Newcastle's listed five

By Peter Donnelly
June 7 2003

A low-down on the five players Newcastle United made avialable for transfer earlier this week. Those players are as follows: Nikos Dabizas, Robbie Elliot, Wayne Quinn, Clarence Acuna and Jamie McClen.

Nikos Dabizas

Dabizas, 29 and nick-named "the Greek God"/"Dabz", is Newcastle's highest ever scoring centre-back. Bought in March 1998 by Kenny Dalglish for £2 million, Dabz immediately built up a good rapport with the fans, combing powerful and determined defending with threatning attacking play.

Under Gullit though he was treat with very little respect behind the scenes (then again, who wasn't?), despite being selected frequently. His peformances were erratic and unreliable.

Dabizas and others were relieved when Ruud left and Sir Bobby came in, five games into the 1999/2000 season. Again, he was a regular in the side under Robson and re-discovered his best form too, proving to be an excellent peformer that season.

He missed practically all of the following season though, when he suffered ligament damage to his knee. However, was fit and ready to go for the 2001/2002 season when Sir Bobby guided the Toon to foruth place in the Prem. Dabizas was a regular and was still the first-choice defender, putting in good peformances again and scoring the winner against the mackems, although he did become subject to the odd 'clanger' once in a while as the season went on.

Last season he started just about every game up until around December, but didn't impress, putting in poor shows at the heart of the defence. He was dropped and rarely got another chance again. Titus Bramble, Andy O'Brien, Steve Caldwell and eventually Jonathan Woodgate all went above Dabizas in the selection order, with Caldwell especially shining when given the chance.

Overall Dabz has been a good player for the club and a very loyal servant. The guy is from Greece yet he bleeds black 'n' white and at the end of the day all you ask for is 100% commitment, which is exactly what he gave. So far he's made 163 starts and 12 as sub, scoring 14 goals.

Robbie Elliot

Local boy Elliot was re-signed by Newcastle United in the summer of 2001. Most fans welcomed the move and were happy to see Elliot back in a black and white shirt, especially with Newcastle in need of a full-back.

However, after a bright start to the season Elliot became much to reliable on the long ball. He played about two-third's of the season but last season he rarely got a sniff, making a start in the Worthington Cup and coming on a few times in the Prem.

Like Dabizas, he gives his all and he's a Geordie but it's pretty clear that Robson feels he's not good enough for a title challenging squad.
Elliot's second-spell record: 29 yrs old, 38 starts and 6 sub appearances, 1 goal.

Wayne Quinn

Quinn was loaned in at first by Sir Bobby, from Sheffield United in January 2001 and ended up signing him for 2000k. He looked like a decent left-back when he made his first few appearances, quick and good on the ball. But the more he played the more you realised that he was average at best. During the 2001/2002 season Quinn didn't get much of a kick and last season he only made one appreance - by sub - and that was in the Champions League qualifier.
Quinn's record: 26yrs, 21 starts, 3 as sub 1 goal.

Clarence Acuna

Clarence is a player I highly rate and will definately be sad to see him go. Since he signed in October 2000, the Chilean has hardly put a foot wrong, proving to be a solid midfielder. He played most of the remaining 2000/2001 season but the following season he spent more time on the bench. Last season he spent practically all the time on the bench though, which is sad because I know he is capable of doing a very good job. At times last season I thought Robson was a bit easy on JJ and Dyer, as Acuna should have filled in for Gary Speed when the Welshman was injured, to provide a defensive bite in midfield. As it is he's far down the pecking order and it's probably best for Acuna to find some first-team football.
Acuna's Toon record: 44 starts and 14 as sub, 7 goals.

Jamie McClen

Another local lad, McClen has came through the Newcastle Youth system and signed a professional contract in 1997. The centre-midfielder made his debut for United against Wimbeldon at the start of the 1999/2000 season, which was given to him by Ruud Gullit. Under Bobby he has only made a few appeances but also showed that he is a decent player who will do a job for you. However, with the talent Newcastle have in midfield it's very unlikely he's going to break through into the first team and become a regular. He could be a decent buy for one of the promoted clubs though.
McClen's record: 10 starts 12 as sub, 1 goal.