The Newcastle United Blog

259 responses so far ↓

• 1 pawl250 // Aug 24, 2012 at 9:56 AM

  My team for Chelsea

  ———————- Krul ————————
  Simpson – STaylor — Coloccini – Santon
  ——————————————————
  Ben Arfa — Tiote —– Cabaye — Gutierrez
  ——————————————————
  ————– Cisse ——– Ba ——————

  This team would be strong enough in my opinion. You have the option to turn it into a 4-3-3 OR 4-3-1-2 during the match.

  For me our key player would be Ben Arfa, give him a free to roam role. It would add pressure to our left flank but it would cause Chelsea problems.

  We need to contain Hazard and Mata. They can change a game with just 1 sublime moment or pass. Torres should be easy to contain.

  We need to not concede a penalty as Hazard will go down if touched.

  If we play 1 striker I would play Ba.

  ———————- Krul ————————
  Simpson – STaylor — Coloccini – Santon
  ——————————————————
  Arfa – Tiote — Cabaye — Anita – Gutierrez
  ——————————————————
  ———————– Ba ————————–

• 2 Burni // Aug 24, 2012 at 9:57 AM

  I dont believe our squad is thin anymore. we certainly need two more players in but to say the squad is thin is an insult to the fringe players who we all know pardew will get playing well.

• 3 LeoMacedonia-NUFC // Aug 24, 2012 at 9:57 AM

  Can u please vote for Newcastle? This is voting for cheap flights to Newcastle so we Geordies from Macedonia can come to games… this is the voting – http://www.facebook.com/questions/266163080162819/?qa_ref=qts

  this is our fan-page http://www.facebook.com/groups/nufcmk/

  Many thanks… HWTL!

• 4 stu.toon // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:00 AM

  Burni you’re right our squad isn’t thin it just lacks the quality in depth. It’s ok saying Pardew will get the fringe players playing well, but when? The season has started and we need solid performances now.

• 5 Beattie25 // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:04 AM

  Would love Anota to play but he played 90 minutes last night so I think he’ll be benched.

  Got a feeling Marveaux will get the nod on the left with Guti coming central and Ba up front on his own with Cisse coming off the bench if needed.

• 6 pawl250 // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:06 AM

  Personally I think we need 2 defenders.

  I would be happy for our strikers to be

  Ba, Cisse, Shola, Sammy and Campbell. It would certainly help the young kid to progress being so close to first team football.

  In midfield we lose Jonas, Marevaux steps in, Cabaye, Gosling steps in, Tiote, Anita steps in, then you have Bigiramana, Amalfitano, Vuckic, RTaylor, Perch, Abeid, Obertan. The midfield is strong, maybe no quality but you cant have another Cabaye sitting on the bench he wont accept that role. Especially at Newcastle and limited wages compared to City where a player is happy to pick up 200k a week sitting on a bench.

  Our defence looks very thin, in both back up and quality. Would think 1 centre back or/and fullback will give us an adequate squad to play this season.

• 7 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:08 AM

  £1b….1 bloody billion pounds. It really is disgusting. Someone asked on here the other day would we be happy if the board spent say £100m and won the league. Yes, momentarily it would be great to win it, but where does it end?

  I’m sorry, but that much money on a football team is madness and a gross use of money.

  Abramovich is quickly joining the ranks of Rupert Murdoch as far as I’m concerned, how can you have that much wealth and power and not use it better.

  Rant over.

  Let’s stick it them on Saturday….again

• 8 Burni // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:10 AM

  stu toon,

  He will get them playing wellbut as the comentator said last night, that was the first full game a lot of those guys played together…. was perch very good to start with? not really, but now…. he would get into most teams in the PL now imo as he has proved that he is solid….. all it took was time and guidance…..

  If we can perform like they did last night and draw or get a win, thats progress in my eyes. I dont think the squad lacks quality at all, I just think it needs to be brought out of the newer players …. and obertan

• 9 rainrix // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:11 AM

  Don’t see why cisse wouldn’t be able to play. Its not like he did much last night. . Still i wouldn’t be against playing 5 across the midfield tomorrow. Push jonas into CM along with cab aye and tiote and stick ba on the left. Or if cisse is tired then bring anita in to CM jonas on the left and ba up front. Actually what side does hazard play on? Could really do with jonas doubling up on him.

• 10 lordy_geordie // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:11 AM

  Don’t mean to be anal about it but it wasn’t 1993

  my team against

  Chelsea

  Krul

  Simpson Colo taylor santon

  Tiote Anita

  Cabaye

  HBA Jonas

  Ba/cisse

  For the game thursday I would play campbell with cisse or Ba

  Drop anita for Gibi and play Raylor for Simmo

• 11 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:12 AM

  pawl…I go along with that assessment.

• 12 LewSpi // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:13 AM

  I like you’ve look of your second team Pawl, but I must agree with Beattie that Anita will be tested after last night, which could leave this team.

  ————————-Krul
  Simpson — Saylor — Colo —– Santon
  Benny Tiote Cabaye Gutierrez Marveaux
  ———————Demba Ba

• 13 Spuggy // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:15 AM

  Burni, I think you’re spot on we have better quality in reserves now who can step up to the first team. A couple of signings and we will have 2x quality players in each position plus some decent (reserves/versatility).

  GK: Krul, Harps (Elliott)
  LB: Santon, Raylor (Anita)
  CB: Collo, Saylor, Perch, NEW SIGNING (Willo)
  RB: NEW SIGNING, Simmo (Tav)

  LW: Jonas, Marveaux (Fergy)
  CM: Tiote, Cabaye, Anita, Jonas (Gosling, Bigi, Abied, Amalfitano)
  RW: HBA, Obertan (Sammy)

  CF: Cisse, Ba, Ameobi, NEW SIGNING (Campbell)

  With a new CB, RB/LB and CF we have two quality players in each position apart from RW, with Obertan being the weak link. So that makes us 3-4 players of a top side which can compete in all competitions.

• 14 Spuggy // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:15 AM

  And I missed Vuckic from reserve CM!

• 15 sholasupporter // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:18 AM

  As long as Marv gets in above obertan I’ll be happy!

• 16 davybtoon // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:20 AM

  Chelsea signed marseille rb so that’s them out of debuchy race

• 17 GeordieoftheSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:20 AM

  alright chaps, was just thinking why don’t we have Ryan Taylor at right back?? Not saying he is better than Simmo defensively but purely the fact he is dangerous going forward with his crosses/corners/free-kicks etc…has to be worth another go.

• 18 demba_twins // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:20 AM

  my team to play chelsea would be

  —————krul——————-

  simo—Staylor—colo—santon

  ——cabaye—tiote—jonas——

  ben arfa ——————marvo—

  With cisse coming on in second half for marvo, does anyone els feel that jonas is more affective in the centre these days??

  ——————BA—————–

• 19 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:21 AM

  “To still be in the tie going back home, everyone – manager, staff, players and fans – will be happy.”

  R. Taylor

  Everyone be happy…over the wall Taylor has said it, now let it be done!

• 20 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:22 AM

  Anyone think Pardew will start Raylor against Chelsea if he’s fit enough?

• 21 Ketsbaia9 // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:23 AM

  We could’ve signed Cissokho for £4.7m. I’m shocked we didn’t make a bid for him. Would’ve fitted in nicely to the team. He’s younger and cheaper than Debuchy.

  Our squad isn’t up to scratch. Because we haven’t strengthened, we might find ourselves in mid-table at the end of the season.

• 22 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:23 AM

  damn, read the adam campbell interview too late to post on that thread! Didnt see any of the game last night because I was out with clients (sneaky score checks every 5 mins on my twitter tho) but reading that campbell interview makes me think this lad has his feet on the ground, fantastic attitude (tho thats been said by everyone involved witht he club) Just want to throw a hypothetical dream up there! Imagine if we sign andy carroll back (really think we’re going to). In 3 seasons time, walking out of the tunnel at st james’ we have not 1, but 2 GEORDIE centre forwards terrorizing defenses with Geordie stevie taylor captaining the side from the back! Throw in the ever improving Sammi Ameobi on a wing and the monster that is Bigirmana by then, be an amazing english spine to our team! (hoping Bigi chooses to represent england, i know he said he wants to play for rwanda but think if he got an u21 call up that might swing it as in his interview he sounded like he wasn’t sure he’d ever get a chance for england)

• 23 pawl250 // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:24 AM

  LewiSpi -

  I could go with that. The main reason I would play Jonas on the wings though is to track Hazard. It would also be worthy to mention that Anita would track back alot more than Marevaux. OK it lacks attacking option on the left hand side but perhaps away against Chelsea it would allow our players to dominate the midfield with a higher work rate.

  Cabaye, Jonas, Anita, Tiote all have decent engines allowing them to put pressure on the Chelsea midfield. My only worry would be leaving Ba or Cisse alone against Luiz/Cahill, Terry.

  Ivanovic is also a weak link on the left flank for us. Good defender but not the quickest which would be an argument to play Marveaux, BUT as stated Hazard the other way against Santon could be very messy. Doubling up maybe very beneficial.

  We are almost certain to play against -

  Cech

  Ivanovic, Cahill or Luiz, Terry, Cole

  Mikel

  Hazard, Ramires, Lampard, Mata

  Torres

  That is a strong line up but likes of Mata, Hazard, Lampard are weak defensive wise. We could perhaps take 4-3-3 and push up the pitch.

• 24 sholasupporter // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:24 AM

  @17 yes I have been saying that for some time! Raylor is probably as good defensively but offers much more going forward. Little bit slower too unfortunately. @18 also I think Jonas has been doing a much more effective job in the holding role than he does on the wings, he can still go forward and earn freekicks but no more useless crosses!

• 25 Ketsbaia9 // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:25 AM

  Surprised we haven’t gone in for Biglia either. Norwich are going to sign him on loan.

