The Newcastle United Blog

News, Views and Commentary On Newcastle United Football Club By Ed Harrison, A Proud Geordie And Lifelong Fan

The Newcastle United Blog header image 2
Header created by reader Tony Anderson
Howay The Lads!!



Newcastle Linked With French Center-Back

11:17 pm, Monday, August 27th, 2012 by Ed Harrison · 126 Comments

The Daily Mail is reporting that Newcastle scouts were at the Montpellier game on Sunday checking on one of their long term targets - Montpelier captain Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.

Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa - Newcastle still interested

Montpellier lost that game 1-0 at home to Marseilles, and it remains to be seen if Newcastle will try to sign the defender, whom they have tracked for the last year, and Chelsea scouts were also reported to be at the game yesterday.

Mapou can play anywhere along the back four, so we think he would be an excellent acquisition for Newcastle, but it’s debatable what Newcastle would be willing to pay for the 8 times capped French U21 International.

Newcastle are also in with a chance of signing FC  Twente center-back Douglas for around £4M, so Newcastle could well be weighing up which defender would be the better buy for the club.

The Montepliier captain starred last season when the small French club won the French Championship for the very first time in their history, and beat out moneybags Paris Saint Germain, and good for them.

Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa has played for Montpellier since back in 2006 when he made his debut, and he has so far played for the club 190 times with four goals, and we think this lad would be a great signing by Newcastle.

We hope it happens – this week.

What do you think?

Comments welcome.

Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and +1 us on Google+

Google+

You can also reach Ed at admin@nufcblog.com



Tags: Newcastle News · Transfer News and Rumours · Transfer Target





126 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Kyo // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:20 PM

    Would love a CB, be it Douglas or Mbiwa.

  • 2 ONLINE GUY // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:20 PM

    Morning all !!.

  • 3 JackButler // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:23 PM

    Isn’t this the lad that said that ‘Newcastle would be a great stepping stone for me to join AC Milan’ ???

  • 4 Super Magpie // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:27 PM

    JB

    Which is exactly why I don’t want him. Great player nonetheless. But if we’re seen as a stepping stone to another player then all interest should be ended immediately.

  • 5 ToonDownSouth // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:28 PM

    Do you guys not think that Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Ba etc. have aspirations to play for bigger clubs??

  • 6 NUFC_LEAZES END // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:29 PM

    @jack butler

    Naa that was Lionel messi mate

  • 7 lukes26 // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:29 PM

    Or perhaps…..Remy?

  • 8 JackButler // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:30 PM

    Super

    I know that we are way behind the Milans, Barca and Madrid’s of this world, but a player saying that we are a stepping stone is wrong and not the way to endear yourself to possible new supporters

  • 9 Ally // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:31 PM

    has anyone heard that there have been a massive amounts of money placed on andy carroll to join us in the last few hours

    i wonder if some people know something we dont!

  • 10 JackButler // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:32 PM

    TDS

    Of course they do, but to come out publicly and say that we are seen as a stepping stone is the quickest way to get my back up

  • 11 Graeme // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:32 PM

    As long as we get a dominant CB to bolster the back four it will improve the team. If he can play at FB and score a goal or two, so much the better

    Whether this guy, or Douglas or A.N. Other we will be better off for it. The team needs the defence strengthening, just no doubt about it!!

  • 12 ONLINE GUY // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:33 PM

    When our canny manager Mr Pardew states that he is worried about Players going at the last knockings of the transfer window what he should be saying is this….

    If anyone comes in for our top players this week ..your too late .. it gives us no time to find a replacement ..and besides that we are going to give it a real go to finish higher than last season, and maybe qualify for the Champions league ourselves . So with that in mind none of our players are for sale” .

    That would not spoil any future plans would it ? Most of our players would become more valuable if we reach a champions league position , so nowt spoiling !.

    That’s where we should be if Ashley hopes to grow from here on in .

  • 13 BelfastMagpie // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:33 PM

    Sign him up!

  • 14 pawl250 // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:34 PM

    We are a stepping stone though! Anyone thinking otherwise is naive!

    Do you really think we are big enough to stop the likes of Cabaye, Tiote, Cisse, Krul, Ben Arfa from moving on in the future should a bigger club come in for him!!

    Fact is this guy has the potential to be the best defender on the planet in 5-6 years time! Why wouldn’t anyone want him at the club?!

    It would be like saying we signed Ronaldo instead of Man Utd, eventually we will have to sell him on. But in that time you had not only the privilege of him playing at Newcastle, but improving our team dramatically in the process!

    People who say they don’t want him because he said that he would eventually like to play at AC Milan are just plain stupid!

    It’s like saying we don’t want Cabaye in our team now, even though he admitted he left a CL team at the time to join us to get a bigger name! He will be gone if Man Utd or Real Madrid and others come in for him!

    But no we dont want him here because he has an ambition to play for the best team he can possibly play for. Do you really think Perch would stay if he had an option of us or AC Milan, and he will never have that option because he is not good enough!

    Fools!

  • 15 BelfastMagpie // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:36 PM

    It seems like were gonna have to fight off big interest in Tiote/Cabaye.

    Gut feeling,I think one will leave. :-(

  • 16 pawl250 // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:38 PM

    Would take him tomorrow! And close the window after it if I could!

    Carroll – meh
    Douglas – great but not the same calibre as this guy
    Debuchy – ok I would have him tomorrow to but if I had a choice I would choose Mbiwa
    Remy – shut up not going to happen your clearly dreaming and can’t accept reality! He will be at Spurs this time next week!

  • 17 RonVanDam // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:40 PM

    Douglas has the, height, speed, strenght and presense but is short tempered and lacks concentration

    Yanga-Mbiwa – has the making of a geat player. He’s fast, strong, excellent leadership skills. Only thing going against him is his height.

    I prefer Yanga-Mbiwa personally but both will be good additions to the squad and good long term replacements to Colo and Saylor

  • 18 BelfastMagpie // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:41 PM

    Them betting markets mean nowt mate.

    A couple of hundred quid & they slash the odds.

