Alan Pardew was asked over the weekend what he was looking to do in the January transfer window.
Alan Pardew – let down by Newcastle Board a few times already
And the manager refused to discuss it, and we don’t blame him one little bit, because whatever Alan wants to do in January, it’s ultimately up to Mike Ashley and Derek LLambias as to who comes and goes, and Alan has no say in that.
It was obvious last January when Andy Carroll was sold to Liverpool, and then Kevin Nolan, Jose Enrique and Joey Barton also left the club, when the manager wanted them all to stay, that Alan is not in charge of who comes and goes at the club.
So we were not too surprised when the manager had this to say when asked about the January transfer window:
“I’m not going to go there, the January transfer window, because it’s unfair on me,” “What I will say is that the football club at the minute – as a team – goes out every week to try and win.”
“And to try and win in a way that has some structure to it and a bit of flair about it too.” “We could be a very exciting team to watch. I don’t think we have been yet but if I went to Villa I would be excited.”
“If I went to Forest I would be excited by the guys in the background and we now need to transfer that to the first team.” “And I think we’ve got enough in that squad to have a season where we excite our fans and they get to trust us.”
If Alan is smart, and he is, he’ll be guarded as to what he tells the press about January, but if Demba Ba and Leon Best continue to score goals, and Sammy Ameobi starts to come through as well, then Newcastle may not even need a new striker come January.
We’d like to see at least one full back and new center-back brought in.
But Alan Pardew has a lot of players still to bring through at the club, and we haven’t yet seen the best of Demba Ba, Sylvain Marveaux, Bern Arfa, Dan Gosling, Mehdi Abeid, Davide Santon, Shane Ferguson, Haris Vuckic and others, so the Newcastle squad is still very much a work in progress at the moment.
The surprising thing is that Newcastle may not be short of too many players, but a couple of defenders and a top striker brought in during January would be very nice.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
36 comments so far
JBax97
Sep 26, 2011 at 12:01 AM
Comment #11st
soundoid
Sep 26, 2011 at 12:15 AM
Comment #2I don’t want to think about the transfer window.
Just enjoy the football, pretty sure we are not going down.
Top 10 finish is more on the cards this year than last.
Finishing 6th this year should be the aim… and attack a cup.
alec6247toon
Sep 26, 2011 at 12:17 AM
Comment #3yeah, couple of defenders and a top top striker would sort us out. Really pleased with the result yesterday and liked the way we were playing. HBA looked sharp as well! We are just a few players away from being a really good side. If we keep this up and make smart signings next summer we could realistically be looking at qualifying for Europe next season.
Brutooon
Sep 26, 2011 at 1:03 AM
Comment #4Being Pessimistic
1) Forget Europe – lets focus on Premierleague Survival FIRST
2) Forget winning either cups – we will eventually draw and lose to the top 4 team (usually Chelsea or Arsenal)
3) SO FAR we got easy fixtures (and lucky our opponents either got RED or miss CHANCES_
Magpie_Man
Sep 26, 2011 at 1:16 AM
Comment #5@Brutooon
I agree with you on 1 and 3 but i think we should have at least a go at a cup this season since we havent won a decent cup for a long time except the championship which isnt that good tbh. Hopefully we can get to at least semi-finals, get drawn against Man u and frash them 10 – 0. You never know. HWTL
davybtoon
Sep 26, 2011 at 1:25 AM
Comment #6No one thought we wud b were we r now so to say we hav had easy fixtures is crap, we improved r performances from last season against the same teams
shamsoftabriz
Sep 26, 2011 at 1:36 AM
Comment #7The best thing we can do to enchance our success in the transfer window right now is win. If we are in the top 6 or 7 come January, some players may want to join the fun who otherwise wouldn’t consider us. Likewise, our current squad are much less likely to leave if there is the possibility of Europe on the horizon.
What we must do when the window arrives is make an aggressive play for a quality player IMMEDIATELY (e.g. Pieters) so that others know we’re a serious team that intends to win and compete.
Carroll seems to have been overvalued, Nolan was getting on in years, Barton–talented as he may be–was 29 and a pain in the a$$. Enrique was really the only loss that was truly painful, and the back line actually looks more cohesive this year than last year when we had him! If we add Pieters, our defense looks quite formidable.
ryan_toon
Sep 26, 2011 at 1:37 AM
Comment #8@davybtoon:
I completely agree. Some of the teams we played so far, we couldve lost to last year. Great example is blackburn.
So I agree with the optimists that we should look at this season as an opportunity to win something. There’s nothing wrong with that. If all we think about is not getting relegated, then its kind of negative because even the players now say the goal is top half. I feel like the players at the team excite me a lot, especially barfa who is so creative. I may be wrong or I could be right, but my opinion is that this season is the beggining of something good.
