Newcastle United News Thread!

by Young_Towzer Wed Jun 01, 2011 7:49 am

First topic message reminder :

Toon fan in peace here, who would the fans like to see us buy and who are realistic targets for us?, i've made a few suggestions, opinions?.

Lewis McGugan - N.Forest
Shane Long - Reading
Daniel Sturridge - Chelsea - (Loan)
Jason Puncheon - Southampton
Kevin Doyle - Wolves
Demba Ba - West Ham
Mark Noble - West Ham
Nicky Maynard - Bristol City
Grant Holt - Norwich City
Roger Johnson - Birmingham City
Oba Martins - Whoever he's at !
Charles Nzogbia - Wigan
Hugo Rodallega - Wigan
Niko Kranjcar - Spurs
Giovanni - Spurs
Matthew Upson - West Ham
Taiwo - Marseille

Cheers
Steven.

by Thomond Mon Aug 29, 2011 7:57 pm

Was that Best's first start of the year? Is he a viable option for Ireland do you think?

by Beer Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:01 pm

He started against Scunthorpe as well. He needs a few more starts in my opinion but he's a proper little goal poacher!

by Liam_Main Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:03 pm

Best always seems to have a cameo here and there, pops up with a few goals when needed. Would look to see Gosling played more for us

by **Crimey** Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:50 pm

That second goal was nice from Best, I think it was harder than he looked, the first turn was excellent.

by Guest Mon Aug 29, 2011 9:10 pm

He was really good yesterday, especially having to play next to Lovenkrands who was pretty much anonymous for the entire game. I think Best's hold up play was good as well yesterday, would like to see us unleash Ba and Best upfront against QPR.

by Liam_Main Mon Aug 29, 2011 10:32 pm

Newcastle in talks with Inter Milan defender Davide Santon

by Guest Mon Aug 29, 2011 10:47 pm

Was just coming on to post the same thing Laugh

Hopefully this deal goes through quite swiftly and doesn't drag on like the rumours of other players have. Get him in and add another striker and possibly another winger or defender and I'd be happy.

Anyone know what happened to Doucoure, Remy and Situ? All were on trial at the club and scored in their games, but it's gone quiet on them all now.

by Guest Tue Aug 30, 2011 12:34 am

Some stats from the Fulham game:

Coloccini had a 91% pass completion rate, 31/34 passes finding their target. Also interesting how most of his passes aren't short. S.Taylor had 89%, with a lot of short passes.

Our fullbacks and wingers only made 2 successful crosses in to the opposition area. 11 unsuccessful crosses.

Lovenkrands only made 8 passes in the 63mins he played, with only 1 off-target shot and one tackle. Anonymous. His replacement, Ba, attempted 11 passes, 5 tackles and made 3 interceptions.

by Mr H Tue Aug 30, 2011 9:54 pm

I'm not over hyping the guy, but seriously how good is Tiote? The guy is a beast. He patrols the area infront of the back 4 so well and is so assured on the ball. He is going to be a massive player for us this season. I'm amazed the likes of Arsenal havent looked at him.

Ive also seen we are linked with Benayoun, that would be a great signing but cant see him picking us over some of the other clubs he's been linked with.

If we sign Santon and Maiga and take Macheda on loan as being reported in Italy, i'd be happy.

by Guest Tue Aug 30, 2011 11:13 pm

I thought Tiote was below his average against Fulham, but hopefully after the international games he'll be back on top form.

Benayoun is too old and on big wages, no chance of him coming to us imo. Santon, Bolek and Elliot all at the club having medicals- a bit worrying bringing two new keepers in when we already have too many. Santon and Maiga would be good, unsure about Macheda, would prefer to sign another midfielder.

by Guest Wed Aug 31, 2011 3:37 am

Santon signs a 5 year deal with the club, fee supposed to be around £5m. Bargain if he can play really well, just hope he's strong enough mentally to cope with the Premier League.

by Corporalhumblebucket Wed Aug 31, 2011 9:12 am

Only 24 hours left to sign Carlton Cole Very Happy

Need to get your skates on.....

