Christian Atsu had a decent enough game in the first half on Friday night at Tynecastle, but he will be hard pressed in the coming season to pin down a first team starting position.
But that has to be the 42 times capped (9 goals) Ghanaian International’s main goal if he is to do well at Newcastle.
Atsu looked good on loan last season and soon became a fan favorite after he appeared 35 times with 5 good goals and it’s obvious he has plenty of skill and speed.
25 year-old Christian Atsu – big chance for this player
He also seems to have a lot of determination to be successful on Tyneside after signing a four year deal for the Magpies.
It’s an excellent opportunity for Christian to get his career back in full swing after spending four years at Chelsea, where he was basically loaned out to a number of different clubs but he did hist best when he was at Newcastle last season – he had a good season.
This is what Christian has said in the Chronicle recently:
“Everybody is working hard and running. We have to give our best.”
“Yes, we have the same manager but this is not the same season so everybody has to fight for their position in the team. All the guys are working hard.”
“I am pleased to see we are together like last season.” “I am very happy to get back to the Premier League with Newcastle.”
“Everything now depends on me. It’s down to the player now.”
“I need to work hard now and try to be better than I was before. I always want to improve myself.”
“I have to keep working hard and being consistent for the team. I have a lot to improve this season. The Premier League has a lot of quality.”
“This season will be hard for us so we have to work harder than last season. We have to make sure we improve and try to compete with everybody in the Premier League.”
Christian will settle with his family in Newcastle and he’s probably the perfect player for Rafa Benitez to coach.
Christian loves playing for Rafa and thinks he’s simply a world-class coach and he has said he will do everything in his power at Newcastle to become a better player.
That’s all you can really ask for from any player at Newcastle.
Go for it Christian!
Comments welcome.
127 comments so far
BenArfa the magician
Jul 16, 2017 at 5:30 PM
Comment #41Colback,Gouff,Vuckic,Sammy,Anita Rafa is the gift that keeps giving haha
Bobbybee
Jul 16, 2017 at 5:32 PM
Comment #42Jib used to love the Jennings and Derbyshire books as a bairn. Ah, the memories. 🙂
Budge123
Jul 16, 2017 at 5:34 PM
Comment #43If we can get a pacey left back in and play Ritchie as a 10. Bloody hell we’d have some threat and options there.
Shelvey pinging it about and yedders and said left back overlapping. Ritchie working and creating.
Sounds good!
Sounds easy.
If only it was.
Do feel optimistic though.
Anything higher than 18th will do this season.
Bobbybee
Jul 16, 2017 at 5:34 PM
Comment #44Ben, don’t take my word on that, just thought I heard he was one he was looking to replace. Anyone else remember hearing that, or is senility creeping up on me?
Ron Knee
Jul 16, 2017 at 5:34 PM
Comment #45magspuggy
Thanks for the NUFC TV link. Kept me out of mischief for a couple of hours!
Bobbybee
Jul 16, 2017 at 5:38 PM
Comment #46Sheet!!! Knew I had something to do! Lmao. My mate just rang asking if I’d set off yet. 🙂 Whoops! That’s what happens when good footy craic gets its hooks into me. Got to fly, later lads.
GeordieTwo
Jul 16, 2017 at 5:51 PM
Comment #47This Arsene Wenger text just intercepted:
Please stay Alexis…… Please please please?????
GeordieTwo
Jul 16, 2017 at 5:51 PM
Comment #48Not very manly Arsene…… Harrumph!
Munster Mag
Jul 16, 2017 at 5:55 PM
Comment #49Hopefully we will get the 3-4 more players needed. I can’t see much cause for optimism without them. When we start looking at injury prone young wingers and a serially injured /sick Dutch 10 who has been a dismal signing, for prem inspiration, then we have issues. Still, we have time.
GeordieTwo
Jul 16, 2017 at 5:55 PM
Comment #50Why doesn’t anyone want wor dead wood? What is wrong with these clubs? We’ve got some lovely dross on special. They’re over there in the bargain bin. Have a rummage….. Look, here’s a perfectly usable Haidara on half price. And here’s a Yedlin with only a few buttons missing….. Just make us an offer!!!!
