Newcastle will have their scouts watching the European Championships this summer in Poland and the Ukraine.
Olivier Giroud – Newcastle still interested?
And Alan Pardew has said there are a couple of players in particular they will watch, but these summer tournaments can also be dodgy. How many times has a player shone at the tournament, his price has gone up, and he moves, and is then a flop at his new club.
That happens quite a lot, which is why Newcastle have already done their homework on the players they are after this summer, and Alan hopes they have lousy tournaments so they will not attract the interest of other clubs.
This is what the Newcastle manager had to say today to the local press:
“We’ll be represented at the Euros.” “There are a couple of players we’re looking at in that tournament and, as far as I’m concerned, I hope they have an awful one!”
“The valuations will go up and down – we’ll look at that.” “Someone’s reputations will go through the roof, and someone’s won’t. That might affect the price.”
“Most clubs want to hold off to see how their players do.” “You all want the bonus of your player being the star, or having a big tournament.”
We didn’t think Newcastle were still interested in Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud, but they are due to bring in another striker in the summer, but we thought that would be a younger player than the 25 year-old.
But Olivier looks a good player, and he brilliantly set up Montpellier’s winning goal in stoppage time last Sunday, put in the net by Karim Ait Fana, to give his team a vital 1-0 win over high flying Lille.
The French striker has scored 25 goals for Montpellier this season and also has 8 assists in his 41 games played, and maybe Newcastle are keeping tabs on him, just in case Demba Ba moves on
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa had a decent game for Montpellier in central defense, although the Montpellier captain should have been sent off in the second half for a wild tackle, but the referee didn’t give him the caution – he obviously remembered he had given him one in the first half.
Yanga-Mbiwa has been linked with Newcastle all season, and of course it seems we are also afer Lille’s Mathieu Debuchy, who also played in Sunday’s game at right back for Lille, and is Yohan Cabaye’s friend.
Yanga-Mbiwa almost moved away from Montpellier last season, when the asking price was £5M, but that’s gone up to £7M.
Yanga-Mbiwa was born in Bangui, in the Central African Republic but moved to France as a toddler, and has played 8 times for the France U21 side.
Those are three players Newcastle will presumably be keeping an eye on, but another target – Erik Pieters will not be part of Euro 2012 due to his foot injury.
But the problem with all three players above, is that other top clubs are also very interested in the three of them, and they include Arsenal and Manchester United, to name just two.
Comments welcome.
103 comments so far
CODARM (The poster formely known as Ibizatoon)
May 16, 2012 at 1:36 PM
Comment #81Are SS serious..
“while Stewart Downing gets a chance to shine after finding his feet at Liverpool”
Finding his feet? That about sums him up. They are at the end of your legs mate…now play some bloody football
mondziu
May 16, 2012 at 1:37 PM
Comment #82Don’t know about you, but I am a little worried about changes in the squad. Every night I repeat to myself in fetal position that I trust our scouting system to replace any given player with similar quality, BUT:
With Simpson apparently leaving, first-team CB to be brought in, Ba a possible departure and one more big player (if MA decides to cash in to fund incoming transfers, because Ba’s exit would probably bring no significant income) that would mean 4 changes in the first 11. That’s 36% of the first eleven.
Add Guthrie, Lovenkrands, Smith, Best and it’s one hell of a clear-out. Considering even Graham Carr in his interview said they were surprised by how quickly the new signings adapted to the EPL and Newcastle, we may struggle to find our best shape in first months of the season.
Certainly makes me worried a little.
What about you?
Tom4Nufc
May 16, 2012 at 1:40 PM
Comment #83Its got to be this:
Hart
Johnson-Cahill-Terry-Cole
Ox-Gerrard-Parker-Young
Lampard
Carroll
CODARM (The poster formely known as Ibizatoon)
May 16, 2012 at 1:43 PM
Comment #84Mondziu…Normally I would be worried and I know the new guys took exceptionally well this year and we can’t expect all new signings to do the same, however, I do trust in Carr and co, so I’m staying positive.
Londtoon
May 16, 2012 at 1:43 PM
Comment #85@ Mondziu
Sometimes big changes are what is needed especially when you consider the lack of depth in the squad. Clear out the tat and get in the big guns. However the more concerning bit is if we lose first teamers and who those players will be.
As for Loven, Best, Smith etc etc. Replace them.
Beattie25
May 16, 2012 at 1:44 PM
Comment #86I not know what’s been said about this if anything at all but I’ll read your comments in a min but WTF? The he’ll is Roy thinking.
Stewart Downing and no Aaron Lennon?
I’d take a half crocker Lennon over downing any day!
And don’t get me started on Carroll and Glen Johnson!
Where the hell is micha Richards?
Travesty
mondziu
May 16, 2012 at 1:44 PM
Comment #87Ooooooooooohhh, come one, leave the English national team alone, cheer the French!
I’m from Poland, but was unable to get tickets. YouEFA!!
CODARM (The poster formely known as Ibizatoon)
May 16, 2012 at 1:44 PM
Comment #88Tom…please no Terry. I’ll have to pledge my support to the Spanish if he plays.
CODARM (The poster formely known as Ibizatoon)
May 16, 2012 at 1:47 PM
Comment #89Ah yes…forgot about our french connection…don’t ask me how
CODARM (The poster formely known as Ibizatoon)
May 16, 2012 at 1:48 PM
Comment #90Beattie…On Carroll, I’m quite happy. He’ll be great or shocking. I’d have included him.
