Paul Merson is ‘flabbergasted’ by Newcastle’s decision to let Chris Wood leave, as he ‘cannot believe’ we sanctioned his loan exit before signing a replacement.
The deal includes an obligation to buy for £15m should he meet certain requirements, but the Sky Sports pundit is shocked that we’ve let him go without replacing him first.
The 54-year-old has claimed he was surprised to see Newcastle put all of their hopes on Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson remaining fit, both of which have struggled this season with injuries.
Despite Wood scoring just four league goals in 34 games, the Kiwi was a consummate professional and someone you could rely on to ‘do the job’ as a third choice forward.
However, it is very unlikely that Newcastle, especially under this new regime, would let someone like Wood leave without being confident of who they are bringing in to replace him.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson said: “Honestly, flabbergasted. I like Wilson and Isak. But one’s been out [for] a long time injured [and] the other one, you don’t seem to get a run of games – Wilson – where he’s fit consistently.
“Wood comes in and does the job. He comes across as a good pro. Not just that, he’s at the other end, as well, when he’s defending. When they’re keeping clean sheets, it’s not luck – they defend corners very well. He comes back [and] he clears stuff.
“For what they’re selling him for, I cannot believe it. It wouldn’t surprise me in three weeks’ time if the two centre-forwards were injured and they haven’t got a forward to put on upfront… If you’re Newcastle, you do the business first and then you get rid of Wood.”
We have recently been heavily linked with a move for Everton’s Anthony Gordon, but it remains to be seen who we’ll bring in with less than a week remaining to do business.
W hi o gives a flyin fluke what merson thinks anyway…!
Peter Henderson.(Quote)
Totally irrelevant what Paul Merson thinks, good business for the club and direction NUFC are heading in. Is this the guy who wasted mega Arsenal and Middlesbrough wages over his career.
Get back to the Soccer Saturday cave.
Lee Robinson(Quote)
I’d much rather Merse just said he’s not seen Wood playing for Newcastle – coz if he had seen him he’d know exactly why!!.
The lad scored 41 in 83 for Leeds. He scored 49 in 144 for Burnley – for us he scored 4 in 35.
We bought a 1 in 3 forward for £25m.
He’s not played well for us and has missed chances – we’re now selling a 1 in 7 forward for £15m.
That’s outstanding business imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The same Paul merson who one week is saying we’re ***** then we good then we winning nothing then we in with a chance of winning summit then again we aren’t etc etc the bloke argues with himself which foot is left and which one is right and he still gets that wrong……..he’s an absolute baked bean and that’s being nice at the start of the season he was shouting that Eddie howe was 2nd 3rd choice and it won’t be long before us geordies will be calling for his head blah blah blah……..I don’t think he gets anything he says right…….think he needs a drink 😉
Peter Murphy(Quote)
Paul merson is a muppet if he new anything bout management of a football club and the dealings with buying and selling players he would be a manager not a pundit and hes not a good one at that just like the footballer he was to Newcastle have the best manager in the premier league in decades in Eddie Howe a long side Bobby Robinson come on Eddie Howe bring that league cup home and you will have a bronze statue of you out side the best ground in the world
Big kev ord(Quote)