Chris Hughton has talked once again about bringing new players into Newcastle, and the latest on the Ben Arfa saga – which is still going on.
Ben Arfa – uncertainty surrounds this boy’s immediate future
One thing that was obvious to anybody watching the game last night, was that Newcastle do not have sufficient class in their side to survive very easily in the Premier League this season.
So new signings just must be made in the next two weeks, and Chris Hughton was asked today if he was close to bringing in any new signings, and this is what he told the Evening Chronicle today:
“Not at the moment.” “It’s still a work in progress, but nothing I can confirm.” It’s either a long two weeks, or a short two weeks.”
“We’ve continually said we want to bring players in, and I’m very confident we’ll have bodies in by the end of that two-week period.”
And as reported yesterday 23 year-old Ben Arfa is now back in France after his bid to force a loan move to Newcastle didn’t work out, after he and his representatives flew into Newcastle on Friday afternoon.
The 23-year-old was called back to France yesterday, and we really have no idea what will happen now, but the Evening Chronicle seems to think the chances of him now ending up at Newcastle are not very good.
What his future will be at Marseilles is hard to gauge, and he may still be sent out on loan for the season, as at least a short term solution – but in truth the Marseilles club have hardly handled the proposed deal to Newcastle very well at all.
The latest of many statements from the Marseilles President Jean Claude Dassier is the following:
“We recommend a situation where we negotiate with Hatem rather than have a confrontation.”
Ben Arfa’s club are said to be looking for a couple of forwards, so we have no idea what that means for the youngster’s future at the South of France club, but it cannot be too good.
He’d be much better of on loan somewhere for the season – hey – why not Newcastle United?
Comments welcome.
46 comments so far
Stuart
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:04 PM
Comment #1zzzzzzzzzzzzz
BuryStEdmundsToon
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:06 PM
Comment #2zzzzzz exactly get him in or categorically say he is not coming, its not fair on the fans or the player himself to leave us all in limbo!
Ben arfa in toon
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:08 PM
Comment #3zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Solaidback
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:08 PM
Comment #4Same ole, same ole….. I second that zzzzzzzzzz
Toontastico
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:09 PM
Comment #5Just offer the cash and get him in nooo!
Indian Magpie
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:12 PM
Comment #6I am losing faith in CH. he is just a muppet. it is really riling me.
Ben arfa in toon
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:12 PM
Comment #7Goddamn it let me come to the ttttttttoooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnn argh even this must be doing poor hatems head in
Milzzy Rascal
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:12 PM
Comment #8Enough talky talky more spendy spendy
Ben arfa in toon
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:14 PM
Comment #9lets have a new poll! how many moths are in Fashleys wallet
Indian Magpie
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:15 PM
Comment #106
Ben arfa in toon
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:16 PM
Comment #11higher than a six we have ……
Milzzy Rascal
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:17 PM
Comment #12I reckon there’s a fair few moth colonies in there….. Not forgetting the massive moth in the glasses that sits next to him
Ben arfa in toon
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:20 PM
Comment #13lmao
I really hope we do get signings in and its not lip service by houghton
NUFC_Richyg01
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:20 PM
Comment #14Hey dont get on CH’s back, we have only played one match!
Indian Magpie
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:22 PM
Comment #15why are trying to get people in now did we not have the whole summer. I game or not did u look at who was on the bench last night. 3 signings 2 crocked 1 jury still out.
Ben arfa in toon
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:23 PM
Comment #16Not getting on his back at all hes done a great job i prefer it when he is quiet as we start motoring then. just hope we get additions
leroy fer and HBA will go along long way.
All our players try hard and CH has built a strong team spirit but we need a little guile out there
NUFC_Richyg01
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:24 PM
Comment #17“Real Mallorca attacker Alhassane Keita is being tracked by Newcastle United.
Diario de Mallorca says Newcastle have expressed interest in Keita, who can leave Mallorca for a knockdown price.
Mallorca are keen to do business, with the club eager to get Keita’s £600,000 salary off their books.”
toonruz
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:24 PM
Comment #18ashley will spend money he just a greedy fat basted and he is slowly takeing to heart out of our great club ??? just sell up
NUFC_Richyg01
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:26 PM
Comment #19Latest on Fer:
“According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle are on the verge of signing Feyenoord midfielder Leroy Fer. The 20-year-old made his first senior appearance for the Dutch national team last week, coming on as a substitute in the draw against Ukraine. Dutch Under-21 coach Cor Pot described him as the new Patrick Vieira and the youngster has also interested Everton.
Known as the Bouncer in Holland because of his heavy build, Fer would be ideal to add power and strength to the Magpies midfield. With Feyenoord in ’ financial problems, Newcastle, who have already had a bid rejected for the Dutchman, will be hoping that an improved £4m offer could seal the transfer.”
Indian Magpie
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:26 PM
Comment #20Okay lets have a guess, How many people do u think we will have in before 31st. I say 2 (hopefully) and not that good either.
toonruz
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:26 PM
Comment #21i hope ben arfa signs
GeordieTartanArmy
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:28 PM
Comment #22I wouldnt mind:
Krul
Simpson Williamson Colocinni Enrique
Fer Guthrie
Routledge Arfa
Carrol Lovenkrands
Ben arfa in toon
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:31 PM
Comment #23would love fer and HBA, maybe a rightback if possible as even though fer can play there he would be a waste at rb,
Ben arfa in toon
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:31 PM
Comment #24to answer ur ? 2 if possible both on loan?
kikgras
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:33 PM
Comment #25settle in kids. going to be a long 2 weeks.
