Strikers are there to put the ball in the back of the net, but what happens is that they also miss chances, and for the 206 goals Alan Shearer scored for Newcastle in a short ten years, he missed a lot of chances too.
Loic Remy – we didn’t see this on Saturday – unfortunately
And that’s what happened on Saturday with our top scorer Loic Remy, he missed a couple of gilt-edged chances, one in the first half and one in the second half, and if he had taken those two chances – then Newcastle would have own the game, it’s as simple (or as complicated) as that.
Alan Pardew has essentially said that in today’s local press:
“I suppose it’s a sign of where we are that we’re disappointed that we didn’t win,” “But they’ve got great quality – on the bench as well.” “The two players that didn’t make the starting line-up – Lallana and Schneiderlin – made a difference in the second half.”
“But it was a great game of football. I think our fans had their money’s worth.” “For us, in a tight game like that with no Yohan Cabaye, and you get two big chances like Loic had, you expect to score both.”
“That’s the difference. That’s why we didn’t win.” “I thought Loic played well, but those two chances can make a big difference.” “I thought it was a terrific game.” “We had a hold of the game, they had a hold of the game, we got a grip back.”
“I’m pleased in a lot of respects that our momentum goes on, because it was a great performance in a lot of ways.”
But you cannot be too hard on Loic Remy, who has been great for us this season so far with 8 goals, although a certain Yoan Gouffran now has six goals this season, and a goal in each of the last four games, and is creeping up on Loic in the goal-scoring chart.
Transfers Summer 2023 | ||
---|---|---|
INCOMING | ||
Player | Fee | From Club |
Sandro Tonali | £52M | AC Milan |
Harvey Barnes | £38M | Burnley |
Tino Lavramento | £31M | Southampton |
Lewis Hall | Loan - $28M fee next summer | Chelsea |
Yankuba Minteh | £6M | Odense |
Total Fees Paid | $127M | |
OUTGOING | ||
Player | Fee | To Club |
Yankuba Minteh | Loan | Feyernoord |
Karl Darlow | £0.4M | Leeds United |
Allan Saint Maximin | £23M | Al Ahli - Saudi Arabia |
Jamaal Lewis | Loan | Watford |
Harrison Ashby | Loan | Swansea |
Garang Kuol | Loan | FC Volendam |
Kell Watts | Loan | Wigan |
Ryan Fraser | Loan | Southampton |
Ciaran Clark | Released | |
Matty Longstaff | Released | |
Total Fees Received | £23.4M | |
Net Outlay | $103.6M | |
Maybe Loic can be in his best form next Saturday at Selhurst Park, and he will need to be if we are to get the win, because that is another tough game against an in-form Crystal Palace side under new manager Tony Pulis, who has never been relegated in his management career.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
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138 comments so far
Transfer Sage
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:10 PM
Comment #81Ciaran
I’m not saying league positions alone make redknapp better but a combination of that, style, getting best from players etc is why I put redknapp higher.
My argument was just that I think league position is more important than points totals, nothing more
Transfer Sage
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:12 PM
Comment #82Ancient
Could also argue points higher as teams below were weaker so spurs and others got more points.
I think both league position and points total are both dependent on own form and opposition form
ToonDarnSarf
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:12 PM
Comment #83Ciaran
Yes it’s good news. You’re looking at it with glass half empty again. There is no guarantee that Colo, Cabaye and Remy will leave in the summer so signing replacements for them in January would be absolutely crazy! Not only would it mean paying their wages for the rest of the year but which of them would we play? Not to mention it would seriously damage our negotiation position in summer because clubs would know we had to sell! Seriously lad, you have to think about the other side of things before you post.
So yes it’s good news that no big players will be leaving. Frankly, I’m not even thinking about next summer at the moment, I’m thinking about how we can do this season and then go from there. The nature of football is such that we could plummet to the bottom half in which case I’d say the priority is a new manager to rebuild the team or a few of the top 6 could falter and we could be looking at European football again and perhaps none of our players want to leave.
Ciaran
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:14 PM
Comment #84Sage
It is more important, but just because it is more important does not mean that a manager who finishes higher than another is automatically a better manager, especially if the second manager had a better win %, and had actually achieved more points than the other.
Although, management encompasses many other aspects such as man management, ability to operate in the transfer market etc, I just think we needed to see more from AVB to properly compare and now we can’t.
I cannot see him ever managing in the PL again after being shafted by both Chelsea and Spurs.
Spoof
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:14 PM
Comment #85Ciaran
this started with me and TS debating the AVB sacking, which we disagreed on as I felt it was harsh, it then turned to what is the the most important points or placing where I agree with TS as for me it is placing, your now turning it back onto whether AVB was harshly treat, which I feel he was for the reasons you’ve just given, I mentioned the exact same reason’s myself. They are different subjects and you cannot really join them to form one debate.
