Why is it that Newcastle seem to constantly be in the headlines for all the wrong reasons?
Mike Ashley – time for him to take action
When Chris Hughton was manager at the club for that magical 18 months, he seemed to be able to quell things in the press when things went wrong.
And a good example of that was when Andy Carroll broke Steven Taylor’s jaw in a dressing room altercation in March of 2010.
But Newcastle were still bale to win their important game two days later at at Doncaster 1-0, and of course Andy Carroll got the winner after 59 minutes.
There’s no doubt that the last week has not been good for the Newcastle United fans or for the proud club either.
There is now significant fan unrest following the unfortunate developments with Joey Barton, and while Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias have never enjoyed a love-fest with Newcastle fans, the relationship is at a fairly low point right now.
With Newcastle’s first game of the season being in a short nine days against Arsenal, Newcastle have to come together, and there are now good signs that Newcastle are trying to strengthen the squad.
News today that Tranquillo Barnetta could arrive on Tyneside as early as the next couple of days, and there are other fresh targets that Newcastle are going after on the continent.
Newcastle need a new experienced left back to replace Jose Enrique, when he finally leaves the club, and of course we also need another striker in.
We’d also like to see another good defender brought in, since that was our Achilles heel last season, and the club have so far done nothing to strengthen the defense.
If Newcastle can move quickly in the next couple of weeks to solidify the squad, then things could look a lot better very quickly.
That’s what we are hoping and praying for, and there’s one thing we are absolutely certain about – Newcastle are not short of transfer funds.
We want to see some action from the Newcastle hierarchy as soon as possible.
Comments welcome.
50 comments so far
NUFC_Richyg01
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:09 AM
Comment #1News today that Tranquillo Barnetta could arrive on Tyneside as early as the next couple of days, and there are other fresh targets that Newcastle are going after on the continent.
Who are these fresh targets you speak of?
h-train
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:10 AM
Comment #2On the bright side, at least we’re not being made to advertize chicken…
Eastander
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:11 AM
Comment #3If Barnetta arrives in the next couple of days I’ll go buy a hat and eat it!
thai-mag
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Comment #4me to eastander, a leather at that
NUFC_Richyg01
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:14 AM
Comment #5I just want some Striker news, we need goals next season, the rest of the squad is in decent shape, obviously LB is gonna need filling, but that striker gap has been there too long now!
roshan MAGPIE
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:17 AM
Comment #6i am 100 per cent sure that barnetta will not arrive in couple of days time it is just speculation nothing more than that and i think wayne bridge will be bought on loan to replace enrique
LewSpi
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:17 AM
Comment #7Couple of days?? It only takes 20 minutes from Jesmond, and that’s walking!
Rotonda heights
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:19 AM
Comment #8AP showing true colours
Truly horrible, horrible rumours about Rob Green and Bridge. Both sh…e, injury prone, big wages, over 30 etc, relegated West ham players.
Defoe would be ok, but then again 9M for a 29 year old
I like our youngsters policy but we should be getting more good ones like Sturridge, the Banguras, Long, Managala etc.
I admired NUFC standing up to barton’s antics and calling his bluff, but they seem to be desperately backtracking now, though interestingly no one has come in for barton even on a free ! Think that says quite a lot.
h-train
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:19 AM
Comment #9Who knows, wayne bridge could turn out to be inspired, could recapture his old form and prove himself as the best lb in the prem….bugger me this is good absynth
NUFC_Richyg01
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:20 AM
Comment #10@7
It’s taking some time to get through the hotel door as there is quite a build up of take away wrappers and boxes since the lad has been in there for over a month now!
Stuart
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:20 AM
Comment #11According to newcastlerumours we’re hoping to sign Barnetta for £4m. He’s worth at least £7m I’d say so this just smacks of MA putting in a bid he knows won’t be accepted so he can say he tried, if true.
Eastander
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:21 AM
Comment #12Boltin confirm they arent interested in Barton, player who is self declared the best English midfielder and nobody wants him… knock his ego down a peg or two hopefully!
Eastander
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:21 AM
Comment #13Bolton*
Wigham33
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:22 AM
Comment #14Soooo….we were going to get another 1 or two players in?? Does this now mean 3 or 4 players after the Jose and Barton scenario? Me thinks NOT!!
tdt
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:22 AM
Comment #15The main problem that I can see is we are selling our best english players (AC, KN, JB). Although they might not be the best players we have in terms of skill and flair, they did provide the drive and determination that is required in the PL. I hope our replacements can provide the same desire to win and guts to succeed in tough situations, but only time will tell. The spine of the team was solid at the start of last season, I’m just hoping it’s not made out of French jelly now!
Majuro Magpie
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:23 AM
Comment #16No doubt the tranfer kitty should be flush but Ashley could peel an orange in his pocket. I’m gonna judge the guy when the transfer window slams shut, or more realistically, when our paper thin, injury ravaged squad loses a 6 pointer to stoke with a barton rocket sealing the win.
NUFC_Richyg01
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:23 AM
Comment #17If we could bring in Barnetta and Long then we are doing good, just the LB situation to sort when Enrique leaves, the lad from Celtic will do fine!
h-train
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:25 AM
Comment #18Jesus, the blogs become more depressing than watching alan smith try to jog….
MacToon
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:25 AM
Comment #19So all of a sudden we’re pushed into action because of Barton, where the hell is the striker we’ve needed since February?
What about some cover in defence?
