News today that the returning Shola Ameobi will captain Newcastle tonight in their first European group game in six seasons against Maritimo in Madeira, and of course the big striker has lots of experience of playing in Europe for Newcastle United.
Shola Ameobi – veteran striker will captain Newcastle tonight
Shola came through into the Newcastle first team when Bobby Robson was managing the club back in 2000, and Shola played in the Champions League for Newcastle in Bobby’s last two seasons as the Newcastle manager.
Shola has played in 41 games in total for Newcastle in European competition and has 12 goals, and we have to hope he can add to that tally tonight, after looking in good form in the last 10 minutes of the 2-2 at Goodison Park on Monday night, and setting up Demba Ba’s last minute equalizer.
The Nigerian-born striker turns 31 next month, and his younger brother, 20 year-old Sammy is also in the squad, and could well see some playing time tonight too.
This is what Shola had to say on the Newcastle web-site today:
“We’ve got a lot of games this year and the manager’s said he’s going to use the whole squad – which I think he has to, because we’re not that big a squad anyway.”
“And I’ll be looking to hopefully get a few more minutes in some shape or form on Thursday and hopefully help us get our European adventure off to a good start.”
“Obviously it’s something I was used to year in, year out when I first came into the team.” “So it’s great to be back and hopefully we can just go out there, learn as we go along and progress as far as we can.”
Newcastle need a positive result tonight to offset the rather shocking news this morning about Demba Ba, and a win would be great, but we suppose a draw would be OK too, but as Alan Pardew said at the end of the press conference in Madeira yesterday:
“We always come to win – we are Newcastle United.”
One thing Alan Pardew has been very quick to do at Newcastle, is embrace Newcastle’s great history, and in truth he does try to go out and win every game, unlike some previous managers in the past, who will remain nameless.
Maybe that quote by Alan should be on some kind of banner. 😀
A win would be terrific tonight.
Howay The Lads!!
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20 comments so far
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Sep 20, 2012 at 10:47 AM
Comment #1Knees bent, arms stretched, rah rah rah!
davybtoon
Sep 20, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Comment #2Gutted flying to turkey tonight so miss the whole match was looking forward to seeing the younger players get a game
pawl250
Sep 20, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Comment #3Look we are all jumping to conclusion. Ba hasnt said he wants to leave, his agent has. Ba during a post match interview said he was unhappy with not getting picked but it happens.
I think people need to calm down. Please show me a quote showing this guy “DEMANDED” 100k a week?
Please show me a quote where Ba himself said he wanted to leave?!
This is the same player saying dont listen to any news unless he says it himself as he only speaks for himself no one else. This was when all the rumors of leaving in the summer were flying about.
The lynch squad are looking for blood today, blaming the manager, chairman, the next door neighbour and Ba.
CALM DOWN! He cant go anywhere until January why upset players, or talk about something so far away!?
He said he was happy here and didnt want to leave the club. That was from him less than 7-8 weeks ago and that is good enough for me!
If I have to read the same Ba storyline for 3 months before the deadline opens AND then 1 month through the deadline it will make this blog very depressing!
People need to get a grip! Ed your not helping posting utter garbage on wage demands when Ba himself hasnt even said he wants to leave!
RANT OVER!
LGFUAD21
Sep 20, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Comment #4Come on Shola. He was in good form before his injury.
I think Campbell and Shola could do a shift partnered.
With our first team looking lackluster of late, I hope to see some good performances from the youngsters. And if they play well they should be given a spot in first team next game.
CisseIsALegend
Sep 20, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Comment #5I love Shola… <3
Slank
Sep 20, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Comment #6Nice to see Shola get the captaincy. I think he has got better as he has got older. He looks like he is very comfortable in himself and has come to terms with his ability, ambition, limitations and his place / pecking order in the team. Hope he does well.
jawballsaswallwell
Sep 20, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Comment #7Shola the anti Ba, go you good thing.
Actually, I still like Ba and will reserve my judgement
CisseIsALegend
Sep 20, 2012 at 11:01 AM
Comment #8Shola is definitely our most underrated player. He’s the mackem slayer, what more do you want from him
pawl250
Sep 20, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Comment #9My team for tonight –
————– Harper —————-
Tav — Willo — Perch — Santon
—————————————-
—– Bigi — Gosling — Anita —
—————————————-
Obertan — Shola — Marveaux
This is the easier team out of the 3 in the group. We should look to save our first team players as much as possible right now. We have Norwich 23rd Sunday, Man Utd 26th Wednesday Reading 29th Saturday then Bordeaux 4thThursday. That is 5 matches including tonights in 2 weeks!
