While Newcastle will have to bring in a central defender next month, they are still open to one of the big clubs coming in for one of their players, even at the last moment.
Cheick Tiote – a reported Chelsea target
That’s what happened last year with Andy Carroll, and Alan Pardew has admitted that the same thing could happen this January, and there’s not much Newcastle can do about that.
With the game at Liverpool tomorrow, it is reviving memories of Andy leaving in a whirlwind of activity last January 31st, and as it turned out, we nearly lost Cheick Tiote to Chelsea on that same day.
This is what Alan said about the transfer market:
“Our options are open on a defender and you cannot shut the door on any market in this football world. “
“As much as you can say you do not want last-minute business, you are still vulnerable to a sovereign state coming in and giving you an oil well. I am never going to say never.”
“The point we are saying is if you are wanting to business with us then give us a chance. That does not mean they will do that.”
“They will think they can gain a better deal at the last minute. So you are just vulnerable to this window. Every Premier League manager is, apart from Roberto Mancini.”
The player we are being told could leave next month is Ivorian midfielder Cheick Tiote, with Chelsea being the club who may come in with a big offer fro him.
But Yohan Cabaye has also been in top form this season, and will have caught the eye of one or two top clubs no doubt, and of course there’s always Demba Ba.
The Senegal striker is second top scorer in the Premier League with 14 goals in 19 appearances for Newcastle, and only two goals behind goal scoring leader Robin van Persie of Arsenal.
Since Newcastle got him on a free transfer in the summer, they could make a handy profit on him in six months, if he went for a decent price next month.
Both Tiote and Ba will be off at the African Cup of Nations on January 31st, so we have to hope that could interfere with any possible deal.
There’s been absolutely no reports about Ba leaving Newcastle, so I don’t want anybody reading this to choke on their food this morning.
And it’s true the 26 year-old seems to love it on Tyneside, but we know there’s always the possibility of him leaving, and it could again be a nervous time for Newcastle fans next month.
But at some time Newcastle must start keeping their best players, because the club will make more money by becoming a good side and play regularly in Europe.
That’s a reminder to owner Mike Ashley.
We hope that’s what will happen in the future, but whether Newcastle have reached that point – where it’s more important to keep our best players than to cash in on them – we have no idea.
We have to hope that Newcastle lose none of their top player next month, but if they do surely they will bring in replacements, and not be in the embarrassing position we were on February 1st.
Newcastle found themselves on February 1st, not only short of Andy Carroll, who was our top striker and leading goalscorer – but we didn’t replace him.
Newcastle must learn from their mistakes, so that kind of thing cannot possibly happen again.
Can it?
Comments welcome.
32 comments so far
solano
Dec 29, 2011 at 9:38 AM
Comment #1We were once a “big club” because we thought “big”….incredible that we have been transformed into a compliant feeder club by a billionaire!
Indian Magpie
Dec 29, 2011 at 9:39 AM
Comment #2Dear all,
Please tell me any occasion where i have criticized you on your opinion or called you names. i may not have agreed with them but calling names is different.
Oh, please tell that to Mr DUMP, THUMP
Neil
Dec 29, 2011 at 9:41 AM
Comment #3What you done to upset him Indian!!
boing123
Dec 29, 2011 at 9:43 AM
Comment #4I don’t think you can move twice in a year, so Cabaye and Ba would be staying put
Indian Magpie
Dec 29, 2011 at 9:44 AM
Comment #5He was saying i call people on this blog names, insult their mothers, sisters family etc.
Indian Magpie
Dec 29, 2011 at 9:45 AM
Comment #6CABAYE and BA can Move, Just look at what happened with Rozenhal
Indian Magpie
Dec 29, 2011 at 9:46 AM
Comment #7Once a season starts you cannot play for more than 2 clubs
LAME PERCH
Dec 29, 2011 at 9:49 AM
Comment #8http://www.caughtoffside.com/2011/12/28/the-top-50-best-premier-league-players-of-201112/4/ top 50 bpl players. is any of our players listed?
LAME PERCH
Dec 29, 2011 at 9:51 AM
Comment #9indian no one gona leave except fringe players like loverboy. smith. ranger
Indian Magpie
Dec 29, 2011 at 9:52 AM
Comment #10i was just removing the doubt of Post # $
Indian Magpie
Dec 29, 2011 at 9:53 AM
Comment #11Post # 4
alex84
Dec 29, 2011 at 9:55 AM
Comment #12Sensible from Pards, anyone else worried that the game tomorrow is looking all set up for Andy Carroll to pounce?…hope not but usually works like that, doesnt score for ages only to do it against his old club.
Ben_W
Dec 29, 2011 at 9:57 AM
Comment #13Hmm not sure on some of the people in that list… Cabaye, Krul, Collo and Ba are in there. Ba was in at 4th, Collo at 15th, Krul was around 20th and Cabaye was around 24th, can’t remember exactly.
