Here are two defenders who may be next in line to arrive at Newcastle as boss Allardyce says he is lining up some deals but nothing is imminent due to the demands of players on wages – and clubs on transfer fees. After the loss of Ben Haim yesterday we hope we will not lose out on Rosehnal – but that seems a distinct possibility.
Big Sam
There is little doubt we now have to concentrate on bringing defenders in during the next week or so – and Sam is looking for some additional height at the back. Sam yesterday talked about the lack of height in the squad and how he had to get taller players in – which will be useful especially in set pieces during games.
This is what the Newcastle manager told the NUFC official web site on Thursday:
“We need to get more height in the team. Most games are won and lost on set-pieces in modern football.
“If you don’t have the height to compete at both ends then you won’t score as many and you’ll concede too many goals – it’s a big factor.”
After the disappointment of not signing Ben Haim we look at these two defenders who are supposedly on our list and assess the situation.
Before we look at the players here’s an assessment of the current transfer market Sam gave today:
“I’m spending a huge amount of time on the phone trying to get things in place.
“I’ve got my foot on the pedal trying to go at 90mph but only going 20mph at the moment.
“We’re finding out that inflation has hit. The new money has come in from Sky and all of a sudden it has inflated the salaries and the transfer fees, but we are having to compete.”
David Rosehnal
This one is probably the closest transfer we are involved with – in terms of it completing. Our understanding is that we have offered ₤2M but PSG are looking for about ₤3.5M. The danger is that Borussia Dortmund are still involved in this deal and could pip us to David – much like Chelsea did with Ben Haim.
Unfortunately when you read the latest press on this it looks like Dortmund are favorites and that Rosehnal even would prefer a move to the German club.
A week ago we would have thought Ben Haim and Rosehnal would be at Newcastle fairly quickly but now it may be that we miss out on both center backs.
We also don’t understand how money can be a problem when Ashley is about to take over – we would have thought that would have given us an advantage in the market. However, this increase in wages and transfer fees is not good – heaven knows what it’s going to be like in a couple of years – these players are already way overpaid.
Rosehnal would add the much needed height at the back (6’3â€) and he is described as a quick, determined and skilled defender – who could do very well in the Premiership. We are not sure what the delay is here or why Dortmund are favorites.
Nicky Shorey
We are reportedly keen to sign Reading and England left back Nicky Shorey to reinforce our defense for next season. West Ham and Tottenham are other teams said to be interested in Shorey – who could move if an offer of £5million was made.
Sam – make the offer.
The transfer fee to us seems fairly reasonable for a player who looked very comfortable playing for England against Brazil. We like Nicky a lot and we hope some of those calls that Sam is making are going to Reading about Shorey’s availability.
At the age of nine Nicky Shorey started playing for Leyton Orient (Nicky is now aged 26 – so it was 1990) and worked his way through their youth system. Whilst he was there he made 16 appearances for the first team. He was at Orient until February 2001 when he made the ₤25K transfer to Reading. He has played for Reading 231 times and scored 10 goals. Nicky is 5’9″ tall.
We’ll need to get some good strong defenders in during the next couple of weeks.
Other players mentioned today – that Sam may be interested in – are Sami Hyypia of Liverpool (6’5″) and Marseille’s Habib Beye (6′).
From yesterday’s story we ran it seems that quite a few of our readers are not too keen on Hyypia – but under Sam we’d think he would do well for a couple of years.
Let us know your ideas and comments on these potential signings.
35 comments so far
paul p
Jun 15, 2007 at 9:20 AM
Comment #1lets break the bank and get woodgate back. yes i no he has just signed for the boro, but hey, money talks as it has been proved with ben haim. A big offer for him would tempt him back I no for sure. Also I would like to see Curtis Davies, Rozenhal, Gabriel Milto in as centre halves. Right back Micah Richards brought in, with Luke Young or Beye from Marseille. Left back my choice would be either Baines, Eric Abidal from Lyon or Shorey. But we must act quickly in the market. It could be the difference on whether we have a great season.
