As we expected, things are heating up over Shola Ameobi’s availability for the African Cup of Nations next month – after Alan Pardew said he would not be going to South Africa for the tournament.
Shola Ameobi – battle going over this player
The latest news is that the Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi spoke to the player last night, and apparently there is a clause in Shola’s contract which complicates things.
This is what Keshi told MTNFootball:
“I spoke with Shola Ameobi last night and he said his coach did not speak with him even before going to the press.” “But apparently, there is a clause he signed in his contract two years ago that he would not dump the team for the Nations Cup. And that is what his coach is holding on to right now.”
“But Shola has said he would speak with the coach after their game today (Wednesday) against Manchester United and get back to me.” “I must confess that with this latest revelation from Shola we are in a tight corner more so that the club is uncertain of the future of Demba Ba.”
Nigeria Football Federation board member Chris Green says that Nigeria will take all the steps they can to ensure that Shola Ameobi is in South Africa next month, and Green had this to say to the BBC:
“These clubs are not only disrespecting Nigeria but FIFA and CAF (Confederation of African Football) as well.” “The rules are clear on international games approved by FIFA so we consider these comments (by Newcastle and Millwall) as not only ridiculous but totally disrespectful.
“We know the rules. FIFA has made it clear that these clubs will not be able to use these players for the duration of the Nations Cup plus an additional five days.
“We will further push for additional sanctions – we understand these clubs employ our players but they are also international footballers. Rules are rules. Newcastle and Millwall must understand the basics why they exist.”
Milwall is mentioned there because Danny Shittu’s club are also resisting their player participating in the tournament.
On Newcastle’s side of things the AFCON takes place every two years, and because they have changed from an even year to odd years – this is the third AFCON in four years, and the second in successive years.
Given that the tournament comes right in the middle of the European football season, this is a terrible thing for clubs to have to manage for.
That’s the case for all European clubs with top African players and the least the African Nations should do is to have this tournament only every four years – as happens with the European Championships.
But Newcastle are unlikely to win this one.
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238 comments so far
DarloGeordie
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:02 PM
Comment #1Well played lads was great to watch in a bar full of the Manc firm….
Shola should be allowed to play for his country and mike Ashley should basically keel over and die
Goodnight from bangkok
roshan MAGPIE
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:05 PM
Comment #2any update on anita
Ketsbaia9
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:05 PM
Comment #3Let him go and sign Remy. Do not sell Marveaux.
mattyNUFC
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:06 PM
Comment #4nigerian FA is completely right and just here with their comments
Novocastrian66
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:06 PM
Comment #5Will the FA sort that prick out? I won’t hold my breath. Would like to know about his thoughts about that tackle on Anita.
The man is an embarrassment. Will the FA stand up to him? It’s gone on too long. What he did before the start of the second half was premeditated and not a spur if the moment reaction. He should be banned for 6 games in my opinion.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:06 PM
Comment #6Catchy
You are a treacherous bastard .
mattyNUFC
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:08 PM
Comment #7mister tuff, last thread
on sammy – sorry, but there is no excuse. there’s no second gear from him and it was shameful while the rest of our lot were immense. He won’t cut it at this level anyway. waste of a spot on the bench
toonLYF
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:09 PM
Comment #8FFS!
The whole world of football is out to get us this season.
hotdog
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:09 PM
Comment #9Jasper – Hopefully not but when the tackle went in i didnt jump out of my seat wanting blood. How many did? or was it when the stretcher went on!
I admire the postive outlook from the posts on here, there were plenty with Bigi Marveaux and Cisse finish. However we really need to wake up and not settle for second best or we always will be. I will hopefully have time to see us win something but my father and his mates aint got forever and they are even more fuming than me with our shocking defensive buys over the years.
fray bentos
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:09 PM
Comment #10@kets
I don’t understand why you continue to post on here? nobody takes you seriously or actually listens to anything you say
Im sure you said Marveaux was better than David Silva the other day, now your saying we have better players than Man U, come on mate, give it a rest
greg
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:11 PM
Comment #11Danny Simpson is the worst player in the game!!!!!!!!!!!
