Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has confirmed that defender Jose Enrique is about to join Liverpool, once he completes his medical on Merseyside.
Jose Enrique – leaving for Liverpool
However, the timing of the deal from Newcastle’s viewpoint is not ideal, since fans are now wondering just who will be playing at left back against Arsenal on Saturday.
Talented youngster Shane Ferguson is out injured, and our other 19 year-old James Tavernier, was today sent out to Carlisle on a one month loan deal.
It’s difficult to really know what the fee is for Jose, as reports range from £5.5M to £8M, so let’s hope it’s £8M.
Ever since Andy Carroll was surprisingly sold to Liverpool in January, Enrique has questioned the ambitions of Mike Ashley, the Newcastle owner, and decided to seek pastures anew, where he can play European football and challenge for a full Spanish cap.
Enrique had a successful four years at Newcastle, after singing from Villareal, for £6.2M in August of 2007, and he established himself as one of the best attacking left backs in the Premier League.
At one time, Jose, who was very popular with the fans, had said he wanted to finish his career at Newcastle, but alas things change.
Alan pardew had this to say today:
“We’re obviously aware that there was a possibility of Enrique leaving. It’s the last year of his contract, he’d made it clear he didn’t really have any motivation to re-sign here”
“Therefore it’s happened at a time where we probably expected it to happen – right before the season kicks off.”
“On our side, with a player with a year left, we couldn’t afford not to take the best price we could get, and that’s what’s happened.”
“Now we need to find and secure a replacement which is obviously ongoing as I speak. We have a backup plan which we need to put in place now.”
“We wish him well,” “He’s done absolutely brilliant for this football club and he’s a great footballer, there’s no doubt about that. He’s a good player.”
Another top player leaves the club, and Newcastle must start doing a better job of keeping their top players on Tyneside.
Andy Carroll, Kevin Nolan and Jose Enrique will have all left the club this year, and Joey Barton looks set to be on his way too.
It looks like Erik Pieters of PSV will be Jose’s replacement, but it’s not clear how quickly Newcastle can sign him, or whether PSV even want to sell their Dutch International.
Jose was great at Newcastle, and played 129 times for the club with one goal, and we wish him all the best on Merseyside.
Comments welcome.
480 comments so far
pizzicatochan
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:43 PM
Comment #1So there’s someone coming?
v FrA NuFc 8
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:43 PM
Comment #21st 2nd 3rd 4th hu gives a ….
ochytoon
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:44 PM
Comment #3Ummm Mr Pardew, did it not occur to you to bring in a replacement as Jose was always gonna leave at some point during this window? No? oh ok then, you daft git haha
nightfa11
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:44 PM
Comment #4ed considering how much u write u should be NUFC fitness coach.
kevymartins
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:44 PM
Comment #5Replacment in by sat ??
v FrA NuFc 8
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:44 PM
Comment #6supposibly but like the rest of the transfers this summer they have just popped up without their names being mentioned so could be in for a surprise..
pizzicatochan
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:45 PM
Comment #7“Another top player leaves the club, and Newcastle must start doing a better job at keeping their top players on Tyneside.”
Ed, we have signed quality players too. Please don’t sound sad. Cheer up!
v FrA NuFc 8
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:46 PM
Comment #8this will cheer u up trust me :L
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW0356brnrE&feature=player_embedded
serious rioting!!
WWJBD
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:46 PM
Comment #9Seems worrying he said that we need to ‘find’ a replacement maybe its like the Carroll deal and we will wait until January to be told there just isnt going to be one
kevymartins
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:47 PM
Comment #10Is the carling cup tie tonight?
NottsGeordie
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:48 PM
Comment #11FINALLY XISCO HAS GONE!!!
This is the best day of my life 😀
nightfa11
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:48 PM
Comment #12WWJBD
if pardew wants to keep his job he must do everything to find a replacement.. if he plays perch hell be gone before u say oihfowijnvpwemvpemw
Dannyo
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:49 PM
Comment #13@pizzicatochan
Good shout.
And to add to that, we need to perform better if we are to keep our top players at the club.
Lets hope this is the years that we see some of the re-emergence of “The Entertainers”.
GeordieGerman “allez les gars!”
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:49 PM
Comment #14People who are surprised at this are probably surprised twice a day. When night turns today and when day turns to night.
Mystic Mikes' iron curtain
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:49 PM
Comment #15This suggests we may get someone before Arsenal: “….as I speak.”
I really hope it’s Pieters. Full Dutch international, with 10 full caps at 22? Has better credentials than Jose and rumour has it, he’d be dirt cheap!
Then we just need his team-mate, Toivonen.
Desange
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:49 PM
Comment #16I can’t believe there is one full back at the club at the moment
Unbelievably poor management
UpTheRoad
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:50 PM
Comment #17This guy is quick!
http://toonarmy1892.blogspot.com/
Dannyo
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:50 PM
Comment #18@WWJBD
We’ve replaced everyone else, we’ll replace Enrique, and then we need to add to that aswell.
