With Newcastle United failing to bring in any new players last week, all that Director of Football Joe Kinnear has to select from now are free agents, with the Northern Echo reporting that former West Ham and Chelsea stars are still up for grabs.
Scouring the free agent market is something more akin to Football Manager than a Premier League football club, but at Newcastle you can never rule anything out.
The first option for Kinnear is former West Ham striker Carlton Cole, with the 29-year-old being released in the summer.
Cole, who has scored 75 goals in his career, was not offered a new contract by West Ham because he wasn’t deemed to be fit enough, but posted the picture above in West Ham’s gym on his Twitter account saying: “fat what?”
Cole has Premier League experience, but he’s hardly prolific and doesn’t really offer much of an improvement on Newcastle stalwart Shola Ameobi.
An option at the back is Khalid Boulahrouz, who has had a dramatic fall from grace since signing for Chelsea for a fee of £8.5 million.
‘The Cannibal’ could be a useful backup for Newcastle across their backline and the 31-year-old offers international experience having played 35 times for The Netherlands.
However, Alan Pardew did previously say: “There is no point bringing in new players unless they can improve us and take us forward,” and would either of the above do that?
Kinnear has been awfully quiet for the past week, so maybe he is still planning something? Either that or he’s so embarrassed of the job he’s done that he’s too ashamed to show his face.
***
Id take Carlton Cole…think hes better than Shola. If Cisse is out then Shola is our only proper out and out forward (remy, gouffran better wider or deeper imo).
Wouldnt be too inspiring but remember Sibierski who was a top signing for us, he will be a player with something to prove and probably wouldnt be demanding high wages.
And boudabouz….nah.
Carlton Cole is the biggest conman in football since Adi Akinbiyi.
I agree. These players could be signed on a 1 year contact – to be extended based on performance. Why not?, I’d also throw Mo Sissoko and Yossi Benyoun into the ring as well. Mo may not be needed as much but even at 34/35 Yossi is a better option to Obertan in my opinion.
So Embarrassed he’s silent…..??
OK. Some corrections needed:
Carlton Cole was offered a new (2 year)contract before the end of the season, but he decided to wait until the summer to decide on his future (Whether his agent advised him or he felt he needed a new direction etc. is open to imagination). So he wasn’t ‘released’ which implies he wasn’t wanted.
Second: his goal scoring record is ‘not prolific’ (and where did you find the 75 goals stat?? who did your homework?) but he has played on some pretty shocking teams. Often coming on as sub (He did hold the record for England substitute appearances without a start). His best years, under Zola/Clarke he returned about 1 in 3 (22 in 64), which is Premiership standard?
After the ‘shambles’ that was Avram Grant at West Ham, relegation Gave CC a chance in the starting line up again, where he returned 15 in 43 … in the Championship.
So in fairness, Carlton Cole has played under about 20 different managers, in variety of schemes, was signed by Pardew and played for him at WHU and Charlton, so should know what the deal is…… however
Carlton ‘what fat?’
Sorry mate, the machines/monitors/gadgetry they hook you up to does not lie….. Why would the medics want to say no?
Truth is, you had the summer off and didn’t work hard enough.
Get fit and sign on with whomever will take you on.
As far as the Toon go; WTF is Kinnear doing?
Embarassing? I’m embarassed for you!