The Newcastle United Blog

110 responses so far ↓

• 1 jawballsaswallwell // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:22 AM

  This is the 1st Newcastle squad I’ve seen, and I’ve seen many, that doesn’t have a single player I’d question was worthy of the shirt. Top men! Even Gabby Obertan, who is so strangely ugly yet urbane looking that he surely has more than has met the eye thus far.

• 2 Hatem's better than Messi // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:23 AM

  Lets see Gabby perform consistently.

  He was good for 45 mins the other night, then faded for 35 only to reappear in the game for the final 10 mins.

• 3 Grafton83 // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:27 AM

  It was nice to see him play well, the confidence will be good for him but I wouldn’t get too carried away it was against Atromistos. If only he could develop his crossing, his pace is amazing.

• 4 Mystic Mike's Iron Curtain // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:28 AM

  Give him a chance today then!

  _______________Krul_______________
  Santoon____Saylor___Colo_____Jonas
  __________Cabaye___Anita
  Obertan_________HBA_________Marveaux
  _______________Cisse

  Attack, attack, attack!

• 5 Kyo // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:28 AM

  Gotta go fast.

• 6 Mystic Mike's Iron Curtain // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:29 AM

  I’m aware that’s not going to happen, because Simpson is exempt from being dropped when he’s fit.

• 7 Jail for Ashley // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:30 AM

  Repost Ed’s too quick,
  This is not a dig just a genuine curiosity,somebody yesterday published a load of stats about finance,net spend etc,I noticed that the130M debt Mashley inherited is still the same how can that be with a net profit of something like 40M in transfers TV revenue,pies and lager and that,I know some people on here vehemently deny that Mashley is taking money from the club,but why isn’t the debt being reduced.

• 8 Dannyo // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:32 AM

  @Hatems
  Hoping Gabby comes good, but he had little playtime i think up until that evning when he got a full run out. He looked very jaded the last 20 mins.

  To reply to your other post in the last thread.
  AP said we sold Best cause he wanted regular first team football.
  Why we didn’t get a replacement i do not know. My thought would be what we’ve heard all summer. If the targets we want are not available, we won’t go for other just to throw bodies in.
  Besides, if we play tactics where we need mainly 1 striker, u’d have Cisse, Shola, Ba to fight it out, and top it off with Campbell.

• 9 Transfer Sage // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:32 AM

  Jai
  Not 100% sure but I think the debt is the interest free loan from him.

  So by that kit going down it means he is not paying himself back and is leaving that money in the club.

  Happy to be corrected if wrong on this

• 10 Mystic Mike's Iron Curtain // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:33 AM

  All Gabby needs to do is have more conviction in his instinct, like he did against Atromitos. He made his mind up then went for it, instead of hesitating, then stalling, only for the opportunity to be lost.

  Keep it simple. Beat your man, with as few of the pointless step-overs as possible, whip in the ball! Some of his crossing was decent the other night.

• 11 Transfer Sage // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:33 AM

  Meant not, not kit

• 12 PortsladeToon // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:34 AM

  hallelujah,
  For a long time I’ve thought he deserves a chance lets face it SAF didn’t want to get rid of him he just wanted to play football like all footballers except those of man city they go to a club because they want to play and compete at the highest level they can, Obertan can and will be a good player for us if he is given the playing time he needs he wasn’t at Man utd and so far hasn’t with us but he has shown some very good football (like Thursday night) just needs to be played regularly so he can get more experience

• 13 Sav // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:34 AM

  Obertan has it all – except for a footballer’s brain. Unfortunately, you can’t teach that and he is destined to waste chances, pick the wrong pass, fluff his one-on-ones and generally get in the way of Newcastle’s progress until we find some other club to take him off our hands..I’ve nothing against him. That’s just my assessment and Taggart agrees with me.

