Rob Elliot has so far been little short of a revelation for Newcastle in the eight games he’s played in goal for the team since Tim Krul was injured and Rob has been our Man of the Match more often than not in those games – including last Sunday in the unbelievable 2-1 win at Tottenham.
In that game Rob made two stunning saves from Erik Lamela in the first half to keep us in the game.
Ans certainly when Tim was first injured we were linked with a number of goalkeepers including Victor Valdes of Manchester United, and PSG’s Salvatore Sirigu – both of whom were not playing and wanted regular playing time.
29 year-old Stephane Ruffier of AS Saint-Etienne
And we were also linked with Saint-Etienne’s French International goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier.
But there’s a report today in Foot Mercato that he is not at all interested in joining Newcastle in January.
The only case where we think Newcastle would want to bring in a goalkeeper in January is if Rob Elliot is injured – and we have to remember he’s still carrying a slight injury to his thigh.
If Rob is injured we will see Newcastle move quickly for a good goalkeeper – but probably only on loan through the end of the season.
We’d be very surprised if Newcastle want to permanently sign another goalkeeper after the way Elliot has starred for us in the last eight games.
In fact if Rob keeps playing like he’s been playing he will not only be Ireland’s starting goalkeeper in the Euro 2016 Championships in June in France, but he will give Tim Krul a stern test for the number one goalkeeping jersey next season.
And if Rob does keep playing well he also deserves an improved contract at the club – he’s worth it.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
63 comments so far
Rotonda heights
Dec 16, 2015 at 10:16 AM
Comment #1With Elliot in fine fettle, Darlow now available and Krul to return at some point, surely it’s not a priority to get another frenchman who doesn’t really want to be here.
As for last thread I would be extremely disappointed if we got Townsend. He may look flashy at times but his end product and stats are woeful, he frustratingly shoots from miles out, defines the expresson headless chicken
geordie157
Dec 16, 2015 at 10:19 AM
Comment #2We’re fine with Elliot, Darlow and Woodman.
Matip, Ben Davies, Tielemans and Austin please.
And Narsingh too! Need to shift Williamson, Gouffran plus a couple of others to make space ie Vuckic, Ferguson.
davetoon
Dec 16, 2015 at 10:23 AM
Comment #3Going back to Leicester – if they do end up in the europa spots as most expect I will be interested to see how they go next season with a few injuries and Thursday night football.
I suspect the same as we found out a few seasons ago.
Jib
Dec 16, 2015 at 10:24 AM
Comment #4According to this North African footy site
Hakim Ziyech a Dutch attacking midfielder of Morrocan descent who plays for Twente Enschede (22 years old 47 games 20 goals) is meeting with his agent Marjolein Nakhli (Nakhli Mondial) to choose between us or Aston Villa.
http://www.lionsdelatlas.ma/football/transferts/17-transferts/14094-qui-n%C3%A9gocie-pour-hakim-ziyech-en-premier-league.html
davetoon
Dec 16, 2015 at 10:29 AM
Comment #5Nit another midfielder. Who would all these midfielders we are supposedly after replace?
Surely our priority id a Centre back and both full backs
Reyantoon
Dec 16, 2015 at 10:35 AM
Comment #6It’s nice to see Ashley and his lutenant Charnley
hugging and celebrating when we scored the second goal.Hope that kind of win motivated him to sign some players in January & push on the table and possibly the FA cup.Hugging Charnley like that indicates his right hand man is going no where anytime soon eh 🙂
BandB
Dec 16, 2015 at 10:56 AM
Comment #7Jib
Merry Yuletide old beanbag.
I haven’t vanished. Just doing what normal folks do at Christmas when they have work and family, which is a fair alternative to reading you filling your day and the blog with your querulous inanities.
I thought we’d beat Liverpool and Spurs, or at least get something. I have said all along we have a game designed to withstand the top six teams and the way they play. It plays to our strengths, such as they are.
Nevertheless, it is a busy time and I’m not in the least bit concerned if you want to suggest I’m lying low. There’s no-one who’s opinion I fear, least of all yours….
Belfast. Welcome back. I find it funny that you have finally plucked up the courage to take my withdrawal as the opportunity to emerge from you crash and burn period with a dig.
I never once inquired where you were 🙂
Merry Christmas everyone.
Bambams
Dec 16, 2015 at 10:56 AM
Comment #8After watching Ash and Charnley after we scored I found it quite amusing.
Ash becomes ‘A Gallowgate Radgie’ immediately jumping around, then….Once Charnley sees this he starts. As if he awaits permission!
Just how I saw it….
Rotonda heights
Dec 16, 2015 at 10:59 AM
Comment #9forgot about woodman. in that case definitely not a priority.