Placings are more important than points and AVB should not have been sacked.
Rotonda heights
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:16 PM
Comment #86tsunki
So that’s how it works !!!
Ciaran
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:18 PM
Comment #87TDS
I don’t have to do anything thank you very much.
You’re not even thinking about next summer? Why would that be? Because Colo, Cabaye, Remy and Shola are all very likely to leave?
If we finish 5th-7th I will be delighted at having been proven very wrong indeed, but the only way we can manage that is with at least 2 signings in the Jan window.
We can possibly finish 8th-10th if we keep the squad as it is and get lucky with injuries and suspensions.
Most likely finish bottom half of the table if we sign no-one in January and begin to suffer any key injuries.
It is up to Ashley where we finish in my view.
As for sacking the manager? It is pointless sacking a manager while Ashley is the custodian of the club.
Ciaran
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:20 PM
Comment #88Spoof
I know what happened, which is why I returned to my own original comment of AVB being harshly treated. I do possess the ability to read and decipher separate debates.
jimmysmith
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:20 PM
Comment #89I’m sure AVBs failures in the Capital have made him a very rich man, although the Tottenham owner might have done just as well to show Levy the door and give Baldini a leg up on his bike u’nall.
G
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:21 PM
Comment #90Can anybody else remember when the blog was good natured football debate, and not a forum for oneupmanship over who said what to whom?
Spoof
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:27 PM
Comment #91Ciaran
chill m8, I wasn’t having a go it’s just that you joined the debate once the AVB being harshly sacked aspect had finished and it was possible that you were unaware of the full debate, now there has been mention about more points means a better manager, that wasn’t actually what I was saying, what I was saying is that the position is more important than points, ordinarily the more points you have the higher you would expect to finish but that isn’t always the case, so it’s a case of what you value highest, more points or a higher placing, to me it has to be the placing.
scitoon
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:29 PM
Comment #92This is a Toon blog and we’re discussing AVB? Anyway, im quite happy with our performances of late along with some top notch individual performances: Debuchy is looking like the international full back we scouted; Gouffran playing his heart out; and of course the MIGHTY Shola! If he could stop fouling quite as much i would be happier but he is justifying his starting place. He will go in the Summer so I really hope we buy a big centre forward in the Jan transfer window. Will not be Benteke – too expensive – but would be nice to get a Championship level Brit in. Other than that don’t feel we need many more additions to challenge for the Europa spot or an FA cup win
Ciaran – you need to calm down man. Every time i click on this blog you seem to be on your high horse.
Spoof
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:31 PM
Comment #93G
in fairness m8 myself, TS, Ciaran and Antient have had a really good debate where we have responded solely to what we have all said, it has been a really good debate which has been conducted in a very good manner.
ToonDarnSarf
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:33 PM
Comment #94Ciaran
So you hadn’t even considered the flip-side to signing early replacements for possible summer outgoings? And you don’t even acknowledge the fact that I provided an argument to point out how silly that would be?
Credit where credit’s due lad. If someone points out the flaw in your argument, it’s nice to acknowledge it.
I’m not thinking about next summer because it’s dependent on so many things and there’s another transfer window beforehand plus over half a season left.
5th to 7th would be incredibly and as we targeted top 10 and many of us would say we have the 8th best squad, I think 8th would be a good result.
If it’s up to Ashley, does that mean if we get 7th or 8th then you’ll say he’s done a good job? Or will you only comment if we finish bottom half and you can criticise him?
Transfer Sage
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:40 PM
Comment #95ciaran
I agree fully, one single thing cannot be used to compare managers, got to look at each situation as me and spoof were discussing before.
I’d say that in my opinion redknapp is better but if people rate AVB higher thats fine too, i dont think there is much between them, just i prefer the style of harry to watch.
Transfer Sage
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:43 PM
Comment #96predicting transfers is impossible….we haven’t been consistent in amounts signed in any window since ashley arrived.
We may well not spend if doing well but last time we had a season like this we brought a 9mil striker in during january.
WWSBRD
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:45 PM
Comment #97Arrays no manager he barely understands English let alone tactics, prefers to throw money at problems rather than work them out
AVB needs to leave England I think been burned a lot on our shores by the “big” clubs. Am no great fan of his seems naive and immature at times to me but he earned high plaudits before Lobdon got a hold of him
Those dreaming of us getting him good luck with that Ashley won’t pay his wages when Pardew is doing alright again
Ciaran
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:47 PM
Comment #98TDS
Just because we can see the need to replace summer outgoings does not mean the club will do that by making signings in January. If there are no signings in Jan that is not an indication that there will be no outgoings in the summer. There is the massive flaw in your argument.
Also, if we make no signings in January and through a mixture of good fortune and hard work from the team and manager we manage to finish 8th (a standard position that we should achieve with relative ease on a yearly basis) then no I will not give credit to Ashley.
