If The Sun published a story saying tomorrow was Sunday and they even printed a calender to prove their story, I'd still question it.

On the other hand when it's one of the perceived broadsheets, I tend to believe everything. It's a funny little quirk I have about newspapers.

I know, I'm a fool. But then I always forget that the Independent was created in the 80's and only made themselves big in the first place to give off the impression of a broadsheet and fool punters like me - but they are now very much a tabloid.

Okay, you're right again, I've woken this morning on the wrong side of the sofa, but I'll be fine in an hour or so. I'll actually be fine after my coffee has kicked in, I've consumed a bowl of Bran Flakes (new years resolution), had my run, soaked in a hot shower and beaten Manchester Untied.

But I've waffled on too much. The reason for this post is, tabloid paper the Independent are spouting off that we've made 'formal enquiries' about Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins along with Manchester City.

According to the paper we're also the more prepared of the two clubs to meet the £13mn. release clause fee in the players contract, Newcastle don't want to sell the player, we'd really prefer Peter Crouch and Martins would rather join Manchester City than us.

I put that last one in last for a reason, because if the whole article is true and Martins would rather play for City than us, then surely we don't want the player, even if secretly I really do.

Also, what exactly are formal enquiries? If you show an interest in a player do you have to register that interest somewhere so everyone gets a fair crack at offering the player a new job or is it when you make the call you've got to where a suit?

It's a rumour and treat it as such, but I'm actually starting to feel a little better after I got that out of my system. I'm off to watch West Ham so I can get a couple of hours more sleep.

Comments (40)

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on the pee my lord, on the pee said:

On his day ... Martins is world class! Inter Milan, had some great games .. and has also shown glimpes at Newcastle! BUT .. he is another one similar to Berbatov's attitude where he just sulks for large parts of the game. If all is goin well, he goes well ... if we are under a bit of pressure and we all need to dig in, cant see him being to willing in that department! Quality player though when he wants to be, and £13million for quality aint too bad i suppose???

January 05, 2008

mr jones the geordie said:

fools! dont be reeled in by the not so often wonder goals! he has pace t burn and a leathal shot - once every 6 games! he has terrible movement, a terrible first touch and terrible decision making. i would bite your hand off for 6m for him!!

January 05, 2008

on the pee my lord, on the pee said:

Mr jones ... ill give u 3million and harewood for him?!?!?!

January 05, 2008

Swissvillan said:

The other thing about Martins is that nobody knows how old he is, he's certainly more than 23! Leave well alone I'd say.

January 05, 2008

Chrisodon said:

I Don't think he's that good for 13mil we could have keane from spurs or someone else who's more prolific and consistent.

January 05, 2008

Chrisodon said:

Goodpoint Swiss

January 05, 2008

El Caputan said:

for 13 mill we should definately have a shot at ashton, ive seen martins play a few times once at villa although he got injured. hes not the kind of player we need we need someone who will work for the team and not just get in a strop cus he thinks hes a superstar!!!

January 05, 2008

mr jones the geordie said:

3m will do, you can keep harewood! lol.

January 05, 2008

Geordie Boy said:

In all seriousness, I dont think Sam Allardyce can afford to offload any of our first team squad! He's got us in as big a mess already without getting rid of our squad as well! lol Back to my point though, I dont think we'll sell....but even then I wouldnt bother with him! He's going through a really bad patch at the moment where nothing is going right! He cant shoot or dribble for toffee and it looks lik his confidence is totally shot (probably Fat Sam's negative tactics which starve him of support though!). Good blog by the way....a lot more down to earth than th ramblings we get on our blog (the writer is a truly deluded man!)

January 05, 2008

I HATE BLUES said:

NO NO NO NO let him play form man city.I dont like him i'd rather pay that money for owen,get him straight out to the USA, sort his knees out for good and start him fresh next season.

