We just watched Sammy Ameobi’s interviewed after the game on nufcTV and the local lad comes across – well like a local lad – and he was delighted to get on against for the Newcastle first team yesterday and he got a great ovation from the crowd – that was really great to see.
You can say what you like about Sammy’s abilities and consistency, but he’s just a smashing lad who bleeds back and white blood.
Sammy seems to have matured a lot and he was so humble in his interview and says he will not take anything for granted in what is likely to be his final season at his home some town club.
The odds are that he will be released in the summer when his contract runs out.
Sammy Ameobi – back from loan deal at Bolton
But Sammy really enjoyed it yesterday and Rafa has seen the quality this lad has always had as the manager said this about him after the 4-0 win against the Millers yesterday:
“He did well, the fans were happy with him.”
“He started the game really well. We know he has quality and he has to show this on the pitch.
“He is training really well and I am pleased for him. We knew we needed a player like him who can bring quality in the wider area and he showed some of that against Rotherham.”
“He did that today.”
If there is a manager in football who can bring the best out of Sammy Ameobi it’s Rafa Benitez and we’ll see Sammy again and he could even start the game at Oxford United in the FA Cup 4th round tie next Saturday.
It was also good to see young Jamie Sterry get on near the end and along with regular left-back Paul Dummett we saw three Academy graduates on the field for Newcastle at the end of the game.
That’s always good and another indication of how Rafa is willing to give the Newcastle youngsters their chance if they train hard and give everything in the games.
Maybe that’s another message Rafa is sending to owner Mike Ashley, who must have been pleased with both the performance and the result yesterday that took us 9 points clear of 3rd placed Huddersfield Town.
Comments welcome.
94 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
Jan 22, 2017 at 10:28 AM
Comment #41WW…,
On what basis?
Jail for Ashley
Jan 22, 2017 at 10:29 AM
Comment #42nut meg,
It all happened to quick everyone stands up, wish they had replays on a screen. Are they allowed?
Goromagpie
Jan 22, 2017 at 10:29 AM
Comment #43Jib ?
Jammydodger
Jan 22, 2017 at 10:31 AM
Comment #44Regarding Townsend, we have Ritchie whos been brilliant the RW role is his,
Townsend will not want to be back up so will take Gouffys ,whos also been great, place and also its been shown Townsend cant play on the left. Or he will warm the bench which he wont want to do, either way hes going to disrupt the team. Remember Townsend flew away to Palace last summer, it hasnt worked out for him and now is wanting back with his tail between his legs. We dont need him and for the money can get a better player in in the summer
toontaff2
Jan 22, 2017 at 10:36 AM
Comment #45NutMeg – lookalike he used his hand to control the ball, no way ref or linesman could have seen it.
Not seen on highlights Shelvey’s turn and left foot shot that looked to be just over the post/bar angle after about 40 minutes, either – looked very close from above!
toontaff2
Jan 22, 2017 at 10:38 AM
Comment #46lookalike -looked like
Ron Knee
Jan 22, 2017 at 10:38 AM
Comment #47“ON THIS DAY: 4 years ago, Yoan Gouffran was officially confirmed as a Newcastle player after signing from Bordeaux for around £500k. #NUFC”
Goromagpie
Jan 22, 2017 at 10:39 AM
Comment #48Guys please any links I want to wAtch the match
nut meg
Jan 22, 2017 at 10:39 AM
Comment #49Jail
I don.t think they are inside the stadium but not 100% sure. I watched the game on a stream and the commentators agreed that we should’ve had a penalty but no mention of it on here or in the reports I’v read online.
sing in the corner
Jan 22, 2017 at 10:42 AM
Comment #50Nutmeg.
Handball clearly seen from my seat, just in front of me . The argument could only be he was very close when it popped up but def hit him on the wrist for me. Crowd round me went daft for it, ref wrong side to see it properly.
sing in the corner
Jan 22, 2017 at 10:44 AM
Comment #51Would have been mentioned retrospectively of course, if the game hadn’t gone our way so comfortably by the end
Jail for Ashley
Jan 22, 2017 at 10:49 AM
Comment #52nut meg,
You normally only hear about the ones that weren’t given when we lose.
Ron Knee
Jan 22, 2017 at 10:49 AM
Comment #53Match replay:-
http://www.footballorgin.com/2017/01/22/championship-newcastle-united-vs-rotherham-united-full-match-replay/
Ron Knee
Jan 22, 2017 at 10:51 AM
Comment #54It’s a bit slow to download but it’s working!
nut meg
Jan 22, 2017 at 10:53 AM
Comment #55Jail, toontaff2, sing
Thanks for the replies lads, my stream was ok for a while but then went downhill. I missed the first goal, seen Jonjo take the free kick but as the ball was in flight it crashed…came back on 30 seconds later!!
Jail for Ashley
Jan 22, 2017 at 10:54 AM
Comment #56I think Sammy’s lifting of the crowd had more to do with his brothers comic cult status than his footballing skills, people remember his wonder goal at WHL but not the dire performances that saw us send him out on loan in the first case. Pancrate once scored a wonder goal, the crowd will not be singing his name for much longer if he repeats his usual inconsistency, I’d like nothing better than to be proved wrong.
Jib
Jan 22, 2017 at 10:56 AM
Comment #57Perez’ goal was with his arm.
JP...from The Rock
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:05 AM
Comment #58I agree with Jail. I really doubt Sammy is good enough for us. I will be dissappointed to still see him here come summer. But having said that I would be really pleased if Rafa can transform him into the player we all wish he could become. He has potential but has never realized it. If there’s a manager that can help do that it’s Rafa but I seriously doubt he will be able to with the little time there’s left in his contract.