• 26 Iceland // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:26 AM

  My team to play Chelsea:

  ___________________ Krul____________________
  Simpson _____S.Taylor ________ Colo______ Santon
  _____________ Tiote _______Cabaye____________
  Ben Arfa_____________Ba_________________Jonas
  ___________________ Cisse ___________________

• 27 elpaso_geordie // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:27 AM

  Hope we get some sort of result at Chelski but am not too hopeful …..
  Last year they were concentrating on Champions league by that point and we had Cisse bang in form…..
  Cisse has looked bit out of it so far (temporary am sure) .
  Sadly even home to spurs we look like a team that can concede a few goals on our day

• 28 davybtoon // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:27 AM

  No rtaylor won’t start

• 29 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:28 AM

  @Ketsbaia 9 – have you stopped to think that maybe we don’t scout on football manager and youtube and have actually watched Cissokho and decided he’s not worth 4.7m?? He’s been AWWFFFULLL for 3 seasons now! I appreciate he looked immense for Porto for 1 season 4 years ago but the law of averages say that 3 poor seasons against 1 good one makes him a poor player! Can name you so many players that were awful that had 1 good season….. Michael Ricketts anyone?? Habib Beye?? Marcus Stewart?? Amr Zaki? Francis Jeffers? Danny Cadamarteri…. you can’t sign someone based on the fact football manager and fifa have based his ratings on a season 4 years previous

• 30 jesperfuglsang // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:30 AM

  I see Ed is censuring my again this morning…and I have even been playing Lionel Richie all morning …maybe it’s because I switched to Stevie Wonder?

  Ed just have no love for Stevie…lol

• 31 jesperfuglsang // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:30 AM

  *me

• 32 Ketsbaia9 // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:31 AM

  I don’t play football manager, but I know he has potential and he’s only 24/25, so we’ve missed out big time there. Apparently Valencia have signed two left-backs. We haven’t even got one natural left-back in the squad. It’s a joke.

• 33 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:31 AM

  Jay…Oh but he can and does

  Davy…I don’t want him to, just thoughts on whether Pardew would think he “deserves” to. I wouldn’t expect any of yesterday’s starters to be starting against Chelsea, maybe Cisse be an exception.

• 34 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:33 AM

  Jesper…..I think we have to accept Ed’s decision regarding Stevie and love him for all the things he does right

• 35 jesperfuglsang // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:34 AM

  Ibiza…Pardew does seem to rate Raylor so I wouldn’t say it’s completly in the wild to suggest Pardew would pick him for LB…

  But I have a hard time seeing us play 4-4-2 against Chelski or 4-5-1 with a flad midfield (where else do we put Raylor?)

• 36 Ketsbaia9 // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:34 AM

  I’m afraid, we’re not good enough defensively to cope with Chelsea. 3-1 Chelsea. Hazard will make Simpson look daft.

• 37 pawl250 // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:36 AM

  By the way off topic of Chelsea game but a subject I think should be looked at.

  Newcastle set pieces. I mean seriously we are so obvious! AND yet you would think its world class, working everytime because we do the same thing every time.

  No variation! Whether be corner or free kick its the long ball to Williamson/Taylor who has set themselves up wide of the goal mouth to head the ball back across the box.

  It has worked ZERO times. I mean seriously we scored 1 set piece last season FFS you would think we could vary it up.

  It was the same against Spurs, and last night. and ALL of last season its soooo predictable, and yet so easy to deal with its pointless!

  I think Pardew and his coaching staff are doing miracles over the last 2 seasons, but seriously think the set piece play we have needs refreshed, it just doesnt work.

• 38 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:36 AM

  http://www.chelseadaft.org/2012/08/pick-teamformation-for-chelsea-v.html

  What’s this? A bit of respect? From a London team fan base? See Chelsea are finally playing one of the big boys

• 39 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:37 AM

  Think Chelsea will look to nab a 1-0 against us! In theory they should go all out attack as they’re attacking options are obscene but Di Matteo is a very very cautious manager, he’ll be aware of what we did to them last season at the bridge, think he’ll put out a very physical, pragmatic team! They got exposed against reading a fair bit, reckon on our day our attacking quality is much higher than readings and di matteo knows they would be punished if they played like that.
  Our important areas for me in this game are

  1) up front, John Terry hates playing against bigger, physical centre forwards (just see how andy carroll destroys him time and time again), Playing a pacey striker might not be of use as I read somewhere Gary Cahill was the quickest centre half in the premier league (on mph reached on opta stats) last season.

  2) Ben Arfa! can change any game, looks crazily up for it this season, for me he’s a big factor in any game he starts for us)

  3) Midfield – Chelsea flood the midfield, usually with 3 less than adventurous centre mids (obi mikel, ramires, essien etc) If we line up as we did against spurs they’ll dominate us and unlike spurs they have the attacking quality to make us pay. 3 centre mids is a must for me. Wish we were going Anita, Tiote and Cabaye. Saying that Anita is a fit lad, would shock me if he played some part.

• 40 jesperfuglsang // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:38 AM

  “Ed, for sure! that’s what friends are for”

  (picturing Ed, Jesper & Peter singing behind a piano) lol

• 41 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:40 AM

  Pawl…I agree on set pieces too (This is getting eery….we never agree this much ).

  Far too predictable. Have a method you use mainly, but occasionally try and throw them off a bit, can’t do any harm.

  As for Chelsea. I seem to remember a clean sheet last season at the bridge, or did I make that up? Hazard could be a problem, but we also have players who can keep him quiet, but will they is the question? I’m certainly not writing us off at this stage.

  Jesper…Don’t see him starting tbh, was just a thought as Pardew seems to like rewarding good performances. Although, apart from the free kick, he didn’t perform amazingly imo. Good, but not thrilling.

• 42 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:41 AM

  Think Cisse might start from the bench tomorrow. Wouldn’t be surprised if Anita doesn’t start though, he’s got such a high fitness level and in terms of fitness was ahead of our squad as Ajax season started earlier!

• 43 jesperfuglsang // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:41 AM

  I hope Tiote tears Mikel a new one…

• 44 pawl250 // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:41 AM

  Jayphoto -

  Cahill the quickest centre back?! NO, just no. I know you read it and your not saying it yourself but even repeating it is blasphemy.

  Distin, from the top of my head is probably faster/fastest in the PL. I am sure their are others with pace but Cahill?! Seriously hes like another John Terry, has everything but pace in my opinion.

• 45 Hatem's better than Messi // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:42 AM

  Stop bitching about how much Abramovich spends on Chelsea.

  It’s hypocrisy at its worst.

  Like we don’t spend millions … and would prefer it to be billions.

  We’re pretty high up the league table of big spenders.
  We’ve taken Best & Bigi from Coventry in recent windows ask their fans about Ashley and the millions he spends.

• 46 jesperfuglsang // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:44 AM

  Ibiza…on that note, I don’t see Marv starting as many are suggesting…not a very good performance from him yesterday. I do have high hopes for him, but he really does need to show it soon

• 47 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:44 AM

  Jay…I’m hoping for a 3 men in the middle for us. We control games a lot better that way and against Chelsea we will need to match them in the middle. Both teams have defensive errors shall we say and both have attacking options to hurt the other team. This one will be won in midfield imo. I do expect goals, let’s just hope we take our opportunities. HBA is a key player for us, as you say, he can make something out of nothing.

  How good would another Cisse wonder goal be?

• 48 pawl250 // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:45 AM

  Ibiza its the same set piece we have had since Andy Carroll emerged. I mean yes it works with a Fellaini or Carroll type upfront that will win 80% of the headers. BUT and this is massive but STaylor and Williamson probably win 10-20% if that!

  It needs refreshing, I mean throw ins last night it was like watching the game on repeat. AND it was very easily dealt with, and predictable. So much so Atromitos started to put 3-4 players on Williamson surely committing like that allows for other potential scoring opportunities for other players.

  It was the same last season, would be nice to actually aim for the same player we think can win a header in a goal scoring area. Rather than just playing for a knock down across goal.

• 49 WWYCD // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:48 AM

  Transfer window really kicking in and we still look to be sitting on the sidelines

• 50 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:48 AM

  Hatem…Oh I do apologise oh great one. I stand corrected. There was me thinking fans were unhappy with Ashley for lining his pockets and not spending enough money on transfers.

  We have spent gross amounts in the past, but to the best of my knowledge (i’m sure this isn’t as great as yours however) we are now trying to operate within our profit. Bigi? We spent what on him? Hardly a gross amount. Hazard was how much again.

  Get a grip mate and put your Abramovich boner away.

• 51 Ketsbaia9 // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:49 AM

  There’s going to be some unrest in the squad with us making only one signing. Can see Cabaye, Cisse and Ba all leaving in Jan.

• 52 GeordieoftheSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:49 AM

  @24 glad I’m not the only one!

  Simmo isn’t exactly Speedy Gonzalez himself though!

• 53 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:49 AM

  pretty happy if we go with our spurs set piece situation. – Give the ball to Benny. In fact, that should be our Plan B in tactics too – just give the ball the benny! Not sure if any of y’all are basketball fans – but the LA Lakers won a whole bunch of championships by using the tactic of just giving Kobe Bryant the ball lol, think we’d all be happy watching 75 mins of Benny with the ball at his feet running at people!

  ps Plan C- Bang it to shola lol

• 54 WWYCD // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:49 AM

  Ibiza
  Bad mood today mate? U just slammed a fellow blogger am stunned

• 55 toonarmydownsouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:51 AM

  Hatemsbetterthanmessi
  Aye best and bigi really broke the bank, coventry fans are probablu grateful seeing as the clubs owners have left them in finacial ruins.
  Im mean ffs best n bigi cost us no more than any championship club spends per window

• 56 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:51 AM

  Yo…Well seeing as I was the one b*tch*ng about Abramovich on this thread I presumed he was talking to me….possibly a mistake

  Bad mood? Me? Never!

• 57 dmac // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:51 AM

  Id put money on fastest cb being luiz, have you seen some of his storming runs. Also from the start of the season (2 goals) id say ivanovic is faster than cahill aswell.

• 58 davybtoon // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:52 AM

  Liverpool at it again paying real nearly 12mil for a one year loan deal for sahin they just love wasting money

• 59 John Tudor // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:53 AM

  Schizophrenia is a mental illness. Symptoms include hallucinations (such as hearing voices), delusions (false ideas), disordered thoughts

• 60 toonarmydownsouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:53 AM

  WWYCD
  Have to say im with him on this are spending is hardly comparable to chelsea seeing as were trying to operate a self sustaining club

• 61 Conaldo (The Wizard) // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:54 AM

  That certainly sounds like ketabaia. But ketabaia used to be blue. Now he Is a small man with a green black background.

