Patience Is A Virtue Apparently
Newcastle United fans are used to anti-climaxes so perhaps we should not be surprised by the lack of transfer activity at St James's Park so far this summer.
As ever, big things were expected from the Magpies as they look to build on the encouraging end to last season. Big moves made, exciting names arriving and the gradual construction of a squad which will compete for a Uefa Cup place next season.
Instead, all we have had is fresh doubts about who is in charge of player recruitment - manager Kevin Keegan or Executive Director (football) Dennis Wise - reports the main priority before the start of the new season is to slash the wage bill and the departure of the one truly creative player in the squad, Emre.
I should be sad to see the departure of Emre as I've championed his ability for the last three years, but the bottom line is he wasn't fit often enough to make an impact and he was a luxury player United simply couldn't afford anymore.
It made sense for him to return to Turkey with Fenerbahce - but don't be surprised if he turns out to be one of the stars of Euro 2008. He is still an excellent player, when not nursing some strain or other.
As for the transfer market, Newcastle fans shouldn't be too disheartened. It has been a sluggish start to the summer and, as Sunderland manager Roy Keane suggested this week, nothing much will happen until after the European Championships because everyone wants to see if any players emerge in that tournament.
Tellingly, Keegan appears to be more interested in enjoying a family holiday at the moment than he is in leading the pursuit of his transfer targets. We all need a break Kev, but I hope you've still got an interest in what's happening back home as well as your suntan!
At this stage it seems that United have only made one firm move in the market, for Turkey winger Arda Turan. I've not seen much of him, but he looks as though he could be an excellent player. Sadly, should he shine at Euro 2008, Newcastle could be out manoeuvred by a rival who is able to offer European football next season.
However, the Magpies are also interested in Peter Crouch and Jorn Arne Riise, who in my opinion, would both be excellent signings for a team looking to compete for a European place.
They are both proven Premier League players who have been important members of a Liverpool side which has consistently finished in the top four.
Unlike some other names I could mention, they also have the sort of character which would prevent them from simply going through the motions if they leave Anfield!
As for the link with Dean Ashton, a strange one considering it came on the day he agreed a new contract with West Ham. Kite flying and stabs in the dark spring to mind. Oh well, it is that time of year I suppose. Maybe we should all just learn to be a little more patient. It's a virtue apparently!
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Luke Edwards - is Chief Sports Writer of The Journal and uses his blog to give a unique and entertaining insight into events at Newcastle United and Sunderland.
Iâd be DELIGHTED if Riise and Crouch arrived, they are two brilliant players who would get any mid-table side into the UEFA cup and an outside bet of the Champions League, providing the side they joined had a good enough squad already and in Newcastle United- I believe they have.
I like Enrique, but he needs to be the understudy rather than the week in, week out, left back, Riise is the best left back in the league and can bomb forward and get a few goals into the bargain,- we havenât had that since Olivier Bernard.
Crouch is another one, he doesnât get buckets of out and out goals himself, but heâd cause havock for the players around him to exploit and I find it exploitative to see Rafa âThe Fat Waiterâ Benitez slapping a £15m tag on him, when he doesnât fancy the guy as a top quality player. Iâm sure a cut price deal could be done.
Otherâs seem less likely- Moutinho, who Iâm a huge fan of surely wouldnât come, neither would a Ronaldinho or the like.
In between work today- I never got the feeling, glancing at Sky Sports News, that the info bar at the bottom of the screen would read- âBREAKING NEWS- NEWCASTLE UNITED HAVE TABLED A BID OF £16M FOR. . . . Whoeverâ. I donât want us to sign anyone for that kind of money just for the sake of it, but you just donât get that feeling about the club that they want to go places. I know Kevin does, but Iâm not sure about the people above him.
Again, I bring up the trio on the scouting team- do they have an agenda separate to Kevinâs, will they go into negotiations with 100% or will they try to scupper Kevinâs plans if they donât agree with them? I simply donât trust them, especially Wise- I donât get what heâs done to qualify him to be a scout of a Premier league club.
