Souness Out!

[Simon Says]

Newcastle this morning linked with Nicolas Anelka.

Souness and Anelka in the same dressing room. Now that could be quite a combustible mix.

[oozy]

What Souness is doing now is very much remeniscent of what he did during the latter stages of his time with Rovers.

I remember us being without a left sided defender for a whole season (before he bought Gresko and Gray within minths of each other), being without a left winger when Duff left for a whole season, being without a striker at the start of last season. However, he never filled those positions when they needed filling but carried on buying players in positons where we had enough players already.

If someone were to ask Newcastle fans where their team needed strenghtening at the start of last season they'd have said defence and strike.

Since then they've further weakend those positions by selling 2 defenders and 2 strikers.

However, in the one place where they were sufficiently endowed, with players like Dyer, Milner, Jenas, Faye, Butt, Bowyer, Viana, he has signed Emre and Parker for more the £10m. Admittedly, they are good players, but wouldn't he have been better off spending it on a defender or a striker.

I'm sure Newcastle will sign another strike but I can see them really struggling this season mainly due to a lack of quality in defence and lack of cover up front. I also do not see how he is going to keep his 9 midfileders happy.

If Newcastle were to buy a midfielder, they should have bought a left winger to replace Robert. Now they have no-one there at all. Even if they were to sign Boa-Morte would he be able to adapt to 4-4-2 if the 4-5-1 didn't work. Something I see happening because of their lack of a good defensive midfielder (ala makalele) and dyer and boa morte, for all their pace, not having the creativity of a duff or robben.

[roversWASmylife]

Newcastle this morning linked with Nicolas Anelka.

Souness and Anelka in the same dressing room.  Now that could be quite a combustible mix.

332592[/snapback]

It gets better and better.

Newcastle United should have their own comedy programme.

[MCMC1875]

It gets better and better.

Newcastle United should have their own comedy programme.

332609[/snapback]

Magpie???

[Blue blood]

Thing is though, if you were a top class defender/striker would you want to go to Newcastle. The chances of winning things are zilch, already the chance of European football is looking slim, the only positive is possibly a bigger wage packet and if they are top players, then the top clubs will be able to match this perk. I've a strong suspicion that IF Souness does brign players in he'll be paying top class wages and fees for merely good players.

Which top class strikers are available? How many would fancy Newcastle?

How many top class centre halves are available? Why would Campbell, who has been linked with Newcastle, join up with them. Even his old club Spurs have more chance of winning things.

Also even supposing Souness did bring in the top class players in these positions these areas of the squad are still looking a bit thin. Who's going to come in as back up in this position. There could be a lot more dealing that Souness wants to do, and time will be pressing. As are the wings, Souness doesn't seem to have too much width either. Still for a guy who plays Matteo and Flitty as wingers I doubt that will seem much of a problem.

[American]

I would think the opposite BB. If a top class player came in and led them to a trophy, he'd become a God. No better way to cement your legacy.

[Jan]

I kept telling you all- it's like me and shoes. He has a midfielder festish. He goes out KNOWING he needs a defender or a striker, but there, in front of him, is this adorable little midfielder, and suddenly logic disappears out of the window and that's the most important thing in the world. Nothing else wll do, it's the midfielder or nothing!!!

It's sad really

But then you are talking to someone who has over 100 pairs of shoes!!!

Edited July 17, 2005 by Jan

[bob fleming]

Newcastle United should have their own comedy programme.

332609[/snapback]

I thought that was Sky Sports News?

So (apologies if this has already been mentioned), just days after Freddie Shepherd stated that they've changed their transfer policy and will now along be going for players of a certain "character" Souness states that he wants to buy all round good lad Nic Anelka?

Tremendous.

[Martin]

Looking back the first 3ish years under Souness were enjoyable. After that the guy seems to have lost the plot completely.

I really can't believe he's looking at Anelka - I wouldn't want him at Rovers even on a free (ok maybe I would, but you get the point). Jesus, he should go for Carlton Cole or Robbie Keane or somebody like that.

I think his main problem is he's looking for a different class of player to what he has been used to. Exactly where do Newcastle think they'll finish because if they think Champions League or Uefa they aint doing it with Souey! Poorly organised and managed football club.

I must be terrible to be a Geordie at present. On the contrary life is wonderful at the Rovers.

[joey_big_nose]

Looking back the first 3ish years under Souness were enjoyable. After that the guy seems to have lost the plot completely.

