After the match with Metalist on Thursday night, Alan Pardew had said he had told Shola Ameobi that he hadn’t been at his best lately, and that’s why he hadn’t been playing too much, and Shola has opened up in the local press today, and said he went to talk to the Newcastle manager because he just wasn’t getting enough playing time in the first team.
Shola Ameobi – not playing enough
It was apparently a very frank exchange of views between player and manager – and that’s always the best way to be – say what you think and believe as long as you do it in a respectful way.
Here’s what Shola said today:
“I was frustrated I haven’t played much this year in my position and I let him know that.” “I haven’t been in the team as much as I have been in the past to contribute.” “You get ten minutes and try to do things that sometimes might not come off.”
“I took on board what the boss said as I always do and made sure he knows I am still here.” “The manager is within his rights to say what he feels is right to his players, as I said my bit to him. I took it on board and made sure I gave a pleasing performance.”
“I haven’t felt match-fit this season because I haven’t had the games and it takes games to get in my stride.” “That is probably what the boss means when he says I have not been my sharpest, so it is important when I do get my chances I show I am an asset to the team.”
“I have never been happy being a bit-part player and he has known that all along.” “It is tough because you feel like you are auditioning to be in the team.” “I am happy to play where the manager wants, like on the right which is probably not my best position, but I have done the job.”
“It is an art form playing in Europe midweek and then winning your games in the league at the weekend.” “It is important we don’t let Thursday’s result take away the focus off the weekend.” “I know the manager has his eyes on Sunday and we have to as well as players.
“It is important with our league position we win our home games now.”
Managers always have trouble with players wanting to play – and that’s good – and it will be even more prevalent now with Newcastle’s squad looking so strong, and it’s not clear to us right now what Newcastle’s best starting eleven is.
So it wouldn’t surprise us if Alan has this same conversation with other players in his squad.
And don’t be surprised if Shola gets on tomorrow afternoon against Southampton, as he looked sharp and put home a great penalty against Metalist – and that saw us to victory and through to the round of the last 16 – it was a great win for Newcastle.
And now we need another one tomorrow afternoon against Southampton.
Comments welcome.
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17 comments so far
morocco0015
Feb 23, 2013 at 10:14 AM
Comment #1Shola needs to work a lot harder on the pitch, he looks so lazy and uninterested in whats goin on around him, with Cisse being out of sorts he has had a great opportunity to impress but sadly hasn’t taken it. Ah well bring on the makems
Graeme
Feb 23, 2013 at 10:18 AM
Comment #2I would say he has played about the right number of games, given his limited ability to perform consistently. He is a “15 minutes a game” player; an “Impact Sub” who can do a job when required.
His days have been numbered for years, but he still produces the occasional moment that makes you shake your head and wonder lol
Black and White with an army lol
Feb 23, 2013 at 10:19 AM
Comment #3he’s scores a penalty now he says e wants first team, get away in sh!t shola 1 goal doesn’t make you eligible for first team starts, he was never any good at Newcastle even when the great ALAN SHEARER was here.
martoon
Feb 23, 2013 at 10:22 AM
Comment #4The trouble with Shola is that he has one good game and so is picked to start the next one and is then anonymous in that one. I’ve lost count over the years of the number if times that has happened.
However he is still a good impact sub to bring on in the second half – especially against the makems 🙂
Black and White with an army lol
Feb 23, 2013 at 10:23 AM
Comment #5instead of shola why aint we playing Campbell or even benching him for games, he’s got speed to threaten opposition defenders
Jonas's better than Messi
Feb 23, 2013 at 10:28 AM
Comment #6Super sub or leave him out.
He can’t run for more than 15 minutes.
Wind him up and he puts in a performance.
Play the Mackems and he puts in a performance.
Then as Martoon says he’ll go missing for a few games because he’s not up for it.
Lazy strolla … the fans know. We’ve watched him all his career.
morocco0015
Feb 23, 2013 at 10:35 AM
Comment #7I agree with Black n White, Campbell has merited a place on the bench, bound to give you more than Shola, both his pace and his workrate offer so much more. Shola wasn’t good enough 10 years ago and hasn’t improved.
Number9
Feb 23, 2013 at 10:37 AM
Comment #8Shola is clutch but id rather have a hard working 27 year old striker with no confidence in Papiss Cisse over an old lazy Shola who has no pace. That being said our number 1 priority in the summer must be another Striker!
mot7
Feb 23, 2013 at 12:26 PM
Comment #9You dont play shola because bottom line you are not good enough .
You have made a career out of being a bit part player because you know that if you were expected to play week in week out you would be found out very quickly ,
I personaly think you have been stealing wages from the club for years because you havnt been earning them
Lee Dodd
Feb 23, 2013 at 12:52 PM
Comment #10The Reason Is and we ALL know it Shola is Slow Very Slow. Gouffran is Like Lightening !!!!! If we had Shola up front in recent games we would have got beaten. Shola will Score Tomorrow as he has the strop on. Come on in the 70th But Will Never be a Starter in our eyes.
Lee Dodd
Feb 23, 2013 at 12:53 PM
Comment #11Come on Lads Were Never saying Shola is Slow and Lazy ??? Has He Just Realosed that after all this Time ??
AmericanGeordie
Feb 23, 2013 at 2:21 PM
Comment #12It seems clear to me that our best starting XI is:
Krul
Debuchy-Taylor-Colo-Santon
Tiote-Cabaye
Ben Arfa-Sissoko-Gouffran
Cisse
The next Mike Williamson
Feb 23, 2013 at 3:13 PM
Comment #13I like Shola but he’s more of a 4-4-2 man. If we’re playing with one striker then unfortunately for Shola it has to be a goalscorer. I’d rather see the scraps of chances from the bench fall to someone with potential to become world-class such as Campbell or even dare I say it Ranger. If not send them both on loan.
beddersmag
Feb 23, 2013 at 3:33 PM
Comment #14Too inconsistent and frustrating. Imo his form dipped when held back from acon as he had finally started to look decent. Lets get andy carrol in as our big man option hes at a different level to stroller
toonluvva
Feb 23, 2013 at 4:13 PM
Comment #15Old joke warning! Shola’s speed is deceptive – he’s slower than he looks.
I’ve been very disappointed with Shola for a few weeks now. His worst display was against Brighton in the FA Cup. Captain on the day but spent the day looking like he would rather have been back in the dressing room.
His time at the toon is surely coming to an end. Time for the up and coming youngsters to start from the bench. Hopefully Sammi will grab his chance with both hands and the Ameobi association will continue at St James’ Park.
juanpeterbeardsley
Feb 23, 2013 at 4:24 PM
Comment #16@’12
Would agree with you but Mbiwa pushing Colo now and Perch pushing Tiote on current form
check the toastie
Feb 23, 2013 at 9:15 PM
Comment #17Walk the Walk Shola rather than talk the talk. Get match fit on the treadmill you lazy f##ker, interval training its called.