Some worrying words from Jose Enrique this morning, as he says he’s flattered to be attracting interest from some big English clubs.
Jose Enrique – flattered by interest from big clubs
Usually that is a “come and get me” communication to the interested clubs, so it’s a little worrying to hear those words from the Newcastle star left-back today.
This is what Jose said today:
“It is flattering that Liverpool are interested. I’ve also heard that Manchester United and Aston Villa have asked about me,”
“They are both big teams and I’m not closing the door on anyone. I’m ambitious and want to play in the Champions League. I want to win things.”
“I’m OK at Newcastle but I aspire to more.”
I’m OK at Newcastle but aspire to more – what exactly does that mean?
The 25-year-old has been one of Newcastle’s best players this season, and the conventional wisdom is that he would be a lot more appreciated – for instance would get into the Spain National squad – if he was at a more successful club than Newcastle.
We hope it’s not true, but these are definite signs that Jose would be willing to leave Newcastle United, if one of the big clubs, like Liverpool or Manchester United for example, came after him in the summer.
That’s only one reason why Newcastle should show they are indeed willing to build a top team, that will soon challenge for Europe, before too many of out top players are snapped up by bigger clubs.
We hope that will not be true, but we don’t regard this statement form Jose as being very positive or helpful, at least from a Newcastle viewpoint.
We suppose one solution is for Newcastle to qualify for Europe this season.
Comments welcome.
72 comments so far
DrunkenSteve
Feb 17, 2011 at 11:09 AM
Comment #41@ Jimmymac
Are you insane? “Ashley has begun to redeem himself” what exactly has he done? Nothing, the players have gone out and put on some performances this month absolutely nothing to do with MA. I accept yes we have to tolerate him for now as he is going nowhere but lets not confuse the good work of the team/coaches/manager with anything MA has done.
Also why must we accept that our best players will leave? We are NUFC for heavens sake, have a bit of pride, we are not Wigan or Bolton!!
And finally why is Europa best we can hope for this decade? Why even bother? I want silverware, cups, the star of Man U to waigen and who knows NUFC to be a regular in the top 4, maybe even win the Prem (hard to see how at the moment) but we must hope, hope should be the last thing to die otherwise we turn into pessimistic miserable zombies; “Toon Toon” not “braaaaiiins braaaiiins”.
Jeeze man lets have a bit of heart and pride
Preston_toon
Feb 17, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Comment #42I believe the source is the daily fail…………
On this I just hope to see some ambition from the top men I have been supporting the toon for short 23 Years of my life on earth I would like to think I would live till 90
Surely we should win something by then….
jj
Feb 17, 2011 at 11:20 AM
Comment #43JOSE ENRIQUE is the best LB in the prem without a doubt, hes fearless, better than ashley cole!!
Hes got everything and i fear if he does move on we wont replace him with anyone near as good.
IF he does go the only saving grace is that its to someone overseas as id hate to see him against us, even more than seeing AC against us.
KEEP jose, joey, collo and tiote is a must!!!!
Davies
Feb 17, 2011 at 11:31 AM
Comment #44Does anybody know what Drona is talking about?
It’s widely recognised that Premier League club owners don’t make a lot of money from be Premier League club owners.
It’s also absurd to suggest that someone (a billionaire, by the way) would make a club more attractive for selling by assett stripping it. WHo the hell would buy and assett stripped business???
By the way, those assetts you’re talking about? They belong to the club, not Mike Ashley. He doesn’t get money from player sales. Until recently, that’s all been disappearing into the black hole that the last lot left us with.
The only money Ashley can take from the club is what he is owed in loans, and he doesn’t want that back yet.
If Enrique goes, it’ll be a shame, but I’ll wish him the best of luck because he has been awesome for us. We should get a fat wedge of cash out of it, so we can get a decent replacement. Maybe we could do a deal with Chelski and get cash plus PVA for him?
jimmymac
Feb 17, 2011 at 11:31 AM
Comment #45@ DRUNKENSTEVE
I have heart and pride when it comes to NUFC, however, i am not deluded. Granted we should be trying to win cups etc, that goes without saying but if you honestly believe we have a shot at the Champions League in the near future then i’m afraid you’re deluded. Only way we can even compete with the wealth of Man City, Utd, Chelsea is if we do a City and get some sort of tycoon in.
