It’s now seven weeks since the Premier League season ended, and Newcastle have signed Ayoze Perez for £1.6M from Tenerife and Jack Colback as a free agent from Sunderland.
Jack Colback – signed as a free agent
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is famous for not wanting to overpay for players, and we haven’t had a good time of it so far this summer, and bids we have put in for players like Pierre-Michel Lasogga, Remy Cabella, Bafe Gomis and possibly Clement Grenier have not been met with any success.
And because Newcastle are not in European competition these days it does become difficult to attract the top players, and that’s especially true with the word getting out that Newcastle are no longer an ambitious club.
We were told after the season ended that the club wanted to complete all their transfer business by the start of the World Cup – but that didn’t happen.
But Newcastle must start getting some players in soon, and while there is still plenty of time to do that – getting players in early is of paramount importance in order that they get a full pre-season in.
It doesn’t look like that is going to happen, and while Newcastle can play the waiting game and refuse to pay only slightly over the odds for our targets – that’s a risky game to play – especially if we start selling some of the senior players we have at the club.
We missed out on Bafe Gomis because Newcastle withdrew from the race to sign him, and he signed a four year deal with Swansea City last week.
But pre-season will be underway in less than a week now, and it’s time Newcastle brought some good players to the club.
And if we have to pay over the odds to get our man – that’s what we should be doing – and we should be doing that now.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
Written from Ipswich, England.
377 comments so far
jazzyp
Jun 29, 2014 at 11:37 AM
Comment #81Slank
the transfer window formally opens on 1 July, transfers between clubs in the same association can take place as soon as the last competitive fixtures for the season have been played. However, many transfers will not be completed until 1 July because many players’ contracts expire on 30 June. Outside of the transfer window, a club may still sign players on an emergency basis, usually if they have no goalkeeper available. Special dispensation from their competition’s governing body, for example the Premier League, is required. The transfer window restriction does not apply to clubs below Football Conference National level
Toon Tang
Jun 29, 2014 at 12:00 PM
Comment #82That pic of Jacky Colback has run its course surely…
Should we read anything into that ‘gunfinger’ gesture his left hand is initiating in? The watch on his wrist needs to be examined further as well, and the ‘I’m gunna fcuk your club up from within’ look on his face is giving me night terrors of the 3rd kind.
Scary scary pic when you dissect it thoroughly and forensically.
The plot thickens
expatmag
Jun 29, 2014 at 12:11 PM
Comment #83Simple question
Name a quality player who would be interested in signing for us after considering our reputation and ambition?
beermonkey
Jun 29, 2014 at 12:17 PM
Comment #84expat
there will always be the odd decent mercenary willing to join us looking for the next big move
it one of the reasons we target young players and plunder poor foreign leagues
expatmag
Jun 29, 2014 at 12:19 PM
Comment #85Beer
Exactly. But now we cant even attract them
Markaccus
Jun 29, 2014 at 12:23 PM
Comment #86Its ok everyone. I am sure ashley will suddenly sanction a big bid for that Colombian no.10 and Thiago silva from brazil. Thus sorting out our attack and defence in one fell swoop….
Markaccus
Jun 29, 2014 at 12:26 PM
Comment #87In fact he will probably sign colombias front 3. Their wide players know how to actually cross a ball.
Slank
Jun 29, 2014 at 12:32 PM
Comment #88Thanks Jazzp
I think the authorities should make some changes.
The summer transfer window should really close at midnight before the first game of the season kicks off.
The League Cup should finish before the New Year.
Champions League teams should be excluded from the League Cup.
The FA cup should start on the same Saturday as now but thereafter only play on a Wednesday leaving Saturdays for the leagues.
Only the FA cup final should be played at Wembley.
The Europa Cup should be played on a Wednesday and not Thursday.
England matches should be played around the country and not just at Wembley.
Replace yellow cards with a sin bin so that the offending player and team is punished during the game but with the proviso that a match official reviews the incident on the video and if the player is found to be innocent then he returns to the pitch.
