Newcastle’s new loan signing, 34 year-old Shefki Kuqi, has admitted he is honored and proud to be part of Newcastle United through the end of the season.
Shefki Kuqi – flying into Newcastle United
Newcastle announced earlier this morning that Kuqi has signed for Newcastle as a free agent on a short-term deal until the end of the season.
The 34 year-old has played over 500 first class club games, and has close to 150 goals in his career and has represented Finland 62 times.
Shefki will be used as an impact striker for Newcastle, in the remaining 13 league games, and he is a tall and powerful forward, who stands 6’2″ tall, and gives his all in every single game.
The 34-year-old seems honored to have joined such a famous club as Newcastle United, as he told Sky Sports News:
“I got a phone call from my agent last week who said there might be a possibility to go there to Newcastle and when I heard this I was over the moon,”
“In the beginning it was hard to believe, but in the end it all came true.” “I don’t really have the words to describe how happy I am. To get this chance is a massive thing for me.”
“I am just happy to be here now and I can’t wait to start and hopefully try to do the best I can for Newcastle United.”
“For me, it is a great opportunity just to be back in the Premier League again. It is something I have tasted before.”
“Everybody knows it is the best league in the world and to be part of it and a club the size of Newcastle United, I am really proud. It’s an honor to be here.”
Here’s the Sky Sports video of Shefki talking about coming to Newcastle United.
Note: This will be last article for a while today – as I’m off to hospital to have what may be a tricky operation on my right foot, to remove a floating bone spur.
Should be back within six to nine hours, all being well, and since I’ll be drugged up with pain medication – if the articles are weird – you know why. 😀
Thanks.
77 comments so far
nobby62
Feb 10, 2011 at 12:42 PM
Comment #41toonruz are you a makem?
nobby62
Feb 10, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Comment #42is Kuqi better than what we`ve got? i would say yes as we`ve got no target man until Shola is fit, Kuqi is a newcastle player so i`m behind him, good luck.
remember this guy is a STOP-GAP.
North Atlantic Magpie
Feb 10, 2011 at 12:48 PM
Comment #43This is so far out.
Stuart
Feb 10, 2011 at 12:50 PM
Comment #44I wouldn’t say he’s better than what we already have like Nobby, but I do think its a good stop-gap signing to make up the numbers until the summer.
I wouldnt like to see him starting too many games though, he should be 4th choice striker, 5th when Strollas back.
But he makes up the numbers, adds abit of depth to the squad.
Doctapaul
Feb 10, 2011 at 1:01 PM
Comment #45Kuqi – rhymes with Luque?
supermacnumber9
Feb 10, 2011 at 1:08 PM
Comment #46I’m late ching the action today but can anyone please help with this earlier post –
leedodd // Feb 10, 2011 at 9:57 AM
Lets See what The Lad can do for us ??????? I remember when we got Alan Clarke from Sunderland( thank god we didn’t have this blog then )- What did he do ??? He scored for us and he became our Hero so it could be worse at least he didn’t play for Them Lot !!!
When did we get Alan Clarke? I doesn’t ring a bell with me. Was he any good?
Antoine Sibierski
Feb 10, 2011 at 1:11 PM
Comment #47http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOAoiQMKmUc&feature=related
I love this guy already, he seems like a real good bloke whos going to give 100 percent, maybe the pessimistic idiots on this blog should think about giving him a chance
RichK
Feb 10, 2011 at 1:14 PM
Comment #48I prefer him to either of the other options as he’s a target man, he’ll be a threat at set pieces which for us a great thing when you have Joey taking them. I hope and think Kuqi might just surprise a few people.
He’ll be wearing number 42 – have seen this on official website.
Good luck to him – what’s the chances of him bagging the winner against his former club??Her’s hoping.
bills-son
Feb 10, 2011 at 1:26 PM
Comment #49Puppet Pardew & all the othe Pardew haters – you are a bunch of bigoted to$$ers.
The guy has handled himself with dignity in a very difficult situation, obviously has the respect of the players and staff such as Carver & Stone and has done more than decent in his Premier games in charge.
You will all be the same to$$ers who mocked and didn’t want Hughton I bet.
