Newcastle United

It has been confirmed that Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd is set to hold talks with manager Glenn Roeder over the teams recent performances later this week. Shepherd has been quoted saying he is "right behind" the Newcastle United boss, even though Newcastle have been left without a premiership win for the past seven matches.
The most recent match against Sheffiled United saw a poor on the pitch perforamnce from the whole team, this poor perforance led Newcastle to a 1-0 defeat and 19th in the table. This is a far cry away from the mid-week win against the team placed joint top in Serie A, Palermo in the Uefa Cup. So far this season Newcastle fans havent had much to smile about, limited performances and no sign of hunger within the team have led the fans to chanting "Sack the board", this cry from the fans has led Shepherd to take action and discuss the problems with Roeder.
Newcastles next fixture sees them pit their wits against a on form Watford team in the Carling Cup, the following week Newcastle play the team that got Graeme Souness sacked ; Manchester City. If Newcastle fail to win both fixtures surely the tiem had come for Roeder to leave. At the end of last season Newcastle put a fine run together to claim 7th and a back door into Europe yet this season theyve shown no sort of form, the main difference between now and then is Alan Shearer, although he didnt play he acted as assistant manager to Roeder, and at the minute Newcastle need a Alan Shearer to pull the team together.
Shepherd is fully behind Roeder in the media, but who knows what happens behind closed doors...

Inter Milans Obafemi Martins look set to secure his future as a Newcastle United player as his agent travelled to the North East over the weekend. The transfer looks to be finalised as Inter boss Roberto Mancini left Martins out of his pre season squad.

The transfer has been delayed as to some uncertainty over the players age with reports from Nigeria indicating Martins could 6 or 7 years older than he actually claims to be. Glenn has not held back in his ambition to bring the player to the club.

"There is so much grass behind the back lines in English football you need to find someone with searing pace and I think we've done that," said Roeder.

"We need that striker who is able to run without the ball."

Newcastle are in dire need of a striker with Shearer retiring and Owen out, Martins could prove to be a long term investment. Martins is quick and deadly precisely why the Inter boss does not want to lose him. But Obafemi has fell down the pecking order with the arrivals of Crespo and Ibrahimovic during the summer.

"A lot would upset me if Martins had to be sold," Mancini said."He is the only one who has various characteristics different to the other attackers and therefore he can be used in different ways."

Roeder is set to get his man in the coming days, and its evident he will be the first of many new faces at St James'.

Shay Given is set to miss the Republic or Ireland's friendly game with Holland next week after picking up a back injury during Newcastle United's UEFA Cup victory over FK Ventspils on Thursday night. Despite some discomfort the Irish goalkeeper managed to complete the full 90 minutes in the Latvian capital Riga.

But after discussing the matter with Irish boss Steve Staunton, Toon gaffer Glenn Roeder has revealed that Given will stay on Tyneside next week for treatment rather than travel to Dublin for Wednesday's friendly at Lansdowne Road against the Dutch.

"I've spoken with Steve Staunton and he has allowed us to withdraw Shay from the Ireland squad for the game against Holland next week." said Glenn Roeder

"Instead Shay will remain on Tyneside and have treatment for a slight back problem.

"I was very grateful to Steve for allowing Shay to stay here and receive treatment."

Despite the back muscle problem, Roeder still expects Given to be fit for Newcastle's opening Premiership fixture of the 2006/07 term when Wigan Athletic visit St. James' Park on Saturday, August 19.

In other Newcastle related news, Titus Bramlbe hit the target twice in a week:

A Norfolk couple were woken in the night after a car driven by Newcastle United defender Titus Bramble crashed into the wall outside their house.

It happened on the A140 in the village of Newton Flotman on Saturday night.

A Norfolk Police spokesman said five or six people were travelling in the BMW but no-one was injured. Mr Bramble was given a breath test which was negative.

Eddie Sargent, 55, who lives in the house, said he and wife Linda, 54, were concerned for the people in the car.

The couple were looking after their grandchildren at the time of the crash.

Mr Sargent said: "We just heard an incredible bang.

"The car was full of people and they all got out and went across the road.

"I never spoke to Titus, he kept a low profile. I was more concerned about the damage."

Mr Sargent said he and his wife did not recognise Mr Bramble: "The police handed us his details for the insurance claim and my wife said 'what a lovely name' and 'wasn't he good looking'.

