Oba Martins played the first 79 minutes for Nigeria against the Ivory Coast, yesterday but a late great goal by Chelsea star Salomon Kalou, was enough to beat Nigeria 1-0.
Oba Martins - excited about Kevin Keegan at Newcastle
The Evening Chronicle caught up with Oba today and managed to get an interview with him on all that had happened since Oba left for the African Cup of Nations - including Keegan being his new manager.
Oba said today:
“Keegan is a symbol in Newcastle.†“I do not know him as a coach although people in Newcastle have always spoken very highly of him.â€
“The Allardyce sacking surprised me because I did not think that we were in a critical situation, but the decision was influenced by a string of bad results.”
“And when that happens it is the manager who pays for it with his job.†“Keegan knows the Premier League well so I think he is the right man for the job.â€
“I have heard about the option of Alan Shearer returning, but the players do not have a say on this. It is up to the board. I just want what is best for the club.†“I believe Newcastle have the players to fight for a place in the UEFA Cup and not worry about relegation.â€
“It is difficult for me not to be there at this tough time but I think people understand that it is important for me to play for my country.â€
Martins will in action again for Nigeria against Mali again on Friday night. Maki beat Benin 1-0 last night.
We’re not sure if Kevin has been able to speak to Martins, Beye, Faye and Geremi, who are all participating in Africa, but we would have thought he’s had some contact with them by now.
We have all the games of our 4 players who are participating in the African Cup of Nations, on the top of the column to the far right, on our site.
Looks like Geremi’s Cameroon are losing 4-2 to Egypt at the time of writing.
Comments very welcome.
Loading ...
43 responses so far ↓
1 Chris // Jan 22, 2008 at 18:56
I think Keegan has been in contact with Geremi. Hopefully to tell him not to come back!
2 Leo* // Jan 22, 2008 at 19:02
haha hi geremi please do not come back from king kev haha, would crease if i knew it was true
cant wait for martins to come back
3 James // Jan 22, 2008 at 19:10
Martins was terrible yesterday. The commentator said he often makes too many mistakes during a game.
After he wasted a hatful of chances he was taken off. The first bid that comes in for Martins in the summer will be accepted.
4 Phani Tikkala // Jan 22, 2008 at 19:21
Keegan has pulled a master stroke by saying too the press he wanted to talk to Shearer and has indeed talked to Shearer.
AS has been a spectre hanging over the last 2 managers and would have been for KK as well. The press love commenting on how bad NUFC are performing and talking to AS.
Now KK has openly spoken to AS, you have to think did he really want to appoint him his no2 or was he just meeting him to be able to say to the press “look I talked to AS and he didn’t want to come”.
Either way it is a master stroke, he gets the spectre of AS off him or he gets him in as an apprentice.
AS needs to stop talking about being the manager of NUFC and either learn the ropes from the Messiah or go away and learn the ropes elsewhere, simple as that.
You know I forgot how much I loved KK, the premier league has missed him so much as well.
The press love him, we love him, the players love him and the neutrals love the football he is renowned for playing at NUFC. Forget his stint at Fulham, England and Man City this is the club he loves.
“I would love it, love it” if he was the Man to bring a trophy back to SJP. He deserves it almost as much as the fans.
5 Black and White Blood // Jan 22, 2008 at 19:34
Phani Tikkala - What more can you say, I agree with everything you said - KK for me any day over Shearer, I’m old enough to remember just what KK achieved as both a player and manager of Newcastle - Shearer will be manager one day but I’m pleased we have KK now!!!!
6 Phani Tikkala // Jan 22, 2008 at 19:41
B&W Blood.
Cheers.
Can you imagine if AS winds his neck in and realises that he can learn a lot from the great man over a good few years what we would have?
Continuity, something we have needed for a long, long time and he may even learn how KK gets players to play that beautiful, beautiful game we used to know under KK in the 90s.
Wow!!!!!!!!!
7 Black and White Blood // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:02
Phani Tikkala - Do you not think Shearer’s got too big of an ego - I think he believes he’s special and has a devine right to manager Newcastle - Wor Jackie was more of a hero and was never manager, Shearer scored far more goals from the sport- Don’t get me wrong Shearer is a Toon hero, but he’s not as special as he believes he is- Get on with it Shearer..!!
8 Black and White Blood // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:07
Some goal for Spurs!!
9 Steve_48 // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:08
Jenas just scored for Suprs, 1-0 BTW :: JINX Black and White Blood
10 Tom_Toon // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:09
God i hate Spurs, but also hate Arsenal.
11 Tim // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:11
Phanni Tikala
I love that phrase “Wind his neck in”. It sums up exactly what we all want AS to do. I know its often the press inventing stories but he could learn far more as a No2 to KK than he could ever as a No1 at another club…
Come on AS, have some Humility and join the revolution…
12 Phani Tikkala // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:11
Exactly B&W blood, he needs to get rid of that ego and either learn from the messiah or go away and learn somewhere else.
Personally I would like him to learn from KK (quietly) so there is continuity of KKs brand of footy for the future.
Like you say though, not sure if he can (swallow he ego that is).
I think Keegans appointment has given Shearer a bit of a shock to his system like, he thought he could just walk in and get all the adulation that KK has recieved. He now knows that there is a more popular face at SJP than his.
