Jonas Gutierrez isn't the first Argentine to sign for Newcastle United.
But it won't be too difficult for the 24-year-old to surpass the achievements of his countrymen Christian Bassedas and Daniel Cordone.
Will Jonas Get Into Newcastle Top Ten Wingers?
By Nu Mad
Updated Friday, 4th July 2008
Sir Bobby Robson bought Bassedas and took Cordone on a year-long loan, but neither set St James' Park alight.
Cordone had his moments, but seemed to lack fitness and was slow to link up on the break. While Bassedas found the Premiership tough going and not to his liking.
But we have been told Gutierrez is a player who will relish the physical side of the Premier League, unlike his fellow countrymen.
Gutierrez - best known in Spain for donning a Spider-man mask after scoring for Mallorca against Osasuna - became the first signing of Kevin Keegan's second spell Newcastle.
He made his name in his native Argentina with Velez Sarsfield, helping them to the Primera Division in 2005 before heading to Spain.
Gutierrez made 96 appearances and scored five goals during his three seasons at the ONO Estadi, and the right winger has turned out twice for Argentina.
For the fun of it (and sure to cause debate) we have listed (who we believe) are the best Newcastle Utd wingers since the war.
If you don't agree, please let us know on our message board.
If you don't agree, please let us know on our message board.
TOP TEN POST-WAR WINGERS
1) 1949/61 R.C.Mitchell 408/0 113 'Bobby Dazzler' one of thegreatest left wingers of his generation. Some even say he was a better player than Milburn. Scottish international, like Milburn and Cowell, won 3 FA Cup medals in the 1950s (1951, 1952 and 1955). Cost United £16,000 from Third Lanark. Went to Berwick on a free transfer.
2) 1995/97 D.Ginola 70/5 7
A delight to watch, David was inspirational in his early career at SJP. A world class player who was subject to abuse for letting slip the pass that cost his country, France, a place in the World Cup finals. But that just spurred him on to prove the doubters wrong. Went to Spurs in a controversial move. He said he wanted to return to France but ended up at White Hart Lane. Many supporters still haven't forgiven him for walking out. Born in Gassin.
3) 1971/81 T.A.Hibbitt 258/1 13
A bargain £30,000 transfer from Leeds United, where he was a able reserve in a side that boasted 12 internationals. Made his debut in the same game as Supermac and the pair will forever live in Geordie legend. Went to Birmingham, but returned when Gordon Lee left. Born in Bradford.
A bargain £30,000 transfer from Leeds United, where he was a able reserve in a side that boasted 12 internationals. Made his debut in the same game as Supermac and the pair will forever live in Geordie legend. Went to Birmingham, but returned when Gordon Lee left. Born in Bradford.
4) 1969/76 James Smith 152/7 13
Jinky Jimmy came from Aberdeen for £100,000. Could have been a world beater but he was too inconsistent. Huge crowd favourite because of mazy dribbles. Went on loan to Celtic but injury ended his career when he was only 29. Won 4 Scottish caps.
5) 1942/51 E.Taylor 117/0 21
Ernie Taylor was an amazing little player. Only 5ft 4" tall and only 9st in weight, you would have thought he wouldn't have lasted five minutes in the middle of the park with players like Joe Harvey and Jimmy Scoular putting the 'boot in'. But 'Tom Thumb' was a livewire and the fans loved him wherever he went. He played in three FA Cup finals with three different teams (Newcastle, Man Utd and Blackpool), and was capped for England. Sold to Blackpool for £25,000.
6) 1980/85 C.R.Waddle 190/1 52
Signed for Newcastle from Tow Law Town for a set of strips and £1,000. Was a sausage maker (how many times have we been reminded of it) who went on to play for England. Played his part in the Keegan era and was part of the exciting side that won promotion in 1984. Sold to Spurs in 1985 when Jack Charlton was manager, and it cost Charlton his job in many ways. Fabulous winger, despite looking as though he carried a bag of coal on his back.
7) 1970/78 S.J.Barrowclough 234/28 24
Popular dynamic winger who signed, aged 17, from Barnsley for £33,000. Played in the League Cup final of 1976. Joined Birmingham in the deal that took Hibbitt and Connolly to Newcastle.
8) 1965/71 A.Foggon 69/11 16
Played for Newcastle, Sunderland and 'Boro, Alan had a lively and colourful career. Born in West Pelton, he joined Newcastle as a 17-year old and won a Fairs Cup winners medal, scoring in the final in Budapest. Had problems keeping his weight down but was hard to push off the ball. Left for Cardiff City for £25,000 but also played for Man Utd for a short spell of around two months.
9) 1998/2004 2005/7 N.Solano 209/19 47 33/2 6
Signed from Boca Juniors in July 1998 for £2.5m but is a Peruvian international. Highly skilful midfielder/winger who actually had a better record of "long passes completed" than David Beckham. Superb at dead-ball kicks and one of the few successes from South America. Robson surprised us all when he sold him in the summer of 2004 to Aston Villa, yet Souness tried to buy him back in January 2005 - and finally did get him in the summer of that year. Transfered to West Ham.
10) 1992/2002 R.M.Lee 368/12 56
Made 298 league appearances for Charlton before moving to Newcastle for £700,000. England international who has been a superb servant to Newcastle. Was going to sign for Middlesbrough but Keegan told him Newcastle was nearer to London. The little liar! Signed for Derby County soon after Warren Barton but couldn't save them from relegation.
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