Forward options: Lukaku, Benteke, Aubameyang

Following the fantastic January transfer business Newcastle United are now only a few players away from having a quality squad with plenty of depth and cover for long term injuries. For me the only area of our squad where we lack the numbers is in our forward line. Obviously we tried and failed to bring in Loic Remy, an outcome that will not worry many NUFC fans. During the transfer window there was also rumored moves for Wilifried Bony from Vitesse and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who currently plays for Saint-Etienne is the much known and scouted French Ligue 1.

Newcastle were unable to complete a deal which would have brought in a top forward to replace Demba Ba and instead signed the Forward / Midfeilder Yoan Gouffran to see us through until the summer. Newcastle currently play with a 4-3-3 formation and Alan Pardew likes to play with one centre forward, currently Pappis Cisse and to wide forwards who work hard going forward, but can drop back to the midfield - currently these positions are held by Gouffran and Jonas. Newcastle only have Cisse and Shola Ameobi as our first choice striking options. A top forward to compete / play with Cisse must be top of the transfer priority list this summer for the club.

I know Newcastle love the value of the European markets and our recent signing's prove this point perfectly. Quality players at a great price are available on the continent. Using this mind set the likelihood of Newcastle returning to Saint-Etinne with a bid to bring the Gabon international forward to the North East must be high. Aubameyang ticks all the boxes of what Newcastle look for in a player in terms of quality and importantly age (23) and I expect they will be patient in persuit to get their man at the right price. In Ligue 1 P-E-A has scored 32 goals in 75 games for a team currently sitting 5th in Frances top league and is much sought after.

For me and many NUFC followers Aubameyang is a player we have only really seen on Youtube - and while his goal compilations look great I would suggest there are currenlty two forwards in the Premier League who I believe we could buy and who would add so much to our team.

 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Firstly I would love to see us make a move for the Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku. The 20 year old Belgium international is currently on loan at West Brom and really has shown what a good player he is. WBA are having a quality season and performing well above their expected level. Lukaku has played a huge part in this scoring 12 goals in 25 games while sharing game time with 3 other established forwards. Lukaku's two goals at the weekend against Sunderland kept WBA's great run going while his performance filled with pace and power helped WBA out play Liverpool at Anfield 2 weeks ago.

This lad is very much in the Drogba mold and will be a huge player for the next 10 years. Lakuku joined Chelsea from Anderlecht in a 12m transfer after a goal every other game record for the Belgian club. He has been tipped as one of the hottest prospects in Europe.

Lukuku was sent out on loan to get some first team experience rather than sit on the bench behind Torres and now Demab Ba. As we all know Chelsea, and now Man City are a different kind of club. If Lukuku was owned by any other club he would be in their first team next season, however I think this lad has no future at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea will be in the market for another top forward this summer whether it will be Falcao, Canvani or even Luis Suarez.

Stamford bridge is a graveyard for top young players - Romelu needs to talk to Scott Parker, Glen Johnson, Dan Sturridge, and SWP about the need to leave Chelsea to progress his career. This summer would be the time for Newcastle to sign a player who would be our top striker for the new 10 years.



Romelu Lukaku

My second choice would also be another Belgian international forward - Christian Benteke who has been the only shining light for a Aston Villa side who seem destine for Premier league relegation. The 22 year old forward joined Villa from Genk for 7m last summer and so far this season he has scored 11 goals in struggling team, while also has kept 24m striker Darren Bent out of the team. Benteke's stats in Belgium are equally impressive albite in a lower standard of league he grabbed 19 goals in 37 games. Again very much in the same mold of Romelu Lukaku, Benteke's game is build around his pace and physical attributes.

With both of these forwards being young men they are not the polished, finished articles, they will miss chances and have poor games. Unfortunately NUFC cannot go out and buy a top level forwards so being able to bring in top young talent to develop is the way forward for our club. If we could grab Lukaku or Benteke in the summer I believe this would be a huge boost to our squad and would leave us with a striking trio of Cisse, Benteke or Lukaku and then the experienced Shola as back-up.

One obvious advantage to signing Benteke or Lukaku rather than Pierre-Emmerick Aubameyang is that they are already experiencing Premier league football. They are settled in the English game and therefore this eliminates the level of risk involved, there will be no settling in period and they could get on with the job of scoring goals from day one.

We have to trust in Pardew and Carr and believe they will add more quality to our squad this summer and no doubt a forward will be top of their priority list.

　

Onwards and upwards

Christian Benteke




NUFC v SFC

Sunday saw a great end to a great week for Newcastle United with a 4-2 win against fellow Premier league strugglers Southampton.

Newcastle United branded Sunday at St James as 'French day' - this saw a Gallic flavour added to all the pre-match build up - the Le Marseillaise was sung, Blaydon races was translated into French and a group of Cancan dancers entertained the crowd.

Following this how ironic it was that Newcastle fell behind to an early goal from Southampton's only French player - Morgan Schneiderlin. Credit to Newcastle though as they came straight back at the Saints for the remainder of the first half and were rewarded by a 2-1 lead at the break. Obviously Cisse's goal will take all the headlines and it was a spectacular strike from a man who has struggles for confidence lately, however the first goal was an equally good team goal started by Yohan Cabaye, created by Yoan Goufran and finished by Moussa Sissoko which was very apt for SJP's French day.