Also I donât think slashing the wage bill is going to benefit the club as a whole- after all, getting rid of Emre and Carr, have slashed the bill, but they need to be replaced, and that costs money,- I hope were not going to get some youngster on £4k a week to replace them, just because they look good on the balance sheets- We all remember selling Ginola and buying Hamilton, or selling Ferdinand and getting Rush and Paul Dalglish, Beardsley for Tomasson anyone?
We need tried and trusted Premier league quality, thatâs why Riise and Crouch would be ideal- £20m maximum it would cost- to get into Europe. Ashley and his drones on the board need to back Kevin, and if they are the two players he wants,- they get my vote.
Time for the club to PROVE ambition.
Paul.
Note From Luke
I think most people will concur with you. I'd say it was time for Mike Ashley to put his money where his mouth is, but as he never speaks to the media or the supporters I'll say it's time for him to put his money where that famous Newcastle insider's big mouth is!
I would've liked to see us tie up Turan before the start of the tournament, although right off the bat the remarks coming out of Turkey weren't encouraging. In football-speak I heard: "Well, that's all very well, but we'll wait and see if any better offers come in after the tournament."
I think this sums up our status at the moment. That said, I don't think that means we should stop trying.
Luke, you may remember several weeks ago when I was touting young Geovani dos Santos as an excellent target for our new recruitment policy. Now Tottenham, seemingly unrivalled, have signed him for what seems like peanuts given £12m was being talked about a couple of weeks ago. If this type of kid isn't a prime example of this new transfer policy, I shudder to think who is. Disappointing.
At this point, I'd definitely take Riise. I'd definitely go for Pablo Aimar at Zaragoza. Riise would provide our second left back, and Aimar would replace Emre's creativity. I've been in exactly the same position as you, Luke, when it comes to Emre. I've championed his importance to team since he's been here, but the injuries didn't help. Mind you, I recall him being an unused substitute a hell of a lot under Allardyce when he was actually fit, so we can't completely blame his injury record.
Growing tired of reading the same names touted over and over again, I started thinking about this transfer/wage policy we seem to have and about who we may have a chance of signing for reasonable money on reasonable wages.
Juan Roman Riquelme.
Now 29 years old with great experience and sturdy enough to withstand the Premier League. His price would probably be somewhere between £4-6m and his salary would be a lot less than Emre's was. Creativity, vision, skill, great free kicks and long-rangers.
Add Aimar & Riquelme to our midfield and it's looking a lot more exciting than last year from where I sit, and certainly wouldn't break the bank.
Hi Luke - I am depressed-- I am 67 this week and I think I will not be of this earth when -if ever the lads do win anything.Last great joy in my life was winning the old fairs cup in 69. Also Luke i must apologise to you seems like I was wrong Hilary is not going to be the presedential candidate-looks like Barack is home and dry. God does nothing fall right for me. please give us long suffering Mags some good news in the next few days Luke - Like MA backs KK -we sign Berbatov and Bentley and Jackie Milburn comes down from heaven to help us.Life a bitch but some one has to support Newcastle United. Any suggestions as to how I can survive Luke.
Note From Luke
Eat five portions of fruit and veg a day, exercise as much as you can and cut all ties with Newcastle United and start following an American basketball team instead. How about the Boston Celtics, they seem to be dloing well at the moment!
I totaly agree with what you have to say but lets just see whats going to happen - lets be right isnt that half the fun !!!!!!
luke the transfer window is a farce, it opens in june, then we are told everyone is away on holiday. we are then left with every club in the world pushing and shoving each other in a scramble to sign the same players. it is not only crazy and inflationary, but it favours the biggest and richest clubs. i also doubt it would stand up in a court of law, due to restriction of trade.
Note From Luke
You might have a point, but it looks like it's here to stay so Newcastle - and Sunderland - will just have to do the best they can in the conditions they are forced to work in. I've not seen much evidence of them doing particularly well so far though, have you?
