A move for the PSG striker has been mooted for some time now but with little movement in sight and little inclination from the player about really fancying a move to Newcastle it seems pointless, to me anyway, chasing a player who clearly has reservations about signing on at NUFC.
Now please don’t confuse this with me wanting players who “kiss the badge” at every club they are at. I realise that we aren’t going to be the first choice for many players, which is kind of compliment about the players we’re targeting I guess. However I’m not overly enamoured that a player is contemplating sitting on the bench at his current club rather than getting first team games somewhere else. It kind of sends out the wrong signals and reminds me a bit of Alan Smith, who has now replaced Ryan Taylor as my own personal hate figure by he way…
A new striker is a must in my opinion, and it seems in the opinion of most of you in fact as illustrated by a poll I ran the other day where 85% of you said that our attack should be the priority area where we strengthen next. Whether that striker be Erdinç or someone else remains to be seen, but Alan Pardew is confident that he will get a striker in for the start of the season and claims that he feels the “motivation” is there from Mike Ashley to add to the squad.
“The performance against Columbus was there for all to see – Demba Ba did well,” Pardew told The Chronicle.
“If we get a couple of new players this team won’t be far away. As I have explained it will take time. But in August things will start coming thick and fast – everybody has been away on tour.”
“I think we could have something resolved in time for the Arsenal game. I hope we will. I certainly feel that the motivation from Mike Ashley, Derek and myself is to get the deal done before that game but you can never say never with transfers.”
I’d like to hope that we do indeed get a striker in. In fact I think many of us share that same hope! The problem is that the longer it drags on the more concerned people will get. The intent may be there from Ashley, but we just simply don’t know as going by previous transfer windows the form book doesn’t look good.
Hopefully Ashley will back his man and get the striker in that Alan Pardew so desperately needs. I’m always hopeful (God knows why?!) although I do understand why there is some concern amongst the ranks. The only way that concern will subside is by seeing signs of what is being said put into action.
As ever, time will tell.
However I’m not overly enamoured that a player is contemplating sitting on the bench at his current club rather than getting first team games somewhere else. It kind of sends out the wrong signals and reminds me a bit of Alan Smith
———————-
Has he really said that? I know he said he wanted to fight for his place but that could have just been the lad being confident. A little harsh to compare him to smith IMO.
He is better than what we have so that would make it a good signing.
MDS(Quote)
I’d like to see Erdinc at the Toon. The deal was almost done and he was keen to come apparently until his agents excessive demands scuppered things. Apparently they have now bi-passed his agent and agreed a fee. Personal terms had already been agreed
Until a move is agreed I see nothing wrong with a player stating he wants to stay and fight for his place (although this came from his agent not the player)…it’s standard fare in these circumstances. Nowhere have I seen him come out and say he doesn’t want to come to the Toon.
I think we will get him and he will be a great addition – fast and skilful and knows where the back of the net is.
Also good to hear the reports that Best wasn’t wanted at the Toon and would be sold appear to be misleading. He has said he has been assured of his place in the squad. Of course anything can still happen but I would be pleased if he stayed.He may not be a world beater but his 6 goals in 10 games mean he deserves another chance and his place in the squad IMO.
her’s the link http://tinyurl.com/3o72grm
3hourswasted(Quote)
MDS – Yeah I didn’t mean it literally. I’m just not a fan of people willing to play second fiddle if they have a chance to be the main man if you get what I mean?
toonsy(Quote)
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this Erding nonsense is just a smokescreen, and we end up signing nobody. NUFC’s reluctance to loan out Ranger to Birmingham concerns me, why not? What do we have to lose? It makes perfect sense to me, up to point 5.
1. Ranger is **** – comes back to us, saved a season’s wages.
2. Ranger’s great – Birmingham buy him, money in fatty’s back pocket.
3. Ranger’s great – Birmingham can’t afford him, he comes back to us a new player.
4. Ranger’s great – Birmingham can’t afford him, someone else buys him – money in fatty’s back pocket.
5. We don’t loan Ranger out as we are short on strikers after failing to buy a new one before the deadline. Ranger’s **** and we struggle to find goals all season after we sell Best, and Ba and Ameobi get injured.
Past seasons and transfer activity give me justification to fear point 5. I’ll try to harness a few crumbs of optimism until the window shuts, but I ain’t holding my breath.
Rodzilla(Quote)
I’m going to wait till the 7th of August before I spew hate on Erdinc, PSG, Pardew, Ashley and the entire world! Screw the transfer deadline. This is my deadline. If you’re reading, Ashley, that’s next sunday. I’d better have happy news by then or else…
hydeous(Quote)
Toonsy- I agree with ya there. I just think his comment was the politically correect thing to say when asked by their local press. time will tell what his ambition is I guess
Rod- I think the fear is Ranger’s ****, he come back to us, noone wants to buy him, and Pards is stuck with him for 4 years when he doesn’t seem to want him around.
