alexthegreat

Agree with this - move him on before he gets any older to maximise his fee. By next summer there will hardly be anyone at the club over the age of 27. Don't know if Obertans ever been that highly rated either: "Obertan, who is 20 years old, struggled to make a big impression in Bordeaux’s first team last term, featuring for only 319 minutes spread throughout 11 appearances during the early part of last season. As a result of this inability to break into the starting XI, the former Paris Saint-Germain youngster was shifted to Lorient on loan, where he enjoyed greater competitive exposure. Still, Blanc, a former Manchester United man himself, is surprised by the Red Devils’ decision to pounce at this juncture, but he is happy for the player. “I was surprised too, but it is an unexpected chance for him to play with one of the best clubs in the world,” the coach told Europe1. “Manchester have been tracking him for a long time. They certainly hope to advance him, something that Bordeaux and Lorient have failed to do. He has the potential, but he must overcome psychological and mental challenges so he can express his true value.”

This. Although he must have known the score when he took the job, or at least had a very good idea. His basic wage amounts to very little doesn't it? Its very much performance related so he will get relatively little should he leave. I would be surprised if there wasnt a clause in there making it clear exactly how little input he was really going to have when buying and selling players - the club wouldn't leave themselves open to another payout in a constructive dismissal case after Keegan's tribunal decision would they?

Could Ashley not at least have waited another 3 weeks before deciding to unload in his foot again?

http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=603964 Surely bollocks?

Just found this: http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=39253 5 minutes of footage from the 1955 Cup final - well worth a watch

Do the United board see him as pivotal though?

Would anyone agree with him if he decided run down his contract and leave for nothing? I would - the manager clearly wants him even if the owner doesn't, I think we need him, and theres no guarantee that any money saved on moving him on now would be used usefully. Also think that to some degree he has earned it with his performances last season

Dont really like the idea of going to the Stadium of Light with only Colo and Jonas over the age of 27 (asuming we don't sell them as well) and a load of new french signings still finding their feet. Really hope Bartons still here and somewhere in the middle of the park for that game. Although the same applies for the whole season really - Looking at the experience in the squad, I'd definitely make sure he was in the 1st 11 more often than not

Jackie Milburn Andy Cole Les Ferdinand Alan Shearer Obafemi Martins Andy Carroll edit: sheesh, forgot about Supermac! Albert Shepherd: Shepherd was known for having a ferocious shot which on some occasions even carried the goalkeeper over the line as well as the ball. He was also noted for being a very charismatic and playful character. At half time in an away match at Notts County with the score at 0-0 he asked the Newcastle officials if he could leave the field of play early so as to catch a train to Bolton to visit his family. Newcastles' then Chairman Joe Bell, himself a popular and jovial character, told Shepherd that if he scored four goals he could leave as soon as he liked. Shepherd duly scored four goals in the second half and according to the sports writer Arthur Appleton, "developed a sudden limp" and asked the referee if he could leave the field of play. Shepherd was allowed to leave and soon after caught his train to Bolton on time. (Arthur Appleton "The Hotbed of Soccer")

Doubt it, big 3 in Turkey have been after him for forever and a day. The limitations on foreign players there make him a valuable asset. Probably why we're buying him then

Doesn't add up at all but then how many times have we thought that when reading a story in the press since Ashley arrived and then its all turned out to be completely true?

Thought he had done enough to earn another chance this season. Also thought he had the right attitude as well. Looks like a total overhaul of the squad. Although of course "Shola Ameobi is set to stay", but doesn't that go without saying?

Quote from Quinn in their official mag: "We have to realise that the owner has put a lot of money in over ther last few years in order to get us a base. We've reached that base and we've got to be smart now." Here is that base: 1 GK Craig Gordon 2 DF Phil Bardsley 3 DF Kieran Richardson 4 DF Michael Turner 6 MF Lee Cattermole (team captain) 8 MF Steed Malbranque 9 FW Fraizer Campbell 12 DF Marcos Angeleri 16 MF Cristian Riveros 18 MF David Meyler 19 DF Titus Bramble 22 GK Simon Mignolet 25 MF Jack Colback 26 MF Jordan Cook 27 MF Ahmed Elmohamady 28 MF Stéphane Sessègnon 29 DF Anton Ferdinand 31 FW Ryan Noble 33 FW Asamoah Gyan 37 MF Adam Reed 38 FW Craig Lynch 40 DF Louis Laing Doesnt look very good without the loan signings, Bent and Henderson. If they don't make a lot of good signings then I think they could be in serious trouble next season

