The Shola Ameobi transfer from Newcastle is becoming a little like a soap opera, as news today that WBA have cooled their interest in the Zaria, Nigerian-born striker.
Shola Ameobi - WBA said to have cooled their interest
Shola was apparently expecting Tony Mowbray to offer him a chance to stay in the Premier League, with West Brom.
However, the Evening Chronicle is now reporting that West Brom are not sure about the Ameobi situation.
A source close to West Brom told the Chronicle today:
“There was initial interest over Ameobi, but his name hasn’t been mentioned for a while now.”
“The board know that you can’t live beyond your means when it comes to Premier League wages.”
“And they are going to look at all of the options before making a decision on who they bring in this time around.â€
Ameobi was loaned out to Stoke City just after Kevin Keegan arrived back at the club in January, but the loan was hardly a success, even though Stoke City gained automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Ipswich, Norwich and Hull City are just a few of the other clubs who have been reported to be interested in the 26 year-old striker.
But it could well be that the barrier to these clubs wrapping up a deal for Shola, is the wages he’s on at Newcastle, which are likely to be high (too high).
Shola has no future at Newcastle United, and it’s clear the club would like to have Shola move on as soon as possible.
That will further reduce the wage bill of some of our fringe players, and the £3M-£4M he will bring into the club, will also help in bringing in new and better players to the club.
If we count the 6 players who have already left the club, Diatta, Ramage, Emre, Carr, Rozehnal, Troisi and we add Ameobi and the jailed Joey Barton to that lot, then we’ve lost 8 of our first team squad, and haven’t yet brought in our first player of the summer.
And the club has said nothing, for over a week, on anything to do with transfers, even though Kevin returned to work last Monday.
Training starts a week come Monday.
Comments welcome.
Loading ...
35 responses so far ↓
1 Ben_BKK // Jun 28, 2008 at 13:21
Oh come on, somebody has to buy him off us…
2 sas // Jun 28, 2008 at 13:22
Just give him away
3 sas // Jun 28, 2008 at 13:23
Actually, given a choice between him and Smith, I’d be inclined to keep Shola.
4 The Entertainers // Jun 28, 2008 at 13:26
Welcome to Newcastle!
5 Nick Dryden // Jun 28, 2008 at 13:27
Absolutely right SAS, Smith makes Shola look prolific !!
6 Tore Torell // Jun 28, 2008 at 13:29
Smith HAS to go, he’s useless. Keeping players like his would be an insult to the supporters showing up at SJP week after week…
7 Hadji // Jun 28, 2008 at 13:42
Shola for 4 mill would be the deal of the century for our club…..but who will be so dumb to splash 4 mill on him.
2 mill is the max we can get for him
8 Max // Jun 28, 2008 at 13:43
well maybe we should start a petition to get smith out or would that put off potential buyers if there are some…..
9 Goerdie Den // Jun 28, 2008 at 13:53
I would like to say that Shola is so bad clubs are not sure now. I watched 2-3 years ago and everyone including shola said he was our next no 9. he would fill shearers boots. he isnt fit to clean shearers boots let alone fill them. smith i would keep as he can play midfield and he always gives his all. a full season with KK and he could be a world beater again.
10 craig chisholm // Jun 28, 2008 at 13:57
shola is a greedy twat. he knows he will have a mega thin chance of even making the bench next season but still the money grabbing twat would rather sit at home on a saturday watching footy than playing it, just cos he wants mega money. is he stupid, he aint a mega player. i would offer him out for 1million, smith 1 million too. leeches.
On the subject of strikers, i dont think we really need them as a priority. we have owen and martins - shit hot, viduka - lazy and fat but gifted and young carroll. i think we should be looking for some spped on our right wing (as i reckon we will go back to 4-4-2 next season) and an all round world class dogs bollocks central midfielder.
11 Bill F SPLASH THE CASH ASH // Jun 28, 2008 at 13:58
I predict that Mister Bungee will still be a Toon player next season, will suddenly transform from duck to swan and will be our top scorer in a championship winning season.
12 Toon1 // Jun 28, 2008 at 13:59
you are obviously joing saying smith is worse than ameobi?
13 xfer // Jun 28, 2008 at 14:02
Both have to go.
14 Dondata13 // Jun 28, 2008 at 14:02
Ameobi = Twat!
15 Hammy // Jun 28, 2008 at 14:03
Howay lads, any prospective buyers reading this blog wouldn’t touch Shola and Smith with a barge pole, if you get my drift.
16 ronaldeano // Jun 28, 2008 at 14:03
They are both shit. They are not even good enough for the Championship.
They will be moved on, garenteed.
Its just a matter of time. We are leaving it a bit late, but we will sign the players we need, and get rid of the shite on big wages
17 Hammy // Jun 28, 2008 at 14:05
I personally think Shola and Smithy have potential to be world class superstars, please don’t go lads….
18 ronaldeano // Jun 28, 2008 at 14:06
@Hammy, what have you been smoking mate? !!!
19 Hadji // Jun 28, 2008 at 14:15
Hammy gimme some of that s–t you’re smoking.
20 Bill F SPLASH THE CASH ASH // Jun 28, 2008 at 14:19
I totally agree with Hammy, I can see Shola being an integral, essential part of both the Toon and the England setup. Pass the Duchy please.
21 HonoraryGeordie // Jun 28, 2008 at 14:24
The club is hardly moving slow, it isn’t even July and you are talking like FFS is still the boss! when August comes, if our squad isn’t what it should be, then is the time to moan, untill then, enjoy the fact we aren’t having to watch Fat Bast-ard Alarshite’s football anymore!
22 Hadji // Jun 28, 2008 at 14:25
Shola is England’s next Lineker…..hahahaha,Hammy this thing really works you know.
