After Leon Best scored his great goal on Tuesday night, you could just tell he was absolutely delighted and he got a tremendous reception from the Newcastle fans behind the goal – and Leon was absolutely thrilled.
Leon Best – after scoring with great header on Tuesday
Newcastle’s Assistant manger John Carver, who we hope will sign a long-term contract with the club soon, has talked about Leon today:
“He hasn’t got a Shearer or Cole record at the moment, but he’s made a great start to Premier League life with five in seven at Newcastle and at this club.”
“It’s a starting point that can be built on and, if we keep creating the chances and he keeps taking them, it’s going to be great for him.” “He’s 24, and what a great age to be.”
“I was banging on Chris Hughton’s door to get Besty on loan this season because I rate him so highly.” “He didn’t want to come to Sheff United because he felt he’d been on loan already in his career and wanted to knuckle down and carve out a career.”
“It couldn’t have worked out better because now I’m working with him day-in day-out.”
Best has proved a few of his doubters wrong, including us, after his fantastic hat-trick against West Ham and his excellent second half performance against Arsenal.
He had a great game on Tuesday night, where he really looked the part in a black and white shirt, as he won header after header against the Birmingham defense, and scored with a great effort.
John Carver seems to understand Leon a bit as he continued:
“He’s very much his own man and doesn’t take much notice of what’s in the papers or what people will say – he’s very, very strong like that.” “He’s focused on his own game and he’s got a fresh start.” “He’s got a big opportunity for a young player and it’s a case of how far he takes it.”
“For all the strikers it is a massive opportunity now – especially Leon, Nile and Peter.” “I said to Besty what a big chance this is for him, and he knows that.” “He’s scored again against decent opposition on Tuesday.”
“I told him again last night ‘it’s in your hands’ in terms of establishing himself as a mainstay striker at Newcastle.”
Those are good words from John, and of course Leon will have to try to play his normal game too, because you can try too hard in games.
But it’s clear the 24 year-old knows he now has a massive opportunity to keep knocking those goals in this season, and if he can do that and help Newcastle to a great run-in to the season, he will become a big favorite on Tyneside.
And that’s always something worth striving for!
Comments welcome.
NUFC News 24/7
67 responses so far ↓
1 daneevz // Feb 17, 2011 at 1:29 PM
keep pluggin away he just needs bit mo experience but is youngish so potential to improve. been decent this season
2 GeordieGerman // Feb 17, 2011 at 1:32 PM
Hope by the end of the season to have at least 10 of the Best.
3 Geordiedoonsooth // Feb 17, 2011 at 1:34 PM
Hope scores a ton but I have my doubts. We need to spend wisely & well in the summer need CF, MF & LB. We may need 2 LB’s as I have a real bad feeling that Enrique will leave.
4 Doocey // Feb 17, 2011 at 1:40 PM
A big change in peoples opinions from a month ago or so.
I was one of few Newcastle United fans that said he could score goals for the club, and was good enough for the Premier League – funny what 5 goals in 6 games can do for public opinion eh?
I’m not having a dig at anyone here, but just glad that I was right about Leon, he can score goals for NUFC.
5 boater // Feb 17, 2011 at 1:43 PM
We could maybe finish 7th realistically, with Best or – more likely – Nolan pipping Carroll’s 11 tally.
If we can keep up this form, I can see a small cluster – liverpool, mackems, bolton and us. Only 2 points behind the mackems – surely that’s the aim to get above them.
6 aaronjd // Feb 17, 2011 at 2:06 PM
Speaking of John Carver, where is he on match days? I’m yet to spot him.
7 faustino // Feb 17, 2011 at 2:07 PM
This clearly underlines the issue of how important it is to have a strong long term coaching staff, as opposed to trophy signings.
A team made of up of players developed to be a great team is of far greater worth than a team of great players hastily thrown together.
