The current squad

[dbsweeney 0]

It is only last season that Enrique settled down and made the big impact that he has made. But when it comes down to it, the players inside the club know if they are playing for a progressive club or not.This is mainly determined by the quality of footballer they see brought into the dressing room and the team to play alongside them.

 

I'm afraid the likes of Leon Best, Wayne Routledge, James Perch, to go with loan signings, over the top 35 year olds, and crocked kids who can't even get into Evertons team will answer any thoughts they may have. This is quite simply a few "bargains" too many. The ambitious clubs buy top players and pay the going rate for wages etc. They will see this, and the attraction is obvious.

 

We haven’t signed too many players or big name players. Look at Sunderland—they have spent a lot of money and we outclassed them 5-1. Some teams spend money and will think they have more of a chance of staying up or getting a strong finish in the Premier League, but we have a good squad.

 

When new players come in and have been here for a month or so, it feels like two years because they are made so welcome. It’s a really important quality.

 

We’re very close now. We are not just 11 names on a team sheet – we are 11 friends on a match day and all friends within the squad.

[Christmas Tree 4669]

if we don't set our sights higher, the likes of Tiote and Enrique will leave the club and we are back to square 1. It's pointless saying we should "add" to it bit by bit. Players want to play for successful clubs now, not in 3 or 4 years time, they want it now.

 

And Ben Arfa is only on loan and might not play for us again, in fact even if he hadn't been injured its highly likely one of the bigger clubs would have stepped in for him anyway.

 

 

Enrique didnt leave when we went down and not every player can joing the top four. It is simply foolish to think that you can buy overnight success these days. I would much rather keep adding several good players and get better that way.

 

Ben Arfa is not the messiah. Had he still being fit who knows what might have happened on Sunday. Would Barton have been on the right or Jonas. Would have been a completely different set up and not neccesarily better.

 

We've all seen these players come who have glimpses of brilliance but long periods of nowtness.

 

Overall though I am heartened that we have someone at the club who is managing to un-earth these gems. Dont know who it is but long may it continue.

 

It is only last season that Enrique settled down and made the big impact that he has made. But when it comes down to it, the players inside the club know if they are playing for a progressive club or not.This is mainly determined by the quality of footballer they see brought into the dressing room and the team to play alongside them.

 

 

On that note then they will all have enjoyed seeing the quality additions that have come in of recent. Its also about Club spirit and whether they enjoy their job. It goes without saying that very few clubs have the sort of spirit going that we have at the moment. Its also worth notoing the lack of players whispering in a journos ear about being unhappy about this or that. It tells you a lot.

 

 

I'm afraid the likes of Leon Best, Wayne Routledge, James Perch, to go with loan signings, over the top 35 year olds, and crocked kids who can't even get into Evertons team will answer any thoughts they may have. This is quite simply a few "bargains" too many. The ambitious clubs buy top players and pay the going rate for wages etc. They will see this, and the attraction is obvious.

 

Very few clubs can afford the "top players" and that is just a fact of life. Even if you are not a mega rich club you can still be ambitious and I have no doubt that everyone at NUFC is ambitious. The only difference is the way you fulfill that ambition. Following relegation, Im pretty happy with the way we have recovered, the type of players that have come in, the manager and more importantly the attitude of the players which probably hasnt been their since the early Keegan days.

 

As for Hughton, he is managing the club with his hands tied, just like people in the past such as Arthur Cox, Gordon Lee, Bill McGarry, Jim Smith, Ossie Ardiles....the list goes on. He will make some good buys but most will not be of the standard you should be demanding at a club like NUFC. The end result is sadly that the manager is sacked, because he can't build a top premiership team on the cheap like this. It's impossible. Accept this is the case. Hughton will leave Newcastle either because he is a success operating on a shoestring and will go when someone tempts him to a better club ie Wigan, or because he can't achieve the impossible.

 

 

Ofcourse he is trying to do it on a shoestring and we all know the history of why that is. That doesnt take away from the fact that he is doing it and he is doing it in a style that I find appealing. After relegation I thought I would find it hard to get excited again however the togetherness, style of play and form of players like Barton, Tiote, Nolan etc has got me excited and really enjoying it again.

