Of course it’s early days so far, but performances have improved and results have followed along with renewed hope amongst the fan base.
One thing that is spurring on this upturn is undoubtedly competition for places which is one thing the new guys have given in pretty much every department. From defence to attack the whole squad has been strengthened, and with players returning from international duty and injury that competition for places can only get better.
Cheik Tiote will return from the African Cup of Nations having seen his international side eliminated by Nigeria which gives Alan Pardew a problem he probably hasn’t faced during his time at United. Granted the inclusion of Tiote is probably less of a headache for the Tottenham match as I dare say he will be rested and have to make do with a spot on the bench, but beyond that there is a selection dilemma.
It would be unfair to drop James Perch. Like him or loathe him he’s performed well in our back-to-back victories so why should he pay the price? If it’s not broken don’t fix it. It’s similar to the situation Vurnon Anita found himself in when replaced by Perch. The Dutchman didn’t do a lot wrong and probably lost his place unfairly but that’s just the way it goes I guess. Rightly or wrongly.
A fully fit and performing Cheik Tiote will take James Perch’s spot in the side of that there is little doubt, but this isn’t a “who should play” kind of article and this is where I’ll stop that kind of thinking. The point is, we have a hell of a lot of options when it comes to getting into the side now.
It’s not just in midfield either. Look at our defence. Mike Williamson has gone from enforced first choice to fourth choice within the blink of an eye. We have depth at centre-back for the first time in a long time and all it took was the addition of one player and the return to fitness of another.
At full-back we also have plenty of options and can cover most eventualities through either the numbers or versatility of options, and up front the addition of Yoan Gouffran has given us more options. When you add Hatem Ben Arfa in there it boosts us further although I still think we need another striker.
It’s a glorious problem to have. Right throughout the team we have competition for places which is a good thing. It spurs players on to keep their place and they don’t become comfortable. They know if they hit a bad patch they are out of the side and the new player coming in knows he has to play at the top of his game to keep the shirt.
What a problem to have!
Nice article Toonsy… If you could string a sentence together it would be even better… 😉 😆
I think the competition for places has been massive. For each new signing that has come in, it seems to have given the player in their position a kick up the ****!
Steven Taylor, Jonas Guiterez, David Santon, Cheik Tiote, Danny Simpson.
All of these players were automatic first team selections, but now when everyone is fully fit and bedded in. At least three of them may find themselves sitting on the bench. If they don’t perform, they may all be on the bench.
Not only are they now having to fight for the team. They are having to fight for themselves. Its a much great incentive to work even harder.
GK: Krul – Harper – Elliot
DR: Debuchy – Raylor – Simpson – Tavenier
DC: Colo – Mbiwa – Taylor – Willo – Good
DL: Santon – Haidara – Raylor – Fergie
DM: Tiote – Perch
CM: Sissoko – Cabaye – Anita
ML/MR: Gouffran – Ben Arfa – Marvauex – Jonas – Obertan
ST: Cisse – Gouffran – Shola
That’s one heck of a squad, considering the youngsters can now all go out on loan and properly develop.
The only weakness for me is Shola who shouldn’t really be first back-up. He’s ok as fourth choice. So we definately need another striker.
But any other player that goes out from now, needs to be replaced with quality. With the exception of Simpson perhaps.
JJ(Quote)
Well written article Toonsy
Good add on JJ.
Add in Bigi to the DM for me.
Relace Shola with AC and that is a good squad for next season.
Who else would we need replacements for Harper & Simpson perhaps
An extra CB so as to give cover if we want to play 3 at the back?
It is so good to debate who we want on the pitch rather than bitchin about the useless players and tactics. 👿
premandup(Quote)
Much better, but until we no longer have Strolla as our No 1 back up striker i’ll never really be happy.
