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″]
SM never played at a high level either. Or Mourinho. Hopefully his success so far indicates he understands the mechanics of the game . Just because his body might not have been up to football, does not mean his mind is not.
Shamrock(Quote)
Shamrock: you know I was doing a point/counterpoint argument, right? Hypothetical, saying what people MIGHT day abouyt him. I didn’t even know who the hell Cathro was until a week ago so i have no opinion at all. I did know who Pards and Carvs were though and had very strong opinions on them.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yes. I know what you was doing mate and I was contributing to your points….
On Ameobi, I’m puzzled. He was offered a contract ages ago. So:
1) why has he not signed?
2) why has the club not let him go if he has not signed?
3) At 23, how could it benefit the club or player to give him a new contract, then send him off on loan to the Championship? Either he’s good enough for the Prem or he’s not. If its the latter, let him go because a year in the fizzy won’t make him a PL player. He should already be at that stage…
Shamrock(Quote)
Cheers Shamrock, as I said earlier it is so easy to get misunderstoodz on blogs and I wanted to make sure.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Oh God: and if we had signed the uglier Neville Brother you would not have heard the last of it from me. “Pickled Walnut with Hair” would have been a compliment.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric…Was he 4th choice though? there’s nothing to indicate any one else was ever offered the job, tentative talks at best. I’d say it’s more likely that SMc talked to a few (be disappointed if he didn’t), maybe after talks Cathro was his first choice? maybe not too but he quit Valencia over 2 weeks ago and as I’ve mentioned before on here I’d be surprised if he did that without a good idea of where he was going 😉
richietoon(Quote)
He’s off to Valencia isn’t he? If so, does that mean we don’t have to listen to his aweful match day commentary any more?
Shamrock(Quote)
Shamrock…Nearest La liga club to me, hope I don’t bump into him and have to listen to his drivel. 😕
richietoon(Quote)
Top ugly footballer team:
Coach: Who else? Take a bow Ugly John.
GK: Gordon Banks
RB: Phil the Neviller
CB: Martin Keown
CB: Phil Jones
LB: Frank Clark
MF: Pedro
MF: Fronk Ribery (not his fault, was in Car Crash)
MF: Waynetta Rooney (not his fault, is scouse)
MF: Paytar Reid ( see Rooney explanation)
F: Carlos Tevez
F: Ronaldinho
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Richietoon: I have no clue with our lot but Zenden and Neville said they were offered the job and I have no reason to doubt them.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
RICHIE608,don’t worry mate I’ve passed your address on 😉
icedog(Quote)
So club have said the offer for Dost from toon is far to low (9mil) and will have to bid a lot more for them to sell
icedog(Quote)
Eric…Fair enough, none of the articles I read said that they had been offered the job. In fact the article I read on Zenden didn’t even say they had discussed the Toon job, only that he had chatted with SMc also that he wouldn’t end up at Liverpool or Newcastle but the rumours were flattering. No mention of the job, just a mention of the rumours, if he had been offered it then it wouldn’t have been “rumour” would it? 😉
Cheers for that Ice 👿 I have a photo of Carver on my gate (got it from Eric’s collection) that keeps unwelcome visitors away (and the welcome ones) so hopefully that’ll work on Neville.
richietoon(Quote)
Richietoon said:
“Cheers for that Ice 👿 I have a photo of Carver on my gate (got it from Eric’s collection) that keeps unwelcome visitors away (and the welcome ones) so hopefully that’ll work on Neville.”
That made me laugh Richietoon. I am a Chicago Cubs fan as well. I lived 100 yards from Wrigley Field for 5 years and worked in The Wrigley Building for 17 years and dated a girl who worked for the Tribune Company (who owned the Cubs at the time) and got free front row tickets whenever she wanted them. THEY HAVE WON NOWT SINCE 1908. I am fated to support bad teams.
The Cubs were up by about 12 games or so in 1969 (sound familiar with Keegan’s 12 points at Xmas) and lost to the “Miracle Mets”. Miracle because nobody thought they would ever win from where they were.
There are stories about cursed goats, death threats for a fan who caught a foul ball in a playoff game that stopped the Cubs from achieving their destiny … and many more. It is almost as bad as NUFC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You know those CSI shows and Travis Bickle? That’s me, I have a wall with photos of Carvs on it and say “you looking at me walnut head” 25 times a day.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
O’driscoll Liverpool Assistant manager! Likes to play the right way but a bit left wing
Stuart79(Quote)
Now it’s all about finishing higher than Sunderland. 5 defeats in a row and Ashley couldn’t be happier because we finished higher in the table.