 

I think the future looks very bright for us. Some more of the dead wood on scandalous wages will dissappear very soon and survival this year will give us a very good financial base for going forward. More of the same from Hughton and the scouting team and I will be very happy.

 

I think ambition is aplenty at St. James.

[Christmas Tree 4669]

I think the best we can hope for is steady improvement i.e. as the likes of Smith go, quality additions are brought in using the money freed up and as finances improve generally. I think this is what CT's saying but I'm not holding my breath though.

 

 

But that is what has been happening since relegation and is continuing to happen.

[LeazesMag 0]

I think the best we can hope for is steady improvement i.e. as the likes of Smith go, quality additions are brought in using the money freed up and as finances improve generally. I think this is what CT's saying but I'm not holding my breath though.

 

 

But that is what has been happening since relegation and is continuing to happen.

 

it won't continue. It never does. You have one or two odd seasons flirting near the top at best then sink back again. You need top quality players to get there, and to stay there. Like it or not, they cost the big bucks. What I don't quite get is the people who don't seem to understand NUFC are a top club, not a 2nd rate club, so why do they sell it short ?

[Guest alex]

I think the best we can hope for is steady improvement i.e. as the likes of Smith go, quality additions are brought in using the money freed up and as finances improve generally. I think this is what CT's saying but I'm not holding my breath though.

 

 

But that is what has been happening since relegation and is continuing to happen.

I'm not so sure CT. Not being contary for the sake of it here. Look at our form since we've come up and it's all over the place (as is the league) we're a good or bad run away from relative safety or right back in the shit. Don't get me wrong I've been 'pleasantly surprised' on the whole but the home form in particular against 'fellow strugglers' is a worry. Also, the lack of cover is a big problem or, more specifically the lack of quality in reserve. Smith, Best, Perch et al. We need a bit of luck re: injuries.

[Christmas Tree 4669]

I think the best we can hope for is steady improvement i.e. as the likes of Smith go, quality additions are brought in using the money freed up and as finances improve generally. I think this is what CT's saying but I'm not holding my breath though.

 

 

But that is what has been happening since relegation and is continuing to happen.

 

it won't continue. It never does. You have one or two odd seasons flirting near the top at best then sink back again. You need top quality players to get there, and to stay there. Like it or not, they cost the big bucks. What I don't quite get is the people who don't seem to understand NUFC are a top club, not a 2nd rate club, so why do they sell it short ?

 

 

Love to hear your explaination of the difference between the two (league positions btw, not crowds etc).

 

The truth is we are neither a top club or 2nd rate, we are A club in the premiership. Most of my lifetime we have been a fairly average club whether in the first or second division. 50 or so years without a domestic trophy should tell you all you need to know about whether we are a top club.

 

Sure we had a nice little run under Keegan but still won nowt. Im sure you will agree "Top Clubs" win things.

 

Rather than building on Keegans foundations the rot set in and we are now a million miles away from a top four club.

 

We have being doing well for 18 months, have a team playing some decent football, possibly a promising young manager and have just give our local rivals the biggest derby walloping in premiership history.

 

Im a happy chappy....You just keep talking us down.

[Guest alex]

Agree with that CT but you need to spend a bit a la Spurs (not a bad benchmark imo) if you want to get anywhere. Otherwise, what's the fucking point?

[Christmas Tree 4669]

I think the best we can hope for is steady improvement i.e. as the likes of Smith go, quality additions are brought in using the money freed up and as finances improve generally. I think this is what CT's saying but I'm not holding my breath though.

 

 

But that is what has been happening since relegation and is continuing to happen.

 

I'm not so sure CT. Not being contary for the sake of it here. Look at our form since we've come up and it's all over the place (as is the league) we're a good or bad run away from relative safety or right back in the shit. Don't get me wrong I've been 'pleasantly surprised' on the whole but the home form in particular against 'fellow strugglers' is a worry. Also, the lack of cover is a big problem or, more specifically the lack of quality in reserve. Smith, Best, Perch et al. We need a bit of luck re: injuries.

