Newcastle United Blog » Albert Luque

Goodbye Newcastle, Hello Ajax for Albert Luque

Dave NU Blogger — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 13:49:01 +0000

In 2005, Graeme Souness, invested roughly £9m for Luque. What he bought was a player who has had an extremely rough time at the club but not without a few highlights. Three managers have tried to fit the player into the first team with varying results. Today, Luque leaves behind Newcastle to join up with Ajax on a projected three year deal.

Highlights for the player include the match at the Staduim of Light in 2006. It was an excellent run through defence and the finishing was superb to beat Sunderland 4-1. Luque also had a hand in Shearer’s momentous scoring record at the club as well. It is an end of a frustrating time for the player and hopefully he’ll make his mark at his new club.

Dyer and Luque finally get their coats?? Nobby on BOGOF offer shocker!

Dave NU Blogger — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 08:22:43 +0000

Rumours are bound that the shelved Kieron Dyer move to West Ham may finally happen. The likely scenario would be that some kind of compromise deal would be on the table. The whole episode has been shambolic to say the least with ol’ egghead himself even getting stuck in the war of words. Let’s hope for Dyer’s sake the deal goes well as I don’t want some half-assed player knocking about the ball in a black n’ white shirt.

Luque’s troubled career at Newcastle seems to be coming to a end. He hasn’t done too badly of late. With two goals being scored pre-season, he’s showing some promise in Allardyce’s new look first team. However, a possible move to a Spanish club has been talked about recently and it will be only a matter of time really before he is gone.

Nobby Solano hasn’t been a player ever to keep quiet. Now it looks like our Perivian friend wants out. What brought on the sudden change of mind is said to involve an ex-partner and family and icNewcastle (The Chronicle) reports that possible way to offload the unhappy player would be to offer a buy-one-get-one -free to West Ham. Charming.

Pre-Season Friendly Newcastle v Juventus 2-0

Dave NU Blogger — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:03:17 +0000

Another commanding performance from Newcastle and this time against the Italian super team. Once again, the team was without Owen or Sho but Luque and a cracker from new boy, Andy Carroll were able to see off Juventus.

The game wasn’t without some hairy moments when Juve keeper, Buffon collided with Caroll temporaryily taking out the striker with his knee. Carroll needed two minutes to recover and was considered very lucky to be still on his feet. Allardyce was less than happy and bemoaned that Buffon escaped without so much as a caution. Despite knocking in a clean penalty, Luque suffered a tight groin and was subbed in the first half but is expected to make a quick recovery.

Kieron Dyer featured in the second half and put on an impressive display but his days are numbered and Allardyce knows it.

Pre-Season Friendly Win against Celtic – 4-1

Dave NU Blogger — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:53:51 +0000

A cracking win for Newcastle as the team thrash SPL champions, Celtic. The first half was easily controlled by the lads with Martins opening the goal account. Surprisingly, Luque was the hero tonight managing to net twice in the game with some superb play much to the appreciation of the Toon fans at SJP. It certainly gave some hope for the much criticised player. Luque played some top notch football alongside Martins up front and it must have gave Alladyce some food for thought about his team selections in future.

Commenting on Luque, Allardyce says: “We’re just trying to get him fitter. If we can get him fitter he’ll feel better physically – and then he’ll feel better mentally.”

Allardyce could at last be the manager to return Luque back to some thing resembling the goalscoring player we had bought from Deportivo.

Milner rounded of the goal tally in the second half whilst Celtic pulled one back from their new signing, Scott Brown.

This was a storming match which marked the managerial debut of Allardyce at St Jame’s Park. Big Sam recently stated that to be the best side you have to win all your home matches which is something Newcastle could only occassionally do last season. Based on tonight’s preformance, we could stand a very good chance of making SJP the fortress it once was.