There’s a report in the Metro today, that Arsenal have contacted Loic Remy’s agent Frederic Guerra, with a view to signing the French striker in the summer.
Loic Remy – in French colors
Arsenal need another out-and-out striker to support Olivier Giroud in the goal-scoring duties at the Gunners, and Loic has shown he can score goals in the Premier League, with 11 goals for Newcastle in only 22 appearances, and 6 goals for QPR is 14 appearances.
Newcastle shot themselves in the foot last month, of any chance of having Loic Remy sign permanently for the club, when we sold Yohan Cabaye to PSG and let everybody know that Newcastle United’s ambitions are limited at best in the Premier League.
In fact, those ambitions seem to finish in the top half of the league every season – how boring can you get? 🙁
Loic is an excellent player, and will get Champions League football at Arsenal, who have been a top four club in England every one of the 17 seasons French manager Arsene Wenger has been in charge of the famous London club.
And some Arsenal supporters still complain about the manager?
Pardew had this to say in January about Remy:
‘The plan was always that he would be on loan for the year and we had a deal with QPR that that would be the case.” ‘We would like to do it permanently but there is a long way until that happens.”
‘It is not quite as simple as meeting his release clause, as the player and his agents need to make sure it is right for the player and we have to honor that.’
But that statement was before Newcastle surprisingly sold Cabaye last month, and if Loic had any doubts about Newcastle’s ambitions, he will not have them now – and the Tyneside club has no chance of signing the 27 year-old Frenchman this summer.
That’s unfortunate – but there’s just no way he will sign for Newcastle when top clubs like Arsenal interested in him.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
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129 comments so far
Ciaran
Feb 19, 2014 at 11:32 AM
Comment #81Was at the Fans Utd meeting last night and there were a couple of interesting points raised.
Lee Devlin, the new chairman of the Newcastle United Women’s Football Club was invited along and made a number of interesting points. There is a lot of good work being done by Lee and his team after he took over as chairman of the club. He has restructured what was a relatively ineffective board, he has increased their corporate sponsorship as well as having to build up their social media profile following the change of chairmen – NUWFC used to be the 4th most followed ladies team in English football with 12k followers, whereas now they only have 1,700.
Lee encouraged those in attendance to follow the NUWFC twitter accounts – @NUWFCOfficial – because the more followers they have the more access to sponsorship they have, which in turn affords them access to better facilities/kits etc.
What was interesting is that the club – NUFC – does not contribute in any way towards the running of NUWFC. Some people think this is fair, others will perhaps agree with me and think that more should be done to promote the women’s game, especially since these girls are playing under the banner of Newcastle United.
Not only that, but a lot of these girls have to balance part time jobs, University work etc as well having to PAY for the right to play football. As it stands, these costs are covered for some of their players by sponsors, but not all.
Newcastle United Women’s Football Club also do not currently have a fully fledged youth structure, but I was personally very encouraged by Lee’s vision for their future and look forward to hearing from him again.
So if anyone is thinking of boycotting St James’ Park but still wants to follow Newcastle United, why not show your support for the women’s game in your city. Only £3 entry, they play on Sunday afternoons at the University of Northumbria Sports Development Centre Coach Lane Benton NE7 7XA
JackButler
Feb 19, 2014 at 11:36 AM
Comment #82Ciaran
Is this common practice in Women’s football or do other Premier League Clubs finance their Women’s teams???
JackButler
Feb 19, 2014 at 11:38 AM
Comment #83http://www.themag.co.uk/assets/Newcastle_United_Howay_The_Lads_Sports_Direct_NUFC.jpg
Says it all really………………………………..!!!
Ciaran
Feb 19, 2014 at 11:39 AM
Comment #84JB
Not sure what the standard practice, but if it is standard practice not to help fund the women’s team then standard practice needs to change. I am offering my personal opinion that the club should be doing more to promote our women’s club – as every PL team should be doing with their own.
Transfer Sage
Feb 19, 2014 at 11:40 AM
Comment #85ciaran
Good bit of info there.
I think it would be good for our club to invest in the women’s game more, especially given that a sizeable chunk of the income to the club will be from women as well.
