Now That's What I Call Transfer Rumours! 7

[Ikon]

4 minutes ago, Ben said:

I still think Rice would be a game changer

He would be. £££ though.

[Ben]

1 minute ago, Ikon said:

He would be. £££ though.

He's just half a Phil Mickelson

[buzza]

Yes, Rice for me would bring our midfield on an even level with the biggest teams.

A winger and striker would propell us further.

 

My ideal summer would be something like:

Rice, Pedro, diaby. An a couple of raw younguns

[Nobody]

4 hours ago, Ben said:

He's just half a Phil Mickelson

When you put it like that...

[elbee909]

I hate 'statement signing' as a term. You make a statement by winning things.

[The College Dropout]

Did City sign Aguero, Silva and Toure in the same window?

 

I think most teams can only handle 3 new players going straight into a team regularly. 
 

I would look for a LB, CM, and attacker to come straight in to the team. With another 2/3 that can bed in or be rotated. 

[BrianSwan]

So apparently the Saudi League gonna try and sign up to 50 top 5 European league players this summer.

[Lazarus]

2 hours ago, BrianSwan said:

So apparently the Saudi League gonna try and sign up to 50 top 5 European league players this summer.

 

Theres our FFP concerns sorted!

[Stottie]

Quote

 

So apparently the Saudi League gonna try and sign up to 50 top 5 European league players this summer.

 

I hope it is all of Man Us targets, all of Man City's targets, all of Arsenal's targets, .....

 

Our current lads have got us to third on merit, so many transfers from now on will be incremental ones, slight upgrades on what we already have, "not game changers".

It'll be interesting to see how they do it. The noises about FFP may mean some currently popular players may need to be sold to free up wages.

Wilson's 31 and has a poor injury record, so I'd spend money on a CF. I think another CF is much more important than an SS/AM like Maddison. Isak looks like he could play #10 if we want one.

[Zero]

Please no Diaby.

[Cronky]

7 hours ago, BrianSwan said:

So apparently the Saudi League gonna try and sign up to 50 top 5 European league players this summer.

 

Says who?

[The College Dropout]

4 hours ago, Stottie said:

I hope it is all of Man Us targets, all of Man City's targets, all of Arsenal's targets, .....

 

Our current lads have got us to third on merit, so many transfers from now on will be incremental ones, slight upgrades on what we already have, "not game changers".

It'll be interesting to see how they do it. The noises about FFP may mean some currently popular players may need to be sold to free up wages.

Wilson's 31 and has a poor injury record, so I'd spend money on a CF. I think another CF is much more important than an SS/AM like Maddison. Isak looks like he could play #10 if we want one.

Every Isak, Botman, Bruno, Pope level transfer is a game changer.

[Milanista]

Does Newcastle need English players--hence the desire for Rice and Bellingham? Otherwise, I don't see the need for either one of them. They're good players, with a lot of potential, but the price they'd demand relative to their performance doesn't really seem in-line with their cost.

 

If anything, you'd want Real Madrid to overpay and sign Bellingham, that could potentially free up Tchouameni or Camavinga to leave Real? Camavinga is the better of the two French young guns, in my opinion, but those players aside, I don't see the need for someone in the Rice and Bellingham price-bracket, especially in the CDM role.

 

Brozovic from Inter could be gotten for very cheap, especially if Inter don't get CL football, as they are in financial crisis, and everyone knows it--so buyers are waiting for their owner to admit defeat before putting in bids. It could be a fire-sale there. Brozovic is one of the most underrated CDMs in the world.

 

Isak seemed to be the only player that you went for that was in the conventional "big hype" market. Botman, for example, was the choice of scouts who are ahead-of-the-curve. You weren't competing with Man Utd, Chelsea, or Real for him--your biggest competitor for his signature was Milan, and we've adopted a very low-key approach that has served us very well. Those other big clubs pay premiums for players that become terrible burdens if they fail.

 

West Ham's transfer business has actually been pretty good, but a little more flashy than Newcastle, the problem is Moyes has gotten a bunch of players that don't suit his tactics, and I think they're about to take some big losses on many of those players. Scamacca, for example, is who I want Milan to sign in the summer, but there are many other players there that West Ham have ruined, Aguerd, Paqueta, Vlasic, Haller--so I think it's better for Newcastle to continue on the path it's on rather than shifting towards a more "we need to splash the cash" because... you don't.

 

Grabbing good players in bad situations or scouting smarter (like you have previously) is the better choice than trying to make "statement signings." Statement signings are there to win "who won the transfer market" discussions which tend to age badly. Who knew about your Bruno before you bought him? Not many, but look at him now.

 

This last summer, Milan brought in a bunch of young talent, but our coach has not used them at all. We have this CB, named Thiaw, our manager (Pioli) barely used him, even though he has all this incredible talent, and then... with just an onslaught of injuries, he is forced to use him... and guess what? He is incredible. We have other young players that he hasn't used, that are as equally as talented, but refuses to use them... which during our 5-6 month-long injury crisis was a terrible decision, and now those same players are just sitting there with our first-team squad run ragged.

 

The point is: in Howe you have a manager who is tactically flexible, looking at how he's done with Joelinton as one of his biggest tactical chess move. I think there's also a benefit to bringing in players who are brought in with less fanfare because I feel like it allows the manager to mold them a little more, especially with how tactics these days require more buy-in from players, since you can't really have passengers in the team anymore.

 

Anyway, just my two (long) cents.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Great post, but I still would kind of like to sign Rice. I’m sure our actual transfer strategy will be more like you suggest though. 

[CPL]

4 minutes ago, Milanista said:

Does Newcastle need English players--hence the desire for Rice and Bellingham? Otherwise, I don't see the need for either one of them. They're good players, with a lot of potential, but the price they'd demand relative to their performance doesn't really seem in-line with their cost.

