Source: Northern_Echo
Pardew will press claims to strengthen his squad
ALAN PARDEW will hold a transfer summit with Newcastle chief executive Derek Llambias later today to underline the need for at least one experienced signing this month.[LNB] In the last three transfer windows, Magpies owner Mike Ashley has stuck rigidly to his policy of signing young players with a reasonable sell-on value, enabling him to prevent the club's wage bill from escalating.[LNB] That remains Ashley's preferred way of operating, and Pardew, who was managing in League One as recently as last August, will attempt to secure a couple of Football League bargains before the window closes on January 31.[LNB] However, with the festive programme having exposed a lack of depth in the forward and wing positions, the Newcastle boss is also hoping to recruit at least one experienced attacking player.[LNB] Robbie Keane and David Beckham remain viable targets, along with Tottenham winger David Bentley, and Pardew has already received positive signals about the Spurs duo from White Hart Lane boss Harry Redknapp.[LNB] However, a more formal move is reliant on Ashley agreeing to shell out a sizeable transfer or loan fee, as well as funding a hefty wage bill for at least the next five months, and Pardew will outline the need for such action when he meets members of the Magpies hierarchy today.[LNB] The policy hasn't changed, said the Newcastle manager. The policy the club has is a sensible one especially in the times we're in but occasionally there comes a time, especially in the first year after promotion, when you sometimes need a guiding hand and that might come from outside of that policy.[LNB] Sometimes, you just need somebody that makes sure you don't get yourself into trouble, which can happen easily at this level, as we all know. You can go on a run of six games without a win and suddenly you're in trouble.[LNB] My argument against that particular policy for this window is that we have to make sure we're open on all levels here, because we're only halfway through the season and we're vulnerable. Andy Carroll's injury proves how vulnerable we can be.[LNB] Ashley has sanctioned the purchase of a more experienced player in the past Sol Campbell was about to turn 36 when he moved to St James' Park last summer and having only been appointed last month, Pardew would appear to be in a strong position in terms of forcing his owner's hand.[LNB] However, there will not be a sudden influx of big-name arrivals, and the majority of Newcastle's January transfer dealings are expected to involve players from further down the Football League, a market Pardew feels is all too often ignored.[LNB] The Magpies manager has instructed scouts to watch Southampton winger Jason Puncheon, who is currently on loan at Millwall, and has also been linked with QPR midfielder Adel Taarabt and Leeds winger Max Gradel.[LNB] There's talent below the Premier League, but there seems to be a general attitude of Oh, they're not good enough', said Pardew.[LNB] Charlie Adam of Blackpool is a great example of proving that completely wrong.[LNB] I've had massive success in that market with Bobby Zamora, Nigel Reo-Coker, Nicky Shorey, Steve Sidwell, James Harper, Dean Ashton .[LNB] . . . they're there.[LNB] It's just a question of believing in your eye and believing they can carry this jersey. You've got to make sure they've got the right character, but they're there.[LNB] Pardew's immediate priority is tomorrow's home game with West Ham, a match that will again see the Magpies deprived of leading goalscorer Andy Carroll.[LNB] Carroll is rated as 50-50[LNB] for this month's Wear-Tyne derby with Sunderland, but in his absence tomorrow, Peter Lovenkrands is hoping to continue his partnership with Shola Ameobi, who scored the winner in Sunday's success at Wigan.[LNB] I thought me and Shola played well together, said Lovenkrands. The link-up play behind us was really good, and that gave myself and Shola options to do what we needed to do up front.[LNB] I thought we did that. I thought we played well together and complemented each other pretty effectively.[LNB] Sometimes in life, you have to be patient. You can't always spit the dummy out as soon as something goes wrong and you're not in the team.[LNB] It's been difficult, but it's been a case of taking my time and knowing a chance would come. The chance is here now and I'm trying my best to grab it. Hopefully, I've done enough to play in the next game as well.[LNB] Newcastle officials have approached Bradford City to request permission to speak to Peter Taylor about the club's vacant assistant managerial post.[LNB] Taylor, whose position at Valley Parade has come under threat in recent weeks, has formerly managed England Under-21s, as well as briefly taking control of the England senior side for a 1-0 defeat to Italy in November 2000.[LNB]
