One of the few things that has worked well under owner Mike Ashley in the last 18 months, so when we see news we are after more great youngsters, that’s a continuing good sign for the club.
Fabien Delph – Newcastle pursuing the 19 year old
The latest young whiz kid we seem to be after is the Leeds midfield youngster Fabian Delph and it looks like our competiution is with Fulham, Sunderland and Arsenal.
The lad turned 19 years old last month, and he has already been capped at the England Under-21 level and has been at Leeds United since he was 11 years old, having previously been at his home town club, Bradford.
The news is that Newcastle have reportedly had a recent bid rejected for the 5’9″ midfileder, but Sunderland and Arsenal are also very keen to sign him.
Leeds value Delph at an amazing £5M but Leeds United seem confident the teenager will be staying at Elland Road.
Leeds manager Grayson said:
“Fabian has a big reputation and he has worked ever so hard for me in the last two games.”
“‘I have been assured he will not be sold, and that is where we are at.”
We’ve heard all this before, and a decent bid by a big club will get the youngster, and let’s hope it’s Newcastle.
Dennis Wise has been quite successful in getting youngsters to the club, which is presumably his major responsibility at Newcastle, and his latest success was in signing the much sought after 15 year old Aaron Spear from Plymouth Argyle.
But when that happened in late August we were already embroiled in the Kevin Keegan – Newcastle board dispute.
Aaron in fact chose Newcastle over Arsenal, who were also very keen on the striker.
Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger is reported to be lining up a sizable for Delph, and Newcastle are said to have already had a decent bid rejected by Leeds chairman Ken Bates.
Delph’s performances have also prompted Stuart Pearce to give Delph his first call-up to the England under-21 squad in November 2008, coming on as a late substitute for Craig Gardner as England defeated Czech Republic.
The youngster has played over 23 times for Leeds and has 5 goals to his credit.
We hope Joe Kinnear will embrace this youth policy, because it a definite way forward for the club.
While Joe needs to strengthen in January with players who can walk straight into the first team, we still hope to see one or two great youngsters join Newcastle before February rolls around.
Comments welcome.
90 comments so far
steveyo
Dec 31, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Comment #1First
wigaz
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Comment #2is this lad any good? you tube time!
Rocky
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Comment #3wigaz- He is quite a prospect, of that there is no question. Whilst it is important that we add to the depth of the first team, we must continue bringing in quality at youth level.
Graham
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Comment #4Well done Steveyo your family must be very proud of you.
Haven’t seen much of this kid but I would prefer to get some 1st team signings in this January and maybe secure a deal for him in the sunmer if he’s still available.
Paul
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Comment #5You have no chance of siging Delph, he is satying at Leeds
Rocky
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Comment #6Paul- And you know this for certain do you?
Charlie from Belfast
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Comment #7Dennis Wise successful–thats a first–ive heard he has lost out on a lot of kids who were meant to be going up there—-if delph leaves it wont be to the first decent offer as you suggest but one so big we cant turn it down—cant see him go to a team which isnt gonna be in Europe any time soon!!!—–he may though go to a big club instead!!
Nick
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Comment #8Why can’t a 19 year old be a first teamer??????
Why are we always so against giving youngsters a go at our club. Eveywhere else younger players are thriving and our biggest plus this season has beeen Bassong and a cameo from Lua Lua.
wsq
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Comment #9ashley out!
Spyro
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Comment #10Calm down Charlie, it really isn’t our fault Leeds are s**t and will never be able to hold on to their decent players. Relax, take a deep breath.
AngerOfTheNorth
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Comment #11Can anyone confirm that we did actually sign Aaron Spear? Because there was no confirmation of it from my memory and there’s no sign of him in any of the squads on the United website.
What happened there?!
wigaz
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Comment #12Rocky he’ll be leeds fan & didn’t they say the same about milner? mmm.
keith
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Comment #13why is there suddenly an invasion of leeds fans on here?
AngerOfTheNorth
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Comment #14Yup, looks like there is Keith – they’re both on here!
Spyro
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Comment #15keith
Because they have forgotten one of the most important rules in football.
– Fans of crappy sides from below the fizzy pop league are not allowed to directly communicate with fans of premiership class.
Dont worry though mate, we will let them off this one time. I think Leeds have suffered enough, lol.
wigaz
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Comment #16Ed could you put this willie Mckay story on here please mate? Apparently he’s been sayin we’re going to sign 5 new players! I know he’s a knacka but he may be some of our targets agent? he said the 5 were.
RB= cover
CB=Main
LB=
AM= He said this would be a BIG name!?
RM= Kightly?
I just want to see exactly what he said if anyone has it? this was off 606.
Tom_Toon
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Comment #17Dont need a RM, we have Lualua, all these youngsters can stay away until Kadar and Lualua get tested in the first team.
Geordie SPIDERMAN18 (GG7)
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Comment #18one player i hope we get is kightley, he will be class in a few years,
tom-toon- i can tell you now that lua-lua is more of an am, who can play right wing
i hope we get fabian delph.
dan from france
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Comment #19http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1103395/Inter-launch-Newcastle-raid-Owen-stop-gap-No-1-target-Chelsea-striker-Drogba.html?ITO=1490
looks interesting!!
HAMMY14
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Comment #20Would love to see Fabien Dalph at the toon as we need a RB. We should seriously consider putting a bid for Glen Johnson who i think is a class act and for LB why not Wayne Bridge? what you lads think?
christo
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Comment #21So Delph has choices and is looking at your record with ex-Whites:
Dennis Wise – flop so far
Lee Bowyer – flopped no England call
Alan Smith – flop and injured ditto
Mark Viduka – flop and mostly injured
John Woodgate – mostly injured
James Milner – England potential unrealised
Hmmm what to do, what to do….
