A solution to two problems?

Niko Kranjcar
Kranjcar would solve one issue, but not all of them.
We keep hearing that Newcastle United are looking at players to bring in during this transfer window.

As yet though, apart from Hatem Ben Arfa of course, the search for new blood has proved fruitless.

We have had certain hints from Alan Pardew though regarding what kind of positions he is looking to strengthen, those being left-back and right-wing. It would appear that a striker, which was a priority earlier on in the window, is no longer of paramount importance, so the attention can be focused on the two positions which we know are being looked at. Who would you pick to fill the gaps? Here are my ideas…

Patrick van Aanholt.

The young Dutch left-back spent a portion of last season on loan with us, and the lad seemed to enjoy it. Perhaps he could be persuaded to come back?

Van the man would be on reasonable wages and would offer reliable cover and competition for Jose Enrique. He would also be able to cover the left wing if needed and would be available for a fair fee. I’m not sure whether Chelsea would allow the lad to leave Stamford Bridge though.

The problem with left-back though is that it is going to be hard to find someone who will be happy to sit behind Enrique in the pecking order as, being realistic, well struggle to find anyone anywhere near Jose’s level who will be happy to play second fiddle.

Niko Kranjcar.

With Wayne Routledge seemingly on the move, I’d like think that the club have a replacement lined up.

Shaun Wright-Phillips is rumoured to be interesting Newcastle, which wouldn’t necessarily be a bad move, but I can think of other players I would prefer to see in a black and white shirt before Wright-Phillips.

Step forward Niko Kranjcar, who would appear to be approaching the end of his shelf life at Tottenham.

The Croatian midfielder can play right wing, but he can also play in various other positions across the midfield. He is a very very good technical player and is younger than Wright-Phillips. A fee of £2 million has been mentioned, which would be great, but I can’t see it. Put simply, Tottenham don’t sell their players on the cheap.

So there you go. Two new players that would address two issues that Alan Pardew has said he has.

Obviously these are just my recommendations like as I hold no power at St James’ Park, but can you think of any more suggestions?

Who do you think we should go for?

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.

34 thoughts on “A solution to two problems?

  1. I’d love to see Van Aannholt back Newcastle. He’s not played any league games for Chelsea this season so they might just let him go.

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  2. here’s a thought,

    since we’re out of the cups now, we wont be playing obviously when other teams are.

    Anyone looked at the fixtures and picked out games when teams we’re playing will have a cup game a few days before us when we’ve had the week off?

    Tired team, more chance of 3 points?

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  3. ILM….you can only do that for the next round as you don’t know who’ll be left in after that…..that would be Fulham ko @1630 30/1 and then they play us 2/2 🙂

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  4. I read that we are after Stephen Ireland on loan. Not sure if I’m happy about that. He has been poor the last 12 months or so while his form prior to that was excellent. It would give us time to look at him and see if he’ll fit in here but do we need another central midfielder?

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  5. I can’t see Ireland coming tbh, certainly not to sit on the bench and going off his form over the last year or so then that’s where he’d be.

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  6. I’d take SWP, Kranjcar or Ireland. Or all of them. All are improvements on Routledge, Raylor or Smith.

    Van Aanholt would be an excellent signing.

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  7. I wouldn’t sihn Ireland , he is a muppet of the highest order , out to make as much money as possible , bad attitude to boot , he is a good footballer but think he would be disruptive to say the least

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  8. Johno i dont think you can blame any player for taking the massive wages that shitty were offering, and im sure Ireland thought he would have been an integeral part of the team, but that didn’t work.
    As for being a bad attitude any reports i heard was that he was a quiet lad, but even if he’s not dont forget the bad attitude that Benny was supposed to have.
    Maybe its just me but i think Ireland and the likes of SWP would love it at the Toon and we would maybe see the good side of them ? Or maybe not lol

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  9. Kranjcar would be perfect for us, can go past a player has that bit of flare we all love, but there are reports that Liverpool are after him now. And if you listen to some spurs fans they say he is very hit and miss, fails to track back.

