Newcastle were linked with Leeds United striker Ross McCormack earlier this summer, when the transfer fee was said to be £5M, and news today that relegated Fulham have signed the Scottish International for a rather massive £11M transfer fee.
Ross McCormack – is he worth £11M?
There is just no way this player is worth £11M, and we are pleased that Newcastle didn’t spend that amount of money on a player who is unproven in England’s top league.
We need more British players in the squad, that’s very true, but you can also understand why Newcastle may be a little reticent to bring in British players when there is such a high premium on them – they are just not good value for money – at least from a financial viewpoint.
Newcastle signed Siem de Jong for just £6M last week, and that was a good deal – and Remy Cabella could cost us around £9M if we can get him in from Montpellier – and they seem much better value for money.
Maybe the way to get English players into the club is through our Youth Academy, but we have not been too successful with that over the last seven years.
It’s an area of the club that we just have to improve.
Comments welcome.
Written on a rather long train journey – while on vacation in England.
19 comments so far
Average_Contents
Jul 8, 2014 at 12:05 PM
Comment #1Never seen him so can’t comment tbh but the bit that worries me is he can play right wing, right back,centre back and centre mid! Parsnip would be all over that like a tramp on chips! Really don’t need another jack of all trades, master of none!
Juventus right back Mauricio Isla has become a target for Newcastle United, according to reports in Italy.
The Chilean international has returned from World Cup duty and now needs to decide on his club future with his position at Juventus unclear.
The Italian champions bought full rights to Isla, who was 50 percent owned by Udinese, but it maybe that the 26-year-old’s future lies elsewhere.
According to Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, Newcastle are plotting to swoop and have readied a bid of around £5.5 million to try and tempt Juventus to let Isla go.
One of Isla’s main strengths is his versatility. While he favours playing on the right wing, he is often deployed as a right-back but is also a capable centre-back or central midfielder.
Rotonda heights
Jul 8, 2014 at 12:08 PM
Comment #2Great team bonding. On the first day 3 first teamers are sent to train with the kids. Pathetic pile of s—e Pardew really is. Deluded arrogant unqualified excuse for a football manager.
Scottiedog
Jul 8, 2014 at 12:09 PM
Comment #3@ 1 – What has this got to do with Ross Mc|Cormack?????
estechco
Jul 8, 2014 at 12:09 PM
Comment #4Presumably he will remain “unproven in England’s top league” if he has just signed for Fulham?
Still £11m for him is totally crackers!
Markaccus
Jul 8, 2014 at 12:10 PM
Comment #5BenbulbenMag // Jul 8, 2014 at 12:07 PM
How many People did it take to install the new lights in St James ?
2
One technician and Alan Pardew to observe how the lightbulb itself symbolises a single incandescent beacon of subjective reality in a netherworld of endless absurdity reaching out toward a maudlin cosmos of nothingness.
i.e. another opportunity for him to expound on his footballing philosophy (or lack of one)
This!!!!
Rainrix
Jul 8, 2014 at 12:11 PM
Comment #6This is pretty much the only reason I’m glad for the transfer board. It prevents pardew from filling the squad with overpriced and average english players a la darren bent.
Graeme
Jul 8, 2014 at 12:19 PM
Comment #7Ed, in reality, you are correct.
Unfortunately the club does not have the staff, the vision, the commitment to see the “Academy” prosper & flourish. They are simply going through the motions compared to places like Everton, Southampton etc.
Get rid of the dinosaurs currently “Coaching” all our teams and employ some modern, forward thinking replacements who can develop the whole club, from under 11’s upwards.
It could be the best investment the FCB will make.
Average_Contents
Jul 8, 2014 at 12:20 PM
Comment #8Scottiedog
Are we required to talk about the article that gets put out? Or can we talk about what we want?
I’m not arsed about McCormack tbh I just posted about another player that we’re linked with
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Jul 8, 2014 at 12:22 PM
Comment #9Yeah I’m sick of utility players, it’s weakened our squad over the past few years to the point of us having no real identity as a unit as players aren’t quite sure what they should be doing and aren’t in their natural positions. Get some damn specialists!
Markaccus
Jul 8, 2014 at 12:24 PM
Comment #10I would like to point out that my Pardew ranting is not because i blame him for all the sh1t that has happened at nufc over the last few years, i know some people can twist everything to put it at his doorstep, but i don’t…
My rant is due to simply this…..
EVERY decision he has to make, he has two options, one of these options would be to do something innovative, try something new. I.E. be POSITIVE. The other option is to play it safe, stick to what he knows, even if it does not always work. I.E. NEGATIVE. And which option does he always, always take????? answers on a postcard.
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Jul 8, 2014 at 12:25 PM
Comment #11Anyone think Ryan Taylor will be way off the pace when he eventually comes back? He was, at best a decent utility player in his prime. He’s now had 2 years without kicking a ball, and is what 29/30?
I can’t see him being good enough anymore. Not that I don’t hope he is, great guy by all accounts.
Laurent Robert 32
Jul 8, 2014 at 12:29 PM
Comment #12Mark, if anything is ‘twisted’ in regard to Pardew, it is usually to straighten out his own lies and deceit which his disgusting character reeks out on a seemingly daily basis.
Belfast
Jul 8, 2014 at 12:30 PM
Comment #13It’s probably actually about 7 million with add ons taking it to 11 million.
Still well over the odds like.
Belfast
Jul 8, 2014 at 12:34 PM
Comment #14Just shows you how much money that’s flying around now days, when teams in the championship are spending that kind of money on average players. Needs to be nipped in the bud.
beermonkey
Jul 8, 2014 at 12:35 PM
Comment #15our toon
when pards was banished to the stands the press asked carver about ben arfa and he said its easy with him he needs to be loved and an arm round him, and he had spoken to him
think carver bought him on as a sub and he did ok
Markaccus
Jul 8, 2014 at 12:37 PM
Comment #16LR32
Look, we all know he is full of his own sh1t, and any space left is filled with ashleys sh1t that he is required to spout. There are things that happen at the toon that have nowt to do with Pardew, but there are a few here that can manage to find a way to use them as a stick to beat him with. There are plenty of real ones. Your reasons are one. He is a twisty liar. Mine are another, he is negative and cowardly almost when it comes to the on field stuff. Another would be, not accepting the blame at all, for anything, hiding behind the fact the club have essentially hung him out to dry re players in and out, but ignoring the fact he tries to play systems without the correct players to do so. There is three big heavy duty whacking sticks right there.
Barton
Jul 8, 2014 at 12:46 PM
Comment #17Pardew car’nt lie straight in bed.
MajorToonage
Jul 8, 2014 at 5:53 PM
Comment #18I wonder what Ings and Hughes would go for? All of the Hughes rumors died down after last window, did I miss something ? I think he could be a special player and if we are going to sell everyone when they peak anyways, we would still get quite a few years out of the both of them.
DoctorZelig
Jul 9, 2014 at 11:10 AM
Comment #19A 27 year old player that never played at a higher level then the Championsship costs 11 mil! Its so ridiculous I don’t even know where to begin…