For this article we are going to assume that we have Joey Barton, Mark Viduka, David Rosehnal, Leighton Baines, Derek Boateng and Tal Ben Haim at the club.
Barton and Viduka have arrived and we are fairly confident we can get the remaining four players in – some imminently.
We will now look at the squad we have and ask the question – who else to we need?
Sam Allardyce
We have let go – Srnicek, Onyewu, Bramble, Moore, Bernard, Sibierski and Parker. Albert Luque has also gone to PSV for a season long loan.
We have received £7M for Parker.
Let’s also assume that each of the players we bring in cost the following:
Viduka (free), Barton (£5.5M), Ben Haim (free), Baines (£5M) Boateng (£0.7M), Rosehnal (£3.3M) for a total of £14.5M.
So we’ve spent a net of £7.5M to amass the following squad – note the new players are the ones not wearing the Newcastle shirt (that seems to makes sense):
Goalkeepers:
Given, Harper, Krul
Good goalkeepers but we feel we may need to send out Krul on loan for a year or two to give him the vital playing experience he needs – just like Manchester United did with Ben Foster – so we may still need to being in a third goalkeeper.
Full Backs:
Solano, Dyer, Carr, Baines, Babayaro
We’ve put both Solano and Dyer in this group because Sam has said he may play Dyer there and Solano played well for us there last season. So we may not need a right back – and think Carr and Babayaro may be surplus to requirements – especially if we bring in another full-back.
Center Backs:
Taylor, Ramage, Ben Haim, Rosehnal
Ben Haim can also play full back as can Taylor and Ramage – through their best positions are central defense. Huntington and Edgar may need to be sent out on loan for a year or two to give them vital playing experience – they both can also play at full back.
Think we are OK for central defense now?
Central Midfield:
Butt, Barton, Emre, Pattison, Boateng
Two defensive midfielders in Butt and Boateng – and two attacking ones in Barton and Emre. Not sure if Pattison fits in here – he will have to show himself next season if he wants to remain at Newcastle. This at least looks balanced right now.
Wingers:
Duff, N’Zogbia, Milner, O’Brien
Of course we can also play Solano and Dyer here but it looks like we may need another right winger. Maybe Freddie Ljungberg or Dimitri Payet could fit the bill there?
Also – this will be a vital season for O’Brien if he wants to stay at Newcastle – he has shown class and pace playing for Ireland – and will have to show that next season for Newcastle – but he looks to be third choice at left wing. Wolves have always been interested in him and there is news today they may want to sign him.
Strikers:
Ameobi, Owen, Martins, Viduka
Wow – that looks like a potent strike force to us – we have experience – two big men and two smaller goal pinchers – a good combination. We also have 18 year old Andy Carroll – who looked very good last year – maybe he needs to go out on loan to get playing experience?
Well that’s what we think we have right now – some areas are looking good – other areas still need more players coming in.
But we really need your help on this.Let us know what you think of the current squad (assuming those transfers happen) and then let us know who else needs to be brought in.
Hey – maybe Sam will look at this and get a few ideas ……………. OK just kidding. 
NUFC News 24/7
64 responses so far ↓
1 Pete // Jun 8, 2007 at 1:35 PM
I our right side looks the weakest. At right back Solano played alright there last season but he got caught out a lot. Dyer is too much of a girl to get stuck into the hard tackles but he has great pace.
I agree we need another right winger even though Milner played awesome last season.
I would also play Zog’s more centrally, and keep Babayaro for cover.
My Team:
Given
TBA/Solano, Ben-Haim, Rosenhal/Taylor ,Baines
Milner, Barton/Dyer, Emre/Zogs, Duff
Ameobi/Viduka, Martins/Owen
2 Ron Sheeepskin // Jun 8, 2007 at 1:36 PM
That squad is not good enough for the top 6. We need:
Defence
Carr and Babayaro need to go as they should not figure in a squad aiming for the top 4
New right back – I would like neill of West Ham as he is versatile and can play CB (indeed that is his best position I think)
Midfield
Get rid of Emre and Dyer – under achievers who flatter to deceive. If we can get £15m for the 2 of them that will be excellent business.
