The vast majority of fans were disappointed that Newcastle didn’t get one senior player into the club over the summer on a permanent basis, and all we could manage was Loic Remy on a season long loan deal, and that just wasn’t good enough.
Joe Kinnear – brought in only one loan signing
But Loic Remy was a very good signing and Newcastle played it safe, and rightly so, by signing him to a one year loan deal, which gives them time to see how the rape trial goes, but if all is well and Loic is not found guilty of those rape charges the hope would be that Newcastle can sign Remy permanently maybe even in January.
That’s assuming Remy is as good as we think he is , but don’t forget that Loic was the number one choice in January to replace Demba Ba.
And we still think Newcastle may be short on defense and especially in central defense, which is why we would have liked to have seen Douglas signed as a free agent from FC Twente.
Newcastle had tried to sign this player last summer, and it was all lined up to get him in over the summer, until Joe Kinnear came back into the club and nixed the deal.
But Douglas would have given us some good heading ability at the back, and at 6’4″ tall he was also the player Alan Pardew wanted to cause problems in the opposing defenses from set plays, which is something we didn’t have all last season.
And it would be interesting to know if Alan Pardew had any say in the matter of not getting Douglas, or whether Joe came in and exercised his authority and just stopped the deal cold.
And we almost had Bafe Gomis over the line in early August, after Newcastle had agreed both the fee Lyon wanted plus his wage demands.
This is what Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas had to say on August 2nd:
“We agreed on Newcastle’s offer for an €8m transfer plus €2m in bonuses,” “The club has come to accept the player’s salary claims.” “The deal is now subject to an agreement over the agents fees.”
“I understand there’s a problem over the amount and the payment of the fees.” “Hopefully it would be settled within the next 24 or 48 hours.”
And things were even looking positive at that time, because three days later it was announced on August 5th that Newcastle had secured Loic Remy on loan – so what happened after that?
It must have been Newcastle unwilling to pay the excessive agents’ fees that stopped the Gomis deal – but if that was the case why couldn’t we have gone in at the end of the window and still got the deal tied up?
Gomis’ agents and Lyon are now losing out big time on their player, because his price has gone down in the transfer market.
If we could have got Remy, Bafe Gomis and Douglas over the line, and given we signed Mathieu Debuchy, Moussa Sissoko, Yoan Gouffran, Massadio Haidara and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa in January, the mood on Tyneside would have been a lot better than it is right now.
And those three players would only have cost around £10.5M in total, since Douglas was a free agent – and it would have brought our total spend up to around £20M for the year.
And that’s still not a lot when you consider in the coming season each Premier League club will get an extra £30M because of the the Premier League’s massive new TV deal.
The question Newcastle fans are now asking is why couldn’t we have done that.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
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64 comments so far
outsidethebox
Sep 6, 2013 at 5:24 PM
Comment #1repost
wasn,t at meeting ….does anyone know if there was any support for hitting cashley in pocket by boycotting sports direct ..it appears from telegraph report ashley hasn,t paid one penny for sports direct advertising at the ground …shocking.
dembademba
Sep 6, 2013 at 5:27 PM
Comment #2anyone know where douglas ended up???
G
Sep 6, 2013 at 5:36 PM
Comment #3I still think we’ve dodged a bullet over Gomis and Douglas. I don’t think either one is suited to the Prem. Douglas has only had one good season in the last 3 years, and makes howlers like Titus, and Gomis workrate and movement is almost non existent. Whilst it would have been nice to have extra bodies in the squad, I don’t feel either player would have improved us.
GeordieTwo
Sep 6, 2013 at 5:36 PM
Comment #4Does anyone know if the government give financial assistance to clubs that hire the mentally handicapped? We have Joe after all and Mike needs all the financial help he can get (he hasn’t got a spare penny, poor sod).
John Tudor
Sep 6, 2013 at 5:39 PM
Comment #5doing ashley gardening at his mansion
Pokat
Sep 6, 2013 at 5:41 PM
Comment #6Thought I would repost this so everyone would know Geordietwo is stealing my material
JFK, hm well what does he do now? 2 Sugars in one and no milk in the other? What a waste of time. Unless Mike is getting some kind of Government benefit for employing him?
So if Ashley hasn’t paid a penny of advertising, how does that measure up against the ‘interest-free loan’ ?
JAMSHA
Sep 6, 2013 at 5:45 PM
Comment #7enough of we should have signd this that player.. time to think how to get rid of these clowns
Pokat
Sep 6, 2013 at 5:46 PM
Comment #8As for the Gomis fall-through, it was because someone somewhere thought they could go a few rounds with Ashley on wage/fee negotiations. Not with this jogger-bottom tramper ye don’t sonny! 🙂
Pokat
Sep 6, 2013 at 5:48 PM
Comment #9We need a good clown spray, the stuff we have been using is obviously rubbish.
