With the collapse of the Modibo Maiga signing last week, news today in the Newcastle Journal that the club may not sign a striker in January after all.
Modibo Maiga – deal fell through because of concerns about his knee
The number one priority in January has shifted to bringing in a top class center-back.
Newcastle were embarrassed at Norwich ten days ago, by not being able to field any recognized center-backs in that game, and Danny Simpson and James Perch were drafted in to do the job.
But it was asking a lot of two players who are not center backs to play against an attack who are good in the air, and Newcastle lost 4-2 in a game they would have been expected to at least draw, with their best side playing.
Demba Ba has done very well in the striker role, with an impressive 11 goals in 17 appearances for the side, and Newcastle also have Shola Ameobi, Leon Best, Peter Lovenkrands and Ben Arfa who can play in the striker role.
It is looking like Lovenkrands will leave the club when his contract runs out in the summer, but he will not be allowed to leave before that.
And Alan Pardew is also trying to delay the departure to the African Cup of Nations, of Demba Ba and Cheick Tiote until January 15th, for a tournament that starts one week later.
In general the African National teams want their players in camp at the beginning of January, but Man City have already been successful in getting the departure of the Toure brothers – YaYa and Colo – delayed until mid-January when they will join up with the Ivory Coast squad.
It’s hardly convenient that the African Cup of Nations takes place every two years, right in the middle of the European football season, but that’s because they have to play the tournament when the temperatures are at their lowest in early January.
But why is it every two years and not four years like the European tournament?
Newcastle’s transfer targets for striker drawn up last summer had included Maiga, Pape Cisse, Moussa Sow and Luuk de Jong, but it seems striker is not now a priority for January, and it’s also more difficult to sign players in January.
And it’s usual that whoever comes in during the January transfer window, has a hard time of things to adjust to playing in the new team, and it’s best, whenever possible, to bring the new players in during the early summer.
However, this news may upset some Newcastle fans, and it certainly doesn’t seem like there will be many signings in January, and possibly only one – a center-back.
So bang goes our theory that Mike Ashley might want to strengthen the squad with say three players, to help Alan Pardew and the lads finish in the top seven this season, and likely get into Europe for next season. There’s big bucks there if Newcastle can qualify for Europe.
Newcastle were linked yesterday with 23 year-old Brazilian center-back Douglas, who stands 6’4″ tall and plays for FC Twente, and he would make an excellent signing, although many clubs are in for him.
His contract runs out next June, and he would be able to be signed at a reasonable price, and of course he will become a free agent in the summer.
Douglas is said to be an old fashioned center-back who is very good in the tackle, and outstanding in the air.
Sounds good to us. 😀
The Journal is reporting that it’s not an absolute certainty that no striker signing will be made in January, but remember this striker was supposed to be the Andy Carroll replacement, but it’s certainly not the priority position now.
Comments welcome.
43 comments so far
alip123
Dec 20, 2011 at 9:30 AM
Comment #1We’ve got the Andy Carroll money. Surely we will be able to buy at least 2 or 3 players?
Dannyo
Dec 20, 2011 at 9:35 AM
Comment #2If we do not sign a striker in January, i can promise u there will be upheavel like never before. And rightly so, cause this is so profoundly unproffesional, that i will not even remotely try to defend it. We MUST have a striker in January, we will struggle with goals through Shola, Loven and Best. All of whom already have been injured this season, the only one fit is the lad with the supposedly dodgy knee.
