FM STORY: Leonard takes charge of Championship Newcastle

[pleno1]

I After successful stints at both Tottenham and Manchester City, fans favourite Patrick Leonard has decided to come home and rescue the team that he supported from the age of 5.

Underperformed would be a kind word to describe the Toon Army's last season and they begin the 2013/2014 campaign in the Championship.

The club were here 3 years ago and managed to sail back into the premiership and Leonard will be hoping to emulate Chris Hughtons success here.

Leonard, none to his peers as Porridge Lionheart will inherit a squad with alot of ability. With that ability comes personalities and one of the main decisions Leonard will originally face is who stays and who goes.

Internationals such as Yohan Cabaye and Haten Ben Arfa have already expressed their opinion and have stated that they would like to leave the club.

Whilst the media predict a promotion place for the Toon Army, Leonard will no doubt have promotion via 1st place as his target and the board known to the fans as the "Cockney Mafia" have decided to change their business tactic and invest in this current squad giving the manager a generous £25 million transfer budget. With players set to leave the club, Leonard will be building the club from scratch and has spoke in a recent press conference about his plans to invest in young British talent.

"I want the players to understand what playing in this shirt means. I remember when I was a kid going to St James Park and seeing Alan Shearer go through blood, sweat and tears for this football club."

"I'm not interested in prima donna's. I want young, hungry British players who can learn from some of the more experienced lads and make this club a force to be rekowned with"

[pleno1]

Current Squad:

Goalkeepers:

Tim Krul
Stuart Taylor
Jak Alnwick

Defenders:

Pablo Contreras
Tamas Kadar
Steven Taylor
Jay DeMerit
James Tompkins
Davide Santon
Shane Ferguson
Danny Simpson



Midfielders:

Alexander Tzilios
Yohan Cabaye
David Fox
Cheik Tiote
Sylvain Marveux
Glenn Whelan
Mehdi Ahmed
Hatem Ben Arfa
Gabriel Obertran
Haris Vuckic



Forwards:

Demba Ba
Shola Ameobi
Leon Best


The guys in Red want to leave the club. I don't want anybody who isn't up for the battle and who may disrupt the dressing room. Last time the club were in this situation everybody pulled together and leaders such as Barton and Nolan came forward. I'm looking for similar strong personalities to develop here. Cabaye is worth 7.5m, Santon 4.5m, and Ba 3m. If I can get 15m for these it gives me a budget of 40m which is more than enough to cruise this league.

[Eso Kral]

Disappointed no reference to BITB 

[toddswain]

Wtf happened to Colo?

[Eso Kral]

Wtf happened to Colo?

yeah and Monda

[pleno1]

With a very solid looking goalkeeper, defence and midfield it is apparant that the lack of quality is in attacking options.

Tranfer targets

Kevin Nolan - 675k - transfer listed. Proven at this level, loves the club.

Mohammed Abu - Loan

Sylvain Ebanks Blake - Loan - Proven goalscorer. Maybe his level, but don't want to take him into prem.

[pleno1]

Kevin Nolan talks break down after ex skipper demands 60k per week!

Patrick Leonard hit out at the new "agent power" culture where he spoke about how recently an agent tried to take advantage of Newcastle desperaty for a proven goalscorer.

"Listen, he knows, I know, he knows, I know that we need a goalscorer. It looks like Demba is going to be leaving us and somebody needs to fill that void. Shola is getting on and it looks like Leon (Best) will be going to Watford. The agent came in and demanded a 3 year contract and £60k per week. Maybe when KK was here that would have happened, but I'm not going to let nay agent come into my office and take me for a mug. I'll find somebody else."

[pleno1]

Wtf happened to Colo?
[/quote

Signed for Everton when United got relegated last season.

[ForthThistle]

Kevin Nolan talks break down after ex skipper demands 60k per week!

Patrick Leonard hit out at the new "agent power" culture where he spoke about how recently an agent tried to take advantage of Newcastle desperaty for a proven goalscorer.

"Listen, he knows, I know, he knows, I know that we need a goalscorer. It looks like Demba is going to be leaving us and somebody needs to fill that void. Shola is getting on and it looks like Leon (Best) will be going to Watford. The agent came in and demanded a 3 year contract and £60k per week. Maybe when KK was here that would have happened, but I'm not going to let nay agent come into my office and take me for a mug. I'll find somebody else."

BITB.. 

[Josedinho]

GL squad looks pretty good for Championship.
Saving the war chest for promotion?

[pleno1]

Ebanks Blake completes loan deal to championship contenders Newcastle United.

Click to see full-size image.

[pleno1]

GL squad looks pretty good for Championship.
Saving the war chest for promotion?

I'm not going to be forced into spending just because I have money. I'm only interested in bringing in the best, young players that I can find. I understand experience is important so if I need to get somebody in who can help nurture the younger guys then I will do it. I thnk the capture of Ebanks is a great coup for the club and although this may not sound so ambitious to the fans who expect a "Shearer" signing, I am positive he will be a huge hit here.

[pleno1]

Had to name a captain for the season.

Steven Taylor was once reknowned for his erratic displays, over the last 4 years he  has really matured as both a person and a player.He brings steel, determination and abit of class into the team. He is also Newcastle born and bred. He will be my voice on the pitch and Cheik Tiote will step in if Taylor gets injured.

[George2Loose]

Kid's finally lost it

[pleno1]

In a shock turnaround, Davide Santon and Yohan Cabaye have told manager Patrick Leonard that they want to stay and help the club win promotion back to the premier league.



Davide Santon, described by Mourinho as "phenominal" and widely thought of as the next Paulo Maldini in Italy was a key figure for Newcastle last season winnings the player of the year award. His u-turn will be a huge boost to all at the club and with the news that midfield playmaker Yohan Cabaye will be staying too, times look positive for Leonard and his boys.