There is surprising news breaking today that Newcastle United want to sell Oba Martins.
Oba Martins - superfluous to requirements at Newcastle?
The news is in several papers but we think it originated in the Sun, so it could well be made-up nonsense.
Yesterday was a very slow day for new news about Newcastle, we noticed that, so we are a little wary of most things the Sun comes out with.
The Nigerian 23 year-old unique striker has been deemed surplus to requirements at St James’ Park, according to the Sun.
They report that Arsenal and Chelsea will now make a move for Martins, who signed for Newcastle in 2006 for £10M from Inter-Milan, and has scored 26 goals for Newcastle in his first two seasons at the Tyneside club.
We really hope this article is untrue, because the last thing we want to do is to lose players who are a positive for the club this summer. Oba Martins is not only a very good and unique player, he’s very well liked by the Newcastle fans.
To lose Martins would not sit well at all with many of the Newcastle fans, who would legitimately be asking what the club’s direction is.
Surely we want to keep our best players.
Comments welcome.
79 responses so far ↓
1 seetow // May 24, 2008 at 9:18
from the sun?
UTTER BOLLOCKS! i would give an arm and a leg to keep oba over owen!
2 seetow // May 24, 2008 at 9:19
ohh and i got wall viriginity cooldj
3 Toon_Ksk // May 24, 2008 at 9:20
Just don’t take the news too seriously, since its from The Sun.
4 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 24, 2008 at 9:21
oba is a raw player, very good one may i add, but we need owen to stay no matter what. oba will not be leaving, plus i trust king kev
5 Gary Mac // May 24, 2008 at 9:22
I dont trust Custis as he had Martins sold to Man Utd last close season but if it were true I would like to think that a decent replacement is already “in the bag” to take over from Oba.
What bothers me is that if Oba does go the team will be almost devoid of pace!
6 Tim_Toon // May 24, 2008 at 9:25
The fact that this story has come from the sun tells you all you need to know about the articles credibility. Oba is not leaving. Period.
7 daiv // May 24, 2008 at 9:27
MA is lining this club up to sell Trim the wage bill, pay off debts and sell. Is everybody blind? Why should a stranger with no association to NUFC pump millions ofhis own money in to the club. It will not happen. He bought NUFC to make a profit like all the others… FS JH… and they are Geordies. He will sell when the time is right. Big wage earners are on the way out. Is Oba worth £90K a week. Adebayour is on £40 and the top earner at Arsenal is £60K. These wages are not sustainable for a club which wins nothing.
8 KKK // May 24, 2008 at 9:31
More crap from the London newspapers! Why would Oba be transfered when Keegan said this week that he doesn’t want to lose any players, never mind a player of Oba’s quality and guarantees at least 10 goals a season. Plus Oba loves the club and plays with passion every match.
Also i would be very annoyed as i got my shirt printed with Martins 9.
daiv - i think your wrong mate, considering how close we where to signing Modric for 20M, Ashley wants to move this club forward with him at the helm.
9 Nathan // May 24, 2008 at 9:33
Not Happening.
10 Sun'lun's Burnin' // May 24, 2008 at 9:35
yeah he’s on daft money but how else would we attract a player thats gettin 20 games a season for INTER MILAN. We have to pay over the odds but he has been our biggest threat this season although he does have the touch of a rapist!
Can’t see him leaving, usual southern journo’s gettin bored cos nowts happening so they make summin up! And daiv, sorry to say it but your post is utter drivel.
11 Taiwantoon // May 24, 2008 at 9:38
Shouldn’t be true, should it? A player who is surplus to us is wanted by the big fours and we try to replace him with some average players. No, this is not even qualified as a bad joke.
12 Doctapaul // May 24, 2008 at 9:38
I suspect that most of this story is drivvle. Fuelled by some posturing of the club’s financial mgt to trim wage bills.
If we are doling out 85% of our revenue it’s too much because it’s not sustainable. Look what happened to Leeds.
Saturn in Virgo means financial shakedown. It started last July and look what has happened to the global economy since then. The same will happen in football.