 

Regardless of what might happen next, I think its pretty unfair to say we havent made progress since relegation.

 

With regard to our form I think we can all agree that there are quite a few points dropped this season that really shouldnt have been ie Man City, Blackpool etc. I know thats football, but had we taken some of the many chances we missed and bit better luck with referees then we would currently be sitting 2nd or 3rd.

 

I also think its taken Hughton til now to come across his strongest team and style of play. Having spent 18 months relying on Jonas to deliver, we nw have crosses raining in from the right.

 

As always we'll know by Christmas.

[Christmas Tree 4669]

Agree with that CT but you need to spend a bit a la Spurs (not a bad benchmark imo) if you want to get anywhere. Otherwise, what's the fucking point?

 

 

I agree, but considering all the history......

 

Black hole

Keegan sacking

Hatred from fans

Crash of 2008 in his own wealth

Football bubble bursting

relegation

etc etc

 

We all know its going to be a slow build rather than a bought success. It seems that staying up this year will put us in a much solider financial footing and we can only hope that then the wallet opens a bit more (still not expecting a return to vast fees or wages mind)

[ChezGiven 0]

I think the best we can hope for is steady improvement i.e. as the likes of Smith go, quality additions are brought in using the money freed up and as finances improve generally. I think this is what CT's saying but I'm not holding my breath though.

 

 

But that is what has been happening since relegation and is continuing to happen.

 

I'm not so sure CT. Not being contary for the sake of it here. Look at our form since we've come up and it's all over the place (as is the league) we're a good or bad run away from relative safety or right back in the shit. Don't get me wrong I've been 'pleasantly surprised' on the whole but the home form in particular against 'fellow strugglers' is a worry. Also, the lack of cover is a big problem or, more specifically the lack of quality in reserve. Smith, Best, Perch et al. We need a bit of luck re: injuries.

 

Regardless of what might happen next, I think its pretty unfair to say we havent made progress since relegation.

 

With regard to our form I think we can all agree that there are quite a few points dropped this season that really shouldnt have been ie Man City, Blackpool etc. I know thats football, but had we taken some of the many chances we missed and bit better luck with referees then we would currently be sitting 2nd or 3rd.

 

I also think its taken Hughton til now to come across his strongest team and style of play. Having spent 18 months relying on Jonas to deliver, we nw have crosses raining in from the right.

 

As always we'll know by Christmas.

 

When i looked at the fixtures earlier in the season i said that Wigan, West Ham and Sunderland would tell us a lot about how the season would go.

 

7 points from 9 was a fantastic return from those games. Due to the poor results against Blackpool and Stoke though, it might take a few more games to be sure. 7 points from the next 4 would convince me of a very good season compared to the hoped for 17th spot at the start of the season.

[Guest alex]

I think the best we can hope for is steady improvement i.e. as the likes of Smith go, quality additions are brought in using the money freed up and as finances improve generally. I think this is what CT's saying but I'm not holding my breath though.

 

 

But that is what has been happening since relegation and is continuing to happen.

 

I'm not so sure CT. Not being contary for the sake of it here. Look at our form since we've come up and it's all over the place (as is the league) we're a good or bad run away from relative safety or right back in the shit. Don't get me wrong I've been 'pleasantly surprised' on the whole but the home form in particular against 'fellow strugglers' is a worry. Also, the lack of cover is a big problem or, more specifically the lack of quality in reserve. Smith, Best, Perch et al. We need a bit of luck re: injuries.

 

Regardless of what might happen next, I think its pretty unfair to say we havent made progress since relegation.

 

With regard to our form I think we can all agree that there are quite a few points dropped this season that really shouldnt have been ie Man City, Blackpool etc. I know thats football, but had we taken some of the many chances we missed and bit better luck with referees then we would currently be sitting 2nd or 3rd.I also think its taken Hughton til now to come across his strongest team and style of play. Having spent 18 months relying on Jonas to deliver, we nw have crosses raining in from the right.

