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
Felipe
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:29 PM
Comment #81I’m not pro Pardew, I’m pro toon. We’ve a week to go until the start of the season and as always they have my support. I hope Pardew proves everybody wrong and we finish in 4th or 6th, just not 5th 😉
Mister Tuff
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:30 PM
Comment #82Ruddy @75 – my God that is shocking news – feel a bit sorry for poor old Percy -being undermined by the bloggers on here. You do not have to provided any proof/quotes that El Gourdo and the players read the blog as I think what you have reported has been corroborated by another blogger.
Felipe
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:30 PM
Comment #83JB
You and I both know that he is not going to get sacked now…if we’re bottom after 6 then maybe, but we’re not going there right?
Rotonda heights
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:31 PM
Comment #84Felipe
With respect you do seem to show a remarkable talent for totally missing what’s in front of you.
We have a great squad. One or 2 more players and it would be phenomenal. But you don’t seem to grasp you could give Pardew Messi, and Ronaldo and he’d still play 10 men behind the ball and tell them to hoof it.
Yes one good season based on some many extenuating circumstances but overall in 14 years Pardew’s record is abysmal nearly relegating 3 teams etc etc. He is only here because he is a pal of Llambias. No other interviews for the job were given.
Seeing how Hughton is doing at Norwich we’ve actually managed to go backwards
G
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:34 PM
Comment #85@76 “Most fans aren’t stupid”, and yet the evidence on the blog would suggest otherwise! Seriously though, valid points, and I can honestly say I have never known a manager at the club divide opinion so much. The nearest I can think of was Glen Roeder, who whilst the fans were never fully for or against him, they all conceded he was an excellent coach who simply shouldn’t have been given the managers job. Next season will be interesting to see, as far as I am aware AP has never been given a 3rd full season in a job, so for all we know it might be like seeing Alex Fergusson in charge. I strongly suspect it won’t be, but we live in hope.
Rotonda heights
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:34 PM
Comment #86Felipe
If you support the toon you want the best manager / a better rmanager, not just someone who is here by default and sitting on a pay off.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:34 PM
Comment #87Mister Tuff
I’ve now got that wistful reminiscence that one gets after a major news story like this.
One of the senior bloggers had this to say,
“I’ve always liked Pardew, never once thought he was a poor manager. However, myself and some of the other bloggers here thought that a new manager would be in the best interest of the club, and the owner agreed.
“We’ve always had a good relationship with the owner here on nufcblog, and we are glad Mike took our views on board. Everyone knows that a football club cannot function without its blog, and Mike understood our frustrations”
There you have it folks, seems like this blog is influential after all…
JackButler
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:35 PM
Comment #88At any other club that has a modicum of ambition Pardew would have been sacked at the end of the season, at most he would not have survived the Liverpool/Sunderland results.
Its not about whether I want Pardew to succeed or not, I love this club and I only want Newcastle United to succeed and with Pardew at the helm we will never do that
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:36 PM
Comment #89Indian
Dalglish didn’t get us second, he took over midway through that season.
In his first full season we finished 13th.
G
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:36 PM
Comment #90To be honest I was all for sacking AP at the end of last season, but now JFK has got the DOF job, I live in fear of him being sacked, as we know who will step into the breach should he go don’t we, and we all know that wont end well.
JackButler
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:37 PM
Comment #91Dogleash, the man that sold Ginola, Ferdinand etc and brought in his son, Des Hamilton and Paul Clement
sparky55
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:38 PM
Comment #92Sacking Pardew would be hugely positive thing because there is no worse manager in the Premiership or Championship than Pardew and that certainly doesn’t mean for one second I am not supporting my team because I want the toon to prosper…not fall into oblivion and even if we did fall into oblivion I would still be there whereas Pardew wouldn’t.
We have a great squad and a useless manager who took them to the brink of the championship…so do we blame the team or Mike Ashley or leaves on the track before we blame Pardew…course not…the blame has to fall at pardew’s duck feet
Change can be a positive thing…why the hell wouldn’t it be a positive move to sack Pardew after last season and pre-season playing a formation that run out it’s course in the 90’s.
One things for sure…if you gave the managers job to any of the players in the team, there’s no way they would set up the team like pardew does because they all hate playing that way.
there’s so much footballing talent in our squad we could very easily challenge for 5th or 6th again with the right manager so why fcuk about…sack the tw@t now and be done with it…bring in anyone cos anyone would be better than that self righteous tw@t.
JackButler
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:39 PM
Comment #93G
I can’t see Kinnear taking over because of his heart problems
G
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:40 PM
Comment #94@93, didn’t he say in one of his many needless interviews that he was now 100% recovered? For what it’s worth, I hope you are right though.
