The names allegedly being touted for sale are Mike Williamson, Mehdi Abeid, Yoan Gouffran, Gabriel Obertan and Sylvain Marveaux. On top of that, there is a suggestion offers will be considered for Papiss Cisse and Captain Fabricio Coloccini (code word for ‘for sale’ in my book). The touting of these players will not come as a surprise to many. Several of them have contracts due to expire next summer, whilst all bar Coloccini and Cisse have been ineffective on the whole during their respective stints at The Magpies.
If this report is true, then there is also a talking point to be had regarding the players that have not been put up for sale. For example Haris Vuckic is listed on the club website as one of the squad’s midfielders, but Shane Ferguson is not. What does Steven McClaren and Co. plan to do with these two alongside the likes of Gael Bigirimana and Curtis Good? For me, Vuckic is still a real talent. His recent spell at Rangers showed what he can do when played in a number 10 role behind the striker. It would be interesting to see him deputize for Siem De Jong this season, who we surely cannot expect to pull off a whole campaign unscathed given his previous injury record with us and current massive lack of match fitness. If our pre-season tour of the U.S is anything to go by, then we can expect a variation of a 4-2-3-1 formation this term. It would make sense to play De Jong behind the striker – and this is also Vuckic’s strongest position.
Gael Bigirimana is contracted to stay with us until 2017, so it is conceivable that he could go out on loan to prove himself this year. He has shown flashes of promise for us in the past, but for whatever reason Alan Pardew and Co. did not fancy him and he has stagnated badly. Surely he cannot be in with chance of making the 25-man squad this season. So if he’s not for sale, a loan must be a serious option for him. Shane Ferguson however is in his last season with us. Newcastle’s depth at left back is not great. Massadio Haidara has been steady enough in the wake of Davide Santon’s exit whilst Paul Dummett’s best position is still being debated. What is certain, is that Ferguson knows how to cross a ball. However, he has never been consistent enough for the first team and always seemed to run out of steam after about 70 minutes. What the plan is for him is anybody’s guess?
An interesting omission from this list is Rob Elliot. With Karl Darlow coming in and Freddie Woodman seemingly progressing nicely, it had been expected that Elliot would be making way. Elliot is actually a very steady goalkeeper and has been very useful to us during his time here. Darlow has not looked the most convincing during the U.S tour and Woodman is still very young and inexperienced. Retaining Elliot is a common sense move. There were many reasons why the club was dragged into a relegation fight last season, but one big reason was surely the lack of depth in goal. When Krul and Elliot were injured the inexperienced Jak Alnwick was thrown into the deep end. He spent more time picking the ball out of the net than he did making saves and it remains to be seen if he will ever player in the Premier League again. We do not want this to happen to Woodman and it seems the club has learnt this particular lesson from the last campaign.
Selling Papiss Cisse is a risk. For all his injuries, inconsistent form and disciplinary problems – he still finished our top scorer last season and is proven in the Premier League. The signing of Aleksandar Mitrovic, one of the most promising young strikers in Europe, is great to see. However, he is unproven at the highest level and cannot be expected to carry us on his own. We have been strongly linked to Charlie Austin – who IS proven in the Premiership. If Austin comes in, then fans would accept Cisse leaving. Letting him go with no proven replacement would be insane.
We have been linked to a couple of high profile defenders in addition to the imminent arrival of Chancel Mbemba. German-born Cameroonian Joel Matip has been mooted in the press as well as the highly unlikely Aymen Abdennour, who is apparently in the verge of a move to Barcelona. Coloccini has looked off the pace for a couple of seasons now and his will to be here has been in question since he apparently tried to engineer back to San Lorenzo. He is in his last year of his contract and it would make sense to offload him – but only on the condition that we get a solid, proven replacement for him. How easy it will be to sell a player clearly on the decline, aged 33 and on big wages is another matter…
[poll id=”83″]
Kimtoon it was scored by Wijnaldum (Weneedhim)!
Jill(Quote)
Wig has scored two and missed one
icedog(Quote)
Only a super save from Krul denies Che Adams. He really took the sting out of it but he’s far from happy with his defence. – 36 minutes commentary.