With regards to Ashley, “what has he done?” you ask. Well IMO he prevented us becoming a Leeds if not worse. If Freddy Sheppard was still in charge we would have gone bust years ago. The man got a 4-year sponsorship deal from a crippled bank and spunked all of tht and more on a single (no good) player. Ashley on the other hand has cleared our debt and has all but ensured our kids and grandkids still have a club to support in years to come. I’m not saying he hasnt made mistakes, but you are quick to praise the players when things are going right and overlook them when things go wrong. So if you criticise Ashley when we were relegated and so forth, then be fair and praise him for our current situation. credit manager all you want, but who appointed him when no one else was keen? Ashley. Who provide the cash for Tiote, Ben Arfa, Enrique etc? Ashley. Who has rid of most the clubs debt in such difficult financial times? err….. Ashley.
It’s all good and well having “hope”, but lets try and be realistic at the same time.
ende
Feb 17, 2011 at 11:32 AM
Comment #46NO WAY JOSE!
stuckdownsouth
Feb 17, 2011 at 11:52 AM
Comment #47I’m sort of with you Jimmymac.
We are a trading club, that’s the reality, to say Villa or Liverpool are better run clubs well we have to see in the long run. A few years ago Hull spent big, paid over inflated wages to chase the dream and now are on their knees. Cashley brought a club in debt, and for all his mistakes, he has spent his own money and not taken a penny out of the club yet. And for those who say he does find me the journalist who is willing to print it. They won’t because they know they will be sued. A few years back we all moaned about Cashley not running the club like a business, he is now. He will make money when he sells the club, those who think he is an idiot should look at the last time they made a Billion quid from scratch. In the mean time it is buy cheap sell high….find me the successful business that doesn’t work like that.
Jose wants to move on, I don’t blame him. Maybe Liverpool are offering him more money, but does this mean Liverpool are going to break back into the top 4? I doubt it, and their wage bill is going up. Don’t say they are a successfully run club yet because it’s too early to see if their gamble will pay off. Just as it is too early to say if Cashleys plan to sell AC is a success, only time will tell.
So in short if Jose wants to move for more Trophies or more cash then goodluck to him.
We should adhere to the principles of slow build at an affordable rate. As long as money is reinvested in the club, which i think it will be as that will increase the chances of us being bought and Cashley finally realising his invetment.
jaw4life
Feb 17, 2011 at 11:54 AM
Comment #48Enrique is good, but he will have to move abroad for champions league football. Does he think he is going to get started ahead of, Evra,Clichy,Ashley Cole and to lesser extent Kolorov(he’s been great recently). So where else is he going to go? Liverpool? Villa? He wont get CL there for a while. Only place would be Tottenham ahead of Akotto…..I hope he doesn’t move.
carrollsinger
Feb 17, 2011 at 12:08 PM
Comment #49Judas 2 coming up this summer we don’t want players who don’t wanna be here 20 mil he’s yours I would rather keep tiote
Irish Geordie1
Feb 17, 2011 at 12:08 PM
Comment #50If it is trough its sad, how unloyal can players be now a days? 50+k signing you name every week in a city that loves ya and will offer ya better money. What more do ya want? F++K him if he thinks cos he had a few good games that hes bigger then nufc, let him off.
If it isnt trough (Sorry Enrique, your the best)ha
Irish Geordie1
Feb 17, 2011 at 12:10 PM
Comment #51well said jaw4life
Irish Geordie1
Feb 17, 2011 at 12:13 PM
Comment #52stuckdownsouth
why dont ya blame him for wanting to go? maby you have being stuckdownsouth to long?ha
Brutooon
Feb 17, 2011 at 12:40 PM
Comment #53we cannot blame him, he been the clubs for several years where tumour is on its highest and the unexpected owner controlling all areas.
he is waiting till the summer and in case we are in europe he will stay, if we are mid league and above – he can see we dont have any ambition thus he will LEAVE
ToonMobile
Feb 17, 2011 at 1:03 PM
Comment #54Ashley may have put his “own money” into the club but isn’t that the large loans that (although interest free) are the main stumbling block to anyone else buying the club? He still wants that money that he put in back in one way or another as far as I remember, so maybe presenting him as a financial saviour isn’t that accurate since he will obviously want he money back one way or another?
Selling your best players, even for a profit, is not the way I would like to see us grow. I would prefer we made extra money from longer cup runs and European football by KEEPING the best players and paying competitive salaries, just like in any walk of life…
gorskino10
Feb 17, 2011 at 1:04 PM
Comment #55I hope he doesnt and joining another EPL team does he think us the fans want to see him like Andy week in week out at some other crap club like Man United!