by monty junior Wed Aug 31, 2011 9:18 am

Very good signing, Santon was an Italian international at 18 but has found first team action tough with Maicon and Chivu ahead of him. I really think this could be the bargain of the summer.

by Guest Wed Aug 31, 2011 7:54 pm

Corporal, I'll keep on praying for you then Wink

News today that Ranger could be booted out to Birmingham, just hope we can get rid of Lovenkrands and Smith as well. Hope we can bring in Maiga and possibly if I could be picky, another defender, midfielder and striker. Situ would be a good defender to get, just hope we don't get pipped by Swansea. Other strikers named have been Papiss Cisse and Macheda.

Lee Ryder mentions on Twitter that Santon turned other clubs down to join us- IIRC it was Roma.

by Soldier_Of_Fortune Wed Aug 31, 2011 9:53 pm

Churchill wrote:Corporal, I'll keep on praying for you then

News today that Ranger could be booted out to Birmingham, just hope we can get rid of Lovenkrands and Smith as well. Hope we can bring in Maiga and possibly if I could be picky, another defender, midfielder and striker. Situ would be a good defender to get, just hope we don't get pipped by Swansea. Other strikers named have been Papiss Cisse and Macheda.

Lee Ryder mentions on Twitter that Santon turned other clubs down to join us- IIRC it was Roma.

Why did he always support Newcastle as a boy?

by Guest Wed Aug 31, 2011 10:25 pm

Nope, agent confirms that AP, MA and DL were all really keen to get him to the club, getting paid a decent wage and was really interested in the derby and how big football is in Newcastle.

by Fernando Thu Sep 01, 2011 5:47 am

Newcastle have matched fulham's bid for Bryan Ruiz

Now up to him to decide where he wants to go

by Guest Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:39 pm

Some sources reported we never had a bid accepted, but I'd take a guess that it was a late PR stunt ala Zog in January.

by Mr H Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:19 pm

Im not overly concerned that we didnt sign a striker. They're not going to win the Golden Boot but Best, Ba and Shola will get us 'enough' goals and with Ben Arfa coming back into the side he will contribute. Im glad we didnt spunk £10m on Ruiz or £7m on Maiga, both unproven and massive gambles for that kind of money. Shoot me down for saying this but James Beattie has been released by Rangers, i'd take him on a short term deal to boost options. We'll sign a striker in January though, im sure of that.

If three of Swansea, Norwich, QPR, Blackburn, Wigan and West Brom finish above us i would be amazed.

by Geordie Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:23 pm

Shola!!?? Your joking. Loan the guy out to gateshead or something. He's woeful.
And Ba just looks like Shola mark 2. First Touch of a baby elephant.
We needed a goalscorer badly.

As it stands we must now give Vuckic, Sammi and Best a shot. And you really cant knock Best for his goals. I believe he has a record of 8 goals in 10 starts.

And Sammys looking promising. Better than his attrocious brother already.

by Mr H Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:33 pm

Ba has scored 74 goals in 147 appearances, thats a goal every other game, not a bad return. Even if he scores every THREE games this season that would give him a return of 13 league goals, i'd take that for someone signed on a free transfer.

I'd start with Ba and Best. Like i said im not concerned though, we'll score enough to atleast keep us up.

by Geordie Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:40 pm

"we'll score enough to at least keep us up.."

I agree with you there mind.

I didnt realise ba had a record like that...everytime i see him he "pulls a shola" and trips over the ball.

by Mr H Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:59 pm

Ba is a bit of a donkey and isnt the most technically gifted player in the world but he's a battering ram and i reckon he'll hit double figures this season.

