Xisco has had some good counsel from Newcastle manager Alan Pardew this season, and Alan told the Spanish U21 International not to give up and to keep working hard, and anything can happen.
Xisco in training this season
Well – Xisco scored a hat-trick in the Newcastle U21 5-1 win against Stoke City last night, and he got great praise for his attitude and commitment from the Reserve team manager Willie Donaghue after the game.
And this is what Xisco said in the Evening Chronicle today about what Pardew had told him:
“He just told me I don’t need to give up. He said to try hard and do my best and that anything can happen.” “Sometimes it has been hard here for me.” “When I came here I was happy to sign, I wanted to play for the first team. I haven’t always had that chance.”
“You train hard, do your best and you don’t get your chance.” “It’s difficult, and you get frustrated. That’s why I tried to go back to Spain each season.” “When I came here in the first season, it was difficult.” “We had three or four managers, it was my first season and it wasn’t good.”
“It was a bad start in the Premier League for me.” “Then I went back to Spain every year because I felt comfortable there.” “They gave me the confidence and the chance to play.” “Newcastle hasn’t worked out well for me. But I still have one more year.”
“This is my last season and I would like to play and be at my best for Newcastle.”
And the 26 year-old has always been well liked on Tyneside, because of the way he always tries his very best, and he works hard in training, and he’s a popular lad behind the scenes at Newcastle.
And Xisco is well aware of the fan’s admiration for him:
“It is a great feeling to know that. There’s one thing I have always felt here, the fans have been good with me.” “I always feel their support. I want to return that compliment to the fans.”
“There were a few options in the summer but nothing happened.” “They have financial problems in Spain now and there isn’t much movement.” “I decided to stay here, rather than go to Spain to a club I didn’t want to go to.”
“I’m happy that I made the decision. I love the club, the city and I’m comfortable with my team-mates.” “If I have to play with the reserves I will play with the reserves and help the team reach their targets.”
Xisco has scored only one goal in 11 appearances for the Newcastle first team, but maybe he’ll get a place on the bench against Club Brugge – and that would be a big statement from manager Alan Pardew, and a welcome uplift for the lad too.
Xisco talked about his hat-trick last night:
“I’m always happy to score goals, it is always a good feeling.” “But I’m also happy to help the team get a win. The most important thing is to win.” “I feel good. When you are playing you get confidence and everything becomes easier.”
“I just need to keep playing. Goals always give you confidence but I was playing the same way before.”
It’s possible that Xisco may get a place on the bench on Thursday night, but 17 year-old Adam Campbell was also very impressive last night, and maybe he will get on the bench – since he’s the future for Newcastle.
There’s no long-term future for Xisco at Newcastle, but you’ve got to give it to the lad – his attitude is just first class under difficult circumstances, and he deserves enormous credit for that.
We wish the lad every success, and hope he can get hooked up with a side next summer when his five-year contract ends at Newcastle.
What do you think?
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33 comments so far
robtheguru
Oct 23, 2012 at 10:48 AM
Comment #1I’d give him a chance in Europe. Just like Obertan, he could raise his game against teams from the continent.
beefman13
Oct 23, 2012 at 10:48 AM
Comment #2A lad who to be fair owes the club quite a bit certainly wages wise no pun intended?
That said he has a poin to prove and they are always the ones whos focus is on the job.
i remember leon best getting ridiculed as the worst buy in 10 years of some sections of the media, he scored a hatrick next game v west ham and to be fair did well for us.He was a lad who had a point to prove also.
Was at the reserve game last night and he was top drawer, but overshadowed by young adam campbell who was a class above everything else on the pitch, i just hope he gets more chances, they were purring about the lad in the dougout.
2_goal_tino
Oct 23, 2012 at 10:50 AM
Comment #3I genuinely feel sorry for him. It wasn’t his fault Wise watched him on YouTube and as such drove Keegan out. I really do hope he can be given a few more opportunities, particularly in the europa league.
jeff
Oct 23, 2012 at 10:50 AM
Comment #4hmm i think he could be cisse’s perfect partner
ramajama
Oct 23, 2012 at 10:50 AM
Comment #5would love to see him get a chance this season
shearermania
Oct 23, 2012 at 10:53 AM
Comment #6i love the club and the city…..and my wages
martoon
Oct 23, 2012 at 10:53 AM
Comment #7Another reason he probably didn’t want to move to Spain is that nobody their will pay him anywhere near what he is reputedly earning here. But you can’t blame the player – he was offered the contract – so he took it. We may as well get our moneysworth and try him in some of the European games.
Slank
Oct 23, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Comment #8Some players take awhile to settle into a new club whilst others slot into things seamlessly. Colo was useless in his first season. Perch was hopeless in his first (and second?) season whilst Ba, Cabaye and Tiote slotted in without any trouble.
How many of those fans who wanted Colo and Perch out in those early days would now say that today, not many if any I suggest?
I would like to see Xisco given an opportunity, perhaps in the European games, perhaps alongside Cisse.
Karl9212
Oct 23, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Comment #9Im not being funny but someone who scored a hat-trick is rarely overshadowed by anyone. Although i wasnt at the game, i find that hard to believe. Give him a chance!
WWYCD
Oct 23, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Comment #10Haha the lad does one interview where he says the right things and scores a hattrick against a poor Stoke reserve side and suddenly he deserves another shot in the limelight?
toon_army_redlichtie85
Oct 23, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Comment #11Remember that game he played and set up Andy carroll, think it was against Aston villa or maybe even the scum but I remember the game because of his performance! He was amazing! Does everyone agree that 11 appearances, some only 20 mins of the game, isn’t loony enough to show anyone what you can do ? Cisse done it in his first 11 games but imagine he started the way he has been lately, we’d all think he was shite!
