We had to have a quiet laugh when we read Lee Ryder’s accurate portrayal of Shola Ameobi’s first goal for the club in two years on his Blog On The Tyne.
Shola Ameobi - powerful display last night
Shola was surrounded by two City defenders as the ball somehow got to him on 44 minutes, and he chested the ball forward nicely and then sliced the ball to the right, with his right foot, so that it was well beyond the reach of City goalkeeper Joe Hart.
To be honest I just remember letting out a huge roar of GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLL with all my might and then felt dizzy, as my wife came running up the stairs wondering what I had done to myself. 
But Lee was much more accurate in the way he described Shola’s goal:
Let’s be honest, it was typical Shola.
A messed up cross, four deflections including one from his own player in Damien Duff and then the scruffiest finish of the season at Gallowgate.
Shola did score - but nobody ran for the pitch, even Ameobi didn’t want to celebrate!
But who cared?
It was all Shola, but the lad scored, and however they go in they are goals, and it was a good night for the Nigerian born striker, who has been on Tyneside since he was just nine years old.
Ameobi fought all night long for the Newcastle cause, and we expect him to lead the line on Saturday against Sunderland – where again we need somehow to capture all 3 points.
Shola Ameobi can be very proud of one of his best games for a long long time last night in a Newcastle shirt, and this will have also put his price up in the transfer market if we still want to sell him in Janauary - that’s for sure.
Comments welcome.
45 responses so far ↓
1 Tozvaldo // Oct 21, 2008 at 11:46
Sholahahahahahahahahaha
2 Tozvaldo // Oct 21, 2008 at 11:46
As long as he keeps me smiling!
3 broon ale // Oct 21, 2008 at 11:50
shola cant exactly help being shola can he? he is shola!
4 bigbadrab // Oct 21, 2008 at 11:53
gave dunne torrid time last night.
5 Steve // Oct 21, 2008 at 11:54
It wasn’t his goal, but the way he got stuck in and left Dunne feeling like he’d been in a game that impressed me, if he can keep that up he’ll be a useful player for us - Awoga!
6 samthecat // Oct 21, 2008 at 11:56
Shola has had good games in the past but between his good games there is usually lots of crap games.
Mind you still prefer him to Smith as he can score occasionally.
7 Ausgeordie // Oct 21, 2008 at 11:58
He’s still Shola but who knows maybe now stoke or west brom will want him. He could replace fagan at hull and most likely get another year in the premeirship. We still need to sell him and move either Carroll or Ranger in for a chance
8 nacho man!! // Oct 21, 2008 at 11:58
for those who havnt seen the goals heres a link:
http://eplvideos.com/index.php?ind=videos&op=section_view&idev=1589
on the penalty, did you see robinho holding his shin, while acting as though he had a broken leg. what a bastard. he knew beye got the ball so he acted a little
9 MURPHY // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:02
You’ve got to give it to him, he was up there alone and causing them problems. I think Joe’s got him as the main target man, get the ball high and to his feet and it worked well. There were a few nice long passes to shola and when he had it he looked like he had the power to keep it, we lack that sometimes in my opinion. He controlled it well before the goal and although he scuffed it, it showed good composure, and if he hadn’t have miss hit it, it would have went in anyways, he was aiming for the bottom left.
With the strikers we have at the moment there’s a few good options available.
10 sweendog // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:02
Ausgeordie .. he’s much better than carroll but I’d love to see Ranger get a chance.. or even Xisco who’s better than Carroll ..
11 clinta // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:08
I doubt one alright display and a fluky goal is going to see Shola’s transfer fee rise any ed. And I’d hardly expect a rush on of now very keen clubs in January to fight over the guy.
LETS BE HONEST he played alright in one game, he’s done that in the past plenty of times, lets see how he goies in the next few before you get carried away huh?!
12 Toony Soprano // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:10
Where are al the Shola haters now?
fickle nobs who forget when he tortured Desailly and scored all those important goals in europe.
i dont think for one minuite that he is the next maradonna, however too many short memoried fans have been too condeming of the kid on this blog for my liking.
