Mike Ashley wants Newcastle to bring in a new center-back in January and he will support manager Alan Pardew to bring in a top central defender.
Mike Ashley – will support Pardew in bringing in a new center-back
With Steven Taylor out of the season and Colo and Williamson out last week, we showed quite clearly that we don’t have Premier class center-backs available one those top three players are out for one reason or another.
And some potentially bas news today that Pardew still rates both Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson as doubtful for Saturday’s game.
So if Colo cannot make it for Saturday, surely we will not play Simpson and Perch again in central defense – tell me it aint so!
Tamas Kadar deserves his chance and should be brought in, in the event Colo cannot make the game on Saturday.
This is what Alan told the local press today:
“Mike asked me when am I going to get a center-half.” “It’s about making sure we get the right one.”
“When you look at centre-halves it is easy to get it wrong.”
“You can look at David Luiz, who is finding it difficult, he was £18M and he didn’t play the last game.”
“So it doesn’t matter what you spend, you have to get the right one.”
Last weekend Newcastle went after West Ham’s 22 year-old England U21 International James Tomkins, but the £2.5M bid was immediately rejected.
And we ahve also been linked with Montpellier’s defender Yanga-Mbiwa, but it seems there’s no way of getting Erik Pieters from PSV – at least in January.
And for the game on saturday, it’s ooking like we will only know what the chances of a Newcastle win are, until we see the team for the Swansea game.
Certainly when we saw Simpson and Perch both playing in central defense last Saturday afternoon, we thought it would be very difficult to get anything out of the game at Norwich, because who was going to head the ball away?
If we are still racked with injuries on Saturday, then it could be 3 points down the drain, if we cannot get the win against Swansea, who are not a good side on the road.
Comments welcome.
116 comments so far
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:23 PM
Comment #41Gorgonzola it’s spelt “lose” and why would that be 100% certain if Perch starts? Explain how Perch starting means we are beat before we have even kicked a ball?
Indian Magpie
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:24 PM
Comment #42come on ruddy,
you cannot answer a question for your Pen Friend.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:24 PM
Comment #43Btw Jamsha your back 4 lacks any semblance of sense, if Colo is fit you play Kadar if he isn’t fit you don’t play Kadar and you put in Jonas? So I take it you have been relegated playing that tactic in Football Manager then.
JAMSHA
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:25 PM
Comment #44even if kadar doesnt start i would play jonas as cb but not perch . evertime a player beats him n scores
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:27 PM
Comment #45Indian if you must know I thought he was fairly average, had a couple of decent performances, scored a great goal against Watford, turned 2 players and smashed it in was immense but apart from that was pretty poor. I’d imagine, however, unlike you, I went to every single home game in during the Championship season, and would have a better insight into how he played unlike you who are probably reading Wikipedia stats.
Selbymag
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:28 PM
Comment #46This blog is attracting more and more bizarre individuals – Jonas at centre back. Obvious really as he is well know for his heading and his ability to stay calm under pressure (man utd away anybody)
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:28 PM
Comment #47Now answer this question for your “Pen Friend” how is that relevant to this discussion?
JAMSHA
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:30 PM
Comment #48wit colo in cb he can.help kadar, atlest if colo doesnt make it v hav jonas who.can defend a he has simo beside him who works hard n is experinced . kadar hasnt play much so if colo n kadar play he has colos support.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:30 PM
Comment #49Jamsha…how long have you followed Newcastle United out of interest? How long have you followed football for that matter?
GeordieGerman
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:32 PM
Comment #50See Perch is showing off his new football boots.
http://www.geekologie.com/2008/02/08/spring-shoes.jpg
JAMSHA
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:32 PM
Comment #51an by the way thats my view of playng jonas as cb. coz i dnt trust in perch any more.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:33 PM
Comment #52GG would certainly have helped last week, add a few inches so he might not have missed that header…if only eh?
Selbymag
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:33 PM
Comment #53How about we register Derek Wright as a player & drop him at centre back,used to gallop up the ground in the old days and strikers would need a taxi to get round him now!
JAMSHA
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:34 PM
Comment #5412yrs
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:34 PM
Comment #55Jamsha I think that opinion of playing Jonas at CB is falling on deaf ears. Thinking outside the box though…which is definitely where Jonas should stay
planb
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:35 PM
Comment #565 reasons NUFC will struggle as the season progresses the subs bench.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:40 PM
Comment #57Well put it into perspective planb, what was our start of season goal? First and foremost was to consolidate our Premier League position i.e get over the 40 points mark. Primary Objective is well under way to being achieved. Secondary Objective, make a proper crack at breaking into the top ten. We are 7 points ahead of the likes of Aston Villa, Norwich and well ahead of the likes of Everton so that is well under way to being achieved. Tertiary Objective is to qualify for Europe, we are 5 points clear of Stoke who are still in Europe and their Premier League has suffered as a result of that so they will continue to drop points. With January around the corner we could reinvest, strengthen and make a push to achieving that goal too so why so glum chum?
