There’s no doubt that Newcastle have disappointed their fans so far in this summer’s transfer window, although there’s still time to bring in some good players.
But it’s clear that Newcastle have dropped down the ladder in terms of how big a club we are these days, and the drawing power we now have for top players.
We seem to struggle even against clubs like Swansea, Southampton and West Ham, who are smaller clubs than Newcastle, but are more ambitious and more willing to spend money in the transfer market, and subsequently have signed some very good players over the last year or so.
Olivier Kemen – Spurs and Liverpool after him
While once we were a top five club back in the days of the great Sir Bobby Robson, Newcastle are now a bottom half of the table club in the Premier League.
That’s not an opinion, it’s where we have finished six times in the last eight seasons under Mike Ashley – and for one season we were in the Championship.
Newcastle have only been in the top ten twice and one of those was 10th position the season before last.
[table “31” not found /]Newcastle will not only have a big test this season to see if we can attract some top talent to the club, but we could also have problems keeping some of our best players at the club.
And that’s not just senior players like Sissoko, Janmaat, Krul and Cisse, but also some of our top youngsters.
There is news today in the French daily L’Equipe that 18 year-old Oliver Kemen – the French U19 captain – is on the radar screen of both Liverpool and Tottenham.
Newcastle were after 18 year-old Dele Alli of MK Dons in January, and we were (very) strong favorites to sign the top young midfielder, but almost at the last moment in came Tottenham and signed him from under our noses.
It’s not clear what Newcastle were doing in January that allowed Spurs to come in and beat us to Dele, but we were probably dithering around on the £5M fee, to see if we could reduce by a few hundred thousand.
Tottenham had no such problems and came in and got their man very quickly – they were decisive and paid what the MK Dons wanted for Alli without hesitation.
Now one of our best young players, 18 year-old Olivier Kemen, who we snapped up two years ago from Metz when the youngster was only 16, is now in the sights of two of the top six clubs in England.
It will be interesting to see if Newcastle can hold onto a player who could have an excellent future ahead of him in football – hopefully at Newcastle.
Since he joined us two years ago Olivier has played 26 times for the Newcastle U21 side with 3 goals and 2 assists.
Comments welcome.
22 comments so far
GeordieTwo
Jul 6, 2015 at 5:44 PM
Comment #1Ah, here we are. A nice article to keep us excited about Kemen. Harrumph.
GeordieTwo
Jul 6, 2015 at 5:45 PM
Comment #2I did warn about the lack of fonging activity lads…..You have to admit that. Harrumph.
GeordieTwo
Jul 6, 2015 at 5:46 PM
Comment #3And don’t mention Dele Alli on here either. We’re still very disappointed that wor sneaky low bid didn’t work.
Jib
Jul 6, 2015 at 5:52 PM
Comment #4G2
Have you seen this ?
Legal action required methinks
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/motor-sport/australian-f1-racer-daniel-ricciardo-and-his-honey-badger-helmet/story-fnii0ilc-1226761425247
GeordieTwo
Jul 6, 2015 at 5:53 PM
Comment #5So many players contracts end next summer. It’s going to be very exciting seeing how many low bids we can put out in one summer. Or possibly we’ll just extend the contracts of Willo, Colo, Saylor, Elliot, Vuckic etc. etc.?
Sazzer
Jul 6, 2015 at 5:53 PM
Comment #6@MarkSalkeld
According to De Standaart, #nufc have made contact with Marseille for the transfer of Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi. Fee around €9.4m
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 6, 2015 at 5:54 PM
Comment #7He has a honey badger inked on his helmet???
Sounds very painful!!!!
You all know that, if I had not said it, somebody else would have.
1949BH PROUDTOBEAGEORDIE
Jul 6, 2015 at 5:54 PM
Comment #8he is playing in the euro u 19 champ starting 6 45 on eurosport live. just because a french paper says lpool or spurs could be interested does not make it a fact. how many stories have they got right about ncle. it is as believable as a chronic story starting with they understand.
GeordieTwo
Jul 6, 2015 at 5:55 PM
Comment #9That’s shocking and appalling Jib mate. Yes, it looks like a serious situation. Putting a honey badger anywhere but down Ashley’s underpants is strictly prohibited!!! Harrumph.
GeordieTwo
Jul 6, 2015 at 5:56 PM
Comment #10Do we really want Mitch Batshitty Sasser mate? I’m just asking like.
Sammmy
Jul 6, 2015 at 5:58 PM
Comment #11I don’t think he’d leave unless its for a huge fee. Ashley would want maximum money and he hasn’t even reached half of his potential yet.
GeordieTwo
Jul 6, 2015 at 6:00 PM
Comment #12Did ManU get wor sneaky low bid for van Persie yet? I haven’t seen any huffy comments from them. Quite puzzling.
scottoon
Jul 6, 2015 at 6:02 PM
Comment #13I see that Man City have signed some young lad, so now it is just us and Crystal Palace that have yet to make a signing in this window. Certain irony there.
GeordieTwo
Jul 6, 2015 at 6:02 PM
Comment #14All I can say is there are a lot of clubs out there who have spent a lot of money and all they have to show for it is a huge number of excellent players. Why oh why can’t they learn from the Master, wor Lee Charnley?
GeordieTwo
Jul 6, 2015 at 6:04 PM
Comment #15I suppose if we had to we could take Mitch Batshitty for an astoundingly low fee. Harrumph.
Jib
Jul 6, 2015 at 6:05 PM
Comment #16Kemen’s agent is Smart Sports Management owner Tondra Jacques, I think they are trying to influence ongoing contract negotiations.
In the words of Ian Dury “There ain’t ‘alf some clever barstewards”
Mister Tuff
Jul 6, 2015 at 6:05 PM
Comment #17Wow that Beardsley must be some coach. Coaching Kemen to Captain the French Under 19’s.
Wow that Beardsley must be an even better coach -coaching Kemen for four months after he arrived and he captained the French under 18’s in October 2013 (and this includes a period of injury as well.
Wow.
BlacknWhiteBarmy
Jul 6, 2015 at 6:16 PM
Comment #18When we are quibbling over a £600,000 fee for Ivan Toney is it any wonder 1) We cant attract top players and 2) Any player wants to leave due to lack of ambition.
WLtoon
Jul 6, 2015 at 6:17 PM
Comment #19I bet Shteve is already wondering wether he has bitten off more than he can chew with this lot.
I doubt we.ll sign any of the more exciting targets we are RUMOURED to be chasing.
We are a selling club in general and i think not only will we fall short again and miss out on certain players bcos of penny pinching, i think if Aarons could be sold in January if he has a good first half of the season.
And who could blame him for taking the opportunity to better himself.
Sazzer
Jul 6, 2015 at 6:23 PM
Comment #20Of course, Mitch Batshitty is the greatest.
I prefer Batshuayi over Rolan as Riviere upgrade.
We are the mags
Jul 6, 2015 at 7:02 PM
Comment #21Personally i dont think this youngster was ever going to make the grade, i thought he was pants but good luck to the lad if he moves on, Yeovil here we come.
la.jim
Jul 6, 2015 at 8:24 PM
Comment #22I though we were in for Ivan Toney for 300.000k.