Danny Ings was one of our top striker targets this month but news today that Liverpool manager wants to keep the striker at Liverpool and says that Danny will get some playing time through the end of the season.
It seems like Ings also wants to stay at the Reds to try to get into the first team and show the Liverpool manager what he can do for the side.
So that’s one player we will not get on loan in January.
Our other top striker target is Leicester City striker Islam Slimani, but Watford coach Marco Silva also wants him at the Hornets.
Silva could provide an advantage for Watford over Newcastle in his bid to sign the big Algerian striker.
Danny Ings – staying at Liverpool this season
Slimani played for Marco Silva when he managed Sporting Lisbon for one season from 2014 to 2015.
In that season Sporting finished 3rd in the Championship, and also won the Taca de Portugal by beating S.C. Braga 3–1 on penalties after a 2–2 draw in the final.
In that season Slimani scored 15 goals in 33 games for Sporting Lisbon.
It could be that Silva even signs Slimani on a permanent deal which is what Leicester want.
Who would have thought smaller clubs like Watford, West Brom, Stoke, Bournemouth, Swansea, Crystal Palace and others would have more financial clout than Newcastle?
It’s currently a sad state of affairs.
But on the positive side of things – come the summer and if we remain in the Premier League and Amanda Staveley finally buys the club – then things will definitely be looking up at Newcastle.
That’s the hope at Newcastle.
Comments welcome.
135 comments so far
Our Toon
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:02 AM
Comment #41On Armstrong, yes he was probably misused on loan. As a youngster you need to show kind of quality even if played out of position. Maitland Niles is playing left wing back for arsenal and he’s shown real quality for a youngster. Especially when you consider hes an attacking player rather than a full back. Armstrong had a good stint with Coventry and then got found out. Hasn’t been able to replicate that form since
Our Toon
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:08 AM
Comment #42I’d take Slimani or batshuayi, I would avoid ings and Sturridge though. Sturridge is a spent force who’s movement is very limited now. We would literally habe to put it on a plate for him to score. Almost every game he’s played in has resulted in some sort of injury which means he misses the next game with a tight hamstring or groin.
Ings, yes 2 years ago I’d have probably taken him. Since blowing both knees I find it difficult to see what value he could add other than another edition on the treatment table.
lochinvar
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:09 AM
Comment #43From earlier:
Seems curious that just as the transfer window starts a host of targets suddenly seem to be less available.
Luke Shaw has “found his form”, Kennedy is of interest in Russia, Barkley who was wanted by West Ham is now of interest to guess who – Chelsea as is Andy Carroll !
Nothing like driving up prices and protecting your own interests by restricting availability of the better payers to clubs outside the top six.
You’d be tempted to think there was a cartel operating, dictating who is allowed to move where when.
Obviously not if you’re a right minded citizen but it will be interesting to see who ends up at which club.
Ok so now we hear that Barkley has gone to Chelsea probably to enable them to fulfill their quota of English players . What Country are we in ?
The Carroll to Chelsea story is bubbling along.
Ings to stay at Liverpool.
And we’re linked with an unknown 21 year old kid and the return of Armstrong.
Just hope that Amanda has put Ashley on “Garden Leave” and that she’s preparing a bod for Jamie Vardy and De Brune.
expatmag
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:10 AM
Comment #44Welcome back Hibbitt
Spill the beanz then
expatmag
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:13 AM
Comment #45Wish list for me
Mata
Tierney
Schurle
Dost
lesh
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:14 AM
Comment #46I reckon Ed’s paid Hibbit to come back to increase the blog’s hit rate!
check the toastie
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:15 AM
Comment #47Hibbit – spill the beans or we meet at the Denton at twelve for a straightener.
Our Toon
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:18 AM
Comment #48Loch
Didn’t Barkley travel to Chelsea at the end of the last window only to do a uturn himself? I’m sure he wanted spurs instead of Chelsea.
The other thing to consider is teams will look at players that aren’t ineligible for European competitions as part of thought process for this window
Frank pingles come sock
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:19 AM
Comment #49I am in the Denton now (nude from the socks up)
expatmag
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:20 AM
Comment #50The mind boggles Frank. Not a pretty sight, one would think……..lol
check the toastie
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:21 AM
Comment #51Ross Barclays career is over if he goes to Chelsea, will rot on the bench and go off the rails in respect of fitness. Another loss to the National Team due to Chelsea and Man City ruining young English players. All about the money.
