Rafa Benitez is set to strengthen the Newcastle defence according to the Shields Gazette.
Walsall defender Rico Henry has come to the attention of Rafa Benitez having previously been a target for Sunderland. The left back is definitely one for the future but aged 19 and playing in League One, he has drawn attention to himself. His forty-four first team appearances for the Sadlers are accompanied by 2 England Under – 19 caps.
There’s a ring of truth in the story. We’ve previously reported on the interest in Leeds United full back Charlie Taylor and the pair play in the same position. Taylor though is three years older and with almost one hundred appearances more than Henry, is considered more of a ‘real deal’ than the potential of Henry.
It’s a tough decision for Rafa: one for the future or one straight into the XI? There are pros and cons for both and the decision is one of the reasons he’s paid his salary.
Just looking back again at that 2009-2010 season We finished with a +55 goal difference. 102 points. 90 goals for, 35 against. Lost only 4 times. Top goal scorers Carroll and Nolan with 17 apiece. Looking forward to seeing us surpass that.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Get us a CB Rafa! This lad is a 19 year old LB. Focus, Rafa, focus!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Andy, he looks about 10, or maybe I’m just getting old. I know nowt about this lad0r how good a LB he is but I do know we need a CB.
Kimtoon(Quote)
I wonder if Rafa is thinking about using Dummett as a CB ? that could explain him looking for another LB . That or he has no confidence in Haidara who is injury prone .
Life is Black and White(Quote)
Whether or not we use Dummett as a CB stand-in we need another quality CB. We have lost both Colo and Saylor. It doesn’t make sense not to bring another experienced CB in. It will happen but it’s very hard to wait for it.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Where is a new C/B sick of them saying things should be sorted in the next 48 hrs been saying that for a fortnight 😐 ☹️☹️
Icedog(Quote)
Looks like no-one wants to buy Sissoko either. This story line could drag on until the end of the season.
Terry(Quote)
yep that’s a distinct possibility, he is better at cb too. We still need a cb in though.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Well I know nothing about this kid & it would appear few do as the picture we have of the lad is a very different one to the one on Eds blog
http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/2/840559878?-11058:809:3
😆 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
It’s starting to look like Man Utd have more chance of signing Pogba than we do of signing a CB 🙁
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yes he is much better at C/B imo but still need another
Icedog(Quote)
Well if Rafa were too switch Dummett too Cb that would leave us with
Rb Jesus
sterry
Cb Mbemba
Lascelles
Dummett
Hanley(assuming we get him over the line)
LbHaidara
Plus we have Mbabu but i dont really know his real position and Anita too fill in at Rb and Hayden who can play Cb
We need at least Hanley plus another specialist Lb or we are going too be stuck yet again with square pegs in round holes when injury and suspensions kick in .
Life is Black and White(Quote)
I did not inclued Jan Maat because i think he wont start the season with us .
Life is Black and White(Quote)
LIBAW, I think Jesus can play anywhere across the back
Kimtoon(Quote)
I think the FA are only paying lip service to a true job search by interviewing Bagpuss Bruce. Fat Sam is their man. The only problem is that Moyes is the only manager left standing and might fit with the Mackems. He is a grinder, and the bloated toad has already set the team up to grind. Hopefully, Moyes will turn them down and it will be a complete farce.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Reading Ed’s blog and quite a few say that we should not get Lucas because we have Tiote. Erm… Tiote is 30 and in the last year of his contract. He wants one last pay day as evidenced by him hawking his wares all over the Middle East and China in the last 18 months. I highly doubt we will offer him an acceptable contract so we have to accept it is a one year deal where he helps us get back to the PL and then leaves.
Lucas, on the other hand, would probably be offered a 3 or 4 year deal allowing us to make a few quid on Tiote. If it is a part exchange for Gini though it would be the first I have ever seen. Have I missed any? Does anybody know of any previous part exchanges in England?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Cash + player deals quite common Eric
Premandup(Quote)
Prem: can you name a few for me? I really don;t pay that much attention to other clubs’ deals. I really wouldn’t mind it happening in this case.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric
http://www.givemesport.com/431574-top-5-biggest-transfer-swap-deals-winners-and-losers
Kimtoon(Quote)
I had forgotten Andy went to Manure for cash plus Gillespie
Kimtoon(Quote)
Thanks Kimtoon. They only mention one other all English swap of Cole and Gallas. I don’t think it happens often but as I said I wouldn’t mind it happening with Lucas.
I was also trying to think of who we could get to provide cover and competition at centre forward for a decent price. The only one I could think of was Jon Walters who is 32 and might consider a swansong at NUFC. I think he would be good in The Championship.