We HAVE to have that striker, there’s just nothin more to say on the matter.
dawid182
Dec 20, 2011 at 9:37 AM
Comment #3hahaha, is this just a joke, right?
geordiesteve520
Dec 20, 2011 at 9:39 AM
Comment #4To be honest I have been expecting this news; as soon as it was announced that there was money for a CB, something was going to give. I just hope that this is not right and we can get someone in as without Ba we’re going to struggle, even against those ‘smaller and weaker’ teams we’re supposedly playing.
geordiejohn42
Dec 20, 2011 at 9:44 AM
Comment #5This is beyond a joke this one minute we’ll buying a striker in January the next minute it’ll be in the summer take it from me lads… Mike Ashley WON’T spend a penny in January believe me there’s too many lies coming from this man’s gob we need a striker desperately as Ba is off to the ANC…where’s the 35m we got from AC. Alan please stand up to the fat controlling buffoon and say we need a one Best, Sh Amoebi and McLoven are not the answer at all without Ba we’ll struggle to score goals. I’ll also say this Tiote will be on his way in Jan and Colo and Krul will be next if big offers come in on the LAST DAY of the window with no time for a replacement we’re a feeder club to other big clubs and that’s very sad we suppose to be a massive club but I’m afraid Ashley is treating us like a Sports Direct club buy cheap sell on a profit… I love the Toon always have faith in the team and NOR FOR THIS REGIME
stuart no9
Dec 20, 2011 at 9:48 AM
Comment #6well, surprise,surprise, happy xmas, and an exciting new year too you all.
Lew Davies
Dec 20, 2011 at 9:48 AM
Comment #7we can always utilise Smith as a temp striker if necessary. lol
cant be any worse than what we have and a midfielder/defender he aint.
Ian Magpie
Dec 20, 2011 at 9:48 AM
Comment #8Its happening again lads! G
geoff777
Dec 20, 2011 at 9:49 AM
Comment #9When you look at Ba and then compare to Best, Shola & Lovenkrands … we need another quality striker.
Without Ba our attack is very ordinary.
Dannyo
Dec 20, 2011 at 9:51 AM
Comment #10Hopefully we’re reading too much between the lines here, there has been no quotes and it’s the same guy writing for the journal who writes for the sun.
Time will tell, but this is a more and more heated debate, not good, for anyone.
Indian Magpie
Dec 20, 2011 at 9:51 AM
Comment #11There are no strikers that will come free in january, freebies are generally available in the summer months
roshan MAGPIE
Dec 20, 2011 at 9:52 AM
Comment #12i think the next news will be that we dont have enough money to buy a defender so we have to sell Tiote ha i bet this will happen
WWJBD
Dec 20, 2011 at 9:52 AM
Comment #13Come on if u didn’t see this coming u were kidding urselfs haha as soon as Saylor was out for the season that was our ST search done imo
But tbf our weakest area is our defence in the first team we have 3 CBs and 3ish FBs (Raylor is a RM to me)
Its another kick in the teeth but its a one I expected to come
Indian Magpie
Dec 20, 2011 at 9:53 AM
Comment #14Bring back Power Ranger
geordiejohn42
Dec 20, 2011 at 9:53 AM
Comment #15Ian Magpie… you know what mate I’m like you seething there’s something isn’t right here .. do you think Maiga really failed his medical bcos of his knee? Yeah right Ashley tried to do a cut-price deal to Sochaux they said now is agent said there’s nowt wrong with it … looks like Ashley is lying once again I really do fear about this window
Ben3arfa
Dec 20, 2011 at 9:55 AM
Comment #16Rubbish Board , Rubbish Chairman, Rubbish Owner ..
stuart no9
Dec 20, 2011 at 9:55 AM
Comment #17dannyo @2 there will be no upheavel because we as fans dont do anything like that for fear of being labeled a troublemaker Ash can do what he wants because nufc fans havnt got the bottle to to anything about it. W e will just take it and moan about it when we get relegated again.
roshan MAGPIE
Dec 20, 2011 at 9:56 AM
Comment #18without ba we dont have an attack we totally depend on one striker to score goals just like west ham
Lew Davies
Dec 20, 2011 at 9:58 AM
Comment #19and here come the doom and gloom merchants again. Yay!!!
ffs why are you all so surprised. Chill out and go with the flow. What will be will be. You should be getting used to it by now.
Same shit different day.
Of course we are going to sell a player or two in january, how else do you think the club will stay afloat???
