It will be for silly money and that cash will be reinvested, but I think the end is nigh for one of our stars.
Why? Call it a gut feeling if you like, or maybe I’ve been listening to the sound bytes coming from the club? Maybe I’ve been conditioned for it? Maybe I just know that if a team with the finances available to cut a deal with us comes calling then said club is also likely to offer higher wages and Champions League football which may well be enough to turn a player anyway?
Whatever the reason for it, I honestly believe we’ll see one star leave which will fund another little spending spree where we see maybe four or five players recommended by Graham Carr arrive. I’m not that gutted about it either in truth as, going by recent history anyway, we’ll see the rest of the squad strengthened, which is really what we need ahead of an assault on the Europe League.
Losing any of them is bad, but I guess it’s about losing the one the which would have the least affect on the team. Yohan Cabaye? I don’t think we can lose him, or Tim Krul, or Coloccini, or Cisse. To replace those would cost what we received for them anyway.
The two that I do think we could replace, or would at least have the least affect should they leave, are Cheik Tiote and Demba Ba. Now before I get hammered for it, please hear me out.
Cheik Tiote can have brilliant games for us, but he’s also been missing for a third of the season through injury and ACoN duty. Add in his suspensions to that and his penchant for living on the edge in games and it could quite easily be more games that he misses. Generally we’ve coped well in his absence although if we did let him leave we would need to find someone to replace him.
Demba Ba is slightly different as I actually don’t think we can replace him. His goals in the first half of the season played a huge part in getting us to where we are today, and his all round play in the second half of the season has been largely excellent. With Demba it’s a question of formation.
I think we play better in a 4-3-3 kind of system, but that system has seen Demba Ba pushed out to the left of an attacking three, almost as a left winger. Would it not be better to have a player who can play in that position naturally rather than trying to fit Ba into a system?
In an ideal world we keep hold of everybody and strengthen anyway, but unfortunately I don’t think that will happen for a number of reasons. So the best I’m hoping for is that we lose one player who won’t have too much affect on us which will allow us to strengthen further, and for me that means losing either Ba or Tiote.
Anyone agree?
Well It is pleasing to see that other clubs are following our players, that mean that we have done marvellous this year. So big congrats to the whole club, wonderful acccheivement. If they come in with bids for our players, the cash that they have to cough up is going to be to such degree that it empties many clubs warchests. And if the bids for some reason are accepted then we have money for our development squads and for making the club stronger. It is a wonderful time to be a Magpie again. On the question of wages, Newcastle has not had a structure like Arsenal the last two decatdes, we have paid out massive amounts in wages and the only thing where we ended up with those players in the end were in the regelation Zone. Arsenal is a wonderful club, they are what we should accheieve, structure and all. But it feels like even if we loose a player, we have such powerful scouting team that whom ever comes in will make the club better… So I am not nervous, the grass aint greener on the other side of fence. The situation with Enrique will help. HWTL
Christer(Quote)
andymag says:
May 15, 2012 at 20:40
Shamrock
If Hodgson takes Downing and Barry to Ukraine he’s an idiot
Well Hodgson’s an idiot 😐
andymag(Quote)
@aussie
You still hanging upside down like a fruit bat? 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Rodz, we’ve been bitten more than once mate 🙂 I reckon this year might be different..europe football may save some players from being sold. This is Ashley’s chance to get the SD brand out into europe via his team.. he won’t want to bow out and fail in the early stages.. stay strong mate.. keep the faith 🙂 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
who the hell is jack butland??
Why is downing in the squad and why is henderson on the standby list?
And dont get me started on how walcott is in the team
Hodgson mate come on
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
Well the questions been answered on whether Hodgsons gunna change the same old **** team or be a coward and keep it the same.
Andymag(Quote)
Why isnt fraser forster in the team if jack butland is??
Lets be honest we havent actually got a prayer anyway so we may aswell take all the dumbarse players so they can get the flack and retire etc
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
For me jagielka should be in there is immense everytime i see him play.
How can jordan henderson get in the standby even? Guthrie is better than him! 👿
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
I’d rather Guthrie and/or Mark Davies went than Barry and Henderson. Why is A. Johnson a standby, he’s miles better than downing as he can both cross and score neither of which downing can do.
Andymag(Quote)
I knew it couldn’t last before the need to respond would overwhelm 🙂 .. was expecting something clever though, disapointed:-)
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Aussie@79, here’s hoping eh.
…at least we know (as do other clubs) it’ll take an extortionate amount to prise away a prize player. That will probably put a lot of clubs off bidding.
Rodzilla(Quote)
LST
Hodgson’s a coward, he went with the regulars instead of choosing on form. Forster is so much better than Green and Ruddy and I think Butland is that Chelsea goalkeeper that kept f-cking up a few weeks back.
