The news we have heard about Mark Davies joining Newcastle is a little surprsing to us.
Mark Davies – Bolton midfielder
So surprising that we decided to take a poll of what our readers felt about Newcastle paying out £3.5M for the Boltom central midfielder, and here’s the latest on that poll.
If you haven’t yet voted the poll is still open.
Bolton don’t want to lose 24 year-old Mark in the summer, and there’s some new news on this today in GOAL, and a statement from a supposed source at Newcastle:
“They have had their eye on him for some time now and so if all goes well then Mark will be a Newcastle player this summer.” “They are talking about £3m for a player who did well for Bolton even though they went down.”
“He is a bright, skillful and hard-working player who would fit nicely into Pardew’s team but it would be made clear to him that he would have to get past Cabaye and Tiote to get into the first team.”
Notice the title of this article is taken from what this source above said – not what I necessarily think about Mark.
Danny Guthrie will definitely be leaving Newcastle this summer, when his four year deal on Tyneside ends, and it seems that Mark is the one to come in and act as back-up to Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye.
That’s something Guthrie was not willing to do, and Danny is leaving to play first team football elsewhere, maybe at Aston Villa or Fulham, which are just two clubs reportedly interested in signing the midfielder.
We suppose Mark Davies could be signed as a squad player, but we still think Newcastle can get better value for £3M or £3.5M elsewhere.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
46 comments so far
alec6247toon
May 22, 2012 at 9:27 AM
Comment #1We can definitely get better value from elsewhere, but someone at the club must see something in him. I don’t think that he is a bad player, but is he top 6 standard?
yorkshireToon
May 22, 2012 at 9:28 AM
Comment #2Anyone know if that account of debuchys is real or not? He’s posted pictures which seem like it must be him, but he hasn’t got a blue tick and not that many followers..
alec6247toon
May 22, 2012 at 9:34 AM
Comment #3Not sure it is his, but the dreamboat’s twitter doesn’t have the blue tick on it either
nufc_eire
May 22, 2012 at 9:36 AM
Comment #4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDoqVUqzZ3w
He looks like a quicker version of Guthrie.
Graeme
May 22, 2012 at 9:39 AM
Comment #5If it happens, then it happens. If it doesn’t, I wont lose any sleep over it either.
Sinner
May 22, 2012 at 9:39 AM
Comment #6he would definitely fit in out 4-3-3 formation system.
Beardo
May 22, 2012 at 9:39 AM
Comment #7Blue tick means bugger all.
As for Davies, I’d rather just keep Guthrie, who in my book is better and use the 3m elsewhere. Really wouldn’t be a progressive signing.
wynsleap
May 22, 2012 at 9:41 AM
Comment #8Considering the price we paid for Tiote, I don’t think it’s a good deal at all.
Never really impressed me much playing for Bolton.
lewytoon
May 22, 2012 at 9:43 AM
Comment #9http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/4063/exclusive/2012/05/22/3118935/newcastle-poised-to-make-3m-bid-for-bolton-midfielder-mark
it doesnt seem like a good story. for a start they spell tiotes name wrong and said amafilato id a fullback and not a midfielder
pieceofpapiss
May 22, 2012 at 9:43 AM
Comment #10I know he’s been injured pretty much all season but if we are going to sign anyone from Bolton i would take Stu Holden. Quick, great final ball and a good free kick too. And hes still 21 or 22.
Shot Bru
May 22, 2012 at 9:44 AM
Comment #11Gee there’s a lot of negativity over Davies….much better than the one paced predictable Guthrie
It speaks volumes that Pardew is letting Guthrie go for free.
Starnufc
May 22, 2012 at 9:45 AM
Comment #12i agree i would rather have holden!! but hey we need some depth so i wont be mad with any young center mid to compete!!