Nolan moving on left met thinking about what Ashley's intentions are. I basically think hes working very hard to sweat every penny from the club, thinking of player's resale values in particular. The older players in the squad are in the following situations: Smith we know is for sale. Ameobi we tried to sell a while back but he failed the medical, and he cannot manage 3 game in a row, so we are probably stuck with him. Harper will have little value and neither would Lovenkrands, who will probably see out his final year and leave. Coloccini is 29 but on enormous wages that make him difficult to shift. Then theres Barton and Jonas at the age of 28. Barton has 1 year left on his deal, Jonas has 2. At first I was surprised to see Jonas on Joey Barton's tagline but viewed from the point of view of his age it might just about make sense. Ashley would rather sell players before they hit 29/ 30 so they still retain some value when they leave. On the other hand, players in their early 20s like Danny Simpson are being tied up on 5 year deals – ensuring that even three years down the line the club will still be in a strong position to negotiate a high fee for a player still in his mid 20s - and probably still not far from the maximum value he’ll attain in his career. Of course our better players such as Enrique could still be preyed on by the top 4 at any time, but this is true of any club. The success of this strategy is obviously largely dependent on the players brought in to replace those outgoing. Its clear that one of the owner’s successes has been his work on the scouting network. As long as any new players are of the same pedigree of Ben Arfa, Tiote, and Cabaye then I cannot see us getting dragged into the mess created in Ashley’s second year. The academy is also showing signs of producing. Its not a model without risks – we could suffer from a lack of experience in the squad and I think Ashley’s desire not to waste money will mean we could always find ourselves 1 or 2 players short of a full squad size. But on the whole it could actually be a viable model for running a football club that doesn’t have unlimited resources, even if it does maybe seem a little overly cynical to appeal to a football fan. Llambias said the vision is to finish ‘in the top 10 every year’ and I think this is the model to do it as efficiently as possible, as uninspiring as that vision may be.

"while Dan Gosling – who has impressed Newcastle with his determination to be fit for the start of the season – is being primed for a big role next season." Read More http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/06/16/pardew-new-nufc-signings-will-excite-fans-72703-28888720/#ixzz1PRUGAq8o I'm getting nervous about Tiote

I think there is definitely a possibility that Ashley will look to move Colo on because of his age. Hopefully his ridiculously high wages will keep him here.

I don't think we really want him. There is going to be hardly any experienced players in this squad by the end of the window Coloccini is 29 but is on an 80k a week deal he got before Lllambias came in and a general change in policy was made, so will be impossible to move on. Williamson is 27 but will not be a high earner. Smith is for sale. Lovenkrands only has a year left and could well be surplus to requirements. Shola will never leave. That leaves Barton and Gutierrez as the only outfield players in the squad aged 27 or over, Jonas with 2 years on his contract, Barton with only 1.

Mirror says that Pardew wants Warnock to replace Enrique, and he would cost £1m. http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Aston-Villa-Newcastle-transfer-news-Stephen-Warnock-1m-target-replace-Liverpool-target-Jose-Enrique-article747931.html I recall talk of Keegan wanting him instead of Enrique just before he walked. I thought he was a decent young player then, but don't think hes been up to much recently. I couldn't help but feel slightly underwhelmed if there turned out there was something in this. Also says that Dalglish is closing in on Enrique - two sides are haggling over price and possible exchanges. Don't like the sound of that at all

Watching Henderson play really reminds me of watching Danny Guthrie

If AC Milan do want him, and they've been linked several times over the last 4 months, then he'll definitely be away and I couldn't really blame him.

