The Newcastle United Blog

57 responses so far ↓

• 1 the1willy // Jan 16, 2013 at 9:46 AM

  Perhaps we can pay Fernandez to give DL a few lessons in negotiating…

• 2 89Norcal // Jan 16, 2013 at 9:48 AM

  I still think Harry knew what he was up…when he gave that little piece about Remy not even wanting to speak with him.

  But obviously QPR got the backing the needed. Interesting how that pans out for them.

• 3 Jail for Ashley // Jan 16, 2013 at 9:49 AM

  Just waiting for the ones who know best to start calling Shearer a mercenary for demanding top wages and if that optomism valley is still awash with lush vegetation and arable crops.

• 4 Transfer Sage // Jan 16, 2013 at 9:49 AM

  Well QPr do have a super rich part owner behind fernandez…could rival city and chelsea….we’ll see what happens in the future…maybe thats why remy went there.

• 5 Geordie in Africa // Jan 16, 2013 at 9:50 AM

  The trouble that Ba has caused.

  We would have persuaded Remy to come if we were in the top seven, which is where we would have been if we had not been pandering to Ba and playing him in the number 9 position to make him look good, all we did was help him get the move he always wanted. Pardew has really fukced up this season, and Ba made a fool of him. He should have let him go in the summer or not played him at all while he was causing trouble by his demands. Unbelievable.

  Instead, Remy goes to QPR for the cash as there is no footballing difference between us and them at the moment, and we should not really blame him – we need to look at why he went, not call him an arse for going. Now Coloccini wants out (mentioning his wife, but it’s not too long ago that he fell out with Pardew for the shit system we were playing), Ben Arfa has mentioned a move and apparently Milan are going to have a go for Santon. And we don’t have a hope of getting players to come who are in the £10 million bracket and who are interested in winning things. When you are down at the bottom, it’s mercenaries only.

  We got £5 million net for Ba but in return we are ten places below where we should be, which is £8 million in prize money at £800,000 per place. And we will now have to pay over the odds for players to persaude them to come. This means that if we do get another transfer this month, it is likely to cost £10,000 a week more in wages than it would have cost this time last year – a total of £2 million over four years.

  Then there is the lost TV revenue as nobody around the world wants to watch this shit, and a costly lack of progress in the two domestic cups. A top eight finish is generally not unachievable, but it may be three or four seasons before we are back there, meaning more lost revenue from the lower league placings and a continued reduction in TV money. We had a nice system last year and everyone was happy, except for one over-rated wanker. (I see he had to be subbed again the other day for Chelsea after not having a single chance playing up front for one of the most attacking teams in the country).

  The total cost of dealing with Ba this year will likely be in the region of £15 million when all of the lost earnings are considered. I have moaned all season about the system which we were forced to adopt to make him look good. He should have been kicked out on a free in the summer, £5 million does not come close to covering the damage caused.

  All the top managers in the world want to come and manage in the premiership and we have Pardew – maybe Ferguson meant, he didn’t manage a small minded club in the north east?

• 6 cyprus // Jan 16, 2013 at 9:51 AM

  Well Shearer said it all. You must pay the going rate. He loves NUFC and all that, but the 15 mil transfer record helped a bit as well. Our policy will be good when they all follow it. For now, it’s not working. I say, lose 7-8 deadwood players (a couple are even being fielded), take the risk of a smaller squad (some in current one will never play anyway), and settle the wages of current superstars and two new signings. Or else, we’ll be beaten out by big clubs like QPR.

• 7 yorkymag // Jan 16, 2013 at 9:52 AM

  This is complete nonsense any fool can pay a pound for a fifty pence piece
  Move on ,the club were right to make an excellent offer and if madness prevails right to opt out
  Let’s stop talking about it and move on

• 8 89Norcal // Jan 16, 2013 at 9:53 AM

  http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/ac-milan-want-newcastle-pair-transfer-rumours-january-16-1-5318274

  I was talking to an AC Milan fan about their interest in Santon. He said alot of other fans think Davide is still too raw for what they need, but he would be an excellent project for them.

