Newcastle are trying to get Chelsea’s 20 year-old midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek in on loan next month, but once Chelsea receive an offer from a Premier League club the chances of the talented youngster coming to Newcastle could be gone, but you never know.
Rafa has seen that Newcastle need more creativity in the side than we have when Jonjo Shelvey is not in the line-up and that was there for all to see in the second half on Monday night when we struggled once we finally went 1-0 down to Sheffield Wednesday.
We couldn’t recover and we lost our sixth league game this season and that was a real shock.
Fabian Delph – former Leeds and Aston Villa playmaker
27 year-old Manchester City midfielder Fabian Delph has played just less than 30 minutes this season in three short sub appearances for his club.
The former Aston Villa playmaker has been squeezed out at City, which is not unusual for English players at that club.
Rafa seems to rate Delph and would like to bring him into the club in January, but the trouble with that is Delph will get chances to stay in the Premier League next month and could even link up with clubs struggling for survival.
The 9 times capped England International would add experience, skill and creativity to Newcastle’s midfield and maybe we could get the lad in on loan, so at least he would be get some playing time for the rest of the season.
Then both sides could decide in the summer whether he stays on at Newcastle – hopefully when we are back in the Premier League for next season.
If Delph is nervous about signing for a club who could still be in the Championship next season, that’s one way we could get him playing for Newcastle in the second half of the season.
And there again we always have Rafa’s significant persuasive powers to get any player to Newcastle.
Newcastle certainly need some backup for Jonjo Shelvey for the rest of the season in case of further suspensions or even injury to our only playmaker.
And Fabian Delph could certainly get the job done for Newcastle.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
109 comments so far
Ron Knee
Dec 29, 2016 at 8:53 AM
Comment #1RIP Debbie Reynolds
sing in the corner
Dec 29, 2016 at 8:55 AM
Comment #2Sorry…blame Ed, he’s got broad shoulders.
5sing in the corner // Dec 29, 2016 at 8:50 AM
Forest paper calling for them to park the bus basically, like they did at Huddersfield.
http://www.nottinghampost.com/newcastle-v-nottingham-forest-why-coping-without-possession-will-be-the-key-again-for-reds/story-30015559-detail/story.html
They’ve got a lot of injuries and another suspension this week. 4 4 2 might be the obvious answer for this one. Otherwise we are inviting the scenario of the other home defeats….score early or get increasingly nervous.
toontaff2
Dec 29, 2016 at 8:56 AM
Comment #3Shelvey’s mate, Saiss is off to Afcon with Morocco,
Lazaar is not even in the provisional squad.
If anyone rated Lazaar, considering Dummett is apparently our weak link, Lazaar would surely be getting game time.
Haidara may be starting before Lazaar.
sing in the corner
Dec 29, 2016 at 8:57 AM
Comment #4Ron
Maybe you could develop this, into predictions of the NEXT one to fall off their perch 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Dec 29, 2016 at 9:02 AM
Comment #5I’ll spare the repost.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 29, 2016 at 9:03 AM
Comment #6Ron,
You’re like my old Granny, she only used to buy the Gazette to see who’d died that day 🙁
Lindisfarne
Dec 29, 2016 at 9:15 AM
Comment #7We looked a very mediocre side on Monday, without Shelvey the team was stripped of any technical creativity. A team of Dummetts if you were, robust runners with just enough ability to kick a pass. It made Sheff. Wednesday look like a team of half decent Hazzards.
carl
Dec 29, 2016 at 9:25 AM
Comment #8Another original poster on the blog.
49Sgt. Heagerty // Dec 9, 2013 at 6:39 PM
I have been a regular on this blog for 6 years now, since I first discovered it in a hospital in Germany after getting blown up for the last time in my army career….I have been a newcastle supporter since a young Iraqi kid I met on patrol in Baghdad who was wearing an Allen shearer strip told me all about the legend and newcastle united and the greatest supporters in the world the toon army. ( Ed did a story on me back in 2009 if you care to hear the whole story I’m sure it’s in archives) my point is I am an American from little rock arkansas who has been in love with newcastle and the Geordies for ten years and in those ten years I’ve seen the ups and down, mostly downs… Lol but hey that’s the toon and it makes the ups that more special…. I didn’t marry newcastle for the trophies lol…. I know there are lads on here who live on tyneside and have spent 30 or 40 years following the toon, and new fans just in the courting fase wih newcastle from all walks of life and all parts of the globe… I used to post on here everyday but now I mostly just read eds greats stories because I can’t take the Man U like fans that come on this site, right now everyone is soaring and rightly so I’m 30,000 feet me self!!! But go back and read the comments from the match on Saturday…in the first half you had dummies calling for the gaffers head, bashing colo our flipping capo and one of the most consistent players we have bad since the drop, you had some horrible stuff being said about our lads who were bleeding black and white at old trafford and spilled their guts for a glorious 3 points that was worth 41!!!!! The point behind all this is criticism is fine and getting upset is expected during rough patches, but there is a line… Some of you lads need to take a long look in the mirror and remember what makes are club so special that a dumb ya I infantryman instantly fell in love wih it at first sight!!!! It wasn’t just sir bobby, or shearer, or the blue collar roll up your sleeves attitude of not only the team but the city, the people the supporters, mixed with the flair of ginola, tino, the class of shearer and wor Jackie…. The fire of Keegan and the entertainers!!!! Man it was combination of it all that goes in a pot and makes a Geordie stew so strong and potent and intoxicating (and lethal to mackems) that a dirt floor poor kid like myself thought, man, this is what a football club is suppose to be!!!! So lads please just think about some of what I’ve written and maybe take a trip down memory lane yourself and remember what it means to be a Geordie. Ever wonder why players like Carroll and ba can be giant slayers in the black and white and utter rubbage anywhere else, there is just something special about newcastle united that you can’t even whisper a word for what it is for fear of losing it!!!! Howay the lads!!!!
