Mort Expects Arrivals

[Willow]

I still have the feeling that with 2 astute signings placed in the right areas we could definately transform our results

 

I'd also love us to do some kind of swap deal with Ameobi too

I'd actually be tempted to raid some russian clubs for a little gem

 

kinky bitch

[BONTEMPI]

I still have the feeling that with 2 astute signings placed in the right areas we could definately transform our results

 

I'd also love us to do some kind of swap deal with Ameobi too

I'd actually be tempted to raid some russian clubs for a little gem

 

kinky bitch

 

[robbo_11]

Mort's comments come from today's programme. He also says:

 

"Much of the late summer and early part of the season was spent on refurbishing the training ground at Benton, with additions such as a new gym and threapy rooms, and recruiting a number of medical and training specialists...Some of the building work is still ongoing..."

 

Youth football

 

"...I think we could still do better and do not be surpirsed if several of our signings in 2008 are under the age of 20..."

 

[lovejoy]

mick lowes claims he has been told for weeks that we'll keep our powder dry and he feels morts comments reflect this

[NE5]

Mort always makes sense.  I am glad he our chairman.

 

aye, a few more of those non trophy players is just what we want

 

 

[NE5]

I don't think anything can be read into those comments tbh or anything else until the window slams shut and we can see what's what with our own two eyes, i.e. based on who we buy and how many, or who we don't buy if any. Sensible words though from the Chairman.

 

nothing other than conservative unambitious claptrap from start to finish

 

 

[Greg]

I don't think anything can be read into those comments tbh or anything else until the window slams shut and we can see what's what with our own two eyes, i.e. based on who we buy and how many, or who we don't buy if any. Sensible words though from the Chairman.

 

nothing other than conservative unambitious claptrap from start to finish

 

 

 

We'll spend more in this window than we did in the last January transfer window under the previous board.

[NE5]

I don't think anything can be read into those comments tbh or anything else until the window slams shut and we can see what's what with our own two eyes, i.e. based on who we buy and how many, or who we don't buy if any. Sensible words though from the Chairman.

 

nothing other than conservative unambitious claptrap from start to finish

 

 

We'll spend more in this window than we did in the last January transfer window under the previous board.

 

Will we buy a player of the calibre of Woodgate, beating off our rivals and paying the money, and will we match those Champions League qualifications in the long run ?

 

 

[Greg]

I don't think anything can be read into those comments tbh or anything else until the window slams shut and we can see what's what with our own two eyes, i.e. based on who we buy and how many, or who we don't buy if any. Sensible words though from the Chairman.

 

nothing other than conservative unambitious claptrap from start to finish

 

 

We'll spend more in this window than we did in the last January transfer window under the previous board.

 

Will we buy a player of the calibre of Woodgate, beating off our rivals and paying the money, and will we match those Champions League qualifications in the long run ?

 

 

 

In this window, I doubt it. In future transfer windows, quite possibly. Too early to say about CL qualification but it's more than possible.

[Guest bobblyrage]

        Just a nice way of saying  Sam isnt being trusted with any more cash. I reckons Ashley/Mort are looking at were the last batch went; Enrique on the bench, Barton in the slammer, Geremi sitting at home, Smith average at best and the defence leaking as many goals as ever! Allardyce hasnt given himself a convincing argument to be allowed to spend any more. Ive got neither confidence in money being released nor confidence in it being well spent if it were.

[NE5]

I don't think anything can be read into those comments tbh or anything else until the window slams shut and we can see what's what with our own two eyes, i.e. based on who we buy and how many, or who we don't buy if any. Sensible words though from the Chairman.

 

nothing other than conservative unambitious claptrap from start to finish

 

 

We'll spend more in this window than we did in the last January transfer window under the previous board.

 

Will we buy a player of the calibre of Woodgate, beating off our rivals and paying the money, and will we match those Champions League qualifications in the long run ?

 

 

 

In this window, I doubt it. In future transfer windows, quite possibly. Too early to say about CL qualification but it's more than possible.

 

So what exactly are you trying to say in your previous post ?

 

 

[Greg]

I don't think anything can be read into those comments tbh or anything else until the window slams shut and we can see what's what with our own two eyes, i.e. based on who we buy and how many, or who we don't buy if any. Sensible words though from the Chairman.

