News today in the local Newcastle sports media that the Magpies are after Watford striker Danny Graham.
Danny Graham – would prefer to join Newcastle
This is not the first time Newcastle have been linked with the player who was born in Gateshead, and scored 27 goals in 49 appearances for Watford last season.
Of course that was in the Championship and the Premier League is so much higher in class, and more difficult to score goals in than England’s second division.
So our first and most important question is whether this lad is good enough to play for Newcastle?
Of course Danny is a Newcastle fan – what else – and he would love to play for his home-town team, but newly promoted QPR are also in for the player and may be ahead of Newcastle in their quest for the 6’1″ striker.
QPR and West Brom have already had £2.5M bids for the 25-year-old turned down by Watford, and the news is that QPR are ready to pay Graham around £24K/week in wages – which is close to £1M/year..
Apparently Newcatsle are not willing to match those wages, and therefore QPR are in prime position to sign the Geordie striker.
A source close to the player said:
“Newcastle is Danny’s preferred choice as he is a fan and if they can get a bit closer in wages then he would rather go there than QPR.”
“His agent is delaying giving QPR an answer until Newcastle come back to them.”
If Danny agrees to come to Newcastle for less wages than he could get at QPR, that would be a good sign, but there have to be questions about just how good he would be in the Premier League.
Danny joined Middlesbrough back in 2003, and was sent out on loan to a number of clubs before signing on at Carlisle United in 2007.
He joined Watford two years later on a free transfer, and in 98 games for Watford he has 37 goals.
If Newcastle did sign the local lad, they would be taking a risk, as they took with James Perch, another player bought from a Championship club.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
391 comments so far
geordiejohn42
May 28, 2011 at 1:34 PM
Comment #1!st
NottsGeordie
May 28, 2011 at 1:35 PM
Comment #21st
Nufc_mo
May 28, 2011 at 1:38 PM
Comment #3Newcastle arnt willing to match the 24k a week wage that QPR are offering.
The Entertainers
May 28, 2011 at 1:39 PM
Comment #4Regarding Paeda cryptic clues on the midfielder we signed he said he shouldn’t ‘be’ playing in bottom 4.
That rules our cabanye because they’ve just won the league!
Unless he meant someone else!
NottsGeordie
May 28, 2011 at 1:39 PM
Comment #5I wouldnt want to give him more than 15k a week so if we can get him for 3 million on 15k a week i would be happy. Better than Ameobi, Ranger and Lovenkrands and maybe Best. If we do get him in we would still have to get two strikers though, maybe Ba and Gamiero.
Toon1978
May 28, 2011 at 1:39 PM
Comment #6ohhh dear, from Cabaye to D.Graham. What a come down.We are looking to improve not go backwards. If we are to go forward then Sturridge is a perfect choice. D.Graham… don’t think so somehow. Fan’s will be ecstatic with this hehe.
xXl NUFC lXx
May 28, 2011 at 1:39 PM
Comment #7Not good enough
WWJBD
May 28, 2011 at 1:41 PM
Comment #8Him or Long, Ba on a free and then a big name striker
Insomnia or Gervinho and Larrson, Cabbage and that Swansea lad
M’Burger
8 new faces?
geordiejohn42
May 28, 2011 at 1:41 PM
Comment #9Danny is Geordie and thats a good sign the problem is that idiot of an Owner who wouldn’t match the 24k on a striker if we can’t compete with QPR withe the greatest of respect to them they are no where near big enough as us he’s young the right profile and also scores goals eventho its in the ‘fizzy pop league’
MA has NO ambition, NO drive and No passion for the club all he’s interested in is MONEY MONEY MONEY and nowt else I’m afraid and I really do hope JB hit that buffoon (sorry for being honest lads/lasses) so he doesn’t get nowt next season…HWTL!!
WWJBD
May 28, 2011 at 1:42 PM
Comment #10Toon1978
Fella that just sounds like league snobbery. He wont be our lead striker
shearermania
May 28, 2011 at 1:45 PM
Comment #11will peopple stop talking about sturridge…………..
its ridiculous…..no way he will come to us….
also the way he taunted us when he scored at st james….
get real…sturridge is champions league club material., he will get his chance at chelsea
Toon1978
May 28, 2011 at 1:45 PM
Comment #12WWJBD
I am far from snobby mate far from it i just don’t think he will cut it in the EPL.He struggled at Boro and he will struggle here. Honestly, he ain’t any better then what we already have.
