Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has said some good things about Leon Best today, after the 25 year-old signed on at Blackburn Rovers for a fee reported to be around £3M.
Leon Best – scores the winner against QPR last season
We thought Leon Best was a decent player for Newcastle, and he really stepped up to the plate brilliantly for Newcastle after Andy Carroll left for Liverpool.
In those first four months of 2011, Leon scored a great 6 goals in 12 appearances for the Magpies, in our first season back in the top flight, and that ensured we remained out of any relegation trouble that season.
So we’ll always thank Leon for that, and we have a feeling he’ll do just great at Blackburn – we hope he does in any case.
Alan Pardew is nothing if not a straight arrow, and the Newcastle manager has admitted that it was best for Best to leave Newcastle (sorry about that one), for the sake of his career.
Alan Pardew had this to say to the Shields Gazette today.
“Leon did a great job for me.” “But the thing about Leon is that he needed regular first-team football.” “You can only play a role where you’re in and out of the team for so long.”
“I felt it was right for him, and everybody concerned, that he moved on.” “He’s found himself a club where he’ll be playing in the first team, and we all wish him the best of luck.”
Best worked with Blackburn manager Steve Kean at his former club Coventry, so that should help, and there are reports that Rovers are paying him handsomely on a four year deal at Ewood Park, so that gives the lad some security and stability.
We know some Blackburn fans think £3M is probably a little too much to pay, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and we’ll just have to wait and see how Leon does for them next season.
And Blackburn seemed determined to come straight back up, and they have also signed Danny Murphy and Nuno Gomes from Fulham, so we wish the club, who won the Premier League in 1995, all the best for the coming season.
Leon is a great gut too, and he says he’s loved his time on Tyneside:
“I loved my time at Newcastle, but there was also a lot of disappointment there.” “Last season, I got a lot of assists alongside Demba Ba, and a few goals myself.
“No matter what you do, you still find yourself sitting on the bench.” “I love playing games, and when you are sat on the bench, it’s not nice. I’ve never had a good run.”
“Either injuries have hit, other strikers have come in or the boss hasn’t given me a chance.”
We’ll be following Leon and Blackburn next season, and for the sake of the great Blackburn fans, we really hope they can come straight back up – that’s the least they deserve after the trials and tribulations of the last 18 months..
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90 comments so far
ToonDownSouth
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Comment #1The Debuchy rubbish all has shades of Gervinho last summer.
I say we stop talking about him. It’ll make it less painful when he doesn’t join.
Toonboy_84
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Comment #2Howay besty. Good luck old bean.
ilovetoon8788
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:25 AM
Comment #3he was the 1 scoring for us when our strikers were injured etc. Always liked him as i think with a good run in the first team he might just turn out to be a quality striker. Won’t bet against him scoring 30 goals in the championship.
Robbanufc
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:27 AM
Comment #4Best is MINT! Best of luck to you!
LGFUAD21
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:27 AM
Comment #5ON the Hoilett news as I said earlier I think it is a mistake.
Im sure we could have struck up a contract that started on about £40k/week rising to £50k if he had a good first season.
Personally would have just given it to him. For a £5m signing (comp fee).
The lad has bags of talent for a 21 year old. And its not as someone said earlier just because he was in a sh!t team he looked good. He genuinely had the ability to get at defenders. I think he could be perfect to play in the hole.
Debuchy-Colo-Saylor-Santon
———Tiote —–Cabaye
HBA———Hoilett—–Marveaux
————–Cisse/Ba
Now that is a team with real potential.
anyone think Jonas could do a job in the hole? He’s played there a few times. He can play a good pass. And his crossing is w@nk but there were times in the championship he showed he can have a right shot on him. Plus. Extra protection for Benny from a roaming role in that position.
LGFUAD21
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:28 AM
Comment #6ToonDownSouth
You may be correct. Myself included we seem to have been convinced we are signing him.
Weird that we’ve not heard about much in the way of other RBs we are looking at
Hatem
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Comment #7TDS, don’t remind me.
Good luck Besty, helped us through a lot of hard times, got the winner against QPR when Ba was away, and also two great finishes against Fulham, thanks for the dedication. Now we need another striker a full back and a centre half, not holding out for any though tbh
Hatem
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Comment #8Also on the subject of Best, does anyone think he sorta plays like a Sunday League player, the way he shoots etc. So unorthodox on the pitch.
Hatem's better than Messi
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:35 AM
Comment #9@Toonboy_84
old bean …?
You’ve either been reading old Biggles books or you went to Eton in the 1920’s.
LGFUAD21
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Comment #10TBH guys. We were right to pass on Gervinho and there was talk that we couldve actually got him but turned him down in the end.
