You get a guy with one foot in, Janmaat out, Yedl-in, Saivet out and you shake the squad about, you do the transfer shuffle and you loan De Jong, that’s what it’s all about.
Yes it’s been a hectic couple of days in the transfer market for Newcastle and in the middle of it all was a hard fought home EFL Cup victory against Cheltenham Bruisers. With all the ins and outs in the last day or two it isn’t just the Newcastle strike force who are left a little concussed.
First of all – what about the game? Newcastle spluttered their way through the first half against a spirited away side and it looked as if was going to be a nightmarish cup-tie with Aarons and Mitrovic both leaving the field injured in the opening forty-five. And it looked even worse when Ayoze Perez had to go off to get the old ‘Terry Butcher look’ from the medical staff only to then return and almost instantly curl an unstoppable strike into the corner of the net to send Newcastle in front at the break.
The game then seemed to start going a little bit more to plan when Perez slid in a second shortly after half time. It seems we have stumbled across the secret of motivating young Ayoze…wrap his head in a bandage, it seems to focus his shooting remarkably. Newcastle created a few other chances but failed to increase their lead further. There was still time for another injury scare when top scorer Dwight Gayle had to go off with yet another head injury.
Thankfully for the attacking three, it appears their injuries are minor and the withdrawal from the field a rule sanctioned necessity where players with suspected concussions must not continue for their own safety. The injury sustained by Aarons looks altogether much worse and the club waits for further assessment. With the only other left wingers at the club being Yohan Goufran and Sammy Ameobi, that is a blow for Newcastle and surely Rafa must look at bringing a left wide man in before the window slams shut.
The transfers now then. The ‘outs’ first; De Jong out on loan seems to make sense. Let’s face it, it was unlikely anyone was going to offer serious money to take a player who has spent the majority of 24 months injured. He needs to go and get some much needed game time in a less physical league. Can you imagine if he played against Cheltenham? My goodness, the poor chap would have gone down in the pre-match handshakes with an injured wrist. His career on Tyneside may not be over though if he proves himself at PSV, he may come back and challenge for a place in the squad.
The Saivet one is weird. I mean why was the fella even signed in the first place? He has made four appearances…four. This is a player who played out wide on both the left and right hand side at Bordeaux before moving into centre mid. He also captained them, so he must be able to play a bit. Considering we are desperate for a wide man, there must be some personal stuff going on and he appeared delighted to be back in France so this one may not be down to footballing reasons. Amazing scouting job with that one though! What a waste of time, for Newcastle and the player.
Janmaat was expected by many to leave this summer and he finally makes a move to Premiership Watford for a reported £7.5m. That’s not a bad price for the full-back who on occasion looked a really decent player at Premiership level. He did leave us vulnerable at the back with his persistent charges down the right, but he also offered a really good outlet. Remember the part he played in Gini’s goal against West Ham last season after being released by Shelvey’s pass. His consistency suffered though and he wanted to leave so not too many fans will be overly disappointed.
He was only allowed to leave though when Newcastle had secured the services of American, former Sunderland loanee DeAndre Yedlin for an undisclosed fee thought to be around the £5million mark. Yedlin arrives on another one of these five year deals and has swapped Premiership bench-warming at Spurs for a crack at The Championship with Newcastle. He has bags of pace and is a threat going forward so it could be a good bit of business for Rafa as again he shows that he is not willing to let players go unless a replacement is secured. It does seem a bit strange though to bring Yedlin in and allow Mbabu to leave on loan, surely he could have provided cover with Gamez, Anita and Sterry also able to play at right back.
Benitez knows what he is doing though and seems to have a plan for this window and the next. Expect a busy end to August, he’s not done yet.
Cheers SRF, Good read and transfer roundup.
Not too upset about Janmaat going, not the best RB we’ve ever had and I share your bemusement about Mbabu going out on loan and Yedlin coming in. Though Yedlin looks pacy and on the face of it a good signing I am struggling to see why we let Mbabu go as I thought the lad looked good. As for Saivet, well that’s Carr for you, we can thank him for LDJ, SDJ and Rivi too, though for me Saivet never got anywhere near enough chance to show his worth. As you say it could be non footballing matters that come into it. Now we must get that left side sorted and another quality forward in please Rafa.
Kimtoon(Quote)
cheers SRF you always write a interesting thread,i really like Mbabu cannot understand why Rafa sent him on loan i know hes had injury problems but thought he was over them,strange like imo
icedog(Quote)
SSN reporting that we are interested in Christian Atsu from Chelsea.
I know he’s a winger, but other than a few unsuccessful loans.
Don’t know if it’s a loan move for us or if we are trying to buy him.
I’d be happier if it were Victor Moses, but Conte seems to like him coz he’s been in the squad & team regularly since Conte has came in.
