Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins has said once again that one reason he is very happy at Newcastle, is because of the legendary Newcastle fans.
Martins – this is what scoring for Newcastle means to him
Martins talked about those fans to BBC Sport yesterday:
“For the fact that they love me, I have to share the love as well, I have to love them back. They love me for the job I’m doing,”
“No matter how Newcastle’s doing you have to still love the team, you have to try and help.”
“I’m happy here and I’m proud that I’m playing for Newcastle.”
With the club now only above the bottom three only becasue of goal difference, Martins has been urged by his compatriots to move to a more successful club.
“A lot of my fans in Nigeria say ‘you have to go to Arsenal’ or this or that,”
“I understand what they feel, because Newcastle’s not doing good, but for me, I’m happy here and I need to play football.”
“I always say that they’re among the best fans ever, people in Newcastle are really good people.”
This is not the first time Oba has said things like this about Newcastle, the fans and the people of Newcastle, and there’s a special relationship between Oba and the Newcastle fans, there’s no doubt about that.
And our hearts went out to Oba last August when the mother he loved so much, was killed in a tragic fire back in Lagos. That helped to pull Oba through the tragedy, and it was almost like he had his own family on Tyneside, at the time.
We just hope the club is successful in surviving in the Premier League by May, and then maybe the club can rebuild the squad to something a lot better and more fitting to the tremendous fan support the team gets week in and week out.
But how many times, in the last four years, have we said that?
Oba’s made to measure for Newcastle United, because of his skills, goal scoring ability and not to mention the 100% effort he puts in for every game.
All we need now is for Oba to score a couple of goals on Saturday, in a win against Arsenal, and we’ll all be ecstatic.
Comments welcome.
70 comments so far
Stuart79
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Comment #41Dragonera
I think that’s the case for every set of supporters.
A friend of mine came to the Man U game and he’s a Man U fan and said where is our famous atmosphere? He said it’s the same at OT where the away fans always sing more than the home fans.
Although I think we need to change that trend in the remaining home games. My not make a difference but it can’t make it worse than it has been
Stardust
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Comment #42Dragonera – Totally agree.
Whereas SJP used to be a fortress – even Fergy used to say he was a goal behind before he arrived.
Stuart – yes I only deal in facts, I was there when we were the 12th man, and am there now. The difference inside the ground and the mindset of the fans is directly opposed to what it used to be( I am generalising here – it doesnt apply to everyone but I would say a majority)
When players used to make a mistake we sang – now that “argggghhhhhh” echoes around the ground.
When the opposition used to score we sang – now we go quiet.
When we used to play poorly we used to sing and sing and sing and bring the team with us now when we play poorly the atmosphere is hideous – god knows what effect it has on the player (we we do know as we see it in front of us)
So when I say I deal in facts I do. Maybe your too young to remember the 12th man that was always there. So yes I am objective and you need re educting what it is to be a supporter – yes you can discuss, debate and theorise all day – but your tone is always to the negative.
I stand by my comment the club is better off without folks of your mindset – either change it or move on.
Toon Graeme
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Comment #43I thought the manure match that the atmosphere was spot on – I suppose it depends on where you sit. Then again Im up in the leazes corner where its constant.
batty
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Comment #44Stuart79 why dont you send a letter in to dear deidre and i dont beleive you get behind the team well if you do you must have some sort ov personality disorder cos your always negative
Stardust
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Comment #45Graeme
Yeah it was – the players played well – maybe its a combination of a few things.
The fans turn up and expect us to roll over Wigans etc when we havent earned the right – so if they see a mistake they get on their backs.
When we turn up v the top 4 we sing and sing and sing as we have no expectations of a result, mistakes are forgiven more quickly.
I think as fans we have to realise we have to earn the right to win every game – that responsibility starts with us and ends with the players.
All for one and all that.
Stuart79
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:23 AM
Comment #46batty // Mar 18, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Stuart79 why dont you send a letter in to dear deidre and i dont beleive you get behind the team well if you do you must have some sort ov personality disorder cos your always negative
Give me something positive please!
