Early survival imperative for Newcastle United
Posted on February 14th, 2011 | 43 Comments |
It’s also an indictment of how well we’ve done and how good our core team really is. So, as the pundit’s favourites hover and circle like the proverbial flies round ****, or vultures, respectively, it’s become an absolute necessity to garner enough points to ‘allow’ our great core of players the magnanimity to put pen to paper on new and extended contracts, as soon as possible and not be forced to wait until the end of the season.
If we are drawn into waiting, it could have a detrimental effect on the efficacy of the clubs powers of persuasion. The longer it takes to become safe, the more vociferous the rumours will become.
We all know which players will be targeted. In some cases, it’s already begun. With the latest round of ‘transfer rumours’ and general mischief making coming out of the laughable entity we call the press in this country.
Something we do have in our favour is the £35m+ that we’ve just squeezed out of the scousers. That means that, on the one hand, every player may have a price, but on the other it’s also a hefty one (to the point of extortion). Also, it means the club has learned to play hard ball when it comes to negotiations with other clubs trying to prize away our top players. We’ve been getting some top prices lately for above average or just plain average players. i.e. Milner, Martins et al.
It also indicates to buying clubs that we don’t really ‘need’ their money or their unwanted attention. If any of our players are prepared to leave for whatever reason, at least we should get a superannuated price. That doesn’t really bear thinking about, I know, but it does put us in a pretty strong position. One that the club hasn’t had the luxury of until recent times, and one that would allow for proper reinvestment in the team without too many financial restraints.
It’s paramount to the club’s, not only survival, but development, that we hang on to these players so as to move on to the next level.
Players like Jose Enrique, Cheick Tiote, Joey Barton, Tim Krul, Kevin Nolan, Fab Coloccini, Jonas Gutierrez will all, undoubtedly, become subject to such interest in the coming weeks and months.
How true any of it will be, no one but agents will know, I guess.
But it’s teams at the top end of the league that our players are being linked with, so that means we have great players.
It means ‘top’ dollar. But above all else, it means quick and early survival, in this league is IMPERATIVE.
Howay the Lads!
Article stating the obvious!