211 replies to this topic

[ethangl]

BBC reports the Toon have signed Romain Amalfitano on a free.

I expect the following have played their last match in the black and white:

GK
Steve Harper (retirement?)
Fraser Forster (probably sold to Celtic)

D
Danny Simpson (rejected contract offer)

M
Danny Guthrie (looking for more playing time)
Alan Smith (shit)

F
Loven (retirement or the Danish league)
Leon Best (see: Danny Guthrie)
Xisco (turboshit)

Edited by ethangl, 03 February 2013 - 09:10 AM.

[Apisith]

Yup. I think you have it bang on the money.

Amalfitano joins on a four year deal.

[Seven Costanza]

I'd be surprised if Leon Best goes, even if Ba manages to stick around. Cisse, Ameobi... and who else?

Xisco still has a year left and is on huge money. Fingers crossed that Deportivo wants him again next year.

EDIT: Maybe we can bring Michael Owen back. I hear he's looking for work.

Edited by Seven Costanza, 23 May 2012 - 11:54 AM.

[URI]

Tim Krul for Spurs, yeah?

My man above said that would make him say not nice outloud words to me. I'd be ok with it.

[Seven Costanza]

I believe I said I would cut you. I stand by that. Krul's the man.


What would be the point of him leaving for Tottenham this summer? No Champions' League football at White Hart... if he goes, I think he goes to the Bridge. I wouldn't be surprised if Newcastle value him at 15 million pounds or greater- will Tottenham spring for that? Given that Newcastle paid all of 200k for him, wouldn't be a bad ROI if someone bit though.

[URI]

That would put him as the 2nd most expensive keeper in the Primiership after de Gea ever, yeah?

That's got to be a top 5 ever fee overall after Neuer and Buffon.

[Seven Costanza]

I have no idea, I'll take your word for that. I'm just regurgitating figures that I've seen bandied about on Newcastle fanzines. The word coming out of the club has been that they'll listen to offers for anyone, but will only sell real steep. Not that my opinion matters, but I figure he's gotta be rated in the 10-15 million pound range. He signed a contract extension mid season- they've got him locked up for a while, makes sense to make a desperate team pay out the nose Andy Carroll style. You also never hear anything about him making noise about going to a 'bigger' club.

I think a very convincing argument can be made that he's one of the top 2 or 3 keepers in the League- Hart, Al Habsi and Vorm being the others. IMO, I think Krul was exponentially better than DeGea this year.

EDIT: I just did a quick google search- this is from a Daily Mail article from back in January: "The North East club value Krul at £15million but that won’t deter Tottenham as they look to shape a side that can challenge for the Premier League on a consistent basis."

Edited by Seven Costanza, 23 May 2012 - 01:19 PM.

[URI]

You're forgetting old man Freidel.

That's something want to take a look at, is the best keepers in the league this last season. You figure that guys like Hart, al-Habsi, Vrom, Krul, Reina, Freidel, and Hennessey have a claim to the top 10. And Martan Fulup #47

[Snakebauer007]

Why would krul go to Chelsea? There is no need for him what do ever

[Seven Costanza]

You sound like my brother. Champions League heroics nonwithstanding, he's not getting any younger. Surely you've seen the rumors linking Krul and Tiote to Chelsea?

EDIT: That sounds kind of snarky. I certainly don't mean it that way.

Edited by Seven Costanza, 23 May 2012 - 03:29 PM.

[Troy O'Lovely]

I've heard speculation confirmation (meaning other people have said they have it on 'good authority'... but then don't cite sources) that Simpson and Guthrie have declared their intent to leave (nufc.com). My question is, have you heard that Forster is leaving? I realize that Celtic probably want him, but quality goalkeepers aren't easy to find and part of the initial reason for the loan spell was that he was involved in competition rather than languishing on the bench/reserves. From where I sit nothing has changed, you would think that Celtic would have made overtures towards signing Forster before this and Newcastle is still in the same spot that they were in prior to loaning him.

[Snakebauer007]

You sound like my brother. Champions League heroics nonwithstanding, he's not getting any younger. Surely you've seen the rumors linking Krul and Tiote to Chelsea?

EDIT: That sounds kind of snarky. I certainly don't mean it that way.

No worries, Cech is only 30, for me he is just in his prime years if anything.

And the secession plan is already in place with Thibault Courtois. He's 20 years old and finished the season with Atletico on 22 clean sheets, including the shutout in the Europa League Final.

Edit: The Tiote rumors popped up before AVB got fired, since he banished Mikel, inexplicably to the bench. With Mikel back and being one of our best performers, and having young Romeu in the fold, I dont see Chelsea having a need for a holding mid for a long time.

Edited by Snakebauer007, 23 May 2012 - 03:50 PM.

