It’s been easy for us all to get enmeshed in Newcastle’s injuries this season with Ryan Taylor, Danny Simpson, Cheick Tiote, Fab Coloccini and now Tim Krul all injured in the first three weeks of the season.
We need Shola Ameobi back banging in the goals
But there’s some good news on the injury front too, with the two Ameobi bothers, Shane Ferguson and possibly Cheick Tiote all being fit for the game next Monday at Everton, and reports that James Perch is recovering nicely from his neck injury – so we could have as many as five players back for selection for the Everton game.
We know that Danny Simpson and Ryan Taylor will not make that game, and it could even be that Ryan is out for the season with his ACL injury, but Newcastle have not yet put any time estimate on his recovery yet.
One lad’s that’s really glad to be back in training is Sammy Ameobi, who has this to say in the Evening Chronicle today:
“This is an unprecedented opportunity for us younger players.” “With the players we’ve got now, they’re top young players that are coming through.” “I appreciate the fact the manager has put his faith in us since he took over and now it is up to us to start repaying him.”
“We have games to come where we will get chances that previously wouldn’t have come our way – and I can’t wait.” “The Ameobi family hasn’t been a great place to be!” “Luckily I’m back now and I don’t think Shola is very far away from being ready either so it will be great to have us both back.”
“It has been frustrating but I can see the end of it now.”
Ameobi has now fully recovered from the knee injury he picked up in early January, which put an end to his season, after he had looked so good for Newcastle during the first half of last term.
We also need Shola to come on and make an impact and score some goals, as we cannot rely on Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba to do everything up front this season either, and we still haven’t seen the two Senegal strikers combine well in a 4-4-2 formation.
Why we didn’t bring in another striker in the summer we have no idea, but given that we didn’t, why doesn’t Alan Pardew give 17 year-old Adam Campbell a chance – he’s looking great in the new Newcastle U21 side, and was simply unbelievable when he came on at Cardiff City in early August.
What do you think?
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135 comments so far
BelfastMagpie
Sep 10, 2012 at 6:45 PM
Comment #81I blame Ibiza toon for everything.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Sep 10, 2012 at 6:46 PM
Comment #82Super….I suppose we all said the same thing about Perch and I haven’t seen one poster that still feels the same way about him now. So once again I am happy to accept the coaching staff know a bit more than I….but only the tiniest ickle little bit, of course 🙂
beefman13
Sep 10, 2012 at 6:46 PM
Comment #83Ibiza thats the trouble with fans in general they wont give any time for players to settle, if they dont see what they want asap then they are a parcel, its not just toon fans of course that do it.
some of the worlds greatest players took time to settle in to the premiership, it took henry, bergkamp, nasri .ages to settle for the gooners yet they turned out as good as owt in the prem.
young tavernier got took to task for a bad first half in the europa league v atrimitos, but he will come on leaps and bounds for us in my opinion, and can play anywhere along the back four. he can be very valuable to our squad this season, a real good player in the making.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Sep 10, 2012 at 6:48 PM
Comment #84Belfast….Does that imply that I am responsible for everything?
jawball…..If people are used to doing something a certain way it can always be tricky to adapt….especially when the pressure is on
Super Magpie
Sep 10, 2012 at 6:49 PM
Comment #85Ibiza
Total opposite. If he tried to get them playing decent football then I blame the previous coaches before for playing the foresaken 4-4-2. 🙂
I commend him for trying something different.
But it was the way Everyone was told to play. The FA are meant to be changing the whole thing anyway so hopefully in 20 years time we’ll be the new Spain. 😀
Ian Toon
Sep 10, 2012 at 6:49 PM
Comment #86Ibiza- yes formations. It’s always a good alternative to doom and gloom alternatives-LOL. I don’t like to criticise our players( but I am going to) but Simpson is scary being pushed forward on an overlap
he doesn’t time his runs and often gets stranded up field. His one bick asset is pace but Tav is quicker I would say. Tav could play the role
given time – when I’ve watched him he’s been a clean tackler and doesn’t give away many free kicks . He’s not far away just needs to work on his defensive cover. Fergi also given a run of games and being fit could play in the system. Guess I am criticising Simpson-LOL.
Tsunki
Sep 10, 2012 at 6:53 PM
Comment #87Getting on players backs from the off has become more fashionable of late and I put it down to heightened expectation. Obertan is a prime example.
