I was reading the latest article from Olivier Bernard in the Chronicle today, (http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/players-thinking-twice-joining-newcastle-9485041 ) and you have to say he makes some thought provoking points.
He argues we need around 10 new players and the need to build a spine of a new Centreback, central midfielder and center forward with Premier league experience and that’s hoping we avoid costly injuries along the way.
Still the thing that stood out for me, was the who would want to sign for us bit of the article. Given the chaos of last season and the not so good previous one and the apparent lack of ambition, then who indeed would want to sign? Factor in the whole attitude the regime has towards players, (Jonas treatment whilst poorly and the manner in which he and Ryan Taylor were let go ) and we look a cheap and nasty outfit to the outside observer.
When Mike Ashley stood before that sky interviewer on our last game of the season and said things would improve and he took the blame, I allowed myself a mediocum of hope but remained wary given his level of ambition over the past few seasons. All the same I had hoped the close shave with relegation and the poor previous season had made him really stop and think about his long term plans for the club.
Now it’s early doors, the transfer window is yet to open, but I’m getting that same old feeling that we just aren’t at the races again. The new momentum we all expected seems to be vanishing with the slow appointment of Steve McClaren and now the long wait for his assistants to arrive as well, and that’s before we even see a bid for a player materialise. Liverpool, Swansea ,Southampton and Chelsea have all been busy sorting Transfers already and their need is no where near as urgent as ours is.
Without a key quality signing it will be extremely difficult to attract players of the relevant skill to our club, likewise they will want to see quality coaches here as well. Given the way some of our players have been treated by the club, and the
lack of player replacements when our top players are sold, what player in their right mind will want to join us?
Bernards point that Palace look a less risky bet to players seeking a move is a valid one. They look more settled than us and all the fans are united behind the team and manager and the board are giving Pardew funds to improve the team with quality signings.
Meanwhile Newcastle have so far been linked to a lot of championship players, not surprising given that’s where our new coach has been previous to joining us; and a couple of mid table quality players at extortionate prices. Well if we ever end up paying £20million for Troy Deeney, we need sectioning as a club. How can a championship player who hasn’t even proved himself capable at Premier League level be worth that kind of sum?
And this is the problem we face, the whole of football knows we are desperate for reinforcements and will attempt to hold us to ransom. Ofcourse we will bulk at the fees being asked and walk away and bring in our 2nd, 3rd or 4th choices and a few foreign up and comings and hope for the best. We might even go with what we have and try for better deals come january 2016, it’s not like we havn’t before.
But the real key is what do the players want. If you were a decent player looking at us from the outside, would you see a fresh start with a healthy dose of ambition? Or do you see the basket case other clubs fans and the media have portrayed us as?
I do not see a fresh start, sorry but I don’t. I know a lot of you don’t care about what happened with McClarens first press conference and in truth a few hacked off journo’s doesn’t overly trouble me either. But the reality is, that one little act tells you nothing has changed, the regime are still insular,secretive and aloof unless cash is involved. It sets the press and media against us before a ball is even kicked for the new season . They had the perfect chance to start afresh and foster a new understanding with fans and media alike, isn’t that what THAT interview was all about.
If real investment isn’t made and that’s more than the reported £25million, then the fan unrest of last season will become even more toxic . With lots of empty seats it will be interesting to see how the regimes preferred partner Sky feels about their cosy relationship. More to the point, players will be looking at our level of ambition in who we sign over the coming weeks and I suspect that Bernard may of hit the nail on the head with his article.
We may have fifty odd thousand cheering players on and a beautiful stadium but it means nothing without real ambition and desire to improve. At this point we should be pulling out all the stops to attract players, I remember freddie Shepherd saying the fact we aren’t London is a stumbling block so we have to really sell the club and area. Let’s hope Lee and company are doing just that, otherwise it could be another long season.
kimtoon
MM…Of course you have mate 😉 Sober is a physical state that only exists in myth apparently.
richietoon(Quote)
Are you taking the myth ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
http://mobile.newsnow.co.uk/A/779409455?-11058:809
This could be an interesting addition to the team.
Sharpy17(Quote)
AUSSIE MAGPIE FAN 182
a what mini me 😯 dint nar if ya aint notice but me and STUART79 tend to dis agree on most things 😆 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
🙄 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
AUSSIE MAGPIE FAN
but even he has the sense to see a lot of sd profit come from the ground advertising 😉 rather than your leaflet drop bud 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
AUSSIE MAGPIE FAN
and me adding sense and stuart 😯 in the same sentence dont happen often 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
They start with the same letter – that’s about the only thing they have in common.
brisvegas(Quote)
😆 😆 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Vegas 😆
TAE, don’t underestimate the power of a good letter drop campaign! 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Noting all the comments about not knowing what’s going on. Yet people still talk about who the papers say we are interested in as if they have some inside knowledge.