8 stevep // Feb 17, 2011 at 2:19 PM
5 in 7 which should have been 6 but for a blind linesman – good return and he’s scored in every other game, tend to forget he’s only 24 and in his 1st season in the prem, could come really good for us if he can keep it up
9 Toon1978 // Feb 17, 2011 at 2:24 PM
Sometimes i feel as though Best struggles with his positional sense through the game and he lacks confidence when on the ball. There was a few times against Birmingham when he was on the ball where he could have taken it himself but he let the ball go to one of his own players like Barton for instance to easily. Rather then take the ball and look for a better option he releases the ball to his nearest team mate who then goes on to lose the ball. And there has been a few occasions where he has missed total sitters and there has also been occasions where he has been horrendous for most of the game only to pop up with a goal. Very Ameobi like lol. I do hope he bags us more goals and gets better and better. He is still a young player and has time on his side.
10 boater // Feb 17, 2011 at 2:26 PM
I was saying yesterday, Best’s scoring rate tells us how well the team is playing – and also how Carroll was slightly flattered by the goals to games ratio.
Barton said some really interesting stuff – any player coming into this dressing room has to fit in with the ethic and tactics of the overall side, meaning goals would be scored by pretty much any half-decent finisher in this team. It’s interchangeable in other words, and something that we’ve never really had.
We are no longer relying on individuals to turn a game in our favour. It’s exciting to think what would happen with a real top, top finisher with intelligent movement – but then again, maybe that’s the point, this system relies on the self-sacrifice you wouldn’t get from Bent or Defoe, etc.
11 liam85 // Feb 17, 2011 at 2:26 PM
Keep it up Best. We have faith in you!!!!
12 Malaysia-RASHID // Feb 17, 2011 at 2:27 PM
to me, i be honest, i trust him will score because i trust CH, CH make good buying like Best Williamson, Perch, wayne..
13 boater // Feb 17, 2011 at 2:33 PM
Toon1978 – True, Best is FAR from producing 90 mins of expert target man play. But he can play awful for 89 mins and get a goal for all I care.
He can only improve at 24, and if he scores whilst doing that then what price would it cost to find a replacement?
If he goes on to get even 3 or 4 more goals this season from 10 starts – that would put him on 9 in 17. More than 1 in 2 – and you’d have to pay min. 15mil for that in the summer from an incoming striker.
Wonder what he’s worth now? 3-4mil to someone like birmingham, west ham or stoke I reckon.
14 dave 1961 // Feb 17, 2011 at 2:43 PM
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15 ash1001 // Feb 17, 2011 at 2:46 PM
Yeh, all credit to Best, hes come into the team, not under the best of circumstances and hes done pretty good – long may it continue. But at the same time overall the situation is just bit worrying, the club come along and ask fro season ticket money by 28th Feb with 11 games to go WHY. it was May/June before MA took over, then you hear rumblings from the likes of Enrique and still no contract signing by Joey, and only words from DLl who we do not trust. Have hardly missed a match in the last 55years, but for the first time am wondering whether to renew,, love the toon dearly but am still asking myself whats going on. Does anyone else feel the same
16 crabby // Feb 17, 2011 at 2:51 PM
imo, BEST is improving and full of potential, has a lot of passion to play for us, i like him a lot. I wish him every best (and i wonder if he’ll score more goals than AC at the end of this season).
17 Preston_toon // Feb 17, 2011 at 3:05 PM
I swear CH will be like seeeeeeeee I told you so. No one believed me but look at him now
18 Toon1978 // Feb 17, 2011 at 3:06 PM
Boater
I agree mate, if he does nothing for 89 minutes and popped up with a goal every game i would be happy with that lol, after all he should have had two against Arsenal.
19 free giveaways // Feb 17, 2011 at 3:07 PM
Hope he carries on scoring. His confidence must be sky high.
20 hadthetshirt // Feb 17, 2011 at 3:10 PM
It’s good to hear the input JC is having.Hopefully that will be long term as Ed mentioned.Lets hope he gets the best out of the “Lone”Ranger too.
21 Zangwill_Ho // Feb 17, 2011 at 3:11 PM
Keep it up best!!!!!!best of the best hope u can do this!Best
22 free giveaways // Feb 17, 2011 at 3:17 PM
I’ve been reading some well informed north east based journalist’s views on twitter and it seems Jose is definitely going in the summer. The “wait until we’re safe” line is just a smokescreen and he definitely wants to go.
