The actual transfer window, allegedlyThe lack of an incoming striker for Newcastle United has left many fans disgruntled, but how does it look all told?
Newcastle’s failure to bring in a striker in this latest transfer window has caused something of a furore with many fans and I’ll come to that later, but I just wanted to summarise the transfers and see where we stand.
Goalkeepers
We’re pretty much where we were in this respect, but with the addition of Rob Elliot. Forster wasn’t here last season and Pardew obviously took a look at him in the summer, decided that he could do without him and thusly allowed him to return to Celtic, which was what Forster wanted anyway.
I have no idea what Rob Elliot is like and neither do I know where he fits into the goalkeeping pecking order, although I assume it’s behind Krul and Harper.
I think we’re pretty much unchanged in this area, although I suspect we’ll find that Krul is now first choice ahead of Harper.
Defenders
It’s almost like a straight swap with Jose Enrique leaving and Davide Santon arriving. I think Enrique was a good player and his link up work with Gutierrez along the left flank was excellent and – by reputation at least – Santon should be an effective replacement. Whether this particular player swap works out better or worse for us remains to be seen. (more…)
The sound of two-hand clappingIf we cast a yardstick over the comings and goings at Newcastle United during this transfer window, have we done enough already to achieve Alan Pardew’s aim of ‘getting a reputation and moving forward’?
Confusion abounds amongst Toon fans as to exactly what’s in store for us during the remainder of this transfer window. The less speculative fan might suggest we “wait and see” but there are others who like a bit of speculative ranting or raving – good or bad – about how things are going. And why not?
The Dalia Lama once told me that the root of all suffering is craving; specifically craving to want things to be different to the way they are. Stop that craving, he said, and all suffering will cease. I have it on good authority that the Dalia Lama is a Blackpool supporter though (orange kit you see) and I tend to feel if he was a Newcastle supporter he might have hoyed his prayer wheel out of the window in frustration by now. (more…)
The quiet man is..... keeping quiet!We are at that time of the season again where inevitably the talk around any club will turn towards the transfer activities of the summer.
Chris Hughton has been quick to play down any expectations of wholesale changes to the playing squad, but is this a shrewd move to divert the press away from the smell of blood whilst plans are made in private? Or is it a genuine statement that the club is pretty much closed for business already?
There appears to be a consensus forming between fans that around four signings will be needed to give the team the best chance of extending our stay in the Premier League beyond next season, and this concensus appears to not be aligned with Hughton’s prophecy of expecting one or two new faces. This could lead to a problem not only on the pitch, it could also brew trouble in the stands aswell. The fact is that some fans are still very sceptical over owner Mike Ashley and his intentions for the club, something that could be clarified by the supposed release of an official club statement which is apparently due sometime soon. If it does turn out that there will be only one or two signings then I have a hunch that it will be seen by some as the owner not backing the team and could result in scenes of unrest not too different from what we witnessed last year. (more…)
NUFC Blog have scoured the length and breadth of YouTube to track down a video of new Toon signing, Jóhan Símun Edmundsson in action. Well here he is playing for the Faroe Islands against Russia Under 21s and scoring the winning goal with a very decent header (he is No.17 playing in white).
In the wake of Toon’s January transfer bonanza comes news of the club’s latest youth signing. 18 year old Jóhan Símun Edmundsson, a striker who can play on the flanks has arrived on loan until the end of the season from Faroe Islands giant, B68 Toftir. He has also been capped by the Faroe Islands national team. (more…)
The masked assassin strikes.Leon Best has been speaking of his elation about sealing a deadline day move to Newcastle United. The 23 year old could be set to make his debut against Cardiff City on Friday night, and many fans willl be hoping for an instant impact against an in-form and free scoring Bluebirds team.
It’s a novelty we haven’t been used to recently, players giving interviews describing their arrival at the club, but we have been spoilt in the past week! The Republic of Ireland international said of his move;
“I am over the moon with this move. I think this is the best thing that could have happened to me.”
“I heard little bits and bobs at the start of the transfer window that Newcastle were interested.” (more…)
