Newcastle United Vs Tottenham Hotspur |
|
Date:
Saturday 21st August 2004
Kick Off: 3.00pm UK
Venue: St. James' Park
Ref: Mike Dean
Comp: Premiership |
| Match Preview
In Association With Toon
Ale |
|
Home Sweet Home
After a pretty horrid week which saw one of our own players being
booed at our ground while on International duty,
that same player being forced to apologise for blatantly taking the
piss out of the club (a meek apology I might add) and the sale of
our prized defender Jonathan Woodgate to Real Madrid, we could be
forgiven for forgetting about this game.
A game that couldn't have come quick enough. This past week hasn't
been about football but about politics and money. A first home game
of the Season against a team we usually do well against is the perfect
medicine for our damaged hearts. Are we up for it? Damn right we are.
We've had to wait a long time since that awful day against Wolves
to redeem ourselves for that dark day in our history.
And redeem ourselves we must. After letting all 3 points slip in typical
Toon fashion at the Riverside last Saturday it's imperative we make
sure we grab them this time out against Spurs. A win will raise our
spirits and that of the players.
A fascinating game awaits
Probable team:
| Given |
| Carr
Hughes O'Brien Bernard |
| Milner
Butt Jenas Robert |
| Shearer
Bellamy |
Alan Shearer Vs Noureddine Naybet
I presume Santini will put the Spurs new man on Big Al given his experience,
if so he's in for a real Premiership awakening. Forget Cisse - Shearer
is what the Premiership is all about. He'll know all about this League
after this match. Vastly experienced of course and a cracking alround
defender so he won't be phased and will relish the challenge but if
he's not prepared to tough it out with arguably the strongest centre-forward
he'll have faced, Naybet will be found wanting. Naybet's biggest asset
his his reading of the game. I get the impression he doesn't like
the rough stuff having graced La Liga with his laid back approach
and I can see Shearer testing the Premiership new boy. Could be explosive,
could be the decisive battle.
Nicky Butt Vs Sean Davis
Davis is very similar to Butt and a fine player and will relish playing
against a player who he could learn so much from. Where as Butt likes
to stay on his feet Davis tends to lunge in and that could see the
young midfielder lose his head and get himself into trouble. He'll
work his socks off and cover the ground but if his midfield is being
overrun he will disappear. Butt has the experience, class and know-how
and I fully expect him to win this battle.
Laurent Robert Vs The SJP Crowd/Jacques
Santini
The last time Robert played at St. James' Park he was booed off and
has a love-hate relationship with the crowd. With the crowd behind
him however he could do to Spurs what he did the last time he faced
them at SJP - a game in which he scored two of the greatest goals
ever seen at the Old Gallowgate. That is Robert for you. One minute
he is hiding, the next he is popping 35-yard goals into the back of
the net. Spurs will be very wary of him. Our Frenchman also has an
added incentive to do well. Santini was of course the French national
boss who constantly snubbed wor Larry. I smell revenge, I smell a
point or two to prove, I sense a fired up Robert. Be afraid Spurs,
be very afraid.
Jermaine Defoe
& Fredi Kanoute Vs Our Back Four
Little and large up against a patched up back four which could see
the return of Andy O'Brien in place of Robbie Elliott, will play a
significant part in the outcome of this match. On paper the front
two of Spurs could tear us apart but with the enigmatic Kanoute he
could simply disappear and Defoe, well he could be bullied out of
it. Either way those at the back will have to be on their toes and
down the flanks we'll have to cut out those incoming crosses because
kanoute has a fine leap on him. Defoe will twist and turn and use
that pace and low centre of gravity of his to cause damage. He's like
a snake. Slippy with a venoumous bite. Remember the goal he scored
against us at Upton Park two Season's back where he outfoxed Dabizas?
Not a difficult feat I know but he has proved he can make mugs of
much better markers. Not frightengly potent as a pair but individually
they could cause untold problems - especially against a make-shift
back foure. This area of the pitch is the key for Spurs because everywhere
else we are much stronger. If we push them back and cut off the servive
we should be OK.
The Toon Army Vs NUFC
Lastly and most importantly, the team do not want to be fighting boos,
dissent or whinging from the stands as well as a Spurs side looking
to impress their new manager. If we get right behind the lads from
the off and roar the team on it will make all the difference. When
we are at high pitch our team play with swagger, pace, power and above
all else - spirit. After the week we've had that's what we need. Spirit.
Forget Woodgate, forget Dyer - just give those lads everything you
have to support them. If Dyer starts or comes on - get behind him
as well. It's your duty. We'll be demanding the 3 points so the lads
have every right to demand our full and all out support. If they score
or equalise or if we have a passage of play that is sloppy - just
turn up the volume even more. Do this and we will win.
| NUFC Squad News &
Pre-Match Reaction |
Bobby Robson on the match:
"Kieron Dyer will be in our squad tomorrow but I don't see how I can
change things after the way the team performed at Middlesbrough.
"Nicky Butt has a bit of a sore foot after Wednesday night but
my medical people tell me he should be OK.
"But Lee Bowyer only returned to training today and he's not
ready, while Darren Ambrose and Titus Bramble are still unfit.
"Andy O'Brien is back and it's possible I will bring him back."
United squad:
Given, Harper, Carr, Hughes, O'Brien, Bernard, Elliott, Milner, Dyer,
Jenas, Butt, Robert, Shearer, Bellamy, Kluivert, Ameobi.
| Tottenham Squad News
& Pre-Match Reaction |
Anthony Gardner makes a return to the Spurs squad having missed out
against Liverpool but Mouricio Tarricco misses out through injury.