• 14 Dannyo // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:35 AM

  @Jail
  It’s just a guess ofc, but so will everyone elses be.
  Maybe he aims to take the money out once the club is sold, by mortaging what he can before selling.
  Or maybe he’s taking the money once the club become self sufficient enough to pay back on a monthly basis?
  Enough to not let the club be hit too hard by it ofc.
  Or maybe he doesn’t plan to take it back at all?

  How does a club pay something back to the one who owns it? Isn’t it all in the same pocket anyway?

• 15 toonarmydownsouth // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:36 AM

  JFA
  As far as i understand it the debt is intrest free and will only be paid when the club is sold, not saying thats right just what i was told a couple of years back

• 16 Rusbjerg11 // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:39 AM

  The team for todays game:

  Krul
  Simpson – Saylor – Colo – Santon
  Tiote
  Hatem – Cabaye – Anita – Obertan
  Cisse

  Great team!
  HOWAY THE LADS!

• 17 Grafton83 // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:39 AM

  Sav thats not true, everything can be learnt it just takes time and practise. The more expirence he gets against good opposition the quicker he will improve. That’s the same for any player.

• 18 ToonDownSouth // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:41 AM

  JfA

  Just because the club is making a proft, doesn’t mean that money has to be spent. Whos to say that the club doesn’t have a current balance of £30m (or whatever) ?

• 19 pieceofpapiss // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:42 AM

  On a seperate not, im quite liking the new European kit. Lets hope we can stay in the competition long enough to wear it a few times

• 20 jawballsaswallwell // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:44 AM

  Doesn’t have a footballers brain, interesting, cos he’s quite bright isn’t he, did well at school. Maybe he’s over thinking. He is certainly capable of flashes of brilliance, Walcott style, and he’s come good.

• 21 Jail for Ashley // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:44 AM

  Lads,
  Cheers for the replies,thats what I would have thought as well the debt comes with the club so he needs to sell us for 231M to make a profit on a sale,but if he’s not taking any money out where is it all going,the transfer kitty must be huge,5under1ands owners aren’t sentimental fools they’re in it for the money,how can they afford to spend every year and still make money.
  There was a doco with Alan Sugar earlier this year (or last) I thought it was going to explain it all but it wasn’t much use tbh.

• 22 Jail for Ashley // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:45 AM

  TDS,
  I’d hazard a guess at more like 80-100M,if thats the case then.

• 23 roadfighter // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:48 AM

  Apologies repost from last blog post:

  roadfighter // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:46 AM

  I for one am excited to see some youth players get a chance. Bigi looks decent, who is to say he cannot perform in an EPL match unless he hasn’t been given a chance..?

  Also, agreem with bills-son.

  Perch, as an example, has done great recently. Who would have that a year or so ago..

• 24 zimtoon // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:48 AM

  Y are people leaving out Ba from their teams afterall he has played far much better than Cisse this season it a good thing none of them have a say in the team Ap selects

• 25 Gateshead-Mag // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:49 AM

  the way i see it is, newcastle united is its own private company, ashley owns it, the club had debt before he owned it, the debt has just moved and become intrest free, which benefits us obviously

  should ashley choose to sell the club he will be selling it with debt, so whoever bought it would have to buy the club and pay back the debt to him, im sure he is in for the long haul now so will be interesting to see what happens

• 26 dave 1961 // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:50 AM

  Gabby Obertan probably had his best game in Newcastle colors against the weakest team we have played, when we signed him i called him a clown and that’s what has played for us, and only on Thursday did he put the effort in that changed his game and made himself look a half decent player, like Perch if you want something enough and put the effort in you can get to a respectable level, the only obstacle to Obertan is Obertan if you go to the game today and he plays watch him off the ball he wanders about in a daze. but like all our players i will always support them and give my all to spur them on, our crowd are always fair to players that make the effort.

• 27 Mystic Mike's Iron Curtain // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:50 AM

  I just want us to look blood-thirsty today. We could possibly crush Villa if we come out the blocks flying at them. Been too timid so far this season, for my liking.

