With four signings secured some momentum is finally arriving to Newcastle’s summer recruitment drive. Although none have been the big name signings fans crave, they may prove to be useful additions. That being said, Rafa and the club will be aware our biggest moves are yet to come and the spine of the side still clearly needs work. Which areas should be a priority to strengthen until the window slams shut at the end of August?
Centre midfield
After wearing the armband against Preston and Bradford, Shelvey’s influence at Newcastle on the rise after an impressive season in the Championship. One problem we had last year was replacing him when he was missing, mainly due to his ill-discipline. We don’t have a player like him, with other options like Hayden, Colback and Saivet being far more defensively minded – as does the seemingly imminent arrival of Mikel Merino.
Isaac Hayden had a promising first season at Newcastle and at 22, has time to further improve. Newcastle are clearly in the market for a holding midfielder (Merino) as well as backup to Shelvey, just to take the pressure off Hayden. James McCarthy has been linked but a £25m price-tag is far from tempting. Gvien Benitez’s fondness to dip into the Spanish market, Gabriel Pires may be a considered as a creative option, but we certainly need reinforcements here. Colback and Diame could yet be axed this summer, along with Saivet, so bodies are needed along with some quality.
Number 10
This is arguably Newcastle’s biggest dilemma and problem position at the moment. With Rafa favouring a 4-2-3-1 formation, it is central to his plans and success on the pitch next season. Last year, Diame and Perez mainly played there with neither really making the position their own. Diame just did not score enough goals to justify sacrificing the extra firepower of a 4-4-2 and he was just as effective in the deeper central midfield role. Ayoze again flattered to deceive, despite finishing the season strongly.
We do have De Jong coming back from a loan spell but his abysmal fitness record suggests we can’t hang our hopes on him next year. I think Rafa may use Perez as a backup striker and Diame as a backup centre midfielder, leaving De Jong as a rotation option for the number 10 role. Whether his thoughts, Rafa will want a quality addition brought in here. Match winners like Sigurdsson appear to be out our reach as the market spirals out of control but we could do with someone who can link the play and provide ammunition for Gayle, who needs service to be effective.
Striker
As the old saying goes, goals win games. Newly promoted sides find scoring enough goals to win games as the biggest challenge to acclimatising to the top flight. Gayle carried us over the line last year with 23 goals but doubts remain if he replicate anywhere near this total in the Premier League. There are countless examples of strikers scoring in the Championship to then not deliver against better opposition.
Gayle showed some promise of scoring in the top flight with Palace but was never really trusted to be their first choice striker. He is certainly someone we need to keep and is our most potent attacking option but we need a proven striker too. Rafa will know this and even looking at our downfall in the 2015/6 season, Mitrovic and Cisse didn’t score regularly enough to keep us up.
We need to break our transfer record to get that top level 15+ goal striker needed to help us compete next year. A marquee striker is always a massive boost to the fans too and even the loan signing of someone like Batshuayi would do the trick, if we can pull it off. We may actually need two strikers with Murphy leaving and Mitrovic seemingly heading for the exit door.
Which areas do you want to see NUFC strengthen? And you would be your ideal signings?
Thanks , yep I can’t feel comfy about this window at all yet. Our signings are ok but nothing really special to make you sit up and think, yeah that’s us safe. Simply have to get a quality forward to get the goals and a decent no 10 to assist that. De Jong could yet be the 10 to do it but as you point out he has a woeful injury record. We need to crack on with a forward or like Boro last year a lack of goals will kill us.
KIMTOON(Quote)
very good point KIM,seems we are waiting for Mitro to go before getting another striker which we shouldnt be,new needs time to settle into the Rafa way
icedog(Quote)
this Aalan holding m/f player from Napoli seems a canny buy at 10 mil unless its just paper ****
icedog(Quote)
Yeah he does but why would he leave a very successful team for us Ice, can’t see it mate
KIMTOON(Quote)
For me this is a real straight forward one. Our priority has to be a forward. It’s goals that is the difference of staying in this league or not – and Boro was the prime example of that last season.
They had one of the best defensive records in the league last season, but because there was nobody putting the ball in the back of the net at the other end, they went down.
If Gayle gets injured we are screwed, simple as that.