Aaron d
Jun 15, 2007 at 9:27 AM
Comment #2would love to see Woodgate back, but don’t think that will happen although his number 6 shirt is open. Curtis Davies should be leaving WBA as they didn’t get promoted, but £10m seem too high. Rozenhal at £2.5m seems a good deal as he is an experianced international. Micah Richards would hold out for a big 4 move. Baines should be a definate purchase, if we have large centre backs, surly there would be room for him. Abidal no chance, Lyon are in champions league and he is wanted by Real and Barcelona. If not baines, royston drenthe.
paul p
Jun 15, 2007 at 9:35 AM
Comment #3Royston Drenthe?? Who does he play. I have never heard of him. Is he any good. I have thought of another player, Phillip Lahm for left back. He would be quality. If we are to get back into the champions league and show ambition, then we need to be bidding for players like abidal, lahm, woody, baines, etc.
michaelawin
Jun 15, 2007 at 9:39 AM
Comment #4The likes of Andrade, Mexes, Bridge, Baines, Richards and Curtis Davies must be looked at first. Gutted at missing out on Ben Haim Chelsea have stolen 2 now, him and Sidwell, i used to like them…..
paul p
Jun 15, 2007 at 9:45 AM
Comment #5Mexes and Andrade are 2 defenders who would be quality in our defence as well and I would take them both.
Soren
Jun 15, 2007 at 9:59 AM
Comment #6Rozenhal must be regarded as a very good purchase at his price, for a player with international experience and has player european football for PSG as well.
Definitely a great buy at £2,5m or so.
Habib beye also looks great as well does Shorey. But we soon need to see some progress, I would be a kick in the onions, if we were to miss out on even more transfer targets.
The Big P
Jun 15, 2007 at 10:01 AM
Comment #7Surely the Money is there to say we are not messing about,when bidding for players like Rozenhal. Failure to push the boat out will cost Newcastle in success, which also means money. While I am confident that Alleydice knows the value of the players he is after, lets not fall into relegation and obliteration because of not wanting to go the extra mile when it comes to reinforcing the defence.
This may seem excagerrated but did we not come close to the plug hole last season? Why?Because we lacked quality cover and quality defence.
Tony_D
Jun 15, 2007 at 10:15 AM
Comment #8If the transfer fees and wages are inflated at the moment this affects all clubs, not just us as we generally have more to spend than most in the summer.
Ashley needs to make sure that Sam has the funds required, as it seems he is not as reckless as Souness in terms of spending big money.
Rick
Jun 15, 2007 at 10:18 AM
Comment #9I fear BSA has a problem. He has no transfer kitty, other than what he can raise from sales or that are individually sanctioned by Shepherd/Ashley.
Remember that Joey Barton couldn’t be signed until Scott Parker was sold? This left about £2m to spend – the exact amount apparently bid for David Rosehnal – even though it was assumed that it would take somewhere between £2.5m – £3.5m.
Until the Ashley review is complete and BSA is given a proper budget, I don’t think wer’e likely to do much in the transfere market, other than maybe free signings or ones for the now £1.7m left from the Parker/Barton deals.
This might explain why BSA said “…I’ve got my foot on the pedal trying to go at 90mph but only going 20mph at the moment…” and why we are in danger of loosing out on the David Rosehnal transfere.
I hope I am wrong!
James
Jun 15, 2007 at 10:29 AM
Comment #10i rekon we should go for mich richards a big strong RB and we could get joey to bully him till he comes,lol
nightfall
Jun 15, 2007 at 10:37 AM
Comment #11what obout senderos…he doesn’t play much at arsenal since the arrival of gallas…
paul p
Jun 15, 2007 at 10:45 AM
Comment #12senderous is rubbish mate and he is another bramble. He is liable to the old switch off, which will cost us goals. I dont think he would be a good signing at all for us. If we are to do well, then we need better quality. It speaks for itself when Arsene Wenger loaned him off to Villerreal. Basically not good enough for the Arsenal team.
