It seems a little late in the day to be talking about our last game, with our next just around the corner, but once again real life has endevoured to intervene and prevent more timely posting. This will probably therefore be quite brief.
Another win and three goals (though not quite the clean sheet). Can't really complain. Well...it wouldn't be the same otherwise, would it? Souness sticks to his very debatable team selection, again leaving a distict lack of width. The introduction of Robert made more difference to our chances of ever actuall scoring than the (admittedly helpful) dismissal of an opposition player. With the natural width and quality crosses things could finally begin to happen. Fluidity came, we played, they lost a man and from then there could only really be one outcome. It's just a pity our defensive frailties denied the clean sheet again...we have to learn to be on guard all the time and better at it too.
The next game is a different prospect entirely and one in which the resting of players like Robert could well be justified (but on those arguments it would be difficult to then justify including three strikers---assuming everyone's fit). Let's see what this new man comes up with, eh. A victory would be could, but hey, we'd take the draw.
(@17:09)
The manager's debut form continues into his first league game in charge and we finally break the curse which has been Southampton away. That in itself is actually remarkable. However, while things may or may not have improved off the field, there is still the sense that things on it are far from well. The team selection was, to say the least, a strange one. With the selection crises seemingly at the back a team was picked which was almost guaranteed to leave us without width further forward. Apparently Kluivert's showing on Thursday was enough to state he couldn't be dropped, but it seems neither Shearer or Bellamy could be upset by being left out. Bellamy on the wing doesn't quite work out. His pace offers a great deal in that position but when it comes to the final moments he just can't cross like a winger (it is telling that when Milner finally got on quality suddenly began arriving in the box). Bellamy's most effective moments were in fact when he was wandering off into a more accustomed striker's role (and leaving worrying space on to be exploited down our right---something Southampton thankfully failed to capitalise upon). It also seemed to be that Shearer would have preferred the buzz of Bellamy as a partner rather than the more careful approach of Kluivert.
On the left wing things were little better. Jenas was made to look a worse player than he is by being played stuck out there (he willfully did his best, but still). Presumably it was felt we couldn't afford the flamboyance of Robert in the away game but one can't help wondering if the more naturally wide minded Milner or Ambrose would have been a better choice (my personal temptation may have been Ambrose right, Milner left and Bellamy with the choice of one of two). The centre at least was fairly solid with Butt and Bowyer (back in a sensible position---thankfully the temptation to put him wide was resisted).
Enough of team selection. Having discussed the forward line and midfield the overwhelming weakness is still evidently at the back. Make no mistake, this was a game we were fortunate to win. When the ball dropped anywhere near our box it was never a Newcastle player first to it. Tackles were never made until the last desperate moment. When a defender did find the ball they seemed to think the best thing to do was kick it low down the middle of the pitch with no finesse. It would almost literally bounce straight back. When Southampton equalised there were something like seven defenders around and the ball still failed to be cleared properly. When it was put back in the defensive line was coming out like the ragged breath of the dying man not a well disciplined and communicating machine.
The worrying thing was, given the state of the defence, we never actually looked like scoring (a strange thing to say having scored two but still true). There was little attacking flare. The goals game from a lucky deflection on a shot bound for wide of the goal and something of a fluke whack from a defender.
We'll take the win. If they keep coming then the worry will probably die down. But at the moment it looks a bit like it isn't just the back line needs fixing. We can only hope the disciplinarian has some tactics and intelligence to go with it.
(@23:09)
A belated post due to other commitments..Anyway...
So the new man's reign starts with a win, which is of course good. Presumably leaving Shearer on the bench won't immediatly cost him his job. It wasn't the most convincing of things though, lifting us upwards in a wave of optimism. It was more a game of frustration. Against a side we knew we should easily beat we struggled to put any fluidity together, not helped by the oppositions obvious spoiling tactics (which the officials seemed perfectly content to allow to pass). The first goal was symptomatic of our play. Scrappy and fortunate to end up in the net but at least Kluivert demonstrated his instincts (later, when left up front alone, he also demonstrated the talents he lacks which mean he isn't Shearer). The second was better (and hasn't Robert been revitalised now he's realised he better put some effort in or be out on his ear). But the third goal never game.
