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Post by davidm on Oct 23, 2015 10:57:19 GMT
WANDERERS are set to offer a contract to ex-Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi – and he could face Leeds United tomorrow.
The 34-year-old returned to Euxton this morning just over a week after his first trial with the Whites.
Neil Lennon passed on the opportunity to sign him at that point but after Ameobi failed to earn a deal at Charlton Athletic last week, it appears he is now ready to secure his services until the New Year on a pay-as-you-play deal.
Wolves and Sheffield Wednesday have also passed on the Nigeria international, who was released by Crystal Palace in the summer after making just four appearances last season.
Ameobi is best known for his time at St James’s Park, where he scored 53 goals in 312 games for Newcastle in a 14-year career on Tyneside.
Desperate Days!!!
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Post by modfishy on Oct 23, 2015 11:29:54 GMT
This is really desperate, didn't he only say last week that he wasn't going to offer him a contract? He was too similar to what we've already got (what strikers that can't score??) because his record doesn't exactly fill me with confidence!! At the start of this season I laughed when they made us favourites to go down, I couldn't believe it, what did they know that I didn't? I really like NL and don't think we could attract anyone better to do the job if he was to walk away or get sacked, certainly with our financial situation we can't afford to sack him. However at one point he was saying that it's the striker that's the problem but we've let the most goals in in this league or certainly have the worst goal difference, isn't that a defensive problem? The only area of the team that seems remotely settled is Amos, the rest just seems a joke! I always thought Mark Davies as an attacking midfielder, why is he playing in front of the back 4/3? I'm sorry but I've lost patience with Emile as well, 1 goal is no where near good enough and he may have other attributes to give to the team but at the end of the day he's there to score goals and it's not happening for him, would super Kev been any worse? I have to bow down to NL's experience about the young lads, perhaps he feels they're not strong enough for the first team yet, I have no idea but with the way the first team have been scoring (or not as the case is) surely they might be worth some game time. I am forever optimistic come match day that Wanderers are going to win but it's waning these days I'm afraid to say...it's very very difficult to remain positive!
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Post by OohMac on Oct 23, 2015 13:10:21 GMT
This is where I have some, little, sympathy for Gartside. He must have had a sit down with Lennon at some point in the summer (and this is where i feel i've lost my grip on reality because i'm imagining actual conversations somewhere in the Austrian camp between the two) and said "we are on a shoestring budget Neil. We need to lose anyone on £10k+ a week sell anyone worth over £500K. Get rid of 10 of these and there will be some small funds to bring some players in but we're going to be heavily reliant on the young players again, the squad was too big and the days of bringing people in to patch it up is over. You can only bring in the players you need not that ones you want. Neil may have had something to say, Gartside could have resorted with: "We paid good money last season on people like Twardzik, Janko, Rochina, Coke, Herd, Slavchev, McCarthy,Paddy Kenny! None got much game time, all took a wage! Younger players could have stepped in at that point. This season that stops." So over the summer Lennon makes a list Amos- definitely need him. He saved us last season and we've got Bogdan and Lonergan off the books. Tick, done deal. Derick - Lost the captain. This guys from Madrids academy will solidify the back. Ok Prince - Injuries and suspensions. We need cover. done Madine - Need a striker and this guy played well against us and scored a few in that awful Blackpool team - Done.
Ok so so far you may think Gartside is being reasonable. Then comes;
Heskey - I need him, he's a great lad to have around the place. Gartisde could have easily said that 1 goal all season doesn't represent good investment. He's not selling shirts, he's only getting older and slower and i'm not sure its worth it. But Neil got his way. Got a contract and hasn't scored all season.
Dobbie - I need cover for the two strikers because Heskey is getting on. Gartside at this point could have said we have Max Clayton coming back soon, Clough too and we have a couple of kids that I'm hearing good stuff about. Are you sure Dobbie is a better choice? Will he get the game time? Lennon must have put the argument across for him but as we all know he's not featured really.