However, if he makes the 2/3 signings that improve the squad (not simply token signings like Gomis) and we manage to finish higher than 8th then I will revisit my position then.
Transfer Sage
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:50 PM
Comment #99wwsbrd
AVB spent more money than harry though..and he is not that good, did well for his season at porto but nothing since, despite the circumstances.
I’m not keen on him, never have been, but he isn’t as useless as some make out.
As for harry, the guy plays a good style. Attacks well, and can adapt his style, but it’s always on the front foot.
JackButler
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:51 PM
Comment #100You give a manager 100+ million pounds worth of players then give him no time to get them settled and playing.
I said in the summer that Spurs have no depth in defence and no creativity and thats whats cost AVB his job
Transfer Sage
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:53 PM
Comment #101ciaran
we maybe should finish 8th but not easily
got the 6 and everton, then pressure from improving southampton and swansea too.
the league is getting tighter by the year
JackButler
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:54 PM
Comment #102Laudrup odd’s on favourite to replace AVB
ToonDarnSarf
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:55 PM
Comment #103Ciaran
No. It isn’t. There is no massive flaw in my argument. No club would be as stupid as to sign top players in January in case the top player in the same position left. For the reasons I already outlined, did you even read them?
We have no god given right to 8th place either. For us to finish in 8th place this season means that everyone has done their job to the level that is expected, yet you seem to think that people need to perform above and beyond in order to get praise? There are 20 teams in the PL, 20 managers, 20 owners and lots of players all trying as hard as possible to get further up the table. Assuming the other 19 clubs optimised their season, I believe we would have to optimise ours to finish in 8th.
When someone does their job to the level you expect them to based on their talent, pay etc., then you give them praise!
No. I cannot see the need to replace summer outgoings because nobody has left! We will sign replacements for the big players IF they leave, not beforehand.
DokToon
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:56 PM
Comment #104need to ask ed to change the post “show rascism the red card” to ” Show blogging bullying and oneupsmanship the red card” lmao
JackButler
Dec 16, 2013 at 1:57 PM
Comment #105DokToon @104
😀
Transfer Sage
Dec 16, 2013 at 2:00 PM
Comment #106jack
they have players like lennon, townsend, erikson, demebele, llamella…all players who can create and some who already have in the PL.
I think their problem is they have too many options and none of them have given a reason to consistently start.
ToonDarnSarf
Dec 16, 2013 at 2:00 PM
Comment #107TS
Exactly. Finishing above any of the top 6 would be incredible. It could only happen if one of those clubs really failed to maximise their wealth and power (50% more money than us!) and we absolutely maximised ours. Everton are the closest to us but they have had years and years of stability and that gives them experienced players that know the club very well and also some fantastic youngsters coming through. We shouldn’t be finishing above any of those 7 teams so 8th would be a good achievement.
If a salesman is set a target based on the patch, competition etc. and he hits that target should he be praised or criticised for not doing more?
JackButler
Dec 16, 2013 at 2:06 PM
Comment #108Transfer Sage
Lennon and Townsend have little to no end product, the look great bombing down the flanks but are very selfish payers and offer very little in term of creating chances for the strikers. Erickson is out injured and llamella hasn’t settled.
I’ve watched their last three games and they have zero creativity and a very questionable back four. It was reported this morning that AVB had no say in the summer signings so sacking him now is harsh
Transfer Sage
Dec 16, 2013 at 2:07 PM
Comment #109TDS
Well I think with man utd and spurs under performing we have a chance, just a chance though…not a guarantee.
I think each season must be played on merit, yes you need a rough target but at the end of the day you don’t know the quality of the opposition until the season starts. Teams you think you should beat could be better and teams you think are tough might be weak.
Also with a jan window teams quality can change for better or worse mid season too, things change all the time so a single position is difficult to identify as a target.
Money is important, but spurs have shown it’s not the be all…need to make sure it’s spend wisely.
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 16, 2013 at 2:09 PM
Comment #110Ciaran
I really don’t think it can be said sacking AVB is a travesty tbh
He has had huge backing in the market, mainly funded by Bale granted but 90% if the signings were made before Bale left and i think they would of been made regardless
He was losing the plot mate, snapping in interviews, having digs at the fans etc, whilst playing some of the worst football seen at WHL for years
The general manner in which he conducted himself at spurs was not viewed well by fans and a lot of the fans I know have predicted this for weeks and pin it mainly on his blind arrogance and unwillingness to adapt his system but merely continue to try different players in different positions instead of altering the set up
In short he’s been sacked for the same reason most of us thought pardew should of gone at the end of last season, he was simply not getting the best out of the squad, it’s taken spurs a good 6 years of steady improvement to get them to where they were and what AVB was doing with that squad was a huge step back
Yes he lost Bale but Spurs lose a big name damn near every season and it never halts them
Transfer Sage
Dec 16, 2013 at 2:10 PM
Comment #111jack
If he has no say at all then i can’t see how things will ever work, the manager works closely with the team so his opinion, as well as the captains i feel, is vital. It’s a poor set up if the DOF makes all decisions.