Rotonda heights
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:45 PM
Comment #58Samba is very good, but 29!
Pardew is fatally flawed and stubborn at times, when we seem to throw away points just to suit his ego. Worst of all he has no plan B.
If Perch is played again in preference to a coffee table, I will be very upset
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:48 PM
Comment #59I can’t imagine that Swansea will come up to St James’ and play an expansive game, even if they think they can target Perch at CB we have players who are more than capable of breaking at speed. It is different from the Norwich game where we were away from home, this week we are at home with 50,000+ supporters getting behind the lads. Defensively I think we will be more sound, and attacking wise I think we will be our usual efficient selves, I’m backing a 3-1 result to us 🙂
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:55 PM
Comment #60@Rotonda, Samba is 27. Still got plenty of years left in him.
Selbymag
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:01 PM
Comment #61Rotona im sure Pardew does have PlanB i hear he is a big fan of The Defamation of Strickland Banks album
Tactically Pards has been sound and used his subs well this season in my opinion.
Every manager has a stubborn streak and has players/formations they like and often stick to for a little bit to long
To be honest the blokes done and continues to do a good job for me
Selbymag
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:01 PM
Comment #62Rotonda sorry how rude to spell your name wrong
Toonboy_84
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:03 PM
Comment #63Samba would be a class signing. I get the feeling it will be someone we have never heard of though.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:04 PM
Comment #64Had never heard the name Cheick Tiote before he signed for us…doesn’t mean he ain’t quality 😉
davis_toons
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:06 PM
Comment #65Swansea are a team very strong in their Wings..hopfully, rtaylor and x will be able to handle.
Toonboy_84
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:09 PM
Comment #66Don’t get me wrong ruddy, I’m not complaining. After all in Carr we trust. Would still love samba or cahill though.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:11 PM
Comment #67davis_toon don’t be surprised if Raylor is left out this weekend… Cahill to be honest is not worth the fee being touted, 8million someone said earlier, he is young and English but not necessarily good. He doesn’t stand out in Bolton’s defence and let’s be honest, they have the statistically worst defence in the Premier League. Even Wigan’s is better! So it would be a no for Cahill from me.
davis_toons
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:12 PM
Comment #68Yar..its true, its just a 1st new year for the new boys…goto gave them some time to perform and adpt. They have try hard and done quite well so far..
davis_toons
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:13 PM
Comment #69samba or cahill, both are branded players and proven.
Toonboy_84
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:15 PM
Comment #70@ ruddy
Cahill always looks good for England when he has a decent partner. Cahill and Colo would do for me like.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:16 PM
Comment #71Only top side that I could see Cahill breaking into for a regular starting spot would be Arsenal. United are looking desperate but they won’t go in for him, Spurs have good options at the back but might want to invest in him for the future. Liverpool will probably go after him as he is young and English and we know how that gives Kenny Dogleash a boner. So I couldn’t see us getting him with those teams ahead of us.
Toonboy_84
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:17 PM
Comment #72Would still prefer samba though
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:18 PM
Comment #73Wouldn’t use International form as any kind of marker for whether we should sign Cahill. It’s Premier League and only Premier League that should be taken into consideration but from a fans point I can see why you would look at his performances for England.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:20 PM
Comment #74Just looked it up, someone said earlier that Samba’s contract was up in the summer, I then repeated that rumour as I thought it was true but his contract actually runs until 2015, so unless he puts in a transfer request (again) we, or any other club, aren’t going to get him, especially not in January. We might have a chance if Blackburn go down.
Scottishtoon95
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:23 PM
Comment #75We’ve got like 7 full backs we desperately need centre backs! As for this Tomkins guy, why don’t we offer £3m +smith/perch, think about it for the smith deal, allardyce loves being re-united with his old players, and with Perch he’s Championship level and would do well for west ham for a while.
Toonboy_84
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:26 PM
Comment #76Just saying that he looks good when he has a good cb next to him (colo). But your right. International form shouldn’t come into it. Many players are good for their country but not so good at club level.
But then again, if u don’t have the same opinion as me then you must be a mackem;)
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:26 PM
Comment #77Smith is going nowhere until his contract runs out. If he does leave in Jan it will be on loan to Leeds or West Ham so he could get a bit of footy and still pick up his massive wages. Perch is staying here, Pards values him and at the minute needs him so he won’t be leaving. Maybe in the summer though. 7 full backs? I wouldn’t include Tav or Fergie in that list though because Tav will be loaned again this season and I am pretty sure Pards said somewhere that he sees Fergie as a midfielder.
Toonboy_84
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:28 PM
Comment #78@74
Cracking idea but will never happen. Smudger will be here till the bitter end.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:30 PM
Comment #79Which is only a few months away thank god!
max
Dec 15, 2011 at 4:36 PM
Comment #80play kadar.. no more perch and simpson at CB