[ribbito]

My first "off-season" as a soccer fan. What can I expect from Newcastle? From what I've read and heard so far it seems to me we are somewhat comparable to the Hudson, Giambi, Tejada A's. Compete through shrewd signings and scouting and selling high to keep everything (the club) running financially. I'm okay with that I suppose but please don't tell me Cisse or Ben Arfa are leaving so soon.

[ethangl]

My question is, have you heard that Forster is leaving?

Yes. I don't think we're looking to sell him but we can't expect him to be happy getting the odd game here or there when he can be a starter elsewhere.

[SoxFanInCali]

My first "off-season" as a soccer fan. What can I expect?

Not just with Newcastle, this applies to every club.

You will hear rumors of signing every player that plays even remotely well at Euro 2012. You will also hear rumors that every one of your players may be leaving. Most of what you hear is unsubstantiated crap designed to sell newspapers in England. Don't believe anything unil you see the player at a press conference holding a scarf over his head.

[ethangl]

selling high to keep everything (the club) running financially

Not really -- if we get an utterly daft offer (Carroll) or have a malcontent (Enrique) that's one thing, but I don't think anybody's been sold just to balance the books.

When Ba is sold it'll be because he and Cisse in a 4-4-2 just doesn't work, and he'll be unhappy playing wide.

[BelgianSoxFan]

No worries, Cech is only 30, for me he is just in his prime years if anything.

And the secession plan is already in place with Thibault Courtois. He's 20 years old and finished the season with Atletico on 22 clean sheets, including the shutout in the Europa League Final.

And they spend 9M euro on Courtois, not that it matters for Chelsea, but that is a lot of money for a goalie.

[ribbito]

Not just with Newcastle, this applies to every club.

You will hear rumors of signing every player that plays even remotely well at Euro 2012. You will also hear rumors that every one of your players may be leaving. Most of what you hear is unsubstantiated crap designed to sell newspapers in England. Don't believe anything unil you see the player at a press conference holding a scarf over his head.

Alrighty then. Thanks for the heads up. Looks like reading SoSH and other Sox sites has come in handy after all. I've had lots of practice ignoring rumors of players coming here.

Not really -- if we get an utterly daft offer (Carroll) or have a malcontent (Enrique) that's one thing, but I don't think anybody's been sold just to balance the books.

When Ba is sold it'll be because he and Cisse in a 4-4-2 just doesn't work, and he'll be unhappy playing wide.

Even better then. Thanks to the both of you for the info.

[Seven Costanza]

Leon Best off to Blackburn for 3 million GBP. Guthrie signed on a free with Reading yesterday.

Not a bad piece of business for Best.

[Infield Infidel]

It's between NUFC and Monchengladbach for Luuk De Jong. If Ba leaves, replacing him with a 21 yr old that scored 25 goals in the Eredivisie would be a quality reaction.

[Seven Costanza]

Twente is playing harball for Luuk- seeing reports that a 12 mil GBP bid has been rejected. (what a great name.. LUUK) McClaren is saying that it will take an offer that can't be refused to pry him away, even though he's on record as wanting to leave.

Transfer for Douglas (brazilian center back) from Twente is looking better though.

[ethangl]

Gaël Bigirimana is in for a medical so that transfer should be wrapped up soon.

[ethangl]

Le new kit:

[Infield Infidel]

SILVERWARE!

[Seven Costanza]

Just was in a Sports Direct store in Staines. A million Chelsea, Man U, Arsenal, Tottenham and Barcelona kits.


Not one piece of Newcastle merchandise. Not a one. Ha!

[ethangl]

The Vernon Anita deal is just about wrapped up: http://www1.skysport.../11678/7985165?

[Seven Costanza]

My pilgrimage to Mecca.

Edited by Seven Costanza, 15 August 2012 - 05:17 AM.

[Apisith]

Nice. And you were able to take a photo without that hideous Sports Direct sign too.

[Zomp]

Photoshopped.

[Seven Costanza]

Nice. And you were able to take a photo without that hideous Sports Direct sign too.

Yeah, any advertisements in the stadium were covered up. We got there like 2 plus hours before the game started as I wanted to walk around the park and go to the team store and such.

Except the team store was closed b/c of the Olympics. Which was a bummer as I was hoping to get a couple of things and avoid the shipping costs. Probably for the best though, as I most certainly would have gone overboard.

Place was fucking awesome though. Probably 45-50k in the stands, of which maybe 5k had any rooting interest in the game. Very cool to see the big names on the Brazil team. Hulk is built like a brick shithouse.

Edited by Seven Costanza, 15 August 2012 - 10:20 AM.

[Seven Costanza]

NUFC officially announce the signing of Vernun Anita from Ajax on a 5 year deal.

