Newcastle United need reinforcements in central midfield and defense.
Vasilis Torosidis – says Newcastle United are interested
But of these two the defense needs strengthening most so it’s not surprising that Kevin Keegan wants to bring in two defenders, a center-back and a left back within the next week.
News today that one of our targets last year, Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim, has moved to Manchester City for £4M.
It’s reported in the Daily Mail that Ben Haim chose Eastlands over Newcastle United, but we really have no idea if Kevin Keagan even rates the Israeli, although we would have welcomed him into the squad, since he’s experienced and can play anywhere along the back four, and has proven Premier League experience.
But since Kevin came back last January we’ve never been linked with the former Bolton Wanderers player, who only moved to Chelsea last summer on a free transfer.
He joins Steve Sidwell in moving on from the London club, to try to get a game elsewhere. Both were poor moves for the players last summer, and both had the chance to move to Newcastle as an alternative destination – oh well.
But Keegan knows where his priorities lie, and he is hoping to have a left-back and a central defender before next week’s tournament in Mallorca.
Newcastle have been linked with many many defenders this summer, and we wonder what has happened to Sebastien Basson, who had a week’s trial at the club last week? There’s been no word from the club on the 22 year-old Metz defender.
We’ve had a £3M bid for Blackburn left back Stephen Warnock turned down, and have also been linked with Vasilis Torosidis of Olympiakos, who has said Newcastle are interested in him.
Newcastle were reported last March to be interested in the 23 year-old, who stand 6’1″, and has played over 30 times for Olympiacos since 2006, and over 15 times for Greece since last year.
The Greek is trying to stir up interest in himself by also saying that he may also move to Blackburn Rovers or Atletico Madrid.
But we’ve been linked with lots and lots of defenders, and we cannot wait too much longer to bring in a couple of good young players, but who they may be is anybody’s guess at this point.
Comments welcome.
124 comments so far
malaysian youngster
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:05 AM
Comment #1im first?
malaysian youngster
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:06 AM
Comment #2yah i am.i like lescott alot.haha keegan can u hear me?hello
Sparky G.
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:06 AM
Comment #3Torosidis would be a quality signing. Yes. He would be very very good for us.
paul p
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:16 AM
Comment #4we need players in and we need them in fast. 3 weeks saturday before the 1st game and we have the smallest squad in the league. Did anybody hear what John Beresford said this morning. He is right. Time to back the manager Ashley!!!
Masa
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:17 AM
Comment #5I think this has to be the most frustrating period i have ever experienced supporting the mags, i want to believe that the board have our best intrests at heart and have the same drive and passion as all of us share for our club but i just have this nagging doubt that we may be dissapointed….
But at least we are not panick buying like a certain lot down the road who are trying to spend 24 million on four players who couldnt even get in the starting 11 of a team that finished eleventh in the league .. muppets
Eric
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:19 AM
Comment #6Torosidis is versatile and international quality. Would be a worthwhile signing too. Right age. Sturdy size. And seems to want to come here?
Hatty
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:22 AM
Comment #7I wouldn’t worry about it. We go through the same thing every year regarding transfers. Remember the Roeder summer where we didn’t sign anyone til mid-July. That was under Shepherd and he was very well known for backing his managers with cash.
I think it’s fair to say that the market has stalled at the minute (not just for us, but for most clubs), but it’s important that everyone remains patient and I’m sure we’ll be fine.
And please stop questioning Mike Ashley. You all believe too much of what you read in the papers.
OLIVER
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:22 AM
Comment #8Masa – i was having a quick look at a sunderland blog yesterday and the supporters were getting excited about the spurs players because they were proven winners having won the carling cup. words fail me.
HeronMag
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:26 AM
Comment #9I’m gutted that we’ve shown no interest in Van Buyten of Bayern Munich. He played under KK at Man City and is just the right type of player we need.
Masa
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:27 AM
Comment #10Its nothing to do with what i read in the papers its more to do with the fact that we have never spent more the 6 million on a player since ashley came here and we are still waiting on a contract to be signed by owen…
Neil
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:33 AM
Comment #11Within a week? Eh?
