The only player in the 25 that is under 21 years of age is Rolando Aarons. However this season we are required to have 8 home grown players, which we will struggle to meet with outgoings and our liking for cheap foreign imports – therefore I am assuming the club will register Aarons in the first team squad to help meet the criteria. In any case, I cannot see the club buying a senior to pad out a 25 man quota and treat Aarons as a junior in the process. He is already a key player when fit.
This summer will see a few players return from loans, such as Haris Vuckic, Jamaal Lascelles, Karl Darlow and Sylvain Marveaux. We know couple of those will be kept, but would you keep Vuckic and Marveaux? The former had a very good season at Rangers and was arguably their best player when played just behind the front two.
Meanwhile, Cheick Tiote and Papiss Cisse are being linked with moves away to Turkey. Tiote is a good player on his day, but has had lengthly spells on the treatment table and when present, has been criticised for a loss of form. Is it time for him to go? We may be buying a top striker this summer (allegedly), but would it really make sense to flog last seasons top scorer just to help raise funds? Moussa Sissoko has been linked with moves to Champion’s League clubs and has made it clear that he would jump ship given the chance. After a season of up and down form and questions around his commitment, do we really want to keep a mercenary on the books – or is he just too good to let go? In defense Steven Taylor is perennially injured but still considered a better defender than Mike Willamson (except when his suicidal decision making comes to the fore). Should we let one or both of them go to make room for a top defender to come in?
Have players like Remy Cabella, Vurnon Anita and Sammy Ameobi really flattered to deceive, or has the poor quality of our coaching staff meant that the players’ quality has not been given the chance to shine through thanks to bad training drills and tactics? Would you give these players another go under a new coaching set up?
I have set up a pole below. We will go with a majority rule – so whichever players have less than 50% by the time the vote closes tomorrow will get the thumbs down from the Toon faithful and we will expect the player to be moved on by August and replaced by somebody more deserving to wear the shirt! Our budget is not going to be massive and we are unlikely to buy loads of players, so bear that in mind when you are wielding your virtual axe!
[poll id=”81″]
Turns out I forgot to put Marveaux into the squad, so we in fact have a squad of 26. Vote on his fate below;
[poll id=”82″]
Cheers MM: I just checked ESPN and the U21 coverage starts in 10 minutes.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
As it stands on ST sales the crowd will be under forty thousand,better get your finger out jabba quick sharp
icedog(Quote)
Jesus Christ! Leicester have sacked Pearson! Now that must be due to things outside of football…
Stuart79(Quote)
That’s a shock Per
icedog(Quote)
That’s a shock Pearson getting the sack 😯
icedog(Quote)
STUART he always struck me as a weirdo
icedog(Quote)
not that I wanted Cabs back but its sad when 52k fans, probably better wages, adoring fans isnt an attractive proposition anymore.
Palace are a better option than the Toon, we’re probably down there with Villa, West Brom
We are indeed toxic, cheap-skates. Chron poll had 58% fan dont see us spending this Summer. What the hell is Charnley doing??
I bet we’re desperately trying to sell Goofran, Obertan, Rivi etc to get the numbers off the books
Gashley(Quote)
Ice, I read back along they were looking at 10m. At that price we could have him back and still have made somewhere in the region of 4-5m profit.
Gashley: Is Palace a more attractive option? Probably if we are not an option then, yeh. I’ve not heard of us having any interest.
You Yew(Quote)
YOU YEW I suppose jabba sees no sell on value at his age 29.he always buys with the view to sell on for profit after a couple of seasons normally
icedog(Quote)
The Pearson sacking has to have something to do what went on with them players, his son was one of them that was sacked.
kimtoon(Quote)
Ice, Don’t forget Cabaye went on strike to force a move so that will be remembered I should imagine.
kimtoon(Quote)
Ice. totally agree. Regardless of the fact we’d still be in pocket, he’s made his tidy sum now, and he’ll not reduce it by bringing him back.
You Yew(Quote)
Kim, agreed also.
Was a great player, but it’d be like taking someone back who cheated on you. You couldn’t be too surprised if it happened again.
You Yew(Quote)
KIM686 spot on mate
YOU YEW your reet
icedog(Quote)
Eric @ 641. OK. Nice read for that link. Took me back a bit. I saw all those home games and even went to the Rangers away game. The whole Fairs cup run will stay with me till the day I die.
One of the things not mentioned in that article was that Ujpest scored a goal at Newcastle. A fre kick in the dying seconds – only to have it ruled out because the ref had blown for full time just before they took it. Now that’s something that wouldn’t happen nowadays.
