The Newcastle United Blog

57 responses so far ↓

• 1 MagpiesFlyHigh // Aug 3, 2012 at 10:56 AM

  We do need to sign a couple of senior players at the very least. We need more strength in depth in the squad.

• 2 MagpiesFlyHigh // Aug 3, 2012 at 10:58 AM

  Now that doesn’t happen very often.
  Whatever happened to Indian Magpie ?

• 3 spitfire_ // Aug 3, 2012 at 10:59 AM

  “Newcastle Still Have Better Squad Than Last Year At This Time”

  I don’t agree at all.

• 4 MagpiesFlyHigh // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:01 AM

  Need a Guthrie replacement. Anita would do nicely.

• 5 ashwin say's // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:01 AM

  no transfer yet!!!

• 6 Beardo Ameobi // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:04 AM

  On Van Der Wiel, don’t want him. I have a friend who lives in Amsterdam and goes to Ajax matches, he says the consensus amongst their fans is that VDW is nowhere near as good as he himself thinks he is and he’s one of these footballers more concerned with his image than winning football matches, not the type to throw himself in front of a ball and is likely to shirk tackles/headers if he’s going to get clouted.

  Personally from what I’ve seen of him, he reminds me of Bosingwa, good going forward but a chocolate teapot in defence, basically the reverse of Simpson.

  There’s a reason his star has significantly dimmed and I don’t think it’s a confidence problem like Santon had , actually the opposite.

• 7 Beattie25 // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:05 AM

  I don’t agree either

• 8 AMEOBI // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:05 AM

  The deal for messi is taking a while mind Ed

• 9 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:05 AM

  Don’t we have more of less the same team as this time last year, hence why people are annoyed we’re not conducting our business as quickly this window?

• 10 markmac // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:05 AM

  We have a younger and less experienced squad….im not sure id class that as being stronger myself, even if i like the look of 2 or 3 of the young lads i think it would be too soon to throw them all in at the deep end and depend on them in the PL every week,

• 11 rainrix // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:06 AM

  I reckon amalfitano is guthries replacement. Different types of CMs but still a CM replacement none the less. We need a replacement for lovenkrands and best. 3 strikers is nowhere near enough for a team playing in europe. At best i reckon we need maybe 3 players for starting positions(RB CB and maybe centermid).

• 12 Hatem's better than Messi // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:06 AM

  @spitfire

  Agree 100%.

  How are we stronger?
  We haven’t signed anyone and lost Guthrie, Best, Smith & Lovenkrands, Forster. (Yes I know the last 3 were peripheral).

  IMO we need a FB, CB and top striker to challenge Ba & Cisse, plus a young striker with bags of potential.

  Only then will we be stronger.

• 13 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:06 AM

  Beattie… Van, France, Time, Place?

• 14 ginkoh // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:08 AM

  This time last year we still signed Cisse yet.

• 15 Beattie25 // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:09 AM

  We have not got a better team than this time last year.

  After releasing so many youth players and then allowing the experience of Lover, Smith, Forster, Guthrie etc… I think our team is currently weaker.

• 16 RobertNufc25 // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:09 AM

  Lets be honest.
  Lee Ryder knows as much as me or you.

  Which is basically nowt. lol

• 17 rich_toonfan // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:14 AM

  This time last year we had Guthrie, best, smith, forster and loven who we not don’t have.

  And we have brought in cisse, Amal, bigi and good.

  Also players like perch and Taylor have shown they are decent squad players.

  To me that is a significant improvement. Seein as the only players we have lost who got on the pitch were Guthrie and best. Both of which don’t offer much.

  Guthrie was rarely fit and tired after 60mins, beat barely played and when he did he didn’t contribute much. Smith, loven and Forster barely played a game between them

• 18 jamesnufc86 // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:14 AM

  Please , this is killing me , I’m that sad I wake up most mornings with my eyes still burning and check on my phone if we have had any transfer progress , I admire us being thrifty , but this is being ridiculous !!

• 19 MagpiesFlyHigh // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:16 AM

  rainrix

  If that is right we have got to get used to the idea that senior players are going to be replaced with very cheap junior players who will get brought on very quickly.

  I guess Bigi could feature as one of these, maybe Tav, but do you think Amalfitano is up to doing Guthrie’s job next season ?

