Newcastle were linked with a number of forwards during the last month of the transfer window but ultimately failed to lure any of them to the north east. One man I didn’t even realise that the Magpies had their eye on, but again turned them down, was Eljero Elia. The 24-year-old winger was on Newcastle’s radar in August, but instead The Netherlands international opted for the Serie A and Juventus. Should we be concerned about Newcastle’s lack of ability to sign the top, top talent?
It’s nice to see that Newcastle are chasing top class players, but it’s becoming slightly worrying that they aren’t managing to sign many of them. During the summer bids were reportedly made for Gervinho, Kevin Gameiro and Mevlut Erdinc, but none of that striking trio were interested in moving to Tyneside. Even Bryan Ruiz turned down Newcastle in favour of Fulham, so the Magpies clearly aren’t the draw they once were.
The counter to this is that in Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa and Davide Santon they have managed to sign three quality European internationals in recent months. This is no mean feat considering that Newcastle are no longer prepared to fork out for ridiculous wages as they did back in the day. St James’ Park is still a great place to play your football, but you can’t expect Newcastle to compete with some of the big European powerhouses.
Back to Elia and Newcastle were one of a handful of Premier League sides interested in him. The Dutchman said “My agent did have contact with Arsenal, but it took too long. I had no contact with Arsene Wenger. Wigan, Everton, Fulham and Newcastle had fairly concrete interest.” In that situation Newcastle wouldn’t have been able to compete with the Gunners, which is why Alan Pardew should be concentrating his efforts on a second tier of players, who will still add quality to his squad.
The Newcastle scouting network seem to be doing well in identifying the players to bring to St James’ Park, it’s just a case of Pardew and his team persuading them to sign on the dotted line. Becoming settled as a Premier League club around mid-table will only help him do that. So in the case of Eljero Elia, it’s a bit like Bullseye, here’s what you could have won (or had).
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They spent the summer bidding half of player’s going rates, so how do we know if it came down to nufc’s fading reputation or not?
Ambition is contagious – players want to play with other big players, as well as for money. Santon had failed to impress last year on loan, so was hardly the major coup you have down to be.
Not saying Santon was a major coup, but hopefully will be a solid signing
Simply because we are not a successful club in winning trophies is the reason that we cannot land all of the young top European talent. All we need is to win a trophie and climb our way up the league and compete in Europe. That would convince more players of top quality to join Newcastle United. We need to stop pretending that we are something that we are not. Dispite us not being able to get a new #9 I think we have done fantastically in the transfer market. I’m extremely pleased with Yohan Cabaye, he looks like the playmaker and grafter that we need, possibly a future club captain. I’m also pleased with the way that Leon Best has started the season he is showing that he is willing to prove everyone wrong even after everyone has written him off, he is showing real guts and determination. I think be could well be a future number 9, I mean why not, if he bags 20 goals this season surly the shirt is his. Sure he’s not the best finisher and he needs a couple of chances before he scores but that shows that he’s getting himself in the right positions on the pitch. The talent that we have brought in of late makes this an incredibly exciting time at Newcastle. In my eyes the future looks bright.
Putting a players name in the frame, then claiming we’re after them does not constitute putting a bid in for the player. Its all been smoke and mirrors, lies and bullshit as far as I’m concearned.
Just hope the next owner can tie up a deal with a more reputable kit name so we don’t have to buy and wear his shit.
Best seems to place him self about ten yards out dead centre of the goal. It means whenever the ball does come in that area not only does he have a good chance of it coming to him but he does not need to do much work to get a shot off that is on target. It also gives the keeper little time to react. I cant think of Best scoring any goals charging in and curling a shot after a nice dribble. He is a target man but with Ben Arfa and Cabaye behind him he could score a ton of rebounds, fumbles, errors and quick crosses.
Man City folk out a fortune on players & wages, they won the FA cup and made Champions League last season and still Tevez wanted away!… My point is simply this, some players and agents are greedy bastards, and I’d include Nolan & Barton in that group of greedy bastards, we want players who want to play for Newcastle, Cabeye, Ben Arfa and Santon are World class, throw into the mix players like Colo, S.Taylor and Best plus others who are prepared to work hard for the team and you have the makings of a team I for one want to get behind.
Don’t get me wrong, we missed out on a new no. 9 this summer and probably had too much time to find one, which is why the list of possibles was so bloody long!
Best, Ba & Sammy can see us til Jan if they dodge injuries but then we have to send!!! But on the right player not another Owen, Martins or Viduka, someone overpaid who’s not really arsed.
Pieters and a 15-20m striker in Jan please Cockney Mafia to make it up to the fans
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we probly offered his club £500 cash and £50 a week wages 4 him.what a suprise….. he didnt come
lol, unlikely but I know what you mean