NUFCfans LIVE - POLL: Newcastle United's worst signing ever?

Former Deportivo man Albert Luque has featured on many 'worst transfer ever' lists.

Newcastle United have signed some pretty atrocious players in previous transfer windows. In today's all-talk NUFC, we asked NUFC fans for their views on NUFC's worst signing ever. Here are the names we received:

Acuña, Andersson, Askew, Babayaro, Barnes, Barton (Joey), Barton (Warren), Bassedas, Beharral, Bernard (2nd time) , Boumsong, Bramble, Cacapa, Carr, Charvet, Cordone, Cort, Dalglish (Kenny), Dalglish (Paul), Domi, Duff, Dumas, Dyer, Faye, Fereday, Ferguson, Fumaca, Gallacher, Geremi, Glass, Goma, Gonzales, Guivarch, Hamilton, Hooper, Kluivert, Luque, Maric, Marcelino, Onyewu, Owen, Perez, Pistone, Rozehnal, Rush, Ryan, Saha, Serrant, Shinton, Stewart, Stimson, Tommasson, Viana, Viduka, Xisco.

From the list, we've picked 20 of the most mentioned to form a poll below. NUFC fans, it's time to vote for NUFC's worst signing ever.

Comments welcome.

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Happy Hatem keen to impress on Tyneside

Hatem Ben Arfa says he is delighted to be on Tyneside and keen to impress after securing a season-long loan switch to Newcastle.

Ben Arfa can't wait to walk out at St. James Park.

The French winger decided to turn down UEFA Champions League football for the chance to play in front of the Toon Army and today, he told the Evening Chronicle:

"The time when I knew it was over at Marseille was after Newcastle became interested in me. The reason I didn't go back to Marseille was because they said in the end they had accepted the offer by Newcastle, and all I wanted was to come here."

The 23-year-old continued:

"I don't mind turning down the chance to play in the Champions League to play for Newcastle. They may not be in Europe, but I want to play in this league and for this club. It's interesting for me to play abroad and in the Premier League."

"It (Newcastle) was a choice I made because I feel it can enhance my career in the long-term. It has a big history and fantastic supporters. The history and how good the supporters are, is a very well-known fact in France."

"I hope that I can play many times for France in the future and being at Newcastle I can do that. I am excited by the prospect of running out in front of these fans. I want to give everything I can for them."

"I have a lot of confidence in the people I have seen on the training field so far. After seeing the skills of the players in the last week or so, I feel even more confident that the team can achieve success that I did before."

Ben Arfa has also told manager Chris Hughton he is ready to feature against Blackpool a week on Saturday. He said:

"I wasn't training with Marseille but I hired a personal fitness trainer to make sure I didn't fall behind. I worked really, really hard to keep a level of fitness up."

"The coaches at Newcastle have all been impressed by my level of fitness and have had no questions about it."

Comments welcome.

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Campbell places club before country but remains hopeful of return to International scene

Newcastle defender Sol Campbell says he still has the desire to play Club and International football and at 35, can perform to the same level as when he was 30 years old.

After making his first appearance for the club in Tuesday evening's 3-1 reserves victory over Sunderland. Campbell said:

"I have still got it (in me to play for England). I still have the passion, the fire in my belly. I want to win. But you just can't do anything about it any more. So I am not going to fight. I am going to fight on the pitch for Newcastle and if it comes to the stage where someone says can you fight for England then I will fight for England. But I am not going to go on about it. It is just not worth it."

The man who won the 73rd and last of his Three Lions caps, three years ago, continued:

"I'm just going to concentrate on Newcastle and if anything happens at a later stage it happens. I have just got to get my football right and concentrate on moving Newcastle in the right direction and if anything happens in the future, it happens."

"It doesn't matter where you are at with your age, if you are fit and you are strong, and you are physically there and want it, then you have got the experience so I think there should be no problem really."

He concluded with his hopes of achieving success with Newcastle.

"With Newcastle there are 50,000 people watching and they want it to be a success, and that is what I am all about. I remember going to Portsmouth and people [asking] what going there is all about, and I came away with an FA Cup and a European campaign. That is what I am all about."

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Newcastle include Steven Taylor in squad list

Newcastle United have listed defender Steven Taylor in their no more than 25-man squad submitted to the Barclays Premier League, in accordance with new regulations affecting all top-flight clubs this season.

Taylor was placed on the transfer list after negotiations over a new contract failed last week. However, the talks are due to resume with NUFC hopeful of reaching an agreement with the defender before January.

The following 23-man squad list does not include homegrown players under the age of 21.

