Paranoid? Or are we out to get him?How will this summer’s transfer window end for Newcastle United? This humble writer thinks it will end with a gamble.
I can tell you how I think the transfer window will end for us and that’s with a mad dash on deadline day to try and get someone on the cheap.
It’s possible that we might recruit somebody before next Wednesday but I’d be very surprised if we get both a striker and a left-back before then.
Ashley seems to have this fear that we’re being ripped off because other clubs know we need particular players but personally I think that’s hogwash. If any club puts in a bid it’s because they think they need a player – why would they be bidding otherwise?
Some clubs need players and other clubs are prepared to sell players – that’s what football transfers are all about. Both clubs will try to get the best price they can and we’re no different from other clubs in that respect. (more…)
Gutierrez: Why not?News has come into the offices of NUFC Blog Interntional that an Argentinan International full back is currently on Tyneside and is ready to play for the Magpies!
His name is Jonas Gutierrez, he is currently 28, and is known for his daring and mazy runs down both flanks. Gutierrez is not entirely unknown to Newcastle United fans, having played for the club since 2008, when he was signed on a five year contract by well known double act, Dennis Wise and Kevin Keegan for an undisclosed sum. Since then he has become something of a fans’ favourite, playing in 115 games and scoring seven goals.
The player has already been helping current stand in, Ryan Taylor, and said of his assistance to Ryan:
“For him, it’s a new position and I know that, so I try to help him when I can.
“But I think he’s playing better game-by-game. He played well against Arsenal, but this was better than the last game.(more…)
Anybody else feeling like this?With the exciting news of Rob Elliot’s alleged arrival at Newcastle United from Charlton, I’ve been asking myself several questions about current predicaments at St James’ Park.
Firstly, this is not Elliot’s fault and, if he does come here, I welcome him to Newcastle and wish him all the best.
Right, I could now relay my thoughts on to you dear reader, about the 7 month struggle to find a striker, no left-back and general rubbish I hear coming out of the club on a regular basis, but that would warrant at least 5 different 1000 word articles and I’d rather wait until after September 1st 2011 to vent my spleen.
Actually, I’ve changed my mind. Lets start with the left-back position…
In regards to our alleged pursuit of Erik Pieters, PSV technical director Marcel Brands has had this to say:
“Since the weekend we have no news from England.”
So quite what to make out of that is totally up to you, personally I can see this transfer not happening, simply because whoever it is who deals with negotiations at our club, has failed to notice we need a left-back in the squad NOW and not next week. I’m also sure Ashley probably thinks £6-7 million for a full Dutch international left-back is just ludicrous. Actually maybe it’s Llambias? Either way, it doesn’t bode well does it? (more…)
Vacancy: apply withinNewcastle United are still in the hunt for a striker 6 months after the sale of Andy Carroll. And now they need a left-back too. So just why is it taking so long to recruit new players?
What, you might ask, is the problem? We’ve had six months to replace Andy Carroll and still haven’t, unless you happen to believe that Demba Ba’s that man. And, although Enrique’s actual departure is relatively recent, we’ve pretty much known he’d go for a few months now (the clue was in his refusal to sign a contract), yet we haven’t got a replacement for him either.
Let’s allow some leeway with Enrique. He has only just been sold and we must surely know by now that players don’t come in unless Ashley’s 100% sure he’s getting the dosh for the outgoing player. It might not be a proactive way to run a football club but we seem to be stuck with it.
Some might argue that selling Carroll so late in the January transfer window left us no time to bring in a replacement, which is true. And let’s even be generous and say that £35m was too good to refuse and that it was actually worth limping through the second half of last season without a first choice striker. Surely, though, in the months after the Carroll sale we should have had plenty of striker targets lined up, ready to make bids for them as soon as the transfer window opened.
Should we be worried?Newcastle United’s Joey Barton was at the centre of a mini-storm during yesterday’s match against Arsenal, but is it indicative of a longer-term problem with the player?
Obviously the press are having a field day with the Barton/Gervinho stuff, but I do have some long-term concerns.
In the heat of the match, amidst the desire to try and squeeze 3 points out of Arsenal, I was quite happy to see Gervinho sent off and Barton only receive a yellow. On reflection though, I didn’t like the way Barton reacted to the ‘slap’ any more than I liked Gervinho’s dive in the box.
Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but I don’t like cheating in sport and neither do I think that saying “it’s just the modern game” or “we have to do it because other teams do” is any excuse.
I think it’s sad that we’d struggle to find a football player who’d play with 100% honesty these days, even it’s just when they ‘play for’ free kicks. It’s doubly sad that we’ve come to accept all that as ‘normal’.
But that’s kind of an aside. What I’m concerned about is Barton’s frame of mind. I wonder if yesterday was just a one-off or whether there’s a frustration bubbling within Barton that’s going to come to the surface during the games he plays for us this season. Red cards can cost us games and, I have to say, I get the impression that Barton is heading for an eruption. (more…)
