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Romain Amalfitano: What Newcastle have bought – May 23rd 2012
Newcastle have announced this morning that they’ve reached an agreement with Reims midfielder Romain Amalfitano, and that the 22 year-old will be arriving at St James’ Park on a free transfer in the Summer once his contract has expired.
Amalfitano has just helped the French side gain promotion from Ligue 2, but that in turn means that we’ve never seen him play – although that won’t stop plenty of sites pretending to have done so.
Given Newcastle’s previous success in France, it’s only fair that we trust their scouting department here – so it’s worth betting that he’s a decent player. And he potentially represents another coup for the club and their ‘rough diamond’ approach to the transfer market.
He’s already had his Wikipedia page updated – what kind of people do that?
Anyway, here are some of his best moments for Reims and Evian…
Newcastle potentially playing with fire – May 12th 2012
Most of you will have read Alan Pardew’s comments about the possibility of a high player turnover in this Summer, and his lack of protection if affluent clubs take a fancy to any of his players.
The newly-crowned Manager Of The Year also spoke of the solace he takes in Mike Ashley’s aggressive selling philosophy.
Why are Newcastle are so public about this? Derek Llambias made some similar comments earlier in the year, which only really served the purpose of letting everyone know that all the players at St James’ Park have a price. It’s almost as if Ashley, Llambias, and Pardew are trying to attract interest.
What Pardew said about his owner is definitely true; Ashley does drive a hard bargain, and that obviously has its benefits, but is that the way to run a club? It’s starting to look a bit like the footballing version of property flipping.
This year it’s worked, Newcastle have bought well and all the incoming players have gelled seamlessly. But there are no guarantees about sustaining that kind of approach over the long-term.
Say, for example, Demba Ba, Yohan Cabaye, and Cheik Tiote all leave the North East this Summer, Newcastle are then in the market for three core players, and – fitting with what’s gone on previously – they’ll be looking to bring them in as cost-effectively as possible. If it goes well, then great – you get a season like 2011/12, but if doesn’t, you have the potential for turmoil. The Cockney Mafia look very smart at the moment, but this a risky way to run a team – not financially of course, but in the ‘on-pitch’ sense it is.
Obviously Newcastle are not Manchester City, Manchester United or Chelsea, and they face the same vulnerability over their players as all the other clubs do, but it’s just a bit unsettling to hear how willing the owners are to take profits on key performers and then roll the dice by only reinvesting a fraction of that in the team.
That’s putting a lot of faith in your scouting department.
Newcastle have been a breath of fresh air this season, and financial austerity should certainly be applauded in the current climate, but this kind of talk is a bit of a red flag over the kind of boardroom gambling that could end badly.
Predictions: Newcastle to alter the title’s destination – May 6th 2012
Newcastle will get something today, and that will obviously cost Manchester City very dearly.
At the final whistle at Eastlands on Monday, it was essentially assumed that the title was won, Manchester United were beaten, and that the rest of the season was a mere formality.
With a journey to come to Newcastle? In front of that St James’ Park crowd? With the way Alan Pardew’s side are playing?
That’s obviously not true.
The big test for Roberto Mancini is to pick his side up after the euphoria of Monday night. That was a naturally glamorous and adrenalin-inducing fixture, and the Italian has some work to do to get his team back to same emotional level.
Another variable for today’s game, is how City will react to once again being favourites for the Championship. Mancini’s team have already squandered a lead once this season, and seemed to recover once the title appeared to be out of reach – now though, they’re back in unchartered territory with history in reach. That’s already stifled City before, why would anyone think that it wont again?
Expect a nervy, bitty performance from the visitors today – and that will play right into their hosts hands. With Arsenal dropping points yesterday, Newcastle have the chance to take control of one of the remaining two Champions League spots, and that’s a hell of incentive.
Tactically as well, this isn’t the most favourable match-up for City. Newcastle struggle against width, and the weakest part of their side is at full-back – but Mancini’s team don’t play with any real width, and everything is focused on intricate play through the middle. That will suite Newcastle; Cheik Tiote is fit to start, and his battle with Yaya Toure should be absolutely fascinating. You could certainly make an argument for saying that, because of the Ivorian, Newcastle are better equipped to compete with City in the middle than Manchester United were.
We’ll plump for the draw; the result that neither side wants.
New Newcastle Away shirt for 2012/13 – May 4th 2012
So the orange and navy kit is no more, and Newcastle have released their new away shirt for next season – and here it is…
There’s not much else to say: it looks nice. Great.
Newcastle should check on Auxerre’s Willy Boly in the Summer – April 26th 2012
Newcastle have clearly been impressive this year, and Alan Pardew deserves to be in the Manager Of The Year debate whether his side make it to the Champions League or not.