  All this dual-ruddy business has got me paranoid. Is that really you ketabaia? I know, a test. List all the players we NEED to sign in order to make top 4, otherwise we’ll finish mod table ? Go…

• 62 jesperfuglsang // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:54 AM

  Surely the bindippers are not paying £12M for a 1 year loan deal fro Sahin? that’s just ludacris…

• 63 WWYCD // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:55 AM

  Ibiza
  Haha it seemed directed at u tbh but who knows maybe the lad just loves over the top money spending?

• 64 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:56 AM

  @dmac – lol wasn’t an opinion, i was shocked too, just for a centre half last year Cahill topped the highest speed in MPH out of anyone them! Interestingly enough the slowest speed for an outfield player was Spur’s Sandro

• 65 davybtoon // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:56 AM

  Jesper think it works out at somewhere around that idiots, rumour there paying 5m loan 5m in wages n relocation fees

• 66 pawl250 // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:57 AM

  Why is everyone complaining about City and Chelsea?

  All the top clubs do it because the amount of Revenue the CL generates!

  Man Utd were the first, and have been doing it alot longer than Chelsea. Man City are just ridiculous.

  Yes it makes things unfair, especially over time. BUT Arsenal have shown it can be done without massive amounts. Its why I have a massive amount of respect for Wenger and his scouts at Arsenal.

  They buy players on the cheap Fabregas, Nasri, V Persie, Henry, Overmars, Viera, Song and the list goes on and on, then they sell them for massive amounts to fund development. This is eventually what we need to do and will do.

  Dont expect Tiote, Cabaye, Cisse to stay because its very unlikely they will. If Arsenal cant hold onto their players how are supposed to?

  And for all those critics out their banging on about spending massive amounts had the City owners managed to agree a fee with Ashely before turning attention elsewhere it would have been us in that position. AND I can tell you now that you same people complaining would be loving Aguero, Tevez, Silva etc at the club!

  So stop trying to be all morale taking the high ground! We would all love to see the best players week in week out but we simply cannot do that right now. I am happy the club is run right now, but agree we need 1 or 2 players in defence. In return I am not asking for 30m Luiz or whatever am talking 12m on Douglas and Debuchy.

• 67 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:57 AM

  doesnt prove my point but its interesting anyway
  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1377679/The-fastest-slowest-fittest-players-Premier-League-club.html

• 68 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:58 AM

  actually yes it does, just cahill is in the bolton line up!

• 69 WWYCD // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:58 AM

  toonarmydownsouth
  Yeah true but I think his point was bigger clubs out spending smaller clubs so fans opinions are objective in comparison to where their club stands….though not really sure its entirely as easy when its comparing Chelsea’s billionaire dropping money like its water to Cashley looking to make a profit with NUFC

• 70 Szarka // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:59 AM

  Perch and Cissé played 2 full matches, dont think they will play vs Chelsea.

• 71 jesperfuglsang // Aug 24, 2012 at 10:59 AM

  Damn! the world has just gone crazy if you ask my Davy…

  …glad Newcastle are run differently these says long may it last!

• 72 pawl250 // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:00 AM

  Fastest centre back is Distin, he blizted Valencia, Nani, Rooney and Welbeck for pace the other night.

  I also remember the mackems FA Cup game last season the little shit Campbell is fast, but Distin just jogged past him!!

  Distin for me, guy was on par with olympic sprinters when he was with us! And even at 30+ he has still got scary speed!

• 73 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:00 AM

  interesting to see Andy Carroll was the quickest player to play for liverpool too

• 74 Conaldo (The Wizard) // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:01 AM

  Ibiza – maybe he’s a mackem. How much are they paying for fletcher? Or a bindipper how much are they paying for, well everyone. Even the tea lady is on 40grand a week.
  Or maybe a Chelsea fan. Christ they’ve spent a billion pound, enough to fill your starting 11 with messi and Ronaldo 5 times each. An what have they won? League 2-3 times. Champions league after nearly 10years and they hardly deserve to win it. They literally have the money to buy the best players in the world and they still finished below us. Who are sensible financially now, and make great signings which Chelsea try to buy of us for 1500% of the price we pay for them.

• 75 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:03 AM

  All the top clubs do it because the amount of Revenue the CL generates – That’s great and I understand that. If you earn more money, you can spend more money. That is operating within your earnings.

  What I disagree with is clubs spending what they don’t have. Forget the big clubs even, what about West Ham, QPR? It’s ridiculous imo.

  I know why they do it, doesn’t mean I agree with it.

  Sometimes in business you loan money you don’t have and gamble to try and take your business further. When it doesn’t work the business crumbles. That is the business world.

  Arsenal and Wenger I have loads of respect for.

  If players of our team don’t want to stay and build this way, then they will be sold and we will re-invest. I’ll find a way to get over it. Perhaps knowing that somewhere down the line we wont lose our club and have to be renamed Newcastle NewCo or something.

  Each to their own I guess.

• 76 JAMSHA // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:03 AM

  Buyng success 1-2 Buildng Success

• 77 pawl250 // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:06 AM

  Whoever wrote that speed article is on drugs.

  Wilshere is NOT faster than Oxe or Walcott!

  Also I was reading an article last season the fastest player in the league was Kyle Walker! So Bale being faster in the article is full of crap too. Hes fast but Walker is scary fast!

  Liverpool ANDY CARROLL?? LMAO!!!!!

• 78 davybtoon // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:06 AM

  This why pardew speaks the truth that until we make champions league we may lose star players

• 79 Conaldo (The Wizard) // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:06 AM

  Ibiza- Newcastle newco is not as bad as sports direct warriors or something like that. That’s what it would end up being lol.

• 80 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:08 AM

  I clearly lack ambition, but I am really proud of our team. I was having a chat with a Chelsea fan the other day and he was going on about being the champions of Europe. I said congratulations, but should it have taken so long with the money spent? He didn’t really know what to say. I also pointed out that they may be the champions of Europe, but domestically they fell somewhat short

  Yes it’s great to win, but is there really that much pride with it when you buy it? Nice to watch (well, not always in the case of Chelsea), great players in the club (ermmm…pretty sure we do to).

  Anyway, I’m done on the issue. You’re allowed to think what you want.

• 81 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:08 AM

  would love, and i mean love to actually see us win something substantial! But I think if we won it the chelsea/man city way somehow it would mean a little less! Theres nothing better than watching a lad come through the stages of developement squads and into the first team and becoming a top player here! Its one of the reasons we’d love Carroll back, its the reason we were all bhind michael chopra so much when he was here (never seen a lad get as much support to make it as he did) and its the reason we want Adam Campbell to take the world by storm! I’d rather we won the f.a cup playing 4/5 geordies, Tim Krul etc who have developed at the club than winning the premier league with a squad of 25 that cost 1 billion to assemble!

• 82 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:10 AM

  @PAWL – that articles based on the opta stats mate of speeds reached during games, isn;’t based on opinion!

• 83 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:10 AM

  Wizard….Look, I don’t use Sports Direct, but at the end of the day, MA is the man who paid the money for the club and financed / structured our re-building as a team. Might not love what he’s associated with, but it is not the biggest factor in the world. I would like to think SD does pay something towards the stadium or ideally we’ll actually get a sponsor sometime soon that isn’t quite so tacky.

• 84 John Tudor // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:11 AM

  i expel gas from my but @400mph doesnt make me a major gas supplier

• 85 nico // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:11 AM

  Bad news. Adam Johnson is at Blunderland discussing personal terms as we speak.

• 86 ochytoon // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:12 AM

  I have decided to become an official negger. There is a week left of the transfer window and I bet we won’t sign anyone.

• 87 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:13 AM

  Jayphoto….Agreed. A romantic view on things perhaps, but it is why I supported the toon in the first place. The passion. Although saying that, it was around the same time we made a record signing of £15m – double standards perhaps?

• 88 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:14 AM

  Hatem….So is that it then? At least I defend my opinions. Something to think about.

• 89 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:14 AM

  lol Mike Ashleys biggest crime isn’t even against Newcastle United! As someone who’s competed at MMA for a long time, used to pay a fortune for my tapout gear (love that stuff) importing it from USA! Since he’s started selling it at SD so cheap any old bloody Charva wears it! They reckon coz they watch a bit of UFC (not even the best fight company tbh) and wear some cheap SD tapout gear that they’re fighters! Does my head in, my gym is full of them banging on the punch bags as if its 1am on a friday night outside a kebab shop! **rant over**

• 90 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:17 AM

  @ibiza – aye but that 15m signing was Alan Shearer! Hes newcastle made, thats different! remember that day so well…. only time me Da ever picked me up from school, came out and he was waiting there in the car, just looked at me and said “we’ve only gone and signed shearer” literally felt like we’d won the league, was straight round the park banging in goals screaming sheaareer with every finish!

• 91 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:18 AM

  Jay…After hearing that I think it’s clear we need shot of this monster

• 92 WWYCD // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:20 AM

  jayphoto
  I would bet that in the list of MA’s crimes neither NUFC or tapout clothing is at the top

  Though NUFC would be ahead of tapout gear haha

• 93 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:20 AM

  Jay….Agreed 100%. Worth every bloomin’ penny I bet a lot of school yard goals were dedicated to Shearer…I know I dedicated a fair few…happy days

• 94 Zero // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:20 AM

  Eurosport reporting Lille ready to sell Debuchy

  also Kets seriously your a troll and i can see why you get banned from webblogs, i doubt your even a NUFC supporter.

• 95 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:21 AM

  Yo…We mustn’t forget the countless defenseless pies the man has murdered over the years. Ashley out!

• 96 FatmanJoe // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:23 AM

  I’m sure I read an interview at the start of the window with santon saying he wanted to play rb this season. With that in mind I’m still not sure about debuchy. I think a lb that can operate at cb would be ideal for us to improve.

• 97 Beattie25 // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:23 AM

  I still think this week will show the true nature of the beast so to speak.

  From those who hate Ashley and those that defend his honour and those that sit in the fence, I think if we sign 1 or 2 more players we can finally all agree that he is in it for the success of nufc. If we don’t sign anyone we can assume that he doesn’t have the club at heart and we will all argue about how or not we tried to sign playerrs despite not having conclusive proof either way. If we sell anybody for less that what we will all call absurd then he is obvioulsly profiteering from our fine club and is no better than a pirate.

  Interesting week afoot me thinks.

• 98 WWYCD // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:24 AM

  Ibiza
  No one ever thinks of the pies do they?! I believe Cashley is the reason Greggs is taking over Newcastle…I mean come on a Greggs at a airport?! Is that really the first thing everyone wants to see when they arrive at Newcastle?

• 99 FatmanJoe // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:26 AM

  Ha Beattie seems like you might have already made a prediction about which way it’s going to go!

• 100 jesperfuglsang // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:26 AM

  Azpilicuerta has just signed for Chelski for £8-9M and Jarvis for WHam for close to £11M….

  I really have to laugh about the last one; Celta Vigo has just signed Brøndby’s Krohn-Dehli for less than £1M <i know he's not English and slightly older, but common…lol

• 101 WWYCD // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:27 AM

  Boyata going on loan to Twente preparing for life without Douglas? His agent being in London was horse crap I take it?

• 102 Zero // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:28 AM

  I personally think he will progressively buy Rangers, if you think about the money hes sunk into this club with our current squad he could win the SPL every year and qualify for CL, if he even only made it to the group stages it would net him a pretty penny for far less investment. If he does that im not sure if he’d keep NUFC or sell it.

• 103 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:29 AM

  @beattie – I think its not too dire if we don’t sign anyone as the younger players are getting better and better. Would like a striker but if not signing one yet means Campbell makes the bench and gets a few minutes to help his development then I can look on the bright side! Ideally we’d sign 3 players, a centre half, a full back and a striker but I think the most key thing for us is not to lose any players! Theres absolutely no way that we’re gonna get through a transfer window without anyone bidding on any of our players, we have too many good players for that not to happen! Think M.A will have shown he is in it for the good of the club if he doesn’t cash in on anyone!

• 104 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:31 AM

  Sunderland fans have been claiming Johnson is ‘having a medical’ for over a week now.

  At least it’s not just Newcastle who have these ITK morons.

• 105 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:31 AM

  @WWYCD – even if his agent was in London, doesn’t mean he wasn’t talking to Newcastle! Llambias is London based most of the time, Ashley is london based all of the time. Graham Carr lives just outside london in northamptonshire and Alan Pardews family home is in London and splits his time between there and a flat in toon centre!

• 106 jesperfuglsang // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:32 AM

  And how much are Fletcher setting 5under1and back…£12M or so?

• 107 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:32 AM

  Yo…..I hear they’re thinking of renaming the city to Greggscastle, can you confirm this?

  “We are starting our descend into Greggscastle International, please fasten your seat belt and enjoy your pastie, we hope you enjoyed your flight with Greggs Airlines”

  Beattie….That seems the way it will go. I hope we get some players or it’ll be hell on here

  For the record, I am quite sure Ashley is not a good or even a nice man. I’m sure he’s pretty ruthless as are most successful business men. At the end of the day though, successful business men want their businesses to be successful. To what level is the real question. Has Ashley ever said he wants us to win the league this season or even get close? No, he has a plan and we will slowly build towards this…not in one window, therefore this summer will not define the Ashley era imo.

• 108 pawl250 // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:33 AM

  Jayphoto – Opta is on drugs then!

  I have a Sunderland fan in the office whom I asked would you regard Seb Larsson as fast, he said probably the slowest player in the Sunderland team lol

  Yet he was at the same club as Oba Martins, or Andy Carroll as a fine example – the season he left Enrique blitzed him down the wing when he came on as a sub against us at Anfield the same year he left.

  What about the likes of Johnson is he not quicker than Carroll?

  Wilshere, because Walcott, probably Clichy that season werent faster than him.

  Reo Corker? What about Nzogbia or Agbonlahor or even Bent!

  I also asked my mate who is a mackem what he thought of Gyans speed he said quick, yet according to that he was the slowest in the team LOL clearly they have been watching games and picking set periods of watching players like Carroll in a sprint then Johnson jogging around lol

  That article is not accurate! I assure you!

• 109 mattymonkey // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:33 AM

  Jayphone – I’ve never commented before but due to your annoying pre and post match comments, I thought it was necessary. You are clueless.

  More to follow

• 110 jesperfuglsang // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:36 AM

  I had hoped AJ would have gone to Swansea not that ir seems Sinclair is going the other way…

  There should be a rule about a player who are a Nrecastle fan cannot sign for the Scum…it just ain’t right lol

• 111 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:38 AM

  Where have Sunderland got all this money from anyway?

  I assumed they’d be broke for years after Bruce spunked all that money on so much rubbish

• 112 jesperfuglsang // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:38 AM

  *now that it seems

• 113 WWYCD // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:38 AM

  jayphoto
  On the day the that ‘news’ broke I brought up the same thing mate but has been nothing more ocme of it though I suppose the Douglas saga will end on the 26/27th as thats when he can relocate away from Holland time will tell…I would like to think NUFC are a better option than Fulham but they arent a bad team tbf

  Ibiza
  Greggscastle@SportsDirect.co.uk? Free pasty on take off and landing though…hmmm starting to rethink that idea

• 114 jesperfuglsang // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:40 AM

  All this talk about Greggs have rendered me incapable of writing Newcastle…lol

• 115 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:40 AM

  @Ibiza – one of my clients actually met Mike Ashley a while back! He’s (my client) is football mad, and said that Ashley was really passionate about football, jumped at the chance to discuss it, even had a bit of a joke about Newcastle being a better team than stoke (my clients a stoke Box holder, has been for 40 years) and he said Ashley was really excited about the project at newcastle and the coming season….. also said he was a bit of a piss taker lol…. thought it was nice to hear a personal report on him

• 116 ochytoon // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:42 AM

  WWYCD
  Just because Douglas has to (reportedly) reside in Holland till the 25th or whatever, doesn’t mean we couldn’t have announced the deal months ago, when some claimed it had been agreed. There is no Douglas deal as of yet.

• 117 davybtoon // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:42 AM

  I honestly couldn’t care less if Johnson goes to Sunderland bcoz there other 10 players are crap

• 118 mattymonkey // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:43 AM

  Jay photo – stop putting everything in brackets you idiot. Go entertain a ‘client’ you moron

• 119 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:45 AM

  davy

  That’s the spirit

  I’m surprised actually. He’s not an O’Neill player – ie. built like a tractor and has very little talent.

• 120 WWYCD // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:46 AM

  ochytoon
  True true but Twente has said they will sell Douglas and he himself has said he wants to move and wont agree a new contract only got this window and the next to get themselves some money

• 121 WWYCD // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:47 AM

  Johnson thinks moving to Sunderland will help his England chances? Bless him

• 122 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:49 AM

  @wwycd – Yeah i agree on Fulham! Actually wanted Jol to take charge of us before we got Pards in, he’s quietly signing well scouted players suited to the way they play! That Bryan Ruiz is going to be an unbelievable player if he adapts to the premier league, Petric was a very very good player in Germany, Kacaniklic and Frei have absolutely massive potential too! Add that to Dembele, Hangeland and Diarra who are top players, think they might be a dark horse for top 8! Might get panned for saying this, but I think theres a massive chance Man City, Manutd, chelsea, spurs, toon, arsenal, everton, fulham and swansea could all finish above liverpool! (swansea were only a couple points behind them this year, laudrup is twice the manager of Rodgers)

• 123 Ruddy Marveaux-lous // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:49 AM

  So, the only possible line-up I can see for Chelsea is:

  _______________Krul_______________
  Simpson____Saylor___Colo____Santoon
  ____________Tiote__Abeid
  __HBA_________Cabaye_________Jonas
  _______________Ba

  Unless Shola is fit, meaning Cabaye and Ba drop back at the expense of Abeid.

• 124 Beattie25 // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:49 AM

  Ibiza

  Surely the way that Ashley would show signs of building towards something is to invest into the squad of first team players.

  We are not talking 100, 50 or even 30 million here, just significantly more than the 4.6 million invested so far (taking into account the Best deal).

  We have significantly trimmed the wage bill, shipped out the dead weight and brought in some decent prospects. Anita was a big coop but overal it has been a disappointing window thus far.

  If Ashley wants to build he needs to incest and build continued success not just a one hit wonder.

  Investment doesn’t guarantee success but it shows that he wants us to push forward. Spending £6 million on Debuchy and a few million on a CB isn’t too much to ask taking into account that we would still break even finically without Adhley needing to spend his own money.

  As I’ve said I believe that this is the most important window in the clubs recent history and it whistle it won’t define our future or change our history it will tell us a lot about our present.

  I an still confident Ashley will invest but of he doesn’t I for one will be quick to criticise and find it hard to forgive.

• 125 davybtoon // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:50 AM

  Douglas will b gone by Monday I reckon now they have boyota

• 126 WWYCD // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:51 AM

  jayphoto
  Yeah I agree on ur take on Fulham could be quite a team this year. Only one I would take out of that list is Swansea (I still think they will go down if am honest)

• 127 davybtoon // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:52 AM

  Still think debuchy n someone else will b in b4 next Friday

• 128 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:52 AM

  You think Pardew would start Shola up front, against Chelsea, away? Surely not!

• 129 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:53 AM

  davy

  I always have time for your posts mate, but you realise you say stuff like that every week – and they never actually come true (;

• 130 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:53 AM

  Sorry guys….today wasn’t the best day for me to decide to jump in to these sort of issues…moving and all.

  I will try and keep my opinions flowing ( you lucky so and so’s), but forgive me if they’re brief and slow.

  Brief and slow….hmmmm….not my normal mantra

• 131 davybtoon // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:58 AM

  Tds I jus like to stay optimistic mate until the window is shut I still believe we will sign a couple of players

• 132 davybtoon // Aug 24, 2012 at 11:59 AM

  Thing with debuchy terms already agreed its jus simply a case of getting Lille to take somewere in between what they want n what are last offer was

• 133 ochytoon // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:03 PM

  WWYCD
  I still don’t think we’ll sign him. Can’t see MA changing the policy he’s maintained for the rest of the summer. No more signings but we will get a lovely interview from Pardew about how we couldn’t get our targets “over the line”.

• 134 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:04 PM

  davy

  What would you say if we didn’t sign any? Personally I couldn’t care less. It’s hard finding quality players to play backup to our team, and I think we have a good enough squad to surprise everyone again.

  Simpson could be improved, yeah – but I’m fine with him at RB for another 4 months to be honest.