January 05, 2008

vitharr said:

I fail to see the logic in bringing in an african player in January, really. He'll be off playing for Nigeria for six weeks or so, meaning he'll prorbably get ten games this season. That said, I don't think he's worth £13M based on his performances in the north.

January 05, 2008

Rokin45 said:

I would not want martins at all, he scores the occassional good goal but that is it, I would personally love robbie keane at the villa, i think he is a natural goal scorer and MON could get even more from him.

January 05, 2008

sam_villa1 said:

why do loads of people think ashon is good. is fat and sh*t!

January 05, 2008

Az_ said:

I'd welcome it, even though it's probably nonsense. He was amazing at Inter, hasn't quite picked it up at Newcastle but I think he'll find his form. Don't think he was ever an out and out goal scorer, but his pace would fit our style of play. What we do need though, is a profilic goal scorer. Our frontline doesn't get enough goals IMO, as great as Gabby and Carew are.

January 05, 2008

oldman villain said:

hes off to the africans nations cup,

January 05, 2008

Jimmy D said:

Well spotted oldman villain. Why would we want to spend £13 million on a player who wont even be around to play for us. He's definitely the kind of player we need because in my opinion we lack a proper goal scorer despite the efforts of Gabby however he's too expensive for what he is and obviously wont be of any use in the next couple of months . I think Benni McCarthy would be a great signing. Yes he's only scored one goal in his last 10 games for Blackburn but last season he was the league's second top goalscorer. He's lost his way at Ewood Park somewhat with Santa Cruz now the top man. I think he's be willing to move to us if we made an offer and he wouldn't cost as much as Martins. Defoe would be another option but he's much the same as Gabby without being as good; small, quick etc.

January 05, 2008

AV33 said:

I agree with Rokin 45...i've always wanted Robbie Keane at the Villa. Apart from scoring goals, he puts things together and makes things happen. He could be a Villa Park hero. We'd be frightening with Keane involved. Like some of us said in the summer, Santa Cruz was a snip and i wish MON would have got him instead of spending more on Marlon but thats another topic entirely. UP THE VILLA

January 05, 2008

chinklander said:

Martins might be the kind of player MoN can sculpt into a 20 goal a season kind of player... But for that money... if Moore was at another club you might think the same thing.. ? Martins has raw ability but maybe thats all he has.. We need a poacher but who doesn't? I'd rather we concentrated on cmf and rb so the good strikers we do have can get a better supply. It's 3am in Shanghai and I just watched the MU game so I'm drunk and frustrated. We have a lot to be pleased about so far, the missing cup games will help the miniscule squad concentrate on getting an EU place GWWAAaaaVIIiiiiLLLUuuuuRRRrrrrr

January 05, 2008

pazzler said:

santa cruz has had a good spell, but i think he wil go of the boil again. £13mil for martins? bugger of. put that money towards keane. much beter and harder worker. ashton is good, i disagree that he is fat and s**t.

January 05, 2008

RICK said:

i would love like us to pay 15-17 mill for santa cruz

January 05, 2008

RICK said:

i would also like as too get pederson from blackburn ive always been a fan of his great player

January 05, 2008

RICK said:

would love to see pederson at villa park he is a great player and i think we could get him for 8mil ish

January 05, 2008

Villa_Rules said:

I would rather us sign someone who can win the ball in the air cause when carew is crocked we havent got no one to get on the end of youngs maloneys and others crosses As for luke moore sell him he dont even look like his botherd anymore send him with stefan into the s**te divisions

January 05, 2008

sam_villa1 said:

the big rumour in the birmingham mail is kevin doyle from reading for 8million.

January 05, 2008

RICK said:

how to people feel about going in 4 james beatie as he has impressed me at sheff utd this season

January 06, 2008

Northern Villan said:

Id love to see Martins at the Villa, look at what he produced last season, playing in a sh**e Newcastle team and still scoring over 10 goals I think, hes still fairly young with a wealth of experience already playing for Inter. Ibelieve he is the type of player we need he is just low on confidence playing for a fat b*stard like Allardyce! UTV!

