Rozehnal Is No Boumsong
Last updated : 08 August 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor
Boumsong arrived from Rangers with a big reputation, having been involved in the French World Cup squad, and they were the mighty force we all looked up to.
The Brazil of European football.
So with such a great pedigree, and a £8m transfer fee (although we still don't know who's pocket it went into), he came to Tyneside to become our new Bobby Moncur. A leader amongst men, and the force we needed at the back.
But it didn't happen. Why? Who knows. But David Rozehnal knows all about his failings and I'm sure, at long last, we have a player who could fill Moncur's boots.
David Rozehnal: "Well, last year I played 60 games for Paris St Germain. It was a lot but I was never injured and I felt fine at the end of the season.
"I have heard a lot about the Premier League being a very hard competition - a lot of games during a short time, two cups and sometimes European competition.
"But fitness is the most important thing. When you are comfortable physically, then you are ready for any challenge.
"It's up to me now to concentrate on changing my game to suit football in England and concentrate on the ideas of the coach.
"He (Allardyce) was the most important reason for me to come here, because I heard he wanted to sign me before when he was at Bolton. It's important to be wanted.
"But it was also very exciting for me to show to everybody my quality in the biggest league in the world; to show I am the right man in the right place.
"I hope I work hard enough and do a good enough job during the preparation to be a first-choice in the team.
"It's up to the coach to decide the first XI of course, but I feel better with every game. I will get stronger and stronger and I'll be ready for the first game of the season.
"I've built my position in the Czech Republic national team. I hope I can say I am a first XI player, and I want to continue like that with the European Championships so close.
"If I play here, I'm sure I will continue to play for my country, because this is a big competition, a big club and I'll be playing against a lot of big opponents. It can teach me a lot.
"Hopefully (the Czechs) we will qualify. Can we win? I don't know. We are not in a position like we were when we reached the final in 1996 or the last Europeans when we took third place.
"A lot of good - older, but good - players have finished their international careers and I think we are looking for a new way of playing and to build a new national team.
"The most important thing is to qualify.
"Coming to Newcastle is the biggest challenge of my career. I could have stayed in Europe and still definitely played in the European Championships.
"But I think I will become a better player being at Newcastle.
"Borussia Dortmund were the first team to be interested in me this summer, and they are a big club. But then came Newcastle.
"Of course, I knew the coach - as I said, he wanted me before - but also Newcastle are such a big club, with big names and a great history.
"I heard a lot about the city as well. It is famous for being a very friendly place! Of course, it's different from Paris, but I like it.
"The Premier League is a big attraction of course. It's the biggest league in the world without question.
"The last few days before I joined, I heard something about Sevilla as well, but the offer was never as serious as Newcastle or Dortmund.
"I spoke with Petr Cech and other players who have been here as well as my manager; people who know the Premier League well.
"But the most important thing was my own feeling about Newcastle. I liked the challenge.
"I've been very impressed by the standard here. Michael Owen and Mark Viduka have missed pre-season games and we have some injuries, but it's clear we still have great players.
"I don't know what we can achieve this season but I hope I can be a part of it."