Sam Allardyce has said we need two or three top players in January, but only if we can get them then, otherwise we’ll apparently wait until the summer.
Andrei Arshavin – would be a great acquisition for Newcastle
Big Sam spoke to the Evening Chronicle today:
“We need two or three players and we are on the ball over this.†“But we do need quality players and I just hope we can find them.â€
It would appear if the right players are not available in January, Sam may let the window go by, and Newcastle will probably just bring in some of the younger players we have been scouting, while awaiting the opening of the January window.
The fact that Sam says he’s on top of the situation would mean to us he has some good players we have been linked with, such as Andrei Arshavin, the Russian captain, lined up. We would assume if Sam can do a good deal with Zenith, Andrei’s club side, then we would expect the Russian to arrive on Tyneside in January.
Sam’s right about wanting 2 -3 top class players. That’s what we lack right now, players like Emre, who can open up opposing defenses with their sheer class. This is what will separate us from the lower level teams in the Premier league in the future.
We’ll just have to wait and see which players surface in January, but it should be an exciting time for Newcastle fans everywhere.
Here’s some information on Andrei Arshavin:
Andrei was born in May of 1981 in Saint Petersburg, (then called Leningrad) and is a top player for the Russian Premier League team Zenit St. Petersburg. He can play both as a midfielder and as a striker and has played 26 times for Russia scoring 7 goals, since making his debut on May 17, 2002 in a match against Belarus. He has captained the Russian side in their quest for European qualification under manager Guus Hiddink. Arshavin has played for his club side Zenith 229 times and scored 55 goals since making his debut in 2000. Andrei is just short of 5′ 8†tall and is tiger-like in midfield.
Comments very welcome.
67 comments so far
Keep Oba
Dec 19, 2007 at 6:07 PM
Comment #41I really like Emre. He is great as a second half sub, but I still want him to start more…he has great one touches and passes that just tear a play open. Not many in our side have that ability. I am sure Sam will be forced to play him more come Christmas and January. February and March should be a nice bonus time with the players we get back.
yet_another_indian_toon
Dec 19, 2007 at 6:07 PM
Comment #42I just hope that he doesnt go and buy Diouf in Jan…
That will be my worstest ever nightmare…
JMDuncan
Dec 19, 2007 at 6:08 PM
Comment #43I agree that Arshevin is a quality player that would well suit our need of a creative midfielder. I also believe that there is a glaring need for a striker since I have been less than impressed by Viduka, or the oft injured Owen. I know it would be a longshot, but I just read that Podolski at Bayern is unsettled and looking for another team. If he would be willing to join a middle of the table Bundesliga team, why not Newcastle? He is young, talented, and experienced at the international level. Like I said, I know it’s a longshot, but it would great to see him in black and white. I was also curious if anyone has heard anything further about Sam pursuing Emanuelson from Ajax?
Toon Barmy
Dec 19, 2007 at 6:09 PM
Comment #44Tom_Toon your spot on. Bent 16 million its a joke, 12 million could do it for defoe tho, would also like to see le sulk hear as he is a guarenteed 20 goals a season man, but it looks like we have no chance with man u & chelsea sniffing around it should of been last summer. but i was dissapointed to read in todays chronicle (alan oliver) that we may not be able to afford 6 million for godjohnsen. i hope this is paper talk.
yet_another_indian_toon
Dec 19, 2007 at 6:12 PM
Comment #45Lucas Podolski! If he joins, it would be absolutely awesome. But he is a striker, isn’t he? We might have to say goodbye to either Owen(yea willdo) or Martins(noways!)
Tom_Toon
Dec 19, 2007 at 6:13 PM
Comment #46ggg
Tom_Toon
Dec 19, 2007 at 6:16 PM
Comment #47Podolski blows hot and cold and he had been linked to us before (when roeder was in charge), he is a good player mind. Diouf is a good player but agbain hes african thats problem, ino its only 4 weeks but if alot of our first 11 or first 16 are made up of lots of africans then ther eis no continuety
Dragoner
Dec 19, 2007 at 6:16 PM
Comment #48JMDuncan it looks like Eman is going to Tottenham. 19yr old striker/attacking midfielder Roy Beerens would really be good for us, he is still kinda off the radar and we could probably sneak him, he will not go unnoticed for much longer
Dragoner
Dec 19, 2007 at 6:32 PM
Comment #49our biggest problem is finding a defensive midfielder to play with emre in the centre who can create aswel. like flamini or diarra, once we have that and get duff back we will have a good, creative team.
