This season has been fantastic and it could yet get better depending on how results sway in the last game of the season. With Europe guaranteed and a top six finish already in the bag though, I wonder if we can get much better next time round?
The rule seems to be that you spend money to reach the top of the tree. Whilst we’ve broke the mould with our success this season, Manchester City have shown the difference in class that a few hundred million can get you. It was a game of fine margins yesterday, but in the end the boys in sky blue came out on top thanks to that little bit of extra quality.
I’m not saying that we have to break the bank to break the top four, in fact I don’t expect any change in our approach to transfers at all, and why not as it’s worked so far. I’m just wondering if our approach to transfers will only take us so far?
That is not being negative towards what we have achieved, I’m just being realistic. There is a reason why so many people are lauding our transfer business because it is out of the norm that has been perceived for years – that money gets you to the top of the table when in fact, as we’ve shown, it doesn’t have to be the case.
My main worry is expectation levels. I fear that now we’ve flirted with the Champions League places and with Europe that the bar will have been raised to a level we may not be able to reach. Like in the days of Sir Bobby when we missed out on the Champions League that one season.
Stay grounded people. We can improve but it won’t happen overnight, especially now our margins for improvement are significantly less. You see what I’m saying? It’s going to be hard to improve next season, but given time it isn’t impossible.
Keep calm and carry on!
marvin martin is just a canny good player like imo 😉
icedog(Quote)
What a load of tossers Rovers fans really are, get behjind ya team no matter how **** the are and leave your demos for after. They deserve everything that’s coming to them 👿
richietoon(Quote)
*behind* 😳
richietoon(Quote)
Good Afternoon Lads 🙂 Regarding Marvin Martin I think Sochaux has already been relegated and I think we should put a canny 5 million bid just to test the resolve and increase it little by little if need be.. To strengthen the squad I would go for Alderweireld because I doubt we can get Vertonghen but then again would Ajax want to lose both starting centrebacks? Id also go for Hoilett or Jarvis for depth and even a cheeky bid for Karim Frei from Fulham as he looks class and only 18 😯 Id also go for Steven Fletcher. Hed be a good utility striker for ACON… Good addition and minimum outlay of cash. So Martin, Alderweireld, Hoilett or Jarvis, Frei, and Steven Fletcher
ManassasMag(Quote)
The problem we could have is this:
We will probably lose at least four squad players in the summer for next to nothing with Lovenkrands, Guthrie, Smith and Best. We also need a left back, centre back and that’s without replacing the ones who leave. We may need to spend money regardless of how we look at it as the way I see it to have a bigger squad than this year (which we’ll need) we’ll need at least six new faces.
Stuart79(Quote)
Manassa…Sochaux are out of the relegation zone 😉
richietoon(Quote)
MANA i quite like fletcher as a back up,and he has sat on the bench a bit at wolves so could handle that,and he might be in jabba price bracket 😀
icedog(Quote)
Thats unfortunate for our cause Richie 😉 If not Martin what about a really cheeky bid for Granero? He has Mourinhos confidence but I reckon hed get much more playing time with us. What do you lads think? Or am I deluded for even thinking about Madrid players 😈
ManassasMag(Quote)
Stuart, I doubt we’ll see six in but I could definately see the 4 you mentioned being replaced with 4 of better quality. Marv and Staylor will be back and it’s time for players like Fergie, Vuckic, Abeid and Tavernier to step on up.
MDS(Quote)
MDS marv is a top player imo,hope hes over his injurys.
MANA remember the last player we got from R/M 😯
icedog(Quote)
Manassa…they have a couple of tough games to come though 😉
I think we’ll have to wait and see who Real Madrid’s manager is next season before we nick half their team
richietoon(Quote)
Ice- Hes scored goals for Wolves so far with much less chances so I reckon hed do a job for us 😉
ManassasMag(Quote)
MDS – Then we have no bigger a squad than this year with probably an extra ten games to play and possibly more with a cup run.
We need a bigger squad next season – simple. Also need younger players to challenge yes but cannot expect them to achieve much considering their inexperience.
Stuart79(Quote)
Anyone remember about 18 months ago – Scott Dann and Roger Johnson were a £30m defensive duo? Now they are getting three teams relegated in two seasons respectively. I believe the term is “Flash in the Pan”.
People should remember this next time they complain about Danny Simpson and Mike Williamson being “Championship players”.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Ice- I know ill get slated for this but I quite liked Owen he was a good striker. If only his heart would have been in it and not been so injury prone I dare to say he would have come good.
Richie- If Mourinho leaves I fear Madrid will come for Pardew
ManassasMag(Quote)
what do u all think would it worth while going in for clint dempsey think he coul take us forword
chris(Quote)
Manassa 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Chris…too old for us to be interested in him I reckon, canny player though.
richietoon(Quote)
Richie- With Mourinho coming to us 😛
ManassasMag(Quote)
Sahin would really take us forward too! Has played very little this season and it seems Mourinho has no confidence in him. Would be an amazing signing but wages could be a stumbling block 😕
ManassasMag(Quote)
Stuart, we have 27 players list on the first team now. How many do we need?