Felipe
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:41 PM
Comment #95Cloud cuckoo land… adios
G
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:41 PM
Comment #96Just to add to that, not wishing Heart Problems on JFK, just meant that I hope he isn’t after the managers chair.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:43 PM
Comment #97Sparky
The blame falls at Ashley’s feet man. Yes Pardew could have done a better job and should have been sacked following the disaster last season, but one of the main reasons we suffered was injuries and we had no one of substance to fill the gaps, that was Ashley’s fault.
Also, the only reason Pardew is still in a job is because he is the cheap cockney mouthpiece that will do Mike’s bidding, spend little and won’t complain when we fall limply over the line into anywhere between 10th and 15th season after season.
The fat man is to blame for everything wrong at this club, Pards is but a symptom.
JackButler
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:43 PM
Comment #98There a video out there where Laudrup is talking about Swansea playing in Europe this season.
He states that players love to play and love playing twice a week, that tiredness is only an issue if you allow them to use it and that if you train them correctly and motivate them in the right way fatigue is not an issue.
All Pardew did last season was complain about the players being tired, how they were fatigued and how injuries were killing us off, everything that came out of his mouth was negative and all things were of his own making with his inability to coach and motivate our players
Rotonda heights
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:44 PM
Comment #99felipe
Pardew managed to tun europe in to a chore rather than a joy. Spurs got europe again but we didn’t hear a peep from them about extra games and injuries even though dempsey defoe, dembele, bale, esso ekoto, huddlestone and dawson were all out long term injured. The difference – a proper football manager like AVB.
gonufc (Release the Hatem Bomb)
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:44 PM
Comment #100I think if Shola was the no. 9 for a decent championship side then he’d score quite a few. He CAN have a great touch, it’s just so erratic. 1 first touch in 10 is beautiful, the other 9 bounce anywhere.
JackButler
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:45 PM
Comment #101G
He said that he was 100% fit and healthy to take hos role as DoF, taking over as a premiership manager is a completely different mater though.
JackButler
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:47 PM
Comment #102I have a 12 hour night shift to go to so unless anyone wants to step in and take it off my hands I’m off lads…..have a good night
scottoon
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:50 PM
Comment #103I do not wish Pardew to be sacked. In fact, nothing would please me more than for the performance of the side to perish the thought. But I cant see the man getting that commitment out of the players. This is a guy who told Cabaye that we were going to play European football – passing and moving. Instead he mandates hoofball. Is it any wonder Yohan went into a bought of depression. Lord knows it depresses the hell out of me watching it week in and week out.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:51 PM
Comment #104Tuff…The Gomis deal is a bit of a mistery, but from what I can gather then the problem seem to both that OM have made contact with Gomis and his agents with the concent of Lyon and his agents seem to want the best deal for them self.
I have tried to ask Torq, but I am non the wiser 🙂
But I have said for a while now that we should move on and that is still my opinion!
Rotonda heights
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:52 PM
Comment #105Yes we shall miss 1 goal in 31 games shola!!
well actually i will miss him as a person not as a player sadly
scottoon
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:53 PM
Comment #106Laudrup and AVB…proper managers treating Europe as a reward rather than a burden.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:54 PM
Comment #107And without all the type-o’s 😉
Tuff…The Gomis deal is a bit of a mistery, but from what I can gather then the problem seem to be both that OM have made contact with Gomis and his agents without the concent of Lyon and his agents seem to want the best deal for them self.
I have tried to ask Torq, but I am non the wiser 🙂
But I have said for a while now that we should move on and that is still my opinion!
sparky55
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:54 PM
Comment #108ruddy @ 97
Same team except for Anita replacing the scouse lad who’s name escapes me went from 5th to 16th.
check the stats from the good season v’s the bad season and see how many games the stars missed in both seasons and/or how many games HBA started and you’ll soon see the blame has to lay at Pardews feet.
Ashley has put together a very good squad for the toon so how can you apply all the blame to Ashley.
Did Ashley pull off an attacking midfielder against Reading to defend a 1-0 lead, did ashley pick the team and formation against liverpool, did ashley decide to play 4-4-2 all season and eliminate any constructive midfield play, did Ashley bring back HBA too early, did ashley drop Anita for most of the year, did ashley pick Jonas all year, did ashley decide to play cisse as a lone striker, did ashley decide sissoko was a No 10 when it’s plain to see he isn’t.
No…Pardew did all that and that’s exactly why he should go
DokToon
Aug 9, 2013 at 4:56 PM
Comment #109ruddy @ 75
good stuff there, almost had me for a second, lol
stu mel
Aug 9, 2013 at 5:01 PM
Comment #110What to do with pardew, I don’t think he the worst manger ever but, he isn’t showing sign of improvement, I fear he will not change that got awful style of football we play we’ll suffer for that. Great first 11 is at are disposal but bad formation and player playing in bad places plus no one to cross the ball, we also have lost something in defence by losing Simpson listen hear me out, not one of are defender push player out away from goal like he did. Yes better players but they play a game on fine ice by not doing this. Danny did a good job as he was great at making it more Likely to not have to defend cos he was woeful at that bar being on the goal line.
