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Buying
From Our Premiership Rivals - Birmingham City |
2nd May 2005
Index:
Arsenal
Aston
Villa
Birmingham City
Blackburn
Rovers
Bolton
Wanderers
Charlton
Athletic
Chelsea
Crystal
Palace
Everton
Fulham
Liverpool
Manchester
City
Manchester
United
Middlesbrough
Norwich City
Portsmouth
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Bromwich Albion
Europe
Conclusion?
So Graeme Souness wants to bring in players who have Premiership experience
or who can perform in the League, then? Well lets take a look at our
Premiership rivals and see who is available, who could be available
and who we could potentially attract.
Buying from Birmingham City?
Having spent a net total of £15.05m in the two seasons in which
they have been in the Premiership, Steve Bruce could well find himself
having to trim that ever growing wage bill at Birmingham in the Summer.
Especially if he wants to bring in a better class of player who will
subsequently command a better class of salary.
One player that the Midlands side could make a handsome profit on
is centre-half Matthew Upson. A player Sir Bobby
Robson tried to buy in January 2003 to partner Jonathan Woodgate but
the club weren't prepared to shell out a double outlay on transfers
and wages, not after spending £6m to bring in Titus Bramble
just a few months previous anyway. So the tall and pacey defender
went to Birmingham for a cut price bargain £1m instead.
Since then he has become the rock in the Blues' defence and gone on
to earn England recognition. Not that representing the Three Lions
these days is any kind of class indicator, not the way Sven dishes
out caps. With bags of pace, assurance on the ball and a good understanding
of the game however, Upson is a very good defender. One who on his
day is good enough to be considered an international class player
it could be argued.
With glaring defensive holes needing shored up back in January of
this year, Newcastle were once again predictably linked with his signature.
Whether there was any legs in the rumour or not, we'll never know
but at that time, many were claiming that he was exactly what we were
looking for and I dare say many a Toon fan would have been happy with
Upson at the back. Indeed many would be happy if we signed him in
the Summer no doubt.
But having bought Jean-Alain Boumsong, witnessed the rapid emergence
of young defensive duo Steven Taylor and Peter Ramage (a centre-half
by trade) while still being able to call on Titus Bramble who has
improved alongside Boumsong, Andy O'Brien and Robbie Elliott who can
play in the heart of defence too, do we really need another central
defender? Especially considering the number of positions that need
strengthened, namely in midfield and up front.
Which takes me onto Walter Pandiani, technically
a Blues player having signed on loan until the end of the season from
Spanish Primera Liga side Deportivo La Caruna. Newcastle of course
were linked with 'El Rifle' as he is known as prior to the Uruguayan
arriving at St. Andrews and he seems to have all the attributes needed
to lead the line; big, strong and technically very good. In 11 appearances
this season for the Blues however he has scored 3 goals which doesn't
indicate he's a prolific striker, although he does have an impressive
record in Spain.
I haven't seen an awful lot of Pandiani since his move to the Midlands
to assess whether he'll be a smash but a Birmingham City fan informs
me that he is "ready made for the Premiership" and will
be a "big hit" once he fully settles down. Bruce has already
confirmed he will be trying to keep the hit-man and the player himself
seems to be interested in making his move permanent.
He's a talented centre-forward no doubt and is valued at £3m
by Deportivo, but for me, there remains certain doubts about his character
having fallen out with Javier Irureta a few times, whether he can
make it in the Premiership and most important of all, whether he could
score goals on a regular basis in the Premiership. On top of that
he would demand first-team football. At that price, we could do better
in my opinion. Worth considering though, if all else fails.
One player from Birmingham who I would be happy with is Emile
Heskey who is far better than some of the names that have
been linked. You don't need to rub your eyes, that's not a typo! I
rate the former Liverpool man. I'm probably in a minority I know but
he'd be a very good addition to our squad I feel. Big, strong, can
hold the ball up, works tirelessly for his team and is powerfully
quick. Great attributes for a centre-forward. Alongside a goalscorer
he'd be a good foil for the midfield. Being the Blues' record signing,
content being a first-team regular and highly rated by Bruce, I couldn't
see them parting with him or the player wanting to leave and I certainly
couldn't see Freddy Shepherd handing over funds for him. There would
be riots if Newcastle tried to buy Emile Heskey the donkey!
Next up, a look at who is available, who could be available and who
we could potentially attract from Souness' former charges
Blackburn Rovers.
Write In... Who would you like Newcastle to sign
in the Summer? Write in with your suggestions, reasons for your choices
and what these players would bring to the squad and we will publish
your thoughts on these very pages. Send in your suggestions using
the below e-mail form:
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