Shola Ameobi came on as a late substitute in the 84th minute in the 2-0 win over Malawi on Saturday night in World Cup qualifying , for his 3rd cap, and he should pick up another cap tomorrow night in the friendly game against Burkina Faso. The win meant Nigeria won their group, and they now have a two game play-off to qualify for the World Cup finals next summer.
Shola Ameobi – Nigeria World Cup chance has energized him
The Newcastle striker turns 32 next month, and had been half expected to leave the club in the summer, but when Newcaysle couldn’t get a second striker through the door, there was no chance of the Nigerian-born player leaving Newcastle.
Ameobi is one of the Newcastle players away on International duty at the moment, but in Shola’s case manager Alan Pardew thinks that’s a good thing:
“We moan about players going out on international duty, but in this particular occasion, it’s done us a favor.” “Shola’s in good shape. I think he fancies a little bit of the World Cup, and we’re the beneficiaries of that.
“Sometimes players need a boost. We talk about moving on to different clubs. But he’s still our player.” “The biggest thing we’ve had is a new lease of life in him from that international.”
“He’s got a little sparkle in his eye from the Nigeria situation.”
Nigeria won the African Cup of Nations in January, but Shola couldn’t play because of a clause in his Newcastle contract which prevented him playing, but he has since had that removed.
Newcastle are essentially one striker short this season, so it would be great if Shola can chip in with some goals, and of course he has started the last two league games and been in decent form too.
With Loic Remy now fit, we would expect Remy and Papiss Cisse to be the first choice strikers for Newcastle, but Shola is adept at coming off the bench and scoring some vital goals for the team.
We hope he can keep doing that this season.
Comments welcome.
Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook and +1 us on Google+:
You can also reach Ed at admin@nufcblog.com
104 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
Sep 9, 2013 at 2:57 PM
Comment #81TDsarf,
The campaign is being run by those people whose feelings lean toward anti Mike Ashley, not those who think the sun shines out of his great big fat ar$e.
Slank
Sep 9, 2013 at 3:00 PM
Comment #82ToonDarnSarf @ 79
Re: Rio – Glasshouses and stones
In the last ManU game their defence only had one English player (Jones) and he was substituted by a foreigner.
The ManU team finished the game with 7 foreign players.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 9, 2013 at 3:03 PM
Comment #83JfA
Well done, you’re a damn genius you are.
I AM anti Mike Ashley, but sometimes it’s a case of “better the devil you know”. Until an alternative presents itself, I want to make the most of what we have.
Protesting to kick a guy out of the club that he owns is damn pointless. Why the hell should he sell up?
JAMSHA
Sep 9, 2013 at 3:03 PM
Comment #84india playn crap football …. hope dey win
Slank
Sep 9, 2013 at 3:03 PM
Comment #85Jail for Ashley @ 81
‘…campaign is being run by those people whose feelings lean toward anti Mike Ashley..’
And that’s the problem.
The campaign should be about improving the club.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 9, 2013 at 3:04 PM
Comment #86Slank
I know, so what? His comments read as a criticism of the game, not the clubs involved. Besides, 4 English players in one team is more than he said both City and Newcastle had combined.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Sep 9, 2013 at 3:05 PM
Comment #87Afternoon all. For all those who have visited my blog I am extremely grateful, some excellent feedback and comments that have been very much appreciated.
For anyone else interested in (yet) another perspective on all things NUFC feel free to check out the NUFC Daily
http://nufcdaily.wordpress.com/
Or alternatively, follow me on twitter and keep up to date with article releases @CiaranDonaghy2
Thanks again folks 😀
mindshaft
Sep 9, 2013 at 3:06 PM
Comment #88So which of our previous chairman in the last 50 years would you welcome back…..
Westwood, Seymour, McKeag, Forbes, Hall, Sheppard, Ashley
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 9, 2013 at 3:06 PM
Comment #89Slank
100% agree with your comment 85.
I get the feeling that many fans would rather Kim Jong-un owned the club than Ashley.
Right, I’m off out for a few hours. Good luck…
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 9, 2013 at 3:07 PM
Comment #90Ruddy
How could I miss the opportunity…
Catch ya later…
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Sep 9, 2013 at 3:13 PM
Comment #91TDSarf
Sarcasm or not, your views, comments and feedback would be greatly appreciated, if for nothing more than drumming up a feisty debate. You’re good at that 😉 haha
bills-son
Sep 9, 2013 at 3:14 PM
Comment #92I see 67% of fans on here have voted that the squad is stronger than last season.
