Only Newcastle could start the week off with three good goalkeepers and be urgently after a top left back to replace Jose Enrique, and end the week with a new goalkeeper, and no new left back in sight.
Rob Elliot – signing for Newcastle today?
Fraser Forster, who would appear to have lost his chance at Newcastle, has been sent out on loan to Celtic for the season, and Newcastle were left with veteran goalkeeper Steve Harper and 23 year-old Ditch International Tim Krul.
But it now appears that Newcastle will announce the signing today of 25 year-old 6’3″ Charlton goalkeeper Rob Elliot for a minimal fee.
The news is that Rob will be on the bench for the game at Sunderland on Saturday, so where this leaves 36 year-old Steve Harper, who has been Newcastle’s number one since Shay Given left the club in January of 2009, we have no idea.
Maybe Steve’s knee is playing up again, because only last week manager Alan Pardew had praised Harper and said the local lad had nothing to prove at Newcastle.
Newcastle wanted a new left back this week, but it seems unlikely one will arrive now, and we suppose either Shane Ferguson or Ryan Taylor will now play in that position on Saturday, as Newcastle’s efforts in the transfer market are not being too successful this week.
Of course, Newcastle should still be good enough to take all 3 points at the Stadium of Light on Saturday – that’s a no brainer.
😀
Comments welcome.
158 comments so far
G
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:30 AM
Comment #1A keeper eh? Nice to see we have our priorities sorted. Does anybody know if Elliot can play up front?
NUFC_Richyg01
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:33 AM
Comment #2Harps was injured on Saturday, I think this is just a backup for Tim coz otherwise we would have Soderburg or Alnwick on the bench.
Rumour has it Foster’s loan to Celtic has a permanent deal at the end of it.
surreytoon
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:39 AM
Comment #3Hmmm… this one smacks of board interference. I suspect they have an agenda to marginalise Harper, eventually getting him off the books. Out with the old, in with the (cheap) new (with resale value i.e. profit). They seem to have made up their minds about Forster as well.
Can’t see Pardew being happy with this, but what can he do?
archaeomag
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:39 AM
Comment #4I still think Harper is our best keeper, but he will retire in the next few years, and having good backup shows sound forward planning – which is why is it is so odd & out of character for the current administration!
Maybe he can fill in at LB . .
OttersPocket
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:39 AM
Comment #5G
I think they are aware of the priorites, but does that mean we cant buy anyone else until those 2 positions are sorted?
roshan MAGPIE
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:40 AM
Comment #6why are we signing a goal keeper when we have cover there we should sign a STRIKER and a left back
NUFC_Richyg01
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:43 AM
Comment #7How about Bryan Ruiz as a striker lads?
TOONCHRIS
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:44 AM
Comment #8Another fuc&ked up bright idea from the sports direct demolishin squad
jayo
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:44 AM
Comment #9I new this would happen ashelys holding out to see how young fergie does on saturday. Yep i like the guy got a lot of grit in him but still not quite right for a full season in prem league. Get your hand in your pocket ashely are we will be in the dog fight to stay up. Then you will blame everyone but yourself you greedy shit
drongo
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Comment #10GK is one of those roles where you cant re-shuffle and make do – you either are a keeper or your not (although one of my funniest football memories is Dwight Yorke with his gloves on)
So, as long as we arent shifting on eiether Haprs or Krul – then this is all fine.
mushy
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Comment #11Goalkeeper versus striker/LB
The 2 options are not mutually exclusive. Just because you do one, doesn’t mean you can’t also do the other.
OttersPocket
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:48 AM
Comment #12Forster – Not good enough to be number 1 and not happy to be number 2
Harper – is 35/6 now not long left
Soderberg – To young and inexperienced, needs couple years out on loan.
Buying another keeper seems logical now FF has gone, whats everyones problem?
drongo
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:48 AM
Comment #13what mushy said
JackButler
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Comment #14Yet another day with no news on the striker/left back front I take it?
WesJameson
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Comment #15Ed?? C’mon mate, we both know that beating Scumberland on the weekend is easier said than done, IMO they are a better\more balanced side than us….simple
We wont score this season, and if we get just two injuries in defense….well then not only will we go down, but it will probably be the worst season in the history of NUFC
ichrisho
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Comment #16@Richy – Is ruiz on the market for next to nothing? 🙂 As i fear we may only be going for £3m max strikers… which ias we know is not what we want or need to survive. The mackems must be loving all of this.
JackButler
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:56 AM
Comment #17WesJameson you say that Sunderland have a better more balanced team than us?
I would only take one of their players and thats Gyan, apart from that they are average at best
mushy
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Comment #18Its official. WesJameson has now taken the lead in The Most Negative Blogger race.
I quote “We wont score this season”
Next contentender please…
s_mav
Aug 18, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Comment #19@OttersPocket
We have two perfectly good goalkeepers already and Pardew has said consistently that we don’t have the finances to compete etc, so why waste money on streghthening a position that doesn’t need streghtening?! When desperately need a left back and a striker?!
