As we had hoped, the Evening Chronicle has come out with some great interviews with the Newcastle players this afternoon, after the Magpies’ magnificent and memorable win at Stamford Bridge last night in the Carling Cup.
Nile Ranger – after scoring his goal last night
And one of those interviews is with our up-and-coming 19 year-old striker Nile Ranger, who lost the ball and was dispossessed for Chelsea’s first goal, and he admits to being distraught about the mistake.
But then came back and got Newcastle’s reply when he blind-sided former Newcastle loan player Patrick van Aanholt, and rammed the ball into the back of the net.
Nile told the Evening Chronicle today:
“We’ll play anybody now.” “We’re just so pleased to be through and it’s fantasy football almost to be knocking out Chelsea.” “It was a night we’ll never forget.” “We knew it would be a big night for us youngsters but we didn’t expect that in our wildest dreams.” “We knew the youngsters would get a chance and I think we’ve taken it.”
“I was pleased with the way it went of course, but thank God I scored.” “For the first goal I didn’t have a look up and the ball was nicked from me and then they scored.” “I was distraught. I didn’t know what I was going to do for the rest of the game, but all I knew was that I had to keep my head up.” “The best possible way to reply was to score, so I was pleased to stick it in the net.”
“We couldn’t believe that Chelsea came back. My heart stopped when they got the penalty.” “We had worked so hard but to see the ref point to the spot killed me.” “Everybody is always at it here, though, and we kept at it and we didn’t give it up, so it was great to see Shola score for us at the end.”
Ranger comes from London of course, and was signed from Southampton in August of 2008, and he had his family and friends in the stands at Chelsea:
“To get a win like that at Stamford Bridge is amazing for me being a London lad. It makes it even more special because I had a lot of family in the stands who were there to see it.”
“I will remember the goal for the rest of my life.” “I’m sure it will do me no harm but, as I’ve always kept saying, I will just keep going and working hard.” “I hope there are more chances, but nothing is a given, I have to keep working.” “It’s hard when you are not playing, but you get on with it.”
“To stay in the Carling Cup was vital for lads like me this season.” “To be honest, it would probably have been it for some of us for a long while.”
Nile had a good game on the right wing, where his speed and size make him a difficult player to contain, although his best position is probably still as an out and out striker.
But Shola and Nile were two big guys who caused the Chelsea defense all kinds of problems last night – there’s no doubt about that.
And Nile we know is being well schooled by Chris Hughton, and hopefully he will turn into a model professional, and if Nile keeps his head down and follows what Chris and the rest of the coaches tell him at the Newcastle club – he’ll not go too far wrong.
Keep it up Nile!
Comments welcome.
15 comments so far
G
Sep 23, 2010 at 1:08 PM
Comment #1Nile looks the part to me. Lets hope he develops this season. I love his workrate, he just needs to add more goals. This game will have helped his confidence a lot. After all, Chelsea’s reserve team fielded cost more than your average prem team. His lifestyle horror stories seem to have calmed down too, so hopefully he is ready to be more involved at every level, including the Prem first team picture.
Bucks mag
Sep 23, 2010 at 1:18 PM
Comment #2As we all know, not the finished product – like when he fluffed his lines at the far post in the 1st half.
However, he was really good last night – his pace was electric, mentally he came back from the mistake for the 1st goal and put his goal away, and never stopped running.
“I wanna be a Magpie Ranger!”
ToonAndy
Sep 23, 2010 at 1:20 PM
Comment #3Nile Looked decent… When he gave that ball away for them to score I could have killed him… but glad to see him bounce back with a goal… I wouldn’t play him on sunday but hopefully Ameobis performance last night has forced a 4-4-2 out of Houghton! heres my team…
…………………………KRUL………………………………
R.TAYLOR…..WILLO……..COLO……ENRIQUE
JONAS………TIOTE…….BARTON………BENNY
……………..CARROLL…….AMEOBI…………………
HOWAY THE TOONNNN!!!
Phil K
Sep 23, 2010 at 1:22 PM
Comment #4Delighted for the young lad.
Go on Nile, son – become the new Andy Carrol !
Promise there in abundance. Now we need to get the kid’s confidence going. Stuff like this will do that !
G
Sep 23, 2010 at 1:25 PM
Comment #5Agreed Phil, it takes some bottle to come back from the howler that led to their goal, and whilst he was clearly devastated, he never let his head drop. To be fair to him on the howler, he never claimed to be a winger did he?
Davies
Sep 23, 2010 at 1:30 PM
Comment #6One problem with that team ToonAndy; no Nolan. If we’re ever going to drop Nolan, it will probably be to accommodate Ben Arfa in the middle whilst Jonas play on the left. Personally, I’d field a similar team, but with Lovenkrands in for Shola. He plays very well with Carroll, as we saw last term.
Looks like it’ll be another cup game for Nile. I suspect the best Ameobi and Lovenkrands can expect in the league will be sub appearances. As long as the results go our way, I won’t complain too much about it…
slazberger
Sep 23, 2010 at 1:37 PM
Comment #7good result last night, but for all those putting team sheets up with last nights players in, don’t forget we beat everton away at the weekend and played very well, do any of them really deserve to be dropped?
Geordiedoonsooth
Sep 23, 2010 at 1:55 PM
Comment #8I like the look of Ranger and think the lad has a big future, just one thing though he should never come back to help the defence out he just can’t defend
ToonAndy
Sep 23, 2010 at 2:02 PM
Comment #9I agree Slazberger… But a 4-5-1 was probably the right formation against Everton away from home, makes it easier to drop back and defend… However I believe our home games against very beatable teams we should definately look at a 4-4-2 and scare the shit out of their defence…
Yes all the lads played excelent against Everton and we deserved the win… But the only thing that seperated us from 1 point and 3 points was a second of genius from Benny boy 🙂
lesh
Sep 23, 2010 at 2:52 PM
Comment #10Nile Ranger?
Sounds as though he could he be an officer in the Egyptian River Police?
StuW
Sep 23, 2010 at 7:15 PM
Comment #11Nile Ranger did fantastic last night, although his air shot should have hit the back of the net. Credit to him, Chelski reserves are good enough to be first team players at most clubs.
Doha Mag
Sep 23, 2010 at 8:10 PM
Comment #12Young Nile had an excellent game except for the first Chelsea goal.
Terrific prospect, could be even better than Carrol in a few years. I’d put money on those two boyz being selected in the same England team…….
Young Nile has class
Jose_Horny_Enrique
Sep 23, 2010 at 9:05 PM
Comment #13i’d like to see him make stoopid mistakes that give away goal scoring opportunities for the other team, ‘part from that great player ;D
baro
Sep 24, 2010 at 12:34 AM
Comment #14Nile Ranger is brilliant. I love him! Still just 19 years old, he will only improve. His speed is amazing! Has one of the best ball control’s ever. Would love to see him in action more for Newcastle.
Brutooon
Sep 24, 2010 at 1:23 AM
Comment #15he will forget this goal, cos he will score 300 goals for the next 10 years