There was some news yesterday that Newcastle were trying to sign 22 year-old Toulouse defender, Cheikh M’Bengue.
Stephen Warnock – will leave Aston Villa this summer
And as we all know, there was news over the weekend that there was already a done deal to move Jose Enrique to Liverpool in the summer, according to former Liverpool coach and player Phil Thompson.
But Newcastle manager Alan Pardew came out and denied that story earlier this week, and said Newcastle were still hoping to sign the Spaniard to a new deal shortly, once relegation had been averted.
But you have to wonder why Newcastle would be interested in bringing in a left-back now, if indeed Jose is staying on Tyneside, and we think Newcastle will try to sign an experienced left back replacement for Jose, before announcing Jose Enrique will be leaving.
Of course we don’t know if things will turn out that way, but it may be a good ploy to do that, and certainly Cheikh M’Bengue looks like a very good player, and he can still improve too,
That may be a sensible way to show Newcastle fans that the club are still building for the future, and of course Newcastle also have young Shane Ferguson at the club, who has shown he is an excellent prospect at left back or on the left wing.
Stephen Warnock seems one of the many first team casualties at Aston Villa, since Frenchman Gerard Houllier took over last September, although their relegation hopes were given a big lift last Sunday when they beat a rather woeful looking Newcastle side 1-0 at Villa Park. 🙁
Warnock was a Newcastle target when Graeme Souness was at Newcastle, and there are rumors around that Kenny Dalglish may want him back at Liverpool, but that can hardly be true if the stories of Jose moving to Anfield are also true.
Stephen Warnock is a good and experienced player, and there shouldn’t be a lack of clubs after the player this summer, and he was knocking on the England door just before the FIFA World Cup last year.
We have no idea why Houllier doesn’t seem to rate him, but Stephen was at Liverpool when Houllier was the manager there, so perhaps it goes back to that time?
The former Liverpool player is now 29, and could be too old for Newcastle, and certainly 22 year-old Cheikh M’Bengue could look a better bet, but the Tyneside club will not offer much more than the £5M that has reportedly already been turned down by his Toulouse club.
For the record Stephen has played a total of 296 first class appearances with 12 goals, including 67 appearances, when he was at Liverpool, until 2007.
What do you think about Warnock – is he a little too old?
Comments always welcome – but please try to respect the opinions of other readers – we’re all in this together. 😀
27 comments so far
tanmag
Apr 15, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Comment #1Should be cover for whoever would be our main LB whether it be Enrique or a new purchase. LB is bare bones territory
jarra geordie
Apr 15, 2011 at 10:54 AM
Comment #2Warnock!
niafron
Apr 15, 2011 at 10:56 AM
Comment #3Bonjour messieurs.
If NUFC is looking for a good left back, the best availlable in France is probably Benoit Trémoulinas from Bordeaux.
jarra geordie
Apr 15, 2011 at 10:59 AM
Comment #4I have Tremoulinas on FIFA 11 wonder if thats where some of us are getting our *scouting* from? – just kidding
Charlietoon
Apr 15, 2011 at 11:05 AM
Comment #5We have been saying for years we should have cover for Jose. Everyone of us! Now that we are looking why is everyone so sceptical? If we had signed a new left back a few months ago in the transfer window everyone would be saying “At last”. Now we have 35 mill in our back pocket and we are looking into it and people fear the worst.
Keep the faith!
NI Toon
Apr 15, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Comment #6Let me know if I have missed anyone…
GK – we have 3
RB – Simpson, Tavenier
CB – Collo, Williamson
CB – S.Taylor, Kadar
LB – Enrique, Ferguson
RM – Barton, R.Taylor
DM – Tiote,
CM – Nolan, Guthrie
LM – Jonas,
FWD – Ben Arfa, Ireland
STKR – Best, Ameobi
We really need a DM to cover when Tiote is suspended 🙂 as we look much weaker when we dont have someone helping win the ball in midfield and break up play (does Tiote have a brother .?.!.).
