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Opinion

Newcastle miss out on next Gianfranco Zola

9 years ago
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John Carver says that Newcastle fans missed out on the next Gianfranco Zola.

The Newcastle Head Coach has stated that Adam Campbell was put into the first team too early and that has had a major impact on his career.

Asked about Adam Armstrong and whether he’d get more of an opportunity in the remaining games, John Carver came out with yet more bizarre comments….

“It is very difficult because people want Adam Armstrong to play but it is a difficult situation for Adam as he’s a young player developing.

“We had a situation with Adam Campbell not so long ago, he was fast-tracked and got thrown in, everybody thought he was going to be the next Franco Zola…or whatever, but he wasn’t.”

Loan star:

“It affected him and I don’t want the same thing happening to Adam Armstrong.

“What Adam (Armstrong) needs is to be out on loan, playing in the Championship or League One for a good season, we almost let him do that until Papiss (Cisse) got suspended.”

Bolton or Forest:

“He was on his way to Bolton or Forest, he needs that good season out on loan, banging in goals in the Championship, to help his development.

“Due to the circumstances though we have had to keep hold of him, keep him in the squad and use him sparingly.”

The ‘fast-tracking’ of Adam Campbell must have been that fast that I missed it!

The 20 year old has only made five brief appearances totalling 55 minutes in Newcastle’s colours and I don’t believe there is a single Newcastle fan, ever, who has used the names Adam Campbell and Gianfranco Zola in the same sentence.

Once again, John Carver is doing the dirty work to cover for Mike Ashley’s handling of the club.

The fact Papiss Cisse is now suspended should have no relevance when it comes to a professional club hoping to develop a 17 year old player (only turned 18 in February).

It is really just another instance showing the club do make it up as they go along, with no longer term plan for any aspect of the club.

Everything is simply about getting from one season to the next, hence Adam Armstrong having to hang around the subs bench for another wasted year.

The decision to loan him out for a season should have been taken last summer and happened irrespective of which first team squad players were signed or not.

The ludicrous signings of Riviere and (loan) Ferreyra to try and paper over the cracks left by still not replacing Andy Carroll/Demba Ba, especially with the club knowing that Cisse would struggle to play a full part this season due to the after effects of his serious knee injury.

Whether Adam Armstrong will be another Gianfranco Zola or an Adam Campbell…who knows?

What we do know and John Carver has admitted, that the professional thing would have been if he’d been sent out on loan this season.

The fact he hasn’t been given that opportunity lies at the door of Mike Ashley and the minions who do his bidding.

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