Newcastle United Blog

The signing of Yohan Cabaye from Lille for £4.5 million is expected today as he is due to be in Newcastle for his medical this morning.

The classy midfield maestro from current French league title winners Lille is quite a coup considering they managed to get him for his release clause amount instead of what his real market value is likely to be.

He flies in on the back of a successful spell playing for the French national team having beat Poland last night 1-0. That team also consisted of a number of other Toon targets such as Charles N’Zogbia.

Cabaye is likely to line up alongside midfield powerhouse Cheik Tiote but hopes are fading of club mate Gervinho joining them even though he has stated he is moving to England. Arsenal and Manchester City are starting to show interest and Gervinho has recently insisted he wants to play in the Champions League.

End of the day though reading between the lines Gervinho seems motivated by money like all footballers. Lille are in the Champions League and if he wanted to desperately play in that he would stay there and maybe sign a new deal. But the attraction of the Premier League and the higher wage packets has focused his mind on England. Shock? No not really they all do it.

Its slightly different with Gameiro who seems persistent in joining PSG or Valencia who probably cannot match the wages of the Premier League. Fair play to the boy hes stood by his guns even though we are the only club to offer the best deal for Lille. Its alarming and possibly inevitable that the players we want are proving hard to get as we can’t offer them European football yet. But if PSG do sign Gameiro then a certain Mevlut Erdinc could become the focus yet again of Graham Carr. The Turkish hot shot of PSG has been on our radar for a while and might be a more realistic target and the domino effect of transfers could kick in.

These transfers are always drawn out affairs and never over until they are over but its early days. Ben Arfa last season took a while to come to fruition and then we had signings out of the blue like Tiote.

Do you think we should be targeting the best talents with a lower success rate of signing or just go for average players who are easy to sign for now to boost the squad? Do you trust Graham Carr to bring in what NUFC need?

Well it hasn’t taken Jol long to in the job before he was being linked with a move for his first signing at Fulham. The Craven Cottage outfit have apparently earmarked Kevin Nolan as his first signing.

If a bid of around £6 million for the top English midfield goalscorer last season (in the Premier League) was to come forth then it would be hard for the club to turn down due to his age and unwillingness to agree a performance related contract extension. The money could be used to bring in younger legs.

He would get his shot at Europe but it would certainly mean an early start to the season for Kevin if he were to move as it would mean early rounds in the Europa cup. It might appeal to Kevin being 29 to get some time playing in Europe in his final years as Newcastle are really 2 years away and thats with the correct ambition from the current regime being applied but – another debate in itself.

We discussed  our feelings the other day about Nolan departing Newcastle but we do feel this would be a bigger loss than Barton which we are sure many Newcastle fans wouldn’t agree with us on. Yes he may be leggy but hes our Captain and knows where the back of the net is in the past 2 seasons. If he was an option behind the scenes and coming off the bench he would be a great asset if we construct a team of pace he would probably get more goals as he has the ability to arrive late.

Do you think the move to Fulham is a possibility or pie in the sky? Let us know.

Well 24 hours later and Jose Enrique’s agent and brother, Salvador Sanchez has played down talk of a move to Barcelona for his client with no news yet as to whether the ‘Fantastic’ contract that Pardew said NUFC has offered him is being considered.

He was quoted as saying, “We know nothing but what has emerged in the press” when talking to lavanguardia.com but did not mention about renegotiations at Newcastle United or recent links to Liverpool. Whether the media has just put 2 and 2 together and come up with 5 for this link with Barcelona is yet to be confirmed as they had previously expected to sign Jose Angel from Sporting Gijon only for talks to break down. This could just be a bit of pressure to force that deal through but it would be an easier pill to swallow for Toon fans than if Jose was to depart to a English Premier League club.

In another twist to the Jose Enrique saga, Champions League holders Barcelona have been linked with ‘the bull’ for £12 million. Well that should shut the scousers up who have been sniffing around him for £8 million thinking they could get a snip!

All Toon fans would like to see Jose stay but we know he has progressed quite a lot the past 2 years and that his ambitions lie in getting into the international Spain team. If we can’t attract Capello this far North its going to be harder to attract Spain’s manager.

We all moan and groan about Liverpool because they are the bin sniffers trying to pick up our best players on the cheap to fix their poor squad. They have already taken Andy off us and now have taken Henderson off the unclean mackems down the road. But can we accept Barcelona?

