NUFC switch recruitment focus from France to Holland

Apparently we are starting to try to do in the Eredivisie what we did in Ligue1 - set up a thorough and powerful recruitment network to snap up the best players that the country has to offer at the most affordable prices. Sounds very good to me, though I think we'll continue tapping France for quality as well.

From Mark Douglas in The Journal:

"NEWCASTLE United are ready to step up their efforts in Holland to recruit the next Moussa Sissoko.

Having successfully raided the French market to bring in five new stars in the January window, Newcastle’s efforts now appear to be trained on Holland – with the club understood to be monitoring a clutch of emerging Dutch stars with a view to summer recruitment.

United scouts watched the Dutch Under-21 team take on their Republic of Ireland counterparts yesterday and The Journal understands that Newcastle were represented at Eredivisie games over the weekend, with fixtures featuring Vitesse Arnhem, PSV Eindhoven, Zwolle and AZ Alkmaar all monitored.

United have enjoyed success in the market recently, having lured Ajax’s Vurnon Anita to St James’ Park – and they also made an unsuccessful attempt to sign Jody Lukoki from Amsterdam in January. But now they are ready to make a concerted effort to add to their burgeoning Dutch contingent, which also features first-team goalkeeper Tim Krul.

It appears they will return to the country in the summer with The Journal aware that exciting forward Siem de Jong (pictured below) is another of the club’s targets. That would be a sensational coup given the profile that he gained during Ajax’s Champions League run, but United insiders have been laying similar groundwork in Holland to that which has enabled them to attract the cream of the talent Ligue 1 has to offer."

Read more: Journal Live http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2013/02/07/61634-32761442/#ixzz2KCaUdKtd

 

We should jus emply Cove and give him £10m a season to pick a few winners.... he would work well with Carr.

 

Holland is bound to get some good results like France, should also be looking at Belgium as they seem to have a production line of talent at the moment.

Any other ideas for places to scout?

 

Germany though the chances of getting young players out of there is probably zero. I think it would be useful to tap into the african market too. Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast have all provided a lot of PL players over the last few years. Most have had to be bought at premium from France or Holland.

Surely Colo and Jonas can do us a favour with the next generation fo Argentine superstars.

 

It's gotta be somewhere that has a weaker league than ours. So not Spain, Germany, or possibly Italy. Portugal might be worth a go though?

 

job offer taken

 

We need to be looking at countries with weather similar to our own.

Like it or not the ****e weather is something that foreign nationals associate with Britain. You only have to read the interview questions our French players have to answer with l'equipe, Canal+ and Bein Sport.

Most regions of France are not too different from England. Trying to pluck youngsters and top players from hot countries like Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Brazil is going to be more difficult.

Holland, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Rep, Switzerland, Poland, Denmark and the rest of Scandinavia are where we should gradually expand into.

Australia also seems to be an untapped market. We have Curtis Good which could kick start something there.

 

YES. YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!


To summarize, I agree.

 

Thought you did.

 

Portugal is a really good shout. Lots of quality players, low wages. Getting James Rodriguez off Porto might be a bit much to ask as I've seen him linked with Chelsea, City, Barcelona etc etc but must be some other steals out there we can take advantage of.

 

Could there be a more positive reply? Haha

 

We should also have a formal tie up with a belgian club... Sort of a feeder club type of thing maybe.

 

Someone mention positive rep?

 

Yeah a bit like St. Mirren but on a larger scale.

 

Did we not hang up with one in the past? Was it under Robson?

 

After Watching Italy-Holland, I would love us to sign Jermain Lens.