Graham Carr has revealed details of a frustrating transfer summit with Alan Pardew – whereby the ex-NUFC boss was pushing to sign Nahki Wells from Bradford soon after our chief scout had recommended a young Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang instead!
His time on Tyneside will best be remembered for bringing in the likes of Cabaye, Tiote, Ben Arfa and Sissoko for bargain fees, but he did get a few wrong, with players such as Thauvin and Cabella not only flopping but commanding bigger transfer fees.
Corbridge-born Carr recently opened up about his time at NUFC and has spoken about one particular time when we were on the hunt for a striker following his failed attempt to convince Mike Ashley to spend on Aubameyang – who was banging them in for Saint Etienne at the time!
Here is what he told them about Pardew’s underwhelming plan to bring in Nahki Wells once upon a time:
“Alan (Pardew) had a new centre forward in mind and the analyst was ready with the clips.
“I’d been brought up on Jackie Milburn and watched Malcolm Macdonald, Alan Shearer.
“And there on the screen was Nahki Wells!
“I’m thinking, “f***** h***!”
“Sometimes, you have to think how the fans would react.
“That one never happened!”
The former Bradford man has gone on to have a respectable career in the Championship but has never been considered good enough to cut it at Premier League level.
To think we were linked with Aubameyang around the same time does make you question the decision making of the St James’ Park hierarchy!
Here’s what he had to say about the missed opportunity:
‘Mike and I went to Saint-Etienne to watch (Pierre-Emerick) Aubameyang.
“Mike just said, ‘Who am I watching?’
“You recommend them, but then you just don’t know what happens sometimes.”
A major case of what could’ve been!
Carr now plys his trade as a director at Northampton Town, a club he managed for five years from 1985-90.
Whatever you think about his time at NUFC, he was certainly a pivotal cog in the wheel of our club during his time here, with him laying the foundations for that 5th place finish and the memorable moments of magic that came with it.
His hands were tied and he still managed to get some quality players through the door. The team that finished 5th in 2011/12 was made up with mostly his signings.
What would you rate his time here out of 10?
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I don’t think it’s fair to call Thauvin a failure. He was never given the chance to settle into the premiership.
Robert Gilmore(Quote)
Withe the takeover done and the correct people running the club proffesionally, I would welcome Carr back straight away.
Peter henderson(Quote)
JUST TO ADD TO ALL THE SHOUTING FOR A BRUCIE REPLACEMENT
I WOULD WELCOLME BACK CHRIS HOUGHTON WITH OPEN ARMS
THE MAN SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SACKED BY ASHLEY
steve(Quote)
why would houghton want to work under the fcb when he sacked him before
kev the mag(Quote)