Rotonda heights
Sep 6, 2013 at 5:52 PM
Comment #10http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/10291632/Joe-Kinnear-must-leave-Newcastle-after-transfer-window-failure…-if-only-Mike-Ashley-would-go-too.html
what a good article
GeordieTwo
Sep 6, 2013 at 5:53 PM
Comment #11Sorry Pokat mate. Should have credited you with that one. Been busy today or would have been more careful. Don’t want to steal anyone’s material. Still there’s loads to go round with Joe on the job.
Pokat
Sep 6, 2013 at 5:54 PM
Comment #12Is there any connection with all this JFK stuff and the ad for the Alzheimers Society on this page? Is that Joe on piggyback wondering how he ended up there when the last he recalled he was walking to the Co-op for a bottle of Lucozade?
Pokat
Sep 6, 2013 at 5:55 PM
Comment #13@11 – a case of great minds I think 🙂 Or is it the other thing?
jimmysmith
Sep 6, 2013 at 5:55 PM
Comment #14Veez a voo the last thread, I think Sammy is a fascinating player, six foot six and yet to fill out, remarkably skillful dribbler and highly unorthodox. Rubbishing a player like that at 20 seems like something of an irrational agenda. Given the time he needs he might just be one those very rare birds – a youth player who climbed through the ranks and made it at Newcastle United, of all places.
GeordieTwo
Sep 6, 2013 at 5:58 PM
Comment #15That’s a very interesting comment jimmysmith @14. Let’s give this lad some time to develop. Pokat feel free to steal my pathetic material any time you want. 🙂
Pokat
Sep 6, 2013 at 5:58 PM
Comment #16@ 10 – your link is dud.
Try this
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/10291632/Joe-Kinnear-must-leave-Newcastle-after-transfer-window-failure-if-only-Mike-Ashley-would-go-too.html
JAMSHA
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:01 PM
Comment #17link is,dead
Thump
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:05 PM
Comment #18Ashley even changed the name of the famous old stadium to the Sports Direct Arena for a while, but he has never paid a penny for advertising space that is potentially worth millions.
This is still the thing that boils my piss about the Ashley regime. I don’t think any of us would begrudge one or two advertising hoardings somewhere on the stadium (Shepherd had more than a few “Shepherd Offshore” signs – not including the one on the Gallowgate) but ffs, it’s plastered everywhere. By rights he should have paid off his loans based entirely on money he’s saved on f’ing advertising!
Pokat
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:08 PM
Comment #19@14 well said lad, there are a bunch of right carrots on here who think that the unproven who have yet to break into the team are the next wonder product of the academy, like that happens all the time here lol. But sammy has broke into the first team and of course he’s a crappier version of Shola.
And btw, don’t gan on about his stint at Boro. Have you ever actually been to that ground yourself? Its a fog-filled graveyard.
Pokat
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:10 PM
Comment #20Thump – exactly! Big generous Mike, who baled the club out of debt. Right.
jimmysmith
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:14 PM
Comment #21The squad isn’t that bad, I’m not getting all het up about it even though I can see one or two areas that need reinforcing. Its the flagrant exploitation of the club and the disregard for the fans and region that drives ya nuts. I think part of Ashley’s genius is that he does just enough to quell a revolt. The cnuts got our collective pecker in his pocket, as far as I can tell
Pokat
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:16 PM
Comment #22Anyone else getting the uneasy feeling that LLambias was our last ally in running the club with at least a shred of sense?
Ian Toon
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:18 PM
Comment #23It is not very often i find that i am in agreement with Jail for Ashley. As far as Mike Ashley is concerned is this the straw that broke the fans back! It’s not the transfer inactivity, because last summer was little different, but the disrespect shown to us, the fans in appointing Kinnear as Director of Football.
The Ashley big idea, was following a post mortem on our disasterous season. There was no formal announcement of this appointment and the customary accompanying explanation that well run PL clubs would give. Instead a bizzare personal appearancec by the newly appointed in person, on talkshite with a ranting which not only insulted the fans but through the mispronunciation of players names served to illustrate his lacking any of the skills required in a DOF- as if that were in doubt!
This was not just an isolated Ashley appalling decision but yet another that followed the shabby treatment of Geordie icons Keegan and Alan Shearer along with the toxic presence of the poisoned dwarf Wise. Together with the sacking of Chris Hughton and the renaming of St James Park. Then there was Wonga named as sponsors.
Pardew was required to release a statement explaining our lack of transfer activity. Clearly it should have been the man who controls the purse strings that outlined the options that were available within the budget. Or Kinnear who is senior executive in charge of all football-related matters, so where is he!. He asked to be judged on his signings and so he has been. There is talk of him be sacked – let’s hope so.