Another defensive midfielder and a couple of creative midfielders. I would play Zoggy in the middle, then we probably need another top class midfield player. Not sure who that is yet though.
Wingers
Get shot of Duff – I believe he is a busted flush and fits into the “flatters to deceive” category. Also O’Brien and Pattison must go as they should not figure in a squad with Champions Leage ambition.
We need to find a left sided player to fill Duff’s shoes assuming Milner is on the right
Strikers
If we’re being ruthless, you’d have to say Shola should go
Bring in Crouch who is massively underrated and would link well with Owen and Martins.
3 carl // Jun 8, 2007 at 1:45 PM
a good squad but still in nead of improving if we are to get a top 6 finish.i think we would be fine in centre back assuming we get ben haim and rozehnal,left back would be fine if we get baines(a must) with babayaro as cover.but we are in need of a quality right back as carrs past it and we cant rely on solano and dyer.as for midfield and wingers i think thats a good combination but somewhere that could have more world class talent in if sam spends the cash ashley will provide .and we all know if all our strikers remain at the club then were fine in that department.
4 Outlaw // Jun 8, 2007 at 1:48 PM
That looks like a shit squad. We still need a few more players. Plus players like Babayaro and Carr should be chucked out. Waste of time!
5 ben warman // Jun 8, 2007 at 1:51 PM
If we keep all the strikers we have now that is that area totally sorted in my opinion, looks very good on paper at least. I would personally rather never see either carr or babayaro play for newcastle again so I would suggest shipping them out and getting replaced whether they are just for back up or able to walk straight into the team. I also think Dyer would be very much wasted as a fullback and would much prefer him as an attacking mid or winger.
So overall if we get the players you have mentioned it would be a pretty strong squad. But I would try and add another right and left back along with either another right winger or centre mid (depending on how dyer will fit in). I’ll try and have a think of specific players
6 John McCooe // Jun 8, 2007 at 1:52 PM
We need a few World class players brought in, ditch all the players who don’t wanna play for toon, bring in a world class center back like vidic, world class midfielder like maxi rodrigez or aimar and possibly ditch owen and bring in somebody like messi!!! HaHa, i love the Argies!!!!
7 Cicero // Jun 8, 2007 at 1:53 PM
I’d go for a world class keeper Given’s not in the same class as Petr Check or Pepe Renier. I’d also go for Michael Carrick to play along side Barton (would Dyer, Emre or Zogs or any of our squad,with the exception of Owen, walk in to the Man U or Chelsea team? Don’t think so) We need 3 or 4 world class players in the team if we are going to break in to the top 4.
8 paul p // Jun 8, 2007 at 1:54 PM
my sqaud would be as follows
goalkeepers
given, harper, kruel
defenders
taylor, ben haim, baines, richards, rozenhal, solano, davies, ramage
midefielders
barton, butt, emre, dyer, duff, nzogbia, wright phillips, milner
forwards
owen, viduka, bellamy, martins, ameobi.
I would loan out huntingham and edgar, but pattinson and obrien are not good enough to play for newcaslt. Anyd Carrol is going to be a good player and what better players can you learn off with owen and viduka to bring him on.
Wright Phillips, Davies, Richards and Bellamy would be my other key signings. With this squad, there is no reason why we can not push the top 5 teams.
9 John McCooe // Jun 8, 2007 at 1:54 PM
What about Philip Lahm if we can’t get Baines and for the right how about, jasus, i dunno!!!!
10 carl // Jun 8, 2007 at 1:58 PM
my team
given
? ben haim/taylor rozehnal/ramage baines/baba
solano/milner barton/dyer butt/emre duff/nzogbia
amoebi/viduka owen/martins
as you can see we could improve both left and right wingers aswell as maybe one more central midfielder of high quality and def nedd a right back
11 carl // Jun 8, 2007 at 2:01 PM
maybe get rid of emre,dyer,baba and carr
12 paul p // Jun 8, 2007 at 2:15 PM
sqaud 2!!
goalkeepers
given, buffon, krul
defenders
ben haim, taylor, baines, richards, woodgate, alex, nesta, emmanuelson, rozenhal, alves
Midfielders
joquinn, wright phillips, milner, barton, riquelme, diego, xavi, van der vaart, gattusso, butt, duff,
Forwards
Owen, Viduka, Adriano, David Villa, Torres
Why not… we now have the money to buy who we want, so why not have a go eh.
