Newcastle-Online comment: 7th June 2004
The season has finished, I'm bored, news is slow, I don't have Championship
Manager and my mind is preoccupied with the transfer rumour madness
that has already seen us linked with a zillion players. Plus I have
a pen (keyboard) and a very active imagination and for some reason
I actually believe Newcastle will buy the very players that I believe
will transform our team and therefore our prospects for next season...providing
Bobby plays them in their right positions, they don't get arrested,
injured, booed at from the crowd etc. etc.
Drum roll please...here goes, my Summer transfer wish list;
Sell:
Kieron
Dyer - £6-8m max.
Dyer is nearly 26 now and is fast becoming a liability. He is injured
most of the time and when he does play he has the end product of a
concentration workshop chaired by Titus Bramble. Basically in the
5 plus years that he has been at the Toon he's done nowt and it's
time to sling shot his wasted arse out of Newcastle before he deteriorates
into a black Bobby Thompson. There would be plenty of takers because
he does have talent and perhaps in another team he would fulfil it
but Newcastle is more my concern and selling him would not only get
rid of a bad apple but generate funds to strengthen too. I would love
to be the hammer that he could be placed under. Sell him.
Buy:
Mario Melchiot
- free transfer, position; right-back.
With Griffin gone we need to strengthen the right back position and
although he has been heavily linked I don't think Danny Mills is the
answer. Not that I don't rate him because I do, though he's not exactly
that much better than Hughes, but another ex-Leeds player on the books
scares me more than Martin Keown's face and the last thing we need
is a player with an attitude problem. Most of our lot have problems
off the field, Danny boy has his on the field. No thanks. I would
like to see Mario Melchiot at the Toon. He's athletic and is comfortable
on the ball. He's a solid right back and a touch more classier than
Hughes. He knows how to defend and how to attack. he's not the world's
best but he's better than nowt and that's how much he'd cost - according
to reports anyway. He's been schooled in the Ajax total football philosophy
and although he's no Cruyff he would be an excellent signing I feel.
Now that Mourinho is in charge of Chelsea I'm sure if Bob enquired
he would get a foot in the door.
Plan B: Danny Mills (sigh)
Paul Konchesky -
£2m max, position; left-back.
OK he is no Roberto Carlos and no he wouldn't get into our first-team
on a regular basis because Bernard is simply miles better than him,
but I'd much prefer Koncheski at left back than Elliott or Hughes
if Bernard happened to be injured or suspended. Konchesky has a good
left foot, a bit of pace and will work his socks off for the team.
He would be to the left back position what Hughes has been to the
right back slot - a solid, dependable player who will do a job. In
a better team with the right guidance he could become a useful player
and I'm sure, if he had any ambition, he'd jump at the chance to play
for Newcastle even if the guarantee of first-team football isn't there.
Plan B: Matt Taylor of Portsmouth
Steed Malbranque
- £8m max, position; right-wing, central, left-wing, just off the
centre-forward.
Malbranque is an exceptional little player who would fill a void that
has been missing since Peter Beardsley left - that little twinkle
toed creative player that links up the midfield and attack. He's quick,
two footed, very very skilful, scores goals, sets them up, works like
a dog and can play in a number of positions. He would set St. James'
Park alight and would be a huge crowd favourite. Would Fulham sell?
With Craven Cottage being redeveloped and no European football a sizeable
offer would tempt them. Would he join the Toon - why not? Man Utd
don't need him, Arsenal don't and Chelsea most certainly don't. That
would Leave Liverpool but you never get nowt in life if you don't
ask. Yes he would cost big money but there are ways in which to raise
this money (Dyer) or tempt Fulham and he would be worth every penny.
I would love to see him at the Toon.
Plan B: Nobby Sol...err Darren Ambrose.
Eidur Gudjohnsen - £5-6m max, position; Striker/forward.
Gudjohnsen would be my number one Summer signing. We lack creativity
up front and he would be an excellent signing. Not only does he score
goals but he creates them for his fellow attackers too. Exceptionally
talented, two footed and a team player. With Chelsea on the verge
of buying Morientes, Ronaldo, Pele, Rooney, Owen, Deco and every other
world-class striker that has ever graced the game his opportunities
of first-team football could be very limited and again with Mourinho
at Chelsea I'm sure if Bobby asked there would be listeners. If we
are to replace Shearer and move on we must move away from the traditional
centre-forward and the game plan that develops around such a striker
with a creative, mobile different type of forward. Gudjohnsen fits
that bill.
Plan B: Shola Ameobi
Where are the central midfielders, left wingers and centre backs that
we desperately need you ask? Well I believe in O'Brien, Woodgate,
Bramble (sigh), Taylor and the prospect of Hughes playing at the back
that we are more than covered in central defence. As for the centre
of midfield, in JJ, Bowyer, Viana and Speed we are pretty much covered.
Note: I'm assuming Bowyer & JJ will be fit for 90% of the season and
likewise Woodgate.
We do not have much money and we don't want to over speculate on accumulating
and to sign the players that I for one would love us to sign the outlay
would cost in the region of £16m max in transfer fees however we have
the option of selling Kieron Dyer for £6-8m or asking Coleman if he
would like to do a straight swap deal for Malbranque. That could mean
we spend a max of £8m.
Buying Melchiot will not only improve the right back slot because
he is a better player than Hughes but he will also give us strength
and depth in that department. Buying Konchesky would give us strength
and depth at left back and will allow Bernard to play left wing if
Robert happened to be injured or suspended without leaving us short
at left back.
Malbranque and Gudjohnsen would give us that badly needed creativity
that we lacked last season and would provide extra goal threat options
in a side that badly lacks them outside of Shearer and Robert.
These players IMO are all attainable and would not only improve our
first-team but the overall strength and depth of our squad. If we
need more additions to the squad we can always do a Bolton and loan
a few players. Huth has been mentioned and I for one would take him
on a loan deal. He's strong, quite quick, good in the air and a much
better alternative to Bramble. Signing him on loan would represent
a no risk signing. If he turns out to be a flop, send him back. If
he turns out to be great, sign him.
We are not going to sign a superstar and we can't afford to buy the
players we need to strengthen every weak position with so we have
to be sensible and buy the right players. My wish list contains those
players I believe. If You are reading Fat Fred and Bobby, howay, get
those players signed so I can have a relaxing Summer. |
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