Would Connor Wickham be worth the money?

Connor Wickham - Is he worth it?
There was a bit of news about yesterday, in the local rags no less, that suggested that NUFC still maintain some interest in Ipswich Town striker, Connor Wickham.

The 18-year-old is regarded as a bright prospect and has been courted by a number of top clubs. At 6ft 3in the lad is already a first-team regular at Championship level and has represented England at every level from schoolboy right up to the under-21’s but, and this is the sticking point for me, goals haven’t exactly flowed from the Hereford-born striker.

This season he has scored seven goal in 36 league appearances, which isn’t great in fairness. Granted the lad has age on his side and can improve, but I wonder if it’s a wise move investing so much money in a player who has yet to prove that he can score goals consistently.

Alan Pardew is apparently pursuing other targets first, which is a good thing in my opinion as I reckon we could bet a better deal elsewhere. With Wickham being young and English it means that he is going to attract a premium on his price, for some reason, and would likely cost upwards of £10 million. That money could definitely be spent more wisely in my opinion.

It’s a risk that I don’t think United can afford to be honest. For £10 million we could get Gervinho or Kevin Gameiro who both have proven goalscoring records, albeit in the French league. In my mind that is a much safer bet than punting the same amount on a kid who has scored 14 goals in 71 Ipswich appearances.

If we had strikers who could be relied upon at the club already, plus the money to do so, then I’d probably try and sign him for the future, but to expect an instant impact from a young lad is too much of a risk.

So whilst Wickham can score goals like this:



My worry is that he doesn’t seem to score enough to warrant all of the praise that has been put upon his shoulders. We need a proven goalscorer, and whilst Wickham may turn into one evetually he wouldn’t solve our immediate need for a striker.

Would you take a punt on Wickham?

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

162 thoughts on “Would Connor Wickham be worth the money?

  1. Toonsy 😆 😆 …..er I mean I’ve met your lass and she’s a smasher, **** eyesight mind 😆

      (Quote)

  2. Good lord – Bobby Shinton AND Stardust on stage at the same time!
    You’re never alone with a schizophrenic!!

      (Quote)

  3. Personally I think we need a couple of experienced strikers first and foremost.

    If we had the cash we could try and get a player like Whickham but not as a mean purchase.

    I actually think he’ll go on to be worth £20m, if you’ve seen him play he just looks like a bloody good player.

    I’m not surprised Stardust rates at him at circa £2m as he only thought Carroll was worth about that too. What a moby!

      (Quote)

  4. @deb

    Fancy a fling with an ex toon centre forward?

    Don’t tell Toonsy tho cos I’m seeing his mother as well. 😆

      (Quote)

  5. @stu

    You’re right about 2 experienced centre forwards but that’s our budget gone once you take their wages into account.
    That’s why I think he’ll take a punt at young kids.

      (Quote)

  6. @lesh
    It’s difficult logging in and out all the time changing from stardust to bobby, hence the short dialogue between us, I mean me. 😀

    Anything to bring to the supper table tonight Lesh? ❓

      (Quote)

  7. Bobby I think taking a punt on younguns will be a massive mistake, we need a proper goal scoring striker.
    We allready have younguns so dont need anymore we need experienced players

      (Quote)

  8. @big Dave

    I absolutely agree. However a decent experienced striker will cost between £10m -£15+ and wages on top of that. You are looking at nigh on £25m-£30m for 2.

    He’s gonna have to go abroad I believe and pull one out the hat .

      (Quote)

  9. From the little I’ve seen, I do believe he’s worth 8-10mil at his age. His height and agility make for a deadly combination. He’s got that bit of class that is hard to find in players that age. That being said, I don’t think we can afford to spend 10mil on a player who probably won’t produce right away. As far as a player who could help produce right away, Gameiro looks like the best fit. He looks to be a combination of a Rooney and a young Micheal Owen (when he was still useful). He relies more on speed than trickery to beat
    defenders, and he has speed to burn. He works all over the pitch and seems to have the kind of attitude we want. But above all else, I really like the fact that he’s a clever finisher.