Stuart79(Quote)
Yup – decent squad at long last, we’ll lose at least simmo in the summer so will need a RB and a ST in the summer …. definitely not AC though
stevep(Quote)
Toonsy ,Good article mate .Did you proof read it though ? don’t want to upset Blackie now. 😉
Seriously though ,how fantastic to have a selection dilemma and about time too.
. My only worry is Marv will start getting restless if he don’t get enough gametime same with Anita ,also don’t think Mbiwa is going to like not starting for long either. 😉
I think Perch will probably keep his place as he’s not done a lot wrong to be fair to the lad .I don’t see Pards dropping Jonas either ,though I think Marv will come on as a sub at some point in the game again. Mostly I think he’ll be watching to see who is getting tired /leggy ,the newbies are still adjusting to the pace of the PL not that you would know with Sissoko . My god that guys got some pace.He gave Cole a head start on saturday and still left him in his slipstream
KIMTOON(Quote)
Yeah ,we must get a striker in the summer agree and a RB if Simmo goes ,we may also need a Cb if Colo ends up going too.
KIMTOON(Quote)
And not just numbers but quality too! One more up and coming striker would be nice though 😉
Oh QPR…
“”It’s nothing like £100,000, it’s more like the £65,000 mark,” Fernandes told Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek.”
It’s nothing like 65,000, more like 65,000 after tax you lying fat ****. Hope QPR implode as a small sense of justice 😉
Newkie(Quote)
Also would just like to say-hopefully people can stop banging on about Santon for right back now. He was superb going forward on saturday and you can see now that his talents just weren’t being utilised by the squad. Sissoko had the smarts to find the space where Santon always has trouble finding people. Must have been watching us a lot this season 😉
Still a bit shaky in defence, personally don’t think that’s to do with his feet though, he’s still just naturally found out of position on occasion.
Newkie(Quote)
Nice article what a change for us to worry about who to drop for the next game rather than who to play!
A real world class striker and a squaddie to replace ameobi then we are in.
For me the suprise has been gouffran hes shown a real hunger and desire to play than remy would have IMO.
Also he isnt out for three months likre remy
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
Steve P
I’m with you. If we brought Carroll back, for me he would simply be an option off the bench. And for the wages and fee he simply isn’t worth it!
He would cost 10Mil at least and 60k in wages a week. For that we can get far better than Andy Carroll.
I’d much rather we added a bit and got Benteke from a relegated Villa. Far better player. In fact there are numberous far better players who would fit in with this system we now have.
JJ(Quote)
That squad is far too good to get relegated 🙄 😛
I think most will agree that we will need to replace Harper, Simmo, Colo if he leaves and personally I’d like to see 2 CFs in – one purple and a lilac 😕
Keeper wise I’d like to see maybe Alex Smithies from Huddersfield. Around £1-2m
Simmo replacement I think may be Eric Pieters. I know he’s a LB but it would mean he could move Santon over to RB if needed. Plus Pieters will be on a free I think, if not I reckon around £2-3m
I think whether Colo leaves of not we may take Douglas on a free.
There’s 3 with a spend of around £5m tops, which would leave a spend of around £15m for purple CF. I’d like to see us do a deal for RVW or PEA.
None purple I’d like to see someone like Charlie Austin or if Man City let Sinclair go then I think he’d be a good addition too.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Liam,
Gouffran for me could be our new Bellemy. Just with a much better attitude.
JJ(Quote)
loving what ive seen from the Gouff so far. One interesting thing i came across on twitter though –
David Crossan @davidmcrossan
Impressive too the way #gouffran has mucked in #nufc, my Bordeaux following colleagues in French press expected huff at not being #cf
M(Quote)
NEWKIE
February 4, 2013 at 09:58
Why would they implode? If they stay up then they’re quids on as the new TV deal is worth a fortune and if they go down they will sell Remy and Samba a piece of ****.
The reason for any implosion will be due to the reckless salaries they were paying in the summer, to players that nobody would really want to buy if they got relegated so they’d most probably be stuck with them.
