Chris Hughton

[Monroe Transfer 0]

Re; my striker complaints.

 

Was reading the following earlier.

 

http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastl...61634-27176401/

 

http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-ne...634-27176373/2/

 

He said: “We did look at bringing in another striker on loan, but I was always mindful of the fact that, if we were going to do that, it had to be someone considerably better than what we have already got here.

 

“There wasn’t anyone available who was going to do that so we left it. There was no point signing someone just for the sake of it.

 

 

Hughton has not get everything he asked for. He asked about the loan signing of Manchester City’s Roque Santa Cruz or Liverpool’s David N’Gog before he failed to get Robbie Keane from Tottenham on a similar season-long deal.

 

There have been other targets who have moved elsewhere for more money than he was able to spend and there have been some requests turned down. But Hughton has no complaints above the level of support he has been given from the boardroom.

 

The lack of a new striker would appear to be the one glaring oversight. And the failed bid for Keane this week illustrates Hughton knows this is an area of the side that needed to be strengthened, even if he will stick rigidly to the ‘happy with what he has got’ mantra from now until January.

 

United have spent much of the last three months scouring Europe for a forward and there was a failed bid of more than £4m for Paris Saint Germain’s Turkish international Mevlut Erdinc back in July.

 

There have probably been other bids rejected for other players which never saw the light of day, and this is likely to be the one bit of recruitment activity we can expect to see in the New Year.

 

Fair enough and all, but I still think we should have made sure to bring one in. Sounds like the striker loans were only discussed towards the end of the window, with a few bids made earlier on which came to nothing. I guess none came within the budget Ashley set him and I respect that Hughton didn't get a striker in just for the sake of having another, if he's no better than the players already here (I'm sure whoever he had in mind is better than Ameobi and Best with that said).

[OTF 7217]

If only he'd had the same thoughts in regards to Best.

[Happy Face 29]

Yabooooo!

 

Seems all respect has been lost in yesterdays match thread.

[Guest alex]

Seems a tad harsh on our most successful manager ever.

[shackbleep 0]

Seems a tad harsh on our most successful manager ever.

 

[PaddockLad 16992]

Yabooooo!

 

Seems all respect has been lost in yesterdays match thread.

 

Fickle?...who us?...

[TicTacWoe 0]

if he doesn't drop at least one of Smith/Nolan for the Everton game than he will go down a lot in my estimation.

[shackbleep 0]

if he doesn't drop at least one of Smith/Nolan for the Everton game than he will go down a lot in my estimation.

 

Agreed. Has to be Smith first in my mind although I'd consider dropping Nolan too. I'd consider the following for the starting midfield against Everton:

 

Routledge-----Barton-----Tiote-----Ben Afra

 

We desperately needed a striker in the window like..

[Monroe Transfer 0]

Agreed. Has to be Smith first in my mind although I'd consider dropping Nolan too. I'd consider the following for the starting midfield against Everton:

 

Routledge-----Barton-----Tiote-----Ben Afra

 

We desperately needed a striker in the window like..

Rather go 4-5-1 with Barton or Ben Arfa behind Carroll and Gutierrez on the wing.

 

Otherwise I fully agree and without wanting to sound like a broken record our lack of decent strikers will cost us dearly.

[Monroe Transfer 0]

Thinking about it... the chances of Hughton actually going along with such a drastic change (i.e. actually dropping Smith/Nolan) are as slim as can be.

 

Maybe he sees something we don't... or they have too much influence and Hughton is not ruthless enough to make changes when needed.

[Andrew 4713]

if he doesn't drop at least one of Smith/Nolan for the Everton game than he will go down a lot in my estimation.

 

Agreed. Has to be Smith first in my mind although I'd consider dropping Nolan too. I'd consider the following for the starting midfield against Everton:

 

Routledge-----Barton-----Tiote-----Ben Afra

 

We desperately needed a striker in the window like..

 

thing is, at the moment, who are you putting up top there?