Bottom line is Martins won’t get more money elsewhere until he’s scoring 20+ goals a season. So I don’t see him leaving. Owen will not get £110K a month so will take a wage drop but that might tempt Man City which is only a few miles from his stud farm.
I expect Emre, Milner, Smith, Duff all to go because they are not returning value for money.
I perosnally would keep the search for upn coming kids going and play a long term strategy to improve the club.
If we can add 2-3 top players we’ll be 5gth or thereabouts next season.
HTL
13 The Entertainers // May 24, 2008 at 9:39
I would be very surprised if this was the case. I see the Sun have it tucked away from the main stories and yet again its from the ‘INSIDER’. I wish Ashley would hurry up and sack this employee. Or could it be the Sun has no source at the club and just makes up this trash? I wonder.
14 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 24, 2008 at 9:46
shut up man. everyone trying to second guess mike ashley is silly. the man is the best thing thats happned to this club, if it wasnt for him being ruthless and sack FSA, we would be in the championship and in shitloads of debt and going the same way leeds did, he wants to win trophys, the only way to do this is build for the future and buying the likes of gomez,turan and veloso. why can know one see this?
15 KKK // May 24, 2008 at 9:49
GG7 i see it.
16 Sun'lun's Burnin' // May 24, 2008 at 9:50
if we get any gomez or veloso i will be VERY shocked. they are champs league players, we cant even offer shitty UEFA
17 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 24, 2008 at 9:50
they have no insider its trash.
i just been told by my old man(who is a die hard chelsea fan), that old jose is going to be back next year, be great if he is, king kev against mourinho would be great
18 D B F // May 24, 2008 at 9:54
gg7 i agree with you, i think MA wants to win things, but the reason people question him is because of lak of activity and as of yet he hasnt shown any ambition in signin up our current players (owen, martins, taylor) and all we r gettin is specualtion of new players but as far as we can see theres nothing going on, hopefully well see sum action in the next few days to show us his intention
19 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 24, 2008 at 9:55
yes but they can play a major factor in getting us there, they arent well established players in great leagues who have been playing champs league season after season. it wont be just about champs league, it will be coming to a new league, a stronger league wich will then prove them. i think with these world class youngsters it will be better to get them without european football, as they can soley dedicate themselves to proving themselves to the epl.
20 ronaldeano // May 24, 2008 at 9:58
Ive said it MANY times before and i will say it again……..
BOYCOT THE GEORDIE HATING FILTHY, STINKING, MONGALOID, RANK, VILE, SICK, COCKNEY LOVING THING THAT CALLES ITSELF A NEWSPAPER
Liverpool wouldent take their shit and neither shoud us.
The sun is even worse than the Mail
Never buy it
They are laughing at us when a paper is purchased in the North East. Lets not give the scumbags the satisfaction.
HOWAY THE LADS!!!!
21 Doctapaul // May 24, 2008 at 10:05
I hereby pledge NOT to buy the Sun Newspaper.
22 ronaldeano // May 24, 2008 at 10:09
I call upon EVERY reader who visits this site NEVER to buy the Sun, and line the pockets of the scumbags who get a kick out of writing complete LIES about our club.
23 ronaldeano // May 24, 2008 at 10:11
The chief sportswriter is also as thick as the slags on page 3.
DONT BUY IT!
24 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 24, 2008 at 10:12
never do buy it anyway, its awfull
25 ToonCraig // May 24, 2008 at 10:18
Sick to f***ing death of shity papers nowt else to print so they try and stir things up.Oba will never leave while keegan is in charge if he did Toon fans would want somebody massive already signed. Personally i would only except somebody like kaka,robinho or christiano ronaldo as a replacement which we all know isnt gonna happen. Time people stopped wasting 40p on complete bollocks papers like the sun
26 Taiwantoon // May 24, 2008 at 10:24
Can not disagree with most of Doctapaul’s points, but I would be really concerned if the first team is filled by too many youngsters as it would indicate the followings:
1. The manager is actually the board, not KK. I am not saying KK does not want to buy youngsters, but he has insisted many times that he wants players who have premier league experiences as a priority. Of course, I am certainly not saying KK is not the person to have the final say on signings. It would be just too early to say that as we have signed no one yet.
2. We are in danger of turning into a selling club. Having young, promising players in the team is just fantastic, but a wage structure should, as well as sustainable, stay flexied to allow top wages to the absolutely top players. Otherwise, our beloved players would be easily distracted by a fantastic offer from big guns. We need to make sure the players know that we will pay you crazy money if you play like crazy.
Arsenal is currently suffering from this, and they looked set to spend quite a few millions in order to find a replacement for Flamini. No, I am not saying Flamini is absolutely top players, but hey, he is a lot better than our midfielders. Let’s just wait and see how much Arsenal needs to spend to replace him.
In addition, I think player’s value should not be judged only on the field despite this seems to be the way that our board is trying to lead us to believe. Owen and Martins are players who are almost symbolic to us at the moment. They are the players who we should try our best to keep as it shows we are aiming high.
Well, having said all these sxxt, plz don’t get me wrong. I think it is right for the board to look at the structure of our wage system like most businesses in other field. I just hope they find a good balance there. Unlike ppl who works in other fields, footballers have a very limited peak time. They all want to ensure that they are earning the money to support their life after football.
My conclusion is that, the days of dreams have gone, I still remember we once linked with Del Piero (THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO). Nothing like that should ever happen to us again with the new wage structure. Hope the board will provide us a new dream with all the changes they are about to make.
27 JJ // May 24, 2008 at 10:27
Will never happen, but if we had to sell, I’d rather keep Martins and sell Owen.
28 Sun'lun's Burnin' // May 24, 2008 at 10:29
taiwantoon.
shut up.
29 Bob // May 24, 2008 at 10:33
Actually, I think Taiwantoon made some very good points.
30 bailey // May 24, 2008 at 10:42
Although I trust KK I am not sure he is having much say in what is going on. I am no doubt wrong but the worry is there.
Season Ticket renewals out next week and I would prefer a few things confirmed i.e.definte transfer targets (not the guessing games), is Oba going or not, is KK having a full input, before I do my usual contribution to NUFC coffers only to be left high and dry as normal.
31 D B F // May 24, 2008 at 10:44
agree jj id rather keep martins over owen anyday, we all know oba loves playing here, and although owen looks a lot more commited now he has yet to really prove his commitment whereas we know oba gives 110% evry week
32 Doctapaul // May 24, 2008 at 10:46
TT, I am more optimistic. Arsenal created a winning team out of buying a large squad of world class kids and developing them.
We now have a world class scouting, negotiating team. MASH is no fool in hring Jiminez and co.
The papers bang on about them being based in London. it’s all candy floss. London is where they should be. At the hub of the wheeling and dealing is where it happens - not our beloved Toon on the edge of the Roman empire.
Sometimes you ahve to be where you can make the deal quick and see people face to face.
I believe our gutore can be very bright.
33 Soren // May 24, 2008 at 10:48
This story is rather pathetic and just showes how little they, the papers, have to write about.
34 Newcastle United. // May 24, 2008 at 10:54
If there’s nee quotes I won’t believe it.
35 Bilbo Baggins Diouf // May 24, 2008 at 11:00
hmm…if he’s deemed superfluous to requirements here, and is now being tracked by Arsenal and Chelsea…
Methinks somebody at the Sun has been on the ol’ firewater…
And In other Sun news, Lyon are lining up a 15millon pound swoop for Alan Smith…hmm.
36 Leo // May 24, 2008 at 11:04
doctapaul MASH? Mike Ashley…. S……… H……..
im confused.com
i doint believe the story boycott the sun newspapers!
37 big pea ov the weab // May 24, 2008 at 11:15
if oba go,s it will be like 3 steps back not forward hes only 1 of a few players who actualy trys his heart out
38 ToonKing // May 24, 2008 at 11:26
don’t believe it for s second.
