The Toon Army Thread

[NUFC Tiger]

FFS!

Its the start of a new season, wipe the slate clean and let them train with the first team. HBA and Marveaux train with the reserves to try and force them out but Obertan is training with the first team and unhappy at the club??? Cashley/Pardew logic at its finest

http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/spo...n-with-reserves-at-newcastle-united-1-6716676

 

[Golumless]

FFS!

Its the start of a new season, wipe the slate clean and let them train with the first team. HBA and Marveaux train with the reserves to try and force them out but Obertan is training with the first team and unhappy at the club??? Cashley/Pardew logic at its finest

http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/spo...n-with-reserves-at-newcastle-united-1-6716676

Now that is amateur hour.

Still liking the signings so far, wouldn't mind a playmaker coming in to ease the loss of Cabaye.

 

[scon]

Someone wants shooting;actually maybe it's more than one?
YGTBFKM;when will the stupidity hit the wall??

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Now that is amateur hour.

Still liking the signings so far, wouldn't mind a playmaker coming in to ease the loss of Cabaye.

Siem De Jong is a playmaker (and from his video highlights, looks like quite a handy player!) He scored twice against Man City in the champions league last season and has captained Ajax for the past 2 title wins so has a good pedigree about him - hopefully Pardew doesn't play him as a striker though haha.

In better news, we apparently have made an improved bid for Remy Cabella who a lot in France are calling the next Cabaye! Wouldn't be bad to replace Cabaye with his apparent successor!

We definitely need a striker in though! Debuchy should be off to Arsenal in the next few days so hopefully we have a RB lined up (Janmaat the Dutch RB and the Chile RB Isla seem to be the front runners according to the media).

 

[Gameova_]

You guys after a left back? Hearing we want to move on Enrique.....

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Haha yeah? Loved Enrique when he was with us but suspect the manner in which he forced the move to you guys wouldn't make him a popular signing if we did go back for him.

LB is actually probably one of our strongest positions depth wise. We have Santon, Haidara and Dummett (plus Shane Ferguson) who can all play there as well as utility players like Anita and Ryan Taylor.

Have you been linked to any LBs as a possible replacement if he does get sold?

 

[Gameova_]

Haha yeah? Loved Enrique when he was with us but suspect the manner in which he forced the move to you guys wouldn't make him a popular signing if we did go back for him.

LB is actually probably one of our strongest positions depth wise. We have Santon, Haidara and Dummett (plus Shane Ferguson) who can all play there as well as utility players like Anita and Ryan Taylor.

Have you been linked to any LBs as a possible replacement if he does get sold?

Weren't you guys in a crisis at the time he pushed the move through or did he get pushed out?

Betrand, Moreno and Rojo are the names we're linked with atm. I think we want two out of the three

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Weren't you guys in a crisis at the time he pushed the move through or did he get pushed out?

Betrand, Moreno and Rojo are the names we're linked with atm. I think we want two out of the three

Well I would say the Ashley regime has been just one long crisis - though no club does drama like Newcastle does!

Enrique's move push for a move was after our first season back in the PL when he had won the fan's player of the year award. I don't think it was so much the fact he wanted to leave but rather that he criticised the club's hierarchy to try and engineer a move to suit his own needs that upset the fans.

At the end of the day, he's a professional player and he had ambition to play at the highest level he could but I think a lot of Toon fans resented him for both 'jumping ship' but not being honest to the fans. I think most fans were still feeling pretty raw after we had so many of our big wage earners jump ship on our relegation and the loss of local hero Carroll. This article sums it up pretty well I think:

"His comments undoubtedly strike a chord with thousands on Tyneside. There is frustration at the lack of ambition from the owner, there is still resentment senior club officials once admitted they lied as a public relations exercise when Kevin Keegan was manager, there is still a strong anti-Ashley mentality at a club which has made under-achievement a trademark.

Yet, Enrique has also over egged the pudding some what. Newcastle fans are blindly loyal, but they are not blindly stupid.

They know Enrique has been offered a new contract and they know he turned it down. They know Enrique once said he wanted to spend the rest of his career at Newcastle, comments made when the club weren’t even in the Premier League, let alone challenging for a top six place, and they now know he never meant it.

They know he is an ambitious footballer who first started making noises about leaving this summer long before Andy Carroll was sold to Liverpool for £35m in January, but when the prospect of a new contract was first raised 12 months ago.

They know he is a very talented left-back who has improved dramatically from the slight, out-of-his-depth youngster who arrived from Spain and couldn’t get a game in his first season on Tyneside.

