The Sun reports today that Newcastle are after both Dean Ashton of West Ham United and Leighton Baines of Everton.
Leighton Baines – struggled at Everton this season
Leighton Baines was presumably a target for us last summer, along with Wayne Bridge and Nicky Shorey for the left back spot, but we eventually paid £6.2M for Jose Enrique who is turning out to be a good player at the club, now that Kevin has given him a long run in the side.
But Leighton, who is 5’7″ tall, has struggled at Everton and is unable to get a regular starting spot, so we wonder if the boy is good enough for Newcastle. He’s appeared just 19 times for the Toffees this season after playing for Wigan Athletic 145 times and scoring 4 goals.
But he’s the right age at just 23 years old, and played for the England Under-21 side 16 times and scored one goal.
Dean Ashton – looks the part but is injury prone
We think striker Dean Ashton, who is 24, could be a success at Newcastle because he’s a natural goalscorer, very much in the vein of an Alan Shearer, but not as good or prolific.
But we think Keegan could mold Ashton into a very good goalscorer at the club, by taking his natural goalscoring ability and playing to his strengths. But Dean also seems to be injury prone, and that’s the exact same problem we have with Mark Viduka, so there’s a doubt about Dean being a good buy, as far as we are concerned.
We think Baines would be available, but it may be a lot more difficult to prise Ashton away from West Ham United.
What do you think about these two players – are they good enough?
Comments welcome.
111 comments so far
geoffo
Apr 29, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Comment #41Gomis has more pace than Aston, imagine a forward line of Owen, Gomis and Martins! Defences would be diging trenches!!!
Spyro
Apr 29, 2008 at 1:02 PM
Comment #42Who ever wrote the crap about Gallas and Adebayor is impersonating me. i did not write that bulls**t, its probably that w****r Davey G, lol he is pathetic and he goes by two different names, the other name is Knightbobmoncur. Wouldtn surprise me if he was impersonating me now, the loser, lol
Elfer
Apr 29, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Comment #43both would be very VERY dissapointing signings 🙁
HonoraryGeordie
Apr 29, 2008 at 1:27 PM
Comment #44I think anyone writing team sheets without Martins does not go to the games! He is our No. 9, he and Owen should be certain starters next year. Any transfers should be made to improve what we have, not replace our best players with similar quality!!
Our team is good already, the people who are in doubt:
Given/Harper – Both set to fight it out with each other – no replacements
Beye – need a back up instead of Jimmy Carr
Taylor – He is our future Captain, but needs someone class next to him
Faye – solid, but needs replacing with pure class
Enrique – very very good potential, need an old head to teach him the ropes – Bridge anyone?
Geremi – needs replacing with a young creative rocket!
Butt – excellent defensive cover, but would a younger bigger stronger faster player not make us a more mobile force?
Barton – very good footballer, maybe too slow in a more creative team? and also isn’t he gonna be picking up soap at her majestys pleasure soon?
Martins – Our No. 9 and our rough diamond! his pace is irreplaceable and his ability to pull something from nowhere is a real crowd pleaser
Owen – Captain and link up man, team should be built round him and Martins
Dukes – Class on his day, but much better out there! Never seen Gomis but he must be worth a shot, I would personally prefer Ashton!
The team needs refining not replacing! We have better players than Everton, yet they build a team around Yakubu, Cahill, Arteta, Yobo, Lescott and Howard – we should follow suit and not just go for the star players!!!
Mson
Apr 29, 2008 at 1:39 PM
Comment #45looked up Gomis on tube and he looks like drogba in is style of play, class too.
player i would like us to try bring in:
LB: Wayne bridge
Strong Striker: Gomis, Elmander or try revive Adriano from Inter again? 🙂
AMC or two: riquelme? V.D.V? Diego? Moutinho? or put arshavin there?