The key now for Pardew, is building on this year and developing the side that he’s created. There’s clearly a caveat regarding the ownership at St James’s Park, because there’s always the danger that assets will be sold off in the Summer – that being said, Chiek Tiote’s comments this week about being able to satiate his ambition at Newcastle were a positive sign that key players aren’t actively looking for transfers.
An area that Pardew needs to have a look at is centre-back. Fabricio Coloccini has been one of the defenders of the year and the Argentine has been a huge reason why Newcastle have been as resilient as they have. Regardless, a question mark still hangs over who partners the frizzy-haired South American. Mike Williamson is fine, for a back-up, and likewise Steven Taylor, who always seems to be one lapse in concentration away from giving a goal away – an upgrade is needed.
On the basis that Newcastle’s transfer strategy will remain consistant with what it was last Summer, they might want to have a look at Auxerre’s Willy Boly. Auxerre are in the middle of a dismal campaign in Ligue 1, and are five points adrift at the bottom of the table. In spite of which, Boly was voted the third best defender in France by L’Equipe – which is pretty impressive given the dross that he’s having to to play with.
As and when Auxerre get relegated, Boly’s transfer fee will fall into line with what Newcastle would be comfortable paying for a centre-back – and it would make perfect sense, 21 years-old, athletic, and a physical 6ft3. This kid is made to play in England.
Definitely worth a look, and certainly a name to remember.
Discussing Newcastle’s interest in Gylfi Sigurdsson – April 18th 2012
Age: 22
Birth Date: Sep 9, 1989
Birth Place: Iceland
Height: 1.86m
Weight: 77 kg
Appearances: 14
Goals: 7
Assists: 2
This is a new one.
The Daily Mail is suggesting that Newcastle are taking more than a passing fancy to Swansea’s on-loan Hoffenheim midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson – and a couple of internet sources have als piggybacked on to that, for what it’s worth.
The crux of the story seems to be that Swansea might struggle to pay the £8m Hoffenheim are reported to want to make the deal permanent.
Yeah, it’s still a bit tenuous.
Unless Newcastle on planning on getting rid of one or both of Cheik Tiote or Yohan Cabaye this Summer, then there’s not really a place for Sigurdsson in their midfield – hence it would make next to no sense for them to chuck £8m at that part of the team. Especially given the more pressing concerns at full-back.
While we’re at it, there are a couple of ‘new Frank Lampard’ comparisons being made about the Icelander. Please, stop it, just stop it – all footballers do not need a domestic-based comparative. And Sigurdsson is a far more technically gifted player.
Swansea fans, I think he stays with you – you can tell a lot by a player’s body language, and Sigurdsson is probably smart enough to know that he’s currently playing for a team that really suits his style and compliments his abilities.
Anyway, here are some of his season’s highlights:
Thoughts on Jan Vertonghen being linked with Newcastle – 17th April 2012
Three national newspapers have reported this week that Newcastle are taking an active interest in Ajax centre-back Jan Vertonghen, and the Telegraph followed suit this morning with their claim that Alan Pardew was at the Amsterdam Arena to watch the Belgian play in Ajax’s 3-1 win over De Graafschap.
It makes sense – Newcastle could afford him, could probably entice him, and would greatly benefit from having him.
One of the players of the season has unquestionably been Fabricio Coloccini – whether he gets the headlines he deserves or not. Pairing the Argentine with a cultured performed like Vertonghen would be a real upgrade on that Newcastle defence. Steven Taylor, just in my opinion, is capable of good performances, but also of rash moments that undermine his ability – Vertonghen would make the Newcastle back-line look a bit more ‘top 6′.
Ajax manager Frank de Boer has already confirmed that he’ll let his captain leave this Summer, but it’s common knowledge that any team that wants his signature will have to beat off interest from Arsenal. North London may, on paper, appear a more attractive option, but if I’m Vertonghen I’d have a look at the queue of centre-backs forming at the Emirates: Vermaelen, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Djourou – there’s no guarantee of first-team football, and there’s no guarantee of an extended run in the team if he doesn’t immediately find his feet in England. Just ask the 80+ cap German…
Newcastle may not be the obvious choice, but if it came down to it, it’s probably the better one for the player. It will more than likely depend on where Alan Pardew’s side finish the season, but we’ll see…
Les Ferdinand: All Newcastle Goals – April 9th 2012
One of the best headers of a ball that ever played in the Premier League, and certainly the finest of the 1990s. When Les Ferdinand moved to Tyneside from QPR in 1995, few would have guessed what kind of impact he’d have, and how good a team he would become part of.
41 goals in 68 appearances, and Newcastle coming within inches of the Premier League title…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_neJzJD8zc
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