Source: Northern_Echo
Hughton is Tyneside’s top boss says Enrique
DURING his two and a half years on Tyneside, Jose Enrique has worked under six different managers, including Alan Shearer and Kevin Keegan.[LNB] The Spaniard, however, insists Chris Hughton is better than the rest.[LNB] Before Hughton took on the role on a full-time basis in October, his only previous experiences of frontline management were as a caretaker boss on two occasions with Newcastle and one at Tottenham.[LNB] But Enrique feels the former Republic of Ireland international has taken to the role smoothly and that he has brought calmness and unity to a Newcastle dressing room previously lacking camaraderie in recent years.[LNB] When Enrique was persuaded to move to the North- East in the summer of 2007 by Sam Allardyce, the left-back expected Newcastle to be pursuing honours as a Premier League outfit.[LNB] However, during times of struggle on and off the pitch, the left-back became increasingly frustrated after Allardyce left in January last year a departure which led to Nigel Pearson, Keegan, Joe Kinnear and Shearer all taking charge at some stage.[LNB] But in Hughton, who has been responsible for steadying Newcastle and leading them to the top of the Championship, Enrique is satisfied the Magpies have a manager capable of ensuring progress continues.[LNB] The manager has been very important. Chris has a big opportunity now and I think for me, he is the best manager that I have had in my three seasons at Newcastle,[LNB] said Enrique.[LNB] He understands football and the players are happy to play for him.[LNB] It is the first time he has had the opportunity to do the job properly and he has proven he is a good manager.[LNB] He is the right man for Newcastle at the moment.[LNB] When Newcastle dropped into the Championship in May, Enrique was one of the many foreign imports expected to depart having endured a difficult start at St James' Park.[LNB] But having survived the summer cull of the Newcastle playing staff Enrique has become one of the most consistent performers under Hughton.[LNB] And rather than dwell on further claims over the weekend that he is set for a move to Sunderland, the 23- year-old is not willing to consider a move anywhere when the transfer window opens on January 1.[LNB] Some players were joking with me about what the papers said, said Enrique. I don't care. I don't worry about Sunderland, I don't worry about other teams. I want to go back to the Premier League, that is true, but I want to go back to the Premier League with Newcastle.[LNB] This is a big, big, big club and it is important that it gets back into the Premier League. I don't care about Sunderland. Even if they said Chelsea, I wouldn't care. I worry for my team I love the city, I love the club and I don't care about signing for another team.[LNB] Resurfaced talk of interest from Sunderland follows a summer in which he was regularly touted for a move back to Spain, where he made his name at Villarreal.[LNB] I say all the time, when people ask me, I love this club'. It is normal that our players are linked with other clubs because we are playing well.[LNB] But I am happy here, I want to make up for the mistakes we made last season, he said.[LNB] When you are happy with the city and happy with the club, you would not want to leave.[LNB] I know this summer all the papers are linking me and all the other players with all sorts of teams but I'm not interested. From the first moment I've been here I wanted to play here and I never thought about going anywhere else.[LNB] Newcastle, meanwhile, revealed last night that they paid £1.452m out in players' agent fees during the period of October 1, 2008, to September 30, 2009. That includes payments made by the club on behalf of players.[LNB]
