Shola - He’s Got A Brand New Hip
By Ben Letby On Wed 18 Jul 2007 |
When it comes to success stories, Shola Ameobi hasn’t found one yet. The angular Nigerian-born striker has failed to have the major impact he was tipped to have when Bobby Robson pulled him out of the youth system all those years ago. Now 25, Ameobi should be reaching the peak of his career and playing his best football. But one problem stopping him from proving his worth to the Geordie faithful has been a recurring hip injury of which he has commendably played through at times when other players wouldn’t hesitate to give up - no matter what sort of injury crisis the club may be experiencing.
As Shola himself pointed out in a recent interview; ten years ago he was one of the fans paying to get in every week to cheer the team on - so he knows how they feel. At times he has been highly criticised for his performances and style of play, but noone can doubt the sheer effort and attitude of Shola Ameobi. In the face of recurring injuries and highly-critical fans, footballers who have been given the nickname “donkey” by their own people would be forgiven for giving up and moving away. But something made Ameobi turn out for us again and again - he had a belief in his own ability and he loves the club.
In February 2006, we all rejoiced as Graeme Souness’ tedious stint as Newcastle manager ended after a dull 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City. But something else happened that week; Shola Ameobi started playing well. The former England U21 striker suddenly found he could enjoy his football, he discovered that he had something to offer and more importantly he discovered his scoring touch and his predatory instinct. You might laugh, but at the time some Geordies were looking forward to life after Shearer…all because Shola Ameobi was in town.
It is hard to believe that Ameobi has averaged just over a goal every two starts since Glenn Roeder took over as caretaker manager in 2006. But the evidence is there to prove it*…
Game 1: Glenn Roeder’s first game in charge. Shola provided a magical assist for Alan Shearer, who shot low into the Gallowgate net to become the club’s all time record goal scorer with 201 goals.
Game 2: Shola scored early in the game against Aston Villa at Villa Park. (1)
Game 4: He had a goal incorrectly disallowed for offside.
Game 6: Ameobi sealed a Newcastle victory by scoring in the 70th minute. (2)
Game 8: He scored a looping header against Liverpool at St James’ Park. (3)
Game 9: He was played on the left-wing by Glenn Roeder.
Game 12: Ameobi showed his striker’s instinct as he poked home a rebound after Nobby Solano’s drive. (4)
Game 13: He scored again, this time at Riverside where we won 2-1. (5)
Game 14: Shola came off injured after 18 minutes.
Game 15: In the absence of Shearer after his injury at Sunderland, Ameobi scored twice as we sunk West Brom. (6,7)
Game 18: In his first game of the new season, Shola scored twice away at Lillestrom. (8,9)
Game 19: He scored as we tried to come back from behind against PSV Eindhoven in a friendly. (10)
Game 20: Another goal came as we equalised against Villarreal. (11)
Game 22: Shola scored an the opening day of the new Premiership season at home to Wigan. (12)
Game 23: Ameobi was only playing after passing a late fitness test, he was clearly unfit and missed the next match.
Game 26: He scored as we drew at home with Everton. (13)
Game 27: Despite being clearly unfit, Shola played alone upfront against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Game 28: He converted a penalty as we slipped to a 2-1 loss at home to Bolton. (14)
Game 29: Shola came on as a 75th minute substitute.
Game 30: Still clearly unfit, he came on as a substitute after 30 minutes replacing the injured Sibierski.
Game 31: During Sam Allardyce’s first match in charge at Newcastle, he scored twice after coming on as a second half substitute. (15,16)
(* Shola has made 31 appearances since February 4th 2006 - the date of Roeder’s first match. I have only mentioned the games that were worthy of comment - in the game numbers not mentioned, Shola was playing upfront and didn’t score. I have not counted the couple of appearances towards the end of last season as Shola had barely recovered from injury and everyone just wanted the season to end)
That is total of 16 goals in 28 starts and three substitute appearances. During that entire period he was struggling with a hip problem, so what can we expect from him now?
