News in the Daily Mail on Monday night, that Newcastle are interested in signing Wigan midfielder James McCarthy, as the Tyneside club could well lose Yohan Cabaye to Arsenal this week.
James McCarthy – Everton also interested
The latest news on Cabaye is that Newcastle are in talks with Arsenal about the deal, but it seems that Joe Kinnear has let Arsenal know the French International will cost them £20M, with £15M to be paid up front.
Most clubs these days buy players by paying for them over a number of years, on the hire purchase if you like, much like Newcastle used to do under Freddy Shepherd, but now Newcastle pays in cool cash up front.
Clubs pay the fees over a number of years because they haven’t got the cash to pay up front, and hope to pay for their players via future earnings.
And we wonder if the Financial Fair Play rules for European clubs will have any effect at all on the way clubs spend more than they take in – it doesn’t look like it.
However, Everton are also interested in the Irish International midfielder, and the way Newcastle have conducted their transfer business this summer, not many would give us much chance of being able to entice McCarthy to Tyneside, given that his old boss Roberto Martinez is now at Everton.
Wigan want at least £15M for the Scottish 22-year-old, and that in itself could be a big enough barrier for Newcastle in their attempts to sign McCarthy, who is a very good player, and is proven Premier League class – and he speaks English too.
We really hope Newcastle can bring in players this week, but the confidence level of fans must be very low, given the way Newcastle have acted like the Keystone Kops in executing their transfer business this summer. They’ve been pathetic.
It’s not good, and would seem to plunge Newcastle even further into mediocrity, and maybe even into a second consecutive relegation fight in the coming season.
Can you remember when we were fighting to be the 5th best club in England only a few years ago – when Bobby Robson was leading the club, behind only Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal?
It’s sad that Newcastle seem to have lost all their ambition under owner Mike Ashley.
Sad – but it seems so very true. 🙁
We’ll hope for the very best this week – but our confidence level is not high.
Comments welcome.
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111 comments so far
lesh
Aug 27, 2013 at 1:58 AM
Comment #41Manxpie @ 23
And from that montage of the Keystone Cops (1920s movie clips) @39, you might see why Ed drew the parallel between them and the Ashley-Kinnear approach to buying players. Absolute slapstick, farcical.
lesh
Aug 27, 2013 at 2:04 AM
Comment #42Sidney Toon,
If tgeh issue with PEA was our lack of power to appeal to quality players that they will be able to play to their strengths and to a philosophy that they want to play within.
That, surely is a product of showing no vision or desire to do more than buy players to sell at a profit – a lack of ambition perhaps?
Sydney Toon
Aug 27, 2013 at 2:21 AM
Comment #43Lesh
Fair point, the ambition was there IMO with Ashley getting involved on the PEA deal, but we have fallen flat on others but we definitely came close from all reports. We can attract strong players like Cabaye and Remy, but there comes a point where the pitch off the field to a player is the exact opposite on the field.
Your point on selling players for a profit, is that not what all clubs will do? Look at Tottenham, United, Everton. Gareth Bale is a prime example. Bought for 10m, they have probably spent close to 20m on developing and looking after him which is actually overhead cost, not upfront. To sell him for basically a 76m profit is by far a no brainer. Selling cabaye for 20m with a 15m profit is simply good business. Can you honestly believe Cabaye was going to stay with us long term? We are a stepping stone for the super clubs. We will see Krul, Sissokho, Cisse, Mbiwa, Santon all head to super clubs in time, we will make a profit, spend it on more players. It is the way the system works. The FFP will bring some clubs back to earth and we will eventually be on a level playing field. The reality is this, Ashley could spend his own money and take us into the a regular top 5 place, but why when his spending will eventually turn to losses. No owners make a profit in Football. The clubs do, the platform is set by Ashley, not because he doesn’t want to spend, but to have us running like a business that operates within our means. He can only do so much off the pitch.
The solution is not more money or spending, the solution is philosophy of football. Look at Barca, they play an amazing brand of football. Messi came from within like most of them. They spend within their means because they are the highest followed club in the world. Why?? Their philosophy on football attracts people. I find myself enjoying watching Swansea, Liverpool and the like because of their attractive footballing prowress. I watch Newcastle because they are my team and my passion. I was hoping Pardew could dispel any doubts I had, however he has increased them ten fold! So I want him gone, I want Poyet or even McClaren who played enterprising football at Twente, he also discovered Luuk De Jong and Fer. When we start producing strong academy players, protect our assets like Vuckic, Sammy and Campbell, stick to an attractive philosophy, we can be mighty. Right now we are a stepping stone, a feeder team if you like. But as long as we are making a profit and using those funds to find young starlets or established young players, we can get the best of them for a few seasons, we can be competitive.
