There have been some interesting articles released recently surrounding the potential takeover, explaining what may or may not happen in the transfer window come January.
The latest reports are that, despite the prospect of oil money coming into the club, financial fair play would limit our spend in the next window to between £50-£80m. It is has also been said that Ashley WILL in fact sanction some money for transfers even if a takeover does not go through by then.
Not £50m plus of course, but purely to keep us as an attractive proposition to sell, with it being in his interest as far as a potential sale goes to keep Benitez and the squad in a healthy position. The last thing potential buyers would want to see would be a club in free-fall or facing impending relegation.
So where do we need to strengthen and who may we target in January, whether we are taken over by then or not:
Striker
Not bringing in a proven or quality centre forward was the main, and deserved criticism, of Ashley and co. this summer. Benitez has us well drilled, solid defensively and is squeezing all he can out of a committed squad, however – as the past week has shown – it is clear we lack the firepower to really progress up the table. Gayle was better on Saturday but big questions remain over his ability in the top flight, Mitrovic is clearly not trusted by the manager and although working hard for the team, Joselu appeared to be signed as a stop gap of sorts, showing once again on Saturday that he isn’t a 15-goal a season striker. A clinical forward is hard to find but United need to make this their priority this winter.
Potential targets with a takeover: Cenk Tosun (Besiktas), Willian Jose (Real Sociedad)
Potential targets without a takeover: Danny Ings (Liverpool – loan)
Number 10
Another problem position for Newcastle over the last few years has been behind of just off the striker. Perez fills the role currently and although he is another hard worker, he lacks the cutting edge to make the role his own moving forward. Rafa favours a 4-2-3-1 formation so this role is key to our success, especially when we already lack firepower up front.
Potential targets with a takeover: Tom Cairney (Fulham), Dennis Praet (Sampdoria)
Potential targets without a takeover: Lewis Holtby (Hamburg), Gabriel Pires (Leganes)
Left back
A position in the summer that was certainly a weak point for us, as loyal servant Dummett’s limitations have been there for all to see. Dummett is still injured and Manquillo has come in and performed fairly well and certainly above expectations. So although not as urgent as options going forward, longer term a quality left back would certainly improve us. That being said, Rafa will be delighted with our defensive prowess so far this season, conceding less than a goal a game in the Premier League, however he’ll want a natural left-back to give us ‘balance’.
Potential targets with a takeover: Luke Shaw (Man Utd – loan), James Milner (Liverpool)
Potential targets without a takeover: Matty Targett (Southampton), Kennedy (Chelsea)
Winger
I still feel there is scope for a real quality winger to be added to the squad. Ritchie has been excellent all things considered this season, chipping in with four assists. Atsu started the season well, and still looks decent business, but has faded and Murphy has not delivered yet following his £12m arrival. Aarons is still in the squad but time surely is running out for the youngster to finally make a real mark on Tyneside. A winger who offers more goals would be a welcome addition and take some pressure off our misfiring strike force.
Potential targets with a takeover: Lucas Vazquez (Real Madrid)
Potential targets without a takeover: Adama Traore (Middlesbrough), Kamil Grosicki (Hull)
Who would you like to see come in this January? Let us know your thoughts on the areas you feel need strengthening and the sort of players you feel we could sign with and without a takeover.
I would be happy with a ” good” striker and a no10 to get us to summer
Icedog(Quote)
Cook says he did foul Gayle and was willing to be sent off to keep the lead
Icedog(Quote)
Likewise mate. If we could get Tosun and Praet in this Jan then I would be happy.
Can’t say I’d be sold on either Shaw or Milner as LBs like.
I liked Ing a lot before he’s bad injury. If he could get back to the player he was then I think he’d be a good player to have in as well. But it’s a risk we don’t want to have to take this season I hope.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Fair play for the lads honesty like. Could that admission get him a retrospective punishment though?!
Sharpy17(Quote)
aye thats a point mate,i like Ings as well but not at this point cannot afford to take risks
icedog(Quote)
We won’t be bringing anybody in if there’s no new owner. Maybe a loan here or there.
