January

[Zippity]

What yesterday's game tells me is that our focus in the next window needs to be two Hall/Tino clones. Obviously not direct replacements-we have, imo, the best full-back pairing in the league, but yesterday showed how crucial they are to our style of play.

Not only do they offer fantastic defensive qualities-especially their ability to receive and play the ball under pressure-but their contribution to our attack-and the way this allows the midfield to play was there for everyone to see yesterday.

In a way, it's actually a worry that we are so different when they're not in the team-we don't seem to have a plan for when they're missing and it clearly has a detrimental knock-on effect on the rest of the team.

Let's be honest, much as Dan Burn is great at CB and will forever be a legend for Wembley (among other things), I think most of our hearts would sink if we reverted to using him at LB. As cover, Krafth is 3rd round of the Cup level and, whilst Trippier has all the nouse, his legs won't allow him to be as effective as he used to be.

When we bouught Tino and Hall, we didn't buy them for the first team straight away but it's paid off massively. I think we need to do similar in January.

Thoughts

[toptoon]

Those two are key to the team and it was very bad luck having them both out at once. One of them out and Trippier in is ok.
The achilles heal of the squad remains - quality in depth. It seems years since weve had a very good starting 11 but little to come off the bench. This is improving at CB and, somewhat, in the wide attacking areas but full backs and central forwards are the weaker areas.
As much as I wouldn?t play Schar in midfield, Burn should not play LB. Hes a CB and deserves praise for filling in there but it limits us hugely, especially in attack.

Im still wondering where the young lads who should be coming through are?

[ex_pat_magpie]

Those two are key to the team and it was very bad luck having them both out at once. One of them out and Trippier in is ok.
The achilles heal of the squad remains - quality in depth. It seems years since weve had a very good starting 11 but little to come off the bench. This is improving at CB and, somewhat, in the wide attacking areas but full backs and central forwards are the weaker areas.
As much as I wouldn?t play Schar in midfield, Burn should not play LB. Hes a CB and deserves praise for filling in there but it limits us hugely, especially in attack.

Im still wondering where the young lads who should be coming through are?

The biggest risk with the Tino/Hall combo is the reliance on the national team for both of them and the subsequent risk of injury

[Ragatino]

What yesterday's game tells me is that our focus in the next window needs to be two Hall/Tino clones. Obviously not direct replacements-we have, imo, the best full-back pairing in the league, but yesterday showed how crucial they are to our style of play.

Not only do they offer fantastic defensive qualities-especially their ability to receive and play the ball under pressure-but their contribution to our attack-and the way this allows the midfield to play was there for everyone to see yesterday.

In a way, it's actually a worry that we are so different when they're not in the team-we don't seem to have a plan for when they're missing and it clearly has a detrimental knock-on effect on the rest of the team.

Let's be honest, much as Dan Burn is great at CB and will forever be a legend for Wembley (among other things), I think most of our hearts would sink if we reverted to using him at LB. As cover, Krafth is 3rd round of the Cup level and, whilst Trippier has all the nouse, his legs won't allow him to be as effective as he used to be.

When we bouught Tino and Hall, we didn't buy them for the first team straight away but it's paid off massively. I think we need to do similar in January.

Thoughts

I was toying with the idea of mentioning the transfer window last night but thought 'Naaah, it's too early'.

Seeing as you've got the ball rolling Senor Zippinho I'll hoy me ten bobs worth in the pot.

Krafth & Osula are both mooted as leaving. If the money is right I'm not mad at that idea.

Also, Rumours circulating about Tripz & Schar having admirers. Less motivated to see these lads go.

However, on the inbound transfers:

Full back

Oscar Mingueza - Celta de Vigo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzywNPtdxP0

An affordable quality option available in January. Krafth out this lad in, big upgrade.


Centre back

Joel Ordnez - Club Brugge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhOTKZ7_Vzs

Young, great on the ball, powerful, rapid. A great young player with potential to cover for Thiaw. Rated at 30m Euro though so won't be cheap. Same Equadorian academy as the gems Brighton have unearthed.

Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal - Stade Rennais
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5uCuCPSIiI

A class young Moroccan French CB. Gonna be a top player in the future. Rated at around 2m Euro. A more affordable option but a diamond that will required more polish.


Midfield

Kees Smit - AZ Alkmaar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMCFaZ4yJ8U

This young lad is ripping it up in the lowlands this season. He's gonna go as AZ's record transfer out, with a price tag of around 25m quid. He's being tipped to reach Kevin De Bruyne levels. Signing him now would be considered a real Coup for the Toon.

Combining Kees, with Miley as the 6 and Ramsey as the left 8 would see Newcastle united have one of the most complete midfield 6 - 3 excellent first teamers in Tonali, Bruno & Joelinto and 3 potentially world class youngsters as cover. Where that leaves Willock I'm not sure.

Jorthy Mokio - Ajax
http://youtube.com/watch?v=QhOTKZ7_Vzs

Another player with massive potential, showing he's going to be an elite player in a few years
This lad is more in the top shelf of potential players currently plying their trade on the continent. He's in the same bracket as Joel Ordóñez. Whilst he's rated at just 7.5m Euro, he's tipped to go for around 30m Euro.

Striker/Forward

Rayan Vitor - Vasco de Gama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_fwmOVzYmE

19 yr old Brazilian power house with an impressive 66 first team appearances & 14 goals. A left footer, something we don't have many of in the team. He plays across the front line. Earlier off the right but he's secured the CF role this season.

