In this article we have looked at our squad as it currently stands, and have assessed the squad to see which positions need strengthening in January and in the summer. We most definitely need your help on this so please leave us your opinions and comments, after you have read through the article.
Newcastle United’s official squad for this season
We will prioritize who we need to bring in, hopefully in January, as long as the right players are available.
Here’s our current squad including our three on-loan players – Tim Krul (Falkirk), Andrew Carroll (Preston), and Matty Pattison (Norwich), in their playing positions.
G: – Given Harper Krul Forster
RB: – Beye Carr
CB: – Taylor Cacapa Rozehnal Faye Edgar Ramage
LB: – Enrique
RM: – Milner Troisi
CM Defend : – Geremi Butt
CM Attack: – Barton Emre Pattison
LM: – N’Zogbia Duff
S small: – Martins Owen Smith(?)
S big: – Viduka Carroll Ameobi
That’s 28 players including 4 goalkeepers. Babayaro has already left the Newcastle United building, so Celestine is not listed above.
Those we have shown in red – Carr, Ramage, Ameobi – we believe are probably not good enough for where Newcastle United are going in the next season or two (to the top hopefully – or at least near the top).
We’ll just assume they can leave Newcastle in the summer. We should be able to get fees for Ameobi ($2M) and Ramage ($2m) and it looks like we could sell both to Norwich City and Glenn Roeder, without much trouble. Carr’s contract runs out next June, and he’ll probabay want to move on in any case.
The new players we will identify, will not include any of the youngsters, like Ben Tozer and others, who the club will be bringing in during January and the summer. These are players for the future and shouldn’t be considered first teamers – say for the next year – that’s an assumption – and it will be great if some of them can come through enough over the next year to break into the first team. That would be a big plus for the team.
We are talking about experienced and older players who are bought in specifically to start in the first team – and they should be better than players we already have. We expect the youngsters to initially play youth and reserve team games – and get a spot on the first team squad now and again to get experience – over at least the next year.
Who we need to bring in? Well – it looks fairly easy if we look at who’s missing above and the players in red who we assume will leave Newcastle in the summer. There are at the very least four players we need to bring into the club – and they are in priority order
LB:
RB:
CM: Attack
S: big
It’s in priority order because we only have one left back right now – not including Charles N’Zogbia, who we think is best on the left wing. Also, Carr will be moving on so we’ll need a RB soon too.
Before we start discussing who exactly we should bring in, we really need your help. Is this a good assessment of where we are at? Let us know what you think. We’ll try to get some agreement on the positions we need to strengthen, and then we’ll look at who may be available and good enough for Newcastle United to bring in during January – or even the summer. And remember we want this to be enjoyable – let’s not get too serious – and please respect other readers’ opinions – and even ours 😀
This is all meant to be for the good of the club, who we all want to be successful again and the sooner the better. You never know, perhaps Chris and Sam will read some of the comments on here.
As always, your comments and opinions are most welcome.
89 comments so far
seetow
Dec 18, 2007 at 4:47 AM
Comment #1i think the most important player to get is an attacking CM, one with creativity. rakitic from athletic is looking good.. how about arshavin from zenit? he’s a fantastic asset
yes toon
Dec 18, 2007 at 5:41 AM
Comment #2barton is not a attacking midfielder . he’s more of a box to box runner. i repeat barton is not a attacking midfielder nor a playmaker.
geordie_jordan
Dec 18, 2007 at 5:45 AM
Comment #3well sam has already gone on record saying no one will be sold. so we’ll have to wait to call taxis for carr and shola. if we’re adding young talented players why not get rid of pattison also?
Hadji
Dec 18, 2007 at 5:51 AM
Comment #4Lb-Dede(Dortmund)
Rb-Pander(Schalke)
Cm-Pablo Ledesma(Boca)
S-Elmander
vincent
Dec 18, 2007 at 6:05 AM
Comment #5Let’s get some more realistic targets.
LB – Matthew Taylor
AM – Arshavin
Good enough for the team to reach top 6 IMO..
kaz
Dec 18, 2007 at 6:15 AM
Comment #6i agree with vincent
lb-matt taylor (shud be relativiley cheap 2-4m? =x has experience in the league and redknapp said he will let him go if a gd offer comes
arshavin would be for the future if we do sign him, let him adjust first
wsq
Dec 18, 2007 at 6:22 AM
Comment #7IMO, we don’t need another S big. We need a pacey RWF whoever that maybe, we lack pace in the squad especially upfront, preferably someone who is comfortable with dribbling at high speed. Nor martins, nor owen nor n’zogbia can do this.
