Newcastle United Blog

In a remarkable turnaround of fortunes in his Newcastle United career Fabricio Coloccini has be named the new captain following the sale of former club captain Kevin Nolan to West Ham.

It is a wise move by Pardew as Coloccini was a regular in the side for the past few seasons who rarely gets injured and is an automatic selection. There were many rivals to the role in Steven Harper who isn’t guaranteed his place next season, Joey Barton who could be sold or leave on a free in a year’s time and Steven Taylor who is local born but has not played much in 2 seasons due to various injuries.

Coloccini has become a bit of a cult hero at Newcastle and many fans will be pleased with the announcement, I know I certainly am as his influence from his position on the field will be good. Not to mention he rose to the occasion at times when he was handed the armband last season.

Coloccini said, “I am thrilled to be named captain of Newcastle United. It is one of the proudest moments of my career.

“Leading the team out in front of our supporters in our first game against Arsenal will be a great honour for me and I aim to give my best for the team and the supporters throughout the season.

“I would also like to thank Alan Pardew for putting his faith in me. It means so much to me.”

Pardew also added, “I had no hesitation in choosing Fabricio to be my captain next season.

“He will lead the team in a different manner to Kevin, but his professionalism, attitude, application and fantastic character made him the stand-out candidate and, in my mind, the 100 per cent right decision.”

It also removes pressure on the team as the squad now know the score with regards to who will be leading them going into the preseason games.

It has not taken long for Chris Hughton to get his feet under the table at Birmingham and be linked instantly with swoops for his former Magpie players.

The former magpies hero Hughton is wished well by many a mag including myself as he certainly deserves his second chance in management after the admirable work he completed in getting the Toon promoted from the Championship and secured in the Premier League.

It was likely to happen that he would swoop for former players who know his methods and are more than capable of helping Birmingham push for promotion. Players that are deemed surplus to requirements at Newcastle United like Best, Guthrie, Ryan Taylor, Perch and Routledge are all more than capable of playing in a Championship team pushing for promotion.

Routledge had been expected to sign for newly promoted QPR but he is apparently wrangling for a bonus payoff because he wasn’t seeking a move but the club want id of him. The figure thought to be six figure plus is something management are not willing to pay considering he only played 12 months at St James Park before spending 6 months back out on loan at QPR.

At the end of the day the club feel that Routledge will blink first in the stand off as he will want his future settled for the new season.

Moving on fringe players will help free up funds for further squad improvements and free up some slots for youth to feature next season in the senior squad.

Newcastle have been heavily linked with a move for both Erdinc of PSG, a long term target and Daniel Sturridge of Chelsea as they look to bolster the strikers department. Stoke are believed to have tabled a £6 million bid for the former and it is likely now other suitors including Newcastle will be flushed out. A free nearer £10 million will likely be the final figure as Chelsea bring in further strikers under new manager Villas Boas.

Who do you think Chris Hughton will come in and swoop for?

Newcastle have been at it again! Swooping for Sylvain Marveaux on a Bosman free. The former Rennes attacking midfielder was expected to be a Liverpool signing but it failed at the last hurdle.

The 25 year old denied that it was for medical reasons but that basically the Toon had offered better terms.

“I do not want to go into details, but I did not sign for Liverpool because there was a contractual disagreement between the parties Thursday night.”

Pardew was delighted with the capture of new signing Sylvain Marveaux, “It’s a great coup to have signed Sylvain, who has received interest from a number of other clubs.”

“He may not be well known to many of our fans but he is a real talent and a player we have been keeping an eye on for some time.

“It’s been a good couple of days for us on the transfer front.”

It will be a great feeling to Newcastle fans that we have pulled one over Liverpool who took Andy Carroll off our hands together with Kenny Dalglish constantly being linked to our players. To have outdone them in the contract offer stakes certainly feels good.

It is yet another bit of great business. It is sad that Kevin Nolan has left but clearly there are other plans at Newcastle underway in which Nolan did not fit into. To have thrown a 5 year contract at Nolan, the terms he wanted, would have been a mistake for a player that likely would not feature too heavily in a starting eleven next season. An awkward situation for a club captain to be in.

That then puts focus onto both Joey Barton and Enrique the former declaring he would now love to fulfill his ambition to play in the Champions League with Newcastle United. At this stage even for the most devoted of fans that appears to be someway off yet.

