Club statement

[loonyTOON 10]

Think everyone needs to take a step back from what was said in that statement and breathe!! I think there will be players bought in the summer for sure. The 5 year plan obviously means Ashley stays. He can't afford for the club to be relegated again and knows signings must be made. And they will. What it meant was he isn't going to inject MORE of his own cash in. It doesn't stop us using part of the 60+ million that are gained throughout a premier league season. This is blown way out of proportion, and until the final day of the transfer window, everything said is just speculation. So let's just wait and see.

[Happy Face 29]

Think everyone needs to take a step back from what was said in that statement and breathe!! I think there will be players bought in the summer for sure. The 5 year plan obviously means Ashley stays. He can't afford for the club to be relegated again and knows signings must be made. And they will. What it meant was he isn't going to inject MORE of his own cash in. It doesn't stop us using part of the 60+ million that are gained throughout a premier league season. This is blown way out of proportion, and until the final day of the transfer window, everything said is just speculation. So let's just wait and see.

 

 

Are we gonna win it like?

[The Fish 10972]

Think the clue is in his name HF

[sammynb 3508]

I am betting Jonas, Colo and Enirque will be with us next season.

 

I'll take that bet.

What's it worth 50 quid to a charity of choice?

I'll bet you two out of those three are no longer NUFC players come September 2010.

[sammynb 3508]

Perhaps it’s what wasn’t said that says the most. Over a thousand words about a five year plan and not one sentence about how or if they intended to repay the clubs debts. I don’t think this statement was badly written, more that it was written to provoke a debate about what the fuck no new capital outlay means so more awkward questions get lost in the maelstrom.

 

There’s no fucking way some money won’t be made available to Chris Hughton. It won’t be much but after this statement a £5m transfer budget will be portrayed as another benevolent gesture. He’s playing us for fools. Ashley isn’t stupid, he’s a cold calculating billionaire who likes a gamble and if this statement is a PR gaff it’s a deliberate PR gaff.

They've done this sort of thing before, like when they announced the stuff about the stadium renaming in order to deflect attention away from other things (can't even quite remember what it was at the time).

 

Wasn't it just after the KK tribunal?

It was but also at the same time they took the club off the market and appointed Hughton.

 

In October 2009, Keegan’s dispute with the club was resolved, 10 months on from his departure, receiving £2million compensation as agreed in his contract which the club failed to pay him following his resignation. A premier league arbitration panel, ruled in Keegan’s favour citing that player Ignacio González was signed by Director of Football Dennis Wise against Keegan’s wishes, but also against the principles of the generally understood role of a premier league manager, which usually states the manager’s decision is final on player signings. The panel revealed that Wise asked Keegan to review González from youtube.com, no more than 24 hours before the closing of the summer transfer window, from which Keegan refuted the player. The club revealed to the panel that their response to the media and public critique was just ‘PR,’ that Keegan had never been informed his word was not final, and that they were not in a position to sack him should he not have agreed to their demands.[47]

Following Keegan rejecting talk of a 3rd return to Newcastle, feeling the fans had 'had enough' of him,[48] Chris Hughton was confirmed as the club's full time manager in late October 2009, until the end of the 2010/11 season. He stated "It's a very proud day for me to be named as the manager of this magnificent football club," and that he "will be doing everything in my power to get the club back into the Premier League at the first time of asking."[49]

On 27 October 2009, Ashley announce that the club was no longer for sale, reporting that he had been unsuccessful in finding a buyer who could produce proof of funds, despite reducing his asking price to £80 million. The club claimed that Ashley would continue to invest money into reducing the club's financial debt and had the best intentions for the club.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcastle_Uni...Mike_Ashley_Era

 

When did the bit in bold happen???

[Kitman 2207]

I am betting Jonas, Colo and Enirque will be with us next season.

 

I'll take that bet.

What's it worth 50 quid to a charity of choice?

I'll bet you two out of those three are no longer NUFC players come September 2010.

 

I wonder why they'd sell Jonas, Colo and Enrique when they were happy to pay their wages in the Championship? Mind you I wouldn't take that bet as they're probably stupid enough to do it....

 

I still tend to think that we'll have one or two squad additions funded from future PL income (ie not through sales). Maybe a budget of no more than $10m which they can pay in one go out of season ticket sales. A new proven striker is the number one priority, anyone can see that, as the likes of Best, Ameobi, Carroll, Lovenkrands etc ain't going to cut it in the PL. Our midfield is shit too by PL standards, as many have repeatedly pointed out, unless Vukcic is the new Fabregas, Barton gets back to his Man City standards, Jonas learns how to deliver a ball and Routledge steps up to the PL.