Shamrock(Quote)
Midway through the 1st half, 0-0. Newcastle have looked more unconvincing at the back than convincing going forward. No surprise given the line-up. – commentary after 26 minutes.
Shamrock(Quote)
Ime just going off tweets
icedog(Quote)
Its just one and one miss
icedog(Quote)
Why no word on work permit for Mis??
icedog(Quote)
Sheffield level and still ryders live blog doesn’t show it 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Jill yeah I found out eventually
kimtoon(Quote)
Sorry but unless we get a new centre half (assuming we have one already) we will continue to leak goals. All our centre backs are woeful.
Stuart79(Quote)
Dont suppose anybody fancies doing a match report on this game tonight? Would be interesting to get thoughts on somebody regarding McC’s new formation and how the plying style is coming together – where our weaknesses are still etc etc…
Shamrock(Quote)
Its bedding two c/bs in at this late stage I worry about
icedog(Quote)
Where’s Mitrovic today?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Right we’re ahead according to bet fred but Ryders not saying **** all on his LIVE blog. Who scored ❓
kimtoon(Quote)
DE Jong
georgio(Quote)
Level again apparently 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Thanks Georgio by the way.
kimtoon(Quote)
Ryder, may as well not bother with his LIVE blog, he updates you 5 mins after the goals are scored 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
full time 2.2
kimtoon(Quote)
Carver and Stone in the crowd some are saying
icedog(Quote)
Another good showing from our ‘strong’ defence…
Stuart79(Quote)
why on earth would we want an old 33 year old donkey like carrick
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
TAE – one of the best holding midfielders in the league. But yeah – we don’t want him apparently and he is 33!
georgio(Quote)
99.9 per cent of there surporters would piggy back him all the way from manchester to get rid of that donkey
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
TAE none of the MU fans I know of want rid. Without him their midfield did not function last season.
premandup(Quote)
Yes this update from Ryder shows that defence is still a big problem
GOAL: Sheffield United 1-1 Newcastle United – Sheff United are level after the Newcastle defence go AWOL. McNulty given freedom of final third and he slips it past Krul with ease, 1-1 59 minutes.
kimtoon(Quote)
PREMANDUP
you must know the 0.01 per cent 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< will hoof him all the way back to manchester meself, 😯 if he has the neck to show up in toon 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
He’s not 33 really he’s 34 on tues 😉
icedog(Quote)
Tae we don’t have a player of his quality. Not that I think he would be a good buy. We have not seen his like for a long time.
premandup(Quote)
trust icedog to make a sore point even worse 😆 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
😆 😆
icedog(Quote)
Well pre season has been all good so far I’m my opinion. Lots of different forwards getting on the scoresheet – but most importantly our defensive frailties are being highlighted in every single game so far. It confirms without any doubt that we simply cannot make do with the defenders we have at present – even the addition of Mbemba.
I also think we need a quality holding midfielder to help the defence out. Someone like Kara Mbodj would be a good addition I reckon. Him & Matip or Evans for CB would make a difference I reckon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I don’t know if it was mentioned earlier, but today’s friendly was for Chris Morgan testimonial – he has donated a potion of the money raised to Gary Speed charity.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I see Bas Dost is not in the Wolfsburg team playing Arsenal , time we made a move and forget about Austin.
Axel(Quote)
Axel – I agree that we should shelf our interest in Austin mate but focus on getting our defence sorted. Worry about forwards if we loose Cisse. But look to move Willo and/or Saylor and get improvements in.
Sharpy17(Quote)
As much as I’m happy with Mitrovic, Wjnaldum and Mbemba we are still short of a centre half and a striker plus we need a good winger as Mitrovic is at his most dangerous when crosses are coming in for him.
Stuart79(Quote)
Don’t like to see subs with only ten minutes left, especially in friendlies. What’s the point? Not fair on the subs in my view and can do nothing for their confidence and football is all about confidence.
Groucho(Quote)
I agree SHARPY we definatly need at least one more CB with Mbemba ,but i really want us too get Aarons tied down on a new contract .
