Source: FOOTYMAD
N'Zogbia Misses Crunch Toon Fixture!
Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez has slammed Charles N'Zogbia for the red card that rules him out of the game against his old club on Sunday. Roberto Martinez: "There's no excuses – that's unacceptable, it's a bad reaction. "Charles started the game very well, he won a penalty, he gets kicked in every game and there's a lot of emotions, but you cannot accept that sort of reaction. "He let his team down – football is a team game, and the reaction of the players got Charles out of jail in that respect. We'll deal with it internally, but it's something I don't like. "Sometimes in football you need to react in the right manner, even if you are getting kicked all over the place. "From the first minute, Charles got a rough treatment and you want to protect the skilful players, and that protection should come from other areas, not from himself." Birmingham defender Scott Dann believes former Toon midfielder Lee Bowyer can play at the top level for another couple of seasons. Bowyer is 34 next week but continues to play a key part for Blues and followed his winner against Chelsea with a last-gasp equaliser against Manchester United on Tuesday evening. Dann: "That sort of goal he scored against Manchester United is typical Lee Bowyer for you. "He did it last season as well, scored some important goals, and was one of our top goalscorers. "He earned us a lot of important points last season. That is what you get from him. "He makes those good runs into the danger area and he has got a good goal tally. "Can he play for another couple of years? He is still very fit and still loves the game. He showed again against United that he still wants it. "If he carries on putting in performances like that, then there is no reason why he can't carry on for a couple of years. "He has played at the top level all his career, he is still putting in performances like that, scoring big goals and getting points for us. "He can still do it at the top level." Former Toon striker Craig Bellamy insists he remains committed to Wales despite giving up the captaincy. Bellamy: "I've made Gary Speed aware of my decision. "I'm not going to be able to play every game for Wales so I feel it would be best to give the armband to someone who will be there for every game. "I feel, with the young squad we have, it would be best. "Being captain for Wales was great. It's a huge honour. I will get right behind the next person who does it. "I've always said I'll never retire but I have to be clever about which games I play and which games I can't. "I was very fortunate because I watched Gary as a captain, I watched him turn up for every game and lead from the front. "I'm not going to be able to play every game, it's not going to be possible. I said this to John Toshack, it's no secret. "Being captain is a great honour but it isn't the reason I turn up for Wales or not. Putting on that Welsh jersey has always meant as much to me."