Jose Enrique on the other hand is still ignoring the club and is now being heavily linked for a move to Arsenal as a replacement for the likely outbound Gael Clichy. The interest from both Liverpool and Arsenal will likely allow the club to get a size-able fee for Enrique should he decide to leave. This would allow further funds to be freed up for transfers.

We can’t complain it is what we all want signings, but so many of the core players from the previous two seasons leaving makes integration of those players a harder and significantly riskier task. The work ethic that had been made up could erode away. A certain Arsenal match in which Joey and Kevin propelled a magnificent comeback that will forever live in the memory. Would that happen without them? Still as we know all players have a value and a sell by date.

There is certainly some great business being done by Newcastle in the free transfer market and a squad that was shown up for depth now has an injection of improvement in terms of its raw talent. The squad is shaping up to be pacey something Pardew has always made bones about.

Thats 3 players we have now signed of French descent in Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba and Sylvain Marveaux. A total official cost of £4.3 million. However that won’t be the real figure as we likely had to pay signing on fee’s to the free transfers instead of their clubs. Not to mention higher wages. But it probably makes for a less risky transfer strategy.

That still leaves £30 million of transfer funds from the Andy Carroll sale because we would have been able to afford a few signings this summer even with that sale. We also got £4 million for Kevin Nolan which takes it back up to £34 million plus any further sales of Best, Ranger, Enrique and Barton. That could bring in a further £15-20 million. Not bad to be able to go shopping for 2 top notch bums on seats strikers.

It is likely we are going to sign two strikers as well because reading between the lines with Demba Ba and the fact that he is a bit like Mr Glass he won’t be a first team starter but more a fantastic squad option. It seems likely given the fact he took the number 19 shirt.

Things have certainly turned around the last few days after the doom and gloom from some supporters over Nolans departure.

Its official – Demba Ba has signed a 3 year contract at Newcastle United. It came after there were doubts about the deal going through a few hours ago.

Demba Ba said, “I’m already happy with what ive seen. I’m very excited. Never played here. I came a couple of days after West Ham played Newcastle. I can’t wait to start playing here and see how good the stage is.”

“I was on holiday and my agent was just doing all the work. Then when I came back he showed me the offer of Newcastle and I said Ok lets go there.”

“First of all the team they have this season and the new signing from last week Yohan Cabaye and all the players they have is a really interesting challenge. Coming to Newcastle that a big club, I admit was that was the reason.”

“The ambition this season I don’t know yet I have to train first with the team see how I feel I fit I am then the ambition will come. Like I always did when I play football when I step on the pitch for the 3 points. I am going to keep on doing this as many games as possible I will be happy.”

“The history of the strikers here is just fantastic. I come here and I hope to do my bit and its gonna be good and gonna be enough. I just expect to help the team go up and help the team winning as many games as possible. The only way to keep this average of goals is to work hard Im going to keep working hard to keep the average I had at West Ham (scoring goals).”

“Unfortunately Nolan left and everybody knows Nolan is a great player so I think the club is going to do everything they can to replace him. I mean with the team they have today the team is already good so I really look forward to start playing.”

Alan Pardew was quoted saying, “He’s a player who has got a natural eye for a goal, my connections at West Ham are very, very good and I know everything about him and therefore I’m pretty relaxed that he’s going to be a success at Newcastle – if we can get him.

“But it’s a big ‘if’ at the moment because there are some big hurdles to get across – there’s obviously other suitors and there’s an issue about his medical as there has been in the past.

“We’ve got to overcome those things, but hopefully he can join the club. I think he’ll be a big success for us.”

Clearly Pardew wanted this guy and whether the doubts in the medical were a move by Ashley to get him to drop his wages demands remains to be seen. But even so picking up a player who had a good half season for a poor Hammers team for free represents good business.

Demba Ba has taken up squad number 19.

Thats the first striker in now another 2 or 3 please.

PS – Neil Taylor is expected to complete his move from Swansea over the next few days.

It is official now that Kevin Nolan has signed for West Ham a fee in the region of £4 million being mentioned after their first offer of £1.5 million was rejected out of hand.

It is a blow to Toon fans that they have lost their captain and influence behind the scenes but there is a sense that it was destined to happen but it was more at a later date.