• 135 Dannyo // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:09 PM

  Douglas and Debuchy are the only two that could still happen for me.
  One based on if Lille gets to the CL or not, the other depends on sorting his nationality and maybe decide what he wants to do.
  AP has said 1-2 more in.
  Knowing DL, he knows how to push a deal to the edge if he can, and sometimes gets away with it.
  Time will tell.
  Not very happy if this is what we end up with tho.

• 136 Big Pappa Cissé // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:11 PM

  @ Jayphoyo

  Yeah seeing alot of people doing that lately like. I had my Korean zombie T-shirt on and was talking to some bloke wearing a Tapout one and he didn’t have a clue who Chang sung Jung was and could not name another single fighter other than Anderson Silva

• 137 Big Pappa Cissé // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:12 PM

  Jayphoto rather

• 138 Munster Mag // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:12 PM

  TDS, i’m happy enough with Simmo – he’s very underrated. But I wont be happy if we dont build the team more – it will completely demonstrate a lack of ambition. We have a flexible squad but we are alread suffering – its patently clear what needs to be done – but do we have the desire? I have a feeling we have got cold feet on both players and wont be seeing anymore. Hope I’m wrong though.

• 139 Gateshead-Mag // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:13 PM

  jayphoto

  interesting about big mike, although if you really think about it it would be stranger if he wasnt passionate about the club

• 140 Shane // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:13 PM

  Beattie25′s most controversial statement yet…

  “If Ashley wants to build he needs to incest”

  Wow!

• 141 toon smart // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:14 PM

  I think the only players that will come in this transfer window will be

  1. Erik Pieters
  2. Andy Carroll
  3. Mathieu Debuchy

  It will be an interesting week beginning on the 27th August and i hope it is not disappointing.

• 142 geordie157 // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:15 PM

  Transfer links are very quiet, we really need another defender in at the least.

• 143 Munster Mag // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:17 PM

  Beattie, I agree with you 100% , and i will be quick in return to praise MA if he does spend, as i was when we got Anita. Like you, I am not asking for silly spending, but 12-15 mill on two quality players would be beneficial and not financially crippling. But you wait and see – if he doesnt spend, all the MA adorers will be on here saying

  1. We held our best players
  2. We cleared out players and reduced wages
  3. We got Anita
  4. We are stronger than last year
  5. Its a 5 yr plan

  And quite simply, its a load of pants – because we could be moving forward at a faster rate…..

• 144 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:18 PM

  had one chavvy at the gym try to tell me Fedor Emelienko (who he’d obv never heard of) couldn’t be that good because he’d never been UFC champion……
  Im only 5″9, got quite long hair too, takes ppl by suprise that I’ve competed, he looked at me and said “you’re a bit small for a fighter aint you” he literally had no idea what i was talking about when i replied that i’m jitsu and that Im the same height as anyone on the ground! Im pleased that MMA is taking off, just a shame it attracts so many chavs and morons!

• 145 jj // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:24 PM

  Shame… Benny and AJ either side of cisse or ba rotating would b immense!!!

• 146 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:24 PM

  @bigpapisscisse – Not a big fan of Chan-sung but then i competed at welter-middleweight so always watched those fighters more. (tho anderson silva has made middleweight incredibly boring)
  My guilty pleasure has always been the light heavyweights though, Lyoto Machida knocking out randy couture with a Tobi-Geri had me screaming my flat down lol

• 147 MacToon // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:24 PM

  There’s no disputing Newcastle have improved in the transfer market, have addressed the spiralling wage to income % and ofcourse improved their league position, achieving a place in a European competition.
  However, when people say there’s no money for transfers, Ashley has still made 10′s of millions in player trading profits and according to the last accounts his tat sports shop have not contributed to any of the advertising they receive at SJP apart from paying for the signage on the Gallogate stand which is calculated in thousands, no higher. We have to wait and see if any payments from his other main company are shown on the next accounts.

  It’s easy to make statements and provide us with your opinions but ignorance does run through this blog on a daily if not hourly basis.

  We’re certainly on the up but still plenty of room for improvement imho.

• 148 nico // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:34 PM

  I am not going to be p-s-ed off until the transfer window closes. If it closes and we haven’t brought in at least 2 first team players I will be.

• 149 rivettCatcher // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:36 PM

  Centre Backs!!!

  AP seems to like a smaller no. of players who can play in more than one position well. If we don’t get a CB in we’re one injury away from that run of games last yr where we lost to Wigan, Bolton & Norwich. 4 points instead of none would have qualified us for CL.

  Don’t be fooled by Perch’s performances last night and against Spurs either… as they didn’t have big forwards per se.

  HWTL!

• 150 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:37 PM

  Mac

  I know your stance, and of course I’m aware that it’s not going to change. But just because profit has been made on transfers, doesn’t mean that money is freely available for reinvestment in the squad.

  The last set of accounts showed that – ignoring transfer fees – we made a loss of a few million. Now if we’re still in a position where we need to sell an Andy Carroll every year to turn a profit, then don’t we need to sell before we buy?

  If anyone wants Ashley out of the club, then they’ll probably have to be prepared for a few more transfer windows like this one. The club cannot be sold whilst we owe one man over £200m, because I can’t see it remaining interest free once Ashley has no personal interest in the club.

• 151 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:38 PM

  hypothetical question – what would everyone prefer…. no new signings, but no out goings either…. or 1 big name signing, eg: Loic Remy,carroll, Debuchy etc to come at the expense of Cheik Tiote leaving? Personally I’d take the first option but could see a case for the second aswell with Anita signing and Bigi looking ready even at 18 for first team games, Perch also strong in defensive mid and gosling, Marveaux and jonas all able to play centrally

• 152 GeordieRealist // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:39 PM

  What do you think of this lads? Agree on a couple of their points definitely – especially the crack about the set-pieces needing to change.

  http://whatculture.com/sport/newcastle-united-6-things-we-learned-from-atromitos-draw.php

• 153 rainrix // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:39 PM

  rivett… as i recall we didn’t lose to wigan or bolton during that run

• 154 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:39 PM

  rivett

  That run of games didn’t happen… We beat Bolton twice, we lost to Wigan in April, and we lost to Norwich in December…

• 155 Dannyo // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:43 PM

  @MacToon
  The way i see it, it’s not, and will not ever be, about the ammount of money.
  I think it’s about structure, your own set of rules and abiding to those rules.
  If your workplace does well for itself, making money, do you then decide to change the set of rules that got you there, giving you more freedom, then perhaps risk slipping back to where u were cause u did not keep those set of rules?
  It’s important to keep the structure intact all times, but change things as times changes to adapt.
  Nothing has really changed for us outside better commercial value and attraction of new players and maybe increase fanbase. Due to Europe.

  Keeping the structure as integral to continued sucess imo, and even if i’m dissapointed at the lack of bluechip players, i know that the structure sets us up for long term.
  That’s what we need to keep the faith in, and that’s what the board will do.

• 156 rivettCatcher // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:43 PM

  @rainrix

  Sorry if I have my facts slightly off, but you know the 3 games I’m referring to & the point is still valid, even if my alcohol addled memory of them is a little off :s

  Would be a bad window if no CBs brought in

• 157 Super Magpie // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:48 PM

  Everyone knows for us to have a stronger squad this season, we need a

  FB
  CB
  And a ST.

  Can anyone see us signing all of those, it would be well over £20m.
  I can only see 1 at the max coming in, 2 if anyone leaves.
  It dissapoints me because we have a great chance to push on and we’re not taking it.

• 158 rainrix // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:50 PM

  rivett… i remember the norwich loss and before that it was chelsea? I think thats right then we drew with swansea. As i recall we played norwich with perch and simmo at CB which was suicide since they had holt up front. At that time willo had been out all season and people were so desperate to have him back . How times change. But yeah i agree we do need a CB desperately although perch has shown he can do a job there.

• 159 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:50 PM

  rivett

  We had a bad game against Norwich when Simpson & Perch played at CB together – but that was the only game where we suffered due to lack of CB’s.

  Besides, Perch has stepped up his game massively. His last few games at CB he’s been decent – I’m thinking Spurs last week, and Liverpool last season.

• 160 rivettCatcher // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:55 PM

  Ok, Norwich, Swansea & West Brom. Still the types of teams we’d hope to get 4+ points from, not 1.

  It was when Taylor got injured & Williamson was still crocked. My bad. 6 games without a win I think???

  Otherwise the point still stands We need CENTRE BACKS!!!

• 161 MacToon // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:55 PM

  TDS and Dannyo, I agree to a point and I’m glad that we now seem to run on an operational profit but I see so may people claiming this or that with very little insight so just wanted to try and put some facts in the way.
  I like the way the club is run to a point but again imho I think there could be more improvements.
  That’s all

  I’d also imagine after our small (relatively lol) operational loss last accounts we should now be running on a profit this year without having to sell players to make up the short fall.
  Also, what Ashley does with any profits, whether from player sales or operational profits is his decision, if he wants to pay his loan back so be it but I get a little annoyed at people’s guess work when there is imformation around to give more detailed assessments.

• 162 Transfer Sage // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:56 PM

  People worry way too much.

  So what if we don’t win the league or make the champions league? It’s no the end of the world.

  As long as we are competitive in our games (which we are) and are in the premier league anything else is a bonus.

  Jut enjoy watching our current lads play as its entertaining and if anyone else comes if good, if not who cares.

  Yes to improve we could do with a coupes defenders but no need to panic.

  Look at it this way. If our defence is a gambles through injuries then at least we will have to attack and try to score even more goals.

  Football is jut a game we watch for enjoyment. We don’t need to let it get us angry and stressed out. Leave that to the manager and players.

• 163 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:58 PM

  GeordieRealist

  The stupid thing is that Pardew said at the end of last season that they were well aware that set pieces needed changing – we didn’t score from an indirect free kick all year! And I’m pretty sure we only scored from 1 corner.

  But nothing seems to have changed. It’s the same old ‘lump it to Willo/Taylors head’ routine.