• 9 Transfer Sage // Jan 16, 2013 at 9:54 AM

  Jail

  It’s difficult for me…..I like the idea of spending within our means, not paying sill wages etc

  but at the same time I want us to be competing to get some top players, obviously not the messi’s and ronaldo’s but some high quality players.

  It’s difficult to break into the top 4 without spending well….only team to recently break into the top 4 well is man city…and it cost them 400mil.

• 10 jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew // Jan 16, 2013 at 9:55 AM

  Repost:

  Norcal…I have seen Newcastle the past 20 years (almost) spend what would mean we are moving forward just to see us move backwards…

  …these sayings needs to be taken with a grain of salt; the same goes for the saying ‘you need to spend money to make money’. It’s all well and good but it’s not about the amount you spend but the way you spend it.

  An investment can soon end up just being consumption and then there won’t be any profit in the long run.

  We have to make clever signings that works within our means. We didn’t capitalize on last season which I think was a mistake (others might think differently and in the end it’s not our call) – it was an opportunity to invest.

  I am afraid that this January will see you consume instead which was what MA didn’t want to do in the first place.

  Our main problem the way I see it is that we move too slowly and nervously in the transfer marked; and we are clearly not doing our job between the transfer windows (besides Carr). I don’t mind our wage cap or that fact that we don’t fall for the inclination that we won’t pay the going rate – what is the going rate anyway? Is Remy’s going rate £83k a week just because QPR are willingly to pay that?

• 11 alex84 // Jan 16, 2013 at 9:56 AM

  If we want international class then we need to pay the going rate! not go for players who are injured or who baggage so there club is wanting rid of them, Im sorry but MA has no ambition to be a top 6 club, the proof is in the pudding when every player who leaves says the same thing, and now players who are still here have questioned it…I don’t want players like we had in the past but if we showed our players and potential that we mean business on the PITCH on not just the accounts we could go far! we have everything in place.

• 12 Transfer Sage // Jan 16, 2013 at 9:57 AM

  yorky

  well said….like it or not we need to move on now.

  Lets hope the board act quickly and move on to the next target and get it tied up ASAP.

• 13 cyprus // Jan 16, 2013 at 9:58 AM

  Jesper,
  have you been involved in business? The answer to your last question is a clear yes, mate.

• 14 Sawbuck // Jan 16, 2013 at 9:58 AM

  Even Blackbeard knew you’ve got to keep your crew in good shape, with morale, discipline and plenty of conquests.

  But Ashley and Llambias act as though they still run an after hours backroom at Llambias’ casino.

  Why is it they cant get it that you cant run a football club like a casino?

• 15 89Norcal // Jan 16, 2013 at 9:59 AM

  jesper

  I know and I’m aware of our marquee signing history pre-relegation, but many of our transfer market decisions during those years were questionable IMO.

  For one, we now have Graham Carr who has found us wonderful talent on a budget, yet still hasn’t been fully backed by the board, which is why deals died over ~1m euros for players we actually NEEDED.

  I’ll concede spending is not the be/end all (i’ve been saying it since summer) and neither is stonewalling our sellers in negotiations with “no-budge” policies. The answer is somewhere in the middle.

• 16 jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:00 AM

  Cyprus…what was my last Q?

• 17 yorkymag // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:01 AM

  Let’s be clear qpr did not pay the going rate
  They paid over the odds
  Why
  They are desperate
  To stay in the league they have to get the same number of points in the second half that Liverpool got in the first half of the season
  A very tough ask and if they do it they will deserve to stay in the premier league
  If they don’t they are in one hell of a mess
  I for one don’t wnt newcastle in that position

• 18 cyprus // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:02 AM

  Jesper,
  the one right after your second to last.