 

nothing other than conservative unambitious claptrap from start to finish

 

 

We'll spend more in this window than we did in the last January transfer window under the previous board.

 

Will we buy a player of the calibre of Woodgate, beating off our rivals and paying the money, and will we match those Champions League qualifications in the long run ?

 

 

 

In this window, I doubt it. In future transfer windows, quite possibly. Too early to say about CL qualification but it's more than possible.

 

So what exactly are you trying to say in your previous post ?

 

 

 

Not to jump to conclusions based on speculation about this transfer window and their very short tenure so far. 'Conservative' 'Unambitious', utter bollocks.

[Teasy]

I don't think anything can be read into those comments tbh or anything else until the window slams shut and we can see what's what with our own two eyes, i.e. based on who we buy and how many, or who we don't buy if any. Sensible words though from the Chairman.

 

nothing other than conservative unambitious claptrap from start to finish

 

 

We'll spend more in this window than we did in the last January transfer window under the previous board.

 

Will we buy a player of the calibre of Woodgate, beating off our rivals and paying the money, and will we match those Champions League qualifications in the long run ?

 

 

 

Since when did we buy Woodgate last January?  We certainly didn't qualify for the Champions League either..

[mrmojorisin75]

love all this "playmaker" garbage being bandied about

 

if elano was playing for us last night the result would have been the same, surely everyone can see that?  we have passed the ball over the midfield all season so why would we start going through a playmaker now?

 

barton/butt/emre have all been known for being able to pass the ball to their team mates before this season so why are they not now?  tactics must be the reason

 

witness nzogbia disappering from the game yesterday when he went to the wing - he looks so good at left back as he sees shitloads of the ball from defence (beye similar but a little less)...as soon as he moved to the wing he never saw the ball as it was flying over his head for the rest of the match

 

if zog/beye don't take the ball out of defence and start a "passing move" then it doesn't happen...we've patently been set up this way the whole season as some type of plan so what makes anyone think we're gonna become man city overnight?

[sicsfingeredmong]

Back the manager, or sack him immediately and back the next man. With the upcoming exodus of players, thanks to the African Nations, a flirtation with relegation beckons.............................. unless the likes of Tozer & this young lad from the French second division are able to step up to the plate immediately, in a higher grade of competition. It's a big ask for the tools behind Mort's much talked about and inexpensive 'signings of tomorrow' philosophy.

[oldtype]

Getting "one or two players to instantly improve our squad" is a LOT more difficult than it sounds, even if money is not the object.

 

We have to make the cold assessment: who that's better than what we already have is available and will sign for Newcastle United?

 

I think we're all in agreement that the GK position doesn't need improvement, even with Given's drop in form.

 

Centre Back? Taylor/Faye/Cacapa have proven to be mostly competent. To get a significant improvement you would need to find someone on par with the likes of Dunn/Lescott/Distin etc. Who in England has that ability and isn't already at a club better off than we are?

 

Fullbacks? Beye has us covered on the right, and a good specialty left back is just about the rarest commodity in Europe right now.

 

Central midfield? Faye has proven he can play the holding role quite well, and Butt has put in good shifts for the most part. We don't need another defensive midfielder. As for creative OMFs, good luck finding one available in England. There are a lot of names from the continent being bandied about, but how many of them don't have bigger clubs sniffing at them? And let's not forget that a few years ago Emre was a "highly promising creative player from Europe" as well.

 

Wingers? On the left side, who that we could sign woud be better than Zog and Duff? I suppose the right wing is one area we could potentially improve, although immediate targets escape me.

 

Strikers? As much as we hate them, we are not capable of signing anyone with the quality to push Viduka, Owen, Smith, or Martins out of the first team. (Anelka and Berbatov? Nothing more than pipe dreams.)

 

The only way out of this dilemma for us is to scout quality players in smaller leagues abroad before other teams do (difficult, considering that our scouting network has been in shambles for years,) or to pick up scraps from the bigger clubs like we've been doing for a while now. (The likes of Sidwell, Ben Haim, Brown, Crouch) Of course, in the second case we'd have to be competing with other mid table clubs as well, not to mention the fact that this strategy hasn't exactly worked wonders for us in the past. (cf: Babayaro, Parker, Duff, Owen, Smith)

 

Overall, it's not a matter of us only making "squad-padding" signings because we're overly cautious. Making "instant impact" quality signings is possibly one of the most difficult things for a mid table club like us to do. And I dont' see it happening this winter, no matter how much money we have.

