There are several English players who are available and very experienced in the Premier League, who could improve our team appreciably for next season.
Kevin Keegan – will improve the Newcastle squad in the summer
Here’s some of the players we are talking about. We think there’s probably 5 different positions that we need players in to strengthen the team:
Center Back
Left Back
Central midfielder
Winger
Striker
Wes Brown – Manchester United – Center Back
The obvious player that is available for nothing in the summer is Wes Brown of Manchester United, and anybody who has been a regular starter for them this season surely would be a good buy for us. Wes can also play anywhere across the back line. He’s a free agent in the summer, so he’ll come at a good price.
Wayne Bridge – Chelsea – Left Back
There are a number of players here we could get. There is news today that we may be interested in Nicky Shorey – and he would be good but we think the best player for us is Wayne Bridge of Chelsea. It’s just stupid to have our two best left backs at the same club and he will get a lot more games at Newcastle United. We think we could prise Wayne away from Stamford bridge with the potential of playing a lot more games at Newcastle than he gets at Chelsea. We should be able to get him for something south of £8M. If these two are not available then Norwegian John Arne Riise of Liverpool, could do a job for us.
Michael Carrick – Manchester United – Central midfielder
He may be expensive but Michael Carrick would be a great capture for us – if we can afford him. But those fans who say he wouldn’t come – give us a break – he’s a Newcastle lad, born and bred in Wallsend, and often talks fondly of the club. And he would have been 10 when Keegan took over the first time at Newcastle and was just 16 years old when he left the Newcastle area for West Ham United, he was resident in Newcastle throughout Keegan’s first reign at the club. One difficulty may be the transfer fee, since Manchester United paid Tottenham Hotspur a £14M basic fee, which could rise to £18.6 depending on appearances.
Another English midfielder that would be a good acquisition is Steve Sidwell of Chelsea – again he’ll get a game at Newcastle, unlike at Chelsea where he has made just 13 starts this season. He also has to get first team games, if he has any chance of furthering his England career.
Stewart Downing – Middlesbrough – Winger
We would be at all surprised if Newcastle mount a summer bid for Middlesbrough’s 23 year old Stewart Downing. He may cost a bit at £10M, but he’ll be worth it and is the type of player Keegan likes in his team. Stewart has already played 132 times for Middlesbrough (12 goals) and has played 16 times for England.
Dean Ashton – West Ham United – Striker
Dean Ashton can put the ball in the net, and he may be a good buy for Newcastle in the summer. He’s had a so so season but we still think he’s the nearest thing in English Football to the way Alan Shearer played – and that can’t be too bad. He could also work well with Michael Owen (and Oba Martins) and we could probably get him for around £8M.
What do you think about these players?
Who should Newcastle be after in the summer?
Let us know – comments welcome.
86 comments so far
rutehh8
Feb 14, 2008 at 6:07 PM
Comment #1i like the idea of all the english players… except wes brown
sparetheman
Feb 14, 2008 at 6:10 PM
Comment #2Yes please to the first three. I realistically don’t see any of them coming though.
Still hoping we keep Zog, in which case Downing is a bit pointless. Aston is a bit overrated for me and we’ve got a striker just like him in Viduka (we just don’t use him for some bizarre reason).
Tom_Toon
Feb 14, 2008 at 6:12 PM
Comment #3Downing – Shit
Wes Brown – Proper shit
Bridge – Good but injured alot
Ashton – Good but always injured
Carrick – Good but too expensive
To be honest i could give a flying fk what nationaility they are.
LB/LM – Maxwell
CB – Shittu
CDM – Rolfes
RM/CAM – Kahlenberg
ST – De Melo
Ian_McP
Feb 14, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Comment #4I like all those ideas, except i would add david bentley on, even though a top 4 team may bid for him.
