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Shola Ameobi Turns Down New Contract – Reports

Over the weekend it was reported that Shola Ameobi had turned down a new contract at Newcastle United.

The reports claimed that Shola had been offered a one year extension which he’d turned down, instead deciding to wait until after the World Cup to see what other offers he might have to consider.

Newcastle fans are seemingly split into two camps;

I would say the majority will think that any new contract offer for Shola would underline once and for all the shocking lack of ambition from Mike Ashley and Newcastle United.

On the other hand, a minority see Shola as some kind of cult figure/character who can still do a ‘job’.

Unfortunately, that ‘job’ very really includes scoring goals, and the recent two goals in consecutive home matches represented a bit of a goals rush for the older Ameobi.

If Shola goes on the open market then it would be interesting to see what level of club would come in for him. The believers would think Premier League clubs would be sniffing but the rest of us would be amazed if that were the case.

There is a tendency for many to think of Shola as some kind of veteran but at the age of 32 and relatively few miles on the clock, he should be still in his prime.

As an illustration, Rickie Lambert who is also destined to be a bit player at the World Cup, is also 32, but he has scored 28 Premier League goals over the last two seasons – his first opportunity to play in the top division.

In contrast, Shola has scored only 18 Premier League goals (one year NUFC were in Championship) since Alan Shearer retired in 2006.

We are making a habit of accumulating strikers and midfielders who don’t score goals, the quicker Newcastle break the habit then the better it will be for us all.