 

However most importantly failure to address the striker situation will doom us to a relegation scrap imo. I just can't see how we'd get enough goals as the current squad isn't good enough to scrape 1-0 wins against most PL teams. Even from an asset protection point of view, why wouldn't you invest in a goal scorer, like the mackems did with Bent? *

 

 

* leaving aside being as thick as mince or mentally ill

[acrossthepond 878]

Perhaps it’s what wasn’t said that says the most. Over a thousand words about a five year plan and not one sentence about how or if they intended to repay the clubs debts. I don’t think this statement was badly written, more that it was written to provoke a debate about what the fuck no new capital outlay means so more awkward questions get lost in the maelstrom.

 

There’s no fucking way some money won’t be made available to Chris Hughton. It won’t be much but after this statement a £5m transfer budget will be portrayed as another benevolent gesture. He’s playing us for fools. Ashley isn’t stupid, he’s a cold calculating billionaire who likes a gamble and if this statement is a PR gaff it’s a deliberate PR gaff.

They've done this sort of thing before, like when they announced the stuff about the stadium renaming in order to deflect attention away from other things (can't even quite remember what it was at the time).

 

Wasn't it just after the KK tribunal?

It was but also at the same time they took the club off the market and appointed Hughton.

 

In October 2009, Keegan’s dispute with the club was resolved, 10 months on from his departure, receiving £2million compensation as agreed in his contract which the club failed to pay him following his resignation. A premier league arbitration panel, ruled in Keegan’s favour citing that player Ignacio González was signed by Director of Football Dennis Wise against Keegan’s wishes, but also against the principles of the generally understood role of a premier league manager, which usually states the manager’s decision is final on player signings. The panel revealed that Wise asked Keegan to review González from youtube.com, no more than 24 hours before the closing of the summer transfer window, from which Keegan refuted the player. The club revealed to the panel that their response to the media and public critique was just ‘PR,’ that Keegan had never been informed his word was not final, and that they were not in a position to sack him should he not have agreed to their demands.[47]

Following Keegan rejecting talk of a 3rd return to Newcastle, feeling the fans had 'had enough' of him,[48] Chris Hughton was confirmed as the club's full time manager in late October 2009, until the end of the 2010/11 season. He stated "It's a very proud day for me to be named as the manager of this magnificent football club," and that he "will be doing everything in my power to get the club back into the Premier League at the first time of asking."[49]

On 27 October 2009, Ashley announce that the club was no longer for sale, reporting that he had been unsuccessful in finding a buyer who could produce proof of funds, despite reducing his asking price to £80 million. The club claimed that Ashley would continue to invest money into reducing the club's financial debt and had the best intentions for the club.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcastle_Uni...Mike_Ashley_Era

 

When did the bit in bold happen???

 

The lawsuit was settled while KK was working as a pundit for ESPN, and his fellow pundits asked him about his prospects. He said he was ready to go back to management but probably not with NUFC because (as above), the fans had 'had enough' of him but he also said 'anything can happen in football.'

[OTF 7492]

I agree that Carroll, Lovenkrands and Ameobi aren't good enough to be the number one striker in a premier league side, however I think they're all capable deputies in their own ways. Of the three Carroll is potentially still on the up. So whilst we basically need to get in a a new striker, those three will give us reasonably good depth up front. Best need not be mentioned. Hopefully he's sold.

 

A midfield of Jonas, Barton, Guthrie, Routledge is semi decent; plus you have Nolan to add to the mix. I suspect we'll see him played in behind a lone striker a lot next season - probably Carroll when the striker that we need doesn't arrive. Alan Smith will provide cover for injuries in the middle, but we're really lacking in any sort of depth out wide. A move for available-on-a-free Morten Gamst Pederson would provide some much needed depth there. His wages wouldn't be particularly high at Blackburn. Alternately Martin Petrov on a 1 year deal wouldn't be a bad option. Seb Larsson also a free would be a good option down the right in addition to Routledge. Of course expecting us to get all, or any, of them is probably a pretty forlorn hope. NUFC - Daring to dream of signing uncontracted players .

 

Defensively as a priority we need a new right back, dropping Simpson down to cover.

 

It seems unbelievable that these simple and cost effective steps (or ones similar) are purported to being not even considered for next season. At their best they offer the opportunity to build the club and take them up the Premier League table, at their worst they provide additional cover and depth to lessen the likelihood of relegation.

 

Realistic potential side without paying a single transfer fee (Beye is on loan ):

 

GK - Harper

RB - Beye

CB - Taylor

CB - Coloccini

LB - Enrique

RM - Routledge

CM - Guthrie

CM - Barton

LM - Jonas

SS - Nolan

CF - Carroll

 

Subs (from):

Krul, Forster, Williamson, Simpson, R. Taylor, Pedersen, Petrov, Larsson, Smith, Kadar, Ameobi, Lovenkrands, Ranger, Vuckic, Tozer, Donaldson.

 

It's not horrible, and there is some level of cover in all positions..