Dragonera
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Comment #47Ed’s son must read this blog. I wonder what his alias is…
…Just thought i would throw that one out there 😀
Stardust
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Comment #48Hope its not Stuart79 lol
Stuart79
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Comment #49stardust
I think the majority of the fans are so nervous about what is happening over the last five years that it’s their natural reaction to go arghhhhhh when something bad happens.
I mean everyone on here telling me I’m negative – Do you know what relegation will do to this football club?
I’m angry because I like the majority of fans have seen it coming for at least 5 years, it’s just been accelerated over the last 2 years.
This is the only place me and like minded people get to let it all out. I don’t do it on match days as like I say I support the team till the end.
batty
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:31 AM
Comment #50Stuart79 we have a cracking owner who is willing to spend 500 thou every tranfer window we have one ov the best stadiums in the country if not the best we got one ov the best managers in jokerner and now we have the chuckle brothers in charge all that sed i told you earlyer i think we will get at least a point of arsenal which might keep us out ov the bottom 3 for now if all esle fails we have all ways got hope
Stuart79
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Comment #51batty
Now you’ve explaind things I feel much more positive – lol
Whumpie
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Comment #52All a bit personal, lads. I have some sympathy for Stuart, as it sounds like he’s not one of the boo-boys, just a very war-weary fan who’s finding it hard to see anything good. Let’s face it, the good stuff has been a bit hard to spot recently!
Stardust makes a good point, though – how do we get back to 100% support during games? I know it’s hard to keep up the positive noise when you’re watching bad play, but I think it’s a minority who are turning it the other way.
Perhaps the ‘bring back the noise’ campaign needs to extend beyond singing and encourage people to always cheer players on and off the field, and to shout encouragement to players who mess up. All we need is a contingent to drown out the boo boys and set the tone for the rest of the stadium to follow, and the habits should stick.
Toon Graeme
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Comment #53Stardust
– If there is one thing I have learned this season upto this point is that there is no constant or automatic right to win a game – as we have been proved.
I just turn up with a hope of a win and sing me back end off until my throat is sore to get behind the lads.
Dont get me wrong its not all roses and picket fences and not for wanting to repeat yesterdays thread but you do get frustrated and you do SAY things like “Ah man” or “For F**k sake” but as I stress – say it – like all those around you do. I do also say that I am not alone in this. But its always followed by claps and chants and songs to spur the lads on.
I do think people get too engrossed in things that are beyond our control. Which is hard not too being we are so passionate. 52K people in the stadium and those countless toon supporters globally will all have an opinion.
Im gonna argue that the crowd is not the be all and end all of the whistle blown product at the end 90 mins. It does play a part but not the whole part. I use the ressies as an example. Its a total different atmosphere. No singing, no chanting – apart from when goals scored / good tackles etc – its 22 men on a pitch doing their game.
All we can do is keep the faith. If we stay up, it will be a case of wipe the slate clean and come back a fresh, if we go down – we got to deal with that – however sore it will be.
Stuart79
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Comment #54Whumpie
Thanks
The last player I can remember being boo’d was Babayaro. Don’t think it’s happened this season?
The moans and groans yeah, but like I said I think it’s nervousness on our part rather than frustration at the players.
And lets be honest, there’s a hell of alot to be nervous about
batty
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Comment #55Whumpie but some people talk as though we are already relagated and were not like i say if you havent got hope what have you got i cant see us loseing 3 home games in a row if we can get at least a point on sat it could keep us out ov the bottom 3
Obafan
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Comment #56Dragonera
I completely agree with your comment n°7. Our midfield is the main problem;
1. they do not help our defence (only giving away free kicks at dangerous (hard to defend) places on the pitch.
2. we lack creativity; we have a lethal force upfront but they get zero service. The only one who can create something, cannot cross or pass the ball properly (Gutierrez).
Stuart79
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Comment #57Toon Greame
Agree re the crowd not being the be all and end all. Look at Man U and Arsenal their places are like library’s.
I believe they can sometime have a positive impact though..
However these guys are paid bloody well.
