May 24

Problem position #1: Right-back

Categories:

Thoughts

by

 

With Danny Simpson’s future shrouded in uncertainty and Santon looking like left-back will be his position, I think finding a decent right-back is one of Alan Pardew’s priorities.  We need two class full-backs in order to impose ourselves and have more control over games than we did last season.  Every great team these days have full-backs who are great offensively when not doing the business in defence.  These are the sort of players Newcastle should be targeting.

Here are five such players who would be attainable and would be a huge improvement for next season.  Some more realistic than others…

 

MATHIEU DEBUCHY – LILLE

A close friend of Cabaye’s, the 26-year old Lille defender has been heavily linked to Newcastle recently.  In his recent interview with BBC Newcastle, Alan Pardew mentioned they were working on bringing Could Debuchy be the player he was talking about?

Debuchy is a French international, currently in the provisional squad for Euro 2012.  He strikes me as a player who would first and foremost be reliable at the back, whilst offering options in attack, something sorely missed last season from our incumbent right-back Danny Simpson.  Debuchy seems like the most realistic target and it would be no surprise at all to seem him in black and white next season.

 

ANDREAS BECK – 1899 HOFFENHEIM

I would love to see a German defender playing for Newcastle.  Beck has 9 caps for his country so far and is seen by many in Germany to be the long-term solution at right-back.  Technically-gifted, his distribution from the back is excellent.  At 25, I think he is at the right stage in his career to make the switch to the Premier League.  Currently playing for and captaining Demba Ba’s old club Hoffenheim, his team finished 11th in the Bundesliga last term.

His growing reputation has led to a number of European clubs eyeing his signature and he definately wouldn’t come cheap – probably a fee of between £8-10 million would be required.

 

NATHANIEL CLYNE – CRYSTAL PALACE

A highly-rated young full-back….and English.  He has the pace and power to give us an added dimension in attack.  Due to his age, any transfer would involve a tribunal.  I would definately welcome his addition and would love to see him progress at Newcastle.  One for the now and the future – Clyne on the right, Santon on the left – lovely. 

 

ATSUTO UCHIDA – FC SCHALKE 04

With his contract running out at the end of next season, I wouldn’t consider it impossible for Newcastle to persuade this exciting right-back, capped 44 times for Japan, to swap the Bundesliga for the Premier League.  Quick and nimble, Uchida is able to support his forward players effectivelt in attack as well as defend assuredly.

Newcastle have not yet entered the far-eastern market and Uchida would surely be a shrewd move on Mike Ashley’s part.

One major disadvantage is that his club qualified for the Champions League last season so Uchida would have to take a step down with us.  Cabaye did it though…

 

CÉSAR AZPILICUETA – OlYMPIQUE MARSEILLE

With youth, dynamism and an awesome name to boot, the 22-year old Spaniard Azpilicueta has a great future ahead of him.  Capped at every level apart from senior for Spain, he will doubtless be a star at the top level in the future.   He was signed by Marseille in 2010 for around €7 million and might cost twice as much to prise him away.

With OM having a very disappointing season finishing 10th in Ligue 1, Azpilicueta might see a move away as the next step in his career.  We could offer him European football but he is very highly-rated and maybe Newcastle would not be able to compete with the big clubs for this player.  Surely worth a mention though!

 

Tags: , , , , , ,

Leave comment

May 23

The French Revolution continues…Romain Amalfitano signs up

Categories:

Thoughts, Transfers

by

Gunning for the Premier League - Romain Amalfitano signs for the Toon

Newcastle United today completed the signing of 22-year old Romain Amalfitano from newly-promoted Stade de Reims on a free transfer, tying him to a 4-year contract.  The French midfielder flew into town on Tuesday and completed a medical on Wednesday to finalise the deal.

After previous spells at Châteauroux and Evian TG FC, Amalfitano made 58 league appearances for Reims in Ligue 2, scoring 6 goals.  In the process he helped his old club secure 2nd place last season and with it promotion back to Ligue 1.   He becomes Newcastle’s 6th French signing in the last two years, after the club decided to advantage of the player’s contract ending at the end of June, after which he will officially join.