39 Punk Skunk // May 24, 2008 at 11:33
Bang on Ronaldeano,
DON’T BUY THE SUN, MAIL ETC…
…They’re not even funny enough to be called comics!..
…They hate us, we should hate them, please don’t waste y’money on them…They won’t stop ’til they feel they’ve destroyed NUFC!..
…WE OWE THEM NOTHING!..
40 Davies // May 24, 2008 at 11:40
I thought the Sun was a comic.
41 toon4life // May 24, 2008 at 11:43
fed up of all the rubbishthey print.
anyone notice that when we went on our great little unbeaten run suddenly the sun paper got a lot smaller in terms of pages?
i’ve stopped buyin the sun purely for the way they slag us off.
42 Martins // May 24, 2008 at 12:02
Arda’ya Ada’dan bir teklif daha
Ada basını, Tottenham Hotspur’un milli oyuncuyu transfer edebilmek için 13 milyon pound’u gözden çıkardığını yazdı
***
Arda yarışı
Ada basını, Tottenham Hotspur’un milli oyuncuyu transfer edebilmek için 13 milyon pound’u gözden çıkardığını yazdı.
Bu sezon Galatasaray’ın ÅŸampiyonluÄŸunda büyük rol oynayan Arda Turan, Ä°ngiliz kulüplerinin vazgeçilmezleri arasına girdi. Newcastle ve Middlesbrough’dan sonra Tottenham Hotspur’un da devrede olduÄŸu iddia edildi. Ä°ngiltere’nin önde gelen gazetelerinden Guardian, Arda Turan için Tottenham Hotspur’un çok istekliÄŸi olduÄŸunu
yazdı. GeniÅŸ yer ayrılan haberde Tottenham’ın baÅŸkan Adnan Polat’ın istediÄŸi 13 milyon pound’u vermeye razı olduÄŸu ifade edildi.
translate someone?
43 Marat18 // May 24, 2008 at 12:09
ffs!
don’t know about translation, but I spotted words “Tottenham”, “Arda Turan” and “13 millions pounds” there!
44 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 24, 2008 at 12:25
when was that from martins? does it say a date?
45 Marat18 // May 24, 2008 at 12:29
Couple of links here:
http://forums.journallive.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=139271
http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/spor/futbol/8995398.asp?gid=229&sz=81123
Apparently Everton is also interested and made a bid (10 mill)
As for text above - it’s the top news in http://www.fotomac.com.tr
(then click on Galatasaray), so I think this is today’s one.
46 Martins // May 24, 2008 at 12:31
It’s from today mate.
47 Marat18 // May 24, 2008 at 12:32
GG7,
I think this is today’s news.
if you go to http://www.fotomac.com.tr/ and click “Galatasaray”, then this news will be on the top.
48 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 24, 2008 at 12:32
what paper? can you send me link mate?
49 Martins // May 24, 2008 at 12:37
http://www.fotomac.com.tr/gal101.html
Not thought to be the most reliable source though. But I would like to see a translation. GSfan?
50 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 24, 2008 at 12:38
few days old that mate. shouldnt worry. there quoting from the guardian
51 bessi // May 24, 2008 at 12:39
i don’t think that Keegan want to lose Oba so i am not worried what sun said
52 Martins // May 24, 2008 at 12:41
What about this?
Galatasaray’ın ve A Milli Takım’ın genç yıldızı Arda Turan, İngiliz kulüplerini peşinden koşturuyor. Sarı kırmızılı takımın şampiyonluğunda büyük payı olan Arda, Newcastle United’ın ardından bir diğer Premier Lig takımı olan Everton’ın da yakın markajında… İngiliz basınının, “Newcastle, Arda için 11 milyon sterlini gözden çıkardı†haberlerinin ardından, Galatasaray Kulübü Başkanı Adnan Polat, “Şartlar uygun olur, Arda da gitmek isterse transferine izin veririz. Biz köle ticareti yapmıyoruz†açıklaması yapmıştı.
