Diary of a Fan

Ach, we could have won that. Good result against the high flying Everton but ach. Once again we're left pondering how a game didn't end with all three points for us. We dominated, except for a couple of short Everton spells around either side of half time, hitting the woodwork twice. Unluckky I think is the word, but still the table will only record a single point.

Shearer's continued absence through injury allowed the partnership of Bellamy and kluivert to continue up front and it wasn't long before it payed off. The two played a delightful one-two for Bellamy to sprint off behind the Everton defence and power home an early taken shot. kluivert's touch on to Bellamy was one of several good play making passes which always carried the power to unlock the defence. He also seemed more competative particularly in the air. Any regular reader may have surmised that my opinion of Kluvert is still somewhat mixed. A few more performances like that, complete with an actual goal threat, might well turn it in his favour.

One up we poured forward and could really have had a hatfull before Everton ever began to pose a threat. Bowyer and especially the in form Jenas (unlucky to hit the bar with an acrobatic effort) ruled the midfield with Dyer actually doing a decent job on the right. Robert on the left however was again a fairly anonymous disappointment throughout the game and can't have done his claims to a place any favours, with the likes of Milner knocking on his door. Injury forced further rearrangment at the back, with Taylor coming in almost by default due to his actually being fit. He started off not surprisingly nervously and one did wonder why he wasn't allowed his prefered central position with Hughes right back. To be fair he did grow in confidence and began to show the ability recognised in the youth teams and reserves. Bramble again deserves mention for the fact he continues to look as if he might finally be developing like he has promised before.

Shortly before half time it started to go a bit wrong though, Everton getting a number of set pieces which still cause far too much trouble. That continued after the break and it was a set piece which finally undid us. An unstoppable free kick curled into the top corner, leaving Given no chance (though it's noted the wall failed to jump). At one all though we reacted much better and really did enough to take the game and points.

In the end a point we probably would have been happy taking before the off, but one we feel a little hard done by in the end. Te attacking play was at times beautifully fluid and threatening (though sometimes perhaps a bit over complicated). And luck certainly helped keep us out. The defence is still not watertight, but there are signs of improvement---which is really all that can be hoped for before the transfer window. Shearer's return to availablity will pose a difficult question. Bellamy has certainly looked a different, and much better, player now he has been restored to the middle. And Kluivert if nothing else does provide a pick to unlock a defence. Had Shearer been freely scoring the question would be even more interesting but in fact he hasn't been. With surely no return to the three of them possible (it doesn't work) it might be that Shearer has to wait awhile for a starting place.

This is good form to take into the Chelsea game, and that is a tougher game than this was. If we can get a point then it certainly won't be too bad, and then we can concentrate on getting up the league.

(@16:11)

Another away victory when wearing white shorts and socks and in France at that. Going into this game a draw would have done very nicely thank you but instead we, somehow, came away with quite a good win. The scoreline could well have been different but that is often the case with such games. We'll just gratefully take the victory and try and carry that confidence boost on into the league.

It was a changed around side that took the victory, the manager choosing to rest some players for the coming testing league ties, though one is tempted to wonder if a couple won't be playing then either. So while Bellamy continued restored to the front line he was partnered by Ameobi. Milner and Ambrose also got there chance, the former somewhat out of position on the left side of midfield, while Butt and Bowyer added the experience in the centre. At the back Bramble was alongside O'Brien (Jonsen being inelligable) whilst Hughes and Bernard played as fullbacks. Shay as almost ever was present between the posts.

Overall all had a good game. Of the two wide men I personally thought Milner showed more ability to make things actually happen and really should have had a goal, messing up at the end of a move started by Given (who had come to clear a ball before finding himself wide right near the halfway line, where he actually looked up (!) to play a great ball for Bellamy to run free and cross in a way he never manages when actually playing wide). Shay had a game which showed his return to top form. I've felt he hasn't quite been at his best in recent games, possibly affected by the anxiety of waiting for the birth of his first child. Obviously he isn't suffering too many sleepless nights though as he made three vital (and quality) saves during the first half. Credit must also go to Bramble who managed to look solid without fluffing up for an entire game.