MDS(Quote)
On a sidenote… Who does anyone think will leave us this summer? Or at least should leave us
ManassasMag(Quote)
We should sign Scott Dann and Roger Johnson and get Alex McLeish as manager.
I can’t think of a more proven and potent formula for relegation.
funkyjesus(Quote)
I thgink Stu is right: Smith, Loven, Best, and Guthrie will leave, though I’d like to keep Guthrie. I’m afraid we’re stuck with the Spanish Wonder
MDS(Quote)
MDS- I think Guthrie will leave but id like him to stay. Best too I hold affection for him as a utility player. Lovenkrands will definitely go as well as Smith. And to think that Xisco was touted as a Spanish international before coming to us 😯 .. To Replace Guthrie I think Amalfitano is coming to replace him and for Lovenkrands like I said Id like Fletcher and for Smith maybe Oriol Romeu from Chelsea? He looks class and I think Barca will sell him
ManassasMag(Quote)
Frei, Jarvis, Hoilett, or Assaidi or Mertens for good wing depth 😉
ManassasMag(Quote)
MANASSASMAG,
Romeu is a holding midfielder, he wouldn’t replace Lovenkrands and Barcelona did sell him – to Chelsea.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Well one transfer target that will not be coming is Eric Pieters , his injury has ruled him out of the Euros and they are now saying he will not be fit for the start of the new season .
Axel(Quote)
Funky- I meant for Romeu for Smith
Axel- Now thats a pity 😕
ManassasMag(Quote)
b/burn down then
icedog(Quote)
Ice- Id take Yakubu though 😉 Seriously though I dont like Blackburn going down.. PL wont be the same without knowing we face a trip to Ewood Park. Much rather Aston Villa or Stoke or Liverpool to go down
ManassasMag(Quote)
Gary Neville loves Newcastle, lol
funkyjesus(Quote)
MANA sorry dont rate him one bit for a team like toon,aye i wish villa had gone doon,hopefully next season
icedog(Quote)
well lads/lasses ime off laters 😉
icedog(Quote)
MDS – Come on man! Half of them are kids and just aren’t ready. We need a bigger squad of available first teamers with the young uns getting experience in certain games.
Don’t forget there’ll be a lot of Thursday games next season ( I’m assuming) so we will need a bigger squad. If you don’t think so youve been watching the wrong games this season to comment,
Stuart79(Quote)
I know about the squad, my point is 27 is enough IMO, so long as the quality is there. We need more quality depth that is for absolute certain, but we’re obviously not going to turn into ManCity either. For me, remove the 4 you mention, plus maybe someone like Abied out on loan, and add 5 quality players the squad who can actually contribute on a regular basis, and I think that’s plenty. Also starter quality players like Staylor and Marv are returning as well.
MDS(Quote)
FJ, what did Neville say about NUFC?
Wouldn’t like to see Best gone. I think he’s been very good for us, if a bit unlucky.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Manassa@79, Totally agree on Toby Alderweireld only 23 and highly rated and wouldn’t be too expensive. The one that may come that worries me a bit is Douglas ,not sure about his temperament at all .
kimtoon(Quote)
Actually sad to see Blackburn go down ,why couldn’t it be Villa or Wigan 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
Don’t forget–we need to plan for injuries and African Cup of Noodles.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
@CaulkinTheTimes: Christophe Lowinsky, a Marseille & France Under 19 international, is on Tyneside at present for a trial with #NUFC. 20yr old centre-half.
Toon Chicken(Quote)
We shouldn’t be too down. This is a side that has been no.1 all season apart from a slight blip. They have beaten their rivals and next best team United home and away and deserve to win the league. We have had a great season really and have no right at all to be in the top 5 given the resources and momentum some of these other top half teams have. I think we need a bigger squad next season. I’m not sure we could finish in the top 5/6 again but it’s time we had a decent run in a cup competition or Europa. Hopefully we will see some of these younger players get some playing time as well.
DJG(Quote)
FANS SHOULD OWN THE CLUB
2 of his top 3 goals were by us and he only ever says nice stuff about us.
funkyjesus(Quote)
TC
Thats an intriguing one.
With regard to Marvin Martin
Thought I heard arsenal were gunna get him.
Andymag(Quote)
kimtoon May 7, 2012 at 23:16
‘Actually sad to see Blackburn go down’
I’m not, their fans are were disgusting with the abuse they gave Kean. I’ve been to ‘Ewok Park’, they are a run of the mill club that wouldn’t look out of place in the championship.
DJG(Quote)
I think it would be sad to see Bolton go down.
