Frank Riikaard will be leaving Barcelona as their manager, and is to be replaced by Josep Guardiola this summer.
Deco – is he too old and injury prone?
Seems like it is a good time to have a bit of a clear out at Barcelona, and there may be a few players Newcastle could persuade to come to Tyneside.
The big name that is leaving in the summer is Deco, and while the Brazilian-born Portugal International turns 31 in August, he could make a big impact to Newcastle’s midfield, in terms of creativity.
One player we have been repeatedly interested in is Iceland International Eidur Gudjohnsen, who has struggled to make any impact at the Nou Camp, since his £8M move from Chelsea two years ago.
These last two seasons have really halted Eidur’s career dead in the water, and it has turned out it was a bad career move for him, to move to Barcelona, whether he admits it or not.
But he is a proven Premiership player with Chelsea, and we think he could do a job for us up front, and he certainly scores a lot more goals than Alan Smith, that’s for sure.
Keegan has been set the target by Newcastle’s hierarchy, of breaking into the league’s top-six and 5th place is our official target, and it seems Kevin believes the Portugal international could add much-needed creativity in the Newcastle midfield.
Deco has admitted his days at the Catalan club are numbered, and said a move to the Premiership League is a possibility.
He was quoted last week as saying:
“The club spoke with my representative and I know that there are offers, I am going to negotiate.”
“I don’t want to leave Barca with problems.” “Barca people come and go, but the club continues, and me going is not the end of the world.”
“I want to be where I am wanted and when things end up this way, it is best that you go. I thank the club for being honest with me.”
“I will go to England or Italy, I am sure. I won’t stay in Spain because the only club that is of Barca’s level is Madrid and I would never go to Madrid.”
But we think it will be a long shot for Newcastle to convince Deco to come to Newcastle.
We are not exactly a big club right now (note the current tense), and we cannot offer him European Football next season, so we think he may end up elsewhere, if there is interest shown by the bigger clubs.
This summer may be difficult for us in our recruitment, but we really believe we can do very well next season, and next year at this time should be a lot easier for us – to attract the world’s top talent.
Deco has also struggled with injuries recently, and that will hardly improve as he gets older. In what was another off season for Barcelona, as the club were 18 points behind their rivals Real Madrid, Deco made just 14 starts.
And the last thing we want at the club next season are more injury-prone players.
We already have one with our current creative midfielder Emre, whose last game for Newcastle was the beginning of February – but he’ll still be playing for Turkey in Euro-2008.
Well – what do you think?
Comments very welcome.
84 comments so far
Toon_Ksk
May 17, 2008 at 8:35 PM
Comment #1Bring him in!
Tomaz
May 17, 2008 at 8:38 PM
Comment #2A definate Gamble but if the right price can be agrreed then he would bring a creativitly we lack at times!
Marat18
May 17, 2008 at 8:39 PM
Comment #3Should Newcastle go for Deco? – NO!
Nicke Alvaro
May 17, 2008 at 8:43 PM
Comment #4Id take him even just for his immediate impact that Im sure he would bring.
Although if there is a supposed wage cap/problem that could screw up the move and if KK wants him and its something like a wage that stops the move, Id imagine the media would run their mouths about him leaving, again… Southern scum.
geordie_jordan
May 17, 2008 at 8:45 PM
Comment #5yes please
Nick Dryden
May 17, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Comment #6I wish we would stop being linked with these players who have all seen better days and would just come for a final pay day. I thought our new policy was shifting away from these type of signings. Buying rejects off Chelsea, Man U and in this case Barca lies disaster. Look at Babayaro, Duff and Geremi and Smith and Butt. All journeymen on the way down. We should be looking at the PANDEVS and Veloso’s who would be around for 10 years whether they stay with us or not, at least they would have some resale value.
Marat18
May 17, 2008 at 8:51 PM
Comment #7He is 30 and has his best years behind him.
Sorry, but what’s the point to sign expansive 30-years old player, who suffered from injuries this season and will be looking for his last big pay-cheque?
The lad was ok, but now it’s a gamble.
ende
May 17, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Comment #8Bid? Why not, but I wouldn’t break the bank over him. Id love to have him but I also feel he’d be another viduka in terms of age/injury. Worth a try if we can get him cheaper than he thinks he’s worth. And who knows, there’s a good chance the bigger clubs won’t see him as worth it. I certainly don’t see Man U or Arsenal going after him.