January transfer market is always very expensive, we cant possibly hope to compete against other clubs.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Finishing as high as 7th wasn’t the plan either, Pardew needs his wings clipped again. The very cheek of the man. Does he “need reminding how nasty we can be?”
ballerfan2
Dec 20, 2011 at 10:00 AM
Comment #20Ed – I have noticed recently that you are increasingly putting a negative slant on any news that comes out of the club, fuelling the opinions of those who are unable to see anything good about our current situation. Saying that signing a striker is not a priority is very different from “the club may not sign a striker in January after all”. I think that it is important to get the right player for our club than to indulge in a panic signing to fill a hole and appease fans. January has a history of bad transfers while a club is under pressure (Carroll anyone?). If the striker that Carr has identified is available then I’m sure that every effort will be made to bring him in, otherwise we may have to wait.
GeordieDan
Dec 20, 2011 at 10:03 AM
Comment #21Best wishes Ed.
Monumental effort getting through all that treatment. Keep fighting!
Merry Xmas matey!
shear-class
Dec 20, 2011 at 10:08 AM
Comment #22The Journal story has no foundation whats the panic ,i would rather find out maiga has a dodgy knee now then sign him and he be crocked,his agent certainly isnt going to come out and say his knee is buggered or bye bye goes his big payday
stuart no9
Dec 20, 2011 at 10:15 AM
Comment #23Lew @ 19 ” does he need reminding how nasty we can be” explain that one coz when was the last time we were nasty?
wynsleap
Dec 20, 2011 at 10:17 AM
Comment #24The Maiga deal ‘turn-down’ absolutely stinks.
Once again Ashley seems about to show that he has NO interest whatsoever in progressing this club.
And no Ed, I totally disagree that “we have got Shola, Best and Lovenkrands who can play in the striker role”.
None of them are any good and are certainly not top ten Premiership quality.
Ask yourself – would any of the teams above us play them in THEIR first team?
We NEED a top striker and we NEED a top class central defender.
If we don’t get BOTH in January it will be an absolute disgrace but no doubt all the ‘Ash boys’ will be on here making excuses for him. Sorry but there are NO excuses.
Lew Davies
Dec 20, 2011 at 10:23 AM
Comment #25stu – “we” being Llambs arse and fat twat.
It was a quote from dekka mate.
Just taking the p like.
I agree that we as fans just take whatever they do at board level and get on with it. We piss and moan but thats about it. Just look at the name change malarky.
They can do what they want now and get away with it.
I dont think we will get relegated tho
Lew Davies
Dec 20, 2011 at 10:27 AM
Comment #26I think the maiga deal fell thru long before the “medical” but it suited the owner to string it along for a few months before pulling the plug.
Anyhow I never rated him from the first time we were linked with him.
He should never have gone public on the deal anyway. Ashley doesn’t like that.
We may be in for a surprise come jan, you never know with this lot.
stuart no9
Dec 20, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Comment #27lew , apologies mate,,, i got the wrong end of the stick. totally agree lol
martoon
Dec 20, 2011 at 10:41 AM
Comment #28This is just a story to sell newspapers. Lets wait and see what happens in the January transfer window. If at the end we have not bought a new striker and centre back then you have every right to slag off the regime.
markmac
Dec 20, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Comment #29I think getting in a decent CB and keeping hold of everyone including tiote will be a good window for us, no point rushing into buying a striker now maiga isnt coming, ben arfa will play behind best or shola in jan anyway im guessing
GeordieAnt
Dec 20, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Comment #30Hey Hey….guys chill out. It hasn’t said for definite that we aint signing a striker. Just says might….lets not all turn into doom mongers and start talking about kicking off. Jesus Christ, I knew as soon as we stopped winning games every single bit of news that said something people didn’t like, they’d start talking about kicking off, and bitching about Mike Ashley. Just wait until February 1st and see if we sign a striker…then lets start complaining
Troleibusiukas_LTU
Dec 20, 2011 at 11:21 AM
Comment #31We will buy a defender and a striker, and we will get Maiga and new LB in the summer.
or we will get only CB in Jan. And will buy two strikers and onother CB, LB in the summer+ Travenier in the fort team.
