NUFC into 2013/14

Recently we have the comments about one striker and one centreback being what the club are, more or less, looking at. Not gospel, but not beyond the realms of imagination - I think we were hoping to see more, but some more reasonable comments have pointed out that having the 8th highest avg attendance in Europe isn't quite as good a guide as to club size as number of trophies or overall revenues. Also, we finished 16th which I think is as much an indication to incoming players as anything else.

So assuming the one cb and one cf is a good guide - this would be essentially just addressing a need from the sale of Ba, and the additional CB has been on the cards since LAST Summer, when Douglas failed to show up - what formation or identity is this club going to adopt on the first day of the season, do we think?

Contrary to our deepest wishes, I think the striker pool is going to consist of the new guy, Cisse, Campbell and...yup...Shola. I think Shola will hang around one more year, with Pards' blessing. I don't think Pardew will want or need to go into the season with just 3 strikers, and one of those a kid. So what does this indicate? I reckon a perseverance with predominantly a 4-something-1 formation as we don't seem keen to go back to 4-4-2. No bad thing, we were as disgraceful as possible last season doing it. I also don't think - contrary to the hoofball stats - we're going for another big lad up front. If we were, we'd just buy Carroll and have done with it, surely. So I think we're after more pace and guile up front to give a different option, as well as a complimentary one, to the Cisse poacher type and the Campbell "Owen in his prime" type. It'll be someone with as many tricks as finishes, with as many assists as goals. De Jong, Aubameyang but probably less well known.

The midfield is seemingly set to be left alone. I think this isn't a huge mistake, though I think most of us would prefer to see Gosling and Obertan swapped out. Jonas will stay, of that I have no doubt. He's just one of those Shola types who does everything the manager needs...except deliver on the pitch. Do we need purples here? Not really - we just need players playing to their strengths. A midfield trio of Cabaye/Sissoko/Anita is, on paper, mouthwatering. The inclusion of Tiote, the versatility of Perch and Bigi, give enough variation for a club of our size. I think it's also our strength - we should be able to play 3 in the middle with great effect, so I think that's what we'll see worked on for next season. It's the wide areas that interest the most. A full season from Benny on one side and Marv on the other could be hugely impactful. I am also a big fan of pushing Santon further up - he doesn't get injured very often and could be all the dynamism and reliability that Jonas used to offer. Marv remains as a very effective bit part player. Jonas coaches the youth teams. The right side is a worry. Benny is best left to his own devices, stifling his creativity is stupid, but he also MUST play. So buying big in this area isn't possible - Sinclair, McManaman just aren't heading to Tyneside. But Obertan's useless - maybe Gouffran should be given this to share with Ben Arfa? Would be innovative having a right footer...on the right. Again, for a club like ours we just don't seem that short of options.

Defence is obvious. Depending if Santon is used in the right place would allow MYM more time at left back, the centre backs pick themselves and Debuchy will be like Enrique next year, though hopefully without the transfer to Liverpool. No specialist RB sub is an issue, but couldn't Santon, MYM, Anita and Perch all do a job there? Maybe. One thing I'd boldly go for is buying huge here, at CB. We desperately need someone to win aerial challenges consistently, in both boxes. I cannot fathom why Saylor doesn't, he's a big lad. But Colo/MYM aren't going to do it. Who drops out is down to Pardew, but it would be nice to have a better option than Willo.

4-5-1 looks the option, but it'll be wery interesting to find out what actually happens with Cisse, Jonas and either Colo or Saylor. I just hope Pardew gets it right this time.

 

Good article and valid points.

But I have my concerns with our current squad balance.

Our best starting 11 would possibly be:

Krul

Debuchy
MYM
COLO( assuming he stays)
Santon

HBA
Sissoko
Cabaye
Anita
Marvauex

Cisse

Do you spot any obvious problems with this team.

It lacks ANY english players.

For me this is our biggest problem. The best teams the premiership has ever produced have been built around solid English players with star overseas players around them.

I have a feeling that that first 11 would on its day be nice to watch but not very productive when it comes to grinding our results. THE MOST PART OF THE SEASON!

If you look at our squad with the exception of the youth players we only really have Saylor, Raylor (out all season) and Perch (Who may be on his way) that are in fact english and any good.

Simpson is on his way!

If we are going to strengthen with quality I am afraid we need some solid proven English premiership players.

Just my opinion!
Campbell and Bigi are not ready, Shola, Williamson and Elliott are ****!

 

I can see a more fluid summer for us with regards recruitment.
Our prime focus will most likely be on the development squad.

If terms of first team I think we will sign 2-3 top players (the kind who can walk into the first team) and then, as a player leaves (Ober, Gosling etc...) he will be replaced.
Of course if we lost a Cabaye for instance then the money (£15-20m) will most likely be spread across at least 1 or 2 players.
An interesting summer awaits....

 

good article by the way too

 

I am afraid I really don't buy this: Foreigners have flair but only English players have grit" idea.

