I Wish I Was A Geordie - The Blog of Newcastle United in the US

Newcastle Eyes Philly Date, Summer Return To U.S.

Newcastle United is talking with the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer about a match that would signal a return trip to the U.S. for Newcastle this summer, according to sources among our readership with connections to MLS. Nothing is set yet, but the Union is seeking one or two Premier League friendlies for its summer season and Newcastle appears to be in the mix. Phone and email inquiries to NUFC and the Union for comment have drawn no response thus far.

A tour centered around Philadelphia would present less risk of the weather and travel issues that plagued Newcastle's visit to the U.S. last summer. Philadelphia's high temperatures in July and August average in the 80s rather than above 90 (32 Celsius) as in Kansas City and Orlando. Philly is closer to other major population centers and offers easier domestic travel, with New York City and Washington only 90 and 140 miles away, four other MLS cities (Boston, Columbus, Montreal and Toronto) reachable by direct flight in less than two hours, and Chicago just over two hours away by plane. Also, with this much lead time - and Joey Barton off the squad - Newcastle would likely be able to avoid player absences due to visa hassles.

The Union has played only two seasons in MLS, but has acclimated fast, losing only 8 of 34 matches last year and appearing in the playoffs, where the club was bounced from the final eight by Houston. The manager is Polish international Piotr Nowak, and the leading scorer is Sebastien Le Toux, a Rennes native who played briefly in Ligue 2 for Lorient before coming to the U.S. - though by the time the transfer window closes later today Le Toux could be gone, as he has been a target of several clubs including Bolton. While no soccer team in North America (and few on Earth) can match the palatial residence that is Kansas City's Livestrong Park, the Union also plays in a sparkling new stadium, PPL Park on the Delaware River waterfront in the city of Chester, Pa., 15 miles from central Philadelphia. Opened in 2010, PPL cost "only" $120 million (compared to Livestrong's $200 million) and seats 18,500 fans for soccer, the same as Livestrong.

Turning off journalistic objectivity mode now: Yes, we're excited. Last year's tour was a blast (both as in fun and furnace). Here's hoping this return visit materializes, in smoother and cooler fashion for the club.

Transfer Deadline Day Live Chat!

Reminder: Live Chat Tomorrow

Just a quick reminder that we'll be holding a live chat tomorrow to coincide with the final day of the January transfer window.

We'll be getting started sometime in the morning, so be sure to check NewsNow and our Twitter feed, @NUFC_US. Hopefully we'll have some good news to discuss ...

Cabaye Needs An Attitude Adjustment

I'll preface this post by saying that I love Yohan Cabaye. He's an all-around midfielder who can pass, shoot, run, and apply himself defensively--basically, the player that Joey Barton thinks he is. Without him in the midfield, Alan Pardew's new preferred system would fall apart. And Cabaye, like Hatem Ben Arfa, has to be an asset as Newcastle continues to cast its transfer net across the English Channel in search of Ligue 1 bargains.

But there's a jagged edge behind The Dreamboat's silky skills, and Saturday's kick at thuggish Brighton defender Adam El-Abd is the most recent time Cabaye's let it get the best of him. It may end up costing Newcastle dearly, as the FA is reviewing the incident and pondering a multi-game suspension.

To some extent, I have sympathy for Cabaye. As a smaller player enduring his first season in England, no doubt opposing managers have instructed their charges to rough him up a bit. Indeed, El-Abd had body-checked Cabaye to the turf just before the kick in question. Two weeks earlier, Cabaye was stretchered off against QPR after a late tackle from Shaun Derry, and infamously berated Derry while being carried off by the medical staff. Of course, he's not been averse to a late challenge of his own, such as the one on Liverpool's Jay Spearing that had many pundits thinking a red card was warranted.

But to me, the more frustrating aspect of Cabaye's game has been the general petulance that seems to consume him at times. Whether kicking out at El-Abd, yelling at Derry from the stretcher, shoving Nigel de Jong to the ground (0:57 on this clip, at the top center of the screen), or getting a yellow card for throwing the ball down against Manchester United, he's seemed unable to keep playing without getting the last word. I'm sure teams are keenly aware of this, and try to goad him into a sending-off, as almost happened Saturday. As irritated as Cabaye must be from the treatment he gets, retaliation will only cost him, and Newcastle, in the long run. 

If the FA decides to sit Cabaye for the next couple weeks, he only has himself to blame. If they let him off with a warning, he should consider himself very, very lucky. But like his midfield partner Cheick Tiote, he's too good a player, and too important to Newcastle's European aspirations, to miss games because he let his temper get the best of him. As Newcastle fans, let's hope the disciplinary officials feel like being lenient, and that Cabaye's able to channel his competitiveness more productively in the future. 

Alan Smith's Newcastle Career, In Memoriam

Full disclosure: I've always liked Alan Smith.

He's one of those gritty, tough and spirited players who is easy to relate to as a fan. You never have to question his commitment because he's always demonstrating it by flinging himself into challenges. I wanted Smith to succeed at Newcastle United more than most transfer signings.