• 28 Dannyo // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:51 AM

  @Jail
  All i know is, after seeing Platinis statement today, it’ll be very interesting to see how heavily this’ll affect clubs…

• 29 Gateshead-Mag // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:51 AM

  i definately think obertan thinks on the ball too much like, a top quality player plays on instincts aswell as skill, he knows before the ball gets to him where hes going to knock it

  hope he can get a good run of form together, can only be good for the squad

• 30 ToonDownSouth // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:52 AM

  JfA

  Where has that figure come from haha? Last year we made a £33m profit (due to the sale of Carroll). We were still running at a loss if it wasn’t for that sale.

• 31 bro56 // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:52 AM

  Is Obertan only 23?!?! I thought he was about 27

  in that case I’ll give him 20 mins to perform or I’m Oooot!

  I hope he does do well (obviously) as he has pace to burn . If he tries to take on a player or two and more importantly for me, tracks back and gets stuck it!!!

• 32 Gateshead-Mag // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:53 AM

  dave 1961

  you really think a team that finished 4th in greece is worse than likes of stevenage, brighton and the likes??

• 33 Shot Bru // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:54 AM

  Obertan is a typical footballing prodigy that has failed to make the grade…. unfortunately his mental fragility seems to have contributed to his lack of development.

  Backed up by the fact he had only played 25 odd professional games before arriving at Newcastle…

• 34 jawballsaswallwell // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:54 AM

  I think people are considering leaving out Ba because if all players are fit it’s become an extremely tough side to get all your best players into.

• 35 Jail for Ashley // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:55 AM

  TDS,
  Why to people buy clubs then if they are going to lose money then,it must be some type of tax fiddle that benefits other interests they have,(bar City and Chelsea),
  as I say I thought that Alan Sugar thing would have explained it.

• 36 roadfighter // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:55 AM

  Mystic Mike’s Iron Curtain – totally agree with the squad and comments. Jonas can work really well as a full back, and provide for either Ben Arfa or Marveux…

  It’s up to Obertan to step his game and prove what he can do..

  I guess he deserves a chance and wouldn’t mind if Pardew played him. He did after all get a few games in the good start NUFC had last season…

  Either way, Come on the Toon !!!

• 37 Jamiemac // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:56 AM

  Mystic Mike’s Iron Curtain and Rusbjerg11

  Why are you both leaving out Ba?

• 38 rwpoynter // Sep 2, 2012 at 11:58 AM

  I agree that Obertan is someone growing into the role.I cannot understand all the flack Williamson and Simpson get either. Remember back to when Hughton bought Perch and all the criticism he received, and now he has blossomed into a very good player.
  Much as I respect Jimmymagpie’s views and I am glad he is back on the blog, I cannot agree with him in his views about Mike Ashley. I know we might have done more in the transfer window, but I don’t profess to know the ins and outs of the Debuchy and Douglas business. Last week we were all led to believe that Debuchy was off to Real Madrid for a sum we probably could have afforded, but it didn’t happen so what was all that about? Most importantly, we have not lost any of our best players and we have gained Anita and three good youngsters. The academy is bringing through many good players, even if we are a bit tentative in ‘blooding’ them early. When Mike inherited this club there was an awful lot of highly paid poor performers on the books. Under his watch we have added Ranger and Xisco to that, so it is no surprise to me that he is unwilling to get his fingers burned again. Thankfully most of them have now moved on, but surely we do not want to go down the line of all those trophy signings again. He has made some mistakes and I would expect he is aware of that, but he has turned this club around and made it a lot healthier than it was 4 years ago.

• 39 ToonDownSouth // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:00 PM

  JfA

  I thought Ashley bought the the club because he though he could make easy money off of it. He got it on the cheap, didn’t he? Lambias said that during the summer before relegation season, they were in the process of selling the club (Keegan was only appointed because the Arab buyers wanted him in charge – according to Dezza). I imagine he bought it to make a quick buck, but due to his neglect of proper process he failed miserably.

• 40 yorkshireToon // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:00 PM

  Travelling up to the toon for my first game of the season, fancy a win today boys!

