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Blog on the Tyne is dedicated to bring Toon fans everywhere the most up to date NUFC views, opinions and comment.

The author Lee Ryder, proudly born and bred on Tyneside, has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.

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Al get my coat

Posted by Lee on November 25, 2006 9:05 PM | 

Albert LuqueFor Albert Luque it certainly now seems that some of the crowd are on the pitch.

He thinks it all over and although it isn't right now, it looks like his return ticket to Spain is in the post.

His inevitable departure is likely to come as soon as the transfer window re-opens on the first day of the first month of 2007 with Villarreal thought to be heading the chase tonight.

Luque admitted after the Celta Vigo game his Toon career was more or less at an end and it would take a miracle for him to stay.

Ok, perhaps not a miracle but a run of three or four games in the team which isn't likely.

The truth is Luque and Newcastle United just haven't hit it off.

At £9.5million from Deportivo la Coruna, Graeme Souness might have expected more from the Spaniard and after the Scot was chopped, Glenn Roeder can also be forgiven for not getting full value from Luque.

People will say he has never had the chance.

But when he has been given his stint under the spotlight, he simply hasn't done enough.

True he has managed to get on the scoresheet, his goal at Palermo a vital one, but the hunger just isn't there.

Perhaps that great chance after 20 seconds against Celta Vigo confirmed to United fans this just isn't going to work, in on goal with time and space but Luque could only drag the ball wide.

And after he'd slipped over just before half-time a shriek of "You couldn't get a game for Whitley Bay" could maybe even be heard by Alberto himself.

It's a shame for all concerned really.

A La Liga star coming to St James' Park with a proven track record of entertainment and goals, half a century of them, from one of the world's top Leagues.

He could have been the darling of Gallowgate instead he looks destined to join a list containing the likes of Jon Dahl Tomasson, Christian Bassedas, Daniel Cordone and Diego Gavilan.

Whether Luque can conjure something up in what looks to be his last month at Newcastle is a different matter.

But you wouldn't put your house on it would you?

Comments (10)

Yoyo wrote...

You've missed Silvio Maric off the list!

Posted by: Yoyo  | November 25, 2006 9:08 PM

Kenny West wrote...

To think we could have had Andy Johnson for the same price possibly less.

Or Darren Bent, James Beattie or even Berbatov!

When will we learn!!?!?!

Posted by: Kenny West  | November 25, 2006 9:10 PM

Ian wrote...

Also add Stephane Guivarch to the list :-D

I just hope that Martins will be the first non-UK originating player to be a real hit in recent times.

Posted by: Ian  | November 27, 2006 1:33 PM

Toonpiker wrote...

Luque has nothing in his locker. Milner put the ball on his head against Palermo so Sid the sexist would have put that one away. For me he has no basic football Instinct's or any sort of pride or passion in a nutshell another total waste of money from Mr Souness.
By the way Kenny west is right we could have had Andy Johnson for far less !

Posted by: Toonpiker  | November 28, 2006 4:05 AM

Ian wrote...

Yes, people will say 'he hasn't had his chance'.

Why? Because he hasn't! To use Luque to the limited extent we have during our horrendous injury troubles is unbelievable, especially considering the noises coming from Roeder about his hard work in training etc.

I have a feeling that given a run of games in the team it would have been a different story for Albert.

Ryder's reply: He's had as much chance as Sibierski has only difference is that the Frenchman has taken his with both hands. And he was £9.5million cheaper.

Posted by: Ian  | November 28, 2006 10:07 AM

Rob -- Baku Azerbaijan wrote...

I would prefer David Nugent from Preston.

Posted by: Rob -- Baku Azerbaijan  | November 28, 2006 12:00 PM

Adam wrote...

You can't compare the time Luque has had on the pitch with the time Sibierski has - Luque has never had a chance to get used to the Premiership, whereas Sibierski has been playing regularly in the Premiership for several years now. No footballer will ever adjust to the pace of the Premiership without playing 5-10 consecutive games, so it is inevitable that Luque will look off-the-pace and lethargic if the longest run he ever gets in the team is about 1 game!

Posted by: Adam  | November 28, 2006 1:31 PM

Phil wrote...

I think its just a shame all that money has been wasted again, He'll go and start banging them in. It's to cold for him in the North East.

Posted by: Phil  | November 30, 2006 3:24 PM

RAHUL BANRJEE wrote...

well i believe that he just hasn,t showed enough passion and determination
and he can never get used to the premiership as he does not relish the pace and the power game he depends on the techinal game it will be good for all the parties if he leaves during the transfer window in january

Posted by: RAHUL BANRJEE  | December 2, 2006 5:25 PM

ZORRO wrote...

LUQUE WHAT HES DONE FOR US...HES GOT US WINNERS..AND THAT COUNTS...LOOK THE LAD TRYED ...HES NOT HAPPY, SO LET THE LAD GO HOME WITH HIS HEAD HELD HIGH...SOME PEOPLE BLEND IN THE PREM...I THINK HES HOME SICK...THANKS FOR TRYING LUQUE...YA DONE ALREET....GOODLUCK IN SPAIN M8.

Posted by: ZORRO  | December 4, 2006 11:30 AM

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