If we were prepared to pay 10m on Ruiz, in January i'd love to see us ring FC Koln and bid for Lukas Podolski. Only mid twenties, has that explosive style and rocket left foot. He'd be a cross between Laurent Robert and Oba Martins. The Gallowgate would love him. Not sure about his wages, but if he fancied a crack at the Premiership i'd love to have him at the Toon.

by Geordie Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:27 pm

Who knows...... Best might be banging them in for fun if he is given a decent run....

by Guest Thu Sep 01, 2011 11:11 pm

I think if Ba, Best and Ameobi can knock together 20 goals between them it would be good. We still have some funds for January if we're not scoring too regularly, and hopefully players like Maiga and Cisse won't be as difficult to get.

by Guest Sat Sep 10, 2011 11:36 pm

Good, strong words from the club in the Q&A, whether or not they're believable is another matter. One good thing is that they seem to be keeping a keen eye on the finances. 65% wages to turnover would be fantastic this year, surely one of the best in the league (excluding the big clubs).

by Geordie Tue Sep 13, 2011 12:22 am

What is Nile Ranger playing at. Fighting, now getting arrested for Drink Driving.
Time to move him on.

by Guest Tue Sep 13, 2011 3:18 am

Hopefully we can cancel his contract because he's been involved with the police. Never looked anything more than physically developed, lack of footballing skill was probably why Southampton didn't keep him. Would also been we only have 4 senior strikers and one youth option; anothe reason to make a striker the early priority.

by Geordie Tue Sep 13, 2011 10:02 pm

Hopefully Churchill.....

Im gonna sound like a broken record player here.....but does Shola Ameobi have some secret info over Newcastle Chairman.....

He is without doubt the most ineffective, unskilled player i have seen play for us. He is slow lazy, cant head, has the control of a baby elephant...need i go on.

Why is he always in there starting??

by Guest Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:26 pm

God knows, I've always thought he could do a job but at times last night he was embarassing. Best played well for the opening 45, probably our best player. We were awful last night and lucky to escape with a draw, let alone a clean sheet. Tiote and Cabaye were ineffectual.

Ba/Best would be my starting pair.

by Beer Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:32 pm

Tiote and Ba have been on Ramadan so they wont be fully fit.

by Guest Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:37 pm

Glad that Tiote had an excuse for being Poopie last night, Taarabt completed ruined him.

by Guest Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:41 pm

intresting to see the newcastle fans after the qpr game last night, singing joey barton's name.

by Beer Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:53 pm

Glad he took out Barton last night.

It was a poor performance, but i'd rather the battled point than a defeat. Hatem is back soon, he should add some much need creativity to the attack, expect Marveaux to be used more when he returns.

by Geordie Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:58 pm

Well i cant understand why Marveux has not had more gametime. He looked the part versus a dogged scunthorpe side.

Id be inclined to start with Sammy and Best up front.

Best is showing he can fight, score (if given some chances) and is enthusiastic.
Sammy has that little bit of skill.

Whats happened to Vuckic?

They changed the game v Scunthorpe, and have never been seen since!

by Beer Wed Sep 14, 2011 12:06 am

Harry is injured, Marveaux is building up his fitness, they don't wanna throw him straight in, remember, he hasn't played since December or something.

Best deserves a run, he looks sharp and goes for goal, we need that at the moment.

by Beer Wed Sep 14, 2011 12:13 am

Reserves are currently 4-0 up against Norwich.

Santon, Gosling, Fergie, Guthrie and Harper all involved. Santon playing well, Gosling has 2 goals, Richardson and G-Mac (Terry's son).

by Guest Wed Sep 14, 2011 12:14 am

Wouldn't start Sammy, he gave the ball away every single time last night when he came on. Still hasn't show anything worthy of a starting place. Vuckic is more of a midfielder in my eyes, slightly attacking through the centre.

When Marveaux is finally ready to come back I wouldn't object to seeing a line of Ba - Marvaeux - Jonas playing just behind Best, with Ba/Jonas as the wingers.

I thought Richardson was out on loan? Santon will be needed if we play against pace, Raylor got nowhere near SWP all night.

by Beer Wed Sep 14, 2011 12:18 am

He came back last week.

by Celtic Warrior Wed Sep 14, 2011 12:18 am

The one thing I spotted last night that everyone seems to have glossed over was another of Barton's moments.

There was a bit towards the end of the game where it got a little feisty with Sammy Ameobi where QPR won a throw in near the corner flag. Barton picked it up, looked behind him to see where Sammy was then threw the ball off him on purpose.

