Below you will find two teams with one thing in common; They are comprised of current or ex-Newcastle United players. One is formed with British and Irish players and the other is a collection of players from across the rest of the Globe. For these teams I have set two selection criteria;
1) Any selected player has to have been a full international at some point during their career.
2 Any selected player has to have appeared for Newcastle United in the last 30 years. (1986 onward).
The team selections are entirely subjective and based on contribution to NUFC, at what stage in their career they played for the Magpies and just personal preference. For example Patrick Kluivert does not make the line up despite being a huge global star – because he played for us so late in his career. The reason for the 30-year rule is because it was so rare for teams to buy foreigners before then.
So for the United Kingdom and Rest of the World I’ve gone for 4-3-3;
First team:Shay Given (GK), Warren Barton (RB), Jonathan Woodgate (CB), Steve Howey (CB), Barry Venison (LB), David Batty (DM), Gary Speed (CM), Paul Gascoigne (AM), Peter Beardsley (STR), Alan Shearer (STR), Craig Bellamy (STR).
Subs: Martin Thomas (GK), Stephen Carr (RB), Aaron Hughes (CB), Rob Lee (CM), David McCreary (MF), Keith Gillespie (RW), Les Ferdinand(STR).
Honorable mentions to John Anderson, Andy O’Brien, Liam O’Brien, Michael Owen, Duncan Ferguson (a favourite of mine), Sol Campbell, Kieron Dyer, Jermaine Jenas.
It was a close call between Hughes and Howey for me. Howey was a great servant to the club but not really an established international. Hughes was versatile and underrated in my opinion but overall Howey contributed more to us. Rob Lee just fell short because with that attacking line-up the midfield needed a general – and there were few better than David Batty. Up front Sir Les lost out to Bellamy because I genuinely believe Bellamy was the better player in his prime and Ferdinand contribute more to Spurs than us.
The Rest of the World has a 4-4-2 formation;
First Team: Pavel Srnicek (GK, Cze), Jonas Gutierrez (LB, Arg), Nikos Dabizas (CB, Gre), Phillipe Albert (CB, Bel), Habib Beye (RB, Sen), Laurent Robert (LW, Fra), Hatem Ben Arfa (AM, Fra), Johan Cabaye (CM, Fra), Nolberto Solano (RW, Per), Loic Remy (STR, Fra), Faustino Asprilla (STR, Col).
Subs: Tim Krul (GK), Fabricio Coloccini (CB), Mathieu Debuchy (RB), David Ginola (LW), Cheick Tiote (CM), Georgino Wijnaldum (AM), Obafemi Martins (STR).
Honorable mentions to: Shaka Hislop (I know he was raised locally), Bjorn Kristensen, Charles Nzogbia, Temuri Ketsbaia, Hugo Viana, Luis Saha, Patrick Kluivert, Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse, Dietmar Hamann.
Some controversial choices you might argue, but Gutierrez could play at left back and down the years we have had very slim pickings in terms of international talent in that position. Olivier Bernard was a personal favorite of mine, but he never won a cap for his Country. Dabizas was underrated and reliable and whilst Coloccini has occasionally oozed class, I believe overall the Greek was the better contributor to our cause. Colo might just be the worst Captain the club has ever had.
Beye was similar to Debuchy in that he could get forward but he pips the Frenchman because he did not treat us as a stepping stone. I honestly don’t think there was a lot of difference between the two in their prime. Robert beats Ginola due to his contribution. He played a lot more and scored a lot more for us. Again, Ginola was more a Spurs contributor than ours. Hamann was a better player than Tiote, but did not feature for us for long. We have not had a wealth of foreign talent in the middle of the park unfortunately. The same can be said up front. Occasional flashes but no long term, stable contributors. Martins shades Cisse to the bench. They both chipped in for us but Martins had excellent celebrations!
No doubt I have forgotten some very good players but hey ho.
