SC Heerenveen Vs Newcastle United |
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Date:
Thursday 17th February 2005
Kick Off: 7.45pm GMT
Venue: Abe Lenstra Stadium
Ref: Zsolt Szabo
Comp: UEFA Cup 3rd Round |
| Match Preview
In Association With Toon
Ale |
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By
Ally Campbell
"I wouldn't describe it as make or break" - the comments
of Graeme Souness regarding the upcoming game in the Netherlands.
Maybe not this specific game, but this week is pretty much make or
break time for Newcastle United and arguably Graeme Souness. We don't
need to think about the Chelsea game for the moment and concentrate
fully on the game against Heerenveen.
We all enjoyed the UEFA Cup last season and I'd love another run in
it, when we got to the Semis I was convinced this was 'our year',
but yet again it wasn't, but come on surely it must be our turn soon?
We go in to this game on the back of a few days break in Dubai, although
the international players were not in attendance. Hopefully this will
have done them the world of good as recent results certainly haven't.
The 1-1 draw with Charlton was poor and the team were (rightly or
wrongly) booed off the pitch which does team morale no good whatsoever.
A good performance is needed on Thursday, but an away win would be
fantastic. They're fifth in the Dutch League with a decent home record
so it certainly won't be easy, but with the right tactics and selections
I'm confident of a win.
Jean-Alain Boumsong is cup-tied for this game, and the failure to
buy another centre back means we'll probably see O'Brien and Bramble
in the centre. We'd all love to see Taylor given a game but I can't
see it happening quite yet. The rest of the squad is fully available,
although both Nicky Butt and Kieron Dyer did not travel with the United
squad that flew out to Holland this morning. Souness has confirmed
that Kluivert will start the game, most probably at the expense of
Ameobi.
The fans are divided at the moment, that's clear for us all to see.
Lets forget about any dislike of Souness, Kluivert etc and get 110%
behind the lads in our push for honours.
More...
SC
Heerenveen Guide
Given |
Carr |
O'Brien |
Bramble |
Babayaro |
Bowyer |
Jenas |
Faye |
Robert |
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Shearer
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Kluivert
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Petter Hansson vs. Alan Shearer
Hansson is a Swedish international and a very solid defender whose
major strength is his ariel ability. He was chosen as Heerenveen's
supporters player of the season in the last two years and is currently
playing well. Shearer, as we know excels in the air and this should
be a very interesting battle.
Mika Vayrynen vs. Amdy Faye
Vayrynen is the playmaker for Heerenveen and is a Finnish international.
Scored twice in his first match since his injury, last Saturday against
Roda JC. Only 22, but Heerenveen are nothing without due to his ability
to create something out of nothing. Faye will have to be on his toes
to stop this tricky player coming out on top.
Gertjan Verbeek vs. Graeme Souness
Verbeek is a rookie at the Dutch highest level due to his previous
experience coming as an Assistant Manager, but became manager in the
summer and so far he is doing great. The team shows confidence and
they managed to survive the Group stage of the UEFA Cup without paying
the price in the league. He as a clear view of the game. He always
plays a very attacking style, 4-3-3 with wingers. Souness has used
this system quite a bit this season, and it will be interesting whether
he decides to match them man for man, otherwise their 3 central midfielders
might come out on top of our 2.
| NUFC Squad News &
Pre-Match Reaction |
Manager Graeme Souness on the match:
"It's a busy time of the season for us, with four
games in the space of 10 days.
"But at a big club every game is important, regardless of the
competition you are playing in. It's an important time of the season
for us, yes, but I wouldn't describe it as make or break.
"We have Chelsea coming up on Sunday and I'd like to think
the players are looking forward to that game. We gave them a good
game in the League Cup before losing in extra time, then at their
place in the league I remember thinking at 90 minutes how we had lost
2-0 - four minutes later it was 4-0.
"We were bewildered that day and I'd like to think the players
will be angered about that going into Sunday's game. But we won't
be looking ahead to that game until we get the Heerenveen match out
of the way.
"The UEFA Cup game is a big competition for us, and we know
we can go a long way to getting into the next round if we do the job
properly on Thursday night. Sometimes playing away first is beneficial,
other times it isn't. It can work both ways.
"What we have to do is give a good account of ourselves on
Thursday. We have had them watched in recent games and they are a
good side, but if we play the way we can then we are a good side as
well.
"We'll have to see how it goes, but we've had the break and
we're ready to get back into the swing of things now.
"If we lose on Thursday then people will say the break was a waste
of time and we'll be criticised. If we win, then people will say the
break has done us good - that's the business we're in so we'll deal
with that."
United squad:
Given, Harper, Carr, Hughes, Taylor, O'Brien, Bramble, Ramage, Babayaro,
Ambrose, Milner, Jenas, Bowyer, Faye, N'Zogbia, Robert, Shearer, Kluivert,
Ameobi.
Butt and Dyer are both out with injuries, Ramage has been drafted
in and Boumsong is cup-tied.
| SC Heerenveen Squad News
& Pre-Match Reaction |
Manager Gertjan Verbeek on the match:
"I hope we can make a match of it.
"They are favourites as they have the better individuals and
a lot more money.
"But they have new players and difficulty in becoming a team
so we have a chance."
On Kluivert:
"If it is coming back to Holland which is motivating Kluivert he is
not a good player. He has to be always motivated, not just because
he is playing in Holland."
Heerenveen squad:
Vandenbussche, Bakkati, Hansson, Breuer, Rzasa, Vayrynen, Hestad,
Huntelaar, Samaras, Prager, Rose, Bruggink, Sikora, Yildirim, Waterman,
Haarala, Wolfgang, Drost.
 Zsolt
Szabo
The 33 year-old Hungarian is Hungary's top official and has little
experience at this level. He was referee of Man City's match against
Welsh side Total Network Solutions a few seasons back and refereed
Parma Vs Athletico Bilbao not so long ago in the UEFA Cup.
A tight, yet enjoyable game. I'm predicting a 1-1 draw,
which wouldn't be disastrous as we'd take an away goal back to St
James Park. Goal from Kluivert in his home country. |
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