The Evening Chronicle is reporting breaking news that they understand Sol Campbell, married just 9 days ago, is about to sign for Newcastle United.
Sol with new bride Fiona Barratt
The news is that the former Tottenham, Arsenal and Portsmouth defender is expected to complete a medical and become Chris Hughton’s third summer signing following James Perch and Dan Gosling to Tyneside.
This is big surprise to us, as we thought it was just paper talk, but although he’s now 35, Sol will bring significant solidity – not to mention tremendous experience – to the Newcastle defense, and he looked good at Arsenal earlier this year.
We are very pleased with this news – but what do you think – assuming it is true?
Comments welcome.
Written from Lincoln, England
56 comments so far
brownrob
Jul 27, 2010 at 11:42 AM
Comment #1We need Messi to get married to a Geordie girl too… 😀
Then he may come 🙂
gunnarnufc
Jul 27, 2010 at 11:44 AM
Comment #2Good signing. Although he isn’t getting any younger he has a lot of experience to offer and can help our youngsters develop. I suspect (and hope) this will only be a one year deal but he will without a doubt improve our squad.
gorskino10
Jul 27, 2010 at 11:44 AM
Comment #3Too old would be better at Celtic, i dont think we would seriouslly offer him a 2 year contract!
Davies
Jul 27, 2010 at 11:51 AM
Comment #4If true, I think this is very sensible for both parties. Sol has a little left in his legs and will be retiring in the next year or so. Probably fits in well with his plans. For us, with Taylor out for anywhere between six and ten weeks (depending on hwich paper you read), we’re going to need his experience. He’ll be good for the likes of Kadar and Tavernier as well.
Can’t lose really.
murvar
Jul 27, 2010 at 11:52 AM
Comment #5Sensible business as cover especially with Tayls out for a while. This is the kind of player profile I would like to see as cover for Harper too – then we could let Krul and Forster both go out on loan and play first team football somewhere rather than warm the bench at SJP.
toonie
Jul 27, 2010 at 11:53 AM
Comment #6With Taylor now out for several weeks, if not months this could be a welcome and timely addition to the back four. Regardless of age, he would walk straight into the current team. Class act !!!
Spartan
Jul 27, 2010 at 11:55 AM
Comment #7Roeder had the chance to sign Campbell before he went to Pompey. Claimed that he was past it and wanted too much money.
AngerOfTheNorth
Jul 27, 2010 at 11:59 AM
Comment #8I agree – although he’s getting on a bit he’s still fit for his age, has a lot of experience, is strong, can read the game and tackles incredibly well. The only concern is that he might keep out younger players who’ll get annoyed and look to leave.
However whilst we’re fighting to stay up in our first season back, that can’t be our main concern and I doubt he’ll play every game.
Adywakey
Jul 27, 2010 at 11:59 AM
Comment #9I think he’d be a good signing for 2 seasons max then perhaps a coaching role within the team as he now lives in the northeast. It’s fine buying lots and lots of quality young players (like we have been/already have) but we need to have a measure of real quality experience within the team and that mostly comes with age!
Anyone fancy a cheeky bid on Bellamy?
John
Jul 27, 2010 at 12:02 PM
Comment #10we 3 signings in mid-field we are woefully short in their wiltshere, even bullard, de guzman, steven ireland on loan forget ben arfa that guys more worried about hes hair than NUFC if he comes, mc fadden, keane wer badly short that type of player.
Bao Zheng
Jul 27, 2010 at 12:09 PM
Comment #11Just the man to put the solid into solidity. I would expect he only plays now and again as required. Sol will have a tuff time keeping up with top clubs but ideal against thugs from Stoke, Blackeye, the unwashed. Good business, assuming a reasonable price.
NUFC_Richyg01
Jul 27, 2010 at 12:11 PM
Comment #12I cant complain with that, Campbell will bring in HUGE experience to the squad. There aint many players we have who have been where Sol has.
