The January transfer window is notorious, because it it is difficult to sign good players, simply because they are not always available half-way through the season – and of course when you do lose a top player – or even two in January – it’s difficult to replace them.
David N’Gog – Bolton striker
And we are a little alarmed that the reports are now that Newcastle are after Bolton striker and former Liverpool man David N’Gog, who has 17 caps for the France U21 side, but who we’ve never ever rated as a top class striker, and he’s never been capped by the full France side.
If Newcastle bring in N’Gog, having missed out on Loic Remy – hey – that’s a huge difference in class – a huge difference.
In 52 games for Bolton Ngog has scored only eight goals, and only four goals in 13 appearances this season, so he’s one of these strikers who gets his money by not scoring goals – very much like Emile Heskey did during his career.
They don’t score goals – but they create a lot of chances – we just don’t buy that.
This is not personal, and we’re sure David, who is still only 23, is a first class professional – but is he good enough for Newcastle?
The Magpies had gone after Lyon striker Batetimbi Gomis, but he’s not available – and so we are now after those strikers who are available in January, rather than our top targets.
If we are going to sign a player like N’Gog, who is worth £2M, and that’s not cheap for a player of his class – then wouldn’t Danny Graham be a better option?
Leon Best is a better striker than N’Gog, and it now looks a huge mistake to have let him go last summer, along with Peter Lovenkrands, who joined Birmingham City.
Alan Pardew said yesterday Newcastle would stick to their principles and not pay out silly money for anybody – but if we sign N’Gog then that shows just what a terrible loss Loic Remy was earlier in the week – there are not many top class strikers available in January – that’s the big problem – and we missed out on one in Remy.
I’d be very concerned if we replace Demba Ba with David N’Gog.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
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16 comments so far
RonVanDam
Jan 18, 2013 at 3:32 AM
Comment #1Not this guy please. Shola is better
Curl-it-like-Colo
Jan 18, 2013 at 3:33 AM
Comment #2Shola will be back for Reading game. That’s like a new signing.
RonVanDam
Jan 18, 2013 at 3:33 AM
Comment #3N’Gog = jose bosingwa without the unibrow
jeff
Jan 18, 2013 at 3:36 AM
Comment #4hmm. what about heskey himself
ginkoh
Jan 18, 2013 at 3:39 AM
Comment #5If we sign nobody, it ‘s doom. If we sign not good enough player, it’s doom. It’s hard to be ToonArmy nowadays.
nufcedmunds
Jan 18, 2013 at 3:49 AM
Comment #6I understand the club do not want to tell anyone who they want to sign to prevent another rely but there must be a better way for supports to be communicated with such as confirmation we will sign players in key positions . Otherwise it’s just chase the tail and depression as we get wrongly associated with every damn player even the below average ones. I think we will sign but I also think we have some more shocks to be announced
ganiyu
Jan 18, 2013 at 3:53 AM
Comment #7Hahahaa..nufc are doomed. I would be supporting the mackems if they survive this season and we get relegated.lol
YankToonFan
Jan 18, 2013 at 4:00 AM
Comment #8Here is my list of affordable, likely available players who could still add quality depth to the squad:
Modibo Maiga
Mohamed Diame
Haidara (we have made a bid and he said he is open to playing in England)
Harry Maguire (like him even though he is young)
Hangelaand
Maybe swap Simpson and Hangeland.
Thoughts?
AusMagpie
Jan 18, 2013 at 4:01 AM
Comment #9That’s a quick way to lose everyone’s respect, Ganiyu. Punk thing to say.
SpaceGhost
Jan 18, 2013 at 4:27 AM
Comment #10If the the great Carr says Ngog can do the job, who are we to argue? C’mon Ed. You are not helping this situation. I personally would love to have Danny Graham on our books. It’s a big change from this whole sorry Remy saga this week. One striker wants to play for money, another striker wants to play for his childhood team because he bleeds black & white. Stop moaning. I know which one I want
Jakenufc
Jan 18, 2013 at 6:35 AM
Comment #11If we get this guy im going to go mad. We show no ambiston(sp) to get class players. We need de jong, we need to persuade pierre EA by giving him morr money, we need mwibia and thomas ince! Somebody! We are going down for sure.
bri
Jan 18, 2013 at 6:46 AM
Comment #12give the kid some slack for god sake hes not a bad player!! and we have already replaced demba ba we replaced him a year before he left in pappis cisse…were now looking for a stricker with pace who can complement him in a way demba ba couldnt cisse has showed he can score goals with the rite service thats all newcastle are trying to do give hin the rite service¬!!!
Sir Braveheart
Jan 18, 2013 at 8:15 AM
Comment #13Id take him over Maiga. Maigas hardly set the premiership alight has he? And why would West Ham be willing to sell so soon after buying him?
Also, 4 goals in 13 is almost a 1 in 3 record. Id take that for a third choice striker.
Ngogs no replacement for Ba, but he would be a better choice than Shola for third choice. At least he’s quicker than Shola.
croftus5678
Jan 18, 2013 at 8:44 AM
Comment #14i think thats very unfair against ngog tbh while at puds he had a great reputation and they had high hopes for him and even though he did not break through i watched him a few times and he looked class.
can not say i kept my eye on him at bolton but he’s still only 23 and wasnt we saying we need a player who can compliment cisse…fast striker/second striker who can create opertunity’s ! sounds like a cisse partner to me.
and 4 goals in 13 i a bolton side is good if you ask me and for 2 mil ! this lad could be good fill in the short term and good squad player if not main player next year depending on how he fits in.
jon.c
Jan 18, 2013 at 12:33 PM
Comment #15Dont hold your breath chaps for new signings we have had one and that it G C must be fed up with all the work he puts in and nothing happens
LL
Jan 18, 2013 at 2:13 PM
Comment #16What is happening to our season?! Only 9 months or so ago we were finishing the season with a (slight) potential of Champs league place. We need action, not words. New players will be required for us to survive, if we stay up it’s because others are worse, not that we’ve done enough to stay up.
Suggestions:
CF, what about Arouna Kone from Wigan?
Wikipedia: “On 14 August 2012, Koné signed a three-year contract with Premier League Wigan Athletic, for a reported fee of €3.5 million”
The lad looks to have talent from what I’ve seen. He’s strong, pacey and has a vicious shot on him. Surely around £5m on Kone is better than £2m on N’Gog?
A bit of CM/AM action, what about James Morrison from West Brom? I reckon £4-5m could snare him. A bit more creativity, a North East (Boro?) lad and has an attacking side that I like. Would he leave WBA for us? ot so sure. Would WBA sell? If we bid enough. But that’s what position we find ourselves in. Why didn’t we just pay up to keep Guthrie?!
Defense with Prem League experience I’m a bit stumped.
We shouldn’t be in this position, but we are.
I feel Pardew ahs softened us up with “one or two more” YET AGAIN. No Alan, if you watched the games we do, you’d know we’re CRYING out for probably 5. Another 2 players might only just cover our losses, not add anything. NOT GOOD ENOUGH.