In an entertaining and even first half either side could have gone in ahead and both would probably have settled for being level. It was the toon who held the vital advantage though. With the ball in the box Ameobi, after good pressure to make the defender give the ball up, seemed to inexplicably turn back on himself into trouble. The ball ricochet from the said defender however, into the path of Bowyer who struck a sweet shot into the bottom corner. That lead held until the break before increasing immediately. Sachaux must have just been just getting fired up to try and find an equaliser when the same hapless defender who had lost the ball to Ameobi for the first failed to cut out a cross, taking the ball enough away from his keeper for it to reach Ameobi at the far post for a tap in. At two-nil we should have held it but instead the french side's pressure built, helped by our inability to pass the ball which again plagued us throughout the game. The opposition eventually won a penalty for an infringement apparently only seen by the linesman (the referee not seeing it is no surprise. He had a poor game, being particularly susceptible to being conned by the french players). TV replays eventually showed minimal contact and it seemed a bit harsh. Despite Shay going the wrong way we remain not having conceded a goal in the group stage as a poor penalty was scuffed wide.

Had the penalty gone in it would undoubtedly have put a much different complexion on the game. As it was it seemed to mark the end of the dominance by Sachaux and we could go on and take the game again. The introduction of Dyer looked like it would be marked more by his anonymity than anything else until he played a lovely ball through for the great run of Hughes catching the opposition backline lagging. He took a touch before rolling the ball across for Bellamy to gleefully get another goal. At three it was game over but there remained time for a Robert cameo in his home country. In typical Robert fashion he started by giving the ball away again and again before curling a perfect free kick into the top right corner. There was actually time to add a fifth as we squandered a couple more really good chances but that would have been greedy, especially in a game where Given really was one of our star players.

So we go into our week sitting it out still topping the group, though the teams immediately below have a game in hand. Looking at the table it is almost worth considering if actually a draw wouldn't have done us more good. First place avoids the Champion's League drop-outs, but second doesn't---in this truly strange formatting of UEFA's---where as third does (don't ask me). So now we will probably have to beat Sporting in the last game, where as third might have been easier to secure. But that's silly thinking, a win is a win, especially against good opposition with a couple of "big guns" missing. it's the sort of boost we need just before the test in the league coming and hopefully we can carry this on. Winning is a good habit to have.

(@23:11)

Site's finally back up so I can actually post this...

Of course, given the recent run of form and associated slide downward, this was a vital game to win. And win it we did, though not in the convincing fashion we might have hoped. Anything less than that win, given how poor Palace really are, would have been a disaster---yet for a very long time it was seeming like it just wasn't going to come. And really, against this sort of opposition, it should never be in doubt---which is why it's so worrying that it was.

The whole question of whether or not to continue attempting to shoehorn three strikers into the side was solved on a temporary basis by Shearer's injury, which left Kluivert and an obviously rejuvenated Bellamy upfront. While Bellamy applied himself with this new found vigour Kluivert was once again guilty of strolling through as if his only care was the wage packet at the end of the week. Make no mistake, had Henry scored a goal with such a delightful flick as Kluivert's initial contribution it would have been raved about for weeks. But also make no mistake that Henry already has a hatfull of goals and would have contributed a lot more to the game than deft, pretty touches. It's end produce that we need and that's something Kluivert must begin providing more of if the argument for his exclusion once Shearer is once again available is not to be surely overwhelming.

The midfield hardly set the world alight. Dyer, while effectual, was hardly the player he can be (at least we've seen glimpses of it in the past even if it is difficult to recall him producing top form for an entire game). Robert tried but lacked much, including theatrical skills given his ridiculous attempt to gain a penalty. At least he finally remembered how to pass rather than shoot to put Bellamy in for the second. Given the lack of invention in evidence (once more lacking ideas of how to go about unlocking a stubborn team) it must be time for Milner and/or Ambrose to be given another chance---it's difficult to see how they fail to find a place while we start with the likes of Bowyer and Dyer (at least Dyer wide). The one bright point was Jenas but keep that quite lest it goes to his head again.

Defensively we were barely tested and so learned little new. We still need to dip into the transfer market the deepest in that position come January and have to just try and hold out until then. With our record away from home (and in London) this could be taken as a welcome away victory, but against a side such as Palace it just comes as relief that we eventually did score and aren't once again bemoaning a game we dominated but came away with little. The table doesn't record that we huffed and puffed, just that we blew the three points down. The problem is that really that was the easy test, the house made of straw. The coming games one fears are much more challenging and we'll have to find something of a second wind to come through those.

