Newcastle have been on a downward spiral since Bobby Robson was sacked in August, 2004, apart from one bright glimmer of hope the season before last when we finished 5th top, but Newcastle still has drawing power for players.
Darren Bent – Newcastle wouldn’t pay his wages
And that was proved again yesterday, because as the new broke that Bent was having a medical at Fulham before a potential one year loan deal, Bent’s agents were in frantic negotiations with Newcastle United, trying to get some deal arranged, because Ben wanted to join Alan Pardew and Newcastle.
So it’s not surprising that Martin Jol cut a frustrated figure yesterday, when asked about the Bent deal, and he obviously didn’t want to say too much about it – now we know why.
The news is in the Evening Chronicle today, and Bent himself pleaded with Newcastle to pay his wages, because he was confident he could get the goals for Newcastle, when working again under Alan Pardew.
Certainly he was great at Charlton Athletic when he was managed by Pardew, and that was the best goal scoring form of his career and it was in the Premier League too.
In his two seasons there from 2005 through 2007, he made 79 appearances for Charlton and scored 37 goals.
So if this news is accurate, even when you have players who are your top targets, pleading to join Newcastle, we will not pay out the money – if we think it’s not a good deal.
And don’t blame Joe Kinnear for this – Joe will be realizing he has to operate within a very tight and frugal budget at Newcastle as Director of Football under owner Mike Ashley.
How many other clubs have their top transfer targets pleading for the club to sign them?
Never let it be said that Darren Bent didn’t want to join Newcastle this summer – but he will become a Fulham player – probably today.
And as we reported earlier today Newcastle should measure their progress by where wefinish in the league table, and not on low a fee they can pay out for their transfer targets.
There’s something wrong somewhere when a small club like Fulham can pay out big wages but Newcastle can’t – or won’t.
I want Newcastle to become great again (and soon too), but the club needs to be a lot more ambitious in the transfer target then we’ve shown over this summer.
That’s always assuming the club wants to build a top side again of course.
What do you think?
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175 comments so far
JaxtheMag
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:08 PM
Comment #81Fulham ave got our top target on loan ffs
mushy
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:08 PM
Comment #82… and on that happy note; I’m off shopping with wor lass. Deep joy.
sparky55
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:08 PM
Comment #83losing heavily on Monday won’t loosen the purse strings but hopefully it’ll lead to Pardew getting the sack and we build from there
Slank
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:09 PM
Comment #84jesperfuglsang @ 79
No problemo.
Klatoon
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:10 PM
Comment #85jesper
Cissokho to cesspool? Good news, I didnt want the mackems to get him!
croftus5678
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:11 PM
Comment #86@73 slank
tbf the puds have sturridge who imo is very highly underated always has been imo.
coutinhio= class/ sterling = class / gerrard (even though he uses a zimmer frame now) is slow but still quality/ then theres our old fave enrique so they have some really quality players tried and tested before you even think about adding the players coming in !
some of those players coming in i dont rate tbh though i.e. aspas i think is pretty poor and looks slow and stupid.
think they are in the running though tbh.
Slank
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:11 PM
Comment #87sparky55 @ 83
Why are Newcastle fans often the laughing stock of the league?
Munster Mag
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:12 PM
Comment #88Well I would certainly rather have Bent than no-one, especially on loan ….looks like a repeat of last summer. The longer it goes, the more logical it is that we wont get anyone. I still refuse to believe that we arent active but Joe is not known for his work ethic. To quote a previous striker of his at Forest ….DOFs go around the world watching players and selling the club and meeting people. Joe wont leave his house”
numba9
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:12 PM
Comment #89Oh yea and the ready made cheap as chips joke in here installed sorry but I am not watching this junk
croftus5678
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:12 PM
Comment #90@80 slank
2 wingers for squad depth as arfa is our only decent winger imo.
Sazzer
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:14 PM
Comment #91Everton lining up bid on Tadic. Why haven’t we sold Obertan and Amalfitano yet? At least Jonas in Pardews plans.
Slank
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:16 PM
Comment #92croftus5678 @ 86
‘think they are in the running though tbh. ‘
Yes, but to where?
Can’t see them overtaking Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal or Man Utd although Kets is absolutely convinced ManU will finish mid table. I doubt even the most ardent Man City supporter would agree with him.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:18 PM
Comment #93Sazzer…I think Alfi needs to go out on loan at least this season, on Obertan! Who would seriously want to buy him?
toon kk
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:18 PM
Comment #94Most clubs in the premier league run at a loss. Lets face it wages are ridiculous but that’s just the way it is.
