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News, Views and Comment On Newcastle United Football Club By Ed Harrison, A Proud Geordie And Lifelong Fan

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Worrying News On Newcastle’s Oba Martins

June 1st, 2008 by Ed Harrison · 56 Comments

We’ve kept an eye on the Oba Martins affair this last week, and it now looks like Oba’s going to be out for up to eight weeks.

oba-martins-2312.jpg

Oba Martins - showing the excitement of scoring for Newcastle United
The somersault comes next :D

Martins was due to report for international duty with Nigeria last week but failed to turn up, but Oba said an ankle injury he had sustained was the reason for his non-appearance with the Nigerian squad.

Nigeria manager Shaibu Amodu explained the situation yesterday:

“Obafemi said he had a scan on his ankle and the doctors said he’d be out for eight weeks.”

This is not good news for Newcastle, but there’s still a good chance, with some good treatment during the summer, that it may not be as long as the full 8 weeks.

But the injury could rule Martins out of most of Newcastle’s pre-season preparations, and that would be unfortunate.

The problem we have is that Mark Viduka is also recovering from his Achilles tendon injury, and he may well not be ready for the start of the season.

But we do expect Newcastle to bring in at least one new top striker in the summer, and we still have Owen, Carroll and possibly Alan Smith (if he’s still at the club) who can play up front.

We would expect Kevin Keegan to keep with the 4-3-3 formation he used so well in the last 10 games of last season.

The formation worked like a treat and Kevin was able to utilize the talents of all of our top 3 strikers and goal-scorers - Viduka, Owen and Martins.

Martins will be a key player for Newcastle next season, there’s absolutely no doubt about that.

The boy has already shown under Keegan that defenses can be very unsettled by him, and they just don’t know what he’s going to do next.

And there’s nothing quite as exciting as when Oba runs full-tilt at the opposing defense, as he famously did at Tottenham last year (with Keegan shouting him on) and he set set up a great goal for Michael Owen.

That was just great to watch, as Newcastle took Tottenham apart 4-1 on their own ground ….. oh, the memories of that game. :D

Martins is a one off, and don’t believe any transfer talk surrounding the boy, he’s going nowhere in the summer.

We love the lad.

Comments welcome.

Tags: Injuries · Newcastle News · Obafemi Martins










56 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Ben_BKK // Jun 1, 2008 at 17:36

    Just our luck… At least he won’t miss any actual premiership matches

  • 2 JJ // Jun 1, 2008 at 17:55

    My favourite player at the club. Reminds me of the good old days and always so exciting to watch. Anyone whos not a fan is not a fan of football.

  • 3 JJ // Jun 1, 2008 at 17:56

    Ps. Ben_BKK, congratulations on not writing “Wall virginity” like some of the other retards who frequent this blog.

  • 4 daniel // Jun 1, 2008 at 18:03

    yeh, that wall virginity thing is really irritating.

  • 5 Leo // Jun 1, 2008 at 18:03

    well some people believe he is just not playing 1 because he is not patriotic 2 because of the fact someone tried for his life last time he was in lagos 3 he doesnt like playing for his international side 4 he doesnt like the manager

    so he might not be injured

  • 6 Tom4nufc // Jun 1, 2008 at 18:04

    We all know this could be a made up story from Oba, as he doesnt tend to enjoy playing for his country that much, I just hope it is an excuse for an extended holiday and that he is back raring to go for pre-season.

  • 7 Tom4nufc // Jun 1, 2008 at 18:05

    Beat me to it Leo, but atleast someone else believes my theory :)

  • 8 ToonKing // Jun 1, 2008 at 18:14

    i agree with the conspiracy too :D

  • 9 Tom4nufc // Jun 1, 2008 at 18:20

    :) Good to hear, when do you ever hear of a player who is loved, could easily get into their national team, but opts not to play, that “alleged” shooting in Lagos could be fantastic! Just stay at NUFC and we will love you for life OBA!!!

  • 10 cooldj // Jun 1, 2008 at 18:26

    hope he stays at the club and starts playing again soon. easily my fav player and many others fav too. and congrats to benBBK the whole wall virginity thing is so old and kinda random.

  • 11 toonfan1 // Jun 1, 2008 at 18:29

    just luked on teamtalk.com and saw an article that would excite all of us toon fans! its says that mikel arteta is top of our shopping list and also swp could be on his way to the club in a cheeky bid! also he colocinni (or however u spell it!) may come to the toon but is of interest of barca and real madrid as well as man city. go on teamtalk.com to see the stories

  • 12 Ian // Jun 1, 2008 at 18:35

    Just think if he was injured, who would then run at the oppostion?

    Owen, Crouch or Carroll??

    Only Nzogbia, if he stays and Milner-worrying.