Tsunki
May 22, 2012 at 9:45 AM
Comment #13Is this just a spare tyre for guthrie? Meh. He will move because he will prefer cup run outings to slugging it out in the champs. I wouldn’t be confident either about bolton springing back up.
croftus5678
May 22, 2012 at 9:46 AM
Comment #14think your looking at this the wrong way dont look at the team he’s in look at the way he plays his passing / tackling / vision then compare him directly to guthrie its not just 1st teamers we are trying to sign for next season but a higher quality of squad players as we have seen with guthrie anyone with half decent talent will find it hard to sit on the bench and fill in (unless your mr owen) 🙂
Beardo
May 22, 2012 at 9:49 AM
Comment #15Shot Bru
Or maybe, just maybe, Guthrie wants to leave for first-team football, because he feels a little bit of indignation for being replaced in the team, each time an ‘automatic starter’ came back, despite playing better than them for patches in the season?
markmac
May 22, 2012 at 9:49 AM
Comment #16I keep seeing people saying we may get better value elsewhere, which we may, but maybe NOT with the premier league experience Mark already has, and if he is willing to be a squad player then maybe he can ‘do a job’ for us! ??
Beardo
May 22, 2012 at 9:51 AM
Comment #17If I had to compare Davies to anyone in that vid, he looks like what the underwhelming Gosling is supposed to be.
croftus5678
May 22, 2012 at 9:51 AM
Comment #18could be a logshot aswell but do we not think danny gosling if given the chance could be an ideal replacement he seems to have everything guthrie has but more pace and with a little confidence and motivation it could be his chance to shine
jesperfuglsang
May 22, 2012 at 9:52 AM
Comment #19Can’t see it happen.
A supposed statement for a Newcastle source; only MA, DL or AP will have these informations, so what a media spin this is….
Bollocks 🙂
croftus5678
May 22, 2012 at 9:53 AM
Comment #20read my mind beardo 🙂
Shot Bru
May 22, 2012 at 9:54 AM
Comment #21Beardo…or because he isn’t really good enough…
Has Guthrie progressed at all in his 4 years with us?
Beardo
May 22, 2012 at 9:58 AM
Comment #22Yes, he has. Many a fan were saying he looked Cabaye-esque in patches last season, you could hardly tell them apart sometimes. It’s clearly Guthrie choosing to leave and not the other way around.
IPToon
May 22, 2012 at 10:01 AM
Comment #23How anyone can complain about him signing as a backup i dont know.
We have Tiote and Cabaye in the middle and they will be the first choice partnership. No quality player is going to come to us knowing they are going to be on the bench behind these two, we are not real madrid or barcelona where good players put up with being on the bench. We are in a position where we can get quality players in the starting 11 but none will be happy on the bench so we have to get players like Mark Davies who are VERY GOOD players, English as well which is something i fear we will lack and have a point to prove to get in the team and not kick up a fuss about being on the bench. He is a very good squad player.
LocalZero
May 22, 2012 at 10:02 AM
Comment #24I’d be more than happy for Davies to come in as a replacement for Guthrie. I thought Guthrie was too much of an all-rounder – not creative enough to replace Cabaye and not battling enough to take Tiote’s place. Davies is much more like serious competition for Cabaye so I’d say it’s a step forwards. Guthrie has to be replaced and just because we’ve had great bargains doesn’t mean they all have to be (it’s not realistic).
I’ve said previously I’ll be happy with a good CB, RB (or LB) and for anyone who leaves to be well replaced. I don’t really want the club to shell out fortunes, I’d rather we kept a tight ship financially. This could be great business. Davies could be as good as Scholes one day…maybe…
Shot Bru
May 22, 2012 at 10:02 AM
Comment #25Give yourself a shake Beardo….Cabaye-esque!
Cabaye is a consistent top quality international player unlike Guthrie.
Beardo
May 22, 2012 at 10:08 AM
Comment #26Shot Bru
Go and read the droves and droves of comments that said such things, it’s there in black and white.
And Cabaye was anything but consistent this year, unless you mean the small bit in the middle (about 2 months) where he was consistently missing and trailing behind play and having zero effect going forward. I might add he did have a good first season overall, especially near the end playing in a 4-3-3.