  Ben Arfa’s quick thinking the other day got us the goal from the corner – but I highly doubt that planned in training (;

• 164 breno95 // Aug 24, 2012 at 12:59 PM

  @TDS
  Read your earlier post and very well expressed however you said that the club cannot be sold whilst it owes one man i.e MA £200m. The club could be sold as he is the owner. All that would happen is that the club itself would have a value as a Ltd entity in its own right (let’s say £200m). MA would then add to that value what he is owed. Therefore any potential new owner would have to part with £400m to become the outright owner.
  I for one am very pleased that as a business on and off the pitch the club is doing very well and has a sound structure in relation to all aspects that result in a successful business in both finance and football.
  On an even better note, Man Utd have confirmed that their transfer business is complete which concludes any move for Tiote.
  My 11 for Chelsea:-
  Krul
  Simpson
  Colo
  Saylor
  Santon
  Tiote
  Anita
  Cabaye
  Jonas
  Marveaux
  Ba

  Subs:-
  Harper
  Perch
  Cisse
  Ben Arfa
  Obertan
  Amilfatano

  Purely because we are away

• 165 Sazzer // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:00 PM

  Biglia must be better than Gosling. Offer a loan swap.

• 166 BelfastMagpie87 // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:02 PM

  Cant believe Adam Johnson is going to Sunderland.

  Any one no how much for??

• 167 davybtoon // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:03 PM

  Tds if we didn’t sign anyone I would b ok with that as long as pardew is prepared to giv the younger lads there chance to step up

• 168 Dannyo // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:05 PM

  @MacToon
  Aye, it’s quite clear that there’s still room for improvement.
  And most likely lots of it.
  Just look at the roller coaster ride we’ve had durings MAs regime.
  Fortunatly, i think we have an owner who knows how to improve and better things.
  Thereare many things that has been improved, especially over the last two years, many which are confirmed.
  Also, there are let downs in areas too, but it’s about taking the bad with the good imo.

  Dunno if anyone else has thought about this, but when we have any “big” transfer, AP usuallt thanks MA for it.
  That makes me think that AP has taken a chunk of the money to pay of the debt, then gives “handouts” for players. DL also said MA had sanctioned a big transfer this summer of his own money.

  So we don’t know everything, but i know enough to be content.
  I still want an FB and CB mind, we’re ok with Strikers until January

• 169 toonLYF // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:05 PM

  alright lads, see Dedryck Boyata has joined FC Twente on loan for the season, pretty much confirms Douglas’ exit.

  Personally rate Boyata highly, i would’ve been happy if we had just got him in, as at 21 year old, he’d be more content to play back up to Taylor and Colo, but can also do the job more than convincingly. Excellent prospect.

• 170 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:05 PM

  Mac

  All anyone can really go off is the latest set of published accounts – which at this point are almost a year and a half old, so not really relevent. I think it’s just the way the internet works these days – something gets banded around as a suggestion, and within the hour it’s turned into fact.

  The main thing that gets me, is that I honestly have no idea how we’re not turning a profit yet (although like you said, we may just have crossed that line this last year).

  If we replaced every single one of those tacky SD signs with a paid sponsor, I’d guess (literally, guess) that we’d rake in another couple of million a year. And then there’s the 1 or 2 million we’d likely get if they were actually interested in selling the naming rights. I refuse to believe that the club is as optimised as is often claimed.

• 171 tarie4 // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:08 PM

  Tds and dannyo.

  Couldn’t agree more. I think pple need to realize that with Newcastle now, its not about the price tag, but the quality i.e Anita 23 cost 7 mill, Henderson and Allen both cost 15 mill each. (there abouts) lets see who has a better season.. Now i would like people to look at the team that started against man U when we got promoted, against arsenal last season and against spurs this season. Has there been an improvement in quality?? If so, why shud we change our transfer policy?? We are mo Farah and not mr Bolt. Our development as a top club is a marathon and not a sprint ala man city.

• 172 toonLYF // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:08 PM

  also surprising that Johnson has no better option than Sunderland, he will improve their attack a fair bit mind as he can score a few goals. They’ll still do very well to finish top half though, even with AJ

• 173 Munster Mag // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:10 PM

  I think its laughable that a poster like me or Mactoon can be mildly critical of our lack of signings, and not want to banrupt the club , yet we are told we are panicking, and whether we would want an alternative owner. All I want to see is improvement in the playing staff – I’m not screaming for a kaka or whatever, just would like 2 good additions – to strike while the iron is hot etc. I like many aspects of how the club is run, but dont insult my intelligence by suggesting that MA is beyond criticism, or that asking for 2 good players is in some way unfair, or a sign of panic. Read comments by people like me and MacToon and Beattie and you will see that.

• 174 Gateshead-Mag // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:10 PM

  points on last night

  gosling-is not an attacking midfielder, he has neither the pace or the creativity, if he has a future it will be futher back or rb, neither of which i think we will use him for

  obertans-second half performance was a million times better than the first, personally i would only use him in less important games this season, hopefully he will find some form, but how long do we persist with him??

  tavernier-looks like he will be a quality player but needs to work on his positioning (as im sure he will), looked good on the ball, going forward and tackling

  marveux and anita look quality although marveux didnt have much time on the ball last night

  bigi-looks steady as a rock

  amilfatano-came on and looked class (a right footed ben arfa in a few years maybe??)

  adam campbell-definately got a bright future

  cant wait for the home leg, or saturday for that matter

  HWTL

• 175 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:11 PM

  Just want to chip in again. Whilst I have said things are good, I have also said they are improving and still need improvement. I think the main issue between “sensible” fans is the rate in which we do so.

  The end goal is the same I think. Financial stability and a competitive squad.

• 176 MacToon // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:12 PM

  TDS, agreed.
  It seems from what I can gather no money is forthcoming from his other business which ofcourse leaves a big hole for sponsorship as you’ve highlighted.
  watch this space, we may be testing Ashley’s resolve on the naming rights soon

  and Dannyo, hate to do this twice in one post but agree too mate ……….

• 177 Transfer Sage // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:12 PM

  Well said tarie

  You can only take the man city approach of you have such a rich owner that even if you don’t get champs league you are ok financially.

  If we spent 50 million plus and then silly wages and never made the top 4 we could go under.

  But at the same time as a fan it’s nice to see a top player brought in. I’m happy though just enjoying watching what we have already.

• 178 MacToon // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:14 PM

  Munster Mag, you make little sense of my posts I see.

• 179 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:16 PM

  Munster…The club are looking at additions. Please correct me If I am wrong, are you of the opinion we should have paid the extra amount for Debuchy to get him over the line?

  Imo, that would weaken our future negotiations with other clubs. I hear a lot (not saying from you) of people saying we just need to pay that extra £1-2m to progress now. Well, that’s just not the way Ashley runs his business. Is it right? Open for debate (obviously), all i do know, as Tarie points out above, we are slowly progressing. We seem to be bringing in the right type of players for fees that most clubs can’t even get close to, yet we’re progressing at a faster rate that any of our rival clubs.

• 180 MacToon // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:16 PM

  Munster Mag, it seems I had little understanding of your post, many appologies, rushing out now so I blame that ha ha.
  Again, apologies.

• 181 Zebras4Life // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:18 PM

  We are not high up in the league on spending. We are in the bottom half in money spent on salaries. Another day with no signing. Bigi and Anita have both been impressive. We need 2 more for quality depth. Every morning I go to work and my friends make fun of our cheap a$$ owner. They don’t understand his lack of spending. Especially this off-season. Oh well it’s my choice to support our great club. Here’s to hoping. HWTL

• 182 toonLYF // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:19 PM

  well said Gateshead-Mag

• 183 Munster Mag // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:19 PM

  Nee botha mayte, as they dont say in Munster. HTL!

• 184 jayphoto // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:20 PM

  think Johnson wanted a move back to the northeast, that fact that he’s moving to sunderland suggests either we were not in for him or sunderland are paying him crazy wages! Think sunderland will have a decent side going forward next year! Mclean and Johnson on the wings with Sessegnon and Fletcher up front is very decent! Problem for them when they play us will be our central midfield will eat them alive, aswell as we’ve got the mackem slayer, and the fact their defense is awful!

• 185 BelfastMagpie87 // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:23 PM

  I really like Adam Johnson too ffs lol

  Good signing.

• 186 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:23 PM

  Munster

  If you’re going to post a rant, at least address the people you’re aiming it at…

  I don’t see anyone making any sort of claims towards your posts, Beatties posts or MacToons posts…

  Apologies if I’ve overlooked them

• 187 Ketsbaia9 // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:25 PM

  We are showing a lack of ambition if we don’t sign 3 more first team players.

• 188 ~Anita One Bites the Dust~ // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:25 PM

  http://www.westlondonsport.com/chelsea/terry-could7-miss51-newcastle-clash?

• 189 MacToon // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:25 PM

  Cheers Munster.

  OK, I’m out but a question before I go and will check back later:

  Alot of people have mentioned a £20 million transfer kitty for this window, I have never seen anything from the club saying this was so, from Pardew or anyone higher……… So where did that amount come from?

  cheers in advance.

• 190 HBA Blood Twister // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:25 PM

  Can’t believe we missed out on Fletcher! A snip at £14m. LOL

• 191 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:28 PM

  MacToon….No idea mate. It was very early season and could just be rubbish…wouldn’t that be a shock?

  Anita…..Shame. Would love to see his miserable face when we beat them. Over confident?

• 192 ~Anita One Bites the Dust~ // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:30 PM

  Hopefully he will be in the stands, if he is unfit.

  David Luiz may not be fully fit, if Terry isn’t fit, they are stuck with Cahil and?

  I can’t think of any other CB’s at Chelsea.

• 193 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:30 PM

  Mac

  I know you’re gone, but hopefully you’ll catch this later.

  The point you make about ignorance works both ways. A few times every day I see people claiming that transfer money should ‘come out of the £50m we got from the PL’, etc.

  It seems that people are assuming the club is making large profits, purely because of all the talk about how well we’re run.

  The simple facts are that we don’t have an owner willing to inject more cash into the club, we don’t have an owner willing to seek outside investment, and (possibly until this year) the club is not making a profit.

  The money has to come from somewhere, but I just don’t see it.

• 194 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:30 PM

  People talk about lack of ambition if we don’t buy players and that it’s a cop out when Pardew says “We’ve managed to keep all our best players”.

  Are the same people saying we need to buy players the ones that said Ashley will always sell? Surely holding on to our top players does show ambition and that we’re trying to build something at Newcastle? For me it does.

