January Transfer Speculation (or lack of) Thread

[Concrete John]

God, things must be bad when we're citing Newcastle as an example to follow. There's no mystery with them. For whatever reason the manager has clicked with the players and they're playing their hearts out for him. they've also got most of the carroll money still so the board there aren't splashing out compared to us

We still have the majority of the Young and Downing money.

[garyshawsknee]

They got Graham Carr (Dad of comedian) as a scout a year or two ago,so it may be a simple as that,Pardew has an idea of the players he wants and Carr goes out and looks for them.

Other clubs use agents far too often to get their players.(Not saying we do.)

[Concrete John]

As for Newcastle, I think we might be going a bit OTT on them and their 'master plan'.  Yes, they're trying a different approach and there are parts of that we can take on board, but apart from Ba's goals they'd be mid-table and we wouldn't even be talking about them.  And was that a master-stroke or a punt on an injured player that's paid off spectacularly?  He's 26, so if as good as he's seemed over this half season, why was he scratching around for a club and playing at West Ham?

Team in "if you took away their main source of goals, they wouldn't do as well" shocker ;-)

Newcastle are far from just about Ba. Look at their midfield for a start, very solid in the middle.

Also at the back, they're getting good performances out of Coloccini.

I'm not saying they're crap, just that the highly unexpected goal return from Ba has propelled them further up the league then anyone expected.  And if it wasn't for that we wouldn't be talking about they're other signings in such glowing terms.

But as I said, whether or not they've found a good blueprint for success will be revealed in whether they can keep it up.  Not just for the rest of the season, but long term.

[JUAN PABLO]

As for Newcastle, I think we might be going a bit OTT on them and their 'master plan'.  Yes, they're trying a different approach and there are parts of that we can take on board, but apart from Ba's goals they'd be mid-table and we wouldn't even be talking about them.  And was that a master-stroke or a punt on an injured player that's paid off spectacularly?  He's 26, so if as good as he's seemed over this half season, why was he scratching around for a club and playing at West Ham?

Team in "if you took away their main source of goals, they wouldn't do as well" shocker ;-)

Newcastle are far from just about Ba. Look at their midfield for a start, very solid in the middle.

Also at the back, they're getting good performances out of Coloccini.

and I see they added another striker Cisse

[Merv]

We still have the majority of the Young and Downing money.

Do we? I know we have the money in terms of receiving it, but whether it's going to be made available for transfer funds is debatable, I think.

[Concrete John]

We still have the majority of the Young and Downing money.

Do we? I know we have the money in terms of receiving it, but whether it's going to be made available for transfer funds is debatable, I think.

Yes, it's one we should get answered in the summer when Beye, Heskey & Carlos all leave for nothing.  If it's truely just a wages issue then we can spend.

[Irish villain]

I think we should offer Cueller a new contract. Who would we get, as good as him, on cheaper wages?

I hope people are right when they say we will be investing heavily this summer once the wage bill is cleared. I have thought so too in a while. A period of retrenchment should be followed by some heavy investment.

[pauliewalnuts]

I hope people are right when they say we will be investing heavily this summer once the wage bill is cleared. I have thought so too in a while. A period of retrenchment should be followed by some heavy investment.

I doubt it

The club keep saying we have to be self financing - why people assume that applies purely to wage bill is beyond me.

[glasses]

God, things must be bad when we're citing Newcastle as an example to follow. There's no mystery with them. For whatever reason the manager has clicked with the players and they're playing their hearts out for him. they've also got most of the carroll money still so the board there aren't splashing out compared to us

So there isn't a mystery, and then there is?

I think they have used the Carroll money well on good players in all areas of the pitch and are playing like a team. You can't predict the future really, so it may only be a one season (or even half a season) anomoly with them. Fact remains though at present, they have a team filled with good players playing good football and getting good results in the now.

Ba has been freakishly good. He reminds me of Martin Laursen (bear with me here!), in that they are both brilliant players when they are fit, but have dodgy medical backgrounds which perhaps means the top clubs wont take the risks on them because they potentially could be sidelined for long periods. Or in Ba's case, Stoke!

Fair play to Pardew who got a right load of stick when he got the job.

[Chris Smith]

I hope people are right when they say we will be investing heavily this summer once the wage bill is cleared. I have thought so too in a while. A period of retrenchment should be followed by some heavy investment.

I doubt it

The club keep saying we have to be self financing - why people assume that applies purely to wage bill is beyond me.

They haven't said anything about transfers, just that the wage bill has to be at a certain level.

I think they'll spend, they did find the money for Bent after all, but I'm not expecting massive amounts. Investment in players can increase revenue from gates, TV and prize money.

[pauliewalnuts]

They said the club has to live on its own means.

Why would that only involve the wage bill?

[pav]

At least there's a song for our dwindling attendances to sing

[Chris Smith]

They said the club has to live on its own means.

Why would that only involve the wage bill?

I can only recall statements about the wage bill. We'll see in due course but I expect them to invest with a plan to improve revenue but with it all having to operate within a strict wage  structure.

[Concrete John]

They said the club has to live on its own means.

Why would that only involve the wage bill?

Even if that is right, then spending the transfer profit we've made recently would give us quite a bit of room to move in the summer market.

[pauliewalnuts]

They said the club has to live on its own means.

Why would that only involve the wage bill?

Even if that is right, then spending the transfer profit we've made recently would give us quite a bit of room to move in the summer market.

It depends on how they define living within its own means.

What about those loans to Randy that are due to be paid back at some time?