NUFCFAN
Feb 14, 2008 at 6:26 PM
Comment #5we couldnt get half of these players.
hasnt wes brown already turned us down this season? – also dont rate him.
carrick – why would he leave one of the biggest clubs in the world where he is going to pick up medals year after year. And the amount of money he would cost would be huge. We could buy two great prospects UK based or foreign based.
Downing, cant say that i really rate him – bit like milner pretty average, not quick enough, and goes missing alot too.
ashton, i like, and bridge but like Tom_Toon said always injured.
sparetheman
Feb 14, 2008 at 6:27 PM
Comment #6Wes Brown gets a bad rep but Man Utd haven’t missed Gary Neville one iota this season and that’s thanks to Wes Brown. He’s not been very good in the past but he’s improved loads.
Pete
Feb 14, 2008 at 6:31 PM
Comment #7Gotta agree with Tom_Toon on the nationality subject. Who cares where they are from as long as they are good players?
That said tho, I’m not sure how sensible it would be using Football Manager 2008 as reference for future incoming transfers.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I just hate taking scraps from the big boys. How many times has that actually paid off for the poor buying club?
Wes Brown would be proper shit in Newcastle. No idea why we would need Downing, I do rate him, but we already have Duff/Zog in that position.
Dean Ashton is injury prone, and let’s be fair.. he’s not THAT good.
Bridge/Carrick would be decent buys, althought too expensive i guess. I’m still doubtful as too how much money we actually have to spend. I don’t trust the journalists one little bit on that subject.
Azeem
Feb 14, 2008 at 6:43 PM
Comment #8well i want these players instead of those named in the article above !!!!
CAM – Pablo Aimar – Real Zaragoza – age:28
LWM – Tran Barnetta – Leverkusen – age22
RWM- Roberto Hilbert – Stuttgart – age22
RWB – Anothony Vanden Borre – Genoa – age:19
FWD – Mario Gomez – Stuttgart age:21
CM – Daniele Dessena – Parma age:21
CDM – de Jong – HSV – age:22
FWD – Tamas Priskin – Watford – age:19
LWB – Sebastian Pocognoli – Alkmaar – age:19
and i will love to see these players leavin da club
Smith (hes shit )
Ameobi (bettr than smith)
Carr(fat, slow )
Butt (hes shit)
Faye
N’ Zog (if he wants to leave)
Harper (hes old now, we need a gd backup keeper)
Geremi (did played well for his country buh i dun think he was a gd signin )
Duff (he has becom a injury prone n since comin back from injury he havnt been quite impressive)
Barton (not the type for toon)
n thts it
Bill F
Feb 14, 2008 at 6:46 PM
Comment #9Tom-Toon I mentioned De-Melo a few weeks back and you were straight on my case, how come you suddenly rate him.
The English man I want us to get is Crouch now he would be a plus. Another would be SWP. I agree with Maxwell he doesn’t seem to be a first choice for his team (Milan I think or is it Inter)
Sweardoon
Feb 14, 2008 at 6:46 PM
Comment #10None of those will come to Newcastle. Shorey is the more likely left-back to be signed (still don’t think he’s all that likely, regardless of contract situation) and Wes Brown would look the dodgy player he is without the rest of the Man Poo team to cover his arse.
Tom_Toon
Feb 14, 2008 at 6:48 PM
Comment #11Bill F, months back and to be fair i saw him last season, he was pretty bad, then you mentioned him beginning of this seson, he scored a few goals but i didnt think he was going to be consistent but he has been, i think its 11 goals in 19 games for him and since there arent to many young tall strikers who can also use ther feet around that we could get, i thought id change my tune on him.
Le Mans (His team) are doing very well this season and everyone is playing well around him.