Toon1978
May 28, 2011 at 1:47 PM
Comment #13shearermania
Just like HBA mate. CL material.Sturridge will struggle to get in the Chelsea line up and he would struggle at quite a few top clubs also. NUFC would be a quality move for him.
WWJBD
May 28, 2011 at 1:48 PM
Comment #14Toon1978
Good haha because I hate league snobbery there are some real gems in the (former) fizzy pop league.
And in all fairness to him he is young and has scored goals for fun in a pretty low level squad/team….far more goals than any of our lads managed in the same league
shearermania
May 28, 2011 at 1:48 PM
Comment #15also we wont be signing 2-3 strikers before we can get rid of a few we got…
not sure graham is that much better than what we got
jimmymac
May 28, 2011 at 1:50 PM
Comment #16Ed, I’m a big fan, but why do you compare any Championship player to Perch, that is Lazy writing IMO.
You could just as easily compare them to Championship successes Mike Williamson, Lescott, Jagielka, Tim Cahill, Charlie Adam…..those who have managed to more than step up from Championship Level. Not every signing from Lower leagues is going to be a Perch. I would be very happy to see us sign any of: Shane Long, Danny Graham, Darren Pratley, Ashley Williams and many more.
Geordiedoonsooth
May 28, 2011 at 1:51 PM
Comment #17Afraid he aint good enough for us but wouldn’t be suprised if he did sign hope not though
davybtoon
May 28, 2011 at 1:51 PM
Comment #18from what i cud gather b4 with that gamerio piece was we hav offered 12m euros n its been accepted, but valencia hav only offered 7m euros and its in installments which they havent accepted
so as it stands were in pole position
BonVoyageBenny
May 28, 2011 at 1:51 PM
Comment #19Of course he’d be keen to sign for Newcastle, thank you captain obvious. I’m sure 90% of people reading this blog would like to sign for Newcastle. In fact, Ashley, sign me up. I’m currently unattached, younger than Graham, much younger than him, and would take lower wages…
shearermania
May 28, 2011 at 1:52 PM
Comment #20forget sturridge…
pretty sure spurs and arsenal are preferable to him than us….
i would love it though – just cant see it happening…
could be brilliant with both cabbahe and porridge
davybtoon
May 28, 2011 at 1:53 PM
Comment #21also the chronicle know nothing thats goin on any of us cud write pieces for the chronicle as we kno as much as them n thats zilch
shearermania
May 28, 2011 at 1:53 PM
Comment #22cabbage
NottsGeordie
May 28, 2011 at 1:54 PM
Comment #232011 Transfer Window
In
Gervinho – 10m
N’Zogbia – 10m
Gamiero – 10m
M.Bengue – 8m
Cabaye – 5m
Danny Graham – 3m
Ba – Free
Pratley – Free
Out
Enrique – 10m
Barton – 5m
Alan Smith – 1m
Xisco – 1m
Campbell – Free
Kuqi – Free
Ranger – Loan
Vuckic – Loan
8 in, 8 out 🙂
…………………….Krul………………………..
Simpson….Taylor…Coloccini..Ferguson
…………Cabaye…..Tiote…..Nolan……….
Gervinho……………………………N’Zogbia
………………….Gamiero…………………….
or
…………………….Krul…………………….
Simpson….Taylor…Coloccini..Ferguson
Gervinho……Tiote….Nolan……N’Zogbia
…………Demba Ba…Gamiero……………..
WWJBD
May 28, 2011 at 1:54 PM
Comment #24shearermania
And M’Burger…we will have a buffet!
WWJBD
May 28, 2011 at 1:55 PM
Comment #25NottsGeordie
Arent you forgetting someone….I’l give you a hint he is in your picture
Toon1978
May 28, 2011 at 1:57 PM
Comment #26Shearermania
Have some faith mate lol although i have seen nothing to suggest that we are even interested in him. The problem is IF Sturridge went to Arsenal or Spurs he would be in a similar predicament to what he would be at Chelsea.
