Diary of a Fan

The trials of following Newcastle United FC

Fan Diary Archive

This is the archive of posts to my old Newcastle United pages, pre Diary of a Fan.

Aug 03 Sep 03 Oct 03 Nov 03 Dec 03 Jan 04 Feb 04 Mar 04 Apr 04 May 04

So another season ends, at at least we can look forward to playing some non-English teams again next season. Almost ironically an away draw was just enough to scrape us into fifth place at that final UEFA cup spot. Let's be clear, we didn't really do the job required. That was to beat Southampton on Wednesday to set up this last day encounter. Having only managed a last ditch point from that game the job was then do as well as we could, beat Liverpool and hope. In the end Man Utd did us more of a favour than they might have, and we end up with european football after all. It's not the european football we should have though.

To be fair this wasn't really a bad result, away to Liverpool where we just don't win. They give us an extremely nervous end to the game, but we hung on. If this had been the start of the season we probably would have happily taken a point. That's the nature of football though, a point at a difficult away tie at the beginning instils confidence and gives a base on which to build. A point there at the end when every point can be clearly seen to count smells a little of too little too late. Never mind. The fat lady has, for this season, sung. Rant will follow. For now applause to the players.

12th May 2004

So bye bye season. There are words inside that I want to vent. Anger, about performances, attitude, the apparent lack of understanding, arrogance, incompetancy, broken promises, failings. i am however a fan and we have a came left. We can't have the chance to fail to reach the champion's league, we've already managed that. But to <irony>stand a chance of even UEFA cup<irony> we need something from Liverpool, and then Villa could stop us. SO I hold back. There will come a post, after the final game, and then I will not hold back.

Until then..well, some thoughts on next season (sort of a sneak preview of what I feel while I still offer my support. This diary will be a true blog, just like my real one. That's just for ease of update. We will need investment in the summer, otherwise we will seriously be lucky to finish in the top half of the table. And unless we become as rich as Chelsea, investment in the summer will not lift us to where we want to be, just give us a platform for the next season. That's the way it is. The fans will support. They will always support. But we need something back. I dare not go on or I will launch into the rant I am holding back. If only others, closer to the club, cared as much about the team, success and NUFC as I.

9th May 2004

This is not turning out to be a good week. After the disaster of Thursday we needed to beat an already relegated (in effect if not mathematically due to only needing a thirty odd goal swing) Wolves. Instead we failed, even Shearer not saving us this time, his penalty going the way of the rest of our season. On Thursday there may have been excuses of a depleted squad and a tricky tie we were probably always going to struggle in. Today there can be no excuses. Injuries or not we should beat a Wolves team who are frankly not premiership class. Not making the UEFA cup final has ruined our season in the same way it might have rescued it from being overshadowed by the big three (and yes, now we're out isn't obvious how important it felt). But we are in danger of throwing away anything that remains. There is anger, but it must wait. It is all still in our hands. Unfortunatly we need to beat Southampton-away-followed by Liverpool-away. Never mind though. Players must be counted. Fourth place is not an adequate recompense for not winning anything-again-but it is so much better than fifth or sixth, or seventh. For now we must support, and crasp that fourth place and the fabled land. In the close season though, there must be progress (and can we see that happening without fourth...no-not getting fourth would show how poor we are, so we'd do nothing..) Let the anger wait, for now let's just show we can win away.

6th May 2004

So it will be at least 36 years between trophies. No party on the 19th May for us. To be honest we never looked like reaching the final. An injury ravaged side were beaten by a Marseille team who always looked like they had the better of us. When they scored our mantra was still all we need is a goal, but it was never something that looked like happening. With key players missing, Robert out of form, Ambrose absent for the first half (I'd honestly forgotten he was playing) and Viana looking once again ineffectual, we never really stood much chance. Had we had our full squad available then who knows. We'll never be able to tell, though one has to believe we would have made more of a game of it. The lack of depth is however obvious. There must be a shopping list for the summer (and possibly time for players such as Viana to move on). Whether or not there are any funds to supply new players is another question. Fourth spot in the league would help (though at this rate that looks decidedly dodgy) but after the mess of the qualification round at the start of this season one has to wonder if even that would secure the money needed (inevitably) to move the club forward. They tried, but in the end the depth was found wanting. We'll try again. Haway the lads.

3rd May 2004

After the win against Chelsea the cracks are now beginning to show. Injuries have somewhat bligted the team revealing our weakness in lack of strength in depth. Man City should be a team we easily beat, languishing as they are near the foot of the league, but instead we huffed and puffed and took nothing away. A fully fit Newcastle may well have beaten City but we are not fully fit and won't be for the rest of the season. This does not bode well for any chance of a May 19th UEFA final appearance. On Thursday we will need something more than we could produce this game and it difficult to see where that will come from, especially away without the home fans to lift the team in their tens of thousands. Really we need to forget about this game and the damage it has done to our fourth spot asperations (how much more important now that game in hand against our bogey team Southampton and, I'll say it again, that final game versus Liverpool). Instead of dwelling on such failure we should look back to Chelsea and try and find that sort of performance again. We'll be needing it.