The same thing should apply to red cards where the match official reviews the video and either up holds the refs judgement or returns the player to the pitch or to the sin bin.
beermonkey
Jun 29, 2014 at 12:45 PM
Comment #89expat
I get the impatience I am the same
but the window isn’t even open yet were not even back in training yet (think its this week)
ok we missed out on gomis was he the right player for us time will tell whether we dodged bullet or made a mistake it will be difficult to tell we don’t play like swanase.
some good say due to wage demands but as fans that’s not our concern
there is so much crap written about players we want we are never going to know the truth as to who were trying to buy
beermonkey
Jun 29, 2014 at 12:51 PM
Comment #90slank
why move England games
Wembley is the home of English football
I think the only thing they should change is is one of the 4 champions league places should go to the fa cup winners
that would stop some of the bigger teams fielding weaker teams and add a bit more prestige back to the comp
rowly
Jun 29, 2014 at 12:56 PM
Comment #91For me it’s not even just about overpaying for a player. You can get good value for money whilst still spending decent money. Utd bought Ronaldo for 16 mill, Suarez went Liverpool for £20 mill etc. IMO there are no good players in the 6-8 mill bracket any more and we need to look at spending 12-14. We still would get value for money for example if we paid 12 each for lukaku and cabella they would be worth double that in two years. Wish Ashley could see that
Slank
Jun 29, 2014 at 12:57 PM
Comment #92Beermonkey
Lots of English fans around the country can’t go (time and money) to Wembley.
beermonkey
Jun 29, 2014 at 1:01 PM
Comment #93slank
I understand that I wouldn’t want competitive matches moved but friendly’s it wouldn’t matter I spose
JamesToon
Jun 29, 2014 at 1:02 PM
Comment #94Newcastle should be competing for the likes of James Rodriguez but under Ashley we can’t even compete for a second rate 29 year old lyon striker who’s hair looks like a spider…
Slank
Jun 29, 2014 at 1:08 PM
Comment #95Beermonkey
They should increase the reward for the winners of both domestic cups because today the cost (including injuries and suspensions) of playing cup games is not commensurate with the money received for winning the trophies. This is probably only true for most Premiership clubs and those in the Championship fighting for promotion.
It should be about prestige but money is the name of the game now, sadly.
beermonkey
Jun 29, 2014 at 1:17 PM
Comment #96slank
fa cup winners — champions league
league cup winners — Europa league
you could guarantee both avoid the qualifying round and you could put more cash into the league cup
with champions league available to the winner of the fa cup and the money that brings you could take cash from the last 16 and put that into the league cup
where do the ffp rules fines go city got that 50 mill fine where does that cash some of that could go into the pot as well
more so with the early rounds of the fa cup so grass roots benefits from it
Markaccus
Jun 29, 2014 at 1:21 PM
Comment #97Sorry if you have heard this one already, but i just heard it now…..
Luis suarez has been transfered to Borussia Munching Right-Back.
expatmag
Jun 29, 2014 at 1:26 PM
Comment #98Beer
It is not impatience in my case. I gave up on NUFC long ago with the succession of slaps around the chops from our illustrious owner.
The fact that these have been compounded by a plethora of further ridiculous comments surrounding ambition or the lack of as well as the obvious lack of intention of building a decent team having not made a major signing sine mid january 2013 does not fill me with a great deal of hope for the clubs future
expatmag
Jun 29, 2014 at 1:28 PM
Comment #99Suarez has a new sponsor……Colgate
expatmag
Jun 29, 2014 at 1:30 PM
Comment #100Markaccus
I heard Bighton and hove albion wwre interested too
Markaccus
Jun 29, 2014 at 1:33 PM
Comment #101Expat. Like the colgate one, i have to admit i dont get the brighton one though?? 😀
expatmag
Jun 29, 2014 at 1:33 PM
Comment #102I also heard he needs to get his head right because he is Dentally disabled.
Christ….will someone stop me please
expatmag
Jun 29, 2014 at 1:35 PM
Comment #103Markacus
Play on words mate….brighton=bighton=biting
Markaccus
Jun 29, 2014 at 1:41 PM
Comment #104Oh i see…. BIGHTon… d’oh.
Markaccus
Jun 29, 2014 at 1:42 PM
Comment #105He was only trying to make an impression
beermonkey
Jun 29, 2014 at 1:44 PM
Comment #106expat
I know a lot of people like you and to be honest I am not far away
the sadest thing for me is I have 2 year old boy and as things stand I aint to fussed on him being a fan as I don’t see the point in it for him
we live in sussex so not far from the London clubs and lots of others
I am sure I am not the only one, not only is the club being damaged short term but long term
ilovetoon8788
Jun 29, 2014 at 1:45 PM
Comment #107expatmag // Jun 29, 2014 at 12:11 PM
Simple question
Name a quality player who would be interested in signing for us after considering our reputation and ambition?
