You can’t accuse Big Sam of letting the grass grow beneath his feet – and he certainly has a number of players he is after – some of which look very likely to join Newcastle.
We thought we’d look at the most likely candidates to join Newcastle United during the summer.
Sam Allardyce
The first group are those that seem almost certain to be coming to Newcastle
Mark Viduka, Tal Ben Haim and Derek Boateng
- Mark Viduka – Almost a certainty from Middlesbrough on a free transfer. Mark – who is 31 – will give us some thrust and experience up front and will be able to combine well with Owen or Martins. Free transfer
- Tal Ben Haim – Another free transfer and Tal is just 25 years old and a solid center back. He will be excellent to shore up our shaky back 4 – which will be much less shaky next season. Can play anywhere across the back four when required
- Derek Boeteng – Less than ₤1 and a robust midfielder – currently playing for Beitar Jerusalem FC in Israel. Derek – who is 24 – can play the attacking midfield role
Note that the 3 players above will cost together less than ₤1M 😀
The next group are those that seem likely to be coming to Newcastle
Leighton Baines and Joey Barton
- Leighton Baines – A good young player currently at Wigan and 22 years old. Got a great left foot and will plug that problem left back position for us. The price is being quoted around ₤5M – he’s worth it and will only get better under Big Sam
- Joey Barton – We do have competition for Joey – surprisingly enough. He has a bad reputation for blowing up both on and off the field. Much debate from Newcastle fans as to whether he would be a good buy. Nobody questions his ability – just his temperament – but Sam should be able to handle him – otherwise we believe he wouldn’t go after him. He’s 24 years old
The final group are those that are only probable at this stage but gives us an idea of the type of player Big Sam is after.
Curtis Davis, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Luca Neill, Reo-Coker and Peter Crouch
- Curtis Davis – from WBA is a young center back who has played for England under 21s. Quite expensive at ₤10M – but can only get better at Newcastle – and we assume that Sam has the money to spend ion him – even at that price. Just turned 22
- Eidur Gudjohnsen has been mentioned often – although his father wants him to stay in Spain. Currently at Barcelona and 28 years old – and not getting many games. Would be a good deal at₤8M
- Lucas Neill – Currently at West Ham but has been linked with a move to join Mark Viduka at Newcastle – would be a solid right back for us – and add some experience to the team. Played well for West Ham at the end of the season and just turned 29
- Reo Coker – Some news reports today that he actually wants to join Sam at Newcastle – although that’s from the Sun. If Reo-Coker comes in then somebody else – in addition to Parker would need to leave. Just turned 23
- Peter Crouch – 26 years old and at least mentioned in the past as being a potential at ₤10M – but now appears he will stay at Liverpool. Getting another forward probably dependent on what Owen does
Let’s know your opinions on these players – and who else we should move for – none of these are too expensive and if ₤45M is really available we could go for one or two world class players.
30 comments so far
joel gledhill
Jun 1, 2007 at 9:50 AM
Comment #1those comments there are sound
Cathal
Jun 1, 2007 at 9:56 AM
Comment #2dont sign barton, and keep parker, hes our best player!! what about coloccini and adrade at deportivo!! they are going thru a very bad financial period and i reckon newcastle cud pick up 2 world class defenders on the cheap!! but then agen, the last player we brought from depor was luque, and look wat hapnd to him!!!
Cathal
Jun 1, 2007 at 10:04 AM
Comment #3i just heard bayern are willing to listen to offers for philip lahm!! best full back in the world if u ask me!! and apparently aston villa are in for him so why not us, were a much biggger club in dire need of full backs!!
Ed Harrison
Jun 1, 2007 at 10:07 AM
Comment #4Cathal – we like both Coloccini and Andrade – but no real talk in the press on them – although we have mentioned both in the past on this site. Sam has the money so at some point he needs to spend some.
joe
Jun 1, 2007 at 10:28 AM
Comment #5If all the above were signed, and money raised from Parker, Dyer and maybe Martins, we’d have spent about £25 million. That would still leave Sam with money to spend – according to reports – and could buy a couple of outstanding players with his reported £45 million warchest. Even with the above mentioned we would be a mightily impressive side. Owen, Viduka, Crouch and Shola as strikers with Carroll as back up. Gudjohnsen could play as an attacking midfielder just off the front as he did successfully at Chelsea. At the back with Ben Haim, Davies, Neill and baines with Taylor as a back up or rotating with Davies. We’d be brilliant.
