After a couple of seasons at least of penny pinching, Newcastle now find themselves in the position of a major rebuild in so far as the squad and coaching position is concerned.
So how and can we in fact, actually manage to successfully achieve this?, in short, I would say no, not under the current regime. My reasoning for this is that the whole of football knows we need to give the squad an overhaul and will price their players accordingly. However clever Lee Charnley & co believe they are at playing the long game in negotiations, this is one battle they are destined to lose.
The club will, as usual spend a lifetime bartering with various chairman ,players and agents only to fail to pull off the deal. We have seen it all before remember and there is nothing to suggest things will change, certainly not that PR stunt of an interview by Mike Ashley.
Lee faces an uphill battle to convince players and agents that the Toon are a reformed club that will be focusing on a decent shot at the cups and a route into Europe. Why would anyone believe such a change in direction after the clubs mandate has been the opposite for the past 8 years. An 8 years that has seen us relegated once and flirt dangerously with it on another two occasions; the last one still fresh in the mind.
Players will want to see a good head coach in place, a sign of quality players on their way and of course decent wages to entice them here. With regard to the first issue we look to be getting Steve McClaren. There is little doubt he is a big step up from Pardew and Carver, he has, at least won things at different clubs and has good European experience, but is it enough? Let’s be honest he doesn’t have the pull of a Klopp or Rafa and even the untried Vieira would of maybe signalled a big shift in attitude by the regime. Time will tell if players are tempted to jump on the Steve McClaren train.
The second issue see’s us on a real sticky wicket. How on earth do we get the quality of player here that’s needed to help us maintain our Premier League position, let alone advance in the cups and up the table. We have been linked to all manner of players based in the uk, players we know could do a job, but what’s the chance of them arriving? I would be amazed if we landed Charlie Austin, simply because of the price tag alone, the latest figure being £15m. Given our pound for pound value ethos we got going on then it simply won’t happen in my opinion. Just as Danny Ings looks set for Liverpool instead of Newcastle, he’s another we were supposedly keen on. I can see us going back to France, Holland and Spain for cheap up and coming starlets who may or may not work out. There is no sea change in our recruitment policy, of that I’m convinced. We have tracked Ayew a free agent for over a year yet we have given up on him as he is not seen as value. Wow, it only took them a year to come to that conclusion! Ayew is on his way to West Ham apparently.
Lastly we have the issue of wages. Time after time we were informed we could not compete with the likes of Southampton and Cardiff et al by Pardew and anyone else in the regime. We have certain wage restrictions in place and slowly but surely seem to be ridding ourselves of big earners too. All this from the 19th richest club rings hollow to me somehow. The fact is if we don’t offer a competitive wage the player will find a club that will and by the same token we will lose existing young promising players like Aarons and Perez.
By not boosting the squad with quality season on season but flogging or loaning out players we have left ouselves vulnerable to relegation and greedy agents and clubs whom we wish to deal with. The bottom line is we have contrived to get ourselves into a position where the club can now be held to ransom over players. Our war chest of the reported £60million isn’t going to last too long with everyone aware of our urgent rebuilding job and it certainly won’t be enough to cover the 7 players most in football seem to think we need.
Kimtoon
Kim good read and I agree with most of what you say, but I really dont think McClaren is a big step up from Pards, Carver maybe but for me he is or will be just an average Prem manager
Big Dave(Quote)
I agree with most of what you say, Kim. But I also agree with Dave and I’m not sure McClaren is a big step up to be honest. I hear lots of people say he’s a great coach but then again I heard many say that about Pardew too. Personally I think it will be much the same.
If you want a good team you need good players. It really is as simple as that.
Stuart79(Quote)
I also agree, SM isnt a big step up, very similar actually. they will strangle the life out of a match and be happy with a 1-0… although he seems to be playing a different system @Palace where the score quite a few 😕
I don’t think it will take much to avoid relegation, a few mediocre signings and we’ll be ok. It was the lack of investment and JC being **** that saw us plummet
Gashley(Quote)
If anything, I’d say it was a very small backward step 😀
Pardew has gained a bit of experience now in the Prem where SM has done ok in other countries but failed twice to get out of the Championship 🙄
Not even sure if he’s better than Pullis, Martin Jol etc…
Gashley(Quote)
Lads, I’m not overwhelmed by Steve either but he does have more experience than Percy with regard European football for instance. He has also won stuff as a manager unlike Pards. Much will depend on if he can bring in some of his own guys to the coaching set up and the type of player he’d like. As always Jabba has to step up and put his money where his mouth is or he will indeed be making his own luck.
kimtoon(Quote)
Dave , ta for putting article up.
kimtoon(Quote)
Gashley if SM turn’s us down a third time then we should get Ian Holloway in. His won promotion from the championship with Crystal Palace and Blackpool. He is also a free agent and would be a slight improvement on Carver also and his interviews are fun to watch. Ian Holloway needs a job and we need a head coach.