• 41 Graeme // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:01 PM

  Jail @ 7, the debt to Ashley isnt being reduced as far as I can see, its all the other debt that has been removed. Ashley bought the club and will (probably) make a profit when he sells it.

  He paid off all the Bank Loans etc and replaced it with an “Interest Free Loan” payable to himself, presumably “On-demand” This saves the club a fortune in finance expenses.

• 42 Dannyo // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:01 PM

  Hahaha, this is fantastic.

  Hatem Ben Arfa ?@H_atemBenArfa
  Happy birthday @Joey7Barton – See your new club have employed you in your most influential role…
  https://twitter.com/H_atemBenArfa/status/242214946480467968/photo/1

• 43 Gateshead-Mag // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:02 PM

  yorkshire

  enjoy pal, youve picked the right day the suns beaming

  good omen i hope

• 44 Gateshead-Mag // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:03 PM

  dannyo

  i just saw that hahaha

• 45 Mystic Mike's Iron Curtain // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:03 PM

  I’d leave out Ba because I’ve seen nothing to see Ba and Cisse are going to suddenly come alive as a partnership, and seeing as Ba played Thursday and Cisse thrived as the main man last season, albeit with Ba on the left, I feel with that supply line behind him, Cisse would get off the mark, which is important.

  It’s a hollow theory anyway, because AP has said as much that they’ll both be starting.

• 46 naptoon // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:06 PM

  oba played well the other night and the crowd got behind him hopefully he can kick on and lay down a genuine challenge for 1st team footy cos if he ever gets his brain working at the same speed as his legs he ll be some player

• 47 dave 1961 // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:09 PM

  Jail for Ashley
  the debt that the club had was £84m it was Ashly’s cock-ups that took it to £130 and the figures have never added up we were paying interest on debts of £84m paying salaries to the Shepard’s and hall’s and purchased £20m worth of players a season, our turnover did fall under Ashley as he drove away many fans and a few businesses cancelled there corporate hospitality because of Ashley & Llambia’s behavior, my brother had some important guest’s at his company’s box and they were talking to Llambias and he started telling them how he was well in with the east end gangsters, and how he wanted to slap Keegan, needless to say the clients never placed the big order that had been negotiated and never kept their box. that’s why our corporate hospitality’s dropped to such a low level. in short for such a wealthy individual he can be as embarrassing as us common folk. but one thing Ashley has taken money out the club but it is his money and the sooner he takes it the sooner we might get an owner that’s not quite as tight as Ashley is.

• 48 Jail for Ashley // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:09 PM

  Anyway,its all to confusing,
  On to the game cant understand the stick Anita’s been getting,there was some old bloke on total sport last week just after we had bought him saying that he’d watched him a dozen times on ESPN last year and he was raving about him,called him a terrier who could pick a pass out anywhere on the pitch,after that he asked Ando had he seen him play,and when he said ‘no’,he asked was he the only one with ESPN like,it was hilarious.I think he needs time to settle in after all he’s been pretty much thrown in at the deep end,strange that with all these quality youngsters we’ve got.

• 49 dave 1961 // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:10 PM

  just noticed the new banner its 1st class

• 50 Mr Random // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:12 PM

  Enjoying the blog Ed but recently i’ve been coming onto the blog and i always get redirected to local-slags.com

  Not good when you have a 9 year old son who wants to learn more about his beloved football club sitting with ya…

• 51 Dannyo // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:13 PM

  Let’s put things in perspective concerning owner and club.

  If i buy a car, and the car needs some money put into it to get it fixed up, do i then tell the car; “U now owe me £1500 for sorting you out”.
  Is it then realistic that it should pay me back?

  It’s not, i don’t see MA taking out money until he eventually sells the club again.
  As opposed to a car, he can sell the club with great profit if it’s ran properly with success tho.

• 52 dave 1961 // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:15 PM

  Gateshead-Mag
  no i meant the average premier league clubs, and i agree the others are not as good as the Greek clubs.