April 2004

26th April 2004

Against a team where every player is supposedly a world class multimillion pound allstar, it was once again one of England's finest stars who stole the headlines. The player who must class as the greatest centre forward of the last decade, and as one the finest of all time, produced another piece of magic to rank up there with the finest of his conjouring tricks. The game hadn't started well, Chelsea carving apart our defense to open the scoring within five minutes. For once I don't believe our defence was as entirely to blame as the often have been; more this was a demonstration of how at time Chelsea are capable of being Arsenal like in their attacking fluency. But Arsenal they are not. Chelsea are not a side who will win things (I might yet be prooved wrong with the champion's league but I doubt it). They may have the all stars, and an ability to play like a dream, but it is ultimatly too patchy, and at times too showy. Where as Arsenal would have killed us Chelsea didn't and so we were able to steal away all the points in a vital win to keep that game in hand giving us the slight edge in the race for fourth. That is not to say we didn't deserve the win, just that this was a game which could have gone either way (and might have swung the other but for another truely world class Given save and a post which seems to know which team is responsable for keeping it in fresh paint). Shearer produced the one piece of direct telling brillance Chelsea's talent lacked and so we win. Of course, there is a price. The loss of the outstanding Woodgate to another injury may hurt us yet, though physically not as much as the disgraceful Huth (who was running round like a frustrated headless chicken) stamp on Shearer which should have seen the Chelsea player dismissed. Sir Bobby says we're back on the dance floor. On this form, let the music play.

23rd April 2004

First thing: This was a good result. The side was depleted of a number of players who would normally be expected to have an influence (Bellamy, Dyer, Jenas, etc). Even Bowyer, promising in the last match, couldn't find the fitness to be available. So with a weakened side we haven't thrown it away, far from it. We performed the most important task of maintaining a clean sheet. That gives us the advantage for the away return leg. There were failings. Robert was ineffective and at times a complete liability (undoubtedly had we had anyone with which to replace him available then Robert would have been substituted). Ameobi, despite his skill and abilities, again prooved that he just doesn't look like a finisher. Bellamy may necessarily be very good at it but at least he tries the right things in front of goal, Ameobi never exudes that confidence that he knows what to do. Personally I'd be tempted to give Bridges a start (even if he is lacking somewhat in practice). On the plus side Shearer was magnificent and Woodgate strengthened his claim for an England place yet again with a truely magnificent performance (I counted one Woodgate mistake, which he quickly recovered himself). They could have won, but they didn't. Now, if we can get one or two of the absentees fit again, we could win this tie. We could go all the way.

18th April 2004

This was a fine defensive performance. Having (quite rightly) been reduced to ten men with only ten minutes gone it looked like we might be in trouble against a good Villa side. However, they failed to show much real threat, especially lacking good balls in the final attacking third, and we probably had as much of it as they did. More worrying than O'Brien's sending off however is the injury to Bellamy, pulling up when sprinting in a good attacking postition, his hamstring once again failing him. It was obvious how he was missed earlier in the season and he has played a vital role since coming back, complimenting Shearer up front. The only player really to have shown the same sort of ability to act as Shearer's foil has been Dyer. Bridges showed some good touches and play today when he came on (admitedly in a more withdrawn role to that one would normally expect to see him forfill), so maybe he can form some sort of answer. I still maintain that Ameobi is too Shearer like to form a true partnership.

Other plus points to come out of this game, apart from a point, were the performances of Hughes and particularly Bowyer. Hughes showed that really he is a centre back. I think I have said before that perhaps part of our defensive problems are due to our right back not really being a right back. With Hughes alongside the majestic Woodgate, a true right back would certainly stiffen up our defences. Bowyer finally got to play in a more central midfield role, and finally showed some of the sort of play that once made him such a valued player. He came on to boss the midfield in much the same way Jenas has been, but with more bite. Perhaps if he can perform like that (and not get stuck out on the right wing where he is ridiculously out of position) he may turn into a worthwhile signing. Even Robert seemed to understand that he had to come off, simply because he isn't defensivly strong enough for that sort of situation. A good performance, and in the end a good point. It seems that no one could take advantage of other teams' slip up to pull away into that valued fourth place. It's all still tight as ever.

14th April 2004

Yes! A wonderful result. This time it was experience and set pieces which got us there, but there we are. Come on. It may be time to begin dreaming. We could actually win this, you never know.

11th April 2004

An excellent result. It may seem like a missed opportunity to overtake Liverpool for fourth place and against most other sides it would have been. However, Arsenal are champions in waiting, and we held them off, stopping them from scoring. They should have won to be fair, spurning a couple of chances to score which they would normally easily take [and as an aside, I wonder if Henry had squared his change for Reyes if Reyes would then have been offside, he was when the ball was played through...]. We presented little threat, Bellamy's flick forcing a good save being the closest we came. Partly this was due to a misfiring Robert, although his inevitable replacement by Viana (out of position) is beginning to look worringly reminiscent of the Solano situation. Ambrose on the other side was equally ineffective, showing his youth for once. Jenas however carried on his good form and O'Brien once again looked a solid enough partnership with the outstanding Woodgate. Indeed, with Bernard seemingly having found some defensive capabilities (even if he does vanish up field on occasion) the weakest defencsive point is possibly the fact we have Hughes (really a centre half) playing right back.