Stem(Quote)
Ian Holloway is the man for me personally. We are already a joke of a club, let’s appoint a head coach that makes everyone laugh ?
Stem(Quote)
Good article Kim.
I agree on the step up from Pards which is why I’m not completely bothered by this. I do like some of what I’ve been reading on McClaren and does seem to have evolved as a manager following his time abroad. My concern is some of the tremendous lows he’s experiebced as a manager- I mean it can happen to anyone for reasons outside their control but he’s got 3-4 such situations on his resume which suggests more than bad luck. Still o could envision a scenarios, with the right signings (that’s of course another issue altogether) where he could have is comfortably in the top ten and looking to push on.
I just view his appointment as an opportunity wasted to galvanize the fans and bring some excited back to the club
MDS(Quote)
Stem, Ollie is a great man manager, players love him, he’d love a shot at managing the Toon. It would either be brilliant or an unmitigated disaster 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
MDS, agree totally mate, they have missed a trick but now we have him we must back him, at least until it goes very wrong.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim, Ollie was a good player and did well managing abroad but it’s risky like you said Kim. We need somebody that’s used to working with a small budget and can keep us in the league. Ollie could do that I suppose.
Stem(Quote)
Does Charnley play a long game RE transfers the way Llambias did ??
Perez & Colback were done before the season had ended. De Jong, Cabella, Riviere & Janmaat by mid july.
Weve taken our bloody time with the manager/coach position but we were quite decisive last summer for a change.
CC(Quote)
CC yes and I seem to remember us discussing the fact last summer that is was nice to have someone who seemed to get things done more quickly than DL.
I actually expect 2-3 over the line rather quickly once the window opens.
MDS(Quote)
missing out on a player claimed to be 1 of ya top targets proves to me nothings changed in my opion
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
when was the last time we got a top target over the line while fatboys been in charge
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
all fatboy is intrested in is the free advertising thats why he wont sell the club has no intrest in building a footie team time for the fat git to leave
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
only made his statement cause he was likey to get assaulted
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
notice the statement was made just before he took his seat just enough time for his statement to filter though to the fans
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
and seeing as his sports direct profits come mainly from that ground advertising is it any surprise he comes out and says he wont sell the toon at any price time for peeps to use there brains and think this all though
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
CC, De Jong was a sicknote worry which probably sped up the transfer, Rivi and Cabella relative unknowns, same for Perez ( Lge 2 in Spain ) though I know he’d been watched, and Jacks a local and always likely to come to us. Janmaat was a coup but how long is he ours?. Let’s see if they get Austin or a cheap alternative.
kimtoon(Quote)
<<<<<<<<<<<<<< this dude here wont be geting behind his new nodding donkey thats for sure
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
De Jong was back playing for Ajax at the end of the previous season, Cabella Went to the World Cup and wasn’t unknown at all, Rivière was watched by plenty of premier league clubs and was close to joining Stoke before us, Colback had offers from other PL clubs, Perez had offers from big clubs abroad, Janmaat was signed 4 days after he’d finished playing in the World Cup
Not sure what you’re point about Charlie Austin has to do with Charnley being slow to sign players or not, More the perameters Ashley imposes on the club
CC(Quote)
so now that we are getting priced out of the market for our key targets, we are told we will look at loaning players instead of buying them.
YCMIU
Complete shambles
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Is McClaren really going to be our next head coach or is it just speculation ? Are we really interested in signing Charlie Austin or is it a way to trick fan’s into renewing their season tickets ? I really don’t get what’s so difficult about replacing Pardew ?
Terry(Quote)
CC,My point about Austin is he’ll be long gone before we get round to asking, given how long we’ve taken to appoint a coach 🙄
As for Janmaat I did say it was a good buy but for how long? Colback was a freebee and would always choose his hometown club so a no brainer, even we couldn’t muck that one up. Perez was watched by other clubs, yes I did say that. As for Rivi almost going to stoke, I guess our loss is their gain judging by this seasons showing from him. De Jong has been a sick note since he arrived and needs to really come good this season.
kimtoon(Quote)
http://mobile.newsnow.co.uk/A/777072508?-11058:809
Armstrong scores for England U18s – I hope the new Coach that comes in gives this lad a fair crack next season. I think this kid could be ‘if you’re good enough, you’re old enough’
Sharpy17(Quote)
I guess I feel sorry for any manager coming into this club.