• 19 Transfer Sage // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:03 AM

  I dont think 83k is the going rate for remy…I think that its well too much…50-60k maybe.

  The guy has a decent record in france, not great at international level and hasn’t scored a goal in england….therefore paying him 80k+ a week to come here is too much.

• 20 Transfer Sage // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:04 AM

  yorky

  exactly….we offered Remy the wage which reflected how important he has to us.

  QPR are desperate…therefore remy is worth more to them as they need a striker who will score goals

  don’t get me wrong, we are desperate for some quality….but not as desperate as QPR

• 21 jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:05 AM

  Cyprus…is it about the going rate?

  …literally you’re right I guess, but the since the term is thrown around carelessly these days about players who haven’t been sold yet it looses its meaning.

  That said, I don’t believe in the case of Remy that £83k qualifies as the going rate, but just shows you that money talks!

  To quote Yorkmag: ‘any fool can pay a pound for a fifty pence piece’

• 22 richyg01 // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:06 AM

  It has nowt to do with negotiating.

  Newcastle had negotiated a deal with him, but QPR offered him more money, and a Demba Ba style clause in his contract should they go down.

  Its a no risk move for Remy, all it will do is allow him to put himself in the shop window for other EPL clubs if he is any good.

  We have had too many players come here for the money, who do not care about the team, or even care if they are on the pitch, as they still get their pay cheque every week.

• 23 jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:06 AM

  Cyprus…are you pulling my leg?

• 24 89Norcal // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:06 AM

  Nobody wanted Remy for 80k+, even QPR fans…lol.

• 25 jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:08 AM

  Norcal…sensible post there mate

• 26 89Norcal // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:09 AM

  richy

  we could counter, tout the establishment of a French base here in Newcastle and push them to convince Remy like Cabaye did with Debuchy. Even if it meant offering 65k/week. It’s called leverage.

  Not as if our backup targets are clear chances anyway.

• 27 Toon_Tom // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:09 AM

  Ive just seen Balotelli talking to “proud” in Greggs on Northumberland Street!!!

  Done Deal

• 28 jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:10 AM

  Does anybody use an android smartphone or tablet when they use the blog?

  …have you witnessed the blog’s layout change last night to worse?

• 29 ~Anita One Bites the Dust~ // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:10 AM

  “Fernandes Personally persuaded Remy to Join QPR” –

  Translation:
  Fernades flashed the cash.

• 30 Ketsbaia9 // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:11 AM

  We’re now going after Bafetimbi Gomis.

• 31 liam1985nufc // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:11 AM

  I think £83k p/w is excessive. You are only talking (or should be) about the top 4 clubs in the PL who should be able to afford these type of wages. Unfortunately that is no longer the case.

  Something needs to be done to curb the wages being spent, and not just in the PL. I personally don’t think UEFA will have the balls to ban the likes of Chelsea, Man City, Anzhi etc. It’s teams like these who are driving wages up to such an extent that it will cause substantial damage to the game itself.

  Whilst I don’t always agree with some of the tactics employed by our board, the wage model we have in place SHOULD (and i stress should) be still enough to compete with the majority of PL sides. However, it is of the utmost urgency that we get players in, otherwise I fear we may not recover from a second relegation.

  Keeping the faith, although I may have a different judgment come Feburary 1….

• 32 cyprus // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:12 AM

  When you find a bargain it’s a great feeling. But, most times, you pay for what you get. Our bargain approach can work in the short term. ‘Dodgy knees’, ‘bad boy image’ tags can get you the player, but eventually if they’re good they move on and then you have to do it all over again. A tough prospect and against the odds.

• 33 Toon_Tom // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:12 AM

  Norcal @25 …

  Backup Targets, do you know something we dont?

  Do you mean that we have other players in mind if our initial choice fails to fall over our line???

