Wallace

OMG. I kind of know him and his family because he is a close friend of a relative. RIP

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/sport-opinion/neil-camerons-derby-verdict-everyone-6659184 Neil Cameron's Derby Verdict: Everyone to blame for Newcastle's defeat to Sunderland 2 Feb 2014 11:07 The men in charge of Newcastle United looked bemused yesterday. It's hard to see why as Neil Cameron explains Lee Charnley, the man partly responsible for Newcastle United’s signings, wore a bemused look at the end of yesterday’s game. It was if the club secretary, the man who runs things on a daily basis, had no clue as to why his team were lucky to get zero in a 3-0 defeat by their most bitter rivals . But surely this is an easy one to figure out. Any Premier League side who has few young players coming through and goes two transfers windows without signing a permanent player, and therefore not spending any money, is asking for trouble. And trouble called in at St James’ Park yesterday with a Big T dressed in red and white, or actually yellow in his case. Running on to the park is idiotic, but you can understand the fans’ frustration. It is hard to believe that in many ways this is actually, sort of, a good season. But this is Newcastle United. Whenever things start to go well, it’s as if they automatically regress into chaos. Selling Yohan Cabaye to PSG is understandable. Not even really trying to get in a replacement, or at least having one lined up, is unforgivable. Last summer, one other striker and a midfielder should have been bought in. But the trio of Mike Ashley, Joe Kinnear and Charnley thought the squad didn’t need that, and a mostly good season seemed to back up that decision – certainly in their eyes. Then Loic Remy gets himself suspended, leaving Alan Pardew with Shola Ameobi , who hasn’t scored a league goal in over a year, Papiss Cisse , who the club want rid of, and new guy Luuk De Jong , who has had the grand total of one day’s training with his new team-mates. This is the reason why Newcastle lost yesterday. They were always only a couple of absentees away from struggling. Newcastle’s season is now officially over. It is February 2. I will defend Alan Pardew to a point. He doesn’t have much of a say in who stays or goes. So you can’t blame him for everything. His toeing of the party line is also understandable, although his first interview after he gets sacked is going to be interesting. And there are more than a few Newcastle supporters who would welcome a change of manager now. Not in the summer, but now. That’s three years Pardew has had. There has been more good than bad. But one derby win out of seven is awful. His record in the cup is deplorable. Comments such as “that win was for Mike” after the win against Chelsea don’t do him any favours in the eyes of the Toon Army. While feelings are always raw after a derby defeat, it’s hard to escape the feeling that Pardew is under real pressure. In his defence, the biggest problem is the men at the top and what they think is good enough for the football club. But the manager himself needs to take stock. I mean – what exactly was yesterday’s grand plan? Punt the ball to Shola and hope something happens. Or give it to Hatem Ben Arfa and hope he does something. And before we go on, Ben Arfa is in danger of throwing away what should be a wonderful career. He tried a run early on, it came to nothing, and it was almost as if he decided there and then not to bother any more. Steven Taylor is another who is surely fighting to save his Newcastle career. Running up to the fans and pumping your fist before a game might get something of a cheer, but they would much prefer him to win headers and not allow Jack Colback a clear shot on his left foot. Not good enough. Again.

No need to worry. Wonga are supplying clapper things and flags to help us win tomorrow.

Everyone else is buying players to try and improve. There is only so long we can get away with standing still or weakening the squad in the hope of getting away with it. The last couple of windows they have insisted they had money to spend and even put in bids (who knows if they seriously thought they would be accepted) but the fact that money has not been spent and they have then said we are saving the money for the next window only for the same situation to recur. On that basis alone, there should have been a decent amount to spend before the Cabaye sale. Then there is the saving on some serious wages with the likes of Harper from last Summer and Jonas and Cabaye with this one. Of course next Summer everyone will know we have the Cabaye money plus the TV money so the prices will increase. There is also the JFK factor and as Mark Douglas has pointed out, is he able to close a transfer deal? Douglas regularly reports that he is a serious hindrance in the club's ability to close deals and people that he has been involved with have said that he is seriously out of his depth. What will happen in the Summer when they have to buy at least 6-7 players to replace the outgoings - how will they cope with that? Pardew has said the squad will have to be rebuilt in the Summer - do the people now running the club have the ability to be able to do that. How do they think they will be able to integrate so many new players at once when so many other clubs have failed when there has been a huge turnover in players. I don't get the reluctance to spend the odd million more if you are confident that the player will make a profit for you in the long term. No-one is asking them to go crazy but their tendency to bid low fees and then to get all huffy when the selling club refuses to cave in but then expect buying clubs to pay over the odds for our players is embarrassing. I have always maintained that the longer Ashley is here, the more damaged the club will become and I think that is really starting to take hold now. The apathy from the fans should be a concern to them because that is their major asset. I have little enthusiasm for the rest of the season and I am pretty pessimistic about how it will go as well. I think it is feasible that we won't win any games in February especially with so few goals in the team at the moment and then morale can be affected which means games you would expect to win would become much harder plus what is the motivation for the players. I am not convinced we will stay in the top half of the table although relegation is not on the cards. A drop down the table could translate to several million in prize money which could have been used towards transfer fees. Other than season ticket holders who have already made the commitment, I don't see why others would pay to watch meaningless games for the rest of the season.

