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″]
TDS – Maybe the coaching staff have seen enough of the likes of Lacelles and don’t think he’s ready for PL football yet on a consistent basis. I can’t see Aarons and Perez playing consistent anyway as is the way with young players, theirs not consistent.
Stuart79(Quote)
Good thoughts TDS mate. I don’t expect us to do the right thing and clear out the cobwebs at CB either. Not straight away at any rate. I would try to move Saylor on now but what is he worth if anything? And Willo has been Championship quality since he arrived. We should have had 2 more decent CB’s in over the last 4 windows or so but it wasn’t going to happen with Ashley. Now a lot more money needs to be spent but Ashley won’t do that either.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
TDS: the centre backs that ran into each other yesterday should be kept 🙂 I never know what to make of Taylor. He seems like a decent player most of the time, when not injured 🙂 He has played an average of 14 games a season in the last 8 years so cannot be relied upon.
I would let Taylor run his contract down but wouldn’t renew it.
We can’t be changing every part of the team but there are players that everyone know are not good enough and should be let go. I saw some fans were booing Willo and that is probably not a good thing. But how else do you say to a new manager that Willo is shyte and should never feature in the PL again?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
That’s what happens when you let the dead wood pile up for years Eric mate. Now we will have trouble cleaning them out fast enough since many still have time on their useless contracts. (Ashley loves long contracts doesn’t he?) Just imagine paying Obertan year after year for what he brings to the club… Amazing.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
STUART
You’re right, which is why I see Lascelles as our 4th choice centre back but with the incentive that both Colo and Taylor are there to be overtaken. I don’t think we can have the luxury of 4 top centre backs without having CL football and I think we need to dangle the carrot to players like Lascelles that first team football is there is he proves himself. Same goes for the other youngsters. As it stands, I’d expect to see Mbemba and Colo start with Taylor on the bench, Lascelles working hard to overtake him and Willo having been sold.
Aarons and Perez as impact players perhaps, but same goes for them. If they play well, they’ll want to keep playing. I don’t want to see them too far away because I think they have potential.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
G2
I don’t think you can put a price on experience though. I think Taylor is dumb but plays his heart out while I think Colo is a lot calmer but doesn’t have the speed. Playing together I think they’re not too bad but Colo with Mbemba would work I think. Let Mbemba do the running and Colo can use his experience to position himself well.
Willo is alright but a bit of a plank. A worse version of Shawcross basically. I still think he can do a job for a PL club in the lower regions, but shouldn’t be a starter for a club going for top 8.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Report Leeds have bid 2.5 mil for Willo,snatch their bloody hands off ffs
icedog(Quote)
G2
If Ashley only gave our short contracts then you’d be pissed off when we ended up losing promising players on frees…
A lot of the contracts are based in incentives. We could still sell Obertan for a couple of million too but he’s been a functional squad member in previous seasons. Now we have a big enough squad that I think we can ditch him.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
ICEDOG
I heard a bid had been refused from Leeds. Don’t believe it’s £2.5M though. I reckon that’s made up. That sounds a lot of money from a Championship club for a player of that age. I think he’d be one of the best defenders in the Championship though.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Transfermarkt has him at £1.75m and compares him to Michael Turner and Jason Shackell. Seems about right to me.
http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mike-williamson/profil/spieler/10642
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TOONDARNSARF
I do honestly think Haidara is ‘good enough’. I don’t know if he can get over his injury problems though. And even Dummett has done his hamstring now. Haidara is the modern fullback, quick, can range forward, skillful, winger-like but can get injured after 5-10 games also.
DJG(Quote)
Why don’t we offer QPR £16.5m plus Williamson for Austin? That works out about £15m doesn’t it?
Stuart79(Quote)
STUART storey doing the rounds of £13.5 mil deal “if” shoulder stands up to strick medical
icedog(Quote)
Should be ok, Ice. How many goals has he scored with his shoulder?
