Kevin Keegan has told the Newcastle Journal today that his squad are still about 4 quality signings away from where they need to be.
Kevin Keegan – wants 4 quality signings in next 6 weeks
Keegan on Saturday decided not to risk Steve Harper, who was injured in training, and Habib Beye and Michael Owen were not risked because of sore calves.
New boy Danny Guthrie was held back until the second half because of sore shins, (he looked great!), and Mark Viduka is still not expected to be back in full training until August.
Also Geremi and Abdoulaye Faye are still recuperating from international commitments, so Newcastle were hard pressed to field a good side, but they did, and the lads played extremely well.
And the substitutes bench had a lot of our young, but very promising youngsters on it, and Forster, Tozer and 18 year-old center-back Callum Morris were all given a run out.
It’s little wonder that Keegan is anxious to ensure that when Newcastle’s season begins on August 17, he will have added more than just Guthrie and Gutierrez to his squad:
Keegan said today:
“Ideally we need about four quality players in the right positions,â€
“We only had what I’d call 12 senior players (only 13 of his squad had played Premier League football) but it was about the strongest team I had available.”
“We haven’t got competition everywhere, we need to address that and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
“We might not have been so successful in the market but there’s a long time to go. If the right player comes in and we think he’s right for Newcastle United we’ll be there pitching.”
“We’ll definitely be in (transfer market) by the end of the transfer window because you just cannot go into the Premiership season with this small squad.â€
What is obvious too, is the positions Newcastle are short at are center back, left back, attacking central midfield and striker, and those are the four signings Kevin is probably talking about.
We seem to be very well off with wingers, in Duff, N’Zogbia, Milnber and new boy Gutierrez, so it looks like Turan will not be coming to Newcastle, even if we could get him. The fact that Duff played so well, has lifted the fans, because he looked like the Damien of old, and if he continues that form he will be a regular on our left wing next season.
A big difference from thinking Duff would be let go this summer, which we had been advocating on this site, but it looks like we were completely wrong. But that just shows the character and determination of the Irishman, which is just great to see.
We may also have underestimated the tremendous inspiration qualities of Kevin Keegan, which Steven Taylor talked about yesterday.
We think Newcastle will also try to bring in some players around 20 years old, to augment the squad for next season, and these same players will also hopefully push for starting positions too.
The assumption here is that Charles N’Zogbia will be staying on Tyneside, and as Charles showed last season, he can play in all kinds of positions, and that’s just one reason why he can be an important player for Newcastle and Kevin Keegan in the future.
Certainly it appears that Kevin knows how to handle the lad, since we haven’t heard a squeak of discontentment out of him, which is good for both Charles and the club. You’ve got a good future on Tyneside Charles.
Comments very welcome.
67 responses so far ↓
1 liamtoonbirchy // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:33 AM
well the so called press conference is on today, where we have been promised signings.
bravenewtoon best be right
2 AndyNUFC // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Why can’t we use Tozer and/or Edgar as back up left backs?
3 Will // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Maybe too much pressure for Tozer Andy and i don’t think Edgar would be good enough if Enrique was injured.
4 Brand New Toon // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:37 AM
there probably wont be a confrence or signings the day.
5 HalftimeBovril // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:38 AM
“We might not have been so successful in the market but there’s a long time to go. If the right player comes in and we think he’s right for Newcastle United we’ll be there pitching.â€
Sounds to me that there are’nt going to be any signings in the next couple of days.
Hopefully its just a rouse and he’s got a couple of gems up his sleeve. Come on Kev pull some of those rabbits out of a hat
6 Spyro // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:38 AM
“What is obvious too, is the positions Newcastle are short at are center back, left back, attacking central midfield and striker, and those are the four signings Kevin is probably talking about.”
Why is it obvious that we need an AM more than a DM? A striker more than a DM?
7 ELFER // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Good to hear that KK sees 3 positions like I do where we need players…I think 4 real quality signings are enough yes and I have absolute faith in KK and his recruting team including Wiise
8 Dr O'Style // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Seem to recall Roeder and BSA previously saying the same thing round this time of the year…
Sigh…
9 NE1 // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:41 AM
liamtoonbirchy – Press Conference???
10 Sav // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:41 AM
40-odd days until the window closes, isn’t it? There’s been very little trading elsewhere, so I think we’ve still plenty of options to explore.