Premiership Manager
Aug 27, 2013 at 3:18 AM
Comment #44I’d like to know how many players we’ve actually placed bids for because at the moment everything apart from Gomis seems to be pure speculation.
I can’t see Arsenal or PSG paying more than £15M for Cabaye and they know the longer they wait the more likely they are to get their player unless NUFC play hard ball with Cabaye and hold him to contract, however that is a very dangerous game especially if Cabaye holds a great deal of influence in the dressing room in which case it may carry across to the other players.
If Cabaye goes we don’t need another CM as we have Anita, Gosling and Bigi who can all play the same role, however where we do need to improve is in the attacking front, where we need a player who can open up defences.
Hoilett, Moses, Ince all fit the bill and are available for transfer. It’s likely we’d get all three for around £20M so if we get £15M for Cabaye and invest £2M that will be a total spend of £7M and would be a very good window to restore confidence in the club.
It’s simple really however when you have Coco the clown running transfers is it any wonder we’re struggling as a club!
Premiership Manager
Aug 27, 2013 at 3:23 AM
Comment #45Abo should have read invest £7M and that includes the £2Mfor Remy, McArthur for me is very over rated and not worth anywhere near the £15M being quoted and I’d rather see Anita, Gosling and Bigi given an extended run in the first team to prove what they can do.
jimmysmith
Aug 27, 2013 at 3:24 AM
Comment #46I think the point really is simply the owner continues to sell the club and its fans short. He really is in many ways an unconscionable opportunist, little wonder he never speaks, preferring to pay others to publically compromise themselves to cover his true intentions.
Although, I do also accept that Ashley is perhaps the medicine we are now forced to take after the overreaching of the Shepherd years, even so its a bitter pill of austerity.
lukes26
Aug 27, 2013 at 3:36 AM
Comment #47McCarthy is a better all round Central midfielder than cabaye.
Cabaye is the flashier one, better freak kicks and can pick a pass nicely. He’s better exclusively as an attacking mid.
McCarthy is a better defender and reads the game very, very well. Not sure if he’s a sulking d-bag like cabaye.
nut meg
Aug 27, 2013 at 4:57 AM
Comment #48It’s creative players who link up play & can also score goals that we desperately need.McCarthy does neither. He’s played 259 games,scored 25 & has 13 assists.A decent footballer but for me….no thanks. Prioritize please,creative players produce opportunities to score goals.Chances= goals.It’s stupid just to rely on forwards to make their own goals all the time.We have people who can score goals but they,like all forwards need other people to provide chances for them.There are players out there who can do what we so badly need but will we pay the money……doesn’t look it from where I’m sitting! Shearer,Ferdinand,Cole,Lineker,Van Niselrooy, The list is endless,they all needed help to do what they were bought to do,score goals & at huge expense by the way.So why do we let our strikers down so badly? I don’t want to keep banging on about our need for creative players but each & every one of our strikers would tell you the same,maybe not publicly but privately for sure.Strikers are judged by their goals so you can be 100% certain that they’ll be well & truly peeved at the lack of service they’re getting. Looking at the body language of Cisse you don’t even have to ask him what he thinks,it’s there for all to see. Remy, hopefully will make a difference but he too will need help……….so get help! Our team rely’s on Cabs,Benny & Marv to create so this will tell you something.Combined stats are……played 740……scored 109…..assists 99 not great by any stretch of the imagination. 2 creative /goal scorers currently playing in Holland,again combined stats played 482 scored 143 assists 123 a big big difference.258 fewer games, 33 more goals scored, 24 more assists.We don’t have any real creative players so the obvious thing to do is to buy some……..if you have ANY INTENTIONS of building a winning team.The 2 guys in Holland would be easily affordable if Cabs & Benny were to be sold. Can we get them?I can’t answer that. My opinion only by the way gents.
lesh
Aug 27, 2013 at 5:01 AM
Comment #49Self exluded of course, but there’s a lot more sense posted at this time of the day/ night than during the UK and European daylight hours.
There’s a lot of constructive and reasoned argument and a distinct lack of the ‘sack Pardew’ type posts too. Could that be so because a lot of the bairns are safely tucked up in bed!
Ws far as McCarthy’s concerned, we were said to be looking at him when the window opened.
However, we’ve waited until Cabaye’s decided he wants out the world knows how much we’re asking for him.