Anyways point is, he’s a good player would benefit with a cisse type partner up front
NUFC_LEAZES END
Oct 23, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Comment #12End of the day, it wasn’t xisco’s fault we signed him, and to be frozen out, yet still be positive is a very hard thing to do. Credit goes to him.
Hopefully he’ll get a chance on Thursday in front of the home crowd, or hopefully a championship side will want to loan him or something??
magpie6699
Oct 23, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Comment #13Don’t get the point made by someone earlier about dropping Tiote for he Brugge game to “teach him a lesson”. Suppoe whoever is picked in his place – Bigi, Perchinho, Anita – is injured in the game and (say) another injury happens against WBA on Sunday – not to mention any “legginess” later on in the Sunday game. We’re suddenly going to be awfully light in the next 2 EPL games. Far better use Tiote in Europa – keep a bit of match fitness AND protect us against the doomsday scenario. There are other ways to try to get the lesson across if it’s necessary.
wolfshead@toon
Oct 23, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Comment #14i agree slank at least hes a trier unlike ranger the waster
Rotonda heights
Oct 23, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Comment #15I think I’s always refreshing to see something salvaged with a player who has had dogs abuse ever since he’s been here. Perch being the prime example.
It seems daft paying someone 50k a week for zero return. The last time I saw Xisco in the first team he laid on a great assist for Carroll and was then never
heard of again.
It would be quite a story if he could turn things around somehow.
toon_army_redlichtie85
Oct 23, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Comment #16Xiscos stats –
181 appearances
78 goals
That is not bad at all for a 26 year old who hasn’t been giving a chance in 5 years of that
jesperfuglsang
Oct 23, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Comment #17So Wizard and I were in for some pampering this morning at the OV Spa 🙂 (no it is not a couple’s retrit lol)
…for the treatment they used caffeinated coffee grounds (preferably warm), a newspaper, some olive oil and a plastic wrap (we would like to thank Ibiza for this opportunity) I can feel the darkside disappearing as we speak 🙂
To be continued!
dannyhunt
Oct 23, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Comment #18in xiscos shoes id be p*sed off if ranger had more 1st team ops than me, give him at least a half against brugge and if he starts banging them in for the 1st team he’ll be ahead of shola and pardew will look like a man managing genius!
beefman13
Oct 23, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Comment #19Slank i remember colo in that relegation season he did have a mare, he used to get caught all the time beacuse we played such a high line and the quicker attacker would get a run on him and it looked really bad as he was caught time and time again.
same would have happened to the great bobby moore if he played in a team with a high line he did not have the pace either, but both of them playing deeper and covering the back line are fabulous.
Colo would have been as good as anyone in the old sweepers role, i really dont think their is a more composed skillful defender in the premiership especially if he is used to his strengths.
thomastoon25
Oct 23, 2012 at 11:45 AM
Comment #20Give the lad a chance….Obviously has some talent
woolerbill
Oct 23, 2012 at 11:52 AM
Comment #21This young man has done nothing wrong, we tuned our back on him, he deserves all the money he gets. Not one manager gave him a chance.
warwick
Oct 23, 2012 at 12:24 PM
Comment #22Xisco getting a chance is like some groundhog day meme that continues to filter through among the deluded.
How could he play for U21´s is it not the reserves?
A hatrick for the reserves is nothing in reality lets be honest. Nile ranger was banging in hatricks for the reserves as well.
Not sure where he reckons he´s getting the fan support from either.
End of the day he´s away at the end of the season, simply not been good enough, if he was he would play or be around the fringes.
Thank the oh so unwise one for that mistake.
one Tony Green
Oct 23, 2012 at 1:48 PM
Comment #23He is a cracking dance as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oai1V7kaFBk
DG MAGPIE
Oct 23, 2012 at 3:43 PM
Comment #24Play him against bruge!
toon-related-username
Oct 23, 2012 at 5:49 PM
Comment #25Let’s not forget that he feigned an injury in our relegation season.
Not sure if I’m ready to forgive and forget
Wor Cheik
Oct 23, 2012 at 6:03 PM
Comment #26http://truenewcastleunited.wordpress.com/ for a new blog looking at weekly news for newcastle united!!!!
Only in its first few days
Ketsbaia9
Oct 23, 2012 at 6:13 PM
Comment #27Xisco’s a flair player. He scored 3 against Man Utd reserves about 3 years ago and wasn’t considered for the first team. I feel sorry for him. He was a good player and we’ve ruined his career.
He should be in the squad for Brugges. If he does well in the Europa league, then I would expect him to be promoted to the first team.
NorseMag
Oct 23, 2012 at 6:22 PM
Comment #28i don’t blame him for seeing his contract out, who wouldn’t, but to feel sorry for him? if first team football is his highest priority, what’s stopping him?
Lee Dodd
Oct 23, 2012 at 7:22 PM
Comment #29We Need Players – He is On Seriouse Money – Give Him a Chance on Thursday Evening. He Knows Were The Goal is .. Cisse and Shola start He can Come of the Bench let The Fans see what he can Do !!!! What Have we to Loose ??? OR DO WE USE RANGER ?? IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW AGAIN … Gets Drunk Fights …Late all the Time… IS Xisco ???
Ketsbaia9
Oct 23, 2012 at 7:53 PM
Comment #30Xisco deserves to be in the team more than Williamson and Simpson do.
Cool Hand Luke
Oct 23, 2012 at 8:06 PM
Comment #31If Xisco is under 21 then how does he get into the disco?
jawballsaswallwell
Oct 23, 2012 at 9:18 PM
Comment #32If Xisco gets a game ahead of Campbell I’ll eat my head.
Brutooon
Oct 23, 2012 at 10:32 PM
Comment #33if i was given a 50k per week for being an average player – i would simple say the same thing xisco said