Stuart79(Quote)
ICE/TDS – the Leeds bid that was knocked back was for £2m – so if they have upped that to £2.5m I would rip their bloody hand off … even if it was paid a quid a month.
As for Austin, £13.5m sounds fair I reckon – especially if we get £5-6m for Cisse. The net for Austin then is a bargain I reckon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
As if anybody would offer to actually pay £2m for Williamson. Although f I was Middlesbrough I’d be looking at him as he’d do a job in the Fizzy.
Stuart79(Quote)
STUART@239 😆 😆
icedog(Quote)
Here’s one for Eric Sykes…:-) ….light the blue touch-paper and stand back …. vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrroooooooooooooommmm !
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/11766550/Ex-Newcastle-head-coach-John-Carver-I-took-a-battering-for-being-honest.html
JC is mad by the way.
Munich Mag(Quote)
I want another c/b FFS
icedog(Quote)
To be fair to Willo his experience at dealing with PL attackers would be a big plus for any championship club.
kimtoon(Quote)
Or not dealing with them even 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
MM aye and Carver says he wants to come back to manage the toon,Eric would love that,think of all the comments he could write,poor guy would ware his fingers down
icedog(Quote)
Icedog, the lad is letting the west end doon… He needs to wind his neck in a bit…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Just been reading Austin has had 3 dislocations to his shoulder the last one in 2011. Didn’t know he’d had that many, problems with the knee too, Christ I know what that’s like. 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2015/07/27/richard-keys-comments-on-crystal-palace-transfers-and-fabricio-c/
kimtoon(Quote)
MM@248 there always one bad apple in a barrel
icedog(Quote)
Kimtoon@249, once there’s a weakness there theres always a danger of further dislocation. Valid point too, didn’t Staylor and Tim Krul have similar injuries. Something quite significant I reckon.. 🙄
Munich Mag(Quote)
Sometimes they pin the shoulder if it keeps happening,maybe he’s had that done??
icedog(Quote)
Aye, It wasn’t ‘Riverside Dene’ in Carvers day. 😆
DJG(Quote)
SM wants to play two up front,it can be a big risk,you get over run in midfield being one short there,let’s see if he can do it
icedog(Quote)
So he had some problems 4 fecking years ago? Any fit athlete could suffer an injury at any point. Just get a fee agreed then do a medical with him. No need to drag it out. Oh and get some bleeding defenders in!
Shamrock(Quote)
I’m not convinced he wants to play 2 up front as his default judging by pre season, but it’s always good to have the ability to be flexible ..
Shamrock(Quote)
SHAM. SM has said he would like to play two up front,his words not mine
icedog(Quote)
Ah right, fair enough Ice. I’ve not seen that quote… So long as they sort defense out I don’t care what system we play so long as we show some desire and being home a few more results this time around!
Shamrock(Quote)
My mate has a knee which pops out all the time, she puts it back herself 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
Ime starting to really worry about not giving any new c/b time to bed in as I don’t want to see SM get a bad start which he will unless its fixed quick sharp
icedog(Quote)
Taylor has had shoulder problems too. Once you’ve dislocated it once, it’s liable to happen again sadly. Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t sign him, it’s just a risk with injury.
I agree too though, if we can get decent money for Cisse and sign him for a good fee, it makes sense. I’m not 100% convinced he’ll continue to be good in the PL, but he’s the kind of striker we need.
As for Willo, if even £2m has been bid for him, I reckon that’s a good deal for everyone. I reckon he’d be a top defender for Leeds in the Championship. And I reckon we’d be better off having the cash and blooding a youngster.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Sham, you sound vexed, bad day?
kimtoon(Quote)
Plenty of talk about us bidding for Austin. If we offer £13.25m then it’s up to QPR and I see them accepting it in the end. Problem will be is that it’s going to go down to the wire I reckon and with us probably wanting to offload Cisse that could be problematic.