If he goes i think that would be the start, we were hoping that letting Andy go was a one off letting go your “Best” player and now if Jose he leaves he is one of the “Best” players at our club we CANNOT start buying and selling it just will not work most clubs that do this (apart from Benfica/Porto) get relegated because the replacements never replace the people they sold, i like Jose Angel but i have to say its took YEARS for him to become good he looked average at the start at NUFC and if Jose Angel doesnt have the strenght Jose Enrique does which helps him alot we will have a weak left back. WE HAVE to keep him not because he is the LB in the EPL which is true but if he leaves i will see Collo/Tiote/Nolan etc.. all leaving us and us not being able to replace like for like!
dave 1961
Feb 17, 2011 at 1:07 PM
Comment #56For the benefit of anyone who does not know how a private business owned by one man runs, the owner IE: Ashley can remove any money the business has, as simply as making a check out to himself, an electronic money transfer, or simply making a check payable to cash, the fact is Ashley has only ever removed £1.2m out of the club, yet he has put over £110m in, so by this the assumption is he has a plan, and is working towards this, and the only thing he’s getting from the club is the sports direct advertising, yes it did cost the club £35,000 to put up the signs but is this a lot for what he has put in, like most on hear I find what he does intolerable, but that’s because I don’t know what his plans are, if I did I might then be just as much in favour of what he has done, and the only part of the Shirley temple sale was we had not planned for it and at least started purchasing the most talented kids again.
Widowmaker
Feb 17, 2011 at 1:15 PM
Comment #57How can we blame him? Liverpool is no bigger than we do, but surely their board are a great deal more ambitious than ours. We have got better fans but that won’t win anything.
faustino
Feb 17, 2011 at 2:02 PM
Comment #58Read the quote, he mentions Liverpool, Man U and Villa and then says they are ‘both big clubs’. Basically referring to Man U and Liverpool.
The quote reeks of journalistic paraphrasing.
dave 1961
Feb 17, 2011 at 2:42 PM
Comment #59i will not say anything about this but
google bigmaq toolbar
no more links needed but not sure if it works outside uk, but cost you nothing to try
hadthetshirt
Feb 17, 2011 at 3:06 PM
Comment #60I will be more upset to lose Jose and Tiotte than Carrol,but what do we expect with Ashley.
The players have seen we are a selling club so what does that tell them.We have no ambition in the short term.If they go then good luck to them,will be another bad day at black rock though.
ps Ed love your blogs but can you do us a favour and delete all the numbty charva’s who come on and say 1st how old are they ffs.No doubt that will stir the keyboard warriors up and I will get what do you know about football,my dad’s harder than your dad etc or just be called a gobshite like someone last week that posted a lot of sense,only to be hammered because some charva didn’t agree with him.Shame they spoil a really good blog.
cheers
Tal_nufc4eva
Feb 17, 2011 at 3:50 PM
Comment #61excuse me jose. your forgetting this is the team where u play football week in week out, the team wher eu have stated soo many times you only want the best for this club and have said you dont want to move. and also we love you and sing for u everygame just remember that when or should i say IF someone comes for u in the summer. i thought the bad days were over for us long suffering toon fans but looking at this it looks like i guessed too soon! HAWAY THE LADS!
Oleg G
Feb 17, 2011 at 4:24 PM
Comment #62Well, he is gone if thats true.
Jose, Tiote, (Next season)HBA, Barton maybe as well, Colo and Jonas as well?
Anyone, as long as the club will not come and say that the focus is on European football next season, no one good will come and all good will leave. Our good players are showing some amazing qualities. A lot of clubs would love to take them. Now it depends on 5 things.
1. The wages we can offer our best players (as a club that is trying to achieve European football – like I said, only if those are our intentions they will want to stay).
2. Mike Ashley and his intentions. (To sell, or to become a better club).
3. The offers of the clubs to Newcastle (Money that cannot be refused) and the wages that they offer our players (70K-100K) + if they can offer European football.
4. the will of our players to stay. And their love for the club.
5. Where we will finish in the end of the season.
I do not believe that Jose said that. Why would he say it like that, no class, I don’t believe that.
And why now? he has the whole summer to talk (he doesn’t even need to talk, he is doing the best talking for his career on the pitch).