(@19:11)

Grrrumph. So we lose to Man U again. What a surprise. To be honest it never felt like we were going to win, apart from a very brief period around the time we drew level, when there was at least a hint of a possibility. All the common problems are there, and given that some are stupidly easy to solve one has to wonder what Souness is really thinking. That said the manager does have some real problems at the back and it is difficult to see a real way to address these before the transfer window opens again in January (though one also has to wonder exactly what the defensive coaching is doing). The frailties of that defence were all too evident in the opening minutes as the red united took the lead. Having said talked of Bramble in a positive light his at times unbelievable naivety again showed as he failed to note the danger a free Rooney (of all people) posed in the box. His lumbering run over was all too late and allowed Rooney the time to demonstrate the talent he really does possess with a fine finish past Given.

One down we began to feel our way back into the game. Chances did come but again weren't finished, our play always looking confined and tight as everyone tried to come inside. If the defence is an unsolvable issue for now then surely at the opposite end of the pitch the problem is easy to resolve. Three into two simply doesn't go. To play Bellamy on the left is a waste of both the player and the team's shape. I said last game I believed Bellamy and Kluivert. Perhaps that was premature, based on this latest performance (Kluivert again strolling and disgracefully at one point blatantly bottling a potential goal scoring header opportunity). But the point is it doesn't really matter which two, but it must be two. Then at least some true wide play might get introduced (surely Robert deserves a chance, and one must wonder about the absence of Milner and Ambrose). As it is the opposition don't really need to block as we're too busy getting in each others way.

Having said that Manchester must have been relieved to see half time come as we did pressure and threatened to draw level more through relentless trying than anything else. After the break we actually didn't start as well. The again ineffectual Dyer was introduced before Robert finally got his chance in place of the increasingly frustrating and anonymous Kluivert. That at last allowed Bellamy into the centre and it was his good run which drew defenders away from Shearer for the captain to fire home an equaliser. But celebrated as the goal was it never felt like one which would stick, though it did briefly galvanise a threat of a second. It seems the referee must have noted Mr Ferguson's comments regarding penalties though. Having ignored a blatant push on O'Brien (on for Carr who had to withdraw almost before he'd returned) Mike Dean awarded something of a harsh penalty against Given. He may not have got anything of the ball but then neither really did Scholes who wasn't exactly about to run onto it. It came as little surprise mind that it was O'Brien dallying on the ball before falling over under no real pressure that led to this. van Nistelrooy dispatched the penalty of course, which allowed his team mates to give a lesson in defending a lead. Much as we tried we couldn't really regain possession of the ball from a side content with what they had. The third was again gifted as more lacklustre and disorganised defending was punished. A poor week ending in a poor way really.

So where now then? Surely now the attack has to be chosen and one of the three has to be disappointed. And surely we have to stop pissing around playing players out of position (however willing or unwilling they may be to play there) and actually find some real width. The back is a problem not easily solved, though Johnsen again showed he maintains at least some of his class and some coaching on the basic fundamentals surely wouldn't go amiss. If we can't bounce back against a side such as Palace then we really are in deep troubles but as things stand we're closer them than to any thoughts of the Champion's League. There at least still seems to be a belief, which is good so long as it's not blinding. Time for the new boss to earn his money.

(@01:11)

Another game lost then and another piece of silverware out of reach for another season. Much like the last game there was a sense that we were unfortunate to walk away the losing side but we didn't do as much this game to justify claims to a victory.

Things were always going to be tricky against a Chelsea "reserve" side who would probably still be capable of challenging for the league title. And they do have a notoriously strong defence (Chelsea are the new Arsenal in more ways than one?). Having reverted to an at least more sensible team selection with Robert restored to the left and Bellamy, while still not where he should be, at least in a more natural right sided role, with Jenas back to the centre. The defensive line showed changes, Bernard still at left back but O'Brien shoved over to right back for Bramble to reappear in the centre alongside the ageing but capable Johnsen. While Bernard gave what is expected (good attacking options with defence that may be struggling at times but has improved), O'Brien continued on from the last game to show why he vanished from the first team for so long in the first place. Within the opening breaths he played a woeful backpass which almost allowed Chelsea to take the game away before it had begun. When Robben began running to score the second goal, O'Brien may as well not have been there too. The central two did give some hope. Apart from about two dodgy moments---one of which he recovered well himself---Bramble actually looked commanding and once again demonstrated that if nothing else he has the ability to pick out a long ball downfield. Johnsen showed his class and looked assured; if only he were ten years younger. One or both of the central pairing may now well find themselves with a starting roll come Sunday's game.

