We gave come to think over the last month or so that Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias really do want to build a top side at Newcastle.
Mike Ashley and Derek LLambias – want to build good side
Part of that is the excellent summer transfer window, that we didn’t realize was that good, until we saw how good players like Cabaye, Demba Ba and young Mehdi Abeid really were.
We think Newcastle now have a huge advantage over a lot of other clubs because of their excellent scouting network and we have to hope Graham Carr and his scouts are identfyiny top new players, who will not cost much for Newcastle, which will please Mike Ashley. 😀
And we were really pleased to see that Newcastle went after 22 year-old James Tomkins of West Ham last weekend, even though the initial bid of £2.5M was turned down.
And we’d love for the club to increase that offer and go back in for James, but we cannot see Sam Allardyce selling, at least not next month.
Newcastle will finally bring Mobido Maiga in next month from Sochaux, and the biggest priority in January is to bring in another quality center-back.
Newcastle have now proved that having three quality center-backs in the squad is not enough, and we need four, just like we need four top strikers.
Alan Pardew said this morning that owner Ashley had already asked him which center-back he was thinking of bringing in, and there’s another comment from Alan which suggests Mike and Derek are as keen as anybody to get another central defender in next month.
This is what Alan said today:
“I don’t think I need to strengthen my hand.” “I think you would be surprised – Mike and Derek are probably more keen to bring in a central defender than I am, so don’t worry about that.”
And in retrospect the two big decisions the two took that simply shocked Newcastle fans, have turned out to be okay moves.
The first was the unfair firing of Chris Hughton last December, and the subsequent hiring of Alan Pardew, and the other was the selling of Andy Carroll to Liverpool for £35M, and to put it politely Andy has not looked a £35M player at Liverpool, well not yet anyway.
And Newcastle are doing their level best to keep their top players, with right-back Danny Simpson still holding out on his new deal, which Alan talked about today:
“We will just run to the summer and see where we go then.” “I’m not disappointed or hopeful about it – it’s just business. He either does a deal here or he doesn’t – and if he doesn’t do a deal, we will get somebody else.”
The news this morning on Simpson was that he had agreed the wages on the new contract, but not how they would be paid – and that’s the latest on that, but presumably negotiations could now be held in abeyance until the summer.
And the negotiations are ongoing to get a new five year deal for captain Fab Coloccini, and that’s extremely important that we keep the Argentine at Newcastle.
Fab is not only an excellent player but is a great guy and a very good captain, and in own quiet way has an enormous positive influence at Newcastle.
So all in all, the top two are doing a decent job of improving the strength of the Newcastle squad over the last six months or so, even if they will never win a popularity contest on Tyneside.
But we all want to see is Newcastle grow into a top side again, that’s all, and now to get all 3 points on Saturday.
Comments welcome.
121 comments so far
Dannyo
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:21 PM
Comment #1For some parts, i like it that MA and DL play hardballs when it comes to finances, it’s only good for the club in the long run and they may well turn out to be pioneers in a field where money has just Through the roof when concerning wages and fees.
On the other hand, it’s not always good to play hardball, cause u may end up shooting yourself in the foot. Like this summer…
It seems to me that Alan is earning the boardrooms trust, and thats a good thing, Pardew seems to target the right players 80-90% of the time.
Also, allot of good things has happened since Pards entered the fray, maybe he’s also helping DL and MA to think differently?
Time will tell, in any case, Pardew has only been good for the club so far. Now just bench Obertan and Raylor in the next match man..
seantoon
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:21 PM
Comment #2If I was mike ashley and I owned nufc and someone offered me 20mill for tiote who I bought for 3.5mill I would deffinately sell him! Yes he’s good but he’s replaceable! I’d have sold Carroll aswel, getting 35mill for him was unbeleivable money to say he was easy replaceable. The only thing I’m peed off with Ashley about is the stadium name change and the defensive problem were currently stuck with.
Dannyo
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:23 PM
Comment #3On a completely different note…
A few threads back i was reading through the posts, and i saw Jimmymagpie threatning Ed with legal action!? How can a thing like that stand? Absolutely disgusted.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:26 PM
Comment #4Dannyo….look at the whole conversation between jimmymagpie and DJM Toon, it was DJM Toon that was out of order.
MacToon
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:27 PM
Comment #5Dannyo, jimmy wasn’t threatening Ed lol, it was some posts made by another blogger which were, to say the least, well over the top.
seantoon
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:28 PM
Comment #6Oh and I also disagree with the fact that Ashley will blow money in the casino instead of saving it and putting it In pardews transfer kitty
MacToon
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:30 PM
Comment #7“………and if he doesn’t do a deal, we will get somebody else.”