Terry(Quote)
Does anybody really count The Fairs Cup as a real Trophy? I see people say that it was the precursor to the EUFA Cup, but was it? Do you know how you got into the competition – your city had to host a trade fair. It had nothing to do with league position. It is like West Ham qualifying for The EUFA Cup by fair play – total BS.
What I am saying is that our trophy drought really goes back to 1955. So neither of the teams I support has won anything in my lifetime. I must have run over a dozen black cats to deserve this fate.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Really looking forward to our first signing… not because I am panicking about the perceived lack of signings but more around where our head space is in regards to the caliber of player we are after this window. I think the first few through the door will tell us how high or low we are aiming! 😕
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
AMF: it is not “through the door” it is “over the line”. Haven’t you been taking any notice at all?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Nope!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie – I think deals are done to buy Dost and loan Van Ginkel already. If they came in what would be your thoughts mate?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric @ 618 I count the Fairs Cup as a genuine trophy. I think it’s scandalous that someone who calls themself a fan would query it.
And you’re wrong about it not having anything to do with league position.You’re also wrong about the World Fair thing – at least when we won it.
The only rider was that two clubs from the same city couldn’t enter. We came 10th that year and there were a few London sides above us, and Liverpool (which meant Everton didn’t qualify), and WBA won the cup (beating Everton – if Everton had won they’d be in the Cup Winners Cup and West Brom would have taken our spot in the Fairs Cup).
Sure, a back door entry, but we still had to play some good sides – Rangers, Zaragoza, Feyenoord, Sporting Lisbon.
The following year teams like Barcelona, Inter, Ajax, Porto and Juventus were in it. We went out to a late Anderlecht goal and lost on away goals. Arsenal beat Anderlecht in the final.
Most definitely a worthy trophy to win. Anybody who lived through it knows what a great win it was. Respect the history.
Or is this just another cheap shot at the club? Or maybe more trolling?
brisvegas(Quote)
Sharpy, I would be happy with those two mate…. shows we are looking at players that can offer us something over simply trying to fill gaps! Even if the Van Ginkel deal is just a loan, it would not be an issue… most players are very transient now days anyway.. Even if we sign a permanent player that stands out, we would be lucky to have them for two seasons anyway…
Aussie magpie Fan(Quote)
Loans don’t bother me tbh, but it’s nice to have your own quality signing.
kimtoon(Quote)
from Klaus at Wolfsburg
“I read lump-sum payments from €10m (£7.1m) to €12m (£8.5m) for Bas, but then I refer to Roberto Firmino’s example and say they will have to get used to higher amounts if any club really wants to buy Dost,” said Allofs, per the Express.
“We spoke to his agent for the first time over the last week and it has not turned out that Bas wants to leave. He feels very well in Wolfsburg.”
Seems to me that we have not even spoken to Wolfsburg! 😯 Just a load of agent/media BS perhaps?? …. 😕
Aussie magpie Fan(Quote)
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/587736/Director-Liverpool-Roberto-Firmino-example-Newcastle-pursuit-Bas-Dost
Well this one looks a dead duck if the clubs director has his way
kimtoon(Quote)
Aussie, Depends how you view it I suppose, lots saying he’s on his way, but not if you go by the directors valuation, it simply won’t happen.
kimtoon(Quote)
Idiot’s Guide the Transfer Window
Director: Look at such and such a deal our player is worth at least that much. Translation: I’m holding out for as much as I can get, but will sell for whatever i can get. Means Nothing.
Agent: Lots of BIG clubs are after my player. Translation. I want the biggest fee I can get. Sod the Player. Means Nothing
Player. I love the club I am at and want to stay here forever. Translation. Double my wages or I’m off. I know the fans will then believe I was sold against my will. Means Nothing.
Player: I want Champions League Football. Translation I want Champions League Money. Means Nothing
NUFC; Deafening Silence. Translation. Insert Prejudice Here. Means Nothing
Hope that helps when reading the media.
Premandup(Quote)
Aussie/Kim – well the way the head coach was speaking last week suggested it was a done deal. He was trying to convince him to stay 😯 I wonder how much sway this director has over transfers?!.
As for loan deals, I agree. I’d rather own the players, but we need to climb the table to attract quality players permanently, and if loaning players can get us there quicker then so be it. Would be great if the deal had an option to buy though.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Couple of journo’s seem to saying nothing happening at NUFC. Even joking about just changing the date on articles from last week and sending them out again.