 

with our options as they are Id be playing

 

----------harps

 

perch- willo-colo-jose

 

-------tiote - barton

 

routledge - ben arfa - jonas

 

-------------carroll

 

what else can we do? we dont have the players for a lot of other systems really, but we've a lot of CMs on the books we need to be playing 2 and one off carroll

 

home or away thats a team that would go out and try to win games, its got some aggression and pace in it and enough in the more forward midfield line to press on and worry defences

 

you can talk of dropping jonas or routledge all you like but the fact is the only position we have the luxury of dropping our "first choices" is CM since we've got so many of them around the same level, prem quality or not, who do you bring in for the wide 2?

[shackbleep 0]

Exactly. Our massive weakness even before the summer began was a second striker. Didn't get addressed and now we're effectively shoe-horned into a lone striker formation until January at the earliest.

[Monroe Transfer 0]

I'll actually fear for my sanity if Carroll gets injured/put inside.

 

Ameobi to lead the line with the mighty Leon Best or Xisco alongside him when Hughton feels like it. Ranger to get the odd 10 minute cameo as a sub.

 

Vomit-inducing.

[Happy Face 29]

Maybe Smith and Nolan are running rings around Ben Arfa and Tiote in training.

 

[Brock Manson 0]

Maybe Smith and Nolan are running rings around Ben Arfa and Tiote in training.

 

 

Takes them so long to finish sprint training, the latter have already moved on to sit-ups.

[Happy Face 29]

Smith an unused sub.

 

Never doubted hughton

[Monroe Transfer 0]

Yeah fair play Hughton.

 

He needs to be ruthless - if a player has earned his place in the starting 11, then he deserves to start the match. Even if it means the likes of Smith or Nolan are relegated to the bench.

[Gejon 2]

Chris Hughton, always learning

[Happy Face 29]

All this credit being given to Hughton....when Wise appointed him...maybe that DOF thing could have worked

[JawD 99]

All this credit being given to Hughton....when Wise appointed him...maybe that DOF thing could have worked

 

 

[Ketsbaia 0]

Smith an unused sub.

 

Never doubted hughton

 

He dropped Smith last season so I'm not at all surprised he made way for Tiote.

 

My Hughton love > everyone elses Hughton love.

[skhwoody 0]

I am quickly becoming impressed with Hughton. The first time for a long time it looks like the manager is running the show and not a group of prima donna players.

 

No players running to the press to air their views prior to matches and for once a team playing as a team, makes such a difference.

[Noelie 103]

Chris Hughton, always learning

 

Sometimes I don't think he is learning fast enough. I think he is slow in making his substitutions when it is obvious to the onlooker a change should be made.

Against Everton Routledge was not having much of an impact, Hughton should have replaced him with Jonas at halftime.

I sometimes think Smith is getting unnecessary flak when you consider he gained prominence as a striker. Maybe he would be an asset behind Carroll or up front with him.

I hope Wilson can do better than Perch when he is fit.

By the way, if you've missed me doing the odd post, I've been in Gateshead and around for 5 weeks. Was at the Villa & Blackpool matches, talk about High & Low.

[Barney 0]

Chris Hughton, always learning

 

Sometimes I don't think he is learning fast enough. I think he is slow in making his substitutions when it is obvious to the onlooker a change should be made.

Against Everton Routledge was not having much of an impact, Hughton should have replaced him with Jonas at halftime.

I sometimes think Smith is getting unnecessary flak when you consider he gained prominence as a striker. Maybe he would be an asset behind Carroll or up front with him.

I hope Wilson can do better than Perch when he is fit.

By the way, if you've missed me doing the odd post, I've been in Gateshead and around for 5 weeks. Was at the Villa & Blackpool matches, talk about High & Low.

 

Wilson? Smith as a forward?

 

What is this I don't even.

[Tooj 17]

All this credit being given to Hughton....when Wise appointed him...maybe that DOF thing could have worked

Wise never appointed him though.