But, ultimately, they know most footballers want what is best for them, not the football club they once pledged loyalty to.

They have seen this happen before at St James’s Park and they have seen it happen to others like them, just look at Aston Villa and Stewart Downing.

They know Ashley isn’t perfect, they know he has made mistakes and they know they are hamstrung by his lack of spending , but they also know they will have a football club to support long after both he and Enrique have become nothing more than memories.

Enrique has been disrespectful to the club, he has been disrespectful to new signings Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba and Sylvain Marveaux and as popular as he is, that was a mistake.

Whether he had said it on Twitter or an interview with a newspaper, the impact was the same. He has attracted unwanted attention to a club which does soap operas better than most.

He has given the rest of the country a stick to beat Newcastle with, he has made others laugh at a mess he has created.

Newcastle fans will criticise their club until they are blue in the face, they will moan and they will vilify, but they will not let others do it for them. Not even one of their own players and not even when he might have a point if it is a self-serving one."

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/...ants-whats-best-for-him-not-newcastle-united/


All that being said and done, I think that's water under the bridge now and most fans would have moved on. I remember Andy Carroll's 'homecoming' game when we won 2-0 at St James' and Enrique finished the game in goal. That would have gone a long way to bury the hatchet with toon fans I think (especially after Enrique had said the club would never again challenge for the top 6).

Given the animosity between Enrique and the club hierarchy, I doubt they'd want to bring him back (or if Jose would want to come back lol).

 

[Gameova_]

Well I would say the Ashley regime has been just one long crisis - though no club does drama like Newcastle does!

Enrique's move push for a move was after our first season back in the PL when he had won the fan's player of the year award. I don't think it was so much the fact he wanted to leave but rather that he criticised the club's hierarchy to try and engineer a move to suit his own needs that upset the fans.

At the end of the day, he's a professional player and he had ambition to play at the highest level he could but I think a lot of Toon fans resented him for both 'jumping ship' but not being honest to the fans. I think most fans were still feeling pretty raw after we had so many of our big wage earners jump ship on our relegation and the loss of local hero Carroll. This article sums it up pretty well I think:

"His comments undoubtedly strike a chord with thousands on Tyneside. There is frustration at the lack of ambition from the owner, there is still resentment senior club officials once admitted they lied as a public relations exercise when Kevin Keegan was manager, there is still a strong anti-Ashley mentality at a club which has made under-achievement a trademark.

Yet, Enrique has also over egged the pudding some what. Newcastle fans are blindly loyal, but they are not blindly stupid.

They know Enrique has been offered a new contract and they know he turned it down. They know Enrique once said he wanted to spend the rest of his career at Newcastle, comments made when the club weren’t even in the Premier League, let alone challenging for a top six place, and they now know he never meant it.

They know he is an ambitious footballer who first started making noises about leaving this summer long before Andy Carroll was sold to Liverpool for £35m in January, but when the prospect of a new contract was first raised 12 months ago.

They know he is a very talented left-back who has improved dramatically from the slight, out-of-his-depth youngster who arrived from Spain and couldn’t get a game in his first season on Tyneside.

But, ultimately, they know most footballers want what is best for them, not the football club they once pledged loyalty to.

They have seen this happen before at St James’s Park and they have seen it happen to others like them, just look at Aston Villa and Stewart Downing.

They know Ashley isn’t perfect, they know he has made mistakes and they know they are hamstrung by his lack of spending , but they also know they will have a football club to support long after both he and Enrique have become nothing more than memories.

Enrique has been disrespectful to the club, he has been disrespectful to new signings Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba and Sylvain Marveaux and as popular as he is, that was a mistake.

Whether he had said it on Twitter or an interview with a newspaper, the impact was the same. He has attracted unwanted attention to a club which does soap operas better than most.

He has given the rest of the country a stick to beat Newcastle with, he has made others laugh at a mess he has created.

Newcastle fans will criticise their club until they are blue in the face, they will moan and they will vilify, but they will not let others do it for them. Not even one of their own players and not even when he might have a point if it is a self-serving one."

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/...ants-whats-best-for-him-not-newcastle-united/


All that being said and done, I think that's water under the bridge now and most fans would have moved on. I remember Andy Carroll's 'homecoming' game when we won 2-0 at St James' and Enrique finished the game in goal. That would have gone a long way to bury the hatchet with toon fans I think (especially after Enrique had said the club would never again challenge for the top 6).

Given the animosity between Enrique and the club hierarchy, I doubt they'd want to bring him back (or if Jose would want to come back lol).

