The BBC is reporting today that Newcastle’s hero on Saturday, Shola Ameobi, will not be going to the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) next month in Nigeria’s squad, and that’s according to his manager Alan Pardew.
Ameobi scored a fantastic winner against QPR
Shola was named in the provisional Nigerian squad only last week by manager Stephen Keshi – but the news is that Alan Pardew has said the 31 year-old striker will not be taking part in the tournament.
This is what Alan Pardew said today:
“Shola won’t be going. The national team manager knows the reasons, which I am keeping to myself.”
Shola picked up his first ever International cap when he came on for Nigeria in their 3-1 win over Venezuela in Miami last month, and he got rave reviews from Keshi after the game, and it was assumed he would be in the final squad and therefore miss up to six weeks playing for Newcastle while he was in South Africa for the AFCON.
But we also remember that Newcastle were not allowed to play Papiss Cisse in the next Premier League game, when the Tyneside club refused to allow him to travel to play for Senegal in a friendly match recently, because of a back injury, and we wonder if the law is on Alan’s side in preventing Shola from playing in South Africa?
Of course if Demba Ba leaves Newcastle next month, we will be very short of strikers, since we only have three experienced ones at the club at present, after we let both Leon Best and Peter Lovenkrands leave in the summer, and we could lose two if Ba leaves and Shola goes to the AFCON – although Newcastle are trying to bring Loic Remy into the club next month.
It’s OK for Alan to say Shola’s not going, but we believe the clubs have to release the players for the tournament, and remember what Senegal did after Cisse wasn’t released for a mere friendly game.
But of course the clubs pay the wages of these players, and we’ve had both Tim Krul and Fab Coloccini come back injured from playing in Internationals already this season.
This is a strange statement from the Newcastle manager, and we would expect he’s been in contact with the Nigerian Football Federations on this, and maybe he persuaded Keshi not to pick Shola in his final squad.
There’s also a possibility that Pardew knows that Demba Ba will be on his way in January, and that’s one of the reasons he wants Ameobi to stay at home and not play in the AFCON – and maybe that is reason enough?
There’s lots of questions about this story – to be sure.
What do you think?
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152 comments so far
croftus5678
Dec 24, 2012 at 6:45 PM
Comment #81@75
i personally think that is a good option either ba or cisse with shola but i prefere ba as he is more complete and rotate the 2 to try keep them happy.
better for shola aswell as he will get regular football which will be more apealing than international as if i remember right ameobi really wanted to play for england some years back and not nigeria anyways
Tsunki
Dec 24, 2012 at 6:46 PM
Comment #82Well I’ve fitted my last kitchen for a few weeks ha ha.
Tsunki
Dec 24, 2012 at 6:51 PM
Comment #83I know Shola will be gutted but I cant think of a player besides perhaps Saylor who would bite down for the sake of NUFC. Tugrags like Indian do my head in banging on about him but for me the lad is a proper Mag as well as a Mag player. In the end of the day he probably realises this is his swansong at the Toon so it wont be all bad, especially if he ends up helping us to a late season turnaround.
nick_9
Dec 24, 2012 at 6:52 PM
Comment #84Guys if Pardew has gone all cryptic wanting Shola to stay then its obvious there is a reason for this. We either aren’t signing someone so don’t have a third choice striker coming in whilst he is away or Ba is off so we need him. In all honesty I didn’t believe it until now but I think Ba could be off, I don’t think he is an arsenal type of player but he gets goal so you never know. I think his destination would be more like Liverpool or abroad but I’m starting to believe more and more that he is gone. Recent reports in France linking him to arsenal in the first week of January, that would explain why shola cannot leave. If Ba does go straight away it is obvious Pardew knew so I it takes us anther four weeks to sign a striker I will be pi55ed. I actually think 5 in midfield and 1 striker suits our players best but if we don’t have cover for cisse we are stuffed
eaststandgeordie1982
Dec 24, 2012 at 6:56 PM
Comment #85Tsunki
Where you from mate?
Tsunki
Dec 24, 2012 at 6:56 PM
Comment #86Dont worry nick – Obertan will cover for Cisse. Or HBA. Or Santon. Campbell will cover for them.
Tsunki
Dec 24, 2012 at 6:57 PM
Comment #87eastand – complicated to answer but I live in durham area.
Tsunki
Dec 24, 2012 at 6:59 PM
Comment #88I am also 6’1″ tall, slim with grey/green eyes…….
eaststandgeordie1982
Dec 24, 2012 at 6:59 PM
Comment #89Tsunki
If your a kitchen fitter do you have a tiler or plasterer that you use???
eaststandgeordie1982
Dec 24, 2012 at 7:01 PM
Comment #90Tsunki
Haha
Tsunki
Dec 24, 2012 at 7:02 PM
Comment #91ha ha no I am not really a kitchen fitter mate (its kind of a crap blog joke after a comment I made about doing that instead of watching a match) and I couldnt tile a scrabble board. I do know a plasterer though but I thought they were easy to get hold of? Where are you like?
Tsunki
Dec 24, 2012 at 7:04 PM
Comment #92gotta go for an hour sorry brb though.
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 24, 2012 at 7:05 PM
Comment #93Tsunki
Very true dont think indian magpie what shola has put his body through for the toon, like i said the lad has damaged his own career playing through injuries especially when sicknotes owen and martins were here!
By the way kudos on your catchy dustbin comment pretty fair assesment given the amount of rubbish he spouts!!
eaststandgeordie1982
Dec 24, 2012 at 7:06 PM
Comment #94Tsunki
Haha i didnt see that post, im over at seaton delaval im a tiler and plasterer mate just thought i could of got some graft.
thepict
Dec 24, 2012 at 7:24 PM
Comment #95A disgusting way to treat a loyal and professional player.
