At the risk of jumping the gun and that Newcastle may still bring somebody in during the next 90 minutes, that’s in addition to Leon Best, Newcastle have now brought in 6 players in this transfer window, including four permanent signings.
Mike Williamson – looks great acquisition for Newcastle
Up until the January transfer window we had three players on loan at the Newcastle club.
Marlon Harewood from Aston Villa
Zurab Khizanishvili from Blackburn Rovers
Danny Simpson from Manchester United
In the January transfer window Newcastle have signed the following four players:
Player Fee Former Club
Danny Simpson £0.5M Manchester United
Mike Williamson £1.2M Portsmouth
Wayne Routledge £1.0M QPR
Leon Best £0.6M Coventry City
No fees have been disclosed, and the fees shown above are estimates that have been published in the press. In total it looks like Newcastle have paid around £3.2M for the four players – if that.
In addition the club has brought in two players on loan.
Fitz Hall from QPR on a season long loan, and Patrick van Aanholt from Chelsea on a one month loan, essentially to stand in for the injured Jose Enrique.
It says something for our new players that all three new players in the side last Saturday were voted to be Newcastle’s best players by our readers.
van Aanholt got 39% of votes, Williamson 33% and Routledge 10% – the poll is still open by the way.
So that at least suggests that Newcastle have improved the squad, which we think is true.
And we shouldn’t forget that Fabrice Pancrate was signed on a deal through the end of the season in late November, as a free agent.
Four more than decent players – all at good prices – and two good loan players is good business by the Newcastle club.
And Newcastle finally had Geremi leave the club – so that saves £60K/week in wages – and around £1.5M through June, when the Cameroon’s contract would have run out.
We think Newcastle have got the job done this transfer window – and we say – well done!
The one disappointment was not getting 19 year-old Victor Moses into the club – who would have been a great capture – but it’s time to get over that now – he didn’t come – and we have to look forward to hopefully a successful conclusion to the season.
It’s certainly the best transfer window under Newcastle owner Mike Ashley – that’s clear.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
49 comments so far
MacToon
Feb 1, 2010 at 6:27 PM
Comment #41I just think the club have no long term vision, We had the chance to maybe get one or two players to bed in over 6 months in the CCC, gel with the squad and get them upto speed for if we are promoted. Missed our chance.
However the new guys, Simpson as we know looks ok at this level and maybe he’ll step upto the prem.
Williamson’s looked ok as well so far.
Routledge, could be the best signing IMO.
Leon Best, no idea, good luck to him.
Fitz Hall, no idea+good luck.
Van Aanholt, looks ok but seemed better attacking than defending and only a 1 month loan so far.
Well needed new faces and with Geremi going seems a good bit of business but still no flair or creativity in MF (STILL), maybe we’ll get a loan or 2 in this position. God forbid if we’re stuck with a Smith, Butt, Nolan and Guthrie midfield again this season!
Free Scoring Smudge
Feb 1, 2010 at 7:38 PM
Comment #42I simply cannot bring myself to question these moves when we ARE ACTUALLY GETTING PLAYERS IN
Free Scoring Smudge
Feb 1, 2010 at 7:38 PM
Comment #43And anyone see Smithy’s header that got cleared off the line Saturday? Absolute rocket from the nimble middie
BlacknWhite Barmy
Feb 1, 2010 at 7:42 PM
Comment #44Fully agree mactoon – the midfield has been lacking creativity for 3 seasons and was one of the main reasons we got relegated – remeber we had a forward line of ExEMO, Viduka, Martins and still could not score. FatAsh has played a big gamble if he thinks that this squad will be able to maintain the momentum till the end of the season – cracks are showing and he has merely papered over them
Strauss
Feb 1, 2010 at 9:29 PM
Comment #45good January transfer window, strengthened the team, the manager knows what he is doing, have confidence
ziad
Feb 2, 2010 at 4:01 AM
Comment #46Good signings!!! now lets get promoted
NUFC-0809-Oh Dear
Feb 2, 2010 at 9:42 AM
Comment #47Funny how everyone slates the signings of Best, Routlege and Williamson but every lineup posted here contains all three!
Sav
Feb 3, 2010 at 3:13 AM
Comment #48Trappatoni has brought Best on during the last couple of Ireland matches, which has to say something about the lad. Should do well powering home Carroll’s knock-downs and flicks if they can form any sort of understanding.
Sav
Feb 3, 2010 at 3:16 AM
Comment #49So sorry to hear about Sib.
I’m sure he and his family are in everyone’s thoughts today.
After him, we should always be prepared to give ‘unexciting’ signings a fair crack of the whip.