It was a pretty average side in truth, though, but there was true grit in there, and the crowds were fabulous.
The current mob of overpriced nonentities could take some pointers from that group of players, and Ashley would do well to take note of the atmosphere that was created. If they want a successful side, they need the support of the fans. Something that seems to have been erased from the big picture as far as the powers that be are concerned.
brisvegas(Quote)
£10m for Cabaye! Why oh why aren’t we signing him!?
Stuart79(Quote)
For those interested in the transfer process there’s a neat infographic here: http://blog.thomascooksport.com/sport/football-transfer-process-work/
It also has a couple of good links to related transfer info.
brisvegas(Quote)
Watching the women’s world cup semi Germany v US. Lovely flowing game. It really is a breath of fresh air to see a game that isn’t constantly stopping for cynical fouls.
Have to say that I want Germany to win. Only because I met the German goalkeeper at a Brisbane Roar function last year when she was playing for us.
And speaking of Brisbane Roar 😆 (well, I haven’t mentioned them for a while). You guys think you have it tough at Newcastle. Brisbane are broke. They can’t even afford to pay the players, and that’s with billionaires as owners (although they have debts in the billions as well). Mike Ashley is a veritable spendthrift compared to these guys.
Anyway, back to the game.
brisvegas(Quote)
BrisV: the thing I notice most about the women’s game is that they are not drama queens rolling around like they have been shot after every little clip. I am watching Argentina/Paraguay live starting now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/587890/Wolfsburg-Newcastle-Bas-Dost-transfer lol who they trying to kid been on the old happy baccy by the looks of it
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/587773/Edin-Dzeko-response-Roma-chase-Newcastle-forward-target
The obvious risks of acting slowly?
You Yew(Quote)
Stuart79 says:
June 30, 2015 at 17:20
I think the biggest problem is that players genuinely think the club is toxic.
Who is that then?? Please name the players that you have spoken to Stuart! Otherwise stop guessing what players may or may not be thinking because you have no clue other than guessing that they are feeling the same as you do……. jesus wept 😕
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Well with the problems we seem to be having getting a CF in, and having watched the U21s again last night – I still think we are mad for not going for John Guildetti on a free. His playing style is similar to that of Austin, and whilst he doesn’t have Austins PL goals or experience – on a free he’s no risk really. Nowt stopping us still pursuing one of the other 3 and trying to get one of them as well.
Sharpy17(Quote)
hed be worth a punt on a free transfer, Sharpy but there doesn’t appear to be a queue forming for his services so I wonder if he’s just not good enough? Never seen him play personally.
Stuart79(Quote)
Looks like WBA are about to bid £10m for Austin. Id like to think we’re a bigger attraction than them surely?
Stuart79(Quote)
Eric will be happy as the transfer window is open now! 🙂
Stuart79(Quote)
If the baggies get Austin then I give up.
kimtoon(Quote)
TAE@695 😆 😆 😆 TMBJ( they must be joking )
NEXT
kimtoon(Quote)
Board meeting today to discuss transfer option apparently! Why hasn’t this taken place 3/4 weeks ago?
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – I would guess at his wage demands being high mate – that’s what usually puts numerous clubs off. I know Celtic was keen after he had a good loan spell with them, but they now look elsewhere.
We are going to have to bite the bullet one way or another though. They either stump up the fees to land contracted players, or pay the wages of the free transfers.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stu – no confirmation on coaches being appointed. Total lack of season ticket sales. No signings yet …. yeah I reckon they have quite a bit to discuss
Sharpy17(Quote)
It’s to discuss the transfer ‘options’. Shouldn’t that have already been done? Unless the options are changing…
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – yeah I think it will likely be to discuss plan B or probably C now.
Sharpy17(Quote)
How infuriating will it be if Cabaye goes to Palace… He’s a top class player who we have missed and still not replaced. Why isn’t Jabba in there getting him back for half the price he sold him for?
Stuart79(Quote)
Oh to be a fly on the wall at Benton today
Stuart79(Quote)
Someone made a good point on Twitter; Darlow, Lascelles, Aarons, De Jong and Marvauex all like new signings. That concludes the summers transfer activities. Thank you
Stuart79(Quote)
Is it not likely that todays meeting is a routine. The coaches have had a day with the players. Transfer progress will have been noted. I would have had a meeting scheduled to review progress to date long ago.
Premandup(Quote)
Or lack of progress as it may be? Notice the time they say they’re hoping to have the first signing is by the first friendly now, not this week as previous.
Does anything think that by needing so many new players it’s going to be difficult getting them gelled together in such a short time as the closer it gets to August with less new players the less time they have to gell?