I know it's Ajax, but thoughts TtP?

Edited by Seven Costanza, 16 August 2012 - 07:10 AM.

[Joe D Reid]

Picked up right where they left off--the team put in a good shift chasing around Spurs, they got a couple breaks, and Demba Ba did something sublime. Fingers crossed.

[Apisith]

HBA is magic. He's the most creative player in the league.

[SoxVindaloo]

HBA is magic. He's the most creative player in the league.

If he can stay healthy and keep his head screwed on straight he is going to have a monster season.

[Seven Costanza]

Toon start very strong but the Greeks score first.

But with the final kick in the 1st half, RYAN TAYLOR OVER THE WALL to make it 1-1. Crucial away goal.

Let's get at it in the second half- and less than 48 hours til Chelsea at the Bridge.

[SoxFanInCali]

Ha, I just realized the Greek team's goalie is Charles Itandje. You may remember him as the Liverpool keeper when we lost to Barnsley in the FA Cup. A year later, cameras caught him smiling and laughing during the Hillsborough memorial service, he was suspended, and he never played for the club again.

Edited by SoxFanInCali, 23 August 2012 - 01:54 PM.

[ethangl]

[soxfan121]

That was a thrilling second half.

If the linesman weren't blind AND stupid, Newcastle would not be taking home a point. But holy shit, Ba is good.

[Infield Infidel]

Yeah, I feel dirty talking the point there. Everyone is on the bad side of an offsides call now and then but that second no-goal call screamed for goal-line technology

[ethangl]

*shrug*

Not even close to a foul that gave them the freekick in the first place.

[Seven Costanza]

Yeah, I feel dirty talking the point there. Everyone is on the bad side of an offsides call now and then but that second no-goal call screamed for goal-line technology

Hell, Pardew admitted as such in his postgame. I'm right with you though- didn't deserve that point in the slightest.

I didn't get to watch at all- but is anyone concerned about Cisse given his prolific scoring rate last year?

[Infield Infidel]

I didn't get to watch at all- but is anyone concerned about Cisse given his prolific scoring rate last year?

Not at all. He had a couple good chances, one just missing on the outside of the far post, and the second where he tried to loop a volley over a jumping Howard but sent it just over the bar. He had more time than he thought on that one; had he known how much time he had, he could have let the ball settle, and thenfire it harder or send it low had he known.

Ba's second was a similar situation, with Howard jumping again, and he took the time to the let the ball bounce and then send it low and soft.

Edited by Infield Infidel, 18 September 2012 - 01:30 PM.

[Blundatola]

I think Cisse will be fine. He did just score that ridiculous header for Senegal, so he hasn't lost his flair for the dramatic.

I'm curious what you guys think of Vurnon Anita so far. It's only been a few matches, but he looks quite a bit better at RB than CM to my eyes. I also feel James Perch is a much better CM than RB and that's from a larger sample of play. Along with the introduction of Ba, the swap of Anita and Perch seemed to help give them a foothold in the match and allow the theft of a point in yesterday's match.

Assuming both of my positional assessments are even accurate (and given the current injury status of the squad), it makes sense to swap them in my opinion. Of course it also bears mentioning Anita prefers CM and that's where Pardew sees him, but Anita has also said he will play where needed. Could he be a viable long term option at RB or am I full of it?

My first team would look like this:

--------------------Krul--------------------
Anita----Taylor-----Colo-----Santon
-------------------Tiote-------------------
-------Cabaye-----------Gutierrez----
Ben Arfa--------------------Marveaux
-----------------Ba/Cisse----------------

or

------------------Krul----------------------
Anita----Taylor-----Colo-----Santon
HBA---Cabaye---Tiote---Gutierrez
-----------Ba------------Cisse-----------

[ethangl]

Not much to say about that. Dan Gosling: Kevin Nolan without the goals.

[Apisith]

8 year deal for Pardew.

[Zomp]

Why so long? Are they worried England would come calling?

[Seven Costanza]

I've done a complete 180 on Pardew since he took the job- I think he's great for the team- but 8 years...

I hope he doesn't shit the bed 3 years from now and the team has to pay him out for the remaining 5.

[Seven Costanza]

3-0 Toon thus far against Bordeaux, who haven't lost yet this term. SHOLAGOALS, an OG, and one from CISSE (he scores when he wants) on an assist from Ferguson.

Certainly the best opposition they've seen thus far in the competition.

[Seven Costanza]

And that's what happens when you start Willamson and Perch in the middle against Manchester United.

[Seven Costanza]

So the new shirt sponser is apparently 'Wonga'- a payday lender/loan shark. People are pretty pissed about the club essentially endorsing predatory lending.