Stuart79(Quote)
I still don’t know what to believe on Austin. There are plenty of gossip rags churning out stories on him and getting loads of hits, but most of it is ****. I’ll be very very impressed if we sign him too. It’s already a decent window but a couple more top signings and it would be our best window since MA took over.
I’m still not sure what my next choice would be for a signing…currently I can see it would be nice to be strengthened at striker, winger, CB and FB but we have decent options in all areas.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
I think we’re in for him, but whether we get him is another story. There might need to be one too many moons aligning for that too happen.
Although when I see three or four journo’s all writing the same story with their names to the story it’s obvious someone has briefed their mates in the press. Assuming it’s from the NUFC side but also Austins agent must also be talking as it appears that Austin is interested in joining us now.
Stuart79(Quote)
STUART
Sometimes these journos are just **** lazy. They see an article on some ***** site like The Mag, HITC or TalkSport and they then rehash it. It could have been made up in the first place but when you see it in 5 places it looks like 5 people got it from the same source. Shame that source can be just some idiot wanting to generate some hits.
But if NUFC were asked, of course they would say they would be interested at the right price. And if Austin or his agent were asked, of course he would be interested in joining us. If QPR are asked, he’ll be sold if they get the right offer. No news there I’d say.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
I think you’re doing journo’s a disservice to be honest. The better ones (North East based and covering North East football clubs) have do not count the likes of TalkSport as a ‘source’. All these journo’s have sources at the club and that’s where they get their info from. Might not always turn out to happen, but despite what people think they don’t just make things up. They write what they’re told. I know that might be hard for some to accept but that’s how it works.
Stuart79(Quote)
No I’m fine Kim thanks 🙂 summers are boring football wise. Rumours everywhere and the big chasm in defense is a worry.
Bit annoyed I can’t get the day off work for my next Muay Thai grading and have to shell out for a one -to-one, but that’s life I suppose!
Otherwise kids and wife are happy and healthy so can’t really complain. I hope things are improving for you and yours 😀
Shamrock(Quote)
Some perfect examples of Journo’s getting info was when Pardew got the job with us. Some reported it a month before it happened. That would be one hell of a guess if they didn’t know something. Also a good example was when Pardew left us – it was in the press the evening of the last game against Everton that he’d been approached by Palace.
Finally I remember seeing in the Journal about 3 months back that NUFC’s major transfer targets were Wijnaldum and Mitrovic.
They’re not all bad.
Stuart79(Quote)
STUART
Some of them are hacks though mate. They might ask if the club is interested in Austin and the answer would be yes (along with dozens of other players) and suddenly it becomes “Newcastle readying bid for Austin” or “Newcastle poised for Austin signing”.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
STUART
Ok…but who else was reported as a major transfer target too?
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
I’d love to see the article from The Journal linking us to those two players too.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
MM @243: thanks for the link. However, you should have put a warning sign on it as that close up nearly scared the life out of me. I am so happy that he is gone and just laugh now, although judging by his comments he still thinks he did a good job. His wife told him to “play with a straight bat” but he said he had to be honest instead. That is what playing with a straight bat means Ugly John!!! You played cack-handed.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: It’s the detail. mate. That’s where the devil is.
There’s no doubt that journos have contacts and they get fed stories – true and false – the issue is in how they write it up to push their own/or the paper’s agenda, and of course determining which story is false and which is true – because sometimes the ‘story’ is based on flimsy information and a large amount of creativity, which they have to do to fill column inches.
It’s not as simple as “Papers tell lies”; that sort of caricature doesn’t help anybody.
And the water is muddied even further by blogs.
Cherrypicking the media’s ‘successes’ doesn’t do much either. Getting two right out of 200 links isn’t a great success rate.
brisvegas(Quote)
But MM and Ice I will take the bait and use a few more idioms (correctly though): when you have dug yourself a hole Ugly John, stop digging. There is no redemption in saying the same stupid stuff you had already said, let sleeping dogs lie.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-make-15million-rated-striker-8921545
Stuart79(Quote)
The point is that Journalists aren’t allowed to make things up. It’s against the law. It’s called libel.