Stuart79(Quote)
Not sure what Chelsea will do in January, but they will get money from A. Madrid for Costa and I’d expect them to spend.
I’m still a fan of Batshuyi personally, and whilst he may be struggling at Chelsea, I think he’s certainly good enough for the toon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
From the last thread – I have an idea. Why don’t the uber rich stop paying tax full stop and then not use NHS, the state school system and be banned from ever claiming benefits? Then just pay council tax and road tax? I think you’d find out pretty quickly that the wealthy/job creators really do contribute a huge amount to society.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – could it work that she could invest with the view to buy?.
As in if the paperwork or red tape of buying is going to see them into February to sort (for arguments sake), but the deal was going through. Could she not still invest the money.
To use an Ashleyism – could she put the cart before the horse.
Sharpy17(Quote)
http://thefoxinsider.com/news/tfi_pages/us/us1_ftv_soc/?c=369&key=d2d9d78faf8adba303a0cf1d5c351463&t=e4c51b0cc47eaabbd3c746e2b4effd7d&creative=DIRECT_set44_ad29
ERIC any good if so its not a lot of money$30,just wonder if it actually works for you?
Icedog(Quote)
SSN make me laugh like. Reckon Bilic found out he was getting sacked this morning at the training ground. Funny that coz everyone else seemed to know about 4 wks ago ?.
I can understand the decision, but the way they have conducted themselves is pretty shitty I reckon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I see Wenger have slaughtered the standard of reffing as well. I reckon Rafa may well stand shoulder to shoulder with him on that one like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Some strange names in there Simon. I wouldn’t be keen on Traore or Grosicki, Targett or bringing Milner back. Big question marks on Ings too.
georgio(Quote)
we was robbed Saturday, but I’m getting used to it now.
Stu, there’s no denying the rich contribute to our countries wealth but they certainly aren’t the only contributors . UK carers save the country £87bn per year with some estimating it could be as high as £132bn with many not claiming carers allowance. If everyone of us carers downed tools tomorrow and the people we care for went into residential care this country would be firmly in the ***** overnight. There are many ways to contribute to our countries smooth running and for some the cost is higher than others for all sorts of reasons and not all monetary .
kimtoon(Quote)
agree mate
kimtoon(Quote)
What happens if Ashley changes the goal posts at the last minute and she’s spent £100m on new players?
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu, there would be an agreement in place, like when you exchange on a house, no going back, you have to complete at stated price or receive huge financial penalties. It could work in principle.
kimtoon(Quote)
Steve Douglas
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West Ham sack Bilic, with Moyes set to take over. Board want new manager to inject enthusiasm…
😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 hang on, i’ll just get up after falling off me chair
kimtoon(Quote)
You’re right, Kim. Everybody contributes but this narrative that the wealthy don’t pay enough is nonsense.
Stuart79(Quote)
Kim, if it is all agreed and so close then it could be signed and sealed so no need for investing before completion. My bet is that the buyers solicitors will still be going through everything.
Stuart79(Quote)
Aye probably, just me clutching at straws mate.
kimtoon(Quote)
Stuart: I don’t know what it is like in the UK but the super rich have now bought the government over here and are in the process of giving themselves a massive tax CUT. The Republican Party rhetoric has always been that there must be spending offsets to pay for this, otherwise it will add to the National Debt. They are ploughing ahead anyway because they are bought and paid for. The other thing about this scandal, which you brought up saying wishy washy liberals were complaining, is that it is about money-laundering, a criminal activity – a federal crime. And not just that, money laundering of cash from a hostile foreign government seeking to influence the US and French elections.
I could get into why the tax system is not fair, but that would bore everybody to death if I haven’t done that already. The latest scandal though is about criminal activity at the top of the political food chain and is not a “bleeding heart liberal” issue, it is a criminal issue and goes to the very top. Manifort managed Trumps campaign. Even after he quit, his partner, who is in as deep as he is, managed Trump’s transition to President. These people are crooks and were directly and indirectly paid by Putin and the Oligarchs that he gave away most of Russia’s financial assets to. They are also under house arrest and had to surrender their passports – Manifort had 3 different US passports by the way with 3 different numbers. How is that even possible? The joke is that he really Jason Bourne 🙂
Would you want members of the mafia in the British Government? This is worse because they are not only crooks, they are working on behalf of a corrupt and adversarial foreign power.