• 20 wingspan // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:16 AM

  Ed i respect you greatly for the time and effort you put into this blog, but i have to disagree with you here mate.

  Loosing guthrie best and lovenkrands – who were proven prem players (prob not the best but could hold there own) And replacing them with 2 kids and a lad from the 2nd division in france that have never played in the prem before leaves us in a a significantly weaker position in my eyes.

• 21 Beattie25 // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:17 AM

  Ibiza

  I’ve made edits to the plan and after picking you up in the bealerics we will drive to carrefour to get a few snacks for the journey.

  Once in France we will assinate Rudi Garcia, steal Debuchy and head for the border.

  I have allowed a diversion to the French cash and carry so we can get wine, cheese and some strawberry syrup for Demba.

  By this time the police will be on our tale. We’ll aim to get onboard the eurostar and that way we can drop Simpson off at reading and pick Carroll up from west ham.

  Overall I expect the mission to last at least 7 weeks so we’ll probably moss transfer deadline day but if we can’t have him nobody can.

• 22 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:17 AM

  Well, this is all a bit to civil for me. I’ll be back later and hope to return to a blood bath. Enjoy

• 23 rich_toonfan // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:19 AM

  Amal is only a year or two younger than Guthrie.

  Just cause Guthrie has more experience doesn’t make him better, he was never fit.

  Best and loven are not up to prem league standard. Best had one good spell when Carroll left and that’s it.

• 24 wingspan // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:20 AM

  i should prob elaborate on that, in 6 months or a yr or however long i takes the lads weve bought in adapt then we may be in a stronger position, i think they could turn out to be great signings. But at this moment in time we are in a weaker position for sure because they are unproven

• 25 dave 1961 // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:20 AM

  i have to agree that throwing kids into the deep end’s not the way to run a successful football club.

• 26 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:20 AM

  Beattie…Sounds splendid..we have a carrefour express down the road, will that be adequate for snacks?

  Apart from that, it’s clear to see you have thought the plan out well. Perhaps if we have a doctor with us in the van we could complete medicals as we go? Just a thought, but you’re right, if we can’t have them, no one shall!

  7 weeks….so should I bring me Scharner sleeping bag as well?

• 27 spitfire_ // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:20 AM

  I’m on waiting for the next Pardew interview in which he will said about that the transfer summer is a hit for us because we didn’t lose anybody.

  The newbies has a bags of potential but they are not even close to Guthrie at this very moment.

  One CB, one FB, one central midfielder and young striker… but we will not bought CB and a striker… in best case.

• 28 clinath@ed // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:21 AM

  I blogged a few months back, that how we performed in this summers transfer window would define how successful last season really was. On the premis we need to push on from the good start….improve where weaknesses are identified and strengthen in depth. The depth issue seems to be taking care of, but I still fear about our back 4. Mainly the lack of pace and heading ability. We’re into August now, and still no serious money has been spent (£25M budget was muted) what exactly are we waiting for? Not to improve on last season because of lack of investment and/or ambition will be a crying shame and an opportunity lost.

• 29 rainrix // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:23 AM

  MFH ….. I would say guthrie was never really threatening to start. I think senior players would get replaced with quality (anita for example) and the backup players replaced with backup quality(amalfitano).

  Regarding amalfitano is he ready to fill guthries shoes? Honestly i haven’t seen enough to make a soid judgement. But as the saying goes in carr we trust

• 30 Beattie25 // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:24 AM

  Scharner is driving the van

• 31 Super Magpie // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:24 AM

  We dont have a stronger team, but Cisse > Best.
  Also did Marveaux and Ben arfa play that much up until christmas.
  ( obviously marveaux got injured).

  Our line up against arsenal (H)
  Krul
  Simmo– Saylor–Colo- Raylor
  Barton– Cabaye– Tiote– Jonas
  Ba—– Best

  Compared to potential line up v spurs
  Krul
  Debuchy/VDW– Saylor–Colo– Santon
  Ben arfa— cabaye —Tiote— Jonas/marveaux
  Ba—- Cisse

  Sorry for the long post, but that line up is miles better than it was last year and the players from then have improved massively over that time.