What are we ever going to achieve by selling our best players? Will we only have relegation battles and mid-table mediocrity to look forward to with Ashley?
23 Overseas Newcastle - Cheik out Tiotes back pocket // Feb 17, 2011 at 3:34 PM
a thnk beasty wil cme good to us lyke, he’s neee youknowwho, bt hs the potentiaoil to be beter thn him!
bt hey, wat do i knooo
24 dublin mag steve // Feb 17, 2011 at 3:38 PM
i wonder if im right in thinking that liverpool bought the striker with the 2nd best goal per game average at our club big andy had 11 for the season best has 5 already and he hasnt bursted any women or broke any of our players jaws in savage attacks kevin nolan even has an extra room in his gaffe. ok ok ok ok ok i know its early days but this could turn out to be a really really good deal for our club.
25 kakaobi // Feb 17, 2011 at 3:52 PM
Jose wants to leave he will not sign a new contact so we might as well get what we can for him, in 12 months time we’ll get nothing.
26 hadthetshirt // Feb 17, 2011 at 3:54 PM
@ dublin mag steve
I agree but the timing was so wrong,with no back up plan.No disrespect to Kuqi but we should have at least had a striker on loan even if number 9 had stayed.Ashley loves to gamble and that is probably the biggest one he took.Lets hope it doesn’t backfire.
As for Best nice to see him scoring,as none of our strikers could hit a barn door against blackburn.
27 Toon1978 // Feb 17, 2011 at 4:02 PM
Does not matter what any player is capable of, loyalty is worth a lot more. Not 12 months ago Enrique was spouting off how much he loved the North east now however he is spouting that he is looking for a move. Thats fair enough Mr Enrique, jog on pal because you are full of sh1te like 90% of the other Footballers around today. Enrique is not bigger than the club nobody is. Players heads are turned to easily and i would hate it if he went to Liverpool. They have already taken one of our best players, talk about rubbing salt into sore wounds. However if he where to leave i believe we could get around 15 to 18 million for him adding to the coffers in the summer window thats providing Cashley releases the money.
28 coolcatcarter89 // Feb 17, 2011 at 4:04 PM
C’mon Leon, another 2 or 3 in these home games! Let’s hope Bolton sustain more injuries or suspensions this weekend, particularly to the back 4, they’re already without 2 of their regular defense. Don’t mess with the Best, ‘cos the Best don’t mess!!
29 jimmymagpie // Feb 17, 2011 at 4:16 PM
I told you all on Monday on this site, that Enrique’s agent was already in talks with Liverpool regarding his move in the summer. Another badly kept secret, just like the Carroll business in January, which I told you about at the beginning of the transfer window. Hughton’s dismissal started Jose’s unrest, and when Carroll was sold that made his mind up. He’s as good as gone, so think about who replaces him. Barton also isn’t certain to stay, as he himself said today, pay peanuts and you get monkeys. He knows that the club won’t get top players in the summer because of the club’s lousy reputation, and the crap salary structure. Gervinho is also going to Liverpool in the close season, and the’ve already agreed a £10m fee. Liverpool are also trying to lumber us with waste of space Joe Cole as part of the Enrique deal, but the good news is he won’t come because of the crap wages on offer. All of the above is common knowledge within the game, so if you know anyone with connections, just ask them, and they will confirm what I’ve said.
30 dave 1961 // Feb 17, 2011 at 4:18 PM
Lads I have led you to water I’m sure you can drink yourselves.
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this is not a joke.
31 free giveaways // Feb 17, 2011 at 4:23 PM
Toon1978 ;
We’ll get nowhere near £15 – 18m for Jose. He’ll have one year left on his contract in the summer. We’ll probably get around £8m. If he’d had a long contract we might have been able to get £15.
Jose has no emotional attachment to the club, he’s from Valencia. The only players we could say were totally loyal to Newcastle over the last 10 years are Alan Shearer and Steven Taylor.
I’d like to see us get Patrick Van Aanholt in the summer.
32 Geordiedoonsooth // Feb 17, 2011 at 4:25 PM
If we sell Enrique for £15m it’s good biz as long as we use the money to get good replacements. No one is bigger than NUFC including Fat Ashley he may own the club but it belongs to the Geordies. One thing I’ll give him at least we didn’t lose £26m last year like the SMB’s
33 alkinou // Feb 17, 2011 at 4:26 PM
free giveaways
and what about Harper and Ameobi?
34 Geordiedoonsooth // Feb 17, 2011 at 4:27 PM
Van Aaholt would do me as a good replacement for Enrique
35 Geordiedoonsooth // Feb 17, 2011 at 4:27 PM
alkinou well said
36 free giveaways // Feb 17, 2011 at 4:28 PM
alkinou;
Yes sorry I forgot about Harper. Ameobi to a certain extent, although he was close to leaving a couple of times and nearly joined Stoke but I think an injury prevented him from signing for them.
37 Oleg G // Feb 17, 2011 at 4:31 PM
free giveaways // Feb 17, 2011 at 4:23 PM
1.5 Years is a long time. First, who knows what place we will finish next year (or even this one).
Second, who knows what kind of players will come in. Also, don’t forget that other teams will not wait for the end of the contract, if they need a player in his position and with his qualities, they are going to pay (specially the big clubs who like things being done their way).
I still cannot believe that he said those words in the article that Ed posted (is that true?), it sounded like he is dissing his own club, why would he do that? He is a class act I think, don’t see how he can say that, specially in the middle of the season.
Anyone, I think that 15M is totally possible.
38 magpie6699 // Feb 17, 2011 at 4:33 PM
free giveaways
What about Steve Harper?
And i take it you mean Steve ” I’m going if I don’t get a better contract” Taylor – he’s not been here long enough to be regarded as “totally loyal”.
39 free giveaways // Feb 17, 2011 at 4:39 PM
Oleg ;
He definitely said it to the Spanish media. If he hadn’t said it he would have come out and denied it today. No club will pay £15m for a player with one year left on his contract. You say a big club won’t wait, well look at the Charlie Adam situation, I’m sure he’ll end up at Liverpool.
magpie6699;
Yes I forgot to mention Harper. Taylor isn’t on massive money. His contract is within our wage structure. And he could have sat out his contract and got more money by joining a club on a bosman. Liverpool wanted to sign him. So i think he should be commended for his loyalty.
40 Overseas Newcastle - Cheik out Tiotes back pocket // Feb 17, 2011 at 4:50 PM
enrque w’on’t leve a thnk, daily sh!t r @ it agan i sy… is not even on the evning chronicle..
41 Burni // Feb 17, 2011 at 4:53 PM
Jimmymagpie, dont get me wrong bud, you called the carroll thing (well you didnt say he was away to liverpool) Im sure you basically said that carroll wasnt injured and he was sold anyway ( I think you mentioned harry redknapp iirc) well the fact is mate, I think you made a 50 50 decision and got it right coz yeah carroll went but he was/is injured. Dont get me wrong I know theres the possibility that this may happen and Id like to apologise if it does, but now this is just my opinion so dont go spittin ur dummy out like you did a while ago, I truly think that you are just making wild accusations.
Like I say though if ur right in the summer then I will apologise profusely until then though please stop saying stuff is for definite coz it brings me right down. You DO NOT know for certain whats happening unless you are either Enrique or Llambias or Ashley.
Like I said earlier Im not trying to get a reaction just giving my opinion on the way you go on. Sorry if I have offended you
42 Nufc-83 // Feb 17, 2011 at 5:04 PM
I believe we could get around 12 million for jose with a year left easy.
43 Toonboy_84 // Feb 17, 2011 at 5:05 PM
Back on topic…………
I’m really starting to warm to Besty. He could have easily given up an joined a championship team but seems to be reaping the rewards for being patient and getting his head down and working hard.
Nothing better than a player with something to prove. Long may his form continue. With the goals he’s scored already, I believe he’s repayed his transfer fee.
HWTL!!!!!!!!!!