Some will say the players should give the fans something to sing about and others will say the fans should inspire the players. Somewhere in the middle should do it
Whumpie
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Comment #58I think I may suggest this to the Toon Ultras: have a new set of ‘cues’ where they will always start either singing or cheering, to make sure that the overall noise is a positive one at crucial moments. Things like:
Opposition goals
Substitutions (for both the players involved)
Mistakes – and the next time the ‘perpitrator’ gets the ball
They can take the lead, and I’m pretty sure enough of us will follow the lead to make the difference. Graeme’s right – you can’t expect people not to shout the odd expletive when a mistake is made (I know I have) but you can change the overall sound from a negative one to something that may show support and encouragement.
Any thoughts on this? Does anyone on here sit in the Ultras area or belong to the organisation?
Stuart79
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Comment #59batty
At the risk of taking the wrath of you guys, what gives you the confidence to think that we won’t lose 3 home games on the trot and that we will stay up?
I mean I want us to stay up more than anything, I don’t ike feeling like this every week but I’m looking at the facts-
4 wins in 25 games
2 away wins all season
ZERO home wins this year
We need to produce champions league form until the end of the season.
What’s going to change to make tis possible?
I hope you can come up with something to make me feel more positive.
Sorry for being negative, I’m just pointing out the facts as they stand.
Stardust
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Comment #60Stuart “I’m angry because I like the majority of fans have seen it coming for at least 5 years, it’s just been accelerated over the last 2 years.”
There are a number of reasons for this, partly KK, partly Ashleys lack of communication post walk out, partly the fans but above all FFS.
The club was robbed blind, we simply had a game of passy the parcel with a bomb in it that Ashley took hold of and was glad he had it – then the bomb went off.
I actually think if we survive this will prove in the future to be one of formative pivotal years – the start of great things to come.
Dragonera
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Comment #61We don’t need champions League form, mate. We just need to play well at home to the likes of Fulham (nothing to play for), Boro (Can’t score goals) and Pompy (Can’t defend). This will give us 9 points and i expect a point from our travels to both spurs and Stoke. If this comes to fruition then i fully expect to be playing in this league next season.
Stuart79
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Comment #62Hope ya right stardust but our recent past doesn’t suggest this will be the case.
But here’s hoping….
Stuart79
Mar 18, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Comment #63dragonera – I love the optimism!
On the otherside of the coin, the pressure will be immense come the trio of home games you mention and it will be far from a given that we will win.
We CANNOT rely on the three homes games to keep us up. It will not be that straight forward.
Stoke, Wigan and West Ham were homes games we should have won but didn’t. It’s too risky to put our survival hopes on these three upcoming home games
Toon Graeme
Mar 18, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Comment #64Whumpie,
I sit down on the edge of the ultra’s section near access 8 so its always loud.
I know what you mean – when the opposition score there is always as brief lull in song – but normally immediately picks up again.
Im more than 100% sure that Saturday will be loud and proud. A couple of pints of liquid enthusiasm will be had prior to kick off.
TORONTOON
Mar 18, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Comment #65remember when oba scored that bicycle against bolton on the first game with sam in charge? it got ZERO airtime. if that had been ronaldo or rooney they would’ve played it to death, from every angle, matrix style.
despite what you guys say, i think gutherie and barton are made of the right stuff; they give a f#ck!
COME ON MARTINS I’M STILL WAITING FOR YOUR FIRST HATRICK
batty
Mar 18, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Comment #66Stuart79 iam not confident m8 think its just hope
TORONTOON
Mar 18, 2009 at 2:05 PM
Comment #67i’m reading that cisse is still waiting for a contract; if we pick him up he’ll be devastating alongside martins
Doocey
Mar 18, 2009 at 4:15 PM
Comment #68You honestly think Djbril Cisse would go to Newcastle after playing a successful season with Sunderland?
I highly doubt it!
New articles up on my name lads, click the name and cheers 🙂
TORONTOON
Mar 18, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Comment #69yes he’s had a successful season with 32 points in the bag; 9 goals in 27 games, one win ahead of us. they are def successful
Tom_Toon
Mar 19, 2009 at 1:05 AM
Comment #70–