News today in the Newcastle Journal that Newcastle’s two French stars – Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye, who were both very good for the Magpies last term – will return to training on Monday, after being given time off to recover from their Euro 2012 exploits.
Yohan Cabaye – with the French squad in June
Newcastle are in the process of trying to sign Yohan’s best friend Mathieu Debuchy from Lille, but the transfer business for Newcastle this summer so far seems to have been agonizingly slow and even frustrating.
But of course Newcastle will persevere (and maybe wear the other clubs down – there’s a thought), and we hope Newcastle can bring in Debuchy, Douglas and Andy Carroll to Newcastle and them maybe Vurnon Anita of Ajax, or even top Toulouse midfielder, 22 year-old Moussa Sissoko, who seems to be available.
Manager Pardew has said the negotiations for Andy have reached a delicate stage, but the good news for Newcastle fans is that he’s hoping to add to the first team squad soon:
“I’m hoping to add more senior players.” “We’re working hard on those at the moment. We will see what happens.” “We’ll play a stronger team tomorrow. We are in really good shape physically. And the tour has gone really well so far.”
After the first pre-season game against Chemnitzer last Friday night, when the lads looked very rusty and lost 1-0, Newcastle looked a lot sharper on Monday night against Monaco and won 1-0 and played very well especially in that second half.
The really pleasing thing on Monday was that there were lots of good performances from many Newcastle players in that game, and in particular a lot of the Newcastle youngsters came through looking very good.
The Newcastle squad has arrived in Vienna, and they will play Turkish side Fenerbahce tomorrow night in Ritzing, and then they will return home after that game, and Alan will be ready to welcome back Ben Arfa and Cabaye.
And maybe Alan have a little talk with Ben Arfa about what exactly happened in the dressing room after the 2-0 defeat by Sweden.
The Newcastle squad will have only a few days training at Newcastle before they jet off to Portugal for the Algarve Tournament at the end of next week.
Newcastle will play Olympiacos in Faro, Portugal next Friday night, and then FC Braga the next day at the same venue, so Alan Pardew will need to use his players wisely for those two games.
Newcastle will then play Den Haag the following Saturday and then Cardiff City the Saturday after that, which is one week before the Premier League season starts against Spurs at St. James’ Park.
It’s looking good that Newcastle will be all ready for that very demanding first week of the season, when it arrives, and hopefully we could have three new players in by then.
Comments welcome.
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36 comments so far
Hatem's better than Messi
Jul 20, 2012 at 9:59 AM
Comment #1We have to trust the transfer team.
They have a good record of getting the right people at the right price …
Bloody Marveauxlous
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:05 AM
Comment #2If we swapped around caroll, Ba and Cisse we would always have one at rest! We could similarly play a variation of 433: 4312
———————-Krul—————–
Debuchy–Douglas–Colo–Santon
HBA————Tiote———-Cabaye
——————–Ba———————
——Caroll————–Cisse———
kt97toonarmy
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:06 AM
Comment #3i dont think carroll wud work there no offense
Hatem's better than Messi
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:07 AM
Comment #4@Bloody Marveauxlous
I don’t want to see HBA in midfield.
He needs to be further up the pitch.
Belly
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:08 AM
Comment #5It’s frustrating not getting these deals done but I admire the club being wise and careful with the money. Let’s hope we make a breakthrough in the next week. Hopefully Debuchy holding a black n white shirt with a huge grin
Valci
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:09 AM
Comment #6Bloody – like i was telling Jasper in the other thread…i’d see the team something like this (if we include potential signings):
—————-Krul————–
Debuchy—-Colo—Saylor—-Santon
———-Tiote———Anita———-
HBA———-Cabaye———Marveaux
————–Cisse/Ba/Carroll———–
would be a decent 1st team i believe. Course you have to always be adaptable enough to respond to your opponents moves so it’s vital for players to be able to interchange positions and such…have a fluid system so to speak.
Bloody Marveauxlous
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:09 AM
Comment #7Looks Marveaux-lous, If I dare say so myself!
It would incoorperate all 3 main strikers plus I am still hopeful on the Douglas deal!
But it begs the question:
If Douglas has to live in Holland until the end of August for Dutch citizenship, why couldn’t he sign for Newcastle, but reside in Holland until the end of the month when he’ll be able to jet off to Tyneside and live there!
ashwin say's
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:09 AM
Comment #8@hatim bett
time is running out & some player take time to settle (not everyone is cisse) the earlier you buy the better it is for team chemistry.