GeordieTwo
Jul 16, 2017 at 5:56 PM
Comment #51Well said Munster. And I’m working hard to sell our dross….. It isn’t easy….. Harrumph!
GeordieTwo
Jul 16, 2017 at 5:58 PM
Comment #52Just teasing about Yedlin…..Actually looking at our squad we do have decent players but not that Wow player that will lift us and really make the difference. I don’t think it will be De Jong as number 10. I remember in the few games he was fit before we were relegated. He just couldn’t do it at Prem level.
giimps
Jul 16, 2017 at 6:21 PM
Comment #53I reckon we’ll get our Murphy in before the lads are finished in ireland, by then I think a few transfers in and out of bigger clubs might just free up a couple of gems for the positions we need.
If not, we’ll have to get a few of them players out of the bargain bin and dust them off……..I bloody hope not though, I can’t handle another season of “hard yards, sideways and back ” colback, luckily the Gouff has gone and someone has offered50p and a packet of swizzels for Rivierre so hopefully he won’t darken our door again, I’m optimistic about signings in a reserved way, not knowing what quality were after don’t help……Joe hard is a big miss, I’m really sad we missed out on that lummox……..not
TikiTakaAcca
Jul 16, 2017 at 6:38 PM
Comment #54STOP THIS NONSENSE.
Benitez this! Benitez that!
Every player were linked with ‘Oh under the coaching of Benitez they could be a top player’.
YAWN YAWN YAWN.
Just because Benitez is the best manager we could hope for, doesn’t mean he’s god’s gift. It’s so boring, all we do as fans is mention how good players would be under his guidance. Get over yourself.
It’s so boring.
c-dog
Jul 16, 2017 at 6:48 PM
Comment #55Atsu is a squad player at best for any PL side. We actually need 2 or 3 players who march straight in as our top earners to earn us a premier league status. With what we have now, we will get relegated…
Bambams
Jul 16, 2017 at 6:57 PM
Comment #56I think we are saving every penny we can on offers for other targets so we can splash what’s left in his club ISA account on a top striker…..
Well that’s my hopeful thinking or clutching at straws
Too much sun today !
giimps
Jul 16, 2017 at 6:57 PM
Comment #57I wish I had that crystal ball, the one which makes us the worst team in the league before a game is played.
The way I look at it, we’re better than Udders and Brighton, even with their signings, we only need for a burnley or palace type team to have a normal season for us to stay up, we are a team, not the most quality team but on their day can be excellent, they work hard for each other and can be coached to be better, the better the players who come in, the higher up the league we could get, we won’t get top 8 , but I don’t think we have that bad a squad , we just need quality in the right areas to take us forward, I don’t think we’ll get relegTed even with this team, we won’t be comfortable but the team we have with the players we have back (if we could keep them fit) could keep us in the league,
magspuggy
Jul 16, 2017 at 7:10 PM
Comment #58@bambams
Thats what i keep telling myself.
Bambams
Jul 16, 2017 at 7:12 PM
Comment #59Magspuggy
My heart ruling my head perhaps ?
But something must be keeping Rafa focussed……
Nah…too much sun
kc2012
Jul 16, 2017 at 8:13 PM
Comment #60I see we are third favourites to sign Loic Remy now on a free, like I said on an earlier post i’d actually be happy if we brought him in. Still think he could do a job for us.
Jib
Jul 16, 2017 at 8:20 PM
Comment #61New page
TikiTakaAcca
Is it boring honey ?
Ahh bless
Jib
Jul 16, 2017 at 8:23 PM
Comment #62Oh no it’s a new page after 80 !
DOH !!!