I would have Saylor in for MBM but other than that I am happy to play our best players, wherever they are born. I don't think that a lack of English playrs is a failure in itself any more than a lack of Dutch or Spanish players

 

Centre back (Tomkins)
Left back (Danny Rose)
Winger (Tom Ince)
2 Strikers (Lukaku and Jordan Rhodes)

That's what we need, all young and a few domestic options (and completely unrealistic to boot ). I think one of the strikers should be a first choice, the left back should be a first choice, the winger first choice, centre back and other striker can be squad options.

GK Krul

RB Debuchy
LB Rose
CB Colo
CB Mbiwa

CM Cabaye
CM Anita

AM Sissoko

RF HBA
LF Ince
ST Lukaku

Bench: Saylor, Tiote, Elliot, Rhodes, Santon, Cisse, Gouffran

Reserves: Haidara, Perch, Marveaux, Tomkins, Raylor, Jonas

Loaned out: Campbell, Bigi, Alnwick (with recall options) Inman, Abeid, Streete, Ferguson, Sammi, Tav, Vuckic, Good, Dummett, Newton (if those sign on again)

Sold: Willo, Gosling, Simpson (released), Obertan, Shola, Almalfitano

Ridiculous strength in depth. Oh its such a perfect day, I wish I'd spent it with you................................

Essentially if we only get a 1 striker and nothing else I think we'd be ok. It would probably require an addition to the development squad (a left back).It would also mean Haidara stepping into left back and Campbell not going out on loan, with Willo, Obertan and Shola retained for injury hit situations. I don't think its particularly exciting but I wouldn't say horrifcally bad either.

25 man squad - Krul, Elliot, Alnwick, Haidara, Debuchy, Raylor, Perch, Santon, Colo, Mbiwa, Saylor, Willo, Tiote, Anita, Sissoko, Cabaye, Gouffran, Marveaux, HBA, Jonas, Obertan, Cisse, Campbell, New Striker, Shola

or

25 man squad - Krul, Elliot, Alnwick, Haidara, Debuchy, Raylor, Perch, Santon, Colo, Mbiwa, Saylor, Willo, Tiote, Anita, Sissoko, Cabaye, Gouffran, Marveaux, HBA, Jonas, Bigi, Cisse, Campbell, New Striker, New Striker i.e. buy two strikers and sell Shola and Obertan anyway for being as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

 

Definitely need a young, hungry CB to put pressure on Taylor, to learn from Colo and to possibly link up with MYM. The likes of Craig Dawson or Tom Lees would be high on that list, but I'm not against another foreigner. Marian Sarr, Bernd Leno, Coates at Liverpool, Joel Matip, Kryiakos Papadopalous (unlikely, granted).

Getting Lukaku would be frankly incredible, but I just can't see it. More likely an out of favour player, as Summer is not a good time to be taking on a star or star in the making. That's why I think a move for Giroud or Gameiro might be on the cards. What about Valerie Germain of AS Monaco? He's not likely to play much with Falcao turning up. Or from their defence, Gary Kagelmacher - scores a few for a CB.

 

Giroud? As much chance as Lukaku - zero. Had a good first season with Arsenal. He scored 17 goals which is none too shabby. I'd love to have him but I imagine Wenger is pretty pleased with him and will be looking to add players now they've paid off the stadium. Gameiro certainly has been marginilised at PSG but much will depend on their transfer business. If they sign another striker he'll want out.

 

Gameiro only started 8 matches, so I don't think things are looking any brighter for him. Maybe he's waiting to see if Zlatan moves on again, but I don't think he plans to. There's a few others in Ligue 1 who've on paper scored a few and set some up, which seems to be Pardews thinking. Ben Yedder and Saber Khelifa two of the best (the former's a bit of a Ben Arfa but plays a bit further forward). I can't see many moving from Germany with what's happening there and I don't think what Pardew did to Anita will have gone down well in Holland, so we might be a bit stifled. We don't seem to be interested in South America, so it leaves us a little narrow in our search. I'm with you - I'd rather see some unglamorous British talent given a chance, alongside Campbell.

Wonder if Sinclair is even cheaper now that Navas has rocked up at the Etihad? Someone's going to get a steal with that kid, he'll be burning to play well after his time in Manchester. And you know it's not us. In fact, I bet we'll face him on the first day of the season, with the irony being that he'll tear Uselas Gutierrez a new ar$ehole.

 

I just can't wait for the summer to be over

 

Giroud, youve got to be joking, he would spend too much time bro-mancing Cabaye and Debuchy, to do anything worthwhile on the pitch. Lol

 

You know him well then GlitF?