Stuart79(Quote)
David Crossan is an NUFC-supporting France-based sports journo
M(Quote)
“Speaking about the lap of honour, he said: “The idea came from our first match at Aston Villa. Yohan Cabaye said we had to go over to the fans and thank them. He suggested it again after Chelsea.”
For those that don’t think Cabaye is a born leader and shouldn’t be captain!
To me it seems like he is already the captain. He is the leader!
For me the best signing we’ve made in decades. Half these French lads wouldn’t be here if not for him. The influence he has both on and off the field is simply remarkable. He’s an exemplary role model for the club.
100% nailed on for captaincy after Colo.
JJ(Quote)
JJ ,totally agree mate Dreamboat for captain all day long. 😀 He’s also telling the new lads they MUST learn English out of respect for the club.Top man in every sense.
KIMTOON(Quote)
JJ – would Carroll be on the bench tho or would he be playing if Cisse isn’t scoring?.
Had Carroll stayed with us his next contract would likely have been around £60k a week anyway based on him being classed as a purple.
All that said like, I would sooner not see Carroll back. As good as he is, I’d like to see either RVW or PEA. If Carroll comes back, no doubt he’d improve the squad and forward options, but I’d like to see something different.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim,
AI… I think I’ve in love with him 😳 😉
Sharpy,
I just don’t think Carroll is worth what he’d cost. Great player if the team is built around him. Massively overrated if it isn’t.
Some think he has more than a big target man who can header. For me he is very average in other areas of his game. If he did replace Cisse up front. We’d end up lumping long balls to him. We’d have to revert to a 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2 for him to really be effective and to me that isn’t ideal.
So yup. I wouldn’t really want him back to be honest.
JJ(Quote)
JJ – your right gouffran reminds me of marveaux just with more pace. Thats pretty exciting.
I know its tough to see no english other than perch or taylor but to see the foreign boys give the ball away a lot lot less is a joy to watch 😀
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
“JJ – your right”
If only I had a pound for every time I heard that. I’d be a massively obese man. 😉 😆
Bit like Richie.
JJ(Quote)
For me Andy would be a great option for 20 mins at the end of a game if we need something different, much as Shola tries to be now. If we are moving up to the next level we need 4 strikers each with different talents. Carroll is different to what we have now. An alternate would be someone like Bony also a beast. I would still like to see another predator like RVW though.
premandup(Quote)
Oh ****, I forgot it’s Monday. 😐
JJ(Quote)
Stuart-I’m under the impression that Remy would have a clause similar to Ba’s from West Ham. Obviously it’s only speculation and I can’t say for sure, but with either sale they are bound to be cutprice. Throw in the wages of all their players they will struggle to get rid of, like you say and relegation will leave them in the gutter.
But Fernandez will keep them afloat apparently, when are those FFP rules supposed to kick in again … 🙄
Newkie(Quote)
JJ your wrong, about AC anyway 😆
premandup(Quote)
The desire but the 5 new lads is fantastic you have to give credit to the board etc for finding players that not only are decent but really want to play for the club.
Its amazing what a couple of wins can do especially as we are now only 3 points from top ten in table.
We needed to strengthen and we definitely have.
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
good thread toonsy its nice to write a more up-beat one these last couple of wks must have been hard doing them before this up-turn,i thought bouffran showed a little bit of bellemy without the moods in that game,remy out for three months,poor arry 😀 😀
icedog(Quote)
Andy would be the answer to our set piece dilemma. I’d take him as an option for 5mil if he dropped his wages back down to 40k. That won’t happen so its a no go as far as I’m concerned.
Look how much better liverpool are without him, and surely we’re attempting a style closer to theirs than Big Sams, even if it hasn’t looked it this season 😀
Newkie(Quote)
JJ poor richie on mondays hes just big boned not over weight 😀 😀 😀
icedog(Quote)
NEWKIE in certain games andy would be very handy imo it would be nice to have a choice would it not ?
icedog(Quote)
Anyone know when HBA is back?
