Some good news today is that Joe Kinnear will have 5 new players to choose from, that he didn’t have available to him a short 8 days ago.
Oba Martins – to start up front with Andy Carroll?
New signings Ryan Taylor and Kevin Nolan will be available of course, and Oba Martins, Alan Smith and Mark Viduka have all trained well this week, with no repercussions of their injuries.
All three will be included in the squad for the vital game at WBA, where a win would do a lot to calm Newcastle fans’ nerves, that’s for sure.
Joe talked today about the squad for Saturday:
“Oba, Smudge and Dukes have all trained well this week and were out there this morning at St.James’,”
“I expect them all to take some part in Saturday’s game, all I’ve got to decide is if it’s from the start or from the bench.”
“I’d probably say Oba is the closest to starting and I’ll have another look at him on Friday.”
“It’s a massive boost having them back and you can sense an increase in the intensity of the training.”
“They are top-quality players and having them, as well as Ryan Taylor and Kevin Nolan, join in this week has really lifted spirits.”
The interesting choice will be who Martins is paired up front with, and certainly Andy Carroll looks in the best form at the moment, as Shola looked way off the pace last Sunday.
And we know the Carroll – Martins partnership has looked good in the past.
We’d like to think our terrible results of the last 8 games will come to an end, now that we have 3 new signings and some of our injured players coming back.
But the proof the pudding is in the eating, and the lads still have to do a good job on Saturday to capture all 3 points.
But at the very least we know Joe will have many more options than he’s had over the last month.
Now if only we can keep these players fit through the end of the season.
Comments welcome.
226 comments so far
beyethegreat
Feb 5, 2009 at 11:13 PM
Comment #201batty no lol how did he do that unfortunately i was quite young and dont remember as much as i would like to offf those years and yeah sir les 1 of my faves aswell
oba i agree not only is talking to shay so late bad for shay but forus as ait gave us less time to spend how could they not think of doing a deal of johnson for given we are possably the oly club to get rippedo fb y citeh
i am sorry if i reply late i am balancing this blog with the telly lol
batty
Feb 5, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Comment #202yeah it was a total phluke its the only time he scored ha
batty
Feb 5, 2009 at 11:18 PM
Comment #203beyethegreat are you from bishop aukland m8
Ross
Feb 5, 2009 at 11:24 PM
Comment #204markO-why play krul?, end of the day shay has just left after 11 years of first team football, Harper has sat and waited patiently for his chances and looked very good when given them. To sell Shay, have Harps sign a new contract then play a youth keeper ahead of him would just be taking the p!ss for me like.
messi_is_king
Feb 5, 2009 at 11:25 PM
Comment #205its gutting that jonas is suspended for saturday, especially after sunderland was his best performance since opening game at manu.
big boost to hav oba back! he offers more than owen imo
beyethegreat
Feb 5, 2009 at 11:26 PM
Comment #206batty yeah
beyethegreat
Feb 5, 2009 at 11:26 PM
Comment #207ill look it up on youtube
batty
Feb 5, 2009 at 11:27 PM
Comment #208beye do you know a family called storey m8
messi_is_king
Feb 5, 2009 at 11:31 PM
Comment #209y duznt lua lua get more playin time??
beyethegreat
Feb 5, 2009 at 11:31 PM
Comment #210some 1 who used to coach me was called peter storey but i wouldnt say i kknow him realy i only went to a couple of sessions
which game was andersons goal against and what year
messi_is_king
Feb 5, 2009 at 11:37 PM
Comment #211harper
ryan taylor
colo
bassong (mint)
enrique
lua lua
nolan
butt (shame guthrie injured)
duff
carroll
martins
we so need a win on saturday. any1 think we’ll get it
messi_is_king
Feb 5, 2009 at 11:42 PM
Comment #212need to start how we played in 2nd half in derby
beyethegreat
Feb 5, 2009 at 11:50 PM
Comment #213i was watching the 74 cup final v liverpool on espn while watching it i noticed a chant where every 1 chanted howay the lads what happend to it
messi_is_king
Feb 5, 2009 at 11:51 PM
Comment #214?
messi_is_king
Feb 5, 2009 at 11:52 PM
Comment #215lets bring it back “howay the lads”
messi_is_king
Feb 5, 2009 at 11:58 PM
Comment #216??
beyethegreat
Feb 6, 2009 at 12:03 AM
Comment #217http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXQHW5ANz0I
messi_is_king
Feb 6, 2009 at 12:08 AM
Comment #218that sounds like ite bein sung by sum1 scottish lol
beyethegreat
Feb 6, 2009 at 12:11 AM
Comment #219http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr6gX09w7y8&feature=related
beyethegreat
Feb 6, 2009 at 12:11 AM
Comment #220lol messi any way im off
clinta
Feb 6, 2009 at 12:23 AM
Comment #221just want to see oba with a few games under his belt now, hate it when his out.
Not sure if Viduka will play much of a part for the rest of the season, but he should be extra motivated being out of contract in the summer.
RyanToon
Feb 6, 2009 at 12:28 AM
Comment #222http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/
the sun, stiring it up
Isaac Hunt
Feb 6, 2009 at 1:04 AM
Comment #223Beye@217: Christ! I’m filling up! Was that sung by the Proclamers’ love child? 🙂
Dragonera
Feb 6, 2009 at 1:08 AM
Comment #224Would just like to take the time out and thank Given for his recent comments. They are really what needs to be all over the papers for the players to read going into crucial games.
OHurley
Feb 6, 2009 at 1:24 AM
Comment #225Ok guys- this is WAAAAY off subject, but does anyone else here use an iPhone? If so, how do you like the new iPhone layout? Freakishly awesome, if I say so myself.
Also- Oba to score a hat-trick against WBA.
ginkoh
Feb 6, 2009 at 3:46 AM
Comment #226Don’t expect to see surprise formation from old-headed Kinnear.
1 formation he can is 4-4-2 and never change or sub until injuries time. How the genius!