If the news is to be believed then Newcastle have run up against a brick wall in trying to get the goal-scoring striker in who could help save us from relegation this season.
And make no mistake relegation would be a complete and utter disaster for Newcastle United – not to mention the embarrassment of a second relegation in a short seven years for such a great club.
Loic Remy would be perfect for Newcastle
It seems we have lost out on Charlie Austin (we didn´t bid), Alexandre Lacazette (he doesn’t want to leave in mid-season), Saido Berahino (West Brom will not sell) and there´s only Loic Remy left – who we can see – who would be the signing we need.
There are reports today that we have sounded out Swansea for 30 year-=old Bafe Gomis, who is available – but to pay out £7M for a striker past his best, who would be a fairly short-term signing would not be a good deal for us.
And Bafetimbi has not been able to do the job at Swansea since he was signed as free agent 18 months ago from Lyon.
Bafe has scored 16 goals in 57 appearances for the Swans and has had trouble keeping a starting place at the south Wales club.
Maybe we can look at the Championship and go after one of the top strikers there – in an effort to bring in a natural goalscorer.
One Championship striker we had been linked with was 22 year-old Wolves striker Benik Afobe, but he was signed by Bournemouth on 9th January for £9M and he´s already scored a couple of goals for the Cherries.
It´s obvious that Mike Ashley is anxious to get the players in so that Newcastle are still a Premier League club at the end of the season, but at the moment that still looks like a dodgy proposition.
So we could yet see Newcastle go after a lower league striker who could potentially get the job done at the Magpies.
It will be a risk but if we cannot get Loic Remy in – either on loan or even sign him permanently – we could still see a Newcastle surprise before Monday.
But Newcastle have also left things very late for such an important signing.
Comments welcome.
171 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
Jan 28, 2016 at 4:32 PM
Comment #1Jail’s too good for Ashley.
Something very fishy spending all that money on those two lightweights when we’ve refused to strengthen so much in the past
hibbitt
Jan 28, 2016 at 4:34 PM
Comment #2Jail for Ashley
same job as the greeter at B&Q like you say just there to make the numbers up…….. not the hero he used to be took ashleys 30 pieces of silver just a yes man now such a shame
MadisonToon
Jan 28, 2016 at 4:35 PM
Comment #3Just saw the squad that played in the friendly:
Newcastle United: Darlow; Barlaser, Taylor, Lascelles, Gibson; Roberts, Gouffran, Longstaff, Marveaux, Aarons; Riviere
No wonder we were thrashed. That’s the weakest backline we’ve played above a U-21 game. Granted, this was similar to a reserve game, but it at least puts things a bit in perspective.
On topic, please no to Gomis. as JamesRec mentioned on the last thread, Cisse will outperform him. If Cisse gets the same minutes that Bafe would, he will get more goals in this squad – we just need a finisher. If Remy gets the same minutes I would imagine he’ll get +3 on Cisse.
No idea bout Lacazette as it would be a serious adjustment for him and might not be long enough for him to really get it figured out.
Berahino would be +3 on Cisse as well since he’ll get some counter-attack goals with his speed and, like Remy, would be able to play WITH Mitro instead of in place of him as I would expect Cisse/Bafe to.
JackButler
Jan 28, 2016 at 4:37 PM
Comment #4The wall we have run into was build and then reinforced by Ashley and is now marshalled by approving minions who don’t know their arse from their elbows
Belfast
Jan 28, 2016 at 4:38 PM
Comment #5I like surprises
Bambams
Jan 28, 2016 at 4:41 PM
Comment #6If we create more than our usual 3-5 chances per game our strikers/goalscorers may put a few more in. It’s our defence that still scares me.
I agree we need a striker in. …But still need to cover lb and cb
tomellifred360
Jan 28, 2016 at 4:42 PM
Comment #7Gomis is not the answer! I would rather save the money for the summer and buy a young, mobile striker then. The creative additions of Shelvey and Townsend should be enough to stave of relegation. Have faith in Mitro!
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 28, 2016 at 4:43 PM
Comment #8Perhaps at the next team talk Steve could clearly indicate to the ‘strikers’ the concept of getting the ball within the rectangular construction at the opponents end of the pitch. Not sure if that idea comes up in training sessions.
If Mitrovic and the others actually grasped that principle then the need for a “Proven” striker (if such a thing exists) would cease to be necessary.
But then what, as a mere fan, would I know.
