Since Alan Pardew arrived on Tyneside, we are now seeing quite clearly what Newcastle’s transfer policy is and it seems to be working well.
Mike Ashley – his strategy seems to be working well these days
Eighteen months ago Newcastle brought in Cheick Tiote for £3.5M from FC Twente, and now how much is the lad worth today – perhaps £20M?
And last summer Newcastle brought in Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba, Davide Santon, Sylvain Marveuax and Mehdi Abeid all for around £9.5M and how much are those players worth today?
So it reflects what Mike Ashley had said in a very long statement he made back in 2008, when he was selling the club, or attempting to sell the club for the first time, is probably a more accurate way of saying that.
This is what Mike Ashley said in the statement:
“We are looking for young players, for players in foreign leagues who everyone does not know about. We try and stay ahead of the competition.”
“We search high and low looking for value, for potential that we can bring on and for players who will allow Newcastle to compete at the very highest level but who don’t cost the earth.”
Mike Ashley has not changed his strategy over the last three or four years, but it seems the people he initially had at the club to execute that strategy – like Dennis Wise as one example – did not get the job done.
And anybody who has created a business strategy knows that a huge part of it is how it is executed, and often the strategies are good and sound, but fail simply because of poor implementation.
But it seems that with men like Alan Pardew as manager and Graham Carr as Chief Scout to name only two, Newcastle now have the people who not only buy completely into the strategy, but are executing it very well.
One reason we think Chris Hughton was let go is that Newcastle wanted a manager who would become more involved in the transfers, and certainly Alan Pardew seems a key player for Newcastle these days on many fronts.
But don’t get us wrong, Chris Hughton got us out of a very deep hole when we were relegated, and the sooner Chris brings Birmingham City to St. James’ Park in the Premier League, the sooner Newcastle fans can show their appreciation for a great job done by the Londoner, over a very short 18 months.
We think Alan Pardew gives a good face to the Newcastle United club, and of course he seems to know what he wants, he’s a terrific man manager, and he’s not too bad on the tactics side of things either – and not short on confidence either.
His meticulous preparation for the games Newcastle play will also go into the transfer discussions the transfer committee at Newcastle, which seems to consist of Derek LLambias, Alan Pardew, Graham, Carr, Lee Charnley (Newcastle Secretary) and Mike Ashley, have continuously as they decide together who the top targets should be and why.
It seems it’s now starting to work very well, certainly over the last 18 months Newcastle have signed some excellent players and not spent much money on acquiring those players either.
And while we are keeping out feet firmly on the ground, we have to think that Newcastle are on their way to having a top team, and becoming a top English club again.
It’s an exciting time for Newcastle fans right now.
Comments welcome.
119 comments so far
Shorzy
Jan 18, 2012 at 1:30 PM
Comment #11st mo fo’s!!!
The fat controller deserves a pat on the back here chaps
ilovetoon8788
Jan 18, 2012 at 1:33 PM
Comment #2@cynicaltoonfan // Jan 18, 2012 at 1:10 PM
I think HBA had an outstanding game against QPR. The video shows it all. He has tremendous strength for a player of his size. We are truly lucky to have him. When the ball is at his feet, the whole St.James’ are on the edge of their seat.
You just don’t know what he’s going to do with it. Marvelous signing. Our very own Messi.
Rowan Milsted
Jan 18, 2012 at 1:37 PM
Comment #3Wee said Ed, we still owe a big debt of gratitude to Hughton. An all-round good guy. Bought some stability o the club, and some respect. Stood by us in tough times and did a very good job in a very short time. I’ll always think fondly of him and wish him the best of luck wherever he goes (except Sunderland, but hopefully that’ll never happen).
boater
Jan 18, 2012 at 1:37 PM
Comment #4“We think Alan Pardew gives a good face to the Newcastle United club”. True, and Carr is giving the good head. It works well.
Hughton was grooming the young boys in the Championship, whereas Carr prefers nubile, foreign flesh. We win either way!
-Tendo-
Jan 18, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Comment #5Nothing to do with the article but does anyone know if i can get the 3rd strip (black one) in a long sleeve? i can’t find it anywhere!
Rowan Milsted
Jan 18, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Comment #6*Well, not wee. And to.
ilovetoon8788
Jan 18, 2012 at 1:46 PM
Comment #7Agreed. We should not forget Houghton who really did a fantastic job in laying the foundation for us to be where we are now. Some credits must go to him, if ever reach the heights of Europe again.
