Rich

So all of that isn't necessarily about Bramble, then? The player who seemed to be the immediate casualty of the aftermath as he was dropped fully. Okay. I've never had Bramble down as being a genius... but surely he will realise exactly what the situation is, no matter how you try and spin it in Roeder's favour. He knows that before Onyewu got injured and before Moore got found-out he was never going to play for this football club again and he knows that Roeder has criticised him in the media after the AZ game, he will surely know that. Now, after being out of his plans there is a chance he might play for us again (only a chance mind, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ramage in there after all of this conjecture!) and Roeder's dangling this "carrot" in front of his face about getting a new contract. Am I the only one who thinks it's a bit of a daft motivation technique? Perhaps, if Bramble does play, he's doing nowt but putting himself in the shop window in order to try and drum-up his price a bit with a good performance? Or perhaps Ramage, as Oliver wrote, is still not match fit? We obviously won't know until the day what happens, but the original point remains that he was made a scapegoat and yet again it's blown-up in Roeder's face, seeing him do yet another one-eighty and having to pick Titus Bramble after all-but pushing him out of the door. You cannot deny this at all. The fact you're saying he was rightly made a scapegoat by Roeder and now saying Glenn is doing right by trying to motivate him to play (when surely Titus knows it's hopeless) is the real bollocks in this thread. Not the posts you've cited as being so. It's laughable, man. I can understand why people defend Roeder, but I wish they'd defend him on the things he actually does right and not when it's plain to see he's been made to look a clown again.

It was only ever "probably" in Denmark. Nothing was set.

Unfortunately I'm not sure such a thing exists... and if you want it that badly you can feckin' find it yourself! Bit like Matthew Upson, really, played a lot of games for a few years during his earlier days but has since been an injury prone mess of a human being.

Jon: He's missed quite a lot of time on the whole though and it's tended to happen every season since 2004 from what I gather. He certainly doesn't seem a 30-odd game a season kind of guy like Jonathan Woodgate is these days, is all I'm saying.

Karj is right, there have been previous stories about it but this was in the Chronicle yesterday.

He's the only Irishman in the world who doesn't know where Dublin is...

I'm not disputing that... and I do wish him a very overrated, but happy birthday We need some of the school kids in to praise him to the hilt in order to override your appalling comments. "Given iz fkn mint leek!"

Case closed. Martins has a bigger cock though! NAUGHTY!!!

Whether true or not (and I think you're right that some people do think he's better than he is) Given's still been fantastic for us, and that was the general aim of the OP. He's probably won us a lot more points than he's lost us.

Has Glenn Roeder publicly criticised Peter Ramage directly after a defeat? Was Peter Ramage ever a first-choice player, when we had a fully fit defensive pool to choose from? Could it be simply that he's protecting Ramage until next season after his nightmare against West Ham? I can't help but feel that you're simply trying to redirect an argument that you're getting buggered in by Alex... and how were Glenn's comments after the AZ game not about Bramble? Who was dropped altogether directly afterwards? I agree that he has to try and get a performance out of Bramble if he does play against Chelsea, which you've already said, but it's simply laughable that it's ended up at this point after the lad was all but out of the door a month ago and I think that was the point that Alex was making, more than anything. The Ramage situation simply cannot be compared, man. It's not the same.

Roeder hasn't ever come out and blamed anything on Titus or said that he is the scapegoat (the people on this board and in the press have jumped to those conclusions). He has just left him out. But... he has also left out Ramage, who has been fit for about a month now. So let's be fair... both of them have been made scapegoats. Including you. Yep! Including me, but if you think about it, he has also made a scapegoat of Ramage. Did he injure Ramage against West Ham and force him to miss all the games since with an injury, like? Have you forgotten Roeder's post-match comments that were blatantly about Bramble?

Dear me... if Luque had cost us £17m and was considered by many in the game to be the best/one of the best goalscorers in the world then I think, just maybe, he might have. Owen is our posterboy these days, man, he cost us a fortune to sign and he costs us a fortune in wages. How can we not deserve compensation? How can you even make that comparison?

How many 'keepers excel in all of those areas that you've just mentioned? How many 'keepers stay at an underachieving club for ten seasons despite apparent interest from "bigger" teams? Howay man, for £1.5M I think we did alright. Surely, bar Shearer, he's been our best/most valuable player of the last decade?

Well we've got a few more decent years to look forward to, in that case. FM's never wrong.

Because he'll obviously be reading this... but our sewpa-'keeper turned 31 today and has been at NUFC for just under 10 years; making 412(?) appearances for us. What a guy. http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/744/sgpt8.jpg (Couldn't find one of "the save" versus Sunderland.)