Flip me add him into the team…….. 😯
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
JJ – I know what you mean but I just think at £10m he a good option to have in the squad and allows you to adapt your game based on your opponent. I agree he’s a bit of a 1 trick pony, but it’s a good trick to have sometimes.
To be honest though, I read that WHU have the option to buy him with their loan deal and I think they will with the tv money they get from staying up. So unless we match the offer and he prefers us – which I doubt coz he’ll know that Sam will build his team around him – I don’t think he’ll be back.
Sharpy17(Quote)
remy out for three months… phew, dodged a bullet there!
craig chisholm(Quote)
Ice-it would be nice to have the choice, but he’s very expensive for what would be mostly a super sub role. I am not convinced he and Cisse would make a great patnership either if I’m honest.
Would love to have him purely for corners and free kicks though, it’s an aspect of our game where we are simply no threat.
Newkie(Quote)
SHARPY think your dead wrong there mate,w/ham have first shout on andy,but HE has to agree on move not the clubs and i think he would jump at the chance to return even for less money,anyway you seen the cost of living doon there 😀 😀 😀
icedog(Quote)
craig-where you see that?
Newkie(Quote)
NEWKIS i see what you are saying but if say we bought another striker at 8/10 mil he would expect to play week in week out do we then drop cissie,no i see a good case for andy,i like the new kid we signed could become a bellemy type player,with him and cissie would love the flick-ons from andy,just my thoughts like mate
icedog(Quote)
Ice – do you think he would mate?. I reckon the thought of regular first team football and the chance to link up with Nolan every week would appeal to him more. I could be wrong like, and like I say, if he did come back I think he would make the squad stronger so it wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen – providing its no more than £12m.
What’s your thoughts on a possible Carroll return like mate?
Sharpy17(Quote)
NEWKIE the remy thing is all over the papers mate,its a TORN groin,could be a while with that one
icedog(Quote)
SHARPY put it down to 90% sure mate 😉
icedog(Quote)
Ice,
Ye mate, Richie’s stomach bone is especially big. Pity from what he’s missus tells me that’s about the only one thats big 😉
JJ(Quote)
We need 4 front line strikers NONE of whom are guaranteed a start.
premandup(Quote)
SHARPY we already bid 12mil after loan for him so imo it wont be more than that maybe even less,what are l/pool to do if he wont sign for w/ham,keep him on the books and get no return i doubt it,players have the power now-a-days mate
icedog(Quote)
PEM spot on mate,mind would hate pardew to become a tinker-man to much
icedog(Quote)
Ice-Maybe mate. I don’t expect us to buy a big new CF though which is why I’d like an up and coming one (but older than Campbell obviously-hopefully 20ish) who wouldn’t complain at second fiddle and who could find his feet playing a sub role, or even out on the wing. If Cisse then gets injured Gouffran plays up front, then this third guy, then Shola 😀
I don’t think Carroll is that great for flick ons for players to run on to (never worked with Suarez, and how many of nolans goals came from him speeding onto a ball and breaking past the defence?), he can knock it down right to their feet though. But for me that means playing Cisse level with or behind Carroll where he is instantly worse. It might work for Gouffran tho like you say, much more pace than Cisse.
Newkie(Quote)
Ice-cheers for Remy, hadn’t seen he was out for 3months thought it might have just been 1
Newkie(Quote)
I wish people would just forget Carrol. He isn’t that good anyway. 2 goals in 50 games, two or three knock downs? We need a mobile Beardsley type and it may turn out that’s Benny. He’s only been tried fleetingly in a couple of games. There’s also much better goalscorers than Caroll about.
JJ@16? Absolutely agree. Cabaye’s influence on Saturday was immense. He is the captain and midfield general we’ve all craved.
georgio(Quote)
Newkie,
I’m with you. For me Carroll is deadwood now. Only if he massively reduced his wages and accepted being a squad player would I take him back. Which simply isn’t going to happen.