Inompetence or is Kinnear going through the motions, again?
gonufc (Release the Hatem Bomb)
Aug 27, 2013 at 5:05 AM
Comment #50@lukes – do you really believe that? So he’d better defensively but surely no where near as good attacking or as a passer. How does that make him a better all round midfielder, he’s only better in one respect.
paul24
Aug 27, 2013 at 5:24 AM
Comment #51£15 million is just far too much, he’s a decent midfielder but asking for that much is just taking the p**s.
gonufc (Release the Hatem Bomb)
Aug 27, 2013 at 5:57 AM
Comment #52He’s a decent player but there’s no way he’s valued in the same range as Cabaye, a regular France international.
Arghh, If only Ashley would just sell! He obviously doesn’t care as we are not even trying to improve.
It seems that only one person looks for players in Graham Carr, we rely on him for any player. That’s pathetic!! We should have scouts all over the world.
Then maybe we wouldn’t look quite so pathetic in only buying players from a few teams. It’s so incredibly one dimensional.
Sydney Toon
Aug 27, 2013 at 6:14 AM
Comment #53Lesh
I think because we see it differently than them, I mean yes I would like Pardew out, but only if the right manager becomes available. Not for the sake of it, we will be mid table with him in charge, so we have a lower end basis to start from. Personally, I am still very confused that Rafa was not approached heavily. When a manager like him becomes available, and wants to stay in England, why the hell not go for him???
I like the look of McCarthy, we need a player we can build around. Cabaye was that player, he will go, so McCarthy needs to be priority!
gonufc (Release the Hatem Bomb)
Aug 27, 2013 at 6:21 AM
Comment #54@Sydney – I’d rather go for Gourcuff I think. Mccarthy is a good prospect but not the creative midfielder that I think we need most. He’d be more of another box to box player.
It’s obvious that we desperately need someone who will start attacks with incisive passes forward rather than back or sideways. Against Man City and Wet am it was embarrassing the amount of times we passed it up to the half way line and then….. passed it all the way back to Krul.
Seriously, watch out for it next match. It happens so much, it’s like we haven’t actually practiced to be a cohesive, attacking, passing team. If we have then the training needs to change drastically!
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Aug 27, 2013 at 6:29 AM
Comment #55Morning lads!
this world is crazy if McCarthy is £15M then Cabaye is worth £30M. One has to look at ability and what they deliver now.
Cabaye is the future captain of both Newcastle and France.
Mondini
Aug 27, 2013 at 6:31 AM
Comment #56James McCarthy would be a very good signing but as we know, if Everton are in the race, will Goodison Park will be his home. Players often go back to their previous manager. Martinez has an attacking philosophy, right now we are clueless in our style. We already lost out on Kone to Everton.
Until the 2nd of September, we shall get linked with everyone and anyone. Kinnear may just get in one more loan signing at best. May as well try for Lukaku.
I feel Anita and Gosling can do a job as our creators with Ben Arfa and Marveaux being the other bright sparks. What we need desperately is a striker.
Greebol1892
Aug 27, 2013 at 6:33 AM
Comment #57more rubbish…. especially the “McCarthy better than Cabaye” nonsense!
Nothing personal Ed, you’re doing a fine job but we won’t sign ANYONE unless on loan.
theartfuldodger
Aug 27, 2013 at 6:46 AM
Comment #58Sydney Toon –
We dont get players in as required. Ba replacement , Andy Caroll replacement, Mapou bought too late, only 1 striker this window.
We finished 5th damn it. We had an opportunity to attract. But we spurned it. Chuck high ambition, Im good with positive direction and vission. Unfortunately I cant see that.
I keep saying this but Ince or Simclair is an upgrade to Jonas and obertan but doesent look like we made an attempt.
Club says top 10 target. Most of the fans feel it wont happen but owner cant see it. So he is either incompetent or just not bothered. Or he is taking some sort of revenge. Eitherways, in the next four months everything will come to light, and thats what Im looking forward to. There will be clarity unlike last seasons Europa League excuses. They cant say injuries had their toll cause they sold perch and tried to sell gosling.They cant complain about cabaye cause they knew this from the start. I know many fans already know about this owner and dont need to wait till november but there are some left who argue. The end result – severe decline in attendance come november.
Sydney Toon
Aug 27, 2013 at 6:50 AM
Comment #59gonufc
Gourcuff is a great player, but with his wages apparently sky high, we may not go for him. McCarthy is one of those players that may be unsettled by the price tag.
