The business done by Rafa Benitez and the board this window has so far been very good, both in and out. There have been some solid acquisitions of hungry players who have trained and performed well in pre-season. The price for Ritchie was slightly high but it was still a good signing to replace the loss of Townsend. Many supporters will be looking forward to Gayle banging some goals in and the arrival of the promising Isaac Hayden to replace Tiote in the long term looks to be rather shrewd.
There is still much to be done though as several Newcastle players may still leave the club, Sissoko and Thauvin look set to leave and Tiote will also more than likely depart before September comes. Add to that the uncertain futures of Siem De Jong, Riviere and Goufran who could all be sold should some desperate club feel the urge to place a bid.
So with several additions still required and with Benitez only able to offer Championship football to any possible targets, it’s surprising Newcastle have not taken advantage of the loan market yet this summer.
With Newcastle continuously linked to Championship players you have to wonder how many footballers from the second tier the club should purchase. If we are to be in the Championship for just the one season, and that should not be taken for granted by the way, not for a second, then do we want to be lumbered with Championship players on long contracts when Rafa is planning on bigger and better things for United’s future? Surely if we are aiming for the top half of the Premier League, then the players we hand five year deals to, need to be able to perform at that level don’t they?
The players acquired so far have the ability or potential to do so. Even the only player we have bought from this division so far – Grant Hanley – is an international footballer and young enough to improve. Some of the players linked with Newcastle do not have enough quality to make the step up to the Premiership and would probably need to be sold again should the club get the promotion it so dearly craves.
The loan option then, to my mind, is an attractive one. Take some players who crave first team football on a season long loan to help address the unbalanced squad and add depth to areas in need of improvement. There is a financial advantage with minimal fees involved compared to spending millions on full transfers. It is also a low risk strategy. Should the player struggle to settle or perform then Newcastle will not be in the position they currently find themselves with the likes of Thauvin, De Jong and Riviere. Should the player turn out to be a success, then a bid could be submitted next summer.
It is not a perfect system but it is one Newcastle could take advantage of as they look for players to ensure the squad has enough depth to survive the rigours of a 46 league game season. Top clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and the two Manchester sides have plenty of talent struggling for game time. Newcastle should tap their resources without stuffing their wallets.
Cheers for the thread SRF.
I have no issue with loans so long as it’s not from a potential competitor (7th place downwards in PL), however the player needs to be seriously talented and already proven on a previous loan or similar. The reason being we are trying to get promoted and need experience. Now is not the time to take risks on untested kids from other clubs, who won’t have a big affinity with NUFC. I’m cautious of developing rivals’ players.
If we want to take a risk on talented youngsters then we have Armstrong up front, Roberts on the wing, Findley and satka at CB, El Manhi on the left or up front, Long staff in CM etc etc.
Shamrock(Quote)
SRF good read mate,i think Rafa has said he is not keen on loan players unless there is a agreement to sign the player at the loan end why should he work on improving a player only for him to return to his club,and i agree 100% with that
icedog(Quote)
Young Woodman signs a 4-year deal with us. Did not see that coming! Surely Krul or Elliott are in their way out?
Shamrock(Quote)
very good if a big shock,Pardew wont be happy hes been trying to tempt down there for a while thought he might have gone with his dad being there
icedog(Quote)
I think developing goalkeepers over the years is probably the one thing the club has consistently got right.
Shamrock(Quote)
Maybe Woodman Snr can see the writing is in the wall for Pardew at Palace and wants stability and a proven track record in goalkeeper development for his son.
Shamrock(Quote)
😆 😆 😆
icedog(Quote)
SRB – you make a good point mate, and maybe it’s still too early in the window for the big clubs to part with loanees – other than Lpool the bigger clubs haven’t really started their business yet.
Personally I’m with Rafa – unless there is an option to buy, I’d rather we didn’t – but if it is one that works well & Rafa is happy with it then I’m not going to be overly disappointed.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Good to see Woodman commit – we need to get Aarons sorted as well though for me.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Very good read SRF, I’m with others on here re loan deals, I wouldn’t be adverse to one loan of a quality proven player but not a player who is untested or unproven unless it’s a top half club. I think by and large the players Rafa has brought in should be capable of making the step up and if we do go up then they will of earned the right to play at that level. We can always reinforce the squad with some quality when and if we go back up.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Good news re Woodman I agree
Kimtoon(Quote)
http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/2/842602336?-11058:809:0
Bloody hell, I didn’t see this one either if it’s true 😯 😯
He was arguably Villas best player last season & another excellent addition if it comes off IMO.
Sharpy17(Quote)
So now we meet get out clause for defender Clark from Villa,one more defender,they are going to have a fight for a place now
Icedog(Quote)
So say up to 4 could arrive this week.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Left footed centre back. Useful
Premandup(Quote)
Clark, Diame, Knockart & McCormick??