Think we are ok for strikers too with mitro, perez, cisse, rivi, arma, toney etc.
If SDJ can become the midfielder who can put his foot on the ball and dictate, all well and good there in midfield.
Only possibility is maybe Matip or Robin Knoche for CB, although Lascelles and MBabu need game time too.
Dummet has done quite well but isn’t really a LB and Haidara is a bit Obertanish , but it’s gone quiet on that Portugese guy playing in France.
AncientC
Dec 16, 2015 at 11:05 AM
Comment #10Reyantoon, the goal against Tottenham signified an upturn in form and an optimistic chance of safety. Of course Ashley was celebrating, the same as any gambler celebrates when they put money in their pocket.
You don’t really think Ashley was enjoying the goal as a supporter do you?
Rotonda heights
Dec 16, 2015 at 11:07 AM
Comment #11bandB
I think it’s well established friend Jib has issues and finds pleasant social interaction challenging, even at this time of year. Really not worth giving him the oxygen of publicity he so desperately craves inbetween his trips to the offy.
Jib
Dec 16, 2015 at 11:14 AM
Comment #12On rewatching the Spurs game I still feel the same as I did while watching it live.
What the hell did Perez get the yellow card for in the collision in the box with Vertonghen.
Ayoze was attacking the ball as he has every right to do as a striker in the penalty area and the Belgian put himself in harms way to make an excellent last ditch clearance.
Bad reffing IMO
Average_Contents
Dec 16, 2015 at 11:28 AM
Comment #13BandB
It is indeed a very busy time of year. Obviously not for some as you say.
Merry Christmas to you too.
Bambams
Are you implying that Penfold dare not make a move (in anything) until the fat slug says so or does it himself.
Nope, not our beloved little secretary. No way, he’s his own man dont you know.
davetoon
Dec 16, 2015 at 12:18 PM
Comment #14I agree that we are set up or conditioned to play a counter attacking style and playing teams luke pool or spuds where we can sit back and then break with either gini or sissoko suits.
I’m sure everyone remembers the horror of trying to break down a stubborn mackem team who stole the game at the end as an example of how we struggle to score when dominating possession
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 16, 2015 at 12:34 PM
Comment #15Jib, I agree re. comment 12, I was thinking much the same thing at the time, Perez would probably have been slated if he hadn’t gone for that 50/50 ball. Be a bummer if the totting up system causes us to lose him at a crucial time. (although aren’t they all 🙂 )
Lindisfarne
Dec 16, 2015 at 12:57 PM
Comment #16defenders needed
As you say there is a lot of money both swilling around and being miss-spent needlessly pushing up average player price. It makes me wonder if there is a need any more for so called rich owners?
Not entirely sure your solution to spreading the wealth has the most validity, but it is one of many options and would need a strong FA with good representatives to compromise with all the relevant bodies. I myself would prefer four or even five teams to be relegated / promoted but the parachute payments would and should be sorted out.
Lindisfarne
Dec 16, 2015 at 1:00 PM
Comment #17BandB
Enjoy your roasted chestnuts!
Lindisfarne
Dec 16, 2015 at 1:04 PM
Comment #18davetoon
It will be interesting to see how Schtevie deals with the potential over exposure caused by greater possession and lack of technical ability.
Lindisfarne
Dec 16, 2015 at 1:12 PM
Comment #19IMO the Europa league is a glass half full / empty situation. Pochetino at Spurs is right it should not be an excuse but a reflection of the teams qualities. After all competing at a supposedly higher level than just the national league should be a pleasure and an acknowledgement of success.
Ian Toon
Dec 16, 2015 at 1:26 PM
Comment #20BandB – It’s Christmas so no football content allowed. I hope you have a great family Christmas.. I too have missed Belfast( go on you know you have really!)
I love situation comedy whether intentional or not and in the real world identify body language both positive and negative as a means of securing clarity and an understanding. You’ll know what I mean .
Belfast is very much I would say a what you see is what you get sort – as my gran would say, he hasn’t got a mean bone in his body. Anyway he’s often lured me to read blog in- put with his riotously entertaining dry and often self hating wit. In my opinion this has been a poor year for the blog for many reasons but Belfast’s ice bucket challenge which he turned into a Jesper breeze block challenge together with his Keith and Orville sketch made me laugh and is making me smile now. Honest they were savagely funny. Any Belfast sceptics were I am sure won over.
