Chris Hughton has talked with the Newcastle Journal today regarding his summer transfer plans, and it’s a good interview.
Chris Hughton – with CC Championship trophy
Chris told the Newcastle Journal today:
“I am confident I will get the support I need from the board.” “What I have had this season is all the support I have needed.”“We are working together. I have a very good working relationship with Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias. I do not expect any problems there.”
“Times are different. I don’t think anyone will be spending a lot of money this summer, with the possible exception of Manchester City, and we are no different.”
“Having said that, we also know we have to have a squad which has the best possible chance of competing next season.”
We would think a striker, full-back, winger and a creative midfielder would be four areas that Chris could suitably strengthen for next season.
And it looks like Chris is still looking over the squad before finally deciding whom his targets are, and then presumably starting to go after them in May.
Chris continued:
“We are in the process of looking at where we need to strengthen, if we need to strengthen and how we are going to strengthen.”
“We have just had a really good season and we have a lot of momentum.” “I am still very much in the process of deciding which areas I need to strengthen.”
“We might want to strengthen, but we don’t want to break what we have had this season.” “We have the core of a squad which has just won the division and won it well.”
“We have players here who have won a lot of plaudits this season and they will remain at the core of the squad.”
“I don’t anticipate bringing in a lot of new players this summer, but we do need to make sure we are in the best possible shape for the Premier League.”
It’s not the first time Chris has said not to expect lot of players to be brought in – but we don’t know exactly what that means.
We think four good players and keeping everybody else would make the squad a good one for next season.
However, Hughton denied he has already drawn up a shortlist of players he will discuss with Mike Ashley and Derek LLambias when they meet next week, but that list almost writes itself.
Chris added:
“I don’t think the gulf between where we are and some of the Premier League teams is very big at all if you look at the teams who have gone up in recent years.“We will look to strengthen, but these are decisions which will be made over a period of time. We do not have a shortlist, we are constantly being made aware of potential targets through our scouting system and that has been ongoing.”
“We have reports on several players who have done well and we are aware of them. It is my decision over the next few weeks to determine which areas we need to strengthen.”
“It is going to be tweaks, not wholesale changes. We need to keep that momentum behind us.”
Well that sounds like some good common sense again from Chris, and we have to hope our scouting system has done the job again.
Chris and the club did an excellent job in January, and the only player of the four that were brought in who is not a starter is Leon Best, and we have to give the striker some time to settle in.
Just look how Kevin Nolan was playing last year at this time having been brought in during the January window – and look at him now.
Ands it’s obvious Chris is working hand in glove with Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias, and that’s got to be very good – for the welfare of the club.
Comments welcome.
9 comments so far
Jamesthefirst
Apr 30, 2010 at 10:50 AM
Comment #1The single biggest criteria for ALL new players – THEY MUST HAVE PACE
We have lots of ball winners in this squad (more than most squads), but only 2 in the first 11 have any kind of pace (Routledge and Jonas).
SO many of our squad sit back and soak up the opposition, we need to bring players off the bench that have the pace to frighten teams
Pace was our biggest undoing last time in the PL (we got outrun all the time), now its time for CH to bring some quick players in on the best deals
Cockney Magpie
Apr 30, 2010 at 10:55 AM
Comment #2how many times can a man say the word “strengthen” in one interview! lol
Toon Sweden77
Apr 30, 2010 at 11:09 AM
Comment #3Some good word from the gaffer. I would not be too disapointed if no new midfielders arrives as I belive that Nolan, Smith, Barton, Guthrie, Routledge, Jonas and Ryan Taylor are enough if our great youngsters Vuckic, Inman etc should be given a chance next season.
one or two fullbacks and a striker would be good enough for me. Simpson and Jose Enrique needs som competition/backup and as for strikers I dont belive Best is good enough and Shola has already tried the premiership and we all know the result of that. Just my opinion.. and there are a transfer window in Januari there we can add to the places we then know were we need to strengthen.
archietoon
Apr 30, 2010 at 11:09 AM
Comment #4Anybody fancy michael Johnson from city, young midfielder playmaker with an eye for goal could get him cheap from city. Decent addition to squad with prem experience?
Ericles
Apr 30, 2010 at 11:29 AM
Comment #5I agree with Jamesthefirst. We must get some extra pace into the squad. And I think “tweek” is a substitute word for “little money” too. CH says he does not think anyone will be spending much money this summer. That obviously includes him and NUFC in that equation. As we all realise the Fat Controller is tightening his belt around that great girth of his! I think some astute scouting and recruiting by CH will get us the players we need though.
Davies
Apr 30, 2010 at 11:48 AM
Comment #6We need cover for the wingers. Sticking Barton, Guthrie or Ryan Taylor out there when Jonas or Routelidge are injured won’t do. It caused us problems in the CCC and we’ll ge crucified for it in the prem. Pacey lads, not necessarily with Prem experience. We need another Zog type player, but one who isn’t a cu*t.
TheShadow
Apr 30, 2010 at 11:55 AM
Comment #7Vladimir Bystrov is the answer IMO read this article ok i know that it is for everton but hey tells us all about him
we need him badly
http://www.101greatgoals.com/video-evidence-vladimir-bystrov-everton/33820/
Whumpie
Apr 30, 2010 at 1:58 PM
Comment #8I agree with most of these comments. Pace should be a criterion, we do need full-back cover, at least one more winger and a quick midfielder and/or striker would plug the few gaps we have.
I too have trust in CH and (gasp) the people he works with; they’ve obviously got their relationship, strategy and responsibilities sorted.
I’m also delighted to be rid of the awful ‘name-buying’, boom-and-bust approach of the past. I’d rather see a load of Routledges than one more Owen/Luque/Marcelino type.
Gerrin there Chris – do your thing and we’ll be fine.
BT7MAG
Apr 30, 2010 at 4:26 PM
Comment #9We won’t get a new striker as Hughton has already said he wants to keep Best. Which means, Shola, Best, Ranger as backup to McLoven and Carroll (with Nolan and Vuckic available to play behind the lone striker also).
We need another winger and full back as back up – Ryan Taylor will stay as he can play in both positions and due to £££ issues, we’ll get another Rayloresque utility player in, not one with real flair or ability like Enrique/Jonas.
If we don’t sign OneSize permanently, then we’ll get another CB in. Defensively I want to know why eveyone is shunning Voltz?