Jagten

http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2012/07/26/steven-taylor-to-make-newcastle-united-comeback-61634-31475488/#ixzz21iZMnOeN

Mark Douglas ‏@MsiDouglas Increasing optimism at #nufc about recruitment. Debuchy could be in by Mon, and another bid for Carroll (nearer £16m) being considered... £16m

Pretty much nailed it.

I suggested Kevin Mirallas, actually.

I think we would go 4-2-3-1 with Anita. A 3 of: Tiote Anita Cabaye would be lovely.

Based on the little I have read and seen, I really want him.

Jesus wept.

Kevin Mirallas apparently has a £6.4m buyout clause and he can play across a front 3. He's also mates with Cabaye. Can we not go for him instead?

Yup, need to sort that contract out asap.

Are we really? If we do reasonably well in all competitions we will hit somwhere around that mark. I'm sure I read Fulham played what was in effect an extrahalf a season with added UEFA Cup/FA/League The started in the very first qualifying round, I think. I just don't like presuming we will have loads of extra games when we might not. Perhaps I am just pessimistic. Seeing as that argument is only really relevant when it comes to the number of strikers, not the actual players, are you happy to go into a full season with 4 competitions with 3 strikers only, one of which can't run for more than half an hour? If you are, you're not nearly as pessimistic as you think.. No, of course not. I recognise we need another forward, not Carroll though. Although my post wasn't directed at the Carroll debate, more at the general acceptance that we will have loads more extra game. It was slightly irrelevant looking back as we still need another forward.

Are we really? If we do reasonably well in all competitions we will hit somwhere around that mark. I'm sure I read Fulham played what was in effect an extrahalf a season with added UEFA Cup/FA/League They started in the very first qualifying round, I think. I just don't like presuming we will have loads of extra games when we might not. Perhaps I am just pessimistic.

Are we really? PL - 38 EL - 10 FA - 3 CC - 3 You have no way of knowing that, you're guessing.

Are we really?

Oh cock.

I see no way that he will drop cisse, Ba or Ben Arfa though. Pardew really rates all three and knows how effective they are. I get the impression he really rates Carroll too.

there will eb games we need to change. sides will not just say- ok ba and cisse are still here fill your boots we aint gonna try. I appreciate we will still need to change at times, but my second point still stands. He might not be required too frequently, and I don't think that is something would be reflected by his minutes on the pitch.

Say we don't have as many games as we potentially might, say Ba and Cisse don't go to the ACoN and they stay free of injuries. What happens with Carroll then? I just fear Pardew will compromise the team to fit him in when he isn't really required.

Go back 18 months and ask yourself the same question. You really going to judge him on the car-crash of his time at Liverpool? I think we all know he's much better than his form at Liverpool would suggest. People have very short memories. He had a decent first half of the season where the majority of his goals came from headers/set pieces. That does not make him a 'proven goalscorer'.

A proven goal scorer who can bully the f*ck out of opposition defences and hold the ball up. I'd say every team could do with a player like that. Considering Demba Ba is a heartbeat away from the physio room, will be gone for the ACN, and may well be leaving for more money anyway, who else is there at the club who meets that description? Seems like a no-brainer to me if the price is right. He has 6 goals in 42 league appearances with Liverpool. How on earth is he proven?

Could spend that money so much better.... Totally agree.

Perhaps we should but it's easier said than done. It's been suggested that we're looking for this ideal striker who can play up top and if required potentially the left side. Who is this player? Luke de Jong? He's too expensive. Who we go for will be determined by cost, keenness to sell and the player wanting to join. I have no idea who we should buy, I just know it is definitely not Andy Carroll.

.

Yes, Ba was less effective as a winger, however the team benefited greatly from the change in formation. I don't think Carroll can play in a front 3, if we accept that Demba is not particularly happy/effective in that position, should we not look for a versatile player who can fit in across the front 3, as opposed to Andy Carroll who cannot fit at all.

No, he's not 'very decent'. We would be required to revert back to a system of old to accommodate him, which would be awful viewing. I don't get this idea that if he puts on a black and white shirt everything will magically be OK again. That's rubbish, it doesn't work like that. I take it from Feb-December 2010, you missed our games? Carroll played very well for that period, scored a lot of goals and we certainly didn't play "hoofball" or whatever ridiculous labels get bandied about. Our second half of the Championship and start of 10/11 we actually played some good football. Having Carroll back would not mean a convert to Wimbledon esque football. It's the laziest assumption. I don't care about what he did in the championship. Which I saw all of, btw. My main concern is with reverting back to 4-4-2. That is a concern that still remains even if we don't sign Carroll. Signing him, for me, displays an intention to go forward with that formation, which is worrying. Carroll doesn't have the ability to play in a front 3. Perhaps removing Simpson and Williamson would help us in that respect, I am not sure, I would just rather we used a 4-3-3 in the long-run.