The first was when he said of the team that played Club Brugge that we were looking at the future of Newcastle United. The other was when he praised four players as being close to the first team. Those being, Shane Ferguson, Gael Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi and Adam Campbell. So what would our future team look like?
Also there is still a strong call for us to “Show Ambition” and buy to strengthen the team. We all get excited by links to famous names. So I thought I’d construct two teams one based on our current purples, with nobody sold, strengthened with a couple of prestigious buys. My choices. Given that we have made a profit of £36m on player transfers over the last five years (Carroll money not spent debate) which is the second highest in the Premier League. Apparently that proves only Arsenal have shown less ambition than us.
My other team is based on those four players named above together with the younger players we already have. Maximum age 24. Give them a couple of years to mature and throw in a replacement or two if they don’t quite make it then we can sell the older purples and become completely ambition free. I take it from this that debt = ambition.
Anyway lets look at the squad we have and see what sort of teams we could be fielding in a year or three.
Well Tim Krul at 24 is still young for a keeper. Hopefully he will be a feature in both teams. Not sure we have adequate cover but that is a different debate.
Full backs are all young. Danny Simpson is oldest at 25, Santon 21; Fergie is also 21. So we could buy Debuchy to strengthen team purple, but Fergie and Santon will do for Kid’s R Us.
At centre-back we have a problem. Fabricio Coloccini is 30, Mike Williamson 29, James Perch 27 and Steven Taylor 26. So we are either having to buy or hope that Curtis Good, James Tavernier, Paul Dummett or Remi Streete come through, but they are not close yet. I think we are going to have to buy here either way. M’biwa and Douglas are the names to conjure with.
Defensive midfielders, as well as Cheik Tiote being only 26, we have Vurnon Anita at 23 and Gael Bigirimana at 19. Anita is not playing at anywhere near the level he was last season but he will adapt in time. Also we have been linked with Moussa Sissoko again, another potential purple.
Creatively we have Yohan Cabaye at 26 and Hatem Ben Arfa at 25 with, again hopefully, backup in Dan Gosling 22, Mehdi Abeid 20 or Romain Amalfitano 23.
In attack we have Gabriel Obertan, 21 and Sammy Ameobi at 20 out wide with Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba both 27 in the middle. Then we have Adam Campbell who is only 17 with Haris Vuckic, injured again, aged just 20.
And I haven’t mentioned Ryan Taylor, Sylvain Marveaux or Shola Ameobi.
So team purple might look something like this:
Tim Krul, Mathieu Debuchey, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Colocinni, Davide Santon, Moussa Sissoko, Cheik Tiote, Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa, Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba.
Whereas Kids’R Us, which is based on players aged 24 or under:
Tim Krul, Davide Santon, ??, ??, Shane Ferguson, Gael Bigirimana, Vurnon Anita, Dan Gosling, Gabriel Obertan, Adam Campbell, Sammy Ameobi.
Ok slightly different formations but that’s not the point. The question is do we try to buy a trophy or give the kids a chance and sell the purples for a profit as and when we can?
Your thoughts please…
Nicer one Prem. I wonder what Big Dave’s view on this would be 😉 😆
We need to keep strengthening with new players. They need to be good enough to start so it puts pressure on the incumbent first teamers. It is the only way we will get better as a team. 😉
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Good read Prem, agree with the Antipodean, players bought should be good enough to push for a starting place unless they are young uns bought for the future like Good, hopefully a few of the youngsters will make the step up to the first team too.
richietoon(Quote)
I think we need to strike a balance of players coming in and players coming through. Thats the same with anything in life , getting the balance right is key. We do have some good youngsters here but they need to prove their worth. Good read by the way
Johno Toon(Quote)
Good read Prem and if it works all’s good. I just think if a couple of the younguns come through we’ll be doing well. And I can’t see us not having to bring quality players in.
Aussie im starting to worry about you lad 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Big Dave 🙂 i have jut run out of things to stir Richie about and Ice only pops on from time to time, so that leaves you mate 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Some of the younguns wont make it and will be sold off.
And some of the purples will remain to add experience.
I dont understand this article 😕 (nee offence)
it will be a drip feed of younguns into the Purple team, with other purples also brought in aswell.
I havent seen a great deal from Sammy, Gabby, or Gosling that would suggest they are the ‘future’ purples.
Also would like to add, that if Ferguson doesn’t start appearing in the 1st team more often, then I would not be surprised to see him leave, to further his carrer.
This is typical NUFC. Wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest to see him leave and become a superstar somewhere else. Thats how highly I rate him anyway.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
The thing that concerns me about Fergie is his lack of durability. He seems to pick up injuries too easily for my liking. He seems to hobble off the park most times I have seen him play..
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie the thing with young fergie is that he’s not built or suited to play as a defender 100% of the time, because he’s a winger, yet our fans want to see him as our LB even though thats not his prefered position.