53 Hadrian // May 24, 2008 at 12:43
buy a young player for 100-250k , train him up and sell him for 1-2million at least .
how much markup you making there ?
you sure sucsess out on the field is the only way this club can turn a profit?
54 Marat18 // May 24, 2008 at 12:44
Ok, in the article with keywords “Arda Turan” and “Tottenham” 13 mill mentioned, and in the one with words “Arda Turan” “Newcastle” 11 mill.
it’s worrying a little bit.
55 african-kenyan-ronniezog // May 24, 2008 at 12:46
We lose oba and am not a magpie again
56 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 24, 2008 at 12:48
ITS NOT WORRYING, THERE JUST QUOTING THE ENGLISH PRESS,
57 joe // May 24, 2008 at 12:53
berbatov to Toon for £20million when they but a replacement. Oba going nowhere.
58 toon4lyf // May 24, 2008 at 13:13
we need to keep oba sell milner nzogbia butt
buy
arca
arda
aimar
milito
……………..given…………..
beye…taylor…faye….arca
…………….emre…………..
…arda…………….aimar
………….owen…………
…martins…….milito
subs barton smith caroll viduka enrique
59 Andy1 // May 24, 2008 at 13:30
He is one of only two good strikers at the club. How can he be surplus to requirements? And, if they say he’s not godd enough for us why would Chelsea and Arsenal want him?
It’s utter bollocks.
We might not be able to bring in top quality players to the club right now and can’t afford to be selling our best ones. At the end of the season Martins was looking better than he ever has for us, and seemed to have much more composure in front of goal.
Get rid of Shola, Viduka and Smith.
Bring in a big man. And a pacey young striker / winger.
We must keep Oba and Owen.
60 Obafan // May 24, 2008 at 13:51
If this would be true then I would be very angry and then worrying times could come at St James. But indeed it just makes no sense that Oba is surplus.
It seems that every newspaper wants to attack NUFC and let them look like an unstable club. I just think the papers are getting annoyed that things at NUFC are not as openly talked as in the past. MA, KK, DW, Jimenez and the others are all hard working very hard IMO to get the players they need for the next season. But they also need to tie up the contracts of Owen and Oba. Once they have done that, the specuilations will be over. Cause to be honnest it is not the first time that we read news like this about Owen and Oba.
61 M. Stockley // May 24, 2008 at 14:46
one minute were offering him a bumper new deal and the next were gonna cash in? i personally think this story is a fabrication.BUT… if its true it would be the biggest mistake. could you imagine oba lining up against us?? that would suck!
62 nate dawg // May 24, 2008 at 16:25
just the fact that liverpool and chelski supposedly want him indicates that he cant be surplus to requirerments to us seeing as we are so far behind them
63 TU // May 24, 2008 at 16:46
I don’t know why people take tabloid talk so seriously, most of the time its bullshit to try and sell papers with their ‘exclusives’ which originate from a “inside source”…
Utter bollocks, especially since Keegan has returned the tabloids seem to be on the back of Newcastle, and we’ve already proved them wrong twice. (keegan and relegation).
64 Gary Mac // May 24, 2008 at 17:17
“We lose oba and am not a magpie again”
See yer, how about buggering off and supporting the smogs Mr Fickle!
65 Frankieboy // May 24, 2008 at 17:44
The Sun was Ruperts Revenge in the 80’s, have not bought it since even though its the only crossword I could do.
Don’t beleive a word of it Oba’s not goin anywhere.
66 geordieglen // May 24, 2008 at 17:44
the sun write utter shite, surplus to us but could walk into chelski or l’pool, cocney w@nkers tryin to sell papers.
BOYCOTT them all
ashley aint gonna reduce ticket prices, pay 140mil for his shares, wipe off 100mil debt and then watch drivel on the pitch.
modric deal was a lesson well learned, cards and chest spring to mind. i think its gettin back to the time when sir bob was here and u didn’t hear nowt till the player was havin a medical, good business sense if u ask me, i reckon 4 - 5 quality players will land in the summer - cockney shite papers know this and are tryin to unsettle the toon
DONT LET THEM >>>>> TOON 4 EVA
67 keep oba // May 24, 2008 at 19:46
All that speed and our only powerful left footed (and pretty hard right footed) shot….yes..indeed superfluous. we have no need for any of that. Only right footed slow hoofers needed here of course.