Zangwill_Ho
Dec 29, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Comment #14Newcastle united never keep their best players
bills-son
Dec 29, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Comment #15solano – feeder club ? Absolute NONSENSE.
Tell me who we’ve ‘fed’ in the last THREE YEARS other than AC ???
solano
Dec 29, 2011 at 10:25 AM
Comment #16Bills we have fed all around us, even Wigan and QPR and failed to invest in real terms….even the club statements say we can’t and won’t retain players if suitable bids come in and will sell players when they are at their highest market value, therefore we are a feeder club. It’s plain to see for everyone, but you and a small band of deluded fans and sycophants.
angelswithdirtyfaces
Dec 29, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Comment #17Zangwill
I can’t remember Shearer being sold to Man Utd, can you ?
Almost all clubs sell some of their best players.
Good banter last night eh ?
angelswithdirtyfaces
Dec 29, 2011 at 10:41 AM
Comment #18@ solano
We currently have a policy of buying low and selling high. This is typical of any business – it’s called added value.
All clubs are selling clubs – even Manure sold their best player to get their enormous debt down a few million.
Arsenal have sold some of their star players too.
So what exactly is your point ?
Selljng players doesn’t make you a ‘feeder’ club. All the non Old Firm clubs in Scotland are feeders as that is the only way they can keep a balance sheet out of the red and most of them fail dismally there too.
Championship clubs feed EPL clubs. A feeder club is a lesser club by definition – Is the Toon really a lesser club ?
solano
Dec 29, 2011 at 10:49 AM
Comment #19Angels…you are simplifying the issue to suit your argument – we already discussed lastnight that part of the game (or business, as you prefer to call it) is about selling players and trading. The point is we are not re-investing the takings to improve, nor are we seeing players develop to their full potential, because, as the club unashamedly admit, we are willing to sell to “bigger” more ambitious clubs as soon as an offer is deemed suitable. That’s what makes us a “feeder” club- it’s understandable if you are a Stoke or a Wigan, but we were ranked in the top 20 biggest clubs in the world just 6 years ago!
bills-son
Dec 29, 2011 at 10:56 AM
Comment #20solano – you talk utter trash.
To even imply that we fed the foul mouthed over rated idiot Barton to QPR destroys your credibility. We kicked him out and his rantings about us getting relegated have blown right back in his moronic face.
By Wigan I suppose you mean N’Zogbia. Another garbage comment that further destroys your credibility. I said ‘in the last three years’ and in any event if Barton and Zog are the best examples to back your feeder club claim then you haven’t got a claim – simple as.
What Pardew and the club have said is they MAY sell if ‘silly offers’ are made. They learnt the lesson of saying “we won’t sell” with AC – nobody thought LPool would be daft enough to pay the £35M in cash that Ashley demanded. Any sensible non Ashley hater would accept that if Ashley wanted to simply profit from AC he would have sold him for £15M-£20M not refused those offers and gave LPool a buy at £35M or f off ultimatum. Great, great business from Ashley – as I said at the time.
I am absolutely certain we will not sell any top player unless a club is prepared to pay far in excess of what the player is worth. For Tiote that is £25M+, for Ba £30M+, Cabaye £20M+, Krul £30M+, Collo £20M+.
Those bids for evry player won’t happen. The likes of you and Ed and others who think Ashley will sell at the drop of a hat to make a profit are blinded by hatred and delusion. Ashley has more nous than the whole lot of you put together.
I Am not deluded or a sycophant. I just look at where we were with Fat Freddy and where we are now with Ashley. I know who has a plan, who is really building this club from the bottom up, who wont be taken for a mug by other clubs and greedy over rated players – not Fat Freddy thats for sure.
Ashley will prove you wrong solano. He is doing it now but you and others will never give give him credit. Not that Ashley will be bothered.
solano
Dec 29, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Comment #21Bills…re-read my words @19…and then look at what you wrote @ 20 “Ashley will prove you wrong solano. He is doing it now but you and others will never give give him credit”…he’s proving you wrong again, and me and countless others RIGHT!
And for the record…I have never, ever thought Ashley would sell at “the drop of a hat” and you know damned well I have been consistent on that.Why would he sell? He’s made dolts and lemmings out of a once proud and knowledgable crowd, re-written history to suit his own ends (the imminent bankruptcy myth that didn’t emerge until Lambias arrived)and ignored our heritage(stadium name change) Now he has the biggest advert for his horrible company and it goes worldwide every game!You’re right on one thing- I’m full of hatred for the b*stard and justifiably so. I don’t know why you place your colours so steadfastly in the Ashley camp…his very actions make your passionate words look foolish everytime and he is destroying the very thing you claim to support and love.
jimmymagpie
Dec 29, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Comment #22Bills – Ashley couldn’t give a f-ck about any of us, including you! He couldn’t give a f-ck about NUFC other than making the books look good for the 1st acceptable offer he gets. I suppose Milner and Enrique weren’t sold either? Colo is taking a long time to make his mind up about his contract isn’t he?