Good to hear your change of heart over Duffer, Ed. I’ve always thought he’d come good and as an Ireland supporter have perhaps seen more of just how good he can be than those who aren’t. If he’s finally fit again, we have a gem.
11 marosh // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:42 AM
What happened with the boy from Metz who has been on trial ? (Sorry but dont know the name right now)
Any news ? Was he any good for us to buy ?
12 brownrob // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Id like a striker in the mould of Viduka, ala derdiok, or else Shikabala would be immense!
Cuellar Im not sure about, cant see him leaving the Gers, he seems to be a defender in the mould of Dunne, Id rather have Marek Suchy and Johnny Evans, though Evans is unlikely
Midfielder-wise… tough one, I think Barton/Butt can do the job for the season, for CAM Id like Mathais Fernandez (If only because he is solid in FM08
) or failing that, id settle for Arshavin 
Yes I realise those names have been regurgitated all summer, but then again so was Habibs name all last summer!
13 liamtoonbirchy // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:44 AM
yeah NE1 these suspect wums have been guarenteeing signings for while now. apparent press conference today unveiling up to 3 signings. i want it to be true but reading KK’s comments it dont sound promising for today.
I HATE WUMS!
14 AndyNUFC // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Spyro because Ameobi’s crap, Smith isn’t a striker, I would like to see Carroll given a chance but I doubt it, Viduka and Owen are injury risks aswell. Plus we have CM’s with Barton and Guthrie, Butt as DM, Faye as back up. We don’t actually have any attacking midfielders, unless you count N’Zogbia, but he doesn’t have the eye for a killer pass. 2 defenders, 1 central 1 full back cover, 1 quality attacking midfielder, 1 striker. Sorted. Maybe 2-3-4 more youngsters aswell.
15 gorskino10 // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:46 AM
There was a guy who said there is a press conferance today but i dont thing it will be about signings.
just like Newcastle we will leave it untill the last hour and panic buy i feel or even buy last day no transfers will be done for the next 2 weeks in that time will be finalising there decision on players.
16 liamtoonbirchy // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:46 AM
i hope we sign 6
warnock
suchy
kaboul
inler
afellay
derdiyok
17 brownrob // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Nah kev is calling the press conference to say his main strikeforce for the season is going to be ameobi and smith!
A new signing today would be nice though, but Im not getting my hopes up, but it would help lift the post weekend blues!
18 AndyNUFC // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Liam’s whats the point in spending £6million on Enrique who’s 22, just to go and replace him after 1 season?! Buying 2 more CB’s means we’d, if Bassong was signed, have 8 CBs! Inler isn’t moving.
19 Spyro // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Butt is our only DM, Faye needs to be used as CB so he cant really act as cover for Butt.
We need a DM more than anything. Butt is the only one without any real competition for his place.
Gutierrez, Milner and Zoggy can all play AM. If we have creative CM’s our AM doesn’t have to be able to play the “killer pass”
e.g. Hleb as AM for Arsenal last season didnt need to make the killer pass as Cesc would play it from a deeper position, or he would push up into an AM position from time to time. Barton or Guthrie can do this for us
20 Ericles // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:51 AM
It is as I have thought all along. Barton and Smith are going nowhere. Barton potentially has the skill to buck his ideas up and contribute. But Smith for another season playing like a missing link? Oh no. I think we will see these 4 quality signings but their names will not be in the press until after thay have signed thank god! Up, up, and away with KK!
21 southernmagpie // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:51 AM
Anyone know what time the press conference is?
22 jammy // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:57 AM
There is no press conference today.
23 agnetha // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Transfer review: Who might Newcastle United still sign? Orlando Sentinel, Florida – The Other Football (Weblog) 09:22
Found this on newsnow. In the comments section someone claims we have signed mathias fernandez and we will have a press conference later.Interesting if true.
24 Ed Harrison // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:58 AM
marosh – Sebastien Bassong – not sure what happened last week?
And why he didn’t play Saturday?
25 Spyro // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:58 AM
get lost fernando, you mug, concentrate on losing berba and keane lol, i have been waiting for you to turn up on here so i could laugh at you
- agnetha is fernando -
26 ChrisL // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:59 AM
In two weeks time the quote will be “Keegan says we need 2 or 3 good players”.