It’s almost impossible now considering the mess we are in.
Could well be onto a hiding for nothing.
But he can’t say he didn’t know what he was coming in to.
I just hope he drives a hard bargain from the start and holds out for what is needed. Not just accepting what is offered. He must know he is in a strong position as the preferred candidate. (only candidate). Time for his agent to earn his crust.
Boots(Quote)
Look whether Rivieres ****, Colback would always choose us (judging by those West Ham rumours that wasn’t actually the case) Whether Janmaat leaves tomorrow.
on the basis of the one summer we can judge him on; I think it’s unfair to say Charnley will prat about and fail to sign players. We had 90% of our signings sorted weeks before pre season. Gomis being the obvious exception for the 10th season in a row.
CC(Quote)
TAE – Are you not even prepared to give the new HC a chance like ?
Seems a tad premature and harsh to condemn him already. Maybe wait and see what develops over the close season.
We should know more before the new season starts to make an informed decision on his chances of succeeding and how true to his word fatty has been.
Boots(Quote)
CC, Calm down dear, it’s just a blog 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
Who needs calming, I’ve been in a good mood all day
CC(Quote)
It was said that McClaren would be announced on Wednesday when he returned from his jollies. I’ll get behind the fella personally coz I think he’ll do a good enough job for us. I’m also quite confident we will sign 6-7 players this summer. There’s a good 3 weeks before the window opens though so we will have to be patient on that front.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: the window is essentially open now mate. Players are signing up – look at Ings to Liverpool.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
A lot of players contracts don’t end until June 30th but that doesn’t mean they cannot be signed and wait the 3 weeks.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I wonder how long a contract Austin signed when he joined QPR two years ago? No doubt he’s on good money but… demanding £15million for him? They just got relegated.and he scored regularly in the prem. He will surely put in a transfer request and they aren’t really in a position to demand big money, like the baggies are. You just got relegated huh huh. 🙂
DJG(Quote)
BOOTS
<<<<<<<< wont back a nodding donkey bud and thats all he is and why hes surposed prefered choice fatboy had the chance to win back some faith of the fans but they choose not to put the fans choice by a long way i might add in charge
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Eric – players can’t be signed until the window opens mate – that’s the point of the window. We can stir up a drama about it all but that’s a fact. Last summer we were signing players in the first few days of the window – De Jong for example and despite having been linked with him, it still came as a bit of a surprise when it happened. We signed a total of 9 players last summer, so I think 6-7 is entirely possible and highly likely with the number of players we are getting rid of.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: officially!!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
60 million aint enough to cover the players we need
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Every news organisation is reporting Ings to Liverpool as a done deal and we are still 3 weeks away from the official opening of the window.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
<<<<<<<<<<<<<< sees they want 10 million for bamford laughable
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
<<<<<<<<<<<< is sure ya can sign players before then ya just cant present them official til july
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Eric – coz it sells papers & its news mate. He hasn’t had a medical or anything yet. Lpool had signed Remy according to all the papers – til he had his medical. Seriously mate, it’s only the official signings that count 😉 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
aint it called a pre contract agreement
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
yeah ings still has a medical to pass not often a player fails 1 so would call ings to liverpool as good as a done deal
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
It’s an old cliché, but Siem de Jong could be like a new signing if he manages to stay fit. I can hardly remember seeing him kick a ball. Perez will only get better and has the ability, seems to have the desire. They are like the No. 10 and 11. Need to add a No. 9 like Mr Austin and that isn’t a bad forward line. (would add height to our team of midgets as well)
DJG(Quote)
Sharpy: I just remembered that Ings is a free agent as well, so that might make a difference. Anyway, we should be getting ducks in line and all that.
If we need to pay 12 mil for Austin I would pay it as we need to accommodate hoof-it-Timmy because I fear his distribution has been irreparably damaged by the last coaching regime.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
TAE – likewise, but until there’s a photo of him holding the shirt, nowt is confirmed mate.
As for the £60m – providing that is for fees (which it should be coz we have shaved quite a bit from wages) – then that could be enough for 6-7 players – especially if 1 or 2 were free transfers.
Sharpy17(Quote)
DJG – I think McClaren could find De Jong, Aarons & Armstrong all hidden gems in that squad mate.