Wilson - We need a right back. Gartside might have pointed out that Josh Vela was player of the season. Younger than Wilson, our biggest asset after Clough. Neil makes the case for Wilson. He gets a contract. We don't see Vela again.
Silva - We need a bit of flair Gartside: Done.
Pisano: We need cover for a left back now Reams gone. Done.
Casado: We need a right back. Gartside? What about Wilson. Lennon: No good. Gartside: What about Vela?.....
Rachbuka....
So you can see my point. Gartside could and should have knocked Lennon back a few more times than he did. He's allowed Neil to do his usual stuff of bringing a lot of sub par performers in rather than get the one or two with actual quality. Yes its a long season and its a squad game but some of these guys are just bench warming and Neils not been using the squad. Why can't we just promote up the ranks and have Woolery sit on the bench instead of Dobbie, Vela for Wilson, Thomas for Heskey.
This make any sense to anyone?
As for Shola. I'm quite happy. Pay as you play. Its the Dr Pepper of deals. What's the worst that could happen? I'd put him on a £10,000 a goal incentive instead of a salary-that's probably not within the EU employment laws or some rubbish. If we are to bring anyone of note in, and it looks less likely, like a Gary Hooper. I would be asking Neil to mutually try and get Heskey off the books.
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Post by andyl on Oct 23, 2015 16:55:29 GMT
Good summation.Pisano and Casado other way round but immaterial to argument; in fact Neil.may well try them on the wrong flanks. I do think some of those mentioned should have had more game time and the list does read expensively
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Post by Trotter on Oct 23, 2015 17:57:52 GMT
Bottom of the league, only 1 win in 12, no money to spend and that is the negative part so what if Shola scores the winner against Leeds it sounds a bit far reach but being a football romantic I just hope with fingers crossed that is just what happens ........ coyw
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Post by davidm on Oct 23, 2015 18:18:30 GMT
Bottom of the league, only 1 win in 12, no money to spend and that is the negative part so what if Shola scores the winner against Leeds it sounds a bit far reach but being a football romantic I just hope with fingers crossed that is just what happens ........ coyw I'm with you on that even though I summed it up as desperate. Most things that we do now reek of desperation but Shola is probably a better hope of goals than Heskey. I am always an optimist at kick off time - it's usually 5 minutes into the game before despondency sinks in. So, Yes!! A debut winning goal tomorrow.
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Post by andyl on Oct 23, 2015 18:28:40 GMT
Una gola per Shola?
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dave
Apprentice
Posts: 1
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Post by dave on Oct 23, 2015 19:10:52 GMT
WHEY AYE MAN!!
I CANNY BELIEVE IT!!
AAAAAMMMMMEEEEOOOBBBBBIIIII!!!
AWAY THE LADS!!
HE WILL SCORE YA GOALS!!
AM GAN TO THE TOON NOW FOR A FEW BEVYS!!
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Post by whitesince63 on Oct 24, 2015 8:42:25 GMT
Great summary OM, couldn't have put it better myself, especially the bit about less being more. If I was in Lennon's position and Freedman's and Coyles before him with limited resources, i' d spend what little money I did have on 2-3 really good players and not a dozen journeymen who will never do anything more than fail, as they have done. It's not exactly rocket science is it? In addition if I were Gartside, I'd be telling Lennon to work with what he has. No more signings. You've brought a lot in now so do what you're employed to do and manage what you have. You've told us the squad is better than our position so prove it.
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Post by Trotter on Oct 24, 2015 18:47:58 GMT
Shola proves a good point for us, literally.
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Post by andyl on Oct 26, 2015 7:46:06 GMT
I enjoyed Shola ' s post match interview. I think we have secured a leader as well as a more than useful player. Hopefully this will allow Emile to be used for back up cameos. At 34 Shola is the same age Djorkaeff was when with us! On Sat we saw a goal and a pass that should have assisted a goal had it not been to Feeney.so a good debut
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Post by Trotter on Oct 26, 2015 16:55:01 GMT
The boy done good
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