Would you swap Leon Best for Shane Long?

Best in the frame for Reading?
There are rumours going around, which are probably false in fairness, about some form of swap deal being concocted between Newcastle and Reading.

Apparently the deal would involve Newcastle giving Reading Leon Best plus a fee of around £5 million for 24-year-old Shane Long.

If a deal was to be agreed it would then be up to the two Republic of Ireland internationals to agree a new deal with their respective clubs, but while Long may be keen to make the step up to the Premier League could we really envisage Leon Best being willing to ‘do a Nolan’ and drop down a division?

To be honest I’m not sure I’d want this mooted swap deal to happen. I’ve repeatedly stated my belief that Leon Best is perhaps the only one of last seasons strikeforce who deserves another shot at the Premier League through his performances on the pitch. Why offload someone who can actually score in this league instead of perhaps offloading an unwanted player with “potential”, like Nile Ranger for example?

In short there are plenty more players I’d like to see leave Newcastle ahead of Leon Best. I’d like him to resist any movement away from St James’ Park although I fear that he is one of the players Alan Pardew when he was prattling on about having to have a ‘chat’ with players about their role within the club.

Don’t get me wrong. I’d like Shane Long at Newcastle. He has a much better goalscoring record than Connor Wickham for example, having outscored him by a ratio of 3-1 last season. People fizzed about Wickham going to Sunderland, but I think Long’s record suggests that he would be the better addition if we are to take a punt on someone from the Championship. I wouldn’t swap Leon Best for him though, and yes, I never imagined I’d be saying that just 12 months ago, or even 6 months ago.

So what would you do? If your option was to pay a few million and give Leon Best away as part of the deal for Shane Long would you follow it up? Is it worth taking a punt on a Championship player, albeit a prolific one, at the expense of someone who has demonstrated that he will find the back of a Premier League net if given the chances?

I’d like Long at Newcastle, but at what expense?

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.

82 thoughts on “Would you swap Leon Best for Shane Long?

  1. I don’t know, but probably not. I can imagine that if Best were to play a full season in the championship now that he might also score 20 goals plus, like Long.

    We should go for a player worthy of the number 9 shirt, or give it to Ba and hope he stays fit?!

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  2. What people fail to remember is Long scored 25 goals last season and Carroll only scored 19 the one before both in the same league and Carroll in a far superior team to Long. Best hardly set the championship alight playing for Coventry. I say buy Long and if Best is part of the deal so be it for all we know we could be selling Long for £40m come January

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  3. Wow. So that’s £35m + £40m, and let’s say another £40m for Cabaye and a few others once they realise Mr Ashley has no ambition. That means next summer we could have a whopping £115m to not spend on players.
    Think of all the undersoil heating we could buy with that. Enough to heat Saltwell Park. And the Town Moor.
    We’ll also be able to pay the wages until the Sun goes out! And that’s a very, very long time.
    Bet we still don’t bid for a striker worth more than £1m and a packet of Cola Cubes.

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  4. Best’s hatrick vs West Ham gave him the “Berbatov boost” so to speak. Still, a goal is a goal. As things remain, Best should probably be the first striker coming off the bench. and perhaps starting the easier games. I think he has earned a chance to be much more involved next season. #3 is right, the reshuffle in midfield could play into Best’s style.

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  5. yeah but shane long scored 25 goals last season dose that not say he can score goals? ppl say yeah premiership is harder it is but if u think long scored 25 at reading with nowere near as good midfield as us how many goals would he get with a much much better midfield like ours? best is ok but i say do the deal and get sturrige hes class keep enrique get zoggy ad be over the moon me like !!

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