Plus how do we get to replace pardew
Not who’s there to get, who would mike Ashley give the job worrying
scottoon
Aug 9, 2013 at 5:04 PM
Comment #111Mr Pardew – I am your football fairy godmother – here to grant you one wish.
AP – tough one! Not to be Champions of Europe, that’s for sure. Blimey, wouldn’t wish that on anyone……
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Aug 9, 2013 at 5:04 PM
Comment #112Sparky
We had an added competition, players going into the season unfit but had to play due to lack of incoming signings. We went into the season with 3 strikers, one of whom was useless, and another that didn’t want to be there.
We’d needed a LW, a new CB (for 3 seasons), a RB replacement as Simmo wouldn’t sign a new contract, and better back up for fringe players who weren’t good enough.
We’ve assembled a good XI, we have not got a competitively strong squad, and we certainly were not well enough equipped for last season.
Yes, Pardew is rubbish, I accept that and want him gone, but Ashley is the true villain of the piece.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Aug 9, 2013 at 5:07 PM
Comment #113Dok
I dunno about you, but I had a little chuckle to myself as I wrote it. They say self praise is no praise but I don’t care haha
Rotonda heights
Aug 9, 2013 at 5:07 PM
Comment #114Whatever people’s misgivings may be I think Poyet could do a job. Certainly it would be a better style football to watch.
Really missed an opportunity with Blanc, Garcia and Girard.
Maybe still others like Solksjaer, Rijkeard etc available but then again who will work for Ashley?
Mister Tuff
Aug 9, 2013 at 5:07 PM
Comment #115jesper -ref Gomis – to me there seems to be an element of this story missing/not revealed. I understood that OL had agreed a fee and that we had agreed terms with the player -I think. Therefore just a signature required. But then we hear that the price kept on going up- and then illegal approach by OM. Gomis could have killed the speculation by signing and/or telling the agents what he wanted ie no input from OM.
So has there been some fake bids put in by OM to jump the price up -thus the Toon lose interest and then OM scoop him up for next to nothing in January. We hear JK is working on it today but Aulas has quoted if things are not resolved by 30th August he’ll be back in their team. Why 30th August -is this a date which allows the enquiries to be made by the French authorities. I’m now slightly moving towards the viewpoint about Gomis – if you do not want to come FU.
Rotonda heights
Aug 9, 2013 at 5:09 PM
Comment #116Sparky @108
the pro pardew lobby never give us the answers to those
Greebol1892
Aug 9, 2013 at 5:13 PM
Comment #117No chance of him leaving – Pardew loves him (as does every Toon manager!)
He will be offered a yearly extensions til he’s 35 and then the door will open for his brother, who will play for us til he’s 37. By which time there should be another Ameobi coming along.
lesh
Aug 9, 2013 at 5:15 PM
Comment #118JackButler, Ruddy.
You guys do make some very valid points, many of which I agree with.
Maybe Pardew is not yours and others’ preferred choice of manager but face facts, he’s there like it or not. If he was to have been replaced, then that should have happened at the end of last season. As is, he wasn’t and if he is relieved of his duties, then we all know who’s gonna run the show don’t we.
What the guy needs at this stage is support and not the constant sniping that is the product of a lack wisdom which you and others display.
Of course, others who are less enlightened will doubtless draw fun from booing him and his tactics while posing as supporters. That is the mindlessness that is undermining and demoralising.
stu mel
Aug 9, 2013 at 5:17 PM
Comment #119@ruddy
Do not think maybe Ashley cops it cos he dose it all on the cheap which work with graham carr get cheap excellent players, but pardew and JFK have a scent of lack of knowledge and being cheap ideas to a problem. For both these to I feel don’t have the knowledge and backing need to get there jobs done and the blame has to be Ashley’s, but blame dose nothing when try to improve what we have. I feel more going on like fitness coaches and back room staff need to happen and that is down to Ashley.
I do have the hope that Newcastle can over the next couple of season start to show that there making world class player as well as getting Carr to hunt them down on the cheap
sparky55
Aug 9, 2013 at 5:17 PM
Comment #120Ruddy…None of the first team played in europe til February, we were out of both domestic cups by january..the striker that didn’t want to play for us still scored a dozen goals before he left whereas the one that did scored 2
we’ve needed a left wing for years but that was the same in the good season, simmo still played til debuchy came so nothing different there, and our fringe players were exactly the same as the good season
Wake up and smell the sh!te rather than the guinness…Pardew is a lot more to blame than you think… IMO