It would be good to get better midfielders through the door, but for me we should be breaking our necks to improve our on those who are there to score the goals.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I still think we will break our transfer record at least once. However, I am struggling to think of who we will buy for 20 million. Half a Bas Dost?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The bookies have us 7/2 to win our first game. Now Spurs are a decent team, but they are not exactly Real Madrid and those odds are crazy. We beat them 5-1 last time and that was with Sissoko in our team and not theirs.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Colback and Steven Taylor also played in that 5-1 win against Spurs. So, I reckon it must be at least 11-0 to NUFC as long as Ginger Jack gets injured against Hellas Verona (or sold to Villa).
Eric Sykes(Quote)
BTW, Steven Taylor is only one season removed from playing for NUFC in that Spurs game under Rafa. During that time he played for The Portland Timbers and Ipswich Town and is now at League 1 Peterborough. He is only 31, same age as Rooney.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And Mike Williamson was released by Wolves in May. Not actual, dog like, furry wolves. The football team. I am starting to feel sorry for Ugly John again. I knew he was dealt a bad hand but when you think his 2 centre backs were Williamson and Taylor….
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Striker and midfielder for me are priorities.
Stuart79(Quote)
Oh, God. I just had a vision of a feral wolfen half naked Williamson running around a Canadian forest and John Carver still having the team lumping the ball up to him on the edge of the penalty box at every free kick.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Me too,striker I would go not many have thought about but I would like to see him SJP as c/f with bags of pace and that is Walcot from the gunners
Icedog(Quote)
He doesn’t score though Ice. And he is their highest paid player on like 140k a week.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
They keep playing on the wing when the odd time Wenger used him as a out and out striker he did well,the kid keeps asking to play through the middle I doubt he’s on the wage you quote
Icedog(Quote)
In July of 2015 Walcott signed his new deal for 140k a week. You can look it up.
It still has 3 years to run so there is no way we are signing him.
He is not a kid either – HE IS 28.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Walcott League Goals (I know Wenger usually plays him on the wing):
2013 – 5
2014 – 5
2015 – 5
2016/17 – 10
Eric Sykes(Quote)
140,000 a week is 7,280,000 a year. We are not going to pay that for a goal-shy winger.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
In sacks of potatoes that is about 1.5 million, although Walcott doesn’t look like a potato so I not sure how relevant that is.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I wouldn’t be too surprised if we had a panic loan towards the end of the window. The club think the selling clubs will reduce their price as the window get closer to closure. Mmmm, not too sure about that. We are certainly not in a position of strength.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu, I think we are really weak if I’m honest mate. If we don’t get some proper fire power in we will be in another dog fight make no mistake. Other clubs are making astute signings in good time and we seem to be dragging our heels somewhat. Rafa ‘s a good coach but the man needs the tools for the job.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Forget him at that sort of cash it shocked me,when I’ve seen him played through the middle he not bad and thought he might have been a cheap buy 7/8 mil as it’s rare Wenger plays him
Icedog(Quote)
Kimtoon: I am not totally sold on Jack Cork at 10 mil or Artuamaicic (or whatever he is called) at 25 mil. 30 mil for a Sunderland goalie with 25 games is a bit steep as well – I think he is good though, and probably worth it. Just shows you what prices are now!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If the papers are tonne believed and we are looking a goalkeepers then for me that’s wasted time and energy at this stage of the window IMO.
If we had to start the season with the keepers we already have I could live with that – if we have to start the season with the forwards we have, not so much.
Sharpy17(Quote)
If Siem De Jong is as good as people say then how come no clubs are interested in signing him ?
Siem De Jong can put on all the talk he want’s but its all blah, blah to me. We all gave Williamson and Colocini and dare I say it Colback a hard time but at least they put in a shift. Siem De Jong has done absolutely nothing but is laughing all the way to the bank. I cant stand lazy player’s like that.
Stem(Quote)
Owen even did more for the club and Steven Taylor. Siem De Jong needs to go.
Stem(Quote)
Stem, I don’t think he’s a deliberate sick note to be fair mate. Collapsed lungs are not put on jobs and that poke in the eye almost blinded the lad. I do believe he is desperate to prove his worth to us and I’m all for it, the guy reads the game well and has a lovely pass on him almost sherringham esq. Also it’s said Rafa really rates the lads ability. Having said all that we need another good number 10 because he does have horrendous injury luck.
Sharpy, This goalkeeper obsession is nuts, it’s the one area we are cool imo, as you say it’s up front things look decidedly iffy.
KIMTOON(Quote)
What’s going on with the investment/takeover stuff as well, that has all but died off it seems. Funny that.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Seems that the Samaris deal is alive again for our original bid of £13.4million that was initially refused. I’d also be happy with a loan for Batchayi if rumours are true.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Dubai, don’t be getting my hopes up mate.
