shinton ❗
How was Tynemouth old boy 😉
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
Is everyone happy with the state of NUFC? surely not!?
Would you rather talk on the blog about pizzas rather than the £35m still not spent? Hmmmm. ?
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Bobby Shinton: …are you late for the nighty night club, or early for the wake wakey club ?… 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Nar MM I was joshing man.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
MM.
Kashmir 😀 😀
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
the 35 million is being spent…probably some of it on pizzas too 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
TGS::::Kashmir is just totally radged…love the riff…give it 4727 Decibels mate…but expect to fall out with you neighbour… 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Robert No9,
Go to bed, we are all excited about our FREE number 19 😆 😆
We still have 40m to spend APPARENTLY 😉
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
BSn9 – I’ll save u the bother of reading posts earlier on with Funky Monkey, but suffice to say we have agreed there is still plenty of time left to blow some serious cash, if necessary
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
BB@359…no probs bud… 😆 😆
not bad eh…362 hits without the blogmeister toonsy…not three bad… 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Pizzas, Prog Rock, Penguins, who could ask for anything more±
Rodzilla(Quote)
MM.
I am ashamed how long it took me to discover Zeppelin 😳 😳
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
heres a question i would really like to know ….. yes cabaye is a french international and has played for the french champions lille but have any of us seen enough of the lad to know he will be a hit on tyneside?? obviously carr and co do like , ive nver really seen him play so all i know he could be amazing !! hope hes another tiote where he jumps straight in2 the league and kicks *** 😆 😆 😆
Army69(Quote)
Rodzilla.
Listen to Zeppelin and chill mate 😉
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
TGS…no probs bud, you have now discovered them, and thats the main thing 😉 …brilliiant…
Munich Mag(Quote)
rodzilla whats wrong with hard rock and heavy metal?
Army69(Quote)
Rod…haven’t you heard of Zed Lepplin in Zimbabwe..? 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
ipod time.
…any rockers with a 90s hiphop metal string to their bow, check out Mit Gas by Tomahawk.
….and this is me, Mike Yarwood.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Rodzilla…you old slapper…let your cover slip with the Mike Yarwood bit… 😆 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)