Allardyce will have some limited cash to try to attract some new players in January, as he also prepares to lose Abdoulaye Faye, Habib Beye, Geremi and Obafemi Martins to the African Nations Cup.
Ben Haim - Sam wants him on loan for rest of season
News today is that Sam has already asked Chelsea to take Tal Ben Haim on loan for the rest of the season. It will now be interesting to see what the Chelsea club’s response will be. It may be difficult for them to let Ben Haim go with the injury sustained by John Terry recently, which will see him out for at least 2-3 months.
Chris Mort talked about the transfer situation in last night’s program:
“I would expect us to make a couple of further additions to the squad in January, but like any other club, we would prefer to add players in the summer transfer window than in January so that players have a chance to settle into the team,”
“And January is always a more difficult time to extract high-quality players from their current clubs.” “While we have had some great results we have had too many disappointing results, such as the Derby games (a defeat and a draw) and the Boxing Day Wigan match (a 1-0 defeat).â€
“With the strength we have in the squad, I am hopeful that the team will soon settle into a winning run that will push us back up the table to where we should be.”
The results have not been good enough and that was further emphasized with last night’s poor result. Don’t believe that Sam has unlimited time to turn things around either. The sooner he can do that the better for him, and a defeat against Stoke on Saturday will certainly send the club’s board into even further high anxiety.
Comments very welcome.
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69 responses so far ↓
1 Hammy // Jan 3, 2008 at 10:05
Ben Haim never wanted to come in the first place so why’s he gonna change his mind now, even if it is on loan? I’d leave him where he is…
2 Graeme // Jan 3, 2008 at 10:07
Ed, I just cant see them sacking Sam before the end of the season. We gain nothing from it, other than reacting to the media frenzy. I cant see us being relegated either; there are more than 4 clubs worse than us!!!!
Who, with any brains, would actually want the job this month anyway?? They would have to be pretty desperate to get away from their current club or already be unemployed. Other than Morinho (oh yes please God!!) what does it get us? nothing that I can see.
Last night was a better performance, by all acounts, with the right players in the right positions for a change. Playing 4-4-2 was also a step in the right direction. Lets hope it continues!!!
3 Black Caesar // Jan 3, 2008 at 10:13
Graeme
And how many of the four clubs you claim are worse than Newcastle have Newcastle actually beaten?
4 Hammy // Jan 3, 2008 at 10:15
good point.
5 UTD111 // Jan 3, 2008 at 10:19
Graeme - I can confirm that last night was indeed better, it certainly looked that way from my usual seat! - particularly in the first half where we put them under the cosh but squandered so many chances. The 4-4-2 relied a lot on Faye, who played very well in front of the back four and who held the ball and distributed it well. Beye was a big player for us once more and Duff looks more lively than he was before his injury. Charlie NZ was the usual Charlie.
On the minus side “Mr Consistency” James Milner had a bit of an off night. Martins was his usual frustrating self and Viduka was slow and didnt look interested.
To me - when we took Faye and Duff off we lost it a bit - particularly the loss of Faye - as soon afterwards City danced through our midfield and scored their second.
Encouraging though…….pity about the African Nations cup!
On the Ben Haim story - I cant see why Chelsea would even consider it given the Terry situation and the fact the player is currently in their team?
Cheers
Mick
6 carl // Jan 3, 2008 at 10:28
i have to say, last night was not big sams fault! he listened to our moans and groans and played how we wanted. especially the first half when man city were lucky not to be 2 or 3 down, things would also be different if owens chance had gone in on 46 minutes!! i think if sam signs a quality playmaker, and a quality defender things would improve, i think last night in the first half he actually realised we can play a very good passing game. and true to my word, i dont mind we got beat as it was a step in the right direction. please more of that big sam
7 steve // Jan 3, 2008 at 10:29
UTD111 - first half was better, second half was awful.
Why would Chelsea allow Ben Haim to leave when Terry is out and half thier team is off to ACN.
We are pretty much stuffed this season, we may avoid relegation but I wouldn’t put my house on it.
We need to continue playing 4-4-2, maybe keep Enrique at left back and play both Duff and Nzogbia on different wings, Milner needs a spell on the bench.
Butt will have to sort himself out as Faye is off to ACN and we need a decent holding midfielder (will we be able to buy)
Still we played better without Smith who IMO is a waste of space in midfield and not much better up front
8 Len // Jan 3, 2008 at 10:32
Sounds like Chris Mort has the right approach, BS can nominate players but Mort has the final say. I have more faith in Morts judgement than BS’s. Interesting point about Faye. One of our problems attacking and defending is neither Butt nor Geremi get up and down the field. The less said about Smith as CM the better.
