There was news in the Metro ay back at the beginning of June that Arsene Wenger at Arsenal is having a clear-out of his players and three of the players Newcastle have been interested in are defenders Calum Chambers, Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson.
But one of the players who could become available is their excellent defensive midfielder Francis Coquelin who has played well for Arsenal for over four years now and he could be a good buy for Newcastle if the price is right.
Rafa talked earlier in the summer about getting in some Premier League experience but of the three players we have signed this summer – Christian Atsu, Florian Lejeune and Jacob Murphy – not many of them have that.
26-year-old French U21 International Francis Coquelin of Arsenal
Rafa is expected to bring in both a playmaker and a defensive midfielder this summer, but there have so far been no links to Coquelin, so maybe we have already made some inquiries and the price is too high?
Newcastle need a defensive midfielder to put pressure on Isaac Hayden who had a great first season at the club last season and also a creative playmaker to help out Jonjo Shelvey in the middle of the park.
Without Jonjo last season for those five games when we were suspended Newcastle looked very ordinary and without creativity – and that was in the Championship.
With Francis Coquelin why wouldn’t we try to take him on loan this season with an option to buy next summer?
That’s when Newcastle should have a lot more money available to spend in the transfer market after the payout from the Premier League next May.
The 26-year-old French U21 International has played 148 times for Arsenal and his contract at the Gunners still has four years to run.
He would be a great addition to the squad and has certainly has already shown he can play very well in the Premier league.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
134 comments so far
Lindisfarne
Jul 21, 2017 at 10:28 AM
Comment #41http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/10955094/diego-rolan-stalls-on-move-to-Fulham
Has all the hallmarks of a Charnley deal, but it does make me wonder if Toney would not be a better option for the first team
Markaccus
Jul 21, 2017 at 10:34 AM
Comment #42Our toon
I agree on Diame being better in a deeper role. Do you think him and Shelvey would be a good first choice pairing?
Our Toon
Jul 21, 2017 at 10:42 AM
Comment #43Markaccus
Possibly make a good team together centrally, it’s a tough one but I wouldn’t mind coquelin as all and Diame as back up
Ron Knee
Jul 21, 2017 at 10:43 AM
Comment #44Live training session:-
https://www.facebook.com/newcastleunited
LetuscloneShearer
Jul 21, 2017 at 10:43 AM
Comment #45This will never happend. When it comes to Roland I am not sure, I am getting a little Riviere vibe towards him. Sign a CAM 18-20£ and proven PL striker 20-25£ and we are good in my eyes. Offload as much dead weight as possible.
Lindisfarne
Jul 21, 2017 at 10:44 AM
Comment #46We can not rely on Shelvey to hold down the midfield position for the whole of the season, he was easily side stepped by agile players in the Championship and will need resting. Plus we need another source of creativity that will both compliment and replace Shelvey when necessary.
cyprus
Jul 21, 2017 at 10:47 AM
Comment #47Spoof,
Got me there mate. Shelvey isn’t my favourite player but he’s still the type who can prove me wrong. Would love it.
Jib
On same subject. Hope you’re right and he’s suddenly become a whippet, I’ll take most any dog 🙂
cyprus
Jul 21, 2017 at 10:49 AM
Comment #48Lindisfarne
Agreed.
cyprus
Jul 21, 2017 at 10:52 AM
Comment #49Mark
Didn’t we try that pairing? Still think we need a bit of a magician there. Who isn’t here yet.
And a CF as I’ve said.
Then we’ll be ok.
Rafa reads our posts, he’ll know.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jul 21, 2017 at 11:00 AM
Comment #50The key to this season besides transfers in general is requiring another option to Shelvey…
If this is our midfield this season…well help us God (especially when Shelvey is missing)
…and even a player like Shelvey needs competition!