In all a fine performance, and one we can hopefully carry forward to Wednesday's european fixture. The same result then would do nicely.

9th April 2004

That's better. Two good results. We had to beat Everton to keep up our fourth spot challenge. We did. We had to get something from the away leg in the UEFA cup. We did. Some have said that the fourth spot is more important than the UEFA cup. I think I've mentioned somewhere already that I don't hold with that view. Fourth spot is the chance of Champion's League football (just the chance remember-we had fourth last year and I don't see us in the Champion's League), with all the financial benifits it holds. It is certainly important. To move a football club forward at the highest level requires equally high levels of investment, which the Champion's League would help to meet (and at least the TV rights to our european games wouldn't then be flogged off to obscure bidders). But the underlying point is that beyond all the important benifits of fourth spot it doesn't put anything to be polished in the cabinet. We haven't won anything in decades. We aren't sleeping giants, we're supposed to be awake and kicking. If we take ourselves as a serious football club then we shouldn't dismiss the UEFA cup as unimportant. We should win the one competition we can still win. And then we should secure fourth spot in the league too.

March 2004

28th March 2004

Poor. Poor. Poor. What else to say about this preformance? It had looked like we were returning to form but yet again an away league game and it all falls apart. The away form is what is killing our season. No invention (again), a midfield which couldn't hold onto the ball and a lack of real passion until the last couple of minutes. We had our chances. Bellamy in particular should have scored. Young Steven Taylor was possably a bit to blame for the goal but if we can forgive Brambles mistakes we can certainly forgive any fault on his part. Other than that he played well (out of position) and looks to have the makings of a fine defender. The goal was slightly freakish (and am I the only one thinks perhaps Given should have saved it?). The response to the goal was however barely excistent. We may have had the better of the game for periods but it is a struggle to recall forcing their keeper into a save. And there is the problem. We simply weren't good enough and european fatique isn't an excuse. At least Liverpool could only draw, but to get to the pinnical of european competition, we need better than this poor showing. It had seemed to be coming, now it's back to wondering.

26th March 2004

So, a quarter final to look forward to, and we arrived there quite comfortably in the end. It's been said that we sailed through. To be fair that's not quite true. Mallorca had their opportunities to make life uncomfortable for us, but a very in form Given once again spared any brushed. Once in with a clean sheet at half time the tie looked over and their keeper obliged to make certain by gifting Shearer a goal immediatly upon restart. The score line probably flattered, Mallorca being caught on the break as, to their credit, they looked to add some respectability to the game. Shearer and Bellamy, with his pre match fighting followed by a goal within a minute of his introduction, will undoubtedly grab the headlines, but it is once again Shay Given we have in large part to thank. He provides a vital final last line of defence, which will be all important to get further in this competition. We need Given's continued form, and Woodgate to remain fit (being able to partner him once again in the centre with O'Brian rather than Bramble-who still looks to nervious for this level-would be a bonus), for PSV are a tougher proposition.

22nd March 2004

This was a must win game. A six pointer. Whatever cliché you wish. And our first half performance showed a passion that looked like we might actually care. OK, there were still failings. Too much goes down the left and not enough down the right and there still wasn't an overflow of creativity. However there was that passion (what had Shearer been fed that morning?) and certainly some skill. In the first half we won the game and it must be remembered that despite Charlton's resurgence in the second half they really didn't deserve anything from the game. Whilst the penalty which secured the points was dubious it gave it a win we should have. The penalty was also symtamatic of the referee performance. The law of obstruction seemed to be forgotten. Shearer seemed to be fair game for scything tackles. Then, having given the penalty, the defender must be booked (which would have resulted in red) but wasn't. All in all, a great improvment which we must carry forward, both on Thursday in europe, and in the league to find that elusive and very tightly contested fourth place.

15th March 2004

In my last post I talked about how the lack of form would eventually come around to catch us out. How strange then that the next game we finally show some sort of improvement, only to loose the game (to an own goal at that) and come away with nothing. That just goes to show how difficult to predict this league can be. We should have taken at least a point, and were it not for a referee scared to make any sort of decision, all three. However, in the past we've taken all three and said we deserved shooting so possibly it does all even out in the end. What it does mean is that the next match against the ever dogged Charlton, our rival for fourth place, takes on even more significance.

12th March 2004

The last few entries in this journal have talked about how we have been lucky to get a result whilst playing badly (or even appallingly). The implication was always that eventually that would catch up to us and the luck would run out. For much of this match the draft in my head of this entry went on to say how finally we had got what we deserved-nothing. However, it didn't turn out like that. The first half performance was awful. We looked like a side struggling against relegation not Mallorca. We certainly didn't look like we could possibly be fourth in one of the world's leading leagues. That we didn't trail at the break must be due to Mallorca's inability to find their own cutting edge than anything we did. And then the second half. The crowd to their credit welcomed the team not with the boos that met their departure but the sort of noise and enthusiasm that made St James' Park once great. Whilst that might of lifted the team a bit, they were still poor, typified by the normally reliable Speed's mistake to give away their goal. Then a straight forward long ball (oh the irony. One of our major failings for most of the match was the crazy reliance on just pumping the ball long) which should have been dealt with instead found its way to Bellamy and he showed that these days he seems to know how to finish.

