Newcastle fans didn’t get too much out of the Fans’ Forum meeting on Monday night at St. James’ Park, with the club answering the fans’ questions very carefully and trying not to give too much away.
Lee Charnley – target is top 10 finish minimum
We did hear Newcastle had a replacement for Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa lined up via a verbal agreement, but because the loan deal took so long to complete, the deal to replace him fell through.
Newcastle stated that they expected to recover the fee we paid out to Montpellier almost two years ago (about £6.8M), if Mapou does sign permanently for Roma – maybe even in January.
And as for central defender Jamaal Lascelles – 19 year-old who’s on loan at Nottingham Forest – he will be returning to Newcastle next summer, and to bring home back in January to fortify the defense is not an option.
And Managing Director Lee Charnley said it was not definite that Newcastle would strengthen the side in January – but politically, we didn’t expect him to say anything different than that.
Supporters were told that finishing in the top ten was a minimum target – but we remember those are almost the exact same words used a year ago, for what our target was then.
If you only want to stay in the Premier League to pick up the big TV money, and not want to have a relegation fight- then finishing in the top ten is a very good way of saying that.
And that’s what we believe Mike Ashley wants – a top ten finish every year – but don’t talk about top six or winning anything – that’s out of the question, and it will take too much money in any case.
So top ten finish is what it’s all about on Tyneside these days.
The only excitement we may get this season is something we didn’t want – and Mike Ashley doesn’t want.
Because we didn’t bring in a top striker and strengthen our defense in the summer – and we let many players leave the club without really replacing them – we may be in for a relegation struggle.
It’s an excitement we didn’t want, since we’ve had enough of poor results in the last couple of seasons, and this season we thought (we hoped) would be different.
Oh well – such are the ambitions of Newcastle United in 2014.
Where ‘s that Billionaire who will buy out Mike Ashley and then announce he wants to take Newcastle United back to being a top club in England and Europe again?
Now there’s a very nice thought to end on.
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80 comments so far
dazzler
Oct 24, 2014 at 9:39 AM
Comment #1Does the top ten target mean we are stuck with pardew until it is impossible to finish in the top ten, or when there is a clear gap. Because at the moment a few good results will see us climb the table comfortably, but in a few.weeks and given our run over Christmas I feel old pardew is on borrowed time
Reyantoon
Oct 24, 2014 at 9:39 AM
Comment #2Lil
I know u r not arguing,the fact is that sometimes it’s hard to change a winning team..
Blofal
Oct 24, 2014 at 9:41 AM
Comment #3Lesh to be fair and I duck for cover as I say this… if you include the exorbitant agents fees and performance/appearance bonuses of signings I think we have likely spent most of the transfer budget.
Don’t be surprised if in the figures at seasons end it is revealed we spent an additional $10m on agents fees on top of the new signings.
Reyantoon
Oct 24, 2014 at 9:41 AM
Comment #4who is the DFR we had verbal agreement with?
mindshaft
Oct 24, 2014 at 9:47 AM
Comment #5Can Newcastle Get Shock Win At Tottenham?
NO!
mindshaft
Oct 24, 2014 at 9:48 AM
Comment #6top ten, no f’in chance – fatty will be happy if we scrape past relegation spots as he won’t have to pay bonuses
Toon-Prodigy
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:02 AM
Comment #7Pathetic isn’t it.
Such a disappointment these lot running the club.
I wish everyone would just keep away I do.
dazzler
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:08 AM
Comment #8To me they have created a rod for their own back by stating that top ten was a minimum target. If that is in jeopardy in a few weeks they may be forced to take action and bin Pardew
Rotonda heights
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:13 AM
Comment #9could have sworn pardew said we were now good enough for CL after thanking himself for the new signings!!!
