After the terrible second half of last season, Newcastle need to re-establish themselves in the Premier League, and there would be no better time than to have another top six season next season.
Our target in the league is the most ambitious ever under Mike Ashley – with a top eight finish as the target – and Mike even has said he wants to win something – so that has to be one of the local cups – we have no chance of winning the Premier League.
Steve McClaren – positive influence at Newcastle
In was that ten game run at the end of the season that sunk us, when we lost nine of ten games and got a draw at home to West Brom.
That really put us in an awful lot of trouble last season, and now we are trying to convince very good players to join the club this summer, and it’s not easy.
But the fact that we sign the excellent Georginio Wijnaldum last Saturday shows Newcastle still have a good name in Europe.
If we can get another four good players in this summer, there’s no reason why we cannot have a really good season next season, and things look like they are starting to look up a bit for the club.
There’s no doubt the influence of Steve McClaren is having a positive impact and the head coach again talked about our objectives in the coming season:
“The objectives are top eight and to win something and we’re here for three years.” “That’s what we want to achieve and we can sell that to players and the present squad.”
“We don’t just sit here and say: ‘Oh let’s stay in the league and fight for that’.” “We have ambitions that are loftier and cup competitions are something I like.”
“Anybody can get to the semi-final or a final if you get the luck or right draw.” “Newcastle is a club of great traditions around Europe.” “We are popular in the US of A aren’t we?”
“Or so I have heard.”
It seems the team spirit that went missing earlier this year is back at the club, and that has to be good news, because we still think some of the players who were very poor for us this year can come good again.
Moussa Sissoko is one good example, and he can have a good season coming up under McClaren.
And it seems McClaren has assembled a top team behind him, and we’ll see if the young but talented Ian Cathro can fix that defense for us – which has been hopeless the last three years.
We’ve conceded 63, 59 and 68 goals starting with last season and going back to 2013, and even in our relegation year of 2008-2009 we conceded only 59 goals.
So the stats are crying out loud that our defense has simply not been good enough for three years.
We need at least one center-back and probably two brought in this summer to help fix our problems at the back.
If we can get two in that would be great – and we may have to press for top six.
🙂
Howay The Lads!!
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
19 comments so far
scottoon
Jul 13, 2015 at 3:48 PM
Comment #1Ashley Out!
scottoon
Jul 13, 2015 at 3:49 PM
Comment #2Report from last thread…..
So out of curiousity, of all the CBs we have been linked with, who do we want on board? 1st and 2nd choice….
For me……Rudiger and Adennour.
jazzyp
Jul 13, 2015 at 3:50 PM
Comment #3As you said ED…….A top six would have shown more ambition to the fans than top 8.
jazzyp
Jul 13, 2015 at 3:52 PM
Comment #4Scottoon
Would show massive intent to bring them 2 lads to the club. can see us ending up with Veltman and N’koulou as a cheaper pairing
Ron Knee
Jul 13, 2015 at 3:54 PM
Comment #5Somebody on The Chronicle website has pointed out that the visa complications are because the UK, unlike Belgium, is outside the Schengen Zone.
JDdubai
Jul 13, 2015 at 3:57 PM
Comment #6Jazzy @3
Id rather have realistic goals than not, we only escaped relegation on the final day last season, i think top 8 and try to wina cup is a fair goal for the first season under McClaren. From there yes we need to push on to top 6 but its not going to happen over night.
Id happily take top 8 next season and try to win a cup.
scottoon
Jul 13, 2015 at 3:59 PM
Comment #7I think I would take N’Koulou over Veltman but I see Veltman as being more likely given the Dutch connections. I’m not saying the club will go after the other two, just wishing.
Toon-Prodigy
Jul 13, 2015 at 4:01 PM
Comment #8Reet am back maccy d’s in hand. Bit im off to sleep after this for work tonight.
Lads, I hope you’s arn’t thinking I don’t want ambitious players here, because I do, that’s just bollocks. I just DONT want players here who didn’t want to be here to start with. With only the basis of a good contract and the only accepted fee with the selling club the reason him being here. That dosn’t sit well with me at all. Wijnaldum wants to be here, we beat top European teams to his signature, I love that the club has went out and showed that kind of ambition and has tried and he wants to genuinely be here. The lad is smiling from ear to ear making all the right noises. That’s what it’s all about.
