Gervinho OR Gameiro, but not both.

Gameiro the #1 target?
It would appear that Newcastle are chasing both Gervinho and Kevin Gameiro, but they will only sign one of them if The Journal is to be believed.

In one of those “The Journal understands” kind of articles, it appears that Newcastle are negotiating for the pair of them. With rumour suggesting that a £10 million bid has been accepted by Lorient for Gameiro it would appear that he is the number one target although the club are not burning their bridges with regard to a deal for Gervinho in case the Gameiro deal doesn’t come off.

We’ve got another week of this speculation to come as it is expected that no deals will be finalised until the international football is over and players are released for their summer activities next Monday. Unfortunately all of our deals at the moment include international players, which is a good thing for the club but a bad thing when it comes to speculation.

It’s a dangerous game though in my opinion. I’d actually say that we should try and get both. Why not? Both of them fit the profile of the club and match the criteria that seems to apply to our signings, so what harm would it do to have both of them? Unfortunately that is the fan in me talking so naturally I’d like to see the best players at St James’ Park, as I’m sure we all would.

It’s good that we aren’t purely focussing on just one of them, but if we wait around for one and that doesn’t come off we stand a good chance of putting the second one off aswell. After the work that the club have put in it would be a crying shame if they were to come away empty handed.

So I guess the question is, if you were making the decisions which one would you go after?

Whilst Gervinho would be an exciting attacking player who can operate in a number of positions he wouldn’t solve our glaring lack of striking options. If it’s a striker that is needed then it’s generally best to get a striker, so on that basis I would plump for Kevin Gameiro.

I know people will say something along the lines of “well he doesn’t really want to be here” but I think that is hogwash. He may apparently prefer a move to Valencia but that doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t try his hardest at another club. Let’s face it, if he didn’t want to sign he would just not agree to a deal, right?

Gameiro finished as the second highest scorer in Ligue 1 this term scoring 22 league goals. Not bad when you consider that his struggling Lorient side finished in 12th place just five points ahead of the relegation places.

I’m not saying that I’d not love to have Gervinho at the club, but I just feel that our need for a striker is greater than the need for a creative type of player. We’ve got Ben Arfa coming back for that role, as well as the services of Yohan Cabaye who is said to be a tricky and creative customer.

So in an ideal world I’d like both, but if I could have only one of them it would have to be Kevin Gameiro.

Who would you choose, and why?

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.

55 thoughts on “Gervinho OR Gameiro, but not both.

  1. To be honest i’d buy both and forget about n’zogbia, If we are interested at all. Play gervinho on the wing, grameiro up front and keep jonas on the left. I never rated/rate n’zogbia though. Just kicks it hard whatever way he’s facing. Means he scores spectacular goals which increases his hype. I havn’t seen grameiro though so he could be **** for all i know.

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  2. Might be both:

    cwarr07 Colin
    Gervinho has agreed but #nufc have not spoken directly to Gameiro & are resigned to him holding out for a move to Spain.
    42 minutes ago
    Colin
    cwarr07 Colin
    Interesting article by @MsiDouglas re Gameiro & Gervinho. My understanding is that #nufc wanted both (bids tabled).
    45 minutes ago
    »
    PMF
    Fur10ng PMF
    NUFC definitly looking to bring in both and are using this as a way of defusing speculation in either for fear of 11th hour bids by rivals!
    45 minutes ago

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  3. Once again Toonsy, I completely agree with you! I’ve thought this all along! Don’t know how likely we are to get him but lets wait and see! 🙂

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  4. Good question!

    I think the answer can only come from Carr and Co, who know the important things, like:

    – Attitude and personality
    – Exact fit of skills to AP’s plans and requirements
    – Technical clauses in contracts that could effect costs

    I’d be happy with either or both, although I think this article sums up what I’m concerned about:

    http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2011/05/31/transfer-bargains-great-for-nufc-but-team-spirit-is-at-risk-61634-28791869/

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  5. I would prefer Gervinho because he is more versatile and would adapt to the team quicker (friendship with Tiote & Cabaye). However, he has to leave for African Cup of Nations mid season. So I think Gameiro would be the better option…

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  6. 2 different types of player – Gameiro is an out and out goal scorer and gervinho can play wide or up front – hope we get both. Gervinho looked class when I watched the Lille Rennes game the other night – would love him at the Toon.
    If we don’t get Gameiro we would need to get someone else in as a no.9

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  7. @Rorycn

    What about Ben Arfa? Surely he’d be better use on the wing than Gervinho?

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  8. Ben Arfa is likely to play in the hole behind a main striker according to Pardew.

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  9. These are our main targets:
    Yohan Cabaye Mehdi Abeid
    Gervinho Shane Long (If we fail with CF)
    Kevin Gamiero C N zogbia (Theres no point)
    Demba Ba
    Cheikh M Bengue (if jose enrique leaves)
    Jermain Defoe

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  10. Yeah he might need a bit of time to get back into it although I imagine from what I’ve heard, he will been given the best training to aid his recovery and after his operations it was announced that his injury wouldn’t permanently affect his playing.

    I thought Ben Arfa would be on the right wing, Jonas on the left, Gervinho in the middle with Gameiro up front?

    Also what about Nolan & Barton if we make these signings? Wouldn’t wanna see either of them benched 🙁

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  11. Ben Arfa will have no setback because of his injury. If anything any last problem will be mainly in his head. That’s why it’s important that the first tackle goes in on him, and that he come out of it the other side. It’s only by doing that that he’ll feel confident again.

