Shola Ameobi is stuck on 49 goals for Newcastle United, and he is probably hoping to get that 50th goal for Newcastle at Middlesbrough on Saturday, but he has to get into the team first.
Shola Ameobi – 50th Newcastle goal on Saturday?
Joe Kinnear told the Evening Chronicle today:
“It was a difficult decision for me to make because both Shola and Obafemi Martins had been scoring goals for us.”
“But when I took Shola to one side on Saturday morning in a little one-to-one chat and told him he was on the bench, he could not have taken it better.”
“Obviously he was disappointed, but he told me he understood my decision, and that he was part of the squad and that it was the team which mattered most.”
Most top teams have at least four strikers in the Premier League and Kinnear, now that he has rehabilitated Shola Ameobi now has Oba Martins, Ameobi, Michael Owen and Mark Viduka available for Saturday’s game. Not a bad collection of strikers at the club.
Kinnear added:
“I feel we have got a good balance with our men up front.”“
We have Oba’s pace, Michael’s technical ability as a goalscorer and the power of Viduka and Ameobi.”
Joe’s right and we don’t need to add any strikers during January, and the likelihood is that we’ll see young Xisco moved out, if we can get a buyer for the 22 year-old Spanish Under-21 International.
We paid around £5.8M for the youngster in August, and it may be difficult to recoup that amount in January, but we’ll see.
Newcastle also have very promising young strikers Andy Carroll (19), Fabio Zamblera (18) and Nile Ranger (17) coming through.
Comments welcome.
36 comments so far
Phillipe Alberrrrrrt!!!
Nov 27, 2008 at 1:19 PM
Comment #1Correct Ed! I still think that Shola is very hot and cold but Kinnear’s definately lit the fire beneath him. Xisco has only been at the club 5 minutes but it looks like JFK doesn’t like him so if we can get some money then happy days. Smith should be flogged to Everton or someone ASAP and I reckon Andy Carroll should be moved on as well sad as it is to say I don’t see him making it
cooldj
Nov 27, 2008 at 1:19 PM
Comment #2🙂 3 in a row!
cooldj
Nov 27, 2008 at 1:19 PM
Comment #3oh look my coat.
Phillipe Alberrrrrrt!!!
Nov 27, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Comment #4On another note are we within our rights to send Nacho Nacho man packing back to Valencia?
ELFER
Nov 27, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Comment #5I would also love to pull that 1 year option on Duke’s contract – he offers us something special we don’t have!!
The Teamups of Owen and Viduka (first) and Martins with Ameobi are two strong ones!
I would love to also add an attacking leftback named Tayo Taiwo
Spyro
Nov 27, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Comment #6No problem, play Ameobi instead of Owen. Then have Owen come on as a sub.
ELFER
Nov 27, 2008 at 1:24 PM
Comment #7Additionally a strong holding midfielder to replace Butt – that should be our 2 priorities! leftback and holding midfielder (to play alongside either Barton or Guthrie)
Andy Boy
Nov 27, 2008 at 1:26 PM
Comment #8Oba & Shola upfont with Owen playing in behind.
graeme
Nov 27, 2008 at 1:32 PM
Comment #9Viduka hasnt played a full competative match in months. I wouldnt even make him a sub until he’s had a few hard games for the reserves. He only wants to play cos he gets to see his mates at Boro. He will probably break down after 30 minutes and have another 6 months off sick.
I would sell him as soon as the window opens – along with Smith – thats always assuming you can find a club that would have them!!! Use the money to buy some younger, hungrier talent. Hungrier for footy that is, not for the pies Viduka might leave!!!
azim
Nov 27, 2008 at 1:35 PM
Comment #10Shola is inconsistent….dont renew his contract and JK should try to develop Xisco…..buy a new big striker like Santa Cruz and get rid of Viduka this season(dont renew his contract , injury prone)…then we have a good strike force..maybe one of the best in the league
baz
Nov 27, 2008 at 1:39 PM
Comment #11ELFER!!- YOUR SPOT ON MATE ! PEOPLE HAVE A LOOK ON YOU TUBE AT TAYE TAIWO ! HES EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED- HOW DO WE GET THAT ACROSS TO WISE AND CO THO ? ANY IDEAS? HES LIKE A DEFENSIVE OBAFEMI ! AND HE TAKES PLAYERS ON SUPERBLY THEN SHOOTS !
beyethegreat
Nov 27, 2008 at 1:44 PM
Comment #12baz city are after him according to sky sports news
Phillipe Alberrrrrrt!!!