Tripp
Feb 14, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Comment #12We’re going to have to 1.) invest in quality youth. It’s the only sustainable way forward. 2.) Buy these so called ‘cast offs’ because they’re likely the only players that are going to be willing to come to a mid-table club with no UEFA prospects. It’s those guys that are gonna get us higher up the table and into Europe. Then we can think about signed the shit-hot players who can take us a step further.
scott9
Feb 14, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Comment #13tom_toon u can come out with these names but they would take time to adapt and i dont no about anybody else but i aint heard of them all of them 5 even if its sidwell instead off carrick cause lets be onist we aint gonna get carrick even if he is a geordie in the position we are now anyway and fergusson definatley would not sell so lets put that one to bed
Toon for life.
Feb 14, 2008 at 6:55 PM
Comment #14Carrick- Alot of money, But we can afford him. Could get him.
Ashton- I rate this lad very highly, Have done since he was at Norwich. Just the type of striker to partner Micheal Owen and will bring the best out of him. Much better than Viduka and will get some goals himself.
Bridge- Good but Riise is a better option in my opinion.
Brown- Won’t come. Also not THAT good.
Downing- I rate him but is he what we need? N’zogbia and Duff are capable.
I’d have Ashton and Carrick out of those. Riise instead of Bridge.
Ed, Can you do a page on realistic attacking midfield players Newcastle could buy?
Tom_Toon
Feb 14, 2008 at 6:56 PM
Comment #15Sidwell is shit aswell, most english players that would realisticslly come here are shit.
I also wouldnt mind N’Gog as a tall young striker.
CJ
Feb 14, 2008 at 6:57 PM
Comment #16Tom Toon – Danny Shittu are you joking the player’s you are saying are shit are proven players unlike the players’s you say we should sign other than Maxwell they are unproven at the top level and would prob be like most player’s we sign fail with flying colours.
Martins
Feb 14, 2008 at 7:00 PM
Comment #17Wes Brown LOL another crap Man Utd reject
Geordie Joe
Feb 14, 2008 at 7:02 PM
Comment #18Carrick would be a great signing, He is one of the best passers in the premiership. Its no coincidance that when spurs sold him they went rite down hill. Get him!
I’d have brayne widge too but i don’t think any of the others would make us better.
Max
Feb 14, 2008 at 7:03 PM
Comment #19Ashton and Bridge, yes please, i’ve always admired them. Remember how well Ashton played in the FA cup final against Liverpool?
Sidwell? Why not. Brown and Carrick won’t probably to come to us unfortunately.
Howay the lads!!!
Robert from Serbia
Feb 14, 2008 at 7:04 PM
Comment #20Tom Tom-are u crazy? Shittu from Watford???
CJ
Feb 14, 2008 at 7:05 PM
Comment #21Sidwell might not be a player most fan’s would like but he couldn’t do any worse than Smith, Butt or Barton. I would have Faye and Zog in cm.
CJ
Feb 14, 2008 at 7:07 PM
Comment #22Exactly Robert, Shittu by name Shittu by nature he is a joke big dopey and clumsy i would go as far as saying i would rather play Ramage and that is saying something.
Geordie Joe
Feb 14, 2008 at 7:08 PM
Comment #23Sidwell turned us down to warm a bench so why should we sign him know. plus he is not even that good.
CJ
Feb 14, 2008 at 7:11 PM
Comment #24Joe who said we should sign Sidwell.
Mighty Mouse
Feb 14, 2008 at 7:18 PM
Comment #25From the players you mention I would only take Carrick and the word from ManU is they would let him go but for no less than 10M.
I am so fed up with us takin on has-beens from other clubs. Or in fairness they only become has-beens after they pull on the b&w.
I want young, hungry players with the world to prove (Bentley, Young). Not over-rated, established players with nothing to prove (Brown, Bridge)
Downing!? we love signing left wingers hey?
Love the shout of SWP I dont think Milner will ever cut it at this level, makes a great U21 player though 😉
I’ve followed Ashton since he was at Crewe and have always thought he the most obvious successor to Shearer but since his injury I’m not so convinced, I mean if Curbs favors Carlton Cole over him…’nuff said.