CorToon
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:35 PM
Comment #26i reckon 3 more quality signings will be in by the 31st
dashu9
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:39 PM
Comment #27@Indian Magpie..which place from India are you?
dashu9
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:40 PM
Comment #28I
Sav
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:41 PM
Comment #29You sound a bit surprised, Ed, that we lack class. I thought we all knew it and were gambling on ‘team spirit’ and a tight dressing-room getting us through.
I must admit having little belief in that and never equated loyal support with switching off critical faculties or sticking heads in the sand.
As I remember, Ashley’s favourite number to gamble on is no. 17 and it looks as if, unless last night convinced him otherwise, he intends to sit out this transfer investment period and gamble everything on our making 17 come May.
Come on and prove me wrong, Mike.
dashu9
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:41 PM
Comment #30I am confident of atleast 2 players coming by 31st …
Indian Magpie
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:46 PM
Comment #31I am from Delhi
zeetoon
Aug 17, 2010 at 1:57 PM
Comment #32honestly guys im getting sick of hearing hughton saying ‘its about bringing the right players in at the right price’…if we dont get any quality signing(s) in before the villa game, our best chance of getting anything out of that game would be to hope n pray for villa to have a bad day. we have no depth in our squad at all!
surreytoon
Aug 17, 2010 at 2:04 PM
Comment #33Latest is that Ben Arfa is going to Milan in exchange for Huntelaar. Not a great source however. I think we should just sign him permanently. Assuming the price is £6m, we should make that back, more or less, should it not work out.
Milan To Exchande Klaas-Jan Huntelaa With Hatem Ben Arfa
Date: 17-Aug-2010
Hatem Ben Arfa
Related Stories
Wantaway Olympique de Marseille winger Hatem Ben Arfa could be sold to Italy, according to the Corriere dello Sport, who believe that Milan are formulating a plan that will allow them to capture the disgruntled attacker.
Having been linked with a move to the Premier League, Ben Arfa was unhappy when OM rejected the approaches of Newcastle United, ultimately leading the former Olympique Lyonnais player to go on a strike from which he has still not returned.
Now the Rossoneri are ready to take advantage of Marseille’s desperation for an attacking option in order to hijack the Geordies’ move for the France international. It is reported that they are ready to offer Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for Ben Arfa in a part-exchange deal.
OM have previously been linked with the former Real Madrid striker this summer and are hardly a club awash with cash, which probably means a swap is a favourable alternative.
President of the Provence giants Jean-Claude Dassier said on Monday that his side are targeting two strikers, and despite the sale of Mamadou Niang and Mamadou Samassa earlier in the week, it’s likely the French champions can only afford big money for one.
Source: Goal
zeetoon
Aug 17, 2010 at 2:15 PM
Comment #34so much for ‘team spirit’..we need premier league quality players in to ensure our survival this season, team spirit alone wont get us far.
Ed Harrison
Aug 17, 2010 at 2:24 PM
Comment #35surreytoon – I used your piece in a new story on ben arfa – thanks
Toon XI
Aug 17, 2010 at 2:24 PM
Comment #36Sadly, CH is a “yes man”. Nothing more. We need a manager with heart and a backbone to push for squad and staff improvements. CH is happy as hell to manager of NUFC. Why would he rock the boat?
Somerset Geordie
Aug 17, 2010 at 2:27 PM
Comment #37It’s going to be a long season (although I felt that the season starts next weekend; we were never going to get anything from OT last night) and we aren’t the team we were 10 or 15 years ago. The squad needs strengthening, true; but Ashley isn’t going to bankroll the team like Sir John did. I don’t like it either – but it’s a fact!
Should we renew our passports for Europe next year? Probably not. Will be be relegated again? Probably not (there are a lot of teams in the same position as us – and a few real naff ones!). It’s going to be a(nother) mid-table season.
“CH is just a muppet”?!?! – I think not; he’s doing the best with what he has. He was unduly pessimistic before the kick-off yesterday, but he was only saying on TV what I was staying at work. I couldn’t disagree – but I’d rather he has fudged the question!
PS Was it my fading eyesight or did I see Emre playing yesterday?
YANICK MALTA NUFC
Aug 17, 2010 at 2:32 PM
Comment #38according to French newspaper Le Parisien, AC Milan will look to bring Ben Arfa to the San Siro, with Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar moving to Marseille in the other direction.
The French champions are in the market for a target man and including Ben Arfa in the deal would make the signing of Huntelaar more affordable for Marseille.
noir9
Aug 17, 2010 at 2:39 PM
Comment #39India toon, appropriate that you should use the word “guess” in your post because that’s what 99% of these transfer stories are, nobody outside the club know how many players we have bid for. The papers have to fill there pages with something & don’t forget the same people saying afra might be going to milan were telling us a few days ago he was nailed on to sign for us. Huntelaar has said previously he wants to stay with Milan & afra wants to play in the epl.
andrewc
Aug 17, 2010 at 3:02 PM
Comment #40Marseille apparently want at least €10m which works out at about £8m.
http://hatembenarfa.tumblr.com/