Tsunki
Dec 29, 2016 at 9:30 AM
Comment #9Sorry that’s gone over my head Ian – why are you reposting Sarges’ comment from years ago? Is it some form of lecture?
Jail for Ashley
Dec 29, 2016 at 9:35 AM
Comment #10Very emotive post but Collo probably deserved the shyte he was getting that day.
Mag52
Dec 29, 2016 at 9:37 AM
Comment #11Back to Delph. I haven’t seen a lot of him with Villa, not surprisingly, but what I did see of him in an England shirt, looked impressive.
He could be a useful asset for us if Shelvey gets a bad knock, or has an off day, between now and the end of the season.
expatmag
Dec 29, 2016 at 9:40 AM
Comment #12@8
Cannot say just how discomnumptified I am after reading that excuse for the English language.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 29, 2016 at 9:41 AM
Comment #13Tsunki,
It could be that carl is reinforcing the point that American servicemen who support the toon don’t like it when we slate the players, especially on matchdays, very on topic and relevant this being a day before matchday.
mad-serb
Dec 29, 2016 at 9:48 AM
Comment #14Signing delph would be a statement of intent, although I think this could be more like a 6 months loan with the option to buy and then there is the slight issue of his 90k wages. Lets hope Clark can put in a good word for us
one fine day
Dec 29, 2016 at 9:49 AM
Comment #15Sitc@2
Read that article on news now too last night.
Pretty funny how they mention all the controversy that featured as part of the shambolic display from Mr Steve Martin ,yet no mention that both players had bans reversed etc .
Let them park the bus ….I have a feeling we will simply smash its every window come Friday .
If the players and crowd are not up for this one they never will be .
The tricky bit will be managing the aggression if we haven’t scored in the first 20.
However if we do I hope we simply take them apart and send them home as the embarrassment they are..
Jail for Ashley
Dec 29, 2016 at 9:51 AM
Comment #16Or he could be attempting his comeback by using the fact that he remembers Sgt Heaggerty to prove that he doesn’t have multiple aliases who have the same consistent spelling mistakes, use the same journalistic descriptions of players and systems, all read “Carras” book and clean Belfasts hoop. And occasionly talk to each other by mistake.
Jib
Dec 29, 2016 at 9:52 AM
Comment #17Atack them from the get-go
I think the five or so comments following the sergeants repost kinda say it all and prove his point to a “t”.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 29, 2016 at 9:53 AM
Comment #18mad serb,
I mentioned him to the lad next to me at the ground and he reckons Delph is constantly injured which got us talking about Stephen Ireland.
Ron Knee
Dec 29, 2016 at 9:54 AM
Comment #19Jail
My nan used to pore over the deaths in the Chronicle.
sing
I shall enrol for soothsaying classes!
carl
Dec 29, 2016 at 9:57 AM
Comment #20Another and I hope Lesh won’t mind me repeating what he said at the time . Of many I thought his captured the feeling at the time.
8lesh // Dec 9, 2013 at 11:41 AM
Sgt. Heagerty
Your post @1 is the most emotional, touching and powerful I’ve ever read.
Having been a regular on this blog for 6 years and having finding Newcastle United after having suffered the ravages of army life in Iraq, you sir have and are showing more strength and honour than many of our so-called supporters.
That kid in Iraq, sporting a Shearer shirt and the one that took your heart to Newcastle United, may not have survived that conflict or have been seriously injured and emotionally scarred by it. And it is people like that who have shown more dedication to the Toon than many of the fickle, opinionated and abusive so-called fans who spout on here.