MDS(Quote)
“I realise that we aren’t going to be the first choice for many players, which is kind of compliment about the players we’re targeting I guess.”
Alternatively T, it’s a reflection of the stamp of the player we’re chasing.
bowburnmag(Quote)
Tonnsy why is my previous post still in moderation – can you have a look? Cheers
3hourswasted(Quote)
BBM,i agree mate,pity a lot dont.
by the way hows you long time no read,steady doon now have we? 😀
icedog(Quote)
3HW – God knows why it was held. I couldn’t see anything wrong with after I took out all the swear words 😉 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Ice – I see Icepup has signed up 😉
toonsy(Quote)
MDS, at least getting him off the books for a season would be a benefit to him and us though. My main reason for mentioning Ranger though was down to me figuring the longer he stays, the less likely we are to bring another striker in. Another of my 2+2=5 theories.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Did the club really give him a deadline? I thought the Chronical article said they’d give him time to decide while pursuing other targets.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
FSOTC – The Journal reckons there is a deadline 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
I don’t see much wrong with what’s Erdinc’s said so far-Obviously I’d love for him to come out straight away with “always wanted to play for the toon, boyhood fan” blah blah…like almost every player seems to nowadays….Anyway, can’t argue with him wanting to stay at a club where the season before last he was a mainstay and a favourite of the fans.
Didn’t we all slag Nolan off for jumping ship and not wanting to fight for his place when it seemed he wouldn’t be guaranteed a starting spot?
Agree on Ranger, though I think with so many of Birmingham’s players about to leave a eal seems possible…if Hughton actually rates him!
Newkie(Quote)
Judging by comments and the few highlights online from the Crew match the other night, some of the fringe players have really shown what they are about. Gosling Vuckic Abeid Best & even Ranger all seem to have something to prove. This taken alongside the new signings,+ HBA & Tiote I think even if we don’t sign a striker [and I don’t want to just sign anyone just to satisfy the ‘spend 35m boys’] I still think we’ll do ok next year. I’m a lot happier than I was at the end of the season when we’d just thrown away 9th spot [was it?] and certain players were looking jaded. If Enrique wants to go then go asap…get in a new left back & if we can get someone in to wear the no9 shirt….I’ll be quite satisfied…I just wish it would hurry up and start!
JoeSoap(Quote)
Hahaha… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRkZ21RJQ0g&feature=youtu.be
Give me fatty any day of the week over them lot.
Toon Chicken(Quote)
btw I know ranger isn’t in USA but I think [I hope] he’s had a wake up call
JoeSoap(Quote)
I would be very suprised if erdinc does sign…. there seems to be a lot said about him but newcastle often buy players that no one has thought of especially the local rags!
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
Oh, right. Didn’t see that.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Newkie, I actually spoke to Lee Charnley about 2 and a half years ago on a mate of mine’s stag do (who is close friends with Charnley). I asked him about Ranger then, and he said he was a proper up and coming talent. Everyone at the club rated him highly, and Charnley believed he would start breaking into the squad then. This has never happened. It seems the main problem that has occured over the last 2-3 seasons is his apparent ‘attitude’. He just needs someone to teach him a bit of discipline I think.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Without wanting to be accused of being negative I actually have to ask the question – why would he want to come here?
He may think that he still has a chance with PSG and they are spending a load of money and are looking aggresive in the market. He may see good things happening.
I don’t think we should be castergating players for taking their time to deciude about us – we’re a mid table PL side and nothing else at the minute, so I think we’re probably not many decent players first choice – doesn’t make them a bad player though.
Stuart79(Quote)
Rod-Yeah exactly, the lad obviously has talent, and everyone rates that side of his game. If he could get his shooting boots on he’d easily be in contention for the first team..but like you said he’s going to need the proper discipline..Its not that I think Hoots is a slacker for discipline, I just think Ranger needs someone who will properly dress him down for some of his errors.
Then again Pardew has said he will be instilling more discipline this season as he didn’t feel comfortable doing it last season-maybe he figures keep him around and see if that works?
To be fair, I reckon it would be better if we could find a danish club for Lovenkrands to go off and retire to, he made noises about it last season when he wasn’t getting picked. Sell him very cheaply, get him off the books and allow someone else to come in. Maybe Loven could even go to brum?
Newkie(Quote)
Also…agree with Stuart, PSG are showing a lot of ambition for the French League which is possibly more than we can offer. Still, we did get Cabaye off the French champions..even with our 25k a week wage cap 😆
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie, I think Hughton is more than capable of kicking arses, just think Ranger’s discipline problem is born out of boredom and frustration through lack of first team opportunities. Bit of a vicious circle really. Don’t think Ranger’s attitude will ever improve when he’s on the fringe and deemed far less important than his peers.