January 06, 2008

Az_ said:

Surprisingly the Martins rumour has popped up a few times from people on sky sports. Still only a rumour, but I hope it's true. Either that or snatch Santa Cruz, he would be perfect for us. He's good in the air, and scores goals for fun.

January 06, 2008

ruddy said:

rick are you mad james beatie is just another harewood anyone 4 benzema???? id prefer martins just think agbonlahor is thick on the ball as well as martins o'neil can turn him around and next season he'll bang in 20 goals easy and another couple of years we'll have the player rated as world class... anyway thats what i thought people was saying about him when he was 18

January 06, 2008

Chrisodon said:

I Don't think we'll sign martins i think MON would prefer owen out of the two. Then He'd have his big a little combo then he'd be able too stick gabs on the right till summer at least. Also i read an intresting rumor today then Mon is looking at a Thiago of juve and might offer olly cash or just pay the €18mil. Don't know if it's true but could be possible.

January 06, 2008

on the pee my lord, on the pee said:

Sam_villa1 .... that in the mail last night? anythin in the mercury today do u know?

January 06, 2008

salty said:

Does anyone remember OM making his Toon debut at VP last season? Faked an injury because the going was too tough. I've always said that [a fit] Ashton would suit us down to the ground..tough, a battler and can score ugly. I also like the look of Bentley as a right-sided attacking midfielder and what has he got to gain by staying at Blackburn? He would give much-needed balance. I would also play Barry at left-back...sorry folks but this is by far his best position; he may be well suited to playing midfield at International level where he is actually given time on the ball but a lack of pace is beginning to show badly at Premiership. Given a decent signing at right-back plus Bentley [dream on probably] this move could make all the difference. One other possibility is to give Salifou acouple of outings to see what he can can deliver. He could save us a lot of money if he's any good.

January 06, 2008

pazzler said:

love us to sign bentley, an after blackburns atrocity against coventry, now mite be an idea to bid for him. even tho we r out of the cup, we r still challengin higher then blackburn in the league so that could swing it for us. def worth a try. bid for keane too and if we managed to sign a decent right back and another midfielder (diarra of arsenal has been mentioned and is a good player), 5 additions to our team for jan wud be awesome. im livin in dreamland obviously

January 06, 2008

Villa_Rules said:

Salty playin barry at left back would be pure madness considreing he is doin so well where he is why disturb something thats good ??????

January 06, 2008

yorkie said:

i think we need someone with pace on the right because we are expecting too much from young and teams know that we mainly play down the left side so maybe put gabby on the right bring in a decent striker owen or defoe also i think we should put a bid in for hatem ben afar or benzema who both play for lyon watched them play both young quality players.

January 07, 2008

xandeh said:

I don't want Owen. He's on far too much money and he's all but lost his pace, regardless of treatment. He isn't they player he was. He seems far too worried about getting injured to go in for goals like he used to. I'd rather have beckford from Leeds than Owen.

January 07, 2008

brett said:

i hope MON doesnt bring in martins, another classic example of an overpriced prem player, he should look abroad, whoever said benzema is spot on

January 07, 2008

stevievillaa said:

martins would b great signin givin his pace and ability 2 score but problem is he is goin 2 a.c.n.,y not someone like kevin doyle? doin well with a rubbish reading side.. i'll def agree wit keane but not a hope of signin him.. hope rumours bout hoyte nd routledge r fake id b sick wit them 2..

January 07, 2008

Ipbop14 said:

DOYLE looks as though he may be on his way with LUKE going in the opposite direction. Smart bit of business if it goes through. BARNES also possibly heading to VP for a cheeky £5 mil.

January 07, 2008

gwyllum said:

13mil is too much. At a much lower price he'd be worth a shout.

January 08, 2008

vil said:

villa may sign doyle & barnes on wed

January 08, 2008

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