Karl Darlow’s grandfather is former 13 times capped Welsh International Ken Leek who some of us remember when he briefly played for Newcastle and signed for £25K in 1961 but he didn’t stay long and scored 6 goals in 13 appearances for us.
Ken passed away back in 2007 when he was 72 years old.
That relationship allows the Newcastle goalkeeper to play for Wales and in fact it turns out in a report in the Mirror today that he turned down Wales back in 2013.
At that time he put his International future on hold.
Karl Darlow – currently Newcastle number one goalkeeper
Since Rafa arrived at the club Darlow has slowly but surely made himself the number one goalkeeper at Newcastle.
He’s certainly a lot more consistent than the current Welsh International goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, who has 65 caps for Wales and plays his club football at the moment at Crystal Palace.
Wayne tends to play extremely well for his country, but he doesn’t seems to have the same form at club level.
The other two goalkeepers in the Welsh squad for Euro 2016 when they did so well and reached the semi-final of that competition were Owain Fôn Williams of Inverness and Danny Ward, the number one goalkeeper at Huddersfield.
Darlow was called up for the game against Austria back in 2013 but turned down the opportunity to join the squad.
Karl has a much better chance of enjoying International football at Wales than with England and he said this about his International career:
“The main aim is international football. I have to keep going and if it happens it happens. I can take care of my own performances.”
Of course before Karl can have an International career he needs another call-up.
He could possible get a call-up from Wales manager Chris Coleman next month?
Comments welcome.
62 comments so far
G
Feb 23, 2017 at 8:28 AM
Comment #1To be honest, I haven’t seen a Welsh keeper I have really rated since Neville Southall. Fantastic agility for what looked like a little old fat bloke.
Jib
Feb 23, 2017 at 8:39 AM
Comment #2Our goalies have a terrible injury record playing internationals – must be something to do with playing with unfamiliar defenders.
Ibizatoon
Feb 23, 2017 at 8:52 AM
Comment #3Jib…How so? Don’t most international GK’s play with an unfamiliar defense for their national teams?
Granted there are some exceptions and the more established an international keeper, the more chance he’ll be used to that defense (assuming it doesn’t change a lot).
I’m just not sure how it would be a NUFC related issue?
WWSBRD
Feb 23, 2017 at 8:54 AM
Comment #4Hold out until next season in the PL and see what offers he gets
Jib
Feb 23, 2017 at 9:00 AM
Comment #5Ibiza
I think it maybe something to do with the likes of Elliot and Krul not bing first choice international goalies.
Take England for example
Joe Hart (the first choice) gets to know his back four but then Fraser Forster could get thrown in at the deep end.
Krul had a period where he seemed to return from Dutch duty with an injury every time.
Any case it should not apply to Darlow as he would be 1st choice goalie for Wales
nut meg
Feb 23, 2017 at 9:03 AM
Comment #6I had his grandfathers autograph !! ha ha
Jib
Feb 23, 2017 at 9:05 AM
Comment #7Neville Southall
6’1″
While not huge for a goalie – hardly little
giimps
Feb 23, 2017 at 9:07 AM
Comment #8A couple of points from catching up with the blog over tha last couple of days, Mitro had a bad rep from when he was playing abroad, there was a ref (cant remember who it was) who said that the refs do their homework on players too, if a player has a history of being red carded they speak to the referees from the country he was playing in and get a backround on him.
He was a marked man the moment he set foot in England, its difficult enough to turn over a new leaf in a new country when the officials assume every tackle or coming together is malicious, ( it dont help that the very first thing you do when you come onto the pitch is take someone out with a late challenge) but i cant hel wondering if th refs were not prewarned some of his yellows and reds would not have happened?
The other point i was thinking, play either Mitro or Murphy ( I would go with Murphy vs Bristol) with Perez just Behind and Diame and Shelvey together.
I know Colback had a good (probably his best for a while) game vs Villa but one swallow dont make a summer, Diame played woeful on Monday but i think if hes deeper he can either pick the ball up earlier and make driving runs up the pitch (al Yaya Toure) or cN arrive later in the box to get on the end of crosses (alaLampard) .