It’s a case of don’t believe what the papers say unless it’s in writing. Very strange.
brisvegas(Quote)
Austin’s, or his agent, is either waiting for the right money or the right club to come in. We may yet get him if neither happens. I’m starting to get the sense that cliubs are being put off, however – party boy? silly wage demands?
GTE(Quote)
http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/pool-ace-to-send-ashley-out-message-to-newcastle-owner-at-world-championship-1-7322877
kimtoon(Quote)
Good words from Cisse, Surely more sense to keep him than get two strikers who might not settle quickly or be any more than a flash in the pan.
CC(Quote)
I keep seeing people say the transfer window is not open and then seeing teams have signed players. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think the players’ regiistration cannot be transferred before July 1 but that doesn’t stop them from signing a contract does it?
It will be moot very soon, but if this is the case we should have been moving heaven and earth to get a couple of signings over the past few weeks to show intent.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
From the Telegraph:
“The transfer window dates for the major European leagues have yet to be finalised, but France, Germany, Spain and Italy’s tends to open at the beginning of June rather than July. This means players from those leagues can agree moves into England, but transfers will not be ratified until July 1. The Dutch summer transfer window tends to open in the second week of June.”
SO WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SIGN PEOPLE FROM THE LEAGUES WE LOOK AT ALL MONTH !!!! Technically the transfer window is not open , but effectively it has been open for weeks FFS.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Here is the full article from the Telegraph on the Transfer Window. I challenge anyone to tell me we haven’t been asleep at the wheel:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/11600297/When-does-the-transfer-window-2015-open-and-close.html
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Like the Sound of Ian Cathro we’ve needed some innovation at SJP for some time, Steve Black & Eric Steele would also be great appointments If they come off
CC(Quote)
ERIC you should know jabba intent by now,the same as it always been for seven years spend as little as you can then say we did try to get them over the line,these days you have to sell the club to get players in but to offer them buttons you have no chance,KK was a master at selling the club but those days are gone
icedog(Quote)
McClaren signed June 10 so we should have been working on transfers since at least then and we have been able to sign them. I am sure people will say they couldn’t because we needed his input? That is not what Carr and Charnley told us though – they said the head coach coaches and upper management decides on transfers. Another argument might be that we were waiting for a decision from Austin, but why would that stop us signing midfielders and defenders?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well, at least Charnley had a good day out at the cricket with Stuart when he should have been working 7 days a week at this most critical time.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Now I am even more mad at our faffing about. I knew there was something fishy that other teams were signing players but I couldn’t find anything definitive about the rules until today. I probably didn’t look hard enough and was giving everybody that said “wait until the window opens July 1” the benefit of the doubt. I should have known better.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Timeline:
May 24: PL season ends
May 25: McClaren sacked by Derby
June 1: PL teams free to sign contracts with players from Germany, Spain, France and Italy.
June 8: PL teams free to sign players from Holland
June 10: McClaren signs for NUFC
June 23: Nowt’s happened
July 1: PL teams can register players and sign players from PL teams.
What a complete bunch of incompetent tw@ts. They better sign Messi to change my mind on this 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
CC I heard a podcast interview with Ian Cantro a few months ago and he certainly talks the talk. I would imagine he would be a good addition to the group, the more foreign language speakers the better imo.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Eric Sykes Pep Guardiola was influencing FC Bayern transfer policy yonks before he actually sat in the hot seat. Maybe things have moved a tad too quickly for Steve and Charney, at the end of the day he was still derby manager until not so long ago and we know Charney doesn’t do “quick”..
Munich Mag(Quote)
It all seems to be going the way we expected unfortunately
Stuart79(Quote)
MM: maybe NUFC should invest in some consultant for Charnley to show him how to walk and chew gum at the same time. I see the Schalke chairman is making fun of us. If you were Bas Dost, would you leave Schalke for us? Only if we doubled his wages and how likely is that?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Meant Wolfburg
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Munich
Im pleased we’ve finally decided not to go bother with the “real football man” cone/bib brigade like Fazackerley, Kevin Bond, Wadsworth, Carver Etc.
The lads might actually be coached/prepared properly for the 1st time in God knows how long…
CC(Quote)
The chairman of Wolfsburg didn’t mention the fact he could earn a lot more money in the PL!
Stuart79(Quote)
CC: Ian Dowie 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: Wolfsburg are spinning it as much as we should. I have said before that NUFC shouldn’t be a hard sell as the foreign players don’t follow us closely. All we need to say is we have good players who were badly coached, but that has changed now. And by the way, here’s a million pound more a year than you are earning now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
There’s also plenty of rumours about NUFC not being prepared to pay the fee for Austin. Don’t see many Journos being too optimistic on this transfer too.