23 Jeff D // Jun 28, 2008 at 14:45
Not the old ” A source close to, told the Chronicle today” Cliche again.
Its obviously bollocks.
24 Jeff D // Jun 28, 2008 at 14:53
Why are we even asking for a transfer for Ameobi? Surely its better for all if he went on a free or a swap. I hear Ashly needs a new set of ring spanners…. Hey its an option!!
25 Spyro // Jun 28, 2008 at 14:55
ameobi is a leech, greedy crap player, go to league 1
26 Shanghaitoon // Jun 28, 2008 at 15:27
This is off subject but I thought it was funny ….
Message from the Queen…
To the citizens of the United States of America from Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
In light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately.
Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except Kansas , which she does not fancy).
Your new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections.
Congress and the Senate will be disbanded.
A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.
To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:
(You should look up “revocation” in the Oxford English Dictionary.)
1. Then look up aluminum, and check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it.
2. The letter ‘U’ will be reinstated in words such as “colour”, “favour”, “labour” and “neighbour.” Likewise, you will learn to spell “doughnut” without skipping half the letters, and the suffix ‘-ize’ will be replaced by the suffix ‘-ise’. Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (look up “vocabulary”).
————————
3. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as “like” and “you know” is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. There is no such thing as US English. We will let M*crosoft know on your behalf. The M*crosoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated letter “u” and the elimination of -ize.
——————-
4. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.
—————–
5. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you’re not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only be used for shooting grouse. If you can’t sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you’re not ready to shoot grouse.
———————-
6. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. Although a permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.
———————-
7. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables.
Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.
——————–
8. The Former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline) of roughly $10/US gallon. Get used to it.
——————-
9. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.
——————-
10. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. South African beer is also acceptable as they are pound for pound the greatest sporting Nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of British Commonwealth - see what it did for them. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat’s Urine, so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.
———————
11. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie Macdowell attempt English dialogue in
Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one’s ears removed with a cheese grater.
———————
12. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body Armour like a bunch of nancies). Don’t try Rugby - the South Africans and Kiwis will thrash you, like they regularly thrash us.
———————
13. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the South Africans first to take the sting out of their deliveries.
——————–
14. You must tell us who killed JFK. It’s been driving us mad.
—————–
15. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty’s Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776).
—————
16. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 pm with proper cups, with saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in season.
God Save the Queen!
27 Leo // Jun 28, 2008 at 15:28
well i like many would rather have ameobi in my team than smith, im not saying they are great footballers but if they stay i turned over a new leaf stating i will not slate a footballer at newcastle unless they do something adverse like say erm going to jail…
etc. shola stays and i will support him when he is on the field
if we can get decent money for them then let them go and get some better people in such as derdiyok or gomis etc…
28 Leo // Jun 28, 2008 at 15:34
shanghitoon you had me in stiches there mate, quality.
thats probably got the award for the longest post i think?
29 Piers // Jun 28, 2008 at 15:39
Who cares…..?!?
30 dick // Jun 28, 2008 at 15:58
I think he will see out his contract then retire he dont need millions to live like most other players
31 Potski // Jun 28, 2008 at 16:42
The trouble we’re facing in terms of selling players on (where their wages at NUFC are far higher than they’re worth anywhere else) illustrates what poor value for money the fans at SJP are getting and is certainly a factor in our underachievement in recent seasons.
This fully justifies Mike Ashley’s approach to slashing the wage bill and also dedicating Dennis Wise to the recruitment of potential young stars.
The difficulty arises that this is a long-term strategy and without massive spending (which seems unlikely) the club will struggle to comlpete for an elusive top half finish in the Premier League.
32 scott9 // Jun 28, 2008 at 18:14
been a hull city (n newcastle obviously) fan myself as i live in hull i can tell u we wud never buy shola ameobi for 4m he just isnt worth it n as west brom r simalar in size to us i think thats wot they hav thought twice about we have caleb folan who is just as good plus fraizer cambell from manu hopefully who is twice the player .
33 Ben K // Jun 28, 2008 at 20:30
Shanghitoon, I feel obligated to offer at least a cursory objection, despite the your satirical intentions.
Baseball is played on 3 continents and is clearly superior to cricket, which is crap.
I admire football, but how can you call the American version sissy when soccer players shamelessly pretend to be fouled and lay on the ground as if they were shot. I understand the physical nature of the premiership, but footballers face not one tenth of the punishment endured by their gridiron brethren.
Maybe you’re still somewhat bitter about the collapse of the British Empire and the increasing irrelevance of english pop culture in wake of continued American dominance. At least you still have the pound sterling.
I did want to answer some of the other points directly. The CIA killed JFK, everyone knows this. We pronounce and spell words differently because we speak a different version of English. And there is no way we’re going to start taking tea at 4 p.m., as we’re not a bunch of queers.
34 jettson // Jun 29, 2008 at 13:41
Shola has always thought himself better than he actually is, for a big man he never uses his strength to his advantage, nor is he a prolific goalscorer imo he is championship standard at best, he has to realise that, KK did after one game. He has to move on and soon so we can free up more cash for KK to use on proven quality! id have thought ipswich or norwich would have been an ideal base for Shola, lets hope he moves on. with the situation quiet as SJP id like to see either Podolski or Derdiyok here with them fighting for places alonside Owen, Martins and When fit Viduka! must buy a min of 8 players now, 4 of which must be 1st team regulars!
35 Shanghaitoon // Jun 29, 2008 at 16:32
Ben K … Joke mate… I guess you didn’t see it… Sad!!
There is no different version of English…
Its called ENGLISH!!
Tiddly winks is superior to Cricket too. But as I said.. JOKE mate… Get a life!!
-->