It must be another transfer window because we have news that Newcastle United are interested in signing Andy Carroll again, and the Gateshead striker himself presumably is keen to return to his home town club where he played 91 times with 33 goals, for the Magpies before we sold him to Liverpool for £35M on 31st January, 2011 – maybe the best deal Newcastle have done in the transfer market under Mike Ashley.
Andy Carroll – while at Newcastle
Since that time Andy has been struggling with a lot of different injuries, and in the four and a half years since he left Newcastle he’s played a total of 112 games with 25 goals, so in each season he has averaged just 25 appearances with around 5 goals every season – not much more than about half a season on average.
That is not much production coming from a player who has four years left on his West Ham contract, and is supposed to be on £100K/week.
This season Andy played just 14 times with 5 goals, and although nowadays he would only cost around £10M, his wages would still be high even though reports say he is willing to take a wage cut to return to Newcastle.
In the past, a lot of these stories have simply been made up on Andy coming back to Newcastle, with not many real facts behind them.
However, West Ham would probably be willing to get Andy of the wage bill because of his high wages, especially if the new manager at West Ham is like Brendan Rodgers, and wants to play football with the ball on the ground.
Newcastle have gone through a season where we have probably had more injuries than in any other season in recent times, so surely the last player we would want to sign is one who is injury prone – even if he’s a local lad.
It doesn’t make too much sense to bring Andy Carroll back to Newcastle over the summer, and we’d be very surprised if that happens.
If Andy does come back, it may be a move by upper management to try to placate the fans, who are furious the way the club is being run at the moment.
And it comes after a season when we just avoided relegation on the very last day of the season, because we were cheap in almost every way in January.
Newcastle earned around £12M back in January by selling some players and our manager even through our squad was already threadbare.
Newcastle brought no players in, and then went with the cheapest option – John Carver – to coach the side through the end of the season.
And we almost paid for that cheapness and complete lack of initiative by being relegated and losing around £80M in Premier League funds.
It was a study in incompetence on many levels at the club.
It’s got to be long odds that Andy would return to Newcastle – ever.
Comments welcome.
33 comments so far
Ibizatoon
May 31, 2015 at 2:31 PM
Comment #1Anyone have a gun handy?
Our Toon
May 31, 2015 at 2:31 PM
Comment #2Why are most excited by Viera?
Class player who had a bit of temper and would lash out. We aren’t signing him to play he’s going to become head coach with exactly zero qualifications or past history which indicates he can do the role….just like Carver who is also a good coach apparently, this is a massive gamble.
BandB
May 31, 2015 at 2:34 PM
Comment #3Our Toon,
I think it is fear of McClaren.
Or what happens if McClaren says no again.
Our heir presumptive if that happens is still John Carver.
Graeme
May 31, 2015 at 2:35 PM
Comment #4Carroll – yes, it must be the silly season again. Why would you want him? He’s a permacrock and we have enough of them already.
Its just no longer funny.
ToonFromLeeds
May 31, 2015 at 2:35 PM
Comment #5Palace are gonna bid £10 mil for cabaye don’t make me laugh!!!
Jail for Ashley
May 31, 2015 at 2:36 PM
Comment #6Bambams,
The club haven’t announced Carver will be staying on as assistant manager /coach whatever because they are no further forward in finding a candidate to work under their ridiculous template than they were in January.
Jail for Ashley
May 31, 2015 at 2:36 PM
Comment #7TFL,
Why not !
ToonFromLeeds
May 31, 2015 at 2:38 PM
Comment #8I can’t see Cabs playing for palace in a million years
Jail for Ashley
May 31, 2015 at 2:38 PM
Comment #9TFL,
Yes, shock horror clubs with an extra 70M in TV money might just pay 10M pounds for a player. PSG with an infinite cash source might just take a 7M pound loss on an unhappy player.
Graeme
May 31, 2015 at 2:39 PM
Comment #10BandB @ 3 – absolutely spot on. IF we are indeed looking to improve then why would anyone want a Pardew Mk2 in McLaren or, God forbid our resident idiot, Honest John?
If the 3 candidates are those two above plus Vieira, then its pretty much a no-brainer for Patrick.
HWTF
Thump
May 31, 2015 at 2:41 PM
Comment #11I was talking to my mate about the ‘head coach’ position last night after the Vieira thing broke. He was quite enthusiastic about it, but my response was “what’s he done to deserve it? Why hasn’t he started in the lower leagues if he was serious about management? And why do the best players seem to make shite managers?” Anyway, we got chatting on that for a while and I realised something:
Is McClaren the best manager who is interested, or is Vieira the one we can afford?
Exactly what is the footballing world saying about us? Surely there has to be a manager out there who is prepared to take us on, because I seriously doubt any of the top 3 candidates are the ones to take us forward (this goes doubly so for number 3 on that list…).
lesh
May 31, 2015 at 2:41 PM
Comment #12Ibiza
Who’s the gun for?
You? Ashley? Charnley? Carver?
If it’s the last three, can I suggest we all chip in and give them a well-deserved holiday.
Syria and or Iraq are supposed to be nice at this time of year!
Magpie Season
May 31, 2015 at 2:44 PM
Comment #13Viera discussion still going on I see.
