As attention shifts this week to international matters and a squirming Steve McClaren doing his best impression of Graeme Taylor as a bumbling England coach, I have taken the time to reflect on this summer’s transfer activity in the North-East.
Like most people, there are players I like and players I don’t. In fact, there have been a few in the past who I would quite happily leave burning if I came across them when they were on fire. Note to authorities and editor. Of course I would not really do that, I would immediately run over to help and call the emergency services. Nobody - no matter how annoying in a professional capacity - should be left to burn alive.
And the same is obviously true of new arrivals. There will be some new signings who tantalise the tastebuds and others who will provoke that face people pull when they smell something they don’t like - think a fat guy’s feet after an eight-mile hike across the Sahara desert or a full festival toilet and you’ll know what I mean.
With this in mind and after much deliberation I’ve decided who, for me, is the best signing of the summer for Newcastle and Sunderland and who could be the potential donkey, packing his bags in a few months’ time and heading for a “fresh challenge� in Coca Cola League One. You might have other ideas so let me know your thoughts...
For Newcastle, there are a few candidates for the best, although I have to discount Joey Barton as he hasn’t played a competitive game yet and a couple of good displays against Hartlepool and Carlisle do not count.
I always liked Geremi when he was at Middlesbrough and he has not disappointed in black and white stripes so far, even if he was a slightly surprising choice as captain. But the Cameroon international does not come out on top, nope, that honour goes to David Rozehnal.
I think it’s pretty fair to say that not many of us knew much about the Czech international when Sam Allardyce was first linked to him in June, but the former PSG man looks to be an inspired choice.
There were obviously worries about a foreign defender adapting to English football, but the great thing about Rozehnal is that, while he isn’t very big, he has an excellent reading of the game and has the wonderful knack of seeing danger before it happens. His tackling is sound and his decision-making superb. He appears to be unflappable and, for a little over £2m, looks a bargain.
As for the worst, there isn’t really anyone who stands out and we haven’t seen enough of Jose Enrique or anything of Abdoulaye Faye and Habib Beye to pass judgement.
But I questioned the need for a player like Alan Smith when he signed so I will do so again now. The lad has plenty of determination and a wonderful attitude towards the game, but he doesn’t score enough goals as a striker, hasn’t the discipline to play as a defensive midfielder (?? bookings already this season), or the pace or crossing ability to play as a winger or creative midfielder.
Where will he fit into the side when Barton and Emre are fit and available? Is he cover for Mark Viduka (there are some question marks about his physical fitness as well judging by his lack of mobility)? I guess he’s a good player to have in the squad because of his versatility, but as there aren’t really any bad signings I’ll go for him.
As for Sunderland, well the best would have to be Craig Gordon. At £9m he wasn’t cheap, but Roy Keane refused to give up on him despite Hearts’ reluctance to sell and it is easy to see why.
The Scotland number one looks an excellent player, commanding and agile. He will save Sunderland countless times this season and as Keane argued when he arrived, how many points was Peter Schmeichel worth for Manchester United? Goalkeepers are generally under-rated, but Gordon could prove to be the difference between survival and relegation.
As for the dodgy-looking one at the Stadium of Light, paying a combined total of £11.5m for two Championship strikers in Michael Chopra and Kenwyne Jones looks risky given their lack of proven Premier League ability, but I’m a little mystified by the signing of Roy O’Donovan.
I can’t see that the 22-year-old arrival from Cork City is going to get anywhere near the first team this season so why buy him? I can only assume that he has been bought as “one for the future� by Roy but in terms of keeping the Black Cats in the top flight, I can’t see that he is going to bring much to the table other than another Irish accent. He has already been offered to Dundee United on loan.
As for Russell Anderson, he hasn’t done much so far other than concede a penalty at Wigan, while one Journal Juror has likened Greg Halford to Gareth Hall so....
I might of course be hopelessly wrong, particularly as judging players on a handful of games is ridiculously premature, but hey, it’s all about opinions and I’m full of them or full of it, whatever!
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