Graeme
Dec 24, 2012 at 7:24 PM
Comment #96Pardew and our Illustrious Owner have had 2 years to strengthen the team and last winter and summer, they failed miserably.
I am no great admirer of Shola, as a Striker, but he gives his all for NUFC and always has done. To deny Bambi his last hurrah, having been selected for his Country of Birth is despicable, beyond belief.
Pardwho and the Management should hang their heads in shame if they have coerced him into giving up his last chance to represent Nigeria at this stage in his life.
Penal Institution for Pardew
Dec 24, 2012 at 7:32 PM
Comment #97If i could take two big defeats for Pardew in exchange for him definately leaving i would take them, lets face it the defeats will happen anyway.
‘All i want for Xmas is Pardew Sacked, Pardew Sacked, Pardew Sacked’,
‘All i want for Xmas is Pardew sacked, and i wish you all a Merry Xmas.
Pound for Pardew
Dec 24, 2012 at 7:38 PM
Comment #98Waking up at 1oclock in the morning xmas day and being told to go back to bed as its too early, is too good for Pardew.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 24, 2012 at 7:54 PM
Comment #99I wonder if Dirk ‘hardball’ Dastardly has threatened young Sammi’s career if Shola doesn’t withdraw from the ACON, if you think I’m being over the top remember how ‘orrible we ‘ave been reminded he is….
GeordieoftheSouth
Dec 24, 2012 at 7:55 PM
Comment #100NFF spokesman Olajire: “The coach is not aware of this. We will do all within us to see that Shola Ameobi is released to us.”
Jail for Ashley
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:01 PM
Comment #101Bills,
Our best ever owner could have done a lot to minimize our possible relegation by spending some of that, AC, season ticket and Sky TV money on two or three more players last summer, then Pards might not have had to publicly state that he wanted Senegal to lose to the Ivory coast and losing Shola for a month would have been the last thing we were worried about sitting fourth or fifth top with Man U and Arsenal coming up.
ONLINE GUY
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:03 PM
Comment #102Ashley slavering all over Derek sez
“Can we not go down to that other nice oder /other.. league Derek, the one where we won lots of Game thingy’s Last time , And scored lots of doe’s goal things wiv the Wownd ball , slobber slaver , I liked it there Derwek “…
Cool Hand Luke
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:06 PM
Comment #103@ Jail. I do believe he was somewhat of an ‘orribww kant when on the blowaaah to the LFC chairman. Something about trying to mug him off in frant of his pals
ONLINE GUY
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:11 PM
Comment #104Ashley Slobbering all over Derek Sez ..
” I want that other league Dewek, The one that’s sideways ..Its not downward’s IS it Derwek ? ..I remenwer when we won against Gwimbsy twown, Twenty Eleventeen.” Slobber slaver .
breno95
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:20 PM
Comment #105Anyone out there know anything on the ST Ettienne CF the club have been linked with or have all been sent to bed early ready for Santa?
ONLINE GUY
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:24 PM
Comment #106Ashley sez to Derek slavering all over him
” d pwess and d supporters are saying dat I have made lot’s of mwistakes Dewek.. What’s a mwistake Dewek ? do day taste nice ? I want one I want one !! ”
(Jumping up and down)
Jail for Ashley
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:32 PM
Comment #107Breno,
As we have been linked with every available or possibly available French national that could maybe play for his country or ancestral home I’m finding it hard to keep up.
breno95
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:32 PM
Comment #108Looks as though all the kids have gone to bed – no wait online guy is still up posting utter shite. Get to bed little boy or Santa won’t leave you any toys….
ONLINE GUY
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:34 PM
Comment #109Breno , You had a humour by pass you Fu**ng Prick.
ONLINE GUY
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:36 PM
Comment #110bRENO 95 ? THAT THE YEAR YOU WERE BESTOWED ONTO THIS WORLD ? WHAT A SAD BAS**RD. YOU ARE.
breno95
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:37 PM
Comment #111With that retort you are asking if have no sense of humour.
Tosser
Jail for Ashley
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:39 PM
Comment #112Or bills,
Is the reason we’re not spending is because that 130 M interest free loan which after 45M in transfer profit is still 130 M, or is there something we’re not being told.
ONLINE GUY
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:40 PM
Comment #113bRENO SHAME YOU SAID THAT DICKHEAD COMMENT IN THE FIRST PLACE ..IF YOU HAD NOT THEN I WOULD NEVER EVER HAVE HAD TO RETORT TO YOU. ARE YOU RETARDED IN SOME SMALL WAY ?
IF SO, I FORGIVE YOU.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:41 PM
Comment #114Do they know it’s Christmas time at all 😀
breno95
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:41 PM
Comment #115Capital letters. Shouting down your keyboard. What a hard little man you must be online guy.
Dipshit
ONLINE GUY
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:41 PM
Comment #116Goodnight Breno, Merry Christmas son.
ONLINE GUY
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:42 PM
Comment #117Hey Im trying to get away Breno..please stop making nasty comments ..you start something and I cant really be bothered with you so just F off.
ONLINE GUY
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:43 PM
Comment #118Now now Breno ..F**k off son.
ONLINE GUY
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:45 PM
Comment #119Really though Breno ,,Merry Christmas and good will to all men .. Night son.
breno95
Dec 24, 2012 at 8:47 PM
Comment #120You forgot to put caps on divvy.
As for number 95 it maybe my birth year but one can only assume yours is 2005 making you just 7 years old judging by the content of your posts and reaction to comments.
Get to sleep little man or its no presents for you.