Newcastle Play Striker Bingo

Article by Newcastle Correspondent James Murtagh

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The Geordie faithful have had enough of playing 'Striker Bingo' over recent years. Our optimism regarding the arrival of Papiss Cisse in January 2012 was more than fulfilled in the early days of the new number 9 on Tyneside. He scored stunning goals for fun, both home and away, and I'm sure that almost all of you will recall THAT goal at Chelsea as one of the greatest ever scored in a Toon shirt. 13 goals in 14 games looked like we had bagged one of Europe's hottest finishers who instantly became a fan favourite. Demba Ba couldn't find the back of the net when his compatriot was on the pitch but that didn't matter to the fans who were enjoying wonder goals from the new number nine on a regular basis. Two prolific strikers, one problem: consistency.

Fast forward to the current season. Newcastle United have a squad full of gifted and hard working individuals who have been receiving high praise after a disastrous away defeat at the Etihad at the start of the season and a painful loss to Sunderland. Since then, Alan Pardew has instilled confidence into his squad and at times we make real high quality squads look rather short of the mark against 'Le Toon'. Fans feared that after the ranks of the squad swelled with Frenchmen last January cliques would begin to form and there would be somewhat a lack of togetherness and team spirit at the club. Instead, they have mucked together and shown real determination to make sure they get the 3 points no matter who the opposition and under what circumstances. That being said, that's not the Newcastle that turns up every week. Losing at home to Hull is not a result that a team who are now whispering Champions League should be getting. Loic Remy needs to be signed up ASAP. He looked very strong in late October and throughout November but the problem that still eats away at our team is again, consistency.

Its January now and as per usual, sources link NUFC with 'A number of attacking options'. Newcastle fans need to see some real action done this month to make sure that we have someone who will get us the goals that we need and deserve. Shola - get real, Cisse - see best before date, Remy - not our player! Bafatembi Gomis and Luuk De Jong look like the most likely recruits. Gomis would demand high wages and god only knows what his agent would demand of the illustrious Mr Ashley.

Luuk De jong would definitely be my first choice. He looks like the whole package. Signings from the Eridivise do not make the instant impact in the Premier League that teams lower down in the table would be touting for. 10 goals in the Premier League in two whole seasons from Robin Van Persie, when he first signed for the Gunners, does not represent the player he has become now. Wilfred Bony chose Swansea over Newcastle in the summer and it looked like Mr Ashley had escaped with both chequebook and pride intact. But in recent weeks Bony has looked awesome and has began to recreate some of the form that made him the Dutch leagues prize asset last season. And to think that Arjen Robben was deemed surplice to requirements at Chelsea in 2007 baffles me. Chelsea lacked the patience that has seen Robben become one of the worlds best. Luuk De Jong had 3 fantastic seasons at FC Twente netting 59 goals from 119 appearances. His tally of 8 from 31 for Borussia Mönchengladbach in a league with some of the toughest defences in the world would suggest to me that he is indeed a player that requires a patient approach to getting him to where he needs to be to be a good Premier League striker.

Patience is what Newcastle United need. Patience with Pardew, patience with the board and patience from the fans. We have one of the best squads we have had in years and with the right tactics, signings and approaches to the tough times, Newcastle United can strive to achieve those sought after Champions League places but more importantly, consistency.

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