 

If anything, you'd want Real Madrid to overpay and sign Bellingham, that could potentially free up Tchouameni or Camavinga to leave Real? Camavinga is the better of the two French young guns, in my opinion, but those players aside, I don't see the need for someone in the Rice and Bellingham price-bracket, especially in the CDM role.

 

Brozovic from Inter could be gotten for very cheap, especially if Inter don't get CL football, as they are in financial crisis, and everyone knows it--so buyers are waiting for their owner to admit defeat before putting in bids. It could be a fire-sale there. Brozovic is one of the most underrated CDMs in the world.

 

Isak seemed to be the only player that you went for that was in the conventional "big hype" market. Botman, for example, was the choice of scouts who are ahead-of-the-curve. You weren't competing with Man Utd, Chelsea, or Real for him--your biggest competitor for his signature was Milan, and we've adopted a very low-key approach that has served us very well. Those other big clubs pay premiums for players that become terrible burdens if they fail.

 

West Ham's transfer business has actually been pretty good, but a little more flashy than Newcastle, the problem is Moyes has gotten a bunch of players that don't suit his tactics, and I think they're about to take some big losses on many of those players. Scamacca, for example, is who I want Milan to sign in the summer, but there are many other players there that West Ham have ruined, Aguerd, Paqueta, Vlasic, Haller--so I think it's better for Newcastle to continue on the path it's on rather than shifting towards a more "we need to splash the cash" because... you don't.

 

Grabbing good players in bad situations or scouting smarter (like you have previously) is the better choice than trying to make "statement signings." Statement signings are there to win "who won the transfer market" discussions which tend to age badly. Who knew about your Bruno before you bought him? Not many, but look at him now.

 

This last summer, Milan brought in a bunch of young talent, but our coach has not used them at all. We have this CB, named Thiaw, our manager (Pioli) barely used him, even though he has all this incredible talent, and then... with just an onslaught of injuries, he is forced to use him... and guess what? He is incredible. We have other young players that he hasn't used, that are as equally as talented, but refuses to use them... which during our 5-6 month-long injury crisis was a terrible decision, and now those same players are just sitting there with our first-team squad run ragged.

 

The point is: in Howe you have a manager who is tactically flexible, looking at how he's done with Joelinton as one of his biggest tactical chess move. I think there's also a benefit to bringing in players who are brought in with less fanfare because I feel like it allows the manager to mold them a little more, especially with how tactics these days require more buy-in from players, since you can't really have passengers in the team anymore.

 

Anyway, just my two (long) cents.

Your posts are always so articulate and you seem to possess a huge knowledge of other teams - not just yours. I always enjoy reading your 'mini blogs'. You're definitely my favourite non-nufc fan poster on the forum and I think I echo that for a few of us on here.

 

Think the Rice and Bellingham type of signings doesn't make sense at this moment in time. This is due to us trying to solidify on the last few seasons and hopefully maintaining Champions League football if we get top 4 this year. A marquee signing like those listed above would be to go for the title, which isn't yet on the agenda ?.

[Dr. TC]

12 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

Great post, but I still would kind of like to sign Rice. I’m sure our actual transfer strategy will be more like you suggest though. 

I also think he would be a fantastic signing. He is young, but has so much experience in one of the most difficult and important positions to play, and reliably influences every match be plays in. What excites me is building a midfield that would play together for years. 

[hakka]

4 hours ago, Zero said:

Please no Diaby.

 

Why? Thought he found is last season form again in 2023.

[GeordieDazzler]

I get there is an English Premium but without trying to sound too Brexity there is nothing like having a good core of English players in the team. Even better if a few of them are local and fans. It’s a prestige thing and I do think it helps with the connection to the fans. 
 

I would hate to end up like Wolves with like only 2 first team squad players. 
 

Plus it allows me to be more invested in England games.

[Keegans Export]

The problem with Rice/Bellingham is that we aren't one key player away from having a top-four squad - at least not one that can compete for top four while also playing in Europe.

 

We need to build the squad with 4-6 key additions, then we can start adding one or two superstar signings. Pre-FFP it wouldn't be an issue obviously, but as it is we can't do both.

[STM]

I agree entirely with TCD. 3 first teamers is about right. Then 3 younger types.

[Armchair Pundit]

I read this morning that Liverpool have decided against going for Bellingham, I wonder where he'll be off to then. Still like Maddison for us though.

[The Butcher]

Purple LB, CM and winger/forward.

 

Buy a young RB, CB and CM.

 

[Milanista]

I don't think you can get a more attacking-style LB, Botman will get exposed. At Lille he had Djalo as his LB, who is naturally a CB, and played LB next to him, and this year is playing as a CB.

 

If you want to upgrade Dan Burn, more power to you, I haven't watched enough to determine how big a priority that is.

 

But I don't think you can have a real attacking LB with Botman. You'd need a left-sided Ben White-style player, or you'd need to be far more dominant in your possession and play style to limit his exposure.

[STM]

I've been saying  for a while that we have been playing an elbow formation and any attacking LB would be a risk to our structure.

 

On the other hand. If Trippier is missing, it would be nice to have 1 fullback capable of advanced play.

 

 

[Coffee_Johnny]

On 11/04/2023 at 12:20, Zero said:

I think we will get Gallagher, Pedro and one more defender for the coming summer, totally around 100M. Then unless there is a cut price deal available in the market (like Gordon), that would be it. Our strategy seems to try to balance between long term targets and unexpected lucrative deals

Gallagher would be my top pick (possibly available in PL). So would be delighted. However, I expect at least four incoming. Though maybe only three who will be clear first team picks/options for now.