Most Newcastle fans were disappointed we couldn’t bring in more new players during the January transfer window, but there’s good news today in that strikers Oba Martins and Mark Viduka will be fit for the vital relegation clash at WBA this Saturday.
Martins and Viduka both back for Saturday
Kinnear will also welcome back Alan Smith, yet another striker, into his squad for Saturday’s game at The Hawthorns. Smith has yet to score his first competitive goal for Newcastle – hey maybe that will come on Saturday.
However, our best performing striker of late has been 20 year-old Andy Carroll, so it will be interesting who Joe selects to start on Saturday. Ameobi is also fit so there’s 5 strikers now fit, with only Michael Owen still missing through injury.
We’d like to see a Carroll – Martins partnership start the game, and with the knock-downs Andy gets, and his sheer physical presence, it should help Martins get some chances.
Martins has been missing since suffering a groin injury scoring Newcastle’s second goal in our only away win in the league this season – the 3-0 win at Portsmouth in mid-December. Let’s hope we can change that stat at WBA on Saturday.
Mark Viduka (also groin), who has been at the club for 19 months but started only 20 games, has been in the treatment room again, since limping out of the Boxing Day defeat at Wigan.
Mark will need several games to get back in the swing of things before he gets injured again. 🙁
But he can still help Newcastle if he can score a few goals for us in the run-in, and Mark’s contract will not be renewed in the summer, we’re sure of that – he’s just injured far too much.
Kinnear will be pleased to welcome back 3 experienced players to his squad after getting another 3 good players in during January, so there will be a little more competition for the squad places.
The big question we have is how is Joe going to try to keep his players fit and uninjured through the end of the season?
Joe said today:
“It gives us a bit more fire power for West Brom,” “I know it’s an old cliche, but it’ll be like having three new players back.”
“Of course, we were desperately disappointed not to come away with more new signings, but myself and Mike Ashley worked hard throughout the day to try to make it happen.”
“But, in welcoming back Oba, Viduka and Smithy, we have three fresh faces in the dressing room to pick from.”
“I’ve been unable to pick Smithy since coming in as manager, and I’m delighted to get the opportunity to do so now.”
“I have always rated Smithy very highly, and he’ll bring in the battling qualities we need at the moment.”
“He works his socks off in training and in games as well. He wears his heart on his sleeve ,and that’s what you need when you are up against it.”
We don’t rate Smith very highly, but we know he’s a smashing lad, and since Joe has shown he can get the best out of his players, we really hope he can get better form out of Smith, than we’ve seen from him so far at Newcastle. We think that’s a distinct possibility and that will help us big time in our fight against relegation.
Smith is a much better player than he’s shown since arriving on Tyneside in the summer of 2007, that’s a fact.
Smudge has so far appeared 37 times for Newcastle with 30 starts, but has yet to appear for us this season.
Comments welcome.
70 comments so far
ObaMartins
Feb 3, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Comment #41Batty who cares where you got that piece from, ITS Factual and say’s exactly whats Happening to this Once Great Club…Get out you Fat greasy Assed Fcuk…and before any of you ask me how i know Ashleys ass is Greasy, “Stardust” told me the other day as he’s always licking it…..
ObaFan2
Feb 3, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Comment #42Micky Toon and others, batty’s post’s origin:
http://forums.chroniclelive.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=17435
RyanToon
Feb 3, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Comment #43is anyone worried that there bringing all three back to early?? iam!
RyanToon
Feb 3, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Comment #44obafan
i put that link on last night and i totally agree with it
ObaMartins
Feb 3, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Comment #45Obafan2 you should be more concerned about the failure of this club than keep whining about a Post…..
ObaFan2
Feb 3, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Comment #46Yeah Ryan seen it last night (this mornin), ty and an interesting read.
Only bit that lets it down imo is when he says Ashley could burn SJP to the ground and put up a shoping centre (summit like that) but as we know the council own the land and has restrictions on it’s use .
