Scottish Mag 3 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Juventus are planning to test Sam Allardyce's resolve to keep Obafemi Martins at St James's Park after picking out the controversial Nigerian as the ideal man to spearhead their return to Serie A. The Bianconeri's promotion to the Italian top flight was confirmed at the weekend and, although the Serie B season will not end until next month, manager Didier Deschamps has already drawn up a detailed list of summer targets. Martins is among the players the Juve boss has earmarked for prospective transfers to Turin, along with the Liverpool midfielders Xabi Alonso and Mohamed Sissoko and Ajax's Klaas Jan Huntelaar. And although Allardyce suggested he would be reluctant to lose the troubled 22-year-old on his appointment as Glenn Roeder's successor last week, the situation could change should Deschamps firm up his interest with the bid that Italian sources insist is imminent. The Newcastle boss will have monitored events at Watford nine days ago with interest and, while he has claimed the club's players will all start with a clean slate under his rule, a manager renowned as a strict disciplinarian cannot have been impressed with the attacker's actions. In declaring himself unfit for United's final Premiership fixture with a knee problem the Magpies' medical staff could not detect, Martins cast his future in the North-East into doubt. Having long admired a player whose reputation remains intact in Italian football, Juventus are preparing to offer both parties an exit strategy, while Valencia are also understood to be keeping tabs on an uncertain situation. Should a figure approaching the £10m Roeder paid Inter Milan for the African last summer be offered, it would be no surprise were a deal to be struck and Martins were to join Jean-Alain Boumsong on the Italian club's books. Although he scored 17 times in his maiden season in United colours, Martins remains an enigmatic character whose attitude has been called into question on numerous occasions. And although the striker completed the campaign as the club's leading marksman, Allardyce will be more concerned about keeping Michael Owen at St James's Park. Positive talks between the pair have been held in recent days. Cashing in on Martins would aid the 52-year-old's summer rebuilding programme. Allardyce is determined to strengthen a deficient defence and a manager keen to lure Tal Ben Haim from Bolton is also understood to be plotting a move for Wigan's Leighton Baines. The England Under-21 international is among the Premiership's most admired full-backs and, with Stephen Carr and Celestine Babayaro expected to join Olivier Bernard, Craig Moore, Titus Bramble and Oguchi Onyewu in leaving Tyneside, Baines has been earmarked to fill the club's problematic left-back berth. Allardyce's immediate concern will be assembling his backroom team. Phil Brown last night signed a contract extension at Hull that will rule him out, but the Newcastle boss has made a breakthrough. Bolton are understood to have granted Mark Taylor, head of sports science at the Reebok Stadium, permission to speak to United, although Trotters officials remain determined to keep performance director Mike Forde in the North-West. Meanwhile, Pavel Srnicek has expressed his disappointment at being released following Allardyce's appointment last week. The Czech said: "It was a big disappointment as I had agreed with the club that I would stay for a year and then end my career. Unfortunately, not everything in our lives turns out as we wish it to." Shay Given will this week mark 10 years' service at St James's Park. The Irishman joined Newcastle from Blackburn in 1997 and, although he has no trophies to show for his decade in the North-East, Given's optimism remains intact. "I'm still very hungry to win something with Newcastle," he said. "I came here 10 years ago to win trophies and I want to do that for myself and for the fans. I've got a good few years left and hopefully we can win some silverware in that time." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 31587 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Although he scored 17 times in his maiden season in United colours, Martins remains an enigmatic character whose attitude has been called into question on numerous occasions. And although the striker completed the campaign as the club's leading marksman, Allardyce will be more concerned about keeping Michael Owen at St James's Park. Positive talks between the pair have been held in recent days. Can someone name me a couple of these "numerous occasions"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Once iirc. I'd still flog him like if we can make a decent profit. Touch like a rapist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sima 0 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 I'd take our money back tbh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 47054 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Aye, any sort of profit/£10m added to the transfer fund would be preferable to keeping him on imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asprilla 96 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 I still think he's class... Another good season and his value would soar IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isegrim 10017 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 I still think he's class... Another good season and his value would soar IMO. More people realising that his game has too many serious flaws will reduce his grossly inflated value significantly... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammynb 3640 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 I still think he's class... Another good season and his value would soar IMO. More people realising that his game has too many serious flaws will reduce his grossly inflated value significantly... Maybe he'll be like Dyer, for some reason those away from the club rate him but we know he's shite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 I still think he's class... Another good season and his value would soar IMO. Another? Was he that good this season. I think it was an ok to quite good season if you factor in stuff like the quality of our football, his first season in a new league/country and his age. But I think that he'll never be that good because his touch and movement is so poor, and I really mean poor. I don't want to slag him off too much as, like I said, I think he did ok and his attitude/workrate on the pitch really impressed me. 11 Premieship goals is just ok though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinofbeans 91 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 suits serie a or la liga because his woeful first touch won't get in the way as much. in the premiership time and time again he got caught out. mind you if i'd had the service from defence/ midfield he had this season just gone i'd have probably quit..... his ideal role is from the bench playing against tired defenders with 20 minutes to go. as we need alternatives ( i.e. a proper target man and another general purpose striker) i'd doubt him being here come the start of the new season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 I think it was Isegrim who pointed out that a £9million supersub was a bit of a luxury when the rest of the squad needs so much work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asprilla 96 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 I still think he's class... Another good season and his value would soar IMO. Another? Was he that good this season. I think it was an ok to quite good season if you factor in stuff like the quality of our football, his first season in a new league/country and his age. But I think that he'll never be that good because his touch and movement is so poor, and I really mean poor. I don't want to slag him off too much as, like I said, I think he did ok and his attitude/workrate on the pitch really impressed me. 11 Premieship goals is just ok though. He's still young enough to improve his overall game, I just think he's got the right instincts. 