We also need some cover for Jonas and also need someone to challenge for his position (or get another LB and have ferguson as LW cover).
Then we need to get another Striker (this will prob be the big money player) as no.1 and then best and ameobi can fight it out for 2nd choice. (It seems Ben Arfa will be playing just behind one striker).
We also need to replace anyone you leaves and after than buy players better than we have in the list, therefore adding a new 1st team player and strenghtening out 2nd choice.
If Ireland does stay he could obviously he could play in a different position while Ben Afra plays…
Needs to be a busy Summer, especially if we let players leave!
WWJBD
Apr 15, 2011 at 11:13 AM
Comment #7@NI Toon, have you forgotten about our future star Gosling?
G
Apr 15, 2011 at 11:21 AM
Comment #8Also Alan Smith, when uninjured is our back up for DM, albeit not very often.
lewman
Apr 15, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Comment #9and our other future world beater james perch lol.
niafron
Apr 15, 2011 at 11:25 AM
Comment #10Jarra geordie:
I don’t play a lot to video game. I ‘ve seen Trémoulinas play a lot of time, here in France, he’s considered one of our finest left backs. He got a difficult season with bordeaux, so, he’s likely to leave.
An excellent target. Largely better than M’bengue.
mumbaNi
Apr 15, 2011 at 11:26 AM
Comment #11Charlietoon – that is the best comment i have read on here in some time !!
NI Toon
Apr 15, 2011 at 11:26 AM
Comment #12@WWJBD
I knew I would miss someone, but its a hard one with Gosling.. I have not seen enough of him and also dont know what Pardews plans will be for him (CM, RM, RB apparently can play a lot of positions).
Then there are also players like Vuckic, I have not included them as it seems they are not classified as ready for the first team by the management.
For DM – i have always like Leroy Fer, seems a real good player and is young.
I really believe there are plenty of £3-5mil signings out there that could vastly improve our team.. Hope our scouts have been looking wide and far..
If we had the Carroll money to spend –
We could get 3-4 good players in that range and then spend roughly £10mil each on 2 players (e.g. gervinho) we could really strength our team.
However we can only hope!!
NI Toon
Apr 15, 2011 at 11:27 AM
Comment #13Perch an Smith were left out for a reason 😛
WELSH TOON ™
Apr 15, 2011 at 11:32 AM
Comment #14@ NI Toon,
Ranger
WWJBD
Apr 15, 2011 at 11:36 AM
Comment #15@NI Toon
I agree I havent seen much of him and have no idea what Pardews plans are for him but I know he was very highly rated at Everton and they werent happy that he left. The brief showing he had in a black and white strip he looked good (specially coming back from a big injury, too soon which is a shame).
You also forgot LuaLua whom I’d like to see sniffing around the 1st team next season.
Would also agree Vuckic isnt ready. Him Airey and Ranger out on loan for me. And a few more if we get a decent inflow of players in the summer.
I would agree about your aim for transfer targets. 2 expensive players and 3-4 £3-4 mill players sounds about right to me and a couple of frees…and maybe some under £1 mill players from lower leagues
NI Toon
Apr 15, 2011 at 11:40 AM
Comment #16@ WELSH TOON ™
My mistake, add him to the list of Strikers to fight for 2nd, 3rd choice. Maybe in a a season he can be challenging for 1st choice.
Although it is a hard one with young Nile, is it that he needs more playing time and he will improve or is it a case of let him develope and get 20-30 minutes as an impact sub..
Also I am sure in some games Pardew will want to play 2 out and out strikers so we will need to have more than just 2/3 strikers on the books. Then Ben Afra can drop into the midfield.
NI Toon
Apr 15, 2011 at 11:50 AM
Comment #17@WWJBD
I seen a few cameo apperances from Gosling for Everton and I agree looks to be the real deal.
