Sam Allardyce’s loss proves to be United gain

Oct 3 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

ZURAB Khizanishvili has been forced to drop down a division in order to play first team football at Newcastle United. He explained to Chief Sports Writer Luke Edwards why it is the perfect solution.

While many were willing to give Allardyce more time as boss when he was sacked after just eight months by former United chairman Chris Mort back in January last year, there were always reservations about the way the former Sunderland centre-back approached the game.

Had results been better, the style with which they were achieved would not have mattered, but when so many turgid performances failed to bring the expected rewards in points, Allardyce was always going to be swimming against the tide on Tyneside.

Despite his failure, though, Khizanishvili claimed his Rovers manager had nothing but good things to say about the club, despite the horrible blot it has left on his managerial career.

“We talked about Newcastle and he said there is no question it is an unbelievable club, a massive club,” said Khizanishvili, who will continue in the centre of defence against Bristol City today as Fabricio Coloccini is still struggling with a groin strain. “He said really good things.

“But yes, he made it clear I was not really part of his plans. We talked about it and he was a really straight guy so I respect him for that.

“Maybe he liked me (as a person) but not so much my football, so it was a footballing decision. Outside the football, we are friends.”

He continued: “Newcastle tried to get me here for six months. That is what my agent told me, but right now it is just for three months. That is fine for now.

“I am here until December 19, that is three months. I must go back to Blackburn until January (when transfer window reopens). That is definite.

“From January, I can talk about my future then, maybe another loan until the end of the season. But for ten, 11 days I have to go back there.”

The prospect of playing in the Championship would probably not have been an appealing one had it not been Newcastle doing the courting. But the lure of playing for such a well-supported club with such strong links to his homeland was futile to resist.

He said: “I know Temuri very well. He is my good friend, one of my best football friends in Georgia. He became one of my best friends when we played together at Dundee.

“He was in Scotland for maybe six months. When I was 17, I started in the national team so we played maybe five or six years together for Georgia. I am really happy to be following him here because I know he is a big name in Newcastle. When I first arrived here, every single person in the town mentioned him because they know I am from Georgia. They all ask me ‘how is Temuri?’

“I have spoken to him about Newcastle, although he is not going through a good time because he has just been sacked by Olympiakos, just a week or so ago.

“He is back in Georgia and they are talking about giving him the job with the national team.

“When he was at Newcastle, I used to watch the games on TV in Georgia. I was in Tblisi, maybe 14 or 15 years old.

“It was a dream for him to play in the Premier League, especially for a club like Newcastle.”