Stuart79(Quote)
My post @242 about the Transfer Window opening shows totally sloppy journalism from The Telegraph. Here are the actual dates:
http://www.fifatms.com/en/Football-Data/transfer-windows/
In summary:
France and Holland opened June 9
Belgium opened June 15
Germany, Spain, and Italy open July 31
They all close on August 31 which is a day before us because of the Bank Holiday in the UK.
Sorry if I caused any confusion but I was taking my information from The Telegraph article and you would think they would have checked their facts.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It was good to see the Enland and Canadian women teams win their round of 16 matches. Now they play each other. A tough one for me. 😀
GeordieTwo(Quote)
If the Wolfsburg manager/coach is urging Drost to stay – that would suggest that a deal is on, and Drost is keen on the move.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Oh God, there is a typo in my post @259: Germany, Spain and Italy opens July 1.
My point about us being able to shop in some markets now remains valid. They are our main markets as well of France and Holland. Plus weren’t we looking at that Anderlecht striker?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Couple of bits of news…
The Dutch kid Wyldanum (?) wants to go to a Champions League club and press in Turkey saying Tiote’s agent has met Trabzonspur officials.
Add that to the club wanting to sell Cisse and us not having bought anybody yet, are we going down the usual route as selling to buy?
Stuart79(Quote)
G2 are you happy with the jobs Lee’s doing or do you think he needs more time to think ?
STEM(Quote)
CC@254:
Agreed. I’m certain our dated coaching has stifled some genuine talent in the squad over the last few seasons at least.
I can’t say I know anything about this Ian Canthro guy, but just having someone young and innovative, and from what I’ve read today very well thought of in the game, gives me a little more hope and confidence of a change in the right direction.
Things are moving slowly for sure, but the little that does happen seems to be positive, albeit most of it being words and not action thus far.
You Yew(Quote)
Just been having a though about selling Cisse too.
He scored 11 last year in what was marginally over half a season. So, just for arguments sake, could we assume he’s capable of getting 18-20 over a full term? Especially with potentially better coaching.
Is that worth letting go?
We were short of a striker full stop, if we let him go we need 2 in.
I’d be thinking of keeping him and still adding someone like Austin.
Costs nothing to give him a years extension.
You Yew(Quote)
Is it a coincidence that we haven’t bought anybody and we also haven’t sold anybody yet?
Stuart79(Quote)
One thing is clear from the press is that a significant number of players have been at least informally approached, and that negotiations are ongoing with several of them
premandup(Quote)
Of course we need to sell first, otherwise we have players on our books, getting paid, but unable to be played as we can only name a 25 man squad, plus unlimited U21’s.
I think we are currently sitting on 23 ish.
The trouble is we are over loaded with mediocre players that no other team wants or needs.
Willo, Tiote, Obertan and Goufran all need to be shifted out as soon as possible to make space.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
I don’t doubt we have been putting feelers out to entice players to come, just as Leeds are rumoured to have done with Williamson.
Don’t see anything happening now until 1st July.
Firstly we need Maca to finalise his coaching team and give us all the good news. Then we can see player movements in and out.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
BB – Please explain how we have 23 ish when since the start of last season we have got rid of Santon, HBA, Mbiwa, Jonas and Raylor. That would suggest we have at least 5 spaces available in the squad.
Stuart79(Quote)
From what I can make out, we have 21 first steamers, Aaron’s included. He is under 21 at the start of the season, so that gives us 20 – 5 spaces for players with the likes of Williamson, Obertan, Gouffran and 1 or 2 more hopefully to be sold on. Marveaux May come back into the fold.if Ameobi does not sign on, then there’s more space there. also depends what we decide to do with Vuckic, who I’d like to see in our squad.
Shamrock(Quote)
Make that about 13 first teamers and 8 steamers….
Shamrock(Quote)
Not forgetting the requirement for minimum 8 home grown players in that 25 too.
Another reason why Austin makes sense
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Wolfsburg are a factory team backed by the massive Volkswagen concern. Next season they will be playing Champions League, and Bas Dorst will not want to jeopardise his international career with the euros on the horizon. Klaus Allofs is one of the smartest football directors in the bundesliga. Could be a difficult task despite mcclaren’s past history with VFL.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Looks like Cathro has got one of the coaches jobs. Suppose to be highly rated but never heard of him so no idea about him.
Stuart79(Quote)
MM: One thing we might have going for us is that Bas Dost might want regular first team football before the Euros?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Dost or Austin; Cisse or Fauvin; Who is no 3?
