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Why Anthony Elanga solves Newcastle United's striker depth worries
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Michael jumps on to talk about a few talking points for Newcastle United this weekend, how Anthony Elanga can answer numerous questions, the Magpies 4-0 victory over Carlisle United and explains why he believes Newcastle could have just Alexander Isak and William Osula as number 9 options next season.
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Transcript
Introduction and Host Introduction
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everybody and welcome back to the Daily Newcastle Podcast. For this episode it's just going to be a quick recap what's going on in the world of Newcastle United right now. As of Sunday the 13th of July 10 past 9 at night.
00:00:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So to start off, obviously at the start of the weekend we announced the signing of Anthony Alanga. Just to add as well, by the way, for this episode. It's hosted by myself and just me, the M to the A to the G, Michael Grameslow.
00:00:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if that's not enough to make you turn off, then nothing will. Glad you're
Signing of Anthony Alanga
00:00:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
still here. um But yes, we announced the ah the signing of Anthony Alanga at between 52 to 55 million.
00:00:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
um For me, that could easily become the signing of the window. um Just for what he'll give to Eddie Howe, that versatility across that front line. and We saw he played quite a few times there for Forrest last season up front. Yeah.
00:01:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
particularly in the 7-0 against Brighton, where he got a hat-trick of assists. um So that versatility is going to come in very handy for Eddie Howe, but I'll get to that a little bit later on.
00:01:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
um What I know a lot of fans have found ah underwhelming was the announcement video for Alanga. um Now, I'm firmly in the camp of people who don't really care about announcement videos. If they're good, they're good. If they're bad, they're bad.
00:01:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
it It doesn't change my life at all. But I did see a lot of comments online about it being the worst announcement video in Newcastle United history, which I found funny. And I'll be honest, I wasn't particularly impressed by the video.
00:01:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But what I will say is it's nothing fancy, it's nothing you know to to talk about much, but it is something where a young lad, a young Newcastle United supporter through and through has got a story that he'll never forget and he'll end up taking to yeah with them for the next 50, 60 years. So Bit of feel good factor about it for something that, you know, would make us smile for 30 seconds is give of a child memories for the rest of his life. So looking at it from that, Bill, there's a bit of feel good factor.
00:02:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But speaking of feel good factor.
Fan Reactions and Friendly Match
00:02:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Does anyone feel like any time there is anything you'd call a feel-good factor? It's just gone within like a day with our fan base this summer.
00:02:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
like Sure, we're moving a little bit slow, and we all want transfer news immediately, right now. ah But we've just brought in a £55m winger who has the potential to be one of the best in Newcastle history.
00:02:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, he, at 23, is pulling numbers that Robert was getting in his peak and Ginola were getting in his peak. Now, don't get me wrong. They could do things with the football that most men would only dream about. it um But Anthea Lange has that potential to be very different player to those two wingers.
00:03:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
but just as good. And we'll see how he does. Even if he starts a bit slowly, the fans won't get on his back. He'll be eased into the squad, just like Gordon was, just like Lewis Hall was.
00:03:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm sure we'll see the best of Anthony Alanga soon. Um, but yeah, um, it's a happy tip. It's a happy time. And speaking of which Newcastle United had a happy time on Saturday with a behind closed door friendly against Carlisle United, uh, newly of the national league, um, was also ah behind the closed door friendly that none of the in the no accounts knew anything about.
00:03:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, so that, you know what, that says everything really, uh, Yeah, move on from that. um And before anyone says, well, you didn't know. Yeah, but I'm not tweeting 40 times a day, spouting crap about Marquee's flight patterns to get £4.50 off Elon Musk.
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah now.
Pre-season Observations and Player Development
00:04:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But back to the game. Newcastle won the game 4-0, thanks to goals from Sean Longstaff, Joe Linton, Jacob Murphy and Ben Parkinson.
00:04:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there were some things I noted about the game that, you know, it's pre-season. It's the first pre-season game that's behind closed doors. There's not really much that will impact what we do in the season.
00:04:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
and but obviously there were players missing from in international because of international duties just after the season. So I made a few notes. We played our usual 4-3-3 because we're not moving to up top next season, but more on that later.
00:04:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sven Bottman and Fabian Shaw got 45 minutes together in the second half. um Alex Murphy and Jamala Sells both managed 45 in the first half. I think that's interesting ah because we we do see...
00:04:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
um With Eddie Howey, he does like to have strongest players in each position playing with each other. We saw it in his first Seller Cup. One first-team attacking line-up got minutes, then the first-team defensive line-up minutes.