I agree with you on the forward passing, but perhaps look at the replay if possible. West ham packed the hole because of Ben Arfa’s ability to come inside. He ahd no room, I expected it to happen, pardew must have seen it coming, hence the 442, but we could not hold onto the ball in the final third, basically frustrating Ben Arfa into long range shots. When we did get into space, we played quite well. West Ham are a side that are extremely difficult to break down. Fulham could be opened up a bit more. I hope the cup game against Morecambe will release some shackles and get some free flowing goals and gain some confidence. Obviously with a terrible end of season and quiet pre season, we need a confidence boost. Personally, I would prefer going for someone like a CAM instead. We have Anita, Tiote, Sissokho, Gosling, Bigi who on their day are very good distributers, lets get a CAM to link up, take some pressure off Hatem and let him roam. LW is still an issue, but hopefully we can get Ayew over the line.
lochinvar
Aug 27, 2013 at 6:54 AM
Comment #60McCarthy probably lives in the Greater Manchester area so just a short commute to Everton. His old boss is waiting to welcome him there. And what chance that Whelan’s influence is a barrier to selling to his detested rival MA. If we can’t get players like this at the right price then the petulant Cabaye has to stay – his mind set would be different if Kinnear hadn’t insulted him. Transfer Kinnear out and the mood all round would improve significantly.
nut meg
Aug 27, 2013 at 6:58 AM
Comment #61Mondidi
non of those players you mention are creative players which we are crying out for.Cabs,Marv,Benny,Anita & Gosling,5 players between them have played 1,061games scored 136 times and have 120 assists.Says it all really.
theartfuldodger
Aug 27, 2013 at 6:59 AM
Comment #62Finishing 5th screwed Ashley in footballing terms. It bought his lies out too soon. Had we finished 11th and then 10th last season we would appear to be moving forward. After 2 seasons we might have gotten the odd 8th and people would have expected us to kick on. But we would go backward.
What Im trying to say is that We were supposed to witness ashleys lack of ambition much later.(Many fans considered relegation year as ashleys mistakes, not lack of direction)
Pardew has done things differently and I give him credit for that. I wish he goes-he has to(He must hav told the players all good things after finishing 5th but none came true. Now he has lost them). Whatever be the reason , he cant motivate them and get them playing so byebye, but I prefer he walks than gets sacked.
Howden Mag
Aug 27, 2013 at 7:08 AM
Comment #63Ruddy
The crowd is the twelfth man in the team, no doubt. On Saturday, I believe you weren’t there, there was a lot of dispondency and bad feeling emanating from sections towards the team. Not Ashley, not Pardew but the team selected. They had that mindset and put our own players under pressure. It wasn’t until late in the game that there was any support shown for the team. The last 20 minutes the team played a lot better, more confident better passing and movement. Confidence is huge in anything it can cripple people from performing. Get behind the team, support the team. Not I’ve paid £700 I’m entitled to complain, give them a chance it is a decent squad and hopefully will improve this week.
sparky55
Aug 27, 2013 at 7:11 AM
Comment #64If the rumours are true about cabs rufusing to play against west ham then Rooney put Cabaye to shame last night…rooney gave everything and probably begged to play whereas Cabs didn’t even get on the coach…shame really…used to enjoy watching the lad
TheIndianToon
Aug 27, 2013 at 7:13 AM
Comment #65It was a revelation and such a delight to watch the cardiff – shitty match. Absolute thrilling performance, a real story of grit and determination. Definition of the term “team display”. And the best part you know was to see the Owner come to the ground and celebrate it on the pitch with the fans. I’m sure they will stay up in the premiership. And you will see when we travel to Cardiff, they will outclass us if the same circus carries on. Howay the Lads.
Lilongwe Geordie
Aug 27, 2013 at 7:15 AM
Comment #66Nut Meg,
Completely agree about those players. None are creative. Ben Arfa and Marveaux probably have the ability to be, but lack the mentality or intelligence to do it regularly. Cabaye could possibly do it, but even at Lille he only played the more advanced creative role in 1 season – resulting in his best return for goals and assists. Anita played a deeper role at Ajax, and sometimes fullback, he doesn’t strike me as a regular creative force. Gosling finally, injuries have taken their toll on the lad, he was never quick, but he is even slower now. If he isn’t going to play week in week out he needs to leave for his own sake and development.
On McCarthy, he would be a great signing at half that price, but not as a Cabaye replacement. A Tiote replacement for me, someone who can get the ball from the defence and start us playing similar to Carrick at Man U. Strikes me as a potential leader as well, could be exactly what we need to help move forward.
sparky55
Aug 27, 2013 at 7:19 AM
Comment #67if you’re gonna survive in the premiership then you HAVE to beat teams like west ham at home.
The overall display was very poor with some individuals that played well but the manager is the one who has to motivate the team and provide a strategy to break down the opposition.
looks like Pardews strategy was ‘Give the ball to Hatem and let’s see what happens”
There was no cohesion, no obvious plan, no togetherness, and certainly no link between midfield and attack which has been the single biggest problem for a year now and still not fixed.