• 53 Gateshead-Mag // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:16 PM

  dannyo

  even if he sells the club at a massive profit do you think this will affect any money still owed in debt??

  the debt will simply be passed on to the next owner only ashley will then be able to demand set payments.

  however as i said before i think hes in it for the long run now so just have to see what happens

• 54 Gateshead-Mag // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:17 PM

  dave1961

  i rekon there better than qpr like hahaha

• 55 dave 1961 // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:18 PM

  I gave an anti Ashley post to a degree on a positive note Ashley is the only club owner that has committed his club to hold down the price of tickets.

• 56 tarie4 // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:18 PM

  JfA

  Ashley said he wanted the club to be self efficient didn’t he?? I am guess if ur figures are correct (up 40 mill on transfers etc) dnt U think some of that goes to pay the players wages?? And the wages on the general staff not to mention the running cost of the club? Where do U think that money comes from?

• 57 Jail for Ashley // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:20 PM

  Mr Random,
  You need to stop looking at porn on your Laptop or PC then as it flashes up adverts based on your search history :0

• 58 Dannyo // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:20 PM

  @Gateshead
  I imagine that the sale price will “include” the debt.
  I can’t see how MA would be able to pass the debt on otherwise, since it’s now basically paid for.
  The only way he could do that would be if he re-mortaget the assets to that value.

• 59 Gateshead-Mag // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:21 PM

  hahahahaha

  that what happens like jfa?? learn something new everyday

• 60 Jail for Ashley // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:21 PM

  Tarie4,
  What does all the TV,pie and lager money do then.

• 61 pieceofpapiss // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:21 PM

  The new banner is outstanding!!!

  Well done Tony Anderson

• 62 JP...from The Rock // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:22 PM

  Someone said Obertan lacks a football brain and I agree. He constantly makes the wrong decisions. Perhaps that part of his game can be rectified as he’s still very young but it has to happen soon. He did very well against Atromitos and more of the same would be the start to get rid of his costly errors.

  Another thing he has to build up is consistency. I remember last season he did coming off the bench once and Pardew rewarded him with a start the next game, well he was never heard of in that game, non existent. He had a terrible game and never started again. I really hope Obertan has learned his lesson and takes his chance when he gets it.

  No more abuse from the stands please he needs our support to improve or else he never will.

  2-1 for us today – - ANY LINKS??

• 63 Gateshead-Mag // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:22 PM

  dannyo

  newcastle united is its own company which owes the money to mike ashley (or a company of mikes)

  mike bought the club and inherited the debt from the previous owners just as any new owner would if they bought the club

• 64 jimiley // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:22 PM

  A club that comes 5th in the Prem on the verge of the lucrative Champions league and knows it has possibly another dozen games or so in the Europa Cup and spends a total of 2 million on players to cover those extra 12 games and a tilt at the Champions league (releasing more players than it brings in) is a joke.

• 65 mickybraham // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:23 PM

  Hey! Does anybody know which foreign channels, if any, we’re on today? I’m in Berlin and really want to watch the game need to know channels so I can ask in pubs!

• 66 naptoon // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:23 PM

  how much money is ashley taking from the club by using it as free advertisng for his chatty shop …. according to dl its worth 10 mill a year but given the chatty shops increased profits since it was shackled to us probs worth more to ashley pay our club a fair price.

• 67 dave 1961 // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:23 PM

  tarie4
  all those moneys come from the turnover of the club like it does from any other company, the next TV deal is much greater than the current deal so that will increase turnover by 15% for most clubs, i intend to get this seasons accounts and dissect them.

• 68 Gateshead-Mag // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:24 PM

  just now the debts owed to mike and not a bank or whatever

• 69 Gateshead-Mag // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:25 PM

  jimiley

  were trying to be posative today mate!! hahaha

• 70 Dannyo // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:25 PM

  @dave 1961
  It’s the smart thing to do mate.
  Lose 5000 supporters due to high ticket prices and other circumstances, or lower the prices and fill the stadium up?