Nov 27, 2008 at 1:47 PM
Comment #13Am I missing something with this holding midfielder? It always looks to me like we’re crying out for creativity in the middle more than defensive holding at this point in time that’s why i’d be looking at Benayoun
JP...from The Rock
Nov 27, 2008 at 1:54 PM
Comment #14I feel sorry for Xisco as he never gets a mention from the manager. Poor kid. He must feel horrible. Why doesn’t JFK put him in the reserves so he can up his fitness and this way we could all see what he is capable of. If he aint up to it then we could sell him in January with no regrets.
JP...from The Rock
Nov 27, 2008 at 1:57 PM
Comment #15Baz- send emails to the official site and you might get listened to. It’s a shame that we can’t mention great players for DW and Co to have a look at them. Maybe through the Official site the message gets across.
JP...from The Rock
Nov 27, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Comment #16If that doesn’t work maybe by the NUFC Supporters Club/ Association we could mention the players to go after. I would love to see a Moutinho or Maicon or Velosso or a Turan here but it doesn’t look like it all…I can’t help myself from dreaming.
StevieA
Nov 27, 2008 at 2:10 PM
Comment #17Again Xisco isn’t getting a look in is he? I would be tempted to loan him out to a smaller premier league club like West Brom for example to get some experience and learn the premiership style of football.
I still think he could come good if we are patient, we are always too quick to get rid of players let’s give him some time to settle and get his confidence going.
I would go for Owen and Martins against Boro with Ameobi on for the last 30 minutes with 3 up front (Owen and Martins as advanced wingers).
We can beat Boro. As Big Al said they had a lot of chances and with Alves and the other strikers struggling we might just be playing them at the right time. If we beat them then we are only 1 point away from them, and would climb a few places too.
Would be just the confidence boost we need!
charlie
Nov 27, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Comment #18i really really hope we beat boro, how about this for a line up….
given
beye colo bassong enrique
butt
gutherie spiderman
owen
martins shola
Toon-Army1902
Nov 27, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Comment #19Taye Taiwo FTW!!! get him hes awesome
micepie
Nov 27, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Comment #20It would be champion if Viduka stays fit for the rest of the season. I hope we don’t sell Xisco, unless it’s our only way of raising money. I think it might be though, unless we were to let Harper go for about 3M and promote Krul to deputy.
Born Again Geordie
Nov 27, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Comment #21Nicer problem to have rather than them all being crocked I guess – we need 3 points on smogside and then 3 against Stoke and we can all start looking forward to christmas.
BT9MAG
Nov 27, 2008 at 3:30 PM
Comment #22I don’t mean to sound condescending – but Dennis Wise and Co. are professionals in their field, I’m fairly possitive that they’ll have at some point or another heard, reviewed and considered Taiwo – the guy’s who brought in Bassong and Gutierrez (relative unknowns) will be fully aware of famous international stars…
That being said – I do fully agree that he’d be a quality asset to the team…whether or not he’d want to come to us/we’d have the financial clout to bring him here remains to be seen!
– – – – – –
As for the striker situation, it’s not too shabby, Owen needs to get over his spell of missing sitters, past few games have seen him knock at least 2 or 3 easy chances behind (the goal AND himself)…
This could end up being a real confidence booster for the lads, as, the Boro fan’s are truly awful once they go behind…If we sap the atmosphere and get the advantage we can relax into playing smooth attacking football!