Pardew commented earlier today, “This obviously happens in football and everybody needs to move on. I would like to thank Kevin for his sterling efforts as a player and captain of this club, especially since I took over last season. ”

“He displayed admirable leadership qualities, and I wish him every success at West Ham. It’s a great club and I’m sure he will thrive there.”

Newcastle fans will likely welcome him back with an applause unlike Andy Carroll. Nolan will be remembered for his hat trick against Sunderland and his chicken dance. He also helped pull the club together to launch our assault on instant promotion banging 18 goals in the process that season. Nolan then helped stabilise the club in the Premier League and even housed Andy Carroll at one stage to help the lad sort himself.

Good luck Kevin.

Now Newcastle United have to dust off and focus on bringing in new faces.

The deal that see’s Kevin Nolan switch Newcastle for London is expected to cost the Hammers £4.5 million and £55k a week in wages for 5 years.

Nolan will take the armband at the Hammers as the departure of Scott Parker is now expected to Spurs. But what does this move mean for the Toon.

The wages and squad is now freed up even further to help Newcastle United launch a double swoop for Tranquillo Barnetta of Switzerland who recently made headlines smashing in a double against England in the Euro 2012 qualifier.

The other long term target of Graham Carr is one Blaise Matuidi of Saint Etienne aged 24. He is a defensive midfielder and would be competing with Tiote in the heart of the Toon’s midfield. Pardew and his backroom staff obviously feel there will be times when Cheik Tiote will be missing from action due to suspensions and the African Cup of Nations.

The highly rated Matuidi has already made his debut in the French national side under Laurent Blanc so we are safe for cover when Tiote heads off for international duty. He came through the acclaimed Clairefontaine academy which produced the likes of existing favourite Hatem Ben Arfa. It seems our scouting network have a taste for French academy produce.

Barnetta is one to excite the Toon aged 26. It is no secret he is seeking a move away from Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle might just tempt Tranquillo into plying his trade in the Premier League. Predominantly a winger he can surprisingly play as a defensive midfielder as well.

Along with this double swoop Newcastle are expected to tie up the deals for Neil Taylor from Swansea and Demba Ba from West Ham.

The biggest issue for Newcastle United fans is that the core of our successful team for the past 2 seasons is being ripped apart. In football we all know there can be no sentiment as players reach a certain stage and their legs die which can’t be carried easily in the Premier League. Our new policy clearly seems to be players below the 30 year old marker.

We certainly last season lacked pace and energy and its clearly been earmarked as a must fix. If indeed these 4 signings come off to add to the already bagged Yohan Cabaye then we really are still light weight up top.

The team sheet for the Toon will still look relatively lackluster. Many fans hoped for a marque signing to carry the burden up top but at the moment that looks like a long way off materialising. It could be the case though that we are going to go more with a raised level of bodies up top rather than the one world class hot shot.

Do you think we could get by with a striking squad of Ameobi, Lovenkrands, Ba, Long and Erdinc? I have my doubts as there is a big burden on new shoulders which aren’t proven prolific at this level.

Well it never rains but it pours with Newcastle United. In a bizarre twist a deal has been struck between us and the recently demoted Championship side West Ham for the transfer of club captain and top scorer last season Kevin Nolan.

Thats right a team in the league below us…

It was understood a bid of £1.5 million was rejected out of hand last week shortly after Kevin rejected our contract extension offer based on performance related bonuses and a year shorter than he was after.

Well since then something has changed. Either the Hammers have upped their offer to a more acceptable amount for a 12 goal scoring midfielder and captain from the Premier League or as we see it this is part of the deal for us to get Demba Ba.

It’s a worry indeed that the nucleus of the team which generated such a hard working team ethic in our promotion season and our first season back in the Premier League is being dismantled. Nolan’s legs are going now yes we all know that but he’s still a capable squad player and a strong voice behind the scenes.

But lets look at the other side of the coin.

Are Nolans best years pretty much behind him now? Maybe so. We managed to get him at his peak so it seems and even the 2nd half of the season his form dipped off and then came a long term injury to his ankle.

Well selling him to West Ham is good business for them no doubt as Nolan is more than capable of banging them in that level and will help them get promoted no doubt about it. But the injury risk and his twilight years on a big contract is now theirs.