We need to rest players as much as possible, especially key players.
I play Anita simply because he is our new boy, I feel he lacks in centre midfield perhaps this will allow him to adapt more to the team style of play. Personally against Norwich and other PL teams he will be my first choice RB. Santon only playing tonight as we dont really have another back up right now that is fit.
jawballsaswallwell
Sep 20, 2012 at 11:05 AM
Comment #10Anita is way too lightweight for a defensive midfield role in the Premiership, particularly as cover for Tiote who is such a physical presence. He is now the established right back, that was easy.
deeeeeeano
Sep 20, 2012 at 11:08 AM
Comment #11Pawl. Bang on, just posted summik similar on the last page. Ba hasn’t done a thing wrong, just said he wants to play.
LGFUAD21
Sep 20, 2012 at 11:08 AM
Comment #12Dont mean to be Debbie Downer. But our club truly did screw the pooch over the summer. Our squad is already being run ragged.
What happens if Santon gets injured? We are left with no one at FB
Tom4Nufc
Sep 20, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Comment #13LGFUAD21- There’s a few solution to that… Put Anita at left back (the position he’s most familiar with) and drop Perch/Tav at RB.
Or alternatively we could just put Ferguson at LB.
That’s the way I’d see it as Pards has said the youngsters have a big part to play this season!
cupiddstunt
Sep 20, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Comment #14numba9 @ # 21 from previous post
Really!
Is that the best you can offer?
If you are going to post as a negger then please try to post some worthwhile reasonably constructed negatives and not just dragging together some half remembered half heard ill founded ramblings from the past.
On the Ba thing why are so many getting the knee jerk about it?
I doubt AP said anything that was not pre-planned or just loose tongued, he has shown that he is a reasonable people manager so what makes you think this is not premeditated but has maybe been said to elicit a particular reaction?
LGFUAD21
Sep 20, 2012 at 11:18 AM
Comment #15jawballsaswallwell
You are not the first to say this but I disagree,
When Tiote comes back our strongest team would probably have to include Anita, Cabaye and, Tiote in the centre of the park.
Anita is not an out and out DM. He is a deep lying playmaker that can distribute balls all over the place when in form.
At the moment he needs time to adapt to the fast pace of the premier league but his low centre of gravity makes him strong on the ball.
To use Anita to effect we need the players around him other than Colo, Saylor and Willo to make themselves available to him.
Thats a huge flaw in our play? Our off the ball movement is near terrible. No one provides options. And it’s so easy to do the passing game.
I long for our players to develop the kind of relationship and partnership that Arsenal displayed against Southamption. They played beautifully.
Magpie from Lithuania
Sep 20, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Comment #16——————–Harper———————
Anita———Tav——-Willo——Santon
—————-Bigi——–Perch—————
Obertan———-Vukcic————Marveaux
———————Shola————————-
Interesting to see that abeid has played for u-21 at RB, maybe he will start there too. Also i think there is a chance to see gosling in the starting line up and both ameobi brothers playing some time together too.
Munster Mag
Sep 20, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Comment #17Lgfaud, i agree with the movement issue – we are very static and do play plenty of long balls, although thats not unreasonable given the monsters we have! I’m not worried about Ba, but expected this issue to arise and said so all last summer. Thats one of the reasons we will see planty of 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 . Sulk or not,. Ba is a great player and vital to us. He is also a more rounded player than Cisse…
89Norcal
Sep 20, 2012 at 11:24 AM
Comment #18I know some of us could care less, but I’m actually very excited about our Europa League campaign. Get to see what our subs and some reserve players are made of, and we’ll be a stronger team for it. Especially when you consider some of the clubs in this tournament: Tottenham, Inter, Liverpool (lol), Atletico Madrid, etc.
My prediction, Shola will be Europa League’s top goal scorer this season.
yorkymag
Sep 20, 2012 at 11:39 AM
Comment #19Anyone confirm the rumours I hear about the seriousness of mr ts injury,at least two months I have heard
NUFC_LEAZES END
Sep 20, 2012 at 12:24 PM
Comment #20@martoon
I don’t care if it’s rumours bout the money shit, everyone’s seen the way Ba takes a strop if he doesn’t start one f***ing game, u don’t see perchinio or anyone else at our club doing that, he’s only gonna disrupt the mood in the changing room. Yes I do call myself a supporter, a very loyal one aswell, been going to games since a was a toddler, I live and breath for football, wouldn’t change team if they got relegated to blue square premier.