  I run a restaurant, if i’ve got food getting to 2-3 days before i have to throw it, and i see that if i throw it away it’ll only cost me money, i half the prices and sell it out instead.

• 71 Jail for Ashley // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:26 PM

  Gateshead,
  Yep,although I’m not keen on the local slags but there’s some fit milfs about.

• 72 Gateshead-Mag // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:27 PM

  naptoon

  id imagine he will be paying money for the advertising as he can claim the tax back on it, a canny little earner id imagine

  if we boost the clubs profile though im sure good money will come in for a sponsor

  look at liverpool they get 20 million a year just from shirt sponsors

• 73 APBWA // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:29 PM

  likely team today will be

  Krul
  Simpson Taylor Colo Santon
  Cabaye Anita Jonas
  Ben Arfa Ba
  Cisse

  Not necessarily a 433, personally I’d play 4-3-1-2, and have cabaye and jonas covering full backs when getting attacked, well do villa even attack?

• 74 Dannyo // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:30 PM

  @Gateshead
  Ye, i realise that, but it’s still he who owns it, despite the company being it’s own.
  It’s how much he calls it his own which interests me.
  There’s always allot of talk about how much he’s invested, but isn’t it kind of expected?
  If he wants to make it a profitable thing, he needs to invest.
  It’s just the way it is.
  I still belive he’ll be taking out money once the club becomes so self sufficent that the money taken won’t be noticed as much.
  But it’s still his club, how much weight does he put into his ownership?

• 75 JP...from The Rock // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:30 PM

  Hahha the ladies up in Newcastle are fine would you Geordies agree? Or are you all sick of seeing the same style? You don’t get to see the same faces every week do ya? Down here they are fine too but the same faces every week, not too many single

• 76 jimiley // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:30 PM

  Gateshead Mag
  But I am right and you know it. Its just hard to say it. The club is not a joke but the owner is. He is the club unfortunately.

• 77 tarie4 // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:32 PM

  dave 1961

  Haha TRUE he did commit to that, but for now I am happy with the way he is running the club, coz over the past 3 years he has proved all his doubters wrong, we as a club have gone from strength to strength strength and this is all down to him and his buddy. From relegation to top 6 and Europe in 3 years is just fantastic.
  I think fans want too much and all in a short space of time. (what happened to not getting carried away?)
  And why are sooooo many fans concerned about net spend?? Liverpool last season spent alot, we comfortably finished above them. Chelsea? I believe its HOW U spend and NOT how MUCH U spend.
  our transfer model got us to were we are now, so why change it??
  I am very not entirely happy with the transfer window (I was not at all happy this tym last year) but l was proved wrong, by those boys. So I trust them a little bit now haha let see where we are in Jan shall we.

• 78 naptoon // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:33 PM

  i think all the chatty shop parafanallia may b scaring off sponsors theres no doubt in my mind he has no intention of getting a sponsor in …. please prove me wrong mike.

• 79 Gateshead-Mag // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:34 PM

  jimiley

  i have faith wel get people in in january and that were stronger than we are last year, but i know alot of people arent happy which is fair enough

  but thats the last ill say on the matter for today because im focusing on villa lol

• 80 Andymax // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:35 PM

  Obertan was a good last Thursday, still the odd stray pass though. Won’t start today though, too many better players IE. Hatem.

• 81 MrToon // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:36 PM

  Hi guys, just wondering if anyone had any lonks for the game today. I usually use myp2p or firstrowsports. but I was wondering if anyone had any better ones.
  HWTL

• 82 JP...from The Rock // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:37 PM

  We should play Marveaux LW and HBA in RW from the start. Guti LB and Santon RB. Let’s stir it up a bit, we’re becoming too predictable and slow in our movement and passing.

• 83 jawballsaswallwell // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:37 PM

  Owen to the unwashed?