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jul 21, 2017 at 11:01 AM
Comment #51Good afternoon Ron
Markaccus
Jul 21, 2017 at 11:02 AM
Comment #52Our toon
I’ve never really payed attention to Coquelin. Is he the combative type that we need to replace Tiote?
cyprus
Yeah we did try it, and it improved the attacking flow through midfield. I think it lacks bite, though, so leaves us slightly weaker defensively. Diame would have to up his battling game to nail down a starting position.
toontaff2
Jul 21, 2017 at 11:03 AM
Comment #5341 days 11 hours 56 minutes 😮
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Jul 21, 2017 at 11:04 AM
Comment #54Diame
Bloody hell forgot he played for us!!!
toontaff2
Jul 21, 2017 at 11:05 AM
Comment #55Any dog but the cross bulldog/shitzu 😆
Markaccus
Jul 21, 2017 at 11:09 AM
Comment #56Toontaff
you mean a Shilldog 😀
Ron Knee
Jul 21, 2017 at 11:12 AM
Comment #57Afternoon, jesper
toontaff2
Jul 21, 2017 at 11:14 AM
Comment #58Be interesting to see the starting line up, tomorrow v Preston.
As a fully signed up follower of PNEFCTV after signing up using JIB’s link.
Thought it was free, but 10k has suddenly vanished from my account 😆
Markaccus
Jul 21, 2017 at 11:17 AM
Comment #59You had 10K in there in the first place???? 😀
OneAlanShearer
Jul 21, 2017 at 11:22 AM
Comment #60Hibbit- I’d wondered if that’s as the plan. Get him used to the club first and a back up rolled into one.
I would love to see fabregas and costa but I can’t see it. Unless Chelsea go on a huge spending spree in midfield and costa goes to athletico but loaned to us for half a season. Neither likely though
toontaff2
Jul 21, 2017 at 11:24 AM
Comment #61Mark, got it on a night oot. Was talking to some fat chap, who got drunk, vomited in the fireplace agreed to pay me 150k for my advice, but only gave me 10k.
kc2012
Jul 21, 2017 at 11:26 AM
Comment #62Some of My friends are big Preston fans and have said this kid is actually very decent. Obviously one for the development squad.
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/07/21/newcastle-eyeing-preston-starlet-josh-earl/
As for Toney being better than Rolan, I very much doubt Toney is anywhere near Rolans level just yet and wouldnt get anywhere near the Uruguay squad if he was eligible. At £5m he’d be a decent signing but we would still need another striker aswell because personally I dont think Mitro is worth keeping.
lochinvar
Jul 21, 2017 at 11:28 AM
Comment #63Hate to ask as maybe I’m being dumb but once on a topic how can you get straight to the very last post ?
Scrolling through pages 1, 2, 3, 4 , next , is time consuming and with navvies fingers often inaccurate.
Just like to read the last thread first then scroll backwards if of interest ( must be due to all these Chinese influences )
Enlighten me please or can Kacper come up with a solution ?
toontaff2
Jul 21, 2017 at 11:29 AM
Comment #64Sean Longstaff off to Blackpool, on loan. Hope he can cope with the nightlife 👿
martoon
Jul 21, 2017 at 11:34 AM
Comment #65lochinvar @63 – the quickest way I know is to click on the last page number and then click on the down arrow (which I think is called a whoosh button) beside the ‘comment so far’ – this will take you to the bottom of the last page.
Rotonda heights
Jul 21, 2017 at 11:34 AM
Comment #66Jib
I don’t think any sane man would argue that carr wasn’t a success initally with cabaye, tiote, HBA, sissoko etc. It’s just the averages, taking into consideration Carr was meant to be vetting appropriate players and their suitability for the premiership, ie temperament, physicality and injury record, that take a hammering, especially towards the end of his tenure.
MYM
Riviere
Saivet
Haidara
Cabella
Thauvin
SDJ
LDJ
Doumbia
Argentinian guy from Russia whose name and a few others I can’t recall.
On another theme, as Sports Direct are seemingly spectacularly going down the gurgler, does that make it more or less likely Ash would sell NUFC? I need a business bod for this.