    Unfortunately, I believe Bobby has a point, that wages are going to be a big stumbling block with some of the names mentioned. I’ve seen alot of reports linking Gameiro with a move to Spain, with it being his preferred destination, and Valencia being the strongest link.

      (Quote)

  10. If Gameiro goes to Valencia then it won’t be for the wages, they’re skint 😉

      (Quote)

  11. Geordie deb she says yeeeeeees! 😳 😀 😆
    Sorry mama toonsy you’re sacked! 😉

      (Quote)

  12. Craig Bellamy anyone ? For one or two seasons?

    I say yes.

      (Quote)

  13. Jersey, aye but they don’t pay big wages….though they can offer European football and slightly better weather 😉 😆

      (Quote)

  14. Deb – I hope you’re not falling for bobby’s lies er I mean lines? 😛

    Anyone seen ice? He was on earlier. Just wondered if he is ok?

      (Quote)

  15. Bobby I would snap your hand off for Bellamy 😉
    Toonsy maybe the sore heed 😕 he gets from richie 😀
    What about wor batts havn’t seen much of him the last couple of days

      (Quote)

  16. I would also have Bellamy back. He has the sort of fight we need up front.

    You can’t imagine him playing like Loven and Shola did against Liverpool. If he wasn’t getting involved in the game by the rest of his team, he’d be bloody well making sure he was involved himself!!!

      (Quote)

  17. Another goal for that Falaco tonight, if thats how you spell it, from Porto – anyone know much about him? He’s scored loads this season apparently only 25 years old.

      (Quote)

  18. He isn’t worth 10million, and what’s the point in having more youngsters around. I’m all for building for the future, but we can’t afford to spend 10mil on someone who we’ll just loan out for experience? or who would just feature poorly for us…can’t see the point in signing him atm really, maybe for 4mil or something but more is a waste when we need proven strikers

      (Quote)

  19. @Andrew T

    Bellamy – you don’t want him? We couldn’t afford him? He won’t come here?

    I think he would be a realistic option and just what we need.

      (Quote)

  20. @batty

    We might want Messi and Xavi but we’ll get Messy and Shabby! 😀

      (Quote)

  21. I’m tired of nufc getting players based on former glories. I’ll be honest I haven’t seen anything about how he’s done with Cardiff but I would think he’s about done

      (Quote)

  22. I’d have Bellamy back….. his wages would be more than signing anyone from the French league though surely? 😉

      (Quote)

  23. @andrewT
    The right up for him on the blog is that he’s been inspirational for them.
    Scored 10 goals in 33 apps but scoring is not his main strength though not bad at it.
    He attacks the defence, causes all sorts of problems for the opposition and creates chances.
    He’s still got a couple of years left at the top.,
    Great attitude as well .

    I would love to see him back.

      (Quote)

  24. Bobby….he’s a good escape route when ya under the cosh too, hoof it up the field and a good chance Bellamy will get on the end of it.

      (Quote)

  25. I think his attitude is 10 times better than it was when we had him, and imo he is a true fighter that gives everything he has and as Bobby says has a couple of yrs left in the tank, and I think he would have a point to prove 😉

      (Quote)

  26. Here, that Steve Wraith disnae shut up on twitter like.

    I am going to stop following him like….

    New to twitter, not sure if I like it, apart from the fact I can abuse famous people I don’t like. Do they actually get the message I am typing?

      (Quote)

  27. Moreno

    I don’t follow him can’t stand him!

    Anyone watch the Porto game? They look a very good team, that Hulk and Falaco have scored something like 70 goals between them this season the commentator said.

      (Quote)

  28. Shame Villarreal went out the Europa League. They are my Spanish team of choice, due to the Celtic connection obviously.

    You know you’ve had bad luck when you score 4 goals on aggregate and go out. Porto’s attack is just fierce.

      (Quote)

  29. @ Moreno

    Ask him if he knows what the wage cap is at the Toon.