Cross the ball to the crowd
Cover the offside
Mispass
Replace him in Jan please !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Grafton83
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:11 PM
Comment #12I thought Shola was a Geordie, how long did he actually even live in Nigeria for?
It’s also quite ridiculous that this is going to be the 3rd ACON in 4 years. They’re taking the pi$$ and I bet they’re making a lot of money from it all at the expense of club sides who have tor release players.
I stopped supporting England my own country a long time ago, when it’s represented by the likes of John Terry and Ashley Cole it just doesn’t seem right.
I’ll still follow the team but I wouldn’t say I’m a supporter, I don’t attend the games and I don’t buy the merchandise. International football is nowhere near as entertaining as club football for me it’s an unwelcome distraction every time. The clubs should have more power and if the players really want to go they should forfeit their club salary.
toonLYF
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:12 PM
Comment #13think these twats need to realise International football is dead, and that it has insuperior values (to club football) for alot of players and fans
magpie6699
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:13 PM
Comment #14Positives – 3 goals, Cisse scores, Perchinho scores, Marveaux excellent again. We are playing better now than we were a month ago and we still have Benny, Cabaye and Saylor to come back.
Negatives – we lost to Manure – jammy again, Fergie is a disgrace to football – no comparison to Sir Bobby, Anita’s injury.
I will take far more positives than negatives – we were being predicted for a hammering today on a lot of sites – and that didn’t happen.
Big Pappa Cissé
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:15 PM
Comment #15At the rate players keep getting injured we need to keep as many bodies as possible IMO unless Ashley backs Pardew in Jan
Spreadthetoon
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:18 PM
Comment #16hotdog
I knew that was a bad tackle on Vurnon straightaway….
Btw we had 11 shots on target away @ OT, that’s pretty good and more than Manure by 1. We bossed that game through several periods…..not sure who our defensive coach is….is it Stone…..I don’t know who it is but they need help or should be fired cos’ the amount of goals we have conceded this season is not funny.
Confident if we play week in week out like that and shore up our defense in the window with some quality, along with CAM and Winger/Striker (like Remy) then she’ll be good!
Tsunki
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:20 PM
Comment #17Finally someone else who has spotted the difference between the two teams today – Danny Simpson. I am not calling him Simmo any more because quite frankly he could not have done much more to help his (former) team mates. Previously i have stuck up for him defensively though critical of his upfield rubbish, but today he was a complete array of wastefulness, lousy shots and crosses (dont bother with the thing that was deflected for an OG he could do nothing worse with his attempt) and his shape when he took that ‘shot’ in the dying seconds of the game told the whole story. Oh, sorry it didn’t, it was the attempt to signal an offside against hernandez when he had already clearly sent him through. Yes Danny, you lost us that one.
I want him gone, Catchy-style. And no I am not kidding, this is area of improvement #1 for me now. But for Simpson we would at least have deserved a point. Everyone else was excellent and gave the lie to the rubbish about poor team spirit. Hats off to Pardew for the way he set his stall out today. The positive is that if we play like that against Arsenal we will stuff them. Yeah, Really. I am just hoping that Anita will not prove to be the big loss, and that Jonas will be able to come back firing again.
nick_9
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:22 PM
Comment #18Sad to see us drop to 15th in the league after such a game. Also hope Anita is ok, he has come on lots and has been consistently performing for us for the past five/six games. Anita, marveaux and hba would tear teams to pieces.
Not keen on how much power these national teams have. If a player doesn’t want to play then respect his wishes, we wouldn’t want a player playing for us if he doesn’t want to. Sadly it appears that Shola did want to go and Pardeq has stopped him, this is a real shame when they have the power to ban him from any football for the duration of the competition plus longer. Whoever made the decision to stop him from going clearly had no
Knowledge of that so it was a silly decision as we will be without him now anyway and for longer.