ObaFan2
Feb 3, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Comment #47ObaMartins , I suggest you have a look and see some of my other posts today…….. instead of picking out one out of about 10 mate!
I just don’t like people nicking others work and not saying where it comes from….
It Could Be Worse...We Could Be Spurs -DC-
Feb 3, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Comment #48Shame on you batty… plagiarism isn’t cool…see those two buttons to the right of the letter L? Those are “quotation marks” and should be used to make it clear when you are repeating the words of another.
batty
Feb 3, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Comment #49oba fan yes but it dusent meen i dont agree with every thi me uncle john said and as for the last bit aboot stardust iam just replying to comments he made earlyer
ObaFan2
Feb 3, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Comment #50batty mate just a little note on where it’s from would be enough or as It Could Be Worse… say’s use the ” ” 🙂
Micky Toon
Feb 3, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Comment #51obamartins – The problem is that people shouldn’t try and pass off other peoples well thought out posts as their own.
Anyway, wherever it came from it is obvious there has been some time and thought put into it and it would hold more sway if it didn’t try and put over someone’s opinion as a fact. The person who wrote it doesn’t know where the money is, it could be in Ashleys own personal account or it could be in the club Account. Which is more likely probably depends on what you think of Ashley, unfortunately.
waddler
Feb 3, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Comment #52People are pinning their hopes on Martins to save us, why? He runs around like a deadless chicken especially into the wings when he should be infrount of goal. He has pace to burn but gets constantly caught off side. Ashley tried to exchange him for Bent (I know who I believe) and will he bust a gut for a club he will be leaving soon?
Davies
Feb 3, 2009 at 2:26 PM
Comment #53JONAS WON’T BE PLAYING!!!
Magpietillidie22
Feb 3, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Comment #54I dont really know what else Xisco could do to get into the first team lol, scores on his debut then is dropped in a black hole. A xisco / martins partnership would be lightyears ahead of the ameobi / carrol partnership we saw against sunderland. I think im in the minority on Xisco but i really think he’s getting robbie keane’d at our club. if everyone was fit except owen my team would be…
Harper
Beye S. Taylor Bassong Enrique
R. Taylor Nolan Barton Gutierrez
Xisco Martins
Obviosuly if owens fit hes in the team end of stroy really, the guy can dissappear for 92mins then score a winner. Unfortunantely you just cant buy that anymore….
ObaFan2
Feb 3, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Comment #55I’d like to see the confidence of the club put into Oba and he be ahead of Owen on the team sheet for every game they are both fit, whether they play together or not.
GazzaToon
Feb 3, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Comment #56Batty you really are a dick and also im really doubting you know anything about football or infact have ever played football in your life. going by steriotypes and judging by your interest i think its fair to say you are an internet nerd with no friends and no life who only wants to put out their false perspectives on newcastle and try and get others to follow.
I think mike ashley is actually doing a good job at the club. he has got rid of debts and has actually bought in 3 good players. he may have made profit in this window but why should he spend it? also we had 3 offers rejected for players yesturday 2 being at £8mil so i cant see how he is just in it for the money! get off his back, get off the forum and get a life
Stardust
Feb 3, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Comment #57Bravo Gazza Toon – he also swears all the time and young kids use the blog, a terrible advert for a Newcastle fan
Tom
Feb 3, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Comment #58Has Kinnear seen Smith play since he was at Leeds? He has maybe turned in 4 good performances since he joined Manchester United, and maybe one of those was for us!
Irish John
Feb 3, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Comment #59Id prefer smithy to Carrol any day of the week.You can easily see that carrol is prem class…I know he got a nice goal against west ham but apart from that the guy is just lazy….Id start with smith and martins up front against west brom….If the duke is fit id play him before smithy but that hardly going to happen…Smithy just needs a good run up front for us..he had to many chopping and changing since hes came with us..He’s not a centre mid he’s always been a striker….I’m sure if we get behind him and show the sopport we can get out off this together…I remember the game against Arsenal last year at st james park and smithy was outstanding…just need more off that and it could really be a quality partnership with martins..