That’s it. I have said all I will say. But Stuart brought this up saying it was about bleeding heart liberals moaning about something and implying there was no there there when he obviously has only skimmed the surface of the issue and wants to promote his far-right, maybe even alt-right agenda.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am pretty sure we could get Ings because he doesn’t suit Klopp’s style. However, it may have to be a straight buy rather than loan as other teams are also desperately after a striker and may be willing to gamble on his fitness.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
How is it possible that West Ham go from offering the job to Ancelotti to giving it to Moyes? Why don’t they look at a replay of a few Sunderland games from last year and look at his body language. Their director of football worked with Moyes at Everton. This is the guy who just sent 25 million on Arnautovic.
Surely this has to end in tears? Another squad that is “too good to go down”. They should ask NUFC about that. Also, I don’t really rate their squad that highly. Full of over-hyped mercenaries. They look like this years Sunderland so they have hired the right bloke 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And all of this is going on at West Ham and Everton when Troy’s favourite Lee Clark is available. Isn’t he the obvious choice? Troy said NUFC could have done worse as an interim Manager 🙂 🙂 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Simon: am I right in saying that financial fair play is not an issue if we sell to buy? So we could sell Gayle and use those funds on Ings and not worry about FFP?
I have looked at FFP and it is very complicated so you almost need a degree in accounting to understand it. It is all about what you spend as a percentage of revenue but there are 3 year averaging rules, and fines are on a sliding scale. QPR have run afoul of this but from what I have seen it is not really an issue if you can significantly boost your revenue, which I think would be the aim of a new buyer. The problem would be if we spend, there is no buyer, and we lose Rafa and get relegated again.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Simon: you didn’t mention goalkeeper. I really hope that Rafa doesn’t waste any time on this or signs someone January 1st. I think it was a distraction in the last window and that Elliot is good enough for now. Just quit the bloody hoofball.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
FFP is a busted flush.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stewie: I was referencing Simon’s reference where he was worried about it. I am not worried as there are so many loopholes it would not restrict our spending. Ashley will restrict our spending 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
However, QPR did lose a court case about FFP and are facing a 30 million fine. They made some big bets on players to stay in the PL and **** the consequences if it didn’t work. If you are stupid about it you might get burned by the FFP rules.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: I don’t get you. You are probably paying double the tax rate of these billionaires who are fixing the system for their own ends and yet you defend their manipulations and sometimes outright criminal activity like Wilbur Ross, Donald Trump and their despicable chancer cronies like Paul Manifort and Mike Flynn.
You are so against the “bleeding heart liberals” that you cannot see the woods for the trees. These people are not about helping small business owners like yourself they are about lining their own pockets and creating dynasties. How anybody can defend plutocrats and oligarchs is beyond me.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Also Stuart: you might want to study history. Or even look at the present. It is not like we haven’t seen the consequences of unfettered capitalism run amuck. Look at the UK in the 19th Century – child labour, poor houses indentured servitude. Look at the US at the turn of the 20th Century when JP Morgan basically ran the country. People fought for their democratic rights and you want to give these up in the name of opposing “bleeding heart liberals” and a tax system that overwhelmingly favours the rich.
I could go on but Stuarts ideas are anti-democracy. He favours a plutocracy, tax havens and Oligarchs.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ERIC was that tv thing any good,don’t know if I told you about before? seems very cheap
Icedog(Quote)
I would accept some of what you say but from what I have seen of people using the tax havens in this country is perfectly legal. It’s complete nonsense and hypocrisy to blame the people doing it. It’s governments who are to blame. John McDonnell on his high horse when his own pension fund is using a tax haven in Jersey ffs!!! The Labour Party failed to pay tax on profits of £4m last year due to loop holes! Socialist MP’s like Ian Lavery complaining about the rich having too much and the poor not enough and at the same time getting £165k from unions when he left to become a MP!! How can you take these things serious when it comes from these idiots!