GeordieTwo
Jan 28, 2016 at 4:44 PM
Comment #9Or Newcastle might not surprise us at all by not signing a striker. It’s not like we find it difficult to score goals or anything…. I mean we’ve already scored 6 away from home…… the very idea we need a striker……ridiculous.
GeordieTwo
Jan 28, 2016 at 4:46 PM
Comment #10If GoMiss is not the answer then who is? Harrumph….. Look lads we already go miss at every opportunity. This is no time to bring in more of the same….. Harrumph.
NoahJ
Jan 28, 2016 at 4:49 PM
Comment #11Austin- it’s over, let’s just stop talking about him please
Lacazette- would be amazing, but clearly doesn’t want to come; let’s forget about him this month
Remy- proven goalscorer in the prem (and specifically for us). would probably get him on loan, so probably the most value of all the deals
Berahinho- would be a real sign of intent (signing 3 young exciting english players), but he’s not worth £20m with the length of his contract, never mind £30m they apparently want for him
Gomis- he can’t get in the swansea team. why is he even being linked to us? (especially after we could have got him for cheaper when swansea signed him?!)
2 goals 1 cup
Jan 28, 2016 at 4:50 PM
Comment #12im sorry but thuran has not been given enough time to show what hes got and cabbella i believe should have never been let go its the same old same old when we buy this french attacking players when results dont go are way there moaned at for not tracking back which is just crazy because there not defensive players go as far back to your ginolas and lauren robert. even look at ben arfa now hes back in french team and playing the best football of his career but people class him still as bad buy from carr. yes car has bought a few duds but in the grand scheme of things hes found as some very good players on a cheap budget
JackButler
Jan 28, 2016 at 4:50 PM
Comment #13G2
Who is available depends on how much Ashley values our place in the league, if he was desperate to save us from the drop he would have brought in the right people before now, as our future now hangs in the balance and could be decided in the next four days.
Our years of penny pinching and gambling with the clubs future could be about to finally catch up with us
jayphoto
Jan 28, 2016 at 4:50 PM
Comment #14I think what players like Austin, Wilson, Afobe, Deeney, Ighalo are showing is that the gap from championship to premier league strikers is less than its ever been in terms of ability! Its more and more usual to see a striker come up and hit the ground running.
Personally I thought Afobe would have been great.
I like Gray too but hes ineligible till the summer.
Rhodes has a 1 in 2 record at a side that creates next to nothing which isn’t a bad indication
Chris Martin looks decent too and would probably handle the move
Similarly Abel Hernandez has now adapted to England and the physicality and is playing well.
We’ve been linked to Nakhi Wells a couple times. Be an interesting one…
GeordieTwo
Jan 28, 2016 at 4:52 PM
Comment #15Who’s this Knacker Wells then? Is he any good? And JackButler mate you are spot on. Ashley is an idiot who hires idiots. We can’t keep the ball oot of wor own net and we can’t put it in anybody else’s. What’s to worry about then?
toon kk
Jan 28, 2016 at 4:54 PM
Comment #16Gomis is definitely not the answer long term but at present if he’s our only option then so be it. He will still get goals, we need them.
jayphoto
Jan 28, 2016 at 4:55 PM
Comment #17Just wonder if that senseless friendly with Sunderland was for McClaren to have a look at a couple players before deadline day?
Riviere in particular would be my guess, to make sure we actually need another striker or if he could fill that role.
One thing it has done is show that our strength in depth isn’t particularly inspiring!
GeordieTwo
Jan 28, 2016 at 4:55 PM
Comment #18Did Moe expect signs of genius from the other two Stooges? No he did not. Well the same goes for Mike. He realizes Larry Charnley and Curly Carr are doing their best. Harrumph….
GeordieTwo
Jan 28, 2016 at 4:59 PM
Comment #19Also I must point out that we need to show more respect to Steve McCarver! This man has a 23.1 winning percentage after all! That’s 3.1% higher than John McLaren…..or….wait….. is it Steve McCarver? I’m getting a bit confused about who’s who now…… Harrumph.
SUFCsunderland
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:01 PM
Comment #20Come to Sunderland the greatest club in the north
optimistic prime
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:01 PM
Comment #21If Gomiss is the answer, what was the question?
OneAlanShearer
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:04 PM
Comment #22So lacazette sounds like it definitely a no go.
Spurs turned down by WBA for Berahino but who knows what the bid was.
Pretty much means remy, gomis or someone from abroad now.
lesh
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:08 PM
Comment #23Ashley reportedly had to get involved to get Townsend in and that means that Charnley couldn’t fix the deal.