I’d be going for a top up and coming striker. Just look at the player Villa got out of Belgium. Benteke is twice the player Carroll is.
Surely Carr can find us a young gem for around 8mil-10mil.
JJ(Quote)
JJ i just do not think the toon will go for another cissie type of striker,yes we need a up and coming striker but surely thats where our own young players have to step up and i think young cambell comes in to it,and although pardew thinks young sammy fits into that i dont think hes good enough,but i think thats the way the club will go,i could be a mile off but thats my take on it
icedog(Quote)
JJ-Exactly. Carr needs to head to Belgium, they have a quality young generation of players, go find us one nobody knows about yet 😛 Alternatively let’s snap up Benteke, I’d even take Wiemann from them, isn’t he out of contract this summer? Tidy player, also reminds me of bellamy
Newkie(Quote)
Toonsy – No mention of Marv! 😥 Marv has done every bit as well as, if not better than, Gouffs so he must be disappointed.
It’s madness if Perch keeps his place ahead of Benny when Benny’s fit just because Perch is part of a winning team. It only delays the inevitable; Perch plays, gets subbed, and never gets back in while the likes of Benny and Tiote are fit. If I was Benny sitting on the bench watching Perch, I’d be seriously pissed off.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
A lot of people need to put their hand up and admit they were wrong and that Mike and Dekka are the ducks nuts when it comes to great owners/management. Our current line up now shows that their brilliant vision for the club has been realized.
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Ice – aye a na that, but what would you think if we resigned him? pleased or not?
Georgio – how can we forget about Carroll when the board are bidding on him and Pardew openly admits he’d like him back in?!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ice-I always thought Ashley was playing the wind up merchant by bidding for Carroll like that. Could be wrong tho.
Aussie 😆
At least until our next loss anyway, then we’ll have to sack pards, the board and the players and everyone will be harping about that **** train of theirs again 😉
Newkie(Quote)
I’d also like to see a hands up of those wanting Clarke not to long ago…we still want him do we? Up and coming manager taking WBA to the Champions league….
oops. 😀
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie 🙂 🙂 the ‘horde’ has been quiet this past week or two 🙂 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
And how good was Lambert last season 🙂 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
BB – Marv got special praise from pards for 10 mins of excellent work 😀 feel better? 😆
BB – more likely tiote to replace perch and HBA to replace jonas?
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
Aussie,
I think the board gambled big time by waiting until now to make the signings.
It could have landed us in a heap of trouble.
What has won me over somewhat, is that not only did they communicate that they had made a mistake in not investing but they then went on to put their money where their mouth is during the window.
As things stand, we are still in trouble. But I am far more optimistic about the future with regard to hope.
The true story will come this summer. If they build on what we have. Or if they sell off and fail to get the players we need again.
IF they do build. Then there isn’t much that supporters can really complain about regarding the board.
Until then, there will always be that mistrust of just where the next ‘snake in the grass’ will be.
JJ(Quote)
ozzie magpie fan… you are kidding right? fat mike and dekka are first class wankas. they should have done this in the summer and we would not be talking about surviving a relegation fight, we would have all had a great season and be challenging for top 4 …. but no.. the tight **** heads would not spend a dime and have only done so now as they papped their pants at the very real prospect of relegation… the season before the tv money goes through the roof. So no… i give no credit to them two fukwits. Its called crisis management. It is like most other business issues.. .a successful organisation is pro-active, not reactive. We are re-active and it is that thought train that needs to change.
craig chisholm(Quote)
Aussie-I hold my hands up for Lambert, I thought he did brilliant last season but he has been poor this year. They do have some inexperience, but their front line has been a big disappointment. Kudos for signing benteke though, if he was involved in that. Maybe he can sell him to us on the cheap as well 😎
Newkie(Quote)
SHARPY would i take him back yes i would,would i prefer a better c/f yes of course ime just looking how diff players would fit in i would also expect the younger players to step up for cover or move on,one thing i would thank andy for is thanks for the 35mil as we wouldnt be where we are without it imo
icedog(Quote)
Newkie, I guess my point was management is a hot or cold thing and you can only judge a manager over a long period of time at a stable club. I takes the good and bad luck element out of the equation and you see what the manager in question is really about.
