One of the most important positions to strengthen in the Newcastle squad is center-back, and the club has done that today.
James Vaughan – next through the door?
The club has signed Georgia 27 year old center back Zurab Khizanishvili from Blackburn Rovers on a three-month loan deal.
And now the next most important position to strengthen is that of striker.
And there is some new news today that Newcastle and Derby are chasing Everton striker James Vaughan.
Everton boss David Moyes has confirmed the Liverpool-based club are willing to loan out Vaughan, so that he can work on his fitness and get some regular first-team action under his belt for a few months.
Middlesbrough were thought to be leading the race for Vaughan, but it now appears that Championship rivals Newcastle and Derby have made their interest known, or so Sky Sports is reporting.
Newcastle could well tie up the Birmingham born 21 year-old, but we think a more experienced palyer is what we need to work alongside our own youngsters, Ranger and Carroll.
James is an England U21 International and has played for Everton 42 times with 7 goals, and made his debut at the tender young age of 16.
101 comments so far
Johno Toon
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Comment #1Yes he would be a welcome addition to the squad , we sem to have a lot strong hold up players such as carrol ranger ameobi ( when he is back fit ) so getting in someone quick ( like mclovin ) could really compliment our other strikers
Do we dare sign two players in one day 🙂
G
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Comment #2We could do with another forward. I would rather sign Vaughn than that muppet Harewood.
G
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Comment #32 players in one day Johno Toon? Sounds more like our usual injury quota than player signing quota.
repo
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Comment #4He’s injured…
G
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Comment #5Is that true repo? Sounds just like the last striker we signed from Everton. A certain drunken chappie who kept our physio company on lonely nights.
G
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Comment #6Is Vaughn the player that had that weird injury that when he snapped something in his leg it made his foot leak clarret all over the pitch? Something to do with a ruptured artery or similar! Looked like a quentin tarantino movie.
ginkoh
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Comment #7Just loan, No problem at all. We need more squad players as much as we can.
repo
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Comment #8no i mean harewood… thats injured., and people keep saying we going to sign him
Jan Stavik
Sep 17, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Comment #9So now we’r signing Blackburn rejects? Great, this has to be mint
Ericles
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Comment #10Rather Vaughan than Harewood. I think the lad has more pace too. Not a permanent signing though?
Alex
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Comment #11Trouble with Vaughan is he is injury prone . if he stays fit he is quick and skillful and would be a diffrent option to what we have up front at the moment . Personally i would prefer someone with a bit more expierence to be brought in to help Carroll and Ranger .
Johno Toon
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Comment #12Jan Stavik who would you like us to bring in?
DevonMag
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Comment #13Good question Johno, who do you think we are capable of capturing at the moment Jan Stavic?
dave 1961
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:19 PM
Comment #14the biggest question is who is bringing the players in, as Chris told us earlier today, no players were likely in the short term, so who’s picking, who to target.
Johno Toon
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Comment #15Dave is there a direct quote from Chris? As if someone is bringing in players over his head the club have really not learned their lesson have they?
nimo
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Comment #16im pretty much happy with any1 who can come in n strengthen in any way, the squad is too thin at min so even if were just getting squad players im happy 🙂
Ericles
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Comment #17We really do need an out and out winger do we not? Who? Any ideas?
Johno Toon
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:33 PM
Comment #18Ericles was only thinking the same thing , would really like lualua to be given a good run out the right wing, not sure who would be available for loan but cant lovenkrands play out left as well?
nimo
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:39 PM
Comment #19lua lua looked lost against huddersfield thou, maybe if he was given a good run he may come good but i think it may be abit too soon for him
G
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Comment #20I think zenga looks like he is about ready for the first team. If he doesn’t get a consistent run, we will never know. As for looking lost against Huddersfield, he wasn’t the only one that day was he?
