Newcastle United Managing Director Derek Llambias has said there will be money to spend in the summer, but apparently not on any major scale.
Mike Ashley – how much is really available in the summer?
Derek Llambias told BBC Radio Newcastle today:
“The money is there and we intend to spend it,” “Mike [Ashley] is a very wealthy man but can he afford £30M a year? “
“No. But he’ll be happy with £5m-10m.”
That statement is going to confuse a lot of Newcastle fans, because the club put in a bid of £8M on the last day of the January transfer window, for Manchester City’s Michael Johnson.
The bid was turned down, and we were told the money we made in January- around £8M, would be made available to Joe Kinnear in the summer.
So Joe should be getting around £18M, plus anything he can get from selling the likes of Geremi, Smith and Xisco (£10M?).
Of course clubs like Manchester City, are doing nobody any favors by bidding just ridiculous fees for players, and that will need to be curtailed with some salary cap, or something, to keep competition between clubs.
But Newcastle cannot afford to compete with such sums, and they will not, and when you consider the club brought in Guthrie, Bassong, Coloccini, Gutierrez, Nolan, Ryan Taylor and Lovenkrands for around £21M, they don’t have to.
Add to that the Newcastle Youth Academy, which is now getting into full swing, and the club have already signed over 10 top youngsters in the last 13 months, and some of those will be starting to make an impact in the first team squad in the years ahead.
So that strategy seems fairly sound. But Llambias seems confident the Newcastle club can still secure their place in next season’s Premier league, and also seems to have faith in the club’s plans for the future .
Newcastle are one of a huge number of clubs fighting relegation this time around and when asked about relegation Derek said:
“It’s totally inconceivable, you just couldn’t go there, and we won’t go there,”
“That might be bullish about it, but you’ve got to have that faith.”
“We’ve got Chris [Hughton] there, we’ve got Colin [Calderwood], they’re doing a good job, and the staff morale and the players’ morale is great.”
“They’re working for each other, and I like that. We should be safe.”
We hope Joe Kinnear will be given around £20M in cash to buy players in the summer, and then in addition he can do some wheeling and dealing with Geremi, Xisco and maybe Alan Smith, to get in some class signings and also build the squad into decent numbers, so we can actually overcome the injury crises we have every single season.
We’ve used the injury excuse too many times these last few seasons, so Newcastle need to take that excuse away.
Looking at it that way, it doesn’t seem too bad.
Don’t forget we lost Shay Given and Charles N’Complainer in January, and brought in Ryan Taylor, Kevin Nolan and Peter Lovenkrands, and still had £8M left over.
Comments welcome.
131 comments so far
Rodzilla
Feb 25, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Comment #81Toon_Factor // Feb 25, 2009 at 10:28 PM
…we’re only battling relegation coz we’ve played half the season with our reserves – due to outrageously bad luck in the injury department. I honestly think with another 4 players we’ll be OK to challenge for top 8 next year.
beyethegreat
Feb 25, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Comment #82though i accept it will be in the early stages of planning also i cant remember llambias saying he will open an academy ifn france he sai d he will scout their(perhaps the times got it wrong)
Toon_Factor
Feb 25, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Comment #83Rodzilla
Yes we have been and looking back at the squad looneytoon suggested, we will need our reserve players even more next season
workyticket
Feb 25, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Comment #84“I do not know if their views are any more valid than mine, yours or Stardust’s [are you Stardust?]. If they believe it, that doesn’t make them liars does it, does it?”
Tommy, the audited accounts are available for everyone to see, so it isn’t really a matter of opinion. If people ignore everything that disagrees with their agenda, pretend to understand things when they haven’t even bothered to read them, and claim to know how Ashley is trying to somehow ‘asset strip’ this club, then they are indeed liars. If they don’t understand, they should ask pertinent questions like Beyethegreat, then they can make their mind up their own minds in a more informed way.
No I am not Stardust, I have never resorted to “Sock puppetry” to support my own arguments in a ‘blog. That would just be really sad.