• 195 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:33 PM

  I would also say, I think it’s fair to assume (dangerous I know) that money is available for the right player or should I say, right deal? We seem to be or have been making offers. Maybe these are just to try and please the masses and suck in fools like me to believing

• 196 JAMSHA // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:34 PM

  QPR are believed to have entered
  talks to sign Inter Milan’s Brazil
  international goalkeeper Julio Cesar,
  32 – Full story: Daily Telegraph

  QPR like Buyn Aged Players…

• 197 ~Anita One Bites the Dust~ // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:35 PM

  Ibiza,

  Don’t you find it funny, that one of the lads on this blog is questioning the club’s ambition, is the same lad that wanted NUFC to sign Scharner. Surely signing Scharner and being so persistent about it shows a lack of ambition in itself, doesn’t it?

• 198 Gateshead-Mag // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:36 PM

  ibiza

  your fighting an up-hill battle mate, when it comes to things people feel passionate about ie our club, people will very rarely change their outlook on things no-matter how well balanced your opinion is, i for one am very posative about how we are going about our buisness and how we are being ran, if people want to moan and groan all the time thats fine, i just think lifes a far happier thing if you try to see the posatives instead of always searching for the negatives

• 199 Big Pappa Cissé // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:36 PM

  I would love to know how much the Mackems have spent over the last few seasons like

• 200 ~Anita One Bites the Dust~ // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:37 PM

  QPR are quickly becoming as big a joke as Liverpool are.

  It’s only a matter of time before Hughes get’s sacked.

• 201 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:37 PM

  Anita….Scharner would have added something special to the team, surely you know this?

• 202 JAMSHA // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:38 PM

  Chelsea
  Complete Signing Of
  Marseille Right-Back Cesar
  Azpilicueta

• 203 yorkshireToon // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:38 PM

  I’m getting sick of people jumping on the backs of anyone who says we need to invest on players now, because the simple fact is we do.

  I agree with slowly building but 2 more players at 6 million a pop and a net spend of 13 mill is slow building of investment through a summer! Especially for a club our size.

  And I know its a goo thing if we keep out best players but it is by no means an achievement an on my eyes it is a failure.

  If you don’t move forward you move backwards and this will happen. If we invest no more and people are happy with an 8th place finish (not saying it will happen but competition Is a lot tougher this year) do you think the likes of cabaye, Ben Arfa, ba, cisse will be happy with that?

  It isn’t all abou pleasing fans of the players don’t see investment and progression they will leave and to gy back to my earlier point it would only be around 13 mill more.

  I’m reserving my judgement till the end of the window and an extremely pleased with the way we are being run but this whole just keeping our best players is pathetic for a club our size.

• 204 ToonJovi // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:38 PM

  Thing is with Adam Johnson, great player who I would love us to sign but he is desperately after first team football! He is a very inconsistent player who wouldn’t walk into our first 11 at all and for his transfer fee and wages he would have to be an automatic first teamer to warrant him coming in! He would get games what with our busy schedule but then there’s Marveaux and Obertan who Pardew believes in!

• 205 Gateshead-Mag // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:38 PM

  anita

  say what you like about kets, but dont bring sharner into this

  especially not to make a point with ibiza hahaha

• 206 Gateshead-Mag // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:39 PM

  anyway im off

  see you’s later, hope you’s have sorted this ashley mess out by the time im next on

  toodles

• 207 HBA Blood Twister // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:39 PM

  I think our squad is in good shape. If we want to attract quality young players to the club we have to be willing to play the ones we have. If we sign more first team players, when are the likes of Tav, Vuckic, Abeid, Bigi, Sammy, Good, Streete, Fergie, Campbell and Amalfitano gonna get games to develop.

  A sensible club startegy is to have to have the right balance of first team players and developing players in order to keep everyone happy. Player harmony is the most important thing. I wouldn’t want us to ruin that by having to many “1st team players”.

• 208 stu.toon // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:40 PM

  My money’s on Hughes to be the first manager to be sacked this season

• 209 ~Anita One Bites the Dust~ // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:40 PM

  @Gateshead.

  I couldn’t help it. I’ve been quiet about Ket’s and his fantasy signing’s for the majority of the time. But to see him question the clubs ambition is just too much….

• 210 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:42 PM

  yorkshire

  Who’s jumping on anyones back? I don’t see it…

• 211 dave 1961 // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:43 PM

  ToonDownSouth
  seems you are rewriting history Ashley purchased the club for £134m and the club debts totaled £84m £50m that was a mortgage to expand the stadium any other loses are due to the massive mistakes personally made by Ashly, but like all business men he will pass on his losses to us the customer.

• 212 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:44 PM

  Can someone please tell me where the money we’re meant to be spending should come from?

  I’d just like a straight forward answer from someone…

• 213 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:45 PM

  Gateshead…I don’t do it to try and change peoples opinions, that would be pointless and whose to say I am right? I do enjoy hearing others views, after all we’re all hear to learn new things. I like to think if someone makes a valid point I will think about it and perhaps alter the way I view things. I wasn’t after all born with an all knowing knowledge of life or NUFC

  I don’t see the need to panic at the minute. I can understand to a degree that we would benefit with 2-3 key signings, I also think though that the club recognise this and are trying to get those players in, but under their terms as with all the great acquisitions the club have made the past 3 years. People poke fun at fans like me harping on about the 5 year plan, but it’s clearly working (Winning the Championship, 12th and then 5th), why do they think they would or should alter from it? Because we’re so close? Whilst I can be optimistic, I see this more as being realistic. We will not drift off in to the great unknown without 2-3 players. We may not progress in Europe or domestic cups this season, but we should be able to qualify again and further strengthen the team and then give it another go.

  Only downside is, some players may not be willing to wait. Well, not a lot we can do about that really. Either they buy in to the idea or they don’t. Whilst we have them they can carry us forward and then finance the next load of hopeful future stars.

  I’m just happy with the progress….what a terrible guy

• 214 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:45 PM

  dave 1961

  I’m rewiriting history? I think you’ll find that I’m simply referencing the clubs accounts.

  And even if the debt is just £130m, do you think that changes my point?

• 215 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:46 PM

  £80m rather. Im trying to do too many things at once here.

• 216 ~Anita One Bites the Dust~ // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:46 PM

  Chelsea may be forced to play either Ferreira or Ivanovic in the centre tmr beside Cahill.

  It’s a real possibility that Neither Luiz or Terry will be fully fit for the game. Ferreira Hasn’t had a lot of game time recently, and Ivanovic in the Centre would negate his attacking prowess down the right hand side.

  On top of that, Chelsea fielded quite a strong side against Reading, and were forced to put in a performance for most of the game as they were behind for like 50 minutes or so. A few of their starters may be a bit lacklustre due to fatigue. Especially aging legs like Lampard.

  I reckon Pardew will play very defensive in the first half, then switch it up in the second half for a fast Counter attacking style.

• 217 Ketsbaia9 // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:47 PM

  £12m’s a good bit of business by Sunderland.

• 218 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:47 PM

  God….Too serious on here…I called Hyphen “Gateshead”

• 219 ~Anita One Bites the Dust~ // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:48 PM

  @ToonDownSouth.

  Rumor has it, Ashley found a pot of gold on the other side of the Rainbow.

• 220 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:49 PM

  Anita

  Seeing as I highly doubt anyone will actually answer the question, I’ll accept some jokes instead

• 221 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:49 PM

  I’ll agree with Kets. That was probably £12m well spent by the mackems as it may well be the difference between mid table and relegation.

  Newcastle on the other hand are not in that situation.

• 222 nufc90 // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:50 PM

  It’s already been said… We have targets, we pay the price we want and if we can’t get them we wait. There’s clearly money to spend and I’m 100% for this policy. Still think there’s a couple of deals in the pipeline; Lille need money if they don’t qualify for the CL, we’re obviously gonna launch a deadline bid for Carroll and we may get Douglas. If we don’t get any of them I think we’ll wait until January and try again

• 223 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:51 PM

  We’ll also go back to the idea of, maybe they’re waiting to see if we qualify for the EL. I expect us to be busy after Thursday if we finish the job off. They may not throw money around, but they’re not fools.

• 224 yorkshireToon // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:54 PM

  Toondownsouth – In general nowadays if you have a bad word to say about Ashley or the amount we spend you get called on it. Not necessarily now just in general.

  Like the free advertisement should be another player or two a year all together.

  Still waiting for the end of the widow though I think it’s gone quiet on out transfer front because we are waiting for the other team to crack – Carroll/ debuchy etc and I also think there’s a player we’ve not been linked with that we are probably working on, which is who pardew was talking about recently with “a surprise or whatever”

• 225 t00ntime // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:54 PM

  About the daily mail speed article, it is true.
  Wilshere isnt faster then walcott but how they did the test he is.
  Walcott runs foward and walks back, giving him a slow average

  Wilshere been a CM must jog/run for 90mims giving him a high average

  Although in a standard race wilshere wudnt be able to keep up on average in 90mins it sounds about right

  The article cant be taken seriously though as its not there actual speed just an average of there speed over 90mins

• 226 euanpolo // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:54 PM

  My revised team for Chelsea:

  Krul
  Simpson – S.Taylor – Coloccini – Santon
  Cabaye – Tiote
  Amalfitano – Ben Arfa – Gutierrez
  Ba

  Subs: Elliot, Williamson, R.Taylor, Gosling, Marveaux, Sh. Ameobi, Cisse

• 227 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:55 PM

  From SS

  Newcastle have enjoyed their recent visits to Stamford Bridge. Last season they headed back north with all three points following a 2-0 win while the season before they drew 2-2 in the Premier League and won 4-3 in the Carling Cup. The season before that the match ended 0-0 so you have to go back to December 2007 to find Chelsea’s last home win over the Magpies. The Blues may have started with two straight wins but they had to battle past Reading at the Bridge in midweek and Newcastle, who started with an impressive 2-1 win over Spurs, are clearly a step up. The 9/2 is tempting but I’m going to go for a repeat of last year and back Papiss Cisse to score a brace. He actually bagged two goals in three of his last five away games at the end of last season (at Chelsea, Swansea and West Brom) so he’s worth a cheeky poke at 14/1 with Sky Bet to score two (or more) again.

• 228 Sazzer // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:56 PM

  ToonDownSouth
  As long as we are not spending money but investing it in players with potential to be sold for double that amount. We should be able to afford lots of players around 1-10 m £.

• 229 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:57 PM

  Yorkshire….Maybe people defend Ashley to quickly on here as criticism has a way of snowballing at times.

