Perch signing is a decent catch
So in the end there was a new face on day one of pre-season training for Newcastle United - and it came in the shape of James Perch.
Shrewd has been one word to use to describe Chris Hughton since he took over the job for real and in the signing of Perch - a player that can operate in a number of positions - you have to say that with a long season ahead, versatility in the Premier League is a massive factor.
Big signings may well be a thing of the past at Newcastle but if that is the case then so are prima donnas too.
You know the type I mean, those who are overpaid and over-rated and only seem to turn it on when they want to.
We've watched players like that down the years and the list is pretty much endless such as Luque, Boumsong, Babayaro etc.
Part of me doesn't want a flashy player who doesn't know the meaning of the word "battle".
These players who are pulling off all the tricks when we're 3-0 up is fine but I'm more interested in what players who are 3-0 down can produce, those who can roll their sleeves up and pull something out of the fire - look at all of the great teams, they're comeback kings and when the chips are down you need strong characters.
From what I hear of Perch, he knows how to get stuck in.
Perch may not be a massive name in football yet but any lad who is captain of a club the size of Forest in his early 20s with a history as big and as special as the Trees needs to have a big pair of town halls, I can tell you that.
If he can rise to the challenge in the same way at Newcastle, he could be a real coup.
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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Should be a positive note for the season, no question about it
It's good to see NUFC making early positive moves in the transfer market instead of the deadline day panic buys we have become to expect from MA and co. I think Perch will be a good addition to the squad, And from what I have seen last season he does like to get stuck in and he's not bad in the air either. I have got a feeling Chris Hughton is only intrested in young players who are not affraid to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in and if that means turning up at St James Park and watching 11 players giving it 100% and winning ugly and staying up then thats fine by me. Lets hope Rooney and Co can carry on with the run of bad form they have shown for England and have stinkers against us??.
Is this kid a replacement for Taylor or has he been bought to play alongside him? All the noises comming out of SJP & from the player himself suggest he'll be away this summer with his contract running out next June NUFC might find an offer of ã5/6m to good to turn down.
As for Perch I've only seen him the once which was last season at SJP & granted he had a decent game so fingers crossed he can keep that sort of form up.
Great signing. That Boyd is rubbish! LMAO!
The question no-one is asking, which is strange given the amount of column inches dedicated to it is "Where did the money come from to buy him?" - Surely that puts to bed the "no new capital outlay" issue as being just that - no new capital outlay - which is spreading cost over a term. This proves that we will spend money but not stupid money.
"These players who are pulling off all the tricks when we're 3-0 up is fine but I'm more interested in what players who are 3-0 down can produce ..."
Well Lee, I'm sure there'll be plenty of occasions next season to find out, because with signings like this one, there's no danger we'll be 3-0 up too often.
All the doom mongers are out already!! If we're 0-3 down so what... not many teams get back from that anyway. What you should be looking at is the players heads dropping if that score were being played out. As long as we have a mid-table finish even with 0-3 score-lines then we should be happy and looking at further progress the following season.
As for Taylor... well, no great shakes if he goes... waiting to see what the club's ambitions are is a lame substitute for saying "I want out - but no-one wants me yet!". Let the man go... he makes as many mistakes as the next player anyway.
As for the new man Perch just give him a chance. Most of Hughton's signings last season did us a decent service - yes, it's the top league this time but players wearing their heart on their sleave and those wanting to PLAY for NUFC are better than any Taylor!
a vesataile player is exactly what we needed
just hope we're buying what we need, i'm sick of the toon over the yrs buying players we didn't need, its depressing, just throwing good money after bad...
We need a centre forward. The only indication we have of Chris Hughton's buying record in that area is Leon Best. Get my point? Goals keep teams in the Premier League.
RN:
I agree, i think its the main reason we went down, our forwards were out most of the previous season. this season i'd go for AC + PL. stick with them and let the other fight for position. CH swaped the forward line way too uch last season. I think that might highlight where his judgment is weak (he seemed unsure)? Maybe it takes a good forward to spot another one? they have (CH CC) done ok with the areas know i.e. defence. Would it hurt to ask Alan Shearer or even Malcom Macdonald what they think of any potential buys? this is no time to get it wrong...
We also had forwards like Mickey Sick-Note and (I'd rather spend my time in) Tiger-Tiger Martins who spurned chance after chance and an Aussie for whom any effort proved too much - give or take a handful of games (if that) AND a central midfield who were too often overrun AND, by the last third of the season, a bunch of players with no confidence whatseover, particularly after the Liverpool game..
Does anyone honestly think Kris Boyd wasn't a better bet for this coming season than Leon Best or Shola?
If we've got very little to spend, why do we let a proven goalscorer like him go to our lower division neighbours? Why didn't we bring him in and ship out Best, who looked out of his depth LAST season? We could have been UP on the deal FFS.
Could it be because Best plays for Eire perhaps, like our Manager?
CH has still got it all to prove when it comes to forwards.
Craig Bellamy is avaiable again, I wonder if he's learned his lesson. We could do a lot worse, and he would make a brilliant foil for Andy Carroll. You will be gauranteed goals from him. Put him on a good behavior bond!
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