Jose Enrique, just like he did last season, is coming into some good form as the season progresses, and his performance on Sunday against Everton, was one of his best for the Newcastle club.
Jose Enrique – playing well for Newcastle
There was a ball played down Newcastle’s defensive left hand side in the first half on Sunday, and it looked like young Anichebe of Everton would win the ball, but Jose Enrique scrapped for the ball, got it, turned around and cleared the ball nicely up-field to great applause form the home crowd at the Gallowgate end.
One thing the fans just love about Jose is he’s a fighter, and you can almost see him grit his teeth when he’s playing – and that event really showed he was there to play and would fight like crazy to get the result Newcastle needed that day.
And today Jose has said he remembers that event well, even though he was concentrating on the game – that comment is just in case Joe and the coaching staff are reading this. 😀
Jose. who turned 23 years old last month, told the Newcastle United official site this morning:
“This moment for me was incredible,” “It was special because, although I was concentrating, I knew there was loud applause and a lot of fans were on their feet.”
“I know it was only a small thing in the context of the game, but for me it was good and that helps your confidence.”
“The people here are the best for me and when the fans make that applause it makes you happy and you try harder.”
Enrique is now enjoying his best run yet for the Newcastle side, even though it seems in January that Joe Kinnear was ready to unload him to Celtic, in part exchange for their captain Stephen McManus, if we are to believe the reports.
But the former Villarreal star, whose transfer fee was reportedly a very high £6.2M, when Sam Allardyce signed him 18 months ago, promises there is still more to come, adding:
“This is the best time for me so far with Newcastle.” “I am playing a lot of games and I feel confident.”
“But there is still more to come from me and I can play better.”
Nobody art Newcastle have ever doubted this lad’s courage or fighting abilities, and he’s very very good going forward, but also needs to improve his defensive play, which he looks like he’s doing.
Jose has started all 30 games this season, and is starting to make the left back position his own, even though the club has said they need another left back brought in, to give Jose some competition, ever since he arrived. Whether the club will do that this summer, with Ryan Taylor able to play left back, remains to be seem.
It would be daft if we let this boy go during the summer, because he epitomizes the tremendous spirit there seems to be in the Newcastle camp right now, and that’s one thing that’s just great to see, given all the troubles the club has had this season.
Comments welcome.
Note: We’ve been told that our RSS feed has not been working – so if you’d like to get the automatic feed for the blog click here.
38 comments so far
Toon Sweden77
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Comment #1Hope hes not sold, still young and it seems according to his comments that he is commited to the club
ginkoh
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Comment #2I confident that he will be better and better. It’s the bad idea to offload him in summer.
If our team do well next season, He’ll get call up to Spain international, who know? ??But for now I think we still not to see his best.
Monster
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Comment #3He really has looked good of late. Long may it continue! It’s nice having a good, specialist left back. He definitely looks better with Jonas in front of him. Hopefully the management team see that too.
Ever seen a mackem in Milan?
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Comment #4It just shows players need time to adapt to a different country and now we are reaping the dividends with Jose. His best game for me was at home to the Scum. He had a great understanding with Jonas and even attempted some skill and pulled it off 😉
Toon Sweden77
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Comment #5And the same goes for Xisco I hope. Still young and taking hes time to adopt to the EPL.
Fresh
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Comment #6Got to admit I had my doubts about jose at the start of this season but he has really turned it around – maybe the introduction of ryan taylor who can seemingly play anywhere has maybe pushed him to up his game a little.
Ever seen a mackem in Milan?
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:23 AM
Comment #7He has been playing well since about the time Calderwood got appointed. Maybe the defensive coaching is working!?!?!?!?!?!
jos
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:24 AM
Comment #8I’ve always been a fan of Jose, he’s young, energetic, tough (for a Spaniard) and an all round good bloke. Name a 21 year old defender who never makes a mistake. There aren’t any. Keep him and players like him.
kenny g
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Comment #9has it never occurred to you Ed that the stories linking Jose with a move were nonsense?
Nothing but pure conjecture, and perhaps even deliberately leaked by ‘sources’ in order to entice some performances out of the young Spaniard…
Either way his form has improved, and we are seeing the benefit
kenny g
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Comment #10Jos….
Seb Bassong
Ever seen a mackem in Milan?
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Comment #11Got him there Kenny 😉
valle
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Comment #12I can really see our defense as being one of our strenghts next season. Bot Jose and Colo are getting better and better and Bassong and Beye are already top notch. Add a left back and a centre back for competition and i cant see us having any problems in that department next season.
Ben_BKK
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Comment #13I think that moment where he outmuscled Anichebe and robbed him of the ball was just about when the commentators were raving on about Anichebe’s pace and power, and how he can hold onto the ball really well… and then Jose got in there and nicked it off him no problem haha 😀
Although there wasn’t a word about Enrique’s tackle, or how good he is. They really seemed biased throughout the whole game, I swear in the first 5 minutes of the match, they were nothing but praise for Everton, and we hardly got a look in.
babelfish
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:31 AM
Comment #14Jose is beginning to look a much stronger player, to go with his surprising pace. The partnership with Jonas is looking good, as Jonas can and will track back a bit when enrique comes forward, just wish he would overlap a bit more, especially at home. It may be that Jonas helps bring the best out of him, like how Nobby Solano made Aaron Hughes at right back perform much better.
jos
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Comment #15Good call Kenny, although many would say signing for us is a bit of a mistake…..