Premandup(Quote)
Armstrong probably
Boots(Quote)
Perez?
Boots(Quote)
Riviere ?
Boots(Quote)
Could be though I have Perez as a second striker rather than leading the Line. Armstrong or Carroll on pay per play?
Premandup(Quote)
Oh god I hope not. Riv, didn’t see that one coming 👿
Premandup(Quote)
Forget Carroll not happening
Boots(Quote)
Krul, Colback, Aaron’s, Elliot, Saylor, Ameobi, Dummet., Williamson, Vuckic.
That’s 9 home grown in a squad of 23 assuming Ameobi signs and we keep Vuckic and Marveaux.
That also assumes we register Aaron’s, even though he’s under 21.
Realistically we are liklely to lose one of Saylor/Williamson as well as Vuckic – leaving us with 7 home grown and at least 4 players to purchase, more if we offload any fringe players such as Gouffran and Obertan. Then I can see one of Sissokoq/Cisse going to help generate funds. Personally would rather see Sissoko go as Cisse still has a lot to contribute.
In summary, I can see us needing 7 players to make a squad of 25 and only 1 of those 7 required to be home grown. 3 or 4 home grown signings would be better for the club though in my opinion.
Shamrock(Quote)
Well he ain’t going anywhere this summer so he is a factor
Boots(Quote)
I’m thinking of getting frozen only to be defrosted on 1st Sept to see what our squad looks like then. It’s just such a chore being a NUFC fan. I don’t get too worried until the local Journos (preferred media partners) start getting more and more negative and I’m sensing these sorts of opinions now.
Stuart79(Quote)
Nice calculation Shamrock
I think Tiote will be away too. Extra funds for the pot.
I think the reason we have offered Ameobi a new contract us to help fulfil the home grown quota.
Boots(Quote)
Shamrock
The F.A. are increasing the home grown players from 8 to 12 over a four year period from 2016. Squad size staying at 25 players so we do need to start looking to sign home grown players.
sidekick(Quote)
Mitrovich. I forgot him.
Premandup(Quote)
Agreed on both Tiote and Ameobi Boots.
Realistically we are never Gona buy 7 players this season, especially since we need a proper striker and CB – which will eat our budget.
So, I expect a couple of marquee signings followed by cheap foreigners, free transfers and 1 or 2 loans. Not got a problem with that so long as our core is stronger and more committed (less Sissoko types and more home grown) and our coaching team is improved.
Shamrock(Quote)
Cheers Sidekick. Hopefully we sign 3 or 4 home grown this season then. I reckon we’ll end up with no more than 2 on a permanent basis (too expensive) with maybe 1 or 2 on loan with a view to purchase next summer.
Shamrock(Quote)
Sham…Don’t forget Lascelles and Darlow too (do 😉 n’t know their ages)
richietoon(Quote)
Cheap foreigners like Riviere, Gouffran and Marvaux?
Stuart79(Quote)
*oops smiley has moved 😳
richietoon(Quote)
premandup
June 23, 2015
One thing is clear from the press is that a significant number of players have been at least informally approached, and that negotiations are ongoing with several of them
……………………….
I think that’s right.
I think some folks believe that transfer business begins with negotiating a fee with a club. The reality is that clubs get a general idea about a players value and then work with the agents to try and get the player to want to make the move. For the most part, good players will enjoy their holiday and wait a bit to flush out all of the interest. That gives them options and bargaining power for wage negotiations. To me no signings yet suggests we are talking to good players
MDS(Quote)
I like that theory, MDS and I hope you’re right. However I would like to ask you a serious question. If they’re good players, won’t good clubs be interested in them who are more inclined to offer better salaries and why would they choose NUFC currently?
Stuart79(Quote)
Good point Rich, both are home grown and over 21 this season I think, so that actually gives us a squad of 25 with 11 home grown players.
Minus Vuckic, Williamson and maybe 3 further players means we only need 5 new signings, hopefully a couple will be home grown – leaving us in a decent position of we strengthen properly and sort the staff out.
Shamrock(Quote)
Stuart @294: there was a theory that was prevalent not so long ago that Pardew sucked the life out of some attacking, flair players and tried to recreate them in his own image of a runaround journeyman. The term “Pardewed” was even used and I might also say “Carvered” could have also been appropriate.
Marveaux looked good at times. Gouffy started well.
I saw a Palace fan on here or Eds saying that Pards was doing a great job managing Palace but that he was the worst player he had ever seen in 40 years of watching the club.
In summary, who knows what we really have after our flair players have been Pardewed and Carvered?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, it will be interesting to see what new staff can do to existing players. I refuse to believe they are all ****. Can’t cross, can’t pass, can’t produce.
Shamrock(Quote)