We remembered we could play football. The midfield stopped getting neck ache watching the ball pass them by. The commanding position may have been established from set pieces but it was the suddenly confident play which gave rise to them. Talking of confidence, Bramble looks a completly different player when he believes in himself. We need to carry that form forward though. Revert to the form of much of the game (and Mallorca must wonder how they find themselves losing 4-1) and it will catch up with us.

3rd March 2004

Phew. That was lucky, no two ways about it. We were once again very poor. A combination of a goal keeper who was even worse than the general Newcastle performance (whilst for the Toon Given again produced an outstanding save to keep us in it) and a free kick which replays clearly show should never have been given. Shearers resultant shot squirmed through the keeper giving us a lead we never were going to hold. Valarenga's equaliser was totally deserved. And they could have had more. Second half was a bit of an improvement, but Ameobi wandered through an inept defence and terrible goalkeeping to restore the lead. Then it must be said that we were always on edge, almost waiting for Valarenga to get the goal to put them through on away goals. Eventually of course it went the other way and we eventually broke to make it safe (and no BBC commentators, no way was that off side). There will have to be a great improvement to get any further in this competition, or to finish fourth in the premiership.

February 2004

29th February 2004

It just had to happen. Only Newcastle could manage that. That we were again poor is beyond doubt, and this time we didn't get away with it. But the way Portsmouth forced us to yet another draw, Lua Lua, our own player on loan, scoring against us. That is pure Newcastle. No other team would even have been stupid enough to allow him to play. Not us. Oh yes, let him play, with a point to proove to his real manager. Oh, bound to score isn't he.

To be fair, it's not just the fact our own player cost us two points by doing his job. It's the fact then when other results were going our way and we had a chance to put ourselves clear in fourth, we again produced nothing. So what would have been a five point lead over fifth place is now just the same old three, which can be clawed back by Liverpool winning their game in hand. It's the draws which are costing us, but also the lack of form. That lack of form has been evident for some time now. We had picked up, having been bad for much of the season, which is why we climbed to fourth. Now the play looks like being back to what it was, which if we don't change it will see us slip back down (the fact we're still there now I think shows how tight this league is outside the top three, everyone taking points from everyone else). It also doesn't bode well for Valarenga on Wednesday. If we could win convincingly then though, it might just be the boost to confidence to kick start us again to secure the champion's league place.

28th February 2004

What was that? Terrible. Valerenga are a team almost relegated last season, who are currently not even playing because it's close season in their league. We should take them apart. In the first half we were dominant, but playing like we knew we were too good for them in the worse way. The players thought all they had to do was be on the pitch. Despite the dominant possesion we were a bit fortunate to be ahead at half time. And the second half Valerenga showed all the passion and play. They ddeserved their equalizer and possibly should have one. We were very very poor. The only player who bothered to impress me was Robert when he came on. Ameobi and Viana were useless. Now we face a very tricky tie at home (one we should win but we should have won this one). Improvement must come

22th February 2004

At last we managed to not end up with a draw. And do what the top teams do and win a game we didn't really deserve. That's why we find ourselves once again up in fourth place. Shearer ended his conspicous absence from the score sheet with a penalty that had to be struck well to beat the keeper. Once again the great man kept his nerve. We're not in full stride but we are scraping results. Now if only we can get into stride, prferably by Thursday and Valarenga, then we might get somewhere and not fall back down.

12th February 2004

When will we learn to hold a lead? OK, so we didn't deserve anything more than a draw out of this game, but the top teams win anyway once they have the lead, whether they deserve to or not. If we'd held on, rather than capitulating right at the end again, then we would have had a clear 4th place, rather than slipping back to fifth. I said it earlier but it bears repeating. How important is that last game of the season looking, against the team which have taken over fourth place (all be it by a single goal scored), Liverpool. It could come down to that game for the last Champions League spot, and the money and glory which comes with it.

9th February 2004

Fourth at last. Somehow. Clinging on to the last Champion's League spot just about. A comfortable win over Leicester, as it should be really. Of course we had to go and spoil the clean sheet by giving away a girl (and though it's nice to see Les Ferdinand get on the score sheet I'd still rather he hadn't). Now we just have the small problem of staying fourth. What a terribly important last game of the season against Liverpool it could turn out to be. Oh, and people have started to notice that Shearer hasn't actually scored in a while. In a way this is good. It shows other players can get us goals. Don't worry. He'll hit the back of the net again (it's been pointed out that he's quite familiar with where it is at Blackburn. We'll see).