• 32 Nick 69 // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:25 AM

  don’t agree with the headline. I think we’re slighty worse off now that this time last season. We’ve lost a lot of eperienced players, and brought in a couple of unproven youngsters, who although they look decent, its only pre season, and a LOT different to EPL.

  What started off as looking like a very promising, eciting transfer window has become one of the most boring, frustrating ones ever.

• 33 wingspan // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:25 AM

  Yeah but you could trust danny to come in. I thought he played well when called upon last season. And i think experience counts for a lot to be honest, and we cant compare the two yet because we havnt seen amal play in the prem.

  And i agree Loven and best wernt the best but it would be harsh to say they couldnt do a job.

  Right now i would say we were stronger before, but like i said give it a few months, a few games even and the new boys may take to the prem like Cabaye did and we will of course be stronger then. But because thats unknown im not sure how it can be said that were stronger now than before.

• 34 rich_toonfan // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:25 AM

  We have the same CBs last year and added good. He might be ready for first team squad.

  Bigi is very good in pre season, rather have a young, hungry player like that than Guthrie who misses over half the season with injury and when he does play is paggered after an hour.

  Amal looks technically good but has been played out wide and not looked great. Against Gateshead he looked better through the middle. His touch and passing is very good.

  Just becaus splatters are young, doesn’t mean they aren’t a good.

• 35 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:25 AM

  Beattie…Really? That is wonderful news. Would be sad to see him out of work.

• 36 ToonDarnSarf // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:26 AM

  Only Guthrie and Best are any significant loss really. I reckon we’ve doubled up on replacing Guthrie with Amalfitano and Bigi. Just need another striker to replace Best.

  Definitely will be better than last season, Ben Arfa and Cisse only came into the team halfway through the season, the likes of Santon and Cabaye have had a season to aclimatise, our young players like Krul and Sammy will just be getting better every year.

  So, we just need upgrades to Simpson and Best, plus Anita for DM, LB cover and we’re off!

  Of course, then it’s down the the lads to match last year’s performances. A tough ask!

• 37 RobertNufc25 // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:30 AM

  I think were weaker like.

  But I thought the same thing last year too,and look how that turned out.haha

• 38 rich_toonfan // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:30 AM

  This is a bit of pointless argument really.

  I think abeid, bigi and Amal are easy capable of covering for Guthrie.

  But none of us can really judge that until we see how they get on in the premier league. I am happy with the squad, would like another full back but not too worried if we don’t get one.

  Have to just see how we get on in the first 6 games.

• 39 ToonDarnSarf // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:34 AM

  Come on…how can losing Smith, Loverman, Forster, and Kadar be considered as losing 4 players? Both Smith and Loverman were excellent in the Championship, but I’d rather see young promising players (like Bigi and Sammy) on the bench than those guys.

  Good luck to them at MKD and Brum though. Worked damn hard for NUFC.

• 40 Papiss_Myself // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:35 AM

  Ibiza Beattie

  I am more than happy to help in this stupendeous falt proof plan.

  I will act as the diversion for you while you head for the border. But I can’t do it alone, can I borrow Scharner. By myself I am a loan wolf, but with Scharner at my side we would be an unstoppable pack.

• 41 Papiss_Myself // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:36 AM

  Fault*

• 42 Andymax // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:37 AM

  It’ll only takes a few injuries to key players to show how strong the squad really is.

• 43 Kyo // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:52 AM

  how the f are we sttronger? Ed it’s time to lay off the whiskey mate.

• 44 FatmanJoe // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:53 AM

  Can we all stop putting Guthrie on a pedestal please. He was decent and I liked him but some of the comments on here are ridiculous. I agree with whoever said he was unfit most of the time and couldn’t play a whole match – which was actually the tune most people on here were whistling a few months back when he was playing.

  Sentiments aside we have lost no one of real significance. We still need 2-3 seniors adding to defence and attack but I think we’re no better or worse than last year. I don’t think cm is an issue at all.

• 45 wynsleap // Aug 3, 2012 at 12:08 PM

  Sorry Ed – but I too have to disagree with you.
  At the moment we are weaker than last season particularly with the loss of two first team squad strikers and no replacements. No one to replace Forster and two untried midfielders to replace the ever reliable (and often very effective) Guthrie.
  Not looking good at the moment.