in a continuation of the very worrying recent trend we played a lot of football around about the attacking last third without really looking like we could produce a sharp enough blade to cut in. Robert was the main threat, and is doing everything he can to impress the manager enough for a regular starting place, but his final ball was lacking. Kluivert strolled through the game in more ways than one. While his technical skills were again a cut above, and at times you felt his bemusement that none of his team mates were able to control a football like that, he did stroll with very little driving energy. And while he might be praised for his control and ability the final product hasn't really come. Talking along those lines it can't be going without notice that there will be no point talking captain fantastic into another season if the return continues to dwindle as alarmingly as it is (and yes, supply is an issue here). Which leaves the third striker, Bellamy. At least, unlike a certain sub we won't mention, when asked to play out of position he is as willing and buzzing as he can be. But Bellamy is not a winger. If Shearer is lacking goals it is partly due to the fact Robert isn't playing enough on the left and Bellamy isn't able to supply from the right. The time must surely be here to either be foolishly bold and play with a true three up front or, more realistically, pick two from three (and I have a suspicion that Kluivert + Bellamy may be the correct answer to that, but Shearer + another seems much more likely and acceptable). Round pegs in square holes is not doing us any favours.

Having huffed and puffed and distinctly failed to blow Chelsea's house down we reached full time 0-0. Having seen Souness go mad chasing the last game one wonders if that wasn't on his mind as he seemed reluctant to add anything new to the mix. In the last quarter of an hour of normal time we were really pressing and it felt we just needed something a bit different. Maybe getting Dyer to play right then and putting Bellamy in the middle may have been that thing. Ah well.

The confusing thing about Chelsea's selection is that Gudjohnson didn't start, given his seeming inability not to score against us. With just that little too much space (maybe partly due to tired legs) on the edge of the box he hit a low drive that beat new father Given to his right. That was that. Even with just one it was felt game Chelsea. Having failed to break them down in 100 minutes when they were still compelled to look forward there was no chance of getting through a truly defensive Chelsea side in the last 20. There remained just time for man of the moment Robben to run past first O'Brien then Bramble without a challenge and slot in the goal to make it certain.

So, were we unlucky, did we just have a bad day, is it just Chelsea are so good? Well, a bit of all of those but something more. It's just not firing rightly. Just needs a tweak here and there. We hope. Partly it must be mental and a victory would do us some good. Unfortunately the fixture list is never kind and it's a struggling Man U, in search of something to get there own season back on track, up next. The league game after against Palace we really would hope to take the three points from but if we don't perform on Sunday then we could well be closer to the easier opponents than the red half of Manchester. And there's the small matter of a european game after that of course. Honeymoon over. Time to head back to work and see if we really can get along living with each other in harmony.

(@13:11)

Bloody hell. Where to begin with this. A state of shock has been mentioned regarding this scoreline. if this were any team but Newcastle United it might just be true. But with us, you almost expect it. And what did happen? The answer to that I feel is far from simple and quite multilayered.

First there is the element of luck, fortune, refereeing, whatever you wish to call it. We might have had a freekick rather than Fulham breaking away to score their opener. We might have had a penalty (though I doubt it). The opposition goalkeeper had a blinder (and this has been over played in my opinion. Yes Crossley had a good game and made some fine saves but just note how many of those were from shots straight at him). We were chasing the game and so left gaps, which Fulham were lucky to exploit before we got back at them. Yeh, right. Underlying it all is the fact that luck and fortune can explain the one goal loss when you might have won, maybe the occasionally two goal defeat, but four? Yes we began to leave gaps at the back in an increasingly desperate search for goals ourselves but we were never going to get back at Fulham. What had we been trying to do most of the first half before their goal?