Rodzilla
Feb 25, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Comment #85Stardust, sorry, ‘believe’ was meant to be ‘blame’ I.E…
“You can’t ‘blame’ people for taking the ‘once bitten twice shy’ approach given our activities in the last two transfer windows I.E. more money in than out.”
My point was, the squad was already paper thin and we let more out than we brought in. I’m not calling anyone a liar and I never said anything about expecting 20m spent on players. I’m just saying, hypothetically, that if I part-exchanged a mate’s Porsche for a Citroen 2CV he’d be right to be suspicious. Anyway, I’m not ‘one of them’ and agree with what you say (my posts on previous blogs indicate this) and this is getting daft. I just said the comment was ambiguous! Don’t shoot me!
LooneyToon
Feb 25, 2009 at 10:52 PM
Comment #86Toon_Factor…
As with anyside, you need a little luck with injuries…do you think Villa would be anywhere near 4th if they had the amount of injuries that we have had?
Look at Everton now….few injuries and they are already saying they have no chance of catching Arsenal who are only 4 points ahead…
I think that squad, with a LB as competition for Jose, another midfielder who is a creative influence and someone like Darren Bent up front and we would challenge for Europe….
Think of the injuries we had this season….
Beye has missed the vast majority
Jonas missed 6-8 weeks with a dislocated shoulder…
Barton has hardly played…
Viduka has missed the whole season…
Martins has missed a large chunk
Owen has been missing more than he has played…
That is half of our side fella….Everyone of those players would be in our 1st eleven…would be lucky if they have mustered 30 games this season between them…..
Big loss….would Everton be where they were without Arteta and Cahill? or Villa without Young and Agbonglahor? no….
I have named 22 players in post 75 (well 21 cos 3 GK’s in there)
all of which are good enough to play in the 1st team….how many players do you want in a squad?
batty
Feb 25, 2009 at 10:54 PM
Comment #87Rodzilla stardust dusent like any one who dont agree with his one way mike ashley mob veiws m8
workyticket
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:03 PM
Comment #88That’s an excellent point ToonFactor. Villa’s squad is smaller than ours, and many other team’s squads are too, but we ALWAYS have the biggest injury list. If someone could sort that out once and for all, then our position would be completely different.
batty
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:04 PM
Comment #89as a man desperate to come back and support HIS football club in his “fun” purchase – that fans still distrust him.<<< like this snake said fun purchase hope he,s haveing fun cos iam not why didnt he buy a playstation instead comment 80 jake the snake wrote it
Rodzilla
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:05 PM
Comment #90batty, cheers, I’m pretty open-minded mate – just sometimes think information needs clarifying for the masses. Something the board are JUST starting to do now, thankfully. I don’t have any problems with the way things are leaning at NUFC as I currently believe what I’m being told (call me gullible). Yeah I was pi55ed off on February 2nd, but only down to my own high expectations as a NUFC supporter. I’ll continue to be optimistic for now and make futher judgement in the Summer. Howay the Lads!
DJG
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:07 PM
Comment #91LooneyToon
I think if we can weed out the likes of Owen, Viduka, Cacapa, Geremi and Smith then that free’s up a large sum of wages when you consider they are all HIGH earners by any club in the worlds standards. Yet they achieve very little on the pitch.
If we can add to that 22 man shell with 5-6 Wise finds then I will be set up nicely for next season.
We need a LB, WE NEEEED an AM badly. That is where serious money should be spent in the summer along with a Butt replacement. We can’t expect Vuckic to come in there next season and why should he. He can play another year in the U-18’s yet. We need maby someone like Requelme to come in for 2-3 years IMO as a stop gap. Until Vuckic is 19-20.
Then in 4-5 years we will find that the team is starting to be topped up by our young stars.
batty
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:10 PM
Comment #92Rodzilla we have all change our expectations since sir bob left but now its just one big joke
LooneyToon
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:12 PM
Comment #93workyticket // Feb 25, 2009 at 11:03 PM
That’s an excellent point ToonFactor. Villa’s squad is smaller than ours, and many other team’s squads are too, but we ALWAYS have the biggest injury list. If someone could sort that out once and for all, then our position would be completely different.
