Newcastle have a weak spine – which is maybe why we have not shown much back-bone in some of our games this season – and it´s not surprising that Newcastle will want to bring in a dominant center-back, a top striker and a central midfielder in the January transfer window.
And while the Newcastle players have been simply great in the last two games, Newcastle must still go ahead and strengthen in January and not get locked into a false sense of security by a couple of very good performances.
There has been news today about two of our center back targets – Joel Matip of Schalke and Lamine Kone of Lorient.
Lamine Kone of Lorient – Newcastle very interested
Liverpool are said to want to sign Joel Matip to a pre-contract agreement for his transfer next summer.
Also news today that Newcastle are said to be going after Kone – although Sunderland are reported to be close to completing that deal – according to the French press.
Either one of those center-backs would be great at Newcastle – but we´ll have to wait and see if Lee Charnley can get the job done.
A surprise could be if we go after 6´ 7¨ tall Werder Bremen center-back Jannik Vestergaard – the Danish International – and the Chronicle is reporting we still have an interest in Jannick.
As far as a striker is concerned – we have been linked with 26 year-old Charlie Austin of QPR, 22 year-old Saido Berahino of West Brom, 22 year-old Michy Batshuayi of Marseille and former target 24 year-old Pierre-Michel Lasogga of Hamburg – among others.
Of those it seems that Batshuayi may be overpriced at £20M, although some big clubs like Tottenham are reported to be interested in him – but it´s doubtful that Marseille will allow him to leave next month.
Newcastle may have a decent chance of signing Berahino, if only because West Brom don´t want to sell to Tottenham because of their hassles and bad feelings between the clubs during the summer – so we may be able to get Berahino to Newcastle.
Saido would be a great signing for us – and if not him we still think Charlie Austin could do a great job for Newcastle.
🙂
We haven´t been linked with too many central midfielders – although it seems Steve McClaren wants Swansea´s Jonjo Shelvey – but with Argentine manager Marcelo Bielsa now the front-runner to become the new Swansea manager – the last thing he would want is to lose his best player in central midfield.
We have also been linked with Spanish U21 defensive midfielder Victor Camarasa from Levante and maybe it´s a defensive midfielder Newcastle will try to recruit in January, since it´s almost certain that Cheick Tiote will leave us this summer, after a full six years at the club.
Who would you choices be for center-back, striker and central midfield.
And with the news today that Jose Mourinho has been fired by Chelsea just six months after he won the Premier League and also won the League Cup – who would have thought this would happen.
Amazing.
And with all the extra money about to pour into the Premier League it´s only going to get worse with Premier League managers being regularly fired during the season.
Nobody is safe.
Comments welcome.
110 comments so far
Mag52
Dec 17, 2015 at 5:12 PM
Comment #1Mourinho sacked by Chelski !
Can that be true ?
WWSBRD
Dec 17, 2015 at 5:17 PM
Comment #2howay Jose get ursel up north come take over Newcastle son make Bobby proud
Sazzer
Dec 17, 2015 at 5:20 PM
Comment #3The players I would add in January:
Defenders: Jannik Vestergaard, Sven Van Beek (under 21), Jetro Willems (under 21).
Central midfielders in: Federico Viviani, George Thorne, Riechedly Bazoer (under 21).
Wingers in: Andre Carrillo
Strikers in: Charlie Austin or/and Benik Afobe
Mag52
Dec 17, 2015 at 5:20 PM
Comment #4What’s the betting they get Bielsa?
chuck
Dec 17, 2015 at 5:24 PM
Comment #5sazzer
Who are these guys and where did you watch them ?
barkel
Dec 17, 2015 at 5:26 PM
Comment #6just the 8 or 9 new players sazzer? we should go the whole hog and get a new 11
WWSBRD
Dec 17, 2015 at 5:28 PM
Comment #7Sazzer
Decent list bud…no chance it’ll happen though haha I’d expect no more than 3 come Jan and only if they can shift some people out beforehand
WWSBRD
Dec 17, 2015 at 5:30 PM
Comment #8That Carrillo seems to be the pick of the free agents though Benfica winger?