Stuart79(Quote)
I will continue with my finance class 🙂 Paying up front was Ashley’s way of not getting the club into further debt. However, with a guaranteed extra 40 million a year beginning next year, wouldn’t it make sense to pay for a few players on installments like other clubs do. Sure, if we can get a better deal by paying up front, do it, but otherwise stop pleading poverty because we all know there is a massive increase in TV money coming. Of course, Fatty could be intending to just trouser the extra income.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We know nothing of progress. Only the lack of players wearing the shirt. eg results. We know nothing about offers made or received and how they are being progressed.
Premandup(Quote)
transfer meeting planed eh like the useless twonks aint had nearly 2 months all ready 😯
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
@skysports_bryan: Our Sky colleagues in Italy: Stoke agree fee of €17m (£12m) with Inter Milan for Xherdan Shaqiri. #SSNHQ
I’m not too sure we’re even going to catch the other clubs. We were so far behind them last season with them strengthening further, which just makes it even harder for us to improve.
Stuart79(Quote)
So we have not bid for any player yet,so Carver was talking **** weeks ago when he said work was ongoing on transfers and fans will be happy with who they sign he sat in on the meetings and a lot of progress had been made on the targets,god they feed us fans some ****
icedog(Quote)
Stu – I don’t think it can be about ‘catching’ the other clubs, in terms of how much they are prepared to spend on fees and wages – we know tnat we won’t spend any ‘future’ income, however guaranteed, and it even remains to be seen if we’ll spend anything without player sales. Stoke, Swansea, West Ham all direct competitors for decency, are all prepared to spend next seasons’ money – in fact I’d say that even if we did spend £40m (which I doubt) we’ll be amongst the lowest spenders in the division.
It’s more about what the squad needs. We can afford to let seven or eight players go and feel no impact, but we will again really struggle without at least one proper first team new CH, CF and creative mf player.
GTE(Quote)
How are we going to finish in the top 8 with the squad we have ?
How are we going to challenge to win a trophy with the squad we have ?
We have money in the bank that isn’t being spent to improve the squad. We’re going to be fighting relegation next season and fan’s still renew their season tickets!
Terry(Quote)
From NUFC.com. These are the players whose contracts expire next year:
2016 (11): Mehdi Abeid, Fabricio Coloccini, Rob Elliot, Shane Ferguson, Alex Gilliead, Sylvain Marveaux, Kevin Mbabu, Gabriel Obertan, Steven Taylor, Haris Vuckic, Mike Williamson.
Some should be sold now, but nobody can tell me that we do not have flexibility on wages. I have seen mention that we had the 7th highest payroll in the season ending June 2014. That cannot be the case now with the shunting of ben Arfa, M’biwa, and Santon and the expiration of Jonas’ and Taylor’s contracts.
We have a massive opportunity this window but it seems there is even more dithering. In companies that I have worked for it always seemed that the number of meetings was in inverse proportion to the amount of work done. Less talk, more action.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The 7th highest payroll fact cannot possibly be true any more anyway. I am sure that was way less than Spurs anyway and I am sure with the business that Stoke and West Ham are doing they will have passed us. Maybe Southampton and West Brom will as well.
It is obvious there has been a cull of non-performing players at NUFC and that this will continue next year. What they seem to have underestimated is the competition for the quality of player we need as replacements. This should have been obvious to a blind man with a mole as a guide.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
GTE – Surely it’s about catching other teams? Otherwise how are we going to move up the table?
The way you have come across here is by saying we aren’t going to have the resources of the other clubs so we just forget about it and look at just ‘Staying up’.
Stuart79(Quote)
Not at all Stu – some of the teams that are ambitious (i.e. targeting 8th!) are going to crash and burn, one or two will get the spending right. It’s always been about building a balanced team, rather than how much money is spent. Do any of us really believe that fatty has found real ambition? Do any of us believe that we will out-spend mid-table rivals? Both for footballing, and for sadly realisitc fatty financial reasons, the only hope we have is actually to buy just a few first team players, but the right ones. (Not that I’m holding out much hope there either).
GTE(Quote)
Well we have been hoping some teams would crash and burn for the last 8 years but it doesn’t work like that. There’s so much money now from TV that these clubs aren’t spending what they don’t have, they’re spending what they have and what they will get.