There is a difference from going out and getting top players who want to be here, and bringing players in or wasting time trying to get players in who never fancied coming here to begin with. You have to want to play for the club is what im saying first and foremost. Not come as a last resort. That is just my opinion.
There has been alot of noises from the father that Newcastle is not his prefered choice and they are waiting for other clubs offers.
He may be a cracking player but im wondering why he will want to come to his last resort if he is the real deal? Where are all these top clubs, top four clubs etc? Why arn’t they in for him?
If we genuinely have a choice between Mitrovic and Austin, I’d take Austin first, purely because of his performances in this league last season in a poor team. He has proven he is capable for me. His value will rise if he gets over 15 goals next season at this level, if he does it the following season we will double are money easy with him being English, not that I’d want to sell him like if he did well.
We will never get a proper english centre forward that has proved his worth in this league for 15 mil again, that’s my opinion on him potentially coming here. They should of snapped him up well before now.
I’ll drop in tonight, happy blogging lads.
toon kk
Jul 13, 2015 at 4:01 PM
Comment #9Even with money to spend it won’t be easy persuading good players to come.
Knowing the turmoil and quality of the current players we have will make it a difficult decision for any player.
Our current squad is only a small step above a championship side hardly a ambitious club.
TudorCrisps
Jul 13, 2015 at 4:02 PM
Comment #10Rudiger—Van Dijk
Bryan
Jul 13, 2015 at 4:04 PM
Comment #11In relation to the Mitrovic drawn out saga, I am a little concerned that S.Mc has stated that he only wants players who are committed and of the right character. I think Mitrovic and his family & aids are clearly dragging their heels in the hope that another club of their choice comes in. Unlike Wijnaldum, who clearly wanted to play for NUFC, Mitrovic will only sign as a last resort. I think the club has done everything in their power to persuade him to come and now is the time to turn around and say, “commit to NUFC now or we move on”.
Considering Lacazette was our number one tarot last summer, I would go in for him again. We now have the financial power to sign him unlike last summer.
scottoon
Jul 13, 2015 at 4:04 PM
Comment #12As far as goal setting goes, I don’t understand the establishment of minimums as they can act as a disincentive if the side is overachieving. I would think that a goal should be to achieve as much as is realistically possible. Also, as has been observed, talking about 8th place and qualifying for the Champions League are unreconcilable. Why not simply state that we are looking to qualify for the CL and leave it at that?
croftus5678
Jul 13, 2015 at 4:05 PM
Comment #13@2 scott
for me its;
abdennour
rudiger
matip
tbh though at the start i would have accepted micah richards but the club has led the way with the caliber of player we are currently going after that i must keep reminding myself not to be greedy.
Ron Knee
Jul 13, 2015 at 4:11 PM
Comment #14I assume the NUFC Board have heard of the Schengen Agreement!
geordie157
Jul 13, 2015 at 4:17 PM
Comment #152cbs, pref Abdennour & Rudiger
corkypants
Jul 13, 2015 at 4:22 PM
Comment #16Rudiger, adennour, Veltman, NKallou, Van Dijk, Matip but any 2 would be a vast improvement on what weve got!!!!
RooneyToons
Jul 13, 2015 at 4:33 PM
Comment #17@croftus5678
Richards is far to much of a risk with his injury record and high wages. Absolutely guaranteed to miss half the season at least and he’s nowhere near as fast as he used to be… its a shame as he could of been a massive star in the Prem and for England.
I saw an interview with him on sky sports news last week and he said his legs aren’t what they used to be and he’s only like 26-27.
As for centre backs I’m really not sure as it depends if Colos leaving… Matip, Veltman and Rudiger play like him stepping forward to intercept the ball its too risky to have 2 CBs like that so maybe N’Koulou rings true but he’s not exactly a beast.
As for Abdennour I doubt he’d come and his agent is trying his hardest to pimp him out to all the champions league teams.
I actually think Ashley Williams would make a good signing with one of the above we’re always linked with him and have definitely scouted him a lot… proven in the premiership too and maybe would like a new challenge at a bigger club
David Fraser
Jul 13, 2015 at 7:07 PM
Comment #18what about junior malanda at wolfsburg belgian dude as a cb he is tecnically a cdm but has been played for belgium at cb ahead of kompany in qualifiers and hes only 21/22
lesh
Jul 13, 2015 at 8:12 PM
Comment #19Jazzyp
Achieving eighth or better is surely an objective for McClaren?
The aim surely is to better that over time.