Axel(Quote)
Stu – I would go with that, but I do think we are light a holding midfielder if Tiote is missing. Anita, Abied and Bigi just offer nothing to our midfield. I’d get rid of those 3 and Obertan and replace the 4 of them with a quality holding midfielder & quality wide man.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Anita played really well against West Ham last match of the season in a holding position. Maybe that’s his position? He’s certainly better passing the ball than the others and he hurried and hustled all day the. So wonder if SM sees him in that position. He’s played a lot in pre season.
Stuart79(Quote)
Just heard McClaren on Sky and when asked if there will be anymore signings he said “I don’t know.”
If we go into the season with these defenders we won’t have a cat in hells chance of finishing top ten, let alone top 8 and win a cup! We will be amongst the divisions worst defence… AGAIN!
Stuart79(Quote)
Can someone please tell me the date of our home friendly against munschengladbach? I’m heading home on Tuesday for a couple of weeks holiday. Hoping I might be able to catch the match.
Dubai-Toon(Quote)
I’m not expecting a huge improvement next season. I think it’s very much the start of a rebuilding job, a transitional period where the likes of Coloccini, Williamson, Taylor and even possibly players like Tiote and Cisse make way for the core of a new side. With Janmatt, Mbemba, Hiadara, Aarons, Wijnaldum, De Jong, Mitrovic and Perez all either having their first season in the premier league or making inroads into the first team. It may not be till next summer that we then add another striker and a couple of defenders. I wouldn’t be surprised if the three CBs stay and run down their contracts.
DJG(Quote)
Stu @116 – maybe, but that’s the only game I remember Anita playing well in. A lot of his other appearances he’s been a passenger.
@117 – agreed. If he doesn’t address that defence then the £30m plus they’ve already spent won’t make a difference as we will continue to concede more goals than we score. The footy might be better to watch, but a defeat is still a defeat.
Sharpy17(Quote)
STUART I think SM has been told no more in until we shift some out he seemed a little down in the mouth imo,the defence is so so woeful
icedog(Quote)
I wonder if Lascelles can make the step up and use the injury to Collocini to his advantage. Hopefully after today Steve will.recognise that Taylor and Williamson are too similar and too slow to play together.
DJG(Quote)
DJG imo its far to early for him to step up he has a lot to learn about the PL I wouldn’t like him to step into the shambles of a defence we have
icedog(Quote)
In June I said that CBs were more important than strikers but NUFC supporters have always had stars in their eyes where strikers are concerned.
Groucho(Quote)
The problem was we weren’t scoring enough, so the forward line had to be addressed but we simply have to sort out our back line, it’s woeful. Apparently Saylor cleared one off the line today so it could of been worse. If Saylor could just stay fit he’s a solid enough player but I cannot see for the life of me why we are hanging on to Willo. I would take what I could from Leeds for him tbh.
kimtoon(Quote)
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2015/07/26/charlie-austin-posts-cryptic-mr-greedy-tweet-amid-premier-league/
kimtoon(Quote)
I’m not sure if Mbemba will make such a huge difference. He will still have a clown playing next to him and if he gets injured?
Stuart79(Quote)
Ice – just watched SM on SSN and he did look a bit frustrated or down in the mouth didn’t he. I think they are finding it difficult to get the players in they want. I think the market is at a bit of a stalemate at the moment. Clubs digging their heels in with valuations, or those players who could be bought, won’t be sold til a replace is in – ie Evans at Man U may be sold if they can get Ramos.
I do wonder if there is a bit of expectation to shift a few before we start buying again.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, Realistically we do need to shift a fair few, that’s the problem .
kimtoon(Quote)
SHARPY I think they have not got any offers for players they thought they could move on quite easy and we have to plough on with them now,but defence will have to be sorted quickly does not matter how much fire power we have up front
icedog(Quote)
quite shocking if mclaren is down in the mouth 6 weeks into the job and having played pretty **** in every preseason friendly so far, but having over 30 mill on new players, some sort of luxury pardew wasn,t afforded.
if he is down in the mouth now, then he aint seen nothing yet. wait until we ship in a shed load of goals in the first 5 games and the brown stuff really does hit the fan….
Munich Mag(Quote)
icedog, the toon defends poorly as a complete unit imo. throw in the fact that the central defence is **** and cannot defend dead balls then you’re onto a hiding to nothing.