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  12. Also, we are apparently favourites to sign Demba Ba. Anyone else think that could be why we are only apparently targetting one of these two players now?

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  13. Well I’d prefer us to sign Demba Ba than Berbatov Toonsy! 😉

    Any comments on the Nolan & Barton situation? My guess is we’ll have the 4-4-2 formation at home. So with Tiote’s 90% chance in CDM, I wonder who will have to be benched if not both?

    And probably a 4-5-1 away…

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  14. Jamie – Nohin on Barton or Nolan that we don’t know 😐

    A – How come you’ve changed your name from Alan Pardew?

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  15. nufcinsideinfo Dave
    Enrique has rejected new #nufc deal of 50k a week he will now be sold and the asking price is 7m.
    20 minutes ago

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  16. Tim Krul
    M bengue/jose enrique collocinini S Taylor D simpson

    Cheik Tiote

    Cabaya Nolan/Barton Guttierez

    Ba/Gervinho/new guy Gamiero/Ameobi/newguy

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  17. Havn’t seen Gameiro play, but Gervinho I’ve seen a lot of and he is a brilliant player.
    He reminds me of the African Bellamy, with a but more skill, a bit less tenacity and without the gob…

    Cracking player, but not a target man, and we’d need someone who can hold up the ball.

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  18. Also, Gervinho doesn’t play down the middle, he stays very much down the channels. So it’d be Ben Arfa down the middle. Cabeye as our box-to-box, and Tiote as the holding midfielder, with Gervinho or Nzogbia and Jonas down the channels.

    Still need a striker though…

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  19. interesting article Toonsy and a very very tricky one.
    Both players have differing merits: Gervinho, I think, is slightly higher profile and would subsequently send out a more glamourous message to rivals/other teams etc, he’s also Ivorian and apparently very good friends with Cheik, and let’s face it, if Cheik’s happy, we’re happy. I also like the idea of having him play alongside other tricky customers like Ben Arfa and Cabaye (and nzogbia?) as I think an abundance of flair in the final third is never a bad thing. With regards to Gamiero, everything you say is bang on: we need a striker. Simple as. Not just any striker, but a striker who puts the ball in the back of the net consistently. Gamiero certainly seems to be that man. Overall, it’s a tough choice, and I’d kind of envisaged both of them coming in with Gervinho playing on the wing, but we can’t have it all! So, in a final act which will no doubt undermine any of the reason I’ve just displayed in this argument… On Fifa Gervinho is 84 and cabaye is 81.

    Gervinho for me 😆

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  20. I think we should get

    M bengue = 6mil
    Cabaya = 4.3 mil
    Ba = free
    Defoe/Gameiro/Gervinho = 1 of them we need each 12mil

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  21. Tim Krul

    Simpson, Colloccini, Saylor, M’bengue/Enrique

    Cheik Tiote

    Ben Arfa Barton(Cabaye) Guttierez

    Gervinho(Nolan)

    Gameiro

    I think that would be my ideal squad although theres the possibility of so many options it’s pretty hard to choose! Didn’t wanna bench Nolan or Barton 🙁

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  22. i think well sign Ba yes Sturridge or A johnson Cabaya M bengue maybe gamiero maybe gervinho 1 or the over. This would equal about 34mil tight

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  23. cwarr07 Colin

    Berbatov story is a non starter, Demba Ba also not a target. Other striking options to Gameiro include Erdinc at PSG & Shane Long at Reading

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  24. Which suggests that Gervinho is a different target to NUFC. So we couldd get both? Pretty sure we won’t get Gameiro though…

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  25. Long time reader, first time writer…..

    It’s nice not to be having this debate about Carlton Cole and Jay Bothroyd like..

    I’d be ecstatic with both, but still chuffed with either, they both look like class. However I think if we’re still going to field Nolan, and Benny is back too, alongside the odd goal from Cabaye, we’ll have a lot of goals coming from our midfield. So a first rate striker is what we need.. Eh?

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  26. I heard Les Ferdinand and David Ginola are pulling their toon shirts back on for one last season…

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  27. Haha they maybe 50 but I remember that day so well when those numbers were the ManU. scoreline…

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  28. I find it funny that people think Gutierrez should even be part of our next campaign, the most inconsistent frail timid winger i have ever seen, scared to take on players and always need support from Jose. He is terrible, get him out and bring in a real winger who will offer a new dimension to our attacks! Charles, gervinho even Hoilet, at least these are direct!

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  29. For me David, Gutierrez was one of the top performers of the 2nd half of the season…

    The majority of the time it looked like it was only him, Barton and Enrique who ever played 110%

    I respect his attitude to the game and his loyalty to the Toon just as much as his technical ability.

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  30. Jamie Vincente

    What the Liverpool game, Wolves, Birmingham. Not good enough, we should be happy because our players have one good game in ten, they need to be consistent like Tiote. Being content with a shitty winger brings nothing to the team, he is just a wasted talent, can do great things, but very rarely steps up!!

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  31. davidtoon4life, I am sure you watch football from a different prospect from mine. Jonas always take on his opponents and has earned numerous freekicks for us.

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  32. Haha, ana about the freekicks, but still can’t be content with that, he rarely preformed to his potential and that angers me, but your entitled to your opinion =D Am off cyaz

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  33. Yeah, I know what you mean, his talents does promise a great deal more than that. I just think it is partly the problem of our playing style as he actually got many assists at la liga before joining us.

    Cya mate.

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