Sol: Seasoned pro? Or past it?There have been a few words out there in the press about the possiblity of Sol Campbell ‘coming in from the cold’ and getting a game at Stoke City.
I didn’t realize he was ‘in the cold’, but we all know how the press like to paint these things. He hasn’t played since our great 3-1 win v Liverpool earlier in the season.
To me, he’s a well seasoned pro with a great reading of the game. He also barks orders really well and organizes things at the back. With him, Joey Barton, Kevin Nolan, Fabricio Coloccini and Steve Harper on playing at the same time, it’s like having five captains on the pitch.
Some say he’s beyond his prime now, but I reckon he still does an excellent job, when called upon. After the last game v Everton i think it’s time to bring his experience to bear on proceedings. We looked messy at the back with Steven Taylor asked to do a RB job. He seemed drawn into the CB role all too often and we were exposed down out right by an in-form Arteta, who found plenty of space in which to maraud. I’m not saying Taylor is a bad player, he just looked out of place in that game. Plenty of us have asked for Taylor at RB for some time but it didn’t work out that time.
Can Taylor play there? Who knows? But if he does, he has to stay out right and focus.
Hughton considers squad4The yanking of my chain continues with cooler statements from Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton regarding the potential signing of Sol Campbell. Rumours abound as he seeks to reinforce the squad in the January transfer window. When asked about signing Campbell, Hughton replied;
“I think there is always an interest in quality players that might become available, he said.
“You do get names thrown at you and often they are not names you have actively sought.
“The situation with Sol is he we don’t know where he is at the moment. He is still a Notts County player and it’s not clear when he is able to play. Sol is one of a few players that we are interested in.”
It seems that the interest has been generated by Campbell’s camp as Sol has shown a desire to play for the Toon. Sol is currently still on the books at County, after a high profile and less than successful move. With a successful career playing for Tottenham, Arsenal and Portsmouth he is keen to seek a new home. Perhaps Sol is being astute in these ‘credit crunch’ times and thinks he has the opportunity to re-use some of the black and white from the ‘Magpies’ of Notts County, whilst minimising fuel costs on his trip into work from Northumbria. However he may need to show similar consideration to the pockets of the Toon if it comes to a signing.
Meanwhile, for Hughton, work is pretty busy. There is additional speculation around signing Gary Caldwell and Hughton’s immediate focus is on concluding a way ahead with Fabrice Pancrate.
More goals at homeNewcastle United manager Chris Hughton thinks we should be scoring more goals in our home games.
Having not lost at home, perhaps Hughton thinks it’s time to entertain a little more. He said:
“I don’t think that it is necessarily the case that someone is due a beating, but we know that we can play better in front of our own fans.
“The Peterborough game was a big step forward on that front. We would like to have scored a few more goals at home and really imposed ourselves on opponents. We have done very well in terms of results and I am delighted with that but I think there is certainly a feeling within the squad that there is more to come from us with our home performances.”
Maybe there’s a bit of the Kevin Keegan in Hughton. He is however quite happy to just grind out results when we’re away:
“Away from home, I think we will continue to grind out results and that is fine. It is a long season and you don’t complain if you pick up some hard-fought points here and there.”
The return of Ameobi should help in terms of the goals scoring and apparently Hughton will spend this week finalising his January transfer targets. According to The Journal his main targets are Sol Campbell, Andy O’Brien and making Danny Simpson’s move permanent.
Is he or isn't he?Chris Hughton doesn’t rule out bringing Sol Campbell to Newcastle United.
I think Hughton is yanking my chain because back on 31st October I wrote an article suggesting that Campbell was one of his transfer targets but then on the 3rd November I had to write an article saying he wasn’t after Hughton said:
“There is no truth in this whatsoever. The first I heard about it was when it was on the television in the morning. We are looking elsewhere and it is an ongoing thing. Sol is an excellent player but there is nothing happening regarding him coming to Newcastle.”
However, it now seems Sol Campbell is a transfer target for Hughton after all. Hughton said yesterday:
“Sol is one signing that might possibly happen here.
“He’s still got a lot to offer the game and, although he’ll get a lot of offers, I wouldn’t rule him coming to Newcastle out.”
“I wouldn’t expect Sol to be fit enough to play again until after Christmas.” (more…)
Appointed permanentlyWho sang Twilight Cafe in 1981? Ah, hang on, not that sort of ‘bits and pieces’. No indeed, just some bits and pieces about Newcastle United from the last few days that haven’t managed to get their own article.
Much has been said of Hughton’s now permanent role as manager for the rest of this season and the next one, but it’s probably worth mentioning that Colin Calderwood has taken up a similar length contract as Hughton’s assistant. Calderwood recently turned down a job at Tranmere Rovers to remain at Newcastle working alongside Hughton. Hughton said:
“Once I had my own deal sorted, the first thing I did was to get Colin sorted and he will continue now in the same role.
“Colin has been fantastic. He is someone I have known for a long time and someone I trust very much. He is an experienced football manager and that is a huge help. He’s also a fantastic coach and someone the players respect.But we’re both delighted to have this opportunity and we’re fully focussed on achieving promotion.” (more…)