That’s something Ashley could get right!
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:20 PM
Comment #24Ed, with all do respect! nobody cares about Douglas – most of us agreed he was not the right player for us.
…the only way why we are complainiing is because we didn’t buy anyone else!
Milner
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:25 PM
Comment #25anyone know where i could get a members only shirt in half black/half white?
The members shops in town have sold out of all but XL, and they only made 4,000. Some people are selling on ebay for £80+….but not in small size.
It’s a nice kit, i like it*
*Even if it has “Wonga” on, and represents a club that i dont even recognise anymore…..
…Perhaps the black and white, the light and dark, is a metaphor that embodies the very ethos of our wonderful club, now matter how dark things feel now, we’re still sure to have moments of enlightening glory…especially if Ben Arfa’s on the ball.
GeordieTwo
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:25 PM
Comment #26I’m thinking of putting Kinnear’s name forward for an important position with the national side. After all he can pick up the phone and speak with any manager any time he wants. That’s half the job right there isn’t it? He would be so much better off with England with all his incredible talents and skills I feel. Let me help you pack and get you on your way Joe.
John Tudor
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:28 PM
Comment #27ask ashley nicely he will mug you one for 200 nicka
she-walks-like-wanyama
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:34 PM
Comment #28hoping for a good season..ya never know we could be the surprise package again tis year.wishful thinking.
support the team not the regime.wers that billionaire
ukranian when ya need him till we can tell ashley to pack his fookin bags
G
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:37 PM
Comment #29The only good thing about the current regime is that JFK’s dicky ticker can’t allow him to keep working (and I say that with extreme irony) for much longer, and if MA isn’t next in like for a heart problem, given his athletic figure, lifestyle of gambling and drink, and his wife issues, then I will eat my hat.
Himanshu Dhingra
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:37 PM
Comment #30ED
while you are at it again !!!!!!!!!!!!
Why don’t you compare this with one of your previous articles about Sammy ameobi and Tom Ince.
May be you will get your frigging answers.
she-walks-like-wanyama
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:40 PM
Comment #31wel hold ya to that g..is ur hat made from chocolate?
FatmanJoe
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:42 PM
Comment #32@16
I usually don’t like articles with no real sources, evidence, quotes as they seem like pure fantasy but I think Luke Edwards got that spot on.
Himanshu Dhingra
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:47 PM
Comment #33WTF
Knew from the start Ashley was bad news. I again Pose the question why would Ashley sell. he is making money directly through Newcastle. And indirectly for Sports Direct through his pathetic bill boards all over SJP and Benton.
GeordieTwo
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:52 PM
Comment #34“Ashley took £11m back last year and is entitled to another £18m in this one if he wants it. The club’s media department deny he has taken the second repayment, which makes the lack of spending on players even more bewildering. ”
Quote from Luke Edwards article. So what’s the game here Ashley? You gave Joe transfer funds but he wasn’t skilled enough to actually bring anyone in? Where does that leave us then? Praying for no injuries, that’s where.
Himanshu Dhingra
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:52 PM
Comment #35Sissoko Starts 🙂
Himanshu Dhingra
Sep 6, 2013 at 6:59 PM
Comment #36I bet despite taking 11 Mill out last year the debt will be still the same.
Can’t believe Newcastle supporters are effectively paying JFK’s wages.
John Tudor
Sep 6, 2013 at 7:01 PM
Comment #37ashleys rates are triple wongas
GeordieTwo
Sep 6, 2013 at 7:05 PM
Comment #38Surely even Ashley would sack a mate if he can’t do the job. How long will it take to find out? Certainly I think we’re stuck with Joe through the January transfer window. Especially if we struggle and Joe has to step in for Pardew temporarily until another manager is brought in.
OhSholaAmeobi
Sep 6, 2013 at 7:15 PM
Comment #39Douglas ended up at Dynamo Moscow and he’s a bang average player. I’d put him on par with Williamson except Willo’s a gentleman and not an egotistic hothead.
santonthenewmaldini
Sep 6, 2013 at 7:24 PM
Comment #40So glad we never signed Douglas to be honest he would only be 3rd or 4th choice at best would rather Taylor and Willamson fill those roles
To be honest apart from getting a left winger and another striker our squad is pretty strong we should not struggle at all if we do its only really down to Pardew for which I will be pretty sure he will get the chop
Even the youngsters we have are of a decent standard they should either be loaned out or given some chances in the team the problem with that though is the Toon home crowd can be an unforgiving place for a youngster the groans when a player makes a mistake or when some certain players get brought on can ruin them