Matt
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:33 AM
Comment #12I would not have welcomed Ben Haim. He’s spent an entire season not playing. I’d say keep plugging away for Warnock and continue the search for a CB.
On a side note I’d love to know how West Ham managed to get Valon Behrami to sign for them.
Masa
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:33 AM
Comment #13By the way im not having a go at ashley here i think bloke has been a breath of fresh air to the club and with paying of our debts has secured the long term future of the club which i will be for ever greatful for.
Davies
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:34 AM
Comment #14Van Buyten is somebody KK was allegedly interested in back in January. I notice he hasn’t been linked with us this close season. Maybe Keegan is going after him after all.
Masa
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:36 AM
Comment #15Oliver – There is one who has posted on 606 asking how gutted we are that they have got one over on us with the signing of chimbonda….. hahahaha yeah gutted we didnt sign the tit
Angryman the Angry Fan
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:38 AM
Comment #16Well, sorry but is time for yet another infamous rant.
i have been reading alot of toon blogs over the last few days, and my general feeling is that the Mike Cashley fans are now very much in the minority and the KKeegan fans are multiplying by the minute, not that this was ever in doubt though.
The widening gap between Cashley backers and Cashley critics looks alarmingley like it is spreading to members of the professional football fraternity, with Bobby Lee, Bez, Given, Harper, Sir Les and many many more now genuinely concerned that KK is not getting the backing from his board that he deserves.
ALL of my previous posts have predicted this, but all have my previous posts have also stated that ‘I hope to god that I am WRONG’ and still this post is no different, I hope I am wrong.
We hear this Morning that Tal Ben Haim is joining Mancs titties, over us!! More ambition maybe?? Whether press invented Bull or not, our board is giving the press lots n lots of reasons to have a go, by lack of activity in the transfer market and lack of info coming from anywhere!!
IMO KK has looked a broken man since being interviewed after Hartlepool, Match. I was there, and i know that this team will struggle next season with the EPL schedule. You will never hear me say that the team is crap.
But Honest opinion, the team is not good enough to improve on last seasons finishing!!
KK knows that, most of the fans know that, but Mike Cashley is giving out the impression that he doesnt give a Flying flip about that!!
PROVE ME WRONG CASHLEY!!!
autibo
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:38 AM
Comment #17torosidis – yes definitely!! big lad, quick, strong, good going forward and solid at the back, but most importantly he can cover either full-back position and i’m told he also plays as a defensive midfielder sometimes. i’d imagine £3-5m would land him easily, so what we waiting for??
i’m a bit disappointed we didn’t go for boulahrouz as i though he was excellent in the euro’s, although he struggled at times for chelsea. van buyten would also be a great buy, we should’ve had him 3 years ago!! would also love cuellar, kompany or samba to partner taylor or faye and provide real competition at the back!!
then lets use the money we’re saving for emre’s wages and stick a £12m bid in for moutinho!! sure there would be other clubs interested but we can guarantee first-team football every game, and give the lad a buy-out clause so if he wants to leave to go to one of the big boys in 2-3 years then let him move on. but hopefully with him in the team we are capable of matching his ambition!! as usual, blind optimism 🙂
The Entertainers
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:40 AM
Comment #18Keegan wants 2 defenders before the weeks out?
I think Keegan wanted 2 defenders a month ago and didnt get them, so dont hold your breath!
I like the sound of the Greek and although a week or two is a long time in football, i believe if we get to that stage and still are no further forward.
The saying quality rather the quantity can be reversed as far as we are concerned. We need numbers and yes we all would all like to see Bridge or some other international arrive if it doesnt happen then a average Championship LB will just have to do.
We have a terrible injury record at Newcastle for some reason and at the moment i can not see anything that will change that, so we do need QUANTITY!
PapaToon
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:40 AM
Comment #19spending a lot of money doesnt equal a good player e.g. luque we all remember him right. Newcastle is going to be run like a coporated company so it means shrewed investmentsm and lowering your underlying costs.