27 AndyNUFC // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:59 AM
THERE ISN’T A PRESS CONFERENCE OR ANY SIGNINGS TO BE REVEALED TODAY
28 Ben_BKK // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Sign Angel di Maria…I signed him on FM08 a few days ago, and now I see his name listed in the “Rumours” section of http://www.nufc.com
29 NE1 // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Talk on football-rumours.co.uk we’re going to buy Moutinho, Gudjonnsen and then swap N’Zog for Stewie Downing + 3.5mil???
30 Jerry McGuire // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:08 AM
My four new comers:
1. CB – Sol Campbell (we need experience strength to develop our youth)
2. LB – Silvestre (can play CB also!)
3. Creative CM – Elano
4. Holding CM – Bullard (easiest to get)
I don’t think we need a new striker. Give chance to young Carroll and Smith. Smith’s scoring record might not be impressive, but if given chance he can still produce above our expectation.
As for RB, we don’t need the arrogant Chimbonda. This muppet plays for money, not for toon. Geremi can play as emergency RB if required, even Steven Taylor.
31 marosh // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Thanks Ed,
hope he’s good and we’ll sign him. We need new players as soon as possible.
32 Ausgeordie // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Actually Spryo there are comments in the article Agnethea or fernando saw referring to us signing mathias fernandez. Apparently if this Chris fella is wring he is going to eat his hat….could be a sight
I wish we could get Jeremy Menez and SWP. I’d be happy with our midfield then.
33 agnetha // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Newcastle are arranging a press conference for this evening to introduce new signing mathias fernandez! I will eat my hat if i am not proved correct.
Posted by: Chris | 21 July 2008 at 05:51
newcastle will announce the signing of mathias fernandez today.
Posted by: Chris | 21 July 2008 at 05:55
Only joking! haha. Its me spyro from the ed harrison blog and you fell for it hook line and sinker
Looks as though someone needs to get a life.
34 southernmagpie // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:16 AM
thanks for clearing that up, where did all this (theres gonna be a press conference today) stuff start then cause i’ve seen quite a few people saying it now.
35 chuck // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Guess I had it right about Duff (give him the chance to Recover from injury)When most were calling for his head.
Still believe he and N`Zogbia can be a lethal combination on the left, both can play wing or inside With Spiderman providing from the right wing and Joey the right mid.to provide defensice cover.
With Guthrie, Butt, Milner, and Faye as backup.
Sorry Smith!, have to go!
Also need two backup Fullbacks, would like to see Evans (fits the profile) An experienced CB
and a striker (Anelka or Bent) Viola! Four quality signings.
36 Spyro // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:21 AM
agnetha
what are you on about you mug!? i never even went on the site you spoke about. stop embarrassing yourself fernando. Like i said, go concentrate on Berba and Keane. Seems as though they want no part of your future lol.
Was crying with laughter when i read your pathetic chairman crying like a baby “wah wah Man U and Liverpool bully us wah wah” lol
37 Dev // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:23 AM
………….Owen…………..Viduka
……………………………………………………….
Duff………..Butt………Milner………….Spiderman
……………………………………………………………
Enrique…….Faye……..Taylor…………..Beye
……………………………………………………………
……………………Given
Subs: Harper, Guthrie, Smith, N’Zogbia, Cacapa, Martins, Edgar
We don’t need that much to be fair….that team if it can keep fit is a very good team and even our bench is very strong.
I’ve said for a long time that I see James Milner playing in a central role long-term. He just doesn’t have the pace to be a massive threat on the wing but playing alongside a disciplined defensive player like Butt in the middle could be where Milner could do more damage.
Long-term I think Keegan sees a Milner/Guthrie partnership in the middle.
Milner has been used in this position once or twice before. Once against Heerenveen at SJP a few seasons back where he he played a blinder and scored a peach of a goal and again against Hartlepool where he set up the first goal before later moving out wide.
Duff – LW, RW, CA, ST
Milner LW, RW, CA, ST
Zoggy LWB, LW, LCM, CA
Jonas RW, LW, ST
Lua Lua LW, RW, AM
Guthrie CM, DM, AM, RCM, LCM
Geremi CM, DM, RW, RCM, RWB
Butt DM, CM
Barton DM, AM, LM, RM, CM
There is more than enough options in the players we have already for Keegan to have a real go next season. One or 2 maybe to add competition in defence is all thats needed.