[NE5]

I don't think anything can be read into those comments tbh or anything else until the window slams shut and we can see what's what with our own two eyes, i.e. based on who we buy and how many, or who we don't buy if any. Sensible words though from the Chairman.

 

nothing other than conservative unambitious claptrap from start to finish

 

 

We'll spend more in this window than we did in the last January transfer window under the previous board.

 

Will we buy a player of the calibre of Woodgate, beating off our rivals and paying the money, and will we match those Champions League qualifications in the long run ?

 

 

 

In this window, I doubt it. In future transfer windows, quite possibly. Too early to say about CL qualification but it's more than possible.

 

So what exactly are you trying to say in your previous post ?

 

 

 

Not to jump to conclusions based on speculation about this transfer window and their very short tenure so far. 'Conservative' 'Unambitious', utter bollocks.

 

Lets get this right. It's alright for people to jump to conclusions that we will buy players but it isn't alright to jump to conclusions that we won't buy any players [who are any good?]

 

I see Morts comments in the way I saw them.

 

 

[NE5]

Getting "one or two players to instantly improve our squad" is a LOT more difficult than it sounds, even if money is not the object.

 

We have to make the cold assessment: who that's better than what we already have is available and will sign for Newcastle United?

 

I think we're all in agreement that the GK position doesn't need improvement, even with Given's drop in form.

 

Centre Back? Taylor/Faye/Cacapa have proven to be mostly competent. To get a significant improvement you would need to find someone on par with the likes of Dunn/Lescott/Distin etc. Who in England has that ability and isn't already at a club better off than we are?

 

Fullbacks? Beye has us covered on the right, and a good specialty left back is just about the rarest commodity in Europe right now.

 

Central midfield? Faye has proven he can play the holding role quite well, and Butt has put in good shifts for the most part. We don't need another defensive midfielder. As for creative OMFs, good luck finding one available in England. There are a lot of names from the continent being bandied about, but how many of them don't have bigger clubs sniffing at them? And let's not forget that a few years ago Emre was a "highly promising creative player from Europe" as well.

 

Wingers? On the left side, who that we could sign woud be better than Zog and Duff? I suppose the right wing is one area we could potentially improve, although immediate targets escape me.

 

Strikers? As much as we hate them, we are not capable of signing anyone with the quality to push Viduka, Owen, Smith, or Martins out of the first team. (Anelka and Berbatov? Nothing more than pipe dreams.)

 

The only way out of this dilemma for us is to scout quality players in smaller leagues abroad before other teams do (difficult, considering that our scouting network has been in shambles for years,) or to pick up scraps from the bigger clubs like we've been doing for a while now. (The likes of Sidwell, Ben Haim, Brown, Crouch) Of course, in the second case we'd have to be competing with other mid table clubs as well, not to mention the fact that this strategy hasn't exactly worked wonders for us in the past. (cf: Babayaro, Parker, Duff, Owen, Smith)

 

Overall, it's not a matter of us only making "squad-padding" signings because we're overly cautious. Making "instant impact" quality signings is possibly one of the most difficult things for a mid table club like us to do. And I dont' see it happening this winter, no matter how much money we have.

 

If Sam Allardyce still thinks we need a defender before anything else I would kick him straight out of the door.

 

And I wanted his appointment.

 

And the board have to understand the club need some quality players, not cheap journeymen or "lower league gambles" if anything is ever going to improve.

 

Factamundo. Some people have rose tinted glasses on and won't see this or want to accept, but it is the truth. These 5 year plans are bollocks. Winning creates stability not the other way round, and the sooner you get back into europe and winning etc the better.

 

 

[Guest fraser]

I don't think anything can be read into those comments tbh or anything else until the window slams shut and we can see what's what with our own two eyes, i.e. based on who we buy and how many, or who we don't buy if any. Sensible words though from the Chairman.

 

nothing other than conservative unambitious claptrap from start to finish

 

 

We'll spend more in this window than we did in the last January transfer window under the previous board.

 

Will we buy a player of the calibre of Woodgate, beating off our rivals and paying the money, and will we match those Champions League qualifications in the long run ?