Good work Hoots!
HOWAY the LADS!
NUFC_Richyg01
Jul 27, 2010 at 12:13 PM
Comment #13Hopefully with Sol in, Hoots will look to midfield and upfront
Markaccus
Jul 27, 2010 at 12:13 PM
Comment #14we have loads of centre midfielders john@9, i rekon wide players and a foward would be better.
Hope sol moves into coaching with us after this season, that would make the signing worth while
PapaToon
Jul 27, 2010 at 12:14 PM
Comment #15When Ed first posted on this transfer rumour i thought then that this is highly possible. A very shrude decision CH. A guy who commands the back 4. provides hight on set pieces in defence and can get a goal here and there as well. Would be interesting to know about his wages though.
Markaccus
Jul 27, 2010 at 12:19 PM
Comment #16yeah papatoon, i even watched sky sports news making it up after a CH interview, turns out they got lucky!
his wages….. one crate of broon a week and a gravy pie bonus for every clean sheet!
Ericles
Jul 27, 2010 at 12:19 PM
Comment #17All things considered, and in our present injury circumstances, this is a sensible signing.
Chris F
Jul 27, 2010 at 12:20 PM
Comment #18looked good for Arsenal in the back end of last season, and shored up their defence which had gone a bit awry.
as others have said, he’ll bring good experience to the team, and hopefully some of it’ll rub off on the younger defenders at the club.
Paul P
Jul 27, 2010 at 12:46 PM
Comment #19i think its a great move as he will bring taylor and kadar on heeps and bounds. strong solid defender in my view. if he can do it for arsenal, he can do it for newcastle. now to concentrate on ben arfa, an attacking midfielder with craft and goals and 2 centre forwards. also beardsley and steve stone have been appointment as reserve team coaches.
noir9
Jul 27, 2010 at 12:48 PM
Comment #20Wouldn’t be suprised if there isn’t some sort of coaching role involved, seem to remember him being promised something along those lines at notts county.
He’s 35 & will be on good money, so I guess that puts an end to the age limit & wage cap bollocks
PrinceAlbert
Jul 27, 2010 at 12:53 PM
Comment #21What about Bellamy now in loan?! unfinished business and would be great foil for Carroll
danmcclew
Jul 27, 2010 at 12:54 PM
Comment #22Will be delighted if he signs. Great professional with huge experience. He’s also very vocal, a good leader, and organises his defenders on the pitch – something which I dont think we have.
Good work Chris!
G
Jul 27, 2010 at 1:00 PM
Comment #23Not sure Campells age should be too much of an issue, it’s not like he was ever really blessed with super pace or anything. Sure his joints will be a bit passed it, but his ability to read the game and get himself in the right place shouldnt have been affected at all. I hope it happens.
tynesidetommo
Jul 27, 2010 at 1:00 PM
Comment #24Another superb signing by the manager and no doubt sanctioned by Ashley. It’s taken a while but it’s looking as though our owner is starting to get the hang of the transfer window system. Keep em coming through the door.
MacToon
Jul 27, 2010 at 1:07 PM
Comment #25Hope he hasn’t pulled any muscles on his honeymoon 😉
Rich TOON Bristol
Jul 27, 2010 at 1:11 PM
Comment #26hopefully this will turn out to be a good bit of business, no doubt he’ll be on 50k+ a week and i’d have thought that could be better spent elsewhere really, hughton keeps saying hes after the “right players” but so far we’ve “missed out” on Beckford, boyd, hooper…etc all of which i believe could have def done a job fo us next season, i say “missed out” on because goin by what chris has been saying that hes after the right players and the above not falling into that category im assuming that hes after better players but im not holding my breath on gettin better than we’ve already got in mid or fwds
eltoro
Jul 27, 2010 at 1:12 PM
Comment #27I’m not sure about his fitness, but personally I would make Sol Campbell first choice. Play him alongside Coloccini with Taylor at right back.