9 Gooderz // Jan 3, 2008 at 10:36
I have to agree with UTD111. Milner didn’t have a great game but he’s played just about every game this season so it was understandable why he looked knackered. The game should call out for two things, a bit of invention from centre midfield and another RW to compete with Milner.
I also hope we sell Emre, Allardyce is clearly not a huge fan of his and should buy a player who can create but also has the physical nature he likes.
10 JoshI // Jan 3, 2008 at 11:01
Ben Haim is shit anyway, he makes loads of idiotic mistakes. The bramble of chelsea.
11 James // Jan 3, 2008 at 11:02
Ben Haim already turned us down in the summer and his current manager loves him because they are both Israeli. Not a bleeding chance he will leave Chelsea.
12 Andreas // Jan 3, 2008 at 11:03
As people have said it would be madness to draft Smith back into midfield, I would be ok with Smith upfront rotating with Viduka but in midfield he is a burden.
Also, I could live with 2 dm as long as we have 2 offensive wingers and 1 of the dm’s can distribute the ball (i.e. Faye).
Moreover, I have to say that I have come to slightly change my opinion about N’Zogbia playing lb. In my opinion it seems that he gets more space and pose a bigger threat for the opposistion attacking from lb with Duff/Milner infront of him compared to when he’s on the wing (a question of him getting tighter marking in that position).
Hence, if we’re playing a attacking formation (hmm, well it’s not likely under SA but you know what I mean) I reckon N’Zogbia should play lb (with a free licens to go forward) ahead of Enrique. However, for games when we need a slightly bigger focus on the defence I reckon Enrique should play lb since i rate him as the better when it comes to defending. N’Zog can then be playing mf or be rested.
13 wsq // Jan 3, 2008 at 11:03
the problem doesn’t lie in defence.. it’s in midfield an attack. we are so blunt!
14 Graeme // Jan 3, 2008 at 11:07
Black Caesar , it doesnt matter if we dont beat any of the bottom 4 does it. As long as we pick up more points than they do, we cant be relegated, simple as that.
We are currently in 11th place and will probably stay there or thereabouts. Its not where I would want us to be, for sure, but I wouldn’t swap the Mackems there spot, or Fulham, would you??
15 scott 9 // Jan 3, 2008 at 11:07
i think in january we should sign grieter stienson arshevin a creative cm and someone to partner owen up front crouch would be exellent but doubt well get him so cardoza could be good.
isay it doesnt matter if they overseas we aint gonna get europe after last nights result were to far adrift apecially ater next game manu well be even further adrift so get some qaulity overses plaYERS AND THAT WILL GIVE THEM HALF A SEASON TO SETTLE IN AND NEXT SEASON I THINK WE WILL BE IN THE SAME POSITION MAN CITY ARE IN NOW.
16 Davey G // Jan 3, 2008 at 11:10
SMITH WILL play when fit!!!! Nailed on……
Then we will start to go backwards again…………
17 Andreas // Jan 3, 2008 at 11:12
As for signing I would love to see Arshavin come in and I would also love to see us getting a strong pacy striker preferably one that is used to/can play as a sole striker. Maybe young Carrol can fill this void?
If not the only viable (not to expensive etc.) name in this category that springs to mind at the moment is Elmander at Tolouse.
If we do get a new striker (which I really don’t think we’ll get since we have plenty), 2 of our present players must be sold. Ameobi + [insert whomever you dislike].
18 KAGTHEMAG // Jan 3, 2008 at 11:17
i dont underrstand the anti-smith comments. I think he gives 110%, he tracks back & he wins balls in the air. He wont get u 20 goals a season, however he will fight for the cause. Viduka in the second half held the ball up well & laid it off for Owen well, however he doesnt track back at all. I’d start Viduka & Owen in a 442 formation (as we had second half v man city) we were unlucky but in the main I think SA has lost the plot
19 UTD111 // Jan 3, 2008 at 11:24
I agree with Kag - I dont agree with the anti Alan Smith comments either - although I think his better position is up front eg the great game he had against Everton earlier in the season where his hold up play and distribution were first class.
In midfield its either Butt or Smith in the defensive role for me - playing both sacrifices a slot for a more creative player.
Cheers
20 drh // Jan 3, 2008 at 11:34
A candidiate for centre forward who i have mentioned on numerous posts has to be dean ashton of west ham! Yes he’s been injured but he offers strength, great touch, two fantastic feet that can unleash belter shots and his inter play with team mates is great, he would bring the likes of owen, oba, duff and milner into the game loads!!!!