I would be happy to wait for a good two strikers till the summer. (Jr. Hoilet, Giroud, De Jong, Maiga, Hooper two of them.)
stuart no9
Dec 20, 2011 at 11:54 AM
Comment #32trol @31 why wait for strikers, why not now? what if ba gets injured , what then?
jimmymagpie
Dec 20, 2011 at 12:01 PM
Comment #33Anybody who was at the Swansea game and reckons we don’t need a pacey striker to play with Ba, should forget football and take up knitting. I know Pardew was on the continent on Sunday, but have no idea who he was watching. The latest from Benton – Lovenkrands will miss the whole Xmas programme and beyond with a calf injury.
Rowan Milsted
Dec 20, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Comment #34For me a CB and striker are the priorities in Jan, anything else is a bonus as we may not even bring in two players. A LB would be nice but being realistic I’d be happy with the two. And, of course, no more departures, particularly of the likes of Tiote. The board justified the stadium rebranding because it was preferable to selling our best players to generate income. If we go and do both I’ll be irked, to put it mildly.
toonbrother
Dec 20, 2011 at 12:34 PM
Comment #35He’s not good enough. Why keep stringing him along instead of giving him the bad news like men
t1noaspr1lla
Dec 20, 2011 at 12:40 PM
Comment #36Guys, It pains me to say this as I love the toon but some of you are so dissolusioned!! I agree that we need 2 Centre halfs but as for a striker – I think we could do with one but if it means waiting until the summer to get a better deal so be it! Have you all forgotten about Ben Arfa????, Whilst Ba is gone PArdew will move Ben Arfa to the number 10 role (where Ba is having so much success) and play a big man Shola/Best up top. I am no massive fan of Shola or Best but they will score goals and with Ben Arfa’s craft it will be the perfect balance. Why are you soooo keen for another multi million pound investment that we don’t need? what happens when BA comes back – we will have spent millions of pounds to sit on the bench. Why always so negative to the man who has actually done our club a good turn, got us on a sound financial footing and actually what everybody says are mistakes have proved to be masterstrokes i.e selling carrol for 35mill, selling barton, nolan and enrique – signing tiote, cabaye, ben arfa and santon – wake up and smell the coffee it’s about time some of you did!!!!!! and before it’s levelled at me… no I am not a SMB and no I am not an Ashley lover I can just see what he has achieved with our club although he defo should sack off Lambiarse!!!
stevep
Dec 20, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Comment #37ACN will be held in 2012 and 2013 as below,
In May 2010, it was announced that the tournament would be moved to odd-numbered years from 2013. This will mean the tournament will not take place in the same year as the World Cup. It also means there will be two tournaments within twelve months in January 2012 (co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea) and January 2013 (hosted by South Africa).
stevep
Dec 20, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Comment #38Buying an African striker will invariably mean we are going to lose him for Jan/Feb in 2012, 2013 and 2015 – not sure how thats going to help….. time to start scouting for a european striker – giroud????
LEROI
Dec 20, 2011 at 1:11 PM
Comment #39whoaah hooah purely smoke and mirrors! believe non of what the papers say & half of what can be proven! This is a deliberate leak to stop the press digging into our affairs on the secret striker front. We’ll get both a striker and a Centre Back but panic and whine if you want to!
Irie-Magpie
Dec 20, 2011 at 1:47 PM
Comment #40Gentlemen, Gentlemen, settle down i think what we’re missing here is no doubt a suitable partner for Demba but more so the fact that if we do purchase/buy a striker in January, who says that he would or will hit the ground running? not only will be out of pocket, but it’ll be you same supporters/fan saying why didn’t we wait until the summer where he would have time to gel with his team.