    If you find out, tell me, and I’ll tell Dave and Batty. 😉

      (Quote)

  30. @Bobby,

    I think I may have already blown any relationship I could have possibly had with him out the water 🙄

    Don’t know if these people get my messages, I certainly couldn’t give a ***** about their children doing well at the swimming baths. Get enough of that pish on facebook

      (Quote)

  31. Toonsy bringing nowt to the supper table tonight.

    I need opinions I can disagree with. This is too nice tonight for my liking.

    Howay Toonsy, one view, any viewpoint you have. I know I’ll disagree. 😉 😆

      (Quote)

  32. @batty

    Stardust is Billy and I’m Troy.

    All 4 for us are out for the WBA game if you fancy. 😀

      (Quote)

  33. From Steve Wraith:

    “no mate not directly but reading past releases by club its safe to assume 20k a week”

      (Quote)

  34. Do any of you guys follow a certain team in other leagues for any reason? I do tend to have a team in all the leagues I can watch. If you do, how do you pick those teams?

      (Quote)

  35. FJ

    Apart from Barca I dont really follow any foreign team, I’ve always looked out for Barca’s results etc.

      (Quote)

  36. Yeah, was just wondering. I adopted Newcastle because it’s a simple place. Honest, blunt and hard working despite all the stereotypes and **** you get in the media. It’s very much like Glasgow, if you can bare the comparison, lol.

    I was reading up on Villarreal and St Pauli and how they have Celtic connections due to similar ideologies (not terrorist before someone mentions it, lol) and was wondering if any of you people do have “other teams”, what reasons do you have for picking them.

    I have swapped my German team from Schalke to St Pauli. Not picked a Dutch team yet though, not sure why.

      (Quote)

  37. Talking of Villarreal – did we have an option to sign Rossi when we had him on loan? Just our luck now hes a class player…

      (Quote)

  38. if hes worth 10-20mill then im worth at leats 3mill 😆
    Hes shyte from what ive seen, his record shows that, and he just gets a good goal every now and again.

    another over-hyped english player imo

      (Quote)

  39. Personally I have just one team. I may fancy certain teams in a particular match but beyond that nothing.

      (Quote)

  40. since weve gone off topic, my other post might as well not be there 😆

    As for other teams I have none, NUFC is the only team for me.

      (Quote)

  41. I guess it’s just me then. I find it difficult to watch a game if I have no emotional connection to it. If I am watching German or Spanish games, it’s hard to care if a team you follow aren’t playing or the game doesn’t impact a team you follow.

    Newcastle, Celtic, Villarreal and St Pauli for the win. Huzzah.

      (Quote)

  42. Funky-I used to be a pretty big Juve fan as they were always awesome when I was growing up and more importantly the kit resemblance made me support em 😀 Still have quality players like del piero!

    I support Celtic in scotland, just from irish and family roots really

    I support Deportivo/Barca in spain, not really sure why, just have for a while, but now with everyone going on about Barca i’ve felt a growing sympathy for Madrid even though I despise half the squad.

    Finally, the mighty Gateshead, oh and Newport County as that’s where i’ve lived for the past couple of years 😆

      (Quote)

  43. I never really cared for Spanish football until I went for a stadium tour of the Camp Nou, when I was about nine, I was just in ore of it. Went again when I was 14, would love to go there for a game like – my mate went there for the Shaktar game and said it was quality.

      (Quote)

  44. toonsy, can you throw us a link to the olympic application page by any chance! was talking about it to a few people recently! what type of work you doin?

      (Quote)

  45. Live in Sheffield actually, thats how bad it were, ill bring it all way from here :mrgreen:

      (Quote)

  46. Andrew, know what you mean about visiting somewhere impressive like the nou camp giving you the bug

    I once went down the mine at Beamish and was in ore at that 😉

      (Quote)

  47. Buddy – Its coach driving for my company and is like an internal job thing. Have a look at the Olympic 2012 website though as I’m sure you’ll be able to apply there 🙂

      (Quote)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *