Since Alan Pardew has come to the club, and since Andy Carroll is no longer at the club and Shola Ameobi is out injured with a depressed cheekbone, it seems that Leon Best in now Newcastle’s number one striker.
Leon Best – top striker right now on Tyneside
And Leon and young Nile Ranger, the two big strikers at Newcastle, now have a huge job to do for the Magpies in the remaining 13 league games of the season.
Leon should have been awarded a second goal on Saturday, but he still has 4 goals in 7 appearances for Newcastle this season so far.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew talked about Best today:
“Leon could have had two goals in the end against Arsenal and the thing I like about him is he keeps going,” “That is what he is all about. He is a strong character and he is not embarrassed by the shirt.”
“It is a tough job he is being asked to do, leading the line for Newcastle United, but he has taken it on and we hope he grows into the role. He didn’t have the best of first halves against Arsenal, but he kept going, that is what we want from him.”
“If he can improve and grow in confidence, we are only going to be better for it.”
Best is expected to lead the line in the important match at Blackburn on Saturday afternoon, despite the hamstring strain that he picked up late in the amazing 4-4 draw with Arsenal last Saturday.
And Alan Pardew also thinks that bringing on Nile Ranger from the bench, is the best use of the striker, and it will be great when Nile gets that first Premier League goal for Newcastle, and he’s been really close several times already.
Pardew talked about the young striker:
“Nile’s two best performances have been when he has come on as a substitute for the last 20 minutes against Liverpool and Arsenal, attacking down that end of the pitch towards the Gallowgate,”
“That is what he is at the moment, an impact player.” “But, we need him to be more than that with the position we are in. Hopefully he is only going to get more professional, and get better and better.”
Alan criticized the professionalism of Nile when he first arrived at the club, but that certainly has not diminished the London lad’s enthusiasm for the game, and when he comes on, he’s an all action striker, who is so quick and powerful.
We think Alan would like to start Nile at some point before the end of the season, but it looks like we’ll have the same strike force as last Saturday, with Best and Lovenkrands starting and Nile coming on as a sub.
And maybe new signing Shefki Kuqi will also get his first game, after signing on loan this morning at Newcastle, until the end of the season.
Comments welcome.
7 comments so far
JohnnyBrookes
Feb 10, 2011 at 9:59 AM
Comment #1Why not just give him a game from the start Nile? We wont ever know how good he is without seeing him from the start.
That formation didn’t work against Arsenal, Best isn’t okay on his own up front and Lovenkrands was abysmal on the wing. If he is going to play it why not stick Guti on the right and Ferguson on the left.
I would be more happy with that formation.
leedodd
Feb 10, 2011 at 10:05 AM
Comment #2It is Great To See Leon get His Chance he looked a good player against Arsenal – west ham man he was of the match he just needs a chance – Ranger just needs to Pull his finger out and stop learning from that lazy git Shola – maybe we need Shearer in for coaching lessons ??
daneevz
Feb 10, 2011 at 10:12 AM
Comment #3No Limits 2 unlimted shefki, shefki kuqi , shefki kuqi , shefki kuqi wookie!!lol
ginkoh
Feb 10, 2011 at 10:23 AM
Comment #4Ranger played almost the game against Fulham and he wasted that. Maybe it’s too much pressure for him to lead the line now. He just cannot live with expectation.
shpetmeister
Feb 10, 2011 at 10:24 AM
Comment #5he is a great player daneevz ! So just shut the f. up!
He is fin, but originially from Kosovo. As i am, from norway, but from Kosovo. He is an excellent player, ull see !!!
Phatoon
Feb 10, 2011 at 10:43 AM
Comment #6Hi everyone,
I’ve been reading this blog for months and have finally decided to join up.
I don’t really know a lot about Kuqi but like all of our signings (inc Pardew), I will wait and see how we are doing at the end of the season.
@daneevz
like the base for the song, I for one will definitely sing it 😉
with the added line of:
Shefki Kuqi, he’s 6 foot 2 high, no long ball too deep, no crosses too high!
max
Feb 10, 2011 at 6:42 PM
Comment #7lovenkrand to the left.. jonas to the right..