  A bit like the negativity during the first half last night. Before half time some had half the team needing to be sold. A blog needs balance, but apologies if it feels people are being jumped on, perhaps it’s just a differing opinion though?

• 230 Super Magpie // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:57 PM

  Ibiza

  Then surely they have no confidence in our squad to see if we qualify.
  1-1 going Into a home leg against a second rate greek team ( no disrespect to them). And if they have no confidence then shouldn’t they bringing players in? Obviously it won’t work like that though.

  Regardless of next week, I might be too complacent but I can’t see us not qualifying. Otherwise it would one of the biggest upsets in our European history.

• 231 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:58 PM

  http://www.newcastleunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/greek_boss_we_arent_going_to_toon_to_get_defeated_754096/index.shtml

  Oh yes you are

• 232 Big Pappa Cissé // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:59 PM

  @ Kets

  12 million ? good bit of business ?

  we got Cisse and Ba for less than that. I’d love to know what your idea of a bad bit of business is like

• 233 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 1:59 PM

  yorkshire

  I don’t know about a couple of players, but it would likely be at least a couple of million. I’m not really sure on how much advertisement sells for though.

  I just don’t really like the way they went about it – if Ashley wanted to advertise his company, he should have just said so. The lying makes it far far worse.

• 234 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:00 PM

  Super….Upsets do happen though. Ashley wont want to add 2-3 first team players when we already have a squad capable of competing in the PL alone (discounting domestic cups rightly or wrongly).

• 235 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:00 PM

  Ibiza

  Cisse is very unlikely to play, so the article seems a little redundent

• 236 HBA Blood Twister // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:01 PM

  @t00ntime

  I’d be surprised if Reina could average 16mph while standing in goal.

• 237 dave 1961 // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:02 PM

  what i should also point out Ashly has had more opportunity to sell the club than the two wildly known IE the owners of man city and the singing fish, the reason he has not sold is he simply does not want to sell, i got an encrypted email that showed a large offer was made from the Qatar foundation, if you look at Ashley’s business history he seems to make many off the cuff deals, but as hes so wealth i would guess he more astute than that and he’s working to a plan, at the moment sports direct are making record profits, just so happens to coincide with his saturation advertising at sjp. we will go as far as Ashly needs us to go, and in the time frame Ashley wants, and it does not matter what anyone expects it will only happen if Ashley wants it to.

• 238 ToonJovi // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:02 PM

  Thing is with Adam Johnson, great player who I would love us to sign but he is desperately after first team football! He is a very inconsistent player who wouldn’t walk into our first 11 at all and for his transfer fee and wages he would have to be an automatic first teamer to warrant him coming in! He would get games what with our busy schedule but then there’s Marveaux and Obertan who Pardew believes in!!

• 239 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:02 PM

  Super Magpie

  I assume you haven’t witnessed any of our cups runs in the last decade?

  I’m genuinely terrified haha. There’s just something abou NUFC which means we cock up when we’re clear favorites. Give me Inter or Shaktar any day haha.

• 240 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:03 PM

  TDS…He only needs a 5 minute cameo, after all, he scores when he wants

  On the advertising, it wouldn’t have gone down well, but if there is no money being paid to the club he should say so.

• 241 Super Magpie // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:04 PM

  We’re unbeaten at stamford bridge for nearly 5 years?
  And even in that game we were beat by an offside goal. ( no surprise there). Well then, that gives me much optimism for tomorrow.

  Krul
  Simpson Saylor Colo Santon
  Tiote Jonas
  Ben arfa Cabaye Ba
  Cisse

  We can’t play 4-4-2. In the 1st half last week we were getting overrun. Changed to 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 at HT and played much better in the 2nd half.

• 242 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:05 PM

  ToonJovi

  true, Don’t get me wrong, I’m absolutely gutted he’s going to Sunderland. But winger is the very last place we need to strengthen!

• 243 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:06 PM

  Dave…Don’t know about the offer, but will take your word on it. Agree on what you say about Ashley though. He obviously has mainly business interests at heart, but for that to work, the club has to do well. So it’s fine by me for now.

• 244 yorkshireToon // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:07 PM

  Toondownsouth – surely naming the stadium the sports direct arena must be worth atleast around 10 million a year and then you have lard everywhere and that..

  Ibizatoon – I love a good debate and in general on many occasions I’ll play devils advocate just for the sake of seeing how the argument goes! Hope Im not doing it now..

  I just don’t like the almost cult status some fans are giving Ashley in the way that they think he can no be critiicised now ( didn’t think I’d ever say that) anyway will see at the end of the window!

  Off back to work anyway so won’t reply lads nice chatting

• 245 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:07 PM

  Super…That was the main reason I posted it. I hadn’t realised our recent record was that good at the Bridge. Although, past results count for little really, still bodes well. HWTL!

• 246 ToonDownSouth // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:08 PM

  yorkshire

  Lambias claimed it would be worth £10m, but plenty of business experts said that was bollocks – £2m/£3m at most apparently.

• 247 Ian Toon // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:08 PM

  Ibiza- you’ve been on here a lot longer than me,but it seems that some posters just go with the flow and want to be on what they
  perceive to be the winning side. others whether genuinely or
  otherwise get the wrong end of the stick and others have an in built
  bias towards players/club either positive or negative. Clearly not all
  share your convictions ( I am not being sarcastic) – I believe that you and I will change or minds when circumstances and powers of persuasion prevail. To emphasise some of the above-Lee Ryder star
  marks in the Chronicle have Tavernier and Gosling with 7 and Obertan
  with 6. Tavernier was our poorest player. Also along with Gosling and
  Bigi. Obertan was worth a 7- I admit I have been known to over mark Cabaye because he’s my favourite. Ibiza- Keep fighting the good fight
  Munster Mag- I don’t agree with a lot of your points but you have
  constant issues and you are respectful to the younger fan.
  Perch positional change for Simpson and Colo at CB . Hope
  rumours on Tiote are untrue otherwise Anita ( who was our best player
  last night) to come In.
  he’s my favourite

• 248 Super Magpie // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:10 PM

  TDS
  That’s why I said European history.

  Ibiza
  Yes, but our 2nd eleven will need strengthing. We need some creativity in there which is why we didn’t win yesterday. We had lots of the ball, but didn’t make that many chances.

  We also need defenders.

• 249 Transfer Sage // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:10 PM

  I’m not criticising anyone or saying it would be good to invest. I’m just questioning why people are so worried. This team will still finish top 8 comfortably I believe.

  Also saying things like “cabaye or cisse may leave if we don’t improve, etc etc” is rubbish.

  Even if we get champ league they will leave if the right offer comes in. If a regular champs league club or title challenging side comes in they will be off.

  Just look at arsenal for that example. They spend more than us but still have lost some top players the last 5 years.

• 250 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:11 PM

  Yorkshire….We must always play devils advocate. If you don’t question your own beliefs how can you keep in check with reality?

  Of course he can be criticised, no one is perfect, especially our fat controller

• 251 AMEOBI // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:12 PM

  Kets,

  Your posts make no sense, wrong site? This is nufc not safc u pr1ck!!

• 252 JAMSHA // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:17 PM

  dont u think obertan is fast as walcott

• 253 dave 1961 // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:25 PM

  Transfer Sage
  it might simply be that we are close to crossing the line to be challenging for cl place, to me its always thee right time to invest when we are on the upward part of the roller coaster, but what fans should realize that if you always insult Ashly when he does not do what we want we just make it less likely he will want to, ever.

• 254 Ketsbaia9 // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:25 PM

  Bad business is all of Liverpool’s recent signings apart from the Sahin loan.

  Jarvis was also a waste of £10.75 for West Ham.

  Dawson at £9m is a ridiculous amount. He’s around 28. They could sign Mbiwa for that price who’s only 22.

  Don’t rate Podolski but Giroud was good business.

  Fulham have also made some good signings and will be a threat to us this season as we have only signed Anita.

  We need to have more ambition. Can’t see us finishing above 5th this season with the current squad.

• 255 Ketsbaia9 // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:27 PM

  Obertan’s fast but he hasn’t got a footballing brain. If he doesn’t improve this season, we will need to get rid of him.

  The same applies to Gosling and Tavernier.

  Willimason and Simpson should be sold and replaced with Debuchy and Mbiwa.

• 256 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 24, 2012 at 2:34 PM

  Ian…Things change, people change and therefore so should opinions. After all, my first opinion of you was that you were being sarcastic towards me….in fact, it took a while to realise you weren’t

  Munster has always been respectful as far as I have seen, so I have no problem with him and enjoy engaging with him.

  Super…Agreed. They are the areas we need to improve and over time, we will

• 257 tenpointnine // Aug 24, 2012 at 3:58 PM

  Beattie25 @ 124
  “If Ashley wants to build he needs to ‘incest’ and build continued success not just a one hit wonder”

  Are you trying to say Mike Ashley is a Mother******?
  Behave! Lol!

• 258 USToonRaider // Aug 24, 2012 at 4:56 PM

  Been a long time reader, decided to start posting a few opinions from across the pond.

  With the expectation of group play in the Europa Cup after the results in Greece, the team seems poised to perform well in league play or Europe but without some added depth, not both.

  As noted above, the team is a quality CB, RB and Striker away from meeting the challenge of playing Thurs/Sun fixtures weekly.

  The center midfield depth is stellar with the addition of Bigi and Anita, however, we cannot afford to lose anyone to a last minute transfer.

  Certainly the depth/youth of the squad bodes well for the future, however in the toughest league in football, it will be the quality of the whole team from starting 11 to the end of the bench that can yield the results we seek.

  I would add Debuchy, find a quality CB (not a fan of Douglas) and either actually play Campbell or find that 4th quality striker.

  Thoughts?

• 259 89Norcal // Aug 24, 2012 at 5:55 PM

  I agree USToonRaider, and I see Europa League as a blessing for Cisse and Ba. Not to say they can’t work together, but I think alternating them as the primary striker in Europa games will do well for their confidence.

  Anita is looking fantastic, putting those great long balls forward, but honestly he should player higher up, his technical ability and decision making would help tremendously to supply cisse and ba.

  First I was set on Guidetti, but Campbell has all the qualities I liked about Guidetti already, huge speed and a tireless worker. Can’t wait to see how he develops.