RUMOUR - Danny Simpson

[UpThePrem]

Whilst it would be great to get Danny Simpson in, i'm not sure if its priority number one getting somebody else at RB. Considering we have Guthrie in Midfield now potentially with Legs. I would consider dropping Jem to RB (even ahead of Cummings) particularly following his performance at Millwall last year which I thought was one of his best last year.
Concentrate on another central defender, Bassong??? and a LB. Should then be sorted.

[shaka's shorts]

WE are going to need Jem, Guthrie and Ledge in midfield. We may well play 451 at times and there are always injuries and suspensions in this key position. Tabb is a long way below them but OK as 4th choice. We still need a LB, CB and RB to challenge Cummings. Connolly may come in which means he could cover 2 of those slots. I think Hector getting a 2 year contract is a sign that he could be 4th choice CB and there is Morrison too...

Brian said we will get 2 or 3 more - my guess is a young left back on season loan (like Bertrand but not him), Connolly and a striker/attacking midfielder to play in the hole. Then we are pretty well covered. In Brian and Hammond I trust, done very well so far.

Having said that I would love to get Simpson, Bassong, Connolly and Rhodes!

[BrockManson]

Whilst it would be great to get Danny Simpson in, i'm not sure if its priority number one getting somebody else at RB. Considering we have Guthrie in Midfield now potentially with Legs. I would consider dropping Jem to RB (even ahead of Cummings) particularly following his performance at Millwall last year which I thought was one of his best last year.
Concentrate on another central defender, Bassong??? and a LB. Should then be sorted.

Karacan isn't a RB though. You can get away with it to a degree against teams like millwall but in the premiership he'd be wasted there and most likely struggle against a significantly higher standard of wingers.

Simpson has great experience and would be a good signing. He's a lot better than Cummings who might struggle at this level too. Bassong looked good at Newcastle but i think 'Arry ruined him by letting him waste in the reserves before he went to Wolves and was subsequently relegated. No idea if he's built on his potential since he left NUFC.

A new LB is a bigger priority though as Harte just plain isn't good enough for the premiership.

[Cypry]

Whilst it would be great to get Danny Simpson in, i'm not sure if its priority number one getting somebody else at RB. Considering we have Guthrie in Midfield now potentially with Legs. I would consider dropping Jem to RB (even ahead of Cummings) particularly following his performance at Millwall last year which I thought was one of his best last year.
Concentrate on another central defender, Bassong??? and a LB. Should then be sorted.

Doubt we'll see anyone at LB - Harte will be pretty much #1 choice there IMO, we have Mills (who I expect to be given a squad number) and I suspect we'll pick up a defensive utility player such as Connolly who can fill in at LB when needed.
RB is the only position across the back where we have no specialist cover. Given what's come out of the club (players featured on the website - statements about using the core of last years squad) I anticipate the squad will look something like this:

Keepers:
Feds
McCarthy
Andersen

Defence:

Cummings
Pearce
Gorkks
Harte
Mills
Specialist CB Cover (Bassong?)
Specialist RB (Simpson?)
Utility defender (Connolly?)

Midfield:

McAnuff
Kebe
Leigertwood
Karacan
HRK
Guthrie
RW Cover (possibly Antonio? possible move to SW seems to have gone quiet)
McLeary (although possibly might be considered a striker)

Strikers:

Pog
Roberts
Hunt
ALF
Church
ANOther (possibly Manset - seems to make an impact from the bench and with bigger matchday squads there might be more opportunity for him in the Prem than the Championship)


Outside of that we also have a few youngsters who wouldn't fill places in the 25 (Morisson, Hector, Obita, Sheppard etc)


I expect first choice in a 4-4-2 will be:

-------------------------Feds----------------------


Cummings------Pearce----Gorkks--------Harte
(ANOther)

Kebe-------Guthrie-------Leigertwood----Mcanuff

--------------Pog-------------Roberts---------------

Bench
McCarthy
Specialist CB
Utility Defender
HRK
McLeary
Hunt
ALF

If we play one up front, then rather than an attacking midfielder, expect Hunt / McLeary to play in the hole supporting Pog/Roberts up top

I suspect that those wishing to see loads more incoming players will be disappointed, we might get three in the back line (RB, Utility, CB) but can't see us doing any more in midfield/up front for the time being.

