Newcastle had scouts at last night’s England U21 international game with Belgium, which was a European Qualifying game at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium.
Wilfried Zaha in action last night for England U21s
England easily won that game 4-0, with goals from Arsenal’s Henri Lansbury (2) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Swansea City defender Steven Caulker.
The Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, a Newcastle target in the summer, made his England U21 debut, and played the first 69 minutes of the game, and the Evening Chronicle is reporting today that the lad has become a Sunderland target too.
Sunderland were represented at the game last night, but you would expect the two local clubs to be there, when an England U21 side are playing nearby, and exactly who they would be watching is a good question.
There are other clubs after the promising 19 year-old, and at the end of January Bolton, of all clubs, had two offers turned down for Zaha by his London club.
Stoke were also interested but the £10M that’s being banded around about how much he’s worth cannot be true.
Newcastle wouldn’t pay that much for a 19 year-old unless he was in Brazil’s first team maybe, but a Newcastle source in December hinted his value was definitely not £10M.
Zaha signed a new five-year deal earlier this season, but that was only to allow Palace could get the full transfer value for their player, and we cannot blame them for that.
The youngster was born in the Ivory Coast’s biggest city Abidjan, where Cheick Tiote played last night in the home country’s 0-0 draw with Equatorial New Guinea.
Zaha was given his debut for Palace at home to Cardiff City in March of 2010 when Paul Hart was the manager, and Wilfried at the time was just 17 years old.
He has played 81 times for Crystal Palace with 8 goals and 7 assists and played twice for the England U19 side, before making his debut last night for the England U21 side.
We think there’s no doubt that Newcastle are eyeing Wilfried, but it could be that the transfer amount asked for him may be too high for a very thrifty Newcastle club.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
31 comments so far
Beattie25
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:05 AM
Comment #1Just watching highlights of the Germany-France game.
It is no mistake to say the Cabaye plays better in a 3 man central midfield partnership whether in a 4-5-1 or 4-3-3.
It just gives him so much more option as he can go back to DM or play it forward to the AM.
He was excellent for Lille in a 3 man midfield in the CM position.
The same can be said for Tiote at Twente in his DM position.
It is no suprise to me that we are after Corgnet to give us that 3 man CM partnership as it offers so much more option when playing a passing game.
Cabaye just looks so uncomfertable in a 2 man midfield especially as Tiote spends most of the time behind him.
Also as I read a few moments ago I agree and I really think that we could use Ober as a winger in a 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 up front alternating with Benny.
Turn him into our Henry. A winger come striker with bags of pace and lack of creativity.
Indian Magpie
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:05 AM
Comment #2Martoon,
from the previous post,
I ahve got a funny feeling that Shola will get sent off if he starts, like he shd have been against wolves
martoon
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Comment #3There is no way we would pay £10m for the likes of him when we paid less for Cisse and rightly so (to quote Shearer) imo.
martoon
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:10 AM
Comment #4Indian – you never miss an opportunity 😉 I can’t recall the incident you are referring to?
redondo77
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Comment #5sorry guys. repost.
NEWEXPATMAGPIE // Mar 1, 2012 at 10:08 AM
“Top six i,me happy with, but then according to some on here my expectations are Mediocre!
I honestly believe that some think we should be pushing for the title this year and Champions League and not just trying to go as high as possible!”
—————————————————————————
I think you missunderstood, Newexpatmagpie.
We are all happy what the team have achieved so far including me, but you need to see that the teams from 4 -7 are so close and they are not doing well. What I’m trying to say to all is why not take this opporturnity to go 4th? But we can’t do it if we play like the way we are playing and I think other teams also saw and learn what our style of play and weaknesses and how to exploit it. Everyone watch the same game even though not watching it in SJP, even the players and the manager themselves are not happy with their performance on the last 2 games.
So even if we are not finishing 4th, me and others here are happy.
My point is try to be little bit ambitious or greedy, sometimes it’s ok .Also, we are getting too predictable.
Beattie25
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Comment #6English players, whether internationals or not, are far too expensive.
Their nationality adds on so much cost and it is totally disproportionate to their talent.
Zaaha is good and maybe a real player soon, but for the money we could sign about 2 Tiotes or 2 Cabayes or a host of free agents.
The moeny would be better spent buying more foreign youngsters and snapping up free agents.
Mo Diame, Douglas, Hoiliett & Royston Drenthe on a free
Buy a rb/lb (Eric Pieters), a CB (Vertohogen), a CM (Corgnet) and a young striker (Rodriguez).
Sell Willo, Simmo, Perchinho and retain all the rest.
