Newcastle United Vs Chelsea |
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Date:
Sunday 20th February 2005
Kick Off: 4.00pm BST
Venue: St. James' Park
Ref: Mark Halsey
Comp: FA Cup 5th Round |
| Match Preview
In Association With Toon
Ale |
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Don't Let Jose Mourinho Fool You Souness
If Sir Bobby Robson's former translator is to be believed, he doesn't
quite care about the FA Cup nor does he see it as a priority - both
may be the case, but the king of mind games will be desperate to add
the world's oldest and grandest of Cup competitions to Chelsea's trophy
cabinet this season. He's a winner and hates losing. He wants to win
it and badly.
He may field a 'weakened' team at St. James' later today true, but
that team, irrespective of who is playing and more importantly who
isn't - Jon Terry, Didier Drogba, Arjen Robben and Frank Lampard for
starters, will still represent a tough nut to crack for any side never
mind a struggling, and to be quite frank, average Toon side who could
well be without our No.9 if reports that he has underwent a fitness
test this afternoon are anything to go by. Just his and our luck it
seems...
Fingers crossed on that one!
Nonetheless the FA Cup is perhaps our best chance of lifting silverware
this season and for Big Al, his too. It's been half a century since
an engraver had to scribe the name 'Newcastle United' on the Cup,
the very last domestic trophy we won.
Oh what we'd give for a trip to Cardiff and a proceeding procession
through the Toon to celebrate returning heroes. The Cup has took quite
a beating over the years, becoming an inconvenience to those competing
in the Champions League and with one eye on their trip to Barcelona
in mid-week, there are many Chelsea fans who wouldn't be too upset
should their side get dumped out come quarter to 6 tonight. The last
thing Chelsea need is more injuries/suspensions and a fixture pile
up as they chase a Champions League and Premiership double with the
small matter of a League Cup Final to contend with a week today as
well.
Newcastle fans on the other hand would be shattered to go out. The
myth that Geordies would rather see their team lift the FA Cup than
the League couldn't be further from the truth, but it is true, we
do love the Cup and we, more than any, would cherish any kind of win
in this competition. The whole of Tyneside, her neighbouring boundaries
and all those corners of the world populated with Black & White
hearts deserve something to reward our loyal, unconditional and patient
support. The Cup would be a fitting reward.
Can this be our year? Don't put your money on it, Newcastle don't
win trophies. But that won't stop us dreaming, believing and hoping
that we can finally end the chase. A chase that is beginning to weigh
this club down. It's become a burden for managers, players and fans
alike and with every passing year that we fail, the desperation becomes
all too transparent.
Winning the FA Cup would change the fortunes of our beleaguered and
under-fire manager. The Cup represents a chance for him to play the
hero and not the villain. For Freddy Shepherd who is also, and quite
rightly, facing flack, it would be tangible reward for all his efforts.
For the team it would put an end to the underachievers tag and give
the future Toon class something to look up to, to emulate. The majority
of the '55 Cup winning side have passed away and it's been 36 years
since the class of '69 returned with the Fairs Cup under their arms
- hardly a generation to relate to is it?
And what of us? What would a trophy do for us the supporters? Bitterness,
cynicism, frustration and a total lack of belief in our beloved club
has swept through our veins, clotting our emotions and draining our
immune system. We are weak and lack the fight - as evidenced by our
shocking inability to raise the roof at St. James' Park... unless
to boo, jeer or to vent our anger at (insert your name here).
We've seen the likes of Wimbledon, Coventry, Spurs, Leicester, Oxford,
the unwashed and even the smoggies lift the one thing we all crave
- silverware.
At 4.00pm this fine, if somewhat cold and white afternoon, we go into
battle against a side who will end up with at least one trophy this
season - lets make sure it's not the FA Cup.
Come on United, do it for us, for your manager and you Captain.
Harper |
Carr |
Bramble |
O'Brien |
Babayaro |
Dyer |
Jenas |
Butt |
Robert |
| |
Kluivert |
Shearer |
|
Shearer Vs Carvalho
The Portuguese international isn't fully match fit and although a
class defender, he will be facing a striker determined to get his
hands on the FA Cup, a striker who even at his age, is more than capable
of destroying the best of defences, which Chelsea have. Carvalho isn't
your typical centre-half, he's more in the Woodgate mould. Not exactly
a man mountain or a strong man, he's a cultured, reader of the game
who is comfortable with the ball. If Shearer can ruff him up and get
on top of him, he could come out on top. A fascinating dual and one
that will be key to both sides' chances of progression.
Butt Vs Cole
Cole for me isn't a great player, he's very average, especially in
a Chelsea side, but he's a tryer and can be dangerous as he showed
last season, escaping the attentions of midfield to open the scoring
in our 2-1 win over the Pensioners. Just how fit Butt is, remains
to be seen, but it will be his job to stop the former Hammer.
Carr Vs Duff
The Republic of Ireland team-mates will be well aware of each others
game which could see them canceling out one an other. Duff is a great
player on his day however, unlike Robben, he doesn't terrorize and
torment from the first till the final whistle, he's an explosive winger
and plays in fits and starts. That will give Carr and his team-mates
an opportunity to limit his impact.
Bramble Vs Kezman
Kezman hasn't exactly set the League alight after arriving with a
big reputation and has looked way out of his depth whenever I've seen
him play (Chelsea fans will point to the limited opportunities he
has had) but he has 3 goals in 3 games against United. Bramble did
very well against him last season in our double header against PSV
and the Toon defender will have to get at him early, low in confidence,
a few crunching (but clean) tackles could see him disappear.
| NUFC Squad News &
Pre-Match Reaction |
Alan Shearer on the match:
"We know we haven't done ourselves justice in the last few games
and we should be higher in the league.
"But we knew a win over Heerenveen and another against Chelsea and
everything in the garden will seem rosy again."
United squad:
Given, Caig, Carr, Hughes, Taylor, Babayaro, Boumsong, Bramble, O'Brien,
Ramage, Dyer, Ambrose, jenas, Butt, Milner, Robert, N'Zogbia, Shearer,
Kluivert, Ameobi.
| Chelsea Squad News
& Pre-Match Reaction |
Jose Mourinho on the match:
"The most important trophy we can win is the league - The Premiership.
"The title is the one we most desire and Roman Abramovich knows this.
"In order to win the Champions League, it is necessary to have some
luck, like I had myself in Manchester. "And the Cup arrives - we wait
for Newcastle. Perhaps we will lose in Newcastle.
"I will go with the second team.
"I do not have supermen. "I do not respect the FA Cup because in England
there is no respect for Chelsea, they don't value us. We do not get
the same rest between games that Manchester and Arsenal enjoy.
Chelsea squad:
Cech, Cudicini, Ferreira, Pidgeley, Johnson, Bridge, Gallas, Carvalho,
Watt, Makelele, Geremi, Jarosik, Smertin, Tiago, Duff, Cole, Morais,
Kezman, Gudjohnsen.
 Mark
Halsey
Hasley was the referee in our last home game - that 1-1 draw with
Charlton Athletic 2 weeks ago in which the official had a fairly uneventful
game.
I'm fairly optimistic about this one, I don't know why, but I am.
I'm going for a 2-1 win. Big Al and Kluivert to grab
the goals that sends us through to the Quarter-Finals of the FA Cup.
Howay the Toon! |
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