Granted, we’ve given this lad a lot of chances, but I think it is time for one more. With Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins and Mark Viduka to compete with for a berth upfront this season, the quality of competition can only serve to improve our number 23 and I think he might just prove a lot of people wrong.
Do you think Shola Ameobi has it in him to make a top-flight success of himself? How much longer are you prepared to wait for him to prove himself? Have your say.
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Good article
Sent in on: July 24th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Darlo Doug please what can I say for gods sake lets get rid of this “he’s a toon fan” and a “geordie through and through” so am I but I’m not being paid zillions a week. Get a grip of reality Shola is not a premiership player he will never get you 20 goals a season, for his height and build he doesnt put himself about he cant head the ball in short not good enuf.
We need to change our mentality I dont care if they r geordies or toon fans we need to win something bring them in from the planet zog get a left back, but please no more sentimental clap trap.
Gareth
New Hartley Mags
Chairman
Sent in on: July 23rd, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Steve A - anybody who states Ameobi is no good at anything is NOT talking nonsense!
He`s been in the 1st team - 6 (painful) years yet some people are still saying give him a chance he`ll come good! There`s about as much chance as Sunderland winning the City of Culture than Ameobi becoming good!
Sent in on: July 23rd, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Well, i think that we tolerate players that under achieve at newcastle if they are british. Ameobi has no pedigree from his background, no control, no finish ETC, he is not great anything, Not slagging him off i think he is a premiership player for a wigan Etc but we support him and managers do because he is british BUT if they are foreign we say they cant hack the premiership and we should get shot, Luque anyone??? This guy has genuine pedigree ( La ligue, Champions league, Spanish international ) but we dont give them a run in the team or a chance. He has a great touch good crossing and shooting. So why are we sticking with Ameobi over luque? Should we not be giving a run in the team to a guy that just needs to adjust to the league???? What do you think??? Am i talking utter none-sense??? Tell me why???
Sent in on: July 23rd, 2007 at 3:56 pm
I`m a Toon fan through and through BUT I`M NOT GOOD ENOUGH EITHER so you argument has no point.
There`s an old saying that if you put 11 Donkeys in a Black & White shirt then we`d still turn up to watch. Well after 35 years attending SJP then I`ve watched too many Donkeys I`m afraid. My point is if we are to finally win some Silverware then we have to off load the likes of Ameobi as well as Babayaro, Carr etc. No wonder we haven`t won a domestic Trophy for 52 years. This is because too many fans at NUFC tolerate poor players simply because they wear the Black & White shirt. I actually don`t blame Ameobi in full, Robson, Souness & Roeder all inexplicably selected him. However the Lads comments about himself leave alot to be desired - “Newcastle don`t need to spend £20M, I`m the Man to replace Alan Shearer!” I`m pleased we signed Michael (Owen) we can both forge a partnership & lead England in the World Cup.” Somebody wants to sit that Lad down and make him watch 90 minutes of himself.
You think I`m on his back. No I`m just a realist who knows he`s nowhere near good enough for NUFC.
Long gone are the Days of Shinton & Askew etc. We pay really good money to watch our club too.
Ameobi is like McDonald, unfortunately Rob not Malcolm.
You`re blaming his Hip, what`s his excuse for the previous 5 seasons then?
Sent in on: July 23rd, 2007 at 9:37 am
I think Shola will do somthing this year. He may be from Nigeria but he’s a Toon fan and a Geordie through and through. I thought he looked a different player in that 1st game of last season against Wigan (when we thought his hip was cured). He scored, looked lively then got hit and it was obvious he was in trouble. He has said recently he has been playing in pain for a long time…..that’s hard to imagine for a profesional sportsman.
We should all get behind the lad, get off his back AND SUPPORT ALL OUR PLAYERS -at least all of those who try.
Sent in on: July 22nd, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Cant believe the number of fans who rate Shola. He’s a Championship player no more no less. I was flabbergasted when he said he was the one to replace big Al and score goals for England in the World Cup.