No wonder – we’ve got Mbwia, Sissoko, Gouffran, Debuchy and Haidara with Prem experience and a pre-season under their belts – Anita, Marveaux and Elliott starting to look like Prem players – Sammy and Dummett looking promising – Remy in on loan – and not one top player sold.
So, seeing as 67% of fans think our squad is stronger – why is it that there is such hysteria about Ashley?
I keep saying it – unless a Man City type owner buys us (highly unlikely) we could end up with QPR or Blackburn type owner. Be careful what you wish for without knowing what happens if Ashley sells up. Thinking everything is automatically going to be all happy lappy with a new owner is naïve in the extreme.
Slank
Sep 9, 2013 at 3:15 PM
Comment #93ToonDarnSarf @ 86
He just sounds holier than thou.
He is the beneficiary of the grossly inflated price tags of English players and their wages. If he had said that English players should lower their financial demands then I may be sympathetic.
I’m sure all the Premiership clubs would like more home grown players but there just isn’t enough quality and quantity to go around.
Belfast
Sep 9, 2013 at 3:16 PM
Comment #94Following Ruddy is a bit dull in all fairness.
I’ve been following him for a while now.
The ones who bat for the other team might like his naked pictures though.
Transfer Sage
Sep 9, 2013 at 3:16 PM
Comment #95TDS
For a lot it’s Ashley out not Ashley do a better job for one simple reason. The man tells packs of lies constantly.
When he was welcomed to the club initially that soon went sour when he got us relegated with bad appointments. He then annoyed fans by mistreating kk. He renamed the stadium to advertise his own company. He took wonga as a sponsor. Didn’t spend much money (the clubs not his own from other ventures) he re hired JFK. Then there is the constant PR rubbish which has become totally transparent
Fans want him out as they believe the man is incapable of change and doing things to progress the club, which has not moved forward on a footballing level since he arrived.
Whether me or you agree with the Ashley out or not I can see why fans have had enough given the amount of chances Ashley has had.
Transfer Sage
Sep 9, 2013 at 3:19 PM
Comment #96Niafron
It’s like saying Putin is ok because he was better than Stalin or others. (Extreme example sorry)
Just saying because somebody is better than previous doesn’t mean we shouldn’t want more for our club, especially went a lot of clubs have more progressive owners.
Spurs are the big example, haven’t got a rich owner but three clevel business have built a top squad. Only average spend of 1mil a year in previous 5
Belfast
Sep 9, 2013 at 3:23 PM
Comment #97Think it’s about the same Bill son. A couple of injuries and we’re up shit street, just like last season.
toon kk
Sep 9, 2013 at 3:41 PM
Comment #98MA will never sell the club unless he’s made an offer he can’t refuse.
Unfortunately he’s ruining NUFC as a club. He doesn’t really care what we think or do, he knows we will line his pockets because we love our club. We’re just a business and he’s a shrewd business man. So UNFORTUNATEY we’re stuck with him.
He obviously likes a gamble, so our premier league future is the perfect bet.
One thing we all must remember Mashley doesn’t know a f…ing thing about football.
fatman
Sep 9, 2013 at 3:49 PM
Comment #99as ToonDarnSarf mentioned earlier we need to try to attract a buyer by letting them know what they would be buying and what a buyer could get out of owning our club, its one thing to want to replace an owner, another to sit and moan, we need to create positive vibes. we need to promote Keegan, Shearer, Milburn.
look to the US and Bill Gates he’s one of a close group of people who have changed the lives of 60% of the occupants of the planet, and hated by 99.9% of them.
In contrast Keegan & Shearer won us nothing. for maybe 250,000 world wide supporters, yet they are hero worshiped by 99.9% of them. see what I’m getting at, Shearer & Keegan have had a bigger impact than bill gates has.
so that’s how we need to sell the club, that’s why i said the other day what we need is “man who would be king”. for the right people they can achieve massive satisfaction from what they could get out of running the club well and yes maybe win something.
i bet in 100 years the fans of Newcastle still remember Milbern, Keegan, & shearer but maybe there a bit of room for our next owner, but i bet when you ask them who bill gates was they will not remember.
so what they could be buying is immortality.
the ancient Egyptians had a saying if you remember my name i shall never die.
toonarmydownsouth
Sep 9, 2013 at 3:57 PM
Comment #10062ToonDarnSarf // Sep 9, 2013 at 1:40 PM
Ibiza
I haven’t contacted any of them to be honest. I don’t understand why some from one of those groups isn’t on a blog like this to get some views and get some support. I don’t think it’s my job to have to dig deep to find what each group is about to be honest, I think that should be clear for anyone who wants to find it.
