According to Mark Douglas in todays Journal we have dropped interest in any defenders or midfielders and if we get anyone now it will be a striker with Carroll the main target but unlikely to come. A pretty pathetic effort in the transfer market from us in my opinion. We have spent virtually nothing taking wages into account and our squad that all including Alan Pardew agreed was too small last season is smaller now yet will play more games.
I'm sure we've said this before and then lodged a £11.75m bid for Bryan Ruiz 3 hours before the window shut. With us, it's not over until it's over
You've got to be fairly pleased you didn't sign Ruiz though. I'd rather have a pork scratching up front than Bryan Ruiz, I'm convinced he thinks he's supposed to miss.
I know anything could still happen but most likely going into this season with a smaller squad and will be playing more games....no ambition by fat mike to improve on a cracking season last season
June 2012 Danny Guthrie n/a Released June 2012 Peter Lovenkrands n/a Released June 2012 Alan Smith n/a Released June 2012 Sam Adjei n/a Released June 2012 Ryan Donaldson n/a Released June 2012 Stevie Folan n/a Released June 2012 Jeff Henderson n/a Released June 2012 Phil Airey n/a Released June 2012 Tamas Kadar n/a Released June 2012 Greg McDermott n/a Released June 2012 Patrick Nzuzi n/a Released July 2012 Leon Best Blackburn Rovers £3m July 2012 Fraser Forster Celtic £2m tbc so if we bought anita for 6.2million, bigi for 1 we have hardly spent nothing so far and saved quite a bit in wages i would think
Really happy with our transfer business this summer. Yes we've spent very little but the squad is stronger and has more depth in quality and numbers once you consider the emerging youth. Very little point in having a youth system if you are not going to give the young players an opportunity to get involved with the first team. I'd be happy for the window to shut now. In a perfect world we'd top it off by signing a centre back, a left back (or Debuchy) and a non ACON striker. But really that is just wishful thinking and we are not desperate in any area. We have a really good squad and can look forward to the season ahead, particularly if we don't lose anyone.
If we keep our best players then it would have been a successful window in my opinion. Yeah we have a light squad and ideally could do with 2-3 players, but we won't buy unless the deal is right or the player is right. If teams want to play hardball over their players, then we can do what we did with Cisse and go back in for them in January.
I just wish we had of got Debuchy and kept our players and i would be happy, i think simpson is a liability, defensively weak and brings nothing going forward, his crossing really pisses me off because he floats them in high, not even ba or cisse could generate power off them...
He did a great job of keeping one the best in the league (Bale) quiet in the opening game and set up Demba's goal with a good pacey cross. Ideally I'd like to see Santon right back in his natural role personally with a left back coming in. But I can understand the desire for Debuchy and expect that will happen. Regardless Simpson is a good solid full back who has done a very good job for us. Its an area we could improve but I wouldn't discard him as he is very good on the defensive side of things. His backing off is way overplayed and is as much to do with the narrow defence Pardew plays (which has served us well). He also saved us a good number of goals last season (like Raylor and Saylor) with sheer commitment in blocks and goal line clearances. World beating? No. But a good solid character and decent full back nonetheless.
I'm not sure we're that light. We have good cover in all areas. We have lots of full back options (Raylor, Simpson, Santon, Anita, Perch, Ferguson, Tavenier, Good), a few centre back options (Colo, Saylor, Perch, Willo, Good, Streete), plenty of midfielders (Benni, Cabaye, Anita, Tiote, Bigismalls, Abeid, Amalfitano, Obertan, Jonas, Gosling, Ferguson, Perch, Marveaux, Sammi, Vuckic) and a few up top (Cisse, Ba, Shola, Campbell, Sammi, Benni, Obertan) I know some will say "yeah but loads of them are kids". Well what is the point in having a youth system if you are just going to spend your way to squad depth. They need opportunity.
I suppose we can make it to january with the defenders we have at the moment, but we definitely can't make it to Jan with the strikers we have at the moment, so it's probably a good move we're focussing on bringing one it. Whether or not it'll be Carroll is another matter entirely
The only area we are short is strikers, would like to see 1 or 2 brought in please (wishful thinking) and Senegal to not qualify for ACON!
I am slightly concerned by the strikers but there is little chance of Senegal qualifiying. On the flipside if they did is Tiote doesn't go. We can't lose really but we will certainly need another if they did get there. I like Jordan Rhodes as an option, but would love Carroll back here.
I've read this story and, I might be being really naive here, but I don't believe it at all. Lille and Twente could both be potentially out of their European competitions by Friday and all of a sudden we're 'not looking for defenders'? I seem to remember in the run up to signing Cissé we 'weren't bringing anyone in'. I have great faith we'll see one or both of Debuchy and Douglas before the deadline.
There's a few threads on this subject and each one I find myself agreeing with Pouch. A big season for some of our younger players and hopefully they see some action. One of the problems at Newcastle is we've had all these 'prospects' that we don't play then release them when they hit 20, leaving them inexperienced and disillusioned. I understand 'if they're good enough they'll play' but you have to play someone to see if they're good or not. Airey is a classic example I think, as soon as he started showing he was too good for the reserves he should have been given a few games, giving him confidence to progress and possibly be our 4th striker now. He's now at Blyth Spartans looking depressed but outclassing everyone on the pitch. I've said in another thread that I'd like us to sign an 'okay' striker for cover but the more I see and hear of him I think that Adam Campbell should be our 4th striker this season. Similarly, I have faith in Abeid to fight for a place this season as he looks very creative (in contrast to Vuckic's 'solid' performances), if Bigi is 'mini Tiote' then I see Abeid as 'mini Ben Arfa'. I think now is the season to use our squad and rather than worry about a lack of names, MAKE some.
best thing to do is wait till 11pm on Friday and judge how the window went then, for me still too early and knowing Newcastle there will still be one or two surprises both incoming and outgoing. agree though it has been quite successful so far
It's really pathetic, and we all know who to blame if we get a couple of defensive injuries and totally get ****ed over. However, I'll be happy if we keep all our players now. We really needed another CB though. Another fullback was very desirable, but I guess we have decent cover there now. Relying on Saylor to be fit for a season is silly. We'll then have Colo, Willo and Perch are our only 3 top CB's. After that it's relying on the youguns. We best just pray that we can make it to the Jan transfer window in one piece, hopefully they'll not be so stupid as to go a full season with all we have now.
Personally I'm happy with the squad, could do with a Centre Back but apart from that, as WP say's, we have a very versatile squad with numerous players able to fufill different roles for the team. If Cisse and Ba are off to ACON we will have time to line up a striker for the begninging of the Jan window. Rhodes IMO would be the best replacment - young and English with a proven goal scoring record through the lower divisions and resale value, MA will love it. But apart from CB and Str (if the african lads do go) if the window shut now I would be quietly confident of pushing for Europe through the league again.
I agree with Warm Pouch the situation isnt as bad as you make out Tash. How can the likes of Bigi and Ama get experience and make names for themselves if we sign up more depth that reduces them to reserve players. Bigi would have been better off at Cov. Same with Fergeson and Tav.
