Through the wind and the rain for Campbell
For a bloke who has graced the World Cup finals and the Champions League final in a glittering career, Sol Campbell could easily have turned up at Newcastle United and quite simply put his feet up.
Instead Campbell's hunger to get fit and ready to play for Newcastle United has been there for all to see in the last week or so - not least last night when playing in the wind and the rain at Whitley Park.
Seldom have some of the so called bigger stars in United's history been prepared to get their hands dirty and play for the ressies but Campbell seemed to thrive on it - and as he left the field after an hour against Liverpool the 694 crowd showed their warm appreciation.
In not so ancient times, the likes of Cacapa, Owen, Viduka and a host of others wouldn't entertain the idea of coming through a reserve team game.
So to see Campbell do it and also lead the way to his younger team-mates in the second string certainly puts him up in my estimation.
At the end of the day, Campbell has won everything in the domestic game and had near misses at international level and in the Champions League, therefore he could easily have began shouting the odds the moment he believed he was fully fit.
What lies ahead is an interesting battle for the two centre-back slots with Mike Williamson and Fabricio Coloccini currently in the box seats.
Dropping either for Campbell would be the toughest of calls for Chris Hughton but if he is firm in his belief that big Sol has something to bring to the table right now, it would be understandable if not infuriating for Williamson and Coloccini.
My mind takes me back to another era on Tyneside when Kevin Keegan had a similar dilemma when Steve Howey, Darren Peacock and Phillipe Albert were all fit.
Fully fit and Steve Howey don't usually go into the same sentence of course but on this occasion, Keegan didn't have the heart to axe one of his centre-backs and instead - played all THREE!
This resulted in a kamikaze 3-5-2 formation with John Beresford and Marc Hottiger deployed as wingers but it didn't last too long!
In reality a compromise is out of the question for Hughton.
He wanted competition for places and that's exactly what he's got.
Follow me on Twitter @lee_ryder
Older/Newer
« Hatem Ben Arfa's smile is as wide as the Tyne Bridge | Hughton is in a different league »
7 Comments
Leave a comment
Profile
Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
Latest Premier League video
Email alerts
In association with
Follow my RSS feed
Follow me on
I think it would be harsh on either player to be left out for Campbell but if CH thinks it's for the teams benefit then I'd be fine with that.
The two have struck up a decent partnership since Williamson arrived & go well together although both still have question marks over their ability to cut it in the PL however the signs have been encouraging.
What a nice "problem" for the manager to have, not bad for a squad we're forever being told by so called pundits is to small!
So Sol Campbell plays a reserve game to get fit, to justify the huge wages he is no doubt earning at NUFC and to prepare to do the job he is employed to do, namely play the position of centre back when called upon to do so. Well give the man a medal because he got wet in a reserve team game! And no wonder people think the footballer of today is spoilt and over pampered! I certainly didn't expect this type of journalism from you Lee who I am sure appreciates the number of people not blessed with Sol Campbell's talents who would give their right arm to play in a reserve game in the wind rain or even a hurricane for their beloved NUFC and no doubt do every Sunday morning in the local leagues, just I and many others, have done for years and years
Ryder's reply: Wow! What an over-reaction, the article simply underlines his hunger to succeed and do well at Newcastle.
All Premier League footballers are on big wages but having experienced (sorry endured) some if the big time Charlies at first hand we've had at Newcastle twist their face at the mere suggestion of playing in the reserves, Campbell certainly seems to appreciate the position he's in.
Didn't he sign something like 3,000 autographs at the kit launch as well?
Lighten up!
He's played two halves of two reserve games and he wasn't particularly great last night, was he Lee? Be honest
Ryder's reply: I didn't say he was great, I said he had displayed a good attitude so far considering his age and experience - and given the fact we've had a whole list of prima donnas before him that would not even entertain the idea of playing in the reserves and aiding the development of the young guns as part of the bargain.
Campbell set a good example last night even if it wasn't his greatest game.
Nothing will destroy a players confidence more, or create more resentment, than being dropped when he is in good form to make way for some one at the club with a higher profile, but no current form.
We want all for one and one for all, not a free for all. Been there, seen it, done that.
We will just have to trust CH to make the right decision in any given set of circumstances for purely footballing reasons. I have no doubt in my mind he will, fortunately, do just that.
Sorry about going over the top Lee, but the hype around Sol signing for us and what he is going to bring to the club is ridiculous. He is no longer a world class player, but no doubt will be a good asset to the club and good cover for our current centre backs. I agree he hasn't done much wrong, singing autographs, turning out for the reserves etc, but lets take it for what he is, a good squad player, who at 35/36 is looking for one last big club before he hangs up his boots. He is not the signing of the century is being potrayed in some quarters.
LN2MAG - spot on mate. What did everyone bang on about last season? Team spirit, the togetherness of the lads (apart from Carroll and Taylor). CH has to tread very carefully otherwise he risks tearing that apart.
LN2MAG, maybe all the hype surrounding Sol is put out by his agent, and not the club, in an effort to justify his exorbitant handling fee.
I hope he plays well when called upon as needed, but I can''t see him being here more than a year.
By that time I think CH may have taken us on to the next level and he will hopefully get further serious backing from MA to keep us there.