44 Toonboy_84 // Feb 17, 2011 at 5:09 PM
http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/newcastle_utd/60729/shit-lookalikes-leon-best-drake.html
lol
45 Toonboy_84 // Feb 17, 2011 at 5:10 PM
http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/newcastle_utd/44675/shit-lookalikes-hatem-ben-arfa-laurent-robert.html
46 Nufc-83 // Feb 17, 2011 at 5:11 PM
Also i want to add i dont blame the lad if he does go to liverpool. They will be one of the biggest spenders in the summer to make sure they can challenge for the title again hes at the right age to go and play for a successful club which is not what we are and wont be for a good while. We are an improving team and im hoping if we spend money wisely in the summer which we have been doing in recent times we can get a number of very good players through the door. This means if we do we can start aiming to finish 6-8 then the season after imrpove again. Someone commented on here earlier we could challenge for the title if we got a few good players in this season well u are in dreamland and a joke tbh. trhe wage cap is the correct thing for us atm and i believe it is around 50k for a newly promoted side that is excellent. If we finish in a decent position this year increase it to 60 then continue like that untill if we ever challenge for the title then it should be at a level to get excellent players through the door.
47 free giveaways // Feb 17, 2011 at 5:22 PM
As good a player as he is, I would rather he left than Ben Arfa or Tiote. As long as we can get a good left back. Guillem Balague says we are looking at Jose Angel from Sporting Gijon, who he thinks has the potential to be better than Enrique. Him or Van Aanholt would do for me.
48 GeordieGerman // Feb 17, 2011 at 5:28 PM
Hope when we play Liverpool in April we can beat them again and make Enrique think again. If he however does go, well I’m a person who carries a grudge so I just hope we can finish above them next season.
Someone said in a comment before that we will never achieve anything as Ashley has a stupid wage structure and we won’t be able to attract any top players. I personally don’t think that we have a stupid wage structure. The other clubs are the ones who have a stupid wage structures and I’m sure that one day it will turn on them and kick them where it hurts.
49 BergenVikingToon85 // Feb 17, 2011 at 5:29 PM
who is Guillem Balague?
50 GeordieTwo // Feb 17, 2011 at 5:30 PM
jimmymagpie that sounds disastrous for us if true. Unfortunately I can see it all happening but if the owner lets the club slip down too far too fast he won’t be able to sell the club. Once he commits to complete asset stripping everyone will see it for what it is. He will make some short term money but never get his full value out so I am not sure he will let all the good players leave. I really don’t know how this will turn out but if we lose even 2 or 3 of the core players in the summer we will be hard pressed to stay out of the bottom 5 next season. Would Ashley really let this happen? I wish I knew, I have no faith in the man.
51 newcastle29 // Feb 17, 2011 at 5:31 PM
Dave1961
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52 BergenVikingToon85 // Feb 17, 2011 at 5:32 PM
i believe we need; CF(2), Wing(Left&Right squad pl.) CM, LB,RB and a superduper keeper.. 35 mill will do. wishfull
53 coolcatcarter89 // Feb 17, 2011 at 5:34 PM
If, I repeat if, Jose wants to leave there’s a certain Taiwo whose contract is up at the the end of the season, he’s just as athletic and strong as Jose, a similar age,with a thunderous strike to boot. Gain the 6 points in the upcoming home games, begin negotiations with Jose, if things aren’t looking promising, move early to snap Taiwo up. I’m not convinced one iota that he does want to leave, but that has to be the contingecy plan. You get say £12-15m for Jose, get a player with similar potential and attributes for free! Then we have bundles of dosh to spend, after a striker, my top target in the summer would be Chamberlain, he’s brilliant, was the best player on the pitch against Man U in the cup, oh yer, only 17 too!! The way he plays, he could learn a trick or two off Benny. There is reason for optimism at The Toon! Believe!
54 newcastle29 // Feb 17, 2011 at 5:42 PM
Shola has had his mask fitted!
