Chris Hughton’s Xmas Transfer Wish List?
Chris Hughton is currently doing an extraordinary job at Newcastle United and is giving those who follow Newcastle reasons to hold their heads high and profess their allegiance to the club, when previously they may have admitted it begrudgingly. To further strengthen the squad may be an option when January and the notorious transfer window comes around. It represents a market to take advantage of, especially if the success warrants it.
Now I’m not going to bombard you with an array of tasteless Christmas puns over who should be on Hughton’s Christmas list and whether people have been naughty or nice etc. But I will take a look at who Hughton may be interested in over this festive period, in order to acquire come January.
The one main weakness I’d like to highlight is the lack of recognised strikers Newcastle possess, with Peter Lovenkrands, Nile Ranger and Xisco behind the first choices of Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi. For if either of the latter two got an injury or was suspended, then the gauntlet would be thrown down to players of unrecognised or suspect credentials and certainly not matching the quality of the first choices. With this in mind who could Newcastle procure to provide goals?
They have recently been rumoured in watching the FC Groningen striker Tim Matavz who is only 21 years of age and a regular fixture for his country, Slovenia. He has scored five goals in thirteen games so far, with a total of fourteen goals last season for the Dutch club. The Dutch newspaper Elf Voetbal claim that Newcastle scouts have been observing the 6ft 1in players progress on a fair few occasions. From his goals below he appears to have two good feet and good movement, one that will hopefully compliment Newcastle’s style of play.
Another possible transfer target is closer to home in the form of Tottenham Hotspurs forlorn striker Robbie Keane. Keane has been frozen out of proceedings at White Hart Lane and will certainly look to be playing football elsewhere next year. He is a mercurial player, but one who on his day has guile, skill and experience to make him a lethal weapon, he could form the ‘big man, little man’ relationship with Carroll by feeding off his aerial winnings. I’m sure a lot of clubs will be interested in Keane, so it remains a faint possibility of signing the Irishman.
Moving further down the imaginary football pitch, we come to another player Newcastle have been strongly linked with in the form of Anderlecht winger Jonathan Legear. Even the player has been quoted as saying: “Newcastle has contacted my agent to let him know they are interested in me…” The 23-year-old is regarded as possessing great talent and operates predominantly on the right wing but likes to cut inside in order to create goals or score them himself. Newcastle will face competition from Everton in their bid to sign him, if they see him as a worthwhile purchase that is.
Whilst being fairly well covered in midfield, an attacking winger adds to the possibilities that Newcastle could call upon when struggling to find a goal or assuming further width on both wings, with Jonas Gutierrez on the opposite.
The defensive provisions seem well stocked to compensate for injuries, with Sol Campbell yet to make a Premiership start and Steven Taylor on his way back to fitness. Although rumours abound that Taylor is unsettled at Newcastle and after previously being transfer-listed he may wish to seek pastures new. Who could be a suitable replacement? Who else do you think should be a target for Hughton?
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Well to start off, we don’t need yet another striker who’s got NO Premier experience & plus you forgot to add Best to that list of strikers waiting to play, if Shola isn’t playing, then U19 England forward Nile Ranger will fill in for him, same as Carroll, so we don’t need anymore strikers or has-bins like Keane ok..
In midfield, we have Gosling coming back from injury & we;ll have HBA back shortly after that, so no real need for any midfielders either, because we already have 11 on our books, who needs anymore!!!
In defence, the only real problem we may have is cover for Eltoro at LB but young Shane Ferguson has done a fantastic job in the reserves & 1st team outings in the CC, so we don’t really need anyone there either…
So CH’s shopping list for Jan is looking a little bare as we have cover all over pretty much..
Players injured & waiting to come back are as follows: Harper (gk) Sol, Saylor, Gosling, HBA
So no transfers in in Jan that I can see but maybe 1 or 2 going out like Smith & Raylor possible even Saylor if he doesn’t sign his new contract!!!
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Cyprus-Toon would have you believe Newcastle have the perfect squad.
I agree with Elliot, once the goals dry up for Andy Carroll, which they will at some point over the season. I cant see anyone that can step in a get you 10-15 goals a season. I think a 6mnth loan deal for robbie keane would be a great move for Newcastle and the striker himself.
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Robbie Keane has been mentioned, outside of Carroll there is a lack of quality up top, but that’s the same for many clubs in the Prem outside top 6.
Shame Arfa got injured as he’d be the perfect SS for Carroll / Ameobi.
Just need a bit of quality up top, or anywhere!
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The squad as a whole needs strength … the likes of Ryan Taylor,Smith,Lovenkrands,need to be moved on and replaced with players in the same positions that will be able to push/get into the starting 11 .. and I for one would love to see robbie keane on a 6 month loan … so its over to big fat cashly to back chris with the support he DESERVES ….. and a new contract asap
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But Arry the stingy manager will put a price tag of 15 mill on Keanes head and then offer 5 for Carroll or say yeah you can have Keane but only with Carroll going the other way. This transfer will never happen as Arry does not mind wasting the clubs money and having high earners sitting on the bench out of spite.
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How can we have the best away record in the league yet suck so hard at home? Simple. We lack guile up front, creativity in midfield, power at the back, and pace all over the pitch.
It’s not hard to see why visiting teams don’t fear us and where we MUST strengthen. It’s all well and good pointing to away wins against out-of-sorts Arsenal and a decent Everton side, and you can blow Hughton’s horn as much as you want, but the fact remains that, inbetween beating Villa and Sunderland, we have only taken 2 points from a possible 15 in our own back yard, and most of the teams we’ve played will probably finish the season in the lower third of the league! We’re predictable and it’s a bit embaressing.
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