Newcastle United have signed 27 year-old defender Zurab Khizanishvili from Blackburn Rovers on a three-month loan deal.
Zurab Khizanishvili – looks a great loan signing – welcome aboard!
The Georgian defender, 27, had been a first-choice under former boss Mark Hughes but has found it hard to get a game under current Blackburn and former Newcastle manager, Sam Allardyce.
Newcastle caretaker boss Chris Hughton told the Newcastle club’s website early this afternoon:
“Zurab is an experienced defender and we’re pleased to have him on board.
“He knows English football very well and will be a welcome addition.”
The Georgia international can play at full-back or centre-half, and has 62 caps for his country with one goal.
We lay claim to what looks like a decent singing because we reported this morning that Newcastle were no where near a signing – looks like we were wrong again. 😀
Tha fact that Zurab can play at full back as well as center-back means he will be immediately challenging for a first team spot, and that’s exactly what we want to see form our loan players.
From an initial look, this looks a like coup for Hughton and Newcastle United as he looks a very strong defender and good in the air.
Player Profile:
Zurab Khizanishvili was born in October in 1981 in Tbilisi, in the old Soviet Union (now Georgia), and has previously played for Dundee, Rangers and has been at Blackburn since 2006, and ha splayed over 70 times for the Lancashire club.
He started his career with local teams having played from 1998 until 2001 for various clubs – Dinamo Tbilisi, FC Tbilisi and Lokomotiv Tbilisi before moving to Dundee in 2001.
He is the son of former USSR international defender Nodar Khizanishvili, and stands a good 6’2″ in height.
He has played in 198 first class club games, in addition to the 62 games he has already played for Georgia. He made his debut for Georgia in 1999.
He scored his only goal against Moldova on 6 June 2009, and is married to famous Georgian model Salome Gviniashvili, and they have 3 young children.
Here’s the players’ profile on the Blackburn Rovers web-site. It’s interesting he is listed there at 6’0″ tall.
40 comments so far
DevonMag
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:35 PM
Comment #1You’re welcome for the link Ed! 😉
lacedaemonian
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:35 PM
Comment #2Left full back? 14 months later……..
RyanToon
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:38 PM
Comment #3Zurab is kaka i think
Isaac Hunt
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Comment #4Check out the link
simon376@work
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Comment #5Don’t know anythink about the lad, but at least it’s another body for our squad.
Changing the subject, has anybody seen Striker in the Sun today? Always thought it was based on Newcastle in some way, today the owner has put a deal together to buy Newcastle and install their new manager, don’t know if I should laugh or cry really when we are the subject of a paper cartoon strip
DevonMag
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Comment #6Reassuring that he was a regular under sparky though, think he had Blackburn playing their best football since the shearer era
lacedaemonian
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Comment #7What is the link?
lacedaemonian
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Comment #8The Sun newspaper is the dirge of all northern fans.
DevonMag
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Comment #9posted this on a previous thread, dont reply if you’re not interested,
Lads it’s not nufc but who do you think would be more important in a fantasy league team, gerrard or rooney? Gerrards currently got 33 points overall Rooney’s currently got 38, it’s a decision that’s been buggin me for a while! (it’s not a decision based on who’s better!)
I’ve currently got Gerrard
punk skunk...
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Comment #10Aye,
we’ll have him…Ta!..
Isaac Hunt
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Comment #11Watch Kets gannin micey here!
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2009/09/17/focus-on-georgian-ace-temuri-ketsbaia-72703-24715766/
lacedaemonian
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Comment #12I replied on the other blog post. I wouldnt have Rooney as he wont score enough in the league.
DevonMag
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Comment #13Sparta man in reply to your comment on the previous thread, I’ve got both of em, but could swap Gerrard for Roondawg to bolster my attack…
lesh
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Comment #14Which side back is he? Do we now have cover for Enrique?
Toon_Army
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Comment #15It’s another body, I doublt he will remove any of the current back four and personally I would have preffered we bought in a first team striker but beggers can’t be choosers I guess…
Not Extatic I am afraid…
glenworth
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:46 PM
Comment #16keep gerrard… he’ll assist alot more as he takes corners, freekicks ect.
