Sam: Why Geremi is to lead
GEREMI is the new Newcastle United skipper – and he’s not keeping the seat warm for any of the club’s injured players.
And as a result the 28-year-old Cameroon international, who has chalked up 85 appearances for his country, will have the honour of being United’s first foreign full-time skipper.
And speaking for the first time on why he opted for Geremi, Sam Allardyce told me from United’s team headquarters in Manchester today: “He has had a long and illustrious career, and is a fantastic signing for us.
“He leads by example on and off the field, and is a fantastic communicator as he speaks English, Spanish and French.
“It’s easy for him to get his message across, and I couldn’t be more happy with him.
“He has won League titles in England with Chelsea and in Spain with Real Madrid and, as far as I am aware, he has an Olympic gold medal with Cameroon.”
Geremi will succeed Scott Parker – who left St James’ Park for West Ham United this summer – as captain.
And the former Chelsea Middlesbrough and Real Madrid man is absolutely delighted at being given the armband by Big Sam, having settled straight into his new career at St James’ after his free transfer from Chelsea in June, and having led the team out in the friendlies against Hull and Sampdoria.
Allardyce had plenty of candidates to choose his skipper, but three of them – Shay Given, Michael Owen and Joey Barton – are all injured and will miss the start of the season, while Nicky Butt must also have been in the running.
Steven Taylor would have loved the armband, but at 21 Allardyce obviously considered his central defender too young and inexperienced – but his day will undoubtedly come.
Bob Moncur, who along with Alan Shearer and Kevin Keegan is one of United’s greatest skippers in modern times, thinks Geremi has been an excellent choice by Allardyce.
He said today: “Geremi will be in the thick of things this season and he is just the man to lead United out.”
DON’T forget to log on to www.chroniclelive.co.uk tonight night for the first report from the big clash with Bolton Wanderers.
by Alan Oliver, Evening Chronicle
