Must have been a very big meeting. Non of this conference call ****e. Ellis and Congerton are out in Toronto in person. please log in to view this image Congerton botton left. The one with Dick's hand on his shoulder. please log in to view this image A Q&A with Chris Young said yesterday that he beleives there's still plenty in the kitty, the bid for Downing was in addition to the Lens bid and we saved 3m on Kaboul instead of that Belgium gadgey. Dick maintains he want's two more and we've used no loans. Strange given this has happened just after the Dembele knock back which will have happened a couple of days before it made the news. He also said Dick and Congerton's relationship is excellent. Dick is very patient and understanding unlike Gus who's attitude was bordering on petulant. So what's your theory to what the hell is going on? Mine is this. After Dembele fell through I'm guessing Dick isn't happy with the quality of the other options. I've just got a feeling Dick and Congerton need a little bit extra cash for this signing. Hoping it was granted we could be looking at breaking our transfer record. Whether that is for an alternative target or to meet one of Levy's ridiculous valuations who knows? What are your thoughts? Must have been a really important meeting for Congerton to fly out too. Body language in the photos looks good too. Meeting happened yesterday and no sign of the meeting details making the press yet.
**** knows what will happen pal but I want a class midfielder and a forward. Hopefully they not loans because You can never build a team with them. Look at what happened with Bruce and poyet. They got 3 to 4 good loans then they all **** off then we have to build again so no loans for me.
What would you rather have fella. Average striker and average Midfielder for 8m each? Or, loan a striker in and break the bank for a 16m 'break the bank', 'next level' attacking midfielder? I'd take the loan and Class myself. rather than split it for average players.
Getting ahead of myself here but is it not possible that if we have a good steady season and DAs signings fit in well that we could persuade Dick to stay beyond his 12 month contract, his signings are here because of who is the manager,especially Lens and if we do have a good season then it would make sense to try and keep him, could be a return to the florists if it did come off...fingers crossed.
If we do have a decent season then yes I think we could get him to stay longer, for a few reasons. I think it's safe to say that Short will want him to stay if he does well, and if Congerton was able to talk him into staying once he can do it again. Dick's always wanted to manage in the PL and I seriously doubt that a season or two will be enough, he strikes me as someone that likes to have a proper go at anything he turns his hand to. He's obviously been bitten by the SAFC bug, judging from his tears last season, and when the crowd get behind him in a big way he'll be even more smitten. Plus, not sure about this, but hasn't Mrs General moved with him this time? That feels significant to me.
Hope that we sign a "next-level" attacking midfielder,and loan a striker...but we must keep DA for at least an extra year,and the longer,the better!
At this stage I think we are set to struggle next season. We have the same 4 forwards on the books who pretty much don't score goals. We have brought in Lens who seems to be of good pedigree but alone will not be enough. At the back Kaboul is a good signing but and injury and we are back to square one. With o'shea and Coates. We have to bring in at least another 3 players into to not be struggling. An attacking midfielder probably the hardest but for any team along with a goal scorer. I would still bring in another centre half. Another £30 million spend in my books. A big ask?
Lens is a Striker. We've got 5 who can play central. Some have to go no doubt but don't think we haven't addressed the options there. I think they'll be another striker in to. Looking at the window so far we've strengthen much more than our rivals and with a couple more to come I think on paper we're pulling away from the likes of the Mags, Liec and Villa who's squads were poor like ours, they added drabs of quality but not near enough. Then there's West Brom who, even though their squad were slightly better last season, are just standing still. Loads of time for these teams to strengthen but buying late doesn't help. Getting the bulk of our transfers in for the season starting is putting us ahead of our rivals at present imo.
According to the BBC website they`ve just signed Mitrovic , a young striker from Anterlecht, for 13.5m - so I don`t think we`re pulling away from them just yet!
That's a large chunk of budget to spend on a 20 year old who needs time. They'll need him to hit the ground running. A lot of pressure. Mitrovic is signing only a top 4 club can really afford, expensive outlay but they have time to bed him in properly with a quality squad already in place. I think Mitrovic could well flop if he doesn't score goals quickly.
I wish that we were, but I don't think that we're 'pulling away' from anybody at the moment Having said that, because of the plan that seems to be in place, Big Dick's making me feel more excited than I've been, pre-season, for many years Big Dicks don't always make me feel excited, but I can't deny the effect that this one's having
Newcastle have a lot of baggage from last season with the likes of Coloccini, Williamson, etc who simply stopped playing. I'd be surprised if Coloccini starts as captain. Last season's signings like Riviére are poor and the new ones, as you say, probably need time although that's not certain. Still, there's time for both clubs to make signings although Newcastle have spent a fair chunk already. I remain sure that we'll have at least one loan & one signing pending the big clubs incoming deals. I think we'll also have people asking about some of our players like Graham, Fletcher, etc and we can free up some wages. If we can shift a few I'd expect us to bring in a striker worth over £10 million.
Two creative midfielders for me. We have Giacc who is due a bit of good fortune and a decent run in the side, but Rodwell has been a disappointment IMHO and I'd like a bit more quality behind the strikers. We have enough forwards anyway and sooner or later they'll come good.
Disagree with the fact that our current strikers barring Defoe will come good. They're not good enough - simple as that. Their records prove this.
Fletcher was bloody good before the injuries and might yet get back to where he was. Wickham, who knows? He has talent, but his attitude is suspect. Defoe and Lens should be okay and I rate Graham as a hold-up man. I wouldn't have said no to Van Persie (), but I have always thought it was the supply that was the problem in the first instance.
I rated Fletch before we signed him and was happy when we did, however I think his best has gone due to injuries. Wickham - I think there's a player in there, I really do, it's just his attitude will probably mean he'll never do anything of note. Danny Graham is backup - simple as that. I'd like to see one more to accompany Lens & Defoe to make up the front 3.
We have signed Coates who was there last season anyways. Matthews who I believe was 3rd choice right back at Celtic. Kaboul has hardly played for 3 seasons so even 'if' he stays clear of injury will probably need a full season to get back to his best. Lens is a genuine improvement on the squad. We are moving in the right direction but I still feel we are another 3 or 4 players away from seeing big improvement and consolidating higher up the league.
We do need to shift some players on like. But I'm very happy we've got the bulk of our signings in early.