He's around the same 25m quid mark. With Osula potentially leaving bringing this kid in for less an the money the club will get Will. It's a no brainer IMO.


You can check out their Youtube highlight reels at your leisure.

My choice would be:

IN

Rayan Vitor - Vasco de Gama
Kees Smit - AZ Alkmaar
Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal - Stade Rennais
Oscar Mingueza - Celta de Vigo

OUT
Krafth, Willock, Osula.

Keep Schar & Tripz until the end of the season.

[Ragatino]

My choice would be:

IN

Rayan Vitor - Vasco de Gama
Kees Smit - AZ Alkmaar
Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal - Stade Rennais
Oscar Mingueza - Celta de Vigo

OUT
Krafth, Willock, Osula.

Keep Schar & Tripz until the end of the season.[/QUOTE]

The need for another Left Back, an understudy to our 21 yr old (mental age) worldie Hall, is something I feel is as important as the 4 above.

In an ideal world. The club would sign all 4 of the above in Jan.

Rayan, Kees, & Oscar would come into the squad replacing the 3 going out. Abdelhamid would be loaned back to Rennais until the end of the season.

Left backs to target in Jan:

You can check out the Mango's reports on these lot by searching his channel video results for their names.


Antonio has also put together this list - None of the 4 are the finished article and will need coaching but all offer a far more appropriate option when replacing Hall than Wor Geordie Legend BDB.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EElXtgs8DQ

Youth players not much in the way of stats or metrics.
Lucas Jetten - playing for Jung Ajax technical, tactic and composed. Not a power house, pace and skill.

David Cordon Mancha - Davinchi
Do love the Spanish lad's name though Davinchi.
Davinchi has also been playing first team football this season for Getafe in La liga @ just 18 yrs old.
Technical and very similar to Hall's profile.

Juan Arizala - He's a 20 yr old Colombian winger who played for his nation at youth level at Left back where he thrived.
Versatile & adaptable player. A great athlete.
https://www.transfermarkt.com/juan-a...pieler/1118347
https://www.sofascore.com/football/p...a-juan/1476922

Kassoum Ouattara - Monaco - 21 yrs old.
A seriously Rapid fella! He's spots the 3rd man run opportunities highlighting his Key attribute, the ability to stretch the game when attacking.
He's a solid defender, blocks, tackle and interceptions.
He's an athlete, a physical specimen.


https://www.transfermarkt.com/kassou...spieler/947360
https://www.sofascore.com/football/p...assoum/1397558

[Jammy89]

Good summary Rag.

I don't think we'll see Osula leave unless for silly money personally.

Agree with Zip that we need to get some quality back up in for Tino/Hall to make sure we're covered.

[Ragatino]

Good summary Rag.

I don't think we'll see Osula leave unless for silly money personally.

Agree with Zip that we need to get some quality back up in for Tino/Hall to make sure we're covered.

Weren't Frankfurt in for him for 30m? Then shifted to a loan with option to buy which the club rejected?

I guess they'll come back with a cash offer close to that figure.

Guess we'll have to wait and seen

[Ragatino]

Dan Burn like Fab Schar are there challenge and raise the levels of Botman and Thiaw.

Schar is doing that in spades between concussions. That lad gets more head than that scratty whowah Bonny Blu haha.

Love the Blyth bomber, a brilliant role model for any young Geordie from the region. He would play CF or GK if Howe asked him to do so. He'd give it all too!

Left back in the modern game is such a specialised position, especially the way Eddie's formation works. Teams target Burn when he's in the LB birth. It's not his game, he puts in a shift but there are levels.

I guess most have had a love affair with Football Manager at some point in the past. The older games have a traffic light red, amber, green & Natural relating to players in positions. Their stats drop right off. It's a reasonable reflection of the situation with Burn.

Having 2 quality players for each position is the goal.

With the schedule of games we have rotating the team is the only way to keep players not only fit but in their top 5% of performance. Drop offs in performance due to general fatigue as we say in the first UCL season a few years back.

Keeping that competition for places fresh is the mark of a top club, too.

We've all agreed that the squad is stronger this year if the 11 is not as good (right now) as last season. 6 quality signings came in.

A few in Jan and another good summer in '26 is going to help build again on this excellent foundation.

[Ragatino]

Add a new name to the list.

Allan Elias - Brazilian 21 playing for Champions Palmeiras.

According to ESPN Brazil, Palmeiras star Allan Elias is an option, with the Brazilian club looking to raise funds in 2026 to help create a new squad.

Newcastle are said to want an "immediate transfer agreement" for the 21-year-old midfielder, who has a release clause in his deal worth roughly ?87m.

The overall fee could work out as far less than that, however, with Palmeiras turning down a ?17m bid for the star, with an expectation of further offers worth around ?28m.

https://youtu.be/BlUX9co_lzw?si=HZVVg3m-0Af_wBFk

https://youtu.be/8OOFmV0z4E0?si=o5WgGc1wc7LjiRUZ

[Ragatino]

Keeper alternative to Trafford, who has been linked again.

Zion Suzuki. I really rate thus guy.

According to Calciomercato -

Newcastle are one on the clubs interested in Parma's 23yo GK Zion Suzuki.

Playing style
Strengths:

Possesses strong reflexes and agility.

A modern goalkeeper who is comfortable with the ball at his feet, with good distribution and long-passing ability.

Effective at coming off his line to sweep and claim crosses.

Good at making "double saves" (making two saves in quick succession)

Weaknesses:

Shot-stopping in some cases can result in parrying shots away from the goal.

Some passing ability requires further assessment

Fee: Release clause ?40m