  • 19 Big Pappa Cissé // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:41 PM

    Any team other than Barcelona or Real Madrid is a stepping stone IMO. Also how does anyone know what a players true desires are. For all we know Tiote could be telling us fans he loves it here and wants to stay then telling his agent to find him a big money move. Unlikely I know but very possible, football is a cut-throat world

  • 20 JackButler // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:41 PM

    Mbiwa is a very classy player of that there’s no doubt and I would love to see him come to us its just saying that we are stepping stone has got my back up

  • 21 BigKirky // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:43 PM

    I just hope we get a couple in before Friday so we stop going round in circles with all the speculation. Quite deflating when there’s no more movement. Amalfitano, Good, Bigi and Anita seem to be very good buyers for the very near future. Can’t help but want a couple in to male an instant improvement to the squad, although Anita comes somewhere close to that category.

  • 22 BigKirky // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:43 PM

    Make not male. Bloody phone.

  • 23 nufc_eire // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:44 PM

    http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/909815-ibrahim-afellay-set-to-spark-loan-tussle-between-arsenal-spurs-and-liverpool

    Cheeky last minute loan with a few to a permanent deal?

  • 24 Harley // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:45 PM

    I’ve just seen someone on Facebook say that Liverpool have accepted 15million for Carroll.
    I’ve heard nothing but has anyone else?

  • 25 pawl250 // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:46 PM

    Belfast – I think you could be right.

    Tiote has said he isn’t leaving and happy here. Although I think that means nothing really these days I do actually believe him, atleast for this transfer window!

    Cabaye would be most likely to leave if anyone. Krul doesn’t seem to have any desire to leave and really on Cabaye hasn’t publically stated he doesn’t want to leave the club.

    BUT in saying that I doubt Chelsea, Man City/United will put a bid in for him. Only Spurs and Arsenal have the motivation to do so after losing key players. It’s not a massive step up, especially Spurs who are not far in terms of quality ahead of us. Ok Arsenal maybe tempting but alot of the star players have left or want to leave, I just wonder if they are big enough to turn his head now.

    I think we will be ok, if anyone could potentially turn heads recently though it’s Ben Arfa! No one has mentioned he could have a bidder late in the window! He doesn’t seem the loyal type aswell, judging from behaviour in the past!

  • 26 JackButler // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:48 PM

    Harley – The Carroll for 15 million was all over twitter earlier on tonight some guy called @Marcus_Agent27 (who is said to be full of BS) was touting the story

  • 27 Magpies-till-d3ath // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:48 PM

    Well there’s no chance of getting him if Chelsea start bidding for him! Don’t you think that they’d have finished in the market by now!

  • 28 JackButler // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:49 PM

    Mark Douglas ?@MsiDouglas
    Quick titbit for you on Tiote. Spoke to someone close to him who claimed no bids, no interest & player wants to stay. Let’s hope so… #nufc

  • 29 nightfa11 // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:51 PM

    mbiwa wont come to be a 3rd choice CB…taylor & colo wont be seperated.. luckily mbiwa can play as fullback.. so if we do sign him i dont expect us to bid for debuchy.. mbiwa will play as RB…he wont come here to sit on the bench..period.

  • 30 Rossy G // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:51 PM

    My prediction…..we sign no further players….even if we sell e.g. Cabaye. Then Pardew will proceed with the “corporate” bullsht that Ashley has inked in his contract, using classic lines like “we pushed hard on our targets but clubs wanted unrealistic fees” and/or “unfortunately we didnt have enough time to get it over the line.” followed by if we sell e.g. Cabaye…”all in all not a bad window, as I said all along I just wanted to keep the squad together, ok we lost Yohan but we gained Anita so we have done well….thanks have to go to Mike Ashley for spending 2% of the clubs earnings from last season.”

    Negative I know but there is balancing the books sustainably and then there’s taking the miss and missing out on opportunities ……we were lucky with injuries last year to key key players a couple go out and we won’t just crash out of Europe but also struggle in the league.

    Hope I’m wrong ….UTT

  • 31 JP...from The Rock // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:53 PM

    Please be true! I prefer this guy to Douglas. They don’t make you captain for nothing and he is a great defender that can play along the back 4. Just think of all the options that gives us and I recall Pardew saying he wanted more versatile players. We’ve got Anita now we close the window with Mbiwa and I am happy. Remy would be the cherry on the big fat cake.

  • 32 pawl250 // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:54 PM

    JackButler –

    Why is your back up?! He is only speaking the truth! Rather that than him kissing the badge saying he will stay for life and leave in 2-3 years time!

    Atleast we can expect it! And I hope if he does come his performances catch AC Milans eye! He must be doing something right if it be the case!

    We are a stepping stone, if anyone was being realistic as stated they will admit that!

    I love the club, I am a passionate fan, but a realistic one! We are a top half PL club. We cannot guarantee Europe every year as we are borderline top 7 right now.

    If I was not a Newcastle fan, for example say I was a footballer and went to Atheltico Bilbao and turned heads and had the chance to play for Man Utd or AC Milan or Barcelona – I would go! The challenge, experience and of course money would be mouth watering!

    And like Atheltico Bilbao, Newcastle could not say no unfortunately!

  • 33 BelfastMagpie // Aug 27, 2012 at 11:57 PM

    If Tiotes offered champions league footy & extra ££££ every week,he’ll be off.

    They’re all the same.

    Carroll destroyed my faith in loyalty lol

  • 34 JP...from The Rock // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:01 AM

    Rossy G – Why would we spend 6.6M on Anita then? It would make no sense as we could have used Bigi, Vuckic, Gosling or Abeid in there. I think we won’t overspend and are being a tad tight on our buys. I believe in the board and it’s doing it’s best within it’s means. We have bought very sensibly in the last couple of years and I am confident it will continue. I just feel that this is an opportunity to be within the CL places and all it needs is an extra little bit of investment before we possibly slide down the table. It’s an anxious wait these next few days that could determine our destiny.

  • 35 pawl250 // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:02 AM

    If we spend 15m or even 10m+ on Carroll and buy not defenders I would be severly annoyed!

    I mean Debuchy and Douglas together would cost roughly 10-13m and overall strengthen our team 20x more than Carroll would!

    If it is a loan we will be laughing! If we don’t get him and he sits on the bench we are laughing as his price drops further!