Aaron d
Jun 15, 2007 at 11:02 AM
Comment #13Paul P – Royston Drenthe plays for Feyenoord he broke into there first team this season and played 29 games. He has only just turned 20. From what i have seen of him he looks very good, i think we should get him as well as baines/shorey as a back-up/rotation. Aston Villa are scouting him at the moment.
I don’t think Lahm is a realistic target, he plays for Bayern Munich the biggest club in Germany they are rich too.
Hyppia might be ok for a season but he was a bit shite last season when he played.
paul p
Jun 15, 2007 at 11:14 AM
Comment #14Aaron. Cheers for that. He must surely be playing for Holland in the Under 21’s so i will have a watch 2mora as there game is on sky. See thats why I dont want Hyypia. I have spoken to quite a few scousers about him and they reckon he is finished now. He has lost pace, match sharpness etc, so I would look elsewhere. We need to have a go this season, a mean, look back in 2001, we bought bellamy and robert, lua lua, jenas that season and we had a back 4 of hughes, dabizas, obrien, bernard and still finished 4th. It just needs a top quality back 4, with 2 or 3 good back up players. Personally, I would have bellamy back tomorrow because he so fast and that’s what defenders hate…someone running at you who is fast as fooook, with Martins or Owen, with Viduka holding it up, cud be bizzo here. as long as we have a decent defence we will be ok, but if we can get some pace down the right, another midfielder possibly to go with joey and another forward (thats if owen wants to go of course) it cud be a difference again..
Phil P
Jun 15, 2007 at 11:32 AM
Comment #15I watched the portugal netherlands under 21 match t’other day and that drenthe looked class i must say, although i thought he was playin on the wing to be honest. babel looked good too, another one we’ve been linked to a few times not that we really need a striker now.
Ed Harrison
Jun 15, 2007 at 11:33 AM
Comment #16Royston Drenthe (born April 08, 1987) is a Dutch footballer who currently plays for Feyenoord Rotterdam. Drenthe mainly plays as a left back, but often rushes forward. That in combination with his determination and kicking technique makes him also suitable for the left winger or left forward positions. here’s a link to more information on him.
http://www.answers.com/topic/royston-drenthe
Ed Harrison
Jun 15, 2007 at 11:34 AM
Comment #17Phil P – looks like he can play left back or left winger – they seem to be very similar positions these days.
Ed Harrison
Jun 15, 2007 at 11:41 AM
Comment #18This Royston Drenthe looks a very good player – and just turned 20 – what’s Sam’s telephone number?
paul p
Jun 15, 2007 at 11:58 AM
Comment #19lets email him at sam.allardyce@nufc.co.uk and see if we can tell him to go for him and also who else we want him to sign for us haha!!!
Dustin
Jun 15, 2007 at 12:42 PM
Comment #20The reports on Royston Drenthe from the U21 tournament are very good and he is now being linked with a move to Villa, let’s get in there. Lahm is going nowhere end of! Not sure what to make of this whole Baines (5’8″) is too short so we want Shorey (5’9″)? surely that inch isn’t the deciding factor. Re Rosehnal prefering Dortmund, simply agent games. I think the quote was,”At the moment Rozenthal probably just prefers Dortmund, but I dont want to speak for the player and negotiations will provide vital.”
larsson
Jun 15, 2007 at 1:17 PM
Comment #21Whats wrong with big vince kompany and perhaps a slightly unrealistic nice little cheeky bid for johnny heitinga?
Aaron d
Jun 15, 2007 at 1:27 PM
Comment #22There are loads of good defenders out there this is why it’s probably taking so long to persue in buying one, SA has to make the right decision.
Would prefer some one like johny heitinga than Young.
Phil P – Yeah he play left mid that game but the game before he play left back which is his main postition.
Kompany is quality but having to u-21’s as our two main centre backs? might work. but he has only just gone to hamburg and they can offer european football too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAUTS9GPjCM watch this video of royston drethne against israel.
larsson
Jun 15, 2007 at 1:42 PM
Comment #23Better a young defence than a creaking one with hyppia in like
mark W
Jun 15, 2007 at 2:10 PM
Comment #24Lets just pay the £3.5 m or we will miss out on another good buy.