GK

Steve Harper

Fraser Forster

Tim Krul

DF

Sol Campbell

Steven Taylor

Fabricio Coloccini

Mike Williamson

James Perch

Jose Enrique

Danny Simpson

Ryan Taylor

MF

Cheik Tiote

Alan Smith

Joey Barton

Danny Guthrie

Kevin Nolan

Jonas Gutierrez

Wayne Routledge

Hatem Ben Arfa

ST

Shola Ameobi

Peter Lovenkrands

Leon Best

Xisco

Comments welcome.

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Newcastle fans reasonably pleased with successful transfer window

Newcastle United fans were reasonably pleased with the clubs' transfer window business, despite a quiet transfer deadline day on Tyneside.

Campbell, Gosling and Perch were the 3 early signings.

Toon boss Chris Hughton brought in five new faces over the summer with a combination of youth, experience and versatility. Along with defenders James Perch and Sol Campbell, NUFC signed 3 midfielders, namely Dan Gosling, Cheik Tiote and Hatem Ben Arfa. In terms of outgoings, winger Kazenga LuaLua sealed a deadline day loan-return to Brighton, along with goalkeeper Fraser Forster who moved to Celtic on a season-long loan deal last week.

Today, Newcastle fans were reasonably pleased with a one of the more successful football transfer windows in recent times, whilst some were disappointed with Hughton's failure to sign a striker and left-back cover for Jose Enrique. Here is some of the reaction:

"Tiote, Ben Arfa and Gosling are all cracking deals. Perch has started okay and Campbell has loads of experience. So Chris Hughton has done well." Kevin Ivey (County Durham)

"I'm very happy with HBA, but just wish we'd got a quality foil for Carroll." Paul Nicholson (Newcastle)

"I'm really happy that Steven Taylor stayed. He will be useful when he's fit again. Shame about Wolfswinkel" - Claire Middleton (Kent)

"Yeah definitely happy with our signings. Would have been happy with Gudjohnson, but overall happy" Marc Jobson (Northumberland)

"We were told there were no £ to spend and we get Ben Arfa and Tiote. That's way above expectations before we even get to the other 3." _danno.

The signing of Ben Arfa, after a long saga involving many clubs has got NUFC fans excited.

"Happy enough. Still dread to think where we'll be if Carroll or Jose go down injured." Tom Snakefield (Limerick)

"I'm pretty happy considering what we were told at the start of the summer. Chris Hughton, Mike Ashley, and Derek Llambias have done a decent enough job." Chris Whitling (Southampton)

"Happy with the standard of player we have brought in. Worried about strikers though - who is going to score if Carroll gets injured?" Ben Haynes (London)

"Would of liked back up LB and fast forward to go up top with Carroll." Steve Harper (Wirral)

"Would've liked someone like Robbie Keane in, but it's alright." Jasper (Holland).

What do you think of NUFC's transfer dealings? Comments are welcomed in this post or through the contact page.

In our exclusive NUFCfans poll, we're asking: Out of the 5 signings, which one is the most impressive coup for NUFC? Although most fans are excited with the signing of Ben Arfa, the signings of Tiote and Gosling are also pretty impressive. Let us know what you think.

Comments welcome.

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NUFC and Liverpool eye deadline day swoop for Dutch striker Wolfswinkel

Newcastle United look set to compete with Liverpool for the signature of 21-year old Dutch striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel, on transfer deadline day.

According to latest reports, the magpies have submitted a bid in the region of £8m for the FC Utrecht frontman and are hopeful of completing a transfer before tomorrow's 5pm deadline.

The Dutch club, on the other hand is holding out for more offers with a potential late bid from Liverpool on the cards. Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has reportedly enquired about the £12-15m rated striker, without making a firm bid.

Holland international Wolfswinkel's stock has risen since an impressive hat-trick against Celtic in a UEFA Champions League qualifier last week.

Comments welcome.

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Ben Arfa excited by Newcastle challenge

Newcastle United's new winger Hatem Ben Arfa is excited by the challenge facing him at his new club.

The France international joined the Magpies on Friday after a drawn out saga during which he was linked with German duo Werder Bremen and Hoffenheim.

However, Ben Arfa is delighted to have sealed a move to the Premier League.

He told L'Equipe:

"Newcastle was my first choice. Everything happened because I wanted to come here. Newcastle has a long history and a very strong identity. I watched the match against Aston Villa on TV and the match against Wolverhampton in the stands and there were a lot of positive things."

"I could have great fun in that team. I am feeling like starting again from scratch. I have a whole country to conquer. It is a beautiful challenge. When I saw the atmosphere in Wolverhampton's stands, I had shivers at kick-off."