 

 

 

In this window, I doubt it. In future transfer windows, quite possibly. Too early to say about CL qualification but it's more than possible.

 

 

If there was cash available we might, but this is unlikely given that the previous chairman engaged in a perverse sort of beauty pageant in an effort to maintain his flagging popularity with the fans and effectively skinted the club by paying £17m for one player who's been largely injured.

[Dave]

Oh dear, this won't end well.

[James]

Oh dear, this won't end well.

 

I fear that the long term outcome of this thread may not be what was initially hoped.

[Parky]

Getting "one or two players to instantly improve our squad" is a LOT more difficult than it sounds, even if money is not the object.

 

We have to make the cold assessment: who that's better than what we already have is available and will sign for Newcastle United?

 

I think we're all in agreement that the GK position doesn't need improvement, even with Given's drop in form.

 

Centre Back? Taylor/Faye/Cacapa have proven to be mostly competent. To get a significant improvement you would need to find someone on par with the likes of Dunn/Lescott/Distin etc. Who in England has that ability and isn't already at a club better off than we are?

 

Fullbacks? Beye has us covered on the right, and a good specialty left back is just about the rarest commodity in Europe right now.

 

Central midfield? Faye has proven he can play the holding role quite well, and Butt has put in good shifts for the most part. We don't need another defensive midfielder. As for creative OMFs, good luck finding one available in England. There are a lot of names from the continent being bandied about, but how many of them don't have bigger clubs sniffing at them? And let's not forget that a few years ago Emre was a "highly promising creative player from Europe" as well.

 

Wingers? On the left side, who that we could sign woud be better than Zog and Duff? I suppose the right wing is one area we could potentially improve, although immediate targets escape me.

 

Strikers? As much as we hate them, we are not capable of signing anyone with the quality to push Viduka, Owen, Smith, or Martins out of the first team. (Anelka and Berbatov? Nothing more than pipe dreams.)

 

The only way out of this dilemma for us is to scout quality players in smaller leagues abroad before other teams do (difficult, considering that our scouting network has been in shambles for years,) or to pick up scraps from the bigger clubs like we've been doing for a while now. (The likes of Sidwell, Ben Haim, Brown, Crouch) Of course, in the second case we'd have to be competing with other mid table clubs as well, not to mention the fact that this strategy hasn't exactly worked wonders for us in the past. (cf: Babayaro, Parker, Duff, Owen, Smith)

 

Overall, it's not a matter of us only making "squad-padding" signings because we're overly cautious. Making "instant impact" quality signings is possibly one of the most difficult things for a mid table club like us to do. And I dont' see it happening this winter, no matter how much money we have.

 

If Sam Allardyce still thinks we need a defender before anything else I would kick him straight out of the door.

 

And I wanted his appointment.

 

And the board have to understand the club need some quality players, not cheap journeymen or "lower league gambles" if anything is ever going to improve.

 

Factamundo. Some people have rose tinted glasses on and won't see this or want to accept, but it is the truth. These 5 year plans are bollocks. Winning creates stability not the other way round, and the sooner you get back into europe and winning etc the better.

 

 

 

 

Ashers and Morticia need to get advice they clearly are only at the beginnings of knowing what it takes to run a football club. Get a 'big name daddy DOF' in.

[Teasy]

love all this "playmaker" garbage being bandied about

 

if elano was playing for us last night the result would have been the same, surely everyone can see that?  we have passed the ball over the midfield all season so why would we start going through a playmaker now?

 

barton/butt/emre have all been known for being able to pass the ball to their team mates before this season so why are they not now?  tactics must be the reason

 

But we didn't pass the ball over the midfield last night. The midfield had plenty of the ball, but couldn't do a thing with it.  Also passing to a team mate is not the same thing as being able to pass through a defence for a team mate to run on to, something none of the three you mentioned have been able to do.  Still I agree with part of what your saying.  Even if we bought someone like Elano he would be wasted in the massive majority of games with the way Allardyce wants his team to "play".  However I think last night he would have made a world of difference.

[NE5]

Getting "one or two players to instantly improve our squad" is a LOT more difficult than it sounds, even if money is not the object.

 

We have to make the cold assessment: who that's better than what we already have is available and will sign for Newcastle United?