38 Spyro // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Ferguson summed Tottenham up best, “Embarrassment”
39 agnetha // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:29 AM
spyro are you even a newcastle fan? all you do is come on here and attack people while winding us up on other blogs by writing made up stuff about press conferences. Actually dont bother responding as you are becoming an irritant on here so i will just ignore your future comments.What is your fascination with fernando and spurs. this is a newcastle blog , if you want to talk about spurs go elsewhere
40 broon ale // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:29 AM
agnetha- was it you who was stalking my facebook page the other day?
41 Spyro // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:32 AM
lol. oh NOW i understand. The sad spud fernando/agnetha is attempting to stitch me up in a pathetic attempt to save face. fantastic…Although there is one problem agnetha/fernando, you can immitate me all you like on other sites, but i have PROOF you are a phoney.
Recently, Agnetha claimed to be Frankieboy but just with a changed name. However, i spoke to Frankieboy on here recently and he knew nothing of a name change. As Ferguson said, “embarrassment”.
42 agnetha // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:32 AM
What? I am not registered for facebook.
43 agnetha // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Detective spyro dont give up the day job.
44 valle // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Dev… No to bad i agree, but i would pick this line up i reckon…
………………Given……………..
Beye..Taylor..Faye..Enrique
Jonas…Guthrie….Zog…Duff
……….Owen……Martins……
45 Liam // Jul 21, 2008 at 12:11 PM
this site is getting mad, fernando agnetha spyro just leave the arguing if he makes snipy remaks ignore it, that goes for both of you gentlemen
46 Michael // Jul 21, 2008 at 12:24 PM
1. We need cover at left back, everybody knows that.
2. Despite what some people might say we are desperate for some real creativity in the centre of midfield.
3. A quality experienced centre back is needed.
4. Either a striker or a holding midfield player because if owen or martins is out we don’t have adequate cover, and Butt is our only natural DM.
47 ToonDerry // Jul 21, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Im just trowing this name out there but Stephen Ireland,i think his exactly wat we need a attacking mid fielder that gets goals,i remember micah richards sayin that his passin was crazy he was like tin opener ha ha,and he made fools out of united on munich day
48 Beattie // Jul 21, 2008 at 12:48 PM
agreed with michael
and stop being such sad acts on here spyro/agnetha
49 chuck // Jul 21, 2008 at 1:07 PM
………….Given…………..
Beye…Taylor…Colloccini…Enrique
Spiderman…Joey… N`Zog… Duff
Anelka…Martens
…………….Krull………….
Evans…Taylor…Cuellar…Enrique
…………Moutinho………
Spiderman….Arshavin…. N`Zogbia
Bent…Martens
50 Paul // Jul 21, 2008 at 1:08 PM
oioi….mentioned the other day about signing julio baptista, and also i have said alot about reyes, and i have seen reports that we will be signing baptista for 6m and also on the nufc.co.uk website is says ont he transfer speculation that reyes may be a newcastle target
and its not going round all the newspapers its only 1 report so its possibly true….i hope
51 iain // Jul 21, 2008 at 1:14 PM
we have got geremi, barton, butt and faye for dm and as keegan has already said long term thats the role he sees guthrie playing.
imo we need a lb whos older than enrique with pl exp if possible, warnock does fit the bill perfectly.
a ch depends on whether keegan wants to play taylor every week, if so a young english ch like dawson/ferdinand seems like sensible idea as back up although i think cuellar is the best player we could get and i think scharner would be an excellent signing, wigan do get a lot of clean sheets (more than us) and usually when they dont scharner is in mf or another player like bramble has cocked up, he scores a lot from set pieces as well for a ch.
a cm or am either a real good box to box goal scoring cm or a creative flair one or a mix of both to get any real quality though we would have to spend upwards of 10m+ and i dont know if we have that money. and so im not sure who we could get, at a push if hes fit giles barnes could still be avery good signing for us and i think emana is still available.
cf a target man to replace smith and shola who are useless there sales should fund a bif for derdiyok who imo could be the young pavlyuchenko.
