Top Ten Newcastle Transfers – When the Magpies got it right
While Newcastle have signed a number of absolute shockers in the last 15 years, some of the players that they have bought have gone on to become great players for the club. From excellent goalkeepers, to creative midfielders and prolific strikers, the fans at St James’ Park have seen a number of quality players in their time. Not so long ago Newcastle were near the top of the Premiership challenging for Champions League places and they had many players who made that possible. Here is a look at the top ten Newcastle signings during the last 20 years:
10: Andrew Cole – Cole provided Newcastle with exactly what they needed on their promotion to the Premiership, plenty of goals. During his 2 years at Newcastle Cole’s goal scoring record is almost unbelievable and stands up well against any other striker at that time. Signed from Bristol City for £1.75 million, Cole scored 68 goals in 84 games for Newcastle, giving him a strike rate of 0.81. In the 1993/04 season he was named as PFA Young Player of the Year and scored 41 goals to break Newcastle’s goal scoring record. He would have been much higher in this list if he had stayed longer, but disappointingly he moved to Manchester United for £7 million in 1995.
9: Sebastien Bassong – It is a story of what could have been with Bassong. Bought for just £500,000 by Kevin Keegan, alongside the £10 million Fabricio Coloccini in the heart of Newcastle’s defence, fans were often wondering who the defender with years of international experience was. Bassong was one of the few shining lights from last season and was rightfully named Newcastle Player of the Season for the 2008/09 Premier League campaign. Fast, strong in the air and good positionally, Bassong had the capability to become Newcastle’s best defender for years, but relegation meant that he went to Tottenham for £8 million and his talents were lost to Spurs.
8: Gary Speed – The Welsh midfielder was a great servant for Newcastle and was one of their most dependable players during his six year spell with the Magpies. Signed from Everton in 1998 for £5.5 million, Speed was something on an unsung hero and was an extremely hard-working player and just what Newcastle needed, a true professional. He racked up over 250 appearances for Newcastle and brought some steel to the midfield as well as energy and an engine that compares well to any player at that time. He eventually went to Bolton in 2004, but in his time at Newcastle he earned many admirers for going about his job quietly and effectively.
7: David Ginola – One of the most exciting players to watch to ever pull on a Newcastle shirt, Ginola gave the Toon Army what they love, a skilful winger. Signed from PSG in 1995 for just £2.5 million, Ginola was the greatest entertainer of the lot under Keegan and helped Newcastle to play beautiful football in the mid 1990s as well as win matches. Known for his magical touch on the ball, anything was possible when the ball was at the Frenchman’s feet, and he helped himself to a special goal in the 5-0 drubbing of Manchester United. It was a shame that Keegan left when he did, as Ginola never got on with Dalglish and he went to Spurs after just 2 seasons.
6: Les Ferdinand – ‘Sir Les’ sometimes gets forgotten due to the arrival of Shearer, but Ferdinand was a great striker for the club. Signed from QPR in 1995 for £6 million, Ferdinand was the complete striker who scored goals as well as providing them. He made 81 appearances for Newcastle, scoring 50 goals and almost propelling them to the Premier League title. He formed a formidable partnership with Shearer and it was a shame that he didn’t stay at Newcastle longer, as that strike partnership was difficult to handle for any Premiership defences. Great in the air and on the floor, Ferdinand went to Tottenham for the same fee after 2 successful seasons.
5: Nolberto Solano – Arguably the greatest player outside of the British Isles that Newcastle have ever brought, Solano was a bargain from Boca Juniors and cost just £2.5 million. Fondly known by the players at the time as a fan of barbeques and the trumpet, Solano quickly endeared himself to the fans after his move in 1998. An extremely popular member of the squad, Solano had a cracking right foot that provided many assists for Newcastle and even netted the odd free-kick. In his first and most successful spell he was an important part of Robson’s high-flying team, and after a year at Aston Villa Nobby returned much to the delight of many fans.
4: Robert Lee – Signed by Newcastle in 1992, Lee went on to play over 350 games for the Magpies in his 10 year spell at the club. Persuaded by Kevin Keegan to sign for Newcastle rather than Middlesbrough as its closer to London, not really but never mind, and Lee signed for a £700,000 fee. A vital part of ‘The Entertainers’ of the late 1990s, Keegan went so far as to say at that time as to say that Lee was the ‘Best Midfielder in Britain’. It was a credit to Lee as well that when Ruud Gullit dropped him from the first-team squad and took away his number 7 shirt, he still stayed at the club and stuck it out and rightfully earns the tag of being a fans favourite.
3: Peter Beardsley – The second of his two spells at Newcastle started when the Magpies had just been promoted to the Premier League. Signed by former teammate Kevin Keegan for £1.5 million from Everton, Beardsley once again showed the skills and trickery that endeared him to the fans first time around. In what he regards as the peak of his career, the England midfielder made over 150 appearances for Newcastle and scored 56 goals despite being regarded as more of a goal provider than a goal scorer. Beardsley was the perfect foil for Andy Cole, and there are few players to pull on the black and white shirt who were as naturally gifted as Beardsley was.
2: Shay Given – When the Irish goalkeeper was signed by Kenny Dalglish in 1997 he was a relative unknown, but now regarded as one of the best ‘keepers in the Premiership. With all the terrible defences that Given had in front of him during his time at Newcastle, Given saved the team on numerous occasions and showed tremendous shot-stopping ability a number of times. A highlight for the Irishman was playing every game of the 2001/02 season and being named in the PFA Team of the Year. When he left for Manchester City earlier this year, no Newcastle fans held it against him as he showed dignity and his motives were completely understandable.
1: Alan Shearer – An obvious choice for the number one spot, Shearer is rightfully a Toon legend. Newcastle fans were ecstatic when he turned down Manchester United in 1996 to sign for his boy-hood team, and his performances for the Magpies in the following years ensured that he has gone down in Newcastle’s history. Often single-handedly trying to fire Newcastle up the table, Shearer scored the goals and showed the passion and commitment that the St James’ Park faithful love. The £15 million price tag now seems like peanuts for a player who has broken Jackie Milburn’s 49 year record of 200 goals for Newcastle and is idolised by Newcastle fans everywhere.
Alan Shearer has become synonymous with Newcastle and the decision by Kevin Keegan to splash the cash on him after Euro ’96 remains one of the best transfers that Newcastle have made to this day. There is a distinct lack of more recent Newcastle stars on this list, but can any of the current team go on to become great buys and redeem themselves from last year’s efforts? And do any other of Newcastle’s signings from the past 20 years deserve to make this list of top ten Toon transfers, perhaps Albert just for that glorious chip?
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Andy Cole should be in the top 5 and Bellamy should be on that list too.
Andy cole should be in top 3 considering his goal to game ratio and at the price.