Jose Enrique has come out today and said that he has very intention of staying on Tyneside for next season, when the club will play in the Coca Cola Championship.
Jose Enrique – wants to stay at Newcastle
Jose says he would consider other offers were they forthcoming, but he will not seek a move away from Tyneside.
Translation – if some other club wants to take me on the same wages I am getting at Newcastle, then I could move.
Enrique’s future, like that of much of the first-team squad at the famous St James’ Park club, has been cast in doubt, after the side’s disastrous relegation to the Coca Cola Championship – the second division of English football. That from a team that had the 3rd highest wage bill of the 20 teams in the Premier League . 🙁
However, Damien Duff has already pledged his future to the club and Enrique has now followed suit – although we think things are just a little different with Enrique’s statement.
Enrique told Marca today:
“I have a contract for three years with Newcastle,” “Nobody wants to play in the Championship, but I’m thinking only of fulfilling my contract.”
“The team has great resources and I am sure that if things go well from the start we can be a team to match Aston Villa.”
“I like the city and I am very happy in England, but that does not stop anyone considering an offer that might arrive from another team.”
“As it stands today, I see myself playing next season at Newcastle.”
Before we go too far here – another interpretation of this is that Enrique is on a big contract at Newcastle and wants it to continue for another year. It seems he will not miss too much by playing in th Championship, because he is not pushing for an International position, unlike other players like Martins, Coloccini and Gutierrez for next summer’s FIFA World Cup.
We’re sure Xisco could come out and say the exact same thing, but the club has to decide which players on high wages are the ones to keep for next year – it’s the club’s decision, and for players they don’t want they will need to sell.
Personally, we are OK with Enrique, because his play would suit the Championship, and the boy is a fighter and has always done his best for the club, and he’s said several times how he and his wife like life on Tyneside, and he’s even OK with the weather – how’s that for commitment. 😀
And Jose tried like crazy in the last 20 minutes to score that all important goal on Sunday – and that’s more than can be said of quite a few of our other players – we’ll never ever forget that second half gutless display!
Can you imagine if Jose had scored say, with 2 minutes to go on Sunday, he would have bene a Tyneside hero, would have loved it, and would have deserved every minute of the adulation.
But that didn’t happen.
Comments welcome.
55 comments so far
dougnufc
May 29, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Comment #1Great news
Thump
May 29, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Comment #2I’d like to see him stay.
Pedro
May 29, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Comment #3Three down one to go (defenders that is)! I think he’s top, even better when we get another LB and he’s competing for his place.
Macas35
May 29, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Comment #4I see there are rumours today about whther Scholes will stay on at Man U next season. While I think he will, if we could persuade him to come to the Toon as a player or in a player/coach role it would be a phenomenal signing. Obviously there’s not much chance of it but we really do need someone like that I think to drive the team on next season.
stevep
May 29, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Comment #5yeah – I like him, any player is bound to consider offers but i doubt the big four will come knocking on the door for him so we should be ok on that front.
I can see him being really good in the championship – now we just need to buy a decent midfield and a new striker
Ben_BKK
May 29, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Comment #6He’s just trying to gain support from the fans, who think he’s committing to the club.
Come on, he said other offers would have to be considered, and that at the moment he sees himself playing for Newcastle. That’s cause obviously there haven’t been any bids yet, so he can’t move to another club yet. He’s just being diplomatic about it.
Of course I’d love him to stay with us in the Championship, that would give us probably 3 of the best defenders in the league, with Beye, Taylor and Enrique. Now we just need Bassong to stay, and if he’s able to play for Cameroon while we’re not in the Premier League, that’s a possibility.
Vest
May 29, 2009 at 12:46 PM
Comment #7Great news. I would love for Jose to stay with us. He has put more heart in his play, than most of the other 1. teamers.
He is one of the big earners to keep.
GOOOOOO TOOOOOON ! ! ! ! !
THE MAGPIE
May 29, 2009 at 12:46 PM
Comment #8Alan will his ideas on who he wants to keep and stay, but it doesnt mean he can persuade those he wants to stay and those he wants to leave to go.
The players have the power these days.
Also Shearer and Ashley have to agree on who has the final say if an offer comes in for any player.
babelfish
May 29, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Comment #9Macas35 // May 29, 2009 at 12:35 PM
I see there are rumours today about whther Scholes will stay on at Man U next season. While I think he will, if we could persuade him to come to the Toon as a player or in a player/coach role it would be a phenomenal signing. Obviously there’s not much chance of it but we really do need someone like that I think to drive the team on next season.
No No No. That is the exact type of signings we have been making in the past that has got us into this current situation. We don’t need another player coming to the end of his career looking for that last paycheck.
rites
May 29, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Comment #10how much is he on a week?
listie
May 29, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Comment #11To me his statement reads as, i’ll stay if no one wants me, but go if someones does, so not really a huge amount of commitment.
“thinking only of fulfilling my contract.” is not the best statement, IMHO
Johno Toon
May 29, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Comment #12Good to see he wants to stay as i see a good defence forming with himself taylor bassong and beye
sirjasontoon
May 29, 2009 at 12:59 PM
Comment #13Be good if he Stays.
Might not so have to wait and see.
Sure if a prem team came in with an offer Ashley would sell him regardless
reetpetite
May 29, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Comment #14bassong wont stay!!! you wont turn down a 10 mill bid for him and i am sure playing in the 1st dfiv wont help his world cup chances.
stevep
May 29, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Comment #15reetpetite – why you still on here – thought you didnt bother with championship clubs?
rites
May 29, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Comment #16bassong wont stay and clearly enrique is there for the cash i dont know how much he is on like but i can bet no other club will pay it!