Might be worth trialling it for 1/2hour vs Bristol before unleashing it vs Brighton.
I think it might work as long as Diame has the discipline to break play up when we dont have the ball, he has the ability to do the attacking stuff ,as does Shelvey.
G
Feb 23, 2017 at 9:07 AM
Comment #9Don’t know if Darlow will ever be an England international, however, if he does make it then good luck to him whichever international allegiance he takes, as long as it doesn’t send him back knackered a-la Krul.
martoon
Feb 23, 2017 at 9:07 AM
Comment #10Krul & Elliot both suffered ACL injuries which from memory was when they were either running after or kicking the ball – I can’t see why unfamiliar or familiar defenders would make any difference? I have to say it is damn unlucky for a keeper to get a ACL let alone 2!
firebug666
Feb 23, 2017 at 9:11 AM
Comment #11I don’t see how any goalkeeper can get an injury because of playing with “an unfamiliar back four”, at the end of the day, they train with these players, and various combinations of defenders, so should know enough about them. Injuries happen at all levels, maybe were just unlucky.
Ibiza
Have to go now, gotta give the team sheet to Rafa so he can get the lads prepared. 😀
martoon
Feb 23, 2017 at 9:11 AM
Comment #12giimps @8 – So what you are saying is drop a guy who was close to being our MotM and replace him with a player who was probably our worst player on Monday – doesn’t work for me!
Jib
Feb 23, 2017 at 9:32 AM
Comment #13martoon
I was just throwing out there as a reason.
To try to prompt discussion.
It could be bad foreign pitches poor training methods – anything.
Please don’t join Mr Tuff’s gang of sneerers
giimps
Feb 23, 2017 at 9:39 AM
Comment #14Martoon,
Its just another way of attacking, especially at home vs weaker teams, without playing 442
Jib
Feb 23, 2017 at 9:42 AM
Comment #15glimps
As I said in an earlier post.
I’m all for Rafa trying out different stuff – but – only when the game is secured and and in the bag.
WWSBRD
Feb 23, 2017 at 9:42 AM
Comment #16giimp
I don’t get the point on Mitro being targeted by refs tbh he earned his reputation himself through his career not sure why a ref would ignore his past especially when he acts the same way
Even this season mostly he’s been more interested in battling with CBs than football
martoon
Feb 23, 2017 at 9:43 AM
Comment #17Jib – No sneering intended I just couldn’t agree with your theory of unfamiliar defenders – bad pitches or unfamiliar training methods is certainly more of a possibility.
posada
Feb 23, 2017 at 9:45 AM
Comment #18Purely from memory. Krul was injured in a friendly game. A cold night on a plastic pitch. Had to step in when the 1st choice goalie cried off during the warm up. Perhaps he did not fancy it.
Elliot injured when he was given his chance in a warm up game prior to euros.
Common denominator if there is one. Both perhaps trying too hard to impress in difficult circumstances. Pushed in at short notice and felt obliged to take the opportunity as they were at the time 2nd 3rd choice at best for their country.
Pure speculation of course on my part.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 23, 2017 at 9:48 AM
Comment #19Jibberish,
How on earh was martoon sneering by questioning your reasons, have you got some kind of impunity to accuse others of being know nowts while coming out with absolute bollox on tactical substitutions etc?
Essex Geordie Bill
Feb 23, 2017 at 9:51 AM
Comment #20I had a senior moment when I put up the future headlines predictions for Ed.
The ‘Adam Armstrong scores a hat trick as Barnsley thrashes Brighton 6-0’ of course should have read ‘as Barnsley thrashes Huddersfield 6-0’
Jib
Feb 23, 2017 at 9:57 AM
Comment #21Jail
He wasn’t
He just said
Do you have reading difficulties ?
Jail for Ashley
Feb 23, 2017 at 10:07 AM
Comment #22Jib,
I read perfectly well you accusing him of sneering simply because he discounted your theory.