Andymag(Quote)
@Rodz yeah but that leaves us effectively saying we can only play 1 striker? Can’t see us spending more on a replacement for Ba than what we could sell him for. That’s why it’s so important to get him on a new contract.
Happy for that judas w@nker Carroll, i’ve missed deein a carroll i have to say.
Does anyone think this now forces Adam Johnson to seek a move elsewhere? Marginalised this season, only going to get worse for him now.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
@Aussie
I’m posting in between street training so it’s pretty difficult.
I’m chinning up Greys monument at the moment whilst posting this! 😎
Troy Stavers(Quote)
…seems like aaaaaaages since I’ve seen a Newcastle player in an England shirt (at a tournament). Not saying they should’ve been included, but Newcastle finished above Chelsea and Liverpool, yet Guthrie, Simpson and Perch have all been left out. I guess the latter two can be error prone. Bummer for Steven Taylor though. Honestly think this could’ve been his first Senior tournament if he’d avoided injury this season.
Rodzilla(Quote)
That could be the deal breaker for any players leaving Rodz. It will take some coin, hopefully the chance of another Carroll type deal happening again might scare some clubs off.
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
It takes the p### that Downing, Phil Jones and Walcott can have a season as bad as that and not be dropped by yes man Woy.
DJG(Quote)
Don’t become all brawn and no brains Troy 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
At least our england boys wont have to suffer humiliation rodz
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
I thought Pardew was the yes man 🙂 🙂 not Roy 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Troy, are you out charva bashing? Or was that a typo and you’re actually shinning up Grey’s monument. 😯
…ST, like I say mate, I really don’t want him to go. I think it’ll take an 8 figure sum to take him away (or will it? Still don’t know what this mysterious clause is all about). I also think a lot of clubs will be cautious about spending too much on him, with him going cold for the latter part of our season.
I guess it all points to Tiote really, to win the ‘Most Likely to Leave in the Summer Award 2012’.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Rodz
Isn’t an 8 figure sum over 100 million 😆
Andymag(Quote)
My bad it’s over 10m 😳 🙄
Andymag(Quote)
😆 …you’ll have to get up much earlier to get one over on OCD Rodzilla Andy 😉
Rodzilla(Quote)
…mind you I did once suggest a 443 line-up and formation. Oh how we laughed… 😳 😆
Rodzilla(Quote)
Reet, I’m off into town anyway. Need some new troosaz, TK Maxx specials, and might treat mesel to a couple of CDs too. Laters……. 😎
Rodzilla(Quote)
**** me england are ****; one of the worst squads i think i have ever seen
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
Robert Green conceded 48 times this season
John Ruddy conceded 64 times this season
Fraser Forster conceded only 21 times
Now I know that the SPL may be a ‘Mickey Mouse league’, but that is very impressive and deserves recognition.
Andymag(Quote)
Don’t wanna see anyone sold to be honest. Won’t we need Ba for the occasions we play 442 anyway ,cause we won’t always play 433 I presume. As for Tiote he will be very hard to replace ,we would just have to hope for a carr gem again. I think a lot of teams are tracking him because he’s now a proven PL player not because there arn’t others out there as good .A lot of top clubs wont go for a potential talent cause the fan base won’t have it ,they got to have the big name proven to do the buisiness.That’s where we have the upper hand in that we take chances and have so far reaped rewards ,the downside is we nurture and progress a player only to then potentially lose them for big bucks .We won’t always pull off these great buys though and at some point we need to ask how far we can go forward if we keep selling great players on ,its such a fine balancing act ,I would love to be a fly on the boardroom wall this window thats for sure. Oh yeah I wouldn’t like to see Guthrie go either as I think he’s a tidy player , going to Villa if thats where he’s going is a defo step down.
kimtoon(Quote)
Andy -Exactly ,don’t matter what league when it comes to goalkeeping you are either a great shot stopper or your not imo.
kimtoon(Quote)
What about Elliot, he conceded no goals this season 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Here’s another for you
Rooney scored 24 goals this season
Defoe scored 11 goals this season
Welbeck scored 9 goals this season
Carroll scored 4 goals this season
Gary Hooper scored 21 goals this season.
Andymag(Quote)
Not that excited by the England squad tbh . Downing ,Walcott 😯 nah ,don’t get that at all.
kimtoon(Quote)
I am shocked to see adam Johnson not even included. 😯
How does James Milner warrant to euro’s. 🙄
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
AMF
He was pretty **** against Scunthorpe and Nottingham Forest, almost losing us the game. Is always conceding stupid goals for the reserves as well.