00:05:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah The defence, sorry, got minutes in the second game or vice versa. um I can't remember exactly which one, but he does like to do stuff like that. So it's interesting that Bottman and Shaw got the minutes together. I wouldn't be surprised if they were the two starting centre-backs next season if we don't bring anyone in.
00:05:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's just great to see Jamal Lassels get more money, minutes in the bank. Probably get more money as well, to be fair, now I've said that. um Great player, loved him at the club.
00:05:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, no one can forget that ah performance against Southampton um when he first broke through. um But then on the goalkeeper side, obviously John Ruddy still with us. ah He featured with Odysseys and Martin Dubravka.
00:05:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
both out from the international duty that was previously mentioned. They've been given the extended break. So John Ruddy even got minutes in the bank in a Newcastle shirt. um The main thing for me was that Osula was chosen to play on the right-hand side, similar to how we've seen him against Birmingham in the Cup, where I thought he was absolutely fantastic.
00:06:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. It was Sean Neve and Ben Parkinson who were chosen as the two designated strikers. um On the note of those two, I'd be very surprised if at least one didn't go out on loan next season.
00:06:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Parkinson needs minutes in the Football League. He's 20 years old now. It's one of those where if you're going to break through, this is won this is the year you need to do it.
00:06:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think he's that highly rated that they think that's gonna that's got a potential of happening. the one that they do, uh, apparently see potential in a Sean Neath. Um, I've heard numerous times that the youth coaches at Newcastle rant and rave about him, um, quite frequently, uh, also has a great goal record for England under 18s. think it's seven goals in seven games.
00:07:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, so could be worth throwing him to the wolves next season. Uh, But there are some very good young players who were featured on the day. And I think it just shows, you know, well long gone are the days where we're looking at the likes of a Elias Sorensen and thinking, wow, he could be the next Newcastle United plus striker. He could be, you know, he could replace Rondon.
00:07:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
let's say Now we're going, right, all of these youngsters realistically aren't going to make it into the Newcastle United squad. But... ah The first team, should I say. But we can definitely get some money for them down the line.
00:07:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And you never know. They might end up making a game against the likes of ah a PSG in the Champions League and they could build their career off that. um But on that note, obviously it was a 4-0 against the National League side in a behind-closed-door friendly didn't None of us actually saw the game.
Alternative Fixtures and Striker Situation
00:07:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So not really much more to talk about on that front. Just best of luck to Kyle United next season as they'll feature in the the National League next season alongside Gateshead and Hartlepool United.
00:08:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Just a side note mentioning Gateshead there actually. um If Newcastle United don't get picked for the Boxing Day fixture next season, if you do still want some great football action, the Header host and Kyle, um which will be a lovely little Boxing Day derby at the Gateshead International Stadium. So that that'll be absolutely lovely.
00:09:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I don't need to hear that again. So the next thing on my agenda is our striking situation, which this week has heated up, well, considerably less than the weather in England, actually. It's heated up just a little bit because there's talks of Johan Wisser, Olly Watkins and Hugo Eketike.
00:09:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
signing for the magpies now as you can tell i don't sound overly thrilled um by that we've spoke about it on and the last episode um yeah got a bit of got a bit of um should we say criticism about some of the comments i made which i will just i'm gonna go into a little bit more details on why sort of made those and how they do make sense um even if they weren't the best made at the time um But yeah, the entire country is talking about ah the situation of Alexander Azak.
00:10:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm not just saying that because Liverpool fans could see the news that was saying a 16-year-old from Rangers and somehow make the link of Azak signing for Liverpool. um Yeah, odd breed that one, but the meme of go in there and make it about you does seem to fit Liverpool down to a tee.
00:10:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, so the comment I made on the last episode was about Newcastle potentially not having the pull to bring in two top strikers. And many disagreed, um so I thought I'd go a little bit deeper into that topic. And if you still think I'm wrong, explain to me why.
00:10:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we've been linked with Johan Visser, Olly Watkins and Hugo Eketike. As I said, worth noting no bids have actually been made um for any of them as far as we know.
00:10:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But my belief is that there are only a small number of clubs in England that have that kind of pull to bring that kind of the standard of striker in as a number two.
00:10:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And unfortunately, they are Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea, who, as I'm recording this, are smashing Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final, which is very annoying.
00:11:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. But yeah, and also potentially Arsenal. um Maybe less so Arsenal, but those four, definitely. um And that's not because they're currently great clubs.