Alan Hutton – RB (Rangers not in the Champs league anymore, don’t know if they’re in the eufa) This will be tough competition for beye though.
I’d be happy with two signings at RB and RM/RWF.
RAHUL
Dec 18, 2007 at 6:35 AM
Comment #8sorry hadji but pander of schalke is a lb and is one footed scored a screamer against england in wembley
Len
Dec 18, 2007 at 7:06 AM
Comment #9I would be inclined to keep Carr until the summer and you cant sell an injury so Ramage stays for now. Strola should have gone years ago. The priority is to get the current squad playing to thier ability and buying a shed load of new players isnt going to help that. Two I would consider are Arshavin who looks a great propect and I might try for Huth who seems to be out of favour in smogland on the cheap. Instead of buying give some of the young guns a chance starting with Big Andy Carroll.
Bucks1985
Dec 18, 2007 at 7:23 AM
Comment #10LB: Juan Pablo Sorin (Hamburg) £2m
“Big Sam tried to sign him at Bolton… may have a better chance of signing the Argentine now that he is in charge at a bigger club.”
RB: Georgios Seitaridis (Athletico Madrid) £3m
“Very similar to Habib Beye… Strong in the tackle, closely marks his man and has a natural inclination to get forward.”
AM: Juninho (Lyon) £5m
“Perhaps wishful thinking… Juninho has had his run ins with current Lyon manager Alain Perrin but the boy is absolute class and can provide the guile and flair we so desperately need.”
ST: Eidur Gudjohnsen (Barcelona) £7m
“An excellent target man who would bring a touch of class to our front line; whilst providing excellent competition for Mark Viduka.”
SYAHRIL
Dec 18, 2007 at 7:55 AM
Comment #11i think the current squad that we have is GOOD ENOUGH. what we need is the right combination and formation. Things to be given to the current players:
– oppotunity for EMRE to show his creativity as attacking midfielder
– oppotunity for N’ZOGBIA and MILNER to run and create chances as Left Attacking Midfielder and Right Attacking Midfielder
-oppotunity for ENRIQUE to play regularly as a LEFT BACK
-oppotunity for MARTINS to partner OWEN or VIDUKA (based o their fitness) in every game
HOoowaayyy!!!
valle
Dec 18, 2007 at 7:58 AM
Comment #12Well, taking into mind that u state that we need to improve i will include a CB and a D CM as well as a RW.
RB: Lets go for Hutton who we have alrdy beeen linked to. He is young, but not too young and he can be understudy for Beye for a cpl of seasons getting to be a part of a new young backline in a cpl of years along with Taylor and Enrique.
LB: We have the young understudy in Enrique, now we need experience, i know ppl say Bridge in injury prone, but thats untrue. He is currently injured but when he was a southampton he had the record for most games played in a row. Lets go for Bridge, he was good enough for chelseas first title. so he will be good enough for our first.
CB: Lets take another one we have alrdy been linked with… Brown. He have had 2 good seasons at manure where he stat wise have been in the top of EPL defenders. He has been used as RB for allot of games but is a CB.
D CM: Well, being a dane i know all about Poulsen from sevilla. He is great at destroying the oposition play and has a bit of that “dirty dog” that every team needs. Him and Barton in Midfield would scare the !¤#% out of the oposition midfield.
A CM: Again, lets take another one we have alrdy been linked with. Diego… He have had a very good start to his carreer in Germany, and the Bundesliga aint that far behind EPL. He will take a while to settle but we have enough midfielders to gel him in gently. Im also going to mention Arshavin, since he might be a good alternative.
S Big: Well, since we currently play some high balls still, this guy needs to be big and strong. And who better than Jones from the Mackems?… + we would take away their star player, making things a little bit worse for them… I dont rate Crouch at all and i actually think that we are ok in this apartment with Carroll showing promise and Smith and Dukes doing well.
I would also like to add Pattison, Troisa and Edgar to the players that aint good enough for now. And Butt and Geremi for later (I like allot aobut Butt, but his passing lets us down way to often).
Graham
Dec 18, 2007 at 7:58 AM
Comment #13Sorry to be the one to rain on most of your parades but….where’s the premiership experience Allardyce has been waffling on about? Out of all the foreign defenders mentioned above i reckon we’ll get none of them.
