mendes da silva dutch defender

silva uraguayan striker

one news source has it wrong, but who?

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Answers

Considering that Mendes da Silva has apparently been to Newcastle to see the city, the club and Bobby Robson I would safely say he is the one.

His current manager mentions that he's been to Newcastle and his agent says he has been to Newcastle. His agent has also talked of his parents moving with him to the city so it looks like Newcastle may have done some good preparation here with the player's family.

I have only heard on fee being mentioned and that was around £3million. Ajax have reportedly withdrawn from the race for his signature due to the fee.

His agent says he is primarily right sided and can play right midfield, Defensive midfield or central defence. Reports had him as a right back but that would appear to be a bit wide of the mark.

Wouldn't be surprised to see him sign but would it please the fans and Kieron Dyer?

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

must be wide right in midfield cos we need players there

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Bloody Hell! I didn't expect this. David Mendes da Silva plays for my adopted Dutch club Sparta Rotterdam. He made his debut last year (14 April 2000) away against Utrecht as a 17 year old, and has been a first team player ever since. As I have a season ticket, and catch the odd away game, I've seen more of this lads games than I've missed, and I'm a BIG admirer. In what has been another dreadful season (second bottom) his performances, skills, and maturity, have been one of few highlights. He's an international at under 18 level.

David was born in Rotterdam 4 August 1982, to Cape Verdian parents with whom he still lives and is evidently close. His father was a sailor who came to Rotterdam looking for work, there is a strong Cape Verdian community in West Rotterdam with strong links to the islands and Portugal.

Such have been Sparta's defensive weaknesses that, despite his age, he's been asked to play in the middle of defence, right back and defensive midfield, and has looked comfortable in every position. He has a wonderful ability to read the game, an excellent range of passing, and is incredibly composed and cool on the ball. At times its astonishing to think he's almost half the age of some of the headless chickens he's been asked to play along side. Ajax have long coveted him but Sparta, quite rightly, refuse to let him go for anything less than a substantial fee. Respected magazine Voetbal International have already had him on the cover proclaiming him the 'new Frank Rijkaard' which frankly is asking a lot of such a young player, but I could see their point.

My reservations would have to do with his general development, and how ready he would be to step a level. With Sparta he is guaranteed first team football, with us I can see him 'adjusting' in the reserves. Physically he's still a young man and is not fully grown, which I suspect is less of a disadvantage in the Dutch competition than in England. But in terms of potential, if I'm any judge at all, I can't speak highly enough of the lad. This season he has been a pearl amidst, frankly dross, and should he sign for the Toon, forgive me, but I'll have slightly mixed feelings at not watching him next season.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Shame we haven't got oodles of cash so that we can buy him and loan him back to Sparta Rotterdam for a year or two. We could do with a tremendous defensive midfielder.

Trouble is we should really be buying players for the first team who would force the likes of Acuna into the reserves not buying reserve team players. Unless Robson rates him higher than that!

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

A quick visit to a Sparta site. Rumour is we've placed a bid and are awaiting a decision from David.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Thanks Stevo, Bobby`s successor is going to be left what I would call a real legacy for the future, piecing things together, next season??

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Can't help thinking this story has similarities with Brian Pinas when he was coming to NUFC. Is that an official statement about a bid Stevo, any value mentioned?

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Hey lets be positive for 30 seconds

Given/Harper young for goalies

Griffin/da Silva/Hughes/O'Brien/Caldwell sisters all under 23

Dyer in midfield

Cort/Shola/Lua LUa at 23 or under, with hope in our u-17s

okay 30 seconds over, we have nothing in midfield

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Sparta's technical director Dolf Roks is quoted in this evenings Rotterdam Dagblad as saying "The interest in David is serious, he has been with his agent Edward Burleson to Newcastle to assess the situation". They do not report any formal bid has been made.

I'll see David play tomorrow evening against Cambuur Leeuwarden in a crucial game for Sparta.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

wear your Newcastle top to impress him

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Lets just imagine for another 10 seconds that Da Silva plays in midfield as a defensive midfielder and is the perfect foil for Dyer!!

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

http://www.planetfootball.com/Article.asp?ARTICLE=48083

the bit about him being right-back is inaccurate, he's rarely played there this season, mostly in central defence, or in front of the back four.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Seeing as the title to this thread is 2+2=7, did Robson miss the Leicester game to go and see this lad play, then bring him and his family back for a look at the club and city?

Sounds like an excellent prospect but it worries me that Robson is forever looking for the next world star as opposed to the current ones.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

don't say 'in front of the back four' Swift will wet himself in anticipation of a Speedy removal

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

the next world star would I guess be a touch cheper than a current one, surely better to pay £3m for the new Davids rather than £25m for the (drug crazed) current one

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

I bet Robson and Shepherd are pissed off that Sparta and the lad's agent have gone public with this story. Couldn't be them trying to get his name in the press and hiking up the price by any chance!?

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Exactly MacB! We can't afford current world stars, nor would they have any reason to want to play for us other than money and if that's all they want, they aren't going to be too motivated to do any more than they have to. We've had enough of those types.

This kid does sound one of the most promising of the 'players with promise' to be linked with us. My only worry is what Stevo mentioned about his development. If we can manage to develop his performance on the pitch, rahter than on the physio's table he could be a good addition to our young squad. But then kids will get you nowhere....right Mr. O'Leary?