Hi Luke --What transfer activity are you referring to Luke ? From where I am sitting I dont see any. We cant even sign Owen and Taylor for gods sake. I am now feeling desperately down- we have the cockney and other henchmen on the wage bill supposedly to negotiate new contracts and find new players -are they on strike or what ? something smells very badly at Newcastle and its nothing to do with KK -he is the only good thing thats happened to us amid all the horror circus around him-Just what are MAs intentions? according to KK he wants a trophy-what trophy -we will be lucky to survive another season with the bodies we presently have -and would some one please tell Rafa Benitez -we dont find his offer of 3 doughnuts very funny. It seems the club dont care about Milner or Owen or Taylor and want to sell as many as they can-might just be able to live with that if these were KKs decisions -however I dont think they are- I am sick of reading Milner is going-Martins is apparently surplus to requirements and Charlie is on his way- what the hell is going on at this club- some one is pulling strings and tying KKs hands behind his back here and we know who they are as they all live in London Supermac -big Al say something before the asset strippers kill us -this is all seriously now doing our heads in. Benitez get lost leave our players alone and keep your rubbish to your self. Are we now so much of a joke that other managers think they can get away with this rubbish -maybe we are -Do the people in London have any idea what our club means to us. If KK goes then as far as I am concerned its the last straw -not that the little cockney will care much or the Board who seem oblivious to the needs that a premier club needs premier players.
Whilst the thoery is good, ie lets see if anyone emerges from the Euros, I'd say it is more likely to hinder Newcastle than help. The appointments of Souness, Roeder and Allardyce have been so detrimental to the club, players now prefer Portsmouth over ourselves! Interesting to hear we are cutting the wage bill but linked with Crouch and Riise, they will surely demand sizeable wages to join, also is this not a case of going back over old ground, ie both these players will view Newcastle as a step back, what will their motivation be like?? I'm concerned Luke, very concerned, are all the rumours true? Because if so, and we are trying to slash the wage bill can ANYONE see us finishing higher than tenth. Spurs, Man City teams of equal stature to ourselves are already investing heavily, we are doing the opposite yet talking of finishing in the UEFA places. Somebody needs to get real! If the cost cutting is true, we are going to majorly struggle next year! Lets boycott Sports Direct till MA actually spends some cash!!!
Note From Luke
The problem with the wage bill thing is that it is just rumour. Nobody at SJP has ever spoken about it. all we have our supposed insiders. It would help if someone spoke about it from the club, but I won't hold my breath! We'll probably have to wait until the players and Keegan return to work at the start of July.
I agree. I'm holding on to a glimmer of hope that it is a carefully contrived plan to drive the price down for our potential targets. Everyone will think we're skint therefore we will get a good price (highly optimistic view). In some ways it could work well, you've only to look at the ridiculous wages and prices West Ham paid out last summer to realise that defining a budget is never a good thing. Fingers crossed, I still believe!
luke there was a report in the guardian i think the other week about the wages thing in football and whilst nufc was pretty bad (actually very bad) % of turnover wise it actually wasnt much worse than teams like pompey, just ours looks worse as its on a bigger scale and others are actually getting something for the wages and the amounts paid out is paid to a biger number of players.
personally if i had to score the new recruiting team out of ten so far i think even with the kids they brought in jan they would have slipped into negative points as it seems theyve dithered and lost out on a few players.
luke what did you think of reported target mario gomez i watched the germany game last night and he was awfull imo, hope we dont make the mistake of going after a player whos ok in germany but thats it (he has looked good from what ive seen playing in the bundesliga), but you have to wonder why the likes of man utd have stopped being linked to him after numerous times scouting him.
Note From Luke
The worry you have with any foreign player is that it will take them a while to adapt to English football, while some will not adapt at all. Arsenal's foreign legion have all been signed young and a lot of them have even come through the ranks so have plenty of experience of the speed and style before they ever play in the Premier League. Having said that, this doesn't mean there aren't good players in Europe who could make an instant impact, it's just we're not likely to see the best of them for at least a season after they sign. Can Newcastke afford to do this in their present situation. I know Keegan wants players with experience of the PL over those who have none.
Has Chris Mort gone? If so who at NUFC is able to finalise a contract? Modric says he was impressed that the Spurs' chairman made a personal visit to secure the deal, how did we pitch for him? Sadly NUFC does not have the pulling power of the past. So there should be a team set up to "sell" the club to prospective signings. Priority should be to resign Michael Owen & Taylor, to assure Milner his future is here and tell Barton his is not. Get Owen & Keegan on the case of persuading players the future is bright here. I don't see that Wise & Co are having much luck...but how hard are they trying?