• 84 naptoon // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:37 PM

  tarie 4
  i think our transfer model has yet to be proven one swallow doesnt make a summer and ure not always gonna get a cabaye or tiote for peanuts. look how hard it was for us to get transfers over the line this summer time will tell if our policy is succesful.

• 85 obatoyou // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:38 PM

  Heh r u sure u can call dem newcastle colours ed?

• 86 Whistler // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:41 PM

  Sir John Hall gave an interview a while back in which he detailed part of the discussion with MA during his purchase of the club, he revealed that the main reason he wanted NUFC was for the marketing opportunities it presented for Tat Direct…..and lo and behold, some years later we have logos emblazened across every spare inch of the stadium which is also now surprisingly called Tat Direct Arena….that said; whilst I intensity dislike the man and his methods and his apparent lack of footballing ambition….you can’t knock him for his financial successes with the club….

• 87 AndyMac // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:42 PM

  “Let’s Give Gabby Obertan A Chance”

  You’ll have to buy him a pair of specs first Ed

• 88 obatoyou // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:42 PM

  Nation the man united game would prolly be on telly as its on at the same time

• 89 APBWA // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:43 PM

  glad simpson is finally on the banner! is the one to the right of pardew bigi? thought he had massive hair

• 90 IFC.Toon // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:43 PM

  Naptoon

  Wise words, Absolutely spot on.

  On today’s game I feel Hatem will run the show through all areas of pitch with a supporting cast of Cabs and Anita while Ba and Cisse will reap the benefits.

• 91 obatoyou // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:44 PM

  Not nation, naptoon silly auto correct on iPhone

• 92 tarie4 // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:48 PM

  Jail for Ashley

  Your missing the point here mate. We made 40 mill (ur figure) last season, how much did we make this season??
  As a club U plan ahead. Imagine if this season we spend all that money on tranfers and we didn’t sell any players, how will we survive then?? Lets say our first 11 earns on average 2 mill, year. That’s 22 mill in wages plus bonuses. Only for our 1st 11. Lets say the rest of the club earn 12 mill in wages a year (including staff etc and running costs. That’s 34 mill a year. We also have agent fees we pay for players coming in. U got to budget for that. And wisely, because Ashley doesn’t wanna put another dime of his into the club as 1. He wants us to be self sufficient and 2. He already put 130.

  So just because U make a profit of 40 mill doesn’t mean U go and spend it all once. U spend it wisely. (dnt u think last transfer window we spent that money wisely??) we did come 5 th
  From a business point of view it makes sense what Ashley is doing. But as fans its hard to take. But what happened to being realistic and and taking things step by step instead of 3 steps at a time? Spurs spent 50 something mill. Does that gurantee them a top 4 finish???

• 93 Jail for Ashley // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:48 PM

  Tarie4,
  Not bothered about net spend,admitedly I was last year but I was very happy to be proved wrong,more disappointed about the BS,about the Mariappa bid if there ever was one and being told that we’re calling it off to get our real target in the summer,are you telling me that our supremo Mr Carr and his twenty merry scouts only managed to target one suitable CB,more like we waited until the magic number came in for Tiote or Cabaye,I’d be gutted if we lost either of them,but imo keeping one of them cost us,possibly a striker, CB and FB,which I think really hits home the fact that players have to be sold before there’s going to be anymore significant investment.
  Please be aware these are only my opinions and and not necessarily FACT.

• 94 OneAlanShearer // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:48 PM

  To play cisse and not use him in the centre is a waste, one of the most clinical finishers I’ve ever seen. If we are to persist with 442 then we’ll not get the best out of him and ba. They can’t play together. For this one match however I’d try 4 2 2 1 1. Villa have no creativity at all. I’d put cisse up front with in behind, both great strikers. I’d prefer to see 4231 when all fit but if tiote isn’t fit then that’ll have to do. Cabaye needs to be further forward to influence the game more.

