Loic Remy is set to finalise his move from Marseille to Newcastle United either tomorrow or Wednesday for a reported 8 million pound fee. He's certainly got the talent to be a top class striker and the goal scoring ability to become a legend on Tyneside. But can he and Papiss Cisse become a prolific duo?
After Demba Ba jumped ship to fellow Premier League club Chelsea last week, Newcastle needed to bring in a star performing and goal grabbing replacement. Remy has been on Newcastle's wish list for a while and they have tried to sign him a couple of times in previous transfer windows, but to no avail. The fee was either too hefty or the agents and club were playing hard ball with the Newcastle.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has outlined in the past that he and the manager will not pursue someone if they continue to aggregate or test their patients. Marseille were doing exactly this, so Remy must be something special that Ashley and Pardew believe can work successfully with Cisse and be as prolific as Ba was in his short but goal fest filled stay at Newcastle.
Remy's record this season hasn't been anything to write home about or get too over excited with, just the three goals in sixteen appearances. But was he does has is the consistency to perform week after week and even chip in with a few assists for his team mates along the way.
At Newcastle last season Cisse was a revelation when he arrived; "He'll be the next legendary number nine!" the Geordies said. Cisse notched thirteen goals in twelve appearances at the end of last season. But the 2012-2013 season has been a different story. Cisse has only managed to get two goals so far, with one of them coming in one of the domestic cups available to Premier League teams.
With Remy's arrival imminent with Newcastle fans, including myself, be treated to a feast for the eyes when inevitably Remy and Cisse are partnered together for the remaining games this season?
Remy's potential debut could be Saturday against Reading, it will be interesting to see how he links up with Cisse and will give the Newcastle fans an indication of what he can bring to the team.
It's bad news again for Shola Ameobi who will be demoted to the bench as a back up for the two if they pick up a suspension or knock. But Remy is younger and a more star studded name and talent who can grow into a feared goal scorer in the Premier League.
For me Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse were too alike and that's where Newcastle striking problems lay. They would generally go for the same ball, not run into positions for one another and the most frustrating thing was that they could never seem to score in the game when the other one did. Amazing to say that they are from the same country!
Remy will bring another dimension to Newcastle and will offer Cisse a different sort of striking partner. He has pace, skill and a better football brain over Ba in my opinion and even though he doesn't have as good of a goal scoring record he can set them up for Cisse to finish off.
Could the signing of Remy be the addition that can change the fortunes of Newcastle's season?
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