 

I hate that we have to think like this.

[sammynb 3508]

Perhaps it’s what wasn’t said that says the most. Over a thousand words about a five year plan and not one sentence about how or if they intended to repay the clubs debts. I don’t think this statement was badly written, more that it was written to provoke a debate about what the fuck no new capital outlay means so more awkward questions get lost in the maelstrom.

 

There’s no fucking way some money won’t be made available to Chris Hughton. It won’t be much but after this statement a £5m transfer budget will be portrayed as another benevolent gesture. He’s playing us for fools. Ashley isn’t stupid, he’s a cold calculating billionaire who likes a gamble and if this statement is a PR gaff it’s a deliberate PR gaff.

They've done this sort of thing before, like when they announced the stuff about the stadium renaming in order to deflect attention away from other things (can't even quite remember what it was at the time).

 

Wasn't it just after the KK tribunal?

It was but also at the same time they took the club off the market and appointed Hughton.

 

In October 2009, Keegan’s dispute with the club was resolved, 10 months on from his departure, receiving £2million compensation as agreed in his contract which the club failed to pay him following his resignation. A premier league arbitration panel, ruled in Keegan’s favour citing that player Ignacio González was signed by Director of Football Dennis Wise against Keegan’s wishes, but also against the principles of the generally understood role of a premier league manager, which usually states the manager’s decision is final on player signings. The panel revealed that Wise asked Keegan to review González from youtube.com, no more than 24 hours before the closing of the summer transfer window, from which Keegan refuted the player. The club revealed to the panel that their response to the media and public critique was just ‘PR,’ that Keegan had never been informed his word was not final, and that they were not in a position to sack him should he not have agreed to their demands.[47]

Following Keegan rejecting talk of a 3rd return to Newcastle, feeling the fans had 'had enough' of him,[48] Chris Hughton was confirmed as the club's full time manager in late October 2009, until the end of the 2010/11 season. He stated "It's a very proud day for me to be named as the manager of this magnificent football club," and that he "will be doing everything in my power to get the club back into the Premier League at the first time of asking."[49]

On 27 October 2009, Ashley announce that the club was no longer for sale, reporting that he had been unsuccessful in finding a buyer who could produce proof of funds, despite reducing his asking price to £80 million. The club claimed that Ashley would continue to invest money into reducing the club's financial debt and had the best intentions for the club.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcastle_Uni...Mike_Ashley_Era

 

When did the bit in bold happen???

 

The lawsuit was settled while KK was working as a pundit for ESPN, and his fellow pundits asked him about his prospects. He said he was ready to go back to management but probably not with NUFC because (as above), the fans had 'had enough' of him but he also said 'anything can happen in football.'

 

So he wasn't actually asked by the brothers cunt to return?

That's a bit misleading.

[Guest alex]

Our strikers really worry me. Apart from not being good enough, Lovenkrands and Shola aren't likely to be fit for half the season.

[Sonatine 11556]

Also a possibility that Carrol might not be available for a fixed length of time......

[Guest alex]

Also a possibility that Carrol might not be available for a fixed length of time......

Pay off might have fixed that. Allegedly.

[Dr Gloom 22176]

Our strikers really worry me. Apart from not being good enough, Lovenkrands and Shola aren't likely to be fit for half the season.

 

yup. a new striker is absolutely crucial to survival. you need at least one striker that can get around 15 goals to stand a chance of staying up. don't fancy any of our current lot to do that

[Barney 0]

Our strikers really worry me. Apart from not being good enough, Lovenkrands and Shola aren't likely to be fit for half the season.

 

yup. a new striker is absolutely crucial to survival. you need at least one striker that can get around 15 goals to stand a chance of staying up. don't fancy any of our current lot to do that

 

Actually, only 11 players scored more than 13 PL goals this season :

 

1 Didier Drogba 29

2 Wayne Rooney 26

3 Darren Bent 24

4 Frank Lampard 22

5 Carlos Tevez 22

6 Jermain Defoe 18

7 Fernando Torres 18

8 Francesc Fabregas 15

9 Emmanuel Adebayor 14

10 Gabriel Agbonlahor 13

11 Louis Saha 13

 

 

and here are the top scorers for the teams who stayed up...

 

 

Brimingham (9th finish) top scorer : Jerome(FW) 10

Blackburn (10th finish) top scorer was Dunne(MF) with 9

Stoke(11th) : Etherington(MF) 5goals

Fulham(12th) : Zamora(FW) 8goals

mackems : Bent(FW) 24

Bolton : Klasnic(FW)8 /Taylor (MF)8

Wolves : Doyle(FW) 9

Wigan : Rodallega (FW) 10

West Ham : Cole(FW) 10

Edited May 11, 2010 by Barney

[donaldstott 0]

As has been said previously I think we'll see a lot of Nolan (or perhaps Vuckic) playing behind Carroll esp away from home. At home against the weaker teams we're likely to see Carroll and Lovenkrands.

