Good interview by the Shields Gazette and chief Newcastle reporter Miles Starforth today, with our Cameroon midfielder Geremi.
Geremi – plays for Cameroon on Saturday against Tanzania
Geremi will be playing again for Cameroon against Tanzania in a World Cup qualifier in Yaounde on Saturday in the last of their four summer internationals.
Geremi had a first tough season at Newcastle, but eventually came through great at the end for new manager Kevin Keegan,
Geremi had to confront some disappointment at the start of his Newcastle career, and the popular midfielder had the captaincy taken away from him by Sam Allardyce, just before Sam was sacked.
But it’s a signal of Geremi’s great strength of character, that he did not let that get to him, and played well at the African Nations Cup in January, where he was so impressive for Cameroon.
As soon as he got back to Newcastle, Kevin had him playing in right midfield for the Magpies, and he looked great.
And Kevin Keegan has liked what he has seen, and it’s not only the pitch that Kevin is impressed with the irrepressible former Chelsea player.
Geremi said today:
“The manager says I smile a lot, and this is especially true when we get results,”
“You cannot put a price on it when you have fought, and got a result.”
“You remember we had a bad period, and it was very difficult.”
“We tried to work hard, but it’s not easy for any footballer when you play and work hard but at the end of the day, you don’t have a result.”
“Now, even when we are not playing very well, we have a good spirit, and it has helped us, and we can have confidence for next season.”
It says something that when he left Chelsea last summer, then Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho paid a glowing tribute to his former player and said:
“Claudio (Pizarro) has No14 and that means a lot in our family.”
“That’s because that number was Geremi’s, who was an important person and somebody we love very much,â€
“He is somebody we miss very much and we wish him huge success and happiness in Newcastle.”
Nice touch from Jose, and Newcastle started to see just how good Geremi can be at the end of last season.
He’s certainly a huge influence in the dressing room, and also with our younger players, because of his massive experience.
Comments welcome.
41 comments so far
James
Jun 19, 2008 at 1:37 PM
Comment #1SELL HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SLOWEST PLAYER IN THE HISTORY OF THE TOON
Everytime him and Smith are on the field we have 2 players standing still for 90 minutes, which puts massive pressure on the rest of the team.
KK would never have bought a player like Geremi and hopefully someone comes along to take him off our hands, and off our wage bill.
reb
Jun 19, 2008 at 1:40 PM
Comment #2agreed, he seems a nice guy but kk’s wingers need pace.
HeronMag
Jun 19, 2008 at 1:45 PM
Comment #3It’s a pity his best years are behind him now.
He’s still a dedicated professional, who earned the captaincy when Allardyce was were, so he’s earned my respect.
broon ale
Jun 19, 2008 at 1:46 PM
Comment #4yeah Ed. he improved towards the end but generally the rest of the team improved also.
There has been some murmours doing the rounds that Jose let him go because his legs had gone.
Having seen him play i would say there is an element of truth in that.
very slow. Not much in the locker at all.
cant fault his attitude though.
he will be exhausted next season. A full season with newcastle, interuped only by his participation in the african nations.
now straight into another set of games for cameroon and then straight into pre season.
NUFCAl
Jun 19, 2008 at 1:46 PM
Comment #5Bit harsh, he was crap under Fat Sam but wasn’t almost everyone in the entire team?
He doesn’t have any legs left but he’s got a football brain, good experience and a dressing room influence. I like him, he seems like a really down to earth sound bloke and I’d like to see him in the squad for next year – but not as a regular starter.
Wish they’d have taken him off corners though.
keith
Jun 19, 2008 at 1:46 PM
Comment #6i think he is alright but i worry about his lack of pace
The Entertainers
Jun 19, 2008 at 1:47 PM
Comment #7Hugely underrated on this site.
He performed as well as the rest last season.
Yes his corners and crossess were very poor at times. But he contributed in the heart of midfield and fans seem to have forgotten just how many goals he played a part in.
Very experienced and would keep him, we need a few older heads
geordiegraham
Jun 19, 2008 at 1:52 PM
Comment #8hes shite
Spyro
Jun 19, 2008 at 1:53 PM
Comment #9we need geremi at least as a sub as he provides great security on the right
micepie
Jun 19, 2008 at 1:54 PM
Comment #10Geremi gets a lot of flak on here but he really turned his performances around towards the end of the season!
broon ale
Jun 19, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Comment #11didnt someone highlight a fact that we never lost when geremi played.
James
Jun 19, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Comment #12HOW MANY TIMES DO HIS CROSSES HIT THE FIRST DEFENDER?????????
He doesn’t track back because he can’t run, and collects £60K a week for standing still
Our mascot does more running
steve
Jun 19, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Comment #13Geremi did well towards the end of the season, if only someone stopped him taking free kicks and corners then I’d say keep him
moza
Jun 19, 2008 at 2:01 PM
Comment #14if he’s in the first team next season it shows what a mess we’ll have made of the tranfer market
Matthew Tom
Jun 19, 2008 at 2:02 PM
Comment #15Geremi did do reasonably well for us towards the end of the season and held things together pretty well in midfield. He’s certainly a character that is good for the team.
But he IS very slow and we already have another slow and ageing midfielder in Butt, who fulfils much the same kind of role. I think Butt is generally the better player.
At the end of the day we’re not going to get much in the way of a fee for either of them, and if we release them we’ll have to shell out for the remainder of their contracts, so we might as well hang onto them both until their contracts are up.
broon ale
Jun 19, 2008 at 2:05 PM
Comment #16monty the magpie. does more running than geremi? ha ha ha,, quality james
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Jun 19, 2008 at 2:09 PM
Comment #17Another one to go IMO!!! Geremi,Duff, Smith, Barton etc!!
