TK-421

Montero until the end of the season would be an excellent bit of business. Plays on the left as well. Still in talks for Townsend according to the same guy, and are prepared to wait until the summer to sign him permanently. Interesting... and his value may drop by then, if he spends the next few months on Palaces bench. Think a lot will be smoke and mirrors to try and get Palace to agree to the loan now.

Seem the Express has picked up on this now (from Sky Sports Transfer Centre)... "Newcastle have reportedly asked Dynamo Zagreb about Ante Coric and Filip Benkovic as part of a transfer push that could see the Magpies spend £35m before deadline day."

If there is any truth in these Barrow stories, it seems odd, given that Atsu will be back from the ACoN soon anyway. Is he any better / different to Atsu?

I've read this multiple times and still can't tell what he actually meant to say. I guess hes saying Townsend jumped ship when we went down ,and now hes thinks he's doing the same to Palace... then calls him a lightweight player.... I think. Thought it odd that a chairman appeared to be calling out one of their players like that, but had forgotten this spiv didn't own them anymore.

Hmmm, hopefully this will go the same way as the McManaman stories in the summer.

Clattermole attacked a few car wing mirrors once. But seems this season has been one relegation fight too many for him, and he's permacrocked.

I don't think anyone doubts the extra quality he'd bring to the side, I think it's more of a 'he jumped ship for a Pardew led Palace, f*** him' thing. I'd have him back in a second, like. Only thing bothering me about it is the quote in the paper saying that Townsend himself is the one who wants the loan only because we're not certain to be Premier League next season. Obviously it's just speculation with no substantial quotes or anything, but while the possibility of it being true is still there it'll get to me and to be honest with the way he left, it seems more likely that it is true than not to me. Dont want or need that type of player at Newcastle The thing is, as it turns out when he joined us last time, he had the relegation clause put in incase we did go down. That didn't stop him playing well in those 5 months, or to be any less committed to the team/cause. Therefore I don't see it being any different this time. Whether he joins on loan or permanent, I don't think it'll affect his performances for us. And, touch wood, everything will work out fine by the summer anyway, for everyone.

Sounds like loan with permanent possibly in the summer is the only way he would accept coming here. On the surface I'd say f*** him but would imagine such a deal will suit us as well tbh Sounds sensible for us and him; I'd imagine Palace would prefer permanent now. If he wants away but is only saying loan, then maybe it will force Palaces hand (to a degree). Suppose a loan is the lowest risk all round (except for palace), and as long as he is committed enough on the pitch for us (if he comes back) and helps us gain promotion/the championship, then everyones a winner in the summer, too!

Speaking of Bruce, just seen this on the Soccer AM FB page... Bruce getting himself a kebab, apparently. (apologies if already posted)

Great result for Swansea, as it puts them 3 pts ahead of the mackems, but they have slightly worse GD. Really need the teams above the bottom 3 to start opening a gap up.

According to one of the reports posted yesterday, Palace still owe us £3m of the original transfer - so that would be used/considered as the 'loan fee' now, and we'd pay them the £10m difference in the summer if we go up/have obligation to keep him.

McClaren spent about 80mill in 2 transfer windows didn't he? Tell your something mind, I'm a little worried about the phrase Ashley won't spend big on players until we're back in the premier league. If we f*** this up we could be here for a while. Thing is though, unless we were cash rich, then how many teams can sustain spending 'big' on players at this level if they aren't getting promoted? Last summer we made the biggest 2 signings at this level I believe (Gayle and Ritchie @ c. £12m each), and if we don't go up this season, I think we'd struggle to do that next summer. It suspect it would have to be more modest squad additions. The way the club does its sales deals doesn't help though, in that we don't have the sissoko money to spend, but maybe just the first installment. Hence why they are hoping to do the Townsend deal as a loan, and then if we get promoted, the permanent fee wont be an issue/risk.

Yes we did. In third round of UEFA Cup in 1999/00 season. Oh well, there you go then. So many european matches... easy to forget!

That song they've spent all week coming up with isn't even correct. Whilst we've played in a few different Italian cities - including Palermo, Turin, Milan... we've never played in Rome, have we? 4.5/10... must do better.

Hehe, that works for me, like. Palace get a replacement till the summer (and someone Sham knows/likes?), then if/when we (hopefully) go up they get their £££ for Townsend. Everyones a winner!

Money? Looks like we do only have the first installment of the Sissoko fee + whatever was left from the summer.... unless we can get someone moved on, and off the wage bill (Tiote?) Promotion? Still far from certain with half the season to play. A player like Townsend would help. But still a risk that we don't go up... and there may not be a sell on clause this time, and we'd be stuck with him and his (undoubtedly) high wages. I do hope it happens, but can see why we probably want to try and loan him (with a view to the summer) first.

He signed on 26th January last year. Would be weird if a deal was agreed, and everything confirmed/sorted exactly 1 year later!

Add a young potential worldy no.10 OR very experienced Beardsley type signing (hen's teeth, I know) plus a proven more defensive CM (though not necessarily pure CDM) to alternate with Hayden or Shelvey and I think that is enough to comfortably consolidate in the Premier League and to build upon. I can see Hayden and Townsend getting better with continued use, Rafa coaching and the confidence that comes from being relied upon. Can we not stick actual Pedro in?? Bet he could still do it at this level!!

Pity we couldn't have just loaned him to Palace / a PL club in the summer - but I guess them activating his release clause prevented that as an option?

Loan now with a view to making it permanent works for us, but not sure Palace will go for it, as they (Fat Sam) will probably want the cash now to spend this window. Hopefully a deal can be sorted though.

There's nothing there at all, this whole fuss is because a tabloid ran a story based on basically f*** all. Aye, and whilst I agree there's (probably/hopefully) very little in that story at the weekend that actually changes the day-to-day running of the club and/or Rafa's influence, its strange that it was run by the clubs supposed 'media partner'.

I'd have him back, but doubt we will... purely because I cant see MA sanctioning spending more than we got off Palace for him, and I cant see them accepting less than they paid after just 6 months. I don't particularly mind that he left us to stay in the PL, its his own daft fault he stupid enough to join Palace/Pardew. If we could get a deal for £12-13m (max), I think it could happen.

If I'm honest, I don't know a lot about McCarthy... but he's not Colback, so its a yes from me, too!

Thank god for that. Well, at least we have Shelvey back now. Good result day with Brighton losing too. Oh, and the mackems.

Brighton just had a penna... and missed it.