 

For me, the priority is a new right back. Then a defensive midfielder. Then a striker, but given the expense of a 15-goals-a-season man - I can't see it.

[Guest alex]

Not sure about the order of the priorities there, but those are 3 areas we need strengthening, especially if we sell Steven Taylor (as I think RB is his best position). Striker is the priority for me though, although all the noises suggest we'll be lucky to get one. As for your point Barney, I know it's not always the case you need a 15 goal man but it would be a massive help in our case because I'm struggling to see where our goals will come from.

[donaldstott 0]

Not sure about the order of the priorities there, but those are 3 areas we need strengthening, especially if we sell Steven Taylor (as I think RB is his best position). Striker is the priority for me though, although all the noises suggest we'll be lucky to get one. As for your point Barney, I know it's not always the case you need a 15 goal man but it would be a massive help in our case because I'm struggling to see where our goals will come from.

 

My priority list does rely on Vuckic being fucking amazing!!!

[Barney 0]

absolutely!

 

goes to show that if other players are pitching in with goals, you can do ok without a top striker, especially when you look at the below 4.

 

Brimingham (9th finish) top scorer : Jerome(FW) 10

Blackburn (10th finish) top scorer was Dunne(MF) with 9

Stoke(11th) : Etherington(MF) 5goals

Fulham(12th) : Zamora(FW) 8goals

[Guest alex]

Not sure about the order of the priorities there, but those are 3 areas we need strengthening, especially if we sell Steven Taylor (as I think RB is his best position). Striker is the priority for me though, although all the noises suggest we'll be lucky to get one. As for your point Barney, I know it's not always the case you need a 15 goal man but it would be a massive help in our case because I'm struggling to see where our goals will come from.

 

My priority list does rely on Vuckic being fucking amazing!!!

Aye, but if he is, he'll be gone in January anyway.

[NJS 4411]

The stupid thing about a strict 5 year plan with a financial target in football is it takes no account of random factors like Vuckic being the new Ronaldo and a sale wiping out half the debt or one years loss in one hit. Even a sop like "any substantial sales will be allocated to the purchase budget" would cover that but as it is not only is there little if any moeny going out, I read it as any money coming in will be priotirised as debt clearance.

[Craig 6700]

Has anyone commented on the fact that we seem to be constantly at the beginning of a '5 year plan' where Ashley / Llambias are concerned?

 

They need pressing on what's happened to the previous one - has it simply been dumped? And what's to say this one won't go the same way when the wind changes again?

 

Cunts the pair of them!

[Dr Gloom 22176]

Our strikers really worry me. Apart from not being good enough, Lovenkrands and Shola aren't likely to be fit for half the season.

 

yup. a new striker is absolutely crucial to survival. you need at least one striker that can get around 15 goals to stand a chance of staying up. don't fancy any of our current lot to do that

 

Actually, only 11 players scored more than 13 PL goals this season :

 

1 Didier Drogba 29

2 Wayne Rooney 26

3 Darren Bent 24

4 Frank Lampard 22

5 Carlos Tevez 22

6 Jermain Defoe 18

7 Fernando Torres 18

8 Francesc Fabregas 15

9 Emmanuel Adebayor 14

10 Gabriel Agbonlahor 13

11 Louis Saha 13

 

 

and here are the top scorers for the teams who stayed up...

 

 

Brimingham (9th finish) top scorer : Jerome(FW) 10

Blackburn (10th finish) top scorer was Dunne(MF) with 9

Stoke(11th) : Etherington(MF) 5goals

Fulham(12th) : Zamora(FW) 8goals

mackems : Bent(FW) 24

Bolton : Klasnic(FW)8 /Taylor (MF)8

Wolves : Doyle(FW) 9

Wigan : Rodallega (FW) 10

West Ham : Cole(FW) 10

 

that's an interesting stat. it does highlight though that if you don't have a guy that can regularly score goals, you are almsot certainly looking at a long, hard season of scrapping near the bottom of the table.

[Kitman 2207]

Also a possibility that Carrol might not be available for a fixed length of time......

 

Carroll will be absolutely essential given our entire attacking strategy will consist of lunking it up early to the big lad, in the hope that Nolan will trundle on to the knock downs. If we can recruit Rory Delap, we could add long throw to the big lad to the strategy and be merely two dimensional.

[OTF 7492]

that's an interesting stat. it does highlight though that if you don't have a guy that can regularly score goals, you are almsot certainly looking at a long, hard season of scrapping near the bottom of the table.

 

Or that as a striker you're much more likely to score a lot of goals if you're playing in front of a midfield that is substancially better than the team you're playing.

[Barney 0]

It shows the mackems would have been fucked without Bent!