The Newcastle United Blog

44 responses so far ↓

• 1 Stuart // May 4, 2011 at 11:07 AM

  I think its in Irelands best interests to accept around £40k a week. He’s fell out of grace slightly in the football world.

  If he does sign for us and turns into a quality buy then we can improve his contract as we did with Tiote.

• 2 toonturtle // May 4, 2011 at 11:09 AM

  I can’t understand why we are even contemplating signing him. Another loan with an option to buy maybe.

• 3 WWJBD // May 4, 2011 at 11:11 AM

  He’s already willing to drop 15k off his weekly wage straight off the bat? Interesting. I doubt he is demanding 50k probably requesting is a better word. We probably offered 30k to begin with…we didnt demand he played for 30k.

  This transfer story is going to run…and run…and run

• 4 listie // May 4, 2011 at 11:11 AM

  Any player coming from City will have this problem, they either realise that city is bubble and other clubs will not pay up or be happy to sit on a bench. Hiwage demands always would be the problem £40k pw is almost too much if i’m honest, yes he was a good player, but we haven’t seen that for 2 years now

• 5 WWJBD // May 4, 2011 at 11:12 AM

  toonturtle
  Villa wont send him out on loan again they want him sold

• 6 FarAwayGeordie // May 4, 2011 at 11:13 AM

  fair dinkum , its a risj signing ireland with his track record this past season .. a loan would be ideal tho

• 7 toonturtle // May 4, 2011 at 11:14 AM

  WWJBD you are right there. They just want rid of him for cash.

• 8 Brutooon // May 4, 2011 at 11:19 AM

  60k for smith and xisco 50k per week

  terminate them and sign ireland!

• 9 MacToon // May 4, 2011 at 11:20 AM

  “But, on the other hand, if Newcastle are not willing to pay the going rate for class players, not too many of them will be arriving on Tyneside in the summer.”

  This is the worry and ofc we all know that some European players might need a season to settle into the prem, it’s a dilemna but we should pay good wages for good players, I’m pretty sure Ireland fits into this group.

  Swap Smith’s wage for someone like Ireland? I know, who wants Smith! lol

• 10 lekech // May 4, 2011 at 11:20 AM

  Move on then, there are much better and cheaper players out there.

• 11 T_6_Ford // May 4, 2011 at 11:21 AM

  With a player so injury prone, he should have a very basic wage, say 5k but where he gets a massive bonus if he plays. taking his wage up to 40k a week when he is playing. Would also provide even more of an incentive for him to get in the team.

• 12 Jan Stavik // May 4, 2011 at 11:23 AM

  Loan with an option to buy would be the best for us. He’s terribly prone.

  And maybe his best days are past anyway, he’s not really top of the pops anymore this fella

• 13 Markaccus // May 4, 2011 at 11:23 AM

  Terminate smith and xisco, bru!? I know they are a waste of space but sending arnie back through time is a bit over the top

• 14 toonfan09 // May 4, 2011 at 11:24 AM

  its in villas interest to loan him out next season if no one will buy him otherwise he is just wasting a way in the reserves where his price will olumit

• 15 WWJBD // May 4, 2011 at 11:29 AM

  I’d say if we dont sign him atleast Blackburn Rovers will put in a bid for him and I’d guess a fair few more would want him.

  Still think we will get him. And I dont really care what wages he is on…Collo is reportedly on 80k pw and I still cheer him on

• 16 clinta3 // May 4, 2011 at 11:49 AM

  If true I think the clubs doing the right thing. If we can get him on the cheap then sign him up as a needed squad player- perhaps on a low basic rate with performance benefits.

  Ed, you speak the truth about Smith here, so why do you still want him at the club again?

• 17 Timmers09 // May 4, 2011 at 11:53 AM

  A couple of things;
  Firstly im sure there was a ruling on changing the home kit after 2 seasons not just 1. The exception being if it was a sponsor or kit maker change.
  Secondly im getting increasingly worried with the lack of British players we are being linked with. If all those buys went through we’d have Steve Harper and Nolan as regulars, with Barton who knows. Im not saying we dont want the best we can get but with UEFA’s new ruling on finances and “home grown” players………..

• 18 sirjasontoon // May 4, 2011 at 11:56 AM

  Wouldn’t want him on 10k a week.
  His best days are way behind him and his attitude totally stinks.

  Expected some decent things from him….I never noticed any.