DevonMag
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:46 PM
Comment #17Rooney’s united’s main man now in the absence of Tevez and Ronaldo, is scoring regularly and takes all their penalties. He’s got 5 in 5 so far
DevonMag
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Comment #18Well I’ve got Bent and Van Persie up front and it would mean replacing Bent with Rooney and Gerrard with Lennon, or keeping things the same…hmm
Ericles
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Comment #19Is he back-up or replacement for Coloccini? I have heard this player is a handy lad to have in the back four. Perhaps he will take on the Janners of the Green Army?
punk skunk...
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Comment #20‘Micey’, there’s that word again…Love it…Micey!.. 🙂
DevonMag
Sep 17, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Comment #21Reckon he’ll be back up for Colo and simpson/enrique. On the subject of Enrique btw, after watching his performances in the last few games I think he’s our most consistent/quality player. So glad we didn’t loose him as well
DON_786
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:05 PM
Comment #22Great capture….we need all the help we can get at the back 🙂
Macas35
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:09 PM
Comment #23If Allardyce dropped him then he must be a good player
Johno Toon
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:09 PM
Comment #24Good to get a player in and hoepfully he can addsome competition for the back 4 , now just need a striker or two to really boost the squad
DevonMag
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Comment #25Macas cant quite make out the intent of your statement there, you’re either saying he’s so unbelievably pap that even allardyce dropped him, or allardyce is such a crap manager that players he discludes from his squad are probably quite good.
If it’s the former then remember he was a regular under Mark Hughes
lacedaemonian
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Comment #26Sack Fat Sam!!
DON_786
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Comment #27lacedaemonian – sack you mum
DON_786
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Comment #28lacedaemonian – you disgust me…if i ever see you on this site again i will hunt you down u immature loser
MacToon
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Comment #29Sounds like a good experienced player to have for our back 4 and no news papers had any idea and he’s an international player too, could be a good loan deal and maybe a chance to buy.
Macas35
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Comment #30DevonMag – It was the latter! Seriously though he seems to be a half decent player and will be good backup, rather than some inexperienced kid.
Ericles
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Comment #31Macas35 – you are probably right about Fat Sam. It may mean this new CB knows how to pass a ball lower than a moon shot!
repo
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Comment #32rather have that dutch defender that was linked who had a barny with paul sturrock got a m8 who a plymouth fan and he said he’s not the fastest but got amazing awareness and positioning sence and very good in the air..
and it would be a really good partnership with taylor and his club wants him out..
he was dropped last week and they got hammered…
Davey Falcus
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Comment #33It’s quite upsetting thinking that we now have to settle for Fat Sam’s winnets. Feel like he’s laughing at us..
Having said that this lad looks like he may be a decent signing, only time will tell.
Now to get a half decent striker in, hopefully a pacey dude who can beat defenders..
TheToonKing
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:50 PM
Comment #34This is a very good signing ….really unexpected…. Khizanishvili is a good solid player…nothing spectacular but really solid.
He’s also very usefull….he’s kinda like Ryan Taylor except much stronger and looks more confident on the ball.
He’s primary position is Right back….but he can play anywhere across the back 4 and can alos play in the midfield.
I reckon he might replace Simpson on the right side…he has much more experience …but Simspon has a good run in the team now….we’ll see.
Anyways great loan thats for sure.
lesh
Sep 17, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Comment #35Info time…… Lacedaemonians inhabited Sparta.
What a coincidence eh? Lacedaemonian and Sparta on the same blog!!
Wonder what’ll turn up next.
DJG
Sep 17, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Comment #36Experienced cover but wont displace Taylor or Coloccini.
toon4life97
Sep 17, 2009 at 5:07 PM
Comment #37why a defender please GET A STIKER !!!!
chuck
Sep 17, 2009 at 7:54 PM
Comment #38Played well with Dundee, attracted interest from Rangers where he had a decent run, culminating with an interest from the PL, ending up playing for Mark Hughes at Blackburn.
He played regularly there until Fat Sam took over, believe he will be a good acquisition, very experienced, tall, strong in the air, can be physical, should be a keeper can play for another couple of seasons.
Nick D
Sep 17, 2009 at 9:58 PM
Comment #39Should have kept edgar. This guy is no better than what we have and he can’t get a gig at Blackburn – says it all.
NewcastleMole
Sep 18, 2009 at 12:15 AM
Comment #40Decent Player will do a job for us as our defence is very thin.
We do “Need” a goalscorer or two (Not Harewood, King, or Kamara)