I’m not talking silly money, but surely a few 100k or a million isn’t much, especially with the new TV money this year.
JackButler
Feb 19, 2014 at 11:41 AM
Comment #86Ciaran
agree mate, if they are playing under the banner of Newcastle Untied they showed be taken care of by Newcastle United
Transfer Sage
Feb 19, 2014 at 11:43 AM
Comment #87jack
same with the FA, they don’t put anywhere near enough into the womens game, getting better but still a long way to go.
Ciaran
Feb 19, 2014 at 11:44 AM
Comment #88Sage
Listening to Lee Devlin, it would appear that nominal investment would go a long way in the current set up of our women’s team. From what he said, even investment of a few thousand can be made stretch considerably.
So the club could surely make what would be a token sum for them – something like £5,000/£10,000 which would be a massive help for our women’s team going forward.
Like JB said, if they are playing under the banner of Newcastle United, they should be afforded some help by NUFC.
Transfer Sage
Feb 19, 2014 at 11:47 AM
Comment #89ciaran
totally agree, but still no reason we shouldn’t put even more than 5/10k into their team. It should really be a lot more.
JackButler
Feb 19, 2014 at 11:48 AM
Comment #90Sage
You get the feeling that FA are simply doing the bare minimum with womens football. they should be supported to the max but the FA and their respective clubs
Transfer Sage
Feb 19, 2014 at 11:49 AM
Comment #91jack
the FA also fail grassroots football too….they haven’t got a clue where their priorities should be.
Markaccus
Feb 19, 2014 at 11:49 AM
Comment #92Womens football teams like Arsenal and Fulham…. i was under the impression they were actually PART of those respective clubs, and were just another team within the structure along with youth teams, reserves et.c. If NUWFC are a seperate entity, then that probably explains why they are not supported by NUFC (although they should be, why cant they become part of NUFC as a whole, if it is not already the case). If they are already a part of NUFC as a while, then it is shocking that they are not supported.
Laurent Robert 32
Feb 19, 2014 at 11:52 AM
Comment #93Cestria and Jack, I agree.
Ciaran
Feb 19, 2014 at 11:53 AM
Comment #94Sage
Totally agree 100%. However, Ashley is reluctant to invest in his own club, so asking him to part ways with money to finance the women’s game is a bit of a stretch.
Which is why I would love to see fan ownership/representation, because there is that element of connection with the community that private owners simply do not understand.
Hopefully some of you will follow the women’s team – @NUWFCOfficial – and lend what little support you can to the women’s team. I’m attending the Villa game this weekend with my Dad – a Villa fan – but going forward I think I will support the women’s team, simply out of curiosity as to the standard. Although I have no doubt that all of them could run rings round me.
JackButler
Feb 19, 2014 at 11:53 AM
Comment #95Sage
It also goes beyond just the FA as the Government are selling off park land and playing fields and yet complain about obesity
Transfer Sage
Feb 19, 2014 at 11:57 AM
Comment #96ciaran
But surely investing 1mil in the womens side gives him the excuse of “if only we hadn’t spent that 1mil i could have gotten that new player over the line” haha
In general women’s football is one of the few women’s sports I don’t enjoy. Don’t see the same skill level at all which is there when you look at sports like tennis, athletics, cricket (where just speed/strength is a bit lower, naturally).
Transfer Sage
Feb 19, 2014 at 11:57 AM
Comment #97not to say i won’t back them…they need more funding/time/participation to up that standard.
Transfer Sage
Feb 19, 2014 at 12:01 PM
Comment #98jack
very true, makes little sense really.
Ciaran
Feb 19, 2014 at 12:05 PM
Comment #99Sage
It’s a personal taste as to what sports some find enjoyable really. I miss getting to watch football, and due to the fact I work Saturdays, I can’t even get down to watch the Heed when they are playing so having the ladies play on a Sunday suits me, and it would be contributing to the local community football development, which is important which includes supporting grass roots football right down from under-age level right through to our non-league sides.