Macas35
May 29, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Comment #17babelfish – Scholes has never been the type pf player who would be interested in a last paycheck. He would be incredible in the heart of our midfield and would be a great influence on the younger players. It wouldn’t cost much to sign him and I think you could justify the wages of someone like Scholes as he is still a great player. We need some experiences players, and it looks as though we will in defence with the likes of Beye staying, but for me we need a leasder in the middle of the park and there could be no one better than Scholes.
Stuart79
May 29, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Comment #18no decision on shearer until next week
not gonna happen i don’t think
stevep
May 29, 2009 at 1:08 PM
Comment #19err what makes you think scholes would come to toon – are you forgetting we’re a championship club now?
Bassongs agent is talking to arsenal, they wont pay more than 12 million – stalemate, agent trying to up the price by saying spurs etc interested and willing to pay more
reetpetite
May 29, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Comment #20stevep- i am enjoing reading the players you are wanting etc. I find it mildly amusing. I only wish tomtoon was on here now as he thrives on that sort of thing.
reetpetite
May 29, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Comment #21oh dear. scholes? I would have thought his good friend nicky butt would advise him that the toon wouldnt be a good carreer move.
THE MAGPIE
May 29, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Comment #22E
stevep
May 29, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Comment #23@reet – yeah i just spotted messi and alves at newcastle airport – they are desperate to sign for toon – Ronaldo and Rooney are meeting them at the hotel and then they’re all off to the ground to sign up
stevep
May 29, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Comment #24scholes is past it, legs have gone
rites
May 29, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Comment #25reetpetite
hes right like
THE MAGPIE
May 29, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Comment #26Enrique reported at 45000 a week when a move to Celtic was mooted.
Whumpie
May 29, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Comment #27Even if he’s desperate to stay, unless he takes a pay cut it may not happen. Shame, ‘cos I really like the guy.
Blimey – who’d have thought that after a relegation season, I’d be wanting to keep all of our 1st-choice defenders??
Macas35
May 29, 2009 at 1:17 PM
Comment #28stevep – I said it wasnt likely if you bothered to read my post correctly, but would you rather move to Stoke or the Toon? We are going to need 1 or 2 top pros though with experience to help us through the season.
Stuart79
May 29, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Comment #29Of course all these people want to bloody stay!
They ain’t gonna get the same wages anywhere else!
jack
May 29, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Comment #30Not forgetting that he doesn’t actually speak much English so whatever he said will have been translated, I can take this as a positive sign.
It shows he’s not going to look for a way out. It shows that he’s happy in England. It shows that he’s settled. Which other English teams are gonna come in for him? He was solid but he had a few injuries and didn’t set the world alight. We just noticed him because he watch Newcastle games very closely and enjoyed his effort.
I’d be very happy to have him here next season.
reetpetite
May 29, 2009 at 1:24 PM
Comment #31macas35- As hard as it is for you to grasp, most players would want to play for stoke over the toon. hull, wigan, stoke, sunderland , blackburn and bolton are all more attractive now .
Macas35
May 29, 2009 at 1:29 PM
Comment #32reetpetite – Scholes has played for a passing side all his career, do you honestly think he would be comfortable looking to get on the end of long throws all game? Its highly unlikely that he would want to come here either, but we do need someone like that in our midfield.
reetpetite
May 29, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Comment #33macas35- ah yes the brilliant passing newcastle team of the past 3 years.
Of course you could do with an experienced midfielder who could still make the england team. Trouble is would they drop down a division.
no!
leehal
May 29, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Comment #34I am not sure how I would feel about Enrique staying, he did show heart towards the end of the season and he may do well in the Championship.
Anyone else think that they couldn’t wait for last season to be over, I now cannot wait for the new season to start.
Hopefully appoint Shearer, get rid of the dross and sign some new exciting players to take the Championship by storm. If we had stayed in the Premiership I feel we would have had another 2-3 seasons of mediocrity. At least if we can gain promotion in the next 2 seasons we will have cleared the decks and hopefully put us on a sound footing for progression.
Whumpie
May 29, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Comment #35Benny – post 31. Boswellox, man. You still don’t get it, do you?
Here’s the question a player will ask himself (assuming he’s under 30) when deciding between offers: which team is most likely to be playing in Europe during the duration of my next contract?
Stoke, hull, wigan, sunderland , blackburn, bolton… or Newcastle – the only club that was one of the ‘top 4’ before Abramovich happened; the only club with a global following and the only one that was playing in the champions league most seasons until just four years back. Most importantly, the only club in that list with any chance whatsoever of competing with the big boys financially. Who’ll be turning over 9 figures year after next out of that list?
Of course, if we don’t get Shearer and his plans, Stoke suddenly doesn’t sound so bad…
AndyNUFC
May 29, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Comment #36Fantastic news, and one of the handful of players we desperately need to stay. This lad’s a real talent. He’s strong, quick, and can cross a ball, nevermind gets forward well and has good ball control. We should still buy another left back, but ONLY as emergency cover, as Enrique is our future.
Whumpie
May 29, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Comment #37Oh, and forget Scholes. Great player. But not what we need in so many ways.
Stevo
May 29, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Comment #38He’s a great player and would love him to stay but these players that are committing need to understand they must (and I hope they are) take pay cuts. We can’t be paying players more that 45k etc in the championship. It will just crush us. I’m sure we could find a good solid left back for half the wage. Shame because he’s quality but the truth is we just can’t afford wages like that anymore.
Doocey
May 29, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Comment #39Very very good news 😀
ObaFan2
May 29, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Comment #40Read his statement and he’s saying he will stay and play in the championship if no better offers come along! Hardly saying he’s committed to the Toon!
Oba’s being hunted by a couple of sides from Italy and a couple from the EPL but he need an operation that will keep him out for atleast 6 weeks!
Maybe that’s why he seemed to have lost a bit of pace, playing with his injury!