Pardew 'on guard' as Newcastle step up search for defender..

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport..._united_step_up_search_for_defender_1_4165506

Seems to me like he could be covering his back for the chance that a high bid from one of the top clubs for one of our best players.

I'm still not confident we will hang onto all of our key players in this window!

 

I welcome the Defender news. Go on Slender-Mike! Dip in yer pockets again for Samba!

 

i hope we get a new defender in and keep hold of demba and tiote ,credit to pardew hes not as daft as he looks .i think that demba never took the number 9 as he new his pal cisse was coming to us ??? anyone else believe this

 

In another interview he said we'd had no bids and he was confident.
"Journalism" at its finest.

Anyway, I think we'll get Benoulane in. I take the silence as an encouraging sign.

 

Does he look daft?

 

Sounds like a white teenage rapper from Sheffield.

 

its a figure of speech, im not getting into a debate but hes a cockney and there like scousers id never trust either of them

 

He makes it sound as if we have no choice but to sell if a bid comes in, we shouldn't be selling a key player at this stage of the window regardless of price.

 

In fairness to him, this time last year he said exactly that, and had the rug pulled from under him. He can either say: "It won't happen" and risk being considered a serial liar or just say "Well, who knows".

 

The board should give him assurances though. If Coloccini was sold now and we had to rely on Perch and Williamson for the rest of the season we'd be screwed. Cisse's signing hasn't convinced me we're not a selling club yet, and quotes like that do nothing to ease my fears. I still think we're in line for a nasty shock (as shocking as it can be with their track record) this window, it wouldn't surprise me if something is already in the pipeline with Pardew being so cagey.

 

I agree that some board assurances are certainly missing here but I'm not convinced we're a selling club at all. You're right though, a nasty shock in this window and I may be on the way to being convinced.

 

we will soon see not that long left now and the sooner its closed the better

 

I think he's just covering his back so if a bid comes in and MA accepts above his head, then he won't look like a liar and someone that we can't trust.

I actually think we won't sell anyone important this window, simply cos no one will want to pay what we will want, as shown by Carroll deal.

 

The board can't give an assurance that players won't be sold at any price though, no board (except the silly money clubs) can. As fans its great to keep players, but a Carrollesque offer can't be refused if Mikes aiming to eventually pay off his loan. The good thing is we don't need to sell players for anything but insane bids though, so we're in a far stronger position than most of the league.

 

Of course they can. Everton have refused to sell players in the past and they're as cash strapped as they come. To sell someone at this stage of the season (someone important) would have a massive destabilising affect on the rest of the season. Even if they just delay the sale until summer they can and should refuse it now. If we have any ambition at all we won't listen to offers for the rest of this window.

 

Except Arteta.

 

And Lescott

 

Or Lescott. Even Man Utd buckled when £80m came in for Ronaldo, we're no different to everyone else.

 

As far as selling players goes this January, I have a good feeling we won't. The players touted to leave via bids from bigger clubs have been Ba, Tiote and Krul. 2 of these players are away at the ACoN with teams who'll do well and likely be there until the latter stages (after January 31st) meaning it would be unlikely for a club to come in for them with the all requirements of a transfer whilst they're busy with their respective nations.
I don't see any of the top clubs struggling when it comes to the keeper department to make a purchase this January either (especially not Tottenham who Krul has been 'linked' to).

And call me an eternal optimist but it's only a matter of time before Coloccini signs a new contract

 

Basically, Pardew doesn't want to look stupid if something happens similar to last season. However, other than centre half, where we don't have any Carroll style saleable assets, if we did get a last minute too good to turn down offer, we'd have cover. Which is actually testament to the GOOD work we have done in the previous transfer windows. We are no more of a selling club than any team out of the top four.