It’s been touched upon that the FA’s attitude to women’s football is not good enough, so it cannot be surprising that the game is not receiving the support at a club level.
toonarmydownsouth
Feb 19, 2014 at 12:06 PM
Comment #100Ciaran
http://www.footballfancast.com/football-blogs/womens-football-needs-to-close-gender-divide
Sounds like it’s a mixed bag when it comes to support from the parent clubs
Arsenal Chelsea Everton all seem to support them
cestriasteve
Feb 19, 2014 at 12:09 PM
Comment #101Just opened my letter from NUFC I have to say like that 27 quid a month is still canny cheap for a season ticket even though I can’t get to many matches.
the Villa is a Sunday so I can go to this one, I used to live in Brum and drink in the Kingfisher in Perry Barr, staunch Villa pub frequented by absolute lunatics!! I hope we give them a good hiding on Sunday.
Markaccus
Feb 19, 2014 at 12:11 PM
Comment #102Tads
I think those clubs might be fully pro. Most are semi pro i believe. Suppose if they have support from the main club they can afford to be fully pro.
Ciaran
Feb 19, 2014 at 12:12 PM
Comment #103Tads
I just looked up that article. Does seem like a mixed bag doesn’t it. When you look at the fact that Arsenal Ladies have been granted permission to use both Highbury and now the Emirates for their home games, whereas our ladies have to scramble and search for facilities to use when there is a perfectly good stadium in the middle of the city.
Luckily, it is something that will be brought up at the next Fan’s Forum meeting as some forum members were in attendance last night so it will be interesting to see the club’s view on it…
Ciaran
Feb 19, 2014 at 12:13 PM
Comment #104Cestria
27 quid is cheap for the tripe we’ve had to watch since Boxing Day?
I’d rather the money to be honest.
toonarmydownsouth
Feb 19, 2014 at 12:13 PM
Comment #105Markaccus
Not all of them, Blackburn were fully pro and had to pull out of the league because they couldn’t afford the entry fee!
Markaccus
Feb 19, 2014 at 12:17 PM
Comment #106Tads
ah right. Well i am mainly guessing at most of this. Dont know much about womens football set up.
toonarmydownsouth
Feb 19, 2014 at 12:20 PM
Comment #107Ciaran
Have been to an Arsenal ladies game, Faye White used to do a lot of coaching at my old school and ran a Saturday soccer club at a leisure club near me years ago and when she got made captain of Arsenal she sent I load if tickets to the leisure club to give out to whoever wanted them
Have to say the game didn’t feel the same, you could tell it’s not backed or perhaps seen as a serious sport from the governing bodies
Ciaran
Feb 19, 2014 at 12:22 PM
Comment #108I suppose it is about challenging the perceptions of the women’s game, supporting its development in our community and encouraging strong links between the men’s club and the ladies club as it will take support, both logistical and financial from the men’s club to help develop the women’s team.
According to Lee Devlin, a lot of clubs financially support their ladies teams, Arsenal and Sunderland are notable examples – so if Sunderland can support their ladies team the question must be asked why can’t we?
cestriasteve
Feb 19, 2014 at 12:30 PM
Comment #109Ciaran, I haven’t actually seen us win yet this season lol, but I actually feel a great relief after a match now, all stress completely released in 90 minutes all of it on Pardew and the shit he deals up!!
The wife’s happier, the dog doesn’t get booted anymore!! krulls poor distribution, ball bouncing round and over Anita’s head, Sissoko pointing at nobody and Cisse smiling away like a window licker.
Nothing stresses anymore cos it’s more about the Craic these days than the football!!
27 quid we’ll spent a good couple of hours seeking psycho help would cost way more than that.
toonarmydownsouth
Feb 19, 2014 at 12:33 PM
Comment #110Ciaran
It’s not just with ladies football though is it
It’s all levels
Take the two teams closest to where I live Crawley Town and Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace have many youth training programmes set up including one at the place I play Friday nights
Now 90% of these lads will never make it to an actual Palace academy but they invite coaches from all local non league youth clubs to come and help with training, help get lads in to teams they may well have not know about of had the confidence to approach
Crawley also do a fair bit in the community and even went as far as to help Horley Town FC (non league neighbours) fund a new ground and club house
Christ even Chelsea run nearly all the football schemes at schools in my area, signed my son up last week felt a bit wrong seeing him run round with a Chelsea bib on!
