There’s not too many players who take more abuse from the Geordie fans than a certain Shola Ameobi.
Shola Ameobi puts the ball home – look at the anticipation by Demba Ba
But in our match preview of the game on Saturday evening we had this to say about Shola:
“And we may even see Shola Ameobi in the second half tomorrow, and it would be a good time for Shola to show us that he’s a much better player than he’s been for the side over the last several games.”
“It would also be a great time to score his second goal of the season, and we know he’s adept at scoring goals against Sunderland, from his past history.”
Of course the good news is that Shola did score in the first minute of stoppage time, after he had come in for a seemingly overwhelmed Papiss Cisse, who hardly showed in the game at all.
Ameobi scored his seventh goal in the Tyne Wear fixture yesterday and saved the blushes of Newcastle fans – that’s for sure – it’s just a pity we couldn’t have scored a second goal for the win in stoppage time – that would have been terrific.
Not surprisingly Alan Pardew, who really likes Shola in any case, had high praise for the Nigerian-born striker today in the local press:
“I’m proud of him and he can be proud of himself.” “It wasn’t an easy finish by the way.
“He had to make sure he got a good connection and there wasn’t much to aim at.”
Newcastle were back to somewhere near their best in a good second half display, and now we will have to show that form in the final 11 league games of the season.
Pardew was pleased with the second half, although we still couldn’t get the two goals it took to win the game against a 10 man Sunderland side:
“Best we’ve played for a long while. Forget about the sending-off, even before that, we had 15 or 20 minutes where we were brilliant, and I knew something was going to give.”
“Demba’s contribution second half was more like it, that’s the best he’s been since coming back from Africa.” “His link-up play and some of the things he was doing in the box were excellent.”
The last time we were beaten by Sunderland at St. James’ Park was back in 2000, and Alan Shearer also missed a late penalty – so Demba Ba’s in good company.
That was back on Saturday, 18th November 2000, when Alan Shearer missed a penalty after 82 minutes when then goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen made a fantastic save to get the 2-1 win for Sunderland, who were then managed by Peter Reid.
Demba Ba needs to forget about the miss and just get on with it – and he should still be our penalty taker in the remaining games.
We want to see a lot more goals from Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse – hey – and Shola Ameobi too.
Let’s give the local boy some credit today – he put the ball away well, when it was so easy to miss.
And if you don’t think it was important, then think how you would feel today if Sunderland had won the game 1-0.
Comments welcome.
30 comments so far
Klatoon
Mar 5, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Comment #1It wasnt an easy finish but trust Laid-back Shola to make it seem so.
Beattie25
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:05 AM
Comment #2Truth be told Ryan Taylor when at LB balances out the defence much better due to simmos lack of adventure and ability! Santon will be world class but he is unfortunate to have Simmo on the opposite flank because it leaves our defensive line a diagonal shape and this needs to be rectified. A lot of people (including myself) have championed the inclusion of fergie at LB to compliment santon but I have a new idea.
Why not stick Raylor at LB and keep Simmo at RB so they can balance each other out with their defensive inablilties whilst Jenny comes in at RW and santon goes onto the LW.
Guti is an under performer for me recently and I would love to see santon given a go a LW opposite Benny. Thoughts?
veto
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:05 AM
Comment #3Shola = true local hero
AMEOBI
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Comment #4Ed, wow all I can say on the posts this morning, nice one
Oleg G,
Yeah its always interesting to see what others think about tactics and all erm no I can’t see Pardew playing the 4-3-3 would be amazed iif its different to a 4-4-2 though. Would like to see guthrie, cabaye and tiote play together to see how they work
Dannyo
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Comment #5@klatoon
Funny u should say laid back, as that was exactly what he was doing when he scored that goal 😛
Sambo from belgium
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:08 AM
Comment #6I’ve always liked shola. pity that his form is so unstable
gorgonzola
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Comment #7Beattie not bad idea in all honesty i can see Santon attacking most of the time why not try him out Lw i dont know if he can deliver the ball or dribble however…
cyprus
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Comment #8Ameobi,
(Shola, right?) the Arsenal game won’t be quite the breeze you predict I’m afraid, even though Liverpool totally outplayed them. They have a lot more than the couple of players you mention, tbh, I’d be thrilled with a draw. Prediction + hope (3-3! – They will score lots, just hope we can match them)
planbillytedbob
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:10 AM
Comment #9has there been much shola abuse since yesterday? (im looking at you brutooon) lol. ben arfa did in his 45 minute spell what iv been saying for ages. played it simple sometimes and didn’t overdo it trying on his own
cyprus
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Comment #10Beattie25,
Your underperformer has, statistically, the highest work rate in the PL. Couple that with his ability to breeze past players, his (very rare!) wonder goals, admiration by Maradonna and Messi, etc. and I think I’ll take their opinion over yours mate.
planbillytedbob
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Comment #11h looked twice the player he has been. does cisse get a chance against the gunners or is he dropped for hba or shola?