1st February 2004

It seems that a performance like that is somewhat appropriate after the inevitable bit inexplicable sale of Solano. Nobby may have had dips in form, but he was one of the few players who could create. Ambrose may be ready (a highly debatable statement) as Sir Bob claims, but what if he is injured? Sol is surpless to requirements because Dyer will very soon be back out wide right? (A possition he is probably best at but that player and England coach don't want). And if we've sold Sol, have we made any move to replace him? There is no argument that one less player, especially of Nobby's caliber, without replacement must weaken the squad, and the team, by definition. Good luck to him, I'm sure he'll be warmly recieved when our paths next cross.

So, another draw. A goal we were lucky to have followed by a lead we just couldn't hold on to. The worse thing is we can have no complaints given the poor performance. There's no point repeating what has already been said. And it's nothing the loan of another striker might fix. Perhaps some attacking and creativity from midfield (oh, no, wait, we sell those) and a better bloody defence. ah well. Still scrabbling for fourth, which hurts.

January 2004

25th January 2004

Beating Fulham was a good result. To take the three points of one of our nearest rivals is really good, and we didn't look like being in trouble really. Pity about letting in that one goal though, the consequence of taking the foot of the pedal too much. Still, a six pointer won for once, that helps move us towards that coverted fourth position. Good.

And then came the FA cup result. Damn. Never creative, never a threat and our suspect defence once again looked, well, suspect (and now we have lost with Woodgate, and badly). We were simply poor. Liverpool weren't actually that good, but we let them take the game anyway. Absolutly no threat up front at all. I've said we need a creative central midfielder before, and I'll say it again. Until we have somebody with that spark in the middle we won't get far. Of course it also doesn't help that the side is horrible biased to the left, the right having a (not surprisingly out of sorts Sol and Hughes, a centre back, at right back. Sort it Bobby, before it's too late.

11th January 2004

Good result that. Contained the champions on their home turf and demonstrated that we can live with them. Again the referee made two bad decisions, but at least they evened out. Impressive to see him at least admit to one of the mistakes afterwards as well. Having said that, and despite our much touted improving defensive record, it is obvious that results like this - the draws - are what is costing us our league position. At the moment we are a team which has drawn more games than it has won and we won't get anywhere until we convert those draws to wins. That won't happen until we stop relying on a single player for goals (Dyer showed why he may be a good attacking midfielder but not a striker today), and injury prone defenders (Woodgate is fantastic when fit, but that just shows how desperatly we miss him when he's not). I won't even begin to ponder poor Solano's postition. As has been mentioned elsewhere I can stand to see players go if replaced with better (or at least someone of an equal ability) but Sol has been a fantastic player for this club, with no little ability. If he wasn't right side today, exactly who would have been? And of course he got subbed rather than the again quiet Robert (who is becoming obsessed with shooting from anywhere). There are more important places to strengthen than right side (no objection to competition but surely if Sol goes there is a need of a direct replacement). Anyway, draws to wins - and perhaps against Man U a draw is better than expected - and we'll climb that table.

7th January 2004

Well at least we won. Keep winning we might actually get somewhere. You never know.

3rd January 2004

And a happy new year! How about that then. The team we never beat away, and who simply don't loose cup ties at home, humbled in a good performance. Plus a noticable name for once absent from that score sheet. Southampton may have been a little poor, but we were actually good. Commitment rather than a load of players being payed too much to wander round the pitch and not look as if they care what happens as long as the pay check arrives. Once that first goal went in we even seemed to remember how to be inciseful. Dyer best postition is undoubtedly somewhere upfront in an almost striking role. Room must be found for him there somehow (and hopefully enough chances will result in the sort of finishing he demonstrated today rather than the rubbish we've seen in the past). Woodgate made a great deal of difference to the suspect defence. Bramble looks a different player with Woodgate to look after him. And may I point out this is a team which in no way missed BOwyer (a player who surely should only ever be in the side if Speed isn't). Now, if we can play like that week in and week out (not just the fancy football but also the commitment, especially as displayed in the first half) then we should remove the draws, and losses, which are ruining out league position and get ourselves into that coverted fourth spot (who knows, there's still a chance, I think, that someone may slip out of third).

PS Well done to our travelling fans who completely out sung Southampton from the very beginning to the end. Could almost have thought we were the home team

December 2003

29th December 2003

Oh dear. Go out and buy a defender who knows what they're doing and can teach the rest. Simple as that. Take the transfer pot and spend it on that. Straight long balls down the middle of the pitch should not be a problem. Once we stop leaking then the midfield can be reminded how to create chances again. We may have to rely on Shearer a little while longer, but at least he will score if given service. That's no good if the defense then go and gift goals though. For f*$k's sake. Who's meant to be coaching these fools? So frustrating

21st December 2003

Nil-nil and lucky to get it. Shay once again showed his worth behind a shambolic defence (come on Bobby, we have some defenders you know, no need to play Sol at right back). Again, when we had possession, there was no threat. Without Shearer getting his customary goal (we can't really on him to win every game), or some magic from Robert we never looked like scoring. This is the perpetual problem we have. We are too easy to stop, too easy to prevent scoring, and with the defence playing like they've never had an organised game in a park let alone the premiership, it's always going to be possible to score against us. We need someone to bring invention as well as running around a lot. When the transfer window comes perhaps we really do need yet another midfielder. Someone prooved to be able to do it at the highest level, rather than a young prospect that we all hope and believe will come good one day. Until then I fear that there will be too many scorelines with a zero next to our name.