CD: Dunne Metzelder (yes two and move up faye in DM with butt as cover)
RW: lennon
Gomis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3o540EWS_M&feature=related
valle
Apr 29, 2008 at 1:41 PM
Comment #46HonoraryGeordie… I watch plenty of games and Oba wouldnt get near my first 11 if we buy a good option alongside owen. He is selfish to the point that he is a liability at times, trying impossible shots when a good passing oportunity is an option. He lacks vision and football intelligens, and his control is down right bad!, he dosnt get nearly enough out of his pace, because he isnt able to read the game better and run BEFORE the ball is passed… He does have lots of good sides to his game, which i am sure you are aware of, but anyone able to look past the wonder goals and analyse his general game would tell you the same.
And BTW, its Steven Carr…
valle
Apr 29, 2008 at 1:44 PM
Comment #47And in regards to the number 9, i think its a joke he got it… Makes it rather ordinary, since you aperently dont have to be a top class striker when you arrive to get it.
Geordie Gerrard7
Apr 29, 2008 at 1:46 PM
Comment #48valle, shhut up man. look at yourself.
valle
Apr 29, 2008 at 1:57 PM
Comment #49Why on earth should i shut up?, Try to be a bit constructive if you dont agree with my view… But i guess that would take a bit of brain activity
HonoraryGeordie
Apr 29, 2008 at 1:57 PM
Comment #50Firstly i kind of knew that the little fat irish kid that sometimes gets into our great team has the first name of steven, the point i was making is he is so comical to watch, he could in fact be confused with the fat comedian, Jimmy Carr!
Now Martins, not a good player before he came?!? I take it you don’t watch Champions League football? Or watch any football of any other league? He gets the crowd excited, scores great goals, drags defenses all over the place to give other players space, runs the channels, jumps a mile and heads the ball, works to get the ball back and plays with his heart on his sleave! People complain about people like Kluivert and the Zog for picking up big wages and not wanting to play for the club, then we get a young lad who can only get better, loving the club, and you want him replaced! As I said, maybe you should watch the whole game, not the few times he *Gasp* makes a bad decision!?!
HonoraryGeordie
Apr 29, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Comment #51Cheers GeordieGerrard
valle
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:07 PM
Comment #52First of all, when you start your comment by declaring that all that dosnt agree with your view about Martins dosnt go to matches, then you gotta be prepared to receive the same back!… Second of all, backing a baboon who cant argue and simply throwes out such well thought statements as “shut up” takes you down to his level. So now you and me, who support the same team, cant argue on whether Martins should be in the starting 11 without going into kindergarden motion?… so sad
Now to the football matters… If you indeed watch as much football as you state, then you would know that he was a bit time player at Inter (We properly wouldnt get him if he wasnt) and imo the number 9 just comming off the great Shearer should either be retired till someone proved its worth, or go to a legend in the making like Owen. I like to have Oba at the club, make no mistake about that. But i would rather see a 4-4-2 with fast wings and a big little combo with Owen as the little guy in attack.
Hamas (51times)
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:12 PM
Comment #53Yeah, you’re being very narrowminded when it comes to Martins valle. I think he’ll continue to prove himself next season anyway.
valle
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:14 PM
Comment #54Dont know if im narrowminded, i simply dont share a general opinion… Narrowminded would be the guys that couldnt accept other opinions than their own wouldnt it?
Knightbobmoncur
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:16 PM
Comment #55Spyro- Time is money mate, and I aint gonna waste it pretending to be you! Also I post under only one name, I have no need to change or pretend to be somone else like some people on here!! And you have the nerve to refer to me as W***er !! By the way my brother is called davey.
TWAT!!!
We aint one, believe me!!
I also knew that wasn’t you posting under Spyro, as they seem to talk sense. (LOL Tossa)
valle
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:18 PM
Comment #56I am always happy to take an argument on, i just feel that it should be done in a constructive way instead of stating all this crab about “people that dont agree with me, dosnt watch games” and the one from GeordieGerard7 is just on kiddo level… FFS, is it Oba or Newcastle we all support in the end of the day?
