If Newcastle keep up their good work so far in the transfer market, we can see a good improvement in the skills of our midfield and strikers.
Neil Taylor – Newcatsle need more defensive reinforcements
There’s no doubt that Yohan Cabaye is a classy player, and he’s a very good footballer who can create things from midfield for the Newcastle side next season.
Add to him two players who hardly featured at all last season, in Ben Arfa and Dan Gosling, and assuming they have recovered fully from their long term injuries, they are both potential starters in the team too.
And the most recent signing Demba Ba, acquired by Newcastle on a free transfer, presumably because the Magpies moved so much faster than any other club, is a very good striker, and on par with Andy Carroll.
The fact that Newcastle are letting both Nile Ranger and Leon Best move on, suggests that Newcastle have another top striker coming in during the summer.
That could be PSG’s Turkish striker, 24 year-old Mevlut Erding, but if they don’t get him, it will be somebody else with sufficient class and goal-scoring ability.
So when you look at Newcastle’s midfield and strikers, the club should be much improved for next season, and when you look at it that way, maybe Kevin Nolan would have had his work cut out to keep his place.
But it was the defense that let Newcastle down too many times last season, in particular at Bolton, Stoke City and that terrible first 25 minutes against Arsenal at St. James’ Park, where for some strange reason I can only remember the second half of that game. :D.
In those games the defense looked little short of pathetic, so surely the back four are not good enough for a top half of the table side next season.
We’d like to see an accomplished full-back brought in – somebody who can play on either side, and they have to be good enough to be a starter.
Neil Taylor looks a very good buy for £1M, but he will need to prove himself in the Premier League, and we’ve seen lower league players go both ways at Newcastle – Mike Williamson was a big success since he was brought in 18 months ago from Portsmouth, and James Perch has not been too successful at Newcastle, and may not be good enough.
And we are still not fully convinced that we have enough strength at center-half either, although Coloccini, Williamson and Steven Taylor are three very good players on their day.
We’d like to see a young top class center-half brought in – somebody who can improve and challenge for a first team place as next season progresses.
Something like Newcastle did with young Sebastien Bassong three years ago would be good.
Newcastle should be good enough at goalkeeper, but if Steve Harper doesn’t stay as number one, we could see him move on this summer, since he’s had enough of sitting on the bench during the 12 years Shay Given was Newcastle’s number one.
Steve will be keen to get first team matches as he probably only has a couple of years left at the very top.
At some point we do expect Newcastle to continue their pattern of bringing in some top youngsters, and even paying decent money for them.
And money will surely not be in short supply, with £4.5M coming in already for captain Kevin Nolan, and Jose Enrique likely to bring in at least another £8M, and Nile Ranger and Leon Best likely to bring in another £5M between them.
If Joey Barton leaves this summer, he will bring in at least another £4M too.
So outgoing transfers this summer could bring in another £21.5M, so as the club will not not be short of funds this summer.
And if players do leave, then each one will need to be replaced – and that’s in addition to the players Newcastle were targeting at the beginning of the summer.
With today’s Demba Ba signing, things are starting to look just a little brighter on Tyneside.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments always welcome.
137 comments so far
thud and blunder
Jun 18, 2011 at 8:12 AM
Comment #121@ grrrrrr
totally agree mate
Toonmania
Jun 18, 2011 at 8:13 AM
Comment #122he’s less injured than Carroll, he’s crocked for the rest of his career
hitman
Jun 18, 2011 at 8:13 AM
Comment #123he didnt fail his medical..
Reports emerged on Friday that Marveaux had failed his medical at Anfield, but he confirmed this was not the case.
“I do not want to go into details, but if I did not sign in Liverpool, because there was a contractual disagreement between the parties Thursday night,” he confirmed to L’Equipe
Drona
Jun 18, 2011 at 8:13 AM
Comment #124is this marveaux guy very injury prone?
Baro
Jun 18, 2011 at 8:14 AM
Comment #125nufc_mo
lol! french lad after french lad!
Dannyo
Jun 18, 2011 at 8:15 AM
Comment #126@ roshan MAGPIE // Jun 18, 2011 at 8:09 AM
Aye, i’ve gotta say i’m hugely impressed by our Scouting network and the work they’ve done. Demba Ba on free, Sylvian on free, Yohan for 4,7 mill, and the french 18 year old that was tipped for a great future, free.
Sincerely Graham and Pardew, great job, and may your seeds of hard work continue to grow. I’m so excited over the new season now.
Lets hope Enrique gets excited too and signs his new deal.
There certanly is NO lack of ambition at Newcastle United.
Howay the lads!!
Eyeball81
Jun 18, 2011 at 8:16 AM
Comment #127@ Drona….apparently only made 10 appearences last season but I cant really confirm or deny it as I dont follow the french lique 1….maybe I should appears we own the french market at the minute!!!
Nufc_mo
Jun 18, 2011 at 8:16 AM
Comment #128Aye Baro. French Lad and his brothers, are class players 😛
Baro
Jun 18, 2011 at 8:17 AM
Comment #129Looks like jonas and coloccini will be forced out… 27 and 28 years old, mike ashley wants to rebuild, and have a arsenal model with all younger players, not as young but younger.
gggrrrr
Jun 18, 2011 at 8:18 AM
Comment #130Marveaux was bound to say that he is looking for a club FFS. Liverpool have got the cheque book out and are spending for fun. If they had been scouting him for a year does anyone seriously think they couldn’t reach a financial agreement. People on here have got their heads up their arses.
Drona he played less than ten games last season due to a severe groin injury.
Baro
Jun 18, 2011 at 8:20 AM
Comment #131Nufc_mo
class player without a doubt!