Matthew Taylor would be a decent signing but why would he want to move mid season when Portsmouth are doing very well?
I dont think there will be any senior defensive signings in January and not much spending on the senior team as a whole.
Merry Christmas everyone!
valle
Dec 18, 2007 at 8:00 AM
Comment #14Oops… forgot the RW
I would say Qaresma, he would make a big impact in the way Petrov had at Man City and i just dont think Milner does well enough to be first choice. I would still keep James as backup tho.
jason
Dec 18, 2007 at 8:04 AM
Comment #15Rb – Brown – Premiership experience
Lb – I dont feel is a priority
Am -Diego – German Budasliga player of the year can create and score from the middle of teh pitch
Am – Arshavin – Can play anywhere in attacking position offers competition for duff and milner
S – kanoute – Great target man can play ‘Drogba’ role and knows where the back of the net is.
Rob Kirton
Dec 18, 2007 at 8:42 AM
Comment #16There is one thing we all seem to forget. N’Zogbia was originally and has always wanted to play CM for the Toon. As he has matured both physically as a player I think he should be given the role of Left CM. We’ve talking about the midfielder who can make lung bursting runs up field who can get ahead of the forward line at times and score goals. He is the guy who can do this. At one time he nearly walked away from this club, one of the reasons was being considered behind Emre. To me he should get the nod ahead of him in this position.
So if anything I’d be looking for a left midfield / winger,especially if things are not going to work out with Duff.
Tom from Aus
Dec 18, 2007 at 8:43 AM
Comment #17have to agree with vincent arshvin matt taylor would both be good buys
ChrisM
Dec 18, 2007 at 8:48 AM
Comment #18BUCK1985 – Where on earth have you came up with those prices????? Juninho for £5m……get real!
ChrisM
Dec 18, 2007 at 8:52 AM
Comment #19Valle – shut your Danehole! Full of poop……all of it!
Tom from Aus
Dec 18, 2007 at 8:53 AM
Comment #20i also believe that we could target some young players from brazil.
my first young player is lulinhaand he plays an AM, 17 yrs of age and is one of the key players for corthinians. Second is drenthe. he plays a left back/left mid postion. very good young talent. third is carlos eduardo. he is a tall striker and is very good at shooting/scoring goals!
We also need a right back so i would choose castro (who players for Bayer) or snra who is a great free kick taker.
Kash2
Dec 18, 2007 at 8:56 AM
Comment #21First of all, definitely don’t need a striker while we have Owen on our books. I think we’ll sign a prospect striker in January (Altidore??) and maybe he can do a job if ever needed. Smudge has been great up top so far!
LB and RB I agree on, possibly Brown if SAF lets him go, who can cover RB and CB, with Faye possibly pushing Butt for DM and covering CB. Alot of rumours regarding Riise leaving, he would be perfect for LB and LM! We really need a player who can operate on the RM and AM, Arshavin has been mooted, whether it will materialise remains to be seen. But what about Diouf? Very effective, and good alround player who can play anywhere up top!!!!
Tom from Aus
Dec 18, 2007 at 8:56 AM
Comment #22hadji-Pander would be a great buy (Didnt think of him). Does he get much game time at schalke?
Rich
Dec 18, 2007 at 9:04 AM
Comment #23RM – Aiden McGeady, can also play LM, an amazing talent (21 yeasr old). I would also be very happy with Arshavin for this position.
Striker Big – Oscar Cardoza, we were linked with him in the past and looks a great player at only 24 i think.
I would definitely be happy with Matt Taylor for the left back spot. With these additions and 1 Centre Back we will without doubt be a top 6 side!
Rich
Dec 18, 2007 at 9:09 AM
Comment #24Rob Kirton – i like the idea of Zog having a go at CM, think him and Bartoin could be awesome in there.
Milner Barton Zog Duff
Looks pretty good!
valle
Dec 18, 2007 at 9:23 AM
Comment #25ChrisM… Well, since sunderland is playing the worst relegation football ever to be seen, im sure u will agree that Jones will wanna leave them asap… Btw, u guys really need ur own blog, tho i understand that it wouldnt get many users since most scums cant fit a PC into their trailor.
valle
Dec 18, 2007 at 9:28 AM
Comment #26Tom from Aus:
lulinhaand might be good, but i think work permit might be a problem.
