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Some funny things in there: Shola Ameobi Full name Foluwashola Ameobi Date of birth October 12, 1981 (1981-10-12) (age 26) Place of birth Zaria, Nigeria Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Playing position Striker Foluwashola 'Shola' Ameobi (born October 12, 1981 in Zaria) is a Nigerian born English football player. He is currently playing for Newcastle United as a centre forward.He is well known for his laxadazical attitude and is despised by the fans for his lack of effort given on the pitch. He is the older brother of Doncaster Rovers striker Tomi Ameobi and Newcastle Youth Squad player Sammiusto Ameobi. Contents [hide] [edit] Career Ameobi started out with the Walker Central Youth Team in Newcastle, for whom he was spotted playing by a Newcastle United scout at the age of thirteen. After initially struggling to come to terms with the standard, Ameobi started to excel and made rapid strides towards the first team. Ameobi signed for the Newcastle United Academy on July 1, 1995, but did not make his debut for the senior team until five years later, September 9, 2000, in a home game against Chelsea. He made 22 appearances for Newcastle that season, aided by injuries to then first choice strike partnership Alan Shearer and Carl Cort. His erratic form has earned him some criticism in the past, and although never having been claimed as a prolific goalscorer, his goals to games ratio, up to Christmas 2005 was just 34 goals from 186 Newcastle United appearances, although many of these appearances have been from the substitutes bench. Due to injuries in the latter stages of the 2005-06 campaign Ameobi gained a regular starting place, and the player scored six goals in Newcastle's last twelve Premiership games. In the 2006 UEFA Intertoto Cup, Ameobi scored twice in Newcastle's away tie at Lillestrøm S.K., taking him to second place in the club's table of leading goalscorers in European competition with twelve goals, behind only Alan Shearer. During the 2006-07 season, Ameobi needed a hip operation because an injury had been plaguing him for the past two seasons. Newcastle's shortage of match fit First team strikers during in previous season had forced him to be postpone this surgery. This caused his team-mates to reportedly carry him through to the January transfer window when the Magpies could strengthen their striking options[citation needed]. The problem eventually forced Glenn Roeder to send Ameobi for surgery two months before the transfer window, making the 0-0 draw away game to Manchester City his last game and ruling him out for the rest of the season. He had made 13 appearances (three as a substitute) and scored five goals. Ameobi and the Newcastle medical team reported his hip operation in the U.S. was a success and that the club doctors and medical staff would work on his rehabilitation. It was originally thought that he would not be fit to play until the start of 2007-08 season, but his rehabilitation progressed quickly and he made a shock return with three games remaining in the season, clocking approximately 30 minutes of match action against Reading FC and making a further two appearances. On 27 March 2008 Ameobi agreed a loan deal with Stoke City until the end of the season, to help their promotion campaign. It is understood that a loan fee of around £500K has been agreed and that a possible permanent transfer has been discussed subject to Stoke winning promotion. However it is said that Ameobi has rejected a possible move, with Stoke chairman stating ' We are not desperate to sign him'. Ameobi made his debut for Stoke against Sheffield Wednesday on March 29, 2008, the game ended 1-1. Ameobi is linked with a permanent move to Championship side Norwich City and a link up with former manager Glenn Roeder, but Shola has still been linked with premiership new-boys West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City. On 14 August 2008, Ipswich Town manager Jim Magilton confirmed that the club were in talks with Ameobi and that the club were keen to get the deal finalised as long as Ameobi was willing to play in the Coca Cola Championship. However on 17 August, Ameobi failed a medical showing that he has hamstring problems and the deal collapsed. [edit] Pop culture Ameobi is often referred to on "I'm on Setanta Sports", a show on Setanta Sports that stars Jose Mourinho, Sven-Göran Eriksson and Wayne Rooney in puppet form. 'Dave from Newcastle' calls just about every show to ask what Jose thinks about Ameobi, and eventually moves to Stoke and calls from there to ask about Ameobi's new squad. In one episode, Ameobi is for sale on eBay with Jose winning him at the end of the show. In a sit down interview with Rooney, Dave from Stoke (originally Newcastle) admits he has an Ameobi addiction and states that you don't give up Ameobi, but you can manage it.

