According to Sky Sports, Newcastle are said to be one of three clubs chasing Athletic Bilbao defender Fernando Amorbieta.
Fernando Amorebieta – 22 year old 6’4″ defender from Athletic Bilbao
The 3 clubs interested are said to be Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle United, and all are said to be keeping a close watch on the 22 year-old young defender.
All three clubs are reported to have watched the player on a number of occasions this season, as they all consider making a move for him in the summer transfer window. Amorebieta, has a contract with Bilbao until 2011, and says he is happy with the interest shown in him, but insists he is in no rush to leave Bilbao:
He told Sky Sports today:
“I’m very happy here and also that people are noticing me,”
“It’s nice to know people are interested in you.”
The problem we have at Newcastle, as we go after these players this summer, is we will have precious little to offer them. We will finish in the bottom half of the table for the second season running, and will not have any European Football next season to odder, again for the second season in succession. So it will not be easy to persuade some of these promising players to join us on Tyne-side.
Fernando Amorebieta Mardaras was born in Cantaura, Venezuela in March, 1985 and plays for Athletic Bilbao as a defender. He is just under 6’4†tall and both his parents are from the Basque Country, and he has played for the Spanish Youth side.
Here is Fernando’s playing record so far:
Season Club App Goals 2003–2004 Baskonia 26 1 2004–2005 Bilbao Athletic 24 1 2005–present Athletic Bilbao 61 0
There will be many many players we are linked with as the summer approaches, as usual. Our most recent signing from Spain, Under-21 International Jose Enrique, will not give much confidence to other youngsters looking to come to Newcastle from Spain.
Jose has been used very sparingly, to say the least, and the 21 year-old has only started 12 games with 5 sub appearances for the club in just over 6 months. Yet when he’s played he’s looked a good young player with promise.
Not sure exactly what is going on with Jose at Newcastle, but preferring Stephen Carr, a right back to him on Saturday doesn’t exactly show that Kevin Keegan has great confidence in the youngster. And other Spanish players like Fernando, may well look twice before they agree to come to Tyne-side.
Comments welcome.
48 comments so far
Edd Case
Feb 13, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Comment #1Cant see this happening.
If Enrique cant even get on the pitch, why would he?
obafemimartins
Feb 13, 2008 at 2:31 PM
Comment #2this the team now that will be left by the end of the summer window. …………………………… (for all those people who dont understand NO ONE)
broon ale
Feb 13, 2008 at 2:42 PM
Comment #3obafemimartins!! are you suggesting we will sell the whole team and sign no one! am i being thick here? anyways,,, this signing will not happen, especially if there is any truth in man united and liverpool being interested. As for Jose looking good. I dissagree! i think he has looked slow and clumsy! thats why allardyce dropped him and why keegan plays square pegs in round holes in favour of him.
GP
Feb 13, 2008 at 2:47 PM
Comment #4broon ale – We have nobody else to play at left-back. Say N’Zogbia all you like but he can’t defend. A few times this season Duff has had to drop back to left back to cover for Charlie while he’s running around the pitch like a headless chicken.
broon ale
Feb 13, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Comment #5gp…i agree but i never suggested nzogbia could play at left back, I simply made the point that nor allardyce or keegan seem to trust enrique! possibly because he isnt very good!
thelongshanks
Feb 13, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Comment #6Liverpool and utd after him so forget this one its a two horse race.Enrique should start left full every game till the end of the season,give the guy a chance.Why are we not being linked with young midfielders as this is our most important weakness?
CRAIGG
Feb 13, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Comment #7Can i also add that walking away from St James’ after the Blackburn game last season (our last home game) i was disgusted at the hundred or so idiots singing taxi for roeder outside the Milburn Stand after we had 13 players out for a lot of the season F***IN PRICKS!!!!
Tom_Toon
Feb 13, 2008 at 3:13 PM
Comment #8no we arent, fk defenders get some bloody central midfielders.
scott9
Feb 13, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Comment #9yes we need 3 central midfileders first
scott brown
toulalon
song (arsenal)
milner fan
Feb 13, 2008 at 3:51 PM
Comment #10looking at the amount of goals being shipped past us i think we really need another cb. But not a young lad for the future, we need an experienced player who can make an instant impact for the first team. Build from the back then the results will come.
CRAIGG
Feb 13, 2008 at 3:52 PM
Comment #11Is it only me who misses Scott Parker??