Stuart79(Quote)
Apparently we have bid for three players – Matip being one of them and are awaiting answers. Think this will be one drawn out transfer window personally. Buckle in, relax and wait for the frustration I say.
Stuart79(Quote)
There’s still time to get some players over the line. Don’t panic Mr Charnley. We still have the january window to get some in.
Terry(Quote)
I have a sneaky feeling that prices have gone up this summer and this is one reason why we have not got anybody yet. If you look at the prices Liverpool are paying then other clubs will look at that and adjust their valuations in line with that.
Doesn’t bode well with our allergy to spending over £10m.
Stuart79(Quote)
http://www.transferleague.co.uk/newcastle-united/english-football-teams/newcastle-united-transfers
1 for the record
Premandup(Quote)
The club dispute that though don’t they and that figure doesn’t add up to the amount in the club official accounts. its about £5m too high. The club say Cabella was nearer £7m which would then add up to the amount in the accounts.
Stuart79(Quote)
Prem @629 – like that mate!
georgio(Quote)
Stuart @636.
Proves once again that we cannot use any media reports as evidence to back up our prejudices.
Premandup(Quote)
I’m not sure that website is main stream. Most local journo’s have always said Canella wasn’t £12m
Stuart79(Quote)
why are we bidding for players that don’t want to come here? With bids that won’t be accepted by any of their clubs?
Matip, Abdennour, Dost???
don’t understand why we didn’t even go for any of the realistic free agents this summer.
At the moment I don’t see a way in to the top 10, when you consider Stoke, S’ton, Swansea West ham are already strengthening it looks like another season of relegation struggles.
Starting to think that the Ashley interview was merely propaganda.
BIGPAPA(Quote)
BrisV: I wasn’t trolling. It was something I read a few months ago that the main qualification to enter the Fairs Cup was holding a trade fair in the city. I was 4 at the time so have no recollection. I looked a bit further and there was a sort of league position qualification and we snuck in through the back door, much like West Ham with Fair Play. I found the attached article and the author seems to think the Fairs Cup was actually a bigger achievement than the current Europa League setup. I have adjusted my view and consider the Fairs Cup as a real trophy now. I think I was feeling sorry for myself because the Cubs seemed to be getting better and then went on a 5 game losing streak. I thought it was fate that I support perennial losers 🙂
http://gameofthepeople.com/2013/11/30/great-reputations-newcastle-united-1968-69-the-last-chorus-of-blaydon-races/
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Thanks for the read Eric
Premandup(Quote)
most of the speculation are coming from a banned paper, the Chron. The chron have nothing to report so they make **** up.
who knows, we mightnt of made any bids yet. I know its pretty frustrating.
The only good news is 30% of season tickets havent been sold… 😀 how do you like that Fatty??
Gashley(Quote)
Still nowt happening on the west end front then 🙄
Sharpy17(Quote)
Gashley: I doubt the Fatman is losing that much sleep over season ticket sales except for the gaps in the crowd. The attachement is a long article on football finances. The main point I take from it is that there is a projection of an increase in our TV revenue next year from 77mil to 117mil – thats a 40 million increase. No wonder transfer fees and wages are spiraling out of control.
http://swissramble.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-premier-league-tv-deal-master-and.html
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric…Have a mate over here who’s a massive Toronto Blue Jays fan, I have no idea what he’s on about once he talks baseball so I usually switch off…he’s also a Man Utd fan so I switch off when he talks football too 😛
I used to work for a yank owned company and got offered the chance to transfer to Chicago. Turned it down though, what if… 😕
richietoon(Quote)
Nowt happening yet, Sharpy, but that’s probably because we haven’t sold anyone yet… 😯
Stuart79(Quote)
So we made a big profit last season, the only question being how big. The number 34 mil has been bandied around and disputed by Chris G, but we also paid off a massive one-time overdraft. A conservative estimate would be 20-25 mil. Now, without lifting a finger NUFC and the Fatman are handed a cheque for an extra 40 mil a year (starting next year). No wonder Fatty said he would invest in the team, we/he are rolling in it. He could even pay his loan back AND invest in the team.
Ashley’s statements about keeping the team until we win something are far from altruistic, they are self serving. He knows he has a cash cow as long as we keep our premier league status. And the TV money is guaranteed money and when have the rights ever gone down for sports, the next deal will be at least as lucrative?