    We cannot lose UNLESS Carroll manages to get in the starting 11 and bang alot of goals in. Under BR I can’t see him Getting the thumbs up to play every week. Liverpool fans clearly support him based on his reception against Man City!

  • 36 JTOONJ // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:03 AM

    There was only one footballer who had loyalty. Shearer

  • 37 JTOONJ // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:03 AM

    possbily Saylor

  • 38 pawl250 // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:09 AM

    Anyone else feel that this could be our missed opportunity!

    We have a team expected to finish 5th-10th minimum this season! If we fail to gain a top 5 spot we could see the team dismantle. Yet if we improve our team by taking a risk spend a little money say 15-20m we could even break CL and keep our players in the process.

    I don’t want too see us splash needless cash but Douglas, Mbiwa and Debuchy would give us a top notch defence. Roughly costing 20m I know but in the process improving by far our weakest area on the pitch!

    Krul

    Debuchy, Douglas, Colo, Mbiwa
    Ben Arfa, Tiote, Cabaye, Jonas
    Ba, Cisse

    With the likes of STaylor, Anita, Marveaux, Santon as back up would be a very very strong squad!

    I know this will NEVER happen but if we don’t manage to repeat last year we could see 2 maybe 3 of our key players leave due to a clear lack of ambition!

    I mean we are sooo so close, yet could end up mid table to battling relegation should we lose the same players that took us out of that category!

  • 39 nightfa11 // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:10 AM

    mbiwa would probably be the cheapest option… debuchy & doiuglas would cost 12 mio+..while we could get mbiwa for aprox 8… but mbiwa would probably want release clause in case Milan come for him..so we wouldnt make any money off him…i think:D

    i dont know what would be the best option:)

  • 40 ToonDownSouth // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:13 AM

    pawl

    Seriously mate, why are you always so angry?! It’s just a bloody football blog haha!

  • 41 Harley // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:14 AM

    Thank you jackbutler.

  • 42 BelfastMagpie // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:20 AM

    Shearer & Le tissier the only ones I can remember being loyal,in my time anyways.

  • 43 pawl250 // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:21 AM

    JToonJ -

    Shearer was loyal ish I wouldn’t have needed millions of pounds (after I have been already made a millionaire by the same club I have supported my entire life) to manage a handful of games! Had it been me I would have said I’ll help out for nothing for the remainder of the season just for the chance to manage the club would be a privelage!

    In fairness he did say no to Manchester, but the in the process he apparently had written in his contract that he would be the highest paid player at the club.

    He was also one of the reasons Sir Bobby was sacked! Sad but true, Bobby didnt speak to Shearer for many years after the club sacked him. And in my opinion at the time the club needed Sir Bobby more than it needed Alan Shearer!

    We got what we deserved from that though (relegation) as we proceeded spiral only downwards from that point! Yet I do agree it arguably is the best thing to happen since Sir Bobby arrived at the club!

    STaylor loyalty hasn’t been tested as he has been so injury prone no one will risk buying him, despite his obvious potential as a very good defender! He is just made of glass and like King at Spurs you just wonder had he been more fortunate with injuries where would he have ended up!

  • 44 ToonDownSouth // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:22 AM

    Le tiss was simply too lazy to move haha.

    He knew that if he moved club, he’d have to stop turning up to training late & drunk ;)

  • 45 Ketsbaia9 // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:23 AM

    He’s off to Italy corps. See below:

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/arsenal-transfer-news-angel-rangel-1282722

  • 46 jawballsaswallwell // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:23 AM

    Good to see Anita replace the long since departed if honest journeyman Leon Best on the updated header. But why does Strola the Mackem Slayer continue to be snubbed when so many of us idolise the great Geordie? Inexplicable!

  • 47 nufc7lad // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:23 AM

    Paolo maldini, Del pierro, Zanetti, Raul, Xavi, Scholes have all been loyal to their club

  • 48 nick_9 // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:26 AM

    Have to agree with belfastmagpie, if a champions league club like man city or man united come calling it would be hard for any player to turn down 100% wage increase and that’s what these other top clubs can afford. The only player I think we would find impossible to replace would be Ben arfa, granted Ba and cisse could very well be 20 league goal strikers which are also hard to find. Any other player in our squad I think we could replace if we sell them for the right price.

    As for Pardew he never reassures us fans in the transfer window when it comes to outgoings. One minute he is saying we drive a hard bargain and don’t sell cheap but te next minute he is saying he fears a big bid will come in. It doesn’t really put my mind at ease when a man of his authority is saying things like that. I would much prefer he had a meaner stance when asked about potential outgoings.

    I think the issue we are going to have soon and perhaps the end of this season is that we are signing players from clubs in the champions league / Europe, if we do not keep up with the competition in the league challenging for europe and drop league positions then I can see some becoming unhappy. None of us fans want players here who don’t want to be here but at the same time we all want to see some ambition now and I’m sure he players do. If Ashley equipped us with 2 or 3 more players it would show he is backing us to go for it again. As things stand I think we may head for a fall but who knows? Time will tell right? I look forward to the end of the window, I think.

  • 49 nufcjohn // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:26 AM

    Big money been put on andy carroll with sky bet to go to newcastle.

    we were 11/8 and so was West Ham. but now we are 5/6 favourites

    and rumers of a bid has been accepted is beginning to make me think its true.

    it all adds up rumers of a bid being accepted then the odds suddenly change

    when sky sports reported odds had changed for west ham, the day ofter they lodged there bid.

    i think we will no by tomorow or wednesday

    coome home andy we all no u never wanted to leave in the first place.I think mike ashley is belta buisness man if he pulls this one off.

    i mean people on here say Andy Carroll is not worth anymore then 10 million but if he were playing for us he is worth more, how do you work that out.

    at the end of the day we got 35 million for Andy Carroll and since then we have bought the following players with that fee

    demba ba=free
    cisse = 9 million
    anita = 6 million
    marvoux= free
    cabaye 4.5 million
    santon = 5 million
    oberton = 3 million

    ben arfa was already atbthe club

    total 27.5 million

    still leaves 7.5 million

    so if we get him for 15-17 million tt means we are really only paying 8-10 million beause the other 7-8 million is what we have left off his sale

    and not only that but he has also bought us 6 class players

    be a great deal i think

  • 50 ToonDownSouth // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:26 AM

    nufc7lad

    Well it’s a lot harder to have your head turned when you play for one of the best clubs in the world ;)

  • 51 pawl250 // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:27 AM

    TDS – I am not angry mate, very calm, very passionate, very opinionated!