Try removing your tongue and you may see the whole picture instead of spouting platitudes.
bills-son
May 22, 2012 at 10:27 AM
Comment #27Beardo @ 26 is right,. Cabaye was over hyped by fans for much of last season. He definitely looked good in a 433 playing further forward but all too often is a 442 – especially away from home – he wasn’t in the game for long periods.
Cabaye is a very good player but he definitely needs competition whether its Davies or someone else. We also need DM cover for Tiote and a player who is a battler and creative would be ideal to cover him and Cabaye.
jesperfuglsang
May 22, 2012 at 10:34 AM
Comment #28bills-son
That is just one of the reasons we should stay clear of 4-4-2 a much as possible!
toonydoonunder
May 22, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Comment #29whats wrong with getting in a proven premiership player for 3m the kids a canny player. I would rather have him over an untried foreigner any day .
STtoon
May 22, 2012 at 11:04 AM
Comment #30i vote yes,hes young and good player…not a lot costly
Rotonda heights
May 22, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Comment #31However his attempts to sign the attacking midfielder look doomed after Trotters boss Owen Coyle said none of his star players are leaving despite relegation to the Championship
geordie157
May 22, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Comment #32If its 3mill then its a good deal, 3mill for good player who’s English, can create a chance for himself or for others, does track back (most of the time), offers more goal threat than Guthrie. Only downside is, would this mean no Corgnet as they both prefer Attack Mid role.
If we can supplement the key signings, ie Debuchy, Mbiwa, Douglas and hopefully Hoillet. With the likes of Clyne, Davies, Matt Phillips & Rodriguez the squad will look a lot more competitive.
Munster Mag
May 22, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Comment #33I still think Pards will play 4-4-2 a lot next season. If he wants ba to stay, he may not have a choice, and provided the winders are both creative and hard working, it still allows Ba to play centrally, although deeper at times. If Ben Arfa had been fitter, stronger, and more willing to do the defensive side, the 4-3- 3 may not have happened. I dont think we should abandon Ba quickly – next season he could be re-movitated, and him and Cisse will be a real handful in the same team. Cisse up front alone may put too much of a strain on him too.
Rotonda heights
May 22, 2012 at 1:18 PM
Comment #34munster
if we go back to 442, you immediately take cabaye and ben arfa out of the game. We won 6 on the bounce playing 433.
Don’t sell ba, just rotate him with cisse = strong goal scorer on the bench for the many games we have next season
Owldman
May 22, 2012 at 1:21 PM
Comment #35We want this player we want that player we should sign Pieters Debuchy Davies Hoilet Rhodes & uncle Tom Coddly & all Who we finaly sign might justbe a big let down for everyone so lets all just be patient & wait see who actualy get!
Robby Bobson
May 22, 2012 at 1:56 PM
Comment #36Hes a veyr hard worker and can actually play decent football with short passes and quick feet.
He doesnt have the passing range of Guthrie though.
Wouldnt mind himk.
Roz9
May 22, 2012 at 2:36 PM
Comment #37i don’t see why not. only 3 mil and don’t forget we’re letting go of a lot of english players and it’s important to have them at the club, maybe we could get a slightly better player for 3.5 mil but davies has PL experience and played really well in a disappointing Bolton side
lukes26
May 22, 2012 at 3:15 PM
Comment #38Any time that I’ve watched Bolton play this season, Mark Davis stands out as their best player. Very intelligent with & without the ball. Quicker and more agile than Guthrie, but doesnt have the same range of passing.
I doubt Carr & Pardew would go after him if the didnt feel he was a better defender than Guthrie. Guthrie was horrible defensively.
Robson Wonderland
May 22, 2012 at 3:31 PM
Comment #39A team’s fans always know their players best and Bolton fans love the guy. He has great feet, a good football brain and would be a welcome addition to the squad. £3m sounds about right so can’t see why anyone would object to this signing. Presumably those who do want us to go back to the not so good old days of buying big names as opposed to good footballers?
gonufc (up and Hatem)
May 22, 2012 at 4:30 PM
Comment #40Am I the only one who rates him? Really impressed me this season. Great close control at pace only thing I’m not sure about is how good his passing is.
Definitely seems like a Guthrie replacement/ upgrade.