Toptoon what does he provide thats different? I dont see anything. He’s a nice guy getting paid a lot of money for very little talent and as for somebody saying he could be our new target man he can’t head the bloody ball. He’s got as much presence as a wet rag. The sooner we get rid the better, sell him to somebody like Coventry.
gareth
New Hartley Mags
Chairman
Sent in on: July 21st, 2007 at 7:21 pm
2 goals against Hartlepool and all of a sudden he`s Shearer & Pele rolled into one. How are we meant to PROGRESS with the calibre of this guy?
Have you seen the floods around Britain. Well they`re actually my TEARS from watching this painful bumbling Buffoon for far too many years in a Black & White shirt. He can`t head a Ball, has now strenght, has no precision, he can`t hold the Ball, he can`t shoot acurately. He`s got NOTHING! Yet when you hear his own comments about himself then he`s a world beater!
Sure keep Ameobi, but stay mediocre forever!
Sent in on: July 21st, 2007 at 8:44 am
Good luck for this season shola, this is your make or break time!
Sent in on: July 19th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Shola’s still only 25 and for a big target man type should peak this season imo now his injury problems are hopefully out the way. He had a very good end of season the season before last averaging over 1 in 2 under Roeder/Shearer!!
If he can improve on that form he’ll be a very valuable player for us and i’m very very hopefull this is the season that he silences his critics. I admire his attitude striving to improve himself despite the critics.
I’m really routing for him this season. He provides us with something different to the other strikers and would be best suited to playing up front on his own with Martins in a free role behind. Which may come in handy if/when Owen gets injured.
Sent in on: July 19th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Ameobi has been one of my favourites for a while now, especially that goal he scored against Chelsea from outside the box in the 2-1 win that won Arsenal the title.
I think he deserves a bit more praise and support than he gets, he’s like an Adebayor sort of player and look how well he does at Arsenal.
Sent in on: July 19th, 2007 at 5:56 am
Shola has a useful role to play in routine matches against the typical kick anything that moves EPL defence, thats at least 14 out of 20 teams. If you’re playing Juventus in Big Cup and you know you are only going to get one clean chance in the game would you want it falling to Shola. No way. Horses for courses, donkeys for hard graft.
Sent in on: July 19th, 2007 at 2:33 am
The subject of Ameobi ‘coming good’ has been going on for years…Kieron Dyer anyone? Everyones opinion on this messageboard is either ‘lets sell him’ or ‘he’ll suddenly become a reliable finisher overnight’. Accept him for what he is - a second string player who performs well in europe, offers you something else up front should you need it in the last 30mins and loves this club. Leave it at that. I don’t understand why players have to be heroes or zeroes - nowt in between at NUFC it seems. If he was undroppable then martins and viduka wouldn’t get a game and be sold so it’s just as well we have players who make the squad strong.
Sent in on: July 19th, 2007 at 2:06 am
I feel for the lad. He has been at the club since he was a young lad, and I bet my last shilling that he was told to watch Shearer as a masterclass of centre forward play. Then when he was given his first team chance, it was alongside Shearer!!! Is it any coincidence that he has “blossomed” (injuries aside) since Shearer retired. I think the lad will have a great season alongside Owen and Martins is the one to worry.
Sent in on: July 19th, 2007 at 12:41 am
I’ve never been a fan of his & would always sell him at the drop of a hat… but I hope he proves me wrong this season.
p.s. always makes me chuckle, when I hear him announce at the start of every season that “anything less than 20 goals this season, I will consider a failure”.
Sent in on: July 18th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Like Shola, Tony Cascarino was a tall, gangly striker, and I once read an article of his in the Times, which said that players like him always had a raw deal from the fans. Because of his shape, he would occaisonally make very noticeable and embarrassing errors that were rarely made by others - air-shots, tripping over the ball etc. Because these mistakes looked so bad, they would tend to wipe out all memories of his other contributions. In other words, fans would concentrate on what he couldn’t do, and completely ignore what he could do.