• 19 Rotonda heights // May 4, 2011 at 11:58 AM

  It’s sickening seeing Smith get 60k a week and hasn’t played for months or arguably years !!

• 20 Charlietoon // May 4, 2011 at 12:03 PM

  Tell him to go get f****d and drop our initial offer by another 5 grand a week because he is beign a greedy twat. I dont care how good he used to be. Thats not what we pay players for…anymore. We gave him a shot and he was injured the whole time….well hardly miss him will we??

• 21 terencelim // May 4, 2011 at 12:22 PM

  Not sure how true is this story…

• 22 Davies // May 4, 2011 at 12:30 PM

  I think we need to see him match fit for a season before we commit to a permanent contract, whatever his wage demands. It’s either another loan season, or a season wasting away and depreciating on the bench at Villa. Can’t see anyone shelling out big money on this player at the moment; he’s done nowt in the last two seasons to justify it.

• 23 Sav // May 4, 2011 at 12:35 PM

  This is one type of situation where I am glad Ashley is the owner. He won’t be taken for a mug (buying the club was once too often!) and if a player is only fit half the time, he’s only worth half as much – or less. No use saying, ‘when I’m fit I’m brilliant’.

• 24 loughy // May 4, 2011 at 12:37 PM

  daily mirror are full of s@”t i never believe a word written in this paper

• 25 Billy1985 // May 4, 2011 at 12:52 PM

  i think if he really wants to play for us he should go on a pay as you play contract cause he hasnt had much playing time here at all.

• 26 veto // May 4, 2011 at 12:54 PM

  one of the best playmakers in the prem , get him signed , 50k is our cap is it not ? he’s the type of player who will command that

• 27 ToonDownSouth // May 4, 2011 at 1:00 PM

  Agree with WWJBD & loughy…

  The Mirror will have seen we had him on loan and decide that this is what’s going on.

  And “demand” probably isn’t a great word to use lol. I doubt he’s stood in Ashleys office refusing to leav until we pay him.

• 28 ToonDownSouth // May 4, 2011 at 1:02 PM

  @ Timmers09,

  We have the most English players in our starting 11 out of all the Prem clubs, and have also fielded the most English players this year of all the Prem clubs.

  Just saying, I don’t think we need to worry. Arsenal seem to do alright. Although Wigan, not so much (;

• 29 gorskino10 // May 4, 2011 at 1:04 PM

  @SirJason

  Agree.

  @toonturtle

  Even if its a Loan we still need to pay his crazy wages, we want to get rid of these kind of players, like Smith just sitting in the Injury room collecting their wages week in week out, Ireland will be the same, Injury prone hardly featuring getting 50k a week.

  Not worth it at all, he loan was ok cause he could of helpted untill we buy better players than him, but to buy him after hardly doing anything, no point.

• 30 boomboomcheick // May 4, 2011 at 1:09 PM

  piss him off, i dont want to pay 8mill + 50/60K a week for some injury prone party boy.

  the only way i want to see him in a toon shirt is if it is on loan

• 31 toonincheek // May 4, 2011 at 1:12 PM

  It’s time we stopped complaining about players on £60,000 per week (or more). It’s nopt relevant. They were lucky enough to sign when the market was high and looking to go higher – their good luck.
  This is now, and of course we now pay based on current rates.

  As for Ireland, AV will go for the best deal they can, naturally. I wonder which clubs would take the risk. We were about the only club to show interest even in a loan back in January, and he still hasn’t done much to prove his class or injury record.

  Salary of £30,000, bonuses for being on the bench, substitute and starting that could take him close to £50,000.

  Although it’s a bit harsh to hit any player in the pocket if he is injured while playing for us, any player with a persistent injury record has to carry some of the financial burden.

• 32 lesh // May 4, 2011 at 1:13 PM

  Ed’s made two summary points:

  And the club may be unwilling to sign up for a player who made just two substitute appearances for Newcastle, in the almost three months he was on Tyneside, during which time he had three different injuries.

  But, on the other hand, if Newcastle are not willing to pay the going rate for class players, not too many of them will be arriving on Tyneside in the summer.

  The first is the more valid and relevant and if he’s aking for £50k pw with his track record whilst here, I thinkk the club’s correct in not entertainig his reported demands.

  On the second point, that is speculation and despite statements and inuendo from the club, there’s no evidence of that happening in real – or is there?

• 33 Widowmaker // May 4, 2011 at 2:52 PM

  I am with Ed on this one, although I have my doubts over signing Ireland due to his injury proneness and general attitude.