 

I think we're all in agreement that the GK position doesn't need improvement, even with Given's drop in form.

 

Centre Back? Taylor/Faye/Cacapa have proven to be mostly competent. To get a significant improvement you would need to find someone on par with the likes of Dunn/Lescott/Distin etc. Who in England has that ability and isn't already at a club better off than we are?

 

Fullbacks? Beye has us covered on the right, and a good specialty left back is just about the rarest commodity in Europe right now.

 

Central midfield? Faye has proven he can play the holding role quite well, and Butt has put in good shifts for the most part. We don't need another defensive midfielder. As for creative OMFs, good luck finding one available in England. There are a lot of names from the continent being bandied about, but how many of them don't have bigger clubs sniffing at them? And let's not forget that a few years ago Emre was a "highly promising creative player from Europe" as well.

 

Wingers? On the left side, who that we could sign woud be better than Zog and Duff? I suppose the right wing is one area we could potentially improve, although immediate targets escape me.

 

Strikers? As much as we hate them, we are not capable of signing anyone with the quality to push Viduka, Owen, Smith, or Martins out of the first team. (Anelka and Berbatov? Nothing more than pipe dreams.)

 

The only way out of this dilemma for us is to scout quality players in smaller leagues abroad before other teams do (difficult, considering that our scouting network has been in shambles for years,) or to pick up scraps from the bigger clubs like we've been doing for a while now. (The likes of Sidwell, Ben Haim, Brown, Crouch) Of course, in the second case we'd have to be competing with other mid table clubs as well, not to mention the fact that this strategy hasn't exactly worked wonders for us in the past. (cf: Babayaro, Parker, Duff, Owen, Smith)

 

Overall, it's not a matter of us only making "squad-padding" signings because we're overly cautious. Making "instant impact" quality signings is possibly one of the most difficult things for a mid table club like us to do. And I dont' see it happening this winter, no matter how much money we have.

 

If Sam Allardyce still thinks we need a defender before anything else I would kick him straight out of the door.

 

And I wanted his appointment.

 

And the board have to understand the club need some quality players, not cheap journeymen or "lower league gambles" if anything is ever going to improve.

 

Factamundo. Some people have rose tinted glasses on and won't see this or want to accept, but it is the truth. These 5 year plans are bollocks. Winning creates stability not the other way round, and the sooner you get back into europe and winning etc the better.

 

 

 

 

Ashers and Morticia need to get advice they clearly are only at the beginnings of knowing what it takes to run a football club. Get a 'big name daddy DOF' in.

 

I can accept the fact that they are learning, but they will have to learn fast. The next few games could see us in a dangerous position, and who would have thought this last August.

 

I hope this isn't going to go down this DOF bollocks again. I don't care what fancy title they give someone, and I'll do it for half the price anyway.

 

 

[mrmojorisin75]

love all this "playmaker" garbage being bandied about

 

if elano was playing for us last night the result would have been the same, surely everyone can see that?  we have passed the ball over the midfield all season so why would we start going through a playmaker now?

 

barton/butt/emre have all been known for being able to pass the ball to their team mates before this season so why are they not now?  tactics must be the reason

 

But we didn't pass the ball over the midfield last night. The midfield had plenty of the ball, but couldn't do a thing with it.  Also passing to a team mate is not the same thing as being able to pass through a defence for a team mate to run on to, something none of the three you mentioned have been able to do.  Still I agree with part of what your saying.  Even if we bought someone like Elano he would be wasted in the massive majority of games with the way Allardyce wants his team to "play".  However I think last night he would have made a world of difference.

 

without sitting and analysing the game again it's hard to refure what you say exactly, but for me unless zog/beye start the moves or one of the hoofs out of defence gets lucky for a 2nd ball we generally bypass the midfield entirely

 

you gotsta talk in generalisations otherwise it'd be impossible to discuss football, and this generalisation is accurate since day one at bolton this season where we actually looked good 'cause the punts upfield were actually well aimed % balls that allowed martins to exploit the gaps with his pace

 

whatever happened to that i've no idea but regardless football is a simple game and whether you have a player with the ability of elano or not it's simple enough to give the ball to one of your CM's and the winger/striker make space for the ball to be played into...butt/barton/emre all HAD that quality of pass in their locker so what happened?

 

presumably allardyce happened