Boom… 4th place
LewSpi
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Comment #7It can only be a good thing that we are being linked with young English talent for a change, as much as I like the cheaper imports, I do like seeing at least a few English faces in there.
Also, I was out in town with a few of the lads last night, Santon, Abeid, Cisse, Obertan, Jimmy Bullard! ha, and Nile Ranger.
Santon was telling me he is so fired up for the game, I was trying to explain how much it means to the fans that we win and he said they’ve all been told so many times how big of a game it was.
On another positive note, Cisse was walking alright and stuff, I reckon they’re just putting a bit of a smoke screen up.
I thought it was strange for Ranger to be there, I was sure he has some sort of curfew?
davybtoon
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:18 AM
Comment #8Beattie i think your goin way over the top on our style of football, I’ll agree that away from we set up to play counter attacking football, but not at home, sunday will b one hell of a dull game by your remarks because all mon does is stick 11 men behind the ball n that’s every game, our football was a lot worse under Chris houghton if u can’t stand it now bloody hell what did u think when he was here, ppl like our seeing what u want to see to hav a good moan, when in fact if u watch u will see there r only 3 players who kick it long n 2 is bcoz there uncomfortable, Infact tim krul kicks long but if u watch a game u will see he does it no more than most opposition keepers
Colo-Sus
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:18 AM
Comment #9Beattie
Spot on re transfers there.
Ins
Corgnet
Douglas
Pieters
Amafalitnaomionjio (whatevz)
Young Striker
Young Keeper
Outs
Perch
Guthrie
Simo
Smith
Harper
Foster
Id keep Wilo as a back up mind behind Colo, Saylor and Douglas,
But then again Pieters could play CB also, and we would maybe get 2-3mil for wilo from a mid table side like Bolton etc
That would ber a perfect window
davybtoon
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Comment #10Lewspi I hope ranger wasn’t there because he’s breaking his bail conditions if he was
Beattie25
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Comment #11davybtoon
I’m sure you never watch NUFC. You talk about it like we play decent.
C’mon you cannot seriously have been impressed with our style of play?!
At the start of the season it was dull yet effective, now it is dull and ineffective so I am calling for a change.
I haven’t seen football this bad since Fat Sam (including our relegation season). Is it too much to ask for a bit of quality?
davybtoon
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Comment #12Beattie lad I do agree with a lot if what u say but I think ya goin a little over bored on our style of play, I understand there some fans wanting us to seize the moment n take 4th but really were about 2 seasons ahead of we’re we should which fantastic bcoz were only gonna keep improving, n with some of them signings n out goings ppl hav mentioned u can see that
Colo-Sus
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:27 AM
Comment #13Beattie
Davey has a point there mind, well you both do really,
AT the mo is all about results not pretty football, that will come with a touch more investment.
But Beattie its not been that bad pal..We all want quality who doesnt but its far better than the Allardyce days, would we ever have stffed Man u 3-0 under big sam?
We are not the finished article mate
Have Faith
davybtoon
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:28 AM
Comment #14Beattie n I would throw that same thing back to you that I swear u don’t watch Nufc, bcoz were playing better than under ch now that truly was long ball, Beattie I agree I wanna see quality n we do it in patches but to say all we do is hoof it long is total balls n anyone saying that shud b embarrassed
davybtoon
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Comment #15Jimmymagpie from last thread your ryt our ball retention isn’t very good that in part is down to poor choice of passes when r knocking it about on the deck n krul, willo n Simpson jus hoofing it anywhere when it’s passed to them
Colo-Sus
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Comment #16Been a good bit of constructive debate on here today, makes a nice change to have some knowledgeable posters.
Counting the seconds till Brutoon rocks up and starts his daily Shola bash, seriously him and Indian should go and hoop each other off haha (joke)
Best Posters on Here for me are
Sirtoon
Shearmania
Beattie
Jesper
Daveyb
Jimmy
Lewspi
can the rest please take a leaf and write something credible
davybtoon
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Comment #17I will put this question out there again does anyone watch the under18s n reserves bcoz they play some fantastic football but there keepers use the same tactic as krul
Colo-Sus
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Comment #18There are many others that I enjoy reading as well, just thought id mention a few whose opinions i respect, even if i dont always agree.
HWTL
Colo-Sus
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:38 AM
Comment #19davey
I try to watch them when i can and I agree they play some great stuff,
This falls into my point that in yearsd to come with the current model we will build a great system and philosophy, I think we need a few signings before we see it in the first team, as mentioned earlier, FB, CB,CM are needed etc.