14th December 2003

A fine win against a team how would be rivals (Spurs were quite close to us in the league going into the game). Finally we have shown that we are that bit above those scrapping for a place in the top half of the table (where Spurs now find themselves) and are amoung those scrapping for the illusive fourth spot. Two very fine goals from Robert. Whatever they have been putting in his tea the last few weeks I'd like some. Finally he seems to have found the form we all knew he was capable of, and how. The score may be a little deceiving though. To be fair Spurs were competative until Robert's wonder goal unlocked them, with our play again looking pretty while not really creating gilt edged chances. Only when Spurs capitulated (after another Robert goal of the season contender) did we complete the rout, and then it was the ever dependable Shearer showing once again how very difficult to replace he will be. But never mind that. It was a good victory and for a week we can not worry too much. The clicking surely must come eventually. Let's just relax before the hectic christmas period.

6th December 2003

Again another individual defensive error costs us a goal. This time however it is not the dependable and forgivable Given but again Titus Bramble. He has improved but he is learning. Unfortunatly he's having to learn at the highest level, which in the end makes him a liability. An error at this level means conceding a goal, and a single goal (as this game proves) can cost two points. There were other worries than our obvious defensive frailties. As we are recognised as a team which isn't the best at the back, we're supposed to be good at the front. Yet again it was Shearers penalty which saved us, and the midfield cannot find the back of the net. For long periods it was the familiar story of huffing and puffing with the ball but not really cutting out any sort of actual chance. It must say something that Liverpool from the start were happy to defend against our supposedly dangerous attack.

Second half we did at least go at them with more pace, especially once level. If anything we were slightly unlucky to come away with just the point, two clearances off the line saving Liverpool. But we should have made sure of other chances, Ameobi in particular being again guilty of doing good work but being incapable of finishing or suppling a final ball for someone else. This was a clash in the chase for that fabled fourth place, and a tough tie. A draw is give or take about fair (if either side deserved a win it was us). However, we need to get a few wins and be the attacking team we are renowned to be. And find some defenders who can defend now, not just learn how to in the future, or those mistakes will cost us too many points.

November 2003

29th November 2003

What is it about Wolves? We just don't seem capable of beating them. This was an entertaining game; one we could have won but one we could have lost. It wasn't helped by a referee who didn't seem to be able to get much right, starting with giving a corner instead of a goal kick (and Wolves fans, it wasn't a pen just a free kick. Possibly a red card, but then the ref missed the hand ball). Shame Shearer's crack off the bar didn't go in, that would have been some goal. Really to challenge in the league we need to beat teams in the bottom three. We need to beat the likes of Wolves. Two points dropped is two points further from qualification for europe. Again we managed to dominate possesion but failed to produce anything like a clear chance in the second half. On Thursday that lack of final ball didn't matter, now it's becoming a worry. Things aren't helped by the infamous Liverpool game being next up.

28th November 2003

That's what we needed. Nice victory. I've seen some criticism of our game on some message boards, I don't agree with that. In the first half we dominated, playing large periods entirely in the opposition half. What lacked was simply the final ball. On another day, quite a few of those may have come of as well. Once we'd got our a bit fortunate but deserved goal, we simply sat back. That's what you're supposed to do when the opposition need to score three goals at your ground in europe, especially when there is another game less than 48 hours away. Of course that meant Shay had a bit more to do, but I think we could have always picked the game back up. I never had a sense of us being in trouble. Yes, if we play like that week in week out we have problems, but we wouldn't adopt that style under other circumstances.

One other thing to mention. In an earlier post I criticised a referee for a very poor penalty decision. It's a pleasure therefore to praise a ref for getting a very difficult decision right. I must admit that at real speed I thought Basel would be awarded a pen and probably Given a red card. But the TV replays show the ref was spot on, so well done. Now, bring on Wolves, a team domestically we should beat, they're no Basel.

23rd November 2003

Back on track. The incisive, cutting edge of attack was back. What a difference from the last game and the dropped heads. And what a difference again to have Shearer leading the attack. If anything it once again demonstrates the problem that awaits whenever Shearer is missing (and ultimately with his retirement). Rumours abound of transfer window signings of one striker or another. One must hope at least one prooves to be true (whilst remembering that it is almost impossible to replace one of the greatest strikers of the modern era). In the mean time though, let's keep winning.

10th November 2003

Bloody hell. :( First thing first. Normally I wouldn't have a go at a referee, they undoubtedly have one of the hardest jobs in the game. However (and anyone reading the last sentance knew that was coming) that was a very poor decision. OK we were two down already, but at least there was a chance. The referee's decision changed things drastically. Any minimal contact was clearly outside the box. Mutu dived when he realised Shay was getting to the ball first. That was not a penalty. That was not a sending off. Anyway...We weren't too bad till then. A bit unfortunate to be two down. It hardly matters now. What is important is to quickly put this behind us (the players had visibly begun to loose believe by the end of the game, a problem which has plagued our start to the season). Of course it seems once again the fixture list conspires against us, and we can't get back into the saddle immediatly. Hopefully Man City will feel a backlash, rather than face a team lacking in confidence and the necessary flare.

