Is Anita Built For Tough Premier League?

22 May 2013 10:53
Alan Pardew has promised Vurnon Anita he will hand him a bigger role at Newcastle next season. But is the title guy ready for the tough Premier League.

It's a 'catch-22' situation for Pardew.

He twisted Mike Ashley's hand to sign the player from Ajax Amsterdam, for £6.7m and sadly the 24-year-old has done nothing to suggest he is of Premiership quality.

After a poor start when he was out-played in whatever position he found himself in, Anita found his opportunities limited ... despite Pardew having a growing injury list.

He made just 17 Premier League starts for the club, and I cannot remember him impessing in any.

But Pardew is confident Newcastle supporters will see more of "technically-gifted" Anita in his second year on Tyneside.

But it's a position the manager has found himself in, because he has to show Ashley he is bringing in players that are value for money.

After all, Pardew's other summer signing, Romain Amalfitano, has hardly graced the black and white shirt either!

The players that left in the summer Leon Best, Fraser Forster and Danny Guthrie are - in my opinion - better than the two brought in.

Is Rob Elliot better than Forster? Not by any stretch of the imagination.

Best was never a world beater, but Amalfitano makes him look like Andy Carroll!

As for Anita - is he any better than Guthrie? At least Guthrie gets stuck in; Anita isn't big enough to put fire into a tackle!

With Pardew wanting funds this summer, he is grasping at straws trying to convince Ashley buying Anita was good business.

Alan Pardew: “He’s a great technician with the ball, and he’ll be better next year.

“I think it’s been a year where Vurnon’s had to adapt in a team that’s not done well and wasn’t playing its best football.

“He’s suffered because of the injuries we’ve had as much as everybody else. We’ll be looking to him to push on next year.”

Anita: “It’s very different – the play goes up and down, up and down.

“It’s different. You feel it in your legs – you get tired more quickly than in Holland.

"It’s great. It’s the biggest league in the world, so I’m happy to play in it.

"I have to adapt quick, and make it my own.”

 

Source: Newcastle United Mad

Source: FOOTYMAD