Jib
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:22 AM
Comment #52Frank
expatmag
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:23 AM
Comment #53CHECK
Absolutely spot on.
clinath@ed
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:26 AM
Comment #54Flippin’ heck Frank, is that you ffs……I thought you’d be bigger 😉
Bobbybee
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:28 AM
Comment #55Geremi’s plf, I’ve noticed how fans who actually watched Arma play all rave about him. Strange innit? 🙂
As a matter of interest, did anybody notice how the PL’s U21 teams all struggled against first and second division teams in that Mickey Mouse Cup? Even City and Chelsea. There’s a reason for that. It’s not quantum computing 🙂
We need Arma playing up front in a team that utilises his assets. Barnsley didn’t and Bolton played him out wide – which went against the terms of the loan agreement, which is why, despite them desperate to keep him, we brought him home.
Most players have a preferred position. Despite this, Arma played well enough on the wing for Bolton for them to Tey and keep him.
I understand that clubs need to give their own strikers preference, that’s fine, but Madine – their striker – was quoted in an article raving about Arma’s finishing in training. This shows he still has it – which is no surprise to those of us who’ve watched him.
He’s 20. ‘He’s only scored three goals from the wing’. Mmm, so have Joselu and Gayle from the striking position.
Still, all about opinions. I’d rather he came home and learned under Rafa than played on the wing, but if they find him a club where he can use his god given skills, then go for it. Loans are all about development and playing him out wide isn’t developing him as a striker.
Geremi’s plf is bang on though, Merino and Shelvey would bring the best out of him. Running the channels is where he excels.
Frank pingles come sock
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:30 AM
Comment #56Haha, nice one Jib
Hurry up hibbit …….its -1c and it’s starting to invert
Moonraker15
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:33 AM
Comment #57The silence in the NUFC arena I’d deafening, depressing and really pathetic.
Why no interim statement re the club sale, transfers or indeed any news officially from the club.
If the sale is going through, Ashley is doing it in style – his style and it’s a disgrace when that stadium is full for every home match!
Moonraker15
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:34 AM
Comment #58*is (freakin predictive text)
barkel
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:34 AM
Comment #59Would love to see Arma and Woody staying with us and getting a chance with us in the second half of the season, cup games would be ideal for those two especially if we can play a strong side around them.
SPRINGY
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:36 AM
Comment #60Bobbybee
Like i said the other day our strikers are hardly pulling up trees so why not keep here and give this lad a chance if we dont get a couple of strikers in…maybe even if we get a few in and lose mitro…and i think ya ryt if we were to see the best of him i think players like merino and shelvey are likely to see the pass….im not pinning my hopes on the lad,just think he deserves a chance as our strikers are not much betta at the moment tbh.
lesh
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:40 AM
Comment #61Moonraker15
As I said the other day, Ashley’s showing his psychopathic behaviours yet again.
He must be front runner for being the worst owner the clubs had in it’s 125 year history and among the worst owner any club’s had.
Lindisfarne
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:43 AM
Comment #62Tierry Henry started out on the left wing when he first started at Arsenal, I imagine as I am an Armchair Coach/fan, it helps develop a players ability to get past a man and anticipate where a ball will be played into the box. I imagine as I have only seen Armstrong playing on the telly in the first team, that he needs quick service to feet in the central channel and he is just as likely to develop here as anywhere else. If he played in the FA cup games and banged a few in, then the team is more likely to progress as well, plus playing in the U23s would potentially lift them.
lesh
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:45 AM
Comment #63Hibbit, Shire
You’ve thrown the pebble into the pond and now you’re sitting watching the ripples. To paraphrase Del Boy, you gits!
🙂
Tsunki
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:45 AM
Comment #64My word could we do any worse than give any other striker a ho right now?
I do seem to recall Armstrong taking a ball long on the right wing then doing the defender with an outrageous turn before scoring. That was back when I had some hope 🙁
Would he be the only striker on our books who could actually take shelveys Hollywood passes? Hmmmmmmmmm.
Lindisfarne
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:46 AM
Comment #65Jamie@jovington21
3m3 minutes ago
More
Hello @SkyBet can I get a price for Mike Ashley returning from holiday in time to give Rafa some transfer funds before deadline day please? ???