With the Krul thing, i dont really mind that, better safe than sorry with your keeper Imo. I dont think that has a huge effects the way we play.
davybtoon
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:44 AM
Comment #20Colo I think the problem on here is there our a lot of posters jus bash the team for the sake of it without any reason or thought behind it n when you challenge them they get abusive, there is also the problem of this season many on here thought 17th wud b good this season now were 6th the deluded posters start n high expections come out of no we’re like the current debate of we shud b higher than we r n playing better football its getting near the end n ppl r panicking when they shud praising this season n looking forward because the bigger picture is looking very good
jimmymagpie
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:46 AM
Comment #21Davy – Simpson and Willo just aren’t good enough defenders or footballers to be playing at this level. In the 1950s neither would have been deemed good enough to play in the Northern League. I speak with SOME knowledge, as I was playing Southern League football at that time ( same level). Also, there is a lack of pace in central midfield, therefore nobody capable of carrying the ball through the middle. For this reason, I would like to see Cabaye playing much further forward. Pardew. in the last 3 games, has played Ba in the link up role behind Cisse, and I think this makes him far less effective than the player who was playing the main striker before he went to the ACN.
davybtoon
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:48 AM
Comment #22Colo agree it gonna take a few more signings b4 we see it in the first team next season we will b different team again were evolving
N I said the same thing the other day but unless something has changed in the 30year I’ve watched football most keepers kick it long
davybtoon
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:52 AM
Comment #23Jimmy yea cabaye is sitting to deep I would go for something like this
Tiote abeid
Ben arfa cabaye ba
Cisse
Hav tiote n abeid protecting n let the front 4 go wild
jimmymagpie
Mar 1, 2012 at 11:55 AM
Comment #24I’ve been doing some legwork this week, helping out my nephew, who is trying to help 2 of his young clients get fixed up with new clubs, after they were told they were surplus to requirements at NUFC. Not an easy task, as a lot of clubs lower down the ladder are on the financial bread-line. It’s amazing how quickly some agents dump these lads as well, as soon as they’re told to find new clubs. My nephew is supposed to advise on contractural matters only, but feels so sorry for these lads, that he’s taken it upon himself to try and help them for no fee.
davybtoon
Mar 1, 2012 at 12:04 PM
Comment #25Jimmymagpie yea it’s shame on these young boys who get released it shud b up to the club to find them new clubs, this has been one my pet hates with Nufc for many years the lack of young talent coming through n the way we bring it through I mean take for example tavernier dummitt these 2 will probably end up first choice fb or back up at Nufc which is great but there both 20now if they were at man u they wud of played 30/40 first team games by now either at man u or in the lower leagues, under pardew it finally seems to b changing getting them out on loan which for me Is the only way to develop young talent
New kingdom United
Mar 1, 2012 at 12:21 PM
Comment #26Our third striker should be someone young but experienced. A super sub is what we need. the games we going to play with one upfront is when we going to need our super sub upfront with HBA following. A five year deal that it.
NEWEXPATMAGPIE
Mar 1, 2012 at 12:56 PM
Comment #27Afternoon lads:
@4:
The incident Indian is referring to is Shola,s mad lunge for the ball when the Wolves keeper was closer to having it than he was! Ten inutes or so before the end! Could of been a direct Red as it was a dangerous lunge!
@5:
Don,t worry about it Redondo! I,ve been called much more colourful things than Mediocre on here before now and probably will be again! I,m a big lad and can take it!
Big difference between Mediocrity and being Realistic!
argentoona
Mar 1, 2012 at 2:46 PM
Comment #28Snap him up for a reasonable price
barkerslovesnufc
Mar 1, 2012 at 5:55 PM
Comment #29Would love to snap him up! Would b great for us, and still very young. Teach him the ropes n he would b awesome!
NEWEXPATMAGPIE
Mar 1, 2012 at 7:55 PM
Comment #30Have not heard anything for a while about our alleged interest in Eljero Elia who moved from F.C.Twente to Juventus two years ago and still can,t get a game for them!
This fact has completely stalled his international carreer with Holland and our rumoured interest in him in January had me hoping that there was sustance in the stories being reported at the time! He is just the sort of player we could use right now! And is unhappy with the move he made from Twente!
Charlietoon
Mar 2, 2012 at 2:33 AM
Comment #31Ah he is expensive because he looks a premiership player in a championship team. For them he is worth easily ten mill as without him they would be less likely to be promoted. How much is promotion worth??? You cant complain when we sold Andy for 35mill because that’s what he was worth to us. He aint worth shite for Liverpool but thats another story. Because of where he is at and where his team is at he is going to be expensive. I think we’d be better going for Victor Moses from Wigan when they get relegated. Well get his for 5 or 6 mill and he will be a solid winger.