Steve
Jun 1, 2007 at 10:42 AM
Comment #6Agree with the first part but your probables are way out I hope. Sam will wheel and deal for centre backs and defenders that don’t cost 10 million by looking abroad and if we are really going to kick start a revolution up here, 15 million on Huntelaar (37 goals last year) would be a far better move than Crouch. I want to compete with the big 4 not just coat-tail them and let them pick up the worlds best players. Huntelaar would catapult us straight into the top 4 The other priority will be a left winger who has pace and trickery – Duff is a back up but not the answer, N’Zogbia has gone backwards – any contenders from abroad? We need to be thinking of a wizard that will trouble the very best…………………………….
joel gledhill
Jun 1, 2007 at 10:49 AM
Comment #7cathal-i think tht joey barton would be a great sighning,he would give other teams a scare by way he controls his temper,and he would never back out of a challenge,and he is not afraid too get stuck in.i think he would be a great defensive midlfielder (also a key-player). w/b people say what u think?
Aaron D
Jun 1, 2007 at 10:50 AM
Comment #8Yeah Coloccini and Andrade would be great signings, with Baines, Neill, Ben Haim,Taylor, Carr, Huntington, Babayaro, Edgar, Ramage and Solano, we would be well stocked with decent defender for once.
Viduka – good for free, but only coming to us because we have offered him £20k a week more than Boro.
Boateng- Don’t know too much about, apparently is the best player in his current league and partners Essien in middfield for Ghana so can’t be bad, if he is no good, its only a small fee @ less than £1m.
Ben Haim – quality signing for free, good cover across the back, hopefully he comes and doesn’t stay at Bolton or rot at Chelsea.
Baines – Great signing if we can pull it off, liverpool and man utd are apparently interested. £5m is a bargin. Proved he can cut it in the premiership and looking for a big move to further his international career.
Barton – good player but i wouldn’t sign him, would rather have Reo – Coker he’s only 22, and captained West ham, didn’t have a great season, but he works his heart out and could be a future international and apparently is begging to come to us. Px with Parker.
Curtis Davies – is a good prospect but £10m is a lot considering he’s never played in the premiership. Could probably get both Andrade and Coloccini for around the same fee.
Crouch – i don’t really rate, he’s only 25ish and already played for about 10 clubs must say something, at liverpool he was at first playing quite a bit and now he’s a bit part player, £10m seems too high as well.
I would like to see another striker in to replace amoebi (gudjohnsen, huntelaar, afonso alves or ashton) and bent or defoe in if owen or martins decide to leave.
joel gledhill
Jun 1, 2007 at 10:50 AM
Comment #9also what does everyone think about mark viduka?
please can everyone say what you think.thankz.
Ed Harrison
Jun 1, 2007 at 10:54 AM
Comment #10Joe – agree completely !
Ed Harrison
Jun 1, 2007 at 10:55 AM
Comment #11Joel – Viduka is good at the price – nothing.
We think Sam can give him a new lease on life – with his motivational skills – and also keep him fit – with the new medical staff we will have under Sam.
Ed Harrison
Jun 1, 2007 at 10:59 AM
Comment #12Aaron – thanks for your analysis. We like Crouch because he is so difficult to mark – and gives teams a completely new option in attack. We also like Ameobi – we need to keep Shola next season – to see how he does now his hip is OK. Also we will need to keep a few of the local boys and not bring in all different playesr – like Arsenal and Chelsea did. Think Taylor is the best but other young ones coming through – we should also keep Peter Ramage – he’s a great local lad – and will spill blood for the club! Those Ashington boys are pretty good 😀
Neil
Jun 1, 2007 at 11:32 AM
Comment #13I don’t think Crouch or Davies are worth 10 each. If we get Gudjohnsen then we definitely don’t need Crouch. We may still need another experienced center back in case the injuries come back. Nigel Reo Coker only if we miss out on Barton, who’ll be fine under Allardyce.
