MARTINS RISKS WORLD CUP KNOCK OUT
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Super Eagles Coach Lars Lagerback Not Impressed With Wolfsburg Striker’s Attitude
Wolfsburg striker Obafemi Martins will be given the cold shoulder by Nigeria coach Lars Lagerback at his debut World Cup unless he has a change of attitude, officials have disclosed.

Officials have informed that Lagerback has been far from impressed with the attitude of Martins in training and came close to dropping him from the World Cup, but for the injury of Victor Anichebe.

“Martins would have been dropped for Anichebe because Lagerback complained about his attitude. Others pulled their weight in training, but the Wolfsburg striker was not bothered,” a top team official revealed.

“Contrary to what Everton are now saying, Anichebe is nursing a cracked shin and will be out of action for at least three weeks. The Eagles fitness trainer detected this. That was why Lagerback dropped him from the squad to the World Cup. Were he fit, he would have been taken to South Africa ahead of Martins.

“Lagerback starred the names of both Martins and Anichebe on his list and his explanation was that he has been far from happy with

Martins attitude to training. He told the NFF leadership that Martins attitude is “very bad” and except he changes, he will not be in his plans for the World Cup.”

It is understood that much-criticised Everton striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Obinna Nsofor of Spanish club Malaga are now ahead of Martins in the pecking order to lead the Nigeria attack at the World Cup.

Last November, “Obagoal” struck twice as Nigeria booked their ticket to the 2010 World Cup in dramatic fashion on the final day of qualifying action against Kenya in Nairobi.

The 25-year-old former Newcastle United star striker, who made a goal-scoring debut against the Republic of Ireland in May 2004, posted a subdued performance at the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola earlier this year after he was a controversial choice ahead of Esperance striker Michael Eneramo for the championship.

Keen watchers of the Eagles say Martins appears not to have completely shaken off a serious shin injury that needed operation late last year.

Martins has scored 16 goals in 31 appearances for Nigeria, averaging a goal every other game. South Africa 2010 will be his World Cup debut after the Eagles failed to fly to the 2006 edition in Germany.

Medicine after death.

honeric01:

Medicine after death.

Of what good use will be Largerback's decision not to field Martins?
It is already too late and a more committed player has been denied that once a life time opportunity.

It appears Lagerback is trying to enforce discipline and that will be good for the team.

Martins na yeye boy, hin dey think say the world starts and ends around him, he was even worsely behaved under Amodu.

Jarus:

It appears Lagerback is trying to enforce discipline and that will be good for the team.

When Amodu enforced same discipline by not playing some players like Taiwo and ko, some people said he was paid to bench those players, when he kept benching this same martins at the nations cup, they said Aiyegbeni must have paid him a fortune to play him, now another coach is here now, we're seeing the REAL problems of the SE which alot failed to see when Amodu was there because of the deep hatred they had for him.

Most of our players are not disciplined and they are always ready to raise shoulders against any coach, i mean any, they worship money and not the jersey or the coach, that's why most of them end up benching themselves in their various clubs as long as they are getting paid for sitting down.

Can anyone compare the discipline and commitment Brazilian players exhibit to what our Super Chickens  Eagles  exhibit?

oisehumen:

Of what good use will be Largerback's decision not to field Martins?
It is already too late and a more committed player has been denied that once a life time opportunity.

Abeg explain wetin you mean here. abeg.

I mean more committed Nigerian players who could not make the team due to some reasons. U want make i mention names?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yes o, oya name dem one by one.

Mike Eneramo
Victor Anichebe
Ike Uche (they said he was not fit)
Peter Utaka

let this lageridiot get the hell out of here ohhh. without martins there would have been no world cup for nigeria so this swedish guy should stop joking.

12large:

let this l[b]ageridiot[/b] get the hell out of here ohhh. without martins there would have been no world cup for nigeria so this swedish guy should stop joking.

I can remember clearly that Zola's goal against England in a crucial w/c qualifier at Wembly in 1997. Italy won the match 1nil yet Zlola was dropped from the France 98 squad.
Nevertherless, you must not be unsultive to get your message across.

oisehumen:

Mike Eneramo
Victor Anichebe
Ike Uche (they said he was not fit)
Peter Utaka

Martins took us to the world cup with his sheer zeal and enthusiasm. He deserves a seat on the bus. That said, he is a better player than Eneramo, and Ik uche plus Anichebe were injury concerns. Peter Utaka apparently didn't impress in training. I believe in Lagerbeer's judgement. At least let him fall alone if his wards fail to perform just like Amodu did. Maybe then we can start a real rebuilding process for 2014 with this up and coming F/Eagles who have been largely impressive.

oisehumen:

Mike Eneramo
Victor Anichebe
Ike Uche (they said he was not fit)
Peter Utaka

1 mike eneramo----- Dis one no be eagles material . talk anoda thing.
2. Victor anichebe----even your article above says:

Contrary to what Everton are now saying, Anichebe is nursing a cracked shin and will be out of action for at least three weeks'

3. Ike Uche (they said he was not fit)----yes u are correct.
4. Peter Utaka-----He simply did not convince the coach, besides you do not have any evidence that he was more serious in training than obagoal.

If LARS hd dropped Obagoal, you would have been the first to shout.

Good points and perfect analysis.
I totally agree with you but Martins should change for better abeg

I wonder when Femi Martins will ever grow up.