Redemption should be in the air this Saturday at St. James’ Park. Newcastle take on Watford in a massive six-pointer and are coming off an embarrassing defeat in the FA Cup’s third round.
Newcastle peppered the Cambridge goal in the first half but couldn’t breach their keeper Dimitar Mitov. Frustration soon set in. In the second half, Newcastle were out of sorts and a mistake from Martin Dubravka saw us knocked out of the competition.
One bright spot was the play of Kieran Trippier, who was just signed the day before. The 31-year-old looked class while being a leader on the pitch. Trippier has collected our poll as Newcastle’s best player with over 50% of the vote.
Loading ...The defeat highlighted Newcastle’s dire need for a striker. After the match, Eddie Howe confirmed that Callum Wilson would be lost until March. The focus this week was on adding a goalscorer and a center-back.
It appears that half of the mission will be a success as Chris Wood is set to become our second signing of the new era. Newcastle triggered his release clause and he should be a Magpie by day’s end.
The 30-year-old is in line to make his debut on Saturday. A win would see Newcastle leapfrog The Hornets in the table, though they would have a match in hand. Depending on how Burnley fare against Leicester City, three points could move us above the relegation places.
Wins have been difficult to come by as evidenced by last Saturday’s deeply disappointing result. Watford have lost seven straight including a 4-1 defeat at Leicester in the FA Cup.
Everything simply points to this being a must-win for The Magpies. Getting our new striker in to play a part could make all the difference.
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96 comments so far
James Brewerton
Jan 12, 2022 at 11:03 AM
Comment #81And newcastle fan base in Midlands is crazy lot more than you think . There loads of us who meet up go to game but train prices are joke cost over £100 just on train ?
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 12, 2022 at 11:03 AM
Comment #82Be honest folks, if any other club paid £20m or £25m for Wood, then you’d laugh and say it’s ridiculous too. BUT, if he scores the winning goal against Watford at the weekend and that makes the difference between staying up and getting relegated, then it will be an absolute bargain!
Even if we do get someone like the 19 year old French lad, we’re without Wilson for 2 months and currently only have ASM to provide any sort of goal threat. Not only does Wood provide a goal threat but he’ll also provide some more presence in the air and be able to hold the ball up.
It’s a ridiculous amount of money for Wood but we’re in this position because of years of poor investment in the playing squad.
kilcline
Jan 12, 2022 at 11:07 AM
Comment #83We need some breaking news that another player is in talks, come on lads!
James Brewerton
Jan 12, 2022 at 11:08 AM
Comment #84Cant see us getting anyone in before Saturday now . But think we still get 3 more in before window closes
ShaytoStay
Jan 12, 2022 at 11:09 AM
Comment #85Seriously though would anyone have preferred countinho and digne to trippier and wood.
Granted wood is a not as skilful as countinho but he suits our team, countinho though hasn’t looked the same in a few years, I could be proved wrong but I thought this is exactly the type of player we should avoid.
Digne I really wanted until I heard wages and attitude, would rather have trippier all day long. Only time will tell but if these players help us stay up but if they do then I’m really happy. Also if we get relegated wood is a huge bonus.
Mund
Jan 12, 2022 at 11:09 AM
Comment #86Did anyone mention Ings was a ridiculous amount of money?
Can’t remember anyone saying so.
Danny Ings. Born Jul 1992. £25m. Goals 105. “Great signing!”
Chris Wood. Born Dec 1991. £20m. Goals 167. “£20m! What a ripoff!”
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Jan 12, 2022 at 11:11 AM
Comment #87James
Remember in the 70s on the Wyndyke bus trips to away games we use to drop into a working men’s club bear Coventry wher we met up with exile Geordies who moved south for work in the car factories and the pits
jimiley
Jan 12, 2022 at 11:11 AM
Comment #88We have loads of money and it’s good to spend it wisely.
100 million for Grealish??? All he does is stand on the touch line and receive the ball and pass it back 5 yards. Does not have the pace to go on outside and if he takes on the full back he always comes inside. 40 milllion at most.
Likaku is a big lump. He cannot close down so would never go to city or bindippers. A slight upgrade on Wood. 97 million is a joke. Ask manure supporters.