We have any hope of getting him? Or is it pie in the sky territory ?
Tsunki
Dec 17, 2015 at 5:35 PM
Comment #9Déja vu.
banjax
Dec 17, 2015 at 5:45 PM
Comment #10Mourinho to Newcastle – we can all wish but it does show the tolerances and expectations of Top Performing clubs are so different to poorer performing clubs like ours. It’s all a question of ambition and standards of excellence and boy have Newcastle’s plummeted in all departments.
Belfast
Dec 17, 2015 at 5:49 PM
Comment #11We very rarely sign anybody in January. I’m expecting much of the same this time round.
davis_toons
Dec 17, 2015 at 5:50 PM
Comment #12Mourinho any day…
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Dec 17, 2015 at 5:52 PM
Comment #13I could see us signing Willems from PSV just recovering from injury , dutch and we have no doubt scouted him forever !! Probably will cost close to Wijnaldum money to get him but I think he would be worth it !
Carrillo I can see us being in for him hes really quick and he has had contract issues and Lisbon are skint as well so maybe get him for a few million
Still not premiership proven though !! But would welcome them if we got say Shelvey and Townsend as well !
Also a shout for a good little player there has been chat that Naismith from Everton might be looking for a new club in January exactly the type of little battler we need !!
Belfast
Dec 17, 2015 at 5:55 PM
Comment #14Imagine if Charlie Austin gets injured next week. That would really throw a spanner in the works for Ed.
sparky55
Dec 17, 2015 at 5:56 PM
Comment #15You’re right Ed..we do have a pathetic spine and if we don’t fix it we will stay down at the bottom end of league.
I don’t believe we particularly need a centre forward but we definitely need two centre halves and at least one more defensive midfielder to replace Tiote.
…Plus of course a new left back
Cheers Santa!
shango87
Dec 17, 2015 at 6:05 PM
Comment #16for once i wish they would just go for players with proven premier league experience. forget tapping france and holland for bargains. those days are over. i know prices for players of PL experience are over inflated but its got to be done and as we are 18th richest club in europe? why not??
Ron Knee
Dec 17, 2015 at 6:06 PM
Comment #17So who’s the favourite to replace the Sacked One?
Tsunki
Dec 17, 2015 at 6:07 PM
Comment #18I say, I say, I say, Belfast – oh, forgot the double act is finished isn’t it?
Oh well just remember, Belfast, it didn’ t work out well for the Bernie Winters’ sidekick when he thought he’d make a break by himself did it, what was his name? Schnorbitz?
Tsunki
Dec 17, 2015 at 6:10 PM
Comment #19I’m sure this will summon up the Reverend Ian for another one of his inexplicable unctuous fawning sessions over you Belfast. I don’t know what you’ve got but he wants it 🙂
sparky55
Dec 17, 2015 at 6:10 PM
Comment #20Shango…you’re certainly right there mate…we don’t have anywhere near enough premiership experience in this current team which is a big reason as to why were near the bottom of the pile.
…but the fat slug won’t pay for premiership experience so we have to rely on future investments to get used to the premiership without going down in the meanwhile…something we’ve been flirting with for the last 4 years.
He does like to gamble and that’s not good for the team or the supporters!
Tsunki
Dec 17, 2015 at 6:11 PM
Comment #21Ron I wonder if they’ll move in for His Highness? He’s better than average,they say…..
Tsunki
Dec 17, 2015 at 6:13 PM
Comment #22Maybe Ian longs to come watch the racing with you in your shed on the black and white portable powered by a car battery? it’s a thought.
Ron Knee
Dec 17, 2015 at 6:17 PM
Comment #23Tsunki
I reckon he’d be a shoo-in, if I’m honest.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Dec 17, 2015 at 6:22 PM
Comment #24Ron…I have heard from good authorities that Carver is a candidate 😉
Ron Knee
Dec 17, 2015 at 6:26 PM
Comment #25jesper
Here’s some classic Percy if you want a laugh:
http://www.themag.co.uk/2015/12/alan-pardew-wasnt-struggling-newcastle-fans-club/
Belfast
Dec 17, 2015 at 6:27 PM
Comment #26The jealousy is oozing from your pores. Accept your dismissal and move on.