Get behind them every man and jack and we might just stay up this season
13 DanToon // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:10
Was a good game for shola but lets be honest he’s still absolutly shockin’ he has no future in the premier league IMO.
14 ryan peacock // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:12
shola was good but he needs to do it consistently! but i cant see it but hope im wrong.
coloccini was imense last night imo!
15 Michael12 // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:14
Every player has a style and this allows for a diversified attack. If a defense is robust against a front line with plenty of pace to burn, then the old fashioned “get in there” player can cause problems. People simply think the name of the game is pace.
He was a handful, he took the pressure of our defense by getting crucial free kicks when we were under pressure, he got us back in the game with a crucial goal. Crucial both psychologically and essentially.
With the fans making it known he is not wanted at the club he gave a performance he did not owe anyone especially not the the fans. So shut up and get off his back. If it were that easy, you would be lining up on the pitch last night instead of debating here.
16 LooneyToon // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:19
well said Michael12
17 sweendog // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:21
Michael12 .. exactly .. he’s not my favourite player but the boy done good last night .. if we get behind him at least he can do a good job .. not use criticising someone who is currently a key player .. hes no maradonna and the goal was clearly a slice but he scored it and he took all the pressure off the defense, which was highlighted when he came off .. their defense pushed forward and they scored their equaliser..
18 Toon_Ksk // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:21
Toony Soprano,
That was Ameobi’s first goal in TWO YEARS. If we depended on him for goals, we would be playing Swansea and Barnsley.
19 Kevin Nichol // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:22
Clinta & Dan Toon..!!!! What kind of nufc fans are you? Were you complaining last night when he produced the kind of performance we have been lacking from a front man since Shearer retired?
Tooney Soprano is absolutelty right in my opinion! Plenty of people come on here to slag, slag, slag….How about a little credit where credits due? I’m sure you were happy enough when the ball went in last night, however fortunate or not!
Yes ameobi is never gona be the most feared goal scorer in the league. Yes he has played well in the past for it to fade out…and yes he may have had more chances than most should get at a club like ours! But for the time being lets stop talking about putting Ranger in ( a 17y old kid who most of you will demand instant success from; if it doesnt come then hes a waste of space), lets not talk about putting in Xisco, Carrol and give ameobi a bit of encouragement! He may not be the best, far from it, put if your willing to put as much effort in as he did last night when wearing that black and white shirt then thats good enough for me….AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THATS GOOD ENOUGH FOR JK! Well done lad, lets bang another one in on sat against those dirty B@stards
20 Archie Brand // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:30
I agree 100% - it was classic Shola
The way he disguised his intentions by falling over and putting it in with the outside of his heel was pure genius.
I’m not sure which game some of you were watching but he had 3 decent moments - and that doesn’t include the goal, which was pure farce.
Carrol or one of the other youngsters has to be a better bet.
Zoggy and Martins up front together would have caused more problems
Lets not get too excited here.
We got one point thanks to an own goal, shola falling over and a couple of brilliant saves from Given.
21 Spitfire // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:32
Shola was good last night and he was in the right place to score however scruffy the goal. It was a legitimate goal from open play. And we lost quite a lot up fron when he was replaced by Carroll - we started coming under increased pressure from City which ultimately got them the point. I am quite content with how we are playing and am starting to shrug off the relegation feeling we all were sufferimg from 3 weeks ago. with this sort of performance we should be ok - we can’t however legislate for referees decisions.
22 shearernine // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:33
Ausgeordie i disagree with your comments Andy Carroll showed last night he isn’t premiership quality yeah maybe give Nile Ranger a shot but Carroll has had too many.
Shola did well last night he put himself about took his goal well and almost found a second near the end.
23 Terry Mac's Crossword // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:39
Nice to see Carroll back last night although he looked very rusty to me. Needs to bulk up a bit n’all. I think we’ve got a Carroll/Ranger partnership up front for reserves the night, should be interesting. Wonder how Ranger would fair if he was dropped into the first team for the last 20 mins of a game we were cruising in? The smackem game for example.