13 Pete // Jun 8, 2007 at 2:16 PM
John McCoe,
Messi is the best player this planet will ever see, he is ACE ! ! !
The best goal ever:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hokq-7olthE&mode=related&search=
14 Soren // Jun 8, 2007 at 2:19 PM
I say we bring back Aaron Hughes from Villa, and strenghen our back position. Aaron can play all over the defence like Ben-Haim, and that versatility could be a good thing, if we are hit by injuries once more.
15 peter charlton // Jun 8, 2007 at 2:20 PM
Cicero what planet are you on Given is among the top 5 keepers in the world if u ask me hes about par with petr czeck and he is way above ranier ,put them 2 keepers behind our back 4 last season and see how they would fare.As for michael carrick ur having a laugh u said we needed world class players and he definately isnt world class.Also how many players would walk into the Man U team from any team in the premiership they are the title holders hence the best team we looking for top 4 .Think you need a bit of a reality check m8 .
16 carl // Jun 8, 2007 at 2:21 PM
messi,alex and joquuin would be amazing
17 A geordiedoonsooth // Jun 8, 2007 at 2:23 PM
Looks great but lets wait & see what BS does with all the money he is supposed to be getting.
18 John // Jun 8, 2007 at 2:27 PM
GK: Given, Harper, Krul
RB: Micah Richards, Tal Ben Haim
CD: Rozehnal, Steven Taylor, Curtis Davies, Ramage
LB: Leighton Baines(New Beresford), N’Zogbia
DM: Joey Barton, Nicky Butt, David Edgar,N.Reo-Coker(the contingency plan for if J.Barton is jailed)
AM: Emre, K.Dyer
RW: Solano, Milner
LW: S.Downing, Martin Petrov(season long loan from A.Madrid,replacement for Duff), Duff(injured)
FW: Martins, Owen, Viduka, Ameobi(or use him plus money to swap for Kevin Doyle)
Loan out Luque, Huntington, Pattison, Troisi
Sell S.Carr,Babayaro
19 Pete // Jun 8, 2007 at 2:30 PM
Its one thing having loads of money, but I doubt we will attract the world class players in their prime as we are not in any of the european comps.
What we need is a team to get us into europe this year, and then we can attract the big names and stars that you are all talking about.
Are we even sure if BS will have a ton of money anyway? Just because Ashely is loaded doesn’t mean that he will give it all to us to spend.
20 Aaron D // Jun 8, 2007 at 2:40 PM
The GK is well covered but Krul needs to go on loan for experience and can be no. two next season.
Def Left – Babayaro Definitely out, leaving Baines plus one more, some one like Urby Emanuelson or Eric Abidal. Man Utd have Evra and Heinze, Chelsea Cole and Bridge, Tottenham Lee and Bale. So definitely need to quality players. Should of gone for Carlos
Def Right – Lets face it Dyer isn;t going to play in this position is he. So that leaves Carr and Solano. Carr can be shipped out to a championship side. Leaving Solano plus another, the likes of Wes Brown, Jonny Heitinga or Marcell Jansen.
DC – Finally looks strongish, could do with another i think Ramage should be a 5 choice. Some one in with that £40 million we have Andrade, Naldo, Juan, Merzelder.
ML – Duff is not injury prone and had one good game last year, sell to spurs £5m, and replace with Babel £9m. N’Zogbia and Babel to battle for a starting birth.
MR – Milner had a great season, but i think he isn’t going to improve to much, i like him but needs some one else to challenge for a place – Quesmara, Figo (why not?), Robben.
MC – Has all ways been strong, Butt and Barton to start with Emre and Boateng in rotation. Maybe another Sneijder for £7m before Villa get him or Van der Vaart. Butt may even leave for Sunderland yet. Or some one young and skillful to come off the bench, like the Brazilian Kerlon.