If we are to get better we need to have specialist players in their own positions, not making do with wingers as FB or Dmf as CB etc.
Big Dave(Quote)
I see what you are saying Dave but Fergie seems to get a lot of soft tissue injuries that are not conducive to playing out of position. Just seems a bit injury prone if you ask me..
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Spot on BD.
I have seen nothing to suggest Fergy is a Left full back, yet Pardew will only give him his chance there. For me tho he is NOT a defender, but an attacking left winger. An ideal replacement in time for the ailing Jonas, who has far better defensive qualities in the midfield imo.
Its frustrating sometimes, which is why it wouldn’t surprise me if he leaves for pastures new.
Why no mention of Marveaux, Amalfitano Abeid etc ❓ Are they not considered futue purples ❓
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Aussie what is the causes of his soft tissue injuries then
BB I have followed and know a bit about young Fergie and I’ve said it hundreds of times that he’s not a defender, and even Jonny Evans dad who is a manure coach has said the same about him and he thinks he has a bright future as a winger.
Big Dave(Quote)
anyhow, having seen Santon play both left and right fullback, imo he is far better on the left. Which with Fergy infront of him, should make for a strong left flank.
😕
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Actually it surprised me just how young the core of the team is. Article a bit tongue in cheek and aimed for debate. The clue is in the question. Thanks Toonsy for the proof reading. Glad it’s being enjoyed.
Premandup(Quote)
Decent article Prem, although the whole subject is a bit of a muddle. Some kids will come through but not many – Bigi, Fergie and eventually young Campbell. He looks a hot prospect, probably hot enough for the first team bench.
I do wish we could stop with this purple business. It comes from Dekka and he really doesn’t have a clue. Maybe he’s good at selling pies.
georgio(Quote)
Georgio – Purple pies maybe? 😉
Rich – Antipodean? You’ve changed 😆
toonsy(Quote)
BD, I’m not fussed where Fergie plays, a strained hammy or calf has nothing to do with where you play. He seems to pick up a heap of non contact injuries….
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Prem – it’s a good read mate and a valid question considering the likes of Sissoko is being mentioned and fans expection for Jan.
I suggested the other day that new recruits should be given 2 yrs to prove there worth. If not they should be shown the door.
I think all teams need a mix of young and older players both experienced and inexperienced.
I actually like the look of your purple team and reckon that would be a really strong team in the league.
We don’t have to spend a fortune bringing players in – I reckon 3-5 players would do it (5 if we lost Xisco, Ranger and another).
I want to see the likes of Campbell, Tav, Fergie and Sammi getting the opportunity, but you have to bring new faces in, new talent in as well.
No other team simply goes with what they have – there has to be something in that!
Sharpy17(Quote)
I see Lawro has us down to lose against Liverpool on Sunday , surpirse supriese 🙄
Johno Toon(Quote)
Great article, Prem!
If anything this shows our need for a center back. Tav is obviously not close since Perch is still preferred over him, nothing against Perchinho.
I really have faith that Ferguson, Bigi, Campbell, and Sammy could all prove to be valuable players for us in the future. With just a little bit of addition to the first team, we could be flying
AndrewT(Quote)
Johno, I’ll be happy with a draw on Sunday to be honest. We haven’t been playing well, while Liverpool’s performances have been decent.
Of course, if our lads show up ready, we could easily get a win, haha
AndrewT(Quote)
Toonsy-Aye, I read books and everything now like…whey, I look at the pictures anyway
richietoon(Quote)
Agree Andrew , a point be a good result esp since we have a dreadful record at anfield. But I think we are 5/1 with the bookies , sticking a tenner on us!
Johno Toon(Quote)
We have some very talented young players, but what I worry about in regards to this club is that we’re a pretty poor side at developing talent. We need some serious loan time for some players…if we get dumped out of the cups I really hope they get playing time somewhere else…and for those like Abeid not featuring at all, they need a season long loan asap.
Newkie(Quote)
Rich – Are they those fabric books, with mirrors in and bright colours? Do they rattle when you shake them? And do the pages make crunchy noises? 😆
Pages making crunchy noises sounds like one of my books actually 😆 😯
toonsy(Quote)
Interesting article premand. I would say the young team looks fairly weak to me especially with Gosling and Obertan in it. That hopefully will not be the team of the future or we will be a mid-table team. We must continue to supplement with incoming players in the 24-26 range if we really do want to stay in the top 6. I personally don’t think Ashley believes we can stay in the top 6 with his method. He will make a lot of dosh but we will be a mid-table team because of it. The presence of Llambias at Ashley’s side will pretty much guarantee this. Hope I’m wrong but it seems but Newcastle and Arsenal are headed the same way. Will Wenger stick around if his best players keep being sold? I doubt it but not true for Pardew who loves that 8 year contract.
GeordieTwo(Quote)