The club threatened legal action against the Telegraph for Luke Edwards article saying the dressing room had a problem and players weren’t getting on. Guess what? They backed down. The journo still has the text messages he recovered from the player who told him.
The facts are that journo’s wrote articles based on info they’re given. Some happen and some don’t, but they don’t just make things up to sell papers. Basically because they’re not allowed to.
Stuart79(Quote)
You have great faith in the media, Stuart. And great faith in the ethics of individual journalists. You are a propagandist’s dream 😉
Good luck with that.
brisvegas(Quote)
Direct quote from Telegraph story, Carvs says:
“I took a battering for being honest”
🙂 🙂 🙂 you took a battering for being shyte!!! Every single word of his interview is an excuse and a delusion. The shrink he went to after the Leicester game should have had him sectioned and saved us all from more of his drivel. This one interview from The Telegraph encapsulates what Carver is, a delusional fool. He still thinks most NUFC fans were behind him and didn’t see him for what he is. YCMIU.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
How stupid do you think people are Ugly John? To repeat that you called Williamson out as a motivational tool and say it worked?! Then in the same breath say you were wrong to do it. It wasn’t a motivational tool at all, it was one of your blurts that you try to justify in hindsight. Now you are saying again it was thought out and that it all worked out in the end and we stayed up so you are great. Direct quote: “I embarrassed Mike Williamson and I embarrassed myself” but then he goes on to spew even more excuses and platitudes. I feel so sorry for the players that they had to listen to this man every day – no wonder they lost the will to live 🙂
Delusional, just delusional, that he thinks he can get away with talking so much bollocks.
Is that enough for you MM 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric don’t you think you’re being a bit harsh on John Carver ?
Terry(Quote)
Terry, no, have you read the interview? I could say a lot more, but I will save you from it. I would like to comment on Willo’s sending off though. As you probably know I am not his biggest fan, that would be Kimtoon 🙂
This is obviously only my opinion but I think it was the fact we were in the process of losing badly and to bloody Leicester and it was 8 in a row. It was a rush of blood and he tried to hurt that player on purpose as he was angry and wanted to take it out on somebody and he is naturally ungainly so it looks bad. I don’t really think the repercussions were considered. Would I say this to the press if I was NUFC manager? Of course not. I am pretty certain Willo didn’t think, great, if I get a straight red I won’t have to play again this season.
Sometimes it is not the best thing to be totally honest. If your wife asks you if her new dress makes her *** look fat the answer is not “your *** makes your *** look fat in that dress”.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The majority of sports local journo’s act in good faith. If you don’t believe that then you’re a a bit of a old cynic I’m afraid. Bit like me with Ashley and you’ve been criticising me for that for years…
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart: you haven’t realised the Oz like to belittle people and not really talk about football at all? I mentioned this to AMF and he said a few things about football for about day, I am sure he will return to snidery soon.
And I will return to rainbows, unicorns and fresh spring flowers.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sham@269, Sorry got side tracked last night with Lew. Glad all’s well mate.
kimtoon(Quote)
I agree with Stuart that most do act in good faith, the fact that I think the vast majority of what they write is bollox is neither here nor there.
The problem they have is that the day of the “exclusive source” is long gone. At one time the ‘club insider’ would pass on info to a couple of mates and the journo, but it could only get into the public view via the journo and his articles. Now though, the club insider tells a couple of mates and the journo and by the time the journo writes his article the mates have already put it on Twitter, Facebook etc and it’s around the world before the journo gets a chance to write anything. Hence why Lee Ryder’s stuff for example(or lots of it) is all over other outlets before he publishes it.
I have a couple of mates who work at the club (one quite high up), he rarely passes anything on because he says it makes him look a **** because what is perfectly true one day is complete bollox the next so he rarely bothers. The only thing recent he told me was that he knew that Carver was never, at any stage considered for the post full time (sorry Eric 😛 ) which I did post on here a couple of times.