    Reading text you can’t tell the emotion I am feeling when writing it. You precieve me as angry or aggressive but that’s how you read and interpret my writing nothing else.

    I would say the main reason for this is I am very direct. And i will voice my opinion whether people choose to agree or disagree it doesn’t matter to me.

  • 52 ToonDownSouth // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:28 AM

    nick_9

    He kept saying Carroll wouldn’t be sold – and the fans slaughtered him for it.

    That was his reward for acting tough and trying to ward off bidders last time. A torrent of abuse from moronic fans.

  • 53 ToonDownSouth // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:31 AM

    pawl

    I was refering to post 14, where you call people naive, stupid and fools ;) And an awful lot of exclamation marks haha.

  • 54 pawl250 // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:32 AM

    Nufc7lad -

    The names you mention are/have been at clubs challenging every year for the league and CL.

    Why would they want to leave?! True loyalty would have been likes of Carroll or this Adam Campbell – young lad living the dream playing for the only club that matters (no matter what division they are) to a true supporter. Money is not a factor.

    In Carrolls case it was therefore no loyalty.

    The likes of Scholes is a bad example as he would never have been tempted because he has not experienced relegation battles or countless seasons without winning anything! And of course money would have been thrown at him to begin with!

  • 55 nick_9 // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:33 AM

    I’m not saying he should lie to the fans but perhaps really stress more that it would take a ridiculous bid to buy one of our players. He does say that most of the time but not very convincingly. Any fan here knows that 35 million is too good to turn down. If we got offered that for any of our current lot I would expect them to take it. It’s just seems like we are advertising we want a big bid to come in so we can buy some more players for the first team

  • 56 ToonDownSouth // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:34 AM

    As for Shearer being loyal…

    Well, he was rewarded pretty handsomely for it! And to be fair, who the hell would have thought in 1996 that we wouldn’t win a single trophy for 16 years (& counting) !

  • 57 nick_9 // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:35 AM

    Perhaps he doesn’t like to say much when he has del boy above him, I would be second guessing his motives all the time if I was Pardew.

  • 58 BelfastMagpie // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:37 AM

    Nufc7lad

    It’s much easier to stick around when your winning trophys on a regular basis. :-)

  • 59 nufcjohn // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:37 AM

    does anyone agree that alan shearer knows whats best for newcastle united because even he says that carroll needs to come back to us

  • 60 ToonDownSouth // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:38 AM

    nick

    I’m pretty pissed off that the club hasn’t come out and said that we will not be selling any players in the last week of the transfer window.

    Lille did it with Debuchy – they said that once the season started, they would not be selling players. It makes perfect sense, and doesn’t leave them in an ‘Andy Carroll situation’.

    I find it pretty ridiculous to be honest, that a club as well run (supposedly) as Newcastle United cannot set a simple ultimatum for buying clubs.

  • 61 BelfastMagpie // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:39 AM

    I mentioned Le tiss & Shearer because they could of played elsewhere & won things but they didnt.

  • 62 tarie4 // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:39 AM

    nufc7lad

    Tbf, those players are already at top top top clubs. So a move else where would be a step down dnt U think??

  • 63 gonz // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:39 AM

    Don’t think our scouts were there to see M’biwa. It was more likely for Loic Remy. We aren’t desperate right now for a CB and G. Carr, Pardew, Charnley and Llambias know that, but we do need a striker, almost desperately!
    Not only for competition for Cisse and Ba, but for when they are out for the ACON.
    They need to be tested and Remy would command a starting role IMO. He’d be perfect on the left side. Then I’d rotate both stikers.

    If we sign a defender it’ll be Debuchy!!!

  • 64 pawl250 // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:41 AM

    NufcJohn

    The only player that has been funded by Andy Carroll could potentially be Cisse!

    All the others were brought in to replace those that left i.e Nolan left for 5m we bought Cabaye for 4m

    The money from Carroll was never used for anything other than to balance a 30m loss when the club was relegated!

    Even Cisse transfer you can argue the Virgin sponsorship paid for the majority of it!

    No doubt Ashely would have done well but for me it’s bad business. As stated in previous posts Carroll for 10m even is not as important as a 6-7m Douglas/Debuchy/Mbiwa!

    And from my knowledge he handed a transfer request in! So it would suggest he wanted to leave the club. The club can’t just make up a transfer request and like Dawson at Spurs if a player doesn’t want to leave you can always say NO!

    Oh and like Carroll to West Ham he has shown he has the ability to say no of it’s not what HE wants!

  • 65 nufc7lad // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:44 AM

    Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Danielle De Rossi, Francesco Totti, Jesus Navas, Tony Hibbert,

  • 66 BelfastMagpie // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:44 AM

    I’ve just never bought the Tiote doesn’t like London bullshit lol

    Champions league footy & the bigger pay packet would change that.

  • 67 nufc7lad // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:44 AM

    All loyal players who had chances to move to bigger clubs and earn more money, except Tony Hibbert lool

  • 68 ToonDownSouth // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:49 AM

    Jesus Navas suffers from terrible home sickness & panic attacks – he literally can’t leave!

    I’ll give you Totti & De Rossi, although living in Rome is hardly taxing ;)

  • 69 nick_9 // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:53 AM

    I am of the opinion that the window should close before the season starts. In an ideal world all new recruits would be in for preseason and ready for the first game of the premier league. In most cases it’s more of a chess game until the dying moments of the window. Hopefully we don’t sign panic buy on the last day, we don’t usually but I’d the stories are believed regarding ruiz them we have been close.

    Frustrating thing is I remember listing a lot of free agents in the summer who would have improved our squad a lot, we do still have some dead wood on the books as well in my opinion.

