Newcastle-Online comment: 28th July 2004
Two years ago when it become pretty obvious that we would need an
out and out defensive midfielder, despite Speed's magnificent effort
in that role, the one player I wanted at Newcastle was Nicky Butt.
Back then reports of £8m bids from both ourselves and the Smoggies
were being banded about. Back then Butt was the star of the 2002 World
Cup for England, a player Pele described as the best midfielder at
the tournament. Back then he was worth every penny in my eyes.
Two years on, a few niggling injuries and a dip in form culminating
in an extended spell on the Man Utd bench had me unsure about a move
for him - especially at the price of £4-5m which was being banded
about by the media. However after selling Speed (sigh), I was warming
to the idea and when confirmation come through that he will be playing
in the Black & White for Newcastle I was delighted, make that
I am delighted - especially for the price in which we paid.
He is exactly the type of player we have lacked since David Batty
left for Leeds United, an out and out defensive midfielder - a destroyer.
All teams great and small need these type of players and we are no
different. Butt's job will be to break up play and pass it on in the
simple manner which defines his game. It's not pretty but it's a necessity.
But that's not the only great thing about this signing...Oh no, his
signing brings with it many other things that are needed, things that
we have lacked, things that can only benefit the Toon. For a start
he is 29, 5 years younger than Speed which will give us added legs
in midfield this coming Season and hopefully many beyond. Not just
that, but having hardly played in the past two Seasons he will be
pretty fresh and reinvigorated. I don't see these 'missing' two Seasons
as a bad thing that others do - some players at the age of 28-29 burn
out for a year or two, not Butt. He'll be fresh as a daisy.
He will also bring with him something we are very short in supply
of: A winners mentality. Butt has won it all, Premiership Titles,
FA Cups, the European Cup and has bags of experience at the very highest
level in big big games. In short he knows exactly what it takes to
win things and the standards in which he has been brought up on at
Man Utd can only be a good things as they will almost certainly rub
off on others. On that note, some of our under performing think they
have already made it 'stars' will now have someone who actually puts
their achievements in the game well and truly to shame. Butt will
bring with him a win at all costs attitude that Fergie demands of
all his players. Butt won't settle for a decent cup run and some rave
reviews in the local press. After all he didn't settle for Seasonal
winners medals at Man Utd...
And this will make him even more hungry for success, to prove to Fergie
that it was a mistake to let him go, that life away from Man Utd can
be rewarding, that a move to Tyneside is no step-down. It is these
things that excite me as a supporter, not flair or skill, but hunger,
drive and determination. Shearer has it, Shay has it, Woodgate when
fit has it - Butt has it too. A fine spine to our team. And to all
those who cast Butt as a Man Utd reject therefore not worthy of our
club - wake up and stop being arrogant, ironically something that
Man Utd fans are often accused of. If we bought Van Nistelrooy from
them we would love it. Well Butt fills a need and he is a very good
player in his own right.
Furthermore he actually wants to play for Newcastle. He stated that
he wouldn't leave Man Utd for Birmingham, Everton, Villa, the Smoggies
or Fulham - all were interested in him. He wanted to play for Newcastle,
we appealed to him. It may be a step down to come to a club not as
big as Man Utd nor as successful but there in lies the ambition that
drives him on, Butt can see we can become as big and as successful
- that's why he signed. He wants to play a part, a big part. Winning
the League at the Toon will be a bigger success than at Man Utd. That,
I like. He could have went to the Smoggies to cozy up with Mclaren,
picked up big wages and been one of the big stars...thankfully he
didn't.
Now that he's here, this signing excites me just as much as Kluivert
and Milner, in fact it probably excites me more because I know what
we are getting with Butt and I know he will do a great job and that
he will improve our team - he is that type of player. As sad as I
was in seeing Speed leave, to replace him with such an experienced
player at 29 years of age, a specialist player and for only £2m...well
it could be the best bit of money we have spent in a long time and
could be the signing of the Season. When you think that Villa paid
exactly the same fee for Gavin McCann 12 months ago, this is a great
piece of business on our behalf.
Welcome to the Toon Nicky Butt - fantastic signing! |
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