This one man band is marching on. (Without you)
Belfast
Dec 17, 2015 at 6:27 PM
Comment #27Oops there’s Jesper. Definitely leaving now… 🙂
the white tino
Dec 17, 2015 at 6:39 PM
Comment #28Any chance sir Bobby ‘s star pupil fancying taking his club back to top 4??? Come on the special one see if you can make us great for thousands of geordies and the very special SIR BOBBY ROBSON
Toon-Prodigy
Dec 17, 2015 at 6:53 PM
Comment #29See Pardew has said it wasn’t that he was struggling, it was the fans and club really. Sure to stir up a few?
In parts he is right.
The club was diabolical during his reign.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Dec 17, 2015 at 7:07 PM
Comment #30Ron…Pardew would fit nicely in at Chelsea…he’s definitely a special one!
Belfast…could you stay away tomorrow as well? Much appreciated 😉
Jail for Ashley
Dec 17, 2015 at 7:17 PM
Comment #31TP,
And now it’s not ?
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Dec 17, 2015 at 7:18 PM
Comment #32TP…in the 21 years I have followed Newcastle the football under Pardew has been the one I enjoyed the least…
…it actually almost made me give up on the club!
Jail for Ashley
Dec 17, 2015 at 7:22 PM
Comment #33From NUFC.com
“whether those celebrations were prompted by not having to fork out compensation for sacking Steve McClaren or seeing the transfer value of Ayoze Perez multiply are unclear…. “
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Dec 17, 2015 at 7:24 PM
Comment #34I have a bad feeling McClaren is jinxing our luck
http://www.themag.co.uk/2015/12/thursday-night-steve-mcclaren-sends-another-email-newcastle-fans/
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Dec 17, 2015 at 7:24 PM
Comment #35http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/coventry-city-boss-tony-mowbray-10614982?
Looks like a squad place will be free in January if Mowbray gets his way !
Toonfan8
Dec 17, 2015 at 7:28 PM
Comment #36My wishlist for january, Matip, Willems, Shelvey, Berahino…That is another 50 M … But our team would be great…out Tiote, Cisse, S.Taylor…then go for Redmond and sell Obertan, Marveaux…
Sazzer
Dec 17, 2015 at 7:30 PM
Comment #37chuck
Obviously, not in real life but a couple of full games with each of them on TV. We have been linked with most of them except Viviani and Bazoer. Most of the players that people have heard of are either unrealistic or overvalued.
barkel
Obertan, Marv, S.Taylor, and Williamson contracts is running out in the summer and contributing nothing to our starting eleven at the moment. It would be nice to have 4 players in when our key players start getting injured this season and would allow the new guys to settle in for next season. It’s also time to let Vuckic go.
I can reduce my list to only 1-5 players but I rather sell 3-4 of the players that isn’t in our starting eleven.
WWSBRD
Agree, no chance of all of them but a small chance of signing one of them.
Toon Tang
Dec 17, 2015 at 7:59 PM
Comment #38‘The fighting cock’ is the name of this Spurs Forum I’ve just been having a nosey through. The thread is called ‘The Mighty Spurs vs. Northern Horse Beaters’… Comedy gold. At half time its all “we should score 2 or 3 more in the 2nd half” and “This Newcastle team is weak as piss”
The comments when Perez scores at the death are hilarious. Have a flick through if you get a spare few mins.
http://www.thefightingcock.co.uk/forum/threads/the-mighty-spurs-vs-northern-horse-beaters.16306/
GeordieTwo
Dec 17, 2015 at 8:02 PM
Comment #39I have an alternate name for them Tangy mate. What about The Lumbering Knobs?
Jib
Dec 17, 2015 at 8:02 PM
Comment #40jesper
Oh no honey !
You nearly gave up on your NUFC support !
Phew what an escape !
What a loss that would have been !!!
:'(