Sam Allardyce has been talking about our new Brazilian center-back Claudio Cacapa, whom by all accounts in the game against Newcastle Blue Star last week looked calm, cool and classy.
We do expect Cacapa to be introduced into the center of the Newcastle defense some time soon – and maybe Sam will think of playing Steven Taylor at right-back in place of Stephen Carr, who struggled for pace in the first half against Aston Villa last Saturday.
Brazilian Claudio Cacapa – Sam says he’s soon to be the Rock of Newcastle’s defense
At some point we also expect Sam to bring in our Spanish left back Jose Enrique, who we signed from Villareal a few weeks ago.
Here’s what Sam told Alan Oliver, of the Newcastle Evening Chronicle today, when asked initially whether Claudio would be adept at turning defense into attack:
“I didn’t buy him for that!â€â€œI bought him for the experience and the rock that he is at the back. His passing and control is an extra bonus.â€
“His defending against Blue Star was superb, and that’s what he’s for.â€
“He’s a destroyer – not a creator. Any defender who tells you he’s a creator isn’t telling you the truth.â€
“Defenders are only there to destroy the opposition’s attack.â€
Cacapa was signed on a free transfer this month after six seasons at Olympique Lyonnais, all of which saw him play Champions League football and captain the side to 6 French Championships. We think he’ll become the cornerstone of Newcastle’s defense this season and may well get his first start at the Riverside on Sunday since both Steven Taylor and David Rozehnal are on international duty tomorrow.
A surprise from the Chronicle’s Alan Oliver who says that once Abdoulaye Faye is signed he thinks that will be the end of Sam’s transfer dealings in this window. But we find that a little hard to believe. Surely we need a right-back to come in and there seems consistent reports about us after Brazilian right-back Juliano Belletti of Barcelona.
If Sam doesn’t sign Belletti we can only assume he will be playing Steven Taylor or Geremi in the right back spot, once Joey Barton is fit again. The other news is that Newcastle have decided they will wait until the January window before they bring Brazilian Edmilson to Newcastle from Barcelona – we think that’s true and a good move for us. We’ll have a very very strong defense by January 😀
Comments always welcome.
30 comments so far
AndyW
Aug 21, 2007 at 1:33 PM
Comment #1Lets see him play then. A rare treat at Newcastle but sometimes a really solid defensive display is a real pleasure to watch – especially if the opposition get really frustrated.
greg
Aug 21, 2007 at 1:36 PM
Comment #2creative midfielder! pacy/tackling right back!
With Sam’s purchases, we’re going to end up a whole team of destroyers.
Playing three centre-backs in defence to hoof it to the ‘big man’?
classy attacking right back, and a defender who can play it out of defence (Rozy looks like he can)
Geremi, Smith, Butt – all combative, ‘destroying’ players, but none will create anything. Barton will be good at the odd creative pass and long shots, but we need some one that Geremy/Smith/Butt are protecting to let them free up the space, create chances for our awesome front line to score.
Faye’s good and all, but do we need another big man to punt the ball and crack a few bones?
Jeff D
Aug 21, 2007 at 1:57 PM
Comment #3Riquelme’s agent is saying that Spurs have made a contract offer for him to join them. Doe’s anyone think that we should be chasing him. He could be the creative midfielder we are looking for.
toonoholic
Aug 21, 2007 at 2:03 PM
Comment #4if we get deco i dont think so we shld even consider riquelme .. riquelme is a good player but at times he cld be very disinterested and i doubt if he could stand against the physical english play …
DECO FOR THE TOONS !
greg
Aug 21, 2007 at 2:19 PM
Comment #5yeah, deco, that bastion of physical strength and determination…
PAPA DOUBA DIOP FOR ATTACKING MID!
arctoa (D.)
Aug 21, 2007 at 2:53 PM
Comment #6Personally I think we should be scouring Eastern Europe for a playmaker, and a right-back — if there’s nothing availible in the Premiership. There’s some quality out there, and you have to be both physically and mentally tough to shine out in those leagues, in those conditions.
Darren
Aug 21, 2007 at 2:57 PM
Comment #7Riquelme is constantly talked about on here.
1) He wouldn’t come
2) He would be a joke in the Premier League, far too soft
End of story – put it to bed now please.
greg
Aug 21, 2007 at 3:06 PM
Comment #8I’d love Arteta at Newcastle, he’d be perfect. Steely, classy, creative and scores.
can’t we tell Everton that Ameobi is the new Yakubu and do a swap deal?
Jeff D
Aug 21, 2007 at 3:18 PM
Comment #9Riquelme is constantly talked about on here, for a reason! hes a good player.this “to small” arguement falls flat on its face when you consider the imposing midfielders that will be playing along side him.They will afford him time and protection on the ball.
Mats
Aug 21, 2007 at 3:45 PM
Comment #10Guti !
Toon Chicken
Aug 21, 2007 at 3:58 PM
Comment #11Why is everyone getting so excited about about Deco. We have wasted money on a pocket-sized Portuguese playmaker before.
Hugo Vianna anyone?
Tez
Aug 21, 2007 at 4:02 PM
Comment #12Riquelme is NOT small he is 5 ft 11 1â„2 in and for a playmaker that is quite tall compared to the likes of scholes 5 ft 7 in and Deco 5 ft 8 1â„2 in … etc
Obafan
Aug 21, 2007 at 4:47 PM
Comment #13@Toon Chicken; I don’t know what you’re thinking, but how can you compare 2 players by just watching their nationalities. Huge Viana was not good for us, but is he the reason why not buying a Portuguese playmaker? Come on the difference between Viana and Deco is too big;
1) Deco won 2 Champions League finals – Viana was most on the bench for teams who played CL.
2) Deco is +/- 97% of the time in the starting line-up – Viana +/-5%?
