Trippier deal could persuade others to join Toon revolution
ENGLAND ACE IS NO MERCENARY – HE SEES POTENTIAL
SO THERE we are. It’s a stirring start for the new owners of NUFC. The first stripe on their arm.
A new blue-chip signing nice and early in the January transfer window way before United’s first Premier League match of 2022. A proper statement of intent.
Kieran Trippier is a player of genuine quality. Little more than seven months ago he earned a La Liga winners medal in a land previously dominated by Real Madrid and Barcelona and a month later played for England in the European Championship final.
Former United owner Mike Ashley waited to make signings at the very last moment as the transfer market was about to close, wasting both matches and opportunity in an effort to save a few quid. Amanda Staveley, Jamie Reuben and the Saudis have weighed in quickly with their life jackets at the ready to give Newcastle their best chance of survival.
Well done to them, well done to Trippier for being willing to commit to an immediate fight at the opposite end of the table to where he is used to, and well done to Eddie Howe for cashing in on their previous experiences together at Burnley.
I certainly hope that this is not Newcastle’s ‘Robinho moment’ as has been suggested by ex-Aston Villa forward Gabby Agbonlahor, who has hardly proved himself a friend of Geordies.
When Manchester City’s new owner Sheikh Mansour swooped for £32.5m Robinho as an impact signing, the Brazilian became little more than an expensive flop, which I do not expect Trippier to be.
As for the gobby Gabby having a pop at our former Spurs defender, for him to accuse Trippier of only signing for the money is insulting in the extreme. It is also typical gibberish from a Villan who has had a downer on Newcastle ever since fans helped to get rid of his old boss Steve Bruce.
Another rent-a-quote Simon Jordan used his talkSPORT platform to mouth the same obscenities about Trippier being a mercenary.
Of course he wanted the going rate for a La Liga winner and an England international with no less than 35 caps but he signed because he wished to return to this country for family reasons and he likes the project at a club boasting a 52,000 sell-out crowd every home game.
Trippier will improve United not just at the back, where they have leaked an embarrassing 42 goals in 19 league matches. He will also create both from open play and set-pieces.
Canny Kieran claimed six assists in 28 league games last season as Atletico Madrid won the La Liga title, following on from providing four assists in 23 league starts for his Spanish club in 2019-20.
When Toon fans recall Jacob Murphy playing right-back with Matt Ritchie on t’other side in a flat back four, the need for Trippier becomes obvious.
Of course, while everyone is patting one another on the back, we cannot get carried away in selfcongratulatory posturing.
The arrival of a right-back alone will not save Newcastle as much as it will undoubtedly help.
We need more – a significant number more – so foot on the accelerator and as Delia Smith once famously said at Norwich “let’s be havin’ yer.”
I’m certain more signings will follow. These folk safeguard their investment, not gamble with it like Mad Mike which twice resulted in relegation.
The hope is that the sight of a player of Trippier’s quality, still in his prime, signing for the Magpies despite their current plight will encourage others to be believers.