Now lets look at the pattern emerging here. Any player who has spoken out against the club or had any form of bad off the field publicity brought upon Newcastle United is being shipped on. Carroll – nightclub brawls, burnt out cars, linked to drug fueled orgies with no other than Kevin Nolan.

Then you have Barton who has been in prison for bashing people up, has had various on field problems one example with Blackburns Pederson and various outbursts in the national media inflating his ego and rants on Twitter.

Then we have been told Ranger has been told to find a new club after pictures of him posing with a replica gun. Only just recently Nolan has been banned from driving for being clocked at 106 MPH in his Audi.

Is Ashley wanting a decent image for the club? Well it would make sense commercially if Newcastle United are to try and go globally to increase revenues to the levels of the likes of Liverpool and attract players from the continent. Off top of head I believe when Sir Bobby was here we had revenues the same as Liverpool now we have gone a bit backwards and Liverpool have doubled theirs to £200 million. Something went wrong… but thats another topic.

There is no denying it makes complete sense to ditch players entering their twilight years and getting peak money for them before its too late. Arsenal and even Man United at times have been known for doing it. It works but only if suitable replacements come in.

That is difficult. To bring in 7-10 players in one season is a tough job to integrate let alone it be a bigger risk because there is no guarantees those players can settle. That number by the way is what we need to be looking at if these players go out the door. We wanted another 5-7 to progress this season as we were light weight at times.

Im not blaming Barton and Nolan for wanting the very best final pay day deals on their new contracts just not here. We have had too many players like this in the past and be lumbered with them. Just look at Alan Smith for a current. Then take Butt and Geremi and you know it makes sense. We would all do the same to get more money for our futures and families but sometimes as a Joe Bloggs you wonder how much money these guys want.

Its a big ask of Pardew and slightly unfair to get these players in and integrated. We all trust Graham Carr to pull out some rabbits but the scouting network really need to have done a cracking job if they are to fill the holes opening up in this squad. A real worry.

Still its early days. Transfer window is open until end of August and its going to create a long waiting list for the Belgravia hair loss clinic for us Geordies never mind waiting lists for season tickets.

It certainly looks like good business by fans to have held off their season ticket renewals until we have seen the true ambition and plans of Mike Ashley. He certainly does things different to any other football club owner and continues to keep us Toon fans his customers in the complete dark. Maybe even Pardew is in the dark…

Well as we predicted last week (Mevlut Erdinc could become NUFC focus again) we expected Kevin Gameiro to sign for PSG with the knock on effect being Newcastle would then make a play for current PSG striker Mevlüt Erdinç.

The Turkish striker has been the subject of a bid from us before and we have made a renewed bid. It is believed that PSG even after their Qatari investment will need to sell in order to fund the £10 million Gameiro signing. We bid last summer for the 24 year old striker but PSG weren’t interested because they had not had him that long.

Alan Pardew was quoted, “Erdinç has always been on our radar. He’s a very good player and that is all I will say at the moment. We had a bit of a disappointment with Kevin Gameiro as he has decided to go elsewhere. We made a fantastic offer to the club and to him but these things happen.”

“We tried very hard on that one, but we always knew there would be setbacks along the way and we have always had other people in mind, deals we have been trying to keep to ourselves for obvious reasons. We are working extremely hard to make those deals happen and I’m pretty happy with how things have gone so far.”

“We should have another signing finished in the next few days, and we will able to confirm that one as well.”

The only issue from our point of view is he has not been too prolific at a time when that is a must for NUFC. Erdinc is best alongside a target man and our opinion as good a squad player as Shola is hes not one to be in the starting eleven. Rumours persist about Demba Ba but we all know he has severe issues with his knee which knowing Newcastle’s history would bear fruit.

Pardew continued, “Demba Ba has done very well since he came to England and he’s a good player.”

“I’m very much aware of him and I probably know what he is capable of more than most because I’ve known about him for a while, before he went to West Ham. We’re not the only club who are interested, but we are trying. There is always competition and we will keep plugging away.”

Referring to Erdinc Pardew commented, “If we can get him and another two in before the end of next week I’ll still be looking for another two new faces to join us before the start of the season. To get a player like Yohan Cabaye in so early has been a big bonus. Not many clubs have managed that sort of business yet so I’m very happy with that.”