00:11:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's because of their reputation standing within the game. um In the 2000s, which is when most of these players who are like 23 25 now, actually grew up Manchester United and Chelsea dominated English football. Obviously, Arsenal had the a couple of good seasons under Arsene Wenger at the start, but they were mainly battling for that top four, which Wenger overperformed in my personal opinion, but that's not what we're going for. um They've got that legacy that resonates with these players.
00:11:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
The likes of Brian Mbwemo, they grew up with the dominance of Manchester United and Chelsea. um like a lot of my generation did, to be honest. um I was born in 1996, so I remember Newcastle fighting up there in the early 2000s.
00:12:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But most of my life, I've seen either Chelsea, Man United, or Man City dominate. um But... In the modern day, Liverpool and Manchester City, they're expecting to be fighting for the Champions League every season.
00:12:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
So if you're a number two striker, you're thinking, well, even if I don't play in the Premier League or the Champions League, I'm playing in the vice versa. And then if someone gets injured, there's a very good chance I'm playing semi-final, quarter-final, final of the Champions League next season for a big club.
00:12:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Where Newcastle are right now,
00:12:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would compare it to where Tottenham were with Harry Kane. um Great potential, great coach, um and they had money to spend.
00:13:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Pochettino was obviously fantastic at Spurs. They had a great young squad looking to push forward, but when the fans were crying out for a backup, and a good backup... the best they got were Roberto Soldado and Vincent Janssen. On paper, decent players, but not what they needed.
00:13:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they knew that. Because if any striker went to that club, they knew if Harry Kane was fit, he started. And that is the exact stage where we're at right now with Alexander Azak.
00:13:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's the first reason why I don't think it works like that for us. And the second comes with the state of modern day football. And ah so one of the biggest things I've seen is that Newcastle need depth in all positions, including the number nine. Now, yes, depth is essential, particularly if you're going to take on four competitions.
Modern Football and Striker Roles
00:13:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
we We know that better than anybody after two seasons ago. um Depth is essential, especially across the front three. But in modern day football, Depth at Stryker is so much different to what it was in the 90s and the 2000s.
00:14:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Modern football is all about fluidity. um You know, not just your like-for-like backups. Take Bayern Munich, for example. Harry Kane, again. He's their only natural striker, but players like ah Thomas Muller, Jamal Musiala, they play elsewhere, particularly number 10, those two.
00:14:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But they can fill in at Stryker if need be. Real Madrid relied on one main striker, with Mariano and Hossolu as number two since 2018. I certainly wouldn't be angry with their success in the next seven years.
00:14:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then another example of Barcelona, it's Ferran Torres or Rafinha behind Lewandowski. They're not strikers. My point is...
00:14:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
their wingers, number 10s, the other players in that attacking line-up who can play a striker. And you very rarely see a team with two number nines in the modern day. PSG and Liverpool, two other examples, ah they don't even play with a striker.
00:15:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
they use wingers in that position. You've got Luis Diaz, Guzman Dembele. They play centrally because Guantalo Ramos and Darwin Nunes simply aren't good enough for those teams.
00:15:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that is most like most strikers in the current market. You go back to the 2010s, not 2010s, 2010s even um works actually, to be honest with the example, but back in the 2000s.
00:15:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Someone mentioned Manchester City. They had Nicolas Anelka. They had Darius Vassell in there at times as well. Vassell was fantastic, so was Anelka. don't think there was much of a crossover. But, um you know, you can still have class strikers.
00:15:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
in that era but you were having class strikers playing for clubs who were mid-table, but you know, towards the bottom of the league. And that was in the Premier League, the French League, the Bundesliga, Serie La Liga.
00:16:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah You had great strikers at all levels. One of the most unappreciated strikers of all time in... in Spain was Diego Tristan. If he came to the Premier, he would have been absolutely fantastic.
00:16:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
But when you look at it, most people barely even know he exists. um And he was absolutely fantastic. We went for Albert Luque from Deportivo instead. Um...
00:16:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
But another player who should have been a fantastic striker, but just simply wasn't. Newcastle had Patrick Klivert, Alan Shearer, Michael Owen, not at the same time, obviously.
00:16:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah There was a couple years difference. Craig Bellamy um and Schola, all at the same time. Now, let's be honest, Schola's nowhere near the standard of Patrick Klivert, Craig Bellamy and Shearer, who was with in that 2004-2005 season.