But they are on this blog mate, several posters including MacToon who name is a direct link to them have been advertising the campaign
There a new group but already have gained support from several club legends and several local journalists and are gathering more support everyday they hold weekly meetings which members of the public are free to attend (times and dates have also been advertised on here) and attend the fans meeting with club officials to attempt like all fans to open a line of communication with the club owner
How can you so readily dismiss a movement which is actually doing what you say you want in post 9?
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Sep 9, 2013 at 4:07 PM
Comment #101Belfast
There is always the “unfollow” button 😉
Faddj
Sep 9, 2013 at 4:09 PM
Comment #102Totally off topic but would really appropriate everyone’s attention for an up and coming project of mine (I’m a photographer)
So, to celebrate 10 years of being a season ticket holder at this fantastic club, I want to gather a large number of you supporters who have also been a season ticket holder from anytime between now and 10 year ago, I want to hear your memories, your highs and lows, your opinions of this club and the goings on over the past 10 years.
Photographically, by the end of this season I would like to have taken individual images of hundreds of fans wearing any Newcastle shirt from the last 10 years, that includes 3rd kits as well.
I want to welcome fans of all shape, size, age and gender to get in touch if they’d like to be a part of this, no need to be camera shy, this isn’t a fashion shoot, but more of a documentation of the people who have shared the same memories as I have going to St. James’ Park week in week out.
I’m really excited to get going with this, the project will run from now until the last day of this season, so I encourage you all to get in touch so we can arrange a date and a time to have your photograph taken.
Email me at faddjphoto@gmail.com to find out more, I’m not an expert in writing so if non of this makes sense, please feel free to ask any questions and I’ll try clear it up for you!
Ibizatoon
Sep 9, 2013 at 4:11 PM
Comment #103TDS…I don’t think I covered my point very well there 🙂 With regards to the campaigners keeping some information private, I feel it is whilst they are still setting up and planning. They don’t need or want to hand the opposing side an advantage.
Once the planning is done, the message will be spread, or so I believe.
I guess that could lead to the argument of whether all fans voices are being heard and the answer would be that the ones who turned up the meeting had their voices heard.
I understand what you’re saying about not wanting to like the page, quite an annoying facebook feature.
I’ll ask if they mind me sharing the email address on here so you can deal with them directly. Don’t want an angry mob having to make the trip to Ibiza to silence me 🙂
As I said before, I was / am keen to see whether there is a possibility within these plans to allow Ashley to try and show change, although, that will be a tall order. It’s one of the reasons I’ve changed my tune somewhat, they could be doing so much more to not alienate the fans as they do, it certainly comes across as they don’t care…how are you supposed to trust people with that attitude?
The end result is that all toon fans have an issue with Ashley. The ones who are still wary of taking action are those that fear what will come next. Whilst understandable, it’s not really support, but fear and that isn’t right.
lesh
Sep 9, 2013 at 6:53 PM
Comment #104On the proposed campaign for change, are we united in what the campaign is hoping to achieve?
An Ashley out campaign could prove to be counterproductive and deter any potential investors whereas a campaign for improved communication and apparent ambition might prove more successful.
It’s a tricky issue to get to grips with and campaigning on an Ashley out ticket may just prove to be counter-productive. Why? Ashley could just dig in and carry on or such an approach may just persuade a potential buyer that he/ she too may incur fan dissatisfaction.
Surely what’s needed first and foremost is more and better communication with fans. We’re not looking for detailed insights into matters commercially confidential, just a simple statement of Ashley’s aims for Newcastle United and how he proposes to achieve them.
He could signal his intent by seriously considering whether Kinnear is the right man to be his advisor, mentor and strategist fir the football side of things. The appointment of a DoF with credibility and a record of recent success working within sensible budgets would be an excellent start and generate a degree of confidence that Ashley’s plans are being implemented.
Maybe I’m misreading the runes but given that the squad’s considered better than it has been, surely the club’s moving in the direction. Consistent and honest statements from the club would also help.
Maybe the campaign will accelerate dialogue between fans and the club and if that happens, it’ll be a big step forward.
Food for thought?