Nicke Alvaro
May 17, 2008 at 8:56 PM
Comment #9Until we sign an Arshavin or Arda Turan or anyone else like that, Ill take a Deco for now.
I just cant see us signing any top players anytime soon to be honest, as much as Id love to have them though, I have to remember this isnt as easy as FM.
Hadrian
May 17, 2008 at 9:00 PM
Comment #10how is bringing in a player who was playing in the champions league semi final a few weeks ago, a gamble ?
beardsley was older than him when he came in for his swansong , and he gave us some of the best football we have ever seen at this club at a ripe old age .
we have no chance of deco i dont think, but i wish people would stop writing off players once they hit 30 .
AZ
May 17, 2008 at 9:00 PM
Comment #11No No No No No!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please God No, do we never learn from the past mistakes? This would be a big money move for Deco, but NUFC would gain very little. I know we need some experienced players to mix with the younger ones, but this is no good. Same goes for Gudjohnsen. He had his chance last season, now imo he can stew in his own greed. We dont want either of these players.
James
May 17, 2008 at 9:01 PM
Comment #12Class player, I’d have him at the drop of a hat, although like ende says, I wouldn’t break the bank for him. With regards to being injury prone, prior to this season his injury record hasn’t been that bad, and its not just been injuries that have kept him from playing this year; he fell out of favour with Rijkaard early on in the season and has been scapegoated somewhat for their dip in form. On Nick’s point, the problem is not buying players from other top teams, its buying crap players from other top teams. I was never keen on any of the players that Nick mentioned before we bought them, but Deco is in a different league.
toon4lyf
May 17, 2008 at 9:02 PM
Comment #13a duno hes a decent player very similar to emre tho
we shoul buy
arca
ashton
dallsandro
barzagli
……………..harper…………….
beye..barzagli….taylor/faye…enriqe
dallsaNdro…deco…..arca…..emre
……….aston…..owen/martins……………
………..ashton….martins
lee
May 17, 2008 at 9:05 PM
Comment #14yes he is a good player,,,,, BUT like it has been said to old and to injury prone. its hard to build a midfield around a player who is injured all the time… we have a few of them owen, viduka, duff, 3 big players for us….
if he is signed it will only be for shirt sales….
DONT DO IT DONT SIGN HIM
Toon_Ksk
May 17, 2008 at 9:07 PM
Comment #15Oh great news. Serginho and Cafu are leaving Milan. Let’s sign them.
Wow…
Davids
Serginho
Cafu
Deco
Maybe Canizares…
Nice!
scottish mag
May 17, 2008 at 9:08 PM
Comment #16any of the big european clubs bench players would do wonders for our team, deco is by far better than anymidfielder we currently have injured or not and gudjohnson is just as good as any of the strikers in the prem and would gaurentee 10-15 goals a season, also it is because we are buying the crap players from the good teams nick but do agree we need up and coming stars also, these guys have still got it and deco showed that against man u
Newcastle United.
May 17, 2008 at 9:10 PM
Comment #17Addition to the squad, Why not? He’s better than what we have. Alot better.
alex
May 17, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Comment #18Deco is past his best but still has class. In my opinion he doesn’t have the strength for the Premier League and I’d rather have a younger creative midfielder in the team. We’ve already got an ageing team – Butt, Geremi, Cacapa, Beye, Faye, Viduka and Owen and it’s time to buy in young players who will last us past Keegan’s reign.
If he’d only go to a club on level with Barcelona I don’t think Newcastle is on his radar so it wont happen.
Marat18
May 17, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Comment #19I heard Ronaldo (brazilian one) is available
scottish mag
May 17, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Comment #20alex when nobody of that standard wants him he will look a little lower, who wouldn’t want to play in front of 52000 scream geordies, ( third highest attendence this season behind man u and arsenal just shows how big a club we actually are)
and marat ronaldo got injred for like 9 months or somthing three months ago so he would be very unfit, think he done wot owen done
najikhin
May 17, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Comment #21Toon_Ksk.. plz.. NUFC is not a place for football pensioners.. those in your list are too old..and they could barely kick a ball..
Newcastle United.
May 17, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Comment #22najikhin, I think he was taking the mick more than anything to be honest!
Nicke Alvaro
May 17, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Comment #23To be fair, in relation to his comments, how many clubs on the level of Barca will want him?