Raffles
Jun 1, 2007 at 11:35 AM
Comment #14Lucas Neill will not be coming to Newcastle. There’s no chance West Ham will sell him off so soon and I doubt we can offer him better than what he is currently on.
Viduka, despite his tendency toward laziness and the sporadic nature of his goal scoring/general on the pitch effort, isn’t bad for a freebie (17 or so goals last year. Not sure how many were in the league). If he’s been bought to lead the line, so to speak, where does this leave the now injury free (I hope) Shola Ameobi? In Portsmouth? Also, the signing of Viduka would most likely negate any potential offer for Crouch or Gudjohnsen, unless Owen or Oba are sold. Even considering that, neither are a like for like replacement and we need at least two forwards with (absolute minimum) good acceleration and pace. Neither Crouch nor Viduka offer this. As for Shola, vis a vis speed, it’ll be interesting to see how he plays without being curtailed by that hip injury. Hopefully he’ll be able to break into his stride with the ease I saw at school (aye, he was in the year below me. Very affable kid too, no b/s about him *watches Footballers Cribs* not much b/s about him ;)*.
The most likely of the transfers (besides Viduka) is probably Ben Haim and even that is not guaranteed. Especially if Chelski are genuinely interested in him, regardless of how much he likes Sam Rollthedice. Leighton Baines would indeed be a very good signing, but if either Merseyside club come in for him, I doubt our chances. Boateng has been touted extensively, but nowt materialises. Wether Sam would be keen on having a potential midfield star lost for the African Nations Cup, having been vocal on this subject at Bolton, leaving us depleted unnecessarily is another question.
Wow. I didn’t mention Panorama or the Quest investigation once.
DAMN!
Major Newcastle News Stories - 1st June 2007 - Parker Gone! | Newcastle United Blog
Jun 1, 2007 at 11:38 AM
Comment #15[…] The Players Sam Allardyce is Bringing to Newcastle6.1 […]
Aaron D
Jun 1, 2007 at 12:48 PM
Comment #16What about bringing in Elano and Wagner Love, they play in Russia and Ukraine and would jump at the chance of playing in england. Both of in the Brazil squad too. What do you think?
Amorn
Jun 1, 2007 at 12:51 PM
Comment #17Cathal,
I think you got mixed up between best player and player who is devoted to the club. Parker is no doubt very devoted both on the field and off the field but he certainly not the best. Last season, New werent able to hold ground in midfield and the central midfield must take blame. Surely Parker is committed in his challenge but easily get past and leave the back 4 expose which we knew how good our defenders were. Thats why Sam sees this point and want to strengthen along with defenders. But the main point is that we cannot allow to be expose at the back. Hope my comments dont offend anyone. Cheers
Soren
Jun 1, 2007 at 1:25 PM
Comment #18I’d say strengthen the defence first. Ben-Haim, Baines and Gravgaard would be good signings. Gravgaard I know much about seeing him in the Danish league and in the danish national team, and he really is a solid defender. Then go for Boateng and Reo-coker or Barton. Striker wise I’d say we only need one new, Viduka, Gudjohnsen or bring in someone rather unknown like boateng.
Raffles
Jun 1, 2007 at 1:26 PM
Comment #19Apparently Rollthedice is interested in bringing Brazilian playmaker Manfriend to the club…
As for Parker, his comments regarding the stick he received from some fans and his alleged references to the club being deluded in believing that we can achieve more than we have should automatically see the door smack him on the arse on his way out. He is massively overrated, certainly in his time with Newcastle and spends a good portion of any given match on his backside having failed to connect his foot with ball. I’d rather have Barton, if he can be reigned in (as Fat Sam did to an extent with Diouf), as his all round game exceeds Parker’s in every department and he’s a wee bit younger (plus he’s available on the, relatively, cheap).
Raffles
Jun 1, 2007 at 1:30 PM
Comment #20Soren, Boateng started his career as a striker, but has moved progressively back over the years to his current defensive midfield position and is known as so. Not as a striker.
