Caulkins Blog

[Christmas Tree 3997]

Not sure where to stick this. Feel free to move if somewhere more deserving.

 

 

Nothing is black and white in the mad world of Newcastle United

 

 

 

You might call it reporting on Newcastle United; I call it standing sentry at an asylum and I’m no longer sure who’s watching who. You might call it a luxury, a privilege, a ludicrous career; I say wibble, doughnut, frrzzbx. You might suggest I get on with this column because there’s enough to write about for heaven’s sake and you haven’t got all day. To which I reply: sigh, okay.

 

Comings, a going (possibly), and a staying. Catcalls for the manager, lessons in loyalty from Nile Ranger – NILE RANGER, for heaven’s sake! – and another desperate home defeat for a team whose poor form is now entrenched. Alan Pardew may have an eight-year contract, but the bookmakers suggest he’s on his way out, while the captain of the club wants to be. And shouldn’t we all be speaking French now anyway, non?

 

For much of the 15 years I’ve been writing about Newcastle for it has been like this – brainf******ly relentless – although the last couple have been relatively sane.

 

Granted, there have been episodes of tumult, from Chris Hughton’s dismissal, stadium naming rights, to Wonga’s sponsorship, but financial security and progress on the pitch have helped encourage a sense of stabil … KABOOM!

 

Anyway, there’s too much going on to be overly thoughtful so here is what I know or have been told about two of Newcastle’s most pressing issues. Whether it is the truth or the full truth is difficult to determine – managers, directors, players, clubs and agents can all have competing agendas – and I’ll leave that up to you, but the people I’ve spoken to are substantive. Know what I mean? (I’m tapping my nose and winking suggestively).

 

1. Fabricio Coloccini The saga of the day. And the background is this. For quite a long time, the centre-half has been troubled by issues in his personal life. This being Newcastle, there are unsubstantiated rumours in circulation – which is not uncommon – but he has told the club that his discontent is connected to his wife being unwell, unhappy and matters related to do with that. He has a young family.

 

As a consequence, Coloccini has informed Newcastle that he wishes to leave this month. Simultaneously, San Lorenzo, an Argentinian club that the defender played for, briefly, and for whom Osvaldo, his father, now works for, have conducted a very public courtship of him.

 

They have spoken openly about not being able to afford a fee for Coloccini, but that they could pay him a decent wage if Newcastle rescinded his contract.

 

Rescinding contracts is not the Newcastle model for doing business; it is about self-sufficiency. Coloccini only signed a new four-year extension in March (if his issues stretch back before that, as is believed, why did he do that?), and, at 31, he remains an asset.

 

On the open market, he would be worth a chunk of money and Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias are simply not prepared to write that off. Why should they?

 

In private, Pardew has been hugely supportive of Coloccini, urging him not to throw his career away, to remain on Tyneside until the end of the season, assist his team-mates in avoiding relegation and then reassess his options. The club, meanwhile, have brought in their lawyers to explain the contractual situation, to demonstrate he cannot simply walk. And yet he still wants to go.

 

Amid all this, San Lorenzo have made no direct contact with Newcastle. None whatsoever. So when they announced on Wednesday that after “long negotiations” they had not been able to secure Coloccini’s signature and were now moving on, it is reasonable to ask who, precisely, those long negotiations have been with. It is fair to say that Newcastle are not impressed by their behaviour.

 

So where do things stand now? On a knife-edge. Or a precipice. Or some other cliché. It remains extremely delicate. Coloccini has reported for training today, but whether he will be available, still here or in a suitable frame of mind for Newcastle’s critical match at Aston Villa next week is, at the time of writing, difficult to predict. And that, of course, would be another concern.

 

Having just signed a desperately-required centre-half in Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Newcastle and Pardew would find themselves back to square one, because they insist that they have not been preparing for Coloccini’s departure. If he goes AWOL, they will pursue the matter as far as it can be pursued. The options, therefore, are he leaves and they chase him legally, he buys out his contract, or he stays.

 

2. Pardew Last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Reading brought the first open murmurings of discontent (inside St James’, as opposed to Twitter or message boards, which rarely assist the whole sanity thing). As Newcastle’s impetus slipped and a 1-0 lead was frittered away, the manager’s substitutions were booed, with accompanying – although hardly deafening – chants of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’.

 

In the light of the side’s dreadful results – two wins in 14 attempts in all competitions – and standing – two points off the bottom-three, with the joint-worst away form in England – it felt like a moment. A sign of things turning. Was a club which has recently but resolutely embraced the long-term about to revert to type, kick away their own foundations and jettison their manager?