Could’ve had Davies at CB, that’s the sort of player we should be looking at, the next big thing.
We are safe in the prem so we should be looking at long-term success not full make-overs every season.
CRAIGG
Feb 14, 2008 at 7:23 PM
Comment #26I personally would like all of them in for next season We would be much better off buying English instead of having hit or miss players from abroad who take ages to adapt.
Next season maybe:
Given/Harper
Beye/Ramage Taylor/Brown/Faye/Edgar Bridge/Enrique
Milner/Barnes Carrick/Butt/Emre/Sidwell Downing /Duff
Owen/Martins Ashton/Carroll
That is based on N’Zogbia,Cacapa, Carr, Viduka, Ameobi, Smith, Barton and Geremi leaving
I have also added Giles Barnes who i hope we tie up in the summer to Add competion on the right and in the middle.
Hadrian
Feb 14, 2008 at 7:25 PM
Comment #27no thank you
Tom_Toon
Feb 14, 2008 at 7:30 PM
Comment #28Right my new list, thought out a bit:
LB – Maxwell
CB – Luisao
CDM – Song
RM – Bentley
CAM – Kahlenberg
ST – David N’Gog
Leo*
Feb 14, 2008 at 7:51 PM
Comment #29wes brown- maybe being free wouldnt be too high a risk. but makes lots of mistakes
left back- bridges shorey or riise would all be welcome if we could get them
Carrick- a great player to get, hope it does happen, but its all pipe dreams atm.
downing- would be a good signing, he has one hell of a cross, pin point
i also think we need a right winger- a.lennon would be worth a cheeky punt, but bentley would be great also, again a pipe dream atm
as for the striker i dont think ashton is good enough, i think having a small bid for darren bent would be better, he is big strong and fast.
we dont have to limit ourselves to england players but i think that article was very good
Toon for life.
Feb 14, 2008 at 7:52 PM
Comment #30Malbranque anyone?
Leo*
Feb 14, 2008 at 8:02 PM
Comment #31i would like barnes as well. just reading through the comments, he is one for the future i really think at the right club he will be great, obviously if he signs for newcastle i will be worried for his prospects
Tom_Toon
Feb 14, 2008 at 8:02 PM
Comment #32Suchy of Slavia Prague is meant to be immense
nufctj
Feb 14, 2008 at 8:08 PM
Comment #33why the fixation on English players? Get the best players who want to wear the black and white.
Geordie Joe
Feb 14, 2008 at 8:12 PM
Comment #34Tottenham are winning. I really hate them.
ToonUSA
Feb 14, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Comment #35We need to stop collecting squad players of the top 4. there is a reson they squad playres, they look good when they play with class but are average or below average if taken out of a good team.
Brown — squad player (like ummm SHIT SMITH)
tiddleybonks
Feb 14, 2008 at 8:42 PM
Comment #36ginger hair need i say more
Bobby Ollox
Feb 14, 2008 at 9:25 PM
Comment #375 Englishmen who would improve the current side.
1) Jeremy Beadle
2) Ant and/or Dec
3) Me
4) Trevor McDonald (Sir)
5) Malcolm McDonald (Sir)
CJ
Feb 14, 2008 at 9:30 PM
Comment #38Bobby Ollox- I would have Jeremy Beadle in his coffin in cm ahead of Alan Smith or Ant and Dec tied together ahead of the slowest Carr in the world or even Sidwells ginger nut sack.
DGB
Feb 14, 2008 at 9:34 PM
Comment #39We need to ride it out with the following for the rest of the season and hope like hell we can pull away from the zone.
Given (Harps)
Baye Taylor Faye Enrigue
Millner Emre N’Zog Duff
Martins Owen
Bring in the youngsters when we are safe. Try not to embarras ourselves and make Kev feel like he’s back at the Circus
Geordie Joe
Feb 14, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Comment #40bobby – you missed off ronald mcdonald (Sir)