We’re starting to hear too many complaints about why Newcastle are doing so badly, and now that we have money to spend in the transfer market, let’s stop the complaints, accept we are out of the FA cup, and ensure that every league game for the rest of the season is a cup tie with 3 points to be won.
Stephane Mbia – £4M bid in for 6’2″ midfielder
It’s not Joe Kinnear’s fault that we have 11 players missing from an already too small squad, but we are now paying the price of the stupidity of the Newcastle Board last summer, by not ensuring the squad was big enough or we had enough quality in the squad as Kevin Keegan had requested continually, ever since he came back to Newcastle a year ago.
Last night was a severe defeat for Newcastle fans to witness, against a side that were in the Championship last year, are in their first season ever in the Premier League, put out a weakened side by choice, and already beat us at St. James’ Park this season in the league.
But that’s the way things stand at the moment, and if it’s one thing that will lift the hearts of the Newcastle fans is if we can quickly get out of the relegation zone, and have a decent run in to the end of the season – for a change.
The news that Joe Kinnear has been given £10M to spend is good, because there will not be too many teams that want to spend money in January, so we may be well placed to bring in players like 22 year-old Stéphane Mbia from Stade Rennais, who we seem to have bid £4M for yesterday.
This boy is a good player and both Newcastle and Everton were in for him during the summer.
According to the Newcastle Journal the other player is Albin Ebondo, a right back from Toulouse, who’s 24 years old and again looks more than a decent player.
Joe bid £4M for each player yesterday, and if we assume the two loan signings are additional players, since one is an Italian and one an Argentine, and add in Peter Lovenkrands, that’s 5 players we have bid for, and we should know the results in a day or two.
The transfer market closes two weeks next Monday, so let’s get as many good players in as possible before then, and then we’ll have no excuses.
And whoever Joe puts out on Saturday, against Blackburn at Ewood Park, has to go all out for a win, whoever is in the team.
Right now we’re in a huge relegation fight, and that’s the truth, and yes it looks like gloom and doom is descending.
However, things can look much much better, and very quickly, with a couple of wins on the trot.
Comments welcome.
150 comments so far
Stuart79
Jan 15, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Comment #121Business is business at the end of the day.
You need investment to progress all through t
any business, not just cherry pick the areas that would cost the least. This is what Ashley appears to be doing.
He’s putting a roof on without building the walls!
bowburnmag
Jan 15, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Comment #122Micky Toon – please tell me that given a choice you’d prefer to watch the ‘good’ football we have been spoiled with briefly over the years? I had a similar disagreement with Michael12. Who then appeared to imply I wasn’t a true fan if my real concern was watching football I enjoyed. I think he missed my point. I’d be a Mag either way but I’d prefer no success while playing lovely football to success the Bolton way. I’m definitely a ‘heart’ person and I respected David Kelly giving 100% more than I did Robert giving 60% and scoring the odd blinding goal. Though I recognised and respected parts of Robert’s game and his worth to the team. Sometimes I find it difficult to pick out what it is our fans crave most. Now more than ever.
lesh
Jan 15, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Comment #123Stardust at 118…. yes of course there’s got to be the funds and in place to finance investment .
But in this situation where the board of the club which is subsidiary to parent is apparently debt free, there is a need for an urgent injection of funds or a facility arrangement to provide those funds.
The board have been made aware of the need to invest in the squad since last summer and whilst their enthusiasm for investment in the future (ie the youngsters) in prudent and to be applauded, there is an urgent need to invest to secure the business for that future!!
craig s chisholm
Jan 15, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Comment #124STARDUST………. so when we get relegated in a couple of months time – and we will be, i am 100% certain, will you still be preachinbg to us about how good ashleys game plan is?? He will then be the owner of a team where he has paid 80 million of debt off but we will only be worth 60 million. gosh, this ashley guy is some sort of brain box. i would rather have 40 million debt, be in the prem and be worth 240 million. it is basic maths, to go down will hit harder than spending some real money on some real talent.
Stuart79
Jan 15, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Comment #125The worrying thing for me is that this is a play thing for Ashley therefore it would appear he doesn’t want to run it like a proper business.