BTW..how is he on the left side? No doubt he'd wind up playing there at some point. ;-))

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Couldn't agree more Macbeth. Massive transfer fees are a huge risk - note that Shearer has not been able to provide full value for £15m due to being injured for long periods - no reflection on Shearer - just bad luck - but if luck plays such a big part then going for multi-million players is a too much of a gamble especially in the present financial state. If and when we are in the CL and into megabucks again then that situation might change.

I always look with admiration at what Wenger achieved at Arse with players like Viera, Petit, Overmars, Anelka, Manninger, none of whom cost a vast amount as I recall. With YBR's experience he should have one of the best scouting networks in the business so we should be looking for the next £15m player before everybody else realises that's what he's worth.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Apparently, we're after both of them. On the Sky Sports text pages there was a Teamtalk banner at the bottom, with the headline "Double Silva lining" which may suggest two Silva's.

I'm sure Ronaldo's real name has Silva in it somewhere, could we be after him to add to our crock list?

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

How much did YBR pay for Ronaldo and how much did he end being worth. I rest my case - he can spot a bargain.

Buy 10 £3m players - if 5 come off we'll win something.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Thanks for the report Stevo.

By the way, do all the teams you support struggle like this?

I think I have uncovered our Jonah!

Can you support manure or the smb's next season? :o)

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Swift there are two Silva's.

MAGPIES DIG TO UNEARTH POT OF SILVA by Nic Evans

NEWCASTLE UNITED are again believed to have run the rule over Malaga's Uruguayan forward Dario Silva, with the Spanish side expecting Bobby Robson to make a bid for the player.

According to Spanish reports, Robson has had Silva watched throughout the season, and the former England manager has been impressed with the player's ability to turn a game in many of his performances.

The blanquiazul will certainly be keen to hang on to their star. With 12 goals this season, Silva has helped fire his side into a Uefa Cup position.

A fee believed to be in the region of 2,000-3,000 million pesetas (£7.37-11.06 million) has been touted for the player, although Malaga only own 50 percent of Silva`s contract.

Unlike The Magpies' other South American target, Peruvian Martin Hidalgo, Silva would qualify for a work permit through his appearances for Uruguay in recent years, although he has a Spanish passport in any case.

It has long been rumoured that Italy would be Silva`s preferred destination, but many of the clubs previously interested have seemingly gone cold on the idea, although his agent refused to rule out a move to Serie A.

Atletico Madrid are another club credited with an interest in the player, although this certainly would depend on whether or not they are promoted from the Segunda Liga.

With one game left Atletico lie fourth, level with Tenerife on points and only one behind Real Betis.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Speeking of which. Why aren't we feckin linked with any players who fill a need?

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Silva, the Uruguayan one is no great shakes. My colleague here (laura) has seen him a few times and reckons (acid test) he'd never play for Barca. He's not that good. The other Silva sounds more like it. A player good enough for Stevo is good enough for me. This Silva is like the Spanish Rod Wallace, he's going to offer nowt really. A bit lightweight, bad line in hair dye and (not too promising) dives like a fairy. My feeling is we'd be better off iving Ameobi more action than buying this bloke. I've only seen him in one game and he was totally anonymous. The only thing he did was to fluff a pass which led to an oppositions goal. 7 mil, no way.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

I watched David Mendez this evening against Cambuur Leeuwarden. Starting as right-back, he switched to centre-half after 20 minutes when a team-mate got injured. Apart from one dreadful pass he was his usual composed self, one step ahead of the play. He is weak in the air though, I can't imagine him playing centre-half in the Premiership. He won most of his tackles, made some vital clearances, and was very comfortable on the ball. There were, however, a couple of challenges when he seemed a little too easily brushed aside by bigger players.

Local radio football analyst Dick van de Polder was asked if he thought Mendes was ready for Premiership football? "Technically yes", he replied, "but mentally, and physically, no". Should he sign for us, I think he should be regarded as one for the future. Sparta won 2-0, incidently, and took a giant stride towards avoiding the drop.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

Cheers Stevo, much as I would expect at his age, I am now convinced there are two precedents in regards to buying of players which are availible to the major clubs in world football of which though not in terms of results I class Newcastle. Buying star players at a hefty price, massive wages, looking for instant success and bolstering their kitty with CL windfalls or to go down the other road, ie buying and rearing potential star players at a young age ,offering them lengthy contracts and hoping nay praying that they will all come good at once. There is a risk element attached to both of these methods , in fact I am not sure if its feasible to blend the two. The question I ask and this may be one for the FLC is `Have Newcastle behind closed doors` opted for a policy of buying youth in the interim or the tenure of Bobby`s reign with a view to the future`?. I have no problem with that route , only concern is no-one tell`s us , we will understand.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

Buff I more and more think they have. Exept for the South Americans only young player are being linked with us and only young players are coming our way. It's not a bad strategy - if it works out, hehe.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2001

A huge thankyou to Stevo for his scouting reports.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2001

A more critical opinion on David Mendes in tonight's NRC Handelsblad from Jaap Bloembergen:

"his hip movement, when he runs, delights the female supporters, but a tackle or a sliding challenge is asking too much from this lightweight. All the more remarkable then is the interest from Newcastle United for Mendes da Silva. The english club is prepared to pay three million guilders (sic) for the 18 year old defender."

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2001