beermonkey
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:14 AM
Comment #10pardew is in no danger of getting the sack
all the ex players and pro pardew crap in the press tells us that he is going no where why pay for the charm and spin for a man in dead mans shoes
when I looked the otherday I think including the last game, the way we are playing I could only see at best getting 11 points in our games up to xmas
while I will agree that dejong is a big lose for us can you really miss what we never had
its not like we don’t have other options for that number 10 role Armstrong he has told us is a natural
abeid while out onloan played further up the pitch judging by his goals and assists for last season and has done ok in the holding role when played in cup games
there are others if you want to persist with this 4231 formation
so why haven’t we changed formation to accommodate the players we have
there are a few formations that suit our current starting 11 from a 433 442 and variations of 442 all have got to be better than what we have done
as for will we get a shock result at spurs NO
will we buy in jan yes we will be so far in the shite we will have to spend to get out of it
WestOzMag
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:17 AM
Comment #11This has turned out to be such a shit club. All you idiots that are happy to put up with this crap and try to make excuses are as much to f’n blame as those in charge.
Dude
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:24 AM
Comment #12The dude just checked his crystal ball and saw the following:
The defender was the Celtic lad (Van Dijk).
Money will only be spent in Jan if we are bottom 6-7. The Dude says we will be bottom 2, bottom 3 at best.
Tiote will likely force a move away, maybe followed by Krul (doing a Given). Curve ball could be Sissoko’s departure. This will be the death knell to our Premiership stint as only dross would sign at the prices that Ashley (even in a panic spree) would spend.
We will go down, expect Pardew to be fired in Feb/March, replaced by a Houdini specialist who will then fail, rightly blaming what he has at his disposal.
League One in 2017-17 is something the Dude attaches a 40% probability to. That would at least see the back of Ashley.
Dude
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:26 AM
Comment #13League One in 2016-17. A derby game with Gateshead in 2016-17 could be a canny punt.
scitoon
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:37 AM
Comment #14Top 10? What a joke. No chance of that happening and certainly won’t be in that position by the end of the year. We have 11 games left in 2014 and by my reckoning we will still be in the relegation zone. We play 6 out of the top 8 (Chelsea/Manure/Arsenal/L’pool/Everton/Spurs), we also have a derby game, 2 x 6 pointers against the other relegation teams (QPR and Burnley) and 2 away games to teams we don’t fair very well against: Brom and the Hammers. Will it take to Xmas to see the fat controller get rid of the inept one? Hopeful that by the end of November we could have a new manager then we might be able to claw our way out of this sh1t.
Reyantoon
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:39 AM
Comment #15westozmag
u need to see a Doctor..!!
Dude
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:41 AM
Comment #16if we get one point from those 6 tough ones we’ll have done well. we’ll lose the derby (max a point), three points off the 2 other losers and max a point each at hammers and wba. that would be 14 pts (max) off 19 games. we’d then need 26 from the last 19 which is top 8 form in the second half. Neeeee chance !
stuart no9
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:44 AM
Comment #17Does that mean , if we dont finish in the top 10 pardew will be sacked?? look at the up and coming fixtures . I think it is safe to say by xmas new year we will be in the bottom 3 if not bottom, the chances of finishing in the top 10 will be slim to impossible , so does that mean by xmax, looking at the table, Pardew will be sacked??
Dude
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:49 AM
Comment #18I don’t expect pardew to be sacked until relegation is a 80-90% probability, which will probably occur in Feb/March. after burnley i can see us losing our last 3 games in Jan (chelsea again, Southampton and hull away). feb gives us stoke at home, then palace and city away. After burnley i can see us getting max 6 from 6 which would be 20 pts from 25. At that point the atmosphere will be so toxic and the conclusion so obvious that Ashley will have to tap out and sack Pardew. It will only happen though when it’s too late to turn around.
Dude
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:51 AM
Comment #19Try bedding in panic buys into that kind of toxic atmosphere. Lambs to the slaughter …
optimistic prime
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:52 AM
Comment #20IMO we’ll be lucky to get a point at Spurs and ATM with what we have and who’s in charge I think it’s more likely we’ll finish in bottom 5 than top 10.
Dude
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:53 AM
Comment #21with this squad and management bottom 5 would be heroic
Ancientcoptic
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:54 AM
Comment #22Can the club start using cheerleaders? May as well give the fans something to turn up for, because it isn’t going to be for the football.
I can just see it now.
Instead of Gooo Newcastle, it would be W. Ohh. N. G. A – Wonga!
