Massadio Haidara sets his sights on top six finish. AS Newcastle United’s key power brokers met to forge a way forward after their disappointing season, January signing Massadio Haïdara says there are no excuses for the club not to be tilting for the top six next season. Manager Alan Pardew is holding talks with Mike Ashley as they sift through the wreckage of a campaign that has been as gruelling as it has been disappointing. Newcastle’s plans for everything from transfers through to the retained list, Fabricio Coloccini’s future and pre-season planning have been put on hold until the conclusion of the discussions. The aim of the talks is clear – to return Newcastle to the top half of the Premier League, although Haïdara’s aim of a top-six place is in line with Ashley’s expectations for the club. It is also what was sold to the January newcomers like Haïdara, who admits that the club underachieved in the four months following his arrival. As part of a new generation imported into the club at the turn of the year, Haïdara has his sights set on competing for Europe again next year. “We have not had a team meeting to set out the objectives for next season yet but my own personal hope for the team is the top six,” he said. “I think that we have the qualities to do that and I know many of the other players feel the same. Obviously we will sit down in the summer after the season finishes to discuss what our aims and hopes but we should be aiming for that, in my opinion. “We are a big enough club to be fighting for a top six place and Europa League.” For Haïdara, signed as ‘one for the future’ in January, there is a real feeling of excitement that he has negotiated a difficult first few months in England and is now well-placed to move on next season. He missed the final few games with a slight hamstring injury but is looking forward to more games and more “experience” next year. “It's been an excellent start for me,” he said. “The end of the season hasn't been that great, I have picked up a few knocks here and there but overall if I look back it's been a really fantastic experience for me. My settling-in process has gone from good to even better to be honest, and hopefully next season I can step up and really push on.” Even though the summit meetings will determine much of what happens at the club over the summer, United’s players have already broken up for the close season. They were allowed to depart after Sunday’s games and Haïdara plans to return to France before jetting to the US this close season. Either way he intends to keep himself refreshed enough to make a major impact next year. He said: “I will head back to France this summer, see my family and friends. I want to look after myself and rest up to make sure I get up to top form. After a break I want to come back very strong.” Meanwhile, Pardew admits that there may be departures this summer – and is braced for bids for players like Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye, who have both attracted interest over the course of the campaign. He said: “We’re one of those clubs where we’re liable to lose one of our great players to a Champions League team through finance – and sometimes the will of the player. You can’t keep a player who doesn’t want to stay. Having said that, it’s going to be very difficult for any club to get a player out of here unless it’s a serious or big bid.” Hint hint. Come and get them the doors open Pards more or less saying that Cabs and HBA are on their way. From the Chronicle.
Bit early for the PR toilet to start flushing. We will finish top 6 if Arsenal, Man U, Man City, Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool all decide a pre-season tour of Arkansas is in order.
Well, ambition never hurt anyone. What's he gonna do, come out and say "we suck, mid-table for us please"?
We are two strikers, 1 CM, 1 Winger, 1 CB (two if Colo goes), 1 Full Back and a Manager short of a top 6 side. We've got a top 6 first 11 but we have the worst pool of strikers in the league and once Marveaux or HBA are injured our cover in the wide positions is also very poor.
PEA, Carroll/Dwight Gayle, McCarthy, Sinclair, Sakho (Isiamt-Mirin), M'Bengue, Rene Girard Will they do???
I do not think they are alone in their thinking I imagine there will be some other clubs that want to finish in the top six easy to Talk the talk bit more difficult to walk the walk
Ya think? How many years have we followed the Toon, knowing our board, this isn't even a question worth asking. The answer is obvious.
I'm going to stop reading these interviews in the papers /on the web - if indeed they even are genuine interviews. Too much meaningless talk. The problems for Ashley, Derek, Pardew and any of the players is they are damned if they try to be positive and big things up after this season of disappointment - and equally damned if they play it down and so appear to lack ambition. Whatever they say will get a negative reaction from some simply because of one bad season. Until it's out of the way and forgotten and we've moved on, there's almost no point in reading any of it.