Nick Dryden
Jun 19, 2008 at 2:14 PM
Comment #18Worst set piece player I have ever seen. Never beats the first defender.
Should be on the way out with Duff, Smith and Barton. Not really a KK player.
Harper
Beye Taylor Kadar Enrique
Milner Lua-Lua Edgar NZogbia
?? ? Martins
Luke
Jun 19, 2008 at 2:18 PM
Comment #19keep him, but never a starter.
ToonKing
Jun 19, 2008 at 2:22 PM
Comment #20i like Geremi, he has no pace but he’s crosses are quality, a bit like a black, bald Beckham. 😀
he can also turn in performances at right back and midfield. he’s versatile and is a great guy to have in the team. Everyone loves him, he speaks many languages and can communicate with every player. plus we never loose when he’s on the pitch.
keep him.
Seymour Butts
Jun 19, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Comment #21OUT
Jammy
Jun 19, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Comment #22He was at times the oppositions best defensive midfielder, slowing down our attacks, holding on to the ball too long and messing up set pieces time after time.
Squad player at best, but even then, isn’t great in the tackle and makes Lee Clark look like Linford Christie.
paul the pom
Jun 19, 2008 at 2:31 PM
Comment #23would be good around the first team as back up.too slow to be a starter.if we play a 3 man midfield we need 3 workers with pace or we get overrun by decent teams.my first choice at mo would be zog,butt and milner
Leo
Jun 19, 2008 at 2:49 PM
Comment #24as ‘the entertainers’ has said he is massively and i mean MASSIVELY underrated by people, he is a good footballer, yes he may be slow but he was always slowish, had a few bad games but his record stands for it self when he played
COMPARED TO SMITH
sas
Jun 19, 2008 at 2:55 PM
Comment #25Stop letting him take corners and free kicks and he can stay.
Bill F SPLASH THE CASH ASH
Jun 19, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Comment #26I think using the word great is a bit over the top. He is at best average and would agree with most of the comments saying that if we “IF” we make some decent signings then he will not start many games next year. Same with Viduka and several other players. Mind you way things are going it might be a question of who’s fit enough to play from the tiny squad we might be left with.
xfer
Jun 19, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Comment #27“Stop letting him take corners and free kicks and he can stay.”
And stop letting him pass the ball.
His days are numbered imo. Too slow for the league. Maybe backup for Butt, at best.
gorskino10
Jun 19, 2008 at 3:20 PM
Comment #28His best years have gone and to be fair last year he was crap now hes even older so how can he be a good buy hes been shocking.
Hadrian
Jun 19, 2008 at 3:20 PM
Comment #29Id have him off the books in a heartbeat ,
he’s on over 50kpw , no way on earth is he worth that .
not sure where you get the angles from your stroys sometimes Ed . god knows how he’s considered a good buy .
Graeme
Jun 19, 2008 at 3:29 PM
Comment #30One of the most consistant players we have. EVERY free kick and corner hit the first defender EVERY time!!
Why oh why he is allowed anywhere near a dead ball situation is beyond me. He should stick to what he does best, and thats stopping the other side attacking!!!!
stk
Jun 19, 2008 at 3:52 PM
Comment #31yea he’s a good player, but slow as hell and almost every single free kick last season hit the first man. why the hell did no one else take any corners or free kicks coz his were the worst i’ve ever seen, especially since he had the balls to call himself set piece specialist. i cross better balls than him for gods sake!
daiv
Jun 19, 2008 at 5:28 PM
Comment #32Ed
You are winding us up to provoke a response. A great buy? You are having a laugh. Better than Smith though.
gorskino10
Jun 19, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Comment #33Responce to “Graeme ”
How can you say consistant he cant even lift the ball every corner ive seen has struggle to get over first man hes is shocking at them and to be fair he doesnt run around and put the effort in so why is he considered a great buy?
GEORDIE GENIUS
Jun 19, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Comment #34HOW SPYRO- IF HE OFFERS GREAT SECURITY ON THE RIGHT . CHUCK AN ORANGE JACKET ON THE TWAT!
Joe
Jun 19, 2008 at 5:56 PM
Comment #35I think he’s a decent squad player whose experience is invaluable! He’s on a lot of money, but – like Cacapa – they’re reasonable players to have in a squad to hold the team together and come on and play solidly…and his freekick against Spurs was mint
I was in a bar after hours in Malaysia watching that with all the staff moaning coz they wanted the Pool-Toffee game on the other channel…in the end they were all cheering and chanting Martins name!
Happy Times, more of the same next season please
bailey
Jun 19, 2008 at 7:06 PM
Comment #36hits first man every single time. absolutely useless.
sirjasontoon-not to be mixed up with sir asian magpie (WTF!!!)
Jun 19, 2008 at 11:30 PM
Comment #37Geremi makes me fall asleep zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
sirjasontoon-not to be mixed up with sir asian magpie (WTF!!!)
Jun 19, 2008 at 11:31 PM
Comment #38Graeme // Jun 19, 2008 at 15:29
One of the most consistant players we have. EVERY free kick and corner hit the first defender EVERY time!!
Class : )
normski1930z
Jun 19, 2008 at 11:38 PM
Comment #39too slow but keep him as a squad player but nothing more than that i agree with moza if he is in the starting 11 come august we are f**ked….
SwedeEric
Jun 20, 2008 at 1:52 AM
Comment #40He felt under kevin that he almost set up every goal we scored… To slow, but hugly underated…
But feels wrong to pay a guy 60k a week to be a good friends with everyone…
Played poker with him a cuple of times last year, a guy you can talk to without feeling he is a better person than you because he is a footballer… And what I have told my mates about him is just that, he always smiles, get the feeling that if he come out and found his car smashed, he would be as happy anyway… You can´t say that about for exampel the Zog imo, he seems to think he is Gods own son…