Head coach Steve McClaren had a long meeting before the game with owner Mike Ashley yesterday, and the owner was in his white shirt in the Directors box for the first game of the season, and thankfully Newcastle’s performance was a distinct improvement on the play earlier this year.
We have to think the meeting was about the transfer situation with the transfer window closing three weeks today.
Papiss Cisse scored just before half time yesterday
There were some good displays yesterday, but we still need three players brought in before September 1st – but whether that will happen we don’t know.
And there will need to be some players sold too, so there’s still work to do in this transfer window.
We would have thought Cheick Tiote would be his way, but he came on yesterday for the injured Vurnon Anita, and looked a little rusty with his first game since early January, but we think he will stay.
Mike Williamson didn’t even make the bench yesterday after playing in most of the pre-season games, and it looks like Mike will be sold – to a Premier League or Championship side.
And if we bring in another striker – which seems likely – it looks like Papiss Cisse will be sold, but he wants to stay and has said he has no team lined up to join.
This is what Papiss – who scored just before half time yesterday – had to say in the Chronicle:
“I have a contract at Newcastle United. I need to be professional every time I play. I don’t have a team to leave to.”
“I am a Newcastle player. I try to work hard in every game I get.” “I try to forget about last season because it was very, very hard for me,”
“Sometimes I take something back. I stay strong. I always do my best. I enjoy this moment.” “I had injuries and I was in and out the team. I always keep my smile, though.”
“I stay happy because I knew one day I’d come back ready.”
By September 1st we could see Mike Williamson and Papiss Cisse move on, and other players who could leave the club permanently or on loan include Rob Elliot, Sylvain Marveaux, Gael Bigirimana, Mehdi Abeid, Haris Vuckic and Yoan Gouffran.
Shane Ferguson has joined Milwall on a three-month loan deal, and he was a second half substitute in Milwall’s 2-1 win at Shrewsbury on Saturday.
Milwall were relegated from the Championship last season.
Comments welcome.
180 comments so far
WWSBRD
Aug 10, 2015 at 11:43 AM
Comment #81U are all going to be very upset when Shaqiri signs for Stoke later today arent u
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Aug 10, 2015 at 11:44 AM
Comment #82Jazzy
Xherdan Shaqiri is on his way to St James Park to discuss personal terms.
If that’s true then BLOODY ELL
one of the standout players at last World Cup
Jib
Aug 10, 2015 at 11:44 AM
Comment #83Italian site called the front page
€19million we have leapfrogged Stoke
$ year contract
http://www.laprimapagina.it/2015/08/10/linter-cede-xherdan-shaqiri-al-newcastle/
Blackley and Brownlie
Aug 10, 2015 at 11:44 AM
Comment #84I think everyone should declare before commenting whether they went to the match or followed a ball around the pitch through a tv window.
So far SDJ has not shown he’s got anything. He came on yesterday for 10 minutes and wasn’t prepared to get a sweat on. That’s not writing someone off or moaning. It’s simply telling it how it is.
Noel Worst
Aug 10, 2015 at 11:44 AM
Comment #85It’s a fake SSN account, guys. Please equip yourself with healthy skepticism and an enquiring eye.
hibbit
Aug 10, 2015 at 11:44 AM
Comment #86mr broon not sure what you mean by watch the game but from my seat in the milburn stand the oberton/haidara partnership wasn’t working not sure were your coming from about anita most people of the opion he had a good game
Noel Worst
Aug 10, 2015 at 11:46 AM
Comment #87Blckley
I don’t listen to those types that use the phrase “telling it how it is.”, sorry chum!
calvinzolamakongo
Aug 10, 2015 at 11:47 AM
Comment #88Anyone that was at the game will know SDJ should of had a penalty last min after being pulled down in box he has great movement i think our attacking unit broke down when socks went central and left no options on the right thats why 3 times mbemba just played a 30 yrd ball to mit coz there was no options down the right
JamesToon
Aug 10, 2015 at 11:52 AM
Comment #89I will jizz myself if the Shaqiri rumour is true
Jib
Aug 10, 2015 at 11:54 AM
Comment #90Should have said 4 year contract
WWSBRD
Aug 10, 2015 at 11:55 AM
Comment #91Jib
We dont give 4 year contracts and we arent signing him…plus why would we out bid Stoke at this point we just need to match the offer and talk to him
expatmag
Aug 10, 2015 at 11:55 AM
Comment #92Blackley
You said you have a season ticket. You made a big carry on a few weeks ago even offering to meet people to show them the said ticket which we all actually found quite comical.
