Joe Kinnear has said that he intends to have his four fit strikers now share the workload in the upcoming Newcastle games.
Oba Martins – no disciplinary action from Kinnear
Joe Kinnear told the Shields Gazette this morning:
“I read over the weekend that we were ready to take disciplinary action against Oba, but this will definitely not be the case,”
“I’d never fine a player who shows any disappointment at being called off, because I want every player to feel this way, and I can understand how Oba felt at being substituted.”
“Oba’s a very talented player for us, and a very individual striker.” “He’s so focused on scoring goals that he sometimes misses the chance to set up a pass, but this is probably something all great strikers are guilty of.”
“At the moment we have four top strikers in Oba, Michael Owen, Mark Viduka and Shola Ameobi, and when we start with two of them, this does not mean that we’ll not involve the other two at some time in the game, and this is what happened at Middlesbrough.”
“They will share the workload, and all I want them to do is to score us goals.” “I don’t need to remind any of them that we’re all in this together.”
“We’re all responsible for trying to get the best for Newcastle United, but having said this, I’ve never been afraid to make any difficult decisions if it’s for the good of the team.
“That’s what I did at Middlesbrough when I sent Mark Viduka on for Oba, and it nearly paid off.” “Viduka wasn’t too far away from grabbing the winner for us late on in the game.”
Good words from Joe, and if there’s one thing Joe has proved in his time at Newcastle is he thinks very straight, and always supports his players.
No wonder the players seem to love the guy.
Comments welcome.
22 comments so far
Tom
Dec 2, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Comment #1I’d accept his decision if Oba had played worse than Owen, but Owen was abysmal against Boro whilst Oba looked dangerous. Its EMO that should have been hauled off, not Martins!
Whumpie
Dec 2, 2008 at 1:27 PM
Comment #2Yep, good stuff from JFK. The vitriol from the armchair managers on this site about subbing Martins rather than Owen was daft.
We need to learn to assume the manager knows something we don’t when they do something we wouldn’t have.
….and isn’t it great to have a selection problem up front? And that’s without even mentioning the talent in the reserves..
Whumpie
Dec 2, 2008 at 1:31 PM
Comment #3Martins and Viduka is a mismatch; always will be. JFK was hired to keep us in the premiership, and introducing Viduka to bring Owen into play more was the best option to ensure we at least got the point, while changing the style of attack enough to freak out the defence a bit.
Boring, but just what was needed.
AshSays
Dec 2, 2008 at 1:34 PM
Comment #4he’s only justifying why he decided to put Viduka on, which was a good decisions but he didn’t say why he didn’t take Owen off. One way or another its good to hear from the manager.
Bosck
Dec 2, 2008 at 1:36 PM
Comment #5Owen is Captain. whether he should be or not is a different matter, but you do not substitute your captain off
keith
Dec 2, 2008 at 1:36 PM
Comment #6one of the main difference bout owen and martins is owen is a lot more compossed than oba, and in a tight game where one goal would of decieded it i would rather owen than martins becasue if a chance falls to owen 8 times out of 10 it goes in, could you say the same about martins?
Graham
Dec 2, 2008 at 1:44 PM
Comment #7Wonder what Xisco thinks? 😀
Silence of the Llambias
Dec 2, 2008 at 1:47 PM
Comment #8Yes. Owen had to be left on. He would stay and graft in midfield, even though he wasnt doing much with the ball. A wide player could have gone instead of Martins, but that didnt make sense defensively. Viduka and Owen were brilliant together last year, so it made perfect sense to take Martins off under the circumstances. Owen did in fact set up a chance for Viduka which was blocked soon after he came on.
lesh
Dec 2, 2008 at 1:54 PM
Comment #9Fine, by all means leave Owen on if he was going to add sometnig when Oba came off, but did he?
If he was nothing more than off form, then captain or not, he should have been and should be taken off.
MURPHY
Dec 2, 2008 at 2:01 PM
Comment #10“one of the main difference bout owen and martins is owen is a lot more compossed than oba, and in a tight game where one goal would of decieded it i would rather owen than martins becasue if a chance falls to owen 8 times out of 10 it goes in, could you say the same about martins?”