~~San-Toon~~
Sep 26, 2011 at 2:47 AM
Comment #9Its funny how we can go from,
1. Newly promoted team / relegation candidates
to
2. Relegation candidates due to losing key players in 2nd season up.
to
3. Yeah they are unbeaten cause they are playing easy teams. Teams they should beat….
Well if we are relegation candidates this season (Punters opinions) and we got results against teams like Arsenal, Scumderland, Villa, Fulham. Then surely logically they must all be Relegation candidates aswell.
~~San-Toon~~
Sep 26, 2011 at 2:54 AM
Comment #10Don’t slag me off when i say these.
But if Santon can hit the ground running and be a success, why would we need pieters? It will only halt the progress of the youth players..
I would much rather we get a CB cover who can play either wings, rather then a LB specialist who can also play CB.
At the moment our defence is like this.
We have
7 people who can play Right back
Simmo, Raylor, Santon, Saylor, Guttierez, Tavernier And Perch if we are desperate.
5 Players who can play Left back.
Santon,Raylor, Ferguson, Tavernier (didnt he play their during pre season?), and Paul Dummett.
In Central Defence we only have,
– Colo
– Saylor
– Willo
– Kadar – the missing man….
We need atleast 1 more CB….
~~San-Toon~~
Sep 26, 2011 at 2:55 AM
Comment #11wings was suppose to be Sides
Milking Mikes' bulging pockets
Sep 26, 2011 at 3:17 AM
Comment #12Ranger and his friends……… http://youtu.be/_B-mbyKEj2c
😆
ginkoh
Sep 26, 2011 at 4:47 AM
Comment #13Easy fixture !? come on, can we get 12 pts from easy fixture last season ? NO ! Win against ManU Chelsea or any top6 club = 3 pts the same as we win Blackburn,Fulham, Mckems etc..
Happy enough that we go out plan and try to win any game. Hopefully keep going on as long as possible.
Satan
Sep 26, 2011 at 6:58 AM
Comment #14I wouldn’t say we’ve had easy fixtures so far but we havent played any of the ‘big hitters’ and I’d also say we’ve played teams who are struggling to find their form; no game is easy in the Prem these days. Brutoon is right though, let’s reach safety first then see where we can push on to.
Reading between the lines in the article above, you get the impression that Pardew is as concerned with keeping the players he has in January rather than anything else; saying there’s ‘enough in the squad’ doesn’t bode well….wonder if he’ll think that if Coloccini or Saylor get injured. I’m also wondering at what point will Colo be sold; it’s going to happen due to age and his high wage, I just hope it’s not in January
Klatoon
Sep 26, 2011 at 7:52 AM
Comment #15If we got a new LB and pushed Santon to RB our Defence would be class. Simpson worries me abit.
Brutooon
Sep 26, 2011 at 7:53 AM
Comment #16Yups so far we are playing easy fixtures, wait till November/December when we are against the Manchester Clubs and Chelsea.
Rather than discussing Europe or Top 6, i rather go for counting points. Currently 12 points, 28 points to go to avoid relegation (from remaining 32 games)
Jose_Horny_Enrique
Sep 26, 2011 at 8:02 AM
Comment #17Thank god for that! means no other clubs will be like “oh they’re interested in him” and then pay higher transfer fee’s under our nose, i’ve thought that’s been a bit of a problem for a few years now 😀
Dannyo
Sep 26, 2011 at 8:03 AM
Comment #18@Brutoon and anyone else sharing his oppinion.
Easy draws my arse.
Did we not start with Arsenal?! Where did Villa end up last year? Did Scum not finish above us?!
Spraying that bullcrap, people should know better. Now to be happy for your team thats doing well, instead of waiting and contemplating their demise so u can have a laugh, at your OWN expense.
Pisses me off hearing that.
Brutooon
Sep 26, 2011 at 8:22 AM
Comment #19Dannyo : refer to my first post (comment no 4) – combination of easy fixtures and LUCK
Slank
Sep 26, 2011 at 8:24 AM
Comment #20shamsoftabriz @ 7
You got it right when you said:
‘Carroll …overvalued. Nolan …getting on in years. Barton.. 29 and a pain. Enrique…only loss and truly painful.’
As our team lines up now:
Nolan almost certainly wouldn’t get a game.
Barton neither as either a replacement for Cabaye in the middle or Obertan on the right wing.
There is now no doubt in the football world, especially from fans in Liverpool, that Carroll was grossly overvalued. Our windfall. Their pitfall.
I suggest that Enrique is only a loss and truly painful because we haven’t seen Santon yet. I watched him in the reserve match and he looked really good. You have to be pretty good to get to be captain of the Italian under 21s.
I’m sure that Carr and Pardew will surprise us with some more astute signings.
