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″]
Yep. CB has to be the single biggest priority in terms of signings. We need to get a few out the door too. Just give ’em away. How much re we realisitically going to get for Obertan, Marveaux, Gouffran, Abeid and Williamson anyway? Give them away. At least they will be off the wage bill and we can replace them with a couple of quality signings…
Shamrock(Quote)
Still amazed we turned down an offer for Willo.
kimtoon(Quote)
Munich – come on mate, the bloke has been in the game for years & has known he was getting the job since at least Jan – I don’t believe this is the first time he will have looked at the players & im fairly certain he would have spoken with Pardew & Carver. I know some supporters don’t rate the bloke but he’s not as daft as the ‘wolly with the brolly’ headline would have us believe.
Sharpy17(Quote)
MM@145 aye I do recall now mate,I’ll wait until 15 games gone before I judge how SM tactics go,if mike gives him some defenders like
icedog(Quote)
Dubai-Toon @ #118 Sat 01.08.2015 Borussia Mönchengladbach (h) 3pm
United’s sole home first team friendly will see only the lower sections of SJP open. Tickets are on public sale now. £15 adults, £5 concessions. Buy online, in person from the SJP box office in the club shop and by phone.
Jill(Quote)
KIM Leeds still want him so I haven’t given up hope yet,maybe if they add a box of Bovril crisps might do the trick
icedog(Quote)
Talk C/P will offer 6mil for Collo
icedog(Quote)
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/newcastle-united-boss-steve-mcclaren-9731968
That’s quite interesting. An article describing the situation with Coloccini and that McClaren wants him to stay this season. Over 50% in the poll, voted to get rid. I would keep him one more season UNLESS a quality CB was lined up. Let Lascelles or Mbemba learn from him (and provide leg speed) They can’t be any worse than the other two dipsticks.
DJG(Quote)
DJG 158
what they ganna learn from collo how to mess it up ? 😆
ICEDOG 157
in our dreams
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
kimtoon
July 26, 2015 at 21:28
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”
————
A couple of comments about that:
1. The fact that he’s played in over 75% of games is irrelevant. His country isn’t ranked among the FIFA top 50 so he doesn’t meet the automatic criteria for the issue of a GBE (Governing Body Endorsement).
2. In these circumstances it isn’t enough to suggest that a player has a “good pedigree”. The application will need to be reviewed by an Exceptions Panel which uses a points based system to reach its decision. This takes into account things like the size of the transfer fee and the level of wages that the player is being offered – not in terms of the absolute amounts involved but rather whether they can be shown to represent above average payments. The whole process is a lot more complicated than most people realise – if anyone’s interested, the full details can be found in the appendix to the following document:
GBE Criteria 2015-16
http://www.thefa.com/~/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/gbe-criteria-2015-16.ashx?la=en (PDF File)
Any journalist who confidently suggests that Mbemba “shouldn’t face any problems getting a work permit” clearly doesn’t understand how complicated the new system is, and almost certainly hasn’t bothered to check the current rules. And of course there’s always the nagging worry that Charnley may not fully understand them either.
Chris G(Quote)
Well he moved to Belgium to play football there when he was unheard of. He should have got his EU citizenship when he was in the shop doctoring his birth certificate. 🙂
DJG(Quote)
Chris – The football club would not go this far down the road dining him if they didn’t have expert advice on him getting a Work permit. there’s been plenty players come from all over the world where their country hasn’t been in the top 50 and they’ve got in no problem.
Stuart79(Quote)
Also I notice McClarens words are shifting now, from wanting players in to keeping players.
The mood music from him has gone a little more subdued and he’s also talking about being happy with what he has got. Oh dear!
Let’s wait and see where we are at the beginning of Sept but if Sissoko, Cisse and Colo are sold and not replaced, nothing will have changed.
Stuart79(Quote)
At the risk of being accused of making excuses again, McClaren could have just been playing the game yesterday. To give the likes of QPR the impression that we are almost done or running out of money.