Had a chat with the bloke who sits behind me at the match on Tuesday. He goes to watch Gateshead quite a lot. Said he saw Ben Arfa there the other week, as reported in the Chronicle. He had a bit of a chat with him - said Ben Arfa had just turned up on his own. He was going through the fixture list in the programme working out which games he'd be able to get to. He also reckoned Ben Arfa said he was living with Laurent Robert. Quite surprising if true

I remember this comment from Souness: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2357988/Souness-supports-hapless-Harper.html Graeme Souness, the Newcastle manager, was philosophical about Harper's mistake. He said: "We weathered the first-half storm and to concede the goal the way we did was disappointing, but I can't be hard on Harps, he plays so few games, and reserve-team football doesn't help you prepare for that. Harps is normally a good kicker of the ball, possibly the best in the club. It was one of those things." Possibly not the best incident to recall, or the best person to quote, but he was certainly better than Given at kicking. He has got slightly worse as hes got older, but the worst kicking display from a Newcastle goalkeeper I can recall in recent times would have to be Krul's last appearance before last night.

What we do with the forwards this summer is going to say alot about which direction we are heading. Since the Xisco debacle in 2008 the total investment in centre forwards has been to sign Lovenkrands twice and bring in Best for £1.5m. In the same time Owen, Martins, Viduka, Carroll have left for £44m in transfer fees and a massive saving in wages. We have also tried unsuccessfully to punt Shola to West Brom and Stoke, he is now our main man. Its incredible really that you can tear your strikeforce apart in this way and still acheive what we have managed so far this season. I think that its possible to find bargains such as Tiote in every other area of the field but as soon as anyone starts banging in goals at any level they get noticed and more often than not a £10m + fee gets slapped on them. Even a shot Robbie Keane was valued bv Spurs at 7-9m, last summer, and I think Stephen Fletcher was priced at £7m+. Simple fact is that quality strikers are going to cost a fortune, hence we havent bought any for 3 years. The state of our forward line cant be ignored any longer though, but is Ashley really going to splash big money on two strikers? If he does then I could start to think that European qualification might possibly be acheivable with Ashley in charge, if not then I'd think that this season is probably as good as it can get. Will be very interesting to see what happens

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/8880498.Ben_Arfa___s_comeback_from_double_break_is_delayed/ Ben Arfa’s comeback from double break is delayed 4:21pm Monday 28th February 2011 LONG-TERM injured Newcastle striker Hatem Ben Arfa has had his comeback put on hold. Ben Arfa, who broke his tibia and fibula at Manchester City in October following a rash challenge by Nigel de Jong, had targeted United’s home fixture with struggling Wolves on April 2 as his return date. The French international has spent most of his time rehabilitating in France and Tunisia but was in the stands at St James’ Park to watch his side earn a share of the spoils in an open high-tempo contest against Bolton. The 23-year-old is keen to be in Alan Pardew’s 16 for the visit of Mick McCarthy’s side, but the United boss believes the Frenchman will not be ready. “He has set himself a personal target, but he is still in the process of recovery,” said Pardew. “To break both bones in his shin is tough, not just physically but mentally. He’s got a long road back. Whether he comes back into the first team at the level where we are at the moment, we’ll have to see.” The Newcastle manager quashed the suggestion the French international’s season is over, but acknowledged his comeback will be later than planned. “Certainly next year he will be a big player for us,” said the former West Ham, Charlton and Southampton boss. “But his recovery will take us into April, maybe May.” Yet while Pardew admitted he was relishing the return of club’s talented midfielder-cumstriker he made it known he will not just walk straight back into the first team. “I thought Leon Best was the best player on the pitch, so he has competition,” he said. “I can’t just say ‘he’s great player, give him a chance’. These players deserve to stay in the shirts. “I’d like to see him play this year but I am going to protect him.” The United chief believes his £5.5m acquisition from Olympique Marseille needs to get over not only the physical aspects of his injury. He also has to win an emotional and psychological battle. “He needs to get some training under his belt and games,” said Pardew. “I remember when Ian Wright broke his leg twice at Crystal Palace. When that first tackle happens and you come through that it gives you the confidence that you’re strong enough. Until then you have nagging doubts it isn’t as strong. Print Email Share Comments(0) Pardew mentioning May for a comeback now. Looks like we may need to wait until next season to see him.

Lee Clark's Huddersfield were 4-0 down on aggregate to Carlisle in the JP Trophy. They have pulled it back to 4-3, 10 mins to go