FC – Viduka, Owen and Martins quality. Ameobi has had several years to prove himself and still hasn’t sell him before it’s too late. Replace with Huntelaar or Alves.
Many of the player i have suggested come from Ajax so they would know each other and soon fit in.
21 És // Jun 8, 2007 at 2:57 PM
I think the squad is very strong, but I hope we can secure the players that is mansion in the article here…no team in premier league have as good strikers and wingers that we have! so fellas we most not underestimate our beloved team;).
22 andy // Jun 8, 2007 at 3:04 PM
i think that owen will be going next year but i would get bellemy to fill his boot, i also think that the midfield needs some spark i sugest Andres D’Alessandro this player is unreal, and he only playes for real zaragossa, inb the spainsh league, 10mill should get him
23 Pete // Jun 8, 2007 at 3:17 PM
Yeah we havnt got anyone that can really skin players, we need a little brazilian or something that we can throw on to scare defenders with there skill (Ronaldo, Kaka, Messi etc)
24 Ed Harrison // Jun 8, 2007 at 3:23 PM
Cicero – Given is better than Pepe Ranier – surely – Pepe still makes too many mistakes.
25 chris // Jun 8, 2007 at 3:23 PM
how about diego from wevder br i think and he scored against england, and got like 15 goals from mid field
26 Ed Harrison // Jun 8, 2007 at 3:26 PM
John – Micah Richards looks good – but awfully expensive – but there agian – guess that doesn’t matter too much these days – think he would jump at coming to Newcastle.
27 John // Jun 8, 2007 at 3:36 PM
Re:Ed Harrison…
Money is no longer a big problem now since Ashley bwcomes the owner now..If the money still comes out from Sir John/Fat Fred’s pocket,it would be a problem!
Richards, Davies,Taylor and Baines can be a long term partner a few years later(It will be excellent if they will all be selected to England Intenational Team later…)
And I think that it’s extremely stupid to sell Parker to West Ham…
28 Ed Harrison // Jun 8, 2007 at 3:38 PM
Certainly looks like Carr and Babayaro are not well thought of – and consensus seems to be to get rid of them. Micah Richards seem to be the one most often quoted for right back – he can also play midfield of course.
29 John // Jun 8, 2007 at 3:48 PM
Re Chris:
If NUFC has to buy Diego, I think it will be done 2 years later, and together with the Lyon’s Brazilian Fred,since they can perform as the replacement of Emre/Dyer and Viduka, since they will be a bit old 2years later.
30 jamo // Jun 8, 2007 at 3:50 PM
I think we should have a go at bringing back bellamy! he showed class with us and lots at blackburn, and is curently out of favour at liverpool. He may be slightly off the handle but if we can contain barton, we could contain bellamy no problem, big Sam is renowned for being able to calm players down and help them reach their potential anyhow!
31 Cicero // Jun 8, 2007 at 3:52 PM
Top5 in the world your having a joke. Given is a better than average prem player but suspect on crosses and his distibution is pathetic, he still just boots it down field looking for Big Al. A great goalkeeper would command his box and organise his defence. If you look at the goalkeeper stats for the season he’s way down. He looks good as a shot stopper but has had plenty of practice.
32 henry // Jun 8, 2007 at 3:52 PM
are you forgeting about ALBERT LUQUE! our worldclass foward from depor who BIG sam can probz get the best out of i think
33 jamo // Jun 8, 2007 at 3:55 PM
No way!! Luque is a pathetic excuse for the money we spent. Slow, weak and just not looking motivated or being able to fit in. About all he has to offer is slight skill now and then and a fair eye for goal.