Maybe when he realises the best he could hope for is European challenging side, like us hopefully. He might change his tune, that being said I wont question his ability just his mentality, if he doesnt show any desire to join then I wouldnt want him, but if he said he would like to play then I say why not?
Does anyone know if hes playing tonight against Murcia? Im watching something else atm.
scottish mag
May 17, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Comment #24najikhin i think he was being sarcastic
CRAIGG
May 17, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Comment #25If we cannot get Veloso or Arshavin then Deco would be a good signing.
We need a CM more than anything else and Deco is still one of the best.
Marat18
May 17, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Comment #26najikhin
i think that was a kind of irony from Toon_ksk,
as well as in my comment about Ronaldo.
NUFCFAN
May 17, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Comment #27This is the type of rubbish that infuriates me and should to everyone.
Its dead money and makes us look a laughing stock again, why people rate gudjonsen I never now. He left Chelsea at his peak ruined his career and has nothing to offer.
But young raw talent, I would much rather take as many young players possible.
There are so many players out there to buy than, clubs can take bar a handful of top European clubs like Madrid etc everyone wants to be in the prem
Man city took great players last year with nothing to offer. Now they are leading the chase for dos Santos, who is a much better investment than deco.so let’s stop listening to crap and get excited about the gomis players of this world
scottish mag
May 17, 2008 at 9:27 PM
Comment #28nufcfan you would have been pleased then when THE MIRROR said we had bid £9m for gomis 2day
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/03/17/newcastle-bid-for-new-didier-drogba-bafetimbi-gomis-89520-20353963/
CRAIGG
May 17, 2008 at 9:31 PM
Comment #29Have you watched Gomis because he’s hardly impressed me when ive seen him, He reminds me of Andy Cole in his Man Utd and Blackburn days misses 5 chances and Scores 1
AZ
May 17, 2008 at 9:33 PM
Comment #30Craigg- I’ll take that if he gets ten chances a game LOL:)
scottish mag
May 17, 2008 at 9:33 PM
Comment #31craigg when you see him at his best you will be impressed reminds me a lot of drogba and adebayor but also oba martins a bit, now all those likings in one player is definately (decent) then isnt it
Marat18
May 17, 2008 at 9:34 PM
Comment #32The Mirror? I’m not aware of brittish press (I know that Sun is cr@p), so how reliable it is?
And I also heard today that Pandev demands tranfer from Lazio. We were linked with him in January.
CRAIGG
May 17, 2008 at 9:34 PM
Comment #33Therefore we need a Deco to set up his 10 Chances a match!
P.S. Scottishmag, That article is dated 17th March.
CRAIGG
May 17, 2008 at 9:37 PM
Comment #34The Mirror is about as reliable as Geremi in the 100m Olympic Sprint final.
CRAIGG
May 17, 2008 at 9:38 PM
Comment #35Yes true he hasnt played well when ive seen him but he must be good to have these huge ammounts of money mentioned about him.
SAS
May 17, 2008 at 9:51 PM
Comment #36I’d be interested to see a poll on this
Owen_10
May 17, 2008 at 9:51 PM
Comment #37Arshavin! Deco would do though on the cheap but even 10mil is far too much.
Alex
May 17, 2008 at 9:59 PM
Comment #38Deco is past his best, he is getting to old to come to the premership it would take him a while to get used to the pace of english football and i have reservations about him being able to handle it.Also he will not come cheap and the question is would he fit into our new wage structre.we should make a move for assati of PSV Eindhoven the lad wants away and is young and skillfull and has had alot of European games under his belt for PSV.
toonbarmy
May 17, 2008 at 10:05 PM
Comment #39Two potential targets have scored tonight. Gomis and Diane both on the scoresheet.(The goals from Diane appear to have saved psg from relagation)
st etienne 4 monaco 0
gomis 3,6
dernis 32
feindouno 82
sochaux 1 psg 2
diane 22,82
Nick Dryden
May 17, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Comment #40I take your point Hadrian about Beardo coming in for his swansong at the age of 31 and indeed playing arguably the best football of his life.
However, Beardo was teetotal, looked after himself, didn’t get injuries and was coming home to an area he knew well and in Keegan to someone he had played with successfully in a Newcastle team previously. By all accounts Deco is very fond of the sauce!!! Also Beardo was 12 years ago and the pace of the premiership at 31 for an overseas player now takes a lot of adjusting to.