Tom_Toon
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Comment #22Lualua wont be an AM in the premiership.
terrier
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Comment #23Seen him a few times this season and he is sensational (better than Milner). Realistically he is too good to hold on to but with Arsenal, Chelsea and ManU tracking him (strong indications hes going to Manu at the end of the season in a done deal) it is unlikely he would consider relegation candidates. If he was at Sundrland, Newcastle or Fulham they would lose him to a big club.
StevieA
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Comment #24Christo – What about Gary Speed?
Hmmmmm?
keith
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Comment #25yeah seen that story earlier about ‘ 5 ‘ new signings , could be interesting but i would like lualua to get a chance and a few other youngsters such as kadar and ranger
Toon1978
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Comment #26Christo
What aout DAVID BATTY HMMMMMMMMMMMM
Turkish Magpie
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Comment #27Did LuaLua get any playing time against Lpool or Wigan?
If he did his career starts now
Toon1978
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Comment #28Bit of good news regarding Given lads.
http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1504748,00.html
HAMMY14
Dec 31, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Comment #29Why are Leeds fans on here giving us grief cus we are ‘ chasing fabien dalph ‘ ? Wait until if he does move to us then we can give you lot grief for being rubbish lol
wigaz
Dec 31, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Comment #30Batty was a legend! how we could do with a batty & a speed right now! Was readin 606 and some lad was saying he hopes the big name AM is…. dare i say it? Arshavin! remember how much Arshavin banta was going on this blog in the summer? would be class but just cant see it. Although he would give us the creativity we need without a doubt.
StevieA
Dec 31, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Comment #31http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1103395/Inter-launch-Newcastle-raid-Owen-stop-gap-No-1-target-Chelsea-striker-Drogba.html?ITO=1490
This wouldn’t be such a bad swap considering. Suazo is an excellent player in his own right and is coming into his prime, he has a lot to prove so would work hard to succeed at Newcastle.
I would consider a swap deal rather than lose Owen for nothing at the end of the season. Of course Owen might stay on but no guarantees.
StevieA
Dec 31, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Comment #32Wigaz – 2 english clubs are in for Arshavin. I think it’s Tottenham (they had negotiations with him in the summer) and possibly us or Man City. We are more likely than Man City but then again you never know with them! £20 million would be a bargain for Man City wouldn’t it?
If we could get hold of Arshavin with a tenacious and powerful defensive midfielder it would transform us overnight.
Toon1978
Dec 31, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Comment #33Wigaz
As good as Arshivan is mate I’m not so sure. He would want astronomical wages and he wouldn’t be coming to the toon for the right reasons. He very nearly joined Spurs, was linked with Chelsea and a host of other clubs down south which looks like his preferred destination. I don’t think he would settle here and would probably lose out on him like we might do with Owen. We need a young, willing, strong and skillful player that wants to play FOR THE TOON and give it his all. We have had big names in the past and it just does not work for us.
wigaz
Dec 31, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Comment #34Stevie A imagine if we got Gattuso? think he would fit that mould but i hope your right mate. I Think Arshavin and Barton would be class. I Wont hold my breath though.
KK FOREVER (Ross)
Dec 31, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Comment #35stevieA-his agent also came out yesterday and said arsenal were interested. i’d say it was city and arsenal. dog faced ‘arry has already said he wont pay over the odds for a player and arshavin will probably come with a chunky price tag like. Man city just wont care, they’ll probably offer 10-15 mil over the asking price just to make sure they get him,lol
wigaz
Dec 31, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Comment #36Toon 1978 you do have a point mate but if you turn on SSN and the yellow bar tells you we’ve signed him would you not even be a lil excited to see what he would be like in the famous black & White? Dont get me wrong I dont think this will happen but IF it did i think he could be the beardsley we so desperatley need.
StevieA
Dec 31, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Comment #37Arshavin is a brilliant talent and if he can play in Zenit then he can play anywhere! Colder there than it is here!
He would settle at Newcastle, I feel he still has a lot to prove. Wise did meet with Arshavin’s agent in the summer but Zenit didn’t want to sell (not for less than 20+ million anyway).
Gattuso would be fantastic but not the kind of player Joe has in mind I don’t think. He said a viera type several weeks ago, not sure Gattuso has the size to match that but he is a tenacious hardworking player. Could do very well for us.
It’s all pie in the sky though until something happens. I remember getting excited about Arshavin in the summer and look how that turned out! We shall see in the next week or so..
StevieA
Dec 31, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Comment #38KK forever – Arsenal won’t sign Arshavin for £20 million plus. It’s just not there style, if he was french then I could maybe see it but not Russian!
I don’t think Arsenal have that kind of money to spend on one player, they would rather spend it on 2 good players than 1 quality one.
Toon1978
Dec 31, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Comment #39Wigaz
I must admit i would be slightly impressed not because it was Arshivan because we have been starved of decent signings for the past few years. Its always nice to see that yellow scroll across the bottom of the SSN screen but it must be someone who wants to succeed at the toon,someone willing,someone willing to show some loyalty Given being the prime example. Players like that are few and far between now but if we have a good scouting system them we should be to find someone like that. As for this Leeds kid, tbh i haven’t really seen him playing but i would welcome any youngster that will strengthen us for the future.
beyethegreat
Dec 31, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Comment #40http://www.skysports.com/football/transfers/scout/0,24035,15198_4192836,00.html