Sports Direct and Wonga, brought to you in partnership with *small print* ‘Newcastle.’
mag92
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:54 AM
Comment #23The club could easily finish in the top ten, there’s nothing apart from Chelsea and Man City and we won’t play them every week.
Reyantoon
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:56 AM
Comment #24optimistic
As ur name suggests, u look positive but from what I see ,u are always pessimistic lol!
Ancientcoptic
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:56 AM
Comment #25“We did hear Newcastle had a replacement for Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa lined up via a verbal agreement, but because the loan deal took so long to complete, the deal to replace him fell through.”
If you believe that, I have some snake-oil I would like to sell you.
Dude
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:56 AM
Comment #26and as much as I want rid of pardew, it’s only a fraction of the problem. Ashley won’t leave until we’re relegated at least once, but a clear-out of the lackeys like charnley, beardsley etc would be a small positive.
scitoon
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:57 AM
Comment #27I feel dirty…is it bad to hope for a gubbing on Sunday? Not in the region of 8-0 mind you, but a good solid 3-0 loss. Every loss is a nail in getting rid of Pardew, sooner rather than later. Save this season (ie not get relegated) then build for next season. Jeez, only October and im already looking at next year :o(
Dude
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:58 AM
Comment #280-3 at spurs would be a canny result in fairness. spurs would need to double that for pardew to feel any kind of discomfort
Dude
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:59 AM
Comment #29i honestly believe pardew would survive a 8-0 humping.
jayphoto
Oct 24, 2014 at 10:59 AM
Comment #30Gotta worry for the Spurs game! They play very similar to southampton, could easily pop 5 in!
Not to mention Adebayor and Lennon always always piss on our defence! Add that to Lamela looks like he can bothered, eriksen is a mini david silva and Soldado is a striker out of form (they always seem to find form against us) and id say we’re up against it!
scitoon
Oct 24, 2014 at 11:00 AM
Comment #31Aye but 6-0 is affy close to 8-0, dude. I see your 6 and I raise my 3 to a 4-0…
jayphoto
Oct 24, 2014 at 11:02 AM
Comment #32Im interested to see if Williamson walks straight back in?? Hes been woeful and Taylor played solidly and we kept a clean sheet!
God only knows why Gouffran is so undroppable we only started playing when he came off!
Bet cabellas glad he chose our bench over teams like Roma and monaco….
Reyantoon
Oct 24, 2014 at 11:02 AM
Comment #33Ancientcoptic
hahahaha…
mag92
Oct 24, 2014 at 11:02 AM
Comment #34Nufc are only 6 points off 4th place in the league, so it’s hardly squeaky bum time!
scitoon
Oct 24, 2014 at 11:05 AM
Comment #35Mag92 – by Sunday night it will be 9 points. Next weekend it will 12 points. At what point does the points differences matter? For me, 6 pts is a gap Pardew cannot recover. He just doesn’t have it in his locker.
cyprus
Oct 24, 2014 at 11:06 AM
Comment #36Top ten finish? Right now, I’d bite your hand off for that! Pardew has educated me 🙂
I honestly think it’s a relegation battle together with A.V., Cr. Pal, QPR, Burn, Leic and our friendly neighbours. Half of those will bite the dust. Hope it’s not us.
optimistic prime
Oct 24, 2014 at 11:06 AM
Comment #37Reyna
If I was optimistic at the minute the men in white coats would come and take me away.
mag92
Oct 24, 2014 at 11:10 AM
Comment #38How can you say that are all the teams above going to win? As it stands we haven’t been losing many but drawing mostly and the ones lost have been against Man City, Stoke and Southampton who are going through a golden spell which won’t last.
geordie157
Oct 24, 2014 at 11:13 AM
Comment #39i predict that come the end of the season the only thing we’ll have to cheer about is Sunderland getting stuffed 8-0.
optimistic prime
Oct 24, 2014 at 11:14 AM
Comment #40Mag92
That’s the problem with Pardew, he doesn’t want to lose so we end up with a draw as he’s to scared to attack any team.
Check our current form, the amount of draws we get won’t keep us up neither will the odd win in 27