Slank
Sep 26, 2011 at 8:28 AM
Comment #21All this about we were lucky because all our opponents never turned up or were not top teams is rubbish.
We can only play who we have been drawn against.
pizzicatochan
Sep 26, 2011 at 8:33 AM
Comment #22@brutoon, the team starts to gel together and we would start to see more of the potential being fulfilled.
I have to remind you, though, that we lost these so-called easy fixtures last year too easily. (how many of us remember posts here complaining about losing to Fulham last year while we predicted a win? Got caught up by West Brom?) EPL is one of the most competitive leagues in this world. Even Birmingham, who could get some wins in Europa, needed to go down.
I also don’t understand why you said we won games with luck. Did Raylor score with luck? Did Demba and Betsy score with luck? Did Krul save so many times with luck? And so on…
We need to give credit to the players playing so hard this year I reckon.
pizzicatochan
Sep 26, 2011 at 8:38 AM
Comment #23@Slank, with the tactics used now, Carroll, Nolan and Barton could get no game for sure. They are good with long balls, which would go against what Ben Arfa, Cabaye and Tiote could do for us on the ground.
Mag52
Sep 26, 2011 at 8:41 AM
Comment #24Pardew continues to impress.
Not only has he brought together a group of new signings, and got them playing increasingly confident football, he will presumably let the paymasters make any future comments on transfer dealings – a lesson learned the hard way earlier this year.
toonfan76
Sep 26, 2011 at 8:41 AM
Comment #25I agree in our first few games there was a bit of luck involved in our results, coupled with some tenacious defending, Now our team is starting to gel, Villa were luck to keep a point at home and Blackburn never even looked like they were gonna score. We were controlling the game from start to finish, Looking dangerous every time we went forward and creating decent chances. I’m not saying we are world beaters by any stretch of the imagination but a better brand of football is there for all to see. I am over the moon with how things have gone so far, We will face a lot tougher opposition than we have currently but you can only try to beat the team that is in front of you. HWTL.
Angryman the Angry fan
Sep 26, 2011 at 8:52 AM
Comment #26Heard that DAI Pr!ck calling me out at the weekend, wheres angry and his mob etc etc. Will someone tell him ive never been away FFS.
DAI, I was at the match at the weekend boyo, where were you? watching it on your sinclair spectrum no doubt. Always one got to come on and spoil the great things happening at st james’
Enjoy it man, stop your freakin whining about the past you little whiney ar5ed p3n1s
Indian Magpie
Sep 26, 2011 at 8:55 AM
Comment #27A question for all of you,
which player do you think has been most successful after leaving us.
Cant really think of any
Enrique (jury out)
Slank
Sep 26, 2011 at 9:01 AM
Comment #28Indian @ 27
Len Shackleton.
Fot those that don’t know, enjoy reading about him:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len_Shackleton
Dannyo
Sep 26, 2011 at 9:09 AM
Comment #29@brutoon
And we’ve been unlucky not to score the winner in all those matches. Basing our 4th place due to luck and easy opposition. Still bullocks cause u can say about us aswell.
When Best doesn’t score it’s not because he’s unlucky is it? It’s cause he needs to work on his finishing.
Same about Boothroyd at QPR. He’s shite, not unlucky….
Special K
Sep 26, 2011 at 9:11 AM
Comment #30One thing I’d say about the “easy” fixtures, look at the corresponding ones from last year, we have 8 more points than we did last year from the Sunderland (A), Blackburn (H), Fulham (H) and Villa (A) fixtures. #improvement
JBMag
Sep 26, 2011 at 9:11 AM
Comment #31In terms of trophies won, probably Andrew Cole.
BigKirky
Sep 26, 2011 at 9:17 AM
Comment #32If anyone has UK ESPN, PSV are on now and Pieters is playing. Started at 9am. Full replay of weekends game.
JBMag
Sep 26, 2011 at 9:17 AM
Comment #33Angry, enjoying the good times lol. Any chance of a name change? Maybe ‘ Happy as a lark, the HappyFan’ Sorry, couldn’t’t resist. Peace.
Jail for Ashley
Sep 26, 2011 at 9:29 AM
Comment #34Go on angry give him it,should hear what else he’s been saying about you.
al
Sep 26, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Comment #35Pisses me off someone sayin weve had an easy start with fixtures, before it all kicked off ppl were sayin 2 games in we’d be lucky to have a point.. Arsenal, villa away, derby away, bogey team we haven’t beaten at home in las 5 games… Yeh piss easy start, f hell
moonraker
Sep 26, 2011 at 1:25 PM
Comment #36Indian @ 27
Ever heard of PauL Gascoigne, Chris Waddle, Alan Kennedy, Shay Given, David Ginola……?????