I think most fans would accept the inevitability a bit more if Jose departed for the sunny shores of Barcelona. Lets face it who wouldn’t. It would leave a nicer taste in the mouth if he was not lining up against us next season and we could support him in his quest for honours in undoubtably the best team in the world for generations. Barca certainly need to shore things up at the back if there is anywhere they can improve and the move would certainly aid Jose in his quest for international caps.

Would you wish Jose well if he left for Barcelona or would you still be angry?

Well Sham Allardyce is apparently sniffing quite a bit around St James Park in terms of look not just Smith and Barton but now he has apparently slapped in a £3 million bid for our captain Kevin Nolan.

Mixed feelings about this one for many toon fans. He is the nucleus of the good working spirit in our squad and played one of the biggest hands in our promotion but the lad has stalled on a deal as he wants one for 5 years. Well hes 29 (just about) and that would take him to 34. We all know we have had players who are just no good later in their years on huge salaries. Would we expect Nolan to be of any use to us in 2 years time let alone 3-4? If he was we would likely be in the Championship again.

His legs are already going now and its hard to see where he will fit into the first 11 next season with Tiote a dead cert followed by Ben Arfa, Gosling back from injury and then incoming signing Cabaye. Then we are likely to sign some wingers. Its partly the same issue with Barton.

Would Barton and Nolan be seen as bad influences if not getting into the team? Possibly.

Nolan has however managed 12 goals for us which shouldn’t be forgotten but how long will he manage those exploits. Maybe he would make a good Kevin Davies for us in some games?

If we can get 5 million for the lad I think the deal will be on which isnt ridiculous considering his goals scored but to throw him a huge contract is probably the wrong move. Let him see out his 2 years if it comes to it he can then get a deal based on the fact hes a free agent. The loss in terms of a fee to the club wont be that bad. If we get a good fee for him now and can bring in another younger body with ability then I would probably have to give my blessing to the deal as Pardew is likely to change the makeup of the team to be pacey in which Kevin just don’t fit in.

If he was happy to see out his deal though and remain at the club knowing he will be on the bench I would be happy to see him stay but £3 million the Hammers are having a laugh for a 12 goal midfield Premier League player.

Another day another round of NUFC transfer rumours from the fish and chip wrappers.

• Dave Whelans Wigan quoted us £12 million for Charles N’Zogbia instead of £9 million because we aren’t one of the top 4 clubs. End of day if player wants to go because he is in final year of contract he will go anywhere for £9 million in our opinion…
• A firm bid is on the table for yet another Taylor this time in the form of Neil Taylor of Swansea having been confirmed by their Chairman. This deal is waiting on the lad getting back from his holidays before speaking to his current club. This deal is interesting because having offered £6 million for M’Bengue to replace Jose we have now completed changed our target to a buyout clause young unproven talented player for £1 million. Could this be an indication that Enrique has decided to sign on albeit with a rumoured buyout clause in his contract?
• Cabaye is all pretty much signed sealed and delivered again another bit of business taking advantage of a low buyout clause of £4.5 million.
• The Gameiro link fails to go away with our bid of £10 million supposedly accepted. We all know the lad wishes to move to Spain but the door has almost closed on that as Valencia the favoured club have turned their attentions to free agent Miroslav Klose of Bayern Munich. This would be a more affordable option for the Spanish club. That now currently leaves only us and PSG with rumoured interest but the Parisian club have not even made a bid. Gameiro is reported to be Graham Carr’s number one target so whether we are preferred or not the lad would be an coup for the club. As we say now “In Carr we trust” after the magnificent signings of Tiote and Ben Arfa last season.
• We would always come back to here… Gervinho! Whether this is a shootout between the boy and N’Zogbia is interesting because they are both wingers however even with the African Cup of Nations looming in January the club seem to prefer Gervinho over our former insomniac. Yesterday we reported Arsenal had hijacked the move which may come through today in news however rumours persist it is fire stoking and that the buyout clause for Gervinho is £8 million. This is well within Arsenal financial buying power so its not without its doubts that Arsenal have had rejected bids and all of a sudden matched what we are willing to pay. Smoke and mirrors comes to mind by agents trying to get the lad to his boyhood club.
• Shane Long we have apparently put a £5 million bid on the table for. This one may well be a bait and see. Hes played in the Premier League before and scored a couple of goals even at a tender age but has since honed his skills in the Championship way outscoring Andy Carroll’s achievements in our promotion season. Shane would jump at the chance to prove his skill permanently at Premier League level and could handle the hustle and bustle as he is decent strength wise at getting on the end of long balls and winning headers in the air for such a small chap. Shane would likely be a good squad option with a view to developing him to be a top top talent.