Well done to Shola! more like it.
24 Les Toon // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:44
Shola had one of his better games last night, but needs to do it more consistently.
Caroll once again showed he is not Premiership quality. Xisco can’t get in the team ahead of either of these, and does not look the part. We still only have martins and Owen as strikers of any decent quality.
25 MattyDread // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:56
I honestly can’t believe why so many people on here are saying Shola had a good game!!! WTF were you watching????
26 Bill F // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:57
I said before the game that even Shola can cream the ManC donkey. Thank god we didn’t sign him. I am now waiting to see if Joe (if he is still with us at that point) can turn Smith into a super striker. Wouldn’t that be an ironic strike partnership, Shola and Smith.
27 Champion // Oct 21, 2008 at 13:02
Well done Shola, he was a constant handfull and a thorn in Dunne’s side.
Totally agree Coloccini was immense, hopefully he can finally shore up our leaky defence.
28 Michael12 // Oct 21, 2008 at 13:11
His contribution was not just about goals. When Owen does not score, he is nowhere in the game, a point to which Fabio Capello alluded as the reason for not picking him for the world cup qualifiers.
Ameobi last night, while not prolific, we know this already so you cannot expect 4 or five goals from him, rusty from infrequent games and out of favor with the fans simply not a popular choice, he was out and about even if simply causing uncertainty in the defense, with time it will cause them a moment of indecision in which one can pounce whether it be Shola or Martins.
He is fighting for our cause and it cannot be easy coming out in front of 45000 + knowing they do not want to see you and would rather anyone. This is what we have been debating about here, you want more than we are capable of. Accusing people of being too slow, Let us see you go on that pitch and display this Pace about which you talk.
29 crug // Oct 21, 2008 at 13:23
Matty we were watching the same game as the press, most of whom also thought Shola was decent (especially when he’s hardly played for two seasons). He lead the line well, scored a goal and linked up with martins and duff (especially the lovely ball that put duff in) so really WTF game were you you watching?
30 skin d // Oct 21, 2008 at 13:28
kinda sums shola up ‘a nuisance last night’.
31 skin d // Oct 21, 2008 at 13:31
if nothing else it reminded me of wimbledon of old ,lots of deflections and blocks and a flukey goal at the end.
32 neeraj // Oct 21, 2008 at 13:54
jsut for a week can ppl leave him alone
33 lesh // Oct 21, 2008 at 14:08
Toon_Ksk // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:21
It was Ameobi’s first goal in TWO YEARS and were it not for last night’s, we may be end up playing the likes of Swansea and Barnsley.
That goal may be priceless come the end of he season so knocking it’s just not on is it!
34 Jimbob // Oct 21, 2008 at 14:09
Shola did very, very well last night. His work rate was brilliant, he got stuck in and was allways a problem. Still “fans” got on his back last night, we need to support whoever is wearing the shirt even if we think they are “a useless lanky shit” as the lad next me so poiletly put it last night. Shola gave us that performance last night, give him encouragement and will come confidence and he can do a good job for us.
Keep the faith.
35 lesh // Oct 21, 2008 at 14:16
C’mon guys, be fair to the lad…. wouldn’t the prospect of 50k so called fans being on your back undermine your confidence.
Shola needs and deserves support simply because he’s wearing the colours you all allegedly support!!!
36 Whumpie // Oct 21, 2008 at 14:42
Let’s not forget that just before his hip finally took him out 2 years ago, he was scoring at almost 1 every other game.
It may be like watching a horse falling down a stairwell, but when he gives defenders a rough time like last night, who cares?
I’m hoping - and I know it’s unlikely - that JFK can continue to work on him and guide him more into a Heskey type of role over a season or two. He’ll need to stick a couple of stone on, mind.
37 JJ // Oct 21, 2008 at 15:50
Michael 12,
Ive already given my opinion on Shola, (that I still dont think he’ll ever be good enough to start, but he can stay as a squad player as long as his heart is in it).
But you make one very accurate point… if Owen is not scoring, his contribution to the team is zero.