So, because so much of NUFC revenue comes from TV, the value of NUFC must also have gone up with an increase in revenue from this source of 50%. Sure, players and Agents will want their cut and transfer fees will undoubtedly increase, but a lot of the money will still fall to Fatty’s bottom line making NUFC worth more to a potential buyer.
Since the TV revenue is guaranteed we could easily borrow against future revenue and make a big splash in the transfer market and raise our profile again. This is not Fatty’s way though, so watch as West Ham, Everton and the like pull further away.
Please prove me wrong Fatman.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stu – maybe, or more likely it’s coz we have no money thanks to those fickle fans who haven’t renewed their tickets yet!! 👿
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stuart: we don’t NEED to sell to buy. That will be Fatty’s choice and in my view would be really stupid unless it is a fringe player. You are right though because Ashley hates depreciating assets and will probably sell Cisse because of his age, just like he did Santon because his contract was running down and they took a relative pittance rather than settle for nothing.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy mate, we have tons of money and the promises of vast riches in years to come (see the article @645). The problem is that all the middling PL clubs are seeing massive % increases in their revenue and are more likely to spend it. The extra TV money doesn’t mean a lot to Man U who have corporate revenue, but it means a hell of a lot to Stoke and Leicester. They are now our competition as we get very little corporate revenue and ticket sales account for an ever dwindling % of our income.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ERIC SYKES
<<<<<<<<<<<<< was also 4 when we won the fairs cup 😯 thats a long time without silverwear 😯
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
I know you’re being sarcastic, Sharpy but we should be spending profits from the last year which will be an absolute fortune added to the previous years profits, plus all the cash we have racked in over the last year.
Stuart79(Quote)
<<<<<<<<<<<< is against loan signings meself dont see the point in increasing the value of another teams player while knocking 1 of our own players back
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
look at that dude we payed a 2 million loan fee for collos buddy never even played
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Apparently sources close to Palace have said Cabaye could well be joining them.
Stuart79(Quote)
Some transfer bargains from The Guardian. Amazingly, we are linked with one of them.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/jun/30/transfer-window-12-best-deals-summer
It shows there are players out there but we seem to be stuck in a loop where it is the same players mentioned all of the time. I don’t know if we are looking at other players, but you would hope so. It is probably lazy journalism from The Chronicle and the local papers because all they do is repeat the same f@cking stories every day.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
What would be worse; Not buying anybody because we’re tight arses and useless or; Players just not wanting to come to us?
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart @658: those issues are linked. We have to show intent. It will not be good if we keep chasing our tails and don’t get our purported main targets over the line. We have so many gaps and needs, what are we doing pissing around with the same names day after day?
I would like a statement signing but would settle for replacements for the likes of Williamson, Obertan and Sammy. Upgrades, so we then let some of the chaff go, even on frees or paying up their contracts.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Maybe Eric but don’t we have to give it as much time as possible to get the first choice players? The issue is of course that we need so many new players to improve the squad the closer we get to Sept without signing any players the harder it is to get what we need.
So the questions are. How long do we give these players to decide and are the back up targets as good or are they more of the likes of Gouffran and Rivière?
Stuart79(Quote)
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-not-signed-anyone-9557346
Really good piece. Positives about Ashley’s positivity but a bit worrying about Austin.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart: I really think we can afford 2 of the 3 out of Mitrovic, Dost and Austin. It is, as you say, a matter of whether they would join us. I have no clue about a centre back but feel the Monaco guy is pie in the sky. I watched some Marseilles games and have to say I didn’t even notice Thauvin.
I have said this before, but we should be spending this window because prices are only going to go up. That doesn’t mean we will fix everything this summer but we can make a good start. People might say that by making a big splash we would be mortgaging the future but that is **** because the TV money is guaranteed. A bank would make a loan on guaranteed income. Hell, Fatty has enough to loan more knowing it will add value to his asset (NUFC) and that the money will be forthcoming to pay him back.
Faffing around and quibbling about the odd million here and there is the worst thing we can do. Players are only getting more expensive and this could get away from us very quickly. Since we move at glacial speed, I am not too confident as yet, Even though the window isn’t open 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I don’t really see why we would not spend 15 mil each on 3 very good players and then 5 mil each on 3 more upgrades. Total spending would be 60 mil and I bet we could offload a few (tiote?) to bring in about 10 mil. A 50 mil net spend is well within our reach.