Also with Aymen likely going to Barca, would they be willing to loan him or Vermaelen to us for the season. Get on to Chelsea about loaning Kurt Zouma if we are unable to buy a quality CB.
Sharpy17(Quote)
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/watch-chancel-mbemba-say-farewell-9733053
kimtoon(Quote)
@ 155 – Thanks a lot Jill. I’ll be home so will get some tickets!!
Dubai-Toon(Quote)
SSN, FA to look at Mbemba work permit application on Thursday.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – I can’t believe the ever cautious Charnley won’t have had some assurances that he’ll get the permit. Deals done, terms agreed, medical passed. It wouldn’t have got that far otherwise. It’s just FA policy.
georgio(Quote)
Has anybody actually watched Lascelles play? What’s he really like? Can he make the step up yet?
georgio(Quote)
Georgio – he needs someone with experience and assured next to him, but I’m confident he’s good enough. I suppose he’s in a similar position as Steven Caulker – when he was at Swansea he was very solid with Ashley Williams alongside him. I think Lascelles would benefit from having that commanding CB next to him to learn from – we don’t have one of those at the moment though 🙁
Sharpy17(Quote)
Today’s papers reckon we could be in for James Chester for between £8-10m. Any thoughts? – seems a little high to me like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Too high!
Stuart79(Quote)
5mil mind he played in a very poor team like us,and we are getting no better,don’t like the idea of trying to bed new c/bs in two weeks,it cannot be done imo
icedog(Quote)
Ice…True but 2 new “unbedded” in CB’s are surely better than the ones we currently have “bedded” in 😉
richietoon(Quote)
The previews have started
http://thesetpieces.com/features/201415-preview-newcastle/
interesting line-up assumed
Premandup(Quote)
RICHIE aye mate but I have a awful feeling he’s going to go with the new lad and Drummit. Collo as back up,Willo out the door (Leeds),but imo it still leaves us very short
icedog(Quote)
Reading between the lines. I would say no more in until some of the **** start to leave.
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
What I don’t get is that Willo was nailed on for leaving this summer, yet he has played a lot of pre season games for us. I know Colo has been injured, but why not give Lascelles or Taylor or even Satka more game time.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Hope the storey of Aarons is not going to sign a new contract are wrong,imo if this lad stays fit he’s a game changer
icedog(Quote)
Ice@179, yep it’s a worry.
kimtoon(Quote)
Ice – I don’t blame Aarons if he didn’t sign a new contract. We had a chance last year to offer him a decent contract but we didn’t. Football is a two way thing imo.
As for Williamson, McClaren probably knows he’s going to need him so is giving him game time. What a sorry state that would be. Watching Williamson named as centre half for the first game of the season.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart – surely McClaren can see how poor Willo is. He must have looked at last seasons videos . . .
georgio(Quote)
Wasn’t it last week that Steve was saying there were a couple off the radar that would excite the fans?
kimtoon(Quote)
http://www.brentwoodgazette.co.uk/West-Ham-transfer-news-Hammers-target-Austin/story-27492562-detail/story.html
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – I think there is still a CF & CB in the pipeline. We will clear a few fringe players out and get a couple more in yet.
Sharpy17(Quote)
http://metro.co.uk/2015/07/27/arsenal-ready-to-grab-rolando-aarons-transfer-after-newcastle-contract-row-5315025/
kimtoon(Quote)
KIM yes I read that,surely SM has saw for himself the talent he has and push the board to act,then again the lad might just want to go,some think the grass is greener elsewhere club must make a “good” offer not the insult offer they made before.