I just love the way, even though Oba didnt score he really gave everything for the team and played superbly. I really hope Owen goes in January so that we can use the wages to get someone like Zaki in.
I dont want Owen taking Oba’s place in the side.
I though Colo was incredible last night until one slip up that allowed Ireland to score.
Duff was also superb on the right wing.
I think Barton will make a huge difference in the middle of the park. And Geremi will fit in well for the suspended Beye.
Team for Scumderland:
————————Given—————————–
Geremi——-Taylor————Colo——-Bassong
Duff———–Butt————Barton——-NZogbia
—————Ameobi———Martins—————–
—————(ZAKI) - imagine.
Bench: Harper, Casapa, Enrique, Guthrie, Jonas, Xisco, Owen.
Bring on Guthrie for Barton later in the game and Jonas for N’Zogbia.
To be very honest, thinking long term and considering his wages - I really dont see a future for Owen at the Club - just imagine Zaki in his place.
In January, I’d sell Owen, and try bring in someone like Kallstrom for midfield, Zaki up front, and maybe another central defender.
Then Id promote Ranger, and Lua Lua to the first team.
38 Michael12 // Oct 21, 2008 at 16:25
Sort of an Emile Hesky, Not scoring goals but his contribution to a game is staggering, from fashioning opportunities for his strike partner, holding the ball up waiting for the cavalry to arrive to causing uncertainty in a defense. These are just as important and second only to scoring.
@Lesh: Agreed, simply the fact that he dons the colours means he must get our support. It is not easy being a Newcastle united player of late. If our own fans cannot support you then who can?
39 skin d // Oct 21, 2008 at 17:00
shola your new moniker=
JUSTAS CRAPANU.
40 john b // Oct 22, 2008 at 0:17
Lol, I said Shola is still a poor player on yesterday’s ‘Kinnear asks ref to recind Beye’s red card’ as a few fans were getting a bit carried away with Shola’s first goal in 2 years and I got cussed down for not being a supporter.
I would hope most of us have based our opinion on Shola over watching him for many years, much in the same way most of us should not base our opinion on BFJ based on 2 draws
You can support a player (and a manager) without thinking they are good enough to be at the club, and there is nothing wrong with voicing your opinion just because it’s not all I love Shola now he scored a goal, or Joe to stay forever because he got us 2 draws. Surely these forums are for Newcastle debate???
41 John B // Oct 22, 2008 at 0:23
Lots of good things from last night enjoyed the atmosphere at SJP
Shola Not one of good things
To all of you accusing us Shola doubters of not being a supporter or worse, stop being so reactionary. 1 goal in 2 years and suddenly he is a good player? You are probabbly the same short-sighted people who said Joe Kinnear? what a shambles and then 2 draws later cuss people who say they dont want him as permanent manager.
Get some consistancy people. Shola is poor and BFJ is a short term answer.
42 clinta // Oct 22, 2008 at 1:43
Kevin Nichol- ?? if you actually read what I wrote, I wasn’t slagging of the guy at all, I actually like the player and have wanted him to succeed for so long now, what I was attempting was to put a little reality on the whole situation, ie: it was one game and one performance!!
maybe you should read my above comment again?
43 MichaelOWaN // Oct 22, 2008 at 3:41
Ok well done to the lad for finally scoring a goal after such a long time and helping us to get a point in the process but lets be honest, his performance wasnt that great, I have to say that it is improving though which can be good for him as he will increase his transfer value and more clubs will be interested in getting him. He needs to score at least 5 to 6 goals in the next 10 games or so before I change my mind.
44 MichaelOWaN // Oct 22, 2008 at 3:43
By the way, did I hear it wrongly when I heard his name being announced on the PA system as the Man of the Match??
45 LP_6 // Oct 22, 2008 at 8:09
i cant believe the number of fans slating andy carroll, he is a kid and has been injured all season so far! granted i thought it should have been xisco who came on just for fitness leveles in last 10, but 4 or 5 sub appearances and 1 start (for Carroll) does not constitute a chance does it shearernine????
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