Pardew is correct in that we have so far probably gotten bargain of the window yet again in Cabaye. It certainly will have raised a few eyebrows at some of the leagues clubs. We need to carry that momentum and get as many of the bodies in needed for the season before the preseason tour of the USA gets underway. We need our players bedded in as much as possible for the first fixture.

Fixtures are to be announced for next season on Friday 17th June 2011 but as always they will be blitzed by TV rescheduling.

In his first interview when signing for Newcastle United midfield maestro Yohan Cabaye says that Newcastle United have ‘special’ fans and that Pardew’s project is an ‘ambitious’ one but wait for it… David Rozenhal and Charles N’Zogbia sold the club to him.

“I spoke to Charles N’Zogbia and David Rozehnal before joining Newcastle. They both said it was a good choice to come to Newcastle. They said I would have a great time, especially with the fans.”

“And those fans appear special. Before signing for Newcastle, I watched some videos on the internet, and particularly the game against Sunderland when Newcastle won 5-1.”

“I could see there was a great atmosphere in the stadium, and I really want to see what it’s like to play at St James’ Park and in the Premier League. I’m very excited about playing at St James’ Park, now I hope I can adapt quickly to the Premier League.”

“I hope I can excite the fans here with my football, and I would love to score for Newcastle and see the reaction of the supporters at St James’ Park. But first I must adapt to the football and the city, and get to know my teammates.”

“I also have to adapt to the style of play in England, as it’s very different to France. This is the first time I have moved from my home region, and I want to be ready for the new season.”

“There was talk of Liverpool and Arsenal, but Newcastle were the club who made the move for me, and I really like Alan Pardew’s strategy and how he told me he wants to play. I heard of other interest, but I didn’t hesitate for one second to join Newcastle because they have an ambitious project.”

Well it certainly sounds like Pardew had a fair bit to do with this signing, more than I was previously giving credit. There is no bones about it Newcastle United have gotten a ‘snip’ with regards to the signing Cabaye and thats just the player quality. When you throw in the fact of his fee it makes it day light robbery. Cabaye is a real top notch player who will excite the Toon army next season alongside powerhouse Tiote.

Now lets move on to bringing in the wingers and strikers to receive the bullets to do the damage. There is no doubt Pardew would like to keep Nolan and Barton for next season. They will remain NUFC players until a suitable fee is forth coming from bidding clubs. However for Newcastle to progress the best we would hope for both Nolan and Barton is for bench slots. Certainly that would be a hard juggling act with regards to Joey.

We all know hes a hot head. Trying to manage that when he isn’t playing would be hard. Nolan might be a better bet. But then throw in the high wages for two players to sit on the bench at best isn’t a great idea. Those slots would be better served to youthful legged talents.

We already have two in Ben Arfa and Gosling but will they return as we expect from serious injuries? Then we have young Ferguson who at this stage is not a left back starter but better as a winger. Then young Lua Lua but he has made noises recently about moving to Brighton. Then we have Vuckic, Sammy Ameobi, Ryan Donaldson and Michael Richardson.

Now throw in Guthrie, Jonas, Ryan Taylor and Alan Smith. Thats alot of battle for slots.

Now add Charles N’Zogbia…

How do you feel the midfield squad is shaping up at Newcastle? Would you let Barton and Nolan go and bring in replacements?

Its official, Newcastle United’s first major summer signing is French international midfielder Yohan Cabaye from Lille.

The French Ligue 1 winner has signed on a 5 year deal and represents a major coup for the Toon. He is likely to fit in alongside Tiote is what is shaping up to be a very flush midfield squad if Barton and Nolan see out the remainder of their contracts. Not forgetting to mention that both Ben Arfa and Dan Gosling are due back into the fold in preseason.

Yohan is a loyal player having been at Lille since he was 12 years old so clearly likes a challenge taking Lille to the domestic double this season. Hes going to have to feel like given we are Newcastle United and our history of being a challenge.

As a fan I am genuinely excited about this lad. Graham Carr knows his players and this deal looks like being another steal in the mould of Tiote and Ben Arfa of last season. Hopefully he can be the midfield maestro providing our new strikers and wingers next season… heres to hoping at least!

But getting back to being positive its a great move by the club and represents some early fruition in which Newcastle have been linked with numerous players across the globe within the first few weeks. There are sure to be plenty more comings, goings and twists along the way in this transfer window.

Welcome to the club Yohan Cabaye.