The economics of it are pretty simple as well. If we bring in players who demand high wages then most of the contract will be when we get an extra 40 mil per year in TV money. There might be a blip this year in terms of % wages to revenue but that will be short term.
I know it is a bit boring to dwell on finances rather than to look forward to new exciting players and a new season. However, that is the way our club is run, with bottom line thinking. Ashley says we have to bolt the cart to the horse now that finances are sorted. Unless we make the type of signings I am suggesting we are putting the financial cart before the horse. It is obvious we have the money, now let’s not fall behind Leicester, Stoke and Watford.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This is definitely doable. Think about it 3 players on 100k and week and 3 on 50k is 22.5 million a year on extra wages. Coloccini and Taylor’s contracts drop off in 2016 saving 5 million. This is a no-brainer, even if players like Sissoko want parity we can afford it.
And we might get to watch some good football for a change.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think the biggest problem is that players genuinely think the club is toxic. What’s happened can’t have gone unnoticed around football. I honestly believe the players are waiting to see if anything better comes along. Can’t blame them to be honest but I don’t know what happens then if someone better does come along. Are we left trying to sign Rivieres and gouffrans?
Intrigued what’s happened to Austin though. He intimates he’d be interested a move and the club go silent on him and don’t bid? What’s happening there?
Stuart79(Quote)
You know Liverpool offered Sterling 100k a week. One of the hottest properties in football (deserved or not). We have the money to blow the likes of Austin and Mitrovic away monetarily if we choose to do it.
Imagine, Austin was playing for Poole a few years ago. Offer him 4-5 mil a year, why wouldn’t he come? Mitrovic is a 20 year old Serb playing in Belgium – dangle the cheque in front of his agent, he has plenty of time for Champions League. Of course, this is anathema to the way Fat Mike does business, but I can dream.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, the article above says money is very rarely even brought up as we have the 7th highest wage bill in the league. So it must be something else holding the players back.
Stuart79(Quote)
I saw that about wages Stuart. They did get rid of some high earners though in Ben Arfa, Santon and M’Biwa and Taylor and Colo drop off next year. Given these moves I think there is plenty of room for players’ wages as you say.
If there is currently a toxic feel about the club this can be fixed quickly with a couple of good signings. As I said, dangle a cheque in front of the Agent and see what their scruples are.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I seem to have taken over the blog but there is nothing going on and people are free to ignore my finance diatribes.
Pre-season training tomorrow and the most interesting bit will be if Tiote, Sammy and de Jong turn up. I have heard rumblings that Tiote is still injured so I doubt he will be there, de Jong trained on his own in the summer but the only information we got about him since he signed is misinformation, and Sammy, is he even our player any more?
This is it lads and lasses. The season ended May 24, McClaren signed June 11th and the only moves have been to decide who will put the cones out, though of course that is addition by subtraction when you look at the coaches who left.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
To be honest, Eric it really gets on my tits how the club drag every single appointment/announcement. Why haven’t they just announced the back room staff so we can hear from them and see what they’re about? It’s ridiculous! It’s probably this outrageously pathetic attempt at controlling the media.
Stuart79(Quote)
Richietoon@646, I hadn’t realised Gregg’s had a pasty shop in Chicago 🙂
Munich Mag(Quote)
Stuart: their media campaign has totally backfired. Luke Edwards barely hides his contempt. Ryder repeats the same story every couple of days and has still not said a word about why he was so in favour of his BFFs Carver and Stoner. I guess they gave him access but he was still behind them after 8 straight losses. Is that what you want in a sports writer? He never does any actual journalism, I think I could do his job just looking at Newsnow and rehashing a few Ed Blogs. And don’t get me started on the “five things we learnt” and the polls. This is not journalism, this is people stealing a living.
The local journalists and Bishop deserve each other. A bunch of hacks happily being misled by Ashley’s latest puppet and never doing what their job should entail – investigative journalism and passing on new information (not spin) to their now-not-so-loyal readers. Read any Ryder column and see the messages after, there is total disdain for anything he writes now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
MM: Yanks and Krauts tonight. My mechanic asked me if I would be watching. I didn’t even realise he knew I liked football. Will be watching Argentina anyway, as you have already told me Germany will win on penalties.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
eric your better off watching sweden sprogs v portugal sprogs in the u21 euro finals….should be a cracking game
Munich Mag(Quote)
So Cabaye is joining back up with Pardew,wonder how much that is costing them??
icedog(Quote)