Where is Jose’s replacement?
Seems to me that the club had just about finished their business for the summer up until Barton was transfer listed.
Bloody disgrace….. oh I know we have some good youngsters coming through… phew!
We’re in profit AGAIN so far on transfers this window.
DerkaSayWhat
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:26 AM
Comment #20Oh colocinni, when you captain the mags,
oh colocinni, you will get plenty of shags,
oh colocinni, my mams joining the queue.
DerkaSayWhat
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:27 AM
Comment #21Have a watch lads and lasses, a great laugh !!.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMtZfW2z9dw
MacToon
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:28 AM
Comment #22Stuart, you certainly seem a little more cynical these days 😉
Davies
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:29 AM
Comment #23Pessimism Reigns At Newcastle Again – Contributed to by just this sort of headline.
No offence Ed, but the press aren’t helping matters at the moment, and this kind of headline is fuel to the fire. I love this blog, but the above title could have been plucked from the Daily Mail.
Stuart
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:30 AM
Comment #24Haha Mactoon, just calling it as I see it. I doubt that rumour on newcastlerumours is true like. But if it was £4m is far too low for Barnetta.
NUFC_Richyg01
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:30 AM
Comment #25SSN Update:
Bolton boss Owen Coyle has confirmed he is not in the market for Joey Barton, but does remain intereted in Shaun Wright-Phillips. More to follow on skysports.com.
MacToon
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Comment #26Good 4 you Stuart, keep those eyes wide open 🙂
CLOIN
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Comment #27Davies
What headlines do you want?
“Newcastle the strongest squad theve had in years”
We are letting our best players go and are not replacing them
Where is our new striker?Who is going to score the goals? Keep taking your happy pills!Honestly
CLOIN
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:41 AM
Comment #28Kick of in 9 days and we have BA up front
No LB
I just hope the football gods are easy on us but we are NUFC and when do we ever get lucky?
I really fear for this season.
Magpietillidie22
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:43 AM
Comment #29@25 Richy01
lmao that is just brilliant.
So Owen Coyle would prefer to PAY for a player who has played so little football hes forgotten how to kick a ball than sign “the best english midfielder in the prem” on a free??!!
Im stunned…
Oh wait… maybe Joey just talks out his arse, maybe Joey ISNT that great? Nooooooooooooo, no way, in Joey “ex con, beats young boys up outside macdonalds, cry baby, child” Barton WE ALL TRUST.
You wait, Barcelona will snap him up reeeeal quick ;x
CLOIN
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:48 AM
Comment #30Pre season i was very optimistic £30 mill
to spend
All MA had to do was keep last years squad together and bring in 3-4 class players which in my opinion would have gave MA a bit credit and strengthened our squad and given the youngsters another season to grow
What has happened we have spent F**k all and have sold the spine of our team.The players brought in i agree with but not to replace those going or gone.
What a missed chance by MA!shame really
simonsez
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:49 AM
Comment #31Is it just me or does it seem that our fans have a lot less patience in this transfer window than any previous ones? Most business in the window has always been done in the back end of august. I would love to see all of our transfers done before now as well, but this is never the case and there are alway big last minute deals. So why panic more this season than any other?
CLOIN
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Comment #32Magpie22
What a sad little person you are
grow up we are losing our best players hand over fist and you post comments like that.Pea brain
simonsez
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:52 AM
Comment #33Cloin do you not think hand was forced with selling spine of the team. Nolan asking far too long of a contract. And Bartons ego getting bigger than the club it’s self, (granted he played great last season, but thats one out of four).
CLOIN
Aug 4, 2011 at 10:55 AM
Comment #34Sim
@31
the season kicks off in 9 days ffs and you say be patient
we only need a striker,LB and RW to have a decent 11
i will ignore post33
ive heard it all before.
simonsez
Aug 4, 2011 at 11:02 AM
Comment #35Cloin totally understand where your coming from, but I think it was 2001 since we last signed more than 1 player to challenge first team before august in a transfer window. this year we signed 3 possibly 4. So are we expecting all of our signing so early this year when they have never happend like that previously?
lesh
Aug 4, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Comment #36Has Barnetta’s agent’s blown the gaff – are these the tactics we’ve applied to failed bids in the past?
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_7079900,00.html
Magpietillidie22
Aug 4, 2011 at 11:05 AM
Comment #37@32 CLOIN
Grow up? Arent you the same guy who yesterday couldn’t understand English? lol Back to school little chum.
Joey Barton is a nuisance, disruptive and needs to be moved on. You say we are losing our best players… yes, but what do you expect the club to do? Kepp two players who DO NOT wanna sign deals, DO NOT wanna play for us and WILL continue to cause trouble?
I for one would prefer players who want to play for the club and give 110% whatever country they are from and however ever much they cost. Wind ya neck in and GET REAL.
LewSpi
Aug 4, 2011 at 11:13 AM
Comment #38Oh dear…
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11678_7079900,00.html
ITUNDERASHELL
Aug 4, 2011 at 11:13 AM
Comment #39Barnetta has been offered less wages than he is on in Germanyaccording to SSN and gone behind his agents back, surely Ashley must know this would be made public, more smoke and mirrors.
Hoppefot79
Aug 4, 2011 at 11:21 AM
Comment #40I’m 100% sure you can’t be 100% sure that Barnetta won’t come, unless you are that very person yourself (Barnetta). Jeez, you’re an optimistic bunch