Newcastle United Monday Links: So That Could Have Gone Better Edition

So that could have gone a lot better on Satuday, eh? Without turning this into a full-blown match review, let me just say this: Yes we are in need of further centre-half cover (obviously). Let us not get carried completely away, however. I will admit that I perhaps under-rated Mike Williamson a bit, but the fact remains that his return coincided with a shoring up of our defense and the club have posted three clean sheets since his return. He is drawing a lot of the ire in post-match analysis and he cannot be absolved completely, but I still feel that the failure was on a tactical level, and AP was slow to react. By the time he did, the damage was done.

That said, there is some absurdly silly stuff floating around out there today... but let's deal with the real news first.

A Brief Farewell

Jason Prior makes Newcastle United exit - NUFC Latest News - Newcastle United - ChronicleLive

JASON PRIOR has failed to win a contract with Newcastle United.

This makes me sad. I admit to openly cheering for the kid and I hope that he does catch on at Brighton (after the FA Cup match!) or Wimbledon and eventually costs us a lot more money. It's still a big jump up the ladder to get in at the Championship level.

Fulham happened...

Yohan Cabaye says sorry for Fulham defeat - NUFC Latest News - Newcastle United - ChronicleLive

Of the Fulham defeat, he added: "I don’t know quite what happened. "The only thing I do know is that we didn’t play with the same spirit in the second half. "We have to learn from that second half. We have to work to improve, we can’t play like we did in the second half ever again."

Captain Obvious says "We shouldn't have played like we did in the second half ever again.. fixed it for you"

NUFC manager Pardew angry at capitulation - NUFC Latest News - Newcastle United - ChronicleLive

"What’s galling was the fact we got ourselves in a great position, and the manner we lost. It’s unlike us. I was a little bit disappointed we didn’t get hold of ourselves. The game was going on, and they were hurting us, and we didn’t get a grip.

We didn't get a grip. True. I still feel that AP was slow to react. He did take us out of our aggressive formation with Jonas roaming around and causing trouble... but things got worse from that point, so I don't give adjustment points for that move.

Newcastle begin their break early as defence allow Fulham to run riot (From The Northern Echo)

Tenerife, where the Magpies squad find themselves this morning at a warm-weather training camp, boasts more undeveloped land than any other Spanish island. It is safe to say, however, that it cannot have anything like as many open spaces as could be found in the visitors' half of the field at Craven Cottage at the weekend.

Perhaps we checked out early due to anticipated celebration in the sun? Also from this article:

Plenty as it happens, but while no Newcastle player can be particularly proud of his efforts in the final 45 minutes, Mike Williamson and Davide Santon were particularly culpable for the unfolding devastation.

Williamson was dragged here, there and everywhere by the movement of Zamora and Andy Johnson, and Dempsey's second and third goals were a direct result of the chasm that repeatedly appeared at the heart of the Newcastle defence.

This is where I wonder if there was something tactical instead of player-oriented that was giving us trouble in the second half. If Williamson was willy-nilly following players around, you'd think that he would have been hauled off in favor of James Perch (seeing as how Fulham's game was not to get the ball down and cross it). I used to be pretty good at connect the dots...

Transfer Window

Newcastle hope new signing Cisse will encourage others to stay - Football News - Football - Sport - People.co.uk

NEWCASTLE are hoping the £8million signing of striker Papiss Demba Cisse will help show Toon stars that their futures should lie on Tyneside. Magpies boss Alan Pardew is now confident that in-form striker Demba Ba will be persuaded to stay after the acquisition of his fellow Senegalese striker. And Newcastle chiefs are also hoping his exciting new No.9 will encourage skipper Fabricio Coloccini to sign up to a new deal at the club. Many of the Toon Army were concerned Cisse was arriving as a replacement for 15-goal Ba, whose stunning form has caught the attentions of the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. Ba also has a £7m release clause in his contract. But a Magpies source told People Sport: "Nothing could be further from the truth. We have signed Papiss Cisse to play alongside Demba Ba not replace him. "Papiss Cisse is on record as saying one of the reasons he signed for Newcastle is that it looks as though the club means business and we are hoping this message gets through to Fabricio Coloccini.

Optimist Jim says "The Cisse signing shows that the board and ownership are focusing on a run at the Europa League." One can never say never, but signing Cisse at £7.5-10m to replace Ba who was signed at £0 would be a complete departure from a transfer policy that has been adhered to without exception. So yes, perhaps it is a statement to those with contracts outstanding. Europa League = more chances to play for the fringe players.

Pardew widens his net as defender search intensifies (From The Northern Echo)

West Ham have rejected Newcastle's bid for James Tomkins, and while there has been further contact between the two clubs, Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is refusing to lower his £8m valuation of the 22-year-old. Similarly, ASDFGHJKL;'/.,MNBVCVXZ§ avelled to the Riverside to watch the Australian at first hand earlier this month, the Newcastle boss does not feel h0.

3211455+6+-/*98`e is yet at a level to justify such an outlay. Ajax's Jan Vertonghen is more developed, but the Dutch club are understood to have quoted an asking price of £10m, a sum that is outside United's price range.

If we can have Vertonghen and we don't because of some phony transfer spending limit...

Newcastle United plan £3m swoop for Watford centre-back Adrian Mariappa - Goal.com

Mariappa has come through the ranks at Vicarage Road and is seen to possess the pace that Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson, as well as injured team-mate Steven Taylor, clearly lack. Ajax’s Jan Vertonghen and Montpellier’s Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa are also on the radar at the Sports Direct Arena but Newcastle’s interest will be stepped up in the summer.

This is a new one out of nowhere....

Newcastle United plan £3m swoop for Watford centre-back Adrian Mariappa - Goal.com

Mariappa has come through the ranks at Vicarage Road and is seen to possess the pace that Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson, as well as injured team-mate Steven Taylor, clearly lack. Ajax’s Jan Vertonghen and Montpellier’s Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa are also on the radar at the Sports Direct Arena but Newcastle’s interest will be stepped up in the summer.

Newcastle gets ripped by pacey strikers, get linked with pacey centre-half. I think I'll adopt a wait and see on this one.