A few threads back, you mentioned McLaren losing jus cool
jazzyp
Aug 10, 2015 at 11:56 AM
Comment #93Blackley
I was at the game thankyou and could have sworn I saw SDJ getting a sweat on by running through on goal and was denied by what looked like a penalty…. But hey what do we know
calvinzolamakongo
Aug 10, 2015 at 11:59 AM
Comment #94Init jazzyp
expatmag
Aug 10, 2015 at 11:59 AM
Comment #95Blackley (cont.)
You said McLaren lost his cool with Colback because he wouldnt switch play.
These were the exact (and I mean exact) words used by the commentators during the game.
I reckon you were watching it on tv and not live, as you said.
Jib
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:01 PM
Comment #96Blackley I have no axe to grind with you.
However you are living proof that possession of Season Ticket doesn’t make you an expert.
Many moons ago I had an ST in the Popular Stand (it was the time of that guy that worked in the Gulf giving that Arabic ululating cry throughout the game).
Next to me were 3 farmers from the Alnwick area ST holders who came into the Town every other Saturday and while their wives were shopping went to the match.
What the 3 of them knew about footy could be written on the back of a postage stamp.
The comments they came out with were at times jaw dropping.
You remind me a bit of them.
lochinvar
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:03 PM
Comment #97Google Translation of the Italian web site:
Stoke leapfrogged the Swiss striker moved to Newcastle . Sounding the news Sky Sports UK . Although the player was at the Britannia Stadium to follow the match from Stoke lost against Liverpool , it seems that the Magpies have accepted the request of Inter to pay all 19 million for the Swiss card .
Xherdan Shaqiri would be directed to St. James ‘ Park to discuss the contract is expected to have a duration of four years .
Maybe he was on his way north and stopped off to watch a Prem game ?
Maybe Liverpool have cash to splash ?
Maybe Everton who were rumoured to be interested but unlikely
Maybe Mark Hughes indicted that Stoke would like him to sign but didn’t sound too convincing
World Class player – new signings already in at Newcastle – 52,000 fans,
Its not over until the fat lady sings – all for about £13.5m
will die for the toon army
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:04 PM
Comment #98Shaqiri story is fake it had got me excited.
JDdubai
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:04 PM
Comment #99Its been about a month+ since stoke’s offer was accepted, if we were really interested we would have sorted it out by now.
Maybe his agent wanted a few more grand so played hardball and pretended we were still a possibility.
Cant see it happening, he’ll be announced at stoke today.
WWSBRD
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:06 PM
Comment #100Shaqiri is at Stoke having a medical apparently
will die for the toon army
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:07 PM
Comment #101Wat happened to soccer sauce.
will die for the toon army
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:08 PM
Comment #102May b Shaqiri gave us a cold shoulder.
lochinvar
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:09 PM
Comment #103Graham McGarry
BBC Radio Stoke Sport
Posted at 09:57
Stoke boss Mark Hughes is quietly confident of securing the signing of long-term target Xherdan Shaqiri.
Xherdan Shaqiri.
Swiss international forward was at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday yesterday to watch the 1-0 defeat by Liverpool.
An agreement has been reached with Inter Milan, but Stoke still have to persuade the 23-year-old to sign.
“We are still in discussions to bring in a top-class player,” said Hughes. “If we can do it I think we will have had a good window.”
Note – ” still have to persuade the 23 year old too sign” and thats from the Radio Stoke publicity machine
I thinks he’s or his Agent are doing the rounds to see what’s on offer
If Everton get £30m for Stones that might be an outside possibility for him but who would want to play for a City;s second team /
We shall see…
Laurent Robert 32
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:09 PM
Comment #104Our Toon, good that Hatem played well against Monaco. I have the Nice fixtures saved on my phone to watch if I can this year.
one fine day
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:10 PM
Comment #105gaz44@43
That thought has crossed my mind on many occasions 🙂
Wonder if all his kids have a kind of side show bob look about them .
I am not colo biggest fan either but that’s purely based on things such as he was constantly trying to engineer a move away with his father when we needed him badly and there so many better options we should be signing now but to physically hate a player because he isn’t good enough just seems a step away from reality.
Saying that I thought Dennis wise was always an out and out c@@t and he has never been anywhere near my missus 🙂
Take a Chancel on me
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:11 PM
Comment #106Last post on soccer sauce was Saturday and it said we are still gonna sign Austin
Take a Chancel on me
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:12 PM
Comment #107Interesting
http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Stoke-City-Club-hoping-beat-Everton-Newcastle/story-27578522-detail/story.html
Sir Braveheart
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:12 PM
Comment #108I didn’t see the game in full so came on here to read the comments and determine who played well. So far I’ve established that:
Anita had a great game except for the fact that he was the worst player on the pitch apart from Obertan, who was rubbish but played well. Haidara is excellent going forward but poor attacking whilst simultaneously being a dreadful yet competant defender.
