Airey

Just found this article on the fourfourtwo site about Airey...

http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/talent...ate-no-9-looking-to-fill-carroll-s-boots.aspx

No other club in the country quite has the same association with its strikers as Newcastle United – especially when it comes to those front-men who hail from the North East.

The emergence of Andy Carroll restored much hope among The Toon faithful, after the Gateshead boy graduated from the youth team to claim Alan Shearer's iconic No.9 shirt. Carroll may have since moved on to Liverpool, but he has blazed a trial for the next promising Geordie prospect to break through.

On early evidence, 19-year-old Phil Airey has everything in his locker to follow in Carroll's footsteps. Airey joined Newcastle aged 10 and moved quickly through the ranks, featuring in a number of positions. A tough, strong and committed right-back, he took those same qualities to a new role up front and was an instant hit.

In his first season in the Under-18s, the Northumberland-born prospect grabbed three goals in five appearances. Although Airey continued to occasionally feature in defence, his stock as a front-man was continuing to rise. In 2009 he won the Player of the Tournament award at the Foca Cup, where he scored two goals in the final as Newcastle beat Dinamo Zagreb 3-2.

He missed part of the 2008/2009 season through injury, but really showed his class last year, scoring eight goals in nine games for the reserves. Airey then continued his good form this term, and even earned his first-team debut as a substitute in FA Cup Third Round defeat at Stevenage.

Despite looking bright in his short time, he hasn't featured in the first team since, although he impressed the watching Alan Pardew when he cropped up for a 90th-minute winner against Arsenal reserves in early March and is certainly in the picture at Newcastle.

If Magpies fans are expecting another barnstorming striker in the mould of Carroll or Shearer, they'll disappointed. He may boast the same power and work ethic of the aforementioned duo, but his game is based more on playing on the shoulder of the defenders and feeding off scraps in the penalty area.

Even so, it's good news for Newcastle fans that despite having the Carroll money to spend this summer, their academy's production line in promising forwards shows no sign of slowing down, with Airey leading the charge to be the club's next great No.9.





Thoughts?

Just thinking, if we do spend a lot in the summer on new strikers, they're likely to stop this guy developing fully, unless we loan him out.

 

I only want to buy one striker, Airey should definitely get game time next season
thanks for sharing the article too

 

Or perhaps 20-30 mins this season?

 

I would like to think that once our prem status is secured Pardew might 'Air' some of the youngens in the last few games - scuse the pun!

 

No harm in giving him some game time this season imo.

 

if we're safe, why not? he'd more likely try harder than ranger!

 

good find, would love to see him given a run around in the 1st team before the end of the season

 

Part of me would like to field strong teams to make sure we finish as high as possible (above the unwashed at least), but part of me is curious to see what Airey, Ferguson and Richardson etc are capable off. Might be too much too soon to start them, but can't see the harm in 20 minute cameos.

 

Airey looks a really decent player and I would love to see him come on as a sub this season. Wouldn't start him yet next season , but would definitely send him on loan to the Championship so he can develop and not sit on the bench and play for the reserves all the time.

 

I think Airey is well enough thought of at the club that they'll make sure they don't lose him and a game or two will be on the cards.

Can't let a good prospect slip through our fingers.

 

Hopefully someone's taught this one some loyalty!

 

I've heard he has NUFC tattoed on his arm!

 

Why's he behind Ranger? They're the same age and I don't have much faith in Ranger. I'd rather see Airey getting his minutes, but if Pardew thinks he's incapable of challenging Ranger I can't see him being that good. Hopefully we can get him out to a Championship club next season, failing that League One.

 

Can't see him going to any less than a Championship side.

 

Play him along side Shola if he like to play off the last defender

 

Good point, Ranger has disappointed me this season. He's had a lot of opportunities and so far all he's done is **** up. Let's hope Airey's a little better, seems to have a better attitude.

 

Looks a real prospect, been on fire for the reserves this year and im sure Pardew said some where that he had over taken Ranger in the pecking order, even though he never followed it up.

 

Cant Wait to see the lad get some proper game time under his belt for us!

 

Never seen the lad play past the Stevenage game.

Have to admit I'm quite excited about him though. Don't care if he's not #9 material, he's still a local boy who brings goals with him

 

Want to see him on loan before I overhype him just because he's a local lad, let's remember Ranger was very prolific in the reserves as well, and it hasnt transferred to the first team.


He does know loyalty though, turned down a professional contract from Chelsea to sign for us before this season.