As pointed out by Hatty the whole market has been pretty quite. When Graeme Souness came in we spent 50 mill and we had a mediocre season. You can forget 20 mill transfer for newcastle as we are not even in the top ten for the past few seasons.
Lot of people talk about european players who have no premier league experience and that wont suit us as it takes time to settle. Apart from Habib Beye no one had a great season. We need players who know what the PL is about
dick
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:42 AM
Comment #20I’m more worried than ever before about getting suitable players in, every team in the premiership is out bidding us for players including sunderland ,that is the ultimate humuliation
Taiwantoon
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:43 AM
Comment #21I don’t feel the market has stalled at all personally…
Most teams in the EPL have made a few signings (even high profile ones) and we are so far one of the few clubs that have kept the spendings at minimal.
I want no big signings. It is just crystal clear that our squad is thin and it’s difficult to compete in the EPL with so few players. A few injuries on the road and we will be in trouble.
Having said that, I do expect a few signings in a week time tho.
Teddy
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:43 AM
Comment #22can everyone give MA a chance?
from what i see hes thinking about the future, buying young talent, investing in the youth squad to find new talent around the area…
have the big money buys weve had recently actually been worth the moeny or has it just been throwing money down the drain? Luque, boumsong?
the fact is the standard of player we can attract without european football isnt high enough to let us compete with the top four, so y not improve the foundations spend less so when we get to being more of an attrictive club them we can spend even more?
Angryman the Angry Fan
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:46 AM
Comment #23HATTY, you are wrong.
The Market hasnt’stalled’!!!
Ask arsenal, who have signed Nasri,
Tottenham, dos santos, modric n more
Portsmouth Crouch n more
Blunderland Chimbonda Tianio n more to come
Bolton Elmander n more
Chelsea Boswinga, deco
Manciteh Jo, Ben haim
Need I go on. Other teams are very active in the transfer market, sigining players they so desperatley need!!
And note, I have only named the ‘Quality Players’ we have heard of, they are also signing ‘squad players’
Our board just dont want to pay the going rate, they want cheap bargain buys, and will gamble on next seasons results!!
Angryman the Angry Fan
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:47 AM
Comment #24TAIWAN TOON, you bloody beat me to it.
Sick of this transfer market stalled clap trap!!!
Micky Toon
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:49 AM
Comment #25The new Dabizas?
Cyprus-Toon
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:49 AM
Comment #26Having spent the last 16 years supporting the TOON, I thought when Ashley took over, we’d see a completely different way of management but it seems we won’t, its gonna be the same ole same ole again, last minute panic buys, as we have the smallest squad & have shipped out around 7 first teams players to replace them with 2 new ones’, 1 of which doens’t have a work permit yet!!!
I hope & prey that Ashley does stump up some cash this week or we’re going to be in massive trouble come the start of the season, as we only have 22 players, thats the 1st & reserve teams only, most other teams, including the Mackems have that many in their 1st team only, so we’re are gonna be royally screwed if we don’t start buying soon!!! 🙁
COBBO
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:52 AM
Comment #27Having over the past few years filled supporters with false hope with big signings , they have now decided to demoralise fans before the season starts and i must say are doing a fantastic job. God only knows what the atmosphere at the Bolton match will be like if the current trend contiues!!!!
Taiwantoon
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:52 AM
Comment #28@Angryman the Angry Fan
I found it hard to take Ben Haim’s decision too…I am just trying to convince myself that he is doing this for big Sam.
Angryman the Angry Fan
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:56 AM
Comment #29CASHLEY, here are a few suggestions:
Van Buyten / Kompany / Mtzelder
Shorey / Bridge / Lahme
VDV / Diego / Arshevin / inler / Turan
Derdyok / Gomis / Gomez / Pavlyuchenko
One from each section would probably cost a total outlay in the region of 35-40m!!!