DJG(Quote)
http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16223789
DJG(Quote)
I agree with DJG regarding Bolton.. Good club and I couldnt see them in the Championship but the same was said about us.. Anyone fancy Gourcuff? High wages would be a problem though… Krasic same
ManassasMag(Quote)
Hmm, there’s probably a few Marseilles players we could lure here, but would we want them? They’ve done poorly in Ligue 1 for a reason…
AndrewT(Quote)
Yea id feel a bit bad for bolton. I rate coyle plus theyve had bad luck with injuries
MDS(Quote)
Rovers fans were absolute scum last night, they had the cheek to sing Jack Walker’s name, a man who would have been disgusted and ashamed of the way they went on and because of that I hope we never see the feckers in the prem again. 👿
richietoon(Quote)
What happened this season is beyond anyone’s expectations. We have performed tremendously well, and as biased as it may be, NUFC is the team of the season. Add Alan Pardew as manager of the season to that.
However, we should keep the same spirit and belief. Expecting the team to qualify for UCL next season is not being overly ambitious, but probably we should take heed in what we can achieve. A EL qualification for this year and next would do the team wonders. One step at a time I suppose.
Take a look at Olympique Lyonnais and how they were transformed since Jean-Michel Aulas took over and started to operate the team as a business. It works! But we have to give this concept some time, and hopefully Mike Ashley sticks to his guns and doesn’t go crazy with any mindboggling decisions.
The possibility of selling our top players will always be there. Tiote is one, but if a team wants to buy him, let the opening bid be 50 mil. Then we’ll talk. 😉
In a nutshell, if we continue to operate in this manner, I don’t see why we can’t go far. Next season is another stepping stone to a great future for the Magpies.
HOWAY THE LADS
Phuttz(Quote)
Someone has already noted it earlier on and I have to agree… I reckon a sustained league position (top 6) but a better run in the cup competitions would be a improvement over this season. I really can’t see us moving much higher up the table, but we can give the FA & Europe cup a good shake..
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Linking to that TalkSport link earlier, I see The Times are saying Real Madrid are going to move for Cisse this summer.
At least we would get an insane fee from them with 5 years left on his contract.
funkyjesus(Quote)
He can’t leave until January.
EvilFranky(Quote)
DJG@122 -I was thinking more about the Jack walker thing ,big Al connection and all that ,they were a great family club at one time. Got to say I never watched their game last night as was busy with the lad but that business with the hen is disgusting .That poor bird must of been terrified in that hostile atmosphere ,what a bunch of idiots ,done themselves no favors there like. Still would of liked Villa to of gone down instead though ,my main reason for wanting Rovers to stay up is Kean ,for his sake really he has shown such dignity in the face of awful abuse from the fans.
kimtoon(Quote)
Franky – why can’t he leave?
Not that I believe a word of what The Times or Talkshite say, but just curious.
Jon R(Quote)
Franky@130 -re Cisse , I thought he could be sold in the summer but not allowed to play until January ?, could be wrong though.
kimtoon(Quote)
Jon R it’s the 3 clubs in a season thing ,I thought you could sign for 3 in one season but only play for 2 .?
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – did Ba not play for Hoffenheim until january, then join West Ham, then move to us in the summer? That’s 3 clubs?
Jon R(Quote)
Jon ,good point ,really not sure about that to be honest ,I will check the rules when I got a sec .Got to dash now stuff to do.
kimtoon(Quote)
Jon ,just a quick thought was it cause Ba was on a free?
kimtoon(Quote)
For those who are interested i belive Pemiership teams in Europe can only have a squad of 25 ?
Owldman(Quote)
Kim – I got this from wikipedia: “FIFA’s rules state that no player can play for more than two different clubs between 1 July and 30 June the following year”. On that basis, the Ba transfers would be allowed and so would any Cisse transfer in the summer.
Btw i’m not saying i think this will happen, just curious of the rules!! 😛
Jon R(Quote)
I suppose with the fabulous season we have had its not surprising that some of the so called Big Teams are looking at our players sadly they all have a price,Re! Ronaldo when the price was right Man U sold him.The same will happen to our super stars the right offer comes along we will sell.Just as we have done in the past Andy Cole,Beardsley,Gasgoine,Alan Kennedy,Terry Mac & befors them Supermac when money talks the fans arent even concidered & of course lately Carroll,Nolan & Enrique plus of course Barton out on a free.
Owldman(Quote)
Jon @139 -Thanks thats clearer now. Right really got to go now .
kimtoon(Quote)
Ref Real Madrid and Cisse, there’s been **** all in the Spain press about it(that I’ve seen) and we’ll know well in advance if they are interested as they’ll spend months in advance unsettling the player via the press….it’s the Madrid way 😉
richietoon(Quote)
*Spanish press* 🙄
richietoon(Quote)