25 year-old Christian Atsu told anybody who would listen to him last season that he was desperate to join Newcastle United permanently and simply loved playing for the club.
The 42 times capped Ghanaian International (9 goals) got on very well with his team-mates and his smile was always there for people to see during training sessions.
It seems to have been a match made in heaven and at one point he told the press in Ghana that Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez had been an inspiration to him last season; in short Christian loved working with the former Liverpool manager.
25 year-old Christian Atsu – first player signed in summer transfer window
Thankfully Rafa Benitez made the move permanent in May and Christian was ecstatic.
Here’s an interview he has given in the local press today and he talks about how Newcastle were always his first choice and how delighted he is of being part of the Newcastle family as reported in the Shields Gazette:
“I wanted to be part of the Newcastle family,” “I wanted to find a place to settle down. I’m happy to be here.”
“Yes – Newcastle was my first choice. “When the season ended, I wanted to stay. I always loved working with the team.”
“Benitez is very important for the team, and also for me. I’m always happy and enjoy working with him.”
“I’m very happy to be back in the Premier League with Newcastle and a great manager.”
“I need to work hard and try to be better than I was before.”
It’s always great to have players who simply love to play for Newcastle United.
Christian Atsu is one of them and one thing Christian has to improve is in his consistency.
His skills and speed are not in denial.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
265 comments so far
jazzyp
Jul 13, 2017 at 3:17 PM
Comment #1All the best for the Season Atsu.
We gonna need ya sunshine
Bobbybee
Jul 13, 2017 at 3:21 PM
Comment #2Must say, I thought Atsu steadily improved the more he played. Probably just something as simple as confidence.
Wouldn’t it be nice to win something under Rafa? Preferably more than just one thing, so Rafa is known more as a Toon manager than ‘the former Liverpool manager’.
Ron, good news there matey. Wonder if there’ll come a time when such games can be screened live on NUFC TV, like they show U18 games on MUTV and Liverpool and Chelsea TV. I would be more than happy to pay a subscription price for that,which could help pile money back into the club.
Ron Knee
Jul 13, 2017 at 3:28 PM
Comment #3Bobby
It was great to watch NUFC on the disastrous pre-season trip 2 years ago. Watching Aarons score that goal live was amazing.
Bobbybee
Jul 13, 2017 at 3:30 PM
Comment #4Actually, thinking along those lines, even at £3 a month it wouldn’t take long to pay for the tech to set it up, then we could have a nice steady income streaming into the club.
Say 200k fans worldwide paid £3 a month to watch live coverage of U18 U23 and friendy games, there’s another half a million a month towards transfers, once the cost is taken out.
I understand we couldn’t show live PL games because of Sky, but it would be worthwhile paying just for those games.
Think that might work or am I dreaming? 🙂
JAMSHA
Jul 13, 2017 at 3:35 PM
Comment #5Are Away Kit IS Blue And Gold
Bobbybee
Jul 13, 2017 at 3:35 PM
Comment #6Definitely something worth raising at the next FF meeting.
Shocking news about that young lad from Ajax suffering permanent brain damage.
I take it there’ll be representatives from the club at young Bradley’s funeral? Bad shyte makes you realise how petty rivalries can be. 🙁
Bobbybee
Jul 13, 2017 at 3:37 PM
Comment #7Right, back on the road again. Not wise to blog whilst driving so catch ya’ll later.
JAMSHA
Jul 13, 2017 at 3:38 PM
Comment #8https://ibb.co/enRHZa Our Away Kit Looks Ok Not That Good
jazzyp
Jul 13, 2017 at 3:39 PM
Comment #9Walker to City done deal at 50 mill.
This summer has gone mad.
Bobbybee
Only 20 mate as well. A heart condition again was it
gonufc (Newcastle United Sports Direct Advertising Club)
Jul 13, 2017 at 3:59 PM
Comment #10Damn, Nouri was a serious talent as well. Not that it’s relevant just it’s even more shocking when it’s a player you know about rather than just a name in a news report.
Such a strange Russian Roulette for everyone who plays sport.
Our Toon
Jul 13, 2017 at 4:23 PM
Comment #11Bobby
It’s not a bad idea with the £3 per month, only issue is who’s handling the money and would it be reinvested? I don’t think it would be for reasons that you know but a solid idea under a different regime.
Our Toon
Jul 13, 2017 at 4:24 PM
Comment #12Hopefully we get Murphy over the line but are we really going to loan him back out once he’s signed? We need players for the here and now.
It is progress though!!
Ron Knee
Jul 13, 2017 at 4:25 PM
Comment #13This was the team that played against Portland Timbers 2 years ago. Where are most of them now?
Darlow (Woodman, 46), Ferguson, Bigirimana, Abeid (Anita, 65), Satka, Sissoko (Obertan, 46), Aarons, Wijnaldum (Janmaat, 46), Cisse (Armstrong, 46), Gouffran (de Jong, 75), Perez
jazzyp
Jul 13, 2017 at 4:28 PM
Comment #14Still hold big interest in Sheyi Ojo.
Is Benitez going wing mad this season.
And what does this mean for our very own Rolando Aarons
john tudor
Jul 13, 2017 at 4:38 PM
Comment #15deadwood jazzy deadwood lol
toon kk
Jul 13, 2017 at 4:39 PM
Comment #16Jazzyp
Aarons has potential but is injured 90% of the time.
We are desperate for a top quality striker though. Gayle has goals in him, not sure how he’ll preform in the premier league but without him we’ll struggle to score enough to pick up the points.