 

The answer to this one was unequivocal: no. Pardew will remain in situ. This is football, of course, and there can come a time when strong words and intentions become outweighed by momentum shifting beyond a retrievable point (Sunderland backed Steve Bruce, for instance, until they felt his relationship with the crowd could not be repaired), and while that is my caveat, Newcastle are not there yet.

 

Ashley was at the Reading game – a rarity for the owner these these days – and left early, but it was not in disgust or anger and it was an indication of impending change. It was because his presence in Newcastle was always going to brief, he had business elsewhere and had a plane to catch.

 

The message from the boardroom was clear; Ashley did not sign off on Pardew’s contract for a laugh or in haste. It is supposed to mean something.

 

Newcastle have made mistakes this season, on and off the pitch, but they are working to support the man who coaches and picks the team, not undermine him. They blame their difficulties – largely – on their participation in the Europa League, which has stretched their first-team squad, and the injuries which have hampered them further. They acknowledge that Pardew’s resources have not been sturdy enough.

 

Their activity in the transfer market is not a direct expression of faith in Pardew, because that is not the way they work. It is Graham Carr, the influential chief scout, who identifies new players and who has a deep knowledge of the French market, but they believe Pardew is the man, the right man, to bring them on. What they need is a bit of respite and the only way to get that is by winning a game or two. New players help, Coloccini does not.

 

When I tell people what I do for living I often get called a lucky t***. When I explain that I cover North East football and therefore I’m actually a chronicler of misery, they say ‘ah, yes, but you’ve always got something to write about.

 

Never dull up there, is it?’ That’s one way of looking at it. But now, if you will excuse me, my duties at the asylum await. Strange: I could swear a nurse is shouting that it’s time to take my tablets …

[loonyTOON 10]

A good read. In my opinion - too right by the board. They didn't back him in the summer and they've realised that now (hopefully not too late). I don't think Pardew deserves the sack - if he had a fully fit squad and had backing in the summer and we were down the bottom of the table, fair enough. I wasn't at the Reading game, but the boos about the substitutions is what got us into trouble in the past. What will sacking him do but unsettle a squad who have bought into him? At the end of the day, none of the fans are or will ever be PL managers so therefore leave the decisions to them. Pardew has my backing 100% and still believe he is the right man for the job. Do people really think that Ashley just twigged on Jan 1st that we need signings? No. Pardew has gone in there and told them we'll go down without and made them see sense. He has squeezed them for cash, and has got it (actually a fair bit if they all come off including R.V.W. - when was the last time we spent this kind of money?).

 

As for Colo, I'm starting to get frustrated with the lack of professionalism from him. Your 31 years old, be a man and do your job until at least the summer. If it was that serious, the club would have let him leave on compassionate grounds. In this industry, you can't just decide that you want to leave and the club has to cancel your contract. It doesn't happen! Bottom line is, the club is a business and he is an financial asset. He needs to pull his socks up and deal with it.

[Dr Gloom 19879]

good read that CT; cheers for the link. he's definitely one off the better regional sports reporters

[Happy Face 29]

when was the last time we spent this kind of money?

 

We've spent less in this window than last January.

[Howmanheyman 27116]

Not sure where to stick this. Feel free to move if somewhere more deserving.

 

 

Nothing is black and white in the mad world of Newcastle United

 

 

 

You might call it reporting on Newcastle United; I call it standing sentry at an asylum and I’m no longer sure who’s watching who. You might call it a luxury, a privilege, a ludicrous career; I say wibble, doughnut, frrzzbx. You might suggest I get on with this column because there’s enough to write about for heaven’s sake and you haven’t got all day. To which I reply: sigh, okay.

 

Comings, a going (possibly), and a staying. Catcalls for the manager, lessons in loyalty from Nile Ranger – NILE RANGER, for heaven’s sake! – and another desperate home defeat for a team whose poor form is now entrenched. Alan Pardew may have an eight-year contract, but the bookmakers suggest he’s on his way out, while the captain of the club wants to be. And shouldn’t we all be speaking French now anyway, non?

 

For much of the 15 years I’ve been writing about Newcastle for it has been like this – brainf******ly relentless – although the last couple have been relatively sane.

 

Granted, there have been episodes of tumult, from Chris Hughton’s dismissal, stadium naming rights, to Wonga’s sponsorship, but financial security and progress on the pitch have helped encourage a sense of stabil … KABOOM!

 

Anyway, there’s too much going on to be overly thoughtful so here is what I know or have been told about two of Newcastle’s most pressing issues. Whether it is the truth or the full truth is difficult to determine – managers, directors, players, clubs and agents can all have competing agendas – and I’ll leave that up to you, but the people I’ve spoken to are substantive. Know what I mean? (I’m tapping my nose and winking suggestively).

