31 year-old Nigerian international Shola Ameobi has an ambition to make the Nigerian squad for next year’s World Cup in Brazil, and to do that he will need to be playing regularly next season.
Shola Ameobi – has looked sharp in pre-season
Newcastle have already brought in QPR striker Loic Remy for a season long loan deal, and Joe Kinnear will bring in another striker before September, with Lyon’s Bafe Gomis being our top target.
And if that happens then Shola will be 4th or 5th striker at Newcastle, and will probably not see much playing time.
This is what Shola Ameobi told Sky Sports News today:
“This year is a big year for me,” “I am in the final year of my contract and got the World Cup at the end of the year as well so it is important I put myself physically in the best shape I can.”
“For Newcastle I always give 100% like I always have, and if I am here that is what will happen.” “If they bring in strikers I might have to see what else is out there, because I need to be playing football – that is really important for me this year.”
“I have played here all my career and I love this club to bits, but I have put myself and my family and my situation first now – and make sure I am getting the games in because that hasn’t happened in recent years.”
As it turns out Shoal has looked in top goal-scoring form this summer so far, and he’s been Newcastle’s top marksman with four very good goals in pre-season.
But if he is to make the Nigerian squad then Shola must play regularly somewhere next season, although on his current form maybe we should try to keep him at Newcastle this season, and then he will be a free agent come next summer.
Comments welcome.
Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook and +1 us on Google+:
You can also reach Ed at admin@nufcblog.com
174 comments so far
Indian Magpie
Aug 9, 2013 at 1:59 PM
Comment #1Should leave anyway. Enough of the leeching
JAMSHA
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:00 PM
Comment #2Indian Magpie
he can.. if da,lad can sit whole season an
earn.. he could take up any job dat doesnt
involvd rung n hardwork lol
hotdog
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:02 PM
Comment #3JAMSHA – Is dat English!
JAMSHA
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:02 PM
Comment #4leavn newcastle mean a pay rise at another club… he needs money to support his familia… earng 25k a week is peanuts
Rotonda heights
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:02 PM
Comment #5don’t let the door hit you on the way out Shola. Nice guy and all but which other PL team would have him.
JAMSHA
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:03 PM
Comment #6nope.its jfk’s language
Indian Magpie
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:04 PM
Comment #7Honestly, he is worse than XISCO
Ben3arfa
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:05 PM
Comment #8The three remaining “mediocre” players in our squad are Shola, Mike Williamson and Jonas.
Once all three are moved on or kept out of the first team picture we will be more assured with our squad and not be too worried if they have to come in and cover
scottoon
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:05 PM
Comment #9No one coming in for a 31 year old. Just cant see it happening. And why wait for another signing? He is well down the pecking order already.
JAMSHA
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:05 PM
Comment #10crystal palace… they need players… n shola is the man
geordiesteve520
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:06 PM
Comment #11Best news all summer.
Mr Robson
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:07 PM
Comment #12He is a Gent and a true Geordie. He’s served longer than Shearer and deserves more respect from posters on here. He isn’t the best player we’ve had but he’s put as much effort in as Stevie Harps did, albeit 7 years shy of his term, but still… The lad is the Mackem Slayer!
JAMSHA
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:08 PM
Comment #13scottoon
he thinks scoreng 4 goals in pre season has earnd him a startng 11 spot … but that might change if we get gomis
Fostino
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:08 PM
Comment #14go while you can fetch a decent contract shola. give sammy the chance. a loyal servant to the cause but injury hinders him
Big Pappa Cissé
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:09 PM
Comment #15Anyone else think he would be perfect for the Smoggy’s ?
Rooster
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:10 PM
Comment #16Cheers Shola, a fresh outlook would be great for u and us, get another striker in, pretty please wi sugar on top!
Graeme
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:10 PM
Comment #17Is this it? Taxi for Bambi time??
He has been a loyal employee; to call him a “Striker” would be an insult to those players who put themselves in the front line, week in – week out.
The chances of Sholla being offered a role with any half decent premier league club must be about ZERO. What are his stats? Something like 4 goals per year, on average, over his career?? Hardly what would be classed as Prolific me thinks.
Rotonda heights
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:12 PM
Comment #18When thinking of 100%ers Shola doesn’t spring immediately to mind. Great he scores against the mackems 2 times a year!
Sir Braveheart
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:13 PM
Comment #19If Shola leaves for someone like Hull or Palace and notches 20 goals next season I will laugh until I cry. You just know its inevitable.
Rotonda heights
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:14 PM
Comment #20mr Ronbson
it’s true Shola probably does as much running as Harper.
G
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:14 PM
Comment #21I’ve been baiting a bloke at work over Shola, saying because of his pre-season scoring run, and because he’s been a great servant to the club we should let him wear the number 9 this year. His responses cannot be published on the blog as they would never pass moderation.
pawl250
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:16 PM
Comment #22http://www.transferleague.co.uk/premiership-transfers/arsenal-transfers.htm
Interesting to see what Arsenal have spent and sold under Wengers rain.
People say he has lost it. But getting a team to compete for the league title, cups and still finishing in the CL places with a rough net spend of £21.5m since his reign.
AND PEOPLE COMPLAIN WE DO NOT SPEND MONEY?!
Shows that if you have a good manager, buy the right type of players you can compete for the CL.
I feel we are not far off in terms of quality of players, especially the potential. We need a handful of additions.