34 jamie // Jun 8, 2007 at 4:34 PM
I think that squad would be reasonable but we need more experienced fit pacy players in my opinion.i think the likes of ljungberg,anelka,morton-gamst pedersen would be a great addition to the squad if avaidable.defense,nufc keep going on about sign past it defenders eg.sol cambell,instead we should send the inexperienced youth(huntington,carrol o`brian and krul)to free up the wage bill and get some first team football=experience,so they can sign the likes toure ,wes brown etc with possible high wage demands,either one of these would besuitable to play alongside future england star taylor.out of defense i would like to see go would be carr baba`afro`
and ramage on loan.i would like to see replacing thesewayne bridge or samii hypia .in midfield i believe we should of never let parker go,its rediculious,he proved he kept the balance of the team going and after all who will take the armband now?,a possible replacement is neccersery(2-4 mil).as for strikers i believe its fine but anelka would always be welcomed by me .
thanks jamie,13,hebburn
35 Beastie // Jun 8, 2007 at 5:08 PM
My Team
Given
Solano, Taylor, Ben-Haim, baines
milner, barton, emre, charlie,
viduka owen
am sorry but shola has to go the lad cant cut it at this level!!! how many chances is he gonna get!!! Great to see Newcastle United active in the market in june and not 10-30pm tranfer deadline day!!! barton and viduka great signings!!! ben haim and baines would be great the lad rozenhal looks very steady seen him a few times for psg looks really good, would love to see us sign miguel from valencia followed him since euro 2004 was a right winger but moved to right back and has speed to burn!
36 bob // Jun 8, 2007 at 5:17 PM
lol jamo i think henry mite be jokin
37 Ed Harrison // Jun 8, 2007 at 5:58 PM
jamo – news today that Bellamy would like to come back to Newcastle – but we don’t think it will happen. Pretty sure Sam could handle him. It may be a possibility if Owen leaves.
38 Beastie // Jun 8, 2007 at 6:07 PM
no no ed keep owen get rid of the clown!!! AMEOBI!!!!
39 Ebol // Jun 8, 2007 at 6:15 PM
I think we’re sorted for goalies. We could loan out Krul with the option of recalling him if Given or Harper get injured. Fraser Forster is also a good prospect.
I think we need another right back- maybe Heitinga. I’d also like another class central defender like Curtis Davies or Phil Jagielka and a backup left back when babayaro leaves. Anyone decent would do.
In midfield, I think we need an attacking midfielder who actually can be a playmaker and create something and not just a box-to-box midfielder like Barton (who I think would be much better battling it out with Butt for the defensive mid role). I would love to see either Diego or Van der Vaart in a Newcastle jersey. Diego would be more costly as he is the the Bundesliga player of the year. I also don’t think he would adapt as well as Van der Vaart who has already proved himself in two leagues. I think we are fine for right mid and if we had Payet, I would also be happy with our left wing although Babel is a very exciting prospect.
I think we should sell Owen who is only still at Newcastle through guilt and for the sake of his public image. He will never be motivated to play for us and anyway him and Martins are very similar players. I think we should replace him with a strong player who is good in the air like Klose or Ashton.
40 Owen // Jun 8, 2007 at 6:21 PM
Babayaro and Carr have to go.
We need 2 left backs and a rightback. Plus, we need a class, experienced centre half.
That is the absolute minimum we have to sign.
If we keep the current strike force I’d be happy this year, they are good enough to get us into the top 6, possibly 4th if the rest of the squad can keep up.
What we really need is a creative midfielder, some one who can deliver the killer pass that will allow of strikers to do what they do best. Score bucketfulls of goals.
41 Jam // Jun 8, 2007 at 7:35 PM
THOSE WHO SAY GIVEN IS NOT IN THE SAME CLASS AS PETR CECH ARE COMPLETE IDIOTS. Given has performed unbelievabley over the years with, lets face it, one of the worst defensive line ups in the league. Petr Cech has an awesome defense in front of him. Lets be honest, the times Given has saved our behinds are countless. He is quite honestly one of the best goalkeppers in the premiership!!!
I don’t know if the defenders we are bringing in will have that presence that Terry has at Chelsea, or Rio has at Man U or even carrahger at liverpool. Look at the teams who have done exceptionally well, they all have an absolute quality CB. Johnny Woodgate filled that position, shame with his injuries.
Overall, for a team that i think should be good enough for Champions league football, there is a lot of … chaff in the squad. Some of those players just aren’t up to it and it is about time we bring in some WORLD CLASS PLAYERS if possible. Teams should fear us when they have us at the weekend!!!!! Come on Newcastle!!!!
