We had hoped that Newcastle would bring at least two new players into the squad this January, and unfortunately the Newcastle squad is again looking a little fragile through injuries.
Stephen Ireland – a Newcastle target
Alan Smith is now out for the rest of the season, Andy Carroll is out for at least another three weeks, and we hear that Steven Taylor’s bad luck with injuries has continued into this year, as he is going to be out another six weeks with his hamstring injury.
That’s according to the Newcastle journal this morning, and Ryan Taylor is also sidelined another few weeks with his ankle injury.
And the thing that has really surprised us, is that we’ve let Wayne Routledge move on loan to QPR, so we are worse off now than when we started in this January transfer window.
We reported yesterday that Newcastle are interested in Aston Villa’s Stephen Ireland, and it now seems that manager Alan Pardew is struggling to get the cash off owner Mike Ashley to fund any meaningful deals this January.
This is what Alan said this morning:
“I’ve got to have these battles with the board, absolutely,” “I am a little worried about not getting anyone so far and I need to keep mentioning it.”
“It is a worry that we have lost so many players to injuries.” “I’m not saying it’s the end of the world if we don’t sign anyone, but I do feel the need to bring in a player or two as soon as we can, absolutely.”
“I’m going to see Mike Ashley just to reinforce the point – that’s my job.” “Cheik Tiote will be back by the end of the window, Andy Carroll will also be back by the end of the window and that’s massive for us.”
“We’ve been running without Andy, although the two strikers have done brilliantly, and Danny Guthrie was fantastic when he came in at Sunderland.”
“We had some bonuses and that bodes well, but we do need our key players back and maybe one or two in the door.”
It looks like it may go down to the wire for Newcastle this January, but most readers seem to like the link with Stephen Ireland yesterday, and we think he would be a great signing for Newcastle.
Yes, he’s had a bad time of it these last 12 months but that’s because he was ousted at Manchester City by the expensive players that had been brought in, once Mancini arrived, and when he went to Aston Villa, Martin O’Neill resigned from the job in a huff.
Unfortunately for Stephen, new manager Gerard Houllier doesn’t seem to rate him.
Ireland, whose still only 24, needs a fresh chance to settle at a club, and we have to hope that club will be Newcastle United.
But it’s a little worrying that there are just 10 days to go in this window, and Newcastle have had no success at all in this window.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
51 comments so far
Thump
Jan 21, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Comment #41You have to think of the income from Euros though, Richy. I agree it would overstretch an already thin squad, but if we did qualify then Ashley wouldn’t have a choice but to open up his cheque book.
toonfan09
Jan 21, 2011 at 10:52 AM
Comment #42harris vucik is injured and i hardly think shane ferguson is ready to be thrown in at the deep end we to be doing loans not signings this window then we can have a proper sort out in the summer i think smith has played his last game for us gosling is still recovering properly and ben arfa shouldnt even be risked till the last couple of games
NUFC_Richyg01
Jan 21, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Comment #43@ Thump // Jan 21, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Thats fine, but I think some people are getting hung up on Europe and forgetting our goals for this season.
jwheelie12
Jan 21, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Comment #44For me a dream transfer window at the start would’ve been:
Sign Hatem Ben Arfa permanently
Extend Jose Enrique
Extend Joey Barton
Anything on top of that would be a bonus.
Thump
Jan 21, 2011 at 10:59 AM
Comment #45Oh no, my goal for this season is simply to survive (and to finish above Sunderland of course). Anything else is an added extra.
The Eternal Optimist
Jan 21, 2011 at 11:06 AM
Comment #46what you will notice with the current regime is that we are nobodys mugs these days. Back under Fat Fred we were so desperate we’d pay over the odds for demotivated players on stupid contracts.
The fans still calling Ashley tight, and complaining he won’t spend silly money just to get people through the door, need to look at the bigger picture. Man City aside very few people are spending obscene money- also the one month window results in a lot of jostling and agents spouting shit without much actual outcome.
keep the faith lads. HBA signed- if we extend the contracts of enrique and barton it’s been a good window. Any loans will be brought in at the end of the window so don’t rule out a signing or two but don’t expect them.
NUFC_Richyg01
Jan 21, 2011 at 11:07 AM
Comment #47According to reports from Italy …
Former Liverpool midfielder Momo Sissoko wants Alan Pardew to sign him.
The report claims Newcastle have been “alerted to the availability” by Sissoko’s agent.
The player has told the Turin club that he wants to leave in January in a bid to play more first-team football.
Napoli want to take the Mali international on a permanent contract while – allegedly -Pardew is ready to offer him a six-month loan deal.
Lynxie
Jan 21, 2011 at 11:37 AM
Comment #48Personally I am a little sceptical whenever an agent approaches the club with comments like this. It is up to AP to decide who he would like, not wait for mercenaries or wasters (Silvio Maric – remember the black and white shirt he wore at training for his then club?) who have decided they want a change of scenery/payrise (Darren Bent…?). The tail should not wag the dog.
belfastgeordie87
Jan 21, 2011 at 12:29 PM
Comment #49start ferguson on saturday,barton in the centre,and jonas on the right,jonas should do a good job of trackin bale,plus the spurs left back is rubbish.
belfastgeordie87
Jan 21, 2011 at 12:30 PM
Comment #50esso akoto or whatever u call him lol
gorskino10
Jan 21, 2011 at 1:03 PM
Comment #51Hope not Ireland is god aweful, was average at City and at Villa was HORRIBLE even Guthrie looked class compaired to this guy would be a waste of a loan let alone buying him!!!!