MA wants us to be a with profit club year after year but to do so he has to gamble, he just got away with it last season. We’ll just have to get used to being a club that is on the brink of being bankrupt as long as MA owns the club, its just a business to him no more.
jazzyp
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:18 PM
Comment #95Trouble is we get trounced Monday night and I don’t believe anything will change apart from the player mentality .
we will just carry on in the same vein as last season.Any other manager at any PL club would have been sacked for that shambles we had to put up with last term.
Imo if we get well beaten Monday night-firstly our supposed top players will look to move on because they will not keep putting up with this bullsh@t, And second it will put off any linked player in joining this club as nobody will want to join this sinking ship !!
ToonDarnSarf
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:19 PM
Comment #96croftus5678
“only”…wahahahahaaha!
IMO we only need one alternative striker (like Gomis) and some young hungry players.
We have Krul and Elliott at GK. I don’t know if Alnwick is cut out to come on from the bench but if one of the first 2 get injured, then we can always get an emergency loan like several other clubs have done.
We have Colo, MYM, Saylor and Willo as our 4 centre backs. Willo has been decent when he’s played and I don’t think it’s a priority to upgrade one of those yet, though I’d be happy if we did. Debuchy, Santon and Haidara are our full backs with Anita offering cover too. So I don’t see gaping holes there.
We know we have plenty in central midfield and for the more attacking roles we have Ben Arfa, Marv, Sissoko, Goofy, Remy, Jonas, Sammy, Obertan and Vuckic. Several of those have and can play out wide.
I think the back 5 pretty much picks itself but if the rest of the team includes Tiote/Anita, Cabaye and Sissoko in midfield, Remy and Ben Arfa as attacking midfielders/wingers supporting Cisse up front, where is the weakness?
I’m all for strengthening the squad but what I really want to see is a strong physical striker brought in who will effectively play instead of Ameobi.
Bye Bye AP
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:19 PM
Comment #97I agree with 2 wingers but we won’t get one at this rate!
IF we keep our current squad and add 1 more forwrd we can be 10th but is that all Ashley wants?
Spend a few quid bring in 3/4 players and aim top 6!!
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:20 PM
Comment #98Spurs have accepted a bid from QPR for Parker!
Slank
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:23 PM
Comment #99Sazzer
The problem for buyers is they would be very wary of an Alex Ferguson reject (Obertan) and a player few if any have seen actually playing (Amalfitano). I suspect that Obertan is on a good package which teams in the lower leagues possibly couldn’t afford.
ToonDarnSarf
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:24 PM
Comment #100Bye Bye AP
When you say “a few quid” what exactly do you mean?
Our squad is already pretty full when it comes to the 25 players that we can register so we need to ship some players out to sign more.
I agree that we should sign at least one more player, but we can’t go out and splash the cash aiming for 6th without taking a serious risk. The real money is in the CL and unless we get in that, we won’t have serious cash to spend.
ToonDarnSarf
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:27 PM
Comment #101The problem with the Europa League is that a club will only get a few million in revenue from it (champions get less than £10M I believe!), as opposed to a minimum of about £25M in the CL. Huge difference!
Slank
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:28 PM
Comment #102toon kk @ 94
‘..Most clubs in the premier league run at a loss..’
Have you checked with Swiss Ramble, you might be surprised.
swisstone
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:33 PM
Comment #103I dont blame the club at all on this one
Its clear they will pay within reason where it is deserving eg Remy, but not where the quality is not justified
jazzyp
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:33 PM
Comment #104Jesus fc lads some of you take a step back and just listen to yourselves please.
Cant afford to splash the cash-Seriously !!
We have the 7th richest PL owner, Made 550 million last year alone and is in the top 30 richest in the uk and he cant afford to splash the cash.
mattyNUFC
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:34 PM
Comment #105let’s not forget that the match might not only determine whether we bring in another player or two (I don’t think anything will. I mean, MA is negligent enough to retain pardew), but some players- if the scoreline and/or performance is appauling enough, will surely be telling their agents and/or suitors they’re not so sure they want to waste another year in an already short career
ToonDarnSarf
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:36 PM
Comment #106jazzyp
For the one millionth time…the wealth of our owner is only relevant if either:
a) he wants to splurge his own money on us like Chelski or Citeh OR
b) he LOANS us money to help us grow
He’s already done the latter and they’re not insignificant sums.