Fair enough.
Dannyo
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:30 PM
Comment #8Aaah, ok, sorry,my bad, i just skimmed through, and i saw DJMs name mentioned, but i read them arguing earlier, and only saw DJMs mackem comment, didn’t see anything after that. Had to leave.
But the way it was worded seemed a bit strong and very much directed to Ed, but i see the connection, no worries.
I would sue Ed to if MacToon called me a mackem, lol 😉
Joke ofc.
roshan MAGPIE
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:32 PM
Comment #9IN ASHLEY WE TRUST
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:33 PM
Comment #10If Ashley is blowing money in the casino I assure you it is his own money and not NUFC’s and would have no impact on the money available to spend in the transfer window. Whoever suggests otherwise is living in their own little world.
MacToon
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:34 PM
Comment #11Oi lol, as if I would……. 😉
MacToon
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:38 PM
Comment #12I agree it’s Ashley’s money and he will do with it what ever he wants and the same goes for the club.
What is a little strange though is his other main business interest, it again has nothing to do with NUFC as was highlighted when the bonuses were awarded to it’s staff a few months ago yet for some reason it seems to be getting free advertising at SJP.
Can’t have it both ways or maybe he can! His club and his rules.
Dannyo
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:39 PM
Comment #13@Mactoon
Hehe, rile someone up long enough and u never know 😉
And about Simmo, it’s a bit funny the way it’s worded that.
Remember the whole Enrique thing this summer? Pardew said it was a great contract, he was smiling at him at the training sessions, several times saying hoping he would sign…
With Simmo it’s; “either he signs and get on with it, or he doesn’t and is replaced, it’s business…”
Obviously Pardew thinks there a difference class between players…
Klatoon
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:41 PM
Comment #14Balotelli in training ground bust up with Richards,why isnt that surprising?
ochytoon
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:42 PM
Comment #15Anyone else uneasy that Pards is coming out with all these interviews about the transfer window again. Its making me very uneasy, I’m not seeing anyone else doing it.
MacToon
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:44 PM
Comment #16Used to enjoy transfer windows now I dread them!
Dannyo, yeah Pardew sounds like he’s fed up with Simmo and kinda saying you’re easy to replace but you can read too much into some statements.
angelswithdirtyfaces
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:45 PM
Comment #17@ ochytoon
Both Carroll and Torres are the subject of endless rumours about them being hoofed out in the Jan window.
Teams are always playing mind games with the press and other clubs about transfers.
Viper
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:55 PM
Comment #18lets be careful with players with dubious fitness record eh? Great for 15 games; greatful and then some! But then after..
Steve_48
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:55 PM
Comment #19More sh*t stirring from the Sun
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4001293/Alan-Pardew-fears-Newcastle-may-sell-Chiek-Tiote.html
WWJBD
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:55 PM
Comment #20All players are replaceable otherwise football would of stopped a long time ago
I dont really understand why Pards keeps saying our player are for sale in interviews these last few months, yes they are but u dont have to push the fact….this makes me worried about Jan
MacToon
Dec 15, 2011 at 6:59 PM
Comment #21We’ll see them on eBay next.
ochytoon
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:00 PM
Comment #22WWJBD
That’s exactly what I mean. Pardew should lean to be quiet around these points. Also, saying MA wants a CB more than himself makes me worry that Pards can’t see where our weaknesses are.
angelswithdirtyfaces
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:01 PM
Comment #23@ Steve
It’s the Sun
nuff said
WWJBD
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:03 PM
Comment #24ochytoon
Yeah I am right there with ya lad its a bit scary
And yeah I read that and tbh I didnt understand how Pards can say that MA and DL want a CB more than him….maybe he is under orders to make MA/DL sound good to the fans :S
MacToon
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:03 PM
Comment #25Click “Buy Now” button, free delivery, helicopter warming up.
GeordieGerman
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:06 PM
Comment #26Steve Taylor will be gone in January to a club that buys injured players.
Oops, we have him already.
BeeGuy
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:07 PM
Comment #27Yep, loved that well reasoned rumor that NUFC would give Tiote to Liverpool in return for a 6 month loan on Carroll.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:07 PM
Comment #28ocytoon he was just saying that in an attempt to demonstrate the owner’s commitment to bring in a CB, not that he doesn’t see that we need a CB. Some of you are reading into things a certain way in an attempt to take a very simply made point into something that we should be worried about. This scaremongering really should stop. If there are some of you who think that Pardew is unaware of the current CB crisis then you really are deluded and have no faith in our manager.
soundoid
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:08 PM
Comment #29To be fair to the sun they are only reporting on what AP has said.