Irish John
Feb 3, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Comment #60that should say carrols is not prem class
Magpietillidie22
Feb 3, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Comment #61I agree with the carrol comment, i think he and ameobi are very lazy looking but in all fairness to carrol i think hes miles ahead of ameobi. With a smith and martins combo youd gaurantee theyll be defending from the front by closing defenders down which neither carool or ameobi did against sunderland very much (if at all)
Doocey
Feb 3, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Comment #62Very good news 🙂
DJG
Feb 3, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Comment #63I agree Ed ….
Start Carroll and Martins because Carroll is playing well and Shola and Martins can’t play together.
Keep Viduka in training for a few weeks and see if he breaks down again. He would be an excellent player to have on the bench to bring on as a supersub for the last 30 minutes of a game.
If Ameobi plays I won’t mind because he will win freekicks for Ryan Taylor to hit.
DJG
Feb 3, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Comment #64There is no point playing Smithy up front. In those positions we need our proven goal scorers not people who ‘defend from the front’. We need people who can find the net not a tackle.
DJG
Feb 3, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Comment #65Martins & Viduka back = good news
Smith back = Bad news
budmon
Feb 3, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Comment #66best news i’ve heard in a while. OBAFEMI MARTINS IS BACK WITH PURPOSE!
Toonmania
Feb 3, 2009 at 7:40 PM
Comment #67When will people wake up it’s not Ashley that is the problem it is wise and that lambias bloke, one couldn’t sell a can of beans whilst the other knows nothing but beans, and there lies the problem ashley has been trying to run the club like a shop, this has a positve side and a negitive side, he buys young players in cheap which he hopes in the future will bring us some fortune on the pitch but also make the club a tidy profit, the problem to this is the fact that he doesn’t like/want to buy something old cos buy the time we have used it it’s not worth anything, and when was the last time you went to a shop and bought something that was nearly worn out no you didn’t you bought new or nearly new.
be fair to the guy he bought us our way out of debt.
And before some of you ask if i’m an Ashley lover or his ass shagger or whatever you want to call me NO I’M NOT, but i do know the guy quite well i speak to him quite often in my local, i live about 1/2 mile from him, and he often drops me off tickets for matches that he knows i want to attend, he is a nice person to know, he even says when i ask him something that jk has said or supposed to of said that’s bull-shit!!! and i’ve always found him to personally tell the truth.
i am a geordie through and through but i seriously want this club to succeed and i believe it will and long as he get’s rid of the 2 idiots
Tom_Toon
Feb 3, 2009 at 9:06 PM
Comment #68.
jackie moon
Feb 4, 2009 at 1:04 AM
Comment #69djg defence starts from the front with oba and smith backtracking it takes alot of pressure of the midfield.
if smith gets a long run up front which he might with owen out, i wouldnt be surprised if he found the net. its hard to score goals when you’re a cf playing as a dm.
don’t right dukes off, he’s class and works great with oba and and owen. first touch is godlike. plus he’s an aussie so i love him.
they’re three massive ins, here’s hoping they stay fit.
Guinea Mag
Feb 4, 2009 at 8:20 AM
Comment #70Batty, while the article is well written, I disagree with the majority of its content and most certainly its conclusion.
Staying away from SJP is what every Sunderland, Boro, Spurs, etc, fan would want Newcastle fans to do. Why; to destroy this great club!
The world has changed and the majority of teams do not have the finances available that was once available, unless you’re Man City of course.
I’m not making excuses for us not buying enough quality players in January and maybe MA will bring in a chairman who is honest and will communicate with the fans; i.e. Chris Mort
While you are entitled to an opinion and respect you for that, I can not agree we boycot SJP in this time of need.