We keep wondering what Newcastle´s plan is in case the impressive Rob Elliot is injured?
Ir seems a reasonable question – if we don´t bring in cover at goalkeeper does that mean we will rely on the untested Karl Darlow and Freddie Woodman?
Rob Elliot – he’s been great for us this season
What happens if he gets injured?
We had thought at one time we could have signed Steve Harper to a six month deal if Rob became injured, but that’s no longer possible after he signed on at Sunderland last week.
Newcastle must have a plan for what to do if Rob is injured and not (pretend to) be surprised and curse our bad luck if that happens – the powers that be have had plenty of warning.
It’s called planning for things that may happen – which Newcastle are not very good at.
And you don’t plan things assuming everything will be OK, as Newcastle often seem to do and that get into deep trouble.
You plan for certain events possibly happening so you can react (and know what to do) when and if they do happen.
If there’s one thing that could really hurt us in our run-in it’s having Rob injured and we all know he still had that dodgy thigh.
He’s been a standout for us so far this season since Tim Krul was injured playing for the Netherlands last October.
So you would expect Newcastle to have a plan in case he does get injured.
And since we don´t seem to be wanting to strengthen our defense in this window – we have the third worst defense in the Premier League – then we have to assume those running the club think our defense is good enough for the all important run-in.
There are five days left in the window so still time for new arrivals.
Comments welcome.
155 comments so far
SPRINGY
Jan 27, 2016 at 5:57 PM
Comment #121west lancs
al believe it when i see it mate!…
players out of contract this summer…
s taylor 30
m williamson 32
s marveaux 29
g obertan 26
r aarons 20
f woodman 18
k mbabu 20
ages as of now
toon kk
Jan 27, 2016 at 5:57 PM
Comment #122G2
If we can’t beat Norwich it’s the player’s that deserve to be shot not MA.
BandB
Jan 27, 2016 at 5:57 PM
Comment #123When folks are talking about our dead wood, I presume they mean our substitutes?
GeordieTwo
Jan 27, 2016 at 5:58 PM
Comment #124People said we should give McLaren 10 games West Lancs mate. Then it was 20. Now it’s a whole season. He’s not a top manager anymore, if he ever was. He might keep us up and he might not. It will probably be the same next season. More bollocks and bottom 10 finishes.
The Newcastle Armchair
Jan 27, 2016 at 5:58 PM
Comment #125Firebug
Out of interest, who do you think our best out and out wingers have been in the last 10 years?
GeordieTwo
Jan 27, 2016 at 5:58 PM
Comment #126Well, to be on the safe side toon kk mate, I would shoot all of them. Harrumph…..
GeordieTwo
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:00 PM
Comment #127Let’s just say we would have no trouble starting a fire with either our first team or bench players BandB mate.
West Lancs Geordie
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:00 PM
Comment #128I really hope not Toon KK. They wouldn’t get us out the Conference never mind the Championship. Anyway all these new signings are on five year deals. They have time to go down with us come back up & win the Premiership in three seasons time.
Any way we’re too good to go down aren’t we?
Tsunki
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:00 PM
Comment #129No not necessarily BandB. Admittedly it’s a very broad brush that one. People should be more specific
SPRINGY
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:01 PM
Comment #130i would’nt let any players leave till the summer we are in a relegation battle and every player is back up.
optimistic prime
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:02 PM
Comment #131BandB
Maybe they mean Carr Moncour and Charnley
Tsunki
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:03 PM
Comment #132-TGTGD that’s what we should put at the top of the page after ‘Newcastle United’
West Lancs Geordie
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:03 PM
Comment #133Yeah Springy not disputing that mate & unlikely we would offer new contracts to any of the old guys especially in view of the high wages I have quoted in the past. Need them off the payroll. The three youngsters must form part of the future
Tsunki
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:04 PM
Comment #134Springy – EVERY player? Hmmm.
GeordieTwo
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:06 PM
Comment #135Have we tried lining up all the players, young’uns, first team, reserves, etc. and fonging them repeatedly? Then get into the executive offices and do the same in there. Charnley especially needs extra work. Harrumph…..
Tsunki
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:06 PM
Comment #136“Oh no, Mitrovic, Wijnaldum, Townsend and Shelvey are out injured – but WAIT! it’s OK! We have SDJ, Gouffran, Colback and Riviere! We’re saved!”
SPRINGY
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:07 PM
Comment #137tsunki
well…sort of!lol
GeordieTwo
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:07 PM
Comment #138Possibly we could show the lads some pictures of Jackie Milburn scoring goals and winning cups. It would be a nice change from picking the ball out of our own net……
toon kk
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:07 PM
Comment #139West lanks
Without a new quality striker we will go down, we haven’t one real garentee to get goals striker in our squad not one.