——————-
cheers worky lad…although I was responding to toon factor 😉
Rodzilla
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:13 PM
Comment #94…we just Shearer and Solano. Someone invent a time machine! I’m off to bed – I’ll see what I can do in Zed-land! Night lads……….
Rodzilla
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:14 PM
Comment #95….and chin-up batty! be alreet man.
batty
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Comment #96Rodzilla nite m8
DJG
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Comment #97How tall is Fraser Forster 6, 4” or something? Does anyone think he will eventually be a keeper in the mold of David Seaman and play for the national side. He looked decent for the reserves but then again he hardly had a save to make. What is that Krul like, does anyone know if he is any good? He seems to slightly ahead of Forster in the pecking order.
Rodzilla
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Comment #98….just *need
I meant
LooneyToon
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Comment #99DJG
Granted it may be a little to early for Vuckic next season….although it isnt too early for Lua Lua….
The lad has everything….pace, power, touch, can finish, works hard and is very very creative…..
A Riquelme would be nice however whats your thoughts on attempting to sign Moutinho from Sporting…would he not fit the bill? maybe difficult to attract him without European Football however shy bairns get nowt….
I think we havnt seen anywhere near the best of Joey Barton….people forget he has everything you would want in a centre mid and has great vision….
LooneyToon
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:18 PM
Comment #100DJG…..
The only time I have seen Krul play was against Palermo in the Uefa Cup a couple of years back…..he was outstanding
LooneyToon
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:20 PM
Comment #101ohh 100th comment….
spiffing
DJG
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:25 PM
Comment #102LooneyToon
I saw LuaLua in the reserve demolition of Wigan and he was man of the match. I thought that he looked the only one who would be great in the first team…..and Smith and Cacapa were playing 🙂
I like Moutinho but would be too expensive I think. I like the Requelme idea because
1. He will not cost the earth as he is now 30.
2. Has INCREADABLE skill, crowd pleaser, can do it at the highest level.
3. Jonas and Colo can be used to attract a genuine Argie superstar.
4. He will be a priceless mentor to , Vuckic, Adjei, Ranger ect.
Little Willie
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:25 PM
Comment #103Don – Your downfall here is believing everything Kinnear said even though he was contradicting himself every day.
LooneyToon
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:30 PM
Comment #104yes DJG…I was at the Wigan match aswell and he was outstanding…..
Yep Riquelme would suit me fine chief….a change of formation would be required to accomodate him….not sure he would suit a 4-4-2…more a 4-3-3
A midfield 3 of Nolan, Barton and The Argie would be tasty….Ahead of that, Martins, Jonas and a quality striker to lead the line (Bent would be my choice) Behind that lot Beye, Colo, Bassong and the ever improving Enrique…..Excellent side that would defo challenge for a top 8 slot….
LooneyToon
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:34 PM
Comment #105add a Michael Johnson to that, Ebondo, and Fox alongside Duff, Lovenkrands, S Taylor, R Taylor, Lua Lua, Krul, Ranger, Butt, Tozer, Xisco and by reading the crack from Ed in the article the brazilian lad, we could maybe sneak a top 6….
Ed- if your still awake chief, where did you hear about the Brazilian lad going straight into the 1st team?
workyticket
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:35 PM
Comment #106What is that Krul like, does anyone know if he is any good?
Based on Palermo and a few Carlisle games, bloody excellent! Very good stopper, commands the box well, tall enough (about 6’2″). Could be a Van Der Sar one day. He’s already the Dutch under 21 keeper.
workyticket
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:38 PM
Comment #107* and He played for us against Eindhoven. Forgot that one.
LooneyToon
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:39 PM
Comment #108worky….
you seem to be a sensible fella judging by your comments…you get to the games mate?