1-warnock
2-cuellar or scharner
3-emana or barnes
4-derdiyok
52 Paul // Jul 21, 2008 at 1:20 PM
1 suchy
2 warnock
3reyes
4baptista
53 HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES // Jul 21, 2008 at 1:25 PM
Paul – would go for that for defo!!
54 Darryl // Jul 21, 2008 at 1:28 PM
Reyes said he wasnt interetested in newcastle. on Setanta.
55 Paul // Jul 21, 2008 at 1:29 PM
i can see it happenin, at least 1 of them for will join i reckon, im thinkin reyes
as usual….dont know why, jus had 1 of them feelins n then it says bout newcastle reportedly being interested bout him int he journal….but not in the sun of anything big…so its possible
56 Paul // Jul 21, 2008 at 1:31 PM
dont care what gets said or when…..aimar said he wanted to join an english club….then he goes to benfica….have u not learnt not to listen??? just got to wait and see wot happens cuz there no way of knwin at the moment
57 JayJay // Jul 21, 2008 at 1:43 PM
Its a joke that people are saying Duff is a world beater all of a sudden because he played well against a league 1 team he is shocking! no pace, cant beat a man, cant cross the ball, cant use his right foot at all. i cant believe he is still here we need to get rid. The squad is awful at the minute we have only signed 2 players and lost about 5 when the squad was too small last year so if anything we are worse now. I hate to say it but i cant see us finishing anywhere near the top 8 we will be lucky to finish 12th again. In my opinion we need more like 6 new players but i cant see that happening now and we are obviously having trouble attracting anyone decent we are just a mid table club these days. it says everything when we have to spend big just catch up with the likes of portsmouth, everton and villa
58 Ian Grainger // Jul 21, 2008 at 1:53 PM
Nowt like contradicting yourself JayJay.
“i cant believe he is still here we need to get rid. The squad is awful at the minute we have only signed 2 players and lost about 5 when the squad was too small last year so if anything we are worse now”
So we should get rid of Duff but you complain that we’re getting rid of people because the squad is too small. How’s that work?
59 JayJay // Jul 21, 2008 at 1:59 PM
i didnt contradict myself because we need to buy more players aswell as sell the dead wood like duff obviously. do you actually think he is worth keeping? when has he had a good game? when has he actually earned his 60k a week?
60 HOWAYTHELADS // Jul 21, 2008 at 4:26 PM
matias fernandez looks set to join for 12million, it is on skysprots tele and wilkipedia and soon to be on bbc and the rest of the football sites.
61 Piers // Jul 21, 2008 at 5:00 PM
Haha it is on wikipedia but that doesn’t mean much
62 scott9 // Jul 21, 2008 at 5:19 PM
we get them 4 players if nthere qaulity we are sorted just think as an example say we bought
coccilina
shorey
derok
cnt think of another midfileder were after
given /harper
beye/edgar geremi taylor/faye coccilina /cacapa
shorey enrique
jonas milner geremi
butt barton geremi
frings guthrie
nzogbia duff
martins owen
viduka derok
thats is a great sqaud to challenge for top 6 i am really confiedent about the way we are going as long as we sign qaulity were definatley buying them a the right age with a bit of expereince
63 yet_another_indian_toon // Jul 21, 2008 at 7:11 PM
Aye, it doesnt mean much if its on wiki. Thats an unconfirmed report. Wait for the club to announce — it might be another fernandez from Planet Ok2 of the galaxy of NGC142
64 Brazilian Geordie // Jul 21, 2008 at 8:17 PM
Abslotely fantastic coat!
Where can I buy it?
65 kev // Jul 21, 2008 at 8:43 PM
I think we need to defo bye a big strong midfielder for example look at portsmouth they have muntari diop and diarra. We need someone that can boss the midfield.
66 NUFCAl // Jul 22, 2008 at 12:41 AM
We need more than just 4, but talking here and now I would take 4 and be very happy with that, because everyone is more than just a little apprehensive about what’s going on at the moment.
67 ilkkatoon // Jul 22, 2008 at 1:09 AM
No baptista he is absolute rubbish DEF a waste of money real are just looking to offload him for like 6m to give them enough to make an enormous bid for ronaldo speaking of enormous bids Kaka 250m??? are you serious??? thats out of this world poor poor chelsea
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