  • 13 scott9 // Jun 1, 2008 at 18:52

    this cud be good news as no one will buy him cause he is injured

  • 14 Chris F // Jun 1, 2008 at 19:00

    i bet there’s nowt wrong with him.

    nowt at all.

  • 15 cooldj // Jun 1, 2008 at 19:15

    http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3637519,00.html

    please kk hijack it!

  • 16 Toonboy // Jun 1, 2008 at 19:21

    Yeah hijack it kk,If we’re apparently are after the best young footballers in the world we must be sniffing about or wisey aint doing his job.

  • 17 ToonKing // Jun 1, 2008 at 19:23

    i’m not sure i’d want him cooldj, imo he is the most unsuited player for the premiership. he’s very fragile, he will be destroyed.

    but he’s talent is undoubted, reports in spain say that it’s bs and he’s staying at Barca, hope it’s true, don’t want them yids to get him.

  • 18 Tom_Toon // Jun 1, 2008 at 19:23

    But he isnt, hes all hype.

    Aye ToonKing, hes considered almost too weak for La Liga, he is going to get mullered in the prem.

  • 19 nomis_jade // Jun 1, 2008 at 19:29

    Just a quick thought on all the news about us selling players. I think its a shame to see emre go, but only cos i like the lad. If he and Duff (and smith) go, overall i think its a good deal.

    It made be think, last year we sold dyer and parker. Both injury prone players, and both it must be said, similar to emre and duff respectively.
    And i thought, in actual fact, we ahvent missed those two particularly this year and neither have played much for west ham.

    It just goes to show that in another year we wont be missing duff or emre either, but we are gettgin these guys of our wage bill.

    So my oppinion is good decision MA.

  • 20 Tom // Jun 1, 2008 at 19:33

    sorry but can someone tell me what “imo” means? thanks

  • 21 Toon1978 // Jun 1, 2008 at 19:35

    My opinion on MA at the moment is a negative one but i really do hope he changes my opinion by signing the likes of SWP,Crouch, Arda, Gomis, Shorey, and a top central defender. We can only hope obviously KK and MA would not let Duff , Smith and Emre go without bringing in someone better. We MUST be close to a few signings with letting these players go.

  • 22 Tom_Toon // Jun 1, 2008 at 19:35

    In my opinion.

  • 23 Toon1978 // Jun 1, 2008 at 19:36

    Dont know if u are taking the p.ss Tom lol but its

    “IN MY OPINION”

  • 24 Taiwantoon // Jun 1, 2008 at 19:48

    tom, in my opinion = imo

  • 25 Toonboy // Jun 1, 2008 at 19:53

    What does “lmfao” mean :-)

  • 26 Marat18 // Jun 1, 2008 at 19:57

    Lads, what does “lol” mean?

  • 27 Marat18 // Jun 1, 2008 at 19:58

    BTW, who are KK and MA?

  • 28 Marty // Jun 1, 2008 at 20:00

    DONT BUY CROUCH,Bandy legged!!!!!!!
    We wouldn`t sell too many of those shirts,the only people they will fit is our BARE CHESTED Fat Boys that sing their hearts out n they dont want to be clothed in the first place ;-)
    Don`t rate him that much,get some1 quicker n more powerful n some1 that don`t look like a powderpuff girl!!!!!!!!

  • 29 Marty // Jun 1, 2008 at 20:02

    Laugh out loud…
    Mike Ashley n King Kev
    Are you a geordie fan Marat18????????

  • 30 ToonKing // Jun 1, 2008 at 20:03

    lol = laughing out load , or something like that.

    i like rofl and lmao though :D

  • 31 cooldj // Jun 1, 2008 at 20:12

    think dos santos could adapt his game. you don’t want too many small, weak players but IMO (lol) lennon has been a success. for 6 mill i think dos santos brings pace and skill. he’s not the complete article but he has got talent.

  • 32 Charlie Bucket // Jun 1, 2008 at 20:33

    Maybe we could sign a few players from Spurs.

    Dawson, Lennon and Zokora to do for starters

    Maybe Darren Bent and Chimbonda

  • 33 Tom_Toon // Jun 1, 2008 at 20:36

    Charlie Bucket you always come on with these jkes, last time you qanted us to sign Danny Mills.

  • 34 NUFCFAN // Jun 1, 2008 at 21:28

    No thanks to the spurs players - dont want them and hate the idea of handing them money to invest in new players - likely to be a few of our targets!

  • 35 JC // Jun 1, 2008 at 22:16

    Off subject… but what is this collocini lad really like?

  • 36 Tom_Toon // Jun 1, 2008 at 22:25

    Considered one of the best defeders in spain.

    Very agressive and solid but can dribble and play DM aswell.

  • 37 JC // Jun 1, 2008 at 22:34

    BUT is he good enough to play in the prem. Or is he really that good, not that I’m doubting you tom toon but too many times have these great european centre backs (and players in general) have come to england and been a let down!