An ecstatic Amalfitano told the club’s official website:

“I am very happy to be a Newcastle player.

I have seen a bit of the city already and it is a change from France but one I am really looking forward to.

“When a club like Newcastle wants you to play for them it can only be a good thing. I have taken the opportunity to play in the Premier League and cannot wait to get going.”

Unlike the club’s recent captures, this one comes as no shock as Newcastle fans have been quietly confident that this deal was in the bag months ago.  Still, it is encouraging that Newcastle have not waited too long to secure their first summer signing.  Once again, it is a testament to the club’s scouting network, headed by Graham Carr, that due to extensive deliberation and observation we have been able to identify our targets and move in quickly once the time is right.

Amalfitano is an attacking-minded central midfielder who likes to get forward and can score goals  Judging from the couple of YouTube videos I have seen of him, he has great technique and a bit of pace too!  I would expect him to provide decent competition in central midfield but don’t see him displacing either Cabaye or Tiote.  So unless we play a regular 4-3-3, I think he will be more of an impact player for us next season.  Whatever his role in the immediate future, he is certainly at the right club to develop, surrounded by compatriots and other French-speaking players.  Maybe he can even surpass his brother Morgan, five years his senior, who plays for Marseille and the French national team.

Despite the securing of Amalfitano, It is a case of one in, one out for Newcastle given the impending departure of Danny Guthrie.  Therefore, if we are to challenge effectively on four fronts, I would expect at least one more central midfielder to sign before the start of next season.  I’m looking forward to an exciting summer ahead.

Click here for Amalfitano’s official Ligue 2 stats and below is a video showcasing his goals for Reims:

Tags: , , , , ,

Leave comment

May 22

The player to watch at Newcastle next season

Categories:

Thoughts

by

Davide Santon - promising first season for the young Italian

Left-back or right-back?  Just where Davide Santon should play has been a common debate for Newcastle fans throughout the course of last season.  The 21-year old from Portomaggiore has returned to Italy for the summer and has enjoyed his maiden season in the Premier League, as is evident from the recent interview he gave to the club’s official website.  I was particularly intrigued by this part:

“I’ve played a lot of games since breaking into the side. At the start I didn’t, but that was a good period for me. The manager gave me a chance to study, to find out about the team and where I was.

“It got me used to a new club and a new country and even though no player likes being sat on the bench, I can see that it did me good.”

Great, humble words from Davide, who seems to have a genuine level-head on him.  I find it easy to respect players who display a little bit of humility.   It is remarkable given his great friendship with Mario Balotelli.  These two players are on opposite ends of the spectrum personality-wise.  Let’s hope the the beast that is Man City does not cast its eyes the way of our Italian starlet in the future.

Looking to next season, I am extremely excited to see Santon play with a full season and pre-season behind him.  Personally, I believe he will be most effective where he currently is at left-back.  He may be right-footed but modern wing-play requires more than simply running and whipping balls into the box.  His ability to effortlessly cut inside of defenders and create shooting and creative opportunities outside of the box is a great asset.  It’s why Ben Arfa has thrived on the right this season.  Regardless of where he is most suited to play, I can’t recall an instance where he has looked uncomfortable on the left.

He also doesn’t seem to possess much of the rawness that other players his age exhibit from time to time, at least in his forward-play.   He oozes confidence when on his attacking runs and I was delighted for him getting the assist for Papiss Cisse’s first goal at Stamford Bridge.  Aside from Ben Arfa, I think he is the most forward-thinking player in the team.  His direct-attacking instinct will be vital if Alan Pardew is to perservere (hopefully) with the 4-3-3 formation which has proved extremely effective.  The loss of width in midfield needs to be compensated by full-backs who can attack equally as well as they can defend.