[poll id=”90″]
Troy: I have had enough of that subject and we are going around in circles. There is plenty more to talk about – like the game tomorrow. Are you going?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Be a shame if Tiote goes. He is the best out the three we have that can play that position, doesn’t make sense. Wait this is Newcastle United. Tiote probably the only one of the three we could get money for. Anita and Colback would have to be free transfers.
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
lol BB i read that too, cant take the Chron serious with sentences like that
a high level transfer meeting ?!?! WTF. well. at least theyve just started talking.. 😳
Seems a lot of activity going on.. lets see the colour of your money Fatty…
Gashley(Quote)
Eric
I am going to the game tomorrow expecting a right old drab affair. Saying that it will probably be a goal fest but both teams are shy in front of goal at the present.
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Psychs
You always want to change the subject when the heat is on you. 😉
No I’m not going. I expect we will get beat and the pressure will keep growing on McLaren yet some will still suggest we stick with him cos there’s nobody better willing to come here. :roll
McLaren is easily replaced. I fail to undrstand why others think he is.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Tiote has been hit and miss for a couple of seasons and there is talk of dressing room unrest to do with Tiote.
Good player on his day but I’d rather keep Anita tbh
Gashley(Quote)
another day. same **** 😳 😉
I’m going & I expect a decent game with a 1-0 win 😀
Gashley(Quote)
Eric, Did you notice that the ‘high level meeting’ was only between Carr and Charnley. About right. What would the head coach have to say on any potential new players…? He’d only be coaching them!
Stuart79(Quote)
😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I don’t really think that this transfer window will have teams paying that much over the odds. There are not that many teams in the market so there is not a whole lot of competition. The real scramble will be in the summer when every tin-pot club will have 130 mil of TV money and be guaranteed that for 3 years. The promoted teams can literally buy a new team.
Then of course you will have Chelsea and Man City with new managers, probably Man U as well and Klopp will be wanting his own players.
This is the calm before the storm and Fatman should be putting his hand in his pocket because prices for PL players are only going one way.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Tiote has probably featured in under half our games in last 2 or 3 years. His contribution is not good enough and he can go. We need players that are not perms crocks, rubbish or always away.
Can’t belivev Bowie is gone. Absolute legend of the highest order and a unique musician. Gutted.
Shamrock(Quote)
I know it’s a footie blog but
RIP David Bowie, my absolute music hero, only yesterday told my daughter I wanted Blackstar for my birthday next month. Had a bowie tribute act for my 50th too. Can’t believe that will be the last music I hear from him. Another chunk of my youth lost. Gutted 🙁
kimtoon(Quote)
Shamrock, It’s up there with Elvis and Lennon for me such was his musical influence.
kimtoon(Quote)
Same here Kim. It’s not often I am genuinely gutted to see a celeb go. Too young. I’m only 31 but have an older taste in music generally because songs back then we’re groundbreaking and usually told a story instead of the repetitive ninsese most of today’s music dishes out. Bowie was so unique and he was in one of my favourite all time favourite films – Labyrinth – which blew my mind as a child and fitted his personality to a tee!
Shamrock(Quote)
I’ll throw a quick new article together later unless somebody else fancies a crack. I’m sure you are sick of reading stuff from the usual 3 of me, Kim and Toonsy! Contributions from other bloggers are welcomed. It would be very interesting read a piece from many of you 😀
Shamrock(Quote)
Sham, I watched that again over Christmas, great film. His new album is good , only 7 tracks though. Hazel texted me first thing but I slept in as Lew is at respite until this afto. When I got up and put the news on I couldn’t believe it. He made a few duffers, I hated the whole Tin Machine thing he did but loved pretty much all he did, especially his early stuff. His musical influence on many generations cannot be under estimated, huge talent and beautiful soul to me.
kimtoon(Quote)
According to the Times the Saviet flew into Newcastle last night.
Stuart79(Quote)
SAIVET missed a third of last season due to injury and this season has 4 goals and 1 assistbin 27 appearances. Not convinced he will contribute any more than our current lot. Primarily a CM but can play either wing.