Arsenal 3 Newcastle United Aug 30 2008 By Lee Ryder at the Emirates Stadium NEWCASTLE United were easily beaten tonight at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal ran riot in the capital. Goals from Robin van Persie (2) and Denilson won it for the Gunners on a night when Newcastle just weren't at the races. To cap off a miserable day for Newcastle Joey Barton was roundly booed by the home fans on his return to the game after a stretch in prison. Keegan paired Michael Owen in attack with Shola Ameobi with the Academy product back from a hamstring problem sustained in pre-season. Owen was starting his first match of the campaign and donned the skipper’s armband in front of the watching Fabio Capello. Jose Enrique kept his place after the Carling Cup win at Coventry with Charles N’Zogbia staying on the left wing. Jonas Gutierrez started wide right after his stint as a striker at the Ricoh Arena. And on the bench Keegan named Joey Barton with the controversial midfielder yet to taste any action this season following his stretch in prison. Newcastle – cheered on by Mike Ashley in the away section - escaped penalty appeals from the home side with just two minutes played when Fabricio Coloccini sent Robin Van Persie tumbling but Rob Styles waved away protests. Arsenal then missed a golden chance after the Dutchman’s corner was flicked on by Bacary Sagna and found William Gallas at the back stick but the French defender somehow sent it high over the bar right in front of goal. On six minutes Given was on red alert again when Kolo Toure’s forward run and shot was diverted wide of the post by the Irish keeper. In the 17 th minute Van Persie’s right footed effort near the edge of the area flashed wide of the post as Newcastle survived. But Arsenal were handed a penalty moments later. Emmanuel Adebayor’s left wing cross struck the hand of N’Zogbia and Van Persie blasted it to Given’s left to open the scores even though the Irishman had guessed the right way. Adebayor was then tripped by Coloccini near the D and after the South American was booked by Styles on 29 minutes Cesc Fabregas could only hit the Toon wall. Arsenal won another set-piece following Van Persie twisting run on the half hour mark following Beye’s slight challenge on the Dutchman and this time United had to rely on Given to push the ball over the bar. Nine minutes before the break came Newcastle’s first glimpse of goal after Gutierrez’s right wing cross but even though Owen had time and space at the back post he could only steer it off the heels of strike partner Ameobi with ball squirting wide. United were made to pay four minutes before the interval as Adebayor slid the ball across to Emmanuel Eboue who had time to backheel the ball into the path of Van Persie who pounced to make it 2-0. Newcastle made a change before the break with Sebastien Bassong replacing Enrique at left-back after enduring a torrid time first half against Adebayor in and around the left right channel. United went in for the interval looking for a miracle in the second half with Arsenal in full control at the break. Five minutes into the second half a Denilson foul on Guthrie handed United a free-kick deep on the right but N’Zogbia’s woeful effort sailed harmlessly into the crowd. Nevertheless Newcastle enjoyed the best of the possession at the start of the first half and after the Mags had won a corner N’Zogbia’s flag kick found the head of Nicky Butt who crashed an effort off the bar with Arsenal failing to clear their lines on 55 minutes. Seconds later and N’Zogbia rolled a ball across the final third and Guthrie’s low effort had to be gobbled up by Manuel Almunia for Newcastle’s first shot on target. But it was 3-0 and game over before the hour mark as Arsenal bagged number three. Bassong’s half clearance on 59 minutes was intercepted by Nasri who picked out Adebayor before Denilson ghosted in to fire past Given who was rooted to the spot. On their next attack two minutes later Van Persie’s powerful effort crashed off the frame of the goal with Arsenal quickly getting back on top of the game. Van Persie then hobbled off with a knock and while Newcastle were glad to see the back of him the damage was done. Adebayor took over from that point onwards for the Gunners and after waltzing through again Steven Taylor’s bodycheck earned Arsenal a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area. Nasri curled it towards the top corner but Given bailed United out again with a top class save. UNITED: Given, Beye (Edgar 89), Coloccini, Taylor, Enrique (Bassong 44), Jonas (Barton 89), Guthrie, Butt, N'Zogbia, Ameobi, Owen. ARSENAL: Alumunia, Sagna, Fabregas, Toure, Nasri, Gallas, Van Persie (Vela 63), Clichy, Adebayor, Eboue (Walcott 72), Denilson (Song 69) Ref: Rob Styles Crowd: 60,067

Stopping self-abuse to stop Shola getting a game. There's a punchline there somewhere.

Any quotes from Keegan yet?

September 5th will probably rule him out for some time.

Painful beating but it could have been a much higher score. Game over, time for some important signings.

Barton now "utterly stupid".

Idiot commentator on Japanese TV too. Barton is "out of order" for smiling at Nasri. He sounded genuinely angry too.

Barton getting a rather warm welcoming unsurprisingly.

"For Noocarsewl it's death by 1000 passes".

Should have been another. It could have been double figures, no exaggeration.

Ashley buggers off - hopefully to write some cheques.

"There's only one Shay Given" getting an airing.

18 goal attemps to 3.

Off the line.

We don't make things easy- Shay saves us again.

Taylor gives away another dangerous free kick.

Jonas still putting the work in.

I'd give Barton a run-out - it could well be his last chance for a long time.

How did Shay save that?

Walcott coming on to inflict more torture.

He'll go off - he has to - and hopefully we never see him in a black and white shirt again.

Shola concedes a dangerous free kick.

When they play it around we really do look clueless.

VP off the bar.