Tom_Toon
Dec 19, 2007 at 6:37 PM
Comment #50Nh Emre n Barton all he way and when/if Arshavin comes stick him on he right of the midfield for 4-4-2 or right of the front 3 for 4-3-3, Barton can be Roy Keane!
Tom_Toon
Dec 19, 2007 at 6:38 PM
Comment #51i did say we needed a new defensive midfield but the thinking behind that was only to get rid of butt, but barton can easy play defensive md and roam forwards occasionally.
Dragoner
Dec 19, 2007 at 6:38 PM
Comment #52i see your point tom, but wouldn’t you prefer a hargeaves to a carrick?
Tom_Toon
Dec 19, 2007 at 6:55 PM
Comment #53depends if you want a defensive player or a passer, if you wanted a mixture id pick gargreaves.
JMDuncan
Dec 19, 2007 at 6:57 PM
Comment #54Dragoner, I agree that Beerens is a quality young player, and would make a fine addition to the team. I think Barton would do a nice job as DM. If we get rid of Butt, I would like to see a player like Appiah arrive for cover. He’s a defensive minded player than can also create and finish, but of course he’s african so that really wouldn’t do us any good until February.
Dragoner
Dec 19, 2007 at 7:10 PM
Comment #55exactly, and Barton is more like Carrick than Hargreaves. I think if Emre is in the centre then we will need a hargreaves style DM like Diarra etc as Emre is not the most physical player
Tom_Toon
Dec 19, 2007 at 7:39 PM
Comment #56Barton is way more like Hargreaves than Carrick. Bartons passing is nowhere as good as his tackling, barton is a dm who likes to get forward the same as Hargreaves.
Obafan
Dec 19, 2007 at 8:47 PM
Comment #57I’m from Belgium and I know Dufour; he is technically a great player (most of the time CAM), but I think that he needs to learn more. Perhaps in a few years he will be good for the EPL, but for now I think it is too early. It will be the best for the player to stay another 2 seasons in Satandard and then move on to a big league.
Arshavin would be fantastic and I believe if we wat him we will get him. Muntari is going to stay at Pompey I think. We should go for another striker also, Martins will be gone to Africa and how long will Owen be fit I would not take any risk by just relying on him.
Brisbane Mag
Dec 19, 2007 at 8:58 PM
Comment #58Arshavin and Wes Brown would be tremendous signings, but at the right price.
No point in buying players if they are not the right price or not what’s needed…….
Tom_Toon
Dec 19, 2007 at 9:14 PM
Comment #59g2
valle
Dec 19, 2007 at 9:15 PM
Comment #60Bill f… Apology for the booze comment, it was meant as i reply to ur imposters comment to me where he told me to shut up about Geremi because he had a dream of him as a taxi driver lol.
Tom_Toon
Dec 19, 2007 at 9:17 PM
Comment #61obafan what do you think bout Witsel and Fellaini.
Bill f
Dec 20, 2007 at 12:29 AM
Comment #62Ok Valle no problem, Ed has said that is now sorted. Don’t know why he decided to start bad mouthing me.
But if he is reading the blog I just want to say I don’t know how or why I upset you but as I have already said I do not not go out of my way to upset people if I have somehow, then I am truly sorry.
It’s water under the bridge as far as I am concerned.
wsq
Dec 20, 2007 at 5:00 AM
Comment #63This means a condition or a target must have been set for europe this year! Without that I don’t think Mort would loose the strings.
1 signing top8 2 signings top 7 3 singnings top 6
agree?
valle
Dec 20, 2007 at 7:54 AM
Comment #64yeah that guy was a prick! what a loser!
aaron d
Dec 20, 2007 at 9:57 AM
Comment #65after Fred of Lyon now apparently
Obafan
Dec 20, 2007 at 10:17 AM
Comment #66Tom_Toon:
They both might have a very bright future, but ATM they need to learn so much more and I think it is also for them the best to grow first in the Belgian League and then in a few years make a big step into a strong league.
Iain
Jan 4, 2008 at 2:44 PM
Comment #67Would like to see Wes Brown and Matt Taylor in the transfer window to shore up the centre of defence and give us more balance down the left.
Think Podolski would be a great signing given he is sat on the bench at Bayern – good in the floating role between the midfield and strikers with a sweet shot on him. He would also likely be less of a risk temperament wise than some of the Southern European players we’ve been stung with in the past (Viana, Marcelino etc).
Come the summer I’d also be interested in Alan Hutton (Rangers Right Back) and Scott Brown (Celtic)