Jib
Jul 16, 2017 at 8:35 PM
Comment #63France U19 Left Back – Harold Voyer – Now 20
Freed from PSG July 1st
Known as “The Rock”
Talking to NUFC
Could this be the reason Lazaar hasn’t gone to Ireland
http://www.footmercato.net/flash-mercato/info-fm-psg-harold-voyer-piste-par-newcastle_206117
AncientC
Jul 16, 2017 at 8:44 PM
Comment #64I would be very happy with Remy. We already know if he can stay fit that he will score goals. There are no serious alternatives that have been linked, so who else is there.
30 year old, no sell on value, premium wages, though. Uh oh.
Ron Knee
Jul 16, 2017 at 9:01 PM
Comment #65I don’t know if this is genuine, but:-
https://twitter.com/hashtag/nufc?vertical=default&f=tweets
Ron Knee
Jul 16, 2017 at 9:04 PM
Comment #66Sorry! Take 2:-
https://twitter.com/FootballNews756/status/886672038781480960
Jib
Jul 16, 2017 at 9:09 PM
Comment #67Joe Hart having a medical at Wet Spam in the morning
I’m not bothered I think we’ve secured Pepe Reina
Jib
Jul 16, 2017 at 9:19 PM
Comment #68The 27 going to Ireland are:-
Karl Darlow,
Rob Elliot,
Freddie Woodman,
Ciaran Clark,
Paul Dummett,
Jesus Gamez,
Massadio Haidara,
Grant Hanley,
Jamaal Lascelles,
Florian Lejeune,
Jamie Sterry,
DeAndre Yedlin,
Rolando Aarons,
Christian Atsu,
Jack Colback,
Mohamed Diame,
Victor Fernandez,
Isaac Hayden,
Matt Ritchie,
Henri Saivet,
Jonjo Shelvey,
Callum Roberts,
Siem De Jong,
Dwight Gayle,
Aleksandar Mitrovic,
Daryl Murphy,
Ayoze Perez.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 16, 2017 at 9:32 PM
Comment #69Watched the NUFC TV game, thought Colback had a good game, as did Perez and Saivet. In fact the team as a whole was OK including, and I say this with pleasure, Diame. He does look better in midfield rather than the No. 10 spot. So he also might yet be a Swan.
magscar
Jul 16, 2017 at 9:47 PM
Comment #70Jib
No Armstrong but Roberts makes squad – hmmm? Off on loan already?
magscar
Jul 16, 2017 at 9:48 PM
Comment #71Bill
Last sentence might make Welshie happy or would it ? 😉
magscar
Jul 16, 2017 at 9:53 PM
Comment #72Ancientc
Re Remy Rafa ( bit of alliteration) only wants players who want to play for Toon not as a stepping stone etc. Not sure what he would make of him therefore. Depends how desperate he is becoming? Cant forget his unwillingness to play for us in his last game on loan petsonnally
magscar
Jul 16, 2017 at 9:55 PM
Comment #73Oh is GOT on already?
magscar
Jul 16, 2017 at 9:58 PM
Comment #74Poldark finishing soon – I’ll be off then 🙂
AncientC
Jul 16, 2017 at 10:00 PM
Comment #75magscar, Remy didn’t refuse to play in the final game of that season. Pardew actually told Remy he didn’t have to play, and seeing as Remy wanted to be fit for international duty, he didn’t.
Pardew disputes this claim, but Remy had no reason to lie. Nobody would have even known why Remy didn’t play in that final game, if Remy himself did not make the aforementioned disclosure.
AncientC
Jul 16, 2017 at 10:01 PM
Comment #76Not forgetting Rafa wanted Townsend back.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 16, 2017 at 10:06 PM
Comment #77magscar
I’d go for that alternative nuance as long it was part of a swap deal for Siggurdson. 🙂
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 16, 2017 at 10:08 PM
Comment #78GOT on tomorrow, penultimate series although I’m still wondering when George R R will finish the next book
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 16, 2017 at 10:10 PM
Comment #79Have to say the one disappointment in the Hearts game was Adam, which was a shame, still time for him though.
magspuggy
Jul 16, 2017 at 10:16 PM
Comment #80I wonder why armstrong is not listed to travel ??
Diame to swans ??
If they expect 50 for gylfi
We want 20+ for him
Its only fair.