Why you gotta mention the 2-0 game those times hurt thankfully Rodgers came in months later
Andy Carroll gets so much undeserved stick, he never wanted to leave your club, he got pushed out once the insane bid came in. He had no choice. As for Enrique he's available if a bid comes in, I would like him to stay to be honest but it doesn't seem at all likely if we get all our intended targets.

 

[scon]

Kept an eye on Janmaat during this morning's game and he'll be a bloody good get,certainly won't be losing anything if he's Debuchy's replacement.I fact I'd inclined to say he may be a little stronger overall.Certainly stronger in the air,it was a pretty courageous effort which ended in his headclash,cos he knew he was likely to cop one.Seemed like he was tactically switched on great timing in his runs and he looked Gutierrez like in both the style of his running and the k's he covered,he'll be a good get.
Things may yet turn out OK.I didn't expect us to up the anti for Cabella but that changes things considerably.
I won't be 'over egging the pudding' though cos at the end of each and every day Cashley and Pardew are the two most important personnel and I don't rate either of them.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Why you gotta mention the 2-0 game those times hurt thankfully Rodgers came in months later
Andy Carroll gets so much undeserved stick, he never wanted to leave your club, he got pushed out once the insane bid came in. He had no choice. As for Enrique he's available if a bid comes in, I would like him to stay to be honest but it doesn't seem at all likely if we get all our intended targets.

Agreed on Carroll - I don't think he ever really got a decent chance to make it at Liverpool unfortunately. When you guys were selling him, I would have loved to have taken him back but probably not at the price being mentioned and what West Ham spent for him. Maybe 1 day he will come home though!

The Carroll sale will be very interesting to read if he ever publishes an autobiography. From his version of events, he apparently never wanted to be sold but the club forced him out the door - he had quite a bit of time left on his deal I think and if he had stuck to his guns, I doubt the club would let him rot in the reserves given he was our best striker by some margin. The club on the other hand (from memory) said Carroll put a transfer request in when he heard of Liverpool's interest and tried to force the move and the club reluctantly agreed to sell him but only after trying to scare Liverpool off with a heavy price tag (apparently upped to $35m from the $30m bid initially put in). Given the lack of trust most Toon fans hold for the current regime, I think most would prefer/probably lean towards Carroll's version of events (though if he was adamant he wanted to stay, he could have refused to discuss terms with Liverpool and effectively stopped the deal).

Don't worry too much about it mate - 12 months after that game, you guys came back and tonked us 6-0 from memory (and Enrique got his chance to rub some salt in haha).

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Kept an eye on Janmaat during this morning's game and he'll be a bloody good get,certainly won't be losing anything if he's Debuchy's replacement.I fact I'd inclined to say he may be a little stronger overall.Certainly stronger in the air,it was a pretty courageous effort which ended in his headclash,cos he knew he was likely to cop one.Seemed like he was tactically switched on great timing in his runs and he looked Gutierrez like in both the style of his running and the k's he covered,he'll be a good get.
Things may yet turn out OK.I didn't expect us to up the anti for Cabella but that changes things considerably.
I won't be 'over egging the pudding' though cos at the end of each and every day Cashley and Pardew are the two most important personnel and I don't rate either of them.

Yeah, saw a bit of the game and he looked to do quite a good job of shutting Messi down whenever he tried to run down the flank. He looked good in the air (one of Debuchy's strengths) and is a bit younger too. If we can make a profit from the sale of Debuchy, it might be a good piece of business by the club all things considered.

Apparently we have put a late bid in for Remy - would love him back as he's a proven scorer but remains to be seen if he'd rather live in London with the interest from Arsenal doing the rounds (though they just signed Sachez so maybe won't need anymore attackers?).

IF we could get Janmaat, Cabella and Remy (without selling anyone else), I'd be pretty happy with our transfer window (even if the squad could still use a few more numbers in). With Ashley in charge, we all know not to get too excited until the window shuts - everyone has their price in his eyes

 

[scon]

Sounds as though I may have underestimated Debuchy's aerial ability(probably to busy throwing whisky down my neck to battle the depression),but as you say if the club can turn a profit on the deal and put some of the money into getting Remy back along with de Jong and Cabella and the flying tulip muncher at right back I'd see that as not only a significant strengthening of the squad but a significant shift in mentality.Remy is a fantastic player,do I remember correctly that Jo Kinnear the terminal knob-end could have simply put a standard 'option to retain' clause in his loan deal to give us first option for contract extensions??
I don't have a problem at all with the club doing good business,it's central to the whole shebang;I'd just like to see the good business running in tandem with some equally clinical ambition and planning for future success.
I know it's crazy talk but what about strategic strengthening of the squad every year as a KPI?