I’m not sure what’s going on tbh.
Our Toon
Jul 13, 2017 at 4:39 PM
Comment #17Jazzy
Guess it means he can have cover for Aaron’s, the lad breaks down far to often. It’s tough to rely on him not to break down
jazzyp
Jul 13, 2017 at 4:40 PM
Comment #18JT
As in Aaron’s bud. Do ya think his time is up
beermonkey
Jul 13, 2017 at 4:43 PM
Comment #19jazzy
i think arrons will be sent out onloan to prove his fitness
ShirebrookToon
Jul 13, 2017 at 4:45 PM
Comment #20Walker to Man City. Figure to be in excess of 50 million smackers. Silly season, silly money!
Our Toon
Jul 13, 2017 at 4:50 PM
Comment #2150m these days the equivalent of paying 20m a few years back, as with everything the price goes up. The more money in football the higher the prices climb, you can either join the masses or be left behind
jazzyp
Jul 13, 2017 at 4:54 PM
Comment #22Beer
At 22 do ya think he has another season left to prove himself.
And I don’t understand the rumours of buying Murphy and loaning him straight back.If we gonna spend 10-12 mill on this kid ,And we strapped for cash there is no way we can afford to be spending this amount of money if there not gonna be squad members
john tudor
Jul 13, 2017 at 4:54 PM
Comment #23one more crocking and he will be gone
jazzyp
Jul 13, 2017 at 4:56 PM
Comment #24Our toon
Unfortunately the Relegation has cost us the latter mate.Lets just hope Rafa can bring in the necessary players to get us through our first season back in the Pl.
beermonkey
Jul 13, 2017 at 4:58 PM
Comment #25jazzy
he needs games and i cant see him getting them with us
the murphy rumours were they not started on here ??
if its the case that he isnt ready to play for us then and we buy him and loan him back the fee cant come out of raffa’s budget it seems unfair and not what is needed we need first teamers
is he good enough to make our starting 11 or on the bench
jazzyp
Jul 13, 2017 at 5:06 PM
Comment #26Beer
Questions questions mate and I don’t know if Murphy is good enough for the first eleven, And the same can be said of Lejuene.
The loan back deal was just what I’ve been reading on here so probably Bs lol
giimps
Jul 13, 2017 at 5:11 PM
Comment #27I think it was expat who suggested the loan back, as a possible sweetener, we need him here this season so I don’t think that would work, maybe for academy recruits from abroad or this country, allow them to improve as players playing under the conditions that got them noticed in the first place, it can make sense for a season but not for 1st team ready players whom I take Murphy to be, otherwise what’s the point?
GeordieTwo
Jul 13, 2017 at 5:17 PM
Comment #28I just wanted to give you lot the sad news about Aarons. His ingrown nose hair has gotten worse! Much worse my friends….. As we speak he is being flown to Switzerland to see a famous nose hair specialist. I think we should all say a small prayer for the lad…..
giimps
Jul 13, 2017 at 5:19 PM
Comment #29Sad times indeed G2, I think it’s his first one though, hopefully the surgeon can structure the repair so it can’t happen again…..fingers x
GeordieTwo
Jul 13, 2017 at 5:19 PM
Comment #30So that’s why we need Murphy asap lads…..
GeordieTwo
Jul 13, 2017 at 5:20 PM
Comment #31Yes, good thoughts there gimps. They will be going in through his left ear hole with a small camera and some tweezers apparently…….
Ron Knee
Jul 13, 2017 at 5:22 PM
Comment #32“Norwich want an offer north of £10 million and we might know more about the deal later tonight …” Or not.
GeordieTwo
Jul 13, 2017 at 5:26 PM
Comment #33I think he’s worth the 10M Ron mate. Let’s get going on this Rafa…. That’s not beyond our means surely?
Mister Tuff
Jul 13, 2017 at 5:28 PM
Comment #34Some good friendly blogging today – except of course Jack Root who appeared just to cause trouble (as usual) and his unashamed sychophanic bigging up of other posters. Clear he doesn’t know the club history.
I feel duty bound, in this positive era of entente cordial, to award Jack Root the blogs cocknose mask.
http://jkhgroup.com/bondagenosemask.jpg
(Cocknose – no acceptance speech required)
Ron Knee
Jul 13, 2017 at 5:31 PM
Comment #35G2
I wonder if Murphy is first, second, third, etc. choice.
GeordieTwo
Jul 13, 2017 at 5:33 PM
Comment #36Shay Given still wants to play.. Training with Macclesfield. Good on him. All the best Shay.
corkypants
Jul 13, 2017 at 5:34 PM
Comment #37Get the Murphy deal done!!!
Young
Hungry
Newcastle fan
He’s Quick
Really high potential
Why stall over a couple of million quid? pull your fingure out fat man!!!!!!!!
GeordieTwo
Jul 13, 2017 at 5:35 PM
Comment #38If it is true that we’ve offered 8M already Ron I think he must be a first choicer. I’ll try to get a comment from Herr Knickson but he’s always a bit tetchy as we all know…..
giimps
Jul 13, 2017 at 5:36 PM
Comment #39It’s getting to the stage where we just need more quality in, baring in mind there’s still a hell of a long way to go in this window, a steady trickle of quality rather than a torrent of dross .
GeordieTwo
Jul 13, 2017 at 5:37 PM
Comment #40I’m going to try to give you lot constant updates on the Aarons surgery. They’re just hitting him with the rubber mallet now to put him under…….