Sharpy17(Quote)
sharpy, I know zero about the Chelsea lad tbh but love the thought of Moses and Jesus in the same team, we couldn’t fail with that combo 😀
Kimtoon(Quote)
George Caulkin Verified account
@CaulkinTheTimes
George Caulkin Retweeted George Caulkin
#Nufc confirm that Aarons will have an operation and be out for 8 weeks
Gutted for Rolando
Kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – those who thought we could go through this season depending on Aarons or that he could play a big part in this campaign were just wishful thinking I’m afraid.
It was naive from the transfer bods at the club as well IMO. Those who have been at the club longer than Rafa should know his injury record should have meant more options in that position – before heading into the final week of the window!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Cheers Kim
Yeh Aarons out for two months…so unlucky for him. Had hopes of a good season for him.
SRF(Quote)
Cheers Ice
Glad you enjoyed the article. Really appreciate the feedback
SRF(Quote)
It looks like both Mitro and Gayle will sit out the next match. I think that means we’re in trouble. Who do we have left that can score? Perez possibly but who else?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Nice job SRF mate. It’s about time we had some hokey cokey at the club….
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Nice one SRF
Geordi 2 Keep a clean sheet first
Premandup(Quote)
Armstrong signs 4 yr deal,so Rafa must think something of him
Icedog(Quote)
Great news about Armstrong – celebrate the new deal with a goal at the weekend ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Bleeding Aarons! I think he’s jinxed and too skinny. He needs to get on Guinness and Steak diet!
Glad for Arma, I just hope he fulfills some of that potential.
Still have no idea who will play up front tomorrow but I’m not too sure any of our strikers will be able to do the job as they’re very small.
Stuart79(Quote)
It has to be Arma and Perez that’s all we got, Ritchie could chip in with a goal maybe and Goofy might as he’s picking up a bit of form at the mo. Not idea situation though it’s got to be said.
Kimtoon(Quote)
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/540757/Newcastle-Everton-swap-deal-James-McCarthy-Moussa-Sissoko
Kimtoon(Quote)
Bloody hope not cannot stand McCarthy he’s a right dirty bar steward
Icedog(Quote)
Thanks Geordietwo and Prem. Appreciate the comments. Could be Mo behind Perez, Gouf left, Richie right with Arma to come off the bench I think against a strong Brighton side.
SRF(Quote)
Aye Premand mate, well have to be tighter than usual in defense. Interesting to see who Rafa sends out. It will be his most trusted 11 that aren’t injured I would think. A big match at home for us. A win and we’re probably in the top 6, a loss and we slide downward again.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Sleeping in an oxygen tent has been shown to increase bone healing rate by a huge amount. It’s not a joke. Why not try it on Aarons?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
SRF good write up mate.. it seems as if this oarticular cup game was an absolute disaster, with senior and very important players droppkng like flies. Good job that the FA didn’t give Perez’s bandage the same concussion category as Mitro and Gayle or he would be iut too…
Pity about Aarons, though I think he is overrated anyway, a bit like Perez.
We must avoid defeat at all costs at the weekend, a point will be welcomed..
Munich Mag(Quote)
Can see a very defensive formation from Rafa on Saturday in light of recent injuries, could make for an awfully boring game. Sky will be gnashing their teeth as I type .
Kimtoon(Quote)
SSN confirm that Krul has gone to Ajax – good luck to him. I hope he gets himself plenty of game time & he’s got a chance to get a winners medal out there so hope his season goes well.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Becks did that when he had that metatarsal injury . Think Rooney did too.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Ditto, been a good servant to nufc deserves to get something from the loan.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Cheers Munich, yeh can you imagine any other team losing three players in one game to injury including their top two strikers days before their most difficult fixture of the season to date? I’m just amazed we got a home tie in the next round!
SRF(Quote)
West Ham fail to get through to the group stages of Europa ???
That may be a bit petty but **** um!! – they’ll just have to make do with their free stadium ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
That’ll learn ’em Sharpy!
SRF good thread and I too am miffed by Mbabu going out on loan. Maybe they feel they can’t rely on his dodgy fitness record and want to see him build his strength up as a first teamer somewhere? Chances are, Anita will be off next season. I’d like to see Sterry get a fair crack at it too.
Shamrock(Quote)
We are almost at the stage of having 2 players for each position for the time in ages. Hopefully it will be mission accomplished in the next week. We should have the squad numbers, so I absolutely want and expect us to take the Cups seriously. The Cups bring the magic to footy from a fans perspective and with the depth we have, we should be able to complete on multiple levels.
Shamrock(Quote)
Cheers Sham, yeh I love Rafa’s idea of two players for every position and think that is the best way of solving our terrible injury problems. Obviously you can’t account for in game injuries such as those against Cheltenham but overall his rotation will pay dividends.
SRF(Quote)
Re Aarons injury. He has a bad track record with hamstrings but this one was stamp on his foot and a broken bone. Not an injury prone thing.
