Newcastle are very thin in central defense at the moment, and it would be a bit of a calamity if either Steven Taylor or Colo were injured.
Mike Williamson – out another 6 weeks at least
Mike Williamson is still out injured, and we suppose that James Perch, Danny Simpson or Tamas Kadar could play in central defense, but neither gives you too much confidence, that they can excel in that position.
Normally we would think that Tamas Kadar could get the job done, but he’s been told to pull up his socks, if he wants to have a future at Newcastle, and that was a big surprise.
And the news today is that while center-back Mike Williamson is making good progress from the ankle injury he picked up at Scunthorpe, he is still a full six weeks away from returning to training, which doesn’t sound too great to us.
John Carver talked about Mike today with the local Newcastle press:
“Mike could be around six weeks away. In the meantime, James Perch knows that he could be called into the fray, and he can operate in a number of positions, including the center of defense.”
Mike Williamson is a legitimate Newcastle center-back, in that he showed last season he’s good enough to play in the Premier League, and he’s had an unfortunate start to this season with injuries.
Mike has 49 appearances so far for the Magpies, but has still to score his first goal, since the 27 year-old was signed for a ridiculously low fee of £ 1M in January of last year from Portsmouth – what a bargain he’s been!
We may see Newcastle go into the market for a center-back in January, when we could also potentially see another full back brought into the club, if the club can find a good enough player, who comes cheap enough.
That seems to be Newcastle’s transfer policy these days, doesn’t it?
Oh yes, and a striker should be brought in to replace Andy Carroll, and Newcastle may even have to pay £10M or more for a suitable replacement.
After all the club received a phenomenal £35M for Andy Carroll, who is not a regular starter for his new club, Liverpool, at the moment.
Comments welcome.
103 comments so far
SincerelySamuel
Sep 14, 2011 at 3:43 PM
Comment #41id stick Raylor at CM nxt to Tiote with cabaye at CAM playing off Besty
Dannyo
Sep 14, 2011 at 3:45 PM
Comment #42Interesting comments from Beardsley on Santon if u read between the lines:
“He played for Italy Under 21s last week, so he wasn’t desperate for a game, but he needed to know how we play as a Club. That was the idea and John Carver (assistant manager) was here to watch him.”
Good article on Santon, but what got me thinking a bit is the comment on “how the club plays”. We played 4-5-1 in that game i think, with Gosling behind Donaldson. So Gosling can deffo do that position, but it seems 4-5-1 is what we’re looking to do for the first team aswell.
I think Pardew has done 4-4-2 cause he feels only Ben Arfa suits being behind the striker. With “average” strikers playing alone up top, it seems he thinks we’ll lack firepower without Benny.
Maybe we’ll try Gosling behind the striker on Saturday?
Just a thought.
niafron
Sep 14, 2011 at 3:51 PM
Comment #43Gosling, Obertoon, Marv…
Lot of contenders for playing CAM.
Dannyo
Sep 14, 2011 at 4:02 PM
Comment #44@niafron
Then why aren’t we playing it is my question? Was that not what Pardew said, or implied he wanted to?
Milking Mikes' bulging pockets
Sep 14, 2011 at 4:04 PM
Comment #45Niafron
Kind of, if you squint at the screen and dismiss the fact he has twice the bulk…. 😆
drongo
Sep 14, 2011 at 4:20 PM
Comment #46anyone seen much of the news on a 2.5 million payment gone astray during the JB transfer?
Looks like QPR have pretty much paid a transfer fee to Joey…
AshtreeKid
Sep 14, 2011 at 4:38 PM
Comment #47think it all wne to dodgy willie mckay who apparrently worked for QPR on the transfer to be able to get paid an extortionate amount. Think NUFC have reported him to the FA?
BiffBaffBoff
Sep 14, 2011 at 4:48 PM
Comment #48Whoa, Donaldson is a striker? I could have sworn he was a midfielder, at least a few seasons ago? Has he been converted into a striker then?
drongo
Sep 14, 2011 at 4:55 PM
Comment #49mckay seems like a right snake – almost as bad as Skye Andrews – I thoroughly enjoyed running up a ginormous bar tab for that helmet whilst he was trying to impress a group of 15 year old girls.
toons4eva
Sep 14, 2011 at 5:09 PM
Comment #50beardsly on davide santon…
Reserve team boss Beardsley has played both with and against some of the greats of the game during an illustrious career, and explained how Santon reminded him of a legend and a fellow Italian.
“I was very impressed. He is obviously very comfortable and, it may be a bit too high praise at the moment, but he looked like a young (Paolo) Maldini,” Beardsley told nufcTV.
“He was calm in possession, played the right ball nine times out of ten – which is a good average – and he looked like he has class.
“He looked very comfortable and if he needed to step up a gear then he could have.
toons4eva
Sep 14, 2011 at 5:13 PM
Comment #51watching the game on monday……
gutierrez attacking game was not best that day coz he had to track back and help out raylor al the time and you can see that his game is being affected because of that…..santon should start and defintly best should be our one striker and 3 in midfield…….cabaye tiote and guthrie if need be….guess gosling is a bit on the recovery road…..and krul;s kicking has got to defintly improve….as for the rest have patience guys…the football will come out soon…..i have been impresses more with taylor than coloccini….his postional sense has improved a lot…..lets hope we can keep it tight at the back…..HWTL
OttersPocket
Sep 14, 2011 at 5:30 PM
Comment #52BiffBaffBoff //
Donaldson started as a striker and was converted a couple of seasons ago, looking at it it looks as though they have done it to try and improve his touch and awareness and now moved him back up top. Apparently he is the quickest player at the club.
toons4eva
Sep 14, 2011 at 5:55 PM
Comment #53i don t think they moved him to improve his awarness and touch but i remember them saying midfield was his best postion so they made him play there but he used to score heavly for the youth teams when he was played as a striker….and have seen him play but defintly not the fastest…..though he is fast….
planb
Sep 14, 2011 at 6:05 PM
Comment #54Watching the pile of crap on monday should wake people up from their coma to the fact we are a very average team who will be lucky to attain a lower mid-table postion theres no goals in that side!
