Martins And N'Zogbia Are A Disgrace To Our Club!
Last updated : 14 May 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor
Once again it's troubled times at St James' Park with players causing an uproar.
We all know N'Zogbia is doing his utmost to conjure up a move to Arsenal after hearing Arsene Wenger was interested in him, and it seems he could have achieved a move away from Tyneside with this stunt. But if I was Wenger I wouldn't touch him with a barge pole.
Caretaker manager Nigel Pearson was forced to remove French midfielder Charles N'Zogbia from the subs' bench for the game at Watford during the pre-match team meeting in their Hertfordshire hotel.
As for Obafemi Martins, his walk out stunned the Toon Army, and the club too.
A United source told the Chronicle: "When the team reported on Saturday for training, Oba Martins declared himself unfit, even though the medical people could find nothing wrong with him.
"He did not want to travel, but Nigel Pearson and Lee Clark, who were in charge of the team, told him he had to get on the plane and that he would have to undergo a fitness test at Watford yesterday morning.
"On Sunday morning he did not have a fitness test but declared himself unfit. He said that he had no intention of going to Vicarage Road, even though he was ordered to by the coaches as he was still a member of the squad and everyone should stick together.
"As a result, Martins did not go to Vicarage Road. He did not fly back with the team and at this moment in time nobody knows where he is.
"In the team meeting, while Nigel Pearson and Lee Clark were going over tactics, N'Zogbia was texting on his mobile phone.
"Some of the senior palyers were furious, and as a result N'Zogbia was removed from the substitutes' bench."
Alan Oliver: "Despite having some truly great professionals at the club like Shay Given, Steve Harper, Nicky Butt and youngsters Steven Taylor, James Milner and Peter Ramage, there is no doubt that morale and discipline has been lacking from some players in the latter part of the season.
"Earlier in the season, Nobby Solano and Albert Luque had been ordered by Roeder to board the team bus going to Middlesbrough after they found out they were not in the manager's starting line-up.
"In addition, Craig Moore has been conspicuous by his absence lately because United felt he was spending too much time in Glasgow.
"And what about Kieron Dyer? His lack of celebration when he scored yesterday gave fans I have spoken to the impression that he could be on his way out of St James' Park in the summer.
"And, in my opinion, so too will Michael Owen."