Newcastle Thread

2 weeks until pre-season training starts and we need about 9-10 players to be competitive.

Hmm

Its gonna be a long fucking season.

What's 'competitive'?

Hard to define, but a squad that's low on both quantity and quality isn't looking like a good standard for it right now. The fact we only beat a relegated side, a side that finished below us and a disinterested collection of individuals from January to May was sending alarm bells, and as much as overhauling the coaching staff might help, new players in a lot of positions are required.

Although for the matter so are coaches, given right now it seems to just be McClaren, Dave Watson, Andy Woodman and Peter Beardsley in that capacity for the first team.

The already agreed upon target of top 8.

There's absolutely no chance of us finishing there, without significant investment anyway.

Which Mike Ashley won't provide and Lee Charnley isn't competent enough to use anyway.

The fact we haven't got any backroom staff speaks volumes.

Backroom staff? Wouldn't be a bad appointment...

Does it? Going two weeks without an assistant and a first team coach during the summer?

Most teams would have had it sorted within a few days of appointment of the manager - as McClaren would have had his preferred appointments in mind and let those above him know.

We've been knocked back by Zenden and Steve Round already haven't we?

We've got a 'team building' pre-season tour of the USA starting in 2 and a half weeks, would be nice to have at least half of our (supposedly arriving) 6 permanent signings in by then wouldn't it?

We'll end up with a few loanees from the big lads and a new striker, most likely.

Also if Cisse is sold - we need 7 major first team signings, the same as if Tiote also goes we need 8.

It'll never happen, though.

Pre-season starts next week and we still have our decrepit playing squad, plus only 3 first team coaches.

Would anyone else get so close to a new campaign with such little numbers?

Valencia coach Ian Cahtro is reportedly close to becoming the new assistant manager.

Presumably with that question answered, it might be worth answering the players question. And preferably with ins, rather than selling Remy Cabella, as has been rumoured today.

Newcastle have a much larger first team squad than most.

Krul, Darlow, Elliott

Janmaat, Haidara, Dummett, Colo, Lascelles, Williamson, Taylor,

Colback, Anita, Sissoko, Tiote, Abeid, Aarons, Ameobi, Cabella, Gouffran, Obertan, Marveuax

Riviere, De Jong, Cisse, Perez.

A 25 man squad is still pretty big.


That Cathro bloke is getting a god write up. - A quick glance and his CV does look impressive.

I think we've already established a certain fair amount are preferably removed. Although today's rumour of Cabella out has been denied by his dad, who says he's sticking around.

Large first team squad doesn't mean it's good.

Majority of those players are shit.

We have too many AMC's too - De Jong, Cabella and Marveaux all play there and will struggle out wide due to lack of pace.

Our wingers are shockingly bad too, Ameobi, Obertan, Gouffran and Aarons. The only half decent one is Aarons and he's injured constantly.

Cabella is ineffective on the wing. He's absolutely anonymous in the middle. I can't recall a thing of note in he's ever done while central. Likewise Marveaux plays far too deep to be considered an AMC,

Practically every good victory we had last year Ameobi, Obertan and Aarons were playing. Because they all have the pace to hurt teams. Newcastle's good run of form last Autumn was simply because Newcastle started playing with pace and width (And a proper DM).

Gouffran unfortunately looked like a man devoid of confidence and simply playing in tactics that didn't suit him. He's still a reasonable enough footballer.

Well let's sign players with genuine pace to hurt teams then? Surely would be a good idea.

As a lot of the shocking performances over the past few seasons have featured Ameobi and Obertan being completely useless.

They aren't good enough.

Has Ameobi signed the contract extension?

Anyway, I was pretty sure the bulk of attempts to play Cabella saw him used in a wide role that he did not really look suited in, with his few reasonable performances (Chelsea, Hull, Stoke) coming through CAM. It never helps he had a coaching staff that didn't really look like they knew how to use him. It is a "put up or shut up" season for him, though. Particularly if Siem de Jong continues to spend more time being glued back together.

I don't buy the hypothesis given injuries meant Obertan and Aarons barely played, and Ameobi is a wildly inconsistent player (I swear when we beat Liverpool, he only had a 50% pass success rate). Most of our shocking performance have featured certain recurring individuals - Williamson, Gouffran, Anita, Coloccini - that its not hard to think its time to get rid. I would keep Ameobi, but maybe as back-up rather than first choice.

This is quite an interesting summer for the defensive question given that Colocccini, Williamson and Steven Taylor are all out of contract in 12 months time. It might be time to get rid of all 3, or gradually replace all 3, and more than just bringing in Lascelles and changing Dummett to a CB role. A left back might also be advised, given we've let two/three that can play there go this year already.

I don't think we should get rid of Anita and Coloccini yet - Coloccini should start to play a less important role this season though. He can only do that if we sign 2 quality centre backs though, which we won't.

If I had to pick 3 players to let go, it would be Williamson, Ameobi and one of Gouffran/Obertan. Probably Gouffran.

In an ideal world, a top-bottom revamp would be already in motion. Certain players' form has been in the toilet for several seasons, and there were moments last season when they looked like they couldn't be arsed.

But clearly such talk is aspirational at best. The fact the press gambit has got to, "Reports indicate Newcastle are reportedly preparing a bid", is fucking mind-boggling.

We're too slow signing players, but the speed of which players leave is mind boggling.

I can't help but wonder if last summer (eight players in) was an anomaly, and even then half of them turned out to be duds.

Why has it taken so long for Ian Cathro to be confirmed?

Starting to think we may have to sell before we buy.

For some reason Newcastle seem to take ages to confirm these things. Colback and Janmaat's unveiling pics were leaked days before they were confirmed. Edit - More likely that they'll all be announced at once.

Also enlighten me why the 'shit coaching staff' only applies to certain players? You always hear about certain players having to 'endure' coaching staff but not others. For example no one is saying Williamson will be world class with better coaches next year.

He might well be better tbf, I highly doubt it though. I'd be willing to give him a chance but unfortunately it would mean not buying better players that we drastically need. But the fact that even Carver said he was beyond coaching speaks volumes.

Pre-season starts tomorrow, no coaching staff in yet.

What a joke.

Linked with Van Ginkel on loan again, pointless loaning players as we'll never stump up the funds to buy them afterwards if they play well.

Given Williamson has been dire for most of the last 3 seasons, there's plenty of evidence to suggest we need better. But its fairly clear that better is not on the radar right now, not least given we apparently baulked at getting Ron Vlaar on a free transfer.

I get the feeling that there's a sell-to-buy policy in place. It would be fucking dumb given the squad we have, but it wouldn't be surprising.

Meanwhile, there's apparently close to 7000 season tickets currently unsold. Interesting if they all remain unsold by the opening day.

I'm waiting to renew to see if I'm going to have to go and suffer the delights of Ameobi and Williamson on a weekly basis.

How much is a ST at Newcastle, if you don't mind me asking?