Ever seen a mackem in Milan?
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:35 AM
Comment #16Was that the Sky commentary Ben?
Ben_BKK
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Comment #17I think so, yeah. It’s not surprising really, it was just annoying that they were so biased, and it wasn’t even one of the “Big 4”.
Ever seen a mackem in Milan?
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Comment #18They will always favour the bigger teams. Its easy to knock us down in the position we are in. And it isnt the big they are called the “Sky 4” 😉
Tom_Toon
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:42 AM
Comment #19Glad to see most of you have come to your senses after myself and a few others, not many, defending him for ages.
Sav
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Comment #20He may not be the real deal yet but he has proved me wrong in my assessment of him. Worth a chance. Good lad, Jose.
Ever seen a mackem in Milan?
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Comment #21It was hard to see why you were defending him at times though. But the lad has proved a lot of us wrong and i hope it continues. 🙂
Ben_BKK
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Comment #22Haha yeah, it really is a Sky thing, isn’t it…
And I agree with you Tom, I’ve always thought he was a good player and needed a chance to play, it never made sense to me when managers would play N’Zogbia at LB, when he has the defensive positioning of a lamppost. 😀
Now it’s starting to become more obvious, everyone’s saying he’s good…
Whumpie
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Comment #23Gutsy player, and very exciting going forward. The defensive side is improving, but some competition from a specialist, defensive LB would help a lot – and give JFK some options when playing against opposition with a quick, strong right winger.
But isn’t it great to hear such positive stuff coming from the players at the moment? They could be forgiven for being a bit quiet right now, but they seem to be getting on with the scrap.
cashleyout
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Comment #24only at newcastle would they want to swap enrique for that muppet mcmanus.
i hope he stays cos he has bags of potential.
RyanToon
Feb 27, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Comment #25jose keep up you good recent performances, i might have to get the ”jose enrique chant going on sunday 😉
Kevin Nichol
Feb 27, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Comment #26I would agree with Sav’s comments!
I slated enrique in the early parts of the season as not good enough! I stil think he falls short of a proper premiership left back at this moment in time; but he is getting better and better (particluarly at home). His distribution must improve significantly; but i am more than happy when players knuckle down; get on with the job in hand and fight for the shirt.
I hope he continues to improve.
Dragonera
Feb 27, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Comment #27Top class youngster.
LoonyToon @ graft
Feb 27, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Comment #28Popped in some excellent performances lately….
Has all the potential to be a excellent full back….pace, strength, strong in the tackle, good engine….
Like his comments at the top….”confidence”…..and “The people here are the best for me and when the fans make that applause it makes you happy and you try harder.”
says it all really…
Micky Toon
Feb 27, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Comment #29Got to agree, lately he’s been good. I wasn’t sure of him at the start of the season, but he seems to be getting better with every game.
Toon_Ice
Feb 27, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Comment #30I hop he continues to play like he did against Everton. That was his best performance so far for Nufc. He just needs competition for the left back spot as he´s the only left back at the club.
Pons Aelius
Feb 27, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Comment #31I’ve been defending Enrique since the first day he signed. Personally I think he’s been showing his best form since the Portsmouth game this season.
He looks like he’s bulked up a little this season and it’s done him the world of good.
chuck
Feb 27, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Comment #32One can see a steady improvement in Jose`s game with more PL experience, his confidence appears to be growing and everyone reacts to a cheer now and then.
As I have stated here before, he certainly is not lacking when it comes to pace, surprised the hell out of me.
pk08
Feb 27, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Comment #33i really rate him, the only thing that concerns me is now and again he gets caught in possession with players stealing in from behind. ie it was him that had the ball nicked off him which one pass later ended in Nolan trying to break Anichebes leg…
his delivery is excellent aswell from deep, really puts in there to be attacked. certainly better than jonas or duff have been offering – ryan taylor and enriques crossing are very promising…
TORONTOON
Feb 27, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Comment #34the reason why he’s come good is because he’s had a run of games! and this is because we had no one else to play there! and more reason to keep xisco and let him have a run of games. gosh!
Tom_Toon
Feb 27, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Comment #35I would have been furious if we swapped him for McManus.
1. He is our only LB. McManus is a CB.
2. It would be the equivalent of swapping a Mercedes for a Fiat Panda with no tax.
nufc_houlty
Feb 27, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Comment #36i dont think his crossing is that good its alrite, not the best goin foward, but jose enrique is good at traking back and im suprised how quick he can be, could he be quicker than martins?
Robby Bobson
Feb 27, 2009 at 6:21 PM
Comment #37There was this ball Enrique put in where LEscot got lucky which was top class.
Actually our delviery was the best i have ever seen with Taylor in the team and Lovekrands also put a wicked ball in the box. Owen must be drooling!
Tom_Toon
Feb 27, 2009 at 6:36 PM
Comment #38Ryan Taylor?
Steven Taylor cant deliver at RB, he’d be very good there if he could.