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie-Exactly. Will be interesting what happens if we can push on this season and climb the table-although all I really want is safety and to enjoy the Europa.
If we and therefore Pards survive it’ll probably be the first time in a while where we’ve kept a manager after the knives came out. Hopefully that will do the club some good, although there will always be an unconvinced section, perhaps understandably.
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie, Agree totally mate
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Craig – am I kidding? What do you reckon mate 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
JJ i too would like the club to build on this team but i think we will have to expect out goings,one player i think will defo go is tiote,wish i was as sure as winning the lotto lol,gosling will be another and willo,i see at least 4 going out
icedog(Quote)
Ice-Well, Gosling would hardly be missed 😆 I wouldn’t mind the loss of Tiote that much but for me he’s still in our strongest 11. Wonder who would buy him now though?
As for Willo I think he’d be happy for 4th choice and I’d be happy with him there, he has to be realistic, he could only really be guaranteed at a yoyo club imo.
Newkie(Quote)
Ice, I think selling players will do more harm to our future prospects than getting one or two more through the door. We need to hang on to our first 13 or 14 players and look to move on some of the non starters..
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie-Definitely. The priority for the board should aim to tie up Benny imo. Two years left after this season, that means he’s got one year playing time with us max. Need to lengthen that deal and make sure he can only go for big bucks. If he goes for big bucks I’ll be gutted but we can then reinvest ala Carroll
Newkie(Quote)
NEWKIE thing is with tiote you are looking at him as a red card waiting to happen i think he will go i think now pardew is looking at perch to cover at def/m/f/r/b on a lot less wages too,plus we have bigi,antia ect to cover its a no-brainer imo,simpson will be gone that spanish waste of space is gone,tiote,gosling,willo will follow along with a few more i also think harper will
go
icedog(Quote)
Ice you know your stuff lad, and I know you would agree that Cisse would be one of the top scorers if he had Carroll to feed of, and to add to that we would then be a real threat from corners aswell.
Big Dave(Quote)
Aussie – I think you emphasized your point to the extreme, but I do think you have a point.
I agree that investment should have been made in the summer, but would we have got the same value for £20m in the summer. If we look at the summer targets of Luuk De Jong – £12 (ish), Debuchy – £5m (ish) and Douglas – £4m (ish). There’s £21m. Compare that to what we got and personally I think we were right to wait. IMO Sissoko is better than De Jong, MYM is better than Douglas and we go Debuchy anyway. Add Gouffran and Haidara to that and yeah, I think Mike and Dekka should be congratulated to be honest.
These were ‘panick’ buys. We have been tracking Sissoko, Gouffran and Debuchy for a while and personally I think it was a calculated gamble to make do with what we had, then get these lads at a knockdown price in Jan, or free in the summer for Sissoko. They may not be footballing genius but you don’t become a Billionaire from nowt by being THAT shortsighted.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ice-TBH I don’t think Tiote carries that much threat of a red card-imo he was unlucky with the scum game. Two yellows he can run the risk of, and obviously his effectiveness drops when he picks up his first yellow. For me that means we can bring Anita on in his place and play Anita for all the suspensions. Anita can deputise for both Tiote and Cabaye when either are injured. Plus maybe playing alongside Cabaye holding would calm him down? Plus he knows he doesn’t have to hack someone out before they run at Willo 😀
But after buying Anita I thought surely those 3 would play, now we have Sissoko who is guaranteed first team I guess Tiote has to go-bigi does look to have the potential to surpass him anyway.
Newkie(Quote)
Don’t want Carroll back simply because we now play better when we keep the ball on the deck. Don’t want to encourage hoofball.
Groucho(Quote)