Former Newcastle United coach John Carver is currently the new manager at Toronto FC, who play in the MLS.
John Carver – now manager at Toronto FC
Carver seems to have got his team organized, but is now looking for some firepower up front, and of course he knows all about Shola Ameobi at Newcastle.
Carver was Sir Bobby Robson’s assistant manager at St James’ Park, and then briefly acted as caretaker manager following Bobby’s departure in 2004. John was in charge when we beat Blackburn 3-0 at home, with new manager Graeme Souness looking on.
John has hopes of persuading Ameobi, 26, whom he brought through the Newcastle Academy, that his future lies across the pond in Canada.
Carver said yesterday:
“I need some firepower up front and I am looking for new players, especially a striker.”
“I have got my side organised now and have made Toronto difficult to beat, but I need to sign players in that area.”
“Shola is a kid I brought through the system at Newcastle United, and a kid I know an awful lot about.”
“If I can get Shola into this football club he would be a huge, huge asset for us.”
Ameobi is now surplus to requirements at Newcastle and started just four games and made just two appearances under new manager Kevin Keegan – before finally ending the season on loan at Stoke.
Shola Ameobi – will he move to Toronto?
Shola seems not too keen to join the newly-promoted Potters on a permanent basis, but he will need to move in the summer, if he is to restart his career.
If he does move to Toronto he would find a familiar face in former Newcastle left winger Laurent Robert, who is already on the books at the Canadian club.
Robert in particular has impressed his new manager after rather losing his way in recent seasons, after leaving Newcastle.
Carver continued:
“It’s not about what players have to prove, it’s about the fact they have so much to play for and offer.”
“Newcastle fans know what Robert’s ability is about. From what I have seen in the short space of time he has been here, he has some desire back.”
“He has had a couple of wayward years and he actually seems to want to prove a point.”
“He’s not here on holiday, he’s working hard and he’s a great professional.”
While the standard of football in the MLS may be improving it’s hardly a place for a 26 year-old to go in the prime of his career.
We think Shola can do better by joining a strong Championship side or a Premiership team in the bottom half of the table. Both Norwich and Middlesbrough are said to be interested in Ameobi.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
28 comments so far
Paul R
May 22, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Comment #1well where ever he goes i for one will chip in for his taxi fare !! bye bye !! thanks shola but your attitude and work rate this year hasnt been up to scratch !! good luck for the future (unless you play against us !!)
rlw
May 22, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Comment #2remember robert with his great free kicks and coners we need some one like that
Mehzeb
May 22, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Comment #3Goodbye Shola. Thank you for six years of mediocrity. Adios.
Eric
May 22, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Comment #4I hope Shola has his success somewhere. Wish him luck though in Canada he runs the risk of freezing his balls off! I hope Carver can get something out of him. Carver was another Fat Shepherd treated badly.
Mr T
May 22, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Comment #5I hope Shola goes and makes a big name for himself in the MLS, he’s not a PL striker, but could easy do a job over there! With it now being the summer without football, I’ve taken to following the MLS a bit and Toronto have become my team cos of the the Carver and Robert connection.
Shola for Canada!!
Geordie Gerrard7
May 22, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Comment #6anyone know anything about arda?
Leo
May 22, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Comment #7please please please be true
Hammy
May 22, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Comment #8Mr T
Are you still doing the snickers ad’s?
they are great…..
Punk Skunk
May 22, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Comment #9& anyone remember Robert’s amazin’ ‘Ninja Goal’?..WOW!..
Hadji
May 22, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Comment #10Tom Toon…Too bad mate,Everton will get Dudu and i remember well how much you liked him.
Geordie Gerrard7
May 22, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Comment #11omfg! is this true that we are behind everton and spuds to get arda?
Paul R
May 22, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Comment #12Robert Was Great – Free kicks n corners n all – great entertainer !! It was his and solano’s dead ball deliveries that made us a force in the PL !! No one liked playing against us with great balls being whipped in the box from all over the park !! and goals goals goals !!
JJ
May 22, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Comment #13No, he wont go. Newcastle’s not that lucky. He will want to stay and fight for his place and prove his potential, bla bla bla bla bla.
Just like the rest of the useless plonkers we cant get rid of, ie: Smith.
NUFCFAN
May 22, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Comment #14you say restart his career, when did it begin!!
and if toronto have got the four mill, i’ll pack his bags. take him to the airport,and wait as i would give the 4 mill to Ashley to add to the 8 million bid to get Arda in, then drive him into the Toon!
Geordie Gerrard7
May 22, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Comment #15nufcfan- looks like we wont get arda anyway mate
Hammy
May 22, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Comment #16Why should Shola or any other deadbeat go when they are on mega bucks for doing fook all?
This guy will be dragged out when his contract expires as will Smith and co…..
Punk Skunk
May 22, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Comment #17Aye, Solano’s passes, on the volley, sadly missed!..
Punk Skunk
May 22, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Comment #18GG7, aye,
signin’ players is gettin’ Arda & Arda!..
…Ha!..Well y’might as well laugh, than cry!..
Micky Toon
May 22, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Comment #19You just know Ameobi has no real talent. He was playing and training alongside one of the games legends in Alan Shearer. If Shearer can’t improve someone as a striker then no one can.
Ameobi should sign for Stoke. They are the onese offering us silly money for him.
Tom_Toon
May 22, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Comment #20Swap deal for Maurice Edu? 🙂
Obafan
May 22, 2008 at 4:58 PM
Comment #21Well I hope wherever he goes that he wil succeed. I always liked his attitude, but he never made it at St James. A couple of seasons ago he looked promising, but the last years his level has slipped away.
Good luck tho’ Shola!
Mehzeb
May 22, 2008 at 6:47 PM
Comment #22Remember when Keegan said that he was ‘our Adebayor’ 😀
Mike
May 22, 2008 at 6:55 PM
Comment #23Being from Canada, I think Shola would be great for TFC, only problem is we have a lot of “strikers” already so I’m not sure what Carver is talking about.
I know Shola was a bum for NUFC but he’d be a king in the MLS!
gallowgate31
May 22, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Comment #24Shola…
such a promise.
What a waste.
I hope its a lesson learned.
Bill F
May 23, 2008 at 12:36 AM
Comment #25How about a swap for Altidore, he was mentioned a lot last Summer.
Tom_Toon
May 23, 2008 at 1:07 AM
Comment #26Doesnt play for Toronto.
Bill F
May 23, 2008 at 2:17 AM
Comment #27I know that, but swap him with the team who he plays for.
Hamabi
May 25, 2008 at 3:25 AM
Comment #28I don’t think Ameobi’s THAT bad…
I personally think that Ameobi’s definitely too good for MLS, where he’ll probably turn into a Ronaldo there. But the truth is, few teams would want to sign him in the Premiership (perhaps one of those newly-promoted teams? Although goals are going to be rare there), and he’ll have to restart somewhere. But MLS is one step backwards.