Hamas (51times)
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:19 PM
Comment #57The others did go a bit over the top there. I’m guilty of this too though so I shouldn’t talk…
valle
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Comment #58Knightbobmoncur… Cant help but to notice that some people are acting strange, so i wouldnt be suprised if a few spurs or mackems thought it could be fun to stir things up a bit… Its not like it would take a braniac to write the name of one of the usual posters and then post some flamings (Didnt say you did that)
toonhitman
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Comment #59valle oba is our top scorer,and he is still young this lad will be a legend
HonoraryGeordie
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:21 PM
Comment #60seriously valle, even talking as if this is an argument is pathetic. Backing a baboon?! I said cheers out of politeness…and anyway, i am more than prepared to discuss my views, hence why i put them so forthright, I am a huge fan of Martins, and think he and Owen, with the right big man next to them, will take us to Europe!
There you make a point I will certainly agree with, Shearer’s shirt should perhaps have been retired, but it wasn’t, and therefore I think Martins deserves it more than anyone else, because a No. 9 should be exciting, a man you look to when everything else looks lost! And Martins does that, he picks the ball up, and everyone wonders whats next! Football is a sport, it is supposed to be exciting to watch, and therefore Martins, and people like him such as Mcgeady, Diego, Modric, Nzogbia, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, et al are the heroes, the players that people pay to watch!
Opinions are like arse holes, everyone’s got them! I have watched almost every game since he signed, and I’ll tell you something, with him in the team we are much more of a threat than without him!
Knightbobmoncur
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:21 PM
Comment #61Now I have got that little lad spyro out my hair I can start talking footy!!
I heard on the grpevine at the weekend from a friend in Germany that Metzelder is a serious target and has held preliminary talks with the toon already!! This is just speculation of course, but my German friend says it has been in the press over there very recently!
My mate says he would be a good signing if he stays injury free, as he is rated as one of the best defenders in the world.
chuck
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Comment #62Spurs sign Modric put in a bid for Villa, now thats ambition!
Toon want a benchwarming defender, Baines, plus an injury prone poor mans Shearer, reach your own conclusions ?
Take a shot for Gomis, young pacey scorer,Cuellar good young defender, chuck in Rozenhal or Smith, but for gods sake show some ambition.
geoffo
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:25 PM
Comment #63now now boys, lets get real, Martins in a 4 3 3 has been working a treat, but that’s not to say we shouldn’t be looking to go 4 4 2 in some matches and dropping martins to the bench, it’s good we have two systems, look at the likes of Man utd and they mix it up a treat, predictabilty (BIG SAM!) is suicide in the premiership if you want to challenge at the top.
HonoraryGeordie
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Comment #64@ KnightBobMoncur – I seriously hope you’re right with Metzelder, he is a very classy defender – he would be what Woodgate was to us when he was here!
Hamas (51times)
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Comment #65Newcastle has always had a number 9, you can’t retire the shirt, no way. Even Shearer said so.
HonoraryGeordie
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Comment #66@ Geoffo – Yeah so true, but again my opinion is that Martins should be the man that plays off the big man, as a 4-4-2 requires a pacey break away, and Owen isn’t really that fast anymore and personally I think he suits the “in-the-hole” role much better! But a big squad, with multiple systems, and a bit of rotation and competition is essential in the modern day Premier League and no player will play all 38 league and however many cup matches!
valle
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Comment #67HonoraryGeordie… I think we should agree to disagree then, and let bygone’s be bygone’s…
valle
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:31 PM
Comment #68Hamas… Not retire it forever, only till a worthy holder appeared
valle
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Comment #69chuck… Let them spend big time if they will, didnt help leeds… Actually i can see them doing a bit of a leeds. Not relegation perhaps, but throwing to much money after that champs league spot, before team and management is ready for such a big step… Remember how Bobby was here in 3 years before we got there, and all it took was 2 good players in the end.
Ill still back us over them, no matter who they sign.
valle
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Comment #70geoffo… Spot on!… I also think KK will look into wingers again in the summer, but lets wait and see.
