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
Rich
Dec 18, 2007 at 12:10 PM
Comment #41EMIIIILE HEEEEESKEY 🙂
Leo
Dec 18, 2007 at 12:17 PM
Comment #42RB Miguel (Portuguese guy), Glenn Johnson* (unlikely) Alan Hutton
LB Matt Taylor*
RM Dario Srna*
CAM Andrei Arshavin*, Juninho
Dragonera
Dec 18, 2007 at 1:42 PM
Comment #43i know it is opinion, but some of the names being mentioned are just not realistic at all.
Quaresma, Drenthe, Lulinha, juninho, Pander….do people actually believe we can sign any of these players?
If we are looking at schalke players Rafinha would be our best choice IF we could get him. Can play RW and RB very effectively…then again work permit issues would arise etc.
Now would be a good time to poach some talent from Valencia as they are not going to achieve much this year and koeman is probably gonna be axed at some point.
I think;
Arshavin
M. Taylor
Brown
Diaby
Tom_Toon
Dec 18, 2007 at 2:41 PM
Comment #44Drenthe and Pander are way way more realistic than Rafinha, Rafinha is probably the best attacking RB in the world, imo far and away better than Daniel Alves.
Tom_Toon
Dec 18, 2007 at 2:44 PM
Comment #45Pander is very injury prone, he would annoy the hell outta me, cant defend for shit and cant really attack the only thing going for him is his crosses, delivery from free kick, long balls and long shots.
wilderness
Dec 18, 2007 at 3:21 PM
Comment #46One guy I think could help us tremendously up front for years to come is Klaas-Jan Huntelaar from AFC Ajax. He’s only 24 but has plenty of experience and has been the captain so far this year with Edgar Davids being injured.
He has been rumored with a transfer to several of the “big four” but that is exactly what I do not want to see. Huntelaar would not be cheap but believe me, it would be money well spent. And the man loves a good bicycle kick! (http://youtube.com/watch?v=BQbNneMKzsU).
He is big and should not have a problem adjusting to the physical aspect of the EPL and is adept at using both feet. If we don’t get him somebody will. Get r’ done now Sam!
playzoginthemiddle
Dec 18, 2007 at 3:39 PM
Comment #47We don’t need to but in January. Just play Enrique at left back, move Zog into the middle and play Emre on the left. Failing that play Zog on the left. Instantly more creativity
ChrisL
Dec 18, 2007 at 4:28 PM
Comment #48I’d like to see some competition for Milner on the right wing please.
Currently we have N’Zogbia & Duff on the left (with Milner able to fill in) but on the Right wing we only have Milner (with Duff able to fill in).
scott 9
Dec 18, 2007 at 4:36 PM
Comment #49i think we should sign arshevin diarra and a young right back and arda turan in the summer
Tom_Toon
Dec 18, 2007 at 4:39 PM
Comment #50exactly there is spaces we could fill, but whe you think about it we dont neeed many maybe 1 cm in jan. Youngsters when they fill in normally do really well for a short period of time e.g. 4 weeks – ANC
lee
Dec 18, 2007 at 4:54 PM
Comment #51valon berhami for right back then nicky shorey or jon arne risse for left back then either joao moutinho cardenas riquelme nolan aguero renato augusto cm (a) then for s(b) dimitar berbatov as he has been a passionate supporter of newcastle all his life
lee
Dec 18, 2007 at 4:55 PM
Comment #52or henri saivet
Tom_Toon
Dec 18, 2007 at 5:06 PM
Comment #53If there is ever anyone who goes by fm ‘lee’ is your man. Behrami is good but hes not as good a right back as a right winger, he simply players there for his country cos the swiss dont have a decent rb.
Saviet has never played a first team game but he sounds promising and would be a good youth player.
Johnny
Dec 18, 2007 at 5:09 PM
Comment #54I think we need a good playmaker, someone who’ll create chances for martins and owen. Eidur Smari Guðjonssen would fit perfectly. He has played in the premier league before so he wouldn’t need time to adjust.