What about the extra TV revenue that is incoming at the start of next season? Surely that will knock down the percentage a fair whack from the current 66%, even without European football next season? Still doesn't look like a crisis to me, whatever way you try to spin it. The worry that I have is while the rest of the Premiership clubs will quite probably each spend some/most of the new money, we'll have to use it to balance the wage-bill while getting money from somewhere else for transfers, if at all. Not exactly brilliant and not even ideal, but hardly a crisis in my eyes. A "crisis" would be if we had to go into administration or were on the brink of being relegated, surely? If we hadn't have spent that money on wages last season and this season, with these managers, would be still be in the Premiership now? People seem to conveniently ignore the fact that we still came 7th last season and got to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup this campaign, with Glenn's "never seen before" injury list to contend with as well. The more I sit and think with my head over my heart, the more I realise how it isn't really that bad at all when you consider where we could be. It does have to improve though, I realise that, because there are plenty of people who don't see it that way.

I've wondered the same myself, but Kieron Dyer's new contract (among others) might have something to do with it?

Emre not a scapegoat? United boss in tribute to battler Emre Apr 20 2007 By Alan Oliver, The Evening Chronicle Glenn Roeder has paid tribute to his Newcastle United midfielder Emre after watching him bounce back from his racism charge. The 26-year-old Turkey midfielder was left devastated by the charge, which arose from his angry exchange with Everton's Tim Howard, Joleon Lescott and Joseph Yobo during a 3-0 defeat at Goodison Park in December. However, an independent commission found the accusation not proven last month, allowing the former Inter Milan star to get on with his career. The investigation coincided with an 11-game absence with a calf injury, but now Emre is back in harness and hoping to retain his place as United prepare to welcome title-chasing Chelsea to St James' Park on Sunday. And Roeder is delighted to have a player who has been linked with summer moves to Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin back at his disposal. The United boss said today: "I have been very pleased, but that does not surprise me. Emre is a terrific little pro. He lives right, plays right and wants to play all the time. "The racism charge did affect him for a period of time because he knew it was not true, and thankfully the commission agreed with him that he had no case to answer. "That has been a big relief for him and he has got on with his life. He is an excellent footballer." Emre's participation this weekend will depend on whether or not skipper Scott Parker and fellow midfielder Kieron Dyer, who have shaken off ankle and hamstring problems respectively, get the nod ahead of him, although Damien Duff's season is over after he damaged an ankle at Portsmouth last weekend. Parker and Dyer missed the 2-1 Premiership defeat at Fratton Park, but will return on Sunday along with Antoine Sibierski. The reigning champions have much to play for as they attempt to reel in leaders Manchester United, but Newcastle's season was effectively ended by their UEFA Cup exit in Alkmaar last month. However, despite the fact European qualification for next season is now realistically only a mathematical possibility, Roeder will not countenance any sense of defeatism. He said: "Every game of football is worth winning, wherever you are in the league. Every game of football is a challenge. "It is quite weak to say, `The season is petering out, we are in the middle of the table, it does not matter if we finish a couple of places higher or a couple of places lower'. "That is a weak mentality. We are playing for a lot of money - every place in the Premiership is worth hundreds of thousands of pounds - so that is a lot to play for. "And then, of course, there is the issue of pride. You try to finish as high up the table as you can.

My feelings on the matter entirely. Taylor included, at the minute none of the centre-halves instill any confidence whatsoever.

Story Michael misses Blues clash Apr 20 2007 By Alan Oliver, The Evening Chronicle Michael Owen's comeback has gone on ice and Newcastle United will have to take on Chelsea at St James' Park on Sunday without their £17m man. And while Owen himself has targeted the game with Reading at the Madejski Stadium a week on Monday, it is by no means certain he'll be back by then. That would leave him to figure in United's last two games against Blackburn Rovers at St James' and at Watford on the last day of the season. Owen is still not back in full training and, as revealed in The Chronicle yesterday, he is carrying a bit of groin trouble, something which often happens when a player is returning from a long lay-off. Meanwhile, as the row about Owen playing for England shows no sign of abating, Steve McClaren was at the United training ground today to see for himself how the striker is progressing. But Glenn Roeder's only concern is Chelsea on Sunday and he will have his skipper Scott Parker, Kieron Dyer and Antoine Sibierski back for the visit of the champions. However, like Owen, I don't expect Shola Ameobi to figure in Sunday's game as United look for their first Premiership goal at St James' Park since the win over Liverpool on February 10. Yet with Damien Duff likely to be out for the rest of the season, there would seem to be a chance for Charles N'Zogbia to end a disappointing season in style, but the Frenchman, who was blasted by Roeder for his lacklustre performance in the first half at Portsmouth last Saturday, will have to wait to see if he gets the nod from the manager. Roeder told me today: "With Damien Duff out this would seem to be a good opportunity for Charles in our last four games, but I will be monitoring him in training today and again tomorrow before I make my decision on him." United have lost only once at home in the Premiership since early November - to Manchester City - and obviously this will be put to the test on Sunday. But Roeder has challenged United to maintain their fair form against the big four at St James' this season. He added: "We have beaten Liverpool and drawn with Manchester United and Arsenal at home, and we don't want to miss out against Chelsea on Sunday. "Yes we have been beaten 1-0 twice by Chelsea this season, first when their big hitters came off the bench at Stamford Bridge, and then again at home in the Carling Cup, when Didier Drogba moved a free-kick to get a better angle for his shot. "I watched Chelsea beat West Ham on Wednesday night and they are a team full of top internationals who are in the mood at the moment. "And with Manchester United playing tomorrow and likely to be six points ahead of them by the time Chelsea come here on Sunday, we know what to expect."

