Toon linked with defender Pearce

I hate to point out the obvious but this chap is exactly the type Mike would probably go for.........

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport...lenge-liverpool-for-defender-pearce-1-5726289

NEWCASTLE United could try and pip Liverpool to the signing of Reading defender Alex Pearce.

The Magpies are weighing up a last-gasp bid for the centre-half, who is out of contract this summer.

Pearce has been linked with a move to Liverpool for almost a year, having been made captain of Reading when Brendan Rodgers was manager.

And with Jamie Carragher having retired, and doubt remaining over the future of fellow Reds centre-halves Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger, Liverpool boss Rodgers is keen to bolster his defensive ranks.

Liverpool are thought to be close to tying up the signing of Pearce, but Newcastle are also keeping an eye on the player’s situation as doubts remain over captain Fabricio Coloccini’s future.

Pearce, a Republic of Ireland international, has turned down a new contract at Reading and is available on a free transfer.

The 24-year-old lost his place in the Reading side last season because of the contract situation and was unable to prevent the Royals from being relegated.

With Pardew keen to bring more height and aerial ability to his side, particularly at set-pieces, Pearce fits the bill. The 6ft 2in stopper scored on his Ireland debut and notched five goals in Reading’s Championship-winning season.

Talking about the season just finished, in which Newcastle failed to score a goal from a corner, Pardew said: “The big fall down has been the centre-backs scoring goals from set plays. We need to have more dominance in that area.

“We’re not the strongest attacking-wise (from set pieces) and that is an area that we need to look at.”

Newcastle have also been linked again with a £4m move for West Ham defender James Tomkins, who Pardew knows well from his time in charge at Upton Park.

Tomkins has slipped down the pecking order under Sam Allardyce, despite signing a new contract in January, and could be cashed in to help fund the Hammers’ bid for Andy Carroll.

 

Piercy or Tommo.
Pinch me.

 

Young and speaks English, he is highly rated too. Bog improvement on what we usually go for.

 

Eh? He didn't play all that much for crappy Reading. Did we get relegated or something?

 

He scored 5 goals in Readings championship winning season. We usually go for the cheapest possible option, just a few foreign lads interested in a bit of coin.

 

Couldn't say I have seen a lot of the lad. Obviously there has been a fair bit of interest in him. I wouldn't mind Readings keeper if we did sell Krul! I think Tomkins would be a good addition to the squad if he were replacing Willo.

Mbiwa, Colo, Saylor, Tomkins would look pretty tidy as a set of centre backs.

Of course everything will depend on what happens with Colo at the back. It depends on money available. The vast majority of our budget will be required for strikers.

 

I have nightmares of the last Pearce that played for us at fullback...

 

Sorry, have we all decided that we are unhappy with the last bunch of foreign lads ?

We were over the moon 2 or three months ago: did the derby really change peoples attitudes that much ?

 

Always quite liked Psycho, once described by Matthew Le Tissier as his scariest opponent.

 

Inexpensive, reasonably well regarded option. Would give us extra depth in a position we need it and leave transfer funds free for strikers which we need more than anything else. Seems to make sense.

 

The youth system should be producing players of this calibre, no?

 

Yes, and Streete is of this calibre of higher. He is just a couple of years too young.

If the youth system produces one good player per season, it's doing its job. It can't be counted on to produce that player in he position that you need one.

 

Never heard of the lad

 

We all like the flair and technical ability the overseas lads bring but we need the heart and soul of the domestic players.

 

Yes a few months ago we were all happy then reality kicked in and we had found a team full of passionless
Foreigns with no fight or care for the cause.
I have never been so embarrassed and still can't get my head around the two performances against Sunderland and liverpool so for me we need british steel.
I am sick of buying foreign players with
Potential maybe we should be called potential united, we need players to be able to deliver today.

I like the youth policy but bar a handful of players when did a player come through the system and become a top player not just a squad player and I mean within the last 5 years.
All the kids just end up in league one etc


QUOTE=Freddd;4829899]

Sorry, have we all decided that we are unhappy with the last bunch of foreign lads ?

We were over the moon 2 or three months ago: did the derby really change peoples attitudes that much ?[/QUOTE]

 

We simply have to better than this standard of player. Although I concede I once said that about Perch.

 

Is Pearce not better than Willo? We're not really losing anything if we sign him. Can only gain from fees for the Willo deal.

 

[ageee as a willo replacement QUOTE=mancgeordie1892;4840953]

Is Pearce not better than Willo? We're not really losing anything if we sign him. Can only gain from fees for the Willo deal.[/QUOTE]

 

If we sign him I'll be pretty happy - as long as it is as a Willo replacement or just an extra body. If we get him and then Colo leaves and the club say 'no worries we're well stocked at CB' then that will be appalling.

 

I once said that about Mike Williamson. Stand by it til the bitter end.