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM or maybe he’s twigged mike has sucked him in. along with many others
icedog(Quote)
http://www.themag.co.uk/2015/07/steve-mcclaren-we-look-forward-to-one-or-two-more-coming-in-this-week/
kimtoon(Quote)
KIM yes mate but he means the two we have already signed coming into the group “not” new signings,that’s why he looks down in the mouth there isn’t any more
icedog(Quote)
Kim – we’ve needed to move most of them on for the last few seasons now to be fair. McClaren has been left with an awful lot of deadwood. I don’t think it’s going to be easy & it certainly won’t generate a lot of cash.
Ice – if we are finding it difficult to buy an improved CB, then I hope they are considering the option of loaning one. It won’t be ideal, but it would be better than nowt, or running with what we have.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ice, Ah right, oh dear, not good ,not good at all then 🙁
kimtoon(Quote)
If we don’t sort that defence properly we will be lucky to finish 15-16th imo. Scoring will mean nowt if we ship a stack, it’s unthinkable we go forward with the same poor central defence.
kimtoon(Quote)
KIM that’s just what I said too @130 mate
icedog(Quote)
The defence won’t get sorted just by buying players. Our new coaches will need to show that they can set up a defensive unit at the back. Without Collo there to guide the back line the others are just headless chickens. Taylor and Williamson actually ran into each other for Sheffields first goal. 😆
DJG(Quote)
Mike Ashley seems to be about 18 months too late with making decisions. Or is it Charnley ?
We’ve had a January panic buy and bought a load of frenchies….way too late
We’ve needed a centre half, or perhaps 2 centre halves, for three years now…
Ditto with a seasoned striker….
I posted earlier today that we have a bunch of dead wood which McLaren needs to manage to keep ticking over. We have a **** defence who has shipped in a load of goals. He has a massive job on his hands…. Is he up to the task ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
DJG, we have a **** defence, and Krul has lost his aura…
No amount of coaching by McLaren can make up for the technical inadequacies of lumbering centre backs…
Munich Mag(Quote)
DJG – the coaches have to do their bit, but if come the end of the window all they have to work with is this bunch then forget it.
They need to improve the players they have – it’s that simple. Forget Austin or any other forward at the moment – I’m happy that with Cisse, Mitrovic, Aarons, Perez, Gini, Sissoko – that our forwards are stronger than our defence at the moment (THAT IS NOT ME SAYING WE DONT NEED TO STRENGTHEN UP FRONT).
We need to clear out as much deadwood as possible – move them out for as much as we can get (even if it’s not as much as we hoped) and get some real quality into that back 4 this summer.
Sharpy17(Quote)
MM I see Pep has agreed to be M/C manager in 2016/20017 season
icedog(Quote)
Icedog@144 me and you called that one about 3 months ago mate, remember ? 😉
Pep’s 2 old directors of football at Barca are at City, and when the sheiks put there hand in there pocket they alway get what they want.
That’s Klopp in at FC Bayern now…
Wish I had put a few quid on that double… 🙁
Munich Mag(Quote)
Munich – I think he is up to the task, but he need the Geordie masses to acknowledge that fact too and allow him time. It’s a necessity to get rid of that deadwood to create the space in the squad and reduce the wage bill (however little that may be). I think a lot of them are out of contract next summer anyway which may make things difficult this summer. It was never going to be a quick fix & patience isn’t a given thanks to a lot of **** ups & broken promises from Ashley & the board in the past. It’s gonna take more than 3 signings for a lot of (justifiably) disgruntled fans.
Sharpy17(Quote)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/nufctoonarmy/?multi_permalinks=10153665468273072¬if_t=group_highlights
Toon goals from Today. Two canny finishes, though the first toon goal was a howler of a back pass from a Sheff Utd defender…shocking !!
Munich Mag(Quote)
Sharpy17, what makes you think he is up to the task mate ?
He’s just realised the central defence is gash, and his only footballing, but ageing, centre half wants to get the hell out of here.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Kristan Heneage @KHeneage · 5 hrs5 hours ago
To clarify. Mbemba shouldn’t face any problems getting a work permit. Has played in over 75% of his countries games and has a good pedigree
kimtoon(Quote)
Mbemba has a good pedigree. Is he a whippet or a Jack Russel or summat !? 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)