Sometimes you have to cut your losses and I think Sammy just doesn’t make the cut. He has had plenty of time to make something of his potential and has always been inconsistent. If Rafa can’t make it happen then thanks Sammy but you’re not good enough and all the best in your career.
JP...from The Rock
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:07 AM
Comment #59I would much prefer we sign Townsend now and flog Sammy in all honesty.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:09 AM
Comment #60JP,
I strongly disagree with Jimmy (steak and kidney pie???) In that if he’d started at a lower league club he’d be better, if that’s the case then you have to apply that to every player on a top tier clubs books.
Belfast
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:15 AM
Comment #61He’ll never become a premier league player. He was piss poor in two championship loan spells and very good in league one.
Summary – league one player.
He also has a very bad asthma problem and blows like a 20 a day smoker after five minutes. That certainly doesn’t help him.
SPRINGY
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:21 AM
Comment #62Good to see ritchie scoring and creating again in last few games….maybe the threat of townsend coming back has gave him the kick up the arse he’s needed recently,wont knock his work rate just think he went thru a patch of games where his creative side wasn’t up to much….cant expect a player to be good every game and he will always work hard but for me hes been patchy, creatively.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:23 AM
Comment #63Belfast,
People aren’t seeing the link between certain players improvement and a lower level of football and putting better performances down to Rafa, there is an element of that but surely there’s a reason why Sammy was booted out of boro and sat on a poor Cardiff’s bench then shone at a league one club. Dummet looks like a good solid Championship defender with limitations going forward. It’s because he is.
dem
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:25 AM
Comment #64Lesh – from previous thread.
I called the Perez header/handball at the time. His head didnt get low enough to connect with the ball but at that speed he got the benefit of the doubt.
dem // Jan 21, 2017 at 4:22 PM
Did that come off his arm?
SPRINGY
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:36 AM
Comment #65On sammy,if he comes in and helps us get promotion by chippin in with a few goals and assists, I’d give him a year….goofy disappeared in the premier when we were there for a long time…goofy has done good this season wont knock him for that, but he looked like he was out the door at the end of last season coz he contributed nothing last season,so if goofy is to be given a year the same could be argued for sammy….to a degree….rafa will look at all the players and decide who he thinks can contribute something at a higher level….whether that’s lascelles,mitro, gayle, shelvey,goofy,ameobi or sterry….if the not good enough a good few will be moved on….there maybe a few shocks for people in the summer.
hibbit
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:38 AM
Comment #66sorry lads just dont get that sammys good enough the odd flash in the pan but nowhere near good enough
i doubt very much that Rafa see him as the answer
very surprised so many think he’s good enough and just wonder why
Steak and Kidney Pie
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:41 AM
Comment #67Jail, my argument is that if he’d come through at a club like Boro, he’d have likely done more in their first team than he has done for ours, and possibly be playing for them now in the EPL, and I outlined my reasons. If you go back and reread our exchanges, you’ll also see that later I having a little dig at you for suggesting Boro or Cardiff was “somewhere shite,” and not for calling Sammy shite, which I acknowledge you did admit was a bit harsh. I have just finished watching the replay, and Sammy more than held his own out there and certainly did lift the crowd.
Jib
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:44 AM
Comment #68Perez’ problem at the moment is the hardest thing (if not impossible) in the world to coach – decision making – stick or twist/pass or shoot/run or pass – the best solution is keep him playing with those to whom it comes naturally , like Shelvey and Ritchie and hope some of it rubs off.
hibbit
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:46 AM
Comment #69people’s expectations must be very low if they see Sammy as the answer !!
Jail for Ashley
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:46 AM
Comment #70hibbit,
It’s because he’s been away for awhile now and people just remember that goal he scored against Spurs. He’s on our books, I don’t think he uses a squad place so there’s no harm in keeping him while Atsu is away and through till the end of the season if we have to pay his wages anyway, but they’ve given him contract extensions before in the hope of him coming good and he’s had to drop down another level to shine. Unless he’s spectacular while here get rid and I don’t think he was anything special yesterday in a full half an hour. Yesterday was perfect for him, the game was won, no pressure and it gave The Gouff a rest, do we really need players in the squad just to come on and give people breathers when the game is won already.
hibbit
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:50 AM
Comment #71Steak and Kidney Pie
Sammy didn’t lift the crowd the crowd lifted him !!
Jail for Ashley
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:51 AM
Comment #72Jimmy,
He was at Boro, they didn’t want to extend his loan, I don’t get your point, how do you know he wouldn’t have been sent to Bolton sooner if he’d been on boros books. It wasn’t Sammy the player that lifted the crowd it was his brothers comic cult status like Dave the save Beasants gallows humour affection.
Munster Mag
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:52 AM
Comment #73Good win yesterday, well done all. For me the key is rafa having a cut off teams, allowing for the control element. Attacking at pace and playing yedlin atsu (when available) works for us both in attack and has a defensive aspect too.
Steak and Kidney Pie
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:53 AM
Comment #74Give over. They loved it when he came on, and he was good. Let’s see what happens. He’s got half a season.
hibbit
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:53 AM
Comment #75Jail for Ashley
i get that and can see the reason
but all this talk of new contracts has me baffled !!!!
Jail for Ashley
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:54 AM
Comment #76Jimmy,
It was a pi$$ take, the same as it was with his brother and Dave Beasant.
Munster Mag
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:54 AM
Comment #77Tend to agree re sammy.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:55 AM
Comment #78hibbit,
Me too.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:55 AM
Comment #79Moanster,
On which aspect.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 22, 2017 at 11:56 AM
Comment #80I thought you’d be on today complaining we never scored five because Rafa held them back 😀