Graham Carr certainly can spot a good player when he sees one.
Papiss Cisse jumping for joy – after scoring at Chelsea
And Graham last week mentioned that he had been watching Papiss Cisse for quite a few years, before he recommended the former SC Freiburg striker to Newcastle last summer.
That’s after Graham had signed an eight year deal to stay on at Newcastle as the Chief Scout, which was well received by Newcastle fans.
Of course Graham has been in the scouting game now for fourteen years, and was previously with Tottenham and Manchester City, and he has a wealth of knowledge about the good players in Europe, especially in France and Germany, which are the two countries Newcastle concentrate on these days.
This is what the 67 year-old said about watching Papiss when he was at Metz:
“I remember watching Papiss Cisse when he was young – alongside Sebastian Bassong with Metz,” “He was quick, a goalscorer and I would have liked to have signed him before we did. I have been keeping an eye on him for years, like I always do with players.”
“But it was difficult for English clubs to do a deal with Metz because of passport rules. It was easier for him to go to Germany, so he did and he scored goals for fun there.”
“We looked at a deal when I was at Tottenham. I think all of the clubs over here would have been looking at him and thinking similar. I’m just happy he is at Newcastle now and showing what he can do.”
Sebastien Bassong was signed from Metz in the summer of 2008 for around £500K, after a one week trial, and he went onto to be our Player of the Season for Newcastle in their relegation year, and was sold for £8M to Tottenham in the summer of 2009.
But Bassong didn’t come along too well at Tottenham and had a hard job getting too many first team games and ended up playing a total of 71 games for Spurs with 3 goals, and would have been better off staying at Newcastle, where his career was blossoming.
And a word about Metz, who were relegated from the French second division last season, after finishing 3rd bottom of the league.
We’d love to see Graham’s dossier on who he is watching these days – it’s a pity we cannot get any information on it. 😀
But there’s no doubt that Graham Carr is a top man at Newcastle, and if Newcastle can keep bringing in two to three top players for peanuts each summer, we’ll do very well indeed – thank you very much.
And thank you to Graham, in particular.
Comments welcome.
8 comments so far
davybtoon
Jun 12, 2012 at 9:26 AM
Comment #1What do ppl think Carr does jus watch these players for a few month, no he’s been watching most of them since they were 17 he puts the work in unlike the big clubs scouts who jus recommend who ever is flavour of the month
davybtoon
Jun 12, 2012 at 9:28 AM
Comment #2Tiote, cabaye are proof the big clubs do no scouting or they would of noticed these n got them cheap like we did
Alinufc
Jun 12, 2012 at 9:30 AM
Comment #3This is why I think if anita signs he’ll be a full back, carr analyzes for years not just for one year or match…
WWYCD
Jun 12, 2012 at 9:31 AM
Comment #4Slow news day again
GeordieToon89
Jun 12, 2012 at 9:31 AM
Comment #5See were looking at Victor Wanyama from Celtic again we wanted him before he went there and we should of got him he would of been around £1million then now were talking around £5million but maybe we could broker a deal involving Forster.. Wanyama is such a beasty player and has an unreal strike on him, him and Tiote will not be beaten in the DM position, perfectly suited for the premier league
Ben Arfa (Either love him or Hatem)
Jun 12, 2012 at 9:39 AM
Comment #6@GT89 swap for Forster and Best?
jesperfuglsang
Jun 12, 2012 at 10:13 AM
Comment #7Ben Arfa
Good shout mate 🙂
I don’t buy the Anita rumors one minut; Carr might scout for many seasons, but we are going to pay also twice what we paid for Cabaye for a former LB now DM. It just ain’t gonna happen people 🙂
Not to mention if there ever was a bid from us his agent has ruined that 😀 they are just trying to steer up his value nothing more.
magpiebop
Jun 12, 2012 at 11:20 AM
Comment #8Ed it would be nice to see a full list of signings Graham Carr has recommended and been signed plus player history since he started scouting.
I wonder also if Mike Ashley after seeing Carrs success rate is considering employing a top scouting team on each continent?