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55 GeordieTwo // Feb 17, 2011 at 5:52 PM
Sounds great coolcatcarter89 if it works out that way! Hope for the best but prepare for the worst a wise man once said. I think Jose will leave in the summer but we will hang on to the rest of the squad. The only real question is will the owner spend realistically in the summer? In 3 years he has pegged out 10 million or more only once (for Colo), whereas I can think of at least 67 million coming in for the likes of Carroll, Milner, Given, N’Zogbia, and Bassong. Do you really believe he is sudddenly going to drastically change his transfer policy and compete for quality players when he has had such a huge net profit over the last 3 years. I realize we have also spent on Ben Arfa (6 million) and a few million for Perch, Best, Jonas, Enrique and Barton but the total comes to perhaps 22 or 23 million. Spending on Chamberlain or any other 17 year old is right up the owner’s alley but will not get us into Europe. We already have promising young players like Airey, what we need are significant buys of proven players in or around 25. Great teams aren’t built on a shoestring budget. This owner has no intention of building a great team.
56 GeordieGerman // Feb 17, 2011 at 5:52 PM
newcastle29, ROFL
57 GeordieGerman // Feb 17, 2011 at 6:03 PM
You mustn’t forget what ever we went through when we were relegated, for Ashley it must have been worse. I mean he was the one who was paying the wages of these Prima Donnas and sick notes. I can understand him wanting to bring in hungry players who want to prove something rather than players who think they have nothing to prove.
So I’ve got my padded clothes and crash helmet on now.
58 dave 1961 // Feb 17, 2011 at 6:09 PM
yes it seems good & it checked out on norton
59 coolcatcarter89 // Feb 17, 2011 at 6:10 PM
I’ve a friend who’s a season ticket holder at St Marys and he has told me, that the consensus among the fans down there is that Chamberlain totally eclipses Walcott when he was 17, being comfortable on the ball and more tactically aware of when to use his scintillating pace.
Back to Jose, I could only see him playing for Man U. Liverpool? Please, it’s still in the balance as to if we can finish above them, maybe pip them into a European spot
. Jose, Colo, Tiote, Barton and Gutierrez would walk into their first 11, maybe Simo too, they’re no better than us.
60 dave 1961 // Feb 17, 2011 at 6:12 PM
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61 dave 1961 // Feb 17, 2011 at 6:21 PM
Would be good if someone tries it from outside the uk. To see if it works.
62 Ezedoesit // Feb 17, 2011 at 6:30 PM
Lets not get ahead of ouselves. I doubt he’ll ever be a great.
Check out this funny video:
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63 dunzer1990 // Feb 17, 2011 at 8:24 PM
Anyone know where that lunatic ONLINE GUY is tonight??haha yeah ezedoesit i agree he may never be great but hey he can be a decent player that can knock in a decent amount of goals if we can combine that with a 20 goal a season man then you got the making of a real dangerous forward line…maybe Ranger is the 20 goal a season man and we’ve yet to unleash the talent who knows
64 The Power Ranger // Feb 17, 2011 at 8:49 PM
Jose Enrique has been our best player this season by a mile. Probably the best left back in the league as well. Don’t pretend you wouldn’t be annoyed if he was to leave, even if he wanted too. He is such a good player and i would be gutted if we couldn’t hold onto him. If Carroll is worth 35 mill, what is he worth? I would want at least 20 for him. Hopefully Jonas and Colo persuade him to stay. It would be shocking to see their bromance collapse!!
65 jimmymagpie // Feb 17, 2011 at 10:23 PM
Burni – no offence taken mate. I only pass on to you guys what my nephew tells me, and as some of you already know, he is in the game as a football agent, and has present and past NUFC players on his books. As I always say – don’t shoot the messenger! But I respect your opinion Burni, and as you said, let’s see in the summer.
66 Sav // Feb 17, 2011 at 11:55 PM
Jose can’t be sold until summer, by which time he’s only got one year left, so forget it making big profits. He cost 6 million and that’s about all you’ll get for him now. Its an insult coming out with this ‘I want to win things’ stuff in the middle of the season. You’re good Jose, but not that good. We’ve had to replace better and done it.
I really want to see us finish above ‘pool just to make Enrique eat his words and because I can’t stand Dogbreath.
67 sheznufc // Feb 18, 2011 at 12:08 AM
He has only said he is flattered at the moment. Who wouldn’t be flattered to have the likes of man united keeping tabs on you. If we get Europe he 100% won’t leave but I feel he wants to stay at the club, just look back at when he scored against forest last season, that was some emotions! He loves the toon but if we are not building then I can see him leaving bit as I feel we are building I think he will stay!
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