21 Leo // Jan 3, 2008 at 11:49
where was anything about ben haim in there? he wont come to newcastle…
22 Leo // Jan 3, 2008 at 11:50
we wont get any money either in the transfer window, seriously. ive clocked mike ashley, he is not going to give the team any money to spend, this is why he wants more youth players in to then sell them and make money.
i didnt realise that we were everton but obviously we are
23 Dirk // Jan 3, 2008 at 11:50
the defence isnt the prblem for us, its our attack, we kep losing goals because we arent scoring them and putting pressure on.
24 KAGTHEMAG // Jan 3, 2008 at 12:00
Leo there wasnt I just continued the theme of the thread. But youre right he wont come, we dont want/need him. We need stability at the back (enrique/capaca/taylor/beye) a stable pairing up front who understand each other like ferdinand/shearer, quinn/mcgee, therefore we need viduka/owen as much as possible. In the midfield it’s difficult, however deffo on the wings zog on the left & milner on the right. The centre butt & emre.
25 I_McP // Jan 3, 2008 at 12:11
We need leadership in the backline, some1 like Hyypia IMO but not ben haim. Cacapa definately looked shakey last night. Would love to see Hyypia, Arshavin and Crouch in during jan.
26 Ausgeordie // Jan 3, 2008 at 12:18
I really hope we dont get him. He was responsible for Gallas getting in on goal, he cant jump and he has shown no desire to come here when given the opportunity.
27 Tom_Toon // Jan 3, 2008 at 12:27
Ben-Haim is tosh, we need a creative midfieder in the centre and a right winger, defenders and strikers can come after that:
Arshavin
Nicolita
28 ToonKing // Jan 3, 2008 at 12:51
Nicolita lol
29 Tom_Toon // Jan 3, 2008 at 12:53
whats so funny, hes a good player, still young and always puts in lots of effort, better than milner.
30 iain // Jan 3, 2008 at 13:12
can i just point out as well that sir bob fashioned as team that competed in the champions league.
with such star defensive names as…
andy griffin, aaron hughes, andy obrien, olly bernard, bramble etc
only woodgate if he was ever fit was deamed any good.
is it just me or wouldnt those lads make excellent squad players for us right now ???
sir bobs teams was good because it attacked and showed you dont need a wc defence to finish high in the league. maybe win the league and cups yes. but to finish in the top 6 NO.
31 ObaFan2 // Jan 3, 2008 at 13:17
How about :
Arshavin
Crouch/Heskey
Bridge
bit too much money I suppose.
32 James // Jan 3, 2008 at 13:32
I think his list submitted to Mort was:
Wes Brown
Gudjohson
Rise
33 Toon Al // Jan 3, 2008 at 14:00
ottomar hitzfeld in the summer? just announced leaving bayern.. that would be my ideal, give sam the season to have a fair crack, but if its not good enough a world class manager to be backed if approached
34 Tom_Toon // Jan 3, 2008 at 14:05
hes going to coach the swiss national team they are already in talks
35 George // Jan 3, 2008 at 14:29
Will some body pleaes tell Sam Allerdyce that he is now at St James Park, managering NUFC and we do not want another Bolton reject here.
It appears that SA has no idea about players or he would not keep going on about Boltons players. If TBH was that good why are chelsea going to let him go, or did they buy him just to make up the numbers. Either way, new fresh blood sam not out of date players past their best.
36 obafemimartins // Jan 3, 2008 at 15:12
ben haim gets 80,000 a week @ chelsea. mort wouldnt let us sign him and allardyce wouldnt want to because he doesnt like players with big wages.
37 scottish mag // Jan 3, 2008 at 15:25
i think it would be gd because we would then have an established pairing at cb of ben haim and faye although he is going to ANC, but we need some goalscorers to cover martins when hes away and a playmaker in mid.
goran pandev is a goalscorer and has said today he would love to play in england. bayern also want him but podolski said if pandev goes there that he will leave and i think that podolski is the man to do the job we need doin.
arshavin, matias fernandes, renato augusto, lulinha, kerlon, arouca, guilherme, deco(ha ha).
would all be good creative midfielders and also yoann gourcuff of ac milan has been told he has no future there.
38 scottish mag // Jan 3, 2008 at 15:28
another thing
berbatov said last year that shearer was his idol
so… if we get rid of BA and get in AS then berbatov could come to play under his ….hero
maybe not
39 Tom_Toon // Jan 3, 2008 at 15:35
arouca an guilherme arent creative players, they are defensive midfielders and wingers respectively + half of those wont get work permits.