I would take both for 40 million each
When you have a lot of money you can waste it. Billion for the current manure team over last 10 years
I would be gutted if we spent that and had that manure team
Adamn_92
Jan 12, 2022 at 11:11 AM
Comment #89TDS
Hand on heart 100% honesty, if another club in the relegation zone (let’s say Norwich for example) bought another relegation zone teams striker for £20-£25m, who has been a consistent scorer in the league for years, I’d say that was good business by them and very smart.
100% truth.
cleveleysbob
Jan 12, 2022 at 11:11 AM
Comment #90Playing devils advocate a bit. Move forwards 3 weeks (without any more signings) and team could be.
Dubs/Darlow (pick your favourite)
Trippier Schar Dummet Lewis
Murphy Willock Joelinton Fraser (Ritchie)
ASM (Almiron) Wood
Subs. Longstaff, Ritchie, Shelvey, Lascelles, Kraft, Fernandez + goalie
I’d say that looked a fairly strong team with massive attacking intent. As before, any new signings are a bonus.
DayvanCowboy
Jan 12, 2022 at 11:12 AM
Comment #91Mund, excellent point with Ings by the way, a player who has arguably played in better more attacking teams than Wood over the past few season, and has only scored 4 goals himself this season.
ShaytoStay
Jan 12, 2022 at 11:13 AM
Comment #92If woods scores his usual amount of goals he’ll keep us up and become a hero. I do think 20mill is a lot but if you buy the right players in the right positions then it’s not too much. If Ashley was here we’d have got a 1 mill pound unproven Bolivian left back when we need a striker.
Think spine, we need a big fast strong no nonsense center back and defensive midfielder . Then I think we’re mid table
ShaytoStay
Jan 12, 2022 at 11:17 AM
Comment #93Would love that Torino center back, he is immense. In fact an good centre back in the Italian league, if they also have pace would be huge, the Italians know how to defend
jimiley
Jan 12, 2022 at 11:22 AM
Comment #94Weakest at full back and playmaker.
Opponents attack at weakest point so they will keep going for Richie
Who is our playmaker in the middle?
Sold a pup with Willock. If he’s not scoring he is not worth his place as ability on the ball creatively is minimal.
Longstaff and Jj. They cannot run which is not helpful if you want to be the playmaker.
Max is a head down dribbler.
Likewise Almiron.
Both have little end product.
Nobody in the midfield can go past a player(with the ball!!) and deliver a killer pass.
DayvanCowboy
Jan 12, 2022 at 11:34 AM
Comment #95For me the Trippier & Wood, versus Coutinho & Digne discussion is laughable as well, it’s all just big name appeal and pundits/press bigging the deals up:
Trippier – Premier League right back experience at the top end with Spurs, Champions league experience and La Liga Winner, consistent England international, has nearly equal assists and goal involvement stats to Digne over the past few seasons.
Wood – Premier League strike experience not at the top end, consistent 10 goal a season striker over the past 4 years playing in an average Burnley team, with only 5 other Premier League players equalling this over the same period.
Digne – Premier league left back experience but not at the top end, was passed around European clubs like PSG, Roma and Barcelona before finally settling at Everton, not a consistent starter for France, credit where it’s due always provides assists for Everton but so far this season has provided NONE, for me this is down to 2 reasons, his own form and Calvert-Lewin being injured, the player who always seemed to get on the end of his crosses (Aston Villa don’t have that type of player)
Coutinho – Premier League attacking midfield experience at the top end, was passed around European clubs prior to Liverpool after never really excelling, has only ever once scored double figures in a league season (16/17) and lets be honest, do we really need to talk about his time after leaving Liverpool, fail after fail and his goal scoring and assist stats have dropped and dropped, he’s 30 in June and if it is to be believed his loan fee and wages for 6 months are costing Villa over £16m.
So all in all we have paid £32-37m (depends who you believe on those 2
While Villa has paid £41m for those 2 and one of them is only for 6 months.
kilcline
Jan 12, 2022 at 11:39 AM
Comment #96@mund
Would you take Dele Ali on loan? He has a point to prove, 52k fans behind him, some players fit at certain clubs.
He would add guile to our team and is good at ball retention, something we lack.