Which leads onto Santon’s weaknesses.   There have of course been questions raised concerning his defensive awareness.  His marauding runs have often left our defence exposed – suicidal given that Coloccini and Williamson are not graced with pace.  If he is to become the complete modern-day full back, this has to be addressed.  He certainly has the capability, famously exemplified by his nullifcation of Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League.  Most importantly, though, Santon has age on his side and I’m confident that under the guidance of Alan Pardew, he will smooth out the rough edges and become a defender of similar ilk to Ashley Cole, minus the arrogance.

Much has been said of the comparisons to the legendary Paolo Maldini – rarely a Santon article is written without at least one mention of the name.  Such is the status of Maldini that it easy to understand how early correlations might have affected an 18-year old and inevitably he lost a little form and confidence, culminating in being shipped out on loan by Inter to Cesena.  Consequently, my elation at his signing was mildly tainted by the niggling worry that he didn’t have the right mentality to realise his huge potential.  This worry was slightly exasperated during the 4 months after he signed, in which he barely played.  However, the form he has shown since breaking into the team has proved he does indeed possess the confidence – maybe re-found under the guidance of Pardew, away from the pressure cooker of Milan – to develop into the player he was tipped to be.  Newcastle United is the club in which he can truly flourish and, crucially, he is enjoying life in city:

“I hope I am going to stay here for a few years to come, and I hope next season is just as good for us as a team.

“I am really happy here in England and this is where I want to be.”

I hope so too Davide.  HWTL!

 

Tags: , , , ,

1 comment

May 08

The thing I most I want to see on Sunday apart from the 3 points…

Categories:

Thoughts

by

Demba Ba - lost his instinctive touch

I recently watched a Youtube video of the 15 goals that Demba scored before he went off to the African Cup of Nations.  It’s painfully obvious what the difference is now. Most have put it down to him being played on the left by Pardew since the arrival of Papiss Cisse. I think it is less to do with the position he is being played in and more to do with the fact something has gone missing in his game – his instinctiveness in front of goal.  Admittedly, coupled with a little bit of bad luck.

Most of the goals he scored for us in the first half of the season were down to quick-thinking and agility on Demba’s part. Like Cisse, he is more of an instinctive finisher than someone who can take their time and place their shots. Unlike Cisse, he seems to have lost a bit of confidence. He has had many chances over the last 12 games, all in which he has failed to score. The difference between then and now is that he seems to be taking too much time to think over these chances.  It might appear that misfortune is the perpertrator, since the ball is just not falling right for him at the moment, but this simply because he is not getting into the right positions as often as he was.

Having said all this, I do believe the fact that he has been removed from the pinpoint of our attack is the reason for the drop in confidence.  It could happen to most of us I suppose, going from number 1 to number 2 so quickly.

So on Sunday, I want to see a Demba Ba goal.  It is important for him to finish this season on a high note and add to his 16-goal haul.   Otherwise, I fear next season will start off the same from him -  under the shadow of his strike partner Cisse.  Naturally, he may feel pressurised by the amazing accomplishments of Cisse in such a short space of time. although he will never admit it.  A goal would ease that pressure and will avoid a summer of him wondering if he will quickly get back on the goal trail or not.

We all know what a class player Demba is and we would definately be better off with him in the side next season.  Hopefully, in a side where both the boys from Senegal and banging in the goals.

Tags: , , , ,

1 comment

May 07

Vertonghen wants to play for a ‘stable club’

Categories:

Transfer Targets

by

Cultured centre-back Jan Vertonghen - Toon-bound?

In a recent interview with Dutch website NUsport, this is what the 25-year old Belgian centre-back had to say:

“I have a choice. There’s something happening with Tottenham, but there are other clubs interested.”

“In England, there is a growing realisation that you can go far with good football. Arsenal started it and now you also see clubs like Newcastle United, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur playing good football”

“For me, it is important to get regular playing time. I also need a stable club”

If there is any club in the Premier League that could be referred to as ‘stable’, it’s Newcastle United.  Hard to believe considering the club’s recent history, but I think it is a fair statement.

Both on and off the pitch, the club have performed admirably – with the odd exception off the pitch of course. But such is the state of things that we, the fans, are in a position to treat some of the club’s decisions, most notably the renaming of St. James’, as ones that we can live with rather than reasons to boycott the club. Regarding the re-naming of the ground, it’s current tag is temporary – one day the St. James’ Park plaque will be restored, I’m sure of it.

