Ashley arrives by helicopterMike Ashley and Derek Llambias arrived at Newcastle’s training ground by helicopter yesterday to discuss the club’s transfer priorities with manager Alan Pardew.
Pardew’s main targets were allegedly Seb Larsson and David Bentley but both of these players seem destined to play their football elsewhere.
The humiliating defeat at the hands of Stevenage might have emphasised the club’s need for a bit more quality in depth, so hopefully the pow-wow will have been fruitful and some new transfer targets will have been identified.
Apparently Ashley and Llambias also took in yesterday’s reserve game against Hibs in which Dan Gosling made a return from injury while they were at the club.
Kevin Nolan reiterated the need for new blood, saying:
“If you are fresh, it always makes that bit of difference and it just shows we do need probably a couple more players and hopefully we will get them in January to help us out and get us over that finishing line at the end of the season.(more…)
Wax on, wax offAston Villa’s attempts to lure Newcastle’s Joey Barton to the midlands club looked doomed to failure.
Villa are in Premier League freefall at the moment and Gerard Houllier has had his eye on Joey Barton as one who might pull the emeregency ‘chute and help them avoid a relegation battle.
Rumour has it that Houllier was trying to tempt Newcastle to let go of Barton with some cash, Nigel Reo Coker and an old motorbike.
Today’s reports suggest that rumour was wrong though (particularly about the old motorbike) and that Barton’s £6m fee and £67k/week wages just proved to be too much for Aston Stinky, who already have a £71m wage bill that they’re desperate to reduce.
Barton himself has allegedly expressed a desire to remain at Newcastle but I wonder, though, if we should try to sell him.
Now, before you all tar and feather me and run me out of toon, I’m well aware of the fantastic contribution Barton has made to the team this season. At his best he can pass the ball the width of the pitch and land it on a sixpence and he’s a genuine play-maker. He’s not too shabby in the tackling department either. (more…)
Freddie Sears - potential Newcastle target?The latest from the transfer rumour-mill has West Ham striker Freddie Sears as the next Newcastle United transfer target and potential exits for Campbell and Enrique.
I’m not sure where the Sears rumour started but various reports have Pardew bemoaning the fact that the team suffered on Saturday due to the absence of Carroll and Ameobi and is thus looking at Freddie Sears to increase our striking options.
I’m a bit dubious to be honest because Sears’ first team record with West Ham isn’t exactly prolific (2 goals in 29 games), although he has apparently impressed in the reserves.
Maybe he’s ‘one for the future’ but that seems to be at odds with the rumour starting on the back of Carroll and Ameobi’s absence from Saturday’s game.
Personally I give it less chance than Kylie ringing me up to offer herself for a night of passion and adding “do you mind if I bring my sister along“. But what do I know?
An additional rumour has Sol Campbell returning to Arsenal. This makes a bit more sense given Wenger’s evident admiration of Campbell and Campbell’s very public disapproval of the sacking of Chris Hughton. (more…)
Just one or two players, says PardewIt seems that Newcastle United will be limited to one or two player acquisitions during the January 2011 transfer window.
Alan Pardew states that:
“We are probably only looking at bringing one player in. Maybe we’ll bring in two – but it definitely won’t be more than two.
“Whether it is a loan or a permanent move really depends on the negotiations and the type of player we manage to get. If we manage to get our No 1 target it will affect another deal we might have been working on.
“But we’re not going to throw money at this window. We’ve made that clear to agents, players and clubs, and I think Newcastle fans will appreciate that.
“We’re going to try and do things in a way that will protect the squad we’ve got – if we don’t do that we’ve got all sorts of problems.”
As to who those players will be, Pardew has shown interest in Roque Santa Cruz, David Bentley, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Seb Larsson to date. (more…)
No giant killing to see here (please!)Good afternoon lads and lassies, welcome to the match banter thread for Newcastle United’s third round FA Cup tie against Stevenage.
League Two’s Stevenage have had a decent start to their first season of league football, securing a mid-table position and having only lost twice at home this season.
But the Toon are also amidst a run of form having picked up wins against Wigan and West Ham in the last two matches.
Given that our players are starting to build up a bit of a queue outside the treatment room, we could really do with a comfortable game and no faffing about with replays like we did back in ’98 with Stevenage.
Stevenage manager Graham Westley has this to say about today’s encounter: (more…)