  • 38 Tom_Toon // Jun 1, 2008 at 22:36

    He’ll definitely suit the prem IMO. But you never know because you could find out they they have an attitude to not qant to play in the prem or not like it. He as the attributes though.

  • 39 ToonKing // Jun 1, 2008 at 22:39

    yep he does get many yellows but he can score quite a few goals from set pieces, if i recall correctly he had at least 3-4 goals this past season.

  • 40 ronaldeano // Jun 1, 2008 at 22:49

    Dos Santos is a skrawny little git.

    The unwashed, cockney, small club who think they are big, mongaloid, filthy poofs can have him :)

  • 41 Gloryhunter // Jun 1, 2008 at 22:54

    They’re FNCs IMO (LOL)

  • 42 Gloryhunter // Jun 1, 2008 at 23:11

    Spuds are FNCs IMO :)

  • 43 Marat18 // Jun 1, 2008 at 23:21

    2 Marty,
    yea, im a geordie fan. just wanted to play some plonka role and have a laugh with questions like “what does lol means?”

    Toonking,
    if he (Coloccini) gets many yellow cards in Spain, then he will be ok in EPL :-) cause CBs play more aggresive here than at the continent.
    And have you seen his neck? he has to be quite a robust fellow :-)

  • 44 Gloryhunter // Jun 1, 2008 at 23:25

    He’s got a neck like Smiffy in the bash street kids

  • 45 ToonKing // Jun 1, 2008 at 23:27

    he’s not that robust, hes suited for hes 6 ft, let’s say he’s cut :D

  • 46 Tom_Toon // Jun 1, 2008 at 23:36

    He is robust, hes a brute!

  • 47 Leo // Jun 2, 2008 at 2:38

    well seen as there is nothing to talk about, i wondered if anyone has heard the new song by coldplay called viva la vida…

    very good track really rate it probably one of their best tracks ever

  • 48 phoonCK // Jun 2, 2008 at 3:45

    Coloccini will be a good buy for us, as he can play as a stopper, full back and defensive mid as well. IMO he’s the cheaper alternative to Carlos Puyol.

    Go King Kev! Go MA! Snap him up before anyone else as he’s definitely leaving Deportivo this summer!

    Keep The Faith

  • 49 ilkkatoon // Jun 2, 2008 at 6:20

    colocchini is an absolute gun no chance in getting him though guys be realistic if we cant even get dunne!

  • 50 Graeme // Jun 2, 2008 at 9:07

    Its a good time to get cover for both Martins and Viduka by signing either Gomis OR Eto’o. Either one would be a great bonus to our attacking philosophy under Keegan.

    I think I would probably prefer Gomis to be honest. He’s both younger and more hungry.

  • 51 Geordie Gerrard7 // Jun 2, 2008 at 9:18

    Newcastle’dan 12 milyon euro
    Emre Belözoğlu’nu Fenerbahçe’ye satan Newcastle United, uzun süredir ilgilendiği Arda Turan için Galatasaray’a resmi teklifini iletti. 21 yaşındaki yıldız futbolcuyu mutlaka kadrosuna katmak niyetinde olan İngiliz ekibi, Arda için 12 milyon euro bonservis bedeli ödemeyi önerdi ve fiyatın artmaması için 2008 Avrupa Futbol Şampiyonası başlamadan bu transferin bitmesini istedi. Her ne kadar Galatasaray Başkanı Adnan Polat hafta içinde yaptığı açıklamada, “Gelecek sezon için derinlikli bir kadro kurmayı planlıyoruz. Bu nedenle hiçbir oyuncumuzu satmayacağız” dese de, Newcastle United’ın teklifi, sarı-kırmızılı yönetimin aklını çelmiş durumda.

    TRANSLATE PLEASE GS FAN?

  • 52 cooldj // Jun 2, 2008 at 9:19

    Newcastle and Sunderland might be interested in a former Arsenal trialist. Bulgarian Nicolay Dimitrov had a one-week trial at Ashburton Grove in December but was not signed by Arsene Wenger.

    read this. probably BS but whats he like anyways cos i aint heard of him!!??!!

  • 53 The Entertainers // Jun 2, 2008 at 9:20

    We’re looking very thin both upfront and in midfield now……i love the way we keep getting linked with defenders!…..at this rate KK ’s going to make Big Sams football look attractive.

  • 54 cooldj // Jun 2, 2008 at 9:22

    but at least KK will never make Big Sam look attractive…

  • 55 BILLY - B // Jun 2, 2008 at 11:40

    I love your sense of humour Ed - Alan Smith can play up front HA HA HA.

  • 56 Tom_Toon // Jun 2, 2008 at 12:29

    cooldj, i hope that is true about Dimitrov.










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