  • 70 JackButler // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:55 AM

    From the Arsenal Insider

    Wenger Targets Cabaye to Fill Defensive Position

    Arsene Wenger recently revealed that he is still in the market for a quality defensive midfielder and The Daily Mail claim that Newcastle’s Yohan Cabaye is on the Arsenal manager’s shortlist.
    While Cabaye is seen as more of an attacking or central midfielder, he made six successful tackles last weekend against Chelsea and that may be the reason why Daily Mail believe he could be moulded into a more defensive role.

    Do these people know that Cabaye created more goals than any other play during his last season with Lille???

    Moulded into a more defensive role my arse

  • 71 pawl250 // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:56 AM

    Those players can’t be classed as loyal as other than Gerrard and possibly Totti they have not been offered a significant step up! Especially Hibbert who has probably seen no offers ever for him!

    Gerrard and Totti cases again they are playing for clubs competing for trophies most clubs would have been a step down! And they get a very good pay packet it’s not like they are on 40-50k and being offered 200k from elsewhere!

    Your taking the loyalty out of context as you are naming players who have been at a club and not left.

    Do you really think if Gerrard was a Newcastle supporter and played for us and Barca came calling or Chelsea when they did he wouldn’t have left?!

    At the time their was not much difference between Liverpool and Chelsea! Nor was his wage packet too significantly increase as he is already the highest paid at Liverpool over 100k and one of the first to do so!

    Loyalty is a young lad like a Rooney saying no to Man Utd to stay at Everton!

    Or as stated Carroll spending his career at Newcatle despite numerous offers!

    Loyalty is a rare thing! Everyone has a price. Even you and I!

  • 72 jawballsaswallwell // Aug 28, 2012 at 12:57 AM

    I think there is a strong argument for signing Debuchy, Douglas, Mbiwa and Carroll. If you get them in at around 35 million that likely goes along way to consolidating last years achievements and further building upon them, and that would surely further add to the transfer valuations of almost all the established first team players. On the other hand it would likely impede the progress of the apparently excellent youngsters we now have. But what a first team it would give us.

  • 73 RonVanDam // Aug 28, 2012 at 1:01 AM

    While theres time, we should be able to squeeze Douglas, Debuecy and Anthony Koura (19yr old french striker who was on trial here) through the door with the money left in the kitty

  • 74 t00ntime // Aug 28, 2012 at 1:01 AM

    @pawl
    hahahaha what? shearer was loyalish? he turned down the best club in the world (at that moment in time) to play for us… then multiple times he kept rejecting them, and many other offers. The one thing he ever did wrong was played a part in the firing of sir bobby.

    Ben arfa is most likely to have his head turned, he doesnt seem very loyal?
    Ok… now tell me who was the last manager that stuck up from him and ‘understood’ him. He has said multiple times he loves newcastle, pardew is the first manager to understand him, Being here is his best chance for international football ( before new french manager came in)

    If you ask me you need some sleep cause ur talking some strange sh1t

  • 75 pawl250 // Aug 28, 2012 at 1:06 AM

    I feel the time is now to take a risk if any.

    The team we currently have can compete for a top 4 place IF we sign extra bodies for back up, and replacements.

    As you and i have both stated Debuchy, Douglas, Mbiwa, Carroll would allow us to challenge and if successful see a return from
    Investment via CL money.

    I believe if we miss the opportunity we have now while we have a strong team but just not good enough we could lose this same team of players this time next year.

    I don’t normally wish for mass amounts of
    Money but in the gran scheme of things 30m can be returned if not successful by selling just one of our players next summer. I.e Tiote 20m resulting in 10m loss overall whilst still massively improving our team.

    I think it’s a win win, as if we don’t spend money now we could miss out, sell Tiote next year and be 20m positive but with a weaker squad!!

  • 76 pawl250 // Aug 28, 2012 at 1:15 AM

    Toontime -

    ok he turned down Man Utd fair play to him!
    But did he really need millions of pounds to manage us for a few games?! He’s very loyal!

    Also Shearer is a hero and forever will be but seriously if u think about it would he have made more money with us over the years he was or Man Utd for a few seasons before they deem him as too old as they always do Yorke, Cole, Ruud, Saha they eventually move on.

    Overall moneywise he would have most likely made more money playing with us than he would have playing at Man Utd and moving on later in his career!

    As for Bobby Robson a real supporter of the football club would never have done that. He had more power than everyone at the club because of us. We deemed him a god, in reality had he not come to us we may have won a title!

    Shaka Hislop recently saidi Ferdy didn’t like Shearer as he took the no.9 and this was the main reason for him leaving as it disrupted the camp. I don’t blame Shearer for that personally but still it’s ironic our club hero may have been what stopped us winning what we desire most!

    Shearer or Pl? Tough one!

    As for Ben Arfa please look up his comments earlier in pre season he even said himself he would leave if he thought it suited him and he like the teams coach! Sorry to bust your bubble!

  • 77 jawballsaswallwell // Aug 28, 2012 at 1:20 AM

    I think we will need to do better this year than last, if we hope to hold on to our better players. If we don’t, then the likes of Tiote, Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Cisse should I suppose move on simply because they would be selling their careers short if they didn’t. We surely have to at least be in the mix for Champions League football if we hope to hold onto our Champions League quality players.

  • 78 pawl250 // Aug 28, 2012 at 1:24 AM

    Also tell me the last time Ben Arfa was loyal?!

    He understood? Because the manager has got him to act more his age and as a professional?!

    Seriously Ben Arfa is a very selfish person you need only look at his past actions too see that! Hell even as close as Euro 2012 he argued with the manager like a spoilt kid.

    Sorry but I don’t think he will be loyal to us should £ and a bigger team that challenges each season came in for him. Think you are being very hopeful!

    As for his chance of international football, Rodwell as City will get in the Engalnd team now alot easier than if he was at Everton!

    Look at Bent at Sunderland FFS he scored 24 goals no call up, went to Villa scored was it 13?! And played nearly every qualifier! AT VILLA

    If he left to Chelsea or Arsenal he would have a bigger chance sorry but he would!