• 34 89Norcal // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:12 AM

  jesper

  thanks. like ideal transfer policy, my posts are more moderate – somewhere in between logic and pure emotion, lol.

• 35 jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:13 AM

  I would like for us to go for Diego Fabbrini !

• 36 manxpie // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:14 AM

  Willy1 how is wat qpr did classed as negotiating?
  They’ve give him everything he want’s and at the same time if they’re relegated they’ve spunked 15 million for absolutely nothing!
  I’d call that madness

• 37 cyprus // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:15 AM

  Liam,
  You said ‘keeping the faith’ with a shaky voice

• 38 89Norcal // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:15 AM

  Toon_Tom

  Yes! We really are showing ambition if you can believe it..lol. Aubameyang doesn’t look promising, Gourcoff is a little underwhelming (but who knows).

  And would you believe it….Kets is talking sense!

  http://www.insidefutbol.com/2013/01/16/newcastle-switch-attention-to-lyons-bafetimbi-gomis-following-loic-remy-snub/77209/?

• 39 jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:16 AM

  Norcal…and that is always dangerous territory for us NUFC fans who wear our heart on the sleeve lol

  …prefer it when the head prevails (but the heart has to be in it as well) So keep it up

• 40 Pardews Parsnip Bonce // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:16 AM

  @mermaidman the new mobile site is terrible. so much so im on desktop site on my phone

• 41 TorqToon // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:17 AM

  Jesp – I use an iPhone 5 and last night the blog layout changed to a new sparkly and easy to use version – but today it’s reverted back to the old layout and now can only log on as a desktop version.

  Maybe it’s just something that Ed is working on mate.

• 42 cyprus // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:18 AM

  Jesper,
  Not pulling your leg your comments make sense. I think I read a few days ago that you’ve played some football too.

• 43 Ben3arfa // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:18 AM

  FERNANDEZ IS THE OWNER OF QPR NOT THE MITTALS

  ASHLEY’S NET WORTH IS ABOUT 10 TIMES THAT OF FERNANDEZ , YET WE SPEND A TENTH OF WHAT QPR ACTUALLY SPEND .

  SCREW OUR GREEDY PATHETIC OWNER

• 44 liam1985nufc // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:19 AM

  Cyprus,

  You read my mind mate it doesn’t half worry me that every story coming out regarding NUFC this week is of negative substance. Fingers crossed we may finally have some positive soon (with shaky voice….)

• 45 Ketsbaia9 // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:20 AM

  Yeah, I had a brief word with Pardew last night.

• 46 jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:20 AM

  Plankton…good to know I’m not the only one experiencing this

  …so have you typecast the other characters yet? Mr. Krabs, Patrick, Spongebob and Squidward? lol

• 47 mindshaft // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:21 AM

  Its been fairly widely reported that Remy is on 96k a week!
  To be fair, if he scores 20 goals by the end of the season, he’ll be worth it – can’t see it myself though

• 48 Transfer Sage // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:23 AM

  When man city and before then Chelsea spent well above their means I understood it. Inject a lot of money up front to then see the rewards of champions league funding and also increase revenue from other sources with the eventual plan to have a large income and some within your means.

  However, only so many teams can be in the champions league places so this will mean some will miss out and their owners will have to find this.

  In the next ten years or so I see a breakaway league forming of Europes top teams

• 49 pawl250 // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:23 AM

  Look negativity stops here!

  We need 4 players in this window, 5 if Colo leaves. I suspect Simpson will leave in the upcoming 14 days.

  If we sign

  IN
  Mbiwa 7m – CB
  Haidara 2.5m – LB
  Okore 3m – CB
  Sissoko 3.5m – CM
  De Jong 9m – CAM/ST

  OUT
  Colo – Free
  Simpson – 2m

  Thats approx 23m net spend. HERE IS FOR HOPING!

  OK its alot of investment but we will have a stronger, younger team from it. And they were willing to pay 8m for Remy so its only an extra 15m, given we are potentially losing Colo you would imagine a good 8m needs to be invested solely for that so its not really surprising.

