Source: Northern_Echo
Carroll and Barton are going nowhere
NEWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew will rebuff any approaches for Andy Carroll and Joey Barton during the January transfer window.[LNB] Pardew is expected to be an active participant in the transfer market as he attempts to improve the squad he inherited from Chris Hughton earlier this month.[LNB] The majority of his attention will be focused on incomings, with a left-back and a centre-forward likely to be at the top of his list of priorities.[LNB] With owner Mike Ashley reluctant to spend too heavily, a significant outlay could result in Pardew coming under pressure to sell players in order to raise funds and reduce the existing wage bill.[LNB] However, the Newcastle boss has already concluded that a number of players will not be made available at any price, and both Carroll and Barton fall into that category.[LNB] Barton is currently interesting Aston Villa, with Villa boss Gerard Houllier keen to sign an experienced midfielder to replace Steve Sidwell, who is expected to join West Ham.[LNB] Carroll was linked with Tottenham Hotspur in a number of quarters this weekend. Harry Redknapp is keen to reshuffle his strike force, and sources in London claim Carroll has been mentioned as a possible replacement for fellow England international Peter Crouch.[LNB] However, having watched Carroll outplay Liverpool during his first game in charge of the Magpies, Pardew is keen to build his side around the striker.[LNB] Consequently, if Redknapp follows up his interest in the 21-year-old with a firm offer once the transfer window reopens at the start of next month, he will receive a curt response.[LNB] "It (the transfer speculation) gets boring but it is not going to stop," said Pardew. "It won't stop because he's (Carroll) a talent and that's what happens at big clubs. We have to have a big-club mentality and hold on to our best player.[LNB] "Andy just has to keep working hard and doing what he does best. His career path is here. He has already proved that playing for Newcastle United will not hinder his international career. So why does he need to go He loves it here and loves the fans - long may it continue."[LNB] The wintry weather continues to affect Newcastle's routine, as heavy weekend snow has made the training pitches at the club's Darsley Park training complex all but unusable.[LNB] The Magpies boast a state-of-the-art indoor facility, but with Pardew having had little time to work on technical and tactical matters since his appointment 12 days ago, a number of this week's sessions could be switched to St James' Park.[LNB] "We're going to have to think on our feet in terms of preparation, because the weather is going to be bad again," he said. "We might do some work at the ground ahead of the game against Man City, because we can use the surface because of the undersoil heating.[LNB] "We have that lined up, but we'll see how it goes. We don't really want to go on it to protect the pitch, but we'll have to see."[LNB] Despite the forecasters predicting prolonged spells of below-freezing temperatures this week, Newcastle officials are confident Sunday's home game will not be affected.[LNB]