Harps is evidently working hard to claim no2 spot these days but I would still feel less like wearing those rubber kecks if he was between the sticks on monday night rather than Elliot. I have no doubt the lad is capable, but he really hasnt been tested properly in a string of full-blooded prem competitive matches has he? Yes I was one of those ‘I told you so’ regarding the Krul injury but only because I pointed out the obvious flaw in the plan of having only one fit recognised prem quality keeper on the books.
beefman13
Sep 10, 2012 at 6:53 PM
Comment #88Ian , fergie and tav are really highly thought of at the toon, again no hesitation from me if they were put in the team at any time, fergie is a class act as i have mentioned before hasnt put a foot wrong for us at any time (no tempting fate)
jawballsaswallwell
Sep 10, 2012 at 6:53 PM
Comment #89My story was less about the kids and my obviously suspect coaching ability and more about the problems of shape at any level.
The shape i wanted to play was really just about a lot of free movement but also the importance of keeping shape.
I think theres a lot more more to it than Pardew saying were playing 433 today lads, go to it
Ian Toon
Sep 10, 2012 at 6:54 PM
Comment #90Ibiza- Agree with you on Perch but not playing CM alongside Tiote.
Ian Toon
Sep 10, 2012 at 6:57 PM
Comment #91Beefman- Good to see that Fergi is getting some game time for country. Hope he comes through unscathed to put himself in contention for Everton.
Tsunki
Sep 10, 2012 at 6:57 PM
Comment #92Ian Toon – with you on simmo’s runs but you forgot to add the lack of any perceivable end product. Its not just the woeful attempts at crosses, but when he ends up in the last third he doesn’t know how to make one-touch or cutting run passes. However, I will say that I like simmo as a FB, when he stays a FB.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Sep 10, 2012 at 6:58 PM
Comment #93Ian…..Then we can no longer be friends. We had a good run 🙂 – I have high hopes for Tav and wont get carried away like a lot of people by his Europa display. He’s a young lad and needs time to get comfortable….fergie too.
Super…..Oh come on, let’s blame someone on the blog….far too civilised this evening. It’s good to see the FA making the right noises, let’s hope they get it right. Living in Spain you see lots of kids playing football and their ball control is insane when compared to kids back home. It’s no wonder why Spain wipe the floor with every other country. Not saying they’re perfect, as there is no such thing in football. No perfect tactics and no perfect players. I’m a big believer in the underdog and that hard work can produce wonders….but we could always make it a little easier on ourselves.
Beefman…Well fans are going to have to get used to it. We’re putting an emphasis on youth now, so people need to expect to give youth a chance. They will make mistake, sometimes costly ones, but they will improve and it will only benefit us long term.
Ian Toon
Sep 10, 2012 at 6:59 PM
Comment #94Tsunki- how do you ever get experience of playing Premiership football?
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:01 PM
Comment #95Do you guys not know how this works? I post, then you post and so on. There will be no other conversations or people jumping in. FFS, I’m the blog police now do as I say or….ermmm…..well……just don’t do it!
Disclaimer – Joking 😉
Disclaimer for my disclaimer – A little
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:02 PM
Comment #96*Raises Hand* I know, I know, I know….Ian, Ian, Ian, pick me, pleeeaaasseee
Tsunki
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:03 PM
Comment #97Again on Tav’s display against Atromitos, I know I dubbed them ‘Atrocious’ but in all seriousness they weren’t a terrible side and definitely a step up from sides Tav had faced before. It will be games like this that will accelerate his progress.
Likewise with Fergie, playing at international level against almost any opposition is a real step up for the lad and should give us a good idea of what he is really made of. I expect him to do well, and we will very soon have choices at FB positions with these two. Looking at the bigger picture, maybe this is how the coaching staff at NUFC saw this season panning out?
Tsunki
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:05 PM
Comment #98Ian Toon – the same way Krul did, possibly. He put in a great display in a euro tie years ago then…..waited. Are you saying we should throw Elliot in on Monday ahead of Harps to give him experience? Harps aint no zimmer-frame candidate just yet.