jimmymagpie
Dec 29, 2011 at 11:28 AM
Comment #23Solano – save your breath mate, he’s a mackem in disguise that bills-son. He comes on here before every window saying Ashley will buy this that and the other, and he won’t sell, but at the end of every window he’s made to look foolish – just leave him alone till 1st Feb and then see how he backtracks.
jimmymagpie
Dec 29, 2011 at 11:32 AM
Comment #24By the way, Jason from Bognor not coming. He wanted to fly up, but Lielambsarse would only authorise 2nd class rail fare. Lol!
solano
Dec 29, 2011 at 11:38 AM
Comment #25Jimmy…Bills spends more time talking of how the poker player Ashley is good at hoiking up the transfer fees for his own ends – funny how he can’t talk of where he spends it?
bills-son
Dec 29, 2011 at 12:41 PM
Comment #26solano and jimmy magpie …
How come we are 7th in the Prem ?
How come we have signed class players like Ba, Tiote, Cabaye, Ben Arfa and Santon under Ashley?
How come we’ve signed Krul, STaylor and Tiote to long term contracts in the last year?
How come all of this if Ashley couldn’t give a to$$ about the club?
Jimmymagpie – you cretin, calling me a Mackem. YOU CRETIN.
solano
Dec 29, 2011 at 2:00 PM
Comment #27Tiote’s contract isn’t worth the paper it is written on apart from it guaranteeing a higher fee – we are almost inviting bids in just 6months later. He is up for sale, as well you know it, Bills. The plan Ashley has for us, is complete now – and it is unsustainable if good players are to be traded and the money is not re-invested.
solano
Dec 29, 2011 at 2:03 PM
Comment #28Bills…as well you should be upset getting called a Mackem….I remember you and others hurling the accusation at me!! At least you have the bottle to rear your head above the parapet sometimes…..joppadoni and ruddymarveaux have disappeared!
max
Dec 29, 2011 at 4:58 PM
Comment #29we can be a big club if we can keep our big player
bills-son
Dec 29, 2011 at 6:04 PM
Comment #30solano – I have never called anybody on here a Mackem.
NEVER.
solano
Dec 29, 2011 at 9:48 PM
Comment #31Bills..yes you did!……it was your usual argumentative stance ..along the lines of “if you don’t agree with this, then you are a moron or a Mackem….” Want me to trawl the archives again? They are full of the Bills-son’s gems that we have all become accustomed to. Thing is Bills ,(let me tell you a little secret) I actually don’t like to show you up too much…you do far more than I could ever wish, to show up the totally ludicrous plan that we are following under Ashley…..you haven’t cottoned on to the fact that we will never invest what we have taken…..can’t you remember in August when you spouted off about spending £20-25m on players? We actually spent £300k! You have no shame when you insist on backing a financial rapist!
Premiership Manager
Dec 30, 2011 at 10:28 AM
Comment #32There is business and there is business, some done for the right reasons and the other because there are no alternatives.
Carrol, Milner, Given and Nzogbia were all sold because:
a) the price was right
b) the players received substancial salary increases
c) they were dissilusioned with the club
Barton was given a free transfer because of his attitude and the effect it had on the team.
Nolan went because the price was right and he was at the age where he would not improve or keep his place in the team.
Given that we had good if not better replacements joining the club, (the exception is Carrol), it was good business as the replacement players also cut the outgoings of the club considerably.
The club is in a very good position however if we are to move forward we need a striker and a CB especially if European football is a realistic ambition.
What we don’t need is a 12K player who has evaded the lower league scouts and managers for the last 7 years. It doesn’t add up and if thee is any semblence of truth in the rumour it is a desperate gamble by the club to fill a hole that should be filled by an experienced proven Premiership/European striker.
The threat to the club and Pardew’s future is who we sell during this window offset by who we buy.
Chelsea have £150M to try and save their season. Tiote may be an option however Krull and Ba also very likely to be on their and other clubs radar.
Guthrie, Collo and Simpson are also likely to be on some teams bargain buy radar and I wouldn’t be surprised if this window makes or breaks Pardews career at the club.
If we retain our players and the squad strength we will come out of the window very well however if it all goes wrong and Pardew has no say in who goes and stays he will either resign or lose all credibility with the fans either way it will not go well for the club.
The one thing this window willdefinitely define is Mike Ashleys and Lambias’s commitment to the club. They can do the right thing or the right thing, sell or invest however the one thing they can’t do is sit back and let matters take their course. We need aproven CB and striker and the only way we will get both is if they show the fans and Pardew some commitment by sanctioning the release of funds to buy the players required.
It wouldn’t be the end of the world if Tiote went however if Krull or Ba went it would be a travesty and to be honest I’m pleased that S Taylor is injured because for me he has progressed to the next level and would be an asset to any team in the league.