There are still a number of fringe players – like Hatem Ben Arfa and Jonas Gutierrez for example – who will need to be moved out before the transfer window closes in 10 days time.
Jonas Gutierrez in action last season
Hatem Ben Arfa has fallen out with manager Alan Pardew, and the reason Jonas only paid twice last season was because his current contract has a clause in it that triggers a new deal, once he has made a set number of appearances.
My son Neil reminded me of that clause last week, since I’d been at a loss to understand why Jonas had been put out in the cold last season, and he is still training in his home country of Argentina at the moment.
There was some news yesterday that Newcastle were offered Andre Ayew of Marseilles, and that we were strong favorites to bring in Celtic center-back Virgil van Dijk.
Newcastle signing van Dijk may depend on Celtic qualifying for the group stages of the Champions League, which is why the report in the Scotsman said we may make a last day bid for the Dutchman.
Celtic drew 1-1 with Slovenian club NK Maribor on Wednesday night in the first leg qualifier, so they have a decent chance of going through, even after they were smashed 6-1 in an earlier round by Polish club Legia Warsaw.
Legia fielded an ineligible player, Bartosz Bereszynski, in the late stages of their second leg of the third qualifying round at Celtic and they were eliminated for that transgression, even after they appealed to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport).
So if Celtic can win or draw 0-0 in next Wednesday’s second leg in Scotland, they will go through and maybe the van Dijk transfer will not happen.
But that’s still possible because it didn’t stop Celtic from selling Fraser Forster to Southampton for £10M a couple of weeks ago.
So it’s obvious there are still some possible comings and goings at Newcastle right through to the very last day of the transfer market a week on Monday.
Comments welcome.
Note: Paul Lawson is a NUFC season ticket holder living in Birmingham, and wonders if there are any other season ticket holders in the area, so they can share the car expenses to Newcastle – you can contact Paul at 07969296054.
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8 comments so far
Slank
Aug 22, 2014 at 8:48 AM
Comment #1It’s in the very nature of any closure that there will be a rush to complete deals. This transfer window will be no different to previous ones for all the Premiership club.
There will be some clubs desperate to sign players and other clubs desperate not to sell players but deals will be done.
It looks like Tiote’s position is being covered by Colback and Anita / Sissoko. It may not be such a loss if he is sold as it would have been last year.
firebug666
Aug 22, 2014 at 8:54 AM
Comment #2From Previous
yorkymag
I agree with you about Tiote, his passing has been poor, loosing possession by trying to be clever dribbling in circles in our own half, and rash challengers etc, gaining him cards.
But then all of this took place in an unsettled, under performing team where options were limited. When the team is doing well, and players are making themselves available around him Tiote is one of the best Defensive Midfielders in the business.
I shudder to think how many more goals our defense would have conceded had Tiote not been on the field to make those last ditch tackles that broke up attacking play, or got himself booked for taking out a player in a dangerous position.
For me we should keep Tiote because with the team we have now I think he will be outstanding in the middle once again.
Lilongwe Geordie
Aug 22, 2014 at 8:57 AM
Comment #3Firebug,
What do you mean by Tiote’s passing is poor? Do you mean he only passes sideways and backwards, or do you mean he gives away possession when he passes? Or is it something else entirely?
The former is something that Colback does more often than not, and was the main criticism aimed at him by Sunderland fans. He has also consistently had one of the best pass completion percentages throughout his time at the club, making the second one nonsense.
Slank,
I think it will be a big blow if he goes, but if he does then we need to strengthen in the centre of defence. Not this lad from Scotland, not Micah Richards, but a top proven centre half.
WestOzMag
Aug 22, 2014 at 8:58 AM
Comment #4Plain and simple. Get rid of Taylor, Willo, Bring in 2 quick and strong cb’s that can hold their own in the epl. Bring in a proven st with at least 14-20 goals in him and we will be fine. Oh, and also ship out the rest of the dead wood.
firebug666
Aug 22, 2014 at 9:09 AM
Comment #5Lilongwe Geordie
Passing percentages can look good on paper mate, but it’s the ones that are intercepted in dangerous areas that count.
How many times did Tiote lose the ball while trying to dribble past players, or dwelling to long on the ball.
As I said this happened in an unsettled and under performing team.
I also said that Tiote is one of the best DM in the business.
I base this on watching players playing the game, not looking up stats on Google.
Titote’s passing average could be 99% on paper but 90% of that could be passes between him and Coloccini or Williamson.
Lilongwe Geordie
Aug 22, 2014 at 9:13 AM
Comment #6Firebug,
Ask Sunderland fans though, Colback is no different in that respect. Dribbling and dwelling on the ball are very different. My point is that you said his passing is poor. It is unadventurous, but consistently finds the man.
Sissoko’s passing is poor and will cause us more damage if he plays deeper.
firebug666
Aug 22, 2014 at 9:27 AM
Comment #7Lilongwe Geordie
Last season Tiote had some very good games and some very poor games. Some of his passing was poor, this can be down to several things, A player not in a position to receive the pass, the pass is intercepted, the pass goes into touch or the pass is just of target.
Last season our passing was atrocious all over the pitch and Tiote was no exception in that. but as I have stated twice now that was down to our poor team performances.
Tiote’s passing was poor ( but i was not having a go at him) because the whole team were poor too.
When we have good players around him, his passing improves as does his tackling and we see him at his best.
Last season most of Tiote’s passing (most of the team passing) was backwards to our own CB’s, and most of our forward passing (inc. Tiote) was intercepted or drilled into touch.
If you read what I originally wrote in context this is all I say, Tiote’s passing was poor in a poor team. This season I think he will be awesome at DM because players around him will make themselves available for him to pass to.
I still think he is a bit rash sometimes, but that’s the nature of the player.
switch365
Aug 22, 2014 at 12:24 PM
Comment #8Purely on his ability as a defender, Van Dijk is not head and shoulders above anyone we currently have, and we need someone who is.
We need the likes of an Alderweireld or a Manolas to take our defence up to the next level.
It’s quite surreal that we’ve never really shown any intent on buying top quality central defenders.
To a layman that might well explain why we’ve won nothing in such a very long time, and have fallen by the wayside when we were in touching distance of the very top.