Andymag(Quote)
Andy Roy probably don’t even know who he is ,stuck up there in bonny scot 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
same ***** different manager.
this is why i dont bother with england football
hitman(Quote)
Just jokes Andy 🙂 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Why isnt Micah Richard included,Oh my. 🙄
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Kim
Ya reckon next season we should loan Fraser to a PL to get some recognition? Someone like WBA who might not get Foster(Birmingham).
Andymag(Quote)
AMF
😉
Andymag(Quote)
Just seen the England squad.. very safe choices.. you have an old man midfield. Thought sturridge might have got a nod, very surprised the Richard didn’t get a start.. not surprised people are upset.
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Andy…To be fair, I could play rush goalie in Scotland and score more than Hooper and concede less than Forster 😆
richietoon(Quote)
*Richards*
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Richie -strikers i might agree but goalkeepers is different as you just gotta stop shots aint ya 😀
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim, the way Ritchie shoots at goal, you won’t even need a keeper 🙂 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
KimT…True, but I reckon Celtic or Rangers probably face very few shots in comparison to other keepers so goals conceded will always look good. The times I’ve seen Forster(not many admittedly) he hasn’t looked that good. He’s certainly not good enough for England but then I’d also say that about half the squad Roy has picked.
richietoon(Quote)
Aussie….I’d put Cisse to shame with my shooting technique 😉
richietoon(Quote)
I could imagine Rich 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Aussie@121 😆
Richie, yeah it’s an interesting one, take David James ,brilliant keeper but since dropping down a league he’s been ****! ,it can’t be that better shots are coming in ,not in the fizzy pop ,so how to account for it. 😕
kimtoon(Quote)
Calamity James – brilliant keeper 🙂 I think you may be over stating his talents there Kim 🙂 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Aussie selective memory me like 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim 🙂 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Aussie , all keepers make blunders don’t they , well they do if they are in goal for England 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
Andy- fecking gutless selection. Here we go again.
Shamrock(Quote)
There not as bad as your penalty takers though Kim!! 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
KimT…with James I’d say old age and playing for a **** team he’ll face more shots and so concede more.
Just did a quick check and Forster has made less saves per game than any of the keepers in the England squad but has way more clean sheets, so you’d have to say he faces alot less shots than the other keepers hence the low amounts of goals conceded.
Also the quality of strikers he faces up there just doesn’t compare to what Ruddy and Hart have to face.
richietoon(Quote)
Not happy I take it Shamrock 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
Aussie ,pens 🙄 Don’t even go there.
kimtoon(Quote)
Shamrock…isn’t it just, same old same old 🙄 🙁
richietoon(Quote)
I’m surprised Beckham didn’t get a start 🙂 🙂 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Aussie…I don’t know how you can take the ****, Oz didn’t even qualify for the Euros 😉 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Aussie…Probably saving Becks to guide the Olympic team to glory 😆
richietoon(Quote)
It makes me safe from come backs Rich 🙂 well I thought it did until you piped up 🙂 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Richie@132 -**** club! thats my hometown team 🙁 don’t rub it in .
James holds the record for most clean sheets in the PL ,can’t be that bad in his day.
kimtoon(Quote)
KimT…apologies….but still…. 😉
richietoon(Quote)
No Kim! Downing has had an aweful season, ad has Johnson. No Jagielka, adam johnson or Richards? Pathetic, going with repeat failures yet again. Its hard winning international tournamentd. Understood, but our lot have not only underachieved for years, they have been lucky to scrape by against some really lower class teams. If it was purely a footballing decision to leave ferdinand out then someone tell me how downing and johnson made the cut? Gerrard has been pretty **** this season when fit too.
Shamrock(Quote)
no Joey Barton! What does he have to do to get a place? Hodgeson out
paulmag(Quote)
Shamrock ,spot on .The Stevie G captancy thing is the Liverpool thing too imo ,proper old pals act ,very ,very unexciting selection .At least we won’t be expecting owt this time round. 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
Shamrock..totally agree, the worst things is I have to fly the flag over here……how much ridicule?
richietoon(Quote)
KimT…that’s my hope, that they surprise us when they have no expectation on them……..and it will be a surprise if they do well.
Replace **** club with- a club that hasn’t reached it’s undoubted massive potential 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Richie ,see that wasn’t so hard was it 😉 😆 no worries mate ,they are ****, they was good under Gary Johnson mind. 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
Ive got a fair few friends who watch the SPL (each supports different teams) and only the Rangers supporter thinks that he’s ****, the rest say he’s been class.
Andymag(Quote)
Andy….The stats have proved he actually lays out a table and has a cuppa and sarnie during a game.
He’s a decent keeper but not great and not England class yet imo, however if you go off some of Hodgsons picks, he could have got a game in midfield 😆
richietoon(Quote)
PaulMag….I’m astounded Joey wasn’t picked too
richietoon(Quote)