Sports Direct have hundreds of millions of pounds worth of debt and yet they will still be investing this year in new stores ect….
Why doesn’t he want to invest in his little toy?
Sounds like he’s still wanting to sell up to me!
pubcat
Jan 15, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Comment #126You’re always very optimistic, Ed! We should think of getting 3 in, including 2 central mf. Anything more is absolutely a bonus!
pubcat
Jan 15, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Comment #127Craig Chisholm, you’re a disgrace of a fan by the way. I won’t get into a blog conversation/argument (haven’t time, for a start!).
craig s chisholm
Jan 15, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Comment #128pubcat……………if you think i am a digrace of a fan then you must be one of the deluded ones. thats good mate…. keep on dreaming. i think you lot are a disgrace for not giving a shit about our teams plight.
craig s chisholm
Jan 15, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Comment #129pubcat, what is a disgrace about the statement 124 then?? it is common sense to anyone with half a brain i would have thought.
Toon Graeme
Jan 15, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Comment #130I unloaded a barage of feeling about last night but now thats out my system lets look at the bread and butter.
THE PREMIERSHIP.
We have to get something out of our next two games. The injury situ needs sorting asap and we need a full squad back by feb 1st.
Yes its SJP derby day and I for one will NOT accept anything other than 3 points in our bag.
Yes we need 5 new players ED but we need the sicknotes signing off.
Who mentioned Carroll playing last night? He didnt and problem with the kids coming on which I saw was the fact they were muscled off the ball by age and size.
The thought of relegation is too much to take.
Toon Graeme
Jan 15, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Comment #131Having read a few threads today its obvious who didnt see last nights match!
Stuart79
Jan 15, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Comment #132Pubcat – You are living in the same cuckoo land that the board are living in if you think it’s all hunky dorey!
I’ve got news for ya – It ain’t and were in trouble.
Craig and the other fans are just pis*ed right off and are telling it as it is! No rose tinted specs.
That won’t get us anywhere!
craig s chisholm
Jan 15, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Comment #133thats the problem Stuart79, some people just carry on through life thinking everything ‘will work out in the end’. that way of thinking is pathetic at best and neglegant at worst. i would seriously question if any fan who is still mellow and supportive of what is going on and of our beloved club is actually a REAL fan or just one of the armchair bunch that never even get off their arses and go to the games. I think that fans need to own the club, really i do. it would be ideal. i would sign up asap to be a shareholder. damn right i would. its not as mad as many think. all you want is 100,000 fans each putting in 2500 quid to make 250 million. Thats the club bought from cnut face. every window that comes round each of the shareholders just has to chip in 200 quid to give you a 20 million quid war chest. Thats 40 million a year on players and it would all be paid for in cash. no loans and no debt. just think about it – its simple and i think, brilliant.
DJG
Jan 15, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Comment #134But Craig, Ashley has spent £20m a year on players.
10M Coloccini,
Possibly £8M Jonas
£2M Guthrie and Bassong
£5.8 Xisco
It makes no difference, and in your scenario, who decides who we buy? and where do you find 100,000 people willing to stup up 2500 quid in this day and age. It’s alot of money. We cant even fill the ground ffs.
It does work get into reality, many people on here find you annoying, combative and just plain insulting.
DJG
Jan 15, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Comment #135#does not
Chizzy_Toon.
Jan 15, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Comment #136I would stump up £2500,
The reason it seems like a bad idea to most is because it is a fear of the unknown, there are no EPL teams owned by the fans.
If people need proof that it works, i have heard that that small unsuccessful club called Barcalona is run like that. 🙂
Chizzy_Toon.
Jan 15, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Comment #137@ Craig – where in the Newcastle area do you come from? as i like you are a Chisholm.
Micky Toon
Jan 15, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Comment #138bowburn – probably the first time I’ll disagree with you on here, but I’d rather a winning team that played solid football that a flair side that was a middle of the table team. At the moment we have neither. By the way I’m not talking about winning things the Wimbledon or Bolton way, but to me flair players are a nice to have. I’m 35 now and I’m afraid to say that I may never see NUFC win a tropy in my lifetime. We are the ultimate underachievers.