This waiting for everyone to go bust plan isn’t working.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – we aren’t going to spend the money that other clubs are going to spend, so better to get over it, rather than set yourself up for a fall. Fatty ain’t going anywhere. I’m far from resigned to struggle, however. Pardew, for all his limitations, showed that a decent coach (which he was) can deliver a decent team. McLaren is going back to that model. We need to buy in at least a first team ready centre half, centre foward and creative midfeld player, to even start to build a foundation. If we don’t get even those, it’ll be a struggle. I’m losing no sleep over other clubs paying big money here and there, however. If you’re waiting for us to ‘compete financially’ you’ll have to wait until fatty’s gone.
GTE(Quote)
As for clubs that have in the past few seasons spent more than us and crashed – I would suggest Villa, Hull and the mackems. Over these next few seasons, we’re looking at teams like West Ham, Swansea, Stoke, Saints, Everton, – all competing for 7th at best. I’m not saying that they’re going out of business, just that they can’t all succeed, and at this level (below the in another financial league top-6 at the minute), it’ll be footballing organisation and teamwork, rather than spend, which determines relative success. Palace, I suspect, will spend a lot less than this lot and give them a good run…
GTE(Quote)
This is interesting and actually on topic for this thread 🙂 Southampton have terminated the contract of their record signing costing them millions because he is ****. Why can’t we do the same with Obertan and Williamson if only to make McClaren resist the temptation of ever playing them and to free up places in the squad?
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/01/southampton-dani-osvaldo-terminate-contract
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Couldn’t agree more Eric – we’ve already got wage space, but we can get rid of at least 10 players and not notice the on-field impact – so get rid!
GTE(Quote)
Sorry but using Hull as an example is totally ridiculous! They got promoted so spent money which every promoted club does, stayed up and then got relegated. Hardly crashed and burned. Villa is the closest example but even they’re still competing with us so hardly burned in comparison to us.
I’m already resigned to not spending money, but it gets on my tits that we don’t seem to spend money we do have!
I you seriously think just three players will push us up the table then I’m not sure you watched last season and I’m certain you have no idea what other clubs who also finished above us last season are doing in the transfer market. Three players will improve us, God it’s hard to not improve on last season but every other club will also improve.
The question is; What’s the bloody point? How fucking slow can one club build? We’ve been building for 8 years. We’re the only club I have ever known who builds over 8 years then demolishes the foundations every year.
Utterly moronic!
Stuart79(Quote)
In an ideal world you would get rid of Obertan and Williamson on frees because then you get their wages off your accounts. However, what if nobody wants them? I mean, what is the point of having 2 players training with the first team and wasting coaches valuable time trying work around their deficiencies. The Williamson corner and free kick routines have been talked about a lot, but getting rid would mean we never spend another minute on that shyte again. Similarly, we have all seen that Obertan has pace and a bit of skill but he can only ever beat one player and then loses out on the next tackle and has no end product. No amount of coaching will fix this, so just give up on him, he’s had plenty of chances. Some people will say he did alright before he was injured last year, but did he really? How many goals and assists did he have?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You finished Stu?
I watched plenty of last season, and as has been said on here so many times, we are short of class and leadership in key positions, front, back and middle. Around and about there’s potential, such as Krul, Janmaat, Dummett, Haidara, Colback, Sissoko, Cabella (yes, even Cabella, I said potential), Perez. Add in the returnees, at least one of whom can hopefully be fit and perform for half a season – Saylor, De Jong, Tiote, Aarons – and there is the makings of a decent first team, IF we get at least a commanding and pacy centre half, a leader at centre forward and a bit more creativity in midfield. Of course I’d like more and even that needs one of the **** that was Colo, Anita, Gouffran and Riv to come good and the squad kids to chip in as they should – occasionally. So, yeah, I’d take three proper players in, mebbe a couple more squad players and 9-10 out.
GTE(Quote)
Couldn’t agree more Eric – from the current first team squad we can get shot of (at the least)…
Elliot, Ferguson, Gilliead, Marveaux, Mbabu, Obertan, Vuckic, Williamson and Bigirimana…
and not notice. Cisse too if we properly replace.
GTE(Quote)
Well actually no I haven’t finished! I find it absolutely vile, disgusting and **** right outrageous that we can’t or moreover won’t compete with the likes of West Ham, Swansea, Stoke or Everton! That means we compete with the three promoted teams and the likes of Sunderland and WBA. How is this acceptable?
In fact it renders the club completely and utterly pointless! 👿
Stuart79(Quote)
Just in case anyone wants to rewrite history on Obertan and say he was decent until injured last year here is what actually happened. He was a used and unused sub in the 1st 6 games when we were then bottom of the league. Pardew got desperate and started Obertan against Leicester and Spurs which we won, but not in any convincing fashion. Obertan played OK by his previous standards. He then played 27 minutes against Liverpool and went off with that bad injury.