But it never happened, and Smith's Newcastle career is over now that he's gone on loan to League One club MK Dons. He was the final Sam Allardyce signing on United's roster and a reminder of how Newcastle used to operate in the transfer market. The club used to gobble up English players with proven track records, even if those players' careers appeared to have already peaked.

Ironically, Smith's jersey was the one Mike Ashley used to wear during his first months in charge. If Ashley had immediately implemented his preferred transfer philosophy of buying young, hungry players whose value would increase as they proved themselves at the highest level, he wouldn't have sanctioned a £6 million deal for Smith (and he likely would have avoided most of the turbulence that's marked his nearly-five-year reign).

In memorializing Smith's Newcastle career, though, it's important to maintain some perspective. It wasn't a successful move by the club - Smith clearly has never been the same player since suffering a horrific broken leg and dislocated ankle in 2006 for Manchester United - but it wasn't the disaster some will claim.

He played a crucial role in helping Newcastle haul itself out of the Championship after relegation. Anyone who watched the first game of that 2009-10 season (at West Brom) can confirm that Smith was United's heartbeat that day in one of the most pivotal matches in Newcastle's recovery. The club was trying to find its feet after relegation and Smith helped it do just that with passion and professionalism.

But Smith's other four seasons at Newcastle have been largely unproductive - he missed most of 2008-09 with an ankle injury and has only made two appearances this season - as evidenced by the fact that he's never scored a competitive goal for United. He simply doesn't have the legs or passing ability to fit into Newcastle's current style of play, and it's hard to envision him being anything more than a bit-part player at the Premier League level at this stage of his career.

Newcastle has had its share of prima donnas who were signed for big money, never cared and never produced. Smith may not have lived up to his price tag, but at least he cared enough to try.

Join Us On Tuesday For Transfer Deadline Day

Be sure to check back here on Tuesday for a live chat as the January transfer window comes to a close.

We'll get started sometime in the morning (which will be the afternoon for our friends across the pond). I'll be on my trusty laptop for most of the day, and Bob and Matt will stop by as their schedules allow. We'll discuss any late movement by Newcastle and if all is quiet at St. James' Park, then we'll analyze other clubs' moves and talk about the second half of the season.

So please, don't be a stranger.

Another FA Cup Disappointment For Lifeless Newcastle

You can't say you couldn't see this coming. It's Newcastle United, after all.

Away games against lower-league clubs in cup competitions tend to be no-win situations for Premier League teams. And if you weren't at least a little bit uneasy going into Saturday's fourth round FA Cup game at Brighton, then you clearly didn't watch last year's debacle at Stevenage.

Newcastle might not have played as terrible on Saturday as it did in last year's humbling exit, but it was still fairly lifeless in punching out of the competition. United, operating once again in a 4-3-3 formation, simply didn't create enough legitimate scoring chances, as Alan Pardew correctly pointed out after the match.

Newcastle was dull and predictable in the attack, with Shola Ameobi providing little to no movement as the focal point of the forward three. Leon Best generated most of United's chances before fading as the game wore on, while Hatem Ben Arfa failed to conjure up any magical moments. Jonas Gutierrez roamed in the midfield, with Yohan Cabaye and Danny Guthrie sitting as anchors, but the Argentine was about as wasteful with the ball as he's ever been.

Cabaye, meanwhile, reminded everyone that he can be hot-headed at times with a silly kick at Brighton's foul-happy left back Adam El-Abd that could draw attention from the FA. Pardew persevered with his starting lineup for far too long before replacing Ben Arfa, Guthrie and Davide Santon with Ryan Taylor, Dan Gosling and Shane Ferguson in the 83rd minute. Somehow Ameobi, who seemed content to wrestle with Brighton's two center backs for most of the match, avoided being withdrawn.

In truth, Brighton was incredibly lucky to emerge with a win, even if it did defend superbly. The goal came from its only truly threatening movement of the game, and needed a deflection to break the scoreless deadlock. Had Danny Simpson not been booked for a challenge in which he clearly won the ball, maybe he could have stopped Will Buckley on the halfway line before he created the goal. Even so, Simpson's performance on the play in question was troubling.

Had Newcastle made use of its dominance in possession, then that one play wouldn't have been so significant. But these sorts of games happen, particularly when a team is missing its two best strikers, its midfield enforcer and its defensive leader.

So, while it's fair to say United could still do with a few more creative players in its ranks, it's worth remembering that upsets are a part of cup competitions - particularly when you're Newcastle United.

Elia Won't Be Coming To Newcastle

Recent days have brought reports that Newcastle United is interested in taking Dutch winger Eljero Elia on loan from Juventus.

These reports seem to be based on two things: Newcastle's late summer interest in Elia (which seems to have been genuine) and his limited playing time since moving to Turin (just two Serie A appearances).