1949BH PROUDTOBEAGEORDIE
Jul 21, 2017 at 11:48 AM
Comment #67kc2012 at62 rolan is another mediocre player playing in a crap league.watched him when we were first linked and he was very average .his goalscoring record is worse than cabella -14 and 9 assists and riviere12 goals before they came here .remind me how did they do. dont touch him with a barge pole. would also prefer toney to be given a chance at least he isstrong and physical
Mister Tuff
Jul 21, 2017 at 11:55 AM
Comment #68Old Man Carr seems to be the club bogeyman.
Responsible for all the duds who were signed up – just him nobody else were involved.
Yes the discerning Toon supporter knows how to assess quality players.
Here’s a few more duffers of signed and recommended players.
Krul
Shaw Debuchy
Lascelles Varane
Cabaye Matuidi
Wijnaldum Alli
Aubameyang Remy
Jail for Ashley
Jul 21, 2017 at 12:08 PM
Comment #69carl seems to think that Carr didn’t have any successes since Cabaye, however the players that we were strongly linked with but didn’t buy was ridiculous, we wouldn’t pay the money for Van Dijk because we wanted to be the club that bought the next one for the same price Celtic paid, Bony, Remy, Wayama, the list is endless of players who should have been at the toon but were deemed too expensive, although he gets heavily criticised for Riverie had we stumped up for any one of Lacazette, PEA, Remy or Bony the Egyptian slab puller wouldn’t be anywhere near the place.
Jail for Ashley
Jul 21, 2017 at 12:10 PM
Comment #70Our Toon,
The stats don’t lie, we were better with Gayle as the main striker.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jul 21, 2017 at 12:13 PM
Comment #71Senor Tuff…the people needs a scapegoat…one person to pin it all on!
…that’s nothing new on here
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 21, 2017 at 12:16 PM
Comment #72testing
AncientC
Jul 21, 2017 at 12:16 PM
Comment #73You could add Zouma to Carr’s list, I had forgotten about Van Dijk, but now that his name is mentioned, it reminds me that Wanyama was another one that Carr was tracking – now being linked to Man Utd for silly money.
As it stands, the club hasn’t had a net spend on players during Ashley’s entire time at the club. How can you run a PL club without having an actual spend on players ?
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 21, 2017 at 12:17 PM
Comment #74Sorry about that, didn’t look as if I was able to log in.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 21, 2017 at 12:18 PM
Comment #75Mr Tuff
Comment 68
Yeah we dodged a few bullets there. 🙂
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 21, 2017 at 12:20 PM
Comment #76That would have been a Real Madrid type team.
RUNAWAY777
Jul 21, 2017 at 12:23 PM
Comment #77Toontaff2 hope you clear that airport for me coming back where these signing bro
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 21, 2017 at 12:27 PM
Comment #78Although under Pardew and McC!!!!!!
kc2012
Jul 21, 2017 at 12:31 PM
Comment #791949
Toney has scored 24 goals in 104 games….in lower league football (nowhere near the level of French Ligue 1).
Rolan has scored 37 in the same amount of games in the French top flight (which is still poor).
He isnt who i’d go for at all because he isnt that good and i’m not saying he is but to say Toney is better than him is just silly. Bordeaux are an average side in France now, if he was at a side like Monaco he would score alot more goals but would he cut it in the Prem, Maybe not but neither would Toney. Toney should be bagging for fun in the lower leagues but unfortunately he hasnt done has he.
Mister Tuff
Jul 21, 2017 at 12:46 PM
Comment #80It would be interesting if old man Carr wrote a book about his football scouting (presuming there is no confidentiality clause connected to his retiring – big presumption I know) and in which he describes exactly what happened at his meetings with the hierarchy and who exactly were knocked back and why.
I think penny pinching would be involved somehow.
Wonder when a couple of mega signings are going to get signed up – as others have stated the kitty is not bare yet.