Well after a fair bit of a whirlwind of exciting transfer news with NUFC being linked to a host of top class French Ligue 1 talent it seems to have slowed following the apparent capture of Lille midfielder Cabaye. Much has been made about Gameiro but he is holding out for Spain (though that might not happen because Valencia are looking likely to go for Klose now after he didnt agree new terms). That moved us onto Cabaye’s Lille team mate Gervinho which has gotten many toon fans hot under the collar after a barrage of facebook posts to his wall on his birthday after nufcblog.com encouraged us all.

Well is he are isn’t he thats how we are all feeling. He proclaimed he wanted Champions League footy and then there is the matter hes an Arsenal fan. Apparently we had Tiotes good pal in the bag and he was about to be announced in a supposed Thursday conference as hes been banging them in for Ivory Coast on his international duty which had delayed things. Arsenal had a last minute bid rejected by Lille a few days ago because it was lower than ours and then they went back in today again with a better deal which sorry to say sounds like its been accepted. Now instead lifelong gunner fan Gervinho is likely to be turning out at the Emirates instead of the Geordie faithful. Grrr!

Now non of this is certain this is the gossip rumours but if this is the case our prime target Gameiro seems to be coming back into play after we turned our attentions to Gervinho after he dragged his feet. Its all a bit of a merry go round! But could it be the main chap that Graham Carr was after is going to turn out in our black and white stripes? Well the only other club likely to make a move for him is PSG and they probably have the clout behind them after a recent Qatar financial group takeover. Lets cross our toes and fingers we at least get one of either Gameiro or Gervinho because my nerves can’t take it at the moment.

After a ‘sabbatical’ we have decided to get back in the thick of the Newcastle United action discussing all things NUFC including transfers, rumours, management, ownership, Geordie Shore and everything else that is the Toon Soap Opera.

So hold on tight and get right for the ride as this summer is bound to be a bumpy one with the club banking the Judas money in January. Lets see if the fat cockney one decides to spend some of it than sticking it in his back pocket.

Well its been a while as Newcastle have been up and down like a yoyo with their form and i’ve had various commitments with the flu on top as the cherry but the positive is… we are heading into Christmas seemingly on the up!

With such a poor record against us for the long hard slog to Portsmouth I don’t think anyone expected us to get a result. Well we showed them! A great team effort put Portsmouth to the sword and a Michael Owen masterclass to Defoe and Crouch of how to take your chances when they come.

In a first half which left honours even I still felt comfortable for first time as a Toon fan in a long time. We had the better chances I was only thinking in back of my mind that we probably would slip up 2nd half and not turn up. In fact we went up a gear. I thought we were good for our scoreline to be fair as Portsmouth only really huffed and puffed the odd time.

Our back four stood strong and when you look at how organised they are not at keeping the line etc its nice to see reward with 3 away clean sheets back to back. In all honesty it should be four as we had done the hard work against Stoke. That game boiled down to Martins wrapping it up but missed the chance to bury them for 3-0 to Stoke coming back 2-2. A point which evidently proves why we need Michael Owen signed up! He’s world class and scores goals. A 2:1 ratio is the mark of a true goalscorer and that boy is certainly that.

For all I enjoy watching Martins I know he is no Michael Owen. A great goal scorer no, a scorer of great goals yes is how Martins is summed up.

It was good to see Enrique have one of his better games but still a left back should be on the menu come January together with a central midfielder as the legs of Nicky Butt and fading. Unfortunately Kinnear has admitted defeat with Riise unfortunately who I think would have been a fantastic addition to our Premier League squad. I also wish that Kinnear would make a play for Elano at City if he is surplus to requirements. A mixture of 2-3 permanent and 2-3 loans would boost the squad immensely. Where Santa obliges after hes Christmas Eve slog who knows lets just hope hes doing overtime come the New Year and that includes a new owner.

Its unconfirmed as yet but it is understood that Roy Keane has left Sunderland. SHAME!

I always thought Roy Keane was a good young manager and quite frankly has worked wonders at Sunderland. Its been a bit of a wobble of late but the first major amount of pressure and hes walked. Clearly he wasn’t as keen on the mackems as many thought.

Having not won since the derby (unfortunate) his stock with his fans has plummeted. Its likely that Keane has walked rather than pushed however. This certainly makes things a little bit better for us Toon fans atm. All we need is Ashley out and a good owner in…