Good luck to Best. Hope this move signals that we are on the up. I think he will bang them in in the champ and come back to the prem a new Besty I reckon.
Back to Hoilett, love his ability but actually wanna slap him and his dad. I hate footballers. no justice with 21 year olds making demands like that (though i said he’s worth it). Football worldwide needs an overhaul and a reconfiguring of the economics. More Corporate Social Responsibility should be done.
It comes to a point when you shouldnt be baning for money you dont need.
09nufc09
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Comment #11Lgfuad… Last season a few days before we signed demba ba the chronicle and the journal both reported that we had no intention of signing ba because he was too expensive and had bad knee, few days later he was standing in sjp with a newcastle top. They know as much as us because we dont leak info to the press anymore, if a tranfer target gets out its normally the other club thats leaked it, look at tiote, cisse, marveaux none of them were reported until they were signed.
LGFUAD21
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Comment #12Hatem
Agree kind of.
remember Pardew saying he was the best finisher at the club.
toonarmydownsouth
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:39 AM
Comment #13Ha its offical gyan has fcuked off from rhe unwashed
LGFUAD21
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:41 AM
Comment #1409nufc09
You give me hope dude.
We were linked with Cisse before (and I always hoped we would sign him not Maiga)
I remember a Cabaye link that seemed pretty reliable. Called the Cabaye signing and had watched him a bit at the end of Lille’s seaon. Friends were like “how did you call that?”
We were also linked to Ba quite a bit before season ended but you’re right it was quite before he signed. I never expected it. Was really happy when he did though. Always knew he could do a great job here.
Fingers crossed we can pull off Debuchy. The link is genuine it’s just whether we can convince him. Apparently he’s only valued at £6m and Lille said they would let him go out of respect for the service he has done. I’ve heard that Manure are more interested in Clyne than Debuchy.
Ketsbaia9
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:41 AM
Comment #15Think we might have made a mistake here. We should have got rid of Shola Ameobi instead. I also hoping that we get rid of Simpson and Williamson and also Dan Gosling on either a loan or permanent basis.
LGFUAD21
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:43 AM
Comment #1613toonarmydownsouth
Good news in terms of Mackems loosing their one good player.
But for Gyan it is a terrible move motivated by nothing but money. He’s a decent player in his prime (always felt he could do better with proper service) but he’d rather go to some joke league for money.
#noambition
Dannyo
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:43 AM
Comment #17In the 2nd half of the season, Best performed even a bit worse than Ba when he was subbed in on the left hand side in a 4-3-3.
And Shola had had numerous subs where he looked quite lively and was a force to be reckoned with.
Cisse is a no brainer.
Sorry Best, u had that kind of a season due to injuries and being a number 4 striker at the end of the season due to performance.
It’s just how it is. Still like the guy tho, and should we face Blackburn in a cup, i’d applaud Best if he played.
True pro.
obatoyou
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:45 AM
Comment #18We better come first next season swear 2 god, im gonna so pissed off u owe me.
Hatem's better than Messi
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:47 AM
Comment #19Besty showed flashes of brilliance, quick feet and some good goals.
But as I read in another article yesterday. He was born offside and 9/10 couldn’t hit a barn door from five yards.
toonarmydownsouth
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:48 AM
Comment #20LGFUAD21
Oh aye gyans a greedy git as you just funny cos its tge mackems
LGFUAD21
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:49 AM
Comment #21Ketsbaia9
Aye. Then brought in Goodwillie. I also think we should go in for David McGoldrick from Nottingham Forest. He’s got backs of potential. Reckon he could get a good 15 goals in the Prem.
I think we should sell every player over the age of 25 because experience means nothing in football these days. Who would want a long serving player that is fully behind the team, great behind the scenes at advising younger players and motivating the squad keeping morale up.
Mark29Hungary
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:49 AM
Comment #22@LGFUAD21
If the Debuchy buisness will not work:
________Krul
Santon, Saylor, Colo, Jonas
Cabaye, Tioté, Marveaux
HBA____Cissé___Ba
Last season Jonas was a buit slow as a winger, but he’s enough fast as a right/left back.
LGFUAD21
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:52 AM
Comment #23toonarmydownsouth
Definitely. They arent even signing anyone half decent. O’Neil will resign this season or be sacked when they are fighting for life at the bottom.
KARMA IS A BEAUTIFUL THING.
BTW what the feck was that mackem doing on here yesterday Ronaldo7?????