But don't bet on Elia rethinking his August decision and coming to Tyneside, at least in the final six days of January. First off, today's report in Tuttosport cites the Daily Mail, which appears to have started all of this. It also notes the FIFA rule that prevents a player from playing official matches for more than two clubs during one season (although he could be registered with three clubs during a season).

Since Elia has already played official matches for Hamburg and Juventus this season, we can go ahead and put this rumor out of its misery before it gains any traction.

Pardew's New Formation Can Take Newcastle Forward

The less said about Saturday's second half, the better. Lost in the shuffle of Newcastle's defensive meltdown was a stunningly good first half--so good, in fact, that one of my co-bloggers called it "among the best 45 minutes played under Pardew." And that excellent performance, like the dominant show against QPR the week before, came via a new 4-3-3 formation. Keeping this new look will get the best out of Pardew's top players, including the three stars currently playing in the Africa Cup of Nations.

As currently constructed, the 4-3-3 sees Leon Best and Hatem Ben Arfa flanking Shola Ameobi in the front line, with both wide players playing covering roles in defense. Jonas Gutierrez roams freely from a central midfield position in front of Yohan Cabaye and Danny Guthrie. The tactical switch has lit a fire under Gutierrez in particular, who hasn't always gotten the most of his skills when he's shunted out to the left wing. In his new position, he's linked up well with Ben Arfa to take the game to the opposition.

When Cheick Tiote returns from the ACN, he'll fit beautifully in the midfield in place of Guthrie. We shouldn't overlook Guthrie's contributions--including a beautiful goal against Fulham--but he does tend to fade late in games, disrupting the defensive pressure that's been crucial to Newcastle's success this year. (When that pressure goes away, it's also been a big contributor to defensive lapses. A passive midfield allows opposing forwards to exploit the high line Pardew prefers.) 

But the more controversial aspect of fitting returning players into the 4-3-3 is moving top scorer Demba Ba out to the left, where Best has played the last two weeks. There's a school of thought that insists Ba should lead the forward line. Obviously, he's been outstanding in that role when asked this season. But it's not his natural position. In fact, Ba played on the left quite a bit last year at West Ham, and certainly acquitted himself well. At Hoffenheim, he also featured on the left side of a front three, as part of a high-scoring surprise team that led the Bundesliga table at the winter break in 2008-09.

That would free up Newcastle's newly minted number nine, Papiss Demba Cisse, to play in his own favored position. While none of us have seen much of Cisse, Raphael Honigstein, the Guardian's German correspondent, gave a glowing review on Monday's "Football Weekly" podcast. Honigstein called Cisse a "natural number nine suited for the Premier League" who "loves to play on the shoulder of the last defender." A forward line of Ba, Cisse, and Ben Arfa would have to rank among the league's best. It should be a treat to see the three link up in the next few weeks.

One caveat to playing the 4-3-3: it can test the mettle of Newcastle's fullbacks, and Davide Santon seemed to strain under the pressure last week. He's shown the skills and speed to roam all over the left side of the field, but he's still maturing, and he's gotten caught out of position at times. These fears are diminished, though, as long as the midfield continues to press on defense and control the play with quick passing while on the attack.

While there may be some growing pains, Pardew has the players to dominate matches using his new formation, even without bringing in any more players in January. So while we shouldn't completely ignore the collapse on Saturday, it also shouldn't be the basis for discarding a promising approach. 

Mariappa - Or Anyone Else - Can't Just Be Another Body

The traditional January transfer window price inflation appears to have left Watford's Adrian Mariappa as Newcastle United's top defensive target. Sky reported that Newcastle had made a bid for the 25-year-old on Monday, and the Evening Chronicle followed up with news that Watford had turned down the offer.

Newcastle wasn't willing to pay West Ham's hefty asking price for James Tomkins, and the fact that he signed a new contract over the weekend rules out a move this month. The price tags for some of the bigger foreign names United has been linked with - Ajax's Jan Vertonghen, Twente's Douglas and Montpellier's Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa - also exceeded Newcastle's January budget, reported to be around £8 million. And, yes, we realize Papiss Cisse cost between £7-10 million, but the Journal's Mark Douglas has said that came from next summer's budget (which makes sense given that United wasn't necessarily planning to pursue a striker when January began).

I have no problem with Newcastle looking for cheaper alternatives. Tomkins was probably going to cost more than he's worth, while Ajax, Twente and Montpellier would all want big money to sell their prized assets midway through the season.

But I also hope that United is doing more than just adding a body. Every team needs squad players, but it's silly to buy someone who you can't envision breaking into the starting lineup at some point. It doesn't have to be immediately, but the potential should be there for them to make an impact in the future.

I'll readily admit that I haven't seen enough of Mariappa to offer anything resembling an assessment of his ability. His height (5-11) concerns me, but his record at Watford is pretty impressive (171 appearances over the past 3 1/2 seasons). You simply don't play that many games, even in the Championship, if you're not performing well.

So if Mariappa is the guy, then Newcastle had better believe he can legitimately challenge Mike Williamson for playing time. Otherwise, it may end up with another James Perch.