Chris Houghton is definately 1 of our Icons.
milk or cream
Jan 18, 2012 at 1:48 PM
Comment #8lol
come on, what makes you think AP has anything todo with signing any of the players we buy now???
right from day 1 with keegan, had no say, CH had no say, so what makes pardew so special,
pardews job is to get them to work, and that is it,
im not knocking it, it seems to be working, the only 2 blips i have seen is the keeper elliot and obertan, the rest have got something to add to our team and squad
il say right now il never be a fan of lambass or ashley, they have done and said to many bad things, but at least the team is moving forward, and that i thank them for
now all we need is a good supply line for them 🙂
HWTL
TOONCHRIS
Jan 18, 2012 at 1:52 PM
Comment #9I would like to take the time to apologise to mr ashley,i have constantly critisised you on this page but i can now see what a top job your doing after the terrible decisions you startded out with,hats off to the board n management n let the good times roll
boater
Jan 18, 2012 at 1:54 PM
Comment #10milk or cream – Obertan was Pardew’s ‘personal’ project. And the first player to have been signed from another premiership outfit since… Simpson, if you discount loanees.
Hasn’t provided enough threat going forwards so far, but no reason why Obertan can’t make the grade in time. We just need goal scoring winger/s now, cover at CB and we have a proper team.
Robby Bobson
Jan 18, 2012 at 1:55 PM
Comment #11milk or cream
well thats not true.
Im sure if Pardew said I dont want this player, or I want this player the board would listen.
For example, its been said that Carr would watch Cabaye, created Dvds on him in action to show to Pardew.
Why do you think we bid for after Tomkins? Hes a horrible horrible player yes, but Pardew knew him as a youngster.
Also Carr had nothing to do with Demba coming that was Pardew!! Carr said it himself in an interview.
Robby Bobson
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:00 PM
Comment #12as long as they fit in with MA ‘ le bleu print’ that is of course
Munster Mag
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:01 PM
Comment #13Milk or cream, thats naive imo. On all the main transfers Pardew will advise on who he wants, and who he would consider, to fit his team . Perhaps on speculative younger buys ( Like than Man U guy ) where the club see value for money and long term potential , they may act without full discussions with pards, but he knows whats going on . This is no Abramavich situation.
Partizan
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:03 PM
Comment #14Just look at the figures surrounding our first team reselable i mean.
—————————–Krul(15mill)…………………………..
Simpson(5)……..Colo(10)…….Taylor(10)…….Santon(15)
………………………………..Tiote(20)……………………………….
……………….Hba(12)…Cabaye(22)…………..Jonas(11)……
………………………….Ba(25)…………Cisse(20)…………………
Subs: Elliot(3),Best(6),Obertan(4),Marveaux(7-8),Guthrie(8),Willo(4-5),Raylor(5),Vuckic(4-5)
Our staring line up is at least 160 mil worth atml with only 50 mill spent including the agent fee for Ba
Amazing
milk or cream
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:05 PM
Comment #15boater
thats why he gets so many games then 🙁 and yes i agree there is no reason why he wont come good, i really hope so, but i carnt see it myself, i dont buy the low on confidence bit about him, yes he had a bad time at man u, but he got a fresh start at newcastle, and other than 3 assists he has done very little during those games or any other, and you have to remember, he was playing in a team full of confidence and not losing,
robby bobson
as it has just been pionted out to me obertan was his signing, and if tomkins is his choice , id have to say he isnt the best at looking at players,,
ba was a gamble that has paid off, as he was free,
TOONCHRIS
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:06 PM
Comment #16I dont care if pardew has a say on players comin in or not,the set up is workin tip top so stop twisting n bitching n all get behind the management owners n players
Robby Bobson
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:06 PM
Comment #17Some extremely ambitious figures in there Partizan, but hey Liverpool paid 75 million for Carroll, henderson and downing, so who knows!
niafron
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:07 PM
Comment #18Bonjour messieurs.
No one disturbed by Cissé getting the number 9 rather than Ba?
Good recruit however.
TOONCHRIS
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:08 PM
Comment #19Niafron ba doesnt want it
Neil
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:10 PM
Comment #20“We should not forget Houghton”……….just how to spell his name which is Hughton!
niafron
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:10 PM
Comment #21I heard Singer Abd al malik answering to Beny yesterday on French radio RMC.
He answered to nothing in fact. He just said Beny was a liar and soufism something wonderfull, but he don’t gived any detail about their rites and traditions.
niafron
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:12 PM
Comment #22Toonchris.
Are you sure or is he too modest to ask it? This number is special, so even if he don’t want it, was maybe is duty to accept it.
milk or cream
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:13 PM
Comment #23Munster Mag
hmmmm
im not so sure,
but like iv said its working,
partiza
omg , your valuations are crazy,, yes maybe on fotty manager youl get 5 mill for simpson, 3mill for elliot(we paid 300k for him)
jonas isnt worth 11 mill, more like 6, colo s contract is up soon , he isnt worth 7 million,
our team is worth about 100 mill
Partizan
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:13 PM
Comment #24Robby Robson…As long as there are sheeps there ‘ll always be wool 🙂
TwickToon
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:14 PM
Comment #25@Partizan
Sorry but I’ve got no clue where some of those figures are from,
how could cisse more then double in value without playing a game? and no club would pay 15mil for santon when he hasn’t even had 10 games.