I really do think it won’t be him, or any other foreigner. Ashley will go British. That leaves:
1. Mclaren
2. JC
3. Paul Clement
(based on media leaks).
BandB
May 31, 2015 at 2:45 PM
Comment #14Graeme
I think a lot of people will see McClaren as the closest living equivalent to Pardew, and I have no doubt at all that the club sees him as the perfect man to fill Pardew’s shoes on the truly important issues…i.e, selling the fans a pup.
HWTF
Sir Braveheart
May 31, 2015 at 2:46 PM
Comment #15@Our Toon
I’m excited by Viera because he isn’t Carver.
Right now I’d take the man on the front of the Pringles tubs ahead of Carver, so any news that anyone is odds on for the job ahead of Carver makes me happy.
welshgeordie9
May 31, 2015 at 2:47 PM
Comment #16Bring back big Andy also
Parker
Nolan
Dyer
Emre
Bowyer
Woodgate
Martins
Bramble (no forget that one)
Bellamy
That would be a good start.
cyprus
May 31, 2015 at 2:47 PM
Comment #17Carroll? Yes, top player, and a Geordie to boot. Put something about actually playing though in his contract. Don’t want another SDJ or Owen.
lesh
May 31, 2015 at 2:48 PM
Comment #18Thump
We’re probably down to a short-list of three – McClaren, Viera and Carver.
Any credible coach that’s been approached (now that is wishful thinking!) will have turned us down. Especially when they’re told they’d be expected to have Carver as Assistant.
These daft gits appear to be happy to run the risk of another relegation all fir the sake of keeping Carver and his ilk at the Club.
I’d be cheaper to give them a good pay-off but oh no, Newcastle don’t do common sense do they.
welshgeordie9
May 31, 2015 at 2:48 PM
Comment #19I forgot shearer
Ha ha ha
How could I forget him.
Thump
May 31, 2015 at 2:49 PM
Comment #20@Magpie Season: Clement is off to Derby, mate. That leaves us with the first two… Bobby help us all.
cyprus
May 31, 2015 at 2:49 PM
Comment #21Viera can probably head butt better than AP. Take him!
Magpie Season
May 31, 2015 at 2:50 PM
Comment #22Also think since Charnley is in charge of this, he will prioritize someone who will work with the current backroom staff. So as to minimise/avoid further expenses.
So I think whoever is manager, backroom staff will stay. Letting Remi Streete leave, won’t be suprised if Willie Donachie is employed again…on a reduced wage.
armchair fan
May 31, 2015 at 2:51 PM
Comment #23Welsh
You want Dyer and Bowyer back?
lesh
May 31, 2015 at 2:51 PM
Comment #24Cyprus
Andy Carroll’s a Geordie, bleeds black and white, loves the Club and has worked under some great managers.
Oh, chit, now where have I heard the like before?
welshgeordie9
May 31, 2015 at 2:54 PM
Comment #25armchair fan
I would have them back.
Thump
May 31, 2015 at 2:55 PM
Comment #26@lesh: That’s the thing, though. Generally if you ask for applications, you’ll end up with managers with little experience (as Keegan said “I’ve never had to apply for a job in my life”) and a lot of enthusiasm. If you approach managers then you might just end up with your man. I honestly think McClaren and Garde were the only ones we approached.
Magpie Season
May 31, 2015 at 2:56 PM
Comment #27Thump,
Eh, just saw that. Not looking good is it.
Uri Gellers Magic Mind
May 31, 2015 at 3:00 PM
Comment #28Would I have AC back? Yes absolutely the guy would give everything for us and you could probably get him for £7 million ever since he left he’s been desperate to get back. I’d offload Cisse and have the big man back.
As for head coach Vieira what a dream that would be. Schteve is a top class coach but his methods are dated and rigid now and he’s turned us down twice it’s embarrassing to think that just because he’s now been sacked that he’s open to the job. Err do one Schteve you either want to be here or you don’t.
On coaches John ‘The Concrete’ Carver has to be taken out of the coaching side all together. I’d have him running the NUFC Foundation or something – where he goes and coaches school kids at half term or something. Steve Stone offers nothing, Andy Woodman likewise but I hear good things about Dave Watson.
Sad truth – as long as Lee Charnley is MD it will always be the safe choice. He should have been sacked on Sunday evening for gross mismanagement in any other business he’s be away.
#prayforpatrick
Magpie Season
May 31, 2015 at 3:01 PM
Comment #29lesh,
Mate, then who would honestly come here if JC would have to remain assistant? Why would you want to work with someone that you know wanted your job & still wants it, thinking he is better than you at it also (“best coach”).
armchair fan
May 31, 2015 at 3:04 PM
Comment #30Welsh
Then we may need a wrestling referee
cyprus
May 31, 2015 at 3:05 PM
Comment #31MS
Most people below their managers feel exactly the way you describe 😉
Though I know what you mean.
JP...from The Rock
May 31, 2015 at 3:11 PM
Comment #32Zzzzzzzzzzzz…so fed up of this injury prone twats name to be mentioned in every single transfer window since he left.
Sav
May 31, 2015 at 4:10 PM
Comment #33Placate??
It was the only good bit of business Ashley did in 5 years.