12 Newcastle Successes (And 12 Failures) Scouted By Graham Carr

8. Vurnon Anita

Signed: 2012 (from Ajax) Transfer Fee: £6.7 million Position: Defensive-Midfielder Newcastle United Appearances: 95 (2012-) Newcastle United Goals: 2 Current Club: Newcastle United

The only senior signing to arrive on Tyneside during the summer of 2012 was Vurnon Anita - meaning the club failed to really strengthen a squad that would now have to contend with the added strain of Europa League football. A £6.7 million acquisition from Ajax, Anita is primarily a defensive-midfielder - but his lack of size and his failure to control a game mean he has struggled in just about every single game he has played in that position for the Magpies. Although versatile enough to fill in pretty ably at full-back, Newcastle should not be signing merely squad players, but proven quality instead. He may have won two Eredivisie titles with Ajax and claimed three Holland caps but Anita has proven to be a serious failure of the Carr scouting tenure. Signing Rating: 3.5