But lets not also be held to ransom with players wages, Hiam was obviously chasing the cash!!! Good Rid!
Give Taylor a good chance and lets see some of this Carroll this season..
The Terry’s and Gerrards all had to be given a chance also to shine!!
Ed Harrison
Jun 15, 2007 at 2:43 PM
Comment #25larsson – maybe i’m the only one – but think Hyypia would be good for the youngsters – he will not be a starter – but could help Taylor, Ramage, Huntington etc with his experience.
Ed Harrison
Jun 15, 2007 at 2:44 PM
Comment #26mark W – think the problem with the Rosehnal deal is the fee – and not the wages – we should cough up another £1M and get the guy !
ryan magomu
Jun 15, 2007 at 3:18 PM
Comment #27i think dimes aint our problem right?lets be the go geetttas right now.if we need shorey lets go get him.he is such a good left back.i think Big sam is right when he says we need height in our defence. Rosehnal should be a problem to a big club like newcastle.i believe we should have gotten tal ben haim just that chelsea proved better poachers.lets not let Rosehnal slip threw our grips.i know he will sign for us.but with chelsea gettin into our way on two players now,are these players really assured of starting at chelsea.who will sidwell displace lamps essien hell no.
Dustin
Jun 15, 2007 at 4:08 PM
Comment #28johny heitinga is 5’9″ probably tall enough for BSA 🙂
Dustin
Jun 15, 2007 at 4:10 PM
Comment #29Ok I am convinced, Royston Drenthe is our man! “SAM, DID YOU HEAR THAT?”
Cathal
Jun 15, 2007 at 5:40 PM
Comment #30i wud b one of those who doesn’t rate hyypia!id nearly prefer bouhlahrouz! i tink he wud b a waste of money! rozehnal wud b a fantastic signing, and maybe to pair him wit steven taylor at the back! sam wud then hav to look for a third choice centre half! btw wat is d story on luque!
Cathal
Jun 15, 2007 at 5:41 PM
Comment #31what about nigel de jong?
Mal
Jun 15, 2007 at 11:52 PM
Comment #32The one thing we have needed for god knows how many years is a good experienced centre half who has been round the block, did it and got the tea shirt. Hypia would be a fantastic signing, albeit a short term one. He would bring on taylor leaps and bounds and would make a good captain. Sam knows what we need in terms of defenders and I ‘m sure he will make certain we sign at least 2 good central defenders and a good left back. I can’t help smiling at all the talk of how we should push the boat out and sign Rosehnal – have any of these people seen him play? Is he any good? Personally, I don’t know and I’m quite happy to leave it to the manager to decide if he’s worth signing and at what price.
Ed Harrison
Jun 16, 2007 at 12:35 AM
Comment #33Mal – sensible stuff – and yes we need to trust Sam and he will bring in some good players – i’m just impatient – if truth be told 😀
valle
Jun 16, 2007 at 12:44 AM
Comment #34Mal… U cannot be serious, Hyypia???… Have u watched any liverpool games this season mate?. He is NOT what he used to be and he cost them loads of goals. There are other and better alternatives out there if we wanna get to the top. That Drente guy looks good, but that video dosnt really show me anything that tells me he is a good DEFENDER. He dribles, holds on to the ball and shoots at the keeper, watch it again, he dosnt even look up to see if he has any free teammate in the box… nah, give me Shorey or Baines over him any day.
Owen
Jun 16, 2007 at 2:35 AM
Comment #35I’ll just throw the name of Matthieu Flamini into the frame.
I here he is pretty much decided to leave Arsenal after being left out for the big games last season.
I know he is a midfielder but he is still young, has played left and right fullback and is used to the Premiership.
I reckon he would be a great versitle fullback who can step up into midfield if we needed him.
BSA should be chasing him now……