Don’t get me wrong “The Entertainers” was a brilliant side to watch, but in terms of winning things, it got us nowt. I am so desperate for NUFC to win something, I’d happily watch us 1-0 all the way to the FA Cup or the PL title.
Boring, boring Newcastle? If that’s what it takes.
fernando
Jan 15, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Comment #139should go for finnan
fernando
Jan 15, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Comment #140sirjasontoon- shame about spyro. A O isnt banned. Its easy to change your IP address
Micky Toon
Jan 15, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Comment #141Chizzy -£2500 every year, plus the cost of your season ticket? What happens when you need the money for something else? You wouldn’t be abel to defer the payments.
I also wish people would stop using Barcelona as an example. They have been fan owned since they were a tiny club. It would be impossible to do it now. Same goes for NUFC.
Micky Toon
Jan 15, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Comment #142fernando – Spuds are really in it aren’t they? Redknapp really is useless with money isn’t he?
fernando
Jan 15, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Comment #143mickytoon- yeah there crap. 3 huge points behind newcastle in 11th , spending loads of money to strengthen the squad and still in all the cups. i dont know how he sleeps at night. shame about the hull game.
bowburnmag
Jan 15, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Comment #144Micky Toon – Fair do’s mate. Just because we agree on most things doesn’t mean we don’t want slightly different things from the town. Plus, and this isn’t merely for the sake of agreeing, I know what you mean. I’m slightly younger at 31 (ahem) but I’ve suffered some awful sides and massive disappointments. My dad has suffered for years before me as well and I inherited his Mag-related pain and frustration. So it would be unreal for all of that to change and for us to win something. I’m not a defeatist. That’s what I was trying to get at yesterday with the other lad. But I find myself torn between my natural instinct to want to watch (or in my case still play for) a decent footballing side. That’s despite the likes of last night finding myself face-down in freezing mud with muddy slop in every crevice, only to trudge off with mild hypothermia and a 5-4 defeat (and then hear the Mag’s result and drive two and half hours back home). Our game was probably great to watch for the neutral but I was gutted. I have the same mentality towards Newcastle. Defeat hurts and I’d love to win something. I just hold true to playing the right way and that doesn’t mean fancy-dan necessarily. I’m more of a combative player anyway so it’s my tendency to admire committed players. Anyway, I think you know what I’m getting at. I’m not a million miles away from what you and the other lad were saying really, in fairness. I just want to enjoy the ride as much as the Mag’s fanfare marching triumphantly through the city with a trophy adorned in black and white ribbon. I’d love both or is that just being greedy?
Chizzy_Toon.
Jan 15, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Comment #145The £2500 would be for the intital buyout of the club, it would cost a further £400 a year to go into the transfer kitty. Well thats what i assumed anyhow.
bowburnmag
Jan 15, 2009 at 3:25 PM
Comment #146Further comment – where I said I still play for “a decent footballing side”, this is clearly relative and open to debate!!!!……………
Micky Toon
Jan 15, 2009 at 3:34 PM
Comment #147bowburn – I know exactly what you are trying to say. I would love both. I would love NUFC to be able to do what ManU are doing. Really good to watch and they have that steel edge to their game too.
Don’t put yourself down, the team you play for would probably give the current NUFC 1st team a run for the money based on last nights result. 😉
craig s chisholm
Jan 15, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Comment #148DJG…………..ashley has not spent bollocks on players man, let alone the 20 mil a year you quote. every player in has been offset against one going out. i worked it out that he has spent 3 million net in the entire tgime he has been with us but the highest i heard was 10 million total in three full windows and two years. forget this 20 million shite mate.
chizzy……….i was born in gateshead but lived in south shields most of my time. now living nearer to Hull, still come to every home game though and been a tickeet holder for donkeys.
Stardust
Jan 15, 2009 at 7:17 PM
Comment #149lesh – post 123 – good points
Tom_Toon
Jan 15, 2009 at 7:51 PM
Comment #150..