Midfielder Mark Hughes has been added to the squad.
Spurs squad:
Paul Robinson, Kasey Keller, Phil Ifil, Anthony Gardner, Ledley King,
Noureddine Naybet, Erik Edman, Thimothee Atouba, Jamie Redknapp, Michael
Brown, Pedro Mendes, Mark Hughes, Sean Davis, Johnnie Jackson, Jermain
Defoe, Fredi Kanoute, Edson Silva.
Jacques Santini on the match:
"Bobby has enjoyed a magnificent career and he is one of the
sport's big names. He is professional in every sense of the word.
"I'm very impressed with what he has done and that he is still
coaching at such a high level at his age. It will be a pleasure to
meet him tomorrow.
"But it is important that we beat Newcastle. It will be hard
for me and the team to come away with victory, especially at St James'
Park which is a magnificent stadium.
"I watched the England match on TV and was very impressed with
what I saw of the ground. The atmosphere was very passionate and made
a big impression on me.
"But we want to build on the draw with Liverpool last weekend
by beating Newcastle and we intend to do that, no matter who their
manager is.
"Alan Shearer is a good striker for Newcastle and a very important
leader. I've followed his career since he played against Argentina
in St Etienne.
"I was the stadium director there and that was one of the most
beautiful games I've seen and was very entertaining, although it was
not so good for Shearer because England lost on penalties.
"But that match had everything and I was particularly impressed
with the way Shearer performed, and of course he scored a goal.''
Mike Dean: Toon supporters may remember the Wirral official
was last in charge of a United game at the Reebok last Season when
we got beat 1-0 against Bolton. A game decided a dubious goal when
Bolton's Henrik Pedersen seemed to man handle Toon debut boy Steven
Taylor before lobbing Given from an acute angle. Bobby was lived that
day and questioned the decision to allow the goal. We were also lived
that day, given our pathetic performance.
| Last Meeting (at the St.
James' Park) |
NUFC 4-0 Spurs (Premiership: 13th of December 2003)
This game will be forever remembered for the two world-class strikes
form Laurent Robert, two strikes that brought the
house down. United went on to register a further two goals from Alan
Shearer, taking his goal count against Spurs to 13, in a
thumping 4-0 win. The scoreline flattered Newcastle that day with
neither team playing particularly well but Spurs simply couldn't handle
the on fire Robert. Toon supporters will also remember Woodgate failing
to reappear for the second half after picking up an injury...
The team that day was:
Given, Hughes, Woodgate (O'Brien 45min), Bramble, Bernard, Dyer, Jenas,
Speed (Solano 80min), Robert (Ambrose 79min), Shearer, Ameobi. Subs
not used: Harper, LuaLua.
| Last 5 Meetings (at St. James'
Park - all competitions) |
| Date |
Score |
Comp |
Toon Scorers |
| 13/12/2003 |
Won 4-0 |
Premiership |
Robert (2), Shearer (2) |
| 29/12/2002 |
Won 2-1 |
Premiership |
Speed, Shearer |
| 21/10/2001 |
Lost 2-0 |
Premiership |
Shearer (2, 1 pen), Robert, Dabizas |
| 26/8/2000 |
Won 2-0 |
Premiership |
Speed, Cardone |
| 22/12/1999 |
Won 6-1 |
FA Cup R3 Replay |
Speed, Dabizas, Dyer, Ferguson, Shearer
(2, 1 pen) |
| |
Newcastle United wins |
Draws |
Tottenham wins |
| League |
41 |
28 |
51 |
| FA Cup |
4 |
2 |
2 |
| League Cup |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Total |
46 |
30 |
55 |
| Form Guide (League &
Cups) |
| Newcastle |
Tottenham |
| Opposition |
V |
Result |
Opposition |
V |
Result |
| Middlesbrough |
A |
D 2-2 |
Liverpool |
H |
D 1-1 |
| Liverpool |
A |
D 1-1 |
Wolverhampton
Wanderers |
A |
W 2-0 |
| Southampton |
A |
D 3-3 |
Blackburn Rovers |
H |
W 1-0 |
| Wolverhampton
Wanderers |
H |
D
1-1 |
Aston
Villa |
A |
L
1-0 |
| Marseille |
A |
L 2-0 |
Arsenal |
H |
D 2-2 |
| Manchester City |
A |
L 1-0 |
Bolton Wanderers |
A |
L 2-0 |
| Chelsea |
H |
W 2-1 |
Manchester City |
H |
D 1-1 |
| Marseille |
H |
D 0-0 |
Everton |
A |
L 3-1 |
| Aston Villa |
A |
D 0-0 |
Chelsea |
H |
L 1-0 |
| PSV Eindhoven |
H |
W 2-1 |
Southampton |
A |
L 1-0 |
| *Last
10 matches in all competitions. Keys: V
= Venue L = Loss W
= Win D = Draw |
If the Toon turn up and the crowd get behind the lads I can see Spurs
coming away with nothing but a good old smacking...but with Newcastle
you just don't know and Spurs could easily come away with all 3 points.
However I'll stick my neck out and go for a 4-1 home win
with Shearer, Bellamy, Dyer and Stephen Carr to score the goals. Defoe
to grab Spurs's consolation. I've got a good feeling about this game
given the week we've had and the fact that the last time the lads
played at home (in front of a full house), they got booed off. Lets
get right behind them. |
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