If he can progress and get fit for next season could be a real good addtion to the squad, like a new signing in itsef. To be honest Ben Arfa will also seem like a new signing..
LuaLua for me is a player that could go either way, he could be another routlege (pace and tricky) but when in the Premiership does he have the touch and final ball when under pressure from a top defender. Another prospect that I hope turns out well.
Anyone know of any potenially free players in the summer that would be a good additon?
roshan MAGPIE
Apr 15, 2011 at 11:58 AM
Comment #18I WOULD LIKE TO C BEnGUE rather than warnock since he is young and his name starts with a certain mid fieldes in our team who is a big hit in our side since he arrived
wynsleap
Apr 15, 2011 at 11:58 AM
Comment #19If Houllier doesn’t rate Warnock for a team that’s fighting relegation why should we take him?
I’m sick of hearing these journeymen Premiership players being touted – we should be looking beyond that.
Think of our really top drawer players, Enrique, Tiote, Collocini, Ben Arfa, Jonas – not exactly Premiership has beens are they?
It really is time The Toon lifted their sights beyond the Warnocks, Longs, Doyles and Reo-Cokers of this world.
hisnameisjonas
Apr 15, 2011 at 12:41 PM
Comment #20@NI Toon
you also left out lovenkrands
Crawfordladd17
Apr 15, 2011 at 1:00 PM
Comment #21wynsleap ladd I agree Tiote,Collocini,Jonas,Ben Arfa r internationals Nolan Barton should be 2 as well as Jose well international Loverkands not great as well as Ameobi Leon Best(all 3 rnt bad would do a job, most games).
Ireland S.Taylor could be execellant players
lesh
Apr 15, 2011 at 1:53 PM
Comment #22So, there are rumors around that Kenny Dalglish may want him back at Liverpool.
It seems that every day Dalglish are reported to be after this one or that one!
If, If the stories are true, one could get the impression that he’s like a small child gazing into Hambley’s window before Christmas – he wants everything he sees!
BeeGuy
Apr 15, 2011 at 2:05 PM
Comment #23Unless things work out about perfectly for them, Liverpool will NOT be playing in Europe next year. So if Jose wants European football, he needs to find another team to join. I’d say Newcastle is using Liverpool as a dummy to pump up Jose’s price being offered from teams that will play in Europe championships next year.
cupiddstunt
Apr 15, 2011 at 4:01 PM
Comment #24Bg if that is the case then that is sensible business, get him re-signed or get the best price you can for him, getting other clubs interested might squeeze out that extra couple of mil in his value.
GeordieTwo
Apr 15, 2011 at 5:52 PM
Comment #25Your RW options of RTaylor and Barton show a real weakness of the squad NI Toon. Barton is too slow to be a winger, he should be in the middle. Raylor is possibly good enough to be a squad player but we need a new starting right wing with pace to balance the attack. Agree with you we need another DM to cover for Tiote missing games through injury, suspension or Africa Cup. Too much depends on too few key players. We need to be deeper at almost every position but obviously striker is key and we need 2 young but experienced new strikers to come in. Shola is at the tail end of a very inconsistent career to say the least with a boat load of injuries behind him. Peter will go in the summer. Ranger thinks he is great but likes the night life too much and can’t even show up on time for practice. I hope Airey is the real deal but we have no real idea yet. A huge amount needs to be done this summer. Come on Ashley this is your last real chance.
chuck
Apr 15, 2011 at 6:43 PM
Comment #26Nowt wrong with having Steve Warnock in the side, he`s a pretty decent fullback and has a few more years left.
Too many people concern themselves with that ridiculess club police of not buying anyone over twenty five or six, for the most part players dont reach their prime untill around twenty eight.
Take Joey as an example, never played better and these clowns are screwing him around instead of giving him a contract, whatta you gonna do !
geordienp
Apr 16, 2011 at 10:32 AM
Comment #27Lua Lua