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart: I am far from a socialist. I just hate hypocracy and manipulation. You should pay your share in the country that allowed to get rich in the first place.
It is a false equivalency to say because the Labour Party took advantage of bad rules that the rules are not bad.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Blame the people who make the rules, not the people who take advantage of the rules.
Stuart79(Quote)
All these socialists complain about the wealthy not doing enough and public services suffering yet not one of them over pay their tax. There’s no maximum tax rate someone can pay. If they don’t think they pay enough tax then call HMRC and over pay. Until then they should shut their traps!
Stuart79(Quote)
In the US they are now almost one and the same since the Politicians have been bought by super rich near-Oligarchs like the Kochs and have installed their own into government in Trump, Wilbur Ross and the Generals. The country is now being run by a Billionaire populist (oxymoron? well moron anyway), Plutocrats and Generals. They are writing the rules and the tax laws, so who do you blame when it is all so self serving? It is one and the same.
Trump and his cronies have hijacked democracy.
The USA is being run by the super rich manipulating populist and Generals. Now where have I seen that before?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
They even have their own Ministry of Information and Propaganda. It is called Fox News.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Instead of Armbands there are “Make America Great Again” baseball caps. His rallying cry at his campaign stops was to lock his opponent up “Lock Her Up” was his cheer. He encouraged his supporters to physically abuse the press and offered to pay their legal fees. I could go on, but this is almost unprecedented, as are the crooks he chose to run his campaign and now staff his government. His supporters are against anybody who does not look like themselves. He is railing against a free press and calling it fake news when his propaganda adjunct Fox News is spewing out lies. When will the book burning begin?
This will not end well. The narcissist-nepotist in Chief will do something really stupid. Impeachment or invoking article 25 is the best we can hope for before he fcks everything up that a lot of good people have worked for for half a century or more. He is at once a puppet and the puppet-master.
This is not a conspiracy theory because it is actually happening and a whole lot more. So, Stuart, don’t talk to me about “bleeding heart liberals”. When was the last time THEY caused a war?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
They tend to ruin many peoples lives just like war. Have a look at Cuba and Venezuela.
Stuart79(Quote)
And the Minister of Propaganda who helped Trump get elected is now waging a campaign against the incumbents in Congress. The Unbelievers. The ones that were against Trumo to start with but now go along like sheep with his crazy policies. But they are not zealots, not Trumpian enough. So Bannon will use the Ministry of Propaganda and Truth (Breitbart/Fox) to unseat these heretics and install true believers in their place.
Does this remind you of anything Stuart?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
No, Eric, it doesn’t.
Stuart79(Quote)
That’s what I am saying. There is a parallel here. Generals, Dictators, Despots, Oligarchs, Propaganda Ministers, Fox News, Narcissists, manipulators, Plutocrats.
Trump, Putin, Wilbur Ross, Generals Flynn, Mattis, NcMaster, Kelly. The Narcissist in chief has surrounded himself with Generals, his family and a propaganda team. That cannot be good.
Reminds me a bit of Cuba and Venezuela as well, but more so… And should we all stand aside like Chamberlain? Appease this moron and go along with his dismantling of what is good about America and give all of the spoils to his buddies. Whatever the consequences are in the long run.
IT IS NEVER GOOD WHEN YOU HAVE GENERALS RUN A GOVERNMENT.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The US Government is now being run by 3 Generals – Mattis, McMaster and Kelly (would have been a 4th if Flynn wasn’t forced to resign), Trump’s family, his Billionaire buddies and people who have absolutely no experience in the jobs they were hired to do – an education secretary who home schooled, a surgeon who is running the housing department and a lawyer who was in the pocket of polluters running the environmental protection agency.
They have one thing in common – none had held elective office before. They are singularly unqualified for the jobs they are doing.
If you think it is chaos in the Theresa May 10 Downing Street welcome to the Trump White House.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Really, That’s enough politics.