Yes but in a game where Owen hadn’t be serviced with any decent balls (lack of quality in midfield?) Martins is the best option as he can make goal of his own from nothing. I’d be inclined to Start Oba and Owen then if we go ahead confortably bring off either and replace with vid or obi. If we’re losing and need goals bring in viduka for duff and put marins on the left wing. I’d actually like to see what ameobie and viduka could do together, that would be a laugh, and you never know it might work!! stanger things have happened huh?
Jon
Dec 2, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Comment #11JK…It would have paid off if you sent Viduka on for Owen. Nearly is not good enough JK.
zico martin
Dec 2, 2008 at 3:38 PM
Comment #12silence of the Llambias
i agree with you we should have taken any one of the wide men off they were not very effective in the 2nd half charlie will be kicking himself for not grabbing his chance with duff out injured and jonas did his usual excellent work of tracking back and defending but didn’t take his man on as much as usual going forward.
oba was the main danger for boro and i bet they were pleased to see him go off.
not sure i agree with you’s that you should leave on a under performing captain just because he’s the captain unless you want him to sign a new contract though 😉
Jack
Dec 2, 2008 at 3:54 PM
Comment #13Give Xisco a chance, for Christ’s sake.
obafem1
Dec 2, 2008 at 4:11 PM
Comment #14OH PLEASE!
Not affraid to make the difficult decisions. HE IS AFRAID TO TAKE OFF MICHAEL OWEN WHEN HE IS NOT PLAYING WELL AT ALL!
the people that say, Owen would have grafted in midfield are sticking their heads in the sand. Owen should have come off and you know it. Did nothing creative all game but Kinnear is afraid of the backlash that he will get from Michael Owen.
I want Kinnear to remain manager, but his decisions must be much more objective in the future. Otherwise we run the risk of not getting all 3 points in order to keep Michael Owen happy!
obafem1
Dec 2, 2008 at 4:15 PM
Comment #15Martins has 5 goals in 10 Premier League games this season.
I definitely think he was our most dangerous player and the most likely to score a goal. Owen didn’t threaten at all.
Guinea Mag
Dec 2, 2008 at 4:35 PM
Comment #16When is Xisco (and Nacho Gonzalos) expected back from injury?
Tom Mo.
Dec 2, 2008 at 9:43 PM
Comment #17Ameobi should not play with Viduka fit…..
Auschas
Dec 2, 2008 at 10:38 PM
Comment #18I think Owen is one of our most skillful players. I think Joe does as well and thinks even if he is having a bad game he might steal that goal at any moment as he has done in the past.
michael12
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:05 AM
Comment #19You as fans demanded for competition for places. Now you have it and you complain.
What we must understand frustration of this nature is good. It only makes Martins more Hungry to score in the next game. If you make him aware of this then mind game does not work. On Saturday I think we were more likely to concede a goal than to score one. Owen has better defensive capabilities than Martins and Viduka a target man to help us keep the ball. When all strikers are fit, Martins must expect this so must Owen, he too was Frustrated by Kinner not starting him in recent game and had to wait for Ameobi, This is what competition for places does.
You asked for competition for places now you get it. Kinnear is making it known to the strikers that there is nothing cementing you in your positions now prove to me why I should select you.
You cannot let the striker know else, the psychology behind it does not work.
Ian
Dec 3, 2008 at 1:49 AM
Comment #20Good point, Tom Mo. Back to 3 man rotation, Viduka plus owen/martins and sub whoever starts on the bench for the other.
Ssav
Dec 3, 2008 at 2:12 AM
Comment #21Viduka is great at what he does, as he showed on Saturday, but as well as being permenantly crocked, he is a dinosaur in the modern game. He is so immobile they could wheel him round on a hand-truck like Hannibal Lector. The Duke is marvellous as a target man but when the side are chasing the ball he is totally useless. Trade in Ameobi and Smith for Kevin Doyle.
Taiwantoon
Dec 3, 2008 at 8:50 AM
Comment #22Owen could score 8 out of 10 chances, but Oba creates goals from nothing.
Against Boro, our midfielders hardly created anything. Oba should have stayed.