The other ones we have been linked with have not been that exciting. As I have said before, hopefully Rafa has someone lined up from Spain or Italy.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – a year of Ricky Lambert might be interesting. I still think we could pull Andy Carrolls heartstrings too. I say this in anticipation of a line of parked buses approaching SJP.
Georgio(Quote)
Ashley Cole and William Galla’s.
Jermaine Defoe and Bobby Zamora.
Keith Gillespie and Andy Cole.
James Beatie and Kevin Davies.
David Luis and Matic.
Michael Owen and Nunez.
Jazz Richards and Scott Maloney has just happened in the Championship.
Shamrock(Quote)
Palace allegedly after Sakho now. So when are Gini, Sissy, Gouffy, Rivi and The loan stars Vickic, Bigi etc going to sod off? And where is this CB? And is Thauvin staying or not?
Shamrock(Quote)
I just looked up Walters on Wikipedia and I reckon we could get him if we wanted him. Stoke didn’t seem to rate him that highly and I bet his contract is affordable:
“With Walters entering into the final year of his contract, Stoke rejected a bid from Norwich City at the start of the 2015–16 season. Walters vented his frustration with contract talks claiming the club are undervaluing him. This led to him handing in a transfer request but despite this he failed to secure a move away from the club. Waltes then scored in back to back matches against Leicester City and Bournemouth. Chief executive Tony Scholes stated that he hoped the club could reach a ‘compromise’ with Walters over his contract. His contract dispute was resolved and he signed a new two-and-a-half-year deal with Stoke on 7 November 2015. Walters played 33 times in 2015–16, scoring eight goals.”
8 goals in 33 was about as well as our high priced “stars” got and I reckon he could do a job for us in the Championship.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sham: why do you even care about Bigi and Vuckic? And Ameobi for that matter. They are mere afterthoughts that will never play for NUFC again. The only reason I could see them being kept is for the home grown quota but with our recent signings that will not be a problem.
So there really haven’t been that many swap deals between English clubs then. But it is not unheard of.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, because they are still on our books and I’m sick of hearing about them. Let’s see them off so we have room for better prospects to grow through the ranks.
Shamrock(Quote)
saying Hendley deal is close (about time this three wks) never seen him play they say he is quite slow and one paced i hope not,Dunk was my first choice as ive sen him play pity Chis wont let him go
icedog(Quote)
Sham: I think the plan for Bigi, Vuckic and Sammy was that they would do well on loan and we would get a fee for them. We will be lucky to get rid on a free. As for Riviere and Goufy I think they will be gone if we can get anything for them but they might be decent squad players in the Championship.
I know you don’t like Thauvin but he never had a chance. I think he was homesick and had to deal with Schteve. We will not get what we want for him this year, so let’s see if he has anything to offer.
I would get rid of Tiote for Lucas in a heartbeat. Tiote can do a job as a spoiler and lay it off to others but that makes him very limited. Lucas has a lot more to offer.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
£5.5m being quoted for Hanley as the agreed fee. That’s about right as discussed the other night…
Shamrock(Quote)
So we have agreed a fee for Hanley and he will have his medical today.
Is he any good?
Stuart79(Quote)
Who is scouting these players? Carr must have been involved in Lascelles and Darlow but most of his other picks were from abroad. Now we have gone on a bit of a buy British theme (including Shelvey and Townsend) who is putting the names forward?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
He is as good as Lascelles imo. Lascelles is probably better in the air but they are a match for pace whilst Hanley is better in the tackle and is absolutely solid. A total dominating beast. Lascelles is the better passer. He is a good signing.
Shamrock(Quote)
i just thought about scouting more. Doesn’t Carr live in Derbyshire, so Nottingham is his back yard. Darlow and Lascelles were probably his, but I think Schteve was pushing for Townsend and Shelvey.
i don’t see Carr’s fingerprints on any of the recent buys. They are certainly not the sort of player we were going for when he had direct control. I am not really a Carr basher, as I think he did an average job but I don’t see him having much say now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sounds good, Sham. Juat a left back, attacking midfielder and striker now and we are set to go.
Is it really unthinkable that we don’t win the league…?
Stuart79(Quote)
first time in a long time i can say i trust our manager to buy the right players we need,but dont forget Rafa like all managers made some poor buys at L/Pool,its said some players were bought above his head which started him leaving how true that was i dont know
icedog(Quote)
I could write a thread on the subject, but don’t have time. So here’s a quick comparison of Hanley V Dunk from last season;
Games played. Hanley 44, Dunk 38.