Personally I can’t stand Ryder and think his writing is **** but when they get things wrong it’s not as simple as them making things up.
richietoon(Quote)
http://mobile.newsnow.co.uk/A/784797031?-11058:809
Cracking goal by young Vukic. Are we overlooking a lad who could be a little gem. Maybe he is just a late developer and has been hampered by injury so far – but now he can get a run of games on the field he can really show what he can do.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, My local team were after him at one stage this window.
kimtoon(Quote)
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/watch-aleksandar-mitrovic-say-newcastle-9739289
kimtoon(Quote)
STUART
The problem with the Mitrovic article you posted is that it also mentioned Ings and Ayew.
Basically, a researcher can compile a list of promising strikers under 26 who have scored a lot in a weaker league, aren’t seriously interesting the CL clubs and aren’t being priced at £20m+ and we’d almost certainly be in for them. Ask the club and the club often won’t deny it. They’ll have dozens of players on their radar right now, assuming they are available for the right price. Wasn’t it in the news that Austin was a done deal a couple of weeks ago?
And I have no idea why you would put more stock in second hand rumours appearing in the articles like this while many would hold little stock in something coming directly from the club…
I’m pretty sure we’re in for Austin at the right money, but the only reason the club would release any info on the transfer would be in its own interest. Doesn’t mean it’s actually true…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Big Dave, don’t know if you are around but have sent you an article.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – he was head & shoulders Rangers best player last season. I get the level of football was a lot lower, but he stood out for sure.
He’s a big lad and a lot of his injuries could have been down to growing. He’s still only 22 and may be worth keeping hold of and having another look now he’s fit & playing well.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Arma joining Coventry on a ‘long term loan deal’ apparently. That’s what I want to see more of. Rather than him scratching around our first team, it’s good to see that we’re confident enough in our strikeforce that we can let him go out for a season and see what he can do. Hopefully bang in 20+ goals and we’ll have him raring to go next season.
Currently Mitrovic, Cisse, Perez, SDJ, Riviere, Goofy must all be ahead of him, so makes sense.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Vuckic scoring against the Ajax reserve team in a pre-season friendly…I really don’t think that’s much to get excited about. Any player can turn it on occasionally, but at 22, he needs to be able to maintain a very high level consistently to play for us in the PL.
I’d be happy if he stuck around to fight for his place but I don’t hold out too much hope.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Riviere and Gouffran aren’t ahead of anyone!
georgio(Quote)
GEORGIO
I reckon Riviere might be given another chance. And they’re both ahead of Arma considering he’s gone to a League One team! I still expect Goofy to go back to France mind you…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS – it’s not just that goal, he did really well at Rangers last season as well. I’m not saying stick him into our first team, but he’d be a good squad player to deputise SDJ I reckon – who’s had his own injury problems.
Sharpy17(Quote)
SHARPY
Well in half a season at Rangers in the Scottish 2nd division? If we signed an injury prone 22 year old with a fairly successful half a season in the Scottish 2nd division (equivalent to League One at best?) to deputise our number 10, would you be happy?
Playing devil’s advocate a little…as I’m all for giving players a chance. But I don’t hold out a huge amount of hope I’m afraid.
We do need to get rid of at least 3 players as it stands and I think we’ll get rid of a couple more too. But I’d rather get rid of Willo, Obertan and Marv before Vuckic.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Great interview on 5 live last night with an African journo who covers Belgium. Thinks Mbemba is brilliant. Good athlete, strong in the air, aggressive, really quick. Compared him to young Kompany. Reckons we’ve got a real bargain in Belgiums and Hollands best players. Mbemba is one of 11 kids and sends 80% of his salary home every month. Quoted as saying that when he retires from playing he wants to be an electrician!
Like him already.
georgio(Quote)