When Ki Sung-yueng was playing at Swansea, he always looked a classy player, and when he signed on a free transfer last summer, we thought Newcastle had signed an outstanding player.
Ki had played six seasons in the Premier League when he signed for Newcastle.
Five of those seasons were with Swansea, and he was on loan at Sunderland in season 2013-2014.
When he arrived in the summer, he had played 166 games in the Premier League.
Ki hasn’t played much for Newcastle this season when he burst onto the scene in the game at home to Watford when he replaced an injured Jonjo Shelvey early in the second half.
He controlled the midfield and set up the winner when his inch-perfect free-kick was headed home by Perez.
Last Saturday he brilliantly set up Newcastle’s second (winning) goal with a superb cross-field pass to Kenedy.
Ki Sung-yueng – determined to keep his place in the side
The Brazilian then put in a brilliant inswinging cross that Rondon headed home like the proverbial bullet.
That was one of the best goals Newcastle will score this season, and the crowd went crazy.
The 29-year-old summer signing has done what Rafa tells his players to do – when you get your chance you have to grab it with both hands (feet?).
Ki has said today there is far more to come from him regarding goals and assists.
And he almost scored in the first half on Saturday, but the goalkeeper somehow put his point-blank header over the bar.
This is what Ki has said as reported in the Chronicle today:
“If I say it wasn’t hard in the first few months it would be a lie.”
“But I waited for my chance here because this is an amazing club.”
“If we show our quality with our squad we can stay in this league.”
“It was a difficult time for two-and-a-half months but I have settled down now and I am looking forward to the rest of the season.”
“I am playing better, but I still think there is more from me to come. Hopefully more and more.”
“I will score more, I can help the team more, but first of all I want to concentrate on my performance every single game.”
“That’s because we have good players in my position.”
“I want to keep my place. Sometimes you can get injuries and suspensions, so I just want to keep going forward.”
We are so impressed with the characters and professionalism of our players.
Rafa brings in only the best regarding players who will give their all for the club.
Ki is likely to become another favorite on Tyneside, and his performances over the last game and a half have been top-class.
Now we have to beat Burnley in our next game at Turf Moor, and it will be a surprise if Ki doesn’t start that game.
Comments welcome.
7 comments so far
Jib
Nov 13, 2018 at 9:43 AM
Comment #1posada
Sports Direct shares down somewhat.
That should please Ashley
I’m pretty sure he is in the middle of a scheme
to buy out enough shares to deselect SD from
the stock market.
RobLeenio
Nov 13, 2018 at 9:51 AM
Comment #2Ki could not have done more in terms of all-round midfield play to keep his place in the side, other than score a goal. He’s taken his chance and given Rafa a headache and fair play to the lad.
I always like to reward good performances. If that means Shelvey has to miss out for a couple of games, then so be it. It may do him good to have to force his way back into the team and to know that if he doesn’t play to his potential then there’s someone waiting in the wings who can take his place.
This doesn’t mean I want Ki to become automatic first choice ahead of Shelvey or that Shelvey is finished at NUFC – far from it. I think he’s become a better player since he arrived here and his temperament has improved no end, so he’s going to be a vital player for us (I hope) for many years to come.
However, if Rafa is to pick players on form and impact, you’d have to say Ki is more deserving at the moment.
Geordie-john
Nov 13, 2018 at 9:52 AM
Comment #3What a cracking player you are turning out to be. I know John Jo is good when he is on form but this lad seems to have the power and accuracy of Ryan Taylor. He was brilliant at free kicks as well as commitment as a player.
Keep it going Ki, You can only get better.
DaraghL
Nov 13, 2018 at 10:00 AM
Comment #4Jib, why not just admit you were wrong about Fernandez’s nationality rather than state you were referring to an application he lodged to become Spanish, which is in fact a lie?
He was only on loan from January until the end of the season in Getafe, why would he 1) apply & 2) be eligible? (Happy to be proven wrong here).
That being said, I also enjoyed Lesh’s inability to understand, how you spent the majority of your time since 1997 in Spain. Can’t blame you for just moving on in that conversation.
DaraghL
Nov 13, 2018 at 10:04 AM
Comment #5I am always an advocate for not changing a winning team. Prime example was when Santon & Ben Arfa were available, keeping R.Taylor and Obertan in the team was crucial to our good early form as it kept competition for places and both played out of their skin.
On that basis, I would look to keep the duo’s of Schar & Fernandez and Diame & Ki even if Lascelles & Shelvey are fit, until form drops. This will keep the latter duo pushing to improve and the former looking to continue to impress.
In the long run, does everyone think our strongest duo’s are Lejuene & Lascelles and Ki & Shelvey?
Optimistic Panda
Nov 13, 2018 at 10:09 AM
Comment #6Very quiet on here today.
There’s a few missing for whatever reason.
Always thought Ki looked a decent player over the years, seen him score some good goals too.
Seems a real pro, the type to keep his head down and work hard for a place. If he keeps it up chips in with a assist or a goal he maybe hard to displace.
I’d play Muto with Rondon first but against the top 6 maybe Ki would be the better option up there, to pack the midfield when we don’t have the ball, mobile ok in the air and can score.
cornishman
Nov 13, 2018 at 8:24 PM
Comment #7One of the areas that has impressed with Schar & Fernandez at the back and Ki in the middle is they look for a forward pass first, which although I did,nt think I,d say it but is an area Lascelles lacks preferring square or back. Oddly almost from default with the injuries to players we look so much better, certainly faster going forward with an edge that was missing. Strange how the “mop flops” some times, I believe any players coming back in should not be automatic but through merit, substitutions etc.