All I want is that Big Sam plays zogbia and milner on the wings, we haven’t used the right wing all this season
toonoholic
Dec 18, 2007 at 5:16 PM
Comment #55too be frank we need a LB( enrique is decent .. not too prolific as beye on the right yet), RB ( incase carr leaves , beye is doing good) , and a RM ( to complement duff on the left side)
no need for a striker , we have smith !
as well in the summer look for replacement for butt as he has only 1-2 years more and another creative midfielder.
rest team looks good
Dragonera
Dec 18, 2007 at 5:29 PM
Comment #56Since we want youth, why dont Newcastle United go for 19 yr old striker, Roy Beerens. The guy has got serious pace and decent playmaking ability.
I could forgive not going in for arshavin if we got this guy.
Dragonera
Dec 18, 2007 at 5:30 PM
Comment #57Bereens could play smiths midfield role much better than smith, allowing smith to go to his true position, striker/second striker.
We should sell Owen on
toonoholic
Dec 18, 2007 at 5:35 PM
Comment #58why arent we trying for stuart downing ? i heard rumours everton are about to snap him up
Tom_Toon
Dec 18, 2007 at 5:45 PM
Comment #59ahahah Chelsea have signed Franco Di Santo 6ft 4 argentine forward 19 i think he is, he may be tall but for his size he is possibly the weakest player ive ever seen, he is a twig, but a good talent, he will get punished by the likes of fabregas.
mark
Dec 18, 2007 at 5:53 PM
Comment #60i really think that right now our focus should be on getting a system to suit the players we bought in the summer don’t forget we signed nine and let go of about twelve. All that change in a short time we need to settle down let the players gel focus on youth in january and in the summer access where we are. Too much change will lead to disaster. Patience is a virtue lads we need to have some
James
Dec 18, 2007 at 6:01 PM
Comment #61I agree with Gerry, James Brown of Hartlepool looks like a cracking player. Might be worth a punt IF we could get him at a reasonable price. Apart from that, keep the rest of the squad until the summer and get a right back (or centre back) and a creative midfielder. Arshavin would be the best bet, as the Russian season should have finished(?) and it would give him time to bed in before next season. And he also seems interested, unlike the majority of the players who have been mentioned so far.
Whumpie
Dec 18, 2007 at 6:10 PM
Comment #62I think people are still in the “spend a shed-load on a famous player” magic dart approach and I don’t think it’ll work now any more than before. Some of the names above would fit into a list with Kluivert, Marcellinho and Luque.
We have 3 playmakers, all good when fit, all preferring a spot at the front of midfield: Barton, Emre, N’Zogbia. We don’t need more non-prem prima-donna flopsy-haired salary-grabbers, we need our existing players doing their job. Give it time and it’ll happen faster than constant change and expense.
For me, get a LB in (preferably Matt Taylor), then have Duff left, Milner right, any of the above 3 in the middle, and job’s a goodun without spending lots. Then it’s a matter of getting good 2nd-choice players for those positions without – but that’ s a job for the summer.
Cockney Magpie
Dec 18, 2007 at 6:36 PM
Comment #63i like the sound of gettin matty taylor and arshavin/Rochemback/De Ridder and then maybe try swapping Owen for Ashton or Yakubu (i know its a distant dream but i really believe Ashton is the new Shearer!)
Tom_Toon
Dec 18, 2007 at 6:37 PM
Comment #64g
Jim
Dec 18, 2007 at 7:04 PM
Comment #65I can’t convince myself to support ‘arshavin’, though it does make me giggle.
Would he be flakey at the back? :o) Or would he leave that to his pal, ‘Bumfluff’?
I’m starting to realise that I don’t have the depth of player knowledge to contribute here but couldn’t resist the dottle dropper!