Ime not sure if agents get a cut if a player extend s his contract
icedog(Quote)
Kim – the Metro is absolutely packed with rubbish made up stories. He’s still got 2 years on his existing contract. If he can stay fit (big if) he’ll get a new one. Exciting player though.
georgio(Quote)
Prem@175 – that’s my predicted line up only with Aarons instead of Perez (on the bench)
georgio(Quote)
Ice, Georgio, I will be spittin mad if we lose Aarons, an idiot can see his potential. As Ice says offer him a decent package, if he realises his full potential he’ll make jabba a packet down the line.
kimtoon(Quote)
I have every confidence that Aarons will be a toon player beyond the end of this season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
He probably will be, Sharpy but it will be a tad annoying if he has a blinding season and he goes next summer for a minimal fee. Especially when we have had more than enough time to get him signed up.
I can see another Sterling episode here…
Stuart79(Quote)
Willo got 11 votes for NUFC to keep him. I didn’t know Pardew, Carver, Stone and 8 Mackems read this site.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric the 11 will be the Sunderland first team 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
Norn Iron Mags @TNorniron · May 24
Came across this on instagram, anybody know where to find it!?! Looks amazing!!! #themagpieshirt #NUFC
Wow, that’s cool, now that I would buy 🙂
kimtoon(Quote)
https://twitter.com/hashtag/themagpieshirt?src=hash
kimtoon(Quote)
https://twitter.com/themagpiebrand
kimtoon(Quote)
WeAreTheMags™ @wearethemags · May 19
@themagpiebrand Which charities do the profits from the sale of shirts go to?
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The Magpie Brand @themagpiebrand · May 19
.@wearethemags we are in discussion with a few debt charities and hope to come to an an agreement before launch. If not we sell at cost.
kimtoon(Quote)
I would keep Abeid and basically replace everyone else. I want to see Perez and Mitro play as much as possible as they are our future, Papiss has never entirely gelled with any team we’ve put out, and unless Schteve knows exactly know what to do with him I feel like he might have another season where we’re not sure what to do with him and the team – yet again. Which is incredible seeing as he’s been here and such a key player for so long.
Colo simply needs to go and we need a quality replacement – we have done some real good business this summer, can we top it off by sorting out our defence which has needed a good addition (even when Colo was in his prime) for what, the last 8 years now?
Newkie(Quote)
Do you know that Anita has 78 appearances in 3 years with NUFC with 1 goal? I think he should be added to the “not good enough” list. One decent game against a West Ham side who were clearly in a holiday state of mind should not mean redemption for a bang average player.
I am with Newkie that we need a clearout, but I really think Abeid is surplus as well and has done nowt. Just saying. I would keep Cisse as an impact sub. Nobody can figure him out and he scores out of nowhere but is offside too often and misses a few easy chances.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stu – @192 not quite the Sterling saga as we would loose Aarons for nowt rather than £50m …. That’s why we need to (and I believe we will) get this sorted.
I think Aarons knows he can get the game time with us to showcase his ability for a few seasons – as Sterling did with Liverpool. If we can get him tied down to a 5yr deal I reckon we’d see a big offer in the next 2-3 seasons.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim – I think that shirt, and really like the idea of an alternative to Wonga that would raise money for a charity.
Sharpy17(Quote)
dont think sterling all that meself just look at his goal scoreing stats man city payed way over the odds for sterling in my opinion
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Eric – I agree with you re Anita. I’d move Abied & Bigi as well and get a proper holding midfielder – or maybe keep Abied & Kemen, get rid of Anita & Bigi and bring one in.