Ramage not match fit, Moore now the scapegoat and Onyewu doubtful could equate to the big fella partnering Taylor in the centre of defence on Sunday. Special.

Story Roeder turns back to Titus Apr 20 2007 By Alan Oliver, The Evening Chronicle Titus Bramble is in line for an unexpected recall to the Newcastle United side for Sunday's game with Chelsea at St James' Park.. And if he does play, the United defender has been challenged by Glenn Roeder to turn in his usual sterling performance against the men from West London. Bramble has been out in the cold since the UEFA Cup defeat by AZ Alkmaar last month, and with his contract up at the end of the season and no offer of a new one on the table, he had every right to wonder if he had played his last game in a black-and-white shirt. But with Peter Ramage not match fit, Craig Moore letting in the water at Portsmouth last Saturday and Oguchi Onyewu picking up a knock at Fratton Park, the way would seem clear for the former England Under-21 international. All Roeder would say today was: "No decision has been made on the future of Titus Bramble. "He was impressive for our reserves when they beat Middlesbrough 5-1 on Tuesday night and he is in the frame for Sunday. "And if he does play I hope he comes up with a good game against one of his favourite teams. "I remember sitting in the St James' stands two seasons ago when I was working for the FA, and saw United play out a draw with Chelsea. "The two Newcastle players who impressed me the most that day were Titus and James Milner. "And, of course, I was in the dugout 12 months ago when Titus got the goal which beat Chelsea and took us into the InterToto Cup." Shay Given is still not ready to return and Steve Harper (right) will again deputise for the Irishman against Chelsea. And Harper told me today: "This is a big, big game and it is nice to be able to have a say in the title race, even though we would prefer to be involved ourselves, of course. "But we got a fair enough point against Arsenal at St James' Park in our last home match and there is no reason why we should not give Chelsea a good game."

He missed the last two rounds of England games with separate injuries that kept him out for 2-4 weeks at a time, did he not? In both February and March? Prior to that he got a slight injury at Fulham towards the back end of last season (also coinciding with playing for England). He did manage something like 35 games per season for Southampton, mind, as you've said! But wasn't without his injuries there, either, again coinciding with England fixtures from what I can find from Google. Obviously it's not giving us the whole story as it only tends to get good media coverage if he's missing for England (found another from 2004 where he was injured when we played Ukraine and last year when he went off injured against Uruguay), but the impression I've had of Bridge since he joined Chelsea is that he's picked up continuos knocks and niggles causing him to miss opportunities - and he's had that big injury that's been mentioned already. Certainly not as bad as some of the wasters we have here, but not close to being impeccable either.

The unrealistic aspect was that you'd expect both to arrive, but I see the sense in the rest of what you've written there. Don't disagree with any of it.

I said it was "obvious" You cannot surely tell me Obafemi Martins doesn't have similar potential (albeit at a couple of years older), though? At times he looks fantastic on the ball, which shows that he does have the capabilities to have a regularly top-notch first-touch and also at times he can produce a fairly nifty pass/lay-off. This would also suggest to me a player who is not entirely lacking the basics! It's also what frustrates me so much about him. He clearly has all the required attributes/capabilities to excel in most aspects of the modern game, but it's just a matter of getting him to produce them on a regular basis. I know it might never happen, but it's certainly not beyond him. You're undoutably correct in saying that Anelka is currently the more well-rounded player and that he has pedigree to back him up, but as others have pointed out Martins has years on him age-wise (although that's probably debatable!) and hasn't shown the attitude problems that Nic showed during his more formative years. At this current point in time I'm fairly happy that we've got the Little Nigerian ahead of him, although it would be delightful to have both.