Ciaran
Feb 19, 2014 at 12:33 PM
Comment #111Cestria
Refreshing approach; using the tripe that is NUFC as personal therapy! Haha
But, you’re feeding the beast that is killing our club. Would you not be happier seeing a club moving in a forward direction instead of stagnating, or worse still, looking like it is showing less and less ambition year after year?
I’d encourage anyone who wants to support the team to do so, but do you need a season ticket to do that?
Ciaran
Feb 19, 2014 at 12:39 PM
Comment #112Tads
Spot on there lad, good info about what your local league clubs are doing to support their non-league neighbours and how they are contributing to the local community, it really puts the ‘work’ NUFC does in the local community to shame doesn’t it?
Again, this all points towards having that community feeling back in Newcastle United. Personally, I am adamant in the belief that it is only through fan representation at board level that we can achieve this, or at the very least push it on the agenda of what the club should be doing.
lesh
Feb 19, 2014 at 12:41 PM
Comment #113Nice one Joe, another job well done!
cestriasteve
Feb 19, 2014 at 12:50 PM
Comment #114Ciaran I honestly only see it as a day out these days, ever since the disbanding of the singing section behind me and Pardews appointment the football enjoyment has been poor. Shame as we have some good players like.
As like me you work Saturdays why don’t you get into your cricket, game on most nights, great league the NEPL and some great teams, great for kids too, far less competitive too at that age as everybody get a go at something they like.
toonarmydownsouth
Feb 19, 2014 at 12:53 PM
Comment #115Ciaran
And there just small examples! Crawley also do a mascot lottery with the schools and local youth clubs and football lessons, nothing special but a good experience for the kids
Then you move up to London, the work Arsenal and Tottenham do in the community is immense, now this may well be to drum up support in an area with a lot if clubs competing for support but doesn’t take away from the work they do
Fully agree with you about the community ties to the club, this is what, IMO, many refer to when they say Ashley is “ripping the soul” out the club
We seem to hear less and less about NUFC in the community ( could be well off as I know longer live in the area ) but always used to hear about our work in the community, know that we still do the photo op charity do’s but are we still heavily involved with local clubs?
There’s a golden opportunity with Bernard now involved with Durham and being so vocal about improving football from grass roots level up in the North
stuart no9
Feb 19, 2014 at 12:55 PM
Comment #116how do you go from , newcastle united , to ladies football ?? mmm , thinking about it- i can see how you get there !
Ciaran
Feb 19, 2014 at 1:11 PM
Comment #117Tads
Being a one club city shouldn’t be used as a reason not to benefit the community, if anything that increases the responsibility of NUFC to work within the community.
I agree that we hear less and less about NUFC in the community these days, but that could also to do with the fact that I don’t read anything that comes from the club these days.
Fan engagement is the only way to remedy this, or an owner who truly truly listens to the fans. I don’t want to take a risk with another private owner, I want to see NUST pick themselves up and show themselves capable of representing the fans moving forward so we can claim a stake in the club next time it goes on sale.
toonarmydownsouth
Feb 19, 2014 at 1:17 PM
Comment #118Ciaran
Being closet to events maybe you can clear this up for me!
What does the NUFC foundation do?
It seems very little other than promote Wonga for choosing match day mascots and take credit for Barclays handing out tickets to community members who have had to overcome various obstacles in life
They don’t seem to do anything themselves, just piggy back on great local activities by releasing a token statement or send a player along for a photo
Ciaran
Feb 19, 2014 at 1:21 PM
Comment #119Tads
Well aside from promoting Wonga, the foundation is involved with coaching young kids until about the age of 15/16 I think.
It is supposed to be NUFC’s link in to the community and as such we should all be very familiar with them, but the fact that many of us aren’t demonstrates their failing, or rather the failing of the club to utilise them effectively.
toonarmydownsouth
Feb 19, 2014 at 1:21 PM
Comment #120*closer!