If we want to top our last year performance, we need our team to race as fiddle from very first match of season .
outsidethebox
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:12 AM
Comment #9love to see young cf and poss andy c ….but i hope a quality centre half and a left back will be coming soon ..without a quality centre back toon will struggle …hate to be negative.. but imo only collo is premier class ..taylor just about ..but any injury and suspensions bring simmo and williamson and perch
Bloody Marveauxlous
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:12 AM
Comment #10Valci,
But even Ba last year hated being on the bench, as would Cisse or Caroll!
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:12 AM
Comment #11Bloody…Not sure, but it might have something to do with his work permits etc. I.E. Has to be contracted within the Netherlands to qualify for citizenship?
Can’t imagine there would be a problem with some type of pre contract mind. So maybe he’s just a tw@ 🙂
keeping the faith
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:12 AM
Comment #12If Carroll does come I wouldnt put him in the starting 11. In a 433 you only need 1 striker with HBA and maybes Marveaux either side
ashwin say's
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:12 AM
Comment #13pls some good news today before i hit the bed ….that means you have 10 hrs .
Hatem's better than Messi
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:13 AM
Comment #14———————-Krul—————–
Debuchy–Saylor–Colo–Santon
————Tiote———-Jonas
——————–Cabaye———————
———HBA——Cisse——Marveaux
I like Jonas as DM
Ba on bench but starts Cups/Europe
Jail for Ashley
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:13 AM
Comment #15Valci,
The rules clearly state only eleven players on the pitch at one time,been like that for a canny while now.
Twatter
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:15 AM
Comment #16There’s no way you could play Carroll, Cisse and Ba up front at the same time. Don’t be daft, come on.
outsidethebox
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:16 AM
Comment #17hatems better than messi..
yeah agree ..posted same team few days ago …flexibility is the key switch from 4 3 3 …to 4 4 2 as play dictates
Valci
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:17 AM
Comment #18Bloody – do you want to play as a team or to accommodate a certain player…just asking. In the system i’m proposing you probably don’t need more then 3 first team strikers (might be a problem if both Cisse and Ba leave during ACON but that a special situation and could be covered by Obertan and such) and you rotate them…whoever is in the best form gets starter position…its about being effective not protection players feelings.
Jasper – agree to your reply on previous thread. It’s important to have a baseline system but like i was saying in the above comment, i feel flexibility is key…don’t bottleneck players into just 1 place…give them freedom to interchange…goes a long way to offering a fluid system in my opinion.
Hatem's better than Messi
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:17 AM
Comment #19I think the / separator Valci uses means “OR”
Valci
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:19 AM
Comment #20JFA – indeed buddy. the “/” stand for “or”…so either Cisse,Ba or Carroll 😉
~Debuchery on a Dreamboat~
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:19 AM
Comment #21I reckong we should try get Royston Drenthe as back up for LB. He is a free transfer at the moment, still young and has BPL experience player for Everton. He can be a very good impact player as seen when he was at Everton and could be used in the cups to give Santon a rest.
keeleytoon
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:20 AM
Comment #22Wasnt royston a lm? Not lb? Debuchy?
~Debuchery on a Dreamboat~
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:24 AM
Comment #23He can play both
Bloody Marveauxlous
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:26 AM
Comment #24How about this then, Ba although he wasn’t in his greates goal-scoring form actually played quite well on the wing ( if it wasn’t for him supplying those balls plus his immense strength, Cisse may not have scored as many!):
——————–Krul——————-
Debuchy–Douglas–Colo–Santon
——————Tiote——————–
HBA———–Cabaye————–Ba
———-Caroll———Cisse———–
This formation provides freedom to move around, 5 in defence, 5 in attack with 2 styles of play available: the style we played last season (how can you explain it?! Just pure refreshing and amazing!) and that style we played in 2010/11, lofted through balls to Caroll but then also Cisse and Ba as well! You can swap Marveaux or Jonas for Ba and Ba for Caroll, as well as Anita for Tiote and Amalfitano or Bigi for Cabaye!
rainrix
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:26 AM
Comment #25I like Jonas as a DM to but i have to add if we’re going to play 2 defensive midfielders we may as well play a actual specialised DM there like anita. Perhaps thats the reason we’re going for him, pardew
may want to stick with 433
Bloody Marveauxlous
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:28 AM
Comment #26Subs could be:
Harper, Raylor, Saylor,Anita/ Amalfitano/ Bigirimana, Jonas, Marveaux, Shola- The Mackem Slayer
jesperfuglsang
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:29 AM
Comment #27@Valci
Repost from earlier thread ( I just can’t seem to get this right)
Appreciate your opinion mate 😉 mine is no more than that either.