Tsunki
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:46 AM
Comment #66Anyhoo if he came back to spend his days in the u-23 wasteland he’s as good as doomed.
Sultan of Broonale
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:47 AM
Comment #67Please tell me this wasted decade of mismanagement is coming to a close.
There’s so much latent positive energy around the club that I’ll think we’ll take off once we are unshackled from that Sports Direct parasite.
expatmag
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:49 AM
Comment #68Ts7nki
Off to Blackburn apparently
Bobbybee
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:49 AM
Comment #69Springy, too right mate. His finishing is second to none and I remember him playing with De Jong in the U23 team and De Jong picking his runs out time after time. I know for a fact that given the chances Joselu has missed, Arma would’ve put them away.
It would be a last resort to pin your hopes on an untried kid mate, but right now, I’d risk it if Ashley refuses to spend.
Ha! Refuses to spend? He won’t even tell Rafa how much he can spend. If any.
Even if Rafa sells players, he needs guarantees he can use that money to replace them or we end up in a worse situation. What a way to run any business, let alone a football club.
Frank pingles come sock
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:50 AM
Comment #70Tick tock tick tock
Has anyone seen my inverted ….
expatmag
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:52 AM
Comment #71FRANK
Watch out mate, he is right behind you
Grafton83
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:53 AM
Comment #72Hibbit are we expecting news on Saturday then?
lesh
Jan 5, 2018 at 10:56 AM
Comment #73The Maybot’s just been in the radio urging the Geordie nation to log off the blog and get back to work before they, incited by Hibbit and Shire, are held responsible for crashing the economy!
lesh
Jan 5, 2018 at 11:00 AM
Comment #74* The Maybot’s just been on the radio
Bobbybee
Jan 5, 2018 at 11:01 AM
Comment #75Tsunki, I think he could mate. He’s got blistering pace over twenty yards and that’s enough to leave defenders and take the chance. If we can bring in experience on loan then yes, go for experience. We need experience in the team, it’s lacking badly. If not, can he do any worse than Joselu and Gayle? Joselu can’t score and Gayle can’t control a ball. He traps it like a wall.
I’m not saying he’s the answer, but given current options I’d definitely give him a go.. Rafa said it was unfair to rely on a kid and he’s right, it is, but if we fail to bring in any decent experience I don’t think he’d let us down. Ditto Woody in goal. Sometimes sink or swim makes a player. Sometimes it destroys one. But with Shelvey and Merino picking him out, I know he’d score.
I’d say I can feel it in my bones, but that might just be the osteoporosis!! 🙂
posada
Jan 5, 2018 at 11:03 AM
Comment #76Bobby
I’ve only seen bits of Arma on TV.
He’s not a tall lad, so playing the lone striker role would be difficult. The game is all about styles of play and how you fit in. Also, who is picked to play alongside you.
What would be the best set up to get the best out of Arma.
Also, how quick is he relative to say Gayle.
expatmag
Jan 5, 2018 at 11:06 AM
Comment #77Armstrong will get nowhere near the senior starting line up under Rafa and other than a reasonable season at Coventry in league 1 which is probably his standard, he has failed to impress as an out and out striker elsewhere.
I see him being released at the end of the season.
Tsunki
Jan 5, 2018 at 11:15 AM
Comment #78Thing is I have had my doubts about Armstrong’s but as this season has gone on and we have witnessed the calamitous striker options we have, before you go and sell anyone with even the potential to beat joselu or Gayle’s strike rate you could at least shove him onto the pitch in a decent side against Luton and see how he goes.
I get that he’s been lined up to play for Blackburn but we might see the transfer window shenanigans change all that. If Mitro goes and the prospect of an injury to our other two tips of the spear ha ha who would we have? Perez?
expatmag
Jan 5, 2018 at 11:17 AM
Comment #79Tsunki
Mitro wont go unless someone is brought in. Armstrong isnt the answer, especially in our current predicament
Toondog2
Jan 5, 2018 at 11:17 AM
Comment #80It will be very” interesting to see if we sign anybody at all . The words we couldn’t get them over the line ” comes to mind yet again.
You do wonder sometimes why Rafa stays, he does an amazing job with very limited funds How much has Everton spent in the last and current transfer windows . Why can’t we even attempt to compete.
The so called imminent change of ownerships reminds me of” Bunters Postal Order” for those of us old enough to remember Bunter and the time when we had some great teams (KK days, SBR days )