Premandup(Quote)
Didn’t think any of Villas defenders were good last season, anyway it’s LB we should be addressing now.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Clark is/was a big player for Clark – a real leader and big fans favourite.
Him leaving Villa would be a huge blow for them I reckon.
Prem – I could live with those 4 coming in like – apparently that Knockeart is desperate to join us so as much as Brighton want to keep him – he may well force the move.
McCormack will be the interesting one coz he’s heavily linked with Norwich as well.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I keep seeing people worried about what will happen with the players that we sign now if we return to the PL (on Eds and The Chron). We are buying to return to the PL and to replace some players that seemed to give up there( Gini and Sissoko), players that were past their best (Taylor and Colo), Players that were never good enough (Marveaux and Obertan) or were sent out on loan (Thauvin). We are getting some of the replacements at good prices because of release clauses that were written before this summer’s transfer madness. Unless Clark, Diame and Hanley have collective nightmare seasons I am sure we can get what we paid for them if Rafa deems them not quite good enough for NUFC in the PL. FFS they may even be wanted by a PL team anyway, they might just not be good enough for NUFC in the PL under Rafa’s vision.
Similarly, I doubt the price for Ritchie, Hayden, Sels of Gayle will be much lower in a years time given what is going on with fees so there is little risk there either.
It is typical of SOME Nufc fans seeing the bleakest side of an issue and making a mountain out of a mole hill.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Weakening rivals like Brighton or Villa by buying their best players is a good thing as well.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kim – Villa were awful last season, but Clark was the only one who seemed to keep going and seemed to put effort in.
If you speak to any Villa fan, he was the only one they didn’t want to publicly flog.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kimtoon: supposedly Clark can play left back or holding midfield so maybe he can be competition for Dummet and Colback?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Thanks for feedback all. Clark & Diame would be very good additions. I’m not sure about Knockeart, he was actually one of the expensive Championship players I was eluding to in the article. McCormack was another.
SRF(Quote)
That’s not what they are saying now Sharpy, he’s getting dogs .
Kimtoon(Quote)
Clark could also play the left of a 3 man defence.
Premandup(Quote)
Eric, the more level headed Villa fans are mostly in agreement that he is best at CB and very poor at LB or as a holding MF player , the latter being his worst position.
Why can’t we get a LB in who has mastered that position is what I wanna know.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Must admit I would prefer Leigh Griffiths, Celtic or Arkadiusz Milik from Ajaz myself
Premandup(Quote)
Prem – I’ve been banging the Leigh Griffiths drum for a while now mate. I really think he’s a talented natural goalscorer and worth a punt I reckon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I have little idea about Clark but I just read on a Villa blog that he has a tendency to dive in and put the other players at risk. Maybe the new Steven Taylor?
However, Taylor was good enough for the Championship and even looked solid against Spurs after Rafa had had a few months with him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Janmaat limps out of training,clattered by Tiote ffs
Icedog(Quote)
Eric, most Villa fans say he’s a yellow/red card walking, has a penchant for OG’s too apparently and mistake/brain fart prone. They are all pitching their teams to kick off the first game and not one has him in defence.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Course he does 🙄
Kimtoon(Quote)
we all have a tendance y to dis our players if they are leaving. The question is, is he better than dummett? our other Left footed centre Back.
Premandup(Quote)
Lads Leigh is contracted to 2021 so would have to cough up for him, even if he did fancy dropping down to us. Transfer market valuation is £1.7m !!! that’s never right is it?
Kimtoon(Quote)
Exactly Prem, that is the most important factor, not at all sure he is tbh.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Mind having said that Dummett is better at CB than LB, same as Clark.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – I think he’s someone we could get for £5-7m, but there again, the crazy fees going round at the mo they could want £10m or more and that would be too much IMO.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, aye crazy fees abound at the mo.
Kimtoon(Quote)
If you want, I will do an article in the morning comparing Clarke’s stats with Dummett, Mbemba, Lascelles and one other CB from the PL to see how he compares – all based on the average game last season. Who should the other CB be? I know Dummett was mostly a LB but percentages of tackles won, passes completed etc should make no odds what position they play.
Shamrock(Quote)
Talk about arseholes Pardew is talking to Siko agent about him moving there he loves to think he is better than he is loves the press imo he has two hopes, Bob hope and nee hope
Icedog(Quote)
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/08/01/report-newcastle-consider-move-to-sign-manchester-uniteds-camero/
This ties in nicely with SRFs thread. I’d happily take this lad. We have no young LBs coming through so he would not stop anybody else’s development. He has PL experience under his belt, real quality and is not from a rival club. He would keep Dummett well on his toes and finally we could ship Heidara out.
Shamrock(Quote)
Ice: some of the younger readers will not know who Bob Hope is 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Interesting article on Mirrors back page today
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/special-report-amateur-premier-league-8535701
Kimtoon(Quote)
Sham , good idea
Kimtoon(Quote)
I’d be shocked if anybody here did not know who Bob hope was! Kim that was an interesting read. Transfers definitely getting obsurd.