I’d say yes the team is worth much more then we paid for it but those values are just ridiculous
Bryan
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:16 PM
Comment #26MA has made some poor decisions during time at NUFC and rightly been hounded by a large section of our fans. Yesterdays signing of Cisse was yet another master class in aquiring a great footballer for very little money who will add great value to our team. Just like Cabaye, Ba, Tiote, Santon, all done with the minimum of fuss, no one knew they were coming in until the last minute just the way it should be, unlike Spurs.
Our club is now being run in the right way financially, and we were told this 3-4 years ago as to the way forward. Many of us doubted it because all fans want success today not tomorrow. But the wait is starting to taste sweeter by the day, and I predict that come May 2013 we will finish the season possibly in 4th place.
Credit where credits due, congrats to MA and heres to the next home game where fans will start and chant your name in praise as opposed to dis-satisfaction.
HWTL
Partizan
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:19 PM
Comment #27Milk and cream..Maybe for Elliot you’re right.but if Colo signs a new 3 year deal lets say,i’m sure he’ll worth that much,,well at least 7 mill.
6 mill for Jonas,you must be joking
WLtoon
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:20 PM
Comment #28IF Ashley,and its a big IF, has finally decided to release the purse strings,then thats great news.
We could have a cracking side IF he does,nt have some cunning plan in his locker for the final few days in this transfer window by selling 2 or 3 of our best players once the bids come in.
Im not getting carried away just yet,the feel good factor is good, and long may it cotinue but only time will tell us how ambitious Ashley really is.
It,ll be great to see Hughton back at SJP next season with the brummies,and i think we will cos i think they,ll win the play offs
Geordie Graz
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:21 PM
Comment #29Fantastic news about Papistal, however Im finding it difficult to get excited until the transfer window closes. I feel like theres always going to be a brown lining with Ashley. I just hope Cisse’s is a partner and not a replacement for Ba.
Doom and misery aside, if all goes well we’v got to be pushing for Europe, exciting time to be a Geordie!
magfly
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:25 PM
Comment #30Everyone stop going on about Hughton move on the Toon have never been in a healthier position on and off the pitch.Toon forever.
ToonDownSouth
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:26 PM
Comment #31niafron
He said #19 is very special to him, and will be for his entire career. Wouldn’t say why though.
Cisse is a real ‘marquee signing’ for the club, and I think Pardew knows it’s important to the fans that theres a top top player wearing it.
It’s not like we have anyone at the club capable of earning it, other than Ba – and if we’re really pushing to go forward, it’s good to have someone filling the iconic shirt.
Happy about the signing though?
GAZ09
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:27 PM
Comment #32Does anyone know if the rumors of Lyon and NUFC agreeing 5.8m for Cisokho are true?
ToonDownSouth
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:29 PM
Comment #33magfly
Did you actually read the comments? It’s important to remember where you’ve come from. If you don’t understand that history & tradition of Newcastle then why support the club?
It’s something special – a huge family – and Hughton played a large part in what has been an unbelievable 24 months for us since relegation.
ToonDownSouth
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:29 PM
Comment #34GAZ09
Pardew said yesterday that we’re “blessed with fullbacks”, so I doubt it aha
GeordieGerman
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:30 PM
Comment #35ToonDownSouth, although Ba did say he may (may) say why the No. 19 is so important to him if he gets 19 goals this season.
GAZ09
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:30 PM
Comment #36Pardew also said we wasnt going after a forward
toonarmydownsouth
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:31 PM
Comment #37Just out if intrest any1 know wat will haooen to good ol’ souds if floppy chops is hit big with the tax charge and the board are found guilty of hiring spys to spy on the olympic comitee and the west ham board members they’ve already arrested like 5 ppl!!!
Lynxie
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:32 PM
Comment #38Bring back Andy Carroll, he is a great player and will be a marvellous addition. (We sold him for £35 million you know). And where has all that money gone thats what I want to know…………..
And another thing, surely yesterdays signing shows that Joey Barton was right, we DO lack ambition……………..
Lynxie
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:32 PM
Comment #39BWAAHHHA HA HA HAHA AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
planb
Jan 18, 2012 at 2:32 PM
Comment #40Sir Richard branson has to be giving a lot of credit for giving Ashley a kick-up the backside concerning transfers he made it clear the Virgin brand had to be connected with a successful club not a relegation struggler so ashley has brought in one of europes hottest properties COME ON!