 

As always we'll know by Christmas.

Most sides could use that argument to an extent. Btw, I'm not saying we haven't done well, more a case of being cautious and saying it's too early to say. You yourself had a pop at the doom and gloom after a few bad results so by the same argument lets not get too carried away with a couple of good ones. Enjoy the Sunderland result by all means though, possibly the best experience I've had at a game since the heady days of beating Man Utd 5-0 and beating Barca in the CL. It was fucking mint.

[Guest alex]

Agree with that CT but you need to spend a bit a la Spurs (not a bad benchmark imo) if you want to get anywhere. Otherwise, what's the fucking point?

 

 

I agree, but considering all the history......

 

Black hole

Keegan sacking

Hatred from fans

Crash of 2008 in his own wealth

Football bubble bursting

relegation

etc etc

 

We all know its going to be a slow build rather than a bought success. It seems that staying up this year will put us in a much solider financial footing and we can only hope that then the wallet opens a bit more (still not expecting a return to vast fees or wages mind)

Five year plan?

[Barney 0]

If Carroll gets injured we are absolutely fucked.

 

While Jonas isn't full of quality crossing or goals, he tends to take up at least 2 defenders attentions. An injury to him would be a huge blow...Lovenkrands/Routledge/Guthrie out there!

[Ayatollah Hermione 13762]

We’re very close now. We are not just 11 names on a team sheet – we are 11 friends on a match day and all friends within the squad.

 

Love reading owt like that. I think the 11 that played against Sunderland have every chance of keeping us up but an injury to Carroll means you've got to play Lovenkrands and as much as he seems a top bloke, he's looked finished at this level whenever he's played. Injuries to Gutierrez or Enrique takes out some of our strongest play and replaces it with an untested Kadar, Ferguson or maybe even Perch with, well, I don't even know who would go on the left. We can maybe hope that the likes of Ranger and Vuckic adjust quickly and show their potential but it's a squad that needs money spent on it again in January to bolster the quality up a bit.

[tinofbeans 91]

we were linked to modric a couple of years ago. fantastic player.... trouble is we would have under the last couple of managers, ruined him, i honestly beleive that.

 

i think if we survive this year ( which i think we will, because we are scoring quite a few, when we get going). I also think our away record may well be fairly good. this, of course is dependant on our first team being fit. for the record, once fit Simpson is our best right back. in the summer we need a excellent right back, a decent level of cover at left back, and more variety up front. 2 target men and 3 championship has beens are not good enough.

[ewerk 30167]

We were linked to Modric under Keegan, from what I remember, he trained with us for a bit and was keen to join us but Ashley wouldn't stump up the cash.

[Rob W 0]

squad is still short of quality

 

I'd like tosee money spent on a couple of class midfielders one to win the ball and the other to handle distribution

Edited November 5, 2010 by Rob W

[Guest alex]

We were linked to Modric under Keegan, from what I remember, he trained with us for a bit and was keen to join us but Ashley wouldn't stump up the cash.

That's the crack/craic/crayke, aye.

[Kitman 2204]

To make steady improvement in the PL, we need investment in more players like Ben Arfa and less like Sol Campbell and James Perch. I'm not convinced we'll get it but maybe Ashley will surprise us. The key thing is to stay up and I hope he's learnt his lesson from last time - instability & underinvestment = relegation. To this end let's hope we stop dicking about with Hughton's contract and think about strengthening in January if we're struggling.

[LeazesMag 0]

To make steady improvement in the PL, we need investment in more players like Ben Arfa and less like Sol Campbell and James Perch. I'm not convinced we'll get it but maybe Ashley will surprise us. The key thing is to stay up and I hope he's learnt his lesson from last time - instability & underinvestment = relegation. To this end let's hope we stop dicking about with Hughton's contract and think about strengthening in January if we're struggling.

 

I'll be massively surprised, personally, if he does show a desire to do anything more than just stay up.