Why don’t people get it that it’s NUFC’s money that will be spent, not Mike Ashley’s!
JaxtheMag
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:36 PM
Comment #107we play morcombe 4days b4 we play Fulham. I fear 4 pards, the end is nigh.
GeordieDan
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:38 PM
Comment #108I havn’t posted in here for ages and I almost foegot why-
Until I read Jeff’s and Spartak Miserables comments@7 and @29 and then I renembered EXACTLY WHY:
Almost every decent poster has gone now and the site has been taken over by wankers like those 2.
Ed I would honestly give up mate. You’re wasting your time with these arseholes.
And its a picture of Bent, not Benteke that I can see you Troll fukwits!
Later all, apologies to the odd decent poster on here but this time I wont be back!
ochytoon
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:38 PM
Comment #109TDS
But isn’t that what running a club should be about?
Look at all these other teams around us, Norwich, Southampton, Swansea, who are spending money and ultimately, taking a risk. Owners should so ambition, if not, then whats the point of owning a club.
croftus5678
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:43 PM
Comment #110@96 tds
i understand they can play out wide and agree they can do a job but i dont think doing a job is good enough if we want to start moving up the table tbh.
to fill in when a real winger is injured then fair enough i think we can get away with that but ober should be going sammy/vukic not ready imo.
cover from anita/guti/goofy is good as they are versatile for a few areas.
Rainrix
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:44 PM
Comment #111SS has been surprisingly generous with us. 9th! wow
http://www1.skysports.com/football/teams/newcastleunited/profile
Currytoon
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:44 PM
Comment #112Everyone who says our squad is weaker than last year when we nearly got relegated are missing one important fact:
Our first XI should be much stronger this season.
We were decimated by injuries last year. We had 1745 days lost to injury, compared to the next worst 1281. Most had less than half the days lost compared to us. And ours were to key players.
We missed Colo for a large part of the season, Ben Arfa for nearly all of it, Cabaye, Tiote, both Taylors and Krul also missed large parts.
Our only saving grace was that Cisse didn’t get crocked.
We will also have the players brought in January playing for the whole of the season, and hopefully bedded into life in the Premiership.
Our strongest XI is stronger than the season we finished 5th (lost Ba and Simpson, gained Remi, Sissokho, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, plus our foreign contingent have a few more years experience under their belt).
Sorry for the positivity…!
joeinthecheapseats
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:45 PM
Comment #113Well if we don’t buy anyone else it really shows that Ashley has no ambition other than a marketing tool for sports direct
What is JFK doing for his wages one wonders after all the crap he spouted on talksport
Hope he proves me wrong but doesn’t look likely
Be another window of late bids with no intention of getting anyone in
DokToon
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:45 PM
Comment #114id say good morning, but im appalled at some of you who’d rather see us lose to citeh, so the mgr can be fired….
what kind of supporter says that?
TimKrulFan
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:48 PM
Comment #115We needed a winger so bad all season we are going to have Jonas there all season I want pardew out so badly I hate him More than any other manager I’d rather have Kinear.
TimKrulFan
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:49 PM
Comment #116If anyone thinks this I’d going to be a season is deluded I have never watched us won comfortable under pardew.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:50 PM
Comment #117NUFC needs to up its revenue if we want to spend more!
We only have the 8th highest revenue in the PL at £91M and Spurs comes in at #5 with £164M.
One should ask them self how much revenue were Spurs generating in the early 2000? He had CL football and were not generating more than we are now. What has Spurs don’t to set them self apart.
They are not a bigger club than us, but those running Tottenham probably have more business sense than those who have been running Newcastle over the years!
LooneyToon41
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:50 PM
Comment #118@108. Ochy. Did Swansea,Norwich,Southampton splash out nearly £20m in January?…… er.. no they didn’t, and we had a failed bid of circa £10m for Remy … so we were prepared to spend nearly £30m.
That’s not particularly unambitious.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:51 PM
Comment #119*He = we
croftus5678
Aug 16, 2013 at 12:52 PM
Comment #120@101 tds
the reason a lot of clubs are spending big is because of the extra tv money this year.
i cant go by other clubs as i’ve not looked at there finances but we worked it out on this blog some weeks ago that with increased sponsorship from wonga and tv money there is an extra 30mil this year on top of what we did last year (weather its in the bank now or not i do not know) i would prob guess that wages are slightly less now also with our outgoings/incomings but that wont be affected untill the end of the season.