Our cramped midfield

All have played in the first team (except Cabeye obviously). You may as well add another in the shape of N'zogbia/Gervinho/A.N.Other winger.

Nolan,
Barton,
Gurthrie,
Smith,
Routledge (still on books)
Ferguson (/lb)
Jonas
Cabaye
Smith
Gosling
Ben Arfa
Tiote
Lua Lua
Vuckic

Somethings got to give. Who will go?

I think Smith, Lua Lua, Barton, Routledge and Possibly Jonas will go. I dont think Nolan will go yet, Guthrie will stay as cover.

 

I'd give my right leg for Jonas to stay.

I'm probably one of the few that would prefer him to stay than Jose.

 

smith routlage lua lua(unfortunatly) all out I think and we'll be implamenting squad rotation next season

 

Well for a start we could destroy that Smith Clone

 

What he said^

 

Yeah, i'd like Jonas to stay too. I think hes underated by a lot of fans. He does make things happen and we lack geniune wing players in that list. Not saying jonas is an out and out winger but he can do a job there.

 

Lol

I could possibly have made up for my error if i had duplicated Tiotes name by saying he is worth two of any normal man.... but Smith, nope, no excuse for that.

 

Jonas work rate is fantastic, he runs just as fast at 89mins as he does at the start of the game. Whether or not he contributes massively to a game in terms of goals and assists, he almost always keeps the defense occupied and distracted with constant dangerous runs. Don't want to lose him at all and I think with more talent up front he'll shine even more.

I hope we don't lose too much of our midfield, the size of it makes me more confident of a better cup run without having to wear out regular PL starters.

 

I think after this season we could sell Jonas (depending on transfers/where we finish), because he said he would like to end his career in Italy and he will be 28/29 then. We could then bring in a younger player - whether that be Ferguson or someone bought.
I wouldn't be sad to see him leave because I can't imagine it being on bad terms and it's what he would want to do

 

First Team / Rotation
Tioté
Barton
Nolan
Cabaye
Ben Arfa
Jonas

Back-up
Guthrie
Ferguson (maybe loan)
Gosling (maybe loan)

Loan
Lua Lua
Vuckic

Sell
Smith
Routledge

 

Spot on

 

I'd say our senior team midfielders are:

Barton
Tiote
Nolan
Jonas
Ben Arfa
Cabaye
Gosling
Ferguson

We're not massively oversubscribed considering we're playing one up front next season, and don't forget Tiote will have African Cup duties next season (as well as a few suspensions). Ben Arfa and Gosling could have a lot of niggly injuries considering they haven't had much football recently, and Cabaye could take a while to settle. So all in all I think that's a healthy core squad.

The rest are dispensable (you've all forgotten Ryan Taylor as well from what I can see). I'd like to hang on to the younger ones, but I wouldn't be overly disappointed to see them leave, Routledge is gone, and Smith has to go.

 

Good point, and who could forget about Mr James Versatility Perch!?

 

Also missing is Medhi Abeid who also claims he will have a big part in first team duties this season

 

Is it wrong that at first glance I thought the title of this thread was "Our creampied midfield"...

 

Jonas for me gives so much for the team. He gives the boys at the back a break if we're under pressure and though he may not be the most creative left winger we've ever had he does the job extremely well. Love him to bits.

He just needs to wave...

 

Yes.

 

To answer the question seriously, I reckon the following will leave or go out on loan this summer-

Nolan
Barton
Guthrie
Smith
Routledge
Ferguson
Jonas
Cabaye
Gosling
Ben Arfa
Tiote
Lua Lua
Vuckic

Which basically leaves-

Nolan
Barton
Guthrie
Ferguson
Jonas
Cabaye
Gosling
Ben Arfa
Tiote

That's nine players which is about right if we want to play a 5 man midfield and make a good cup run.

 

we seem to have a flux of new users that have no idea of football or newcastle, i hope one day they will learn

 

Nolan - could be leaving next season
Barton - could be leaving next season
Gurthrie - squad cover
Smith - should be leaving this season
Routledge - could be leaving this season
Ferguson - still young
Jonas - staying
Cabaye - just signed
Gosling - staying
Ben Arfa - staying
Tiote - staying
Lua Lua - could be leaving this season
Vuckic still young.