What a mess...

[kennethlindheim]

Newcastle United's £10m man Obafemi Martins walked out on the club yesterday, putting his future at St James' Park in doubt.

And to add to United's misery, 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.

Now United will be even more determined to push through the appointment of Sam Allardyce because it will take a manager of his standing to sort out the mess at St James' Park.

United flew back to Tyneside last night after their 1-1 draw with Watford without Martins. But N'Zogbia travelled back with the team group and at least had the good grace to look sheepish after his tantrum.

A United source told me today: "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."

While all this was going on with Martins, N'Zogbia was infuriating senior members of the United team with his behaviour.

The source added: "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."

In my view, N'Zogbia has contributed very little to United this season, and Glenn Roeder substituted him at half-time in the recent defeat at Portsmouth because of his attitude.

Martins has scored 17 goals in his first season for United, some of them truly fantastic, but in the nine games since the UEFA Cup defeat by AZ Alkmaar in Holland, he has only managed one.

In the first leg at St James' Park he scored twice and had a blinder, but he refused to go to the sponsors' lounge and accept his man of the match trophy. As a result, United have now implemented a rule that any player not meeting the sponsors - who pour millions of pounds into the club - will be fined a fortnight's wages.

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.

On the N'Zogbia situation, caretaker manager Nigel Pearson said: "He was on the bench originally, but I changed it. Charles did not really want to be there (on the bench).

"I have no idea whether he stayed at the ground to watch the game.

"You can make your own judgements about it, but it is very important that everyone associated with the club acts in a professional manner.

"Will there be disciplinary action taken? That is something for the coming week."

icNewcastle - AWOL - Martins goes missing

[MUMUFMUFCOK!]

I think Joey Barton will be the perfect signing to improve team morale and end this culture of misbehaving players prevalent at Newcastle.

[Werdna]

Originally Posted by MUMUFMUFCOK!

I think Joey Barton will be the perfect signing to improve team morale and end this culture of misbehaving players prevalent at Newcastle.

[Werdna]

What a story...

Seems very surprising and if true would probably explain the poor performances over the past two years and also show that Roeder was definetely not up for the job.

[LAF]

There is very little attraction playing for Newcastle these days. I wouldn't be suprised to see Dyer end up at Everton/Tottenham.

[kennethlindheim]

I hate players who are thinking of themselves, rather than the team. But on the up point, everyone should have a clean slate when the new manager takes over.

Perhaps Martins has been kidknapped by the Nigerian FA......

[Dellas]

Originally Posted by kennethlindheim

Perhaps Martins has been kidknapped by the Nigerian FA......

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Newcastle have become an average club to play for.