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  10. i think ireland is a good player, just not sure where he could fit in for us though. SWP again he would be better that routledge but he is older and how long would he be here for??!!

    i think krancjar is the one. can cover alot of positions if needed and he has that extra bit of quality as well.

    i definitely think that the silence at the moment is a good thing and a signing is on the horizon. but who will it be?? maybe neymar, ganso, jesus navas, juan mata, we can all dream cant we!! 😆

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  11. Not so sure about Ireland. He’s had one good season, and nothing since. I mean, why is he not playing in a struggling Villa side?

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  12. TOONSY ime with you on that,something doesnt smell quite right with the lad,i know rout is on the way but ireland wont fit that whole imo

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  13. no ice he wont fill the hole that wayne has left, he isnt a wide man and not the fastest.

    more of a replacement for nolan playing in the hole. i think his head has gone at villa, i dont think he wanted to go there IMO. he has the talent though, and will be a good signing for a team who play him regularly.

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  14. There is absolutely no way I would replace our second highest goalscorer. Let’s face it, without Nolan we would struggle for goals a lot more.

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  15. thats what i was meaning toonsy, not that ireland would replace him, but that if he is injured / suspended he would fill that void.

    im surprised at nolan to be fair, double figures from midfield is awesome, we havent had that since i can remember (in the prem).

    every team needs a goalscoring midfielder, he is so clever in terms of positioning and a clinical finisher.

    who would you like to see come in and do a job on the right toonsy?

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  16. Dare I say it, but Nolan is probably the best finisher we have at the minute 😯

    Anything in and around the box and he is there.

    On the right? Not so sure to be honest. SWP could work out if he got his head down. Kranjcar.

    It needs to be someone who can cross a ball but who can vary his crosses. Barton is fine at long raking crosses, but sometimes it needs to be varied. Someone that can steal a yard on the left-back and flash it across goal would be good. The question is, who ❓

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  17. RAMBO87 i see what your saying,but no player can expect to play all the time,just think he plays one type of game and we have lads to do that now.
    my take on him he whats to be no1 man in that role couldnt get it at last club and went to villa,same result,just think at this time its not a risk worth taking with our budget,just my view mate

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  18. TOONSY ime with you on that its not a question of who its a question of how much as well, with our cash limit.
    on swp said before thats the problem “head”down

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  19. very good points ice, he would be ideal at a club dare i say it like the mackems, or even liverpool. who dont necessarily have a play maker type player and can be built around him. but i think he thinks he should be at a top 6 club, but he needs to prove himself again first.

    i think that barton can be a bit of a 1 trick pony with his crosses, but he is accurate which sort of cancels it out. be nice to get someone with pace who can beat the last man and fizz it infront of the goal.

    if SWP could replicate the form he showed at man city before the move to chelski he would be awesome. has he got the ambition though nowadays?

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  20. Aye, I know what you’re saying. Sometime I watch Barton crossing, when he does his penny floaters. and think, not again. But the a goal is scored and I quickly forget about it :mrgreen:

    I guess the thing is to have a player who can very it. Barton has been fantastic on the wings, but it isn’t his position. I’d like to see him in the middle where he should be. no more round pegs in square holes etc etc

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  21. i think that to play barton in the middle we have to go for 4-3-3
    its the only way it would work.
    tiote in the middle dropping back with nolan pushing on and barton just dictating and distributing the play.
    then ben arfa on either wing, andy in the middle, and then the other wing is free. which is the hole we are trying to fill at the moment really.
    needs to have pace, a good cross and the ability to finish chances as well.

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  22. I can see Ireland fitting in – if pards decides to switch to the man city formation which I would love to see us play.

    Carroll is obviously the focal point, but if he were to be flanked by Benny and Ireland, with Barton, Tiote and Nolan behind, this would give us a real fluid attacking team. The routine 4-4-2 is dead I think and we should look at the new formation, which would mean the orthadox wingers arent really that neccessary

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  23. thats right rambo – with the boss circling around it took me 45 mins to write the last comment and didnt see u write yours!

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  24. haha, ive been on dinner mate and should be cracking on now!!

    ah well few more comments wont do any harm pal

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  25. @Toonsy- very interesting suggestions, a little under the radar yet good quality there. A definite no to Ireland.

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