3 weeks left of the window, thats (hopefully) one player in each week.
TheHeyman
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:50 PM
Comment #19Posted this on the last thread but thinking outside the box, the back four I would play against Arsenal is:
Simo, Willo, Saylor, Colo at LB.
This would do until a quality LB can be signed.
roshan MAGPIE
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:51 PM
Comment #20hope we bring in replacement Tommarow
NottsGeordie
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:51 PM
Comment #21Things looking up on tyneside now!! Jose a player who doesnt want to be here has gone and the replacement will most likely be Pieters a full international for half the price.
Xisco has gone as well, freeing up 3 million pound for another striker to come in.
Sawbuck
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:52 PM
Comment #22‘Double My Money’ Ashley gets a little close to his goal after being taken by Sir John – due to his own laziness and arrogance I might add.
nightfa11
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:52 PM
Comment #23id give kadar a shot.. everytime he played he impressed.. i just dont get why noone plays him, yet they keep giving smith & loven, shola, etc chances.. is unbelivable..
gorskino10
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:53 PM
Comment #24ED is right though you don’t improve by selling your best players it’s simple like that.
Wonder what quality we can get for the little money we will spend, it’s a safe bet we will spend 4/5.5M not sure if players like Pieters are good enuff. Much like Obertan, ALL the wingers people mentioned like Boudebouz/Marvin Martin/Charles N Zogbia who NZog would of joined us, but we just didn’t want to spend over 9M. You get what you pay for suppose.
WWJBD
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:54 PM
Comment #25We havent replaced Carroll
Dannyo
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:54 PM
Comment #26@nightfa11
Could play him, is he still at the club? He’s injured 90% of the time. Haven’t seen him all pre season, have not heard from him either.
ochytoon
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:55 PM
Comment #27TheHeyman
I would expect:
Taylor Willo Saylor Colo
NottsGeordie
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:55 PM
Comment #28We replaced Carroll with Ba
ochytoon
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:55 PM
Comment #29*Saylor Willo Colo Simmo
UpTheRoad
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:57 PM
Comment #30Does the fact that neither Sammi ameobi or Vuckic have not been sent out on loan indicate that they are definitely part of Pardew’s plans for the season?
http://toonarmy1892.blogspot.com/
Burni
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:58 PM
Comment #31Fra will post again…. That’s a class vid, would be awful being caught up in that!
Not glad Enrique is going but glad the saga is finally over! Just hope they get someone in quick we have NO defence left!
NottsGeordie
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:58 PM
Comment #32Team for Arsenal
Krul
Simpson Williamson Coloccini Taylor
Barton Tiote Cabaye
Obertan Ba Gutierrez
deeeeeeano
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:59 PM
Comment #33Who’s gonna play there on Saturday?? Terrible timing, it could have happened on Sunday as I have no doubt jose would have given his all. Poor decision making again, we all new it was going to happen but now is nearly as bad as 31st august.
daztoon
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:59 PM
Comment #34So Pardew has a backup plan after losing Enrique it will be Bridge on loan.They knew he was going this window so why wait till he’s gone before replacing.What a load of amatures we have running our club.
nightfa11
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:59 PM
Comment #35Dannyo
i think he is..but i dont get why he doesnt play more..even when he was fit.. yet pardew plays simpson whos average..completely.. better then perch but thats not a compliment.
Stuart
Aug 11, 2011 at 5:59 PM
Comment #36Hopefully UpTheRoad.
danuneek
Aug 11, 2011 at 6:00 PM
Comment #37How things have gone down hill! who would win? the team this time last year or now? Lets compare:
Harper, Simpson, Williamson, Colo, Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Tiote, Jonas, Ben Arfa, Carroll
or
Krul, Simpson, Taylor, Colo, Nobody, Merveux (whatever), Tiote, Cabaye, Jonas, Ben Arfa, Demba Ba
I know who I would be betting on!
Relegation trouble this season I’m afraid, all depends on Ben Arfa’s fitness and Tiote’s card count.
Loosing Enrique is a mega blow, more so than Carroll and Barton I reckon!
shamsoftabriz
Aug 11, 2011 at 6:00 PM
Comment #38We “don’t know” if we can Pieters? Sorry MA, but you made your bed. Now you have to sleep in it. You may have to overpay for Pieters, but you better darn well get him on Tyneside ASAP. We know you have the money. Spend it or sell the club to someone who wants to win. Teams that act like big clubs become big clubs.
WWJBD
Aug 11, 2011 at 6:00 PM
Comment #39Ba isnt a Carroll replacement howay
TheHeyman
Aug 11, 2011 at 6:02 PM
Comment #40@ Ochytoon
Your right but I hate our current right backs playing on the left. Most of the time they get murdered out there.