KIMTOON(Quote)
i would much prefer Aalan to him,the lge is a lot toughter in Italy and hes tough kid Porugal lge is a lot softer
icedog(Quote)
and hes a lot younger
icedog(Quote)
Ice – I’d hope for both mate. Alan is a defensive midfielder & Samaris is more a creative midfielder.
Good on the club for standing their ground and getting a deal going at their price rather than being held to ransom in this crazy market.
It’s taken a few weeks longer than we’d like but when you don’t have the riches of the Manchester or London clubs, then we have to play the waiting game.
Sharpy17(Quote)
It’s very rare for Greece to produce a PL player (Dabidas?) and to come from the Portuguese league? Have my doubts even the price seems achievable. I’d prefer the Allan guy from Napoli but even he, despite the price of £10m, only made 17 games last season.
Where the striker comes from I have no idea unless it’s a loan. Batshuayi, Roberts, Iheanacho, Remy?
Rafa seems remarkably relaxed about the situation. Is it possible that Gayle and Mitro can do the job?
georgio(Quote)
Lucas Perez? Deportivo have only offered £9m to Arsenal. £12m would definitely do it.
georgio(Quote)
Georgio – I don’t know enough about Perez but he’s never got a sniff at Arsenal.
I know he wouldn’t be marquee player, but personally for that money I’d go for Andre Gray. I think he’d have more fire in his belly, more of a desire to prove himself at that level than Perez – plus I think he’s only about 25/26.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The craic is that the N’Daiye deal is still ongoing too, so it could be him, Allan or Samaris.
Saivet is on his way out, so one for him, and I’d get shot of Colback get another in to replace him.
Sharpy17(Quote)
There are just too many Scottish commentators. He was OK at Everton but he has put on a lot of weight recently and must be in his early 50’s I would say. Him and Richard Keys are a total bore fest on BEin Sports and suck up to all of the guests they have on like they are the queen, even hack journalists like John Cross (unofficial Arsenal correspondent of The Mirror).
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well according to Ryder ( I know I know) Toon have never made an approach for Samiris
Lee RyderVerified account @lee_ryder · 7m7 minutes ago
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Those asking about Andreas Samaris. #nufc haven’t bid for him at this stage.
KIMTOON(Quote)
imo the guys a clown,i cannot stand to hear him talking hes as boring as his reports,think ERIC is quite keen on him i think lol
icedog(Quote)
What has Timmy-the-hoof done to Rafa? Make a pass at his wife? If so that would be the first accurate pass in a couple of years, arf. Seriously, he was our first choice for about 5 years and wasn’t that bad apart from his distribution which I always thought was partly down to having Taylor and Williamson as his main outlets.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice: it could be I have a schoolboy crush on Lee, like. You know, like when you say you don’t like a lass but it is all a smokescreen because you really do? Or, I just think he is a terrible writer who takes the same template every day and slots in a few different names. It isn’t even his template either, it is Gibson’s and Oliver’s boring 800 words of copy, day after day, year after year. Please Lee, one time, just one time for me, write something interesting and original.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And. The Chronic articles get surprisingly few comments considering they are the main local NUFC paper. Ed’s site gets more. They employ 5 senior journalists and still put out nothing that is ever interesting. What do they say about fishes rotting from the head down Lee?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You might say that I repeat the same stuff day after day and to change the record. But I would say no, Rooney’s wage must be compared to how many sacks of potatoes it would buy. I will stand for nothing less.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You see, Rooney looks like a potato so in my tiny mind his salary should be compared to sacks of potatoes.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The Chronicle’s stuffed with rubbish. THEY mentioned the names Samaris and Allan. Now they’re reporting we haven’t bid for either. Had anybody heard of these guys before they dredged the names up?
Personally I think Andre Gray is no better than Mitro.
georgio(Quote)
Apparently we’re in talks with Mikel Merino from B Dortmund. Centre mid
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu, B. Athletic fans are getting in a twist as they want him there.
KIMTOON(Quote)
still seem to be putting all our eggs in the young with sell on value basket. At some point we need proven PL quality or foreign equivalent .
KIMTOON(Quote)
https://twitter.com/MichaelGladders/status/890227939081670656
KIMTOON(Quote)
Who is that KIM??
