It’s been a mixed start to the week for Newcastle. There were some positives at the end of last week, with the news that no bids had been made for the players who’s future on Tyneside looked severely in doubt. Barton, Coloccini and Gutierrez are all staying, for the time being, but the Geordie faithful still have the right to be nervous as the transfer process begins to heat up.
On the positive side, after there were some serious concerns over the atmosphere amongst the players after the departure of skipper Nolan and the relentless departure rumors, players have come out saying they are already up for the coming season.
Hartem Ben Arfa, who suffered at the hands of lady luck, just as he was going through a great run of form for the magpies, has completed his rehabilitation programme and is officially off the injury list. Last years French signing (the first of what appears to be many) unarguably showed some immense promise for the Toon in the handful of games he started. On the ball he looked almost unstoppable, and some could argue that if it hadn’t been for the horrific injury he suffered, he may have ventured to better pastures by the end of the year. For now, Alan Pardew has kept hold of one of Europe’s most promising young players, and if the Toon are going to improve on last season, he will be integral in what will probably be a new look, revamped midfield.
Veteran Steve Harper has also said he is ready to fight for the Number ‘1’ shirt next season. After years in the shadow of Manchester City reject Shay Given, last year was frustrating for the Easington-born keeper. Injury kept him out of the Newcastle net for almost half the season, allowing youngster Tim Krul to step up the plate, putting in some solid performances after a nervy start. A bit of competition in goal will do no harm for a Newcastle side whose defence could get thinner if both Enrqiue and Coloccini take the exit route.
On the flip side however, Tim Krul has put more pressure on the Toon board by reportedly saying he will leave the club if he isn’t first choice keeper. With third-choice Fraser Forster looking Celtic-bound, this throws another spanner into Ashley’s transfer mix.
It also seems that the future of Charles N’Zogbia will be settled this week. The ex-Magpie is set to end up in the North East, either at St James’ Park, or twelve miles away with the Mackams. Dave Whelan wants to cash in on the striker who has a year left on his contract at the DW stadium, and is said to be looking for around £9 million for the forward. There is no doubt that Newcastle need to bolster their strike force. With Nile Ranger, after his now infamous gangster pose, and Leon Best looking set to see the door, Ameobi and Lovenkrands are the leftovers. Even though both are good players, they are not the quality the side need for a top half finish. Even N’Zogbia may not be the force needed. If he is bought, it should be the first of two buys in the strike department. However, with the influx of midfielders from across the channel (and maybe from the North West in the form of Darren Gibson, if certain rumours develop) the focus seems to be in the wrong place. Could this be the start of a panic amongst the Geordie faithful? Where will the goals come from, with Newcastle’s top scorer last season Kevin Nolan taking his trade to Upton Park.
On the negative side however, Swansea have rejected the bid for Welsh international left back Neil Taylor. The deal has suffered setback after setback, with Taylor now questioning whether to take legal action over the Premier League rookies after a suspected breach in contract. The Welsh side have faced grief after Ipswich reported them to the Premier League administration after failure to pay loan fees for Hungarian striker Tamas Priskin. Left back has now become a trouble position for the club, even more so than the ambiguity surrounding which striker will be replacing Andy Carrol.
The summer continues to unwind, and so do some of the developing issues at St James’ Park. Positions in the squad are continually under question, and as deals are completed and rejected, the story continues. What is consistently apparent is that no one is safe under the Ashley regime.
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