3) Deco has prooved several times that he is world class playmaker – Viana has prooved nothing IMO, just that he isn’t good enough to play on the highest level.
4) Deco is far better than Viana and there is no way in which you can compare both players and especially not because they both are from the same country. And if you want to look at the nationality; Deco was born as a 1/2 Brazilian and 1/2 Portuguese – Viana is 100% Portuguese. This is just the fact, because there is no way in which I will look at the nationality to want a player or not. Just riduculous!!!
TOON1
Aug 21, 2007 at 4:51 PM
Comment #14newcastlemad are saying the reported price for deco is in the region of 6m .That would be an absolute bargain in my opinion .Quality player withvast amount of european experience,and quite tidy on the ball as well.Any thoughts ed ?Surely we can afford him ,he isnt looking happy at barca!
Craig Allen
Aug 21, 2007 at 4:52 PM
Comment #15Off topic: According to tribal, Real Betis table contract offer to Luque
http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=53131
Toon 85
Aug 21, 2007 at 6:03 PM
Comment #16Toon 1 – Dont ever listen to anything on newcastle utd mad, the worst website i’ve ever seen, the bloke is an idiot!
Tom_Toon
Aug 21, 2007 at 6:04 PM
Comment #17We dont need a creative midfileder to jan. Deco and Riquelme woulkd be far to soft. But id have Deco out of either, as i support portugal and the fact that Riquelme is so inconsistent its unbelieveable people still rate him.
ToonJon
Aug 21, 2007 at 6:06 PM
Comment #18What about Appiah?
Toon Chicken
Aug 21, 2007 at 6:20 PM
Comment #19Obafan.
Calm down. I am aware that Deco is in fact a Brazilian with a Portuguese passport. I just thought that pocket-sized Portuguese playmaker had a nice ring to it.
I’m not disputing his class either. I just think he may struggle to adjust to life in the Premiership – not to mention life outside it – in the cold and unforgiving “goldfish bowl”.
We have already got an excellent track record of getting nothing out of so-called top European footballers eg; Luque, Emre, Boumsong, Vianna, Guivarche, Anderson, Tomasson… the list goes on.
My gut instinct is that Deco would join that prestigious list of flops.
Stevep
Aug 21, 2007 at 6:41 PM
Comment #20@greg – agreed arteta would be class at the toon – can’t see everton selling though
Can’t see riquelme or deco joining toon this season with no european footy to offer
Shaun Dean
Aug 21, 2007 at 7:29 PM
Comment #21GET PAPA BOUBA DIOP he is allowed and wants to move away frrom Fulham and is the type of player Big Sam goes for he would be far better in the defensive midfeild role then Nicky Butt.
Alex
Aug 21, 2007 at 7:45 PM
Comment #22If Sam wants another attaking midfielder then he should have a look at feyenoord midfielder Jonathan DeGuzman.A skillful player ,pacey and a goalscorer. He is a youngster who will develope into a top player.
ToonKing
Aug 21, 2007 at 8:00 PM
Comment #23Spurs have put in a bid of 10M for Riquelme, so i read.
Tom_Toon
Aug 21, 2007 at 9:01 PM
Comment #24Ive seen Belletti a few times and i thought he was fairly good and just strong enough for the premiership. He has brilliant stamina and that is one of his main assets. He is pace is good and the more ive been reading about him, i keep hearing thephrase, ‘ a tough-tackling, powerful fullback’. Looks like he could be perfect guys. Look forward to Faye and Belletti then i think we are done till January, then maybe a playmaker to come.
iain
Aug 21, 2007 at 10:13 PM
Comment #25i know sams about winning is more important than style, but i think thats only true to a certain point becuase pointless hoofs upfield by center halves couldnt create against an average villa side never mind score, so what makes him think that will bring us a trophy ?
sam will have to be carefull he doesnt alienate those who booed at villa game even more with poor long ball football, as whatever you think of them they are there and they wont go away if we play long ball football all the time.
Michael Stewart
Aug 21, 2007 at 10:35 PM
Comment #26Beletti and Faye would be good signings, and considering we arent in European football this season, the squad would be big enough for the rest of the year.
With regards to Spurs bidding £10m for Riquelme, can I ask, does anyone know where they are getting all this money from? They only average 35,000 a home game, the UEFA cup really doesnt bring int hat much money, and they dont have a rich backer as far as I know.
Hadji
Aug 21, 2007 at 10:56 PM
Comment #27Why the hell we need Deco,i mean c’mon.The guy has won practicly everything which could be won in club competition.He doesn’t need to prove anything anymore and certanly not in Newcastle.I’m really sorry to say this but thats the way it is.Don’t get me wrong guys,i rather tell you this cause this is only our site,its not as if i’m posting it on GOAL com where all different club fans can read it.We need someone who is willing to give what it takes to make our club great again.I think that Deco is a really bad choise for us.Go for Modric,Kallstrom,also the missed oportunity of getting Elano,Solari from Inter,Ledesma from Lazio.These are all great players and all except Solari are much younger than Deco.He won the Champions league twice,Uefa cup once,League champion with Porto 3 times i believe,twice with Barca.And hes gonna come and play for 5th place or higher.Don’t think so.
Tom_Toon
Aug 22, 2007 at 12:08 AM
Comment #28Solari is one of the worst and most overrated players i have seen, but Kallstrom and Modric are fairly good 🙂
greg
Aug 22, 2007 at 11:40 AM
Comment #29Eidur Gudjonson – classy attacking midfield, can push forward too.
Holds it up, good passing, excellent touch, creates chances, scores goals, gives his all.
I am a massive fan of Guddo since Bolton days, I’d swap 10 Alan Smith’s for him.
greg
Aug 22, 2007 at 11:40 AM
Comment #30Alan Smiths*