A minor incident, but just typical of the type of player that Barton is. Niggly and always looking to wind people up.

by Geordie Wed Sep 14, 2011 1:29 am

Churchill,

I agree Sammy made a few mistakes - and probably isnt completely ready, but at least he tried things, got hold of the ball and actually ran at defenders....not to forget his workrate off the ball.
That adds up to far more than his 1st division standard brother did. Give the lad a chance.
Again your right about Vuckic being more of a MF....just think even he would offer more up front than Shola.

I can understand being patient with Marveux...but he seemed to come through extra time fine against a committed scunthorpe team. It will be nice to have a wide player who has an end product unlike Guti.

Celtic, Yeah i saw that little incident. That is Joey through and through. Not a news headline though. Bit of a carry on with an ex team mate.

by Beer Wed Sep 14, 2011 1:52 am

Reserves finished 6-0.

I'd like to see Abied get a run out, he looked good in pre-season.

by Geordie Wed Sep 14, 2011 2:05 am

Actually your right that Abied got some very good reviews pre season.

We seem to have some potnetial coming through in terms of youth.

by Guest Wed Sep 14, 2011 2:49 am

Was anyone else frustrated by how many times Obertan chose NOT to run at people? With his pace he could have gone past a few people more times than he did.

Vuckic, Abeid and Richardson are all talented and could make more appearances in the Carling Cup hopefully.

by Guest Thu Sep 15, 2011 12:13 am

the qpr result i thought was extremely negative on our part, we lacked anything offensively and seriously how much longer can we give shola up front? obertan was 1-1 with gabbidon (probably one of the worst defenders in prem history) and he just chose to pass in field to tiote and put him under pressure. i think tiote has been dreadul so far this season but i know he had a bad preseason and he was immense last season so give him time. i mean even when that connolly came on at left back obertan did nothing, shocking. offensively i'm worried for NUFC. We sit 4th but seriously we've played a weak arsenal, a poor sunderland with 10+ new signings, a relatively slow starting fulham who are in relagation and had europa commitments and now qpr (nothing challenging from those fixtures). qpr even had 5 new signings so they were always going to be getting used to each other and settling in. how we didnt manage to create more and test a defence consisting of anton ferdinand (shocking), gabbidon (dreadful) and traore (who shipped 8 at man utd two weeks prior) is in my view worrying. ben arfa and marveuax should be startin' - creativity n possession

by Guest Thu Sep 15, 2011 5:25 am

I don't really think Traore was responsible for Arsenal conceding 8. Plus Marveaux and Ben Arfa aren't at full fitness, so we'd be risking an awful lot by starting them. If we can pick up points even when playing badly I think that's a positive side, and we know Pardew likes to play good football, it's just a case of when the team start to do so. I think when Ben Arfa comes back he'll drop a striker so we have a lot more in the middle of the park and don't just have to rely on Cabaye there.

by **Crimey** Thu Sep 15, 2011 8:05 am

Traore is awful though to be fair.

by Beer Thu Sep 15, 2011 9:50 am

Traore is 20 and has alot to learn, he could come good.

We have to look at the positives, eventually Pardew is gonna have to blood the youth and he's already said that there are a few players getting close to the first team.

Shane Ferguson, Vuckic and Abeid are 3 people who will offer competition and have plenty to prove and if pre-season is anything to go by; talent in abundance.

by Guest Sat Sep 17, 2011 12:34 am

i think NUFC could be on the end of defeat, especially this weekend. first there's no real way we can keep these clean sheets going and secondly because santon is out for a month, ryan taylor is gonna be playin up against n'zogbia/albrighton. villa attack with width and with bent up front i fear for them this weekend. we got away with it in the first half vs qpr thanks to the shockin finishing of bothroyd. wright-phillips caused mayhem and the pitch is much bigger at villa park so our defence will be stretched. also if ameobi is starting again then its definitely a defeat against a superior team

by Guest Sat Sep 17, 2011 1:06 am

I think Raylor should be able to cope with Albrighton, and if Coloccini keeps up his good form he can keep up with Bent. I think how well Cabaye and Tiote play will determine how well the rest of the team play.

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