Good write up SRF! Think you’re right about Diame off but I think Gouffran better in centre and Perez out wide. Hayden and Colback centre mid?
Georgio(Quote)
Good read SRF and I agree with Kim regarding Janmaat, he’d always been a bit ‘meh’ for me.
Maybe under the right management he can carve out a Premier League berth for himself at Watford.
Selz called up by Martinez and Belgium I see today.
Andy Magpie(Quote)
“I’m delighted to sign a new contract with Newcastle, my boyhood club,” said Newcastle-born Sterry.
“I’ve worked really hard to get here, and this week has been really good for me, starting for the first time and now this. “I’ve learnt a lot, especially under the manager, but also under every coach and every manager, and I’d like to thank my family and girlfriend.
“Now I just need to keep working hard and hopefully get more opportunities to play in front of our fans.”
Shamrock(Quote)
“I’ve worked with Zaha. He’s improved under my management” Pardew.
Yeah Alan that’s why he wants to leave.
Georgio(Quote)
Achraf Lazaar on his way is the talk on twatter
icedog(Quote)
I think Rafa will play a sort of modified 4-3-3 with our lack of strikers. This would have to have Ritchie pushing forward so I would start Anita as he seems to handle the defensive duties well. Too soon for DeAndre and he tends to want to attack more anyway.
Selz
Anita MBembe Lascelles Dummett
Hayden Shelvey Colback
Ritchie Perez Diame
I am probably totally wrong and Anita will take Colback’s place with either Gamez or DeAndre having league debuts at right back. That is my worry, them having debuts in such a big game.
laEric deSykes(Quote)
Is anybody else worried that we have left it late for new additions? We might have been better keeping Thauvin if it is him or nobody? Or him or second choices or the dregs.
I know Thauvin didn’t settle but screw that, a lot of people don’t settle immediately. A lot of students get homesick and footballers are in the same boat where they wont be living in their new city for the rest of their lives.
We are now likely to be in the middle of what is likely to be a mad scramble and we better have our targets firmly in place because we could be in trouble if we have to settle. Isn’t that how we ended up with some of Carr’s current duds in the first place?
laEric deSykes(Quote)
And what is happening with Tiote? He wasn’t even on the bench for Bristol or Cheltenham.
laEric deSykes(Quote)
hes going to Greece mate hold up is Burnley are trying to get him,next couple of days and he will be gone 😉
icedog(Quote)
Sounds like someone out of a sci-fi movie
Kimtoon(Quote)
Eric – I’m not worried, I’m disappointed & annoyed.
We couldn’t score last season & the only change up front is Cisse out & Gayle in.
We knew we were short on width on the left with Thauvin not working out – and we are still waiting.
It’s good that we have addressed the centre back issues – but that was done fairly early on in the window, and we’ve had ample time to address ALL areas IMO.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Situation with Schweinsteiger at Manure is crazy, Jose saying he will pick academy players ahead of Bastian if he gets injuries to that position!
Kimtoon(Quote)
Ice – with him left & Yedlin right – I could potentially see a 3 at the back with those 2 as wing backs.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim – I can’t stand Jose personally. How disrespectful is that towards a top top pro who has done nothing to warrant such treatment.
On the flip side, did you hear what Pep said about Hart? – similar situation, but showed great respect towards him.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yeah Sharpy, I’m very shocked at what’s going on with Schweinsteiger, very disrespectful. Talk that Hart could go to Scum now.
Kimtoon(Quote)
A bit of Tino nostalgia:
http://thesetpieces.com/features/90s-heroes-faustino-asprilla/
laEric deSykes(Quote)
http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/30146/
😯
Kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – what a loada tosh!!. I don’t believe for a second we would shell out on this fella when Robson-Kanu would be picked up for nowt as an alternative option example.
Sharpy17(Quote)
This is a huge transition year for the club. All the older players and dross picked up by the club over the ten year Mike disaster are being removed. Thank God for that. Players like Saylor, Obertongs, and De Jong were absolutely useless. Signed to fairly long term contracts and just eating up the wage bill. Then there are players like Bigi and Marveaux amd Saivet who just never made it with us. Well done Ashley, Charnley, Carr, Kinnear, Llambeezee etc. etc. Ten years of futility under the biggest group of pinheads ever assembled in English football. I’m not even mentioning expensive incoming like Cabella and Thauvin who were a complete waste of space (I suppose I am mentioning them aren’t I?). Again, well done you magnificent group of pinheads!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I love watching Rafa dismantle the huge pile of dog droppings that Ashley and friends called a squad. I hope the Pinheads at the top get their noses rubbed in it over and over again. 😈
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Absolute rubbish. Don’t believe that one for a second. Even more laughable, I mean come.etwly demented, is the comments of the Ipswich fans under that article. They reckon they can get cash PLUS Armstrong for him. Wtf are they smoking?!
