Its fairly obvious that MoN has squeezed just about every last inch of effort he can out of this current Bruce squad of players. Down and out to comfortable mid table in 4.5 short months, we can all start to think about what changes Martin might bring in his first full transfer window. There will be departures and there will be arrivals but not I would imagine on the same scale that saw Bruce practically buy and sell a new team every transfer window. I think Gardener will be allowed to return to the Midlands and sit beside his Mummy's apron strings once again. He wont be missed. Neither will the departures of Elmo, Ji (loan), Wickham (loan), Bramble, Vaughan, Bendtner and Kyriakos. Although I actually like Bridge, I think he too will not be coming permanently either. Gordon looks like he will be the one to make way allowing Westwood and Mig to fight it out for the top spot. In comings will be a left back; right winger; central midfielder play-maker; 2 strikers. Players linked already are McGeady, Johnson, Agbonlahor, Phillips (Matt not SKP); Albrighton, Cuellar and Collins. None of these would be bad signings, although I think there will be many more speculative suggestions before the summer is out and a few twists and turns to go. Whoever does come in we need quality and pace right through the middle. Over to you Marty.
I've quoted 10 departures there Comm so apart from Sessegnon, who we just dont know about, who else in your opinion will go then kidda?
Keep Vaughan - DEFINITELY! Also Richardson, Angeleri and Larsson do nothing to improve us - for that matter, I prefer Gardner to Richardson as a squad play any day including Sundays
Ricco for starters...maybe McClean (who knows) These lists always seem to compose of players we don't care if they leave, and then compose of players we would like... But in reality it don't work like that.. Why should we expect us to buy top players from other club, but find it hard to accept we could lose our's... This is not aimed at you personally Cest, just a general observation of the board.
Human nature, all the Newcastle fans are talking along the lines of: OUT Smith Xisco Lovenkrands IN Pieters Hoilett M'Vila
Ricco yes because he wants to go back to London & Sessegnon yes because he too wants to go back to France (if the reports are to be believed) but McClean? Not yet good enough to go to a better club imo. He would be swamped and drowned at a Utd, Chelsea, Spurs,Arsenal or City for example and he must look at how Henderson has gone backwards since his move to Liverpool. To be frank, none of our players are indespensible Com, or would be huge losses to us in the big picture imo if they left or were sold.
To me, a measure of the quality of our squad is to consider who would buy our players if they were all available? The top 7 would, in my opinion, only be interested in Sess! The middle 7 would be interested in Cattermole, O'Shea, Brown, Kilgallon, Richardson, Campbell, Larsson, Bardsley, McClean and perhaps the two keepers Mignolet and Westwood. The bottom 6 would consider Gordon, Vaughan, Gardner, Colback and Turner (Though I think Colback will continue to improve) Championship clubs may look at Bramble, Elmo, Meyler, Carson, Whickham and Dong Won This is probably why, even with O'Neill's influence we are still a mid-table side. I agree with Cest, we now need quality and the sort of player that would be bought by the top 7. If O'Neil brings in a quality players at Striker, centre mid, centre half and left back, perhaps we can compete for a top 7 spot.
Meyler considered only by Championship clubs? I haven't seen anything of him, but from what I'm told by friends he's one of your brightest prospects..
Still time for the lad. I dont think he will be going, although I agree with most of the speculation on this thread,,,,so far.
Before his in jury, I think he was a first choice before Catts on form. He has been out a long time and we wont see his best again, if at all, until next season. As with Frazier Campbell, who also faced a career threatening injury and a long time out, they will both require patience from us and management for the short term. Dont write Meyler off as a Championship player as I do believe he is a decent EPL one still.
Ben Arfa has been back and fit for almost 6 months and only now are we starting to see the best of him. Meyler needs more time after the kind of injury he had.
Footballers are humans too!!! These kinds of injury 10 or 15 years ago could have finished the lads career. Now he will have to work very hard just to get back to where he was 2 years ago but at least he has a chance.
I reckon these lot will be off; Gk Gordan Defenders Titus Bramble Angerleri Mccartney Midfield David Meyler Elmo Riveros Forward Wickham (loan)
Out; Gordon Angeleri McCartney Richardson Gardner Riveros Sessegnon Gyan + Bendtner, Greek and Bridge Hoping for a quality defender, a left back, a classy cm, a Pacy right sided player and two strikers