If we're struggling, funds will be made available in January to strengthen where needed....

[shaka's shorts]

Good post Cypry!

Don't forget Tabb at CM, so I reckon he will take the place of your RW (we have Kebe, McCleary and can move Jobi if needed, plus Obita). I reckon Antonio will move on. Also, no Jem in your team? I would have jem over Ledge and have Ledge on the bench covering CM and CB....

[UpThePrem]

Cypry - Jem not even on the bench?????

[Cypry]

Cypry - Jem not even on the bench?????

Should clarify I was thinking about the Stoke game...

I'm kind of anticipating Jem won't be fully up to speed until mid-Autumn after his injury...
S'pose you could have said I should've left Roberts out due to his suspension...

[winchester_royal]

If you were thinking about the Stoke game then why are you including Roberts?

[Cypry]

Line up for Stoke (H)

-------------------------Feds----------------------


Cummings------Pearce----Gorkks--------Harte
(ANOther)

Kebe-------Guthrie-------Leigertwood----Mcanuff

--------------Pog-------------Hunt---------------

Bench
McCarthy
Specialist CB
Utility Defender
HRK
McLeary
Church
ALF

[Cypry]

If you were thinking about the Stoke game then why are you including Roberts?

I made a mistake - forgot his suspension...fixed now

[Simon's Church]

I reckon we'll sign Paul Scharner.

[BrockManson]

Line up for Stoke (H)

-------------------------Feds----------------------


Cummings------Pearce----Gorkks--------Harte
(ANOther)

Kebe-------Guthrie-------Leigertwood----Mcanuff

--------------Pog-------------Hunt---------------

Bench
McCarthy
Specialist CB
Utility Defender
HRK
McLeary
Church
ALF

Probably the strongest team available. Call it blind optimism but I reckon it's enough to see off Stoke.

[pea]

What about Gunnarsson?

[Reading4eva]

-------------------------Federici----------------------


Simpson------Pearce----Gorkks--------Harte

Kebe-------Guthrie-------Karacan----Mcanuff

--------------Pogrebnyak-------------LeFondre---------------

SUBS: Rhodes, McCarthy, Cummings, McLeary, Mariappa

[pea]

What about Gunnarsson?

EDIT: LOL btw

[Simon's Church]

What about Gunnarsson?

[Basildon]

Would be a very good signing IMO, played well in a very consistent Newcastle defence, especially at the beginning of the season. Not entirely sure if Cummings will be able to cut it at this level, although i hope he gets given a chance.

[Norfolk Royal]

Would be a very good signing IMO, played well in a very consistent Newcastle defence, especially at the beginning of the season. Not entirely sure if Cummings will be able to cut it at this level, although i hope he gets given a chance.

Even if Cummings is given a chance we need another specialist right back. Don't forget we got rid of Griffin.

[Basildon]

Would be a very good signing IMO, played well in a very consistent Newcastle defence, especially at the beginning of the season. Not entirely sure if Cummings will be able to cut it at this level, although i hope he gets given a chance.

Even if Cummings is given a chance we need another specialist right back. Don't forget we got rid of Griffin.

Agreed. But should it be somebody to cover Cummings, or somebody for Cummings to cover?

[pea]

Would be a very good signing IMO, played well in a very consistent Newcastle defence, especially at the beginning of the season. Not entirely sure if Cummings will be able to cut it at this level, although i hope he gets given a chance.

Even if Cummings is given a chance we need another specialist right back. Don't forget we got rid of Griffin.

Agreed. But should it be somebody to cover Cummings, or somebody for Cummings to cover?

Neither, somebody to challenge Cummings with an equal chance of starting against Stoke