Eric – that’s my point though mate, we don’t know that they haven’t already got their ducks lined up. We signed 9 last summer and most were in very early on in the window.
Sharpy17(Quote)
<<<<<<<<<<<<<< see armstrong stuck it to putin 😆 😆 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
TAE – Aarons scored for England young un the other night as well mate, so I hope they get a crack at it next season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy if SDJ manages to stay fit I would call him a hidden gem but I can’t ever see him ever fully recovering. A collapsed lung is a serious injury and players may not ever fully recover from it. It’s not SDJ fault of course but are scouts and medical staff must have been unaware of it. Ajax got 6 million and a player off the wage bill. Ajax also got the best days out of him as well. Everybody thought Kluivert was going to be great including myself but I learned you should never judge a player on reputation.
Terry(Quote)
Sick note Dejong 😯
Apps Goals
2009–10 Eredivisie 22 10
2010–11 Eredivisie 32 12
2011–12 Eredivisie 29 13
2012–13 Eredivisie 34 12
2013–14 Eredivisie 19 7
wow, he hardly strung a game together before we bought him! 😆 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
AUSSIE MAGPIE FAN
notice ya left out the 2014 2015 season on sicknote Dejong aint played much since his lung started going up and down like an old tyre 😯
SHARPY17
yeah i saw arrons scored also bud dint think adams is ready meself bud not for prem footie anyway 😀
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
SHARPY17
perhaps we could invest in a few punture outfits for next season has a funny feeling we might need them 😯
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
meant for AUSSIE MAGPIE FAN at 56 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
AUSSIE MAGPIE FAN
add a foot pump to the list also 😆 😆 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
no expense spared for mr sicknote Dejong 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
TERRY 25
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< hears Charlie Austin is on his way to southampton meself
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
TAE 😆 I think I know what you mean 😆
lets be honest, who hasn’t been an injury prone gimp for us in the past few seasons!!
I am starting a new web site.. layoffsicknotedejong.com
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
I think we get linked with these good players to give the ST sales a boost.
Pure fantasy bullshit from the regime.
Expect a player of the caliber of Riviere not ings and austin.
Can’t blame the press and media, someone inside the regime is drip feeding them this tripe.
It’s probably best to believe nothing until it happens.
Boots(Quote)
Boots, how is the club doing this for ST sales?? nearly all of the players we are linked with are figments of the press’s imagination (bullshit)!
I know the regime are a pack of ****** but there hasn’t been any statements from the club stating that they are chasing this player or that player..
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
hang on, I am going to do a bit of English Journalism…
… Micah Richards trained under McLaren a long time ago…. Richards wants to PL footy + McLaren is going to be Newcastle Manager = Newcastle want to sign Richards!
Bamford trained under Mclaren an long time ago… Bamford wants to play PL footy + McLaren is going to be Newcastle Manager = Newcastle want to sign Bamford!’
**** easy this reporting lark!! 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie, the Bamford one won’t happen, I read the lad slagged off McClaren for playing him out of position 😆 😆 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
Love to see us sign Austin, if only to give me back a bit of belief again. It will likely be a repeat of last seasons clutch of hit and misses. We could do with shifting a few as well to free up some spaces.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim @ 65 😆 god bloody help us!! 😆 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Kim – I could see a loan deal with option to Bamford like. I also think Austin is a done deal 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
Aussie there’s loads of lazy reporters where Newcastle are concerned. Newcastle have a war chest of 60 million ( Yeah right!).
Newcastle to bid 15 million for Austin.
Newcastle want to sign Richards on a free transfer because his worked with SM ( Yeah, Whatever).
If Newcastle get relegated Ashley will sell up.
Newcastle want Rafeal Benitez as head coach along with Garde and many others.
The list goes on and on.
Terry(Quote)
It’s all going on at West ham and Swansea today.
West ham get bellic and Swansea get Ayew.
Still no news is good news or so they say ?
Terry(Quote)
Luke Edwards
@LukeEdwardsTele
15m
Carver and Stone will lose jobs at #nufc today. More to follow on
hitman(Quote)
How delightful
CC(Quote)
Just beat me to it Hitman. Lets hope it’s the start of many changes for the better
Simon(Quote)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/11662671/John-Carver-sacked-by-Newcastle-United.html
😯 I never thought they’d do it. Looks like SM will get to pick his own staff…and rightfully so
MDS(Quote)
comfirmed.on the yellow ticker ssn.
eric will be buzzing. 😀
hitman(Quote)