The scrappy first half led to a worse second half where the Israeli had seemingly been told to just try kicking us. That actually allowed them to take some little control, something which should have swiftly ceased with the introduction of Butt. Presumably his (while admitedly somewhat provoked given the amount of fouls flying in) actions are a sign of the new manager's much heralded discipline. At least it brought the game to life. That sort of atmosphere cannot help us though. Two goals against a team who threatened almost nothing other than a hospital trip should be enough, but in the foreign lands of Tel Aviv it would have been much safer with the three or four we should have had. It should do and we should comfortably progress...but we've been at many should do's and job done's before only for them to turn into calamity. Hopefully not this time eh.
Oh, and again to his credit, Souness knows he has major problems in defence and has done pretty much the only thing he can (given the wonderful timing of the managerial change) without devine intervention. Ronny Johnsen is old but at least experienced and if nothing else may be able to instill some sense into the back line. Again, let's hopt so.
(@15:09)
Managerless, at times clueless but now not winless. After the total turmoil of the last few weeks we finally took three points away from a game (oh and Shearer scored from open play). What do we learn from this? I don't think a great deal. We've actually played pretty much this well at other times this season. It's just that this time it was against a team who are actually now worse off than we are/were. The loss to Blackburn of their manager has obviously affected them worse than the loss of ours (and gain of their's) us. They looked like a struggling team without leadership. Which is pretty much what they are. Of course we should beat them. Does the fact they miss Souness bode well for his taking over us? Don't think so, they were worse than us when he was there too.
I'll try and restrain myself from the swearing that was caused by learning that Dyer suddenly decides he will play right wing. At least he was something of a threat there and better than Bowyer, who looked much better back in the midfield position he ought to play. Whether connected to Bobby's departure and a sudden wish to impress or the fact that there wasn't much opposition, or just randomly, Robert seemed to decide to play well again. Hughes once again proved his versatility with a spell at left back. And so we one a game, with ease in the end. But it means nothing. It has to build until it becomes a surprise to lose a game, rather than a surprise to win it. We should win on Thursday, with the new manager in charge, against an unheard of team. It is the bogey team of Southampton on Sunday in front of the TV cameras that will be the test. There are signs that a corner may have been turned (and some debate whether it may have turned anyway without the upheaval). Though given we should have had at least one and probably two penalties our luck may not have turned with it. The jury is however still out on both the team on the pitch and that off it. Hopefully we won't be guilty of a huge cockup.
Oh, and just because it's us, John Carver, the man who led us to that victory, has been released...
(@16:09)
Oh dear god. Somebody wake me up and explain this is all a nightmare. You do not sack Sir Bobby Robson to replace him with the manager who has won six games all fucking year. With the manager of one of the few teams actually below us. With a manager who has spent more and achieved less (remember where we were when Bobby rescued us). With a man whose only reputation is for completely fucking clubs up. Not fucking Graeme Souness. This is lunacy. His track record is appalling and he can't even get on with the players under him (remembering of course that they are actually more talented than he). A winging Scotsman cum scouser with no idea. Sounds far too familiar.
We could have had Hitzfeld (two Champions League titles don't happen by accident), O'Leary---one of managements fastest rising stars with a proven record of handling young players---, Houllier (at least he suits our style), Joe Bloggs from number 59; Sven if England lose to Poland; hell, even Venables would have been better than this. But no. The most brainless chairman in football had to pouch the manager of a desperately struggling team, to instill discipline or something. We may at times lack discipline but not too much else was wrong. Now it's surely the other way around.
Souness dare not face Blackburn on Saturday (and how grateful their fans must be), so the clubs will face each other both leaderless. Unfortunately come Monday we'll be worse off than that. Souness's first task will be a tricky UEFA cup tie. I suggest an armed police escort should he lose that.
Surely this must be a joke. I want to cry. This has gone far enough now Freddie. Please. Bang head off wall. How long till we can sack him?
(@11:09)