Icedog(Quote)
Mikel Merino, a DM looking likely.
shamrock(Quote)
Merino mate
KIMTOON(Quote)
Cheers mate missed that one,mind my mate is on two weeks hols
Icedog(Quote)
Caught most folk out I reckon Ice.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Season long loan with obligation to purchase at the end of the season. A buy now and pay later deal. Sounds ideal to me if he’s any good.
Stuart79(Quote)
ERIC best reporter Ryder never even got a sniff of this one,as per normal like
Icedog(Quote)
Icedog: I thought you would be doing cartwheels. At the very least signing another defensive mid to go with Hayden means less playing time for Ginger Jack and probably a transfer to Villa.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think Ryder must have pissed off some people at SJP because he never gets any information. Even Gibson and Oliver would get the odd “scoop”. He has been at The Chronic for more than 20 years and must have burnt all of his bridges.
There’s Luke Edwards at The Torygraph, Caulkin at The Times, even Wheeys Keys Louise at the Guardian and Craig Hope at The Daily HateMail that get more information than Lee. How can this be? He is either **** at his job or has burnt bridges.
Probably both.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Mark Douglas was saying sometimes they have names/ info but have to sit on it in order to not scupper the deal 🙄
KIMTOON(Quote)
I just looked at The Oxford English Dictionary and under journalist/reporter it has a portrait of Lee Ryder with a big “X” obscuring his face.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Convenient. But Douglas is the one person at The Chronic who seems to know what he is doing.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I still think we will break our transfer record but I am also happy that Rafa is shopping in Spain and Germany. The only problems are that it might take a while to settle and learn the language but so far we have got a Frenchman from Spain and a Spaniard from Germany so they might be used to it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ERIC thinks wearside jack will be off,please please let it be true,someone tell Brue he was nearly a England player (once)
Icedog(Quote)
well someone’s gotta cover Ryders **** Eric 😉 🙂
KIMTOON(Quote)
With these ridiculous transfer fees I am hoping that Rafa will pull a rabbit out of his hat like Xabi Alonso at Liverpool. So, I went to Wikipedia and saw he was on loan at Eibar from Sociedad when Benitez signed him.
There is no value in the Premier League. At this point Giroud is the only one I would touch as he would pretty much guarantee us 15 goals.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So it is all cloak and daggers at The Chronic like a John Le Carre novel? I wonder if their journalists would have mentioned Ronaldo’s transfer to Madrid during the 2 years of the speculation!!! I understand the “compromising sources” argument but when have they shown anybody they have any sources, and Moreno is not exactly the deal of the century.
I get what he is saying but then what is the point of what he is doing if he is not passing on the information he has discovered? Will he write a blank column with “I know something but cannot tell you readers for fear of compromising my sources” at the bottom? Actually, maybe he did go to the Ryder School of Journalism after all.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’m hoping Rafa is bargain basement shopping (relatively speaking) in order to shift a few players and spend big bucks on a striker. Maybe I’m a dreamer… 😛
Stuart79(Quote)
Also, if the player is having a medical and some random tweeter tweets it there is not much left to keep secret.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Since when have reporters kept their gob shut about anything? never,takes a court order to stop them,and be honest what imfo do they get from the toon for keeping stum anyway nothing,then why would cover up any storey,why doesn’t he just tell the truth and say I know nothing,because he would lose his job that’s why,there’s not one decent reporter on our local rag
Icedog(Quote)
Bernstein and Woodward kept the identity of Deep Throat in the Watergate scandal a secret for 40 years. I suppose Ryder and Douglas are not Bernstein and Woodward 🙂
Again Kimtoon I see your point, but…
The lads on here and you and Shamrock in the past do a better job of writing informative and interesting things about NUFC. You don’t have the same access or resources either. I just don’t understand how they just put out the same banal drivel every day. You would think they would get bored and want to write something different. What can you expect from a paper that refers to Mick Quinn (horse abuser, he lost his trainer’s license) as “NUFC Legend”.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
By the sounds of things we’re battering Bradford but can’t score.
Stuart79(Quote)
let’s hope we’re just rusty
KIMTOON(Quote)
The Chronic have finally posted an article on Mikel Moreno. I then went to wikipedia and it was taken almost word for word from there, just shuffled the paragraphs about a bit. C’mon guys, show some effort here, your boss needs his annual regenerative trips to California and Irish castles and if you don’t all pitch in his gravy train might run dry.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kimtoon, I know I am flogging a dead horse again but it has got to a point at The Chronic where it is a joke paper. May as well stick VIZ as the banner.
Eric Sykes(Quote)