That hardly makes up for the previous 3 years of shyte. Get rid whatever way we can and do not waste any more time on him. Same for the other dead wood GTE mentioned although I would give Marveaux another go as I doubt any other club would take on his wages and I don’t think he was ever given a fair shot.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Now that you’ve finished Stu, (he types optimistically), that’s the whole point, that word “compete”. The most obvious thing going into this off-season was that because of the TV money selling clubs would ask increasingly silly money and agents would ask increasingly silly wages and fees for players if any PL club was sniffing around – and that Newcastle wouldn’t pay those fees and wages. Getting radgie about it just seems a bit silly. I’m just pointing out that, IMHO, it isn’t how much we spend that will make us “compete” with other PL clubs, but how well we spend on a few key positions, and that lots of the clubs “out-competing”us will end up wasting a lot of money.
GTE(Quote)
I am not sure we could get rid of Williamson without missing him considering he was our first choice centre back along with Colo. He’s bad, but he would be better than a cardboard cut out.
Stuart79(Quote)
I am not advocating getting rid of all of the dead wood now except Williamson and Obertan. But do not name any in the 25 man squad and if they are still there when the transfer window closes, cut them all so the coaches do not have to waste any of their time on them.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Honestly, GTE, sometimes you come across as intelligent and then others you give me the impression you’ve never watched a game of football!
This ridiculous notion of not how much you spend, it’s how you spend it is complete balderdash! It’s a land of milk and honey that doesn’t exist. If it did, every club would do it and players wouldn’t be being transferred for such high prices.
Supply and demand is a simple economic principle. When incomes go up, so does what you buy and that’s basic. The fact we expect prices to be the same now as they were in 2010 is ridiculous considering our income has gone through the roof.
Stuart79(Quote)
It’s possible on Marv, Eric – it would be disappointing if a new coaching couldn’t get a lot more out of at least one of Marv, Gouffran, Anita, Cabella or Riv.
Stu – the Willo thinking isn’t actually picking on him, (he wasn’t actually always dog-awful last season), just assuming that with WIllo, Colo and Saylor as senior centre backs, one of them will have to go, if a new one comes in, with Lascelles and Dummy providing cover. Yes, I’d prefer two new CBs as well, but it isn’t going to happen.
GTE(Quote)
Inclusive and nurturing as ever Stu 😀
GTE(Quote)
Stuart: at some point you have to say enough is enough. You can’t tell me we can’t find someone better than Williamson in the German or Italian Leagues for a decent price? They may not be the best, or our first choice, but they would be a step up. Williamson is supposed to be on the lowest wage of any senior player so dumping him wouldn’t cost much with only 1 year left on his contract. It is time to be bold and stop pissing about.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, Williamson has to go. He’s not good enough but we need to replace him. He started most games last season which tells you he couldn’t just be sold without replaced and not be missed – however bad he is, he’s better than nothing.
Stuart79(Quote)
Why are we retaining a 23 year old on a new contract only to farm him out for a loan in a league that is not relevent to the required experience that he needs, or that we need him to have? Better off letting him go.
Shamrock(Quote)
Stuart: it is an indictment of our (mis)management that Williamson was first choice most of the season and the stupid decision to let M’Biwa go on transfer deadline day without a replacement and knowing Taylor’s injury record (average of 14 games played per season over 8 years). That almost got us relegated and did get us the 2nd worst goals against. That was not all Willo (take a bow Lee, Pards and Carvs), but he certainly didn’t help.
Fatty said things will change – I am still waiting as Troysta would say in his own most annoying way 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Shamrock: it can only be that Sammy doesn’t have any better offers and the hierarchy have convinced him he has a place if he can get more 1st team experience and get a few goals and assists under his belt?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Loan him to a newly promoted team then, or a team in the Spanish/Italian top flight. He is 23. He’s not a kid anymore. He needs top flight experience. If we are saying he’s Championship level at his age after years of being in A 1st team squad in the PL- then who says he’ll ever be a PL player? Seems a total waste of time to retain him then give him irrelevent experience. He is the only player in the squad that can actually cross too. Either let the new coaches work on him to make him a better player HERE this term, or let him go.
Shamrock(Quote)
ERIC SYKES
i hear what ya saying about williamson but how comes no1s saying the same about collo he matchs him mistake for mistake
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
in fact its debateable whos the most useless out the 2
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
We’ve had years of Carr identifying players, hit-lists drawn up, players watched and tracked for years but still we’re having meetings about transfers..
Get it done already, we have the money so make some offers.. 👿
Gashley(Quote)