JohnB

Hearing some of these comments I now understand why the rest of the premiership call us 'fickle fans' or 'unpatient' at best. Premiership games under Roeder: 18 Points scored: 34 Give the guy a chance for christ sake! Two bad results and we start likening him to Souness... Ridiculous. I for one will be at the Everton game next week cheering on the lads AND Roeder for what he has done for us post Souness

What a joke. we have had 64% poossession and villa have only had two shots. Are we playing with just oba up front?, if so we need a second up there for the second half, we got no end product it sounds like...

Is a player that has always exited when on the pitch, his close ball control and ability to find space for others is second to none. I wonder what people think our team will be this season though? I'm not sure that having just Emre and Parker in the middle works as a partnership (Assuming Martins + Ameobi up front) , especially as we now use Parker as a 'box to box' player, Emre is not defensive minded enough to hold fort on these occasions. Perhaps Emre on the bench and Gravesen? playing, or Drop Ameobi and continue to play a 5 man midfield to give Emre and Parker more freedom??

Thats what i've just heard. I thought Roeder had already dismissed the possibility of us taking him back a few times already... Best defender ever not to have played! Probably for the best we dont take him back, he would only bugger off back to madrid if he did ever find his fitness again and make me feel again

Don't reckon Martins would much appreciate anything that starts with "He's Black", we wouldnt want to piss him off just as he arrives! ... 'Obafemi Martins"? Am struggling myself to think of one, not the easiest name in the world to create a chant for..

http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s70/st102878.htm?fromrss=1 The Times quotes: “I will join Newcastle on Thursday,” Martins said. “I am very happy about this.” Two days ago, Martins said to BBC Sport that a deal with Newcastle was "80% done". This was followed up with Inter's acceptance of a £10m offer from Newcastle, with the transfer set to be concluded with ease. However, not long after the bid was accepted, SkySports revealed that Portsmouth were also planning to make a late bid, seemingly to better ours and snatch the player at the last minute. With new Portsmouth owner Gaydamak loaded with money for the club to spend, the news was met with some degree of worry in the North East that "Obagoal" may not head here after all. These new quotes from Martins should go a long way to assuring fans that the 21-year-old Nigerian is well and truly on his way, and will hopefully be available to face Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa on Sunday at Villa Park, Newcastle's first away outing of the new Premiership season. That should be two players in for sure... If we are to get Gravesen and Bridge as well I'd hope we could push hard for champions league this season. At about £20m total spending it would be good business this transfer window, credit to Roeder if he pulls it all off...

He is 25 in october, they grow up so fast

I agree, and what I find myself wondering is that if we'd signed him start of this summer, and he was completely unknown, whether people would be impressed with him based on pre-season/Wigan form. 183044[/snapback] He's played himself into the team for the time being thats for sure (even if we had other strikers...) Completely agree it's about time St James got behind him. Even if he has his bad days, the stick he got at times was unfair and cant have been helping. I think if we are to see a new and improved Shola though, it has got to be this season as he is hardly a kid anymore..

Without wanting to sound like Liverpool fans with Dirk Kuyt... If Martins ends up in Portsmouth then he hasn't the ambition that we want in a Newcastle player. That said I'd be very surprised to see him end up there. If we have already agreed a fee with Inter then its too late for Portsmouth to try and do to us what we did to Liverpool last year with Owen, and I cant see them beating our wages by much either tbh. More competition at portsmouth for strikers currently as well (God I NEVER thought id be saying that ) Looking forward to seeing us landing him in next day or two

182396[/snapback] I dont like hearing about how fantastic a human being Shola is supposed to be, it reminds me of people talking about Heskey and how he needs to be more mean and powerful on the pitch and all that bollocks... Would prefer 'fantastic striker' tbh. 182415[/snapback] 1 goal every 2 games do you? 182470[/snapback] It looks like the Shola debate is still alive and kicking then... Wasn't a slur on the lad, simply pointing out the comparisons between the way he is spoken about and the way Heskey is often referred to as a 'fantastic' or 'gentle' human being . I agree that recently Shola has worked his socks off for us, and got a good goal return. But we shouldn't forget that he has only scored 44 goals in 128 statrts and 87 sub appearences. He will probably end up scoring 1 in 3/4 games over his career. I am happy to have him in the squad, but our 'fantastic' striker he is not...

182396[/snapback] I dont like hearing about how fantastic a human being Shola is supposed to be, it reminds me of people talking about Heskey and how he needs to be more mean and powerful on the pitch and all that bollocks... Would prefer 'fantastic striker' tbh.

