Emre has talked today to the Newcastle Journal and he’s really happy to have Kevin Keegan as his new manager, and says all the players at the club believe in Kevin Keegan.
Emre – Keegan has had huge impact
Emre said today:
“I was becoming frustrated this season because, although Sam Allardyce said nice things about me, I wasn’t playing,†“I wasn’t playing regularly and I couldn’t show my best when I was playing one game and then going back on the bench.”
“I was happy with Sam sometimes, I believe he’s a good man, but I need to play more to find the consistency he wanted. I hardly played in three months.â€â€œHe had other options in midfield and he preferred to pick them.”
“I accepted it because I was a professional, but it was hard. I never wanted to leave Newcastle because I’m happy, I like the people here, I just wanted to play more.â€
“I worked very hard for my shirt and I wanted to be on the pitch every game. Maybe my style of football did not suit the old manager as much, he had other choices. I think that will change now.â€
Emre went on to talk about the first time he met with Keegan on that Thursday morning, January 17th, following his sending off the night before in Newcastle’s 4-1 demolition of Stoke City. He was asked that morning what he thought of Kevin as the new manager, by Sky Sports, when he arrived in his car at the Benton training facilities. While he was still in his car, he leaned over and said “He’s a legend, and known all over the world”.
We always thought that augured well for the future – and it was a good answer. 😀
Emre continued:
“I’m very happy with the new manager and the dressing room is very happy. Everybody believes in Kevin Keegan and we look forward to playing for him. We know he is a big legend for everyone in English football, but especially in Newcastle.â€
“The first time I saw his face I could understand everything people said about him. The first time I talked to him, I knew he was a manager I would like playing for. He’s spoken with every player and he has given us all belief, but we need to start winning games again to show that.â€
“I’ve played for five years at Galatasaray and for five years at Inter Milan, and I know what sort of atmosphere there is in the dressing room. Everyone is laughing and smiling again at Newcastle.â€
“The players have to believe in the manager and they do believe in Kevin Keegan. If you believe in the manager you can do your best, that is certainly how it is with me. We believe he is a really honest man and I think everything will be okay for Kevin Keegan and Newcastle United.â€
“When I feel confident I can show my best. Kevin Keegan came to see me play for Inter Milan when he was at Manchester City and he has told me this. I know he wanted me then and that’s important for me. That was four years ago, but we are together now.
“I have to show him my quality, but I know he believes in me and that’s important. The manager believes in all the players and we have to justify that now. That is the challenge for us.â€
Emre’s right that the challenge indeed is for the players to show Kevin what they can do and Sunday’s match will be a good time for us to see how things are going.
Kevin’s now got almost the whole squad to choose from except Geremi and Martins, who are still away on African Cup of Nations duty with their countries Cameroon and Nigeria respectively, who have both reached the quarter-finals.
Our powerful Senegal players, Faye and Beye, are now back on Tyne-side, and hopefully will be available for selection. Even Mark Viduka looks like he’s available for tomorrow, which is good news. Peter Ramage is still recovering from his ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) knee injury, but we hope he can play a few games before the end of the season.
Peter’s Newcastle contract runs out in June, so that’s a decision Kevin will need to make on Peter’s future at the club, shortly.
Comments very welcome.
19 comments so far
dingo
Feb 2, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Comment #1oooh cherry!
nice words from Emre… I actually cant wait till the smoggie match… win or lose I think we will see a much more positive NUFC on the pitch. BSA was obviously a miserable twat in the dressing room.
TOON TOON
Penalty-Spot
Feb 2, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Comment #2Yeh, it’s all got a nice feel to it a the moment. W need that win though, that’ll get us all smiling.
The midfield selection tomorrow is a real nice problem. Lots of options.
Graham
Feb 2, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Comment #3I read this article earlier this morning and I reckon that Emre has the potential to be our star player under Keegan. He needs to sort a few things out though…
1. Stay on your feet Emre – he has the ability but still goes down too easily too often at the minute. Theres a time and a place for everything and its not in the centre circle!
2. Fitness. He’s been injured too often. Although i think we’ll see a remarkable change to his fitness under Keegan.
3. Temperament. He can be a little too hot headed at times (Stoke for one). All players – especially midfielders need to have some edge about them but he needs to calm it at times.