Rodzilla(Quote)
He may think that he still has a chance with PSG and they are spending a load of money and are looking aggresive in the market. He may see good things happening.
——————————–
That certainly might be the case. But if he sees he’s going to be 4th choice or something, the question for him is do you want to be 4th choice at PSG or 1st choice for a mid-table Prem team (and probably at improved wages). fair question for him to answer
MDS(Quote)
MDS – He may think he’s better than that and think he can force his way into the side.
Stuart79(Quote)
Yeah, again agree with Stuart, confidence is a good thing in strikers…I mean surely we want our strikers on the periphery to come in and prove themselves? Or we would never have seen the good side of Leon Best..
Rodzilla-Yeah, I don’t seem to remember him causing trouble during the CC season when he got a few apps…I guess that’s because Carroll was glassing people left right and centre 😆 Still, learning to cope with the bench is an important lesson for everyone to learn, especially for strikers. Just look at Berbatov for the champions league final..handled it very well. Still think we might need to send him somewhere boring….
Newkie(Quote)
@27- that too. or he may have a smoking hot Parisian girlfriend who won’t leave Paris. You never know aplyer’s reasons for wanting to stay somewhere.
We’re just grown accostomed to players who will flee the first time they are offered a pound more in wages or an extra pair of training socks
MDS(Quote)
Alright, say Erdinc verbally decides to stay. Who else do we go for? There’s Shane Long from Reading available. But then who else could we/should we go for?
Anybody in the Eridevisie that we could take a punt on? I can’t think of anyone. Although my options are fairly limited.
AndrewT(Quote)
Lads what happens if the lad did make all the right noises, he thinks we’re a great club and he would love to play for us etc etc, and the deal didn’t come off ? He would look like a right knob and i dont think his fans would be too happy to support him again.
Big Dave(Quote)
Some good stuff there Sy , I agree with that
If all the reports are to be believed
hello(Quote)
TOONSY aye mate ice-pup signed up,only the best for him,it will be his malta address i think 😀
icedog(Quote)
that’s actually a fair point big dave, and one that I’ve actually heard before.
Now I guess we just have to wait. 😕
Ugh, I hate close season! 👿
AndrewT(Quote)
Alright, say Erdinc verbally decides to stay. Who else do we go for? There’s Shane Long from Reading available.
————————
One article was claiming Pards and Carr don’t rate Long, but that the club has been approached regarding a couple of strikers but want to try and push through Erdinc first
MDS(Quote)
Good point Davey boy.
AndrewT, god knows why we’re not bidding for Long (or are we??!?). He seems to be available for around 6 or 7m. I well reckon he’s worth a punt. Maybe he’s on our radar? Who knows…….
I reckon we could see a flurry when the teams get back from their friendly tours.
Rodzilla(Quote)
This **** is just so stressful. It doesn’t help that we also have a fullback dilemma to address as well.
We need a striker so desperately that since Jose Enrique hasn’t officially left anywhere, it is not even being talked about.
AndrewT(Quote)
” . Still, we did get Cabaye off the French champions..even with our 25k a week wage cap”
Yes, but we told him we are aiming to get back into Europe this season as a bargaining chip.
Which kind of makes it extra important that we get in a good striker.
Initial impressions are that the new signings so far might well turn out to b to be decent additions (although getting too excited following the friendlies would be rash), but if we fail to show them ambition we promised them when we signed them, we risk causing unrest and possibly losing them later.
One things for certain, we can’t just rely on our current strikeforce.
Ba may well be a good player but his knees are enough of a concern for him to be prevented from even playing 45 minutes on astroturf. Best, Ameobi and Lovenkrands are back ups and nothing more.
Pootle(Quote)
I hate to knick-pick, but I’m going to right now. Demba Ba did play 30 minutes on the plastic pitch in Orlando. So he played a little bit, just nothing impressive.
There I’m done. I feel slimy and annoying, like one of those .org or .com posters. 😳
AndrewT(Quote)
well hey new thread!
AndrewT(Quote)
Lol. I’m not saying Ba is so injury prone we can’t play him! What I mean is if they are that concerned about protecting his knee we definitely shouldn’t start the season with him as our only PL quality striker, in case it turns out their fears about his knees are right.
Pootle(Quote)
may aswell give take robbie keane on for free at least he gives 100 % proven in the prem too ,also nathen dyer from swansea he would be good signing looked brilliant evrytime seen him play thou that position not desprate other striker worth punt podolski?
bushy(Quote)
I just wish they’d put some money down on the table, ship in a more renound striker to replace Carroll, properly. Make us all smile! For all we know Erdinc/Erding could be the next Guivarsh or Tomasson, who both had decent records prior to signing for us.
Hoddo(Quote)