Alan Pardew is continually talking about how he expects signings which is normal for every manager we seem to have as they keep us hanging on through every transfer window with false hope which makes us desperate to believe every rumour. One position which many have speculated on is the one which had been vacated by Routledge on the wing thinking that his departure is freeing up space for a new addition but is this necessarily the case? Has his replacement already been at the club for 6 months in the shape of Hatem Ben Arfa and this is the club anticipating the return of Ben Afra and Gosling to the first team. Newcastle's first team midfield has much cover already in the form of: LW - Jonas, Ben Afra RW - Gosling, Ben Arfa, Barton CM - Tiote, Nolan, Ben Arfa, Gosling, Guthrie, Smith, Barton Which effectively covers each position. I do think it could be improved upon with new signings it is not my opinion which is important but that of the owner and chairmen. The players we have cover the position and would not be contributed to greatly by the proposed signings of Ireland, Wright-Phillips or Kranjcar and therefore if the club is run as a business, as I believe it is then these signings are not appropriate. What do you think, are we just being strung along?
Dont forget LuaLua and Raylor for both wings Agree we arent desperate for a signing, wait til summer then tweak the squad.
Unless we get a good offer, I'd like to keep him for cover/competition down the right. His end product isn't the best but he's still a decent player.
Take Smith out and I'm quite happy with our current set of midfielders. Its up front where I think we need to have more about us, for example shipping out the likes of Best, Shola and Lovenkrands ASAP (only when they are replaced by quality of course)
To be honest I don't really count Smith myself, the sooner he leaves the better, 50K a week for experience is far too high! Pardew must be mad for wanting to keep him. Best and Lovenkrands I agree should sold but I would hold on to Shola just because I can't see us signing two replacements if they are sold nevermind three so Ameobi would still have a role to play.
LW - Guti & Arfa.. One is a proven International player who lacks consistency but offers a LOT to the team in terms of work-rate, dribbling ability, puts teams on the back foot & his predictable yet effective partnership with Enrique is marvellous. Ben Arfa is a extremely talented & gifted footballer with amazing skill, very good pace, a wonder shot & excellent creativity and technique. Ferguson is a decent youngster with good potential yet very inexperienced & looks a bit lightweight to be honest. RW- Barton, Raylor, Gosling & Maybe Lua Lua? Barton has simply being amazing at RW, he has made it his own... fantastic crossing ability, very good vision, good creativity, great passer, hard-worker & great composure in general, never looks like losing the ball. Raylor has got Barton-esque crossing yet lacks pace & flair but as Barton has good versatility, a good hard-worker & a sweet set-piece taker. Gosling is more suited to playing as a box-to-box, a very talented youngster with very good potential, bags of energy, good skill, reasonable quick & can score a few aswell. Lua Lua.. great winger at Championship level I'll say, still too inexperienced to be throwing in the unforgiven level of top flight football.. maybe a very useful impact sub, similar to Rou? apparently he has very good pace, good skill, two-footed & can cross too. Signings? Ireland wouldn't be bad IMO, can give us very good competition at CM & CAM & maybe Pardew can transform into a Barton-esque winger? I hope so!