Let’s all just hibernate for the International Break 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just one more thing. Isn’t it supposed to work like you elect a President/Prime Minister and then they elect a Cabinet/Heads of Departments that are for the most part also elected by the people?
That is not happening in the USA. There is only one word for it DICTATORSHIP.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric
The EU is run by the EU Commission.
The EU Commission president (Juncker) and the other 27 commission members are not elected by the people of Europe.
Most Europeans agree with you in your definition that this is not democracy but dictatorship.
Why then did you think that the British people voting to leave an undemocratic EU were foolish?
sidekick(Quote)
is this politics **** finished yet ffs 👿 👿
icedog(Quote)
Nowt else to talk about, Ice. No takeover news, no transfer news and International break. 👿
Stuart79(Quote)
International Break.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
David Moyes Break 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
How will this end? Not just the Trump thing. But now the Moyes thing?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Rafa turned down W/Ham approach,think the only time we need to worry is if the L/Pool job becomes vacant,so hope it does not as least until our buy out happens
Icedog(Quote)
Icedog?
West ham don’t really have good players do they? They keep losing 3-0 like a Pardew team… Or A MOYES TEAM.
They are done now.
So, that is Swans. West Ham and an-Another. Hopefully Palace.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
That’s the three I would go for but wouldn’t rule B/Mouth out just yet
Icedog(Quote)
I hate international breaks plus all we got to look forward too when PL resumes is a hiding off Manure probably 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
Definitely getting smashed by Manure.
shamrock(Quote)
Yes, Sham, positive attitude! 😀
Stuart79(Quote)
Aye like Liverpool did NOT
Icedog(Quote)
Joselu is sort of ****. I was hoping for better.
Like a 6 months Cisse. A firework that burns itself out by November 5th.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Checks and balances, man.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Manure will smash us. Expecting a result there is just asking for disappointment. We were at home against Liverpool and they are not as good as is made out.
shamrock(Quote)
England’s midfield, even when full strength – is poor.
shamrock(Quote)
And still Shelvey can’t get a bleeding call up! Is Jack Cork really better than him? Or Jake Livermore?
Stuart79(Quote)
Nope. Shelvey is very hit and miss, with a questionable attitude.
But… He is the only English midfielder that can play a key pass from long range. He should be in the squad purely for that reason alone.
shamrock(Quote)
England have a midfield??!!?? There is that **** Mackem lad, and then the one who is always injured and plays for Arsenal, and the one that was transferred to Liverpool but plays as a fullback mostly, and the one that has had 3 games for Spurs? Winks? I forget his name because he has only played 3 games. He looks about 12, that’s about all I remember about him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Who could West Ham have got:
‘Arry
Gordan Strachan
Pards, obviously
Big Fat Sam
Ryan Giggs
Ricardo Keys
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The list is long:
Schteve
Keegan
Shearer
Ugly John
Kinnear
They could have had any one of these “managers”. Clubs are lining up around Aldi’s to get them.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Di Canio
Peytar Reid
Roy Keane
**** Advocaat
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Peters under 23s thumped “again” by Oldham 4.1 ffs he just cannot coach needs his ***.kicked out,think he’s only won one game
Icedog(Quote)
Lee Clark
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And now Sunderland:
Peytar
Phil Brown
The really boring Neville brother
His Dad, Neville Neville. Really that’s his name.
John O’Shea or some other adopted Irishman
Beyonce
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Tip for you all.
NEVER EVER BUY FROM APPLIANCES DIRECT ONLINE. They are the worst company ever and robbing bastards. Wish I had read the many scathing reviews before buying from them.
Won’t bore you with the saga but AVOID AT ALL COST.
kimtoon(Quote)
More choices for Sunderland:
Kenneth Branagh, since he just killed his film career overacting in Murder on the Orient Express. John Oliver said we should all get it for Xmas because it is a giant turkey.
MEEE, overacting!!!!
David Moyes. West Ham snatched him up though. They were in a queue of ONE!
Kylie Minogue?
Eric Sykes(Quote)