Sharpy17(Quote)
he is quick though i will give him that but dos not score enough to pay 49 million
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
This one has beat,I’ve read a few storeys in different rags a few are saying toon have arranged to get a medical on Austins past shoulder injury,to me
that means we must be looking to sign him,iI would rather we spent that sort of money on Shaqira and keep cissie
icedog(Quote)
ICEDOG
just been talking to a mate on facebook about that Shaqira is also disappointed over here we aint ganna throw our hat in for him
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
TAE – he’s scored 3 in pre season for City already. But I agree that they paid way over the odds. However if someone wanted to pay us £50m for Aarons, then I reckon I’d go with that like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
SHARPY17
i like the look of arrons but think its to early to start talking about big bids for arrons he needs to prove he can do it week in week out over a period of time.but we should be sorting out a contract for him
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Sharpy: I have this revolutionary theory for NUFC transfer policy – keep the good uns and sell or dump the bad uns. That means get rid of all of them in this article (except Cisse), plus Anita and the lot that were sent to Rangers.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
<<<<<<<<<<<< thinks we were muged when we bought anita 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
did say he was to short before we bought him 😉
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
1 of the smallest defensive midfielders ive ever seen 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
this is the prem peeps no room for light weights 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
and it sure comes to something when i think i could do better than him meself 😯
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Just catching up on SNN transfer gossip – Afellay looking like he’s heading to Stoke on a free transfer. 29 and will likely want big wages – never really lived up to his reputation from what I saw of him either – bit of a Benny.
Also stories saying Spuds wanting to get rid of Aaron Lennon – at a fair price, I’d probably take him to be honest. He had a good loan spell at Everton last season & he’s certainly better than Obertan – and arguably Cabella at the moment.
Eric – @210 – you do come up with some crazy ideas mate 🙄 this is the toon mate!! – what fun would that be?! 😉 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
I would get shot of Anita & Bigi and bring in Kara Mbodj for our midfield
Sharpy17(Quote)
TAE @207 aye mate he’s fast and tricky and one hell of crosser of the ball
icedog(Quote)
ICEDOG
hes not scared to take peeps on which is what i like about him
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
hes also the sort ya can make a huge fee on down the line
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
I ignored most of this article because:
1 – The Chronicle is mostly full of ****
2 – Most football news on a Sunday is ****
So this is pretty much double ****. It’s pretty obvious that most of those players are surplus to requirements, but they can add a couple in who make the story a bit more interesting, and suddenly it looks like they’re only just wrong…
Anyway…I still expect Colo to stay and he was very good alongside Taylor. I still think Mbemba, Colo, Taylor, Lascelles and Dummett is what we’re gonna get unless a very good deal comes up.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TAE they say he has a bad temperament off the pitch which has stopped him joining a top 4 team in Europe,Christ sake the kids only 23,I would chance him
icedog(Quote)
Out with Willo, Saylor, Obertan, possibly Bigi although where does his health stand?, Colo if we get another decent CB in, Marveaux, and Gouffy. That’s a start to the dead wood cleanup. That means either promote some of the youngsters and find out if they will ever be good enough, or signing several more players. Let’s get on with it Lee.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
We need to give youngsters a sniff at playing for the first team. The signings people are talking about will push the likes of Perez, Aarons and Lascelles further down the pecking order…I’d like to see these 3 in particular get a chance this year.
Questions that I’m looking forward to seeing answered:
– Who is 2nd choice GK?
– Is Haidara good enough to be 1st choice LB?
– Who is back up RB? Mbemba? I don’t like that if he’s 1st choice CB.
– How is Mitrovic going to play? Holding the ball up with occasional crosses coming in or are we going to play with more width?
– Especially interested to see what happens behind the target man. SDJ, WJ, Cabella, Aarons, Sissoko, all interesting to see how they fit in.
– Are they going to get a good deal on another striker? I assume Cisse would then be sold.
I do expect to see the likes of Willo, Goofy, Vuckic, Abeid. Marv and Obertan moved on, but maybe 1 or 2 will surprise us and still have a contribution to make? What about Riviere? Written off after 1 season or given another chance?
I don’t claim to have the answers…but I’m interested in the questions…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
G2
You do occasionally make some good points but do you live in the really real world? You want to ditch our 3 experienced centre backs to sign one more so we have our centre back options as Mbmeba (20), a new centre back, Lascelles (21) and Good/Dummett/Satka as our options? Exactly who would we sign to give us the experience and ability needed in that position?
No way. I expect Colo and Taylor to stay. And if we do miraculously sign another centre back, I still expect one of them to stay,
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)