Shamrock(Quote)
Great. Another inexperienced Frenchman.
Stuart79(Quote)
Cannot see the point in Saviet tbh, another French misfit?, time for Carrs influence to cease .
kimtoon(Quote)
They are sadly mistaken if they think the Saviet signing will quash fan unrest. For myself it only reinforces my total lack of faith in the regime, I said last week that it would be another French MF that arrived. Ridiculous carr has a hard on for mf players and blinkers on for anyone else it seems. 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
Apparently we’ve bid £10m for Shelvey and want Andre Gray from Burnley…
Stuart79(Quote)
Never heard of Gray. What position is he and is he any good?
Shamrock(Quote)
Sham, he’s a forward
kimtoon(Quote)
Stu – Gray has 15 goals in 22 games and is only 24 – but Burnley paid around £8.5m for him in the summer, so how much do they value him at? – especially as you say, Afode was £12m.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Swans were meant to be after him
kimtoon(Quote)
bit pricey
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3392127/Swansea-bid-club-record-12-5m-Burnley-striker-Andre-Gray-desperate-quest-goals-relegation-battle.html
kimtoon(Quote)
Sham – he was at Brentford before joining Burnley – basically Danny Ings replacement, though I’m not sure Liverpool have agreed the compo with Burnley yet.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Grey is a no go for this season he has already played for two clubs this season,we want players now and ready to go
icedog(Quote)
R.I.P David Bowie.
Terry(Quote)
Newcastle United look to be close to sealing the transfer of Bordeaux midfielder Henri Saivet
Not sure much about him on goal scoring ability… but just hope he made a instant impact like what Sissoko did when he came in Jan.
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
So after much thought I’m going with this as my favourite Bowie track.
Quicksand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJIV6NwMWQg
I’m closer to the Golden Dawn
Immersed in Crowley’s uniform
Of imagery
I’m living in a silent film
Portraying Himmler’s sacred realm
Of dream reality
I’m frightened by the total goal
Drawing to the ragged hole
And I ain’t got the power anymore
No, I ain’t got the power anymore
I’m the twisted name on Garbo’s eyes
Living proof of Churchill’s lies, I’m destiny
I’m torn between the light and dark
Where others see their targets, divine symmetry
Should I kiss the viper’s fang?
Or herald loud the death of Man
I’m sinking in the quicksand of my thought
And I ain’t got the power anymore
Don’t believe in yourself , don’t deceive with belief
Knowledge comes with death’s release
Aah-aah, aah-aah, aah-aah, aah-aah
I’m not a prophet or a stone-age man
Just a mortal with the potential of a superman
I’m living on
I’m tethered to the logic of **** Sapien
Can’t take my eyes from the great salvation
Of bullshit faith
If I don’t explain what you ought to know
You can tell me all about it on the next Bardo
I’m sinking in the quicksand of my thought
And I ain’t got the power anymore
Don’t believe in yourself , don’t deceive with belief
Knowledge comes with death’s release
Aah-aah, aah-aah, aah-aah, aah-aah
Don’t believe in yourself , don’t deceive with belief
Knowledge comes with death’s release
Aah-aah, aah-aah, aah-aah, aah-aah
kimtoon(Quote)
I would be taking Loic Remy on loan. A proven premier league goalscorer who knows the club and should hit the ground running.
Or at least try and get him.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy, Agree we should be going all out for Remy, they won’t though because they are stupid.
kimtoon(Quote)
R.I.P David Bowie. My favourite song is and always will be the collaboration of him and Queen – Under Pressure.
😥
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoDh_gHDvkk
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Troy – yeah I think of all the names mentioned so far, Remy seems the safest option. I have a suspicion that your pal Pardew might just be after him too though – link him up with Cabaye again. I reckon Remy would fancy Palace over us as well unfortunately.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, Course he would .
kimtoon(Quote)
Sad times when a club like palace is a better option than us. But I tend to agree. At least try though.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
New thread 》》》》》》》
Shamrock(Quote)