———–
Darrent Bent? Marlon Harewood? Wes Brown?
swisstone
Jun 29, 2014 at 1:48 PM
Comment #108I think to many are falling foul of the old say “absence makes the heart grow fonder” about some of our squad players like Marveaux.
He has the ability to be more creative than what we have now, but he flatters to deceive too often.
His attitude also appears wrong. I remember a game last season when he walked on the pitch as a sub. Unsurprisingly he just trotted round the pitch, nice and tidy when he got it but no desire to do anything more.
People will say Pardew has ruined him. I dont think there’s any evidence of him ever being any different attitude wise. And if thats how he is in front of 50,000 i can only imagine what he’s like in training.
Rotonda heights
Jun 29, 2014 at 2:01 PM
Comment #109Blofal
Would love Memphis Defay but he’s apparently 17M !!
Would really like some Columbians and their manager. They don’t just sit deep but keep going for the whole 90 mins. They’re a great watch and a million miles from the dross that is Pardew.
Band B
Good point about Novocastrian and the like. He admits the football is secondary so why don’t they go elsewhere for a drink with their pals and help make a point.
Rotonda heights
Jun 29, 2014 at 2:06 PM
Comment #110Swisstone
If it was just Marveaux fair enough but Pardew has alienated any creative player we have and did at West Ham and elsewhere too.
If they’re not benched or ostracised then they’re played out of position. Pardew is killing us, ably assisted by a no longer interested owner who’s bored of his toy.
toonarmydownsouth
Jun 29, 2014 at 2:19 PM
Comment #111http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9365528/transfer-news-alan-pardew-suggests-english-players-out-of-newcastles-reach
expatmag
Jun 29, 2014 at 2:21 PM
Comment #112Beer
I am a little bit further away than you…..lol
Here in Oz, I used to look forward to staying up and watching every game live on satelite TV butthe dross served up by our club over the second half of the season turned me off altogether
BandB
Jun 29, 2014 at 2:22 PM
Comment #113Rotonda,
At least Novo is being frank about his motives.
There are plenty making out they have been turning up since the games were played in black and white (and that we have never had it so good)
The demographic of the crowd has changed like the city. The old fan base went the way of the pits, the shipyards and the Blue Star pubs, where Newcastle was the only topic of conversation.
Now it is the same middle-aged hedonists you see sniffing around the Quayside and Grey Street in their identical Ben Sherman shirts.
expatmag
Jun 29, 2014 at 2:31 PM
Comment #114Band b
Hey…..behave.
Nought wrong with Ben Sherman shirts. Still got mine…. lol
Ancientcoptic
Jun 29, 2014 at 2:46 PM
Comment #115From toonarmydownsouth’s link.
Pardew: “We recently enquired about an unproven player not in the side at one of our top clubs, and we were asked £14million. He will not be joining.”
I would love to know who that player was… the only guess I can come up with is Rodwell, if you could call him unproven that is.
expatmag
Jun 29, 2014 at 2:48 PM
Comment #116Wilfrid Zaha of Man Utd is my guess
Sazzer
Jun 29, 2014 at 2:49 PM
Comment #117toonarmydownsouth
Marseille is building something interesting with Biesla, Alessandrini and Michy Batshuayi in so far.
Selling Valbuena would be mistake by them though. I would love him here. Also Ayew put in some good WC perfomances.
Not overly sold on N’Koulou after his WC performances.
Payet and Mandanda would be good squad additions.
Ancientcoptic
Jun 29, 2014 at 2:51 PM
Comment #118I didn’t think of Zaha. £14 million would be close to what Man Utd paid for him, sounds about right.
AusMagpie
Jun 29, 2014 at 3:01 PM
Comment #119Gday folks
I’ll be in England next February and I was just wondering what the average ticket price to see Newcastle play at St James is?
It’ll be my first game! 🙂
Sazzer
Jun 29, 2014 at 3:01 PM
Comment #120Speaking of WC performance I hope we get this Manolas kid from Greece that we were linked with. He doesn’t look like pacy defender but he was matching the speed of Ibarbo and Gervinho on a few occasions.