CRAIGG
Feb 13, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Comment #12Tottally off topic but Can i also add that walking away from St James’ after the Blackburn game last season (our last home game) i was disgusted at the hundred or so idiots singing taxi for roeder outside the Milburn Stand after we had 13 players out for a lot of the season F***KIN PRICKS!!!!
broon ale
Feb 13, 2008 at 3:55 PM
Comment #13CRAIGG! its only you! scott parker shit on his own doorstep when he stuck his fingers up at the newcastle fans,,, twice.
besides,, he is always injured
CRAIGG
Feb 13, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Comment #14He was a darn site better than geremi, barton, and butt and they have never disgraced themselves have they
broon ale
Feb 13, 2008 at 4:16 PM
Comment #15he is always injured craigg
Tom_Toon
Feb 13, 2008 at 4:16 PM
Comment #16If people think we need another CB because we are conceeding goals they simply know nothing about football. You need to defend from the front and have a good protector of the back 4, Butt is meant to do this and help to reinforce the defence but he is bloody shit.
Griff
Feb 13, 2008 at 4:17 PM
Comment #17Newcastle miss Dyer the most…
when he was fit he was fast, goods passer and opened up defences.
Thats why i cant wait for Martins to come back.
Pace is king.
CRAIGG
Feb 13, 2008 at 4:23 PM
Comment #18broon ale fair point but can you imagine if we had kept Parker, Solano, Dyer and Sibierski we would be creating and scoring much more than with Barton, Geremi, Smith and Viduka but yes Parker and Dyer are always injured im just saying we would have more creativity and quality than what we have now which i winning the ball back and wasting it
Mighty Mouse
Feb 13, 2008 at 4:23 PM
Comment #19pretty sure Curbs is/has been/will be missing Parker
thelongshanks
Feb 13, 2008 at 4:25 PM
Comment #20Butt is the worst player i have every seen im not gonna debate this he is the reason we are playing crap and nobody at the club notices it.I cud not give a f*£k if he is the first at the training ground and the last to leave.he is utter muck and until this is addressed we will have to play 8 inform thurams playing behind him and even then we will let in goals! Sorry for the rant just boils my blood he is still at the toon.Faye to start def mid next match!
Davey G
Feb 13, 2008 at 4:26 PM
Comment #21Griff, he was a little waster but I tell you what, your cock on with that, we simply havent replaced Kieran Dyer.
Pace, pace, pace, in the middle of the park…….No one could handle him on his day, not even the best defenders in the league.
If we had of replaced him with someone like for like, we wouldnt be in this predicament now!!!
Tom_Toon
Feb 13, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Comment #22thelongshanks – echo that, been saying it for fkin ages, hes the reason we conceed so many, he breaks down attacks but then gives away the ball therefore he cancels hmself out, just fkin get him of the fkin pitch hes fkin shit ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Mighty Mouse
Feb 13, 2008 at 4:38 PM
Comment #23ditto…and all it would have taken was for B’ham to have stayed up when he was on loan to make it permanent.
Imagine if we had got Diarra in to replace him? He’s playing incredibly well at Portsmouth and he would have done wonders in helping Charly settle.
broon ale
Feb 13, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Comment #24i put a question to you all and i want you to answer it seriously.. we used to have sibierski on our Payroll, he loved playing for us and he always gave his all, scored a few goals too.. he was a free transfer and we could of quite easily offered him a 2 year contract and we would have had a decent squad player who wouldnt cause any bother. On the other had we have forked out 6 million on a striker who hasnt scored in the premier league since december 2004 in the form of Alan Smith. I ask you seriously,, who would you prefer right now. Sibierski or Alan Smith?
ronaldeano
Feb 13, 2008 at 4:51 PM
Comment #25Sibierski defo. Smith is NOT going to get any better. I would rather have wor lass up front rather than Smith 🙂
broon ale
Feb 13, 2008 at 4:53 PM
Comment #26ha ha ha, wor lass!
Micky Toon
Feb 13, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Comment #27The Alan Smith signing has always had me scratching me head. Sir Alex doesn’t let players go if he can use them. He knew Beckham was past his best and let him go. The only question mark would be Van Nistelrooy. Man U could really do with him at the moment. Butt was allowed to leave becuase he was shit, same with Smith. Taggart knew Smith was a useless striker, so tried him in midfield. When that didn’t work he was out the door.