I really can't believe he's looking at Anelka - I wouldn't want him at Rovers even on a free (ok maybe I would, but you get the point). Jesus, he should go for Carlton Cole or Robbie Keane or somebody like that.

I think his main problem is he's looking for a different class of player to what he has been used to. Exactly where do Newcastle think they'll finish because if they think Champions League or Uefa they aint doing it with Souey! Poorly organised and managed football club.

I must be terrible to be a Geordie at present. On the contrary life is wonderful at the Rovers.

332948[/snapback]

We shouldnt scoff just yet, they still have a pretty decent side and they are looking at Boa Morte too.

                Shearer  Dyer

Boa Morte  Parker    Emre  Jenas

Babayaro Boumsong  Bramble  Carr

                      Given

That is a side far superior than our own. The only players that we have who could get into that side would be Bellamy, Nelsen and possibly MGP. Look at the quality on the bench too: Butt, Ameobi, Milner, Bowyer. It is all a bit midfield heavy but you cannot deny that Souness is bringing in quality.

Even if Jenas goes they can just go out and buy a decent left winger with the cash. They will get at least 12 million for him

While Souness has money to spend I think he will be okay. If he could find some tactical acumen, which I know is dubious, then a top four finish is not impossible. They are in terms of all round qualiity not too far off Liverpool and certainly ahead of Everton.

ps. Bowyer would be a decent acquisition as he would be cheap. We are unlikely to get a player of his quality for a million or so. Hughes obviously thinks he can control wayward players, so why not? We could rehabilitate the thug.

[S15]

Couldn't agree more with regards to Bowyer...

Only thing is him and Savage are both headless chickens (not in a bad way0 so having them both in the centre may not work.

[Gareth]

Football 365 don't hold out much chance of him staying with the Geordies for very long:

Graeme Souness (Newcastle United) - 4/1 Favourite

Could he possibly beat Uncle Bobby's record of contriving to get sacked in August? Well, as he's starting with a weaker squad, considerably less managerial nous and the support of roughly five per cent of the Toon faithful, you'd have to say he's got a fairly good chance. He said himself: "If I last another 12 months in this job I will have done well," - but the bookies clearly think he was being a tad optimistic.

Facing Arsenal and Man United within the first four games does not bode well for Newcastle on the pitch - especially as Souness seems to have misplaced his strikeforce - but the real problem will come with the first fight or court case of the season. At least when he 'loses the dressing-room', we won't all suspect this Newcastle manager has literally got lost and ended up in the car park.

Oh dear!

[John]

Said today he needs 5 more players - yet more millions being wasted!!

[John]

Souness said he got Emre in because they lack aggression in midfield.

What about Butt, Bowyer, Faye…..?

[promoted2001]

i put £5 on him winning the sack race at 6.50-1, hopefully he waves byebye.

[Presty On Tour]

if newcastle are in trouble when they arrive at ewood and we beat them and bellany knocks in 6 he will be packing!!

[Gareth]

He's still interested in Anelka, despite the fact that he'll cost £10m!

Souness told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle: "...Kevin Keegan... said Anelka was one of the best strikers he's worked with. If we do get him, we know he'll do the business on the field."

He added: "Off the field he has a more settled family life now. But he's not a big socialiser. He doesn't go out and he's not a playboy."

It'd be fun to see who storms out first: Le Sulk or Sour-puss

[Presty On Tour]

i fancy pardew to the the boot first, fans will be strait on his back after we beat them on opening day!!

[Tango]

Now he's bidding on Anelka and Boa Morte. Both quality players, but that's gonna be a hell of a dressing room to handle!

[Presty On Tour]

Now he's bidding on Anelka and Boa Morte. Both quality players, but that's gonna be a hell of a dressing room to handle!

334211[/snapback]

the mirror says boro are after boa morte too!!

[Alan75]

boa morte bid fails

[Blue blood]

I would think the opposite BB. If a top class player came in and led them to a trophy, he'd become a God. No better way to cement your legacy.

332646[/snapback]

He'd have to be a god to lead that lot to a trophey.

Read in todays paper that Newcastle have gone from having a 12,000 waiting list sor season tickets to advertising in the local media to sell the last 2,000 season tickets. A loss of 14,000 potential STs is a heck of a fall.

[Grabbi Graeme]

SSN reporting that Souness is after Aussie defender Craig Moore , who of course is a former Rangers player

[paddyk]

you lot not got your own players to be linked with?.

oh no thats right you have not!!

[greggyk]

how ironic.

Not got your own clubs forum to post on?

Edited July 23, 2005 by greggyk