Ben Arfa also said he hopes to be fit for action within the next fortnight.

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Keane set for loan move to NUFC as Villa wait in the wings

Robbie Keane is set to join Newcastle on a season-long loan deal, according to the News of the World.

The Spurs striker is believed to be in advanced talks to complete the temporary move before Tuesday's transfer deadline. Newcastle boss Chris Hughton is keen to see Keane link-up with Andy Carroll and form a lethal Premier League strikeforce.

The Daily Mail, on the other hand, reports that Aston Villa are also interested in the striker. However, Keane would prefer a permanent move to Newcastle, where a regular starting XI place is guaranteed. According to rumours on Saturday evening, the magpies were willing to sign the the Republic of Ireland International for a fee of around £5.5m.

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Post-match: Hughton happy with goalscorer Carroll

Newcastle manager Chris Hughton was full of praise for goalscorer Andy Carroll once again as the no.9 scored the crucial goal to make sure the magpies returned to Tyneside with a point from the Molineux.

After the game, Hughton also revealed the player was playing through the pain barrier.

He said:

"He's a tough boy, Andy, he played through an ankle (injury) that he sustained a few days ago and hasn't trained for four days. He put himself right up for the game and that's the type of individual he is and we just had to make sure that he was OK towards the end (by substituting him)."

"Arguably, it wasn't one of his better games but he has shown that, even in a performance that hasn't matched his last two performances, he's always a threat. The delivery for the goal was a top class delivery and at the moment there's nobody better to have on the end of it than Andy."

Hughton is aware that Carroll's goalscoring form, now 4 goals in three games means potential interest from Fabio Capello and England. He added:

"All he (Carroll) can keep doing is keep performing well for Newcastle United which is the most important thing for him and of course scoring goals."

Speaking about the game as a whole, Hughton was satisfied with the outcome, despite seeing his side go behind against the run of play in the 1st half.

"I thought we were the better of the two teams so we're disappointed not to have capitalised on that. We had the better of the chances over the 90 minutes, we started the game very well but you know when you come here, particularly how Wolves fared last season, it's going to be a tough game."

"We probably gave away a few too many free-kicks in that last period which made it much more difficult than we would have liked. I'm a little bit disappointed but a point here is always a good point."

Comments welcome.

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Carroll scores as Magpies draw at Wolves

Carroll got his 4th goal of the season.

Newcastle United were held to a 1-1 draw at the Molineux this afternoon.

Andy Carroll scored the crucial 63rd-minute equaliser, leaping high to superbly head past Marcus Hahnemann from a Joey Barton free-kick. This after Sylvan Ebanks-Blake had given the home side a first half lead. Carroll missed an open-goal in the first half whilst Ebanks-Blake hit the post. 

Full match report coming up.

Comments welcome.

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OFFICIAL: Ben Arfa completes Newcastle move

After weeks of negotiations, Newcastle United have officially confirmed the signing of Marseille winger Hatem Ben Arfa.

The 23-year-old joins on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent transfer and will wear squad number 37 at St. James' Park.

After signing for United, Ben Arfa said:

"It was always my first choice to come here and I'm delighted to be here. I've paid real attention to the history of the club and the great players to have played for it, and particularly the supporters and I want to showcase my skills in Newcastle."

"All I'm waiting for is to show what I can do in front of the public in Newcastle. A lot of my friends in France already know the fans' reputation. The stadium has an ambience that is unique and I feel very lucky to have his opportunity."

His new manager, Chris Hughton said:

"Hatem is a player who we have been tracking for a long time, and what is important is that he is not only a young player who should continue to improve, but somebody who already has a great reputation in the game. We think he will add flair to the squad and we're confident he'll fit in well with the team that we have put together here. He will, I am sure, prove to be a great addition."

"He won't be available to face Wolves at the weekend, but he'll come into my thinking for the next game at home to Blackpool. He's someone who will excite the fans here, who of course have always identified with skilful, attacking players."

Newcastle United's Managing Director Derek Llambias commented:

"It has taken a lot of hard work behind the scenes to bring in a player of Hatem's quality, but we really are delighted that he is now here. His signing, along with that of Cheik Tiote, shows our commitment to bringing international class players to St. James' Park."

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Carling Cup 3rd round - Magpies to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge

Newcastle United have been handed a tough 3rd round tie, in the Carling Cup, away to Premier League Champions Chelsea.

The magpies, who beat Accrington Stanley 3-2 in the 2nd round will travel to Stamford Bridge on week commencing 20th September.

Comments welcome.

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