Ketsbaia9
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:24 PM
Comment #19We do have better players than Man Utd, and it showed today. It was just defensive mistakes by the usual suspects that cost us the game. Williamson and Simpson were both at fault for all 4 goals.
Belize Toon
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:25 PM
Comment #20magpie6699 – completely agree that there were so many positives to take out of it but very worried about Anita and no points! We all know that red nose is a male reproductive organ and the reds are lucky but i am still fuming – just had an interesting conversation with a man utd fan!
Toon1978
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:26 PM
Comment #21How did Valencia get away with that foul????? Ohh hanf on, he plays for Man Utd.
ToonDownSouth
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:26 PM
Comment #22Rotonda
Yeah, I wouldn’t say we ‘deserved to win’, since I usually think that’s a load of rubbish anyway. But if we’d won or drawn, Manchester United couldn’t really have felt hard done by.
Agree about Sammy. I’m really really disappointed by him and I don’t think he’ll ever make it at this level.
When I saw the team sheet I was worried by the midfield 3, as it looked fairly defensive – but Perch, Bigi and Anita took it in turns to burst into the box all game. Cabaye, Tiote and Jonas could learn one hell of a lot from watching the movement and enthusiasm and energy of those 3 and Marveaux.
ba humbug
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:27 PM
Comment #23Tsunki
Simmo is a journeyman player and will never rise above the average. Don’t blame him for being average – blame the owner for not signing a better player. Same goes for Willo. We need two defenders and have done for two years.
toonLYF
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:28 PM
Comment #24———————–Krul———————-
Simpson–Williamson—-Coloccini–Santon
—————-Tiote—Bigirimana—————
——————-Marveaux——————-
Obertan————Cisse——————-Ba
This simply HAS to be the team against Arsenal.
Ketsbaia9
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:29 PM
Comment #25Marveaux would easily get in Man Utd’s side based on ability. Scholes is too old. Carrick is very poor. Anderson is poor. Cleverly isn’t better. Valencia is their best midfielder, but Marveaux is still better. Giggs in past it.
I’d take Vidic, Evra and Van Persie from Man Utd. However, all of them are getting on, so we’d probably be able to get younger players at better value (i.e. Remy, Toby A and Debuchy).
We still need Sissoko or M’Vila as Tiote is going to the ACON. Williamson and Simpson can go and James Perch can be utilised as a right-back and centre back.
We miss Saylor and particularly Raylor whom is one of the best fullbacks at the club.
daztoon
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:30 PM
Comment #26See Fergie said that Ba was offside and pulled back Evans for the own goal should have to specksavers
Spreadthetoon
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:31 PM
Comment #27Any decision taken by AP should be in consultation with Ameobi before speaking to the press……really hope this “article” is untrue cos if it is, it does not bode well for any of the parties involved!
Kets / Tsunki
You cannot say that Simpson / Willo were to blame for all the goals conceded today…..come up with stuff like that does not come across too well….they’re not the best agreed but until the board strengthen’……if they strengthen, then they’ve all we’ve got and they’re our players. Also the fact that we cannot defend or score a set piece means that there are failings with AP and the coaching staff….don’t see you guys complain much about ’em. I am delighted with the spirit and the manner of our performance and gutted with the result……
hotdog
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:32 PM
Comment #28How do you think our quality players are feeling in that dressing room. They look around and see Danny Simpson (im with you Tsunki) and Williamson and know no matter what they do in a game, like score three goals, they know they are going to concede invariably every game and not just one but two or three. As for who is the defensive coach i really dont think it matters with that quality of player. Finally how bad have you gotta be that you get a break in the box and you are 10 yards from goal and you sky it 20 yards into the crowd, a pro footballer words fail me!
fray bentos
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:32 PM
Comment #29Kets we do NOT have better players than Man U
you are demented, they are top of the league for a reason
Just because we played well againt them today does not mean we have better players
fray bentos
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:35 PM
Comment #30Carrick is very poor! Anderson is poor! Cleverly is poor!