At the time I mocked the Sibierski signing. But he actually did a job for us and to answer the question, Sibierski everytime. But I’d rather not have to chose between two very ordinary players.
Tom_Toon
Feb 13, 2008 at 4:59 PM
Comment #28RVN left Manure because he caused dressing room unrest.
Martin
Feb 13, 2008 at 5:00 PM
Comment #29Give Smith a defensive roll or show him the door.
CRAIGG
Feb 13, 2008 at 5:03 PM
Comment #30Sibierski or Smith plus like i said Parker or Barton, Solano or Geremi, Dyer or Butt or even Roeder or Allardyce ??
You dont know what you have until its gone
daiv
Feb 13, 2008 at 5:04 PM
Comment #31Martin,
A defensive role cleaning loos cos thats all he useful for
Leo*
Feb 13, 2008 at 5:06 PM
Comment #32if only someone ran nicky butt over… maybe some footballer will collide with him in training!!!
I HATE NICKY BUTT MAKING A MOCKERY OF OUR TEAM
i would gladly welcome back keiron and parker atm…
king sib was great and i was saddened when he left.
22 year old spanish defender! we need an experienced head to work along side taylor and faye (either dmf or cb)
ronaldeano
Feb 13, 2008 at 5:43 PM
Comment #33If Smith spent more time working on his finishing, instead of his shite haircut, then maybe he woudent be getting so much stick. But he deserves it cos he is a foul tempered, dye my hair and flick it into ridiculous styles so people will recognise me, fookin puff 🙂
Leo*
Feb 13, 2008 at 6:00 PM
Comment #34just noticed that newcastle has let howard go… top right hand side of the page….
why are we letting everybody go? surely were not going to wait before re-appointing replacements like we did with keegan! this is a foolish tactic by our club
Matthew Tom
Feb 13, 2008 at 6:16 PM
Comment #35The only reason this kid might come to us is if he thinks he’ll get more football. Otherwise if he’s any good and Man U or Liverpool show an interest, we’ll have no chance. Just the way it is, and just the price of being a bottom half team these days.
It’s all Butt and Smith these days, can’t we just all agree they’re no good and think about something else to talk about? Like whether Edgar should be brought in at left back? That’s assuming Enrique is complete rubbish, but from what I’ve seen he’s OK so far and I can’t understand why KK is not playing him.
Tom_Toon
Feb 13, 2008 at 6:25 PM
Comment #36Jaiteh is playing against Everton tonight, well should be, hes a very good up and coming cm.
Astidores Sanchez Blanco
Feb 13, 2008 at 6:34 PM
Comment #37Newcastle have a history of having a dodgy defence.
Strangely enough however, Celtic, one of the biggest clubs in Europe have an ex Newcastle defender whom we brought through the ranks playing in their starting eleven week in week out either at right back or centre back.
This man is also an important figure for his country scoring the winning goal in Scotland’s 1-0 victory over France.
The man in question?
Gary Caldwell.
It is interesting that we never gave this boy a chance despite the fact he cost us nothing. Yet we played his older brother who ended up falling into obscurity via Sunderland.
Interesting indeed.
Leo*
Feb 13, 2008 at 6:39 PM
Comment #38gary caldwell got a game or two if my recorlection is correct, he looked really good, i thought tht he would break through, his brother would have been good if he was managed properly. nevermind though its in the past he would cost us nearing 10mil now for him
Tom_Toon
Feb 13, 2008 at 7:01 PM
Comment #39No Huselkepp or Jaiteh. Karadas aint a bad tall striker, he was crap at Pompey though.
Nicky Butt is crap!
Feb 13, 2008 at 8:23 PM
Comment #40well said leo, butt is a piece of shit and should be working in the club shop. and well said ealrier craigg, you certainly dont know what you have lost untill its gone…but in summer we must start from the back, starting with a new goalkeeper, i love shay but you cant be sentamental in footy if someone has lost form, they need replaceing. if only we could get the team that is winning me every competition on fifa
green
(given)
sagne upson dunne shorey
(beye) (taylor) (faye) (enrique)
bentley cahill alonso nzogbia
(milner) (emre) (diop) (duff)
owen berbatov
(oba) (dukes)
i had to sign beye and faye as they were not updated on game, but that wouldnt be a bad squad eh?