Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin (0) Vs Newcastle United (2) |
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Date:
Thursday 30th September 2004
Kick Off: 7.45pm BST
Venue: Ramat Gan Stadium
Ref: Julian Rodriguez Santiago (Spain)
Comp: UEFA Cup 1st Rnd 2nd Leg |
| Match Preview
In Association With Toon
Ale |
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A Trip Into The Unknown...
Newcastle's passage into the group stages of the UEFA Cup should be
ensured tonight in Tel Aviv but it won't be easy, without incident
and as ever with the Toon, drama. Sakhnin's sole game plan at St.
James' Park 2 weeks ago was to kick and destroy. They did the kicking
but they didn't destroy what was earned. A 2-0 lead and I can't see
that sorry bunch being capable of beating us by 3 clear goals.
As always however where our club is concerned we will have to be cautious.
Will they kick again? It's dead on certs. Sakhnin's eccentric manager,
Eyal Lachman, has already said his side will "fight for every
ball". Translated to you and I, this means Toon shin-pads will
be in for a testing night. What we mustn't do, which we did in the
home leg, is retaliate. The last thing we need is for others to join
Nicky Butt in earning a European suspension.
What Souness will be looking for is a professional, over-and-done-with
performance from our lot with no injuries ahead of Sunday's visit
to St. Andrews. An early goal will no doubt silence what will be an
excited crowd, reported to reach 25,000 plus at the Ramat Gan Stadium
and that must be the aim. Kill the tie early, play out the game and
get the hell out of there.
With one eye on the visit to Birmingham City, it will be interesting
to see who Souness will pick. Surely James Milner is good for a start.
And what of Laurent Robert. Will he once again find himself on the
bench? It's reported that Big Al will play some part. His experience
and leadership and of course, battling skills will be needed and another
game to get his partnership going with Patrick Kluivert can only benefit
our League program.
Craig Bellamy appears to be an injury doubt, why risk him? Hopefully
he will sit this one out. Lee Bowyer could have been sitting this
one out had he received a red card in the first leg, which he so easily
could have done. A mature, intelligent game from him in midfield will
go along way to ensuring a comfortable night. Lets hope he keeps his
head.
Likely Lineup:
Given |
Carr |
O'Brien |
Elliott |
Bernard |
Milner |
Jenas |
Bowyer |
Robert |
| |
Shearer |
Kluivert |
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Verdict:
Surely, not even Newcastle United could mess this one up? Well, we
are famous for doing the unpredictable, unexpected and more often
than not, the unthinkable. If we keep our heads, play our football
and not stoop to their gamesmanship levels however, we should bury
this lot once and for all. Lets hope so, because I for one enjoy these
European nights and after reaching the Semis last Season, I'd love
it if we went one better and actually...nah, better not even think
about the shiny stuff. Good luck Graeme, the lads and to the Toon
Army especially.
| NUFC Squad News &
Pre-Match Reaction |
Graeme Souness on the match:
"We don't want to get caught up in any of that argy-bargy like we
did in the first leg. We don't want to be caught up in non-football
stuff, which is what happened a fortnight ago, especially in the second
half.
"I think it will be more of the same from them because that is how
they play and they got some joy from it in the first leg, because
we reacted to it.
"We know what to expect, we know what they will be about, so we've
got to keep our wits about us and cope with it.
"They will try and prevent us from playing football, they will not
want a free flowing football match, so they will stop that at every
opportunity. Hopefully, we will have a strong referee who will take
charge of the game and give us some protection.
"At Blackburn, the main priority was always going to be staying in
the Premiership, not competing in Europe. That is not the case at
Newcastle United.
"The club wants to do well in this competition because it is capable
of winning it. I have a squad here which is large enough and which
has enough quality to have a long run in Europe as well as challenge
at the top of the Premiership.
"European football is different to the way we play in the Premiership.
It is more cat-and-mouse. But good players can work that and do well."
United squad:
Given, Harper, Carr, Elliott, Hughes, Taylor, O'Brien, Ramage, Bernard,
Ambrose, Bellamy, Bowyer, Brittain, Jenas, Kluivert, Milner, Robert,
Shearer.
| Sakhnin Squad News &
Pre-Match Reaction |
Sakhnin squad:
Murambadoro, Danan, Elyahu, Etchi, Genaiem, Kasum, Masudi, Rabbah,
Agoye, Arshid, Khalaila, Shalaata, Saleh, Hamud, Salameh, Edri, Hillik,
Cleber.
Sakhnin's manager, Eyal Lachman on the match:
"Napolean
once said that in war there is the leader who convinces those alongside
him that they will always be winnersr.
"In football, like war, it is not always the machine or the talent
which counts but the type of people at the helm. I appreciate Shearer's
personality and I hope that a number of Israeli players can go on
to enjoy an inspirational career like his.
"He is a fine example to footballers all over the world and any team
which can stop him can stop Newcastle.
"Shearer has proved himself not just as a great footballer but also
as the type of character every team needs to enjoy success at the
highest level.
"I marvel at how he leads his fellow players. In Israel, the average
age of footballers is 28 but in Europe the best players don't reach
their peak until they are 30. Just look at Alan Shearer - he is still
performing week in, week out at the highest level.
"Foreign players in the Israeli league have been far more successful
than home grown players and that is why our clubs have not enjoyed
success in Europe.
"But most Israeli teams can only dream of playing at St. James's Park.
We have done that and we take great confidence from the result in
England.
"We will play our usual game. "We will fight for every ball and stop
the English attack.
"My players want to win, but let's not exaggerate, any result is acceptable
against the English empire.
"The most important thing is that my players enjoy themselves and
represent Israel with honour." |
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