Newcastle United Vs Chelsea |
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Date:
Sunday 15th May 2005
Kick Off: 3.00pm BST
Venue: St. James' Park
Ref: Howard Webb
Comp: Premiership |
| Match Preview
In Association With Toon
Ale |
|
By
Ally
The final game of a poor season comes on Sunday against the newly
crowned Champions, Chelsea. I can't imagine there being much football
being played, with the most interesting aspect surely to be the crowd
reaction towards Souness, Shepherd and many of the players? It's been
a season to forget, but unless the fans make their feelings clear
I can see next season being the same.
Injury problems continue, with Butt, Dyer, Elliott, Hughes and Bowyer
all injured, while Ameobi is suspended following last weeks silly
sending off. We'll see Hughes and Elliott here next season, but in
the cases of Butt, Dyer and Bowyer, and to a lesser extent Ameobi,
we may have seen the last of these players. I expect them to come
onto the centre circle at the end of the game to applaud the fans
though – quite what reaction they'll get is anyone's guess.
Anyway, back to the match. Michael Chopra returns to the squad following
his successful loan spell at Barnsley where he scored a credible 18
goals in League One and earned good reviews there. He's been offered
a new contract and Souness has said that he'll be on the bench tomorrow.
I thought he may have got a start, but obviously the manager feels
he's better off with Kluivert and Shearer up front. Is it the last
we'll see of Kluivert as well? Paddy and Big Al have had a strange
partnership up front. Sometimes they look dangerous but other times
they look static and predictable. Let's hope we see a refreshed Shearer
hoping to make one final mark at the end of a disappointing season
for him.
In defence, there are apparent fitness doubts over Carr and Taylor.
I hope they both manage to make it, but the return to fitness of Bramble
and Babayaro softens this and Ramage can fill in at right back. Souness
hasn't mentioned that they are ruled out though so I expect Carr to
play and probably Taylor on the bench. Chelsea are great going forward
and if Robben and Duff play we'll have to be on our guard as they're
brilliant players. Even if they don't play, Cole and Gudjohnsen will
fill in – great!
As far as midfield is concerned, Faye missed the last game through
injury and is still a doubt for Sunday but Jenas is back to play if
he loses his battle. N'Zogbia, Milner and Ambrose will continue in
what is possibly their last chance to impress Souness before new signings
come in. I don't imagine any of the three being in the first team
come August, but they'll be in the squad and have promising futures.
It's a nothing game really for both clubs but our fans deserve something
to smile about and the lads should be up for this to give us a final
day win. Chelsea are a quality side, but we've beaten them already
this season and that should give us confidence.
I haven't mentioned Robert yet but it is likely to be his last involvement
at SJP. I'll be sad to see him go, unlike the others, he's been a
great player for us but unless a new manager comes in he won't be
here in August. I hope the fans show their appreciation for what he's
done at this club by giving him a good reception. Despite what Souness
and others say, I think he really loves the club and will be sad to
leave.
Given |
Carr |
Boumsong |
Bramble |
Babayaro |
Ambrose |
Faye |
Jenas |
N'Zogbia |
| |
Kluivert |
Shearer |
|
Alan Shearer vs. Ricardo Carvalho – John Terry's
injury leaves Carvalho as the main defender for Chelsea. He's a player
I really admire and he is a major player in the best defence in the
league. He's strong and quick and will give Shearer a hard time. This
time last year Shearer managed to get on top of an aging Desailly,
but sadly I can't see him getting a sniff out of Carvalho.
Jermaine Jenas vs. Frank Lampard – Jenas has just
returned from injury and has had a poor season. He started well but
he's played a lot of games and has suffered from 'muscle fatigue'
as Souness calls it. Lampard is a brilliant player and is what Jenas
should be striving to become. He doesn't lose many battles and I can't
see him making an exception here.
Jean-Alain Boumsong vs. Eidur Gudjohnsen - I've said
before that I'm a big fan of Boumsong and together with Bramble he
forms a good, solid partnership that Chelsea failed to break down
in the FA Cup. Gudjohnsen is a very clever player and the defence
will have to be wary of his vision. I'm confident Boumsong can come
out on top though.
| NUFC Squad News &
Pre-Match Reaction |
Manager Graeme Souness on the match:
"We're going to have a guard of honour - it's deserved.
"They've been absolutely superb this season.
"They were getting criticised for winning games 1-0 and for not being
attractive enough, but that's all changed as they've got confidence
from winning those games. They're worthy winners of the championship.
"They've been the most consistent team.
"We hope to give them a third run for their money at St. James' Park
with the crowd behind us.
"We've not given our fans much to shout about over the last six weeks.
We appreciate their support and we feel we've not given them what
they wanted, which was a place in a cup final."
United squad:
Given, Harper, Carr, Babayaro, Boumsong, Bramble, O'Brien, Taylor,
Ramage, Faye, Jenas, Milner, N'Zogbia, Ambrose, Robert, Shearer, Kluivert,
Chopra.
| Chelsea Squad News
& Pre-Match Reaction |
Jose Mourinho on the match:
Coming soon...
Chelsea squad:
Cech, Cudicini, Johnson, Gallas, Huth, Carvalho, Smertin, Tiago, Lampard,
Cole, Jarosik, Makelele, Gudjohnsen, Geremi, Kezman, Forrsell, Grant.
I can see a score draw here, 1-1. I can't see us
winning, but for some delusional reason I can't see us losing either.
It'll be tough but lets hope the players are up for giving the fans
something to cheer about. Boos will probably ring out from those that
can be bothered to stay at the end, for the rest, the empty seats
speak a thousand words. The team will be different next season, lets
just hope results will be better. Have a good pre-season all!
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