I think that’s what happened with Shola. I can remember one game at Birmingham, towards the end of the season before last. Shola was the best player on the pitch, really holding the team together. Ten minutes before the end, he fluffed a shot and this enormous, derisive groan broke out.
I’ve always said it - Shola can cause defences problems. He’s going to make the odd rick, but he’ll also open things up, and is a very difficult player to keep quiet for 90 minutes, even for the best defences.
Sent in on: July 18th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
I have high hopes for Shola. He could become our target man just like Shearer was because he has great talent in holding up the ball (he learnt from the best-Shearer). To be honest the guy hasn’t really filled me up with confidence every time he’s played and hasn’t got the flair Owen and Martins have, but he will no doubt be useful this season. With his injury out the way I think we will start to see a more active and powerful Shola and wouldn’t that be great! Prove me right Shola I know you have it in you!!..or Big Sam will make you show us your full potential!
Sent in on: July 18th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Brilliant post Ben, the lads effort and achievements needed to be recognised, he is unjustly barraged by some sections without reason. He’s a striker and scores goals. This season is without doubt though, his sternest test yet, a test he needs to pass.
Sent in on: July 18th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
I think we’ve got quite the secret weapon in Ameobi. I think his career is going to blossom late and we’ll be the better for it.
Sent in on: July 18th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
In the last part of 2003-04 season Shola scored something like 10 goals. For me he shuddav gone to Euro2004 ahead of Heskey (remember him?).
He’s been dogged by injury and played sometimes dreadfully under Souness. Still under Roeder he got a rhythm going and was scoring 1 in 2 and scoring important goals to boot.
I believe BSA can get the best out of Shola.
Be patient, be cool, give everyone at the club a clean start the way Sam has.
Sent in on: July 18th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
He’s definitely worth a chance. He always seems to give defenders a physical battle and is good enough to make his own chances out of nothing.
Place the ball within a 5 yard circle and he’ll get hold of it an lay it off - or use quick feet to create something - Crikey if he was with another team i’d be quite happy to see him come into Newcastle for a hefty fee - if he’s fit and has the right attitude he’s one of the best!
On top of that u can see that Newcastle means a lot to him.
Sent in on: July 18th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Let’s be honest here. Look at some of the signing made so far, Torres for example. Sometime Shola gets a bad press, I certainly thinks he gives 100%. But if the club and us fans have any kind of ambition he’s never going to be anything better than an average squad player. He’s certainly going to be a better asset to us fit, but lets not get carried away here.
Sent in on: July 18th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
I am unsure of ameobi and have never been a great fan of his, but I do believe that if anyone can get him playing well then Allardyce is the right guy for the job.
He’s got tough opposition with Owen, Martins, Viduka, but then again Martins and Owen are the same type of player and Viduka is seriously injury prone, so I am sure if he stays fit he will get his chance this season.
Good luck to him.
Sent in on: July 18th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
I’m not a Shola fan but I agree that he deserves a chance to show what a fit Ameobi can now do.
Our two main strikers, Owen and Viduka will not and can not play every game so a fresh Ameobi covering and pressing may well be a revelation this season.
Lets hope so!
Sent in on: July 18th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Although he was crap for his first few years he looked good last season and every manager we’ve had has stuck by the lad so he must have something. I think he has now got the strength and knows how to use his talent well enough to give the club something other clubs havent got up front.
Sent in on: July 18th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
I have always respected Shola’s talent and looking at that run of goals to games above he is starting to prove it.
Time will tell if Shola gets a regular start under Big Sam with Viduka coming in to the fold after the gold cup but if not we have a pretty good back up for the big australian, who wont play the full season IMO.
Sent in on: July 18th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Shola can go away, Derby can buy him, just go.
Sent in on: July 18th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Well as a newcastle fan, I can’t really find fault with the guy! I mean, he was crap wen he came back last season fair enough, but then again who wasn’t at that point? Well anyone could become good under Sam, let’s see!
Sent in on: July 18th, 2007 at 7:24 pm