You don’t watch football properly fella
Kyo
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:35 PM
Comment #31http://i.imgur.com/hcQmL.png
Spreadthetoon
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:36 PM
Comment #32The same players saw us with one of the best defensive records last year…..were ya whinging then! The reality is that there are areas where we need to improve……our coaching is not faultless on this one.
Agreed we need a RB and CB …..but we all knew that last summer. Ask most peeps…they’ll tell you that Simpson / Willo would not be their 1st choice….but we do not have a choice……if you gonna blame someone blame MA/DL….not the players out on the pitch who have given it they’re all even if they are not the best!
Cool Hand Luke
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:38 PM
Comment #33Kyo, pretty harsh, he was better today though, he beat his man a few times. just need the end product now.
catchy in norway
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:38 PM
Comment #34JFA
hi
🙂 idiot,, look at the team that played today,, how many other idiots like you said we were losing games because of a poor squad,
today we lost because of a better team beat us, i can accept that
what i carnt accept is the fact our season is over because of a prick who thought he new better (parsnip) we have so many points this season because of him and his negative football,,
i can see no reason why we have not played like this more often this season,, it seems to have took player intervention for him to do it, is that who you want running things,, fans could see it, players could see it only one guy couldnt,
been asking for jonas to be dropped all season, today marv got his game and took his chance with both hands,, is it fair that us as fans are being denied watching better football, because one guy has his fave players,,
i think we have a good squad,, a top 8 squad, but 17 out of 19 matches we have played like a bottom 3 team, and i only see one guy who is to blame,, and i stick by what i say,, id be quite happy to lose every game to get a manager who can get this squad we have playing the football they can,,
got to say i missed the second half but was very impressed with the first half, and it looked like it carried on into the second half
i have no bones about saying well done to the team and pardew, the test is not can he rais the game v MAN u or MAN C
he has to get them doing this V wigan or VILLA, or SOUTHAMPTON, these teams
for me he has proved the players are following his tactics,, play long ball, they doo, pass the ball they doo,,
why for 17 matches have we been so shit
Cool Hand Luke
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:41 PM
Comment #35Anyone know why Jonas was not in the squad?
Also, I think the whole team was knackered 20 mins before the end, we were second to every ball.
Big Pappa Cissé
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:42 PM
Comment #36Danny Simpson needs to wake up and smell the coffee. He is a young guy and could easily work on his offensive game in training as he does have pace and crossing is schoolboy stuff. Then again he is probably happy being mediocre and more focused on that mong from the X Factor than his football career. Debuchy plays football on a whole other planet compared to Simpson. I am personally counting down the days on his contract and can’t wait to see the back of him.
fray bentos
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:44 PM
Comment #37@Catchy
There is a good chance Marveaux has not been fully match fit to play more games this season, could be a reason he hasn’t played more earlier, we will never know but his injury striken past can’t be ignored
Why have we been shit for 17 matches, cos we suffered a bad patch possibly, Everton have done it many times, will it continue and happen often, only time will tell
Ketsbaia9
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:44 PM
Comment #38Even if we were winning 7-3 against Man Utd with 5 minutes to go, I’d still expect Man Utd to come back and win. We just can’t win at Old Trafford. Ashley needs to invest because we’re not far off at the moment.
Tsunki
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:44 PM
Comment #39spreadthetoon @27 – er dont lump me in with Ketsy I thought Willo was good AGAIN today. My opinion is that Simpson was the difference between the two teams, the most consistently wasteful player over a whole match and at fault for trying to signal and produce an offside when the ball was already on its way. Poor defending by any accepted standard. I just think he doesnt do his primary job well enough especially not to justify his costly wasted play forward.
TheToonKing
Dec 26, 2012 at 6:45 PM
Comment #40I think the Nigerian FA and national FA’s at that are bang out of order. The clubs are paying these players, they could loose millions and get relegated because they loose players to the damn international football.
There should be some rule changing. Shola should just say he’s not going.