42 Ed Harrison // Jun 8, 2007 at 7:38 PM
Jam – Given is the best goalkeeper ever at Newcastle – no doubt about that. He’s saved us on countless occasions throughout the years – and we think he’s improving if anything – as he gets older.
43 joe // Jun 8, 2007 at 8:20 PM
How can you call given? He is the best shot stopper in the premiership. He would probably be labelled best in the world if he played for chelsea and man u. P.S. Who the hell is pepe ranier. You sure you don’t mean pepe reina.
and who are these people living in a dream world and naming messi, robben, jouquin etc. why would they leave BARCELONA, CHELSEA, VALENCIA to play for a team not in europe.
It is going to take time, two or three seasons to go from finishing 13 to top 4.
Then you think of players like that.
People are being naive if they think ashley will spend his money like abromavich did.
44 Jam // Jun 8, 2007 at 8:39 PM
Joe – i agree completeley. Ashley isn’t as rich as Abramovich either. Ambromovich doesn’t seem to care about how his money is used. It would be nice to find the next “big” thing in terms of the players who everyone will be talking about in a few years time. Zoggy may be one of those, and Milner is a large possibilty too…would like to bring in a few more like! ;-P
45 The Big P // Jun 8, 2007 at 9:23 PM
I haven’t read all of the comments, though some seem a bit skwiff, Given is and has been one of the best and most consistent keepers in the prem.
I have the confidence that Alleydice will be the opposite to Glen and will bring the best out of 95% of the players at least. Carr and Baba were not the only under performers under Glen (and that other bloke before him). With the team that we have under alleydice (including those additions presumed to be in the bag) we will do exceptionally well.
Alleydice is a great man manager, we will see that next season in the players that had become dead weight. I could be wrong of course.
46 briss // Jun 8, 2007 at 9:38 PM
I think Carr did terrible last season he was useless. all he did was destroy the flow the game. we should sell him and pick up hopefully big same can adjust his playing style when he has the ball. WE SHOULD BUY “BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER”! a solid 22 year old german international central midfielder with a rocket for a boot. him along side barton in the midfield with dyer and milner on the wings. ruthless! we should maybe think about 5 mid fielders becuase Butt is a good defensive mid too
47 Clouded // Jun 8, 2007 at 9:56 PM
We should try and sign Per Ciljan Skjelbred in my opinion. Very good norwegian attacking midfielder who is only 20 i believe and already a international player. Whilst on the topic of norwegian players, maybe we should try getting Kristoffer Hæstad aswell
48 jamo // Jun 8, 2007 at 10:07 PM
I’ve heard quite alot about us being linked with crouch??… would be good to see in the squad, massively underrated but when plays for england links up well and has great footwork! To bad we couldnt have scouted berbatov before spurs
would fit in well. I’m an attacking minded person so not really in the knowledge with defenders but in midfield i think mascherano would be a very good replacement for parker. I don’t think he would be to expensive either. Anyone else thinking this?
49 The Big P // Jun 8, 2007 at 10:16 PM
If our midfield contained on form duffy, barton, butt and milner playing the ball to vid,owen and martins, we will score goals and we should maintain possesion well. Also having a bench containing solano,emre,zog and boateng should put our one sided attack well in the past. It has been suggested that Dyer could go back to an (obviously attacking) right back role which i can see working. The center is obviously much much stronger and baines would take up the left side. I really can only see adding to such a squad as being an insurance policy, we are not chelsea or man u and great players will not come to this club to sit on the bench. Also the young players need their chance Carrol, Pattison, Ramage.
Roll on the start of the season!!! Fortress St. James!!!!!!