7th November 2003

A very good result. Before hand a draw would have been exceptable, especially with an away goal. When we fell behind to a fine attacking Basel side one had to worry, but to strike back quickly after having conceded twice shows some character. That's the sort of come back we were renowned for; the confidence to believe we can still win whatever. The defeat to Partizan Belgrade seemed to have destroyed that but now it looks like it might just be back. OK, we rode our luck at times, but then the throw leading to their second goal should have gone the other way. We looked good, solidish at the back (Bramble again winning more fans) and for once it wasn't Shearer we relied on for goals. Job half done (and is important to think that way. Remember the last side we brought to St James's Park with a goal advantage and the millions that defeat cost). If we can produce something like that performance against Chelsea on Sunday then maybe the season will really begin to roll. A quick note about Setanta Sport's coverage: Last time they had our game we spent the first half without sound and the coverage was terrible. This time at least there were no technical hitches. £7.99 may be steep for a single game, and they may push their Scottish football coverage too much to an audience who obviously don't care, but at least they do show us, unlike the terrestial channels (BBC now deem to put us on, but not the main stream channels, BBC3).

1st November 2003

We have to win these games. A lack of final cutting edge is not good enough, especially once we had a man advantage. And Shearer's recent habit of missing from twelve yards must be as big a mystery to him as it is everyone else. It was beginning to look like the corner had been turned, but going out of the competition that was possibly our best chance of silverware at the first hurdle, and then not completing what should have been a victory makes one begin to wonder again. Nice play and dominance are not enough. Results are what count. Now we must go into a hard european tie and perform better, before a far from easy trip to Chelsea. Results from there and the corner truely would have been turned though.

October 2003

29th October 2003

Oh dear. Strange one this. We certainly had the better of a game against weaker opposition, but it seems our luck was out, defeated by two goals very much against the run of play. Fortunatly this is a competition that just maybe we can live without (certainly the team wasn't the first choice, as suspected). Forget it, move on. There are much more important games to win.

25th October 2003

Taking three points from a home fixture against Portsmouth should be an easy task, and in the end it was. Three goals and then relax a bit, job done. The way it should be. Momentum is building and the team seem to have gained belief again. It helps that the defence is suddenly a lot more solid, even without Woodgate. Quite a bit of that is due to the recent performances of Bramble, who suddenly displays all that potential in actual application rather than looking like an idiot. And who misses Bellamy now. It's not like he scores. Still not convinced that Ameobi is different enough from Shearer to warrent a partnership, but we're nit picking a bit there rather than bemoaning major failings. Even Bowyer is beginning to look good. It will be interesting to see what team Bobby picks for what is actually a pretty tricky tie in the League Cup midweek. My suspicion is that a few will be given carefull rest and a couple of others (not least Solano) reintroduced to the fold. Really though, given the dismall state we were in at the start of the season, the league cup does not necessarily hold much importance. Villa next Saturday, on the other hand, does.

21st October 2003

Goals! Some fight back that. A terrible start to the delayed game, with Fulham starting as explosivly as the events outside. Once we found our feet though, they couldn't really live with us, though Mr Shearer's penalty very nearly didn't find its way in. Back up to the top half of the table, on our way back to where we belong

19th October 2003

Ahh, now there's something. Finally we can bring out the cliches about playing badly and still winning. A sudden shot up the table. Things don't look so terrible anymore. Let's just hope that factors off the field don't make the climb back up to a european spot even harder.

7th October 2003

Surprisingly we can still win in europe. Boring game, but the job was already done. Still, no where near throwing it away. Tough draw for the next round though. Ahh well, we're still there, bring it on.

5th October 2003

Finally a mark in the win column, and about time. A game again dominated, but this time with the final result we deserved, even if just be the solitary goal. Fitting that it be Shearer's 250th, fitting that the fans gave the response Bobby Robson deserves. The season starts here.

September 2003

27th September 2003

Another good performance, all be it against a somewhat depleted Arsenal. Still, it was Arsenal and we came away feeling unlucky and disappointed not to have got anything out of the game. Once again though, basic mistakes have cost us. Unfortunatly next up is our bogey team of Southampton. A win then would begin to set us up.

25th September 2003

Where did that come from? Suddenly we look like a fluent attacking team again. Dyer, free from the shackling defensive responsibilities of central midfield was free to use that limitless energy in an effective way on the right. Jenas finally gave a performance that suggests that all that talent he's supposed to have he might actually have in reality. Bramble looks like he may be beginning to show that Bobby was right about him all along. But the accolades must go to Robert. Whatever they've been putting in his tea to turn him from the moaning frenchman into the talent we all knew he could be, I'll have some. Magnificent. Why couldn't he just play like that all the time, no one would be on his back for him to moan about then. A wonderful win that will hopefully blow away some cobwebs and give us the confidence to play again. Don't get me wrong, this is merely the beginnings of recovery. Breda were not that good a side, and according to their fans had something of an off night, and we can't wallow in our glory for nearly long enough. For 48 hours after europe we must face Arsenal away, a by far tougher proposition. But at least now there is a feeling we might be able to get something out of it, rather than roll over for a hammering.

