It looks like Rob Elliot and Steve Harper will alternate the duties of backing up first choice goalkeeper Tim Krul this season.
Rob Elliot – impressed with Newcastle
And Rob was on the substitutes bench on Saturday at Molineaux, and he seems to be upbeat with the Newcastle squad, and impressed with how hard working and honest they are:
“I just think you have a bunch of honest lads who are also very good footballers,” “There are no big-timers, just a group of lads who are all working hard and giving a hundred per cent every week – and that includes the lads who are not involved.”
“That filters through to Saturday for the eleven who do go out onto the pitch and they are producing.” “Like the gaffer says, there is a fine line between players who are in the squad and those who are not and that has really helped push everyone forward.”
“You know if you do not play well, there are people waiting to step in.” “Unlike Manchester City, you do not have to have multi-millionaire superstars to be successful. As long as you spend your money properly and bring in the right players – which is what we have done – you can do well.”
“I think if you look at what we bought the new signings in for and look at their value now – Cabaye and Demba for example – then whatever their price tag if they play well then it helps the team.”
We’re not sure how a team like Manchester City, who are continuing to pay out big bucks in the transfer market, can meet the newly introduced Fair Play financial rules in Europe, initially introduced this season and phased in over the next three or four years.
The idea it to eventually limit the club’s expenditures to be limited to the revenues they make – and in other words – the clubs must balance their books – what a concept that is for a business!
Maybe City have already found a loophole in the rules, which wouldn’t surprise us too much, but there’s something fundamentally wrong with a rich owner being allowed to come in and spent unlimited amounts of money on transfer fees and wages for players, to build up a team.
It’s laughable when the Man City Executives are interviewed, and they go on about the success of the last two years or so, but never mention the hundreds of millions of pounds they have spent on new players.
We suppose the Youth Policy at City, once one of the best in the land is dead now.
Newcastle are trying to build a side in a different way, by concentrating on Youth, and doing some savvy deals in the transfer market , and it would appear that Newcastle have made some big steps forward this season, if our early results are anything to go by.
Rob continued:
“We are in a European position at the minute but firstly, you want to make sure you are in the Premier League for next season because you never take that for granted.”
“After you reach that point of survival and there are a few games to go, then you can push through and try to get higher.” “However, there is a long way to go yet this season.”
We think there’s no chance whatsoever of maintaining a position in the top four this season, but a top eight finish would likely see us scrape into Europe, and that would be great for Newcastle.
And there’s also the Carling Cup, with a winnable game at Blackburn coming up at the end of this month, and a win there would see us through to the quarter finals.
Things are on the up at Newcastle United this season.
Comments welcome.
7 comments so far
WWJBD
Oct 4, 2011 at 9:35 AM
Comment #1Attacking City is far to easy…also ignores Chelsea, Spurs, Stoke and even Man Utd to an extent doing exactly the same
I dont begrudge City at all and tbh having Super Mario, Yaya, Agureo and Silva in our league is fantastic
WWJBD
Oct 4, 2011 at 9:39 AM
Comment #2Oh and dont forget Liverpool they fit in that list as well and thats just this league
Barca, Real Madrid, PSG, Malaga the list goes on
Davies
Oct 4, 2011 at 10:10 AM
Comment #3I think the point is that it would be more fair and better competition if everybody could afford the likes of Aguero and Balotelli.
There’s no competition with teams like City, Chelsea, ManU, or any of the teams from Europe. That’s what’s missing. That’s why the new rules are coming in.
wynsleap
Oct 4, 2011 at 10:37 AM
Comment #4Elliott seems to be trying to convince himself that there is a fine line between those in the first team and those in the squad.
Regrettably, with all due respect, I think there is a helluva lot more than a fine line between the magnificent Tim and himself.
cupiddstunt
Oct 4, 2011 at 11:36 AM
Comment #5Sorry ED I don’t disagree with you that often but do on this occasion.
I fail to see why there is something fundamentally wrong with a rich owner spending their money to outbid the other clubs, the only real change is it used to be a group or board of wealthy people now it is often one super wealthy person fundamentally nothing has changed.
Manure, slitherpool, Barca, Madrid, AC and Real etc. have been out spending the opposition for generations and effectively artificially inflating the price of players beyond the reach of the poorer clubs. Now all that has changed is the name on the club doing the outbidding.
As for a loophole all the Manky City money men have to do is up the Etihad sponsorship money to the club and that could cover whatever spend they want to do.
Sav
Oct 4, 2011 at 12:42 PM
Comment #6I can’t see what is in it for Rob Elliott to leave 1st choice at Charlton to become stand-in at Newcastle – except for the money.
Let’s face it, he’s not getting a look in and his opening game wasn’t too clever. What’s the story with Harps? No place for his loyalty to be reciprocated in Mike Ashley’s new all-dancing, shiny business model? Pity. We’ll suffer for it eventually as ‘what comes around’ etc.
Obviously Forster is as good as sold to Celtic as soon as they muster funds but between Alnwick and Soderberg (and Harps) I thought we had plenty in reserve.
Elliott looks like a dope in your photo and I reckon that’s an accurate photo.
toonincheek
Oct 4, 2011 at 1:28 PM
Comment #7cup[idstubt,
There IS something fundamentally wrong with a rich owner spending huge money to outbid the other clubs – where that money is generated from outside the club.
This is changing the face of football, and not for the better, as the ruling bodies realise.
Before Chelski, big clubs were in a position to outbid other clubs only (or at least, largely) through the higher income generated by their success.