We were told at the start of the week a left back and possible a striker would be in place for the derby game, do you honestly think that’ll happen now?! How long have we had to sign a striker and how long have known Enrique was leaving?! Carroll and Enriques replacement should have been in a long time ago! Can you imagine say Man U going int a game against Man City without a senior left back in their squad?!
toonarmy09
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:00 AM
Comment #20I think this is now getting beyond a joke that now it’s looks like no lb and striker will be in for the mackems ,and Ashley has told pards he wants top 10 finish haha ,he needs to get his hand in his pocket and get some money spent , I have no prob with pards whatsoever ,I know I couldn’t work under this regime ,it’s a f@@king joke !!.The thing is they making pardew look an idiot as he keeps saying to media etc that we will have lb in place and poss a striker ,and it looks like nowt guna happen again !! Should pards be doing press conf today ?? We may find something out from that ,but do find it strange pards done no interviews with papers this week ,so something maybe happening ,or is that wishful thinking ,prove me wrong fat man!!!
Sav
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:03 AM
Comment #21If Harper’s knee is injured, why don’t they come out and say so? Would it strengthem Sunderland’s hand that much?
Instead we’ve a blackout as usual and speculation ranging from Harper being one of the ‘Gang of Five’ to the club shafting its loyalest playing staff. Completely unnecessary if they’d open up and communicate. For me, Ashley and Llambias can’t get out of Newcastle quick enough. I’m sick of this treatment and attitude.
On a lighter note, any speculation what Bruce’s choice of musical accompaniment for Saturday?
ichrisho
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Comment #22I think that there should be a peaceful demonstration at the next home match to show MA that this is truly not on and the Toon will not sit back and watch their club be relegated again… AP can only do what he can… I am so angry that we dont have a LB in before this match. I think Ameobi and Ba should be fine for this one so no striker is OK as we could get a real deal on Deadline day…
tdt
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Comment #23Hopefully Ferguson is fit for saturday as the LB situation is not looking promising before makem game:
——————Krul——————-
Simpson—Colo—S.Taylor—Ferguson
—————–Tiote——————
———-Barton—–Cabaye———–
Obertan————————–Jonas
—————-Ameobi—————–
Subs: Harper, Williamson, R.Taylor, Gosling, Marveaux, Best, Ba.
If this formation works, then I’d stick with in until 65-70 mins, when I’d bring on Gosling for Barton, Marveaux for Jonas, and Ba for Ameobi.
These subs would provide us with pace and strength in the final quarter to push through to the end of the match.
The central 3 midfielders will also provide cover for the defence if necessary, allowing the attacking 3 players to focus in attacking.
Mac
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:05 AM
Comment #24Otterspocket speaks sense.
Interested to see the Pardews press conf today. I actually like the bloke and listening to his patter
ichrisho
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:06 AM
Comment #25Does anyone think they know if Sunderland will play 5 in midfield…?? If so – do you think AP will play 5 across the middle to shure it up…? I think our Midfield has more quality but its that Gyan plonk that I’d be worried about if he got in and behind Collo…
NUFC_Richyg01
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:06 AM
Comment #26(Realistic) Striker wish List:
UK based:
Nicky Maynard – 24 – Bristol City,
Kevin Doyle – 27 – Wolves,
Marvin Emnes – 23 – Middlesbrough,
Roman Pavlyuchenko – 29 – Spurs,
Mame Biram Diouf – 23 – ManUre,
Federico Macheda – 19 – ManUre,
Danny Welbeck – 20 – ManUre,
Anthony Stokes – 23 – Celtic,
Gary Hooper – 23 – Celtic,
Danny Ings – 19 – Burnley,
JackButler
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:07 AM
Comment #27signing a keeper make’s sense as Forster is simply not good enough and Harper is struggling with injuries, he’s not gonna cost the earth
ichrisho
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:07 AM
Comment #28@tdt – I like the look of that team. Hope AP picks the same.
drongo
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Comment #29I think we can speculate on team / formation a lot. But We’ll see exactly the same 442 that started against Arsenal. My personal choice would be exactly the same as TDT above.
NUFC_Richyg01
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Comment #30@25
Think Gyan is injured mate!
drongo
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:09 AM
Comment #31If pards is doing the presser today he must be feeling pretty sick round about now.
JackButler
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:10 AM
Comment #32Nicky Maynard looked good last night, but he’d offer nothing that we don’t already have in Best
G
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:10 AM
Comment #33@ otterspocket. That was meant to be a tongue in cheek comment. I don’t remember at any point suggesting they shouldn’t sign a keeper, although its fairly low on my personal list of priorities. Somewhere between caring about Lithuanian politics, and whether or not you live or die.
Tino99
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:10 AM
Comment #34I am bored!!!!!!
NUFC_Richyg01
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:12 AM
Comment #35@32
Goals!?
Tino99
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:12 AM
Comment #36BORED OF CASHLEY!!!
HE HAS HAD RECORD PROFITS WITH SPORTS DIRECT. AND THE FUNNY THING IS THAT OFFERED LEE WESTWOOD IF HE WON THE OPEN AND WE CANT AFFORD A LB.
WE ARE GOING TO DO WELL THIS SEASON.
WE ARE GOING TO GET WHOOPED THIS WEEKEND
OneAlanShearer
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:12 AM
Comment #37#26 No way on this earth will we sign stokes or emnes.
In fact I would say only welbeck is realistic but even then I would be surprised if we sign anyone who isn’t french/african as a striker.
NUFC_Richyg01
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:13 AM
Comment #38@36
SportsDirect and NUFC have NOTHING to do with eachother
JackButler
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:13 AM
Comment #3935 NUFC_Richyg01
No more than what Best could give us IF Pardew played him and dropped Strolla
hadthetshirt
Aug 18, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Comment #40Well well well this guy also covers as a left back.You just couldn’t make it up.