Ed Harrison
Dec 18, 2007 at 7:05 PM
Comment #66mark – that’s a good point. I think that’s probably what Chris Mort is also thinking – the guys we got in during the summer haven’t settled down yet – and they seem to be looking better as the season progresses. But if we can get players with premier experience I think we’ll being them in.
Ed Harrison
Dec 18, 2007 at 7:06 PM
Comment #67Matt Taylor looked very good a couple years back – but why do Portsmouth now want to let him go?
Toon Al
Dec 18, 2007 at 7:14 PM
Comment #68how many people here are going off bloody footbal manager???
rafinha, he becomes class on footy man in a few years but in reality is he THAT good now??
someone up there said they thought there would be work permit problems for a player!!!
start lookin in the real world people
taylor could be alrite at the right price, wes brown at CB/RB
arshvan as a playmaker or atackin midfield
huntalaar would be a nice buy too, but i rate crouch for how we play
Tom_Toon
Dec 18, 2007 at 7:30 PM
Comment #69g1
craig chisholm
Dec 18, 2007 at 8:18 PM
Comment #70i think we need the square route of nothing in a january transfer window. most players available then are not that good and the prices are over inflated. wait til the next window and then go shopping when we have a better idea of what we need and also who will still be wanting to stay with us – owen for instance. i think that although we are not going to set the prem on fire this season we are also clearly not going to be in a relegation fight either. there is no need for any knee-jerk buys at a time when we will only get another clubs unwanted baggage at arse prices too. i say we just work with what we have for the whole season. gives us more money available and at a time when we have a better selection to choose from.
scott 9
Dec 18, 2007 at 8:40 PM
Comment #71joao moutinho would be a perfect signing but i dont think we would go in for him and if we did he probably wouldnt come he is just what we need though young creative can play naywere in cm perfect partener for barton
Ben
Dec 18, 2007 at 8:43 PM
Comment #72If were going to play the “Bolton” formation we desperately need some creativity in midfield and Emre is not the answer. We also need better right wingers for the 433. So he’s my sugestions
Def: Brown and Taylor
Mid: Gudjohnsen (Outstanding for Chelsea when he played there)
Att: Luis Garcia
There all experienced Prem players and apart from Garcia all sitting on the bench at the minute
Tom_Toon
Dec 18, 2007 at 8:48 PM
Comment #73ffs emre is the best partner for barton, is he hs a good run in the team and producing half the quality of form he did have we would be laughing.
In:
Maduro
Out:
–
Ben
Dec 18, 2007 at 8:51 PM
Comment #74sorry for got to mention Dabo. Him and Barton would hit it off together
joel gledhill
Dec 18, 2007 at 9:27 PM
Comment #75we should not let beye go,he is amazing
brett
Dec 18, 2007 at 10:16 PM
Comment #76Dream Team
hutton rb
matt taylor lb/lw cover
velosa cdm
nasri/diego att/m
quaresma rm
k jones s
Deano
Dec 18, 2007 at 10:20 PM
Comment #77CB – Wes Brown – ManUtd (replace Peter Ramage)
RB – Georgios Seitaridis – AtlMtd (replace Steven Carr
CAM – Andrei Arshavin – Zenit (replace Matt Pattison)
LB – Arne Riise – Liverpool (replace Babayaro)
ST – Peter Crouch – Liverpool (replace Ameobi)
all these players are surplus to requirements at there present clubs and are allowed to leave there present clubs if they accept or receive a contract elsewhere.
these are world class players with EPL and European experience who can help turns us in a top 4 team.
anyone doubts me check out the status on all five players right now and u will see that they are available in june and some even right now!
Halliday
Dec 18, 2007 at 10:55 PM
Comment #78Wes brown, Sidwell, Gudjohnsen and Crouch/Berbatov
Can’t think of a Left back?
Halliday
Dec 18, 2007 at 10:55 PM
Comment #79I dont think we need a RB though. Beye is class.
Tom_Toon
Dec 18, 2007 at 11:21 PM
Comment #80g3