13 jarrageordie // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:18
i just think martens wasent playing so well this season coz of BSA w4nkey tactics i think martins will flurish under kk’s tactics be like the old tino
14 scott9 // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:25
nooooo arsenal dont let spurs win i hate them u wont ere the last of it spurs fans think they are so much better than they are they think huddlestone should play for engalnd they think dawson is better than terry and if you asked a spurs fan who are a bigger club spurs or newcastle ? they would say spurs and generally believe it
15 scott9 // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:25
martins andowen should play up front together under keegan
16 tdt // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:32
2-0 way arsenal
17 Warwick Hunt // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:35
Love to see Martins blossom under Keegan, I think he is a Keegan type player as well.
18 I Shy Ty // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:38
Stop picking on Al. He’s in Africa at the moment, visiting some politician who sent him an email because he is trying to get money out of his country. He needs Al’s bank account details so that he can transfer in 43 million pounds. Al gets a 10% cut so you can’t blame the bloke for going over there. Best to deliver your bank details by hand because you can’t trust this interweb thingy, can you?
Btw. I don’t see KK as a symbol. I see him more of a big bass drum.
19 carl // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:38
i hope arsenals confidence drops,we got them twice soon.
20 tdt // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:39
any1 no if the arsenal v toon fa cup game on saturday will be televised?
21 tdt // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:40
few arsenal injuries/suspentions would go down a treat with me 2nyt! denilson got injured early on i hear??
22 scott9 // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:40
s*it 2 o tottenham guys if u no any tottenham fans u aint gonna here the last of this there gonna go on about this for years i dont realy like arsenal but i hate spurs with a passion almost as much as mackems
23 James // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:40
Keegan’s team for the rest of the season with ? for areas that he will buy replacements for this month. And if he does replace the question marks with top class players, then we can push for a top 6 finish this season.
Given
Beye Taylor ? ?
? ? Nzogbia Duff
Owen Martins
Subs : Harper, Enrique, Carr, Faye, Cacapa, Rozenhal, Milner, Butt, Smith, Viduka
24 Howie // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:41
will be on internet as its a big 3pm game. not on bbc or skysports
25 tdt // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:43
sentanta? how do u get it on the net??
26 scott9 // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:43
sorry james even if we get carrick quaresma riise and micah richards we aint gonna finish in the top 6 15 points is just to much to catch up from we might get a top ten finish at the most we aint gonna be anywere near europe not even the intertoto sor for been pesimistic but its reality
27 tdt // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:45
how do u get intertoto then??
28 James // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:46
Nothing is impossible. Difficult yes. But not impossible. Blackburn were once 8th at Christmas and went on a run that took them to the title.
We are only half way in the season. Lots of football to be played and points to be had.
Personally I reckon we will finish 8th. But Let’s finish 8th by having a go for 6th.
29 I Shy Ty // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:52
Anyone know what Terry Mac’s job is?
30 Victor Meldrew // Jan 22, 2008 at 21:02
Phani Tikkala - I reckon you’ve got the AS situation well sussed! I can’t see him working with KK now. He needs some way of saving face. God knows how.
31 Bobby Ollox // Jan 22, 2008 at 21:09
Im afraid that KK will get caught up in the anti geordie backlash - they all hate us for wanting immediate success ( immediate?) - and hate us even more for appointing KK as a sentimental crowd pleasing gesture . they will hate KK for taking the job as well.
Well f*ck em - f*ck em all - hes the right man for us, and Ive had a spring in my step all week because of him.
TOOKKOKKWASASWIAKW
32 tdt // Jan 22, 2008 at 21:10
RESERVES WIN 5-0 OVER MIDDLESBOURGH! although lualua got injured
but andy carrol hatrick!
33 tdt // Jan 22, 2008 at 21:13
3-0 spurrs!
34 Howie // Jan 22, 2008 at 21:16
type in myp2p on google and you will see it there. might need to download something tvu is pretty reliable for quality. setanta dont do cup
35 Black and White Blood // Jan 22, 2008 at 21:21
Shit 4-0 to Spurs!!!
36 Obafan // Jan 22, 2008 at 21:26
Martins lacks confidence ATM; because of a few reasons;
1. always being pressured by SA; a few mistakse and he always was substituted (others could do what they want, eg Smith, …)
2. playing out of position (winger)
3. bad service from our weak midfield
4. working very hard => tired to finish the chances
5. missing chances => confidence gets down
He will fire under KK, I’m 200% sure of that.
37 scott9 // Jan 22, 2008 at 21:52
james we aint gonna finish 8th unless theres a miracle in the transfer window like carrick arshevin bridge
38 Black and White Blood // Jan 22, 2008 at 21:52
Obafan - yes spot on analysis!!!!
39 scott9 // Jan 22, 2008 at 22:09
i agree obafan martins is a player with special ability there aint many players that are special but he is hes different to other strikers he just has something about him
40 Obafan // Jan 22, 2008 at 22:42
Thanks scott and black and white blood
41 ronaldeano // Jan 22, 2008 at 23:02
Martins needs to practice his first touch and his finishing. He has bags of skill and unbelivable pace, but he needs to use it properly. KK will sort him out
42 ObaFan2 // Jan 23, 2008 at 0:02
“I have heard about the option of Alan Shearer returning, but the players do not have a say on this. It is up to the board. I just want what is best for the club.â€
Cheers Oba, couldn’t have said it better myself.
Come back home you’ll love KK too.
43 toonbully // Jan 23, 2008 at 7:44
No real comment on above , but going to Arse match on Saturday at the Emirates and looking to meet toon lads before and after . Anybody know of any friendly drinkers near the new ground , or not so far away , where other toon boys maybe having a quaff ….TB…….
Leave a Comment