Note From Luke
Chris Mort told me last week that he is still in charge, but I expect that will change at the end of this month. He is not personally involved in transfers anyway, that's Wise and Jimenez' department. I'm sure they are trying and the one thing in their favour at the moment is that there has been very little transfer activity anywhere in the PL at this stage.
Ach! The silly season, is August to September on Tyneside!
Well Modric scored a pen for Croatia, but you cant really judge a player on a single flawless performance, I hope he shines in this tournament so we get a good indication of what we missed. I bear no ill will towards the talented but mentally flawed midfielder. He chose to go to tottingham, so lets all put any all bad feeling towards the little bastard aside and say âbreak a legâ Luka!
Note From Luke
It's actually Luca I think, Not like you to be so bitter. You normally leave that to me and my anti-Chelsea rants!
Luke - Our biggest challenge in the transfer window isn't patience per se. Our biggest challange is to identify players who want to play for NUFC. I don't care if they cost £10m or come free with a bag of balls. Commitment is the key.
With this in mind I can't help but ask will Gomis and no doubt countless others be committed to NUFC if they're eyeing Italy or London? (In terms of the current crop will Barton be committed if he's asked to play for half the wages? - I suspect he'll give half the effort which on current returns is a scary prospect).
KK's talent historically has been to convince players that they'll be part of something special. When people bought into this they bought into it for life, just listen to Sir Les, and the countless others who still regard NUFC as the special part of respective careers
Clearly we have challenges ahead - who wasn't slightly embarrassed that a kid from Carlisle couldn't be persuaded to take a chance (his loss our NUFC's?). Lets hope this isn't reflective of how far our stock has fallen.
I just can't be convinced that the players who don't regard NUFC as a backwards or sideways step aren't out there somewhere?
Here's hoping!
Hi Luke,
agree with the comments that KK deserves a break, but not feeling good knowing the little waster is running the recruitment plan.
Euro 2008 has already brought a few relatively new players to the front of the queue, none more than Orlando Engelaar.
So tell however is in charge now, sign this boy up now, he is now Captain of the FC Twente and a much improved player than when he last played at SJP.
regards
Zulu.
PS. pity we could not afford to sign Wesley Sneijder.
I hope Schneidjer of PSV Eindhoven and Holland is on KK/Wise's hit list - this player is an immense talent and will be the star of Euro 2008.
I'm deeply concerned.
I know they're only rumours at the minute, but every other club is being linked with all kinds of decent quality player and we're left with Juniors like Aaron Spear from Plymouth and Guy Madine from Carlisle. I just don't get it.
There has to be a massive amount of money made available. Ashley is fleecing fans by increasing prices on season tickets and any adventurous businessman knows that you have to speculate to accumulate. Buy some decent players becuase this squad is woefully short at the minute.
Well its season tickets renewal time and Ashley wants an extra 50 quid from me straight away, and then he wants 120 quid from me if i want to continue my ticket renewal for 3 years before the season is out, so in total my ticket for this year costs 700 quid. and have we seen any investment from him, NO, newcastle weer the laughing stock of the premiership last season over allardyce, sheperd himself having a laugh over geordies, now ashley is jumping on the bandwagon. I for one will NOT be renewing my ticket as I do find 700 pounds a laughing matter when he wont invest, so why should i
sorry MR Ashley, have a laugh at someone elses expense.
Note From Luke
I think a lot of fans would like to see some sort of investment on the pitch before they splash their own cash.
Well my ST renewal came today and Mike wants £990 squid or £2700 for 3 years. Up £70 on last season. Well Mike if you show me yours I'll show you mine (money wise)But as things stand today - no signings - player in prison - etc, you can forget it. I have been concerned at the direction of NUFC for a number of years and I don't see any improvement in sight. Dennis Wise for God's sake. Seems its time to call it a day so I won't be renewing.
Norm.
Note From Luke
My fiance has said something remarkably similar Norm. What would change your mind I wonder? Newcastle are not the only club who have increased ticket prices for next season, although a 10% rise is more than the national average of 7%. I guess the worry is that Ashley has, as yet, failed to provide any sort of meaningful backing to the manager in the transfer market. He didn't fancy Sam Allardyce, but Keegan is his appointment. I think a collective shout of "Show Me The Money" is in order.
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