For me it’s all about being dynamic, solid at the back and keeping possession in the middle. Whether it’s called 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 or even 4-3-2-1 I don’t really care 😉 hehe
keeleytoon
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:30 AM
Comment #28@debuchery ah okay, I think he had a good season, never knew could play lb too… Could be worth it?
gorgonzola ( former Pecorino former to gorgonzola)
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:30 AM
Comment #29EErr what signingS exactly?
I dont understand…..Douglas will now stay at Twente, De Jong gone to Germany, Anita too expensive, Debauchery not looking likelly dragging forever, Liverpool not keen on selling Carroll thank god….
that leaves who exactly?????
jesperfuglsang
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Comment #30@Bloody Marveauxlous @ #7
About Douglas, that is what I have been saying or asking as well. Voodoo85 posted this regarding FIFA Rules on Citizenship:
“The relevant current FIFA statute, Article 17:
Acquisition of a new nationality, states: Any Player who … [assumes] a new nationality and who has not played international football [in a match … in an official competition of any category or any type of football for one Association] shall be eligible to play for the new representative team only if he fulfils one of the following conditions:
(a) He was born on the territory of the relevant Association;
(b) His biological mother or biological father was born on the territory of the relevant Association;
(c) His grandmother or grandfather was born on the territory of the relevant Association;
(d) He has lived continuously for at least five years after reaching the age of 18 on the territory of the relevant Association.”
Paragraph (d) says he has to live continuously for at least five years after reaching the age of 18 on the territory of the relevant Association; it doesn’t state he cannot work in another country.
But as Ibiza says, maybe it has something to do with work permit; I am no lawyer 😉
ashwin say's
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Comment #31———————–krull————————-
————–collo—————saylor———-
debuchy———————————-jonas–
————————-tiote————————
————cabaye————-marvo———–
–benny———————————-affeley–
———————–cisse/ba———————-
as affeley has been told by vilonova he would only have peripheral role in his plan
so affeley is set to move for about £6m .
kjear and mandukic are eager to move from their club.
If we buy all four then we will be genuine contender for top 4 and few trophies .
also Valclar pillar is stalling move with wolfberg..
Valci
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:41 AM
Comment #32Jesper – right you are buddy. Fact is that as long as you have mobility the team can play. Because i hear a lot about 4-3-3 with Cabs more advanced…but then thats not 4-3-3 anymore…it’s either 4-2-3-1 if you push Cabs and the central striker forward or 4-2-1-3 if the whole font line is pushed forward. Either way, you cant have Cabaye and the CF stepping on each others toes…you gotta make room somehow. Like i said…in the end its how flexible your system is.
TorqToon
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Comment #33I think I’m losing the will to blog!!!! I can only take so much debuchy/Anita/Douglas/AC talk!! I can only take so many phantom team selections including players we don’t even have yet!!
I may go into hibernation until the window closes and when I wake…see where we stand there! 🙂
jesperfuglsang
Jul 20, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Comment #34@TorqToon
probably a good idea 😉 …but then again I think next week might be a good week 🙂 lol
JDdubai
Jul 20, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Comment #35@Bloody Marveauxless
Sorry first team you had Cabaye on the left, 2nd team had Ba there and only Tiote and Cabaye on their own in midfield…did you watch any of our games last season????
Ba on the left was crap, hugely limited our ability to attack down either flank, cabaye in a 2 man centre midfield was only ok, he needs the free role to run the games as he did later on when Jonas played with Tiote in CM.
Why try to fit Caroll, Ba and Cisse in the team at the same time? Having the most forwards playing at once doesnt mean you play better, there’s no team in world football who plays with 3 CF’s at the same time. You have to create chances to score goals, control of midfield is key to everything nowadays and with only Tiote and Cabaye in there we’d get battered.
Back to Fotball Manager for you….
LooneyToon41
Jul 20, 2012 at 11:44 AM
Comment #36Trying to accommodate Ba,Cisse and Carroll in any starting line up, is FIFA/Champ Manager madness, then plus HBA?? Yikes. I’m not saying we should revert to the double Euro Champs Spain ideology.. ie, no striker, but c’mon…..;-))