• 95 naptoon // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:48 PM

  im hoping for at least a 3 goal win today so underwhelmed by the window and need a pick me up.
  hwtl

• 96 jimmymagpie // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:49 PM

  Pardew talks utter sh-te! If the squad is stronger, why is he shit-ing himself in case Senegal win the qualifier? Why did he prattle on about the defence being top priority all summern and it wasn’t strengthened? Why did he chase Debuchy all summer? They swapped one 1st team player for another, Anita for Guthrie. They brought in young midfielders, when the crying need was for a full back and striker. How the f-ck is that stronger? He’s so far up the heirarchy’s ar-e, it’s a wonder he doesn’t choke. Can’t be bothered with the cr-p on here today, off for a pint on the way to the match.

• 97 IFC.Toon // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:51 PM

  Jimmy

  Get some perspective on strength in depth. If we lose Ba and Cisse for a month it’s like cited losing Aguero and Tevez.

• 98 obatoyou // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:53 PM

  Hm after much deliberation I’ve changed my mind, used to express disdain for Ashley’s financial policies, bit like a selfish kid wanting more Christmas presents, now I see that losing a hundred mil a season is not what we want to do. (though I’d still be happy with neymar lifting the premier league trophy and bill gates in the stand watching on, we all would).

• 99 Jail for Ashley // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:53 PM

  Jimmymagpie,
  I am going to have several pints on the way to the match,I shan’t be using a hipflask today due to my ridiculously early start tomorrow.

• 100 shay Robson // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:54 PM

  Mr. Random…. I have had the same re direction issue. From the fair play rules implication., I would love city and Chelsea to be kicked out of euro comp….. We are on a great road financially. Do you not agree jail?

• 101 tarie4 // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:55 PM

  naptoon

  U will find it was 2 summers transfer window Ben arfa (be it on loan) and tiote.

  But yes it doesn’t make it proven and I didn’t say it was proven. (we did find it difficult last summer to sign gamero, maiga, Cisse too remember) all I said is that it makes me trust them just a little more. If we have a successful season, (for me top 7 finish good cup run (any cup) and we somehow qualify for Europe again)
  I will trust those two idiots a little more again. Haha
  Pple make mistakes and lose ur trust, but U shud give them a chance to redeem themselves to U. They might surprise U.

• 102 NUFC_LEAZES END // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:56 PM

  We need a chant for gabby Obertan like ( that’s if there isn’t one already )

• 103 Big Pappa Cissé // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:56 PM

  @ Ifc

  City would still have Dzeko and Ballotelli

• 104 jimmymagpie // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:56 PM

  They have Balotelli, Dzeko, etc, to cover, we have injury prone Shola, who true to form, is injured already. Before some of you come jumping in, NO, I know we can’t compete with Citeh, I’m talking about sensible investment where it is needed. Was it Pardew’s decision to get Anita, when he’d prattled on about defence, and another striker, all summer?

• 105 shay Robson // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:56 PM

  I also really hope cisse and ba are on form today

• 106 Big Pappa Cissé // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:57 PM

  @ ifc

  Whereas we have Shola an Campbell. That is the difference between us and the top 4 I’m afraid

• 107 jimmymagpie // Sep 2, 2012 at 12:58 PM

  JFA – good for you mate, I think I might have 2 or 3 myself – my intake is seriously limited these days. Off now, HTL!

• 108 ToonDownSouth // Sep 2, 2012 at 1:03 PM

  jimmy

  Chesea have 2 strikers, Liverpool have 2 strikers, Tottenham have 2 strikers.

• 109 tarie4 // Sep 2, 2012 at 1:03 PM

  Jail for Ashley //

  U are a sensible person, and i do understand its ur opinion, (a valid on IMHO)
  Yes i was disappointed about that, i would have loved a fb CB and a cf. But Carr did warn us that if they saw there was no value in the market we would buy noone. U see. But I must admit. I am frustrated by that. But as I said earlier on, I trust them a little bit. So lets see how is pans out.

• 110 PapissSmurf // Sep 2, 2012 at 7:37 PM

  Let me paraphrase: ‘The cupboard is bare.’ Let’s give Obertan a chance as there is nobody else!