GeordieCoaster
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:13 PM
Comment #30Mark Lawrenson going for a 1-1 draw this weekend.
ochytoon
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:14 PM
Comment #31Ruddy Marveaux-lous, bloody hell is that a mouthful 😉
I hope your right but I get very nervous with transfer windows now and I hate it that our manager thinks he needs to constantly “reassure” us that our best players won’t leave us
Dannyo
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:15 PM
Comment #32@WWJBD
Or could be that he really wants the right player 😛 I mean, Arsene Wenger had £80 million stored, and decided not to spend em until a week before the window was out.
Could be that MA has gotten his man 😛
And interesting statement tho, shows how little we know, and how much we’d like to 😉
On the part where Pardew talks about the players being sold, obviously there’s allot of speculation, and after last January and the summer, u can tell that he’ll give nothing away and he’ll never say he’s sure about something.
Apart from Tiotes injury… But he apologized about that, saying it was his fault that we were being led on about his injury.
It’s all fair play imo, no harm done, hopefully saying it’ll has to cost clubs will push a few away, except for those who REALLY REALLY want our players 😛 Like, £35 million type want them, hard to say no then…
Dannyo
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:17 PM
Comment #33@Mactoon
True, can never read too much into things, now go tell the board not to be so secretive, that way they can spell it out for us instead, so we won’t have to read between the lines…
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:20 PM
Comment #34@Ochytoon, I think we all really dread the Jan windows, because instead of looking forward to potential incomings we are dreading potential outgoings. We need a window where we send out a strong signal of intent to the rest of the Premier League and elsewhere that our players are not for sale, regardless of the price (saving for insane bids). We need a Daniel Levy style approach to this Tiote saga. If he is sold for massive money I do know we will replace but at some stage we have to say enough is enough. Maybe this will be that window and instead of wondering how we will cope for the rest of the season after seeing players leave, come 1st February I’m hoping I am looking at a much stronger, deeper squad who can push us on for the rest of the season.
WWJBD
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:22 PM
Comment #35Dannyo
Do u mean Pards already thing he has his ‘top calss cb’ targetted and close to being wrapped up mate?
As for wanting to know more yeah I probably would but I dont mind a surprise during transfer windows, Cabaye is class and I knew nothing of him until we signed him. Thing is recently the good surprises are few and far between the nasty ones seem to happen far more often
And yes Pard is saying it will cost but he is doing it far to often for my liking. You dont see Moyes touting his players for big money moves but he is in the same position
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:29 PM
Comment #36Everton are broke and operating on a buy cheap sell big strategy is the only way they can continue to operate and stay competitive. To say we are in the same position as Everton isn’t strictly true, whereas they operate like that for necessity, we operate like that as a matter of fiscal policy. Tiote is the subject of intense speculation and Pards in just responding to journalist’s questions. He is taking a stance that it will take huge money to buy him because we are in a strong financial and contractual position, so if you still want him open up the cheque book. It is a matter of perspective as to whether you think Pardew’s comments means he is touting him or taking a stand. He cannot say he is not for sale at the risk of looking foolish again, so for me this is the next best thing.
Dannyo
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:29 PM
Comment #37@WWJBD
What, who, when, Pardew has his top class CB ready to go?
I doubt it, i just ment i think Pardew is to MAs liking in more ways than one.
And yes, surprises are good, if they come in packages like Cabaye, Abeid or Tiote 😉
And yeah, Moyes has a paper thin squad as we do, but his starting 11 are great. Think we could nick Rodwell from him? 😛
I dunno, i just don’t mind Pardew saying what he does, it’s all true, could maybe draw a bit too much attention tho.
GeordieGerman
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:32 PM
Comment #38WWJBD, does Moyes have a Tiote to tout?
WWJBD
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:35 PM
Comment #39Dannyo
Haha maybe I very much misunderstood what u said haha.
Would love us to get Rodwell if Tiote went but lets face it he is a names brand and we shop in primark so not much chance of it
I dont mind Pards saying it as its true but he could quite easily NOT say it every bleeding day once a month am fine with 😉
WWJBD
Dec 15, 2011 at 7:35 PM
Comment #40GG
He has a Rodwell