It was. We did everything but score. I doubt we'll get Grenier, or anyone for that matter, but hey, we're trying. /pardewexcusebingo
If we get anyone in this window, I'd rather we not overpay. Plain and simple, reinvest before next season. Thx, Jay!
Wrong. He scored 6 goals out of 23 BL games (all last season, when he wasn't a regular starter either) and 3 goals on the international stage (1 own goal among them;-). http://www.transfermarkt.de/de/luuk-de-jong/leistungsdaten/spieler_72522_2012.html It looks like he might be a starter (he should be fit after attending our winter training camp in Turkey) in your derby against Sunderland after the red card for Remy. I don't think he isn't good enough for the BL ... his problem was that he doesn't fit into the system prefered by our manager Lucien Favre (it's still a mystery to any BMG fan why he got signed for so much money then). Luuk is a very likeable, smart guy ... so I wish him good luck in Newcastle and hope he'll be doing well until summer, so you sign him for some good cash. If not, our club manager & team manager have a serious problem explaining to the fans why they wasted € 12-14 million.
I think there's huge parallels between our clubs. I'm personally proud that my club isn't being owned by a US tycoon/Russian oligarch or even crazy Sheik. For that I'm willing to accept the fact that we can't compete financially with German plastic clubs (quasi owned by companies) like VW Golfsburg, SAP Hoffenheim or Bayer Aspirin Leverkusen (nevertheless we finished ahead of them 2 years ago). If you're doing a good youth work and have a good manager, you can be successful even without being owned by a billionaire/company (that's what distroys football in long-term aspect). Bonne nuit.
God dammit! Not doubting DeJong's ability. Doubting that our manager will do the same th f to him that he has done to most of our creative strikers...
I have thought that myself about NUFC and Borussia Dortmund (along with Seattle Sounders FC in MLS when it comes to amazing fans, etc). I agree. I would 100% prefer a fan/member ownership situation like Barcelona or Real Madrid. I didn't bother mentioning it because I didn't think it was realistic. If I was a billionaire, that is exactly what I would set up for them as a charitable donation to the community (I can dream, can't I?) As it stands, IMO there are many potential owners out there who would treat the club with more respect than Ashley, and they are what I mean by "real owner".
I agree. Similar: -colors -stadium size -extremely passionate fans, especially some of the best away fans in their respective country If I wasn't a Bayern fan from Day 1, I probably would've chosen Gladbach as my Bundesliga club. No turning back though
Here are some interesting numbers from transfermarket.co.uk Newcastle have spent £93,150,000 in the last five years in the transfer market. There are 9 teams who have spent more than we have (ManC, ManU, Chelski, Spurs, Pool, Arsenal, Mackems, Stoke, & Villa) and two teams (S'ham, West Ham) who will probably pass us when the next one of these studies is done. Newcastle are middle of the road when it comes to spending and average less than £20 mil a year in player expenditures. Here is where it gets worse. Newcastle sold players for £138,150,000. During the same 5 yr window. Newcastle was one of only 3 EPL teams to turn a profit during the 5yr window with Everton & Arsenal being the other two. Newcastle was the most profitable though at £45 million. Roughly £9 mil a year into CAshley's pockets. Even with the new TV money I don't see CAshley's transfer strategy changing which is middle of the road spending that ensures him a profit and survival. The problem with this is other countries and EPL teams know we have more money so don't expect more players in, just we'll be charged more for them. I would also expect us getting more of the "third option" instead of "first option" guys because CAshley is loathe to spend over his perceived market value for a player.
Is Ashley using the net profit to pay off the loan he wrote to the club after taking it over? I work for a company now owned by a hedge fund and don't think I would trust them running the club over Ashley.
I haven't seen the latest published books but I seem to recall that he's neither paying off the loan nor taking any money out for himself. Which of course begs the question: where exactly is the money going?
Agent fees, etc. etc. That don't show up in the official transfer numbers. Now I know they don't all add up to balance the O/I discrepancy, but it does have to be taken into account. Thx, Jay!
http://soccerlens.com/photo-arsenal...m_campaign=Feed:+blogfc+(Soccerlens+(BlogFC)) QPR’s on loan Newcastle United striker Loic Remy was spotted at the Emirates as Arsenal beat West Brom 1-0 in their last home game of the season.