Another unpredictable January awaits Newcastle United. Mark Douglas explains the blueprint United are working to as they weigh up further recruitment plans
ONCE bitten but twice shy, Alan Pardew is well advised to dodge the bullet that left Newcastle United feeling mortally wounded 12 months ago.
Last Christmas Pardew was telling all and sundry that star man Andy Carroll, then viewed as the brightest English star in the Premier League galaxy, was not for sale “at any price”.
Partly fuelled by reassurances from the board and partly designed to ward off potential suitors, it was a tactic that backfired when Liverpool came up with an eye-watering offer that surprised everyone at St James’ Park.
Although never intending to mislead supporters with whom he still had an embryonic relationship, Pardew felt damaged by unfair accusations of dishonesty at the time. In actual fact, it was more a case that circumstances had overtaken him.
No wonder, then, that his approach to questions about Cheick Tioté, Fabricio Coloccini and Tim Krul is markedly different this time around. Openly admitting that United are “vulnerable” to big offers for Tioté, the Newcastle boss is going into the January transfer window well armed with the new financial reality that the club are operating in.
“Oh, I think I’ve learned from the Andy Carroll situation. And I think outside of Man City, every club has a player that is vulnerable,” Pardew said. “I think (our business) will depend on what happens. You never know with the window – it’s such a minefield of possibilities.
“We have one or two players here that top clubs, I’m sure, would be interested in. The one thing I would say on that is that they will have to pay a lot of money to take anyone out of here because we’re in a good position – not just on the playing side but financially as well. We’ll have to look at that in a structured way.” So where exactly do United stand with their prize assets in January?
Pardew says he doesn’t expect Tioté to leave and talk of his departure being a fait accompli – as it was last weekend – is just plain wrong.
Certainly the Ivorian is being watched by the top clubs but The Journal’s information is that he doesn’t want to leave. He feels a personal debt of loyalty to Newcastle for taking a chance on him and he is settled in the North East.