Whumpie
Dec 18, 2007 at 9:53 AM
Comment #27LB: Matt Taylor, perfect. Prem experience, committed, consistent and English (no language problems).
But I think we’re missing something here. We have three good wingers (although I agree with Bob K that Zog is best in the middle) but we are missing a good crosser of the ball, especially on the right.
I’m a big fan of Milner, but his cross accuracy just isn’t that good (check his completion rates). He’s a runner who beats players, but we need another Solano who can put it right on Viduka’s head every time. (If only the Nobster had kept it zipped, eh? )
As for up-front, we should hold fire until after the ACN. who knows – Strola may get back up to that goal-per-2-games level he hit before and make that problem go away. (I know, I know – flying pigs and all that – but you can’t buy good strikers in January, and we’re not exactly short of options there.)
Tom from Aus
Dec 18, 2007 at 10:03 AM
Comment #28sorry valle it is actually lulinha (my keyboard is not working as well as it should be). But you are right.
thelongshanks
Dec 18, 2007 at 10:13 AM
Comment #29Matt taylor,bridge or shorey left back and arshavin AM.Sign a young right back and maybe midfielder and we be sorted.
Bryan
Dec 18, 2007 at 10:17 AM
Comment #30ChrisM – I think you need to show a little respect towards other peoples opinions (Valle). This site is not about slagging off other people, but about everyone expressing their own veiws and opinions. After all, football is all about opinions.
toonoholic
Dec 18, 2007 at 10:28 AM
Comment #31mackems are fa***ots …
oops , sorry for expressing my personal opinion.
ToonKing
Dec 18, 2007 at 10:30 AM
Comment #32the same guy i was thinking Rich, Aiden McGeady, he’s ben brilliant lately a very very good right winger.
and i also agree with Cardozo.
valle
Dec 18, 2007 at 10:48 AM
Comment #33Bryan… Thx for the backup mate, but unfortunatly there will always be ppl who’s reason to come to a NUFC blog is to disrupt rather than share football related discussions. And I think my idea about snatching Sunderlands gem away from them forced one of them out of his hiding, since he is likely to be a mackem himself (based on his unprovoked angry attack).
valle
Dec 18, 2007 at 10:51 AM
Comment #34Tom from Aus… Np mate, i dont know either of the names 😉 … If he is a big enough talent we could rent him out for 2-3 years tho and hope he makes enough caps along the way. I guess a feeder club in Holland would come in handy if we are going to onearth south american gems this way, while they are still cheap.
Dingo
Dec 18, 2007 at 10:53 AM
Comment #35All I want for Christmas is a new left back,
a new left back oooh a new left back,
all I want for Christmas is a new left back,
then I could wish you happy title.
if only………………………………………..
Brisbane Mag
Dec 18, 2007 at 11:15 AM
Comment #36Wes Brown would be an excellent purchase to cover RB and CD when Beye and Faye away in January. I doubt Ferguson will allow him to leave until the summer…..
Arshavin looks a good player and gives the midfield and attack further dimension. I don’t expect him to be an instant hit in PL, so get him early and by next season, could be firing on all cylinders!
Looking forward to seeing Duff back in the team as on his day, he’s brilliant. He’s just not performed at Newcastle since he arrived.
Southside Jordy
Dec 18, 2007 at 11:30 AM
Comment #37Crouch, Matt Taylor and Wes Brown!!
Southside Jordy
Dec 18, 2007 at 11:31 AM
Comment #38Oh and Arshavin!!
Toony
Dec 18, 2007 at 11:38 AM
Comment #39given
beye woodgate faye n´zogbia
barton diarra smith (c)
arshavin duff
berbatov
Gerry Hagon
Dec 18, 2007 at 11:50 AM
Comment #40I reckon a touch of reality might be of value here. James Brown of Hartlepool looks as good a buy as anyone that I have seen this season.
A visit to the Hartlepools, Carlisles, Darlingtons, etc., can be a rewarding experience – try it sometime. To chase around competing for the more established player is not only more expensive it is far more risky. The only really satisfactory strategy to build a team is to encourage associations with local teams but I see no sign of any such associations at Newcastle. People still look to the failed principle of buying instant success which has worked to a degree only once or twice in my lifetime.
With regard to your analysis I reckon that Newcastle are just about OK but with an additional play-maker in midfield. Emre nor Barton do not fill that role I am afraid