• 46 FatmanJoe // Aug 3, 2012 at 12:26 PM

  Sorry wynsleap have to disagree with you.

  How many first team games has Forster played for the last two seasons?

  How many first team games has lovencrandz played? Goals? Same for best? How many would best have played if he stayed?

  We haven’t lost anyone significant but have gained about three promising youngsters plus those we had already who have another yr under their belts. Taylor and marveux back from injury makes us stronger too.

• 47 magicbus // Aug 3, 2012 at 12:45 PM

  Is this article supposed to fill us with confidence or is it just a softener to make us feel better due to the lack of major signings.
  Trying to get everyone on the cheap does not work all the time so use some of the Best money
  to top up what Lille want for Debuchy. STOP PENNY PINCHING all the time.

• 48 FatmanJoe // Aug 3, 2012 at 12:52 PM

  It is frustrating but if we gave in every time a team wanted a million extra here and there then we would never get anywhere.

  We have to put our foots down at some point otherwise clubs will always ask for more.

  Debuchy himself had said a fee had been arranged and Lille were just waiting on a replacement player but now they have changed their minds and asked for more money. That’s not a good way of doing business and I’m glad we’re sticking to our guns.

• 49 pawl250 // Aug 3, 2012 at 1:33 PM

  Ed I agree with you 120%

  We are a stronger squad, granted our first team has not been improved on but in terms of squad players we are stronger!

  Foster – Was not even here last year so saying we have lost him as a squad player is…. well STUPID!

  Best – Yeah we have lost a squad player who is always injured, who infact we got 4m for and is now injured again long term! It was almost the perfect deal for Newcastle! He did provide cover when he was fit but this time last year Cisse was not here and I would take Cisse anyday over Best.

  Guthrie – Probably our only squad player we lost. Me personally I think he gave the ball away too much and was merely a backup for Tiote. Biri has been impressive and I can only see him improving, hes almost a Tiote replica in both look and style he plays the game. I wouldnt have minded if we kept Guthrie as he was good for cover but I would actually prefer Abeid and Biri for cover this year and like I said Guthrie frustrated me as he couldnt do the simple passes. His work effort was really his strong point but Biri has already shown he too has a high work rate on the pitch.

  Smith, Lovenkrands – I think they played 2 games altogether last year, infact I think Smith played approx 20mins coming on as sub during a cup game. Sorry again not squad players both are way past the quality needed in PL and personally I would prefer younger talents of Vuckic, Sammy, Abeid, Biri getting more game time.

  Out of all the sigings only 1 doesnt have me excited for the future. Amalfitano currently for me has done nothing. He has shown no quality in passing, he dead ball is weak, he has no pace. He is basically a cover, an extra body we needed. I cant see him getting much game time.

  Also this time last year, infact most of the year Marveaux was injured, who if stays fit looks promising. He is almost like having a new signing!

  Overall I agree with Ed and Pardew. This year isnt about signing 8 players we need its about improving the positions we need to improve in. Williamson and Simpson are clearly not good enough for PL. Debuchy is a must for me and personally I think we need to just give Lille the asking price as £6-7m is roughly what I would rate him. Douglas would be my 2nd choice for coming in to replace STaylor when he inevitably gets injured…. again!

  I seriously dont think we need much else. Anita would be nice for versatility perhaps covering in midfield not that its needed but he can also play LB which sounds promising.

  Pardew is right, as is Ed the squad in whole is stronger. All you wanting 4-5 ‘QUALITY’ signings live in a bubble why would ‘quality’ signings come to sit on the bench behind Ba, Cisse, Cabaye, Tiote? especially for the wage they will be getting from us.

  This is not FM or Fifa this is the real world!

• 50 wynsleap // Aug 3, 2012 at 2:09 PM

  For those saying Best and Lovo weren’t part of our squad I think you’ll find that if they had been here this season they would have probably played in the League Cup and some Europa games. Is Ba and Cisse going to play EVERY game up front this season? ie we are down on numbers whether they were effective or not.
  Yes Forster wasn’t here last season but he was the recognised back up to Tim and possibly Harper. Now we have Elliott – who a lot of people on here don’t like – hardly an improvement to the squad.
  As for saying we also have Saylor and Marveaux back too – they are still part of the same overall squad we are having this argument about.
  Finally we are talking about the young players being a year on. They weren’t in the team last April and May – have they suddenly got so much better in three months that they can now just step in?
  If the likes of Bigirama, Good and Amalfitano are now regarded as ‘first team squad members’ where is the large investment of recruits into the Development side we were promised? Another myth?