They should be ashamed of themselves. Have they never had a day that’s not gone as planned? Have they never felt not up to something? Do these people think they’re so perfect they can let the venom, the bile ooze from their malicious heads? They ought to consider themselves very very fortunate not to have been faced with the dangers such as you and that Iraqi kid see the bigger picture, try to place themselves in the shoes of that kid in Baghdad. Surrounded by death and destruction, he wore the Toon colours with pride, wishing he could be near his idols at SJP.
Maybe those posters who put their vitriol to print,should have had a spell in his shoes and appreciate what they’re thoughtlessly slamming what they’ve got access to in Newcastle United.
hibbit
Dec 29, 2016 at 9:58 AM
Comment #21i wont be surprised if Rafa has a couple through the door on monday !!
and we wont have heard of either of them through the press
Jail for Ashley
Dec 29, 2016 at 9:59 AM
Comment #22carl,
Mike Ashley might have read it before signing Rafa,, it explains it all.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 29, 2016 at 10:01 AM
Comment #23hibbit,
Like I said earlier I don’t think we were linked with many that came in during the summer. Hanley dragged on a bit but Ritchie and Gayle came from nowhere.
Shot Bru
Dec 29, 2016 at 10:07 AM
Comment #24Delph is a waste of space.
Shocking attitude and wouldnt even consider playing for a championship team.
Shows how low this ‘big club’ has become under the stewardship of Cashley and his buddies.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 29, 2016 at 10:18 AM
Comment #25Shot Bru,
I don’t think it’s any kind of lack of ambition that will see us struggle to get players in but the fact that we are in the Championship, there has to be a balance, if we go and buy Alan Judge where does it leave him next season.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 29, 2016 at 10:19 AM
Comment #26We are not aiming for tenth this season, it doesn’t work like that down here.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 29, 2016 at 10:25 AM
Comment #27Sparky55 talking about signing a LB, Jetro Willems might be an option next season. Would he leave PSV mid season when they have an outside chance of winning the title.
hibbit
Dec 29, 2016 at 10:27 AM
Comment #28jfa
i would rather have a fit judge than delph in this league
Jib
Dec 29, 2016 at 10:27 AM
Comment #29According to media sources Lille and NUFC were both chasing Nicolas Pépé who is on loan at Orleans from Angers.
However Lyon have just put a bid in for him of €5million
http://score.fr/lol-a-offre-pepe.html
I cannot see there being any truth in Rafa wanting this guy because:-
a
He won’t get into a bidding war
b
Pépé has played more on the right wing than anywhere.
c
He’s probably off to the AfCoN to play for Cote d’Ivoire
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 29, 2016 at 10:29 AM
Comment #30Jail
I do believe that Ritchie and Gayle were mooted as potential signings well before they were actually signed.
But I do agree that whoever is signed will probably be off the radar ones.
Really can’t see why Hogan (unless it’s Hulk) would be on the shopping list. Especially as we have Murphy and Armstrong on the books already.
The real surprise could be the return of a certain Frenchman, might be worth a long shot bet. 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Dec 29, 2016 at 10:30 AM
Comment #31ofd,
The crowd were in full voice the other night, if one of those early chances had of gone in it might have been a different night.
hibbit
Dec 29, 2016 at 10:32 AM
Comment #32Essex Geordie Bill
WHY would we want him
once biieb twice shay
Jail for Ashley
Dec 29, 2016 at 10:33 AM
Comment #33hibbit,
Got to be a bit wary of having too many championship standard players in the squad, we have enough already.
lochinvar
Dec 29, 2016 at 10:33 AM
Comment #34Hibitt@21
Think you’re close to the mark -Rafa unlikely to rock the boat with the current squad by bringing in wannabes from the Prem League. More likely to see some young but proven players from Spain or Europe who he thinks can add pace and goals that will benefit the team and maybe have potential for the future.
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 29, 2016 at 10:35 AM
Comment #35Jail
There was a lot of noise from the crowd, with most of it being directed at the ref.
hibbit
Dec 29, 2016 at 10:35 AM
Comment #36Essex Geordie Bill
WHY would we want him
once bitten, twice shy
not sure what happened to that last post
Jail for Ashley
Dec 29, 2016 at 10:37 AM
Comment #37There’d be no point in recalling Thavin to the cause mind, can you imagine the hair off between him an Perez away to Brentford on a cold Monday night.
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 29, 2016 at 10:39 AM
Comment #38Lochinvar
Or even from our own development squad, there seems to be a few who could step up.
Hibbit
A single touch of genius on Monday from the likes of him would have been all that was needed to spark a win for us.
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 29, 2016 at 10:40 AM
Comment #39Jail
I wasn’t thinking of Thauvin.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 29, 2016 at 10:42 AM
Comment #40EGB,
Or his pure lack of effort could have seen us completely over run, we don’t need spectators in the run in.