If the above 3 points are sorted – dare I say it; Emre captain next season?
the artist formerly known as cooldj
Feb 2, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Comment #44. a bit more tracking back to help the defence- especially away from home!
Leo*
Feb 2, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Comment #5can i just say one thing i thinks great…
does anyone remember when Alardyce became our manager and there was quotes from alot of the players that he hadnt talked to many of the squad, looks like keegan knows how to get the best of the team and give them confidence.
Jim
Feb 2, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Comment #6” I know he wanted me then and that’s important for me… but we are together now.”
er, sweet
xxx
wsq
Feb 2, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Comment #7before any1 taunts mido for his religion or colour.. remember emre is turkish and a muslim as well.
craig chisholm
Feb 2, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Comment #8i just want a bit of this great team-like togetherness talking to show itself in the form of a few wins as after midboro we have some tough cookies coming up – we simply must beat midboro, this game i see as the defining game of our season , you know when you look back and say it was from that game, well, i think this is the one. you look at our squad and it is impressive on paper, we have to live up as a team to the individual reps of the players.
Leo*
Feb 2, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Comment #9wsq, couldnt agree more. but the fool has done an article about it…
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3102980,00.html
i hope that people dont now pick on him because of it. but i do hope we show a good proformance on the pitch and off the pitch…
as for the fans that said the racist things, then
as al murray says ‘shame on you’
hanzemre_malaysia
Feb 2, 2008 at 1:15 PM
Comment #10Oh please Emre scores some cracking goals for us 🙂
daniel
Feb 2, 2008 at 2:48 PM
Comment #11if keegan gets this man playing his best consistantly he will be like a new signing at the club
Hadrian
Feb 2, 2008 at 2:52 PM
Comment #12emre was outstanding when i used to watch inter , if we got that emre back you’d struggle to find an attacking midfielder to replace him with for less than 20 mill.
if’s and but’s tho untill he start’s playing like he used to .
Soren
Feb 2, 2008 at 3:01 PM
Comment #13We finally have a manager who appreciates attacking football. So Emre should do all right under Keegan right?
Hope he does, because on his day he is very very good and just what we need in our midfield.
But he has to be kept fit.
James Oliver
Feb 2, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Comment #14To everybody who has been acting like disgruntled school children because we lost twice to Arsenal I would like them to take notice to how Arsenal just pounded Man City away from home. Guess who scored by the way.
The only match the KK revolution should be judged from is the major improvement we saw against Bolton.
Now Emre is back I am very optimistic.
Matthew Tom
Feb 2, 2008 at 3:27 PM
Comment #15Er … how about we avoid slagging off other people due to their race/nationality/religion regardless of whether we happen to have someone of similar background in our team?
Having said that, Mido can (and should) be taunted mercilessly and repeatedly for being a fat, useless Smoggie. The fact that we have Mark Viduka in our team should not stand in the way of that.
Black and White Blood
Feb 2, 2008 at 4:26 PM
Comment #16There’s only one Kevin Keegan, one Kevin Keegan…..
You know I’ve such a good feeling about the future of the club. Watching the following interview makes me sure we will do well, ok mabey we will not achieve too much this season, but my god we will do a top 6 finish following season.!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/sol/newsid_7220000/newsid_7224000?redirect=7224070.stm&news=1&bbram=1&nbram=1&bbwm=1&nbwm=1
Tripp
Feb 3, 2008 at 1:54 AM
Comment #17Nah, we probably won’t but that’s alreet. As long as we’re making progress I’m not too worried. As long as we’re in contention next season I’m happy. Battling to finish mid-table will be frustrating but if we’re making positive steps then I think I’ll be happy. The season after next I’d like to see us in a UEFA cup slot. If we get one next season I’ll be chuffed to bits, but I won’t be expecting it to happen.
AdamCF
Feb 3, 2008 at 2:38 AM
Comment #18If the players believe in KK, then show it on the pitch. Time for the boys to repay the faith.
Nobby!
Feb 3, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Comment #19Lol… Is Emre about to get beaned by that ball?