They would pay for themselves in merchandising, and if you had bought any of these before the strip launch today, you would have at least doubled your sales figures with strips and name printing alone!!!!
Also, a suggestion re cost cutting. Take a leaf out of Real Madrids book, and take a cut of players sponsorship deals!! That way they can be paid top dollar and this would be offset by their sponsorships!!
Before i get shouted down, I have my dreams tooooooo
Rob West Australia
Jul 24, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Comment #30Iam sick of all the crap that we are linked with for f### sake either sign some one or shut the f### up. Even the mackems put their money where mouths are. Dont talk put the money on the table.
autibo
Jul 24, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Comment #31pogrebnyak!!!!! better and cheaper than pavlyuchenko, but i’d also take deriyok
ChrisL
Jul 24, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Comment #32@Ed
The headline reads:
“Keegan Wants Two Defenders In Within A Week”
But I can’t see any quote from Keegan suggesting this in the article. Did you leave it out Ed?
valle
Jul 24, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Comment #33As i have said before, i think we should take a leaf out of Mark Hughes book and buy our defenders from the German league… A player such as Heiko Westermann and Arne Friedrich are good centrebacks and play in Hertha and Schalke, they are well within our reach and wont cost much. For the left back spot, we could try for Christian Pander who would be just as great on the left as Beye is on the right and again a player from Schalke.
Hatty
Jul 24, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Comment #34If you ask any football expert / journalist, they’ll tell you that over the last week or so, the market has been dead.
Ironically, Sunderland have a hand in setting it going again.
If they complete their Spurs signings, this gives Spurs the money to buy Bentley / Arshavin etc, which frees up Berbatov and Keane to their respective moves.
I didn’t say the market has stalled all summer, just over the last week or so.
Hell, we’ve signed two players. Everton and Villa have signed less (and Villa have the smallest squad in the league).
Patience is needed.
When has a summer been any different? I remember even last year when we got to this point having signed 4 or 5 players, people were still complaining.
Hatty
Jul 24, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Comment #35Ed, stop making stories out of nothing. Where is the suggestion that Keegan wants signings in the next week? If you’re taking your info from Alan Oliver at the Chronicle, you might as well ask the Bartenders at Shearers Bar. I’m sure they know more than him.
tapir
Jul 24, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Comment #36MA if you dont have the money go rob some bank then only come back!!!!!!
Hatty
Jul 24, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Comment #37Rob West Australia – who says we aren’t putting money on the table.
Here’s a link to suggest we’ve put a £6m bid in for Baptista, but he’s waiting on Roma. – http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/web/gen/20080723/noticia_53505415902.html
figsdad
Jul 24, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Comment #38They will have defenders lined up and nobody on ere or the press will get wind of it..
watch this space…
Sal
Jul 24, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Comment #39Enough of the Ashley bashing and freakin’ wake up man.
Did somebody really just say when Ash took over they expected a new way of management, but its just same old???? WTF??? Frederick Shepherd anyone?????
We are being run properly, and we are restricting the painful wages we have forked out for years and achieved absolutely fook aal other than making some very greedy men very rich indeed.
All on here have twisted in the past, I have no doubt, over the insane wages we are paying people like Alan Smith, the board are addressing this, leave them to it.
When it come down to it, we offered in excess of £16mil for Modric including a good wage packet – he turned us down, £7mil for Aimar and he reportedly tried to ask for too much wages – I am pleased we didnt dance to his tune given he would have been a gamble, gutted he didnt come, but pleased we have more forsight having been BURNED so many many times.
We cant attract the top names at present, we can but ask and thats that, KK Co. will find the right players from those that are willing to come, these things are taking longer, because we can’t cherry pick these days.
Start to Bash Ash when we know he aint supporting KK, not when the red tops say so.
Gooderz
Jul 24, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Comment #40Olympiakos are thought to be asking £6.5m for Torosidis and that’s a great price considering his ability and versatility.
Then if we got a quick CB like Suchy, David Luiz, or Onuoha if we wanted an English option, then we’d be sorted.