As for the rest…it’s a bit of a joke
mondziu
May 16, 2012 at 1:49 PM
Comment #91I’m a little surprised by the lack of Zamora. I honestly thought he was Roy Hoghson’s Cabaye.
Also hoped for Danny Simpson to inflate his price a little – I can imagine LFC buying him for a tenner and boasting about having TWO England right backs in their squad.
Tom4Nufc
May 16, 2012 at 2:01 PM
Comment #92I hate Terry as a person but that CB pairing of him and Cahill has been extremely solid recently!
Ketsbaia9
May 16, 2012 at 2:02 PM
Comment #93A bit shocked that Simpson and Williamson didn’t get called up.
Can’t believe we didn’t pick:
Richards
Rio Ferdianand
Adam Johnson
Paul Scholes
Beckham
Daniel Sturridge
Darren Bent
I would’ve left out:
Lescott
Downing
Scott Parker
Barry
Defoe
Welbeck
The squads a joke. France’s squad looks awesome. Be prepared to see us get beat easily by France.
Ketsbaia9
May 16, 2012 at 2:12 PM
Comment #94I agree with Andy Carroll being picked. Welbeck and Defoe don’t deserve to be in the squad. Defoe doesn’t start for Spurs and Welbeck doesn’t score enough. Poor players. Sturridge and Bent are much more threatening.
Ketsbaia9
May 16, 2012 at 2:24 PM
Comment #95I can see Best and Lovenkrands leaving. I hope we keep Ba. I’d like to see Giroud, Steven Fletcher and another young striker at the club. I also think that the Premier League is getting worser. Teams like Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal were a lot better 6/7 years ago. If we make should clever signings, I can see us challenging for 2nd place next season. It’s obvious what we need. We need:
1 left-footed left-back (Santon will replace Simpson at right-back)
2 top class centre backs (with the belief that we’ll get rid of Williamson)
1 Right-footed winger
1 attacking midfielder (Marvin Martin)
2/3 strikers (1 world-class, 1 youngster and a bargain signing).
Ketsbaia9
May 16, 2012 at 2:30 PM
Comment #96If Simpson was statistically the best right-back in the league, why didn’t he get picked for England? In my opinion he was visibly the worst right-back in the league (Boyce and Stearman were much better performers)
Tino99
May 16, 2012 at 2:59 PM
Comment #97Can everyone stop going on about us signing Jan Vertonghen – he will go to spurs or arsenal. The is more chance of me winning the lottery than us getting him.
There are plenty of decent cheaper cb out there.
Also Mbiwa – his price was 15 – 20 mil in Jan Montpellier is supposedly wanting more than that – utd, city territory.
Tino99
May 16, 2012 at 3:00 PM
Comment #98Guarantee we will find cb that cost around 3 – 6mil that are fairly unknown.
Believe in the CARR!!!
He will unearth some gems, guarantee|!!!
Ketsbaia9
May 16, 2012 at 3:03 PM
Comment #99Mbiwa’s price tag was between £5-7m. If we don’t sign Vertonghen, we’ll get Aldereweild.
billy15
May 16, 2012 at 3:57 PM
Comment #100Giroud Cisse
Elia Ben Arfa
Cabaye Tiote
Santon Collo Saylor Debuchy
Krul
What a team we could have and wouldn’t cost much given that we will most certainly sell. Debuchy, Elia and Giroud will come to approximately 25 million and we could sell up to 15 million worth of fringe players.
NUFC STEVE
May 16, 2012 at 5:06 PM
Comment #101I know it would be undermining carver but wud anyone like pardew to go for STEVIE CLARKE great coach to tighten up defenses.Mourinho had great defense wit him and even Liverpool wer 3rd best defense this year?????
Levi
May 16, 2012 at 8:07 PM
Comment #102if ba goes we need him and a left winger. and a qulity left winger to.because i like the way the 4.3.3 / 4.2.3.1 formation plays but there will be times when we need a to play 442 and have 2 qulity strikers. ba can play both. havin said that about a left winger marveaux will be like a new signing and a awesome 1 at that. bring on next year!
NEWEXPATMAGPIE
May 17, 2012 at 8:40 AM
Comment #103Billy 15 @ 100:
Great team mate, I would put Douglas in there alongside Collo in place of Saylor though!
We are linked with everyone and his dog! And everyone has their own favourites! The club seem to know what they are doing, and targets are already known to the club itself!
The rest of us, you too Beattie, will just have to be Patient, if we don,t know whats happening, then the rest of the clubs in the league, don,t know either! Loads of Media Bullshit just adds to the confusion!
The fact that Dogleash has left Liverfool is an advantage because no-one is going to sign for them before their new trainer has been announced. Hopefully they won,t come sniffing around Pards! They may be quick making an announcement though! Thought about Chris Hughton from Brum! The Mop would crucify him!
Hodgson has picked a crap Engeland team with a lot of talent left out, be surprised if they even make it through the group stages. However, i,ve been wrong before…….and might be wrong again…….! Has Stuart Pearce taken on his old posistion with the youth team again? Aint heard nowt about Hodgsens assistent or back-room team!
As for any dealings in the Transfer Market!
Lets just leave it to Carr and Pardew to do the Business!