What Is The Meaning Of Ambition?
The dictionary meaning of ambition is - a strong desire for success, achievement, power and wealth.
The Smith, Geremi and Viduka meaning of ambition is - a strong desire for mediocrity, past it, never going to win anything and, of course, personal wealth.
Both definitions have something in common. Wealth seems to be the word used when relating to these three Newcastle players. Every time a player decides to leave a club for another I always tend to analyse why they have made the decision to step up or the step down to this particular club.
I'll start with Alan Smith. He was linked with both North-East sides, Newcastle Utd and Middlesbrough, in the summer. He was unhappy sitting on the bench for Manchester Utd so looked to other pastures for first team football. He considered his options and took advantage of the "throw lots of money at a player" attitude Newcastle possessed and joined them. When interviewed after he completed his move, he was asked why he chose Newcastle instead of Middlesbrough. Smith said "Newcastle had more ambition and he could see himself winning trophies with them".
There were similar quotes from Viduka and Geremi after they completed moves to the Toon. Viduka obviously thought that he could eclipse reaching a semi-final and quarter final of the F.A. Cup and also doing one better and winning the UEFA Cup one day.
I've noticed Newcastle sitting below Middlesbrough in the league table and have also noticed they are no longer in the F.A. Cup. I ask Mark if he has paid the price of being greedy? Or has he just been mis-advised? I like Viduka and was sad to see him go. Some people reading this might think I'm being bitter. Maybe I am but I've waited until now to let it out. Nothing to do with us going above them in the league last weekend. Honest.
Geremi loved it on Teesside and Boro fans loved him. He was and still is the perfect professional in my eyes. I knew at the time, when playing for Boro, he was too good to be playing at the Riverside so I was happy to see him go and play for Chelsea. Obviously he was irritated at not getting many games for Chelsea and decided to part company with them. My first reaction was we're going to re-sign him but he decided against us and joined the rivals up the road. I put this one down to being mis-advised. His agent must have seen the zero's being offered and persuaded his client to sign for NUFC.
Clouded judgment comes to mind when you see what is going on at Newcastle at the present time. Viduka, Smith and Geremi chose the Toon instead of Boro. All three could have been playing week in week out in a red shirt. What if!? But that's football.
Up The Boro
Stuart Young
Get this straight! We aren't your rivals! You pick us because there's no one else - unless you count Leeds as they're also in Yorkshire.
You being above us means nothing to us. When the mackems do it regularly we might be worried.
Yes we've bought poorly, including the 3 you mention. All sams men (he ain't big except in his own overblown opinion of himself).
We are very poor, so if your measure of success is just to be better than us, then it speaks for itself. Get a life - oh and some covers for those empty seats!
Posted by: NUFC77 | February 18, 2008 at 09:25 PM
I am very surprised about the over the top comments regarding the win by Man Utd over Arsenal at the weekend. it is the only comp. they have a chance of winning this season but that is now an outside chance given the fact that they are playing Pompey next.
Arsenal will win the premiership and probably play Liverpool or Chelsea in the European Cup final.
Derek Curtis
Posted by: Derek Curtis | February 18, 2008 at 07:16 PM
Stuart Young..........Bitter Smoggie...... we may be having a bad season but these boys signed up because they recongised the size of the club and the potential of the boardroom. Every club goes through a transition phase when new board and management teams takeover. If I'm not mistaken its taken Gareth 'Pizza Hut' Southgate too long to turn Middlesbrough into the top half of the bottom end of the league club they are.
Dan
Posted by: Dan Cole | February 18, 2008 at 02:54 PM
A potential Wembley final and all you can think about is Newcastle. How sweet.
Posted by: GH | February 18, 2008 at 01:56 PM
You're not Sunderland, please stop trying so hard to wind us up. We don't hate you, sorry.
Posted by: LordPeterFlint | February 18, 2008 at 10:36 AM