Graeme
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Comment #12Sholla gets grief for justifiable reasons.
Most games he wanders around like a sunday picknicker, rather than a proffessional footballer. His first touch is usually crap, his 2nd touch doesnt usually happen cos the 1st was so bad!!
As a striker – well, he just isnt; his record says it all. Other than against the scum he appears more interested in wandering about. He is one of the laziest, most frustrating players we have and in reality, should have been released many, many years ago.
BUT, he is the mackem slayer – he cant be all bad!!!
shearermania
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Comment #13think brutool is off to get an ameobi tattoo on his butt cheeks
planbillytedbob
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Comment #14im asking what you think pardew will do. not what you’d do btw
gorgonzola
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Comment #15Cyrpus
why? dont get me wrong…I like him but he is for sure having a dip in form and he is possibly getting a bit tired rest him for couple of games try a different LW….
also “with his ability to breeze past players,” not really true as of late…
Dannyo
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:18 AM
Comment #16Brutoon, if i remember correctly, bet against someone that Shola would not score again this season.
The consequense would we that the loser would leave the blog never to return.
Guess who lost?
Beattie25
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Comment #17Even the best players can be out of form Cyprus!
Your just being a 2 bit knob thinking you know everything about football because you read match magazine, collect panini stickers and crack one off over your barca shirt!
My opinion is as valid as anybodies and I will thank you to never question Antibes opinions again!
Dannyo
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:21 AM
Comment #18@planbilly
I expect Pardew to have the same exact setup against Arsenal as today, possibly, he might run with a 5 man instead.
He’ll be vary of the Tottenham result…
gorgonzola
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:26 AM
Comment #19“Your just being a 2 bit knob thinking you know everything about football because you read match magazine, collect panini stickers and crack one off over your barca shirt!”
AHHAHAHAHHAH!!!!!
martoon
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:41 AM
Comment #20Ed, I have to take issue with you about Ba being the penalty taker. In fact Shola is the nominated penalty taker – he said so in an interview after the game, but Ba picked the ball up when Shola was still lying on the ground.
solano
Mar 5, 2012 at 11:54 AM
Comment #21Where’s Brutoon? And what of JP from the Rock..who called Shola “a cancer at the club” back in the summer! 7 derby goals stuffs it to them… 😉
jimmymagpie
Mar 5, 2012 at 12:21 PM
Comment #22I’m not going to get involved with details of yesterday because as an NUFC supporter, some things pleased me, and some things most certainly didn’t, on and off the pitch. I just want to say as a former Class 1 referee myself, and somebody who doesn’t normally rate Mike Dean, I thought he did splendidly. You can always disagree with one or two decisions, as in every game, but overall, I thought he was blo-dy excellent in very difficult circumstances, and I am pleased that he was lauded by all the pundits in the media that I have heard.
jimmymagpie
Mar 5, 2012 at 12:23 PM
Comment #23Remember, Dean was the referee that give us a penalty at Stoke this season, in exactly the same way that he rightly penalised Williamson yesterday.
Cheik_n_Bake
Mar 5, 2012 at 12:27 PM
Comment #24f**king love you shola!
Nufc_rulzz_our_heart
Mar 5, 2012 at 4:09 PM
Comment #25A song for shola http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH-C8hT1syg
Readingmag
Mar 5, 2012 at 7:52 PM
Comment #26In Shola we trust
ogm
Mar 5, 2012 at 8:55 PM
Comment #27Shoal has always been a loyal servant to the club and he does a lot more than his on field duties.
Yes I’ll admit I’ve been frustrated with him at times, but he’s a hero for his efforts against the mackums.
Good on you Shola, keep doing what you doing and ignore the whingers.
We could have Messi playing for us and if he had a bad couple of games some of the morons would be booing him.
Brutooon
Mar 6, 2012 at 12:20 AM
Comment #28I LOVE SHOLA AMEOBI !!!!!!!!
Not a Legend (Yet) but he is my fav player for the last 48 hours!
Shola Ameobi for President !!!!!!!!!
Trent Toon
Mar 6, 2012 at 12:29 AM
Comment #29Give credit where credit is due!
Give shit to where shit is due!
Both statements apply to Shola Ameobi
Marcelinho_Bramble
Mar 6, 2012 at 2:34 AM
Comment #30Sh. Ameobi score the goal against mackems but i still never rate him. Watch the replay for his goal, even he himself didn’t expect to score that.
To describe Ameobi is like saying 2+2=5 for the last 11 seasons.