Jib
Feb 23, 2017 at 10:18 AM
Comment #23martoon and I have differed many times before but I was imploring him not become a Mr Tuff/Benny who offers absolutely sweet fa to the blog but constantly picks holes in the contributions of other bloggers.
Les têtes vides qui pensent qu’ils sont intelligents – as they say in Carcassonne
G
Feb 23, 2017 at 10:23 AM
Comment #24Jib in relation to the earlier Neville Southall comment, the words “looked like” should have given you a clue. He was neither little, old, or fat in his hayday, but he looked like all 3 from a distance mate.
Jib
Feb 23, 2017 at 10:37 AM
Comment #25Another chance to see our man Saivet in action tonight – Manyoo v Saint-Etienne
G – fair comment
Ibizatoon
Feb 23, 2017 at 10:38 AM
Comment #26Jib…It’d be interesting to see what cases there are from other clubs, with 2nd or 3rd choice international keepers getting injuries.
I would have thought other factors are at play personally.
Firebug…Outrageous! I’d say that we’ll launch an inquiry, but it’s plain to see what you’ve been up to, so what’s the point? 🙂
Ibizatoon
Feb 23, 2017 at 10:39 AM
Comment #27Jib…Wasn’t that game last night? Ended 1-0 Man U (4-0 agg)?
WWSBRD
Feb 23, 2017 at 10:39 AM
Comment #28Be hard pressed to see Saviet play tonight Jeffery
Jib
Feb 23, 2017 at 10:43 AM
Comment #29whoops
crowing time
Ibizatoon
Feb 23, 2017 at 10:47 AM
Comment #30Jib…Not from me, we all make mistakes.
Perhaps you could afford others the same in future? Wouldn’t that be something.
Jib
Feb 23, 2017 at 10:49 AM
Comment #31ah yes
I see our Henri was subbed after about 50 minutes
I was under the impression that all Europa League matches were on a Thursday.
All the rest seem to be tonight.
It was on at 1700 thats how I missed it
Jail for Ashley
Feb 23, 2017 at 10:50 AM
Comment #32Cock a doodle doo Jibberish, you bumbling oaf 😀
Jib
Feb 23, 2017 at 10:53 AM
Comment #33I’ve just learned
Man U play Soton in the League cup final on Sunday so got a special dispensation from Pope Gianni Infantino (Blatters replacement)
Jail for Ashley
Feb 23, 2017 at 11:02 AM
Comment #34Jibberish,
Talking rubbish again, it is because Lyon were playing at the same time. All Europa teams play on Thursday and Sunday, why would the Uefa president give special dispensation and Etienne would have to agree giving Man U the advantage of playing a stronger squad. Is your list of lies, drivel and fake news never ending.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 23, 2017 at 11:03 AM
Comment #35And it would be the UEFA presidents decision if anything not FIFAs
toontaff2
Feb 23, 2017 at 11:04 AM
Comment #36Well maybe we could help them familiarise with each other – goalie and defence – Dai Darlow, Big Vaughan Anita from Port Talbot, Cadfaael Mbemba was seen in a holiday caravan in Llandysiliogogo, Llewellyn Lascalles did a stint at Butlin’s Pwllheli and not forgetting Taffy Dummett!
They all speak about the same amount of Welsh as me!
Jib
Feb 23, 2017 at 11:08 AM
Comment #37Toontaff
You forgot Hywel Haidara
Jib
Feb 23, 2017 at 11:11 AM
Comment #38Jail
A sign of low intelligence is humour going WHOOSH over someones head.
booboo
Feb 23, 2017 at 11:12 AM
Comment #39sorry this not club matters
this guy keep jibbering jibberish since i started in this blog i or we dont care about u damm get a life fool whoops !! . say some interesting just for once .?? thinking u better than us or got more knowledge. go support the scums a match made for u and leave our club alone you a disgrace . …..now r.i.p fool whoops.
martoon
Feb 23, 2017 at 11:18 AM
Comment #40I go away for an hour or two and find I’ve inadvertently started World War III 🙂