  No point crying over Remy, he was a gamble anyway. Just because we sign him doesnt mean he is going to come good.

  Lets move on! We have a strong starting 11, we just need to get them fit!

  READING TEAM

  ————————- Krul ————————–
  Debuchy – Williamson – Colo/Perch – Santon
  ————– Anita —— Bigi/Perch ————–
  Jonas ————— Cabaye ——— Marveaux
  ———————— Cisse ————————–

  Looks like a decent team if you ask me, except central defence is weak if Colo isn’t playing.

  Need to get likes of Arfa, Tiote, STaylor back NOW!

  We need some players who can fill in. If we sign who I have stated -

  ——————— Krul ————————–
  Debuchy – Mbiwa – Colo/Okore – Santon
  ————- Anita —— Sissoko ————–
  Jonas ———— Cabaye ———– De Jong
  ———————— Cisse ———————-

  We look very strong compared to the last team. With the likes of Arfa to return and Tiote who could maybe strengthen the team or back up if needed.

  23m is NOT alot of money as we will have a fairly young squad!

• 50 jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:24 AM

  Cyprus…that’ true mate (but these days it’s only as an amateur)

  …the transfer windows are always frustrating times for me cause we move so slowly and nervously that it’s unbelievable at times.

  Wonder who are second choice on the list is and if signing a new CB is on the backburner until the Colo situation is solved?

• 51 manxpie // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:27 AM

  Ben3arfa QPR’s accounts must be pretty grim reading tho not that I give a shit!
  They can’t possibly sustain with the money there spending think of th crap they’ve got on crazy wages and long contracts
  There debt must be crazy!

• 52 James RS // Jan 16, 2013 at 10:33 AM

  The1willy in comment 1 hit the nail on the head Fernandes should give Llambias some tips on negotiating skills. Llambias has the charisma of a wet fish he wouldnt inspire me to join NUFC, Ashley should get rid , we only got Debuchy because of Cabaye not Llambias!..what did Pardew say we are aggressive in the transfer market not as aggressive as QPR or other Prem teams. I remember The Mackems beating us to Larsson whos not a bad player and he was free but chose Sunderland. Llambias better pull his finger out or get someone else with a bit of charisma, chram and likeability to deal with the transfers. Aggressive my a***.any team in the prem can see who we are after from sites like this and knowing they are good players would have no probs in offering better wages/terms. We can beat that its Newcastle they say and hes a good player and then they beat us for the signature late on……etc

• 53 magpie rangers // Jan 16, 2013 at 11:16 AM

  @geordie in Africa

  What gear are you on? Some strong shit! How can you blame the prems top scorer for us playing shite all season.

  Blame Pardew yes for not motivating the team. Blame nearly every player there for not performing anywhere near the standards set last season.

• 54 one Tony Green // Jan 16, 2013 at 11:20 AM

  Make your mind up Ed you were saying it was good we had not signed him.

• 55 one Tony Green // Jan 16, 2013 at 11:23 AM

  @ Ben Arfa the Mittals own 34% of qpr

• 56 Sav // Jan 16, 2013 at 1:26 PM

  Mr. Dough Re-my…What was it about millionaire owner, Tony Fernandez which convinced you to sign for bottom club QPR?

  “…Sixty-five, Seventy, Seventy-five, Eighty, Eighty-five.”

• 57 Lee Dodd // Jan 16, 2013 at 2:28 PM

  Wehn We get Our Injured Players back we will be ok …. Bollox What a Load of Shite !!!! We will be Stuffed . No Forwards apart from Cisse. Shola is An Impact Sub . Ranger is a one Legged Turkey on Speed . I dread to Think what is Gong to Happen as I cant See us getting any new Players in Now !!!!! We should have had them Nailed on In December for 1st Week in january if Graham carr is So Good..