Johno Toon
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Comment #21I think the main problem for lualua to get a decent run in the team is we are so top heavy with midfielders that just to accomadte everyone barton or guthrie seem to get pushed out right to keep them happy
G
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:47 PM
Comment #22Agreed Johno Toon, lets face it tho, neither Barton nor Guthrie are out and out wingers, nor will they ever be. We do need specialist wingers, but I have no idea who is available at the min. The only names being linked with us heavily at the min are forwards and defenders.
nimo
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Comment #23from what ive seen from barton since he has come back he has just looked miles off the pace and loses the ball to often by trying clever passes when the simple ball would be better. id be happy to see him dropped. jonas back on left when hes back as enrique looks better when hes there and guthers or lovens on right as guthrie is best crosser ive seen at the club for a long time
nimo
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:52 PM
Comment #24although i would like a gillespie type winger at the cub
G
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:52 PM
Comment #25I prefer Guthrie in the middle to be honest, but he is a decent crosser, and his set pieces could be a lot worse mind. He reminds me of a young Rob Lee from the middle of the park at times. If only he had Rob Lee’s shooting boots, would be nice to get 10-15 goals a season from one central midfielder.
nimo
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Comment #26given time i reckon he could well score that many. he scored two super goals in 2 games at hudds n leicester
Johno Toon
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Comment #27Im cerntainly not saying its right that barton or guthrie play out wide , i would rather them in the middle so the likes of lualua can get a chance
G
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Comment #28Good point nimo, duly noted.
Johno Toon
Sep 17, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Comment #29I can see guthrie over the next few season develop into a great player a very important one for us, really rate the lad
nimo
Sep 17, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Comment #30id like to see lua lua, vukic, donaldson and baheng (who have all looked great when ive seen them in reserves etc.) given a chance but they really need to brought in as a sub when the game is already won or comfortable
nimo
Sep 17, 2009 at 4:04 PM
Comment #31was interesting to see souness on ssn on about player power and how he felt it was happening too much at newcastle when he was there. thats the problem i think houghton will end up suffering as i dont think he has the authority that good managers have.
repo
Sep 17, 2009 at 4:06 PM
Comment #32Not fussed aslong we drop butt he’s finished.
lesh
Sep 17, 2009 at 4:07 PM
Comment #33dave 1961 // Sep 17, 2009 at 3:19 PM
the biggest question is who is bringing the players in?
Let’s not forget there’s a cheeky little chappie in the form of Wise.
He’s reputedly drawing £20k pw so he must have some function at the club – unless Ashley’s paying him to sing the right songs at the Keegan tribunal.
Johno Toon
Sep 17, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Comment #34Havent seen that just yet nimo but anytime souness is on irish when asked about newcastle he always has an axe to grind against freddie saying he was never aloud to sign his players and if he had things would of been differnt
Bigbadbob
Sep 17, 2009 at 4:18 PM
Comment #35Hughton appears to be doing what many an unsuccessful manager has done and that is play players out of position.
OK it keeps the senior pros relatively happy but Barton on the wing , Guthrie as a forward or Simpson as centre half just does not work, they need to play in their best positions or not at all.
Butt will never justify his place in front of the above named and it will be interesting to see who he plays when Jonas comes back along with Smith.
Doocey
Sep 17, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Comment #36Good signing in Zurab.
Hopefully more to come 😀
Big Dave
Sep 17, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Comment #37Bigbadbob Well said mate that is the one thing that really gets me about CH he will only drop Butt if he is injured. as for when jonas comes back it just means that one of the younger ones ie Guthrie or R Taylor will have to make way as it wont be Butt or Barton. As i said from the start CH doesnt have the steel to make big decisions he will allways take the easiest option.
Big Dave
Sep 17, 2009 at 4:38 PM
Comment #38Oh and for all the Anti Shearer brigade remember he dropped one of his mates, ie Owen and that is what we need someone with the balls to do the needfull
HarryWorth
Sep 17, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Comment #39“but we think a more experienced palyer is what we need to work alongside our own youngsters, Ranger and Carroll.”
“WE” dont think this at all.
Bigbadbob
Sep 17, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Comment #40I dont think he needs to be experienced but we can do without another crock on the books or someone who is not match fit, can they not find players champing at the bit for a game who are raring to go and with a point to prove?
Keegan signed some pearlers when he first became our manager, they are out there but of course we have no scouts any more.