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Saturday, August 27, 2005

Luque is only a partial solution to Newcastle's striker shortage

With legend Shearer on his last legs, Bellamy and Kluivert gone, and Ameobi consistently injured, it has been obvious for some time that Newcastle needed to bring in some firepower to the club. As an Arsenal fan, this fact really struck me when the young winger, James Milner, came on as substitute striker for Shearer on opening day. A club the stature of Newcastle should not be in such a deprived position. No goals in the first three premeirship games forcefully underlines this.

The purchase yesterday of Albert Luque for £9.55 m is a partial solution to the Newcastle striker crisis. This player is pure quality. A fantastic left foot, a classy dribbler, and comfortable either up front or on the left wing. But as Souness said yesterday, he is not a prolific goalscorer. His return of 11 Primera Liga goals for Depor last season was his best in three seasons. To use an old cliche: he is a scorer of great goals, not a great goal-scorer.

Therefore, I would be happy if I were a Newcastle fan to hear that Souness has declared his intent to purchase another striker. Personally, I would leave Owen alone. He has shown a disrespect for Newcastle by admitting that he would only wear the black and white shirt on a temporary, last-resort basis. I further think that the other player mentioned by Souness as a possible purchase is the better all-round player: Dirk Kuyt. He has a big shot, is a powerful header of the ball, and a goal record of 29 last season speaks for itself. He is a pure centre-forward with a physical presence in the mould of an RVN or a Shearer, and I'm sure he could be a 15-20 goal striker.

If Kuyt was to join Newcastle I think it would be the buy of the summer in the Premiership. He is definitely more of an answer to Newcastle's striker shortage than the skilful Luque. A Shearer-Kuyt partnership, with Luque supporting, would make Newcastle a much greater force to reckoned with.

4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

As an Arsenalfan I would want Kuyt to become an Arsenal player...
;)

8/27/2005 12:54 pm

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As a toon fan, I agree with everything there.

8/27/2005 12:58 pm

 
Blogger RedsMan said...

Luque is the kind of player Newcastle certainly could do with and its a good signing for them. But while Kluivert remained at St James, he produced little for someone of quite a big reputation. Luque hasn't been as prolific as the Dutch man but at the least he can inspire them. With Emre and Scott Parker, the new signings are a big boost.

I would too forget about Owen if I was Souness. Only on loan and thats if Liverpool doesn't come in for him, that doesn't open a suitable reception for him were he to fly to Tyneside. Fans want to hear players want to play for their team, not because they want to impress others. Kuyt has been reported to interest a number of clubs so someone better move quickly before Wednesday. This Dutchman, for me, is the main man who can form up well with Shearer, rather than Luque.

Newcastle is a big club and since the days of Keegan, Beardsley, Albert, Rob Lee and Andy Cole (and the UEFA run aside), they have not had a lift in terms of football. This is Shearer's last stand, I hope Souness can make this season count.


RedsMan.

8/27/2005 7:32 pm

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Couldn't agree more with the comments in regard to Michael Owen. This point I think has been missed by many in the media. I'm sure Newcastle fans would love to have owen, but on the basis that his desired transfer back to anfield falls through, i'm not so sure.

8/28/2005 3:30 pm

 

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