50 wizu // Jun 9, 2007 at 12:36 AM
If ti were up to me the team would look something like this
given
carr /dyer taylor ben haim shorey
butt barton
emre
luque martins owen
most probably half of the people who bothered reading this must be saying, what the hell is wrong with this guy! well here is what i think about my formation! given no doubt there! without enough backup considering we have harper, and of need be krul(but i think its more beneficial for him to go out on loan!)
then in defence we got carr who if u ask me is up to standard and showed some solid games! if u ask me he was only shaky cause of people round him like bramble, the worst player ever. If he still doesnt perform we got dyer who would give us more off an attackig option from right back! as for solano, sorry but stop illuding urselfs! centre backs ben haim ant taylor(who i think is going to be the next jihn terry if not better, best defender if seen for a long time!) with rozenhal on the bench and also ramage i think were covered! but if its possible id go for someone like thuram who would add a lot of experience to our back 4 and taylor could learn a thing or two from him! plus i dont think it should be too difficult to get him as he isnt getting much play time with barca! at left back i put shorey as i think we should splash the cash on a player like him! i havent seen such a good performance at right back for england in….. well actually i think thats the best right back performance england has ever had, if u consider against who they played and that it was his debut! as for baines well i guess hes second best and if we do get him, bye babs not needed at all nothing but disappointing hes been! i’d play duff and zog at left back before it give baba another chance!
in the middle i’d play with 1 defencive midfielder being but a pure midfielder with offencive qualities being barton, and a genius on the ball behind our 3 strikers being emre who would supply our fowards with great through balls considering the pace we’d have up front! as for boateng get him as cover for butt play him a few timses and sell him for 10 times the figure we got him for! and pattison sell or loan him. honestly i dont know cause he seems to give his best every time he plays but he isnt up to prem standards so i think i’d sell him sorry mate! up front i’d have two wide plaers and a central striker, with the two wide players being luque and owen and oba the loan striker! liek this we could base our game on the counter attack and play great throuhg balls and score with the finishing of the likes of owen martins and the majorly under rated luque! luque was and still is my idol! when we signed him it was the happiest day of my life! when he used to play in spain he was a god, a player everyone wanted, and still is wanted till today! explain this to me, how can a top calub like psv want him and we reject him! this is a team that reache d the quater final of champions league in the last 3 years, something that we only dream about! luque just needs to revive his career and who can do it better but big sam! person who is know to do so! lok and ivan campo and anelka! as for owen and martins there performances say enough! as for all the othe r players meaning, milner i,d keep could play instead of luque or owen if any get injured, same for duff and zog and even o’brien! ameobi i’d get rid of ass there is no way hes going to play and i’d rather give a chance to caroll who seems to be a very hot prospect, one ofr the future. as for viduka i guess he’ll be a good sub and can play the lone striker role! huntington should be loaned as hes got potential too!
I think with our squad like that we could give a very good challange for a top 5 placing.
If i could get any other players they would have to be lucas neil who would add adequate cover at right back and that would be setled and i would also get ljunberg who is a top class player and would only do good for our team, and could play instead of luquue who looks like hes on the way out!
51 jim // Jun 9, 2007 at 9:34 AM
newcastle still need pace at left and right back. I dont rate babayarro or carr and salano has not got pace. although we (fans) have been saying for years that we need a strong back 4 Im sure Sam will sort this out. good times to come AT LAST EH?
52 henry // Jun 9, 2007 at 11:58 AM
AT RIGHT BACK WE SHOULD GET VANDEN BORRE FROM ANDERLECT HE’S AMAZIN CAN PLAY ON THE RIGHT WING AND AT CENTER BACK WE SHOULD ALSO TRY FOR VINCENT KOMPANY THE BOTH BETTER THEN ALL OR CURENT DEFENDERS!
53 henry // Jun 9, 2007 at 12:14 PM
THE TEAM SHOULD BE THIS BY THE END OF THE SUMMER
GIVEN
VANDEN BORRE KOMPANY TAYLOR BAINES
BARTON BUTT
MILNER DUFF/N’ZOGBIA/LUQUE
VIDUKA/MARTINS OWEN/CROUCH
THIS TEAM WOULD GET US IN THE TOP FOUR EASILY , I WOULD BRING IN A NEW LEFT WINGER IF DUFF ND N’ZOGBIA OR LUQUE ARNT PREFORMING BUT WERE GUNNA HAVE 2 GIVE THEM A CHANCE
54 LIAM J // Jun 9, 2007 at 1:48 PM
this is my team with players i think we should buy:
GIVEN
ROZEHNAL BEN HAIM TAYLOR
DUFF EMRE BARTON BUTT MILNER
OWEN MARTINS
Subs:
HARPER
SOLANO
VIDUKA
RAMAGE
N’ZOGBIA
OR
GIVEN
ROZEHNAL BEN HAIM TAYLOR
EMRE BARTON BUTT MILNER
VIDUKA OWEN MARTINS
Subs:
HARPER
SOLANO
DUFF
RAMAGE
N’ZOGBIA
POSSABLE CAPTIANS:
GIVEN
BUTT
BARTON
TAYLOR
OWEN
55 Graham Lishman // Jun 9, 2007 at 1:59 PM
I think John Mcooe is getting too much sun.. Messi? Theres more chance of me playing in black and white next year!