40 Davey G // Jan 3, 2008 at 16:23
Smith is pants where he plays!! He has had 1 decent game, against Arsenal played in his rightful place! UP FRONT. But BSA wont play him there, why would he?? He cant score in a Brothel at the moment!!Just as a little footnote, Robbie Savage gives 110% in every game for every team he has played for……………….is he a good player? Carlton Palmer used to give 110% in every game………….was he a good player? FUMACA used to cover every blade of grass on the pitch………….was he a good player??
Giving 110% and covering everyblade of grass does not make you a good player!!!
41 Toon Barmy // Jan 3, 2008 at 17:38
Not ben hiam he had his chance.
F@cking loan signings are embarrassing look how far weve fallen, there was me thinking we are owned by a billionaire aswell??.
Toon Al: good shout, would love to see ottomar hitsfeld, at the Toon in the summer after he has honoured his contract now he is Quality manager with a mighty CV, I dont think Allerdyce will get much money as he has let us down badly, Arshavin would be a good buy as would jermain defoe, ramos has said he will be sold in january if he doesnt sign a new deal.
wonder who would want allerdyce in the summer, maybe manure if fergie rates him so highly.LOL
42 buy arshevin // Jan 3, 2008 at 17:41
can anyone think of a good cm creative midfielder we should sign cause we need one i cant think of any that would be available
43 Tom_Toon // Jan 3, 2008 at 18:44
Arshavin, Kahlenberg, Dudu to name a few.
44 Aussie Dave // Jan 3, 2008 at 21:12
What will happen with Barton?
I would throw him straight back in, you never know we might get a performance out of him. He is meant to be the midfielder that gives nufc that little bit extra energy and goals.
Does anybody actually know what happened in Liverpool? I doubt Joey was stumblimg around trying to fight anyone in sight as reported.
Its more than likely a bunch of wankers decided to stir him up, start a fight and see what money they can make out him.
These guys should be embarrred, I heard that they hit the girl in Joeys group, yet she was charged with assault
I think Joey should ease off the Ricky Hatton training for own sake.
I personally would like te lad to sort himself out and start playing like the player we all know he is. He may struggle to stay out of jail on this one though
45 Andy1 // Jan 3, 2008 at 21:16
A left back maybe but other than that the defence looks solid when everyone is fit. We’ll miss Beye and Faye who have been the best signings but unless its on loan we can’t bring someone in. But the defence, on paper anyway is better than it ever was under Robson and we were playing in the Champions League
Our midfield now just isn’t good enough. It used to be a really strong point and we had looks of quality and strength in depth. Now, it just can’t compare to teams above us. Milner has shown he is not yet good enough. I don’t believe Butt is good enough because he is addicted to long ball and never moves to recieve a pass.
46 iain // Jan 3, 2008 at 21:36
our wingers look crap becuase they get double marked our cm offer nothing going beyond them or clever movements into space to recieve passes - except emre, but frankly the way hes been treated would you be arsed being him to try for big sam now ???
fullbacks dont support quick enough you can see them pnodering the advice of allardyce to “be carefull” by the time they go past the winger the ball is lost or the pass is collected by the oposition.
47 Dragoner // Jan 3, 2008 at 21:41
Why hasn’t Sam ever addressed our lack of options on the right. Geremi and Smith can’t play there so we only have milner…which is not good enough as you all know. We need to get Arshavin and a young player to learn from him and act as cover. I say Rafinha, Ratinho, Legear would all be good signings as they are not only quality, but versatile aswell. Obviously there are other suggestions but these are the ones that i have seen play most recently and i have been most impressed with. I advise everyone to check these guys out. I really feel any one of them could fix our problems on the right if Arshavin had to play as a striker or attacking midfield.
48 Tom_Toon // Jan 3, 2008 at 21:46
never even heard of ratinho. Legaer really isnt that good and on the other hand Rafinha is far too good for us, i really like Banel Nicolita, could be a good option for us on he right.
49 Andy1 // Jan 3, 2008 at 21:49
Emre has been treated so badly and it’s just criminal because he makes a big difference to the side by actually wanting the ball.
Fullbacks should get forward more but when Zog did against Chelsea Big Sam moved him forward because he was scared of the defence.
Zog makes a good fullback but his dribbling ability is awesome and he should be able to show it more in the final third. I believe he can be a real star player and has too much talent to play a left back. Especially when we paid 6 mil for Enrique and he doesn’t get a kick.
I can’t think of many mistakes by Enrique and he has been more consistent than any defender except Beye. He is composed on the ball, physically strong for a full back and looks capable of making the spot his own in the future.
