Martins Playing for Pride

[Besty 4]

By Paul Gilder, The Journal

 

 

Obafemi Martins last night revealed Nigerian pride is driving his bid to score 20 goals in his first season at St James's Park - and admitted he is desperate to prove a point to Nwankwo Kanu and Aiyegbeni Yakubu.

 

The Super Eagles trio struck a bet last summer in which each player claimed he would enjoy the most-productive campaign and, although Kanu's extraordinary start to life at Fratton Park suggested that he would be the runaway winner, Martins is within one goal of the Portsmouth favourite.

 

Although a player who has not found the net in his last four first-team fixtures continues to attract criticism in certain quarters, he has scored nine times since his £10m move from Inter Milan last summer.

 

It is a tally that has put him level with Middlesbrough's Yakubu and, as he prepares for this weekend's top-flight trip to White Hart Lane, a striker determined to move into double figures for the season remains confident that Nigerian bragging rights can still be his.

 

 

"It's like a competition," explained the 22-year-old, who scored his last goal for Glenn Roeder's team during the club's 3-1 win against Tottenham on December 23. "When we go back to Nigeria, it's like, `Okay, I'm going to be the first person to score 20 goals'. That's why I'm working harder, to score more goals than Yakubu and Kanu. It is a good thing to have this competition between the Nigerian players, it can only make us better."

 

 

With 38 goals between them so far, the trio have established themselves as their respective clubs' leading scorers, although having inherited Alan Shearer's number nine shirt, Martins does not lack motivation to do even better in black-and-white stripes.

 

 

Roeder's team have not won any of the four games in which the striker has failed to score. Improving his output and his side's Premiership points haul is a dual target.

 

 

"As a striker, you need to score goals," he said last night. "You need to try your best in training and during the matches and, if you cannot get the goals, you keep trying.

 

 

"So I keep trying and I believe I will score many more goals for Newcastle in the future.

 

 

"I am doing everything possible to get a goal and that is why I am a little bit nervous during games. The manager has told me to take it easy and the goals will come."

 

 

Martins has found it difficult to adapt to the Premiership but, although his goals have dried up in recent weeks, he is confident that he is finally getting to grips with English football.

 

 

"I'm getting used to it here and getting used to my team-mates and the football in England so I'm very happy here now," he said.

 

 

"The Premiership is a little bit faster, I think faster than any other league.

 

 

"If the keeper has the ball, he has to throw it to the striker or the midfielder so they can start attacking again. They did not do that in Italy. In Italy, it is a little bit slower, they pass the ball more in midfield. But I believe it is good for a striker like me to play in England."

 

 

Meanwhile, Manchester United captain Gary Neville believes Nolberto Solano should become a full-time full-back after insisting the Peruvian can establish himself as one of the Premiership's most-effective defenders.

 

 

The winger has deputised for the injured Carr in recent weeks and, having shown himself to be arguably the club's best right-back, Solano looks set to continue there even when the Irishman returns. It is a move that would get the backing of Neville.

 

 

"He did very well against us (on January 1) and anyone who plays that well against (Cristiano) Ronaldo is a top defender," he said.

 

 

"Solano can also pass very well out of defence and I know we were very impressed by him when we played against Newcastle.

 

 

"He has been around a while, but he is an excellent player, one of the very best."

[The Fish 11112]

dunno why, but I always take praise from a player more seriously than I do a manager or pundit.

 

For Neville to say that about Nobby makes me feel warm and tingly inside.

[manc-mag 1]

What sort of pride? Gay pride or good pride?

[manc-mag 1]

What sort of pride? Gay pride or good pride?

 

In the wicked bad/wicked good? sense

[Guest stevieintoon]

OBAFEMI MARTINS - Dismissing rumours linking him with Chelsea.

"I am satisfied with my present contract. And at the moment, I'm just trying to focus on improving my goalscoring form.

"To bring this confusion now is wicked. I'm not leaving Newcastle and nobody has discussed such an issue with me. I love what I am doing now at the club.

"When you are playing well, different managers will show interest in you. But it does not mean my people have started discussions with anybody, including Chelsea.

"I am angry because it's like people are trying to destabilize the team after we've started doing well.

"The speculation is not healthy for the team now. It can cause distraction and affect our morale.

"I don't know where it emanates from but I am a Newcastle player - that's all what counts at the moment."

 

--------------------------------------------------------

 

Off the official site. Why say "at the moment"?

[The Fish 11112]

OBAFEMI MARTINS - Dismissing rumours linking him with Chelsea.

"I am satisfied with my present contract. And at the moment, I'm just trying to focus on improving my goalscoring form.

"To bring this confusion now is wicked. I'm not leaving Newcastle and nobody has discussed such an issue with me. I love what I am doing now at the club.

"When you are playing well, different managers will show interest in you. But it does not mean my people have started discussions with anybody, including Chelsea.

"I am angry because it's like people are trying to destabilize the team after we've started doing well.

"The speculation is not healthy for the team now. It can cause distraction and affect our morale.

"I don't know where it emanates from but I am a Newcastle player - that's all what counts at the moment."

 

--------------------------------------------------------

 

Off the official site. Why say "at the moment"?

 

 

I wouldn't read too much into it tbh,could be anything from a slip of the tongue, to a misinterpretation

 

Oba isn't going anywhere until the summer

[Guest stevieintoon]

OBAFEMI MARTINS - Dismissing rumours linking him with Chelsea.

"I am satisfied with my present contract. And at the moment, I'm just trying to focus on improving my goalscoring form.

"To bring this confusion now is wicked. I'm not leaving Newcastle and nobody has discussed such an issue with me. I love what I am doing now at the club.

"When you are playing well, different managers will show interest in you. But it does not mean my people have started discussions with anybody, including Chelsea.

"I am angry because it's like people are trying to destabilize the team after we've started doing well.

"The speculation is not healthy for the team now. It can cause distraction and affect our morale.

"I don't know where it emanates from but I am a Newcastle player - that's all what counts at the moment."

 

--------------------------------------------------------

 

Off the official site. Why say "at the moment"?

 

 

I wouldn't read too much into it tbh,could be anything from a slip of the tongue, to a misinterpretation

 

Oba isn't going anywhere until the summer

[Papa Lazaru 0]

dunno why, but I always take praise from a player more seriously than I do a manager or pundit.

 

For Neville to say that about Nobby makes me feel warm and tingly inside.

 

And whilst Neville can be a bit of a dick at times, by footballers standards he does actually come across as quite knowledgeable and even intelligent at times rather than be one of the sheep like the rest of them. Also he's a top class right back so its good to hear him praising Nobby!