Skunki- I mean Tsunki was the loser when they went solo. Belfast can do the one liners and he doesn’t have short fat hairy legs to contend with- so I’m told.!
dufuss
Dec 16, 2015 at 1:27 PM
Comment #21🙂
Jib
Dec 16, 2015 at 1:31 PM
Comment #22😀
dufuss
Dec 16, 2015 at 1:35 PM
Comment #23:green:
dufuss
Dec 16, 2015 at 1:35 PM
Comment #24hmmm
Tsunki
Dec 16, 2015 at 1:36 PM
Comment #25Ian Toon as ever what on earth are you babbling about? What do I have to do with Belfast or any other poster on this site?
dufuss
Dec 16, 2015 at 1:36 PM
Comment #26:mrgeen:
dufuss
Dec 16, 2015 at 1:37 PM
Comment #27dufuss
Dec 16, 2015 at 1:37 PM
Comment #28hooray
Tsunki
Dec 16, 2015 at 1:38 PM
Comment #29Well done, Dufuss. That was a compliment btw 😀
dufuss
Dec 16, 2015 at 1:41 PM
Comment #30Thnx
Belfast
Dec 16, 2015 at 1:45 PM
Comment #31Have I just arrived at my own funeral ??
I suppose I’ll have to respond to the not the so iron lady !
Dearest Beatrix,
My crash and burn period Haha
I can assure you 110% that my “crash and burn period” had absolutely nothing to do with your ugly mug.
Your Thatcher tribute act does grate on me to be fair, and the desperate attempts to be top dog are a bit cringe worthy. Oh and those Keith and Orville tag teaming incidents are very annoying to read, but I’m a big boy I can deal with it.
I wish you’d stop trying to suggest I don’t have the swingers to say anything face to face when you know that’s not the case. Probably one of a very few on here who doesn’t put up with your bollox to be honest.
Probably speak to you after the next defeat eh
Regards Belfast
xxx
Tsunki
Dec 16, 2015 at 1:53 PM
Comment #32There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about –
Oscar Wilde
I can’t help but have a quick scan through the many click through articles I miss in order to catch the current flavour and take in the inevitable battles and wrangles amongst old foes of like mind. I can’t help but notice the occasional random mentions of yours truly, as the usual dubious wits spark up an idea they must purge before their simple intellect relinquishes it.
Invariably Ray/Jeff/Jib has a wild swing at a barb or two, usually when he is almost certain I am not around to retort, so he can at least savour a momentary victory in between inevitable and horrendous gaffes.
But it seems Ian Toon, of the questionable identity fame, seems to have this burning nappy rash of a previous hurt that just cannot be salved or soothed, resulting in regular peristaltic disgorging of his literary gems. Today I am referenced, not for the first time, as having been ejected from some supposed blog comedy double act which I was not aware I was ever a part of. For what reason? Who knows. Probably Ian. Or one of the other Ian’s that I may have dealt with a little less than consolingly in the past. Rub some sudocrem into it Ian. It’ll pass.
Tsunki
Dec 16, 2015 at 1:55 PM
Comment #33Oh look the leader of the double act is here. Thanks for firing me you git. Ian’s noticed I am in limbo these days. 🙂
Belfast
Dec 16, 2015 at 1:56 PM
Comment #34I agree on all points Ian. I’m still alive and kicking though, just working a bit later than I normally do.
BandB
Dec 16, 2015 at 1:58 PM
Comment #35Dear Belfast,
It does strike me as deeply unhealthy that someone should form such a visceral loathing for a blog avatar they don’t know and who had never even noticed you existed before you embarked on this creepy obsession.
It’s like being savaged by a turbot.
Seasonal goodwill, all the same.
Belfast
Dec 16, 2015 at 2:00 PM
Comment #36Well I did tell you Butch Cassidy was a nobody without the sundance kid. It all went down hill for you when you left.
I’ve fingers in all sorts of pies now, and well…… you’re just eating them. 😉
Ian Toon
Dec 16, 2015 at 2:03 PM
Comment #37Tsunki- A magnificent torrent of little analysis but much abuse. A scything through the cliches and lazy thinking. Your wrong on so many levels. I will leave you there with your misguided and totally wrong interpretation. My post was in praise of Belfast and a comedic dig at you. Incidentally try forming your own opinions your far too gullible – I have only ever posted under Ian Toon.
Enjoy your Christmas .
Jib
Dec 16, 2015 at 2:03 PM
Comment #38http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/dec/16/steve-mcclaren-newcastle-united-louis-van-gaal-manchester-united
Interesting
welshgeordie9
Dec 16, 2015 at 2:06 PM
Comment #39Ian
Belfast is a funny guy but not as funny as me
Ha ha ha
BandB
Dec 16, 2015 at 2:08 PM
Comment #40You seem cheery enough Welshie.
If I don’t ask about your dad will you throw a tantrum?
Seems to me you are trying to have it both ways.