HonoraryGeordie
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Comment #71Of course mate, this site is great for discussing opinions, and at the end of the day everyone loves the toon, so everyone wants the same result, which is the Toon to be great again!
geoffo
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:42 PM
Comment #72Honorary Geordie, couldn’t agree more, def Martins playing off a big fella, rotation etcetera all true, Owen in the hole spot on. Have recently checked out Boussaffa, now he looks absolutely the sort of player we should be going for, bags of pace, skill, great first touch, low centre of gravity, in other words a Keegan type player who would excite the fans. I’d gan for him now before the transfer madness kicks off proper.
valle
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Comment #73I agree, if we get into that top 4 in the next couple of seasons, then i dont care who plays.
CRAIGG
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:53 PM
Comment #74One question have some of you seen any more than a 10 second clip of Gomis to say we should buy him.
Ive watched plenty of French football over the past 2 seasons and he doesnt look as amazing as some of you think, i would take Ashton over him any day of the week.
Baines isnt great defensively but when was John Beresford. he is a keegan LB bombs down the wing puts good crosses in and takes a scorching free kick.
Richard Dunne would be quality he is a monster CB and loves KK from their Man City days as does SWP those would be 2 of the top signings that KK talks about as he knows how to get the best out of both.
But my major concern is still CM we are really short there, Veloso should be no1 but if Man Utd poach him as is likely we must have a punt at Carrick or Hagreaves.
Add a left winger i say McGeady but KK seems to want Reyes and im happy as a Pot bellied pig in its own excrement
valle
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Comment #75Just took a good look at the league tho… It seems like you cant afford to lose more than 5-6 games in an entrire season if you want champs league… It gets harder and harder to break in there and none of the current chasing back are even close.
Obafan
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Comment #76Baines: no he is an average player, and we do not need another young LB. Buy a more experienced LB who can help Enrique as he is IMO our LB for the future. Jose really has the potential to be a very good LB in the EPL. But on the other hand KK is not that convinced, cause he stated he defo needs another LB.
Ashton: injury prone and he has not really convinced me the last couple of weeks. Does not work that much during the game.
Gomis: would be a better option than Ashton; I think we might get this guy. But like recent other possible targets it is better to celebrate when the news is confirmed and when the player is presented in a black and white shirt. Has anyone got a link to the article and is the source reliable?
Arshavin: would be a top quality buy and would prove the amibtion of KK!
Van der Vaart: would be fantastic, but it will be very hard to get him.
Dunne: in the beginning I would say yes, but now without Richards he looks not that reliable at the back. I think we should go for more solid playes.
Cuellar: well I think (I’ve seen him not that much) he can be a very good buy, especially if he helps us to get rid of Smith 😉 .
valle – how can you be so hard on Martins; okay he did not play always that good this season (like others), but the last couple of weeks he has proven that he is a very difficult striker to play against.
Midjew
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Comment #77http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_3493023,00.html
WHAT GREAT NEWS!!!!!
But hey, we thought we might get Modric so not to get my hopes up.
BUT WHAT IF?????
WHAT A BUY!!!!!!!!!!
Hamas (51times)
Apr 29, 2008 at 2:58 PM
Comment #78Ashton is very ordinary, I would be quite underwelmed if we signed him. Carrick has just signed a new contract and Hargreaves would never come. One thing we’ll give Veloso is first team football. He’ll never get a game a Man Utd, Carrick and Hargreaves fill his position with Anderson and Scholes (who may be replaced by Moutinho) the attacking midfielders.
valle
Apr 29, 2008 at 3:01 PM
Comment #79CRAIGG… Have to confess, that i have been taking peoples words for granted in regard to Gomis, but i have a sneaky feeling that we could get Berba here, and he would be great alongside Owen… Would also love Carrick, so if Man Utd are willing to do the deal, then let em have Veloso
ScottyT
Apr 29, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Comment #80never seen gomis play. dont watch much foreign futy.. which is one reason i dont comment much on transfer speculation.. hoping that whoever has seen him play is right in saying he looks good but personally i dont know. only really comment on premier league players.