Shamrock(Quote)
I never took any notice of Clark as a player but just read the Daily Mail comments and there is not a single complimentary one which is like the Villa blog I read. They are saying we are over-paying for a donkey. Maybe it is sour grapes but they all seem to be saying the same thing.
I have seen good things about Knockheart though and having not seen much of him either I am inclined to think that would be a good buy.
Sorry this is second hand and hearsay but you can’t follow every team and every player.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
never liked Clark, though he was poor last season.
Wished we had of signed Diame 3 seasons ago. hes a quality midfielder. Sissy & Tiote combined.
I like the fact we will be well stocked in most positions (if faces mentioned come in). I’m not concerned who starts but who is fit and ready. The SkyBet is a long old season so having players in abundance is good. Also. after the sale of Sissoko, we should be in profit 😀
In Rafa we trust…getting nervous now..
Gashley(Quote)
For the fantasy football managers out there. I have renewed the NUFC Blog fantasy league once again.
Some of you will automatically be invited due to past involvements but.. If you are not a part of it and want to join,here is the code. 883178-235465
Just go to the Barclay PL page and create a team.. and then join this league..
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Yes Sham, it’s very much what a lot of us have been saying. A lot of teams are just throwing a lot of cash at very mediocre players. I like the fact that we are triggering release clauses and it’s shocking that some teams are bidding for players who they had no idea had release clauses! What is that saying about a fool and his money…..
Kimtoon(Quote)
Also, The Germans calling it Stupid English money and the French with their ‘English tax’ smacks of a bit of jealousy really. And the fact that many foreign clubs are under the illusion that the championship teams have the same amounts of cash to spend!
Kimtoon(Quote)
FFS can Man U just get this Pogba deal done 😥 Last year it was Thomas Muller, a return of Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos dragging on for months and nothing coming of it except new contracts at their current clubs.
I think the Pogba deal will get done but it is getting very boring and seems to have inflated everything else, even taking into account the English premium. Everton are asking 75 million for Lukaku which I think would make him the 3rd most expensive player in history if he moves before Pogba. Both valuations are insane.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric , Agree, by the time he arrives the fans excitement will be watered down and if he fails to perform to the level of his price tag all hell will be let loose. Still, that’s their problem, but I do get fed up reading the will he won’t he saga which seems to dominate transfer talk. You wouldn’t mind but he really isn’t that special.
It’s the same with Sissoko with us, just want it sorted now, it’s boring me ****less.
Kimtoon(Quote)
SSN Breaking
Hull offer Mo Diame new 3 year contract
Kimtoon(Quote)
KIm – the breaking news up here is that Diame is in Newcastle for his medical and will probably sign today.
Not sure about this Clark link. Villa’s central defence last year was abysmal and he was a major part of it. However we probably do need another CB especially for Jan when Mbemba is away. An injury or suspension to Lascelles or Hanley and we’re screwed then.
Georgio(Quote)
Kimtoon: here is an article on top 10 football over-valuations. It was written on July 12 so is probably even worse now:
http://www.football365.com/news/top-ten-most-ridiculous-transfer-valuations
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think if Clark comes he’ll be cover not a starter mate. As for Diame, I suppose it’s whether he wants PL footie now or fancies a project with us. Must say, Hull have left it bloody late to offer renewed terms to Diame. Still think he is on his way to us.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Cheers Eric, I’ll read it later as off out in a mo.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Yeah from what I’ve heard they’re glad to get rid, same with that bloke that’s gone to Everton – I think Andre/Jordan Ayew (one of the two brothers) who scored a few goals is the only one to come out with any credit.
Andy Magpie(Quote)
Haven’t you read that quote from him saying he would never go back to United? He said something like:
‘I’d sooner go back and work in my dad’s restaurant then back to United – less rats there.’
Andy Magpie(Quote)
SHAM that storey about the spurs lad having a medical at toon,theres a whisper that he failed the medical how true that is i dont know,but looking at his record of injurys there could be something in it
icedog(Quote)
Interesting Ice. Warning sirens all over that kid for me.
Well I am about to write the defender comparison thread. Some surprising results have come up…
Shamrock(Quote)
Missing a trick? Not at all! No point in getting loans in when there are still 4 weeks left of the transfer window. Much better to buy players first and then plug the holes with loans if we need to. Have there been any major loan deals so far? Not that I can recall…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
I think most Villa fans hate all of their players for what went on there last season.
But the couple I know think Clark is a decent enough player – certainly for the Championship. However they do say he can be rash and dive in at times.
I’d rather have someone like Dunk, but I agree with Kim – Clark will unlikely start the games & would be decent cover I reckon.
Still want a proper LB in though.
Sharpy17(Quote)
looking foward to it mate
icedog(Quote)
please put a link up when its done
icedog(Quote)
New thread >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2016/08/02/is-ciaran-clarke-worthy-of-the-toon/
Shamrock(Quote)