Tsunki
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:06 PM
Comment #99Ibiza -SIT DOWN BOY!
beefman13
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:07 PM
Comment #100Ibiza, thing is the youth at our club is well rated, bigi, fergie, sammy, vuci, tavernier, campbell, good, a young lad who is a monster in training paul dummett, has went out on loan for now but has a ankle problem but 100 per cent commited and tackles as tough as anyone at the club.
seen and watched them all since they came ibiza, i may seem overly positive but believe me if i wasnt sure of a player i would say so.
Ian Toon
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:08 PM
Comment #101Tsunki- I wouldn’t disagree with your fundamental point. When it comes to full back play Simpson is the past and Santon very much the
all encompassing future in a 4-2-3-1 system.
Ian Toon
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:10 PM
Comment #102Tsunki- The point is your saying you wouldn’t be comfortable him playing in the Premiership. Cometh the hour.
Tsunki
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:14 PM
Comment #103Ian Toon – I agree on that. Santon still has some edges to polish but Simmo’s time is diminishing. I hope the fans appreciate though what a good servant he has been, and that none of the ‘championship quality’ stuff rings out when he does go. I am also in favour of a dedicated solo striker with a formidable and interchangeable attacking midfield but as someone has pointed out, much as in the case of Ba and Cisse up top, Cabaye and HBA seem to favour the same areas. Maybe I am being paranoid?
Ian Toon
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:14 PM
Comment #104Tsunki- I am happy for Pardew to make the right decision. This would be based on his knowledge day to day. Alnwick looked good at Berwick but might be too soon
Tsunki
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:17 PM
Comment #105Ian – on Elliot, in time I would hope he was a good enough understudy to make Krul look over his shoulder, but was he bought with that eventuality in mind? Maybe he will play regularly in the prem, but I would have to say I would have liked him playing in more Euro matches and cup games before chucking him straight into first team. Having said that if we have no choice…..
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:17 PM
Comment #106Tsunki…..Can I join the class again now? I’m bored on the naughty step
Super Magpie
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:19 PM
Comment #107Ibiza
It’s your fault everyone’s getting along. Now F off. 🙂
Ian Toon
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:21 PM
Comment #108Beefman- Abeid is he going out on loan. Read somewhere today that he might go to a German club. When you watch Bigi you can see he’s
battle hardened from playing a full season at Coventry. Have to say I thought Abeid would be a regular sub by now.
Super Magpie
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:22 PM
Comment #109Ibiza
It’s your fault everyone’s getting along, it’s time this ended and Normal service is resumed. So F%ck off. 🙂
Super Magpie
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:26 PM
Comment #110That’s strange, The blogs playing tricks on me again by saying I haven’t posted making me do it again. Also it changed F%ck into an F.
😳 😳 😳
leavemyarselona
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:29 PM
Comment #111Ian toon i wouldnt want him to go to a german club he needs english soil experience best of in the championship on loan be better i think
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:30 PM
Comment #112I gave myself another 10 minutes as I was still feeling a little naughty. However I am now ready to come back and behave.
*Pulls Super Magpies Hair*
So, what now?
Ian Toon
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:35 PM
Comment #113Tsunki- the chances are that if Krul isn’t fit then Harper as the current custodian in Europa will play.
jesperfuglsang
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:35 PM
Comment #114“You might be wrong cause you know I’m right
If you lose your way you just follow mine
I better leave, I better leave
I better not” 😉
…so how are we doing this afternoon? alrighty then 😉
jesperfuglsang
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:37 PM
Comment #115Ibiza…are you naughty again? 😉
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:38 PM
Comment #116Listening now Jesper….Sorry, bit late with my homework
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:39 PM
Comment #117Jesper….Do you need to ask? So, Blue Van….which album would you recommend? I had Dear Prudence…not sure where it ended up tbh
Ian Toon
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:40 PM
Comment #118Ibiza- you really are the conductor of the orchestra . Poetry in motion .
Ed is getting good value for the commission he’s paying you. Pity we
can’t clone you for when your not around. Enough of this drivel.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:41 PM
Comment #119Was independence one of their songs of that album?
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Sep 10, 2012 at 7:44 PM
Comment #120Ian….I assure you it’s not appreciated by a fair few…as has been voiced time to time 🙂 But I’m pleased I’m not just a total nuisance for everyone.
Jesper…..*off that album – Yes, I’m hanging my head in shame