 

I think based on last season we have a few worries but are pinning a lot of hope on less tiredness and more luck with injuries with fewer games due to no european games and our newer foreign players being better this season with a season or half a seasons experience over here under their belt which a lot of foreign players need and with a full pre season too. This has us looking for big improvements in the likes of Mbiwa, Gouffran, Haidara, Anita and Sissoko which is 5 players straight away who could be significantly better whilst looking for the injury luck with Ben Arfa, Marveaux (who did improve a lot this season), Krul and Saylor. Another hope is obviously that we get youngsters coming through who from either loan spells and/or first team experience last season in the cups can push on this season. Obviously not all will make it but that is always true anywhere but we have to hope for something from the likes of Alnwick, Tavernier, Dummett, Good, Streete, Inman, Vukic, Amalfitano, Ferguson, Sammi, Bigi, Abeid and Campbell plus more. So things in theory arnt looking too bad really as a basis to work on.
Obviously we need to keep our "blue chip" players or replace them with comparable talent which in our position will always happen up to a point, although top players even leave top teams at times for a variety of reasons. Recent dealings here at least have seen us doing some good deals financially.
I would expect a few more signings for the back up and development squad which may hopefully give us one or two first team squad players as well as players for the future so this leaves us looking at "blue chip" signings.
I suspect the Chronicle/Journal actually know nothing and are making a story from nothing in this quiet spell particularly as the Ashley regime tend to keep their plans as quiet as possible until deals are done but with 5 signings in january and no european games to play the idea that we will only sign two might not be far from the mark. Anyone can see we need a striker since Ba left so thats an obvious one. Given Willos unpopularity and the fact that being 4th or 5th choice probably doesnt suit him i think he may well go and with the fragility of Saylor a new Big CB makes sense although it will be interesting to see if we do that AND sign a quality CB to replace Collo if he goes. I agree that Shola is unlikely to leave but with a new striker plus Cisse, Gouffran and Campbell and the ability of Marv, Ben Arfa, Vukic and Sammi to play as supporting Striker then hopefully Shola wont be needed much. Midfield looks pretty good but the wings are a bit of a concern if we get a few injuries. I believe we need a signing to replace Obertan who i hope leaves. The full backs are also a concern. With Raylor out and Simmo leaving we are a bit open here. The form last season of Santon, Debuchy and Haidara was not good so we need these to improve a lot. The club dont seem confident enough yet in the available youngsters and whilst we do have players who can "fill in" here such as Anita, Guti, MYM and Perchinho i prefer if possible to follow Sir Bobbys principle of Square pegs for Square holes rather than fillers so i would like to see a good signing here and agree it would be exciting to see Santon and Debuchy unleashed a bit as wingers from time to time which could solve our problems there. It didnt do Gareth Bale any harm.
I would like the fans to be a bit more patient and supportive to some of our lesser lights too. Look at the improvements in Perchinho, slated at one time yet now whilst no world beater is a well supported good versatile squad player. I agree Willo is limited but many forget that he was a regular as we finished 5th playing in wins v Man u, Chelsea and Liverpool but played less often this season as we improved to er 16th. I also think Elliott ha done ok behind a poor defence and deserves more support. Ok some of this type of player may not make it and be a bit limited but they are doing their best, they dont pick the team, and wont improve under a constant barrage of criticism from their own fans but may play above themselves if fans actually are a bit more patient and give them some support.
Its going to be another "interesting" long summer. Heres hoping we do better in the market than last year and can do something next season, how long have i been saying that lol.
Keep the faith.

 

Looks like she TRIED, but in being spurned is using the excuse that he's, well, French. Ahem.

 

I agree with most, though think you're being way too optimistic on the youngsters. I do genuinely hope Campbell smashes it - would be great to see that happen. But of the rest, only Bigi and Streete look good enough, with jury still out on Vuckic and the jury yet to adjourn regarding the rest!

Again the players aren't the root cause; I think most of us disagree with Pardew in that we all feel Jonas should be replaced, not accommodated, and that more drive and goalscoring threat from midfield is required in addition to the alleged one striker/one centre back that's been touted. Most of us feel four players is where we should be aiming, not two. But I think 90%+ of fans are more concerned that the manager in place cannot work with these players - they cannot all just become so clueless on their own.

 

This! I think we will get one token up and coming english lad we dont know much about and a striker of modest quality because if we dont sign someone who is a realistic choice to help out cisse with putting the ball in the back of the net we are stuffed. Surely mike et al wont be stupid enough to let us start the season with what we have....

 

Speculate to accumulate, I'm pretty sure MA knows whatever he puts in will be repaid by getting a high finish and reaping the benefit of extra payments from the powers that be.

 

When you say English lads I take it you mean British lads as well so what about Irish lads?Richard Dunne is on a free,Kevin Doyle would be next to nothing and I put forward Shane Long here a couple of years back to replace Lovers when he was still in the championship to replace Lovers and got laughed at but there is one player I'd love to see at Newcastle and that's Coleman,my money is on that's the one player Moyes will take with him!

 

We ladies have taken a keen interest in both Cabaye and DeBuchy since there arrival on Tyneside, purely from a footballing perspective you understand. We have amassed a fair collection of photographic evidence in respect of our French lovelies and can provide photographic evidence, first brought to light by Minxy, if memory serves, of a certain Monsieur Giroud, in a what could only be described as a "clinch" with Monsieur Cabaye as he left the field of play. Nothing insinuated at all, just obviously in touch with their feminine sides.

 

Cheeky Bugger, not my type at all, if truth be known, far too girlie for me.