DJG
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:40 PM
Comment #109LooneyToon
Have to admit that is an eye-watering formation,
Bent is sometimes mocked but he actually regularly out scores the likes of Owen ect for season totals. Not sure what he’s like at holding the ball up. But who needs to do that when you have the likes of Requelme pulling the strings in AM. lol
Sounds like a smash- and- grab strike force that, like it. and would give us a bit of pace we seem to be lacking.
Everyone on here says that Reqelme is too slow, but players like him create their own space. He came here when we got beat 2-0 of Barcelona I think a few years ago and was another class.
workyticket
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:45 PM
Comment #110LooneyToon // Feb 25, 2009 at 11:39 PM
worky….
“you seem to be a sensible fella judging by your comments…you get to the games mate?”
I live in London now so it’s difficult, but I do it whenever I can Looney.
workyticket
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:46 PM
Comment #111and thanks BTW Looney!
Brutooon
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:46 PM
Comment #112Money? just gave 5 millions and buy players such as bassong,taylor, guthrie…
cheap but effective
LooneyToon
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:47 PM
Comment #113DJG
Bent is very under rated…he scored a bucket load for Charlton and never really has had a decent run of games at Spurs….He is quick, powerful and good in the air…..and he is only 24….
The trick is regarding Riquelme, we would have plenty of “legs” around him….bit like Shearer…the likes of Bellamy and Dyer complimented what Alan had to offer….
The yard or 2 Riquelme lacks in his legs is more than made up in the sharpness in his footballing brain…Sheringham is another fine example of that…
RyanToon
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:50 PM
Comment #114ive really enjoyed national BASSONG day today!
happy BASSONG day toon fans!
DJG
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:50 PM
Comment #115LooneyToon
you know your stuff mate. Going on the new thread now see ya’s 😉
RyanToon
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:51 PM
Comment #116http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebastien_Bassong
even wikis got hold of it
OHurley
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:51 PM
Comment #117Sorry for this being my only post of the day (as I know it’s COMPLETELY off subject) BUT-
Does anybody know how to change a player’s preferred position in manager mode on FIFA 09?
I bought Luka Modric (who’s freakin’ unbelievable in FIFA) and his rating as a striker is much higher than his rating as a midfielder. I just can’t figure out how to have him listed as a striker in manager mode. Can anybody help with this?
Also-
10m from Cashley over the summer and a few good scouting reports ought to buy us some canny youngsters to help take us to Europe in a couple more seasons. God, I’d love to see Newcastle destroy Real Madrid. Dream come true, like.
Brazilian Geordie
Feb 26, 2009 at 12:10 AM
Comment #118HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA YOU’RE CRAZY MEN! FFS I love the Geordies, you’re just fascinating.
And btw why today (25th february) was ellected to be Bassongs national day? Hehe.
Tommy_PA
Feb 26, 2009 at 12:11 AM
Comment #119workyticket // Feb 25, 2009 at 10:38 PM
“Tommy, the audited accounts are available for everyone to see, so it isn’t really a matter of
opinion.”
Actually it is, you will find the statement “..in the Auditors opinion…” mentioned in the accounts. If the auditors opinion were always correct, due diligence would not be needed, and half the company’s that went bust recently would have been spotted earlier as things would be a whole lot more transparent.
As for lying my statement stands, having an opposing view is not lying, not believing certain presented “facts” and stating so is not lying. Only perceiving “truth” and knowingly stating otherwise is lying.
“No I am not Stardust, I have never resorted to “Sock puppetry” to support my own arguments in a ‘blog. That would just be really sad.”
I meant it in the sense that you were answering on his behalf, so that is your opinion.
waddler
Feb 26, 2009 at 12:18 AM
Comment #120The club will buy good players 5-10mill max on each player so we have a squad were 2 players are competing in each position.
Then the players from our academies in Newcastle and France will provide us with players in future.
Sounds like a very sensibly policy to me, and a huge income generator.