Lennon used to set a lot up for spurs, not amazing but did a good job when a regular. I think they play too narrow, don’t support soldado enough and they struggle to create many good chances.
Similar to what we were like last year, plenty shots but hardly any clear chances.
JackButler
Dec 16, 2013 at 2:15 PM
Comment #112Transfer Sage
I think AVB did make a rod for his own back and his demeanour is hardly likely to win in any friends and I guess there are arguments for both sides in this, but after spending that amount of money you’d have thought they would have least given him enough time to get the best out of the payers
Transfer Sage
Dec 16, 2013 at 2:19 PM
Comment #113jack
very similar to sunderland…i you sign a lot of players you don’y get instant success. Whether these players cost 100mil or 10mil if you get a big group it takes time to settle.
I think they weren’t happy they came 5th last year, after sacking redknapp for failing to get champs league.
ToonDarnSarf
Dec 16, 2013 at 2:21 PM
Comment #114TS
You’re right, money is not everything in football. But owners/chairman/DoFs are responsible for doing the right things with the money that is available and managers are responsible for doing the right things with the players that are available.
City, Arsenal and Chelsea have fantastic squads with top managers at the helm. Finishing above any of them this season would surely be a pipe dream. Liverpool have an excellent squad with an up and coming manager and with Suarez have an absolute game changer. Even without him they have a decent top 6 squad but he is to Liverpool what Bale was to Spurs last season, definitely worth 2 or 3 extra places. So unless Suarez is out for the rest of the season, I can’t see us finishing about Liverpool either.
Everton have a very good squad and they are playing very well too. A lot of play does seem to go through Lukaku though, with the attacking midfielders working around him, I wonder whether Jelavic could do the same job. But I still think they’re favourites to finish above us and they have more game changers than us.
Spurs definitely have a better squad but the question is whether the new man can knit the players together so they play as a team. It will be down to them playing badly for us to finish above them.
And Man Utd…right now they’re definitely beatable and they’re lacking truly world class players beyond RvP and Rooney. But they might end up signing a couple in January…they certainly have the money.
Ashley deserves credit for doing well with a limited amount of money since we’ve been back in the PL and Hughton and Pardew deserve credit for doing well without having signed any superstars.
I’ve said the whole time than top 10 should be the minimum target (and I believe it is). The realistic target for a good season should be 8th.
ToonDarnSarf
Dec 16, 2013 at 2:22 PM
Comment #115And on the AVB issue…nah…I don’t give a damn… 🙂
JackButler
Dec 16, 2013 at 2:24 PM
Comment #116Transfer Sage
They showed the stats for the league on SSN this morning and Spurs have created the least amount of chances in the entire league with Sunderland in second, they only created five shots on goal yesterday and none on target.
If their DOF has signed all those players he is the one that needs to be held to account as there are glaring errors in their squad.
It’s all well and good sell the likes of Modric and Bale for massive money but if the replacements are not good enough what is the point as you are only going to go backwards
Scottiedog
Dec 16, 2013 at 2:24 PM
Comment #117I think everyone needs to calm down!!!!!
Regards to AVB I think it is a joke but you have to blame the fans and DOF for have stupid expectations for a team still in development!! ALSO many bloggers on here wanted Pardew head last season, but we stuck with him, kept consistency and it is now proving that it works!!
Transfer Sage
Dec 16, 2013 at 2:24 PM
Comment #118TDS
I agree with where we should be finishing really, think thats about right.
I think people mix up what the club, with it’s current players should achieve and what they think the club could achieve with more investment.
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 16, 2013 at 2:25 PM
Comment #119JB
It’s also been widely reported that pardew has no day in signings
Lamela hasn’t settled quiet simply because he hasn’t been used, he’s played in there Europa games and been getting raved about as has Defoe
There lack of creativity comes from the way he has set the squad, they have zero width which is simply ridiculous give he dropped £30 mil on a poacher
Lennon has proved over seasons to be a very effective winger as has Townsend this season not to mention the acquisitions of Chaldi and Lamela yet he has them set so the wingers constantly play through the middle, they are always drifting centrally
I’m sorry but it’s not a harsh nor unexpected decision he’s made a reet balls up of it just as he did at Chelsea, he’s a manager with a very much undeserved reputation and huge Ego which has again cost him
Transfer Sage
Dec 16, 2013 at 2:29 PM
Comment #120scottie
Don’t jump the gun, see where we are at the end of the season…but the signs are good.