"It wasn't until we telephoned the insurers this morning that they asked 'Is that the Titus Bramble?'"

Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder today announced that he is etremely close to bringing new blood into Newcastle United after seeing his side put one foot into the next round of the UEFA Cup First Round with a victory over Latvian side FK Ventspils last night. The Newcastle boss spent most of his time in the Baltic state answering media questions about possible new signings.

One name he continues to be linked with is Inter Milan striker Obafemi Martins and the Toon boss does not mind admitting that he is a fan of the Nigerian international starlet.

He said this: "It's not going to be easy to get a player of Martin's quality to Newcastle but I do like him and I don't mind saying that. I think it's fair for me to be able to say that. He is a player that I admire and we are looking at the situation at Inter Milan very closely."

"We haven't any information to give out public yet about that player nor any other player that we may be potentially close to signing."

"But we are very close to signing two or three players and that could happen over the next seven to ten days."

Titus Bramble, whose goal against Chelsea in the final game of last season gave United another crack at European Football, helped the Magpies put one foot in the UEFA Cup First Round with a crucial away goal against Ventspils tonight.

Bramble rose well to head in a corner from Emre in the 70th minute of the game. This gives Newcastle a 1-0 aggregate lead going into the second leg against the Latvians at St James' Park in a fortnight.

Ventspils proved to be a tougher team to break down than many people expected for the Magpies tonight and there were very few clear cut chances in the game. Glenn Roeder will be extremely happy with the away goal and a clean sheet to take back to Tyneside.

Newcastle were followed by around 200 faithful fans and sported their new European kit as Ventspils got the game underway. Ventspils had the first chance of the game though after some fine build up play Given had to spread himself well to save a shot just inside the box from Slesarcuks after the striker turned Carr and powered past Moore and Bramble to go one-on-one with the Irish keeper.

After 8 minutes Emre hit a hopeful shot from distance which clipped the head of Ndeki and the Ventspils' keeper Vanins had to react very quickly and pull of a fine save to stop the ball going into the net for an own goal. United's next chance came after 14 minutes when Duff showed some neat skill and played a ball onto the head of Ameobi who headed well over from 8 yards. He arguably should have done a lot better.

The game was a midfield battle for the remainder of the first half and neither team made an attempt to come forward and get the opening goal of the tie. Right on half time Newcastle's Peruvian winger, Nolberto Solan hit a free-kick from 25 yards which unfortunately for him swerved straight into the keepers arms. The score at half time was 0-0.

At the end of the first half Irish keeper Shay Given appeared to have twinged his back and Steve Harper spent the whole of the interval warming up. However the regular stopper seemed to be fine and emerged from the tunnel for the second half and played the remainder of the game.

Craig Moore picked up the first yellow card of the game which confused many people as it seemed as if the opposing player seemed to run into the Australian centre back. A very harsh decision it seemed.

On the 54th minute it was end to end stuff as Ventspils came down the right wing and Zizigevs put in a wonderful cross to the head of Zangareen but the angles were too much for him and his diving header went behind him instead of on target. United immediately counter-attacked and when Ameobio laid off the new boy Duff he fired wide from 25 yards. Seconds later the Turkish Emre fired straight at the keeper from long range.

United broke again on the 59th minute and had Scott Parker had a great oppurtunity to score after Duff received a very good pass from Babayaro but the English midfielder took too long after a bad touch and fired it high and wide.

Ventspils gave Newcastle a scare after 67 minutes when Butriks seemed to break the offside trap and was well clear on goal. Fortunately for the Magpies his touch was too heavy and Given collected the ball at the edge of the box. A couple of minutes later Solano headed over from a Shola Ameobi cross, he jumped too early and his effort was well off target.

After 71 minutes there was a breakthrough. Emre crossed the ball perfectly onto the head of Titus Bramble who rose well to power the header into the goal from eight yards to record his seventh goal for Newcastle, and his fourth strike in Europe.

Newcastle then shut up shop for the rest of the game and made three substitutions. Emre, Solano and Babayaro all made way for N'Zogbia, Milner and Ramage respectively over a ten minute period.

The final whistle blew and Newcastle were very happy with the away goal and Ventspils are now faced with an almost impossible tie on the 24th August.