50 Dragoner // Jan 3, 2008 at 21:57
Legear i have only seen around 8 or so times for Anderlecht and he seemed good to me. Considering his age he is showing potential at least. Eduardo Ratinho is fast, versatile CSKA all round right player. Fairly skillfull. I just checked up on him and it says he is on loan from Corinthians and it ended December just passed. So he has now either signed permanently to CSKA or he has returned to Corinthians. The latter would mean we could probably get him for fairly cheap, couple million. Why do you think Rafinha is too good for us? Who else is going for him?
51 Dragoner // Jan 3, 2008 at 21:59
I am surprised you haven’t heard of Ratinho when he plays for same team as your favourite, Dudu
52 Tom_Toon // Jan 3, 2008 at 22:00
From how he plays hes too good for us, ive heard manure and chelsea are tracking him.
Legear to be fair 8 league perofmrance sin his league career and hes 20, playing for anderlecht, admittedly i havent seen all those 8 games only seen him a few times, but it isnt too good of a record. Unlike Nicolita whos played almost 220 first team games and hes 22.
Another thing is the problem with england is that its hard to get work permits for bazilians if they havent played somewhere else for 2 years (in the EU). Situations like tevez’ can occur aswell and we really dont wan that. Still think Nicolita is a good bet, hes quite a good player, check him out, oh and he can cross, a big improvement on milner.
53 valle // Jan 3, 2008 at 22:01
Im not really sure wheter Ben Haim would improve us anymore… Tho we do need to go all out on 2-3 defenders imo. If we could get one in of Dunne’s qaulity (How bout Dunne?
) and then a good left back like Bridge, then there wouldnt go too many goals in, since Beye and Cacapa have alrdy showed they can hold their own. We should also buy Brown, since we will lose Beye in Jan.
54 Tom_Toon // Jan 3, 2008 at 22:03
Belgoium also give their young players early senior international caps, half of them arent to good eiher.
55 Dragoner // Jan 3, 2008 at 22:07
all i am seeing of nicolita is him putting the ball in his own net?
56 Tom_Toon // Jan 3, 2008 at 22:11
lol, wha video are you waching, to be fair there isnt much on him but there is a short compilation on there. ve seen full matches so i generally get a better jist for him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhuR_09nAHw
57 Dragoner // Jan 3, 2008 at 22:11
If Legear has only played 8 then they must have all been recent because i have only been watching him in the last few months.
58 Tom_Toon // Jan 3, 2008 at 22:17
i dont know, but according to wikipedia (not the most reliable) he hs only played 8 games, thought its quite slow to update so hes probably played like 12 or so.
59 Dragoner // Jan 3, 2008 at 22:18
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yGwwzw7ZCmw
60 Tom_Toon // Jan 3, 2008 at 22:19
Dudu has been playing for CSKA for much longer, and generally i only see dudu in the cl and for brazil.
61 Tom_Toon // Jan 3, 2008 at 22:20
so? his keeper was fookin bout with his shoes or sometihng, i dont know y he wasnt there
62 Dragoner // Jan 3, 2008 at 22:24
Just remembered, If Biglia plays too deep then Montolivo would also be good for us
63 Tom_Toon // Jan 3, 2008 at 22:26
well there are many good midfielders we could buy that we need, just the case of buying ones that will adapt quickly and generally those are the fast, strong ones hence why i have mentioned nicolita a fair bit in he past, and for the simple fact he is a good right winger and a full international which adds to the pedigree of our club.
64 Dragoner // Jan 3, 2008 at 22:29
Or even that young guy for PSV, cant remember his name, Aflay or something. He has been with them for a while and he is still young. He would be another good Arshavin style player
65 Tom_Toon // Jan 3, 2008 at 22:31
Afellay is good, more of a winger, when you say the arshavin guy i think you mean Aissati, well Aissati is arshavin in the centre and afellay s arshavin on the wing.
66 john // Jan 3, 2008 at 23:45
why does everyone say arshavin is quality when he plays in russia and you can watch him rarely
67 Tom_Toon // Jan 3, 2008 at 23:52
cos he is, he basically single handedly tore apart england.
68 Lamesley Mag // Jan 4, 2008 at 7:49
Why would Chelsea allow Ben Haim to leave when Terry is out and half thier team is off to ACN.
I still hope we’ll go for:
Wes Brown
Arshavin
Plus 2 youngsters for the future; say Barnes of Derby and Bentley of Blackburn
Duff looks a new player and if we play Enrique at FB can play Zog either CM or either flank. Milner needs a rest as he’s trying too hard in a mediocre team…..
We still need to tie Steve Taylor to the club as he’s shown in recent weeks his heart is with the club and better than most around him.
69 AdamCF // Jan 4, 2008 at 10:01
Bring in Hutton. A no frills Scottish defender. Might fit in in the North East. Can we get our hands on SWP?
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