Credit must be given to Southampton who fought back at got a deserved equalizer not long after the break. The Saints showed what a good side they are, even though they currently are in the relegation scrap. Adam Lallana and goal scorer Rickie Lambert stood out for me at the star performers for the visitors and it was Lamberts cool finish which tied the game.

This was the wake up call needed for NUFC and we then went on to show our dominance for the remainder of the second half. Cabaye cooly slotted home a Penalty after Danny Fox handled a Debuchy cross and then Joos Hooiveld was unlucky to score a own goal which sealed the 4-2 win.

For me the following were the key positive to come from this match:

- Cisse back amongst the goals

-Sissoko proving to be a big goal threat

-Tiote's best game of the season

-Dubuchy showing his quality

-Eliiot proving to be a solid back-up keeper

-Yanya M'biwa showing we now have 3 top centre backs

-Great options from the bench, proving the squads strength

-Cabaye's ability to run a game and control, dictate our play.

Europa league

A cold February night in Kharkiv, Ukraine was the scene for the latest chapter in Newcastle United's Europa league campaign. After a first leg scoreless draw Newcastle headed to Eastern Europe with a point to prove after two very questionable offside calls left this tie very much in the balance. Pardew picked a strong team while also showing the flexibility in our squad. Taylor, Tiote and Santon missed out while Haidara, M'biwa, and Anita showed they are more than capable of stepping into the first team. Newcastle showed they are taking this competition seriously which is very refreshing as over recent years the Europa league has been treated as an inconvenience.

United started well and bossed the early stages with relative ease. Colo and M'biwa looked very solid and our Midfield was full of energy and composure. the much maligned Shola Ameobi started as our central striker and put in one of his most impressive performance this season. His physical assets were in full effect and he bullied the Metalist defenders and was able to hold up the ball and feed passes into Cisse and Sissoko.

I have never been a big fan of Shola - I love his commitment to the club, he is one of us, a fan who made it. For me he cannot be counted as a potential premier league starter, his role must be an impact sub which is a role I believe he does well. Maybe the Europa League is his level also as he certainly seems to unsettle defenders on the European stage.

One area where Shola currently has no equal is from the penalty spot. Last night Shola calmly slotted home a spot kick and registered his 15th European goals for NUFC, secondly only to club legend Alan Shearer.

Penalty KIng

This secured our passed into the last 16 of the Europa league where we will face Anzhi Makhachkala. Anzhi although based in Dagestan play their home games in Moscow and having visited the Russian capital a few years ago I am sure the Toon Army will enjoy the trip behind the Iron curtain. i see no reason why we cannot press on and have a really good run at this competition just as Boro and Fulham have done in recent years.

After a night full of many positives it was worrying to hear that Tim Krul could potentially miss up to 5 weeks of action after picking up an ankle knock last in last nights game. I have a feeling it is too early to make such assumptions and I am sure the club will wait right until the last minute before making a call on Krul's injury.

Sunday will soon be here and hopefully we can take the confidence from the Metalist result into the Southampton game. For the first time this season Pardew has some big selection decisions to make. M'biwa or Taylor, Anita or Tiote, does Shola start? I am sure this is a headache that Pardew does not mind having. Sunday might also see the return of our most gifted individual Hatem Ben Arfa and what a boost that would be for the team.

Onwards and upwards

Sir Bobby Robson

Today, Monday the 18th of February, is a day that will always be remembered on Tyneside as Sir Bobby Robson's birthday. If Sir Bobby was still with us today he would have turned 80 years old and would no doubt still have a furor and passion for Football.

　

As a 29- year- old Newcastle United supporter, I have had the privilege of following my team through 2 great spells. Kevin Keegan and his entertainers grabbed the imagination of the country as he dared try to win the Premier League while playing a brand of football that we had never before witnessed on our shores. The second of these purple patches for NUFC was when Sir Bobby returned home in 1999 and led us on an adventure from the bottom of the league to the heights of the Champions league. There was never a dull moment under Bobby. Today is an appropriate day to look back at this marvelous man and recap his spell in charge of his beloved NUFC.

Sir Bobby, eventually took charge of his home town club at the end of a career which took him across Europe working with many tops clubs - Barcelona, Porto, and PSV to name a few and many top players such as Romario, Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Sir Bob also had a high profile spell as England manager - which is the top job for any Englishman. Under Robson England were one Chris Waddle penalty away from a place in the World cup final at Italy 1990.

Sir Bobby returned home to find his team sitting at the bottom of the Premier league after several seasons of struggles under Kenny Daglish and Ruud Gullit. I can still picture Bobby's arrival and the crowds that gathered to see him at the Leazes end of St James Park. Bobby is one of us and knew exactly what it meant to be the manager of Newcastle United.