BigKirky
Jun 18, 2011 at 8:32 AM
Comment #132Some people…. Stop complaining about free transfers! We’re looking for quality! And that’s what we’re getting! If we weren’t, yes I’d be first to be annoyed, but they’re exciting players that are coming in. Only a muggins wud pay like £12m for a player similar to marveaux when marveaux is free. I haven’t been as excited about the calibre of player wer bringin in as we are at the minute. Best years ahead of them and hungry to play good football!
BigKirky
Jun 18, 2011 at 8:34 AM
Comment #133Haven’t been as excited in quite a while that was meant to end with… With incoming transfers.
Crawfordladd17
Jun 18, 2011 at 8:47 AM
Comment #134Has are defence not alwayws been terrible for the last 5 years or so. We r an attacking side
TOON RSA
Jun 18, 2011 at 11:40 AM
Comment #1351st post after following for quite a while – wow what a week. Thoughts from the southern hemisphere are i like the look and shape of midfield. Keep Barton and add exciting young prospect for depth. No. 9 should go to someone who appreciates it’s legendary status. Spend big, Sturridge and/or dare i say Defoe. Pace and finishing now that midfield looks like cutting passers. Defence i agree with Ed. We need a rock. Collo goes to sleep one to many times. Get money for him and invest in Terryesque leader who can marshall the backline. Mbenque for Enrique if we must.
TOON RSA
Jun 18, 2011 at 1:46 PM
Comment #136My Fantasy:
We have 30 million in the bank after Carroll:
We get another 20 for after say selling Collo Enrique & Best. I say keep Barton, and Ranger. This equals 50 Million.
Then, in my dreams last night Mike Ashley realizing that we need depth and strength of squad to nip at the heels of Top 6 adds another 20 Million. So with now 70 million:
ATTACK – 18 Million Sturridge
18 Million Defoe or
8 Million Erding
MIDFIELD – 12 Million _ Matuidi
6 Million _ Barnetta
on loan _ Ireland
DEFENSE – 15 Million_ Bred Hangeland
8 Million_ Mbenque
1 Million _ Neil Taylor
Free _ Upson
Suddenly that seems like a 1st team worthy of European Football & a Squad to the distance???
Keepers: Krul / Harper
Defence First Choice:
Guitterez, Hangeland, Williamson, Mbenque
Backup:
Simpson, Upson, Raylor, Naylor, Ferguson,
Defensive Midfield:
Tiote
Backup
Cabaye can drop back
Midfield:
Barton / Cabaye / Matuidi / Benarfa
Backup
Marvuez / Gosling / Ferguson / Smith / Routledge
Forwards
Strurridge / Ba / Defoe or Erding Fighting for 1st team
Ranger / Shola / Sammy waiting in the wings.
??? What say we?
Real Toon Army Fan
Jun 19, 2011 at 7:46 AM
Comment #137WHATS GOING ON WITH THE BOARD AND MIKE ASHLEY ? THE CLUB HAS GOT 40 MILLION TO SPEND AFTER THE SALE OF KEVIN NOLAN OK THE CLUB CAN 10 OR 5 MILLION THE CLUB HAS JUST BROUGHT IN FREE TRANSFERS.
AND WHY IS THE CLUB LOOKING LETTING 2 MORE OUR BEST PLAYERS GO IN DEFENCE.ALAN PAR DEW IS A YES MAN AS WELL HE DOES EVER THE BOARD AND MIKE ASHLEY TELLS HIM AT THE MINUTE.
CUSS YOU KNOW ITS ALL LIES HE IS SAYING ABOUT THE PLAYERS LIKE NOLAN AND THE OTHER 2 GOOD PLAYERS WE HAVE IN DEFENCE ABOUT IE THERE CONTRACTS WAGES ITS JUST TO COVER MIKE ASHLEY.
CUSS WE ARE TOTALLY TURNING INTO A SELLING CLUB LIKE THE TIMES HAS SAID.UNLESS THE MONEY NOT PUT BACK TO THE CLUB THOUGH PLAYERS AND THE YOUTH SET UP MORE WE ARE NOT GOING DO VERY WELL NEXT SESSION.
OR IN THE FUTURE THATS WHY I FEEL WE NEED A TOTAL STRONG 22 SQUAD A WE NEED 3 WORLD CLASS DEFENDERS 6 IF Jose Enrique AND Fabricio Coloccini GOES A WORLD CLASS STRIKER SELL SHOLA AMEOBI KEEP THE OTHER 3 PLUS THE NEW WE HAVE AND LOAN RANGER OUT.
IF THE DOES GET SPENT WHAT I SAY I BY THE TIME THE TRANSFER WINDOW SHUTS ALL US REAL NEWCASTLE UTD FANS SHOULD GET MIKE ASHLEY OUT HOW YOU ASK THOUGH A FACEBOOK ACTION GROUP, DONT BUY ANY SESSION TICKETS OR TICKETS TO WATCH THEM PLAY.
DONT ANY MONEY THE FOOTBALL CLUB IE CLUB SHOP’ SHEARES BAR’ STADIUM TOURS ETC SPORTS DIRECT WEB SITES HIT HIM WERE IT HURTS THE POCKET REMEMBER HIS IS A BUSINESS MAN.
LETS ALL UNITE ON THIS WE NEED AT LEAST HALF OF THE STADIUMS SUPPORT ON THIS ITS PEOPLE POWER REMEMBER THAT BUTS LETS SEE IF MIKE ASHLEY STICKS TO HIS WORD IN WHAT SAID AFTER THE CLUB SOLD ANDY CARROLL AND THE MONEY TO SIGN NEW PLAYERS BUT THAT WENT AND SEE.
AT THE END OF THIS TRANSFER WINDOW ?