1) Full back
2) Centre back
3) Centre attacking midfielder
4) Wide attacking midfielder
5) A striker
If we sign (5) Bafetimbi Gomis, (4)GeorginioWjnaldum, (3)Siem De Jong, (2) Mamadou Sahko, (1) Luke Shaw
Arguably 40m?
this summer and January we will compete for top 6 next year.
Let Obertan, Gosling, Shola, Amalfitano, RTaylor go. (5-7m)
33m net spend.
santonthenewmaldini
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:24 PM
Comment #23Is this actually going to happen ? Will we get rid of Shola!!??
Maybe just maybe we might do well this season if we get Ince and Gomis as well !
So many games last season bringing Shola on actually cost us the game as he is shite would be so much better if we could bring on Gomis, Vuckic or Gouffran from the bench
DokToon
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:26 PM
Comment #24pawl..
i think wenger is a slightly better manager than ours, with all due respect…
Scottiedog
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:32 PM
Comment #25The guy needs to given respect for the amount of time he has spent with us. The guy has scored 4 pre season goals when the rest of the so called stars have gone into hiding!! TBH looking at Gomis’s record for missing and off sides I would rather have Shola on the bench.
catchy in norway
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:32 PM
Comment #26pardew fav to be sacked first
https://iphone.paddypower.mobi/#!paddypower_publication_event_iphone.t?eventId=5378962&typeId=7483&classId=115
now thats good news,
lets all prey
Graeme
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:33 PM
Comment #27Pawl @ 22, a highly valid argument mate, with one fatal flaw. You identify the strengthening required to get the team to where you want it – most would agree with positions, if not all your selections.
The fatal flaw? You have made no effort to engage someone capable of blending the talent you have assembled into a cohesive football team. Unfortunately, the man in charge at NUFC has clearly demonstrated he is not equiped to do it; Pardew is not the man for the job.
Ketsbaia9
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:34 PM
Comment #28Great news. The sooner we get rid, the better. Mike Williamson must also go.
Sir Braveheart
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:35 PM
Comment #29Lets be honest, Shola is in the last year of his contract, he’s 31, he’s not going to get another contract with us so it makes sense if he were to go now while we could still get a couple of million for him. That said the sentimental side of me likes the fact he’s been a servant to the club. Same with Harper, they should both finish their careers with us.
Not actually play you understand, but as back up for the back ups.
Ben3arfa
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:38 PM
Comment #30NUFC Stats ?@NUFC_Stats 5m
Aulas says if Gomis is going to stay at Lyon, he must extend his contract! (Le10Sport) #nufc
ilovetoon8788
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:40 PM
Comment #31Interesting to see Sky reporting that St. Etienne are continuing to be linked with CARLTON COLE as they seek to find Aubmeyang replacement.
lol or what?
Finnbad The Sailor
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:43 PM
Comment #32Shola is so incredibly shit at times it’s criminal.
Popping up with goals in pre-season and the odd one or two against the mackems don’t make up for years of slow and lethargic play.
he’s a waste of a squad number and stops the progression of the team and our young strikers.
Forgot the poster who named the other two holding us back in jonas and williamson but he was spot on. There’s a couple of others that I would add to the list but for me last seasons those three were the most disheartening players to appear on teamsheets or as subs.
heres to a better season this year.
Rooster
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:46 PM
Comment #33Sir Braveheart, Shola has had a lovely ride on the back of nufc, nice kid and all that but is it something like 35/40 premiership goals in 14 years, time for a new challenge for the lad, bit sick of looking at him playing for us as well, hes done very canny out of NUFC.
And if he scores 20 goals in a premiership season then, we will surely be visited by little people from other planets as well, not a cat in hells chance son.
catchy in norway
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:47 PM
Comment #34shola is a liverpool fan
scottoon
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:48 PM
Comment #35Shola is not going anywhere whether we want him to or not. With his goal scoring record (trying to keep a straight face when I type that!) and his injury history, the fact that he is 31 years old and still under contract….he is here until next summer at least.
As for Pardew, I am so tired of the excuses. Real managers aspire to European football. They use it as incentive to encourage players, and to attract new players. Only Pardew blames Europe for a side underperforming. Yeah we had a fair few injuries, but as someone else pointed out, so did Spurs and it didn’t seem to phase them. Pardew tactics (again…trying to keep a straight face) and man management are second or third rate. Time to move on.
catchy in norway
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:51 PM
Comment #36why do you think the players like pardew so much? or say they do,
scottoon
Aug 9, 2013 at 2:54 PM
Comment #37Catchy – Whether a man is likeable or not has nothing to do with his abilities to get the best performance out of his team. And of course, what player is going to come out and say that the gaffer has lost the plot. The lads want to be on the pitch so they curry favour.
ilovetoon8788
Aug 9, 2013 at 3:03 PM
Comment #38Even if Shola wants to move. I highly doubt anyone will even come in for him.
blew
Aug 9, 2013 at 3:05 PM
Comment #39Shola has a very healthy business in the area,
and outside of football. It is in his interests to
to be here where he can control matters. After
all these years and nearing retirement, he sees
fit to be ambitious in order to play for Nigeria
in the World Cup. Without being cynical, has
he been loyal to the club or has it been
convenient for him to play a minor role here?
The puppy formerly known as prince
Aug 9, 2013 at 3:07 PM
Comment #40Lets hope the door doesn’t hit him on the way out and injure him – hate to ruin that world cup dream!