Take your sh*t coloured glassed off and give the bloke support.
lesh
Feb 10, 2011 at 1:38 PM
Comment #50North Atlantic Magpie // Feb 10, 2011 at 12:48 PM
This is so far out…….
….. and laid back and up the middle Kuqi!
Thump
Feb 10, 2011 at 1:44 PM
Comment #51Your having an op, Ed? Wonder if NUFC would be interested in signing you.
As for Kuqi, stop harping on about him and support the lad. He isn’t supposed to impact the first team, he’s here to give us another option and that’s all there is to it. He’s here to cover.
lesh
Feb 10, 2011 at 1:52 PM
Comment #52Calling Sergeant Hegarty…
Here’s a couple of links to some background to the Geordie dialect and Toon-speak
http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/articles/2008/07/07/geordie_feature.shtml
You could also look out for a cd of ‘Larn Yersel Geordie’ on Ebay
and
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Collins-Taak-Toon-Speak-Geordie/dp/0007247826/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_1/278-5464086-8804554
newcastle29
Feb 10, 2011 at 1:56 PM
Comment #53@craigcoozy. I missed what you said yesterday. What was it? Dont this lot deal with landon donovan?
TOONALE
Feb 10, 2011 at 2:04 PM
Comment #54Ed
I have got a bad foot, its only eight and a half inches.
free giveaways
Feb 10, 2011 at 2:51 PM
Comment #55Even if he isn’t a good footballer at least he can sing!
Lol this is funny;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYmlvcf7YJw
Widowmaker
Feb 10, 2011 at 2:52 PM
Comment #56Personally, I am okay with Kuqi signing for us. Got to be honest tho, I may have watched him play as I certainly know his name from watching EPL on telly, but I have no idea how good he is (or was? to be more precise).
The thing is, I rekon this as a sensible deal. AP certainly knows what he is doing and I think this is a good sign. Panic signing? Perhaps, but wouldn’t it be the case with anyone else we sign? I mean, who would have planned for signing a free agent at this moment? Not any usual EPL clubs anyway.
Some have claimed that Kuqi is past it, but I have a different idea. Kuqi’s has never, assuming what I’ve read was right, being about natural pace. And we know that pace is something that can dramatically decrease with age. In contray, Kuqi’s game was mostly about his physical presence and that is why I am suggesting AP knows what he is doing.
At the age of 34, he is experienced and seems to be in good shape.
By the way, I don’t mind he was released (or mutual agreement?) by Swansea. No disrespect to Best and co, they are doing extreamly well IMO, but do we really have a better striking force than Swansea now?
free giveaways
Feb 10, 2011 at 2:57 PM
Comment #57He’s never had pace but he’s never had a particularly good touch or football brain either.
I just think while there is still a chance of relegation, we should have got the best possible option available, and that would have been Shabani Nonda or Robert Vittek.
kkma
Feb 10, 2011 at 3:06 PM
Comment #58Ed, best wishes from Hong Kong ! Wish you a speedy recovery !
Puppet Pardew
Feb 10, 2011 at 3:16 PM
Comment #59bills-son (Bill McGarry’s son?) @ 49
Hello to another supporter of my unquestionable management skills, and thanks for sticking up for me (not that I need it, you understand). I once reached a cup final I’ll have you know, and will do so again – although not this year (but we’ll not mention Stevenage, eh?).
Yes, of course as you say, Mr Bill’s Son, I enjoy 100% support in the dressing room as well, and respect, especially when I tell them all about that cup final I reached, did I mention that? What more do you moaners out there want, promises that mean something?
PP (the best marionette manager in the Prem by far)
Irish Geordie1
Feb 10, 2011 at 3:25 PM
Comment #60http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thkz8t2NR2k
its the new fella
I kno youtube isnt the anything to go by but the man can finish. lookin forward to the big dive thing he does!!
Irish Geordie1
Feb 10, 2011 at 3:28 PM
Comment #61free giveaways. that video is funny as f++k
Stuart
Feb 10, 2011 at 3:41 PM
Comment #62Puppet Pardew,
You do realise your joke isnt that funny right?