I think Cabaye would rather not have a decision to make this month so will be happy if no bids come in. Signings in January are often a short-term fix until they can get the big names in the Summer e.g. Chelsea with Ba last year when they were desperate for a striker. PSG want someone because one of their back-up midfielders is injured. They seem to see Cabaye as a squad player. Man Utd can't get the players they want in this window so if they do go for Cabaye now after knowing that he was looking for a move last Summer, it will look like a panic signing to see them through the rest of the season. Cabaye would get more games there but there is a strong possibility, they won't qualify for the Champions League next season and that would further affect their Summer transfer plans. If a big offer comes in then I am sure Ashley will accept it but I think Cabaye is probably hoping that one doesn't and is happy to wait until the Summer when it will be clearer what situation clubs are in.

The trouble is they are talking of a squad overhaul in the Summer and we can all easily identify 6-7 players who are likely to be moved on. It would make so much more sense to bring in a couple now so they can be integrated in preparation for next season. If they decide not to bother this window, then I do not expect to hear any excuses if we end up struggling next year because we have too many players who are are finding it difficult to adapt to a new league. They only need to look down the road plus QPR and Palace to see the problems of bringing in too many players at the same time.

Ideally, Sunderland reaching a final should put more pressure on the club to do better but I don't suppose they will care. If Sunderland do get relegated then they have the excuse they need as to why cups are a bad idea. Pardew must be loving Swansea struggling this year as he will see that as vindication of all his excuses last year.

I went to a Sportsman Dinner with Keegan as the main guest a couple of years ago and he stayed until every autograph was signed, every photo taken and talked to everyone who wanted a chat. He was still there even when most had already left for the evening so unless the organisers are strict about access, I reckon you should have no problem getting to meet him.

I don't see how any deal can be done for him until the outcome of his court case is known. Isn't it supposed to be around March time?

That's a new one Clearly haven't enquired about him yet. Sure he was linked with Liverpool for about 15 million last week Liverpool have been negotiating with Basel for Salah for ages now. I got the impression, he would definitely be going there. Sounds like Joe is just spouting topical names again like when he said he was trying to swap Cabaye for Ramsey.

PSG have talked about their interest in Cabaye for so long but have never made a bid. Either make a bid or stop talking - it is not as if they are struggling to pay the fee and there is no point in trying to destabilise us because we are not competing with them on any level.

Isn't a Champions League place being introduced for the winners of the Europa League? That would be our likeliest way to qualify rather than through the League although it will probably be tougher as more clubs would take the tournament seriously.

The Journal says this morning that the Cabella deal is not dependent upon selling Cabaye.

With the way the media are urging Man Utd to sign him, I hope that when he does eventually leave us that it is to PSG. I'd hate to see him play for another English club.

Darren Lewis from the Mirror said on the radio earlier that he had interviewed Cabaye after he game yesterday and he had some interesting quotes. He wouldn't expand on it but I don't think it will be anything particularly noteworthy.

I think that was just because he was getting so much love from the fans with the nonstop singing of his name.

What can't be denied is how Cabaye has improved as a player since he has played with us (despite who our manager is). Despite playing for us, our French players have continued to be picked for the French team. So regardless of how we may be perceived by Montpellier, moving to Newcastle has been a good move for most of the French players and for a young player like Cabella, he would get more game time here than at one of the bigger clubs where he could potentially end up being sent out on loan because he won't get enough game time.

But he wants Champions League football!!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2541377/West-Ham-1-Newcastle-3-match-report-Yohan-Cabaye-Loic-Remy-pile-misery-Hammers-boss-Sam-Allardyce.html Is he really talking about us!! "At times, their imagination was sublime, their accuracy a thing of wonder. Inspired by the wonderfully influential Cabaye, given security by Cheick Tiote and point by Loic Remy, they played their football in beguiling triangles; flitting into telling space, working the ball, reducing West Ham to a bewildered scamper." About Carroll "Seven minutes later, Allardyce reached for his nuclear option and Andy Carroll came bustling off the bench. In less stressful times, he would not be close to the first team after his protracted absence, but on he came to bump into a few people, win a few headers and miss a chance which was almost as easy as Cole’s had been. He also conceded the clumsy free-kick which allowed Cabaye to end the affair. Only a desperate manager could consider using him, but Allardyce’s desperation is now obvious."

An Evening with Kevin Keegan - 9th May http://www.mjksportsevents.co.uk/events/an-evening-with-kevin-keegan

Carroll has always needed loads of games to look a player again after injury. And he is yet to play well against us with either Liverpool or West Ham.

The Journal suggests that the club will listen to offers for Steven Taylor. I would be surprised about that at this point as we would need to go out and get an immediate replacement. If MYM had been sent off on Sunday, we would be down to just Williamson and Taylor. I get the impression that JFK's programme notes of bringing in 1 or 2 players a year is because that is all he can manage. Don't think he could cope with a transfer window like last January.

Sammy's put another Jonas video up. http://instagram.com/p/jJjBkpEydS/

We are definitely going to need a lot of players in the Summer. Cabaye is almost certain to be gone, Remy won't be here, Shola is not getting a contract, we know they want to move on Obertan and Marveaux and Jonas is not likely to return. There remain doubts about Colo and there has been a lot of recent talk about Taylor moving on. And what about Ben Arfa? All of those players are part of the first team squad and will need to be replaced. You would have though that the one thing they would have learnt from when we recruited the French players last January, was that they need a good few months to settle. To have so many potential new arrivals in the Summer could cause a few problems. It would make sense to get a couple in now to give them time to get used to the Premier League and a new country etc.

Good because I would have to be trying to rearrange loads of things if it moved and others I am meeting up have already booked their travel and I guess they would just end up losing the money.