Stuart
Sep 14, 2011 at 6:09 PM
Comment #55Oh great, planbollock is back.
planb
Sep 14, 2011 at 6:15 PM
Comment #56Thanx stu you hero
Milking Mikes' bulging pockets
Sep 14, 2011 at 6:28 PM
Comment #57Planbuffoon.
jimiley
Sep 14, 2011 at 6:43 PM
Comment #58What is needed on this blog is a little more faith and trust in our club. MA has made mistakes but at least we are making progress under his stewardship. He has saved our club from the knackers yards and he deserves credit for that. We should all get behind Ashley and treat him with the respect he deserves. We have to believe in him and Pardew because if we doubt him, then we are doubting the club and what it stands for. We would be in a sorry mess in that case. 4th spot already. Onwards and upwards I say.
MacToon
Sep 14, 2011 at 6:48 PM
Comment #59http://www.true-faith.co.uk/tf/editorials.nsf/LookupUNID/B8A1A026F08FE59580257901003E09B2?OpenDocument
Another interesting read and there’s plenty of other good articles about on the web but very few are supportive of Ashley and his direction for our club.
jimiley
Sep 14, 2011 at 6:48 PM
Comment #60Planb
We do not need to score many goals because we have a great defence. Centre mid is rock solid and Jonas and Obertan can supply the bullets for Shola and best to score goals. 4th place does not flatter us. Wake up and smell the coffee man.
Milking Mikes' bulging pockets
Sep 14, 2011 at 6:53 PM
Comment #61Jimiley
You weren’t funny 3 months ago….
GeordieToon89
Sep 14, 2011 at 7:03 PM
Comment #62http://www.nufc.com/
look at the first article image..
looks like the stadium will sat
Sportsdirect.com Newcastle United
Milking Mikes' bulging pockets
Sep 14, 2011 at 7:08 PM
Comment #63The times they are a changing.
Jail for Ashley
Sep 14, 2011 at 7:18 PM
Comment #64Jimiley,
Are you a wind up merchant or do you honestly believe that
WWJBD
Sep 14, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Comment #65How good is the CL song?!
jimiley
Sep 14, 2011 at 7:52 PM
Comment #66Jail for Ashley
What do you think?
southafrican magpie
Sep 14, 2011 at 8:41 PM
Comment #67Have u seen the new sign on our stadium? Its called sports direct.com Newcastle United.. Mike Ashley has definitely gone to far this time!! Is the club getting any money for him to advertise? That’s what I want to know
MacToon
Sep 14, 2011 at 8:45 PM
Comment #68Before blackburn game eaststand will read (puma logo) sportsdirect newcastle united sports direct (puma logo).
We were told this last week and from a good source.
ilovetoon8788
Sep 14, 2011 at 8:46 PM
Comment #69Good job. Part of Carroll’s money is used to fund the change of signs in the stadium for Ashley to advertise his main company..It has definitely stayed ‘within the club’ as answered by Llambias. lol.
disgraceful.
MacToon
Sep 14, 2011 at 8:51 PM
Comment #70lol, just think of all the extra revenue we’ll have from the extra sponsorship deals 😆
Milking Mikes' bulging pockets
Sep 14, 2011 at 8:57 PM
Comment #71How hasn’t Roy Keane being sectioned yet?
solano
Sep 14, 2011 at 8:59 PM
Comment #72Great link Mactoon @ 59….so spot on I wonder if they have plagiarised my comments over the last few months on this blog!! 😉
What frustrates me is TF and Co. have the ability to organize and galvanize support towards doing something pro-active in exacting change, but choose not to act upon their words.
Dannyo
Sep 14, 2011 at 9:04 PM
Comment #73@southafrican magpie
U mean the £140 mill already invested in the club? 😛
It’s a shame to make the stadium look like a monstrous advertisement made of concrete and steel tho.
But still, there’s shitloads of clubs looking like a commercial.
joe
Sep 14, 2011 at 9:20 PM
Comment #74If anyone is watching the man city vs napoli game, watch napoli’s strike, who’s playing up front alone. THat’s the kind of striker we need, who can drop deep, drive at the defence, and play through balls for the wingers.
toonthompson
Sep 14, 2011 at 9:21 PM
Comment #75joe edison cavani
joe
Sep 14, 2011 at 9:26 PM
Comment #76Yeah sorry his name slipped my mind for a while there.
BiffBaffBoff
Sep 14, 2011 at 9:52 PM
Comment #77http://www.nufc.com/2011-12images/east-stand-14092011.jpg
Ouch
BiffBaffBoff
Sep 14, 2011 at 9:54 PM
Comment #78On the plus side, the pitch looks amazing!
mattnufc
Sep 14, 2011 at 9:59 PM
Comment #79I like how everything at St James’ is emblazed with sports direct advertisement but when asked if we will receive any profits from sports direct Pardew replies with a laugh and says “They’re two seperate companies.”
ginkoh
Sep 14, 2011 at 10:01 PM
Comment #80No surprise at all atm. It doesn’t mean I like what they are doing but no way I can do anything about it. Just live with it.