00:17:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he did a job, and they're the kind of players that you need. Like Alanga, same with Jao Pedro, made so much sense because Wiggins can play centrally, and they can work fantastically well.
00:17:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alanga last season, he might have played centre-forward seven times and didn't score, but he got five assists in that position last season. and So he's changing...
00:17:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
The way he that centre-forward rule fits him. Centre-forward, it's not the 2000s and the 90s where everyone has to score goals. Like in the 90s, Alanga as a striker is baffling.
00:17:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Could you imagine David Ginola as a striker or move it to the 2000s, Nobby Solano and Lauren Robert as strikers? It's not going to work. But in the modern day... Those wingers, those fast wingers, are exactly what you need at times to get in but in behind teams.
00:17:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And playing centre-forward, Alanga is clearly clearly quite good at doing that. The stats for his entire career are 9 assists, 12 goals and 37 appearances, I think it is.
00:18:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, you know, it's not bad at all. In regards to clubs that play with a number 9... Only Manchester City have two that you could regard as great.
00:18:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Erling Haaland and Omar Marmouche. When you look at the players we're linked with, Olly Watkins apparently kicked off when Rashford was starting against PSG, both legs.
00:18:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Granted, when he came to play Newcastle, he was it was fantastic. um But Hugo Akite didn't work out with PSG due to mentality issues.
Striker Signing Strategies
00:18:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Christoph Gaultier called him mentally weak within a month of being at the club. And you wonder why he didn't make it. Now, I'm not saying Gaultier is a world-class manager, but...
00:18:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know If you move to a club like PSG and you're told you're not going to make it because you're mentally weak and then you don't make it, I think that proves a point. And at €100 million, well actually it's €100 million, euros so £86 million, Eddie Howe's not going to risk that for players who realistically aren't going to be happy to come and play a second fiddle behind Alexander-Erzak.
00:19:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's easy to say what won't happen. um But as far as I see it, there are three types of striker that Newcastle can sign if they want another striker. The first is an outcast or a squad player from another club.
00:19:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Usually has to be a top club if it's going to work. um On the outcast side of things, the wages makes it impossible, but Marcus Rashford's the ah example of players in that regard.
00:19:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
um The one I would have dreams of would be Alexander Solov from Atletico Madrid. um Only started 17 games across La Liga in the Champions League last season, but got 20 plus goals.
00:19:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
He'd be near impossible to sign, so it's not a good example. But that's the dream on that regard, in my opinion. um The second um type of striking sign is a top striker from a mid-table club in the top six leads, like Johan Wisser from Brentford, Arnaud Calimendo from Stade René in France, and then Moise Keane from Fiorentina.
00:20:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
if they hadn't qualified for Europe this year, but unfortunately they have. So that's one that's very late unlikely to see leave. um But again, only Visser would really get me excited out of those. And he cost he's going to cost a minimum of 40 million.
00:20:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's a tough signing to make. And then the third... On paper, it should be a veteran striker, someone who wants to stay in European competitions but doesn't really have the legs to play 90 minutes week in, week out.
00:20:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
um it's hard to think of an actual um example. um Ayose Perez, I guess, would be one from Villarreal, but he probably doesn't have the physicality um to work. Definitely has the work ethic.
00:21:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But, you know, I don't think Perez coming back would do us any favours. And a veteran striker doesn't really fit our transfer strategy. So, You're looking at free agents like Dominic Calvert-Lewin in that criteria instead, who again would fill a gap.
00:21:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
But my excitement levels are on the floor um with signs like that. Now, don't be wrong. Not every signing needs to be exciting, but with a striker, you would like to be at least a little bit excited about the future.
Conclusion and Future Signings
00:21:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But I guess we have all that in Alexander Rezac. ah So I wouldn't be surprised if we don't spend big on that second striker because both Gordon and Alanga have experience playing in centre-forward, and both our backups for Gordon and Alanga bonds and Jacob Murphy are absolutely top class.
00:21:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think you'll see us with a centre-back next, whether that's Scalvini or not, I don't know. And to be honest, neither does anybody else. No matter what they tell you on their Twitters, their TikToks, their Instagrams, their YouTubes, no one really knows what's coming next for Newcastle. And we can all guess.
00:22:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that's all it is. It's guessing. What we do know from things that Eddie Howe has said is that we can look to get expect maybe two or three um big money signings from Newcastle.
00:22:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that, ladies and gentlemen, and everyone in between, excites me. So thanks for listening. I've been Michael Grahamslaw. You've been bloody lovely. And I'll see you tomorrow.