And there is the source of the much talked of shock. It's felt that it is difficult to understand how we could seem to dominate so much and yet lose so badly. We're us of course. Or, if you prefer a more in depth answer...of course we dominated, that was more or less Fulham's game plan. And frankly we played straight into it. It seems that week in and week out I talk about players out of position but Bellamy's inclusion on the left of midfield is surely going to new lengths of accommodation. If Robert's absence away from home can be justified why isn't he in the team at home? The other major recurring theme of recent games has been our inability to convert dominance of possession and even territory into chances and goals. With Shearer and Kluivert on the pitch one might surmise that crosses into the box might help. So having a striker and central midfielder on the wings is an obvious move of course. This just allowed Fulham to frustrate and wait for us to play ourselves into neatly patterned cul-de-sacs. It doesn't help when your manager is such a disciplinarian that he gets himself dismissed from the touchline.

Things did not become more tactically astute in the second half. From somewhere the brilliant idea of pulling Hughes off for Robert came. Now, putting Robert on, yes (and he had immediate attacking impact). However, it resulted in either three at the back or Jenas at right back. No one, including the players, seemed entirely sure what they were doing. Fulham however knew exactly what they were about and proceeded to take the shambles apart. Somewhere in there the mess of a defensive (and team) formation was increased further by the introduction of Ameobi for Bernard, as if that was likely to help. It wasn't helped either by O'Brien (who had an awful game) being unable to either control a ball or take the simple hoof option.

At four nil down Bellamy eventually conspired with a defender to force the ball into the net, almost as if to prove we could do it after all. It hardly seemed worth mentioning. That's two losses now where the tactical decisions must be questioned. And the defence looks no better (are they not coached?). With a Chelsea cup game, even if they play a "weakened" side, we'll be ripped to shreds playing like this. It's about time we had a team picked, not just a bunch of players. Having said all that there is some hope. It is a tad puzzling how we lost this and perhaps on another day we wouldn't have had such a disaster. But nah, this is Newcastle.

(@00:11)

A victory which was never really in much doubt from the first few minutes, though it took its time coming. We started off with a dynamic drive which promised much but after a couple of clear cut chances seemed to lose our way slightly. The opposition defence was obviously weak, Robert in particular having success when he got the ball against their right back (Robert's overall performance was an open statement to the manager, tracking back well on several occasions in a way rarely seen from him). If our defence seemed to be troubled by Tbilisi then it was perhaps partly down to one of the strange truths about football---it is difficult to play against a team when it is so easy. The lack of immediate urgency begins to affect the play and it becomes hard to constantly produce the hustle bustle. However, despite a couple of scare moments, the backline was never really that trouble and Given could almost have been by his still pregnant wife's side without being missed. When Shearer's opener came it wasn't a surprise, more of a puzzle as to how we hadn't already scored two or three. Bellamy's clincher came from very sloppy defending (and it must be noted that the Tbilisi defence had produced several superb saving tackles throughout the game) but was no more than we deserved.

With the three strikers on again Bellamy was once more relegated to the right side role, and must be pleased to have still managed a goal. For the last quarter of an hour or so however he demonstrated just how much more naturally he performs in a central role. The manager is therefore left with a problem for although Bellamy may stake a claim to the central position Shearer keeps on being Shearer and the player of the night was undoubtedly Kluivert. Playing slightly withdrawn from his strike partner almost everything good about our player passed at one point through the dutchman. His touch was simply sublime seeming to only fail him twice, both inside the box in a good position. Only a amazingly fortuitous goal line clearance further prevented him getting the goal the display richly deserved. The manager's headache must have been further complicated by the introduction of Milner, which allowed Bellamy's central role. The youngster demonstrated many of the attributes distinctly missing from Bellamy's willing wing play, at he certainly seemed to out to make a point. Further notice goes to Bowyer, who must have covered an awful lot of ground in a hard working fashion.

Another step on the road to qualification taken, though it is a little disappointing not to have helped the goal difference along some more against the group's weakest opposition. A draw out in France would see us neatly through at least, though we must be looking to win the group and avoid the Champion's League rejects for another round. It's also good to be back on the winning trail so quickly and quite convincingly. Fulham on Sunday should provide a tougher home test but it is one we should hopefully pass, assuming Souness can cure those headaches.

(@23:11)