The much anticipated signing of Nicky Butt from that team in red has finally gone through. Is this a good move for the club? Again, as with the Bowyer and Kluivert deals, it could be argued that Butt has become a Newcastle player almost by default. In this case however, he seems to at least shown some reluctance to leave Old Trafford and he is a proven player who has won at the highest level. Speed has obviously made way. It is a mute point who is the better player now. Butt does have the advantage of being that much younger. Hopefully his experience will offer a steadying influence to our youthful midfield. I quite like this signing actually, probably more than the other recent aquisitions. On form Butt could become one of the better midfielders around, and hence be a snip at two million. With Speed out the way it's also a good job that nothing went wrong with this deal.
Now that we've hopefully added the steel to our midfield can we please move onto the defence?
(@15:07)
More movement on the transfer front, and certainly more significant than the Millner signing. More players out than in, but the in is a big one.
Speed Out Gary Speed has left in a £750 000 move to Bolton. Speed has been a great servant to the club. At times he's held our midfield together when it has been in tatters. His goals have come in handy too. It is interesting that we're prepared to let such an experienced player go, especially when there is no immediate replacement currently in the squad (I'll not even mention the fact he's gone to another premiership club, Lua Lua still haunts us). The fact he has gone suggests that first team action didn't look likely, which means someone must be ready to take his place. The possibilty of Butt is still rumoured in the press, though it could just be that Robson has seen sense and realised that Bowyer is a much better player in the centre of midfield, or even thinks the Jenas can do a job. Presumably the transfer wasn't just to free up Speed's number (see below).
Viana Out Hugo Viana leaves on a year long loan back to Sporting Lisbon, and bizarrely extends his Newcastle contract by a year at the same time. Although Bobby rates him Viana has hardly impressed when he's had a chance and it seems unlikely we'll miss him much.
Kluivert In Undoubtedly the big news however is the man taking over Speed's vacated number 11 shirt, the Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert, here on a three year deal rather than the anticipated loan. This seems to have generated a general mood of excitment. I ain't too sure myself. This transfer has a little of the feel that the Bowyer one did for me. Kluivert is rated and available cheap to free (forgetting for a moment his wages) and it almost default that we should go for him. If he's here to play football then it could seriously be the best signing since Shearer (Kluivert's poor season has more to do with his fall out at Barcelona with management and fans alike than his talent). But there remains the risk that his motivation is questionable and he's simply here to rake it in (and if Shearer really has that highest earner clause??). I suppose Bobby knows him, which may or may not be a good sign. On this one, we'll just have to wait and see I think.
Now that we're moving in the transfer market, it also remains to be seen if our hopes for defensive strengthening are answered. A right back would be handy, allowing Hughes to become the centre back he really is and provide cover. Let's hope they keep on coming in.
(@00:07)
So we've signed James Milner from Leeds, on a 5 year contract in a deal worth around £5m. Er, woo. I suppose it makes sense; Milner is young and English, which fits the profile of players we want. But £5m for potential? It's hardly an earth shattering signing. I suppose at least it shows we do have money. Hopefully the fact we can afford to splash so much on a kid means that we actually have quite a bit around to bring in some proper talent (you know, players proven to do the top job at the top level). Butt is heavily rumoured, but to me he feels like a Bowyer signing..just happening because we feel it ought to (he's available at a price below what might be considered his market value). When you look at the players the clubs we're supposed to be catching are signing, we're falling behind.
(@17:07)
The fixtures selected for coverage on TV (up until the end of December) have been announced, causing the usual shuffling of fixtures. The fixtures list has of course been updated.
We no longer get to kick off with everyone else, being delayed until the evening for our game away to Middlesbrough. Shorty after it's newcomers Norwich (my girlfriend's team) in a midweek fixture. The ties against the big three of Arsenal, Chelsea and Man U all get coverage. The traditional Sky coverage of the traditional christmas Liverpool game is also there.
(@12:07)