  However, to those who blame Ireland for not accepting a lower wage, I doubt how many of you would offer a 24% pay cut to your potential new employee?

  We know footballer are rich but that don’t always make them stupid (in some cases yes).
  I thought it was a very positive move by Ireland and I personally appreciate that.

• 34 chuck // May 4, 2011 at 3:15 PM

  LEKECH
  Can you name those better and cheaper players, cause Ashley may be interested ?

  T_6_FORD
  Is that a serious statement?

  JSTAVIK
  Injury prone ?
  No he`s not injury prone , just forced back on two occasions before he was ready.

  SirJASON
  The guys in his early twenties has`nt reached his prime yet, how do you figure his best days are behind him ?
  And his attitude stinks, care to be specific on that, cause all i heard was he would like to play for us and apart from showing his abs. there has`nt been any untoward incidents while he was on Tyneside.
  I`m afraid most of you are letting some personal
  dislike for Ireland color your opinions.
  Nothing to do with football.
  It`s going to be a missed opportunity not signing a player of his caliber and if in fact he has lowered his wage demand by fifteen thousand, to fifty grand a week it would still be a deal.

• 35 WWJBD // May 4, 2011 at 3:29 PM

  haha agree with Chuck on all comments

• 36 wynsleap // May 4, 2011 at 3:47 PM

  Had great hopes for Ireland.
  He didn’t want to play. We don’t want to pay.
  Sounds fair to me.

• 37 Oleg G // May 4, 2011 at 3:59 PM

  What? one of the best playmakers? One of the best Money makers maybe. Not playing and getting paid.

  Don’t get him. He is trouble. Maybe will get some good games from him. Not worth the money!
  There are better players out there anyway.

• 38 Oleg G // May 4, 2011 at 4:02 PM

  chuck

  Are you his mom? Stop defending him, you are a blind fan. He is not that good of a player.
  Better and cheaper players: Anyone who is not injured all the time for one, and there are hundreds of good playmakers, just not all want to come here. Still, better a playing player then money injured grabber.

• 39 chuck // May 4, 2011 at 4:33 PM

  OLEG G
  Says
  One of the best playmakers
  Dont get him, he is trouble.Maybewill get some good games from him.
  Not worth the money.
  Seems you either have trouble explaining yourself or you cant make up your mind ?

  And no i`m not related in any way, nor is there anything wrong with my sight.
  Know what Oleg ?
  I think you have difficulty expressing yourself in English, obviously a second language, no problem mate.

• 40 GeordieTwo // May 4, 2011 at 6:34 PM

  We just don’t know enough to decide. Is he an injury-prone wanker who loves to sit and collect his wage like Owen or was it just bad luck while he was here. Has he really “demanded” 50K a week or is that made up by the press. He clearly has talent but has he got any drive and determination on the field? I would give him a chance for the right price (6-8 million) and a low wage with incentives built in. We need a pacy AM for sure. Could he be it? I would love it to be Vukic because he is bigger and more powerful but is he ready and can he stay injury free for a prolonged period?

• 41 btnek1664 // May 4, 2011 at 11:28 PM

  Cracking player when fit,great box-box player-injury prone? up to now-yes,does he want to play for the toon-yes,would he bean asset-yes-when fit=would i believe a fekin thing that the papers say-NO-feks sake grow up-how long have some of you mugs been NUFC supporters-about 20mins??? the media HATE the toon and will do ANYTHING

• 42 btnek1664 // May 4, 2011 at 11:30 PM

  to get plonkas (as in some comments) on his back,he`s a class player when fit,young and scores goals-grow the fek up!!!

• 43 ascot7 // May 5, 2011 at 3:28 AM

  apparantly, it is all about money, and not really careing about the toon. He is also a risk buy ? And in my opinion, he may be a little better then ordinary Ameobi and his mate Lovenkrands. So mr Pardew, give the young man, Phill Airey a game, he will inspire.

• 44 JGreaves // May 5, 2011 at 3:00 PM

  50k-

  Sign Him Up.

  1. Hes not injury prone, just has been unlucky with us, he regularly played full seasons with Man City

  2. Hes not passed his best hes in his mid 20′s not even at his peak yet

  3. He couldnt impress for us as we have no intelligent players to link play with him, i remember vs Man U when Jonas switched to the right he kept coming inside past half way line and ireland was making all the right movement, jonas didnt look up once. Playing with Ben Arfa he’ll be 10x better than what he showed..