The Independent has listed the winners and losers in the January transfer window which closed last night at 11:00 pm.
Newcastle awoke from their slumbers in the last few days of the window to buy Miguel Almiron for £20.5M – who was Rafa’s number one target last month.
We also finally brought in a decent left-back who will challenge Paul Dummett for the starting position.
Antonio Barreca looks the part and the 23-year-old Italian U21 International can be signed in the summer – there’s an option to buy clause in his contract.
We missed out yesterday on 29-year-old holding midfielder Andreas Samaris of Benfica and 24-year-old Nantes left-winger Anthony Limbombe, but Jacob Murphy was still allowed to join West Brom on loan.
Rafa Benitez – got two good players through the door
Getting Limbombe in would have been good but there were reported to be complications with his agent Mogi Bayat,
This what the Independent has written about Rafa:
Another man that is likely very thankful right now is the Newcastle manager, who finally had some money to play with and play with it he did.
His ultimatums, threatening to quit if he did not have two or three players, were heeded.
Deadline day came bearing gifts for both Benitez and the Newcastle fans with not one but two signings.
With this happening, Newcastle finally broke their long-standing transfer record – 14 years to be exact – for playmaker Miguel Almiron from Atlanta United.
Monaco left-back Antonio Barreca also joined on loan to cap a good window for the Toon.
Rafa’s press conference today for the tough game at Wembley against Tottenham tomorrow afternoon should be interesting.
We don’t know if this is enough to persuade Rafa to sign a new deal and stay at Newcastle with Mike Ashley still the owner.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
9 comments so far
Shoulders knees
Feb 1, 2019 at 6:21 AM
Comment #1I don’t think we did well.
cyprus
Feb 1, 2019 at 6:35 AM
Comment #2Breaking your long standing transfer record, in January, makes this an excellent window. No ifs and buts. In an ideal world we would’ve brought in a CF, an Aguero, but this ain’t an ideal world.
I hope this new guy can have the same impact here as he’s had in the MLS. And I hope he can get people off their seats, hba-like. This club needs at least one player like that.
Was interesting to see fans’ starting 11. Becoming harder these days. I’d challenge people to guess must-starters.
For me, must-starters: Dubious, Schar, Yedlin, Ritchie, Almiron, Rondon.
Maybe Perez too, though he’s impressed as an impact sub. Give him the second halves.
I don’t think we now need an overhaul. In the summer, sell some players with good value who haven’t quite worked out (e.g. Murphy, Shelvey), replace, and find a young Bellamy.
Optimistic Panda
Feb 1, 2019 at 6:41 AM
Comment #3I’m happy signing a player with the potential Almiron shows but I wouldn’t call this a excellent window, slightly more than the bare minimum.
We’ve strengthened but should have had players in their positions in the last summer window, we’re filling gaps that shouldn’t have been in the squad.
The loan is a puzzler
R.I.P Magpie
Feb 1, 2019 at 6:41 AM
Comment #4Well, we have needed a number ten and left back for years so it’s good we finally got them.
I have a feeling this may relax Kenedy a little having another South American in the team.
Both have some serious pace so it may become a partnership that heeds great results, fingers crossed.
For me our best signing happened Dec 3rd when Sean signed a four year deal.
Markaccus
Feb 1, 2019 at 6:46 AM
Comment #5Schar, Lascelles, Fernandez, Clark, Lejuene and Dummet are all players who can play in the back 3, and none of them could be classed a liability. Selling one of these players in summer to fund an attacking transfer would make sense imo. I’d even say Lascelles would be the best option, he isn’t the worst out if them, but niether is he the best, and should get a decent price
The next Mike Williamson
Feb 1, 2019 at 6:55 AM
Comment #6Head Shoulders,
I think we improved more than our rivals which is the main thing. Our only competitor that has done better is Palace. They’ve got some great players. They just need to sack Hodgson and they’ll be well clear.
The next Mike Williamson
Feb 1, 2019 at 7:01 AM
Comment #7Cyprus,
Don’t rule Shelvey out yet. He was fantastic last season and has only made 8 starts this year (I think) which were in that terrible run we had against the big teams. Add to that he was playing with an injury and he only had Joselu (the least mobile striker in England according to Cascarino) to pick out with his passes. Even if none of the above was true, players lose form it’s to be expected.
Shoulders knees
Feb 1, 2019 at 7:18 AM
Comment #8TNMW
We are better for having a no 10
Letting fringe players go may come back to bite us, very bare uptop only need an injury and?
Magpiedownunder
Feb 1, 2019 at 8:57 AM
Comment #9I’m guessing due to the constraints of Ashley grudgingly having to spend something (or risk looking like even more of a toss pot to the masses) one flair player for £20m and one left back on loan is half decent business. Ideally would have liked Batshuayi or even Austin on loan.
The fact he’s let Lazaar and Aarons go is irrelevant as they wouldn’t have got a game, and Murphy will be surplus to requirements now that Ritchie, Kenedy or Atsu can play left wing, being that Berecca is a more solid left back if started ahead of a Dummett.
If Rafa goes to a 4-4-2 or similar then I can see Schar being used as a holding midfielder in the absence of Diame, whilst Ki and Shelvey due back soon, as is Muto from international duty. Add in Almiron as a no 10 and all of a sudden the team looks completely different. A few half decent options from the bench too.
This would be my team:
—————————-Dubravka————————
Yedlin — Lascelles — Fernandez/Dummett— Berecca
—————————-Schar———————————-
———Shelvey— Longstaff — Ritchie
————Almiron————————-
————————-Rondon
Sorry Joselu, no space on my bench either! Shame you didn’t go to China this window.