What does that say about our esteemed manager?
count
Aug 27, 2013 at 7:19 AM
Comment #68Jesperfuglsang
Cabaye is not our future captain. He doesn’t have any balls. Just a twisty face and a handbag.
yorkymag
Aug 27, 2013 at 7:19 AM
Comment #69Holden
I agree
From my vantage point in the gallogate it was exactly as you describe,but the lack of confidence has spread to the crowd IMO it was not anti the players .
They / we need a lift it was summed up in the second half when a throu ball to Cisse finished up in the stand a couple of years ago he would have smashed a spectacular goal .
I can’t remember a 1 st game of the season feeling so flat,but I did not feel a lack of support for the players just a massive lack of confidence .
Something will hopefully happen in the next week or so to give some belief.
Lilongwe Geordie
Aug 27, 2013 at 7:21 AM
Comment #70Sparky,
The key word in your post there is IF. Who knows what the story is. No one has said that he has refused to play yet. After the City game it Pardew made it sound more like the clubs decision. For the West Ham game he said that Cabaye wasn’t available for him – which the press took as going on strike. It could quite easily be the club refusing to play him so as he doesn’t pick up a knock scuppering a deal.
The difference with Rooney/Baines/Feillani is the club have made it clear they don’t want to sell. We have told clubs what we would like for him. That for me makes it seem like their is more to it than Cabaye refusing.
It could well that both the club and Cabaye have agreed he doesn’t play as they both want a deal done.
Lilongwe Geordie
Aug 27, 2013 at 7:24 AM
Comment #71Yorky,
I agree, the players need a lift and a confidence booster. Becasue of that I would play as close to the 11 that will face Fulham on Wednesday against Morecambe. If Cisse gets a couple of goals, and we pick up another clean sheet, midfield dominates play then that will act as a booster despite the status of the opposition. A 4/5-0 win could do wonders for the lads confidence, not to mention allowing the defence more time to work together and the Sissoko/Anita partnership more time to gel.
sparky55
Aug 27, 2013 at 7:24 AM
Comment #72lolongewe…that’s why i put the ‘IF” in!
But still a shame we’re losing the lad…he’s a good player and will flourish wherever he goes this year surrounded by better players and managed by a better manager…he’ll do well this season for sure.
Lilongwe Geordie
Aug 27, 2013 at 7:30 AM
Comment #73Sparky,
If he goes to Arsenal or PSG he could well find himself spending a lot of time flourishing on the bench.
yorkymag
Aug 27, 2013 at 7:31 AM
Comment #74Lilongwe
Not a bad thought
But I bet that the team is unrecognisable from sat at the seaside
Not sure Pardew has the confidence to do as you suggest
Tv cameras are there for one reason only I am expecting a very tricky game
sparky55
Aug 27, 2013 at 7:32 AM
Comment #75don’t agree…I think he’d walk straight into just about any CL team
theartfuldodger
Aug 27, 2013 at 7:34 AM
Comment #76After the season we finished 5th, Pardew and the players would have brainstormed about wats needed to get into CL.
They would have had their suggestions and a list of new players eg debuchy, luuk dejong etc.
What happened ? Absolutely nothing. Pardew must have been made to look like a fool.
Imagine how you would feel if you were a player or pardew.
5th exposed Ashleys lack of ambition too soon to everyone.
Jail for Ashley
Aug 27, 2013 at 7:34 AM
Comment #77Lifegreat when you’re free of the cynycism that Sydney Toon doesn’t seem to possess, either that or he’s very naive, he still thinks that the PEA bid was serious and that agents fees wouldn’t have held the deal up even if he’d agreed to join and that Mashley might even consider going after somebody like Benitez who harbours real ambition for himself and the clubs he manages, 15M for PEA at the start of a window when we can’t even settle a few hundred thousand for a striker with less than a week of the window to go with three goals in the last ten PL games.
Jail for Ashley
Aug 27, 2013 at 7:35 AM
Comment #78Life must be great.
SeanNufc87
Aug 27, 2013 at 7:37 AM
Comment #79Sparky
He aint that good mate, look at his stats. No doubt hes a great player but walk into any team in the world? Nah
Jail for Ashley
Aug 27, 2013 at 7:39 AM
Comment #80Sparky,
I was thinking this morning about your statement of Mashley being a genius for appointing Kinnery to get rid of Pardew and have come to the conclusion that you are not right in the head, you think that it is the work of a genius to spread a poison so vile that it could see us go down and lose tens possibly hundreds of millions of pounds rather than stump up the few million Pardew would probably settle for.