68 keep oba // May 24, 2008 at 19:51
oh…and even if we sell Oba for a sack of magic beans I will still love Newcastle. Players come and go, but the Toon will be with me forever.
69 toon fan andy // May 24, 2008 at 20:20
kk would do everything he could to keep martins and i aint suprised THE SUN are trying to stir up trouble at newcastle again.
70 chris B // May 24, 2008 at 20:26
If we could get 10 mill for him I’d sell him. He’s vastly overrated…mainly by Newcastle fans. His goal return is average and his awareness is nill. Yes he’s got speed and a good shot but so what if he doesn’t know when to make his runs! Sell him and go for Ashton or Crouch, they may not be as spectacular but they’ed make us a beter team.
71 Dunc // May 24, 2008 at 21:51
Stop buying reading and repoting this shit.
They know nothing and so have to speculate.
When it happens it happens as far as I am concerned.
Stop paying their wages by buying this filth and stop fuelling their fires by regurgetating their spew.
72 daiv // May 24, 2008 at 22:05
Well said Chris B. Martins is vastly overrated by NUFC fans and is on £90K a week. A joke. How many league goals this season…9 or so. Vastly overrated. He is not a natural goalscorer like Owen. He scores great goals but never gets a poacher’s goal because he is never in the six yard box sniffing them out. Always hanging back on edge of pen area. £90K a week for a striker who scores 10 goals a season is a joke.
73 IrishMan // May 24, 2008 at 22:21
Bristol City lost today. Buy Trundle!! As back up - to come on as sub - he’ll get more than 9 goals in season. Keep Oba as one of the main men though.
74 ronaldeano // May 24, 2008 at 22:42
THERES ONLY ONE PHIL BROWN!!!!
Its great how a bloke who grew up with my dad as best mates, who is from the same estate i grew up in, and is a very close family friend, can take a club up into the PL for the first time in their history!!!
Im very proud of you Phil, you are a credit to South Shields! Even though you support Skumberland!
I will see you in the PL next season when NUFC will lash you!
Enjoy your day mate!
75 Gareth // May 25, 2008 at 0:15
Two words on this story: My Arse…
76 Doctapaul // May 25, 2008 at 8:19
Hi Leo
MASHley, no acronym intended. I heard say someone how he mash-ed Fat Fred; a real “Monster Mash”
Juts seen some previous blogs, maybe we can use MASH to signify what we and probably Ashley thinks of the Sun.
My Arse Shit Heads!
77 Gary Mac // May 25, 2008 at 9:11
Bristol City lost today. Buy Trundle!!
Hahahaha, stoppitt! hahahaha… me grannies quicker than him!
78 Ian // May 25, 2008 at 10:21
I do not think it matters if what has been said is true or not, it has been said by a major newspaper.
The club needs to counter this quickly with a statement if it is untrue.
Martins is 100% effort and 100% for Newcastle, large wage or not we all have the feeling that this player isnt here just to pick up wages or have an easy time.
His emotions are clear for all to see, when we are winning he beams a smile, when we are losing he tries right up to the last second and his shoulders drop if we lose.
While I like Viduka and Owen I do not feel the same commitment from them and they do not lift the team the way Martins does, if we had a full team of moderate premiership quality but with Martin’s drive and enthusiasm we would be twice the team we are.
They need to kill these comments off now if they are untrue, if no-one comments then everyone is going to wonder what this club is about in the future and this sort of talk will not help season ticket sales.
79 Chicken // May 25, 2008 at 10:56
At the end of the day Martins is not that good. Sad but true. He would be no great loss, and I’m sure we could easily replace him with a player of similar ability or better if we get back what we paid for him. Owen, on the other hand is priceless, because there is no way on earth we could persuade another world class striker to come to the toon should he leave - not with the way things are right now.
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