Goals; Hanley 2, dunk 3.
Chances created; Dunk 8, Hanley 12.
Tackles won;
Hanley 63 with a 54% win rate.
Dunk 55 with a 53% win rate.
Interceptions; Dunk 120. Hanley 153.
Clearances; Dunk 244, Hanley 180.
Blocks; Dunk 33, Hanley 36.
Passing; Hanley 69%, Dunk 76%.
Duels won; Dunk 56%, Hanley 64%.
Defensive actions (average); Dunk 10, Hanley 8.
Defensive errors; Hanley 1, Dunk 8.
Headed duels;
Dunk 118/185 = 64%.
Hanley 208/286 = 72%.
Draw your own conclusions but Hanley wins the head to head 7-4 and looks to me to be the dominant beast we have needed for a long time.
Shamrock(Quote)
SHAM cheers for that,nothing more to be said then imo
icedog(Quote)
Yes, thanks Sham, some good information there.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
looks like toon are going to drop Wonga that should increase shirt sales then
icedog(Quote)
Well it looks like hanley is next through the door so Rafa’s team is taking shape nicely . Just read comments from Blackburn fans on one of the sites they all think they got a good deal , it Seems he is a bit the same as Steven Taylor all fist pumping and getting stuck in giving 100% but can be a bit of a liability and picked up his fair share of yellow and red cards . Hope he has a bit more positional awareness than Taylor had .
Life is Black and White(Quote)
LIBAW, I’m sure Rafa will iron out any tendencies to collect reds he has. I don’t mind if he’s a bit like Saylor, at least Saylor was committed, it’s just the brain farts and the fact he was made of glass that ruined him. At the end of the day he is in a poor Blackburn side, lets see what he can do with decent players around him. He could be an astute signing and £5.5m isn’t gonna break the bank and the lad obviously wants to come to Toon over Norwich and Shef weds who also been sniffing around.
Kimtoon(Quote)
I’m a happy toon fan at the mo 😛
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ice, The mag ( I know ) did a piece on that today, the deal was due to end next may anyway, but they feel that Wonga won’t re-commit due to heavy financial losses. It could be them rather than Toon ending any further sponsorship. Either way I am ecstatic about it and look forward to finally being able to get a new shirt when we return to the PL 😀
Kimtoon(Quote)
Kimtoon that was what infruriated me about Taylor the brain farts , he would put in a great performance then all of a sudden ruin it by doing something very forrest gump like . No one could knock him for not giving his all for the cause though . Oh yeah and achting like a mental patiënt jumping around infront of keepers at free kicks , that was feckless .
Life is Black and White(Quote)
Aye, the sun is out , Wonga will be gone next season and we’re shaping up nicely with Rafa. Oh and the Scum might lose F.sam and go into meltdown, what’s not to like eh.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Ha, yeah he was a bit of a twit bless him but truly devoted when he wasn’t on the treatment table like. 🙄
Kimtoon(Quote)
LIBAW, the year we finished 5th him and Colo were great at the back until he got injured again. Even Willo did well that year.
Kimtoon(Quote)
LIBAW I saw some if that too. For all the slagging off they are doing of him, he was named Blackburn’s player of the year last season. They also said he makes ‘too many mistakes’ – but the stats don’t back that up. He made only 1 major defensive mistake last season. As for discipline. He has 9 yellows and 1 red from 44 games.
Dunk had 7 yellows and 2 red from 38 games. It’s a physical league and he lets people know who’s boss.
Shamrock(Quote)
Kimtoon not only those 2 it was looking like we were on the brink of having a great team that year ,then we all got pardewed 🙄 😉
Life is Black and White(Quote)
Well we will soon find out Shamrock but i have faith in our manager and as you say its a very physical league and 9 yellows 1 red is certainly no disgrace for a defender .
Life is Black and White(Quote)
It’s shameful that the regime didn’t upgrade the squad from what was a position of strength at the time. They should of upgraded the coach while they were at it imo.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Fans at clubs who lose decent players will always say stuff like that though, unless it’s Sissoko when of course it’s all true 😆
Kimtoon(Quote)
😆 😆 😆
icedog(Quote)
Sharpy – it was Dann that Hanley was paired with. You know the Dan that begins with H 🙄
Georgio(Quote)
That’s a great idea for a thread though! Mind if I nick it Sham?!
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
Speaking of threads, new one is up by GG.
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2016/07/20/goalkeepers-who-wins-your-starting-place-on-august-5th/
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
Yeah crack on Andy. I used to do a few player comparison articles here. I will do another one this summer when I get time.
Shamrock(Quote)