[Kitman 2204]

To make steady improvement in the PL, we need investment in more players like Ben Arfa and less like Sol Campbell and James Perch. I'm not convinced we'll get it but maybe Ashley will surprise us. The key thing is to stay up and I hope he's learnt his lesson from last time - instability & underinvestment = relegation. To this end let's hope we stop dicking about with Hughton's contract and think about strengthening in January if we're struggling.

 

I'll be massively surprised, personally, if he does show a desire to do anything more than just stay up.

 

I agree. The height of their ambition is to make a profit imo.

[Rob W 0]

To make steady improvement in the PL, we need investment in more players like Ben Arfa and less like Sol Campbell and James Perch. I'm not convinced we'll get it but maybe Ashley will surprise us. The key thing is to stay up and I hope he's learnt his lesson from last time - instability & underinvestment = relegation. To this end let's hope we stop dicking about with Hughton's contract and think about strengthening in January if we're struggling.

 

I'll be massively surprised, personally, if he does show a desire to do anything more than just stay up.

 

I agree. The height of their ambition is to make a profit imo.

 

 

that's actually harder than winning the PL

[Christmas Tree 4669]

To make steady improvement in the PL, we need investment in more players like Ben Arfa and less like Sol Campbell and James Perch. I'm not convinced we'll get it but maybe Ashley will surprise us. The key thing is to stay up and I hope he's learnt his lesson from last time - instability & underinvestment = relegation. To this end let's hope we stop dicking about with Hughton's contract and think about strengthening in January if we're struggling.

 

I'll be massively surprised, personally, if he does show a desire to do anything more than just stay up.

 

I agree. The height of their ambition is to make a profit imo.

 

 

Cant agree

 

Without cheerleading for Ashley, you dont get into football for profit. Also after all thats happened, would you still turn upto every game wearing the colours if you didnt want too. Lets not forget in the scheme of his empire NUFC is not the be all and end all.

 

I think he'll be gone as soon as someone meets his price however until then I think he will try and improve the club, his way. (Not the way we are used to or would like).

[Ayatollah Hermione 13762]

To make steady improvement in the PL, we need investment in more players like Ben Arfa and less like Sol Campbell and James Perch. I'm not convinced we'll get it but maybe Ashley will surprise us. The key thing is to stay up and I hope he's learnt his lesson from last time - instability & underinvestment = relegation. To this end let's hope we stop dicking about with Hughton's contract and think about strengthening in January if we're struggling.

 

I'll be massively surprised, personally, if he does show a desire to do anything more than just stay up.

 

I agree. The height of their ambition is to make a profit imo.

 

 

Cant agree

 

Without cheerleading for Ashley, you dont get into football for profit. Also after all thats happened, would you still turn upto every game wearing the colours if you didnt want too. Lets not forget in the scheme of his empire NUFC is not the be all and end all.

 

I think he'll be gone as soon as someone meets his price however until then I think he will try and improve the club, his way. (Not the way we are used to or would like).

 

He wants to get out of it with one though, that's the problem.

[Kitman 2204]

To make steady improvement in the PL, we need investment in more players like Ben Arfa and less like Sol Campbell and James Perch. I'm not convinced we'll get it but maybe Ashley will surprise us. The key thing is to stay up and I hope he's learnt his lesson from last time - instability & underinvestment = relegation. To this end let's hope we stop dicking about with Hughton's contract and think about strengthening in January if we're struggling.

 

I'll be massively surprised, personally, if he does show a desire to do anything more than just stay up.

 

I agree. The height of their ambition is to make a profit imo.

 

 

Cant agree

 

Without cheerleading for Ashley, you dont get into football for profit. Also after all thats happened, would you still turn upto every game wearing the colours if you didnt want too. Lets not forget in the scheme of his empire NUFC is not the be all and end all.

 

I think he'll be gone as soon as someone meets his price however until then I think he will try and improve the club, his way. (Not the way we are used to or would like).

 

I'm sure I read somewhere their key objective is to break even next season andthey won't be spending any more money until that happens. I interpreted that as meaning he's in it to make a profit i.e. he won't support ongoing losses, which is what most owners have to do. I hope you're right though, we'll see