  • 79 t00ntime // Aug 28, 2012 at 1:27 AM

    loyalty isnt based on money… shearer choose us over man utd who probably offered him more cash ( not much ) but more importantly a massive chance of a trophy or 2. Yet he stayed with us for many years winning nothing, at any time he could of left to win things but never did. If money was the same at newcastle and manchester utd and manchester could offer him trophies, what was keeping him at newcastle? loyalty

    Also ur saying did he really need the millions for being the manager. He is a worker not a volunteer. Alex ferguson is a worker too does that mean he isnt loyal to man utd cause he gets paid? even caretaker managers get paid.

    ben arfa has got on with no coaches so far other then pardew. he said he would only leave for a CL club if he gets everything he wants AND the manager is 100% behind him.

    That makes sense, he has no attachment to NUFC he is as loyal as a u can expect from a guy who has no attachment to a club. Now tell me a club bigger then us (man utd chelsea arsenal etc) that will offer him non stop first team football.

  • 80 pawl250 // Aug 28, 2012 at 1:38 AM

    I didn’t say Shearer wasn’t loyal I said he was loyalish

    To an extent yes he was loyal, he chose his boyhood dream over Man Utd (doubt the wage offer was different other than the small I will be the highest player at the club part). Hence my loyal part.

    As for Volunteer if I made the amount of money Shearer did from the club I would have said I’ll do it for the privelage and to hopefully help the team from relegation! Not I want paid x millions to manage for was it like 10 games maybe less!

    Hell Pardew is one of the lowest paid manaers in the league! The majority of his salary is based upon the league position at the end to the season.

    And to compare Ferguson to Shearer in managerial terms is silly. Shearer couldny fasten Fergys tie in terms of tactical knowledge and gut instinct when it comes to team management!

    You think Fergy would have been sacked had he left Shearer on the bench?!

    It wouldn’t happen, and yet I bet £ per games Shearer wasn’t far off Fergys salary given the difference and experience gap.

    I am not saying had he been offered full time don’t get paid though I am simply saying for a servant and loyal fan he could have said give me a few thousand not demand millions! Like I said I am a passionate fan and had I been in his place I would have offered to do it for free! I would already be set up for life on what I have now!

  • 81 pawl250 // Aug 28, 2012 at 1:47 AM

    Just to make it clear had he kept us up and offers the job full time permanent basis I would then expect a salary.

    But for 10 games to be paid the amount he did then see us relegated, I would have given the morny back saying the club needs this more than I do. Buy a player to help get promoted or use it to fund the CL wages you are paying players!

    Had this happened under Shepard we would have been the next Portsmouth/Leeds! We were somewhat fortunate that Ashley has came and yet our fans still treat him like shit, AND chant him to leave our club!

    In reality he has saved the club more than Shearer ever has! Blasphemy maybe but probably true! Cos had it not Been for Ashley we may not have a club to support OR supporting a lower division team!

    Whether you can accept that it’s up to u, but Ashely delivered Keegan, who ran away again. He delivered Shearer. In ways he has given us what we have wanted and we somehow blame him due to blind loyalty to Keegan who has abandoned us twice when we needed him most!

  • 82 t00ntime // Aug 28, 2012 at 1:53 AM

    All i was saying was that every manager gets paid weather its ferguson or a caretaker.
    Shearer was no driffrent, maybe he got paid too much. I cant remember the saga, but i didnt think he demanded the wages. All i remember is that when he got offered a 4year contract he wanted higher wages + in charge of transfers. Both of which MA was never gonna give. The higher wages part makes me think he wasnt on a over the top wage as a caretaker. (again i cant rememebr the whole saga so i cud be wrong there)

    Imo shearers loyalty was proven as a player. I dont think he is ever gonna be a premier league quality manager, and for me i’m just ignoring the manager thing never happend cause tbf i cant see him doing it again.

    I think we both agree shearer was a loyal player.

  • 83 pawl250 // Aug 28, 2012 at 2:00 AM

    Too an extent yes, probably more so than I think he isn’t.

    I am bitter from the Bobby saga. I mean for me I lost ALOT of respect for Shearer when he did that. It’s was just mutiny, because he didn’t play a few games! Big wow!

    He did it before aswell, although it benefited us then with Gullit. Still it was abuse of power really, any fully loyal player would never have done that regardless the manager.

    I also seem to have recollection he did it towards players too, I.e Keith Gillespie!

    What gives him the right? Again so what but are these really signs of a 100% loyal player.

    I dont think so, which is why I say loyal-ish, or to an extent he is loyal. As long as is it suited him shall we say!

  • 84 toonLYF // Aug 28, 2012 at 2:45 AM

    Michael Owen, now there’s a loyal player.

  • 85 ilovetoon8788 // Aug 28, 2012 at 5:08 AM

    Sorry. Since cabaye came to Newcastle. Aside from the odd games, majority of the game he offers very little in terms of creativity. Cabaye does an excellent job defensively beside tiote. Both are defensive midfielder. This is the reason why we depend on individual brilliance than actually trying to break down defence which we almost never do.

  • 86 RonVanDam // Aug 28, 2012 at 5:26 AM

    Boom! ilovetoon8788 you’ve hit the nail on the head.

  • 87 Szarka // Aug 28, 2012 at 6:38 AM

    lol, for the loyal players:
    Nobody mentioned Del Piero? He gone down to second div with Juve , had serius paycut, and even sit on the bench when he was better then all of the starters. He only leaves Juve because the club didnt gave him a new contract.

  • 88 Szarka // Aug 28, 2012 at 6:42 AM

    lol, for the loyal players:
    Nobody mentioned Del Piero? He gone down to second div with Juve , had serius paycut, and even sit on the bench when he was better then all of the starters. He only leaves Juve because the club didnt gave him a new contract.

    for the article: Mbiwa would be a good buy, because he can play in several positions.

  • 89 Transfer Sage // Aug 28, 2012 at 6:49 AM

    There’s nothing to worry about.

    We need to keep building like everton or spurs.

    Add quality for the right price.

    Spurs, arsenal and everton both sell if they get a big bid and use that to improve the squad.

    You might sell a top player but you can use that to bring in two or three more.

    It’s simple, even if our players did want to move on to bigger and better things we will demand top money as most are on long contracts.