Shamrock(Quote)
Ashley is our Willy W@nker. He knows what stupidity is all aboot. Come on Ashley tell us how you managed to put together such a fabulous squad that we got relegated and Rafa had to get rid of 15 players! Yes it’s Willy W@nker and the Chocolate Factory all over again.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
https://youtu.be/IvDz-Q1L5DM
Lazaar looks very comfortable on the ball. I think I’d favour playing Dummett or Clark at LB – either would be happier to focus on defending whilst allowing Lazaar to attack & it looks like he’d have no issues tracking back when needed.
Fee is apparently €3.5m so could be a decent little buy that one.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I looked up Christian Atsu and he really hasn’t done much. Looks like he was one of Chelsea’s buy-in-bulk and see who pushes on. At 23 it is probably now or never for him and I doubt if he will be much more than a backup/stopgap at NUFC. You never know though and with Aarons injured we need somebody and I always envisioned this as a transition season for Aarons where he would push a more experienced starter for his place.
Hopefully, we get Atsu AND a more experienced winger.
laEric deSykes(Quote)
There are a lot of teams suggesting they will be doing multiple deals in the final week of the window. I don’t think we can criticise the regime for not getting the winger or striker in yet. What we are after is very specific and there are not many options out there that fit the bill given our current situation. I’m sure it will all be sorted in a mass chain reaction in the final 2 or 3 days.
It’s interesting that Rafa has just said he needs 2 wingers. He did not mention a striker of left back, but whether he was solely talking about the wing problem or in general remains to be seen. I have thought for a whole.we needed 2 anyway, because we have no replacement for Ritchie in the squad.
Shamrock(Quote)
I’m so relieved those years are over. But to waste 9 years is criminal. Not to ever be forgiven.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
was past his best two seasons ago
icedog(Quote)
Bigirimana has gone permanently to Coventry.
Shamrock(Quote)
aye poor kid got pardewed
icedog(Quote)
its only until the end of season mind Sham
icedog(Quote)
What has gone under the radar is that Mike Ashley is having an absolute mare at the moment! He’s lost hundreds of millions with Sports Direct and now their biggest voting advisor has urged shareholders to oppose re-electing Ashley as Chief Executive. I’d be pretty confident that if we go up next season he will be actively looking at selling the club. £300m will come in handy for him currently…
Stuart79(Quote)
Sham I only posted that link cause I was in shock that we were linked with him like. Where do these rumours start ????
Kimtoon(Quote)
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/gael-bigirimana-returns-coventry-city-11806582
Yeah Ice he only got a 1 year deal, but it is a permanent tranafer. He is no longer on our books.
He only managed 13 appearances for Coventry on loan last season so I think they are trying to give him a chance but are not convinced enough to Hans him a long term deal.
Shamrock(Quote)
Mick McCarthy watched Newcastle under 23s play west ham the other day and Armstrong is talking of going on loan again.
A) It looks like he might to to Ipswich on loan, which is a good move.
B) That might be where the press are getting this Murphy rubbish from. A loose connection between Ipswich and us, our need for a big striker and 2+2 equals Murphy.
Shamrock(Quote)
get this Parma lad in I say, he must be good playing in italy and 3,5 million euros is nowt.
I reckon we’ll see Dummet being moved on as Rafa doesn’t rate him..
Munich Mag(Quote)
dont know about that mate,he made him captain at one point,unless its a sale ploy
icedog(Quote)
Has anyone seen or heard anything regarding forwards? – all seems to have gone very quiet with Haller & Dost.
Rafa gave Dummett a new long term contract last season, so he must rate him a bit.
Sharpy17(Quote)
lads, I know, but I reckon Dummet will get moved on
Munich Mag(Quote)
Dost is off to Sporting mate didnt want to play in ccc even though toon offerd a better deal,,still talking to the other kid
icedog(Quote)
Wouldn’t Dummett be one of our 2 left backs? Selling him.would be pointless as we would be lacking depth all over again. Some of his crossing has been decent recently too. I personally do not think selling him is a good idea at all.
Shamrock(Quote)
Ice – shame coz I like the look of Dost. But fair play to him, at least he’s looking to play at the highest level & test himself, rather than going after the coin.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think we might end up with a loan striker to be honest. I don’t suppose it’s helped not being able to offload Sissoko yet.
Stuart79(Quote)
its obvious we are only signing players when others leave / are sold. Great balancing the books but we’ve been down this road before and ended with nixy.
We need a striker desperately or we’ll struggle to get into the automatic promotion spots
Gashley(Quote)
I would be keeping Dummett personally as he is also good CB cover where he is arguably better anyway.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Getting very worried about the forward and winger situation now, we don’t seem to be linked to anyone that you’d say would really make a difference to us.
Kimtoon(Quote)