Unlike some of the top clubs, Newcastle are not saddled with monstrous debts and appear to have an owner who is not frivolous with his investments. Before, this may have dismayed a section of the Toon support who wanted to see big-money signings, but I think results on the pitch this season have shown what can be done with a little imagination.

We have a group of players who, as well as being individually talented, work excellently as a team. Importantly, they also seem happy and settled in the North-East. I would like to hope they realise they are playing for a true football club.

It seems to me like Jan Vertonghen shares the same values as players like Cabaye and Tiote, who for me, epitomise what a footballer should be.  Players that think and are not immediately attracted to the bright lights of London and the big clubs.  They understand the importance of playing football for the right club, not the biggest pay cheque.

Vertonghen would be a welcome addition and one that will help the club continue its remarkable progression.

Tags: , , , ,

Leave comment

May 06

Toon 0 Man City 2 – Champion’s League still more than a dream….credit to Pardew and his players

Categories:

Match Comments

by

Tiote - our lion

What a game. I can safely say that despite the result and the slightly below-par performance from our players. The pressure was tangible and although there wasn’t cause for cheer, you have to appreciate football at times like this when it invokes so much passion.

Newcastle lost to the best team on the day, and probably the best team in the league. But the fact that we held them for 70 minutes and only succumbed to a touch of class from the magnificent Yaya Toure is commendable and the team thoroughly deserved our adoration after the final whistle.

Despite the disappointment of not taking the chance for third, this season is still not over. Next week, we go to Merseyside to take on an Everton team that will be tough to break down on the evidence of their recent form. But as Pardew iterated in his post-match comment, the toon have nothing to lose and I’m sure we will see a performance full of vigour and determination from our boys.

Alan Pardew will have the team focussed soley on our own game. As for the other two, Tottenham’s game against Fulham is not as easy as it seems and I can see the away side nicking a draw there. Arsenal have a tough away game at West Brom and it will be interesting to see how the players perform for Roy Hodgson in his last game in charge. Let’s hope they’re in the mood to give him a hero’s send off.

Whatever happens, the team has done the fans, the city and Sir Bobby proud all season!!

This post has no tag

3 comments

May 05

Newcastle should be able to attract more players this summer

Categories:

Transfer Targets

by

Keisuke Honda - training with Japan

As the final whistle blew after 94 pulsating minutes at the Emirates today,
I started to really believe that Newcastle United could achieve the unthinkable this season and qualify for Europe’s premier competition.

I then read the news that Shinji Kagawa would more than likely being playing in a Man Utd shirt next season.  This got me thinking about what type of player Newcastle may be able to attract next season, if they clinch Champions League football.

One name immediately sprung to mind, most likely since he is compatriot of Kagawa’s : Keisuke Honda.  This player would fit seamlessly into our 4-3-3 system and, despite his invaluable contribution to the cause this season, will offer a more dynamic outlet on the left side of front three than Demba Ba.

Our club seems like it is on the cusp of something truly magnificent and unprecedented after such a short time since its return to the upper echelons of English football.  Securing world-class players such as Honda will increase the club’s profile tremendously, not least in the vast, largely untapped market of South East Asia.

Having said this, I am well aware the club’s recent progress has not been down to signing marquee players but through extensive scouting and deliberation (much kudos to Graham Carr).  However, unlike world class players such as Hazard and Gareth Bale, Honda would be far more attainable and would definately not be an arbitrary big-name signing.  Honda is direct, techinically gifted and at the right age of 25.  His commercial value alone should be enough to entice Mike Ashley into forking out for him – probably in the region of 10 -15 million I’d say.

I have lived in Japan and been back many times, and this guy is all over the place on billboards, store windows etc.  I would be extremely proud if he were to ply his trade at our club.

Who do you want to see join the toon ranks over the summer and how do you think they could fit into our team?

Tags: , ,

Leave comment