• 51 FatmanJoe // Aug 3, 2012 at 2:21 PM

  How can Forster be the back up to tim when he’s not even in the country and playing for a different team?

  Best was always injured. Can’t have a backup player who MIGHT be available for league cup games. Too much wages on a maybe.

  Loven was effective in the league cup but you’ve got to hope we have a player on our books who can score 3 cup goals which was his contribution (2 from penalties)

  The young players have been training with seniors for a couple of years now and I firmly believe abeid, gosling, sameobi, fergie and tav are ready for the step up. That’s a huge contribution to our squad.

  Of course Marv and Taylor being fit and ready to play is a bit help to our squad. Can’t see the sense in ur argument there really.

  So I don’t think we’ve lost much. But I agree we need around 2-3 seniors to challenge our starting 11. Fullback, centre back, striker.

• 52 criticalsteve73 // Aug 3, 2012 at 3:30 PM

  Think we are stronger the players that left were at best squad players some not even that we now have vukic Sammy abeit Ferguson who are all a Year on there development plus our new 3 youngsters and also have cisse and a fully fit Benny so dont know why everyones saying were weaker.I think Lille will buckle shortly thru player pressure and still feel there will be another out the blue signing who we didnt expect keep the faith my fellow mags

• 53 croftus5678 // Aug 3, 2012 at 4:27 PM

  yep between gosling/bigi/amalf/abied /sammy/good/tav who all were not first team contenders last year we have a lot more quality than has gone out the door.
  marv is fit and ready who was not last year taylor back again after 1/2 the season out last and hopefully ferg back soon aswell i think we are a lot stronger in depth all of these are 1st team usefull as opposed to guthrie and best who were the only usefull ones going out from last year.

• 54 croftus5678 // Aug 3, 2012 at 4:34 PM

  @49

  i would have agreed with you on amalf when he 1st signed but after seeing little glimpses which got me thinking he could be another ober (full of skill ect but wastes his talent with no commitment into doing better)i see his performance as a second striker in our last friendly and he was great!.
  he does not seem to have the pace to beat people on the wing but has the pace and trickery to weave in and out the back line to get into the box for a shot so maybe thats his true possition ?

• 55 89Norcal // Aug 3, 2012 at 5:13 PM

  I don’t understand what everyone’s fussing about. I agree with Ed, this time last year our team was mid-table at best but player-for-player, we are certainly better. We didn’t even have Cabaye and the players we’ve offloaded (aside from Best) weren’t exactly significant contributors to our 5th spot finish.

• 56 89Norcal // Aug 3, 2012 at 5:17 PM

  ^Meant to say Cabaye hadn’t played a single game as he had been signed for about 2 weeks. Takes time on the training ground to completely switch up your teams style of play to suit your new acquisitions.

• 57 Ian Toon // Aug 3, 2012 at 7:22 PM

  Is the squad stronger than a year ago? A view purely on paper.What contribution will Taylor and Marvaeux make and will they remain injury free? Given that we are aspiring to become Champions League qualifier year on year we are surely bridging the gap between the haves and have nots. In aspiring to such standards it’s recognised that the defensive weaknesses have to be addressed and we need to score more goals. Much of this can be addressed in the short term by transfer activity /and or a blend of quality youth. Just how will the latter perform and will they make a significant contribution throughout a long season of more games/injuries and suspensions.
  Almost as much will rest upon what our priority is and given the size of the squad our ability to rely on a mixture of youth and experience for so called lesser games. Taking the view that Gosling, Abeid,
  Vuckic and Sammy are a year older they will feature a lot more. Assuming that we’re only losing Guthrie and Best of any note and
  acquiring Debuchy, Anita plus a centre half and a left sided striker capable of going straight into the best team then we should have an
  even better season. Just how ambitious are we planning to be?
  It’s blossoming young players allied to astute purchases . Do we
  have any bombshell signings to come.