So, if Ashley’s serious about getting the players in to avoid relegation, he needs to take the responsibility off Charnley now, then put him back in his old job of tea boy or whatever and appoint a credible football MD asap!
GeordieTwo
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:08 PM
Comment #24I still think they’ll sell Berahino before the window closes. What’s the good of him sitting like a useless lump on the bench?…… although…… we seem to have a number of useless lumps sitting on wor bench…… Hmmmm.
Take a Chancel on me
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:10 PM
Comment #25Sunderland isn’t even the greatest club in Sunderland
GeordieTwo
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:12 PM
Comment #26It’s with a heavy heart that I make the following announcement.
Due to a lack of playing time, the Belgian midget strikers will be loving wor beloved club on short notice….. ahem, no pun intended there. Both Jacques and Antoine have enjoyed their time at the club but feel it is in their best interests to continue their debauchery elsewhere. Please now take a moment of silence as we let this sad news sink in mates……..
lesh
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:12 PM
Comment #27Jay
Nakhi Wells? Nacker Ned more like.
MadisonToon
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:12 PM
Comment #28G2 Where do you think Berahino is going? Our way? Spurs? Elsewhere?
Neither of the two clubs currently linked with him seem to be making much headway.
GeordieTwo
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:13 PM
Comment #29Actually Jacques and Antoine will be leaving wor while still loving wor beloved club….. sob…..
sparky55
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:14 PM
Comment #30If he can’t coach the defence into being less porous it wouldn’t matter if we had Pele or Aguero up front for the rest of the season because we ain’t gonna score 3 goals every game to counteract the 2 we religiously let in.
WE DO NOT NEED A STRIKER…We need a defence that in a worse case scenario only lets in one goal per game and at least then we’ll stand some chance…but not the way things are now.
Colo has no speed of mind, speed of thought or speed of foot anymore…he’s the main problem so either a massive upturn in his personal performance levels or a speedy replacement is needed for us to have any chance.
bladeuser
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:14 PM
Comment #31SAFC whatever u r
Your the shittiest team in the north even if u won the champions league nothing would change your town is shit your accent is shit your players most of them live in or around Newcastle that speaks volumes not do us all a favour and piss off to your own shitty blog if u have anybody intelligent enough to set one up
ASH OUT SMAC OUT COLO OUT SHEEP ? OUT
sparky55
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:15 PM
Comment #32Berahino is going to Spurs…all this talk about him not being allowed to leave is just that.
GeordieTwo
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:15 PM
Comment #33I see this as a classic case of stubbornness Madison mate. Wor Moe hates to part with the pennies and their owner wants top dollar (can we say top pound?). So, this comes down to pushing Larry Charnley oot of the way once again and letting Moe get the deal done. End of…..
Hail Wor Ashley
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:16 PM
Comment #34Quality CFs coming through to replace the old gen seem to be a scarcity these days. Probably because it’s been more fashionable to be a false-9 type the past decade or so.
GeordieTwo
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:18 PM
Comment #35Look lads all this panicking aboot being in 18th place is completely unnecessary…. we’re clearly going to midfield our way out of trouble any time now. Many teams prefer to attack with ferocity or defend tenaciously. We prefer the midfield diddle….. Beautiful.
MadisonToon
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:18 PM
Comment #36Personally, I think Berahino’s staying put until the summer unless he forces a transfer through. It’s not useful for anyone for him to sit on the bench there, but the amount of stubbornness involved is too high and I think the window will shut before the involved parties can actually get to the point of having a real chat to sort details.
jimiley
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:19 PM
Comment #37I do not think we need a striker. We should rely on Mitro’s pace, his gazelle like leaping a la Ferdinand, his shooting ability and his all round manoeuvrability and eye for goal. In Mitro we trust. A snip at 13 million. Thank you Mr Carr.
Rotonda heights
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:26 PM
Comment #38what happened to the sandro ramierez link. fast, skilful, scores goals and makes assists. is young, could come on loan, knows Perez and spurs want him..
Take a Chancel on me
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:27 PM
Comment #39I just have the feeling come 11pm on Monday Berahino will be a toon player, just put a fiver on at 11/4
GeordieTwo
Jan 28, 2016 at 5:28 PM
Comment #40Lee Charnley’s list of things to do during the window:
1. Buy top, top striker.
Action taken: signed Saivet. Check.
2. Buy second top striker as backup.
Action taken: signed Shelvey. Check.
3. Buy top, top CB.
Action taken: sign Townsend. Check.
Job done…..