7th 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 Chelsea?
Chelsea are now top dogs in the football food chain, paying out huge
fees and wages as they devour up the game's talent in pursuit of domination
both domestically and internationally, leaving their rivals fighting
for the scraps they choose to leave, ignore or cast away. And in doing
so they become rich pickings for the chasing pack - the bottom feeders.
It pains me to say this but Newcastle United are now one of these
bottom feeders and if we can't challenge them (which we certainly
can't! Who can?), we must exploit their new found wealth and success.
With every new top-class player Chelsea sign, an existing top-class
player will see his route to the first-team either blocked, challenged
or totally cut off and with such a big squad, even the most professional
of players will only twiddle their thumbs on the sidelines for so
long, happy to play the patience game. Even if they are guaranteed
winners medals. Top players want to play football first and foremost.
Already, two big money signings in Mateja Kezman (signed only 8 months
ago for £5m) and William Gallas (arguably their best alround
defender and who cost £6.9m) have both expressed their unhappiness
with things in recent weeks, putting their respective futures at the
club in serious doubt. This despite having won medals that read: League
Cup & Premier League Winner. Like I said, top players want to
play football first and foremost.
In Kezman's case the former PSV man is unhappy at being on the periphery
while French international Gallas is unhappy at being played out of
position at left-back. What price further murmurs of discontent along
these lines as the months go by?
Then there are those big money signings bought by the previous regime
of Claudio Ranieri who you feel spent Roman's money like a bairn in
a sweet shop at times, buying needless expensive crap that will rot
your teeth. Or in the likeable Italian's case - his job. Players that
could well fall under Mourinho's 'surplus to requirements' banner
no less.
Quality players like Hernan Crespo, Sebastian Veron, Adrian Mutu and
our very own Celestine Babayaro have already left the Bridge at a
loss, a considerable loss. There will be more too!
And it is these trappings of wealth and success that Newcastle could
profit from should we knock on Chelsea's door once more.
In defence the name of Robert Huth keeps cropping
up. Indeed Souness has publicly stated he likes the look of the German
tank and made enquiries in January if reports are to be believed.
He certainly fits the Scot's mould if you like. Big, strong, physically
imposing and competitive, a real presence at the back. Huth has recently
had talks with Bayern Munich which broke down and despite Mourinho's
claims that the 23 year-old is very much in his plans, with Jon Terry,
Ricardo Carvalho, Gallas and all the talk of Alessandro Nesta, Rio
Ferdinand and the like being linked, the centre-half could well move
on in the close-season.
Whether United renew their alleged interest in him remains to be seen.
Frankly I hope not because we are covered in central defence as far
as I'm concerned and I'm not fully convinced of Huth's ability.
Moving on, one player who would be a great signing and who could well
see his chances of first-team football limited if Chelsea do sign
a left-back as has been mooted and well documented (Ashley Cole and
recently Kaladze), is Wayne Bridge who while at Southampton,
was once linked with a move to Tyneside.
From what I gather Mourinho doesn't quite rate him as a left-back
either, often playing him on the flank when Damien Duff was injured
and the player himself hasn't settled in London apparently. Speaking
to a few Chelsea fans, they are of the impression that he could be
made available in the Summer too. I think Bridge could be a possibility
and we certainly need a good left-back given Babayaro's apparent lack
of interest. He fits the bill alright. Would he move to Newcastle
though, given what's around the corner in 2006 - the World Cup?
Looking at Chelsea's midfield, the name of Scott Parker
has suddenly been linked in the past few weeks as a possible target.
A player who cost £10m from Charlton just over a year ago could
be available in the Summer and with Lee Bowyer seemingly on his way,
Nicky Butt failing to impress and Jermaine Jenas still fragile both
physically and mentally, we do need to strengthen in the middle and
the tenacious, tidy Parker could be a very good signing at the right
price perhaps.
He's certainly a fine individual. A player who works hard, has a good
engine, can score goals, can pass the ball with a varied range and
is somewhat an alrounder in the same mould of a Rob Lee, although
not at his level. Tactically very intelligent too.
Should Chelsea consider offers though or the player himself seeks
a move away, we would face severe competition for his signature from
the likes of Everton, Villa, Spurs, Charlton and Liverpool if Steven
Gerrard leaves. Arsenal could enter the fray too so an auction could
develop and although he's a good player, he's not that good. I'd welcome
his signing at the right price but anything over £5m and we
could do better I feel.
Another Chelsea midfielder who I rate and who will almost certainly
depart if rumours are to be believed is Geremi, a
player who can play on the right wing, in the centre of midfield or
at right-back. He's got three attributes that would be welcome additions
to our squad - pace, power and versatility and would be reasonably
cheap too despite having cost the Blues just over £7m. I'd personally
sign him for a right-back role which was his original position at
Real Madrid and a role he has played at the Bridge on numerous occasions.
He's also technically very good and rarely wastes a pass although
he does tend to play at a relaxed pace and does seem uninterested
at times which would be a concern.
Nonetheless I think he could be a realistic possibility and would
be a good signing in my opinion. I'd be happy with his signature.
Up front is where Chelsea's have problems and where they will strengthen
heavily in the Summer no doubt to rectify this which could see those
on the fringes or not guaranteed a regular place come up fro grabs.
Kezman as touched on above looks to be on his way
out and has been mentioned on various message boards as a possible
target but I haven't been impressed. You could argue he hasn't really
been given a chance which is true and we more than most know that
some players need a long time to settle, but for me, he'd be too big
a gamble. We need players, especially up front, who can do the business
immediately. Strikers that we can rely on to score goals.
Another one of Chelsea's forwards who could be forced out is Eidur
Gudjohnsen despite being one of their better players. Now
no longer guaranteed a place in the first-team and even when he does
feature, it's often in a midfield or deeper role. How long will the
Icelandic playmaker put up with playing second fiddle given his ability
and stock in the game?
Gudjohnsen would be a great signing for a club lacking a creative
spark such as ours. He's adept at linking up the midfield with the
attack and his use of the ball is superb. Another who is technically
and tactically astute. He too rarely wastes a ball and is good in
the air and worth at least 10-15 goals a season. Exactly what we need.
However he's now out of our league. If not in price range, then certainly
in appeal. He could walk into most sides and having just won the Premiership,
if he was ever to leave Chelsea to seek first-team football week in
week out, there would be many suitors who can offer him that and things
that we can't - Champions League football and the lure of more silverware.
Two seasons ago perhaps but not now. The same applies to Gallas.
Just think, back then we were given encouraging signs by both player
and club when enquiring about the current PFA Player of the year Jon
Terry. Since then Chelsea who finished below us in 4th place that
season, are now in a completely different league to Newcastle...
Next up, a look at who is available, who could be available and who
we could potentially attract from Crystal Palace.
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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