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Agreed scon! I actually don't mind that the club is focused on being self sustainable and viable in a day and age where so many clubs are running/operating at a loss. My only issue with the direction under Ashley is that the club seem to have gone too far in this regard and are happy to have zero ambition to progress into the top bracket again. With a huge fanbase, massive stadium and decent squad, a bit of investment, direction and ambition and who's to say we can't push into the top 6 again?

Further to that, you can't expect the players to produce their best efforts and the fans to keep attending/buying merchandise if they don't believe in the direction the club is going. Without ambition, our best players will continue to look elsewhere to progress their careers and the fans will keep getting more discontent and despondent. For a hugely successful businessman, Cashley doesn't know much about running a football club and just seems happy to pocket the money and get his free advertising

 

[NUFC Tiger]

We got our man!

Cabella the latest addition (in what is starting to turn into an exciting transfer window!).

Cabaye replaced by De Jong and Cabella - hard to not be happy with that!

 

[NUFC Tiger]

$12m pounds - our second most expensive transfer in the last 10 years (after Owen).

'This is a move that I really wanted to make,' Cabella said. 'I have heard nothing but good things about Newcastle United from everyone I spoke to.

'I wanted to join a great English club and that is why I have arrived here. I'm looking forward to pulling on the shirt and playing in this magnificent stadium, and I will give this Club my maximum.'

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jul/13/newcastle-united-sign-remy-cabella

Now just add in Janmaat and a striker or 2 (reportedly close to Emmanuel Riviere from Monaco) and links to both Remy and Ba making a return.

There is some talk in France that we may sell Yanga Mbiwa for half price. Hope that's not true, think he will turn out to be a good CB given the opportunity. Had a difficult time trying to step up to a harder league in a foreign country but started to show some signs.

If he goes, we'll need another CB. Hope he stays personally! Him and Willo had a good partnership last season (2 clean sheets in our Spurs away and Chelsea home wins). Colo might only be around for another season and then might be off anyway.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/real-reason-newcastle-united-set-7413714

Interesting read in the chronicle about changing focus from the French to Dutch market.

 

[scon]

I find it weird how the club can still be regarded so favourably and positively so I must be too close and too critical.
This is undoubtedly a much more promising approach than last season and gives rise to some real optimism,just bloody fantastic.I agree completely about Mbiwa he's just beginning to hit his straps in my opinion,certainly wouldn't think there'd be wages pressure to unload him at a loss;doesn't make a lot of sense.If Remy and Ba were to return or Remy and another quality front man we'd be a different side from last season provided there's not some mass walkout brewing.
I must be underestimating Pardew's man management skills because players are recommending the club to each other.I know that my expectations are a bit high and my criticisms a bit harsh and while I'm rapt we're still held in high regard around the playing circles it confuses me a little with the turmoil and fan alienation that has occurred but despite this it appears business as usual for the players
There's also this rumour if Mbiwa is off out the door??
http://www.nufcblog.com/2014/07/13/newcastle-after-english-defender-playing-in-portugal/

 

[NUFC Tiger]

I find it weird how the club can still be regarded so favourably and positively so I must be too close and too critical.
This is undoubtedly a much more promising approach than last season and gives rise to some real optimism,just bloody fantastic.I agree completely about Mbiwa he's just beginning to hit his straps in my opinion,certainly wouldn't think there'd be wages pressure to unload him at a loss;doesn't make a lot of sense.If Remy and Ba were to return or Remy and another quality front man we'd be a different side from last season provided there's not some mass walkout brewing.
I must be underestimating Pardew's man management skills because players are recommending the club to each other.I know that my expectations are a bit high and my criticisms a bit harsh and while I'm rapt we're still held in high regard around the playing circles it confuses me a little with the turmoil and fan alienation that has occurred but despite this it appears business as usual for the players
There's also this rumour if Mbiwa is off out the door??
http://www.nufcblog.com/2014/07/13/newcastle-after-english-defender-playing-in-portugal/

Yeah, it's definitely good to know/read/hear that the club is still seen as an attractive club outside of England and that we can attract talent to St James'! It's amazing to see the club spending money after not buying anyone last year. It's almost like they realised that a lot of fans were disillusioned by the end of last season and they needed some exciting additions to get the fans feeling optimistic again.