  • 90 stephen1971 // Aug 28, 2012 at 6:52 AM

    i,d love to see this guy in , he looks quality, as for club being stepping stone , of course it is as DL and MA they said every player has a price and i,m sure its only a bigger club that would pay funny money so yes they are a stepping stone, as for loyalty , i think nowadays its a rare thing, there are a lot of old skool players that have been very loyal, your giggs, scholes , shearer, one of the most loyal for me has been steve harper, he,s not had a lot of play time but he,s allways stood by us and in his prime i,m more than sure he could of went to another club and got first team ,

  • 91 eaststandgeordie1982 // Aug 28, 2012 at 7:07 AM

    Loyal players how about le tissier could of played for anyone great player.

  • 92 pizzicatochan // Aug 28, 2012 at 7:23 AM

    Loyal? No one mentioned Shola here, but he’s the most loyal player here. The 2nd one is Stevie Harper.

  • 93 Marzy // Aug 28, 2012 at 7:37 AM

    Steve Harper is very loyal, a model pro & a great person/role model.
    As for Mbia I think he would strengthen our team defensively but doesn’t offer attacking options on the flanks? As say Debuchy??

  • 94 Marzy // Aug 28, 2012 at 7:38 AM

    Steve Harper is very loyal, a model pro and a great person/role model.
    As for Mbia I think he would strengthen our team defensively but doesn’t offer attacking options on the flanks? As say Debuchy??

  • 95 Szarka // Aug 28, 2012 at 7:39 AM

    Harper is a good example for loyalty too.

    Sorry for the duplication.

  • 96 check the toastie // Aug 28, 2012 at 7:45 AM

    Harper loyal or just Comfortable, same goes for Shola. no such thing as loyalty in football for me, they are just an employer at the end of the day.

    Peter Beardsley was pretty loyal however when he left Everton to come back home to the Toon, took a decent paycut so they reckon, that’s loyalty or maybe he just wanted to come home and be involved with keegan, leave loyalty to your dog, footballers are exempt.

    Anyway another day of stupid rumours, Pieters, Debuchy, Carroll, Douglas here we go again……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

  • 97 ppb // Aug 28, 2012 at 8:27 AM

    @check also has harper had any ambition? happy to be a career bench player?
    or prefer to stay and fight for his spot?

  • 98 NUFCWill1986 // Aug 28, 2012 at 8:37 AM

    Anyone calling shearer needs their head checked. How do we know what went on behind the scenes lol

  • 99 Beattie25 // Aug 28, 2012 at 8:48 AM

    Forget Shearer today is all about Douglas.

    News is expected today so lock up your wives, get your binoclours out and head to the nearest airport, train station, bus stop and ferry terminals and let’s begin:

    ‘Douglas Watch’

  • 100 Rotonda heights // Aug 28, 2012 at 8:56 AM

    If we sell our number 1 creator Cabaye (all those Cisse and Ba through balls and assists) and buy Carroll, then we’re going to be more Stoke than Barcelona.

    M’Biwa is the one I really want as he can play anywhere at the back and maybe make the RB his own position. Would much rather throw money at him and another quick dominating goal scoring defender than 17M on carroll!

  • 101 Rotonda heights // Aug 28, 2012 at 8:59 AM

    ilovetoon

    Cabaye needs to be played in front of Tiote and Anita to be at his most effective which was what we were getting in a 433

  • 102 Rotonda heights // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:02 AM

    Shearer had that ridiculous ”he had to be the highest earner at the club ”clause. Shearer’s ego was through the roof

  • 103 Gateshead-Mag // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:09 AM

    has it really got that bad that were now having a dig at shearer?? think i need to retire from here till after friday lol

  • 104 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:16 AM

    You take a break then Hyphen…clearly not a real fan wanting to b*tch with the rest of us.

    Shearer the local hero? No amount of goals and dedication can win me over. Money grabbing so and so ;)

  • 105 davybtoon // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:17 AM

    Funny how ppl on here believe every rumour of players leaving but don’t believe any rumour of players coming in

  • 106 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:19 AM

    Davy…That is funny. All strikes me as a little, what’s the word I’m looking for? Negative? No no no, I mean realistic. Yeah, that sounds like the right one

  • 107 BigKirky // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:19 AM

    I was listening to Talk Sport around May time and Shearer was on as guest talking to Keys and Gray and he said himself he didn’t actually turn Man Utd down… I just can’t remember the full details behind it. He said something like I didn’t turn Man Utd down because at the time the offer wasn’t there or something.

  • 108 spitfire_ // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:23 AM

    davybtoon

    Isn’t that strange. Pardew in the last couple of weeks didn’t stop for a sec to talk about leaving players… As far the incomings… there was plenty of happy peaople over rumours aroud players coming in in the last months… but after ony one first team player during the summer… what do you expect? MA, DL and LC didn’t learn they lesson from 2010… panic buys didn’t work with our transfer strategy… Now again will had a try to make panic transfers.

  • 109 Transfer Sage // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:23 AM

    Huge shearer fan but loyalty is non existent in football. Would shearer have playe or his home town club if we were in division 3? No, nobody would. Not a criticism just a comment.

    Rotonda

    Don’t always agree with you that we need to play tika taka style football but we do need to keep cabaye and use him up the pitch.

    He showed last year that he was very good there in the him game against stoke and then with France in the euros.

    I like 433, 451, 4231…..whatever spin you put on it but 3 in the centre is essential.

    Toilet and cabaye can fight in a midfield 2 but they spend so much time on defensive duty that cabaye cannot get involved enough up the pitch.

    I like cisse and Ba but we need to go wih one up top to get the best out of the team in my opinion.

    We can win with 442 but it limits our more creative players like yohan and Ben arfa.

  • 110 Tsunki // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:24 AM

    It all ends friday thankfully.

  • 111 BigKirky // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:24 AM

    It was a good interview with Shearer on Talk Sport I thought. Some interesting things to say. Andy gray loves Shearer as well judging by the praise he usually gives him.

    On the loyalty situation… Francesco Totti is another at Roma. I heard Le Tiss on Soccer Saturday I think it was, say that he was so thankful of Southampton giving him the chance there he wanted to repay them with loyalty. That’s good, however it’s obvious that on the pitch he wanted the luxuries of his role there as well rather than at a different club where he’d have to do more work and team play. Great player mind.