 

1. Fabricio Coloccini The saga of the day. And the background is this. For quite a long time, the centre-half has been troubled by issues in his personal life. This being Newcastle, there are unsubstantiated rumours in circulation – which is not uncommon – but he has told the club that his discontent is connected to his wife being unwell, unhappy and matters related to do with that. He has a young family.

 

As a consequence, Coloccini has informed Newcastle that he wishes to leave this month. Simultaneously, San Lorenzo, an Argentinian club that the defender played for, briefly, and for whom Osvaldo, his father, now works for, have conducted a very public courtship of him.

 

They have spoken openly about not being able to afford a fee for Coloccini, but that they could pay him a decent wage if Newcastle rescinded his contract.

 

Rescinding contracts is not the Newcastle model for doing business; it is about self-sufficiency. Coloccini only signed a new four-year extension in March (if his issues stretch back before that, as is believed, why did he do that?), and, at 31, he remains an asset.

 

On the open market, he would be worth a chunk of money and Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias are simply not prepared to write that off. Why should they?

 

In private, Pardew has been hugely supportive of Coloccini, urging him not to throw his career away, to remain on Tyneside until the end of the season, assist his team-mates in avoiding relegation and then reassess his options. The club, meanwhile, have brought in their lawyers to explain the contractual situation, to demonstrate he cannot simply walk. And yet he still wants to go.

 

Amid all this, San Lorenzo have made no direct contact with Newcastle. None whatsoever. So when they announced on Wednesday that after “long negotiations” they had not been able to secure Coloccini’s signature and were now moving on, it is reasonable to ask who, precisely, those long negotiations have been with. It is fair to say that Newcastle are not impressed by their behaviour.

 

So where do things stand now? On a knife-edge. Or a precipice. Or some other cliché. It remains extremely delicate. Coloccini has reported for training today, but whether he will be available, still here or in a suitable frame of mind for Newcastle’s critical match at Aston Villa next week is, at the time of writing, difficult to predict. And that, of course, would be another concern.

 

Having just signed a desperately-required centre-half in Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Newcastle and Pardew would find themselves back to square one, because they insist that they have not been preparing for Coloccini’s departure. If he goes AWOL, they will pursue the matter as far as it can be pursued. The options, therefore, are he leaves and they chase him legally, he buys out his contract, or he stays.

 

2. Pardew Last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Reading brought the first open murmurings of discontent (inside St James’, as opposed to Twitter or message boards, which rarely assist the whole sanity thing). As Newcastle’s impetus slipped and a 1-0 lead was frittered away, the manager’s substitutions were booed, with accompanying – although hardly deafening – chants of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’.

 

In the light of the side’s dreadful results – two wins in 14 attempts in all competitions – and standing – two points off the bottom-three, with the joint-worst away form in England – it felt like a moment. A sign of things turning. Was a club which has recently but resolutely embraced the long-term about to revert to type, kick away their own foundations and jettison their manager?

 

The answer to this one was unequivocal: no. Pardew will remain in situ. This is football, of course, and there can come a time when strong words and intentions become outweighed by momentum shifting beyond a retrievable point (Sunderland backed Steve Bruce, for instance, until they felt his relationship with the crowd could not be repaired), and while that is my caveat, Newcastle are not there yet.

 

Ashley was at the Reading game – a rarity for the owner these these days – and left early, but it was not in disgust or anger and it was an indication of impending change. It was because his presence in Newcastle was always going to brief, he had business elsewhere and had a plane to catch.

 

The message from the boardroom was clear; Ashley did not sign off on Pardew’s contract for a laugh or in haste. It is supposed to mean something.

 

Newcastle have made mistakes this season, on and off the pitch, but they are working to support the man who coaches and picks the team, not undermine him. They blame their difficulties – largely – on their participation in the Europa League, which has stretched their first-team squad, and the injuries which have hampered them further. They acknowledge that Pardew’s resources have not been sturdy enough.

 

Their activity in the transfer market is not a direct expression of faith in Pardew, because that is not the way they work. It is Graham Carr, the influential chief scout, who identifies new players and who has a deep knowledge of the French market, but they believe Pardew is the man, the right man, to bring them on. What they need is a bit of respite and the only way to get that is by winning a game or two. New players help, Coloccini does not.

 

When I tell people what I do for living I often get called a lucky t***. When I explain that I cover North East football and therefore I’m actually a chronicler of misery, they say ‘ah, yes, but you’ve always got something to write about.