The transfer gossip/names drawn randomly out of a hat links us with Rozenhal of PSG. Certainly, we need a few (read four) solid defenders. I like the idea of Lahm, but Ashley’s millions may not come through in time, nor is there any guarantee or likelihood that he’d want to come to the club, but attempts must be made for this standard of player if we are to compete.
Raffles
Jun 1, 2007 at 1:32 PM
Comment #21http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?HLID=469750&CPID=8&title=Newcastle+move+for+Czech&lid=&channel=Football_Home&f=rss&clid=4
Soren
Jun 1, 2007 at 2:10 PM
Comment #22Raffles, I also put boateng in the midfielder section with Reo-coker and Barton 😉
The news of Rozenhal, My guess is that he is just another name being linked with Newcastle. But Rozenhal is a good player? Haven’t seen him play, but heard his is to be a good defender. Checked is physical attributes, and it says he’s 191cm, we do need some tall players for the set pieces.
Raffles
Jun 1, 2007 at 2:25 PM
Comment #23Oops, my bad 🙁
Aye, he’s a big lad, but it does sound like the usual paper talk routine.
Stage One: Fill hat number one with the names of football clubs written on pieces of paper.
Stage Two: Fill hat number two with the names of as many footballers as you can.
Stage Three: Take a piece of paper from each hat and HEY PRESTO! Drogba to Yeovil.
I can dream….
Ed Harrison
Jun 1, 2007 at 2:45 PM
Comment #24Aaron – i just put up the 3rd article for today (they kind of link together) on how Sam should (could) spend his 45M – Jorge Andrade and Fabricio Colloccini are included – but look at the end of article to see who we could bring in for 45M – plus the players Sam is bringing in for free – what a squad we could have !!
http://nufcblog.com/which-top-players-should-sam-now-bring-to-newcastle/
Ed Harrison
Jun 1, 2007 at 2:48 PM
Comment #25Raffles – thanks for the Sky News on David Rozehnal – if you believe what they write – Sam is very interested – if it’s true.
totsy
Jun 2, 2007 at 12:22 AM
Comment #26i personaly dont rate rozehnal that ighly and think the club shoulb be looking at better players
michaelawin
Jun 5, 2007 at 11:57 PM
Comment #27Hi Everyone,
The players which would improve us dramatically are without a doubt:
Jagielka
Nelson
Onuoha
Ben Haim
Mexes
Andrade
Campbell
Rozenhal
Gravgaard
Davies
Barton
Boateng
Cahill
Gudjohnsen
Viduka
Ashton
Klass Jan Huntelaar is a MUST if possible, the guy is pure class. But any of the above i would be absolutely delighted. From selling the likes of Parker, Emre, Dyer and Luque class players like those mentioned above can be brought in with a healthy net spend.
Hopefully Sam can make it happen.
p.s Hi WP 😉
Lull
Jun 10, 2007 at 2:36 PM
Comment #28Hi everyone,
Is it true Big Sam going to strenghten the back 4? If Tal Ben Haim is joining team,I would say it would be a superb signing.The club have been neglecting the defensive department far too long and on top of that Big Boss Freddy is more interested to signing big names rather than to build a solid squad.I hope Big Sam will improve the health department to minimize our injury status.
Ed Harrison
Jun 10, 2007 at 2:45 PM
Comment #29Lull – we believe Newcastle and Big Sam are trying to tie the deal for Ben Haim this weekend. We feel almost certain Ben Haim and Rosehnal (Czech International – plays for PSG in France, 3.3M pounds) will be announced as Newcastle players early next week. Here’s an article that will bring you into the picture about these two – but it looks like these two center backs will be signed in next two days – and all for 3.3M UK pounds.
http://nufcblog.com/newcastle-transfer-news-on-ben-haim-rosehnal-and-baines/
matthew
Jun 16, 2007 at 9:33 AM
Comment #30i think andrade and mexes would be good although mexes used to play with boumsong at auxerre but mexes was allways the better apparently. ben haim to chelsea and rozenal looking unlikely so we should get colocini and andrade as they are good and solid