Collback saved us a point despite being abaent all game. Their two goals were the fault of Colo, Mbemba, Jaanmat, the tea lady and John Carver. Cisse couldn’t hit a barn door from two paces but gets into great positions and is invaluable to us.
Wini was outstanding. Thats about all everyone agrees on.
jazzyp
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:13 PM
Comment #109Hadaira was the worst player on the pitch yesterday by far. Does that mean he is deemed not good enough ?
Siem de jong has gone through a rough time with injuries. And personally I hope he has finally come through the worst of it. The lad is a damn fine player and hopefully he can come good for us.
what I am saying is give the guy a break and give him a chance before writing him off after 10 mins.
cast your mind back to pre season last summer and the blog was raving about him. Maybe the collapsed lung has taken its toll who knows but give him a fair chance for crying out loud !!
Tsunki
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:13 PM
Comment #110Leave go of the ‘ better fan’ thing for crying out loud that’s getting old. Loads of us here have had ST’s but as Jeff said I’ve had blokes sat around me muttering the most cringeingly embarrassing, stupid, inane rubbish, the type that thought their disposable income gave them the right to expert knowledge. No such thing as a ‘ better fan’ there’s just more valued customers.
Now where was I? Oh yes – the long term critique of yesterday’s game. What a waste of time. SM has taken over a team in ruins, crap players, all demotivated, injuries, lack of fitness – he’s slightly patched it up during a summer window encompassing a tour he needed like a hole in the head, and he’s pushed a makeshift side onto the pitch that has barely played together let alone had a competitive run. To say we were honours even in itself is a credit to the man for cobbling that result. I’m glad for him we didn’t lose or the real nuggets would have been out in force on the blog.
Let’s just take this as it is, a tentative step forward while patching up is in progress. Writing off players at this stage is just pathetic.
Blackley and Brownlie
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:15 PM
Comment #111Expat
You now look completely ridiculous again. I make the point that Makro was going mad with Colback for not switching play – on more than one occasion for your information. I sit in the 1892 bar. Do you know where that is? It’s behind Makro. I could see him berating Colback. Because I said this and used the same or similar words as your commentators who keep you informed, I never went to the game and I’m lying. You really are a sad individual.
WWSBRD
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:16 PM
Comment #112jazzyp
I dont think Haidara was the worst player on the pitch at all
Moonraker15
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:18 PM
Comment #113HBA was my favourite player he is brilliant. Whatever is said about Pardew and he is a total knob (there’s nothing worse than a Cockney knob), he ruined Hatems’ career at Newcastle through bad man management and the way he treated Jonas was a disgrace.
He should appreciate that his spell at Newcastle saved his dwindling career next time he starts slagging off Ashley. He would’ve been sacked by most owners and would be applying for division 2 jobs.
Blackley and Brownlie
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:19 PM
Comment #114This blog has gone from the boycott blog to the don’t say anything negative blog. Incredible.
It really does hit a raw nerve to say that you get a different view of the game when you’re there than when you watch on tv. I watch away games on tv too. I respect the opinions of our away fans who see something completely different to me. They’re best placed to comment.
WWSBRD
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:20 PM
Comment #115Blackley
Tbf mate u thinking ur opinion means more because u were at the game isnt showing u in a good light
Noel Worst
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:21 PM
Comment #116Braveheart
About covers it! Accurate summary.
jazzyp
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:21 PM
Comment #117Sir braveheart
Im a big fan of Hadaira mate but the lad just didn’t show up yesterday.He was all over the place defensively and tactically constantly making schoolboy errors.
Obertan although an excellent cross offers nothing
Tiote looked more like porky the pig than the Mr T of old
Wini the wonder horse looks an awesome talent
Sissoko had a good game and looked focused again.
I still say we lack a player with flair who can unlock a defence as the ball was often played side ways.
But was impressed by how we played with purpose yesterday rather than hoof ball
Mister Tuff
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:22 PM
Comment #118From what I can gather at the moment there is a good chance that Jib and Blackley are farmers from the Alnwick area.
jazzyp
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:22 PM
Comment #119WWS
who you going for then bud ??
Blackley and Brownlie
Aug 10, 2015 at 12:23 PM
Comment #120Of course many fans who go to the match have a few jars and their views are compromised. I know what it’s like. I’ve done it before. You get a warped view of the game. Same happens if you drink watching tv. Sorry if I’ve hit another raw nerve among drinkers.