Mitrovic needs time. Missed chances has been the story of our season.
GeordieTwo
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:09 PM
Comment #140It’s been the same now for years. Colo can’t do it by himself. Mbemba is generally excellent on the ball but we don’t play as a cohesive back four. Janmaat gets trapped too far up the pitch and generally jogs back. We don’t have a true starting LB, just a bunch of fill-ins. Not good enough at all against Prem quality attackers. Look at the goals allowed column. Shocking every year.
SPRINGY
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:09 PM
Comment #141tsunki
did’nt say they were equally as good… but could do something of a job….better then not having them at all
SPRINGY
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:11 PM
Comment #142i think taylor will get a contract myself….happy bench warmer
BandB
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:13 PM
Comment #143Tsunki,
They are being dismissed as a bunch of fringe players this afternoon.
They were the ones charged with trying to rescue a point for us on Saturday, and will make up the bench on Tuesday.
Brian Pinas
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:14 PM
Comment #144Ed you sound like an hysterical old woman at the minute.
Go grab a beer, put ya feet up and watch the telly.
We’re not gonna get relegated. Chill out.
GeordieTwo
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:16 PM
Comment #145What???? What’s that Springy???? Saylor gets a new contract????? Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!
SPRINGY
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:18 PM
Comment #146toon kk
it looks like the idea of paying 20+m for berahino,lacazette,gabbiadini is out the window now…more likely to be 7-10m on gomis,caicedo type of player….wonder if bony is available?
belgrade fan
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:18 PM
Comment #147soccer sauce put a picture of Townsend at SJP
toon kk
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:19 PM
Comment #148G2
All too often we look lost, our work rate is diabolical, the whole team looks really poor when we’re capable of much more, but we still lack that prolific striker.
SPRINGY
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:20 PM
Comment #149g2
sorry to scare the shit out of you!lol…..he has’nt got a new contract…..i just think he will as he will be happy to sit on the bench
GeordieTwo
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:21 PM
Comment #150Take that back Springy or I’ll hurt myself with this pointy stick!!! I’m warning you! And no new contracts for any of the others who are done in June except Aarons, Mbabu and Gillead possibly.
SPRINGY
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:23 PM
Comment #151g2
ok i take that back……but you maybe upset in the summer!!!!…….just saying!!!lol
Fostino
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:25 PM
Comment #152Townsand officially confirmed. Don’t care the cost. An exciting signing. Great to get it done so we can concentrate on striker.
Questions need to be asked about the signing of cabella. .thauvin..riverie by Carr. .These are big money flops. Seems like the new philosophy to yo sign English.
Credit to Ashley. That’s 2 windows now where we are top of the spending list.
Shame on rolando..maybe he could establish himself as a l.b. A position thst needs filling
neverwin
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:33 PM
Comment #153Can anyone expain why Toon hand out FIVE year contracts This is why we cannot get rid of players – they are happy to see contracts out and get easy money.
JamesToon
Jan 27, 2016 at 6:41 PM
Comment #154In the summer these are the players I would sell:
Coloccini, Taylor, Williamson, Gouffran, Obertan, Marveaux, thauvin, de Jong, Cisse, Haidara
Then if we get good offers I’d sell these:
Perez – if we get a bid of at least £18m
Sissoko – for at least £15m
Janmaat – for at least £10m
We need to rebuild the squad in the summer based on domestic experience, and particular characteristics. No more of these players who have “got good goal records in France” if we want to play a pass and move style of play, then imp defenders need to be able to defend, full backs need to be able to get up and down the pitch, midfielders need to be able to pass, wingers need pace and ability to cross, attackers need to either have pace or aerial ability/physical stature. Hopefully that’s what we’re building towards. But right now we don’t have enough players in every position that fulfil those attributes
lesh
Jan 27, 2016 at 7:06 PM
Comment #155The 6-0 possing won’t have done anybody’s confidence any good.
Playing in a no-pressure game and having had six put past him, has shown him to be not up to the Prem – particularly if Elliot’s missing for any reason.
Had we been sitting comfortably up the league then taking a risk with a young keeper may not have been too worrying. However, we’re in the relegation mix and there’s too much to lose taking a chance on him.
The same applies to CB and LB so hopefully McClaren might be able to use the game as evidence that we still need experienced players to be brought in – if Ashley’ll take the message and assuming Charnley’s head’s out of the sand!