Robson’s era on Tyneside started against Sheffield Wednesday who were dispatched back to Yorkshire after a 8-0 defeat against a resurgent NUFC led by their 5 goal hero captain Alan Shearer and the knight sitting in the managers hot seat. Newcastle went on to finish a respectable 11th that season and any fan could see that the foundations for a brighter future were being put in place and a sense of optimism was returning.

That season I was able to attend my first and only match at the old Wembley stadium as NUFC reached the FA cup semi-final and faced Chelsea. Although we lost 2-1 against the Londoners that day, it is a match that will live long in my memory and under Robson it left that we would have many more days just like this one. Sir Bobby was restoring the Geordie pride into the team which the fans loved to see.

Bobby went about re-shaping the squad, bringing in his players and moving on those who he did not fancy. There was a large emphasis on bringing quality young players who would add pace and energy to the team. Craig Bellamy, Jermaine Jenas, Jonathan Woodgate, Titus Bramble all arrived alongside talented Laurent Robert and much acclaimed Portuguese youngster Hugo Vianna. Bobby was shaping his team and suddenly Newcastle once again were known as one of the most exciting teams in the league. The blend of youth and experience worked so well as Alan Shearer, Gary Speed, and Shay Given led a young United team.

 

Newcastle were mixing with the big boys in the Premier League and seemed more than capable of holding their own. We were pushing for the title over the following years and were involved in exciting title run in's. Robson let Newcastle to 4th, 3rd and 5th finishes in the Premier league – Robson’s Newcastle regularly out performed Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs in the league standings.

Robson brought Champions league football back to the club and we went on to enjoy many fantastic nights against the best clubs in Europe. That night, away to Feyenoord, when Craig Bellamy scored a last minute winner to send the club through to the next level of the competition will live long in the memory of all Newcastle fans. Newcastle travelled to Inter Milan and Barcelona and put in performances to be proud of and the whole of Europe were introduced to the fanatical support of the Toon Army.

Times like this should be our lasting memories of Sir Bobby's time at Newcastle United.

Bobby Robson’s legacy is far reaching. He was loved all over the world and looking today at the elite of European football we can see the influence this great man has had on the game.

Jose Mourinho - Real Madrid manager who worked with Bobby at both Porto and Barcelona

"I want to and I will keep with me always the Bobby Robson of every day, a person who had extraordinary passion for life and for football, with an extraordinary enthusiasm.

"Bobby Robson is one of those people who never die, not so much for what he did in his career, for one victory more or less, but for what he knew to give to those who had, like me, the good fortune to know him and walk by his side".

Andre Villas Boas - Tottenham manager who first encounter Robson as a neighbour in Portugal.

"Sir Bobby is one of the great managers of the game and without him I probably would not be where I am now.

“He offered me a unique opportunity to get involved in football, taking me under his wing when I was still a teenager. He is enthusiasm and passion for management certainly rubbed off on me. He was not only a great manager but a great man and I will never forget his generosity towards me, he will always be an inspiration."

Robson’s influence can also be seen in Pep Guardiola who played under Robson at Barcelona. Pep is now seen as one of the top coaches in the world.

It is clear to see the footballing world loves wor Bobby just as much as we do.

I could talk about Sir Bobby all day long - looking back at the relatively short time he spend withe Newcastle United brings a smile to my face. Sir Bobby Robson. A great manager, and more importantly a gentleman. He certainly is one a kind, the likes of which we will never see again.

Auf Wiedersehen Pet stars tribute to Sir Bobby Robson

Classic Geordie

This is my first post since before Christmas and obviously a lot has happened at Newcastle United since then. Our club is never one to stay out of the headlines for very long!

Over Christmas I was able to head home to the North East and of course took in a match at St James. I was there for our 1-0 against QPR - and seeing the league table right now what a massive win it was. Shola Ameobi came off the bench to grab a late goal - for me a sub role is all that Shola can expect these days, and to be honest he has shown this is when he can be most effective. It was great to be at the match with the lads - makes realise just how much I it!

This was the only highlight over what was a poor festive season for NUFC. We saw our team slide down the league as 2012 ended and our top goals scorer leave for Chelsea just as we entered 2013. This along with the poor home loss to Reading really had me and every other NUFC dreading what could be in store during 2013.

Credit must go to Mike Ashley and his team who managed to give the squad, the fans and the whole city a boost by signing 5 players in January - all of whom seem to have settled in very well. We may have even found a new superstar in Moussa Sissoko. Personally I am excited about Mapou Yanga M'biwa - having seen the lad play in the French league, and for the national team he is class. We have a future French captain in our team and he can be our rock for years to come.

This season has been a massive disappointment but hopefully now we can put a few performances and more importantly results together and finish the season as high as possible - while also have a decent run in the Europa League. To do this we will have to survive our trip into Eastern Europe to face Matalist. I thought we played well last night and were very unlucky to have 2 goals called offside when the replays show both were very questionable. Having that 2-0 lead could almost be game over - but then when have NUFC ever done things the easy way. Matalist away will test our squad and show us just what they are made of.

I plan to keep on top of my blogging for the rest of the season and hopefully it will be a case of onwards and upwards for NUFC



Offside?? Hadaway