Igrač Newcastle United-a, Hatem Ben Arfa je u ponedeljak počeo trenirati. Sa njim je individualno radio doktor ekipe, Derek Wright.

Navodno, Hatem Ben Arfa, koji će ove sezone nositi dres sa brojem 10 na leđima, bi mogao da zaigra protiv Wolves-a na Molineux-u, 1. oktobra 2011. godine.

photo: nufc.co.uk

U kladionici Skybet, kvota da će Alan Pardew prvi dobiti otkaz od managera u Premier League je vrtoglavo pala sa 12/1 na 3/1. Iz Newcastle United-a su demantovali da će Pardew dobiti otkaz (dobro, neće danas).

Međutim, Pardew se nije obazirao na kladionice, već je bio u Švajsarskoj, tačnije u Bazelu, gde je gledao Erin Derdiyok-a, koji je odigrao svih 90 minuta za Švajcarsku u pobedi od 3:1 protiv reprezentacije Bugarske.

Da podsetimo, glavni scout Newcastle-a, Graham Carr je prošlog meseca bio u Vaduzu, gde je gledao upravo Derdiyok-a, na prijateljskom meču između reprezentacija Liechtenstein-a i Švajcarske, gde su Švajcarci pobedili rezultatom 2:1, dok je Derdiyok bio strelac jednog gola.

photo: independent.co.uk

Statement from Newcastle United Managing Director Derek Llambias:

Now that the transfer window has closed, we have had some time to reflect on the business we have conducted over the summer.

Our aim was to secure young players who represented value for money and could add real strength to the squad. The majority of our transfer dealings were completed in the early part of the window and we feel we have signed some players of exceptional quality. Yohan Cabaye, Sylvain Marveaux, Mehdi Abeid, Demba Ba and Gabriel Obertan were all brought in early and we have seen these players settle quickly into the squad and perform well on the pitch.

Earlier this week we were delighted to sign Davide Santon from Inter Milan to fill our left-back position after the departure of Jose Enrique. Davide is an excellent young prospect and we're sure he'll be another superb addition to the squad. We also welcomed young goalkeeper Rob Elliot from Charlton Athletic who will help us retain healthy competition for that position after loaning out Fraser Forster to Celtic.

Of course we had also hoped to secure a further striker in the window, in addition to Demba Ba. Work to bring a striker into the club began early in the summer. Negotiations were complex and protracted and unfortunately it was disappointing that ultimately we could not secure our priority target.

Whilst we did turn our attention to alternative prospects in the latter stages of the window, we have a very clear transfer policy and will not make knee-jerk decisions at the last-minute which are not in the best interests of the club. We understand that supporters will feel frustrated that we did not sign another striker during the window, but it was not for lack of trying that we did not bring our final target in.

photo: icnetwork

Sedam meseci je prošlo od prodaje Andy Carroll-a, a Newcastle United nije uspeo da nađe zamenu za njega. Setite se samo zimskog obećanja, da će sav novac od prodaje Carroll-a biti potrošen za nove igrač. Samo mali deo tog novca je potrošen, dok su još neki i to vrlo bitni igrači prodati (Nolan, Jose Enrique, Routledge) a Barton je otišao za džabe.

Sada će nam čelnici objašnjavati, da će oni ipak taj novac potrošiti u januaru. Ja lično im ništa više neverujem.

Pokušao je Newcastle United sinoć da preotme Fulham-u, Kostarikanca iz Twente-a, Bryan Ruiz-a. Čak je, priča se i helikopter poslat u London, ali Ruiz je dao reč Fulham-u i ispunio obećanje, iako je, čini se, Newcastle ponudio veću sumu novca za njega (12 miliona evra) i bolju platu Ruiz-u. Sky Sports je javio da smo zainteresovani za dovođenje i Liam Ridgewell-a iz Birmingham-a, dok je na izlaznim vratima sa St James' Park-a bio mladi Danny Simspon, nezadovoljan ambicijama kluba.

Deja vu, zar ne? Sve ovo me je neodoljivo podsećalo na januar 2011. godine i pokušaj dovođenja Charles N'Zogbia-e, dva sata pre isteka prelaznog roka.

Setimo se samo reči Kevin Keegan-a, posle prodaje Carroll-a: "Teška vremena slede za Pardew-a. Neće on videti ni penija, od Carroll-ovog novca". I bio je čovek u pravu.

P.S.
Na St James' Park-u, tačnije na krovu East Stand-a, skida se natpis NEWCASTLE UNITED. Navodno će biti zamenjen lepišm slovima. Verujete li vi u ovo?

photo: nufc.com

Sada već bivši golman Charlton Athletic-a, Rob Elliot, potpisao je petogodišnji ugovor sa Newcastle United-om. Elliot ima 25 godina i visina njegovog transfera je 100.000 funti.

photo: nufc.co.uk