There’s going on other teams blogs for a spy on what their saying. Hell even going on a posting Kets like silly posts for fun of it. But to come on a blog unsublte like. What a keyboard warrior? Bet that made up for being a eunuch or something
Hatem
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:54 AM
Comment #24better than Messi-
The goal against QPR really show cased his talent, his feet looked like Hatem’s for those few seconds and the finish was calm. I really hope he does well, because he’s got the confidence to perform, and he always puts in a shift
LGFUAD21
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:56 AM
Comment #25Hatem’s better than Messi
I think most of our strikers were born offside in the past. It’s like Fifa when the AI moves your player all into offside positions and then you have Benny just like “WHAT THE FUDGE, IMA HAVE TO DO THIS ONE MESEF LYK”
Mark29Hungary
I think Jonas can do a good shift as a LB. He is an asset he is Spiderman.
studsy
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:56 AM
Comment #26Afternoon lads! Been some rumours brewing around on twitter over the past hour that newcastle are set to announce at least one new player by 1pm today…
Just rumours, but I’ll keep my eyes peeled on the club site.
josh
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:56 AM
Comment #27Ketabia just shit the f*** up you whiney dingbat. You really are a negative leach clinging on to the anus of humanity. Your opinion is worth jack s*** to 99.9% of the people on this blog. Your a total, total tool my friend. Give it a rest please every time I see you have posted my eyes have an epileptic fit.
josh
Jul 6, 2012 at 11:58 AM
Comment #28Shut*
Hatem's better than Messi
Jul 6, 2012 at 12:01 PM
Comment #29Off topic: I hope the club has a quick rethink and lets Cisse play in the Olympics.
Banning him is hardly in the Olympic spirit and he’ll only miss friendlies.
studsy
Jul 6, 2012 at 12:01 PM
Comment #30Lol josh, you try to be all civil and use **** instead of swearing and then that happens!
toonarmydownsouth
Jul 6, 2012 at 12:02 PM
Comment #31*sigh*
My fellow bloggers i have an apology to make ketsbia9
Ive given the lad a hard time lately but truth be told im jealous
I wish i could speak as much sense as he but that is impossible and pribably the main reason pardew carr ashley llambas and charney listen to his every word on tender hooks
I’ve seen the light, just as the NUFC board and our very own ED have
Maybe one day the club will start making signings and scout players soley on my suggestion and hey ed might even start writing articles inspired by my humble posts.
Until that day i shall merely embrace the font of all knowledge and eagerly await our star signings of kirkland bramble scharner and every RB in the league as they are all better than simpson.
Hatem
Jul 6, 2012 at 12:03 PM
Comment #32josh, don’t like to hand out advice, but if you ignore his posts he WILL go away. Same has happened in the past with many a’ mackem. So just don’t rise to it, he’s a wind up merchant.
09nufc09
Jul 6, 2012 at 12:05 PM
Comment #33Lgfuad… Cisse was linked on the last day on the summer tranfer market last year then in the january the local press reported after maiga failed his medical that we had no intention of signing a striker and would carry on with ba, best and ameobi. Then cisse turned up atthe training ground.
Im hopeful of debuchy happening because they were right with cabaye and hes coming from the same club. Wouldnt be suprised if we signed someone that we havent been linked with tho.
Jay K
Jul 6, 2012 at 12:06 PM
Comment #34Club photographer enters with bag and camera in hand. While Simmo leaves with bag and coat
Hatem's better than Messi
Jul 6, 2012 at 12:09 PM
Comment #35@Jay K
Is Cabaye there still?
Perhaps Debuchy is getting a medical?
nufc786
Jul 6, 2012 at 12:12 PM
Comment #36http://www.eatsleepsport.com/Chelsea/Blues-and-Magpies-keen-on-Spanish-defender–1443454.html
Cesar Azpilacueta
ToonDownSouth
Jul 6, 2012 at 12:13 PM
Comment #37Any talk of a medical today is obviously for Bigirimana….
Please stop any talk of a certain French RB.
LGFUAD21
Jul 6, 2012 at 12:13 PM
Comment #38josh
You tell him.
Im like a 12 year old girl right now and this is shaping up to be a real Twilight scenario.
Team Josh all the way.
Back to Spiderman (well actually it was only me talking about him in first place). He reminds me of a friend of mine who goes by the nickname of Sketchy from our skater days. Whenever he played football he used to occasionally pull of these ridiculous tricks to beat people. We’d ask him how he did it and he would always say he hadnt a clue. He could never reproduce the same trick. It was magical.
Jonas is a bit like that offensively in that every time he beats a man its like he doesnt even know how he’s doing it. No control over his legs.
toonarmydownsouth
Jul 6, 2012 at 12:14 PM
Comment #39Nufc786 that lad is quality
nufc786
Jul 6, 2012 at 12:17 PM
Comment #40toonarmydownsouth and we are linked with him out of the blue……