56 matt // Jun 9, 2007 at 4:15 PM
i would like to see Nicky Shorey at newc next yr. i belive e to be a better defender than Baines but either is better than Babs who shouldnt be anywhere near the teamsheet.
Right back is a problem, Richards will be best option but he will not be cheap at all. cant see solano or dyer playing in this position either.
centre backs of Taylor, Hiem and Rosehnal will be substancial
would like to see butt captain if he is still there, in midfield partnership with barton and boateng (barton being attacking support for front man)
wide strikers can be any of the wingers avalible
i am concerned about duff and his ability to stay fit for patch of consecutive games, if doesnt improve, oust him get in someone fitter and with the extra pace this i feel duff has lost
i think viduka is a must to start upfront with owen with martins as sub for owen (or replacement if owen goes in the summer or jan 2008)
ameobi will be replacement but i do belive that if i was being very critical, e should be sold as e doesnt seem to be performing to prem level.
57 Ed Harrison // Jun 9, 2007 at 4:26 PM
matt – Shorey looked great for England against Brazil – he looked so comfortable and it was his first game. If N’Zogbia does as well as we think he will next season we could probably sell Duff in January. good comments though.
58 Ed Harrison // Jun 9, 2007 at 4:28 PM
Liam J – just don’t think Owen and Martins will make a good twosome up front – they are too similar. I think Viduka may start more games than we think – and we’ll see how Ameobi does – now he’s fit. Like Butt as captain but wouldn’t mind Shay Given at all.
59 Ed Harrison // Jun 9, 2007 at 4:32 PM
wizu – think this coming season top 6 is an absolute must – otherwise we’ve failed (just like we all said last season – including Roeder). If we can make top 5 that would be great. Will be interesting to see how our injuries go next season – we are all expecting them to be down significantly – and we don’t know exactly what the squad will be – think Sam is getting people in quickly while he can – and also before the prices go up – because of Ashley. Big Sam has surprised us since he joined – the interviews he gives come across great – he’s a thinking guy – and knows what he’s talking about.
60 doug // Jun 9, 2007 at 6:10 PM
The (imminent) signing of Barton got me thinking. He brings a fighting, make that winning mentality. It’s an essential ingredient in defenders and midfielders (strikers just need to be egotistic). Do Carr, Babyyahoo, Dyer, Emre have it? I think not. However, Dyer is easily influenced so lets hope Barton frightens him into performing.
61 phil // Jun 10, 2007 at 6:31 AM
We need a right back. Dyer, Solano and Carr are not good enough in that position. If Duff performs we don’t need anyone on the left – assuming that it, that Zog still wants to play for us.
Given
TBA (O’Neill/Wes Brown?) Taylor Ben Haim Baines
Milner Butt (C) Barton Duff/Zog/ANother
Big/little combo up front
looks like a good team, we still need some creative class in the midfield though. get rid of emre and see who we can get to fit in there
62 Beastie // Jun 10, 2007 at 9:19 AM
surely big sam can see that ameobi is crap!!! give him to sunderland!
63 matt w // Jun 10, 2007 at 10:24 AM
i was watching Real Zaragoza the last night and the argie Pablo Aimar looked brilliant, created the 2nd goal alone with a strong, direct run at the heart of Madrids defence, would be a step up from Emre as an extra creative flair in the final 3rd
64 nightfall // Jun 12, 2007 at 4:00 PM
emre for appiah
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