 

Never dull up there, is it?’ That’s one way of looking at it. But now, if you will excuse me, my duties at the asylum await. Strange: I could swear a nurse is shouting that it’s time to take my tablets …

Prefer Lee Ryder if I'm honest.

[Barney 0]

Alan Oliver for my, like

[Howmanheyman 27116]

John Gibson, 'Straight from the shoulder'.

[Howmanheyman 27116]

Alan Oliver 'wide of the mark'

FYP

 

[Howmanheyman 27116]

Lee Ryder: "So Mike Ashley, are you going to answer my question or not?! WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITEST COLOUR, EVER?"

[Barney 0]

Lee Ryder: "So Mike Ashley, are you going to answer my question or not?! WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITEST COLOUR, EVER?"

[ewerk 26558]

They didn't back him in the summer and they've realised that now (hopefully not too late).

 

I'm not sure that some of it wasn't the plan all along. They knew that Debuchy, Gouffran and Sissoko would be much cheaper in January rather than last summer so it's likely that they deliberately waited until this window before signing them.

Edited January 24, 2013 by ewerk

[Dr Gloom 19879]

I'm not sure that some of it wasn't the plan all along. They knew that Debuchy, Gouffran and Sissoko would be much cheaper in January rather than last summer so it's likely that they deliberately waited until this window before signing them.

 

sounds about right.

[Meenzer 14109]

Aye, same logic with Cisse wasn't it? Tracked him for ages.

[@yourservice 67]

I'd love to run my fingers through Gibson's silvery coco cut..

 

 

[Howmanheyman 27116]

 

Who wouldn't want to run their fingers through Gibbo's hair?

[PaddockLad 14665]

I'm not sure that some of it wasn't the plan all along. They knew that Debuchy, Gouffran and Sissoko would be much cheaper in January rather than last summer so it's likely that they deliberately waited until this window before signing them.

 

Dunno....have we saved a million on Debuxhy? is Gouffran anything other than 2nd choice after Remy? Sissoko fair enough in a way, looks like he didnt want to wait till the summer to join. I think it was was a case of "there ya go Awl, if it aint broke why faakin fix it?" from Ashley in the summer. Chronically short sighted with a Euro campaign ahead. And if we're so keen on the money side, how much do we lose by finishing in the bottom six as opposed to the top 8?...

[ewerk 26558]

Dunno....have we saved a million on Debuxhy? is Gouffran anything other than 2nd choice after Remy? Sissoko fair enough in a way, looks like he didnt want to wait till the summer to join. I think it was was a case of "there ya go Awl, if it aint broke why faakin fix it?" from Ashley in the summer. Chronically short sighted with a Euro campaign ahead. And if we're so keen on the money side, how much do we lose by finishing in the bottom six as opposed to the top 8?...

 

I chose those three because they all had six months remaining on their contracts when we signed them, something the club were well aware of. It's clear that the club overestimated the strength of our squad but I believe that their actions in the summer will undoubtedly have been influenced by the contractual situations.

[The Fish 9040]

Isn't the message coming out of the management that they accept they made mistakes in not strengthening in the Summer. It's absolutely fair to say that their ill-judged tactics were to wait it out until now.

[PaddockLad 14665]

I chose those three because they all had six months remaining on their contracts when we signed them, something the club were well aware of. It's clear that the club overestimated the strength of our squad but I believe that their actions in the summer will undoubtedly have been influenced by the contractual situations.

Isn't the message coming out of the management that they accept they made mistakes in not strengthening in the Summer. It's absolutely fair to say that their ill-judged tactics were to wait it out until now.

 

So how long did Goufran have left on his Bordeaux deal? is that why he was cheap? We wouldnt have signed Goufran if the Remy deal hadnt fallen through iyam.If we were that keen why try to spend 8 mill on Remy? Definetly a second choice. The Remy deal wasnt cheap, so in bringing in a striker the first thought wasnt "who can we get on the cheap?" Good money was avalable for Remy but I doubt if it is now seeing as weve spent over 15 million this window.

 

We paid the same money or very similar to what we were quoted in the summer for Debuchy. We didnt get 3 or 4 million knocked off a for a player with 5 months left on his contract.

 

I think it was just another roll of the dice for Ashley in the summer and it failed spectacularly. He tried to wing it and it blew up in his face. Thats why we've signed 5 players this month rather than trying to be canny about players' contracts at the selling club. The only one you could have possibly said that about is Sissoko but weve ended up paying money even for him becauae his club told him to fuck off for trying to sign a pre contract so he could walk away for nowt in the summer.

Edited January 25, 2013 by PaddockLad