17 goals in a first season in a shit team, following a legend is pretty good IMO. You obviously have seen him more than me though so I can't really argue, but even as a supersub striker (as he was used before) I definitely would like to see him stay. £10m is a lot of money though, so it depends on Big Sam's budget and/or whether Ameobi is "good enough" to stay as Owen's (?) strike partner. I'd personally rather see Ameobi replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 I still think he's class... Another good season and his value would soar IMO. Another? Was he that good this season. I think it was an ok to quite good season if you factor in stuff like the quality of our football, his first season in a new league/country and his age. But I think that he'll never be that good because his touch and movement is so poor, and I really mean poor. I don't want to slag him off too much as, like I said, I think he did ok and his attitude/workrate on the pitch really impressed me. 11 Premieship goals is just ok though. He's done ok. But his overall game is too weak, especially his 'bobble' first touch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 I think it was the Man City game where he took 3 touches to miscontrol a throw-in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curry stained pilchard 0 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 I still think he's class... Another good season and his value would soar IMO. Another? Was he that good this season. I think it was an ok to quite good season if you factor in stuff like the quality of our football, his first season in a new league/country and his age. But I think that he'll never be that good because his touch and movement is so poor, and I really mean poor. I don't want to slag him off too much as, like I said, I think he did ok and his attitude/workrate on the pitch really impressed me. 11 Premieship goals is just ok though. He's still young enough to improve his overall game, I just think he's got the right instincts. 17 goals in a first season in a shit team, following a legend is pretty good IMO. You obviously have seen him more than me though so I can't really argue, but even as a supersub striker (as he was used before) I definitely would like to see him stay. £10m is a lot of money though, so it depends on Big Sam's budget and/or whether Ameobi is "good enough" to stay as Owen's (?) strike partner. I'd personally rather see Ameobi replaced. Agreed, but we'd be lucky to get £10 for Shola... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 I still think he's class... Another good season and his value would soar IMO. Another? Was he that good this season. I think it was an ok to quite good season if you factor in stuff like the quality of our football, his first season in a new league/country and his age. But I think that he'll never be that good because his touch and movement is so poor, and I really mean poor. I don't want to slag him off too much as, like I said, I think he did ok and his attitude/workrate on the pitch really impressed me. 11 Premieship goals is just ok though. He's still young enough to improve his overall game, I just think he's got the right instincts. 17 goals in a first season in a shit team, following a legend is pretty good IMO. You obviously have seen him more than me though so I can't really argue, but even as a supersub striker (as he was used before) I definitely would like to see him stay. £10m is a lot of money though, so it depends on Big Sam's budget and/or whether Ameobi is "good enough" to stay as Owen's (?) strike partner. I'd personally rather see Ameobi replaced. Ameobi is different because we'd do well to get £1million from a Championship side but I know where you're coming from. Ideally, all our strikers stay and we get a new one, then we assess things in January/next summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renton 22401 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 A lot will depend on the Owen situation. We can't accomodate both in the same team and Owen is vastly superior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetleftpeg 0 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 If he could improve his touch he'd be superb. But I can't see that happening any time soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ally 0 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Martins is good, but that first touch (for now) will mean he'll never make it as a top player imo. You pass the ball to him and its instantly about a metre away from his foot, which gives the defender so much more time to make the tackle. He's only 22 though so that can surely be coached out of him, but if an offer came in of, say £15m i'd take it straight away. Mind you, 17 goals in a fucking terrible team is a canny return. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holden McGroin 6917 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Les Ferdinand had an equally terrible touch. I think he will just get better and better IF he is only 22 ! Still, if we get ~15m offer I would take it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 His touch is far worse than Ferdinand's tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themags 0 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Martins should take some first touch lessons from Shola Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isegrim 10017 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 (edited) Imho his first touch isn't even the biggest problem, but rather his awareness of game situations. With his pace he should make use of it, but his work rate when the opposition is in possession is often much better as when we have possession ourselves. That's why he rarely has the chance to exploit his pace. Often he just stands there and waits that the ball is directly played into his feet ... well and that is when his first touch becomes the problem. He has flashes of brilliance and I sort of understand why people rate him highly, I just can't see how he will ever be able to get rid off the dodgy parts of his game. Edited May 22, 2007 by Isegrim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ally 0 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Aye good point there Isegrim, you very rarely see Martins sprinting off the ball to get into the spaces. To be honest, if I knew nothing about him before we signed him i'd have never said he's one of the quickest players about, simply not seen him run much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia 0 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 His first touch makes Shola look like Maradona sometimes. I still think he'll turn into a class act in the future but if we can make our money back on him i'd be chuffed. £10million could get us Campbell, Ben Haim and Baines with a bit left over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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