WWJBD
Yes there is some gems in the CC i agree unfortunately Graham isn’t one of them lol. However if we do sign him then fair enough i would support the kid as it seem like a lad that wants to play for us rather then just coming for the money or because his options are limited.
davybtoon
May 28, 2011 at 1:58 PM
Comment #27nottsgeordie – so were gonna pay 8m for mbengue n play ferguson left back dont think so
jus think if we get 12mil for jose it will pay for mbengue n cabyaye without even touching the carroll money
Toon1978
May 28, 2011 at 1:59 PM
Comment #28WWJBD
HAHAHA yeah how the hell can he miss out HBA???? He has the kid on his picture aswell hehehehehehe. I’m sure it was just a slip of mind 🙂
WWJBD
May 28, 2011 at 2:02 PM
Comment #29Toon1978
You might be right I have only seen him play a few times but you dont get to be the leagues top goalscorer in a midtable team without some style do you? Must admit Id prefer we got Long.
Though I do think Graham could do a job for us if only in a cup run him, Shola, Best and Ba could be our strikers in a cups
WWJBD
May 28, 2011 at 2:03 PM
Comment #30haha it did make me smile but a lot of people miss our HBA out…probably because they get excited with new signings and forget hes already ours 🙂
Hoppefot79
May 28, 2011 at 2:04 PM
Comment #31I reallly don’t understand why some people can actually claim that this player isn’t good enough for NUFC, just because he is a “Championship striker” atm. Can’t recall Carroll scored that many goals for us last year, or before that. At least Graham has shown this season he knows where the goal is. + He’s a toon fan and would give it his best in every match. Bottom line is, you cannot know whether a player will blossom in the PL, you can only judge his potential by what he’s shown. And noone can claim Graham doesn’t know where the goal is. If we’re all going for PL-proven players, then our budget will be waisted on 1, maybe 2 players. How can anyone know for certain that Gervinho/ Gameiro will succeed (not that I doubt them myself). Come on ppl, for a few mill. this guy could be perfect for this club. I’m from Norway, so please don’t judge me by my grammar, but if you don’t feel my post was to your liking, feel free to voice your opinion
NottsGeordie
May 28, 2011 at 2:04 PM
Comment #32WWJBD and davybtoon
My bad yeah just slips of mind put in M’bengue for Ferguson and Ben Arfa in for Cabaye in a 4-2-3-1 formation and Ben Arfa in for Demba Ba in the 4-4-2 formation then put Gervinho upfront 😀
Toon1978
May 28, 2011 at 2:05 PM
Comment #33We seem to forget we have Best coming back and believe or not i think he will chip in with quite a few goals next season. He was on a fine run before his injury.
shearermania
May 28, 2011 at 2:06 PM
Comment #34ill reckon the board are playing hard ball with nolan….its like they are sayin “barton didnt sign the contract which was offered, wupsi a french international arrives” so kev are you going to sign now or ????
sticklebricks
May 28, 2011 at 2:07 PM
Comment #35Think he could do a job for us. If he isn’t happy with the wages, just need to build a contract based on playing/goal bonuses to get to his 24k/week..
WWJBD
May 28, 2011 at 2:08 PM
Comment #36Right so our strikers are Best Shola Loven and Ranger (In that order imo)
We have 1 big striker name like Gamerio coming in then possibly Ba for free (I cant see any bigger team than us coming in for him) and Graham (or another of similar cost)
Take out Ranger because he has to be off on loan if not sold imo and one of Best or Loven I can see being moved on
That leaves us with 5 which is only 1 more than we have now…..why is this so hard to believe?
Toon1978
May 28, 2011 at 2:09 PM
Comment #37Hoppefot79
You have a fair point. I did not think Best would be good enough but he came in and did ok.
NottsGeordie
May 28, 2011 at 2:10 PM
Comment #38WWJBD
Didnt get excited about new signings was just concentrating on the F1 😀 C’mon Lewis!!!
Toon1978
May 28, 2011 at 2:11 PM
Comment #39WWJBD
Do you think we will get the French kid from Gamerio ????
shearermania
May 28, 2011 at 2:12 PM
Comment #40wwjbd
we also got xisco….i know he is easy to forget..
its not about quantity but quality??
if and its a big if we get all these players in nzogbia, gervinho, emana, gameiro….where would our captain fit in?????