It's funny, if they just had more PR with the fans, I think a lot of people would be happy with our current lot. A bit of ambition to try and improve and some transparency and dialogue with the fans goes a long way to removing the 'doom and gloom' so many of us feel/felt. I'm just hoping Pardew can get the best out of our new players and not 'Pardew' them (make them go backwards haha).

2 strikers and Janmaat and Debuchy being sold and I'd be very very happy with our transfer business! Now we just need to see our new home kit

Also, happy with Tiote and De Jong being made vice captains under Colo. De Jong's statement that they want to aim for Champions League is pretty exciting too (if not overly optimistic!). Seems to be a good leader with a good head on his shoulders!

 

[scon]

Yeah, it's definitely good to know/read/hear that the club is still seen as an attractive club outside of England and that we can attract talent to St James'! It's amazing to see the club spending money after not buying anyone last year. It's almost like they realised that a lot of fans were disillusioned by the end of last season and they needed some exciting additions to get the fans feeling optimistic again.

It's funny, if they just had more PR with the fans, I think a lot of people would be happy with our current lot. A bit of ambition to try and improve and some transparency and dialogue with the fans goes a long way to removing the 'doom and gloom' so many of us feel/felt. I'm just hoping Pardew can get the best out of our new players and not 'Pardew' them (make them go backwards haha).

2 strikers and Janmaat and Debuchy being sold and I'd be very very happy with our transfer business! Now we just need to see our new home kit

Also, happy with Tiote and De Jong being made vice captains under Colo. De Jong's statement that they want to aim for Champions League is pretty exciting too (if not overly optimistic!). Seems to be a good leader with a good head on his shoulders!

Agree 100% particularly the bolded;just want to be able to have some faith in the club's endeavour and ambition not exactly crazy wishes from a fan.
Tiote has improved and taken a lot of the dumb football out of his game and he must have attributes which I don't see because I don't see him as leadership material but that's not important if he's got the character!De Jong is a good move I'd say and hopefully he settles quickly and the physicality doesn't take too much adjusting to.He looks too talented and professional for any of it to phase him.
I hope things continue in this vein and we get another couple of quality signings before the season begins it would be fantastic to be able to look forward with a really positive mindset.
I read somewhere that the club had 40 m quid allocated for player acquisition but that is very unlikely to be true but so far so good.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Agree 100% particularly the bolded;just want to be able to have some faith in the club's endeavour and ambition not exactly crazy wishes from a fan.
Tiote has improved and taken a lot of the dumb football out of his game and he must have attributes which I don't see because I don't see him as leadership material but that's not important if he's got the character!De Jong is a good move I'd say and hopefully he settles quickly and the physicality doesn't take too much adjusting to.He looks too talented and professional for any of it to phase him.
I hope things continue in this vein and we get another couple of quality signings before the season begins it would be fantastic to be able to look forward with a really positive mindset.
I read somewhere that the club had 40 m quid allocated for player acquisition but that is very unlikely to be true but so far so good.

Agreed on Tiote scon! - Tiote doesn't seem like the vocal kind of leader but he always gives his all, battles hard for the ball and as far as I can recall, has never wanted to leave the club despite interest from bigger and more stable clubs.

If that $40m figure is true, that would be great! With Cabella, De Jong and Perez, I think we'd be sitting at just under $20m spent but with $11m being thrown around for Debuchy and Janmaat possibly costing $5-6m, we would still be a fair way under that amount in terms of net spend. Even without spending a massive amount, our squad is starting to look a bit stronger which just goes to show that being smart in the transfer market is always a good thing (provided you can get your man).

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Watch this space!

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/wonga-could-pull-out-newcastle-7418906

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Janmaat in Toon!

Turning into a great window for us!

 

[scon]

Wonga can go forth and multiply themselves for mine so no loss there if they don't renew.
The signings on the other hand are fantastic!!
Something has changed and I think it's what you were saying the other day that they have decided there is no room for further fan alienation or at least they need to temper their previous vulgarity with some good news by putting something serious in the team and on the park.If we can add someone like Remy back and another frontman we'll challenge for Champions league as De Jong is saying.
I don't know what has happened behind the scenes but I like what's happening out front.
Thanks for the update NUFC Tiger I had a bloody average day and some good news is just the ticket,cheers.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

First friendly last night, 2-1 loss to Oldham that we gave a lot of kids a run out in while getting some fitness into the first team players.

Cracking goal by De Jong though on his debut!



NUFC XI VS OLDHAM

Alnwick
Anita Taylor MYM Dummett
Gouffran Colback Abeid Aarons
De Jong Armstrong

SUBS- Woodman
Haidara Streete Satka Bigirimana
Sammy Vuckic Perez