20th September 2003

Bolton. At home, in front of our fans. In a game that we need something to answer critics and releave some of the pressure on Sir Bobby Robson. This is a game we should win. There can be no arguments with this. We didn't. A point, a point without any goals, is not good enough. Oh, we hit the bar a couple of times. There may have been some improvments. But really the nil-nil result was never threatened. No invention. No confidence even if we had it. At least we didn't get the obligatory Bowyer appearence. The manager kept mumbling on about another midfielder and we thought he was mad; it's not like we're short of them. Maybe he knew something. Someone to unlock the determined defence. Dyer certainly isn't doing it. Or much, for reasons I still don't believe or entirely his own fault (if he could be closer to his strikers than his defence it would help). And if Bobby knew that perhaps he knows something else. But the press who come out in mock amazment at any criticism of him (that's the same press who come up with the stories of his job being under threat) should realise why. Just compare our current position to that when he took over. They are almost identical (except back then there were two recent FA cup final appearances). That's the progress has been made. OK, we started slow last season, but by now we were looking something like a team, not a bunch of possible relgation candidates. And we finished third and fourth in the last two seasons. But dolloow the pattern and it means that this season wee should be second. We won't be. We'll be lucky to be top half at this rate.

That's quite a long rant. There's a reason for that. Automatically the mind always turns to next game, especially when analysis of the last one is so negative. And we have two tough games within fourty-eight hours of each other. Europe (not the europe we wanted or expected though) and Arsenal, away (and that could be even trickier depending if they need to stuff someone after tomorrow's game). And to be truthful the worry isn't even that we could lose both. It's that we seem to have no hope of scoring in either, and could get hammered. Then again, we could produce good performances, get good victories by clear margins and suddenly have a season.

15th September 2003

At least we got something from this. Perhaps we would have taken a point if offered it before going away to face Everton. But then, we're supposed to have ambition. Exactly which teams would Arsenal, Man Utd and the like be happy with a point from? We worked harder. In Robert's case we got over excited. But before anyone starts to say what a wonderful performance with only ten men, remember that we were actually only a man down for about twenty minutes. And we led twice (both from pens of course). Given the time we scored the second we really should be capable of holding out, not giving them the chance of another equalizer on a plate. And yes, I did mention two pens for a reason, because we still don't look like scoring from open play. Don't even mention the self centred, sneeze in the wrong way (or probably the right way too) and I'll book you ref. Or the frankly now bizarre decision which dictates Bowyer should play left. We may have taken a point if offered, just to get the season moving in the right general direction, yet still it feels like we should have came away with more, which is strange considering our inadequacies are still very evident.

August 2003

30th August 2003)

Still no win. Still in fact a solitary point, and we find ourselves in a relegation place. We look uncreative, a shadow of the dashing side of last season. We are in desperate trouble, and one must begin to question the lack of summer signings, and some of the team selection. We have to improve.

27th August (well, 28th really) 2003

Disaster. Blew it. F*ck

23rd August 2003

Strangely, this feels almost like a better performance than against Leeds. The first half we fought, and looked like we were in the game. Ths second however...Without Woodgate I thought we were in trouble, but Bramble had for him a good game. However, the second half again exposed our weak defence. Hughes is almost an acceptable central midfielder, when coupled with Woodgate. Therefore it seems clear that within the next week we need two full backs.

Bowyer was once again wasted on the right. Drop Speed and put Bowyer in his place. Then we can have a decent right winger. Or ju st drop Bowyer. Shoala was wonderful first half but inexplicitly quite second. No way we deserved a win, even with the biased ref. Let's see Viana get a start for Speed, Bowyer dropped for Sol and two fullbacks brought in. Must be better than this Wednesday.

17th August 2003

This was poor. We have to beat teams like Leeds to stand any chance of a realistic challenge. Problems exposed in the game in Belgrade were forgivable in a difficult first competative game of the season, but again we look unable to take command, this time domestically. No creativity in midfield and our defence once again woefully inadequate (Woodgate excepted). Bernard's howler is just the latest in a long line showing why he does not have the class for this level. If we must play Bowyer (and to me it feels almost like we are going to play him whatever the merits. Had to buy him because he was free; have to play him because he's there), then why not swap with Dyer, so we have something of a winger with drive and Bowyer's supposed bite in the middle? And when will Bellamy shut his gob? We will have to greatly improve on this to stand a chance against Man Utd on Saturday, even at SJP.

13th August 2003

Yes! One - nil. Thank you Sol. Thank you Shay. Bring it on at St james's. Setanta Sport can bugger off with their shitty coverage though. Looking forward to showing Leeds how they'll get relegated on Sunday.