Souness was here longer (felt like forever... ) , the league stats are; Robson: Games:139 W:67 D:38 L:34 Pts:239/ 1.72 Per Game Souness Games:61 W:20 D:12 L:29 Pts:72/ 1.18 Per Game Roeder Games:16 W:11 D:2 L:3 Pts:35/2.19 Per Game

This strand has become like chinese whispers! Where did Sultans and Shiek's come from, seriously??? Belgravia company is a bunch of southerners from Jersey that are your standard capitalist investors... not very middle eastern.

Martins has 9 goals in 22 games in the CL, Kuyt hasn't done a thing outside the Dutch league even though he's 5 years older. For me Kuyt is the unproven player out of the two. 181466[/snapback] If we sign him I hope you are right , I am only going on the limited amount I have seen of both of them and for me Kuyt is the more complete footballer, and will score more goals. Suppose its irrelevent anyway we will get to find out this season its looking like..

Completely depends on who the player is and how we rate them... So in this case Kuyt (in my opinion) is worth more than £6m seeing as he has been top scorer in Holland for the past two seasons, and looks like a genuinely intelligent player with an eye for goal... Martins is a reserve player from Italy, who has a bit of pace and is as yet unproven. I would have been happy for us to pay up to £10m for Kuyt but not for Martins. Its a fair enough opinion

Am a little bit concerned about the price. In terms of goals he has been at about 1 in 3 for the last three years which is ok... sure he is quick, but his touch and finishing is poor from what I've seen, he is a bit like Cisse I reckon... Also, is he 21? I know it sounds like ****stirring, but considering it was Babayaro who pointed him out as a team mate of his for the Nigerian under 21's 7 years ago, I would like to think we really are sure of his age before pressing forward with what would be an expensive deal for what we are getting

Roeder: "I have seen Kuyt play. He has good movement and takes up positions where he will score goals." "Martins is a player with pace, which is what we need." Could this mean we might be in for both after all? I assumed it would be either one of them at best ... would be pleasantly surprised to see Kuyt and Martins next year

I can only see us getting either Kuyt or Martins, both are looking quite hard to get. But if we were to end up something like - Elliott - Bridge? Faye - Gravesen? Bowyer - Duff Kuyt/Martins? - Shearer... I would be happy to congratulate Glenn on some top draw work this transfer window, at least we are being linked with quality players as the transfer window closes...

Has Zog signed that contract extention, or are we going to see him leaving at the end of the season?? 172414[/snapback] I agree. There is no way I would drop one of our best performers last year for the Butt. I thought N'zogbia signed a new 4 year contract at the start of summer along with Shay...

Emre. 171886[/snapback] Parker and Gravesen in the middle of the park?? Hmmm, I think that Emre gives us quite a bit of class in the midfield. What we need is a frikkin good striker to make use of his, Duff's and Nobby's skill/passing abilities imo. 171914[/snapback] I think it may be Nobby. He has been quality for us over the years and had some genius moments last year but he is starting to go missing for large periods of the game, especially away from St James'. If we get Gravesen could it not be a five man midfield next year? Parker and Gravesen holding with Duff - Emre - N'zogbia (supporting our new 30 goal a seson striker )

Is almost certainly the case, but if Inter catch wind of the rumours they will up the asking price regardless. Don't reckon we should be going in at any more than £6-8m, we can't afford to

Chelsea are predictably being linked with him today now that they have sold Crespo, will probably price him out of a move for us.

It's more a case of why is Bumble ahead of Taylor? I'd rellay like to hear your case on why RoMoreeio would be third choice, with the current playing staff, after his performances when he was chosen? 171537[/snapback] Nothing against Moore, he has played quite well for us so far. I just think he is a bit limited compared to Taylor and Bramble, even if Titus can occasionally be a bit boumesque at times. Maybe I just want Bramble to be a success more, he has had to take alot of stick over the years. Under Sir Bobby (Get well soon...) he was an important player that helped get us two years in the top four. With the right manager and coaching I think he still warrants a place..

Anyone else wondering why moore is ahead of taylor as centre back? (if this is true...)

I would call it unfortunate... He is not the same defender as two years ago and in my opinion, would not improve our defence one bit. Not only because he had a break down last year and was out for 2 months, but because he was rubbish at the world cup (came on for second half against Sweden and was to blame for (both?) goals. I wonder why Wenger let him go on a free at a time when he has no centre backs except senderos? Best left well alone...