Newcastle trained yesterday with both interim manager Joe Kinnear and coach Chris Hughton looking on to see which players would be ready for tonight’s crucial game against Manchester City.
Oba Martins – will start tonight
Kinnear told the Evening Chronicle today:
“Oba Martins is way ahead of what was his scheduled return following his knee injury. He will start for us tonight and I will monitor just how long he plays.”
“He has trained very well in the last couple of days and, while he has yet to play for me, I know all about his track record and we are looking to him to provide the spark for us tonight.”
It’s great that Oba will be back, as he can fill in for the injured Michael Owen, so hopefully we will not be short of firepower up front.
Kinnear added:
“I don’t expect Oba to get one that quickly, but an early goal from him tonight – or from anyone else for that matter – would certainly come in handy.”
Not too surprising a fact, is that Newcastle have the worst record of any team in the Premier League in the first half of games so far this season. We never seem to wake up before we are behind, and we just cannot allow that to happen tonight against a talented Manchester City side.
It turns out that we have never led in any league game at half time this season, so it’s a good time tonight to change that.
If we can forge ahead by half time the crowd can help the lads through in the final 45 minutes, because we need all 3 points badly tonight, make no mistake about that.
Comments always welcome.
19 comments so far
Marty-TOON RISING
Oct 20, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Comment #1OBA to bust the NET tonight
tant
Oct 20, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Comment #2oba obafemi oba obafemi Martins cumon son
Matty
Oct 20, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Comment #3Good news, come on Oba!!
Hugh Jorgan
Oct 20, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Comment #4We’re all for kinnear, we’re all for Kinnear !
Michael12
Oct 20, 2008 at 1:46 PM
Comment #5Good news no doubt. The season is still early days and there is nothing to suggest we still cannot make the most of this one. My only hope is for consistency.
ObaFan2
Oct 20, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Comment #6Great news that Oba’s back and I know I’ve been away but what’s up with Owen? Has he tripped over his wage packet again and broken a nail?
graeme
Oct 20, 2008 at 2:16 PM
Comment #7The biggest worry tonight has to be the defence.
If Taylor is his normal sleepy self, we could be 2 or 3 goals down before the team gets started. Joe needs to make sure the defence is wide awake and realise just what they are trying to do.
Man shitty have some world class strikers on the pitch and we need to be all over them like a rash from first whistle till the last.
UTD111
Oct 20, 2008 at 2:24 PM
Comment #8City might have loadsa money but they havent been able to spend much of it yet – they’re still a pretty average outfit, as their record this season confirms….
United should take full advantage and take them apart.
Hurry back King Kev!!
JJ
Oct 20, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Comment #9Lol @ Obafan2.
I think Owen thinks he is too big for the club, and I see Oba as our future, so I dont mind seeing Owen leave in January as long as Oba signs a new contract and we get someone in someone in Vidukas mould but about 7years younger to partner him.
Punk Skunk
Oct 20, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Comment #10I doubt very much that Owen’s ‘injury’ is anythin’ other than ‘tactical’…It seems you’re not allowed to be ‘dropped’ these days, or rotated…So, coaches have to claim ‘injury’ so that the player doesn’t gey ‘adverse’ press!..
…Ho hum!..
Punk Skunk
Oct 20, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Comment #11get, not gey…oops!..
Robz
Oct 20, 2008 at 4:20 PM
Comment #12Oba Martins <3
seetow
Oct 20, 2008 at 4:57 PM
Comment #13HOWAY OBA
wigaz
Oct 20, 2008 at 5:25 PM
Comment #14Would love to see an oba raster tonight like! 80mph strike a la spurs, pick that oot hart! i read article on news now said owen is leaving in jan coz he needs to kick start his england career, source close to the player said “The newcastle move has never really worked out for him”. Well if this is true i say F**K him! we should try & steal Zaki out from Wigans noses him & Oba would be class, or take Ashton from West ham or Bent From Spurs both younger than owen & would compliment Oba’s play rather than stifle it. Sorry but Oba & Owen cannot play together! it’s going to boil down to one or the other, who would you rather keep? look above if you struggle. Although Owens a better goalscorer, but oba has time on his side. The choice is yours!
Matty
Oct 20, 2008 at 5:40 PM
Comment #15I’ll take Oba.
martins the king
Oct 20, 2008 at 6:05 PM
Comment #16great news with oba back but off the matter with butt being picked 4 captain tonight whats gonna happen when barton is back on saturday who will get dropped
Punk Skunk
Oct 20, 2008 at 6:08 PM
Comment #17Ah!..
so this is the press’s new tack…JK told us to F**K Off, so we’ll print more garbage about their players…
…BOYCOTT THE PRESS!..
Punk Skunk
Oct 20, 2008 at 6:16 PM
Comment #18The gutter press & their turgid little attempts to secong guess what’s gonna happen next at NUFC…
…Oh!..I know, Owen’s contracts up soon, let’s say he wants to leave & stir the shit!..
…Wan*ers!..
Punk Skunk
Oct 20, 2008 at 6:18 PM
Comment #19& if there are any press vultures tunin’ in…Piss up a rope you pleb hacks…
…Your time is UP!..