GeordieTwo
Feb 17, 2011 at 5:12 PM
Comment #63As for your point 1 Oleg G Ashley has already laid out the wage policy. There is no way we can hang on to Jose if he is after big wages, given the attitude of our owner. Ashley’s approach is crafty, bring along good young players like Carroll and Jose, watch their value rise, then sell for a huge profit while telling the supporters we couldn’t keep them because they wouldn’t accept our lowball wage offer. This will continue until Ashley has set aside enough money to offset the reduced value of the club when he sells. The summer will tell the tale. I hope I am wrong along with the many others who wouldn’t trust this owner as far as we could kick him.
max
Feb 17, 2011 at 6:04 PM
Comment #64please no.. but if he want to leave then we can buy armand traore. ex-arsenal left back..
doddsy
Feb 17, 2011 at 6:07 PM
Comment #65why does evry one say about selling our best PLAYERSS. ? who we sold. an over achiving andy carroll? tha 35 million even man utd would have snape there hand off for that leon best is doin just as good as a job but if he was solkd u wuld all be thinking goood he was crap but look at his record in the prem league? no that bad and look at carrolls 41 app 14 goals? that aint that good
and joey barton will sign new conract just reall gettin the time to do it
parag
Feb 17, 2011 at 6:30 PM
Comment #66The term ‘selling club’ is starting to get annoying. Our club is going through a major rebuilding process. If we happen to come by real gems we ARE NOT in a position to keep them. All we can hope is to keep good players for a couple years and have them do a job for us and move us forward. This management found these players and therefore they’ll find more. As we establish ourselves in this league we’ll be able to retain our better players. It’s just that we can’t at this moment. So can people stop usi g ‘selling club’ as some kind of derogatory term?
dunzer1990
Feb 17, 2011 at 8:15 PM
Comment #67We can’t keep coming out with statements that we are a selling club or trading club when the last few transfers of players out (aside from those who jumped ship after we got relegated) was Andy Carroll, Shay Given and Habib Beye and the latter two came in Jan 2009. Where is the evidence that we are a selling club?If we can find good players for cheap like Tiote why should we not keep trying to unearth these gems?And if we get offered crazy money for them why should we not accept it?Football is a business and I agree that to be profitable off the pitch you must be doing well on it. Ashley knows this and he won’t deliberately sell the likes of Jose, Tiote, Barton etc if it is going to seriously weaken the side and lose him money. If we sell Jose it will be because he wants to go and it seems as if he is subtly trying to soften the blow early for his eventual departure.
stuckdownsouth
Feb 18, 2011 at 12:57 AM
Comment #68Dunzer1990 we areva trading club, but I’m not saying it’s a bad thing!!!!! It’s just where we are on our rebuilding cycle (In Fairness you make the same point).
stestickle
Feb 18, 2011 at 1:54 AM
Comment #69sick of this selling club lark yes we sold Carroll for 35mill good deal and he wanted to leave if jose goes it cos he wants too and if in the summer are top players are sold that dont want to leave then yes we should labeled a selling club but we will have to just continue supporting the team and see what happens in the summer
Bao Zheng
Feb 18, 2011 at 2:52 AM
Comment #70Maybe he remembers all the whining ‘supporters’ on this web site who spent years telling him he was not good enough for the EPL and absolutely had to be sold. Come on Leon Best.
Gav00Toon
Feb 18, 2011 at 9:54 AM
Comment #71MA is running the club like a business and a football club under the average wage structure around the EPL cannot be ran that way. Is MA wrong not to pay huge wages and give the club financial stabuility?
Would we be in a better possition if we payed players wages like Man U and Liverpool and do the higher earners play any better for their club? I think not.
I dont agree with MA in many ways but the solid foundation to a club have been built and if under the current wage structure we trun out to econimically viable, MA must have us heading down the right path. Clubs like Man U cannot go on forever owing hundreds of millions for much longer, its only a matter of time befor all clubs will have to balance their books and once that happens all clubs will have to take the MA wage policy and if it does can you imagine how it will effect the players.
For now though we are heading in the right direction. 🙂
Michael12
Feb 18, 2011 at 2:59 PM
Comment #72Well said Gav00Toon. I have to agree with Ashley. Financial stability is the first objective. We are playing well this season and we are challenging the likes of Liverpool who have far out spend us.
We found and made him so we can found and make another. A player leaves and this opens up an opportunity for another who may well be better or offer a new dimension. I would rather have him sold abroad but certainly we should not accept anything less than £15m although our bargaining posture is somewhat dubious as he only has months left on his contract.