Campbell’s experience might be what Taylor needs to bring him on and fulfill his potential as a centre back but at the moment I think Steven offers most at full back- in the relegation season he created lots of chances with strong runs and won that questionable penalty in the derby.
MacToon
Jul 27, 2010 at 1:18 PM
Comment #28Rich, I heard about £30-35k , can you imagine Ashley paying much more, I’m surprised he’d go that high tbh!
Ericles
Jul 27, 2010 at 1:24 PM
Comment #29MacToon – with regard to his muscles I pointed out recently with regard to Sol that one cannot swing a pussy in a Barrett house!!!
MacToon
Jul 27, 2010 at 1:26 PM
Comment #30😆 very true Ericles, I did see you post it but defo worthy of a second airing.
burnsie
Jul 27, 2010 at 1:31 PM
Comment #31Superb signing. id even go so far as say a 2 year deal wud be perfect. alrite easton!!!!!
geordielad880
Jul 27, 2010 at 1:46 PM
Comment #32I think its a very good deal for us if its 1 year, all the arsenal fans have been saying if we sign him, he will do very well for us, and they wish he was with them next season, so cant be bad. We still need a right back, winger and striker in my opinion, lets see what we have at the close of the tranfer window, we have still only spent 1.5m so far, which is nothing short of terrible, I said if we didnt spend at least 15m we would go down, hope im going to be proved wrong.
I wanted newcastle to spend 15m on a right back, winger and striker, and a couple of loan or free deals aswell.
Visten
Jul 27, 2010 at 1:56 PM
Comment #33This would be a good signing especially with S.Taylor being crocked. Sol is not coming here to warm the bench though and is still hungry for a new challenge. He probably feels that if he is given a good few games whilst Taylor is injured he can establish himself and be difficult to move. I saw him in a game last season for Arsenal where a nippy striker caught him on his heels and went past him, Campbell turned and showed a suprising burst of acceleration to get back and clean out both the surprised player and the ball. There are not many more experienced center back pairings than Campbell and Colocinni and I think they would work very well together. Let’s not forget that this is just as good as a loan signing with nothing to pay but wages, terrific move again by the Mgmt team.
xfer
Jul 27, 2010 at 2:00 PM
Comment #34Immense experience that he will bring us, and will keep our CBs fighting for their place. Good signing.
He had a fantastic season last year, and if anyone thinks otherwise, go watch that ECL game he dominated!
lewman
Jul 27, 2010 at 2:00 PM
Comment #35i think chris still has his fingers in a few freebee pies.
maybe he is waiting to see what he can get for free and waiting for the other clubs (like man city) to panic sell before spending our transfer budget.
i hope this is true, as it does seem like a sensible option.
Shearer
Jul 27, 2010 at 2:38 PM
Comment #36Off the topic
Is the Newcastle Delpertivo Game still on I haven’t heard about it in some time…? Thanks 🙂
Ian
Jul 27, 2010 at 2:44 PM
Comment #37Hopefully this will put an end to the ridiculous speculation that has come from many people on this site (including the Editor!) about the club’s point blank refusal to consider anyone over 23 years old.
Where a player is good enough, regardless of their age they will be signed if the cash is there.
Toonarmy1993
Jul 27, 2010 at 2:45 PM
Comment #38de guzman has just signed for Real Mallorca, so we arent getting him any longer, still being linked with Raul though, i would love to see him at st.james even if he is past it
Ericles
Jul 27, 2010 at 2:51 PM
Comment #39Good point lewman. Going by CH’s shrewd moves so far I hope you are, and probably are, quite right.
gorskino10
Jul 27, 2010 at 3:03 PM
Comment #40He is ONLY joining us because of his wifes preferance, like Aimar who chose Benfica, he didnt want to go but his wife chose for him its the same case with Campbell and if he thinks he walks into our defence he has another thing coming! Taylor/Collo/Williamsson is better so he has a tough task.