Desmond - DesmondBlog.com
Nov 27, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Comment #23Benayoun + Bendtner (I heard CSKA wanted to sign him for 5 million pounds from Arsenal)/ Jozy Altidore (from Villareal, just 17 years old!) + Riise (loan) = awesome team.
Ship out Viduka (too old), Smith (not very useful), Ameobi (he could fetch a good price) and even Harper if we have to.
We can develop Krul and Xisco definitely. Xisco could be loan to smaller teams like Leeds or Reading. Krul is a very determine fellow, so I bet he will replace Given when he retire
Tom_Toon
Nov 27, 2008 at 4:02 PM
Comment #24Keep Xisco.
Carroll and Zamblera looks absolute rubbish!
Taiwo is overrated with little-to-no defensive ability.
irish_al
Nov 27, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Comment #25to those saying sell Xisco in january
the earliest we could sell him is next summer
Desmond, we couldn’t sign Jozy Altidore for the same reason
he only joined them this summer
Wallsend Will
Nov 27, 2008 at 4:18 PM
Comment #26Breraking News.? Why is the FA Charging Joe Kinnear with an improper conduct charge for his “Mickey Mouse” comments. WHY NOW! He said sorry to the ref, explaining it was a heat of the moment thing. Completely understandle to most people. Perhaps it’s because the referee Martin Atkinson is still very very upset and feels that he can no longer referee a football match in future with someone making a reference to a cartoon charactor?
Why no, it’s the “Mickey Mouse” FA doing their best to get a kick in at the Newcastle Manager, probably because of his earlier rant at the press!
Robby Bobson
Nov 27, 2008 at 4:23 PM
Comment #27JP…from the rock
If wise didnt listen to KK i doubt he wil listen to us
Turkish Magpie
Nov 27, 2008 at 4:41 PM
Comment #28——–Viduka————-Owen————Martins
ObaMartins
Nov 27, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Comment #29Spyro wrote >>”No problem, play Ameobi instead of Owen. Then have Owen come on as a sub” <<<Are you on Day release from the local Mental Institution ??? if you sign yourself in for a Checkup !!!!
listie
Nov 27, 2008 at 5:18 PM
Comment #30Glad to see the Duke back, he’s on fire on PES 2009 🙂
kid in toronto
Nov 27, 2008 at 5:27 PM
Comment #31kk played a 433 with owen just behind martins and viduka with great effect.
———————-given—————————
beye—–coloccini——bassong——–enrique
———geremi—barton—gutherie————–
———————-owen—————————-
————viduka——–martins——————
ameobi subs for viduka, bassong subs for taylor.
we need more midfielders
Toon_Ksk
Nov 27, 2008 at 6:43 PM
Comment #32Strange, Xisco is out injured and everybody thinks that he is out of favour. Are you expecting Kinnear to play an injured player?
Turkish Magpie
Nov 27, 2008 at 6:48 PM
Comment #33Kid in Toronto-
Why Geremi for Jonas?
Jonas is 15 times better
KK FOREVER (Ross)
Nov 27, 2008 at 7:34 PM
Comment #34gotta be honest and say i’d love to hear “da da da da, mark viduuuka da da da da, mark viduuuuka” ring out around the riverside again. The last time he scored against them at their bit our end went mental, there’s a fantastic video of it all somewhere on youtube.
Sadly i doubt he’ll play any part though, as per usual. I wont be pleased if shola is dropped immediatly when he returns, but i think viduka is something special when fit and firing on all cylinders like.
Turkish Magpie
Nov 27, 2008 at 8:05 PM
Comment #35(ROSS)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ndZxm4fZqeA&feature=related
Punk Skunk
Nov 27, 2008 at 11:22 PM
Comment #36If we could just keep Viduka fit, play a 433, then most teams would have a right handful tryin’ to stop us from scorin’…& therefore slow down, if not nullify there attack!..
…& with Viduka’s hold up play, take a lot of pressure off of our midfield & defense!..
…Ho’way Marko!..