Whats wrong, are you a rarety amongst mackem scum fans and you can actually read? But you’ve come on here because none of the rest of you can with the 1 eye and 3 legs?
free giveaways
Feb 10, 2011 at 3:44 PM
Comment #63This has been reported a few times now so there could well be some truth in it. I really hope so, it would be a fantastic signing.
http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/5174/6/liverpool-and-newcastle-fight-%C2%A310m-lille-star-summer?
Geordie-Gerrard7
Feb 10, 2011 at 3:46 PM
Comment #64Right.. I marked this bloke out of the game a couple of years ago, I was playing centre back even though I was/am a striker. I was playing for Bideford town in the errea cup against palace, it was a pre season tournament so he could have been taking it easy but honestly, every time the ball came to him it bounced off his shin, or shoulder or some over body part. He was soo bad, and to add a real twist to this story. He was marking me late on in the game from a freekick wide right near the corner flag, and I outjumped him to score an equalizer in a 2-2 draw.
After the game he was sound, and even eat the customary fish n chips laid on by Appledore fc as the game was being played at there ground.
Lassi
Feb 10, 2011 at 3:53 PM
Comment #65Best wishes, Ed! Wishing you a speedy recovery!
re: Kuqi, I’m betting that he comes a cult hero on Tyneside after scoring a winner on the 91st minute with his arse. He’s a fighter and a really gutsy player who gives it his all when needed.
shearer4pm
Feb 10, 2011 at 4:03 PM
Comment #66next antoine sibierski?
Oleg G
Feb 10, 2011 at 4:09 PM
Comment #67Good Luck Ed.
For how many weeks you are going to be out of the squad then? Ashley should get a replacement. 🙂
baro
Feb 10, 2011 at 4:19 PM
Comment #68He is a tough big guy with lots of strength. May not be what we fans wanted but i’d rather have somebody there than nobody. He can score goals. If he is in black n white than i am right behind him. He said it was a gift from god so lets hope he can open the gift and score some goals from the bench coming on. Can’t wait to see that celebration for Newcastle.
baro
Feb 10, 2011 at 4:21 PM
Comment #69Hey a quick question here…….
Kazenga Lua Lua our loanee to brighton but he broke his leg/ankle than came back to Newcastle.
So is he currently our player or theirs?
coolcatcarter89
Feb 10, 2011 at 4:40 PM
Comment #70He will score more than Mr Casserole between now and the end of the season, so why not!? 😀
baro
Feb 10, 2011 at 4:46 PM
Comment #71Our team for next year….. (hopefully)
…………………………..Forster………………………….
Simpson…….Cahil………………..Colo…..Enrique
Barton………..Ninis…………….Tiote……Ben Arfa
…………………………….Nolan………………………….
…………………………….HULK…………………………
tcbelfast
Feb 10, 2011 at 5:22 PM
Comment #72good luck with the op ed….
now on kuqi,personally dont know the guy so i’m not gonna slate.
like most things,we must give the bloke a chance to prove his worth.he looks a rite awkward player so it mite frighten some pussy boot defenders!!
give him a chance
HWTL!!
The Entertainers
Feb 10, 2011 at 5:33 PM
Comment #73We need the bodies but just hope he doesn’t get ahead of ranger! Will be very angry if this happens , yes off the bench or if a major injury crisis looms but he surely can’t start !
archaeomag
Feb 10, 2011 at 5:46 PM
Comment #74@craigcoozy respect.
Shefki – good luck; after Saturday all bets are off!
puffinmuncher
Feb 10, 2011 at 6:39 PM
Comment #75Give him a chance. After all, he only cost two packets of crisps and a mars bar
DoctorZelig
Feb 10, 2011 at 9:41 PM
Comment #76Best wishes Ed…
Regarding Kuqi, i only remember him as this physical monster of a player. If he has the motivation I believe he has then he will fit the bill for what we’ll need until summer…
bills-son
Feb 10, 2011 at 9:49 PM
Comment #77Puppet Pardew
There’s one Puppet pal – you.
I bet your sat on somebody’s knee with a hand up your rs when you come on here spouting your whinging, negative crap.