  • 112 Munster Mag // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:25 AM

    Lets keep it simple chaps – we wont get Mbiwa.
    We’ve had ample time to do something about it and been found wanting. Morover, he’s not tall enough to be the dominant goal scoring defender that Pards said he wanted. Excellent player though, true quality defensively. I would think Douglas is far more likely. As for Carroll and the 35mill – well it may have helped build a team – but by the same token, all the money we should / could have spent , must surely be still available to us to use in this window? In simple terms – we have money to buy players – plenty of it – but we still cant seem to spend it, despite that other clubs can get quality players like Michu , despite our apparently amazing network of scouts. The team has clear weaknesses ( both fullbacks, short on creativity , over reliance on Ben Arfa ) and we have had lots of time to invest the way our rivals are doing. I dont think we will lose Cabaye , but if we do, it will be because we dont want to pay higher wages, and we have not shown him the sort of team investment that Tottenham will show. We cant have it every way , and we need to spend money to compete. And please, no more rubbish from anyone about the ” 5 year plan” .

  • 113 toonarmydownsouth // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:25 AM

    Seriously? Is it have a dig a club legends day?
    Wtf is wrong with some ppl?

    Hopefully we’ll get some signings in and try and get a degree of sanity back on the blog!

  • 114 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:27 AM

    Munster….What about if I call it the “2 years remaining” plan? Good morning.

  • 115 Dude // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:28 AM

    way too much negativity on here. in the past we have lost players to teams that overpaid and we got in replacements that were better, nay miles better – for less. we have a great team spirit and play decent football and have a punchers chance of CL next year. reckon we are one of the best 6 sides in the Europa League and are due a domestic cup run. this is a very well-run club with some bloody good players who honour the shirt. the hysterics i read on this board are beyond sad. i’d rather read cwarr than most of the tripe on here.

  • 116 ToonToon09 // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:30 AM

    Belfast magpie ” you lost all faith in loyalty with Carroll”
    Why is that then ?
    It is well documented that the club could hardly refuse £35m ( which was a ludicrous price). Andy Carroll had very little say in the matter and felt pushed out.
    Mbwia would be a fantastic acquisition, the idea that Colo and Saylor would not be broken up is plain daft. This guy is real class.
    Let’s get Debuchy over the line and then we really are looking the mutts nuts.
    2 great CB’s, 2 bombing wing backs (Santon is looking better and better). A prolific midfield that many clubs ( inc top 4 clubs) are jealous of. Potentially The best strike partnership in the league.
    HTL

  • 117 ppb // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:33 AM

    @ibiza how goes the fishing today?

  • 118 Expat MAG // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:39 AM

    I can’t understand why any one would want to criticize Alan Shearer the footballer while at NUFC. Not only was he loyal, he was the best goal scorer the PL has known!!!

    The perfect summer transfer window would be the signing of Mbiwa or Douglas, Debuchy and a young CF; i.e. maybe Remy… Come on Mike, splash the cash and make us HAPPY

  • 119 Munster Mag // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:39 AM

    Ibiza, are you a fisherman? I say, stuff the two year plan – lets get on with it now. We need to invest. Its not that we are in the sh1t, but we’re not moving forward, and everton and liverpool are. I’ll be really annoyed if we dont, and i would expect most reasonable fans to be aswell. We have spent peanuts in real terms, again. Hopefully more players will come in but i would say one max – and if we dont get Debuchy or Douglas, we’ll get no-one. May be an unfair question, but how short is our list of potential buys ?? And i know its old stories, but if we hadnt farted around last summer ( brinkmanship from Ashley, again ) , we could have got thatb excellent Swansea left back instead of Santon. But no, we had to go to war with Swansea instead of acting smart, and paying a reasonable fee to secure him. Sorry boys, bad mood today and frustrated with the policy!

  • 120 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:39 AM

    ppb…..Suns out, quiet waters…should be a good one. How’s things?

  • 121 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:47 AM

    Munster…No, not much of a fisherman :)

    I can see why people get annoyed, especially when you’re told we have £20m to spend and so far have a net spend of £2-3m. However, one thing we should know is the club don’t tell us anything, mainly so the people they’re trying to business with don’t know the full story. It may prove costly, it may not. It is a gamble to an extent, one that so far has worked in our favour. Time will tell mate, all I do know is a lot of fans weren’t happy before we kicked off last season even after we had got Ba, Cabaye, Santon etc, so i’m happy to give them the benefit of doubt for now.

  • 122 ToonToon09 // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:53 AM

    The absolute priority is the defence, a RB and a CB General, we also need a stand in Striker.
    Judging by the clubs previous prudent buys I would suggest we would probably get more for our money with Debuchy and Douglas ( would love Mbiwa though).
    There were times last season that we really did fly by the seat of our panties at the back with absolutely no depth. C’mon Mike Ashley give this team (plus RB, CB, and a Striker) a season together and lets see if the Toon can set the League alight AGAIN.
    HTL

  • 123 ppb // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:53 AM

    its just the calm before the storm ibiza mate. everything good here.
    quick question. is Douglas coming in today? opinions?

  • 124 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:56 AM

    PPB….Jupm ahead 2 threads and you’ll be in the mix with regards to Douglas….As for me, today? Hmmm…..not sure about that, but I would imagine we’re in contact.

  • 125 peterk3 // Aug 28, 2012 at 2:42 PM

    Here’s another story in the Sun.http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4507238/Arsenal-and-Chelsea-chase-Mapou-Yanga-Mbiwa.html
    Why do we spot good players long before other clubs but fail to buy them and let others in and lose out.

  • 126 Dougiestyle // Aug 28, 2012 at 9:59 PM

    I would prefer this lad to Debuchy, he is 5 years younger and can play anywhere across the back 4. If we did sign him he would have to be our first choice right-back or he would start to moan.

    A defence of Mbiwa – Staylor – Collocini – Santon would be awesome.

    Yes he has said we would be a stepping stone to him joining Milan but he would have massive sell on value.




previous post: Newcastle To Increase Bid To £17M For Andy Carroll

next post: Newcastle After Continental Striker – Here’s Some Available