31st May 2005
Q: With Kluivert, Milner, Carr and Butt brought in during
the Summer of 2004, what were your expectations at the start of the
season?
My expectations were to reclaim the Champions League spot that we
missed out on in 2003/04 and to win a domestic or European trophy.
Q: Many back then at the time were calling for Sir Bobby's
head - were you one of them?
I was. I felt although Bobby had been a fantastic servant to us in
the past, and had given the club some of its greatest memories in
recent history, he had lost control of the dressing room and the team
selections were puzzling to say the least. Another reason I felt he
should go was the exclusion of Patrick Kluivert, though with hindsight
that may have been a good decision. One point I feel I must make though
is that Bobby should have been 'moved upstairs' in a dignified fashion
pre-season rather than disrupting the team and hurling Bobby out a
few games in.
Q: We had our usual great start to the season and the usual
happened - Sir Bobby was sacked a few games in; who was your preferred
choice of manager to replace him?
I think to answer this question properly, we need to be realistic.
It is simple to say Ottmar Hitzfeld or some other global managerial
success, but would they really want to come to us? I think Freddie
Shepherd had the right idea in mind when he approached some managers
(O'Leary and Allardyce) but others were a bit shocking (Souness and
Bruce). My ideal scenario would have been for Freddie to not have
made a panic appointment like Souness, and installed John Carver as
a strictly temporary replacement until the right man was found, even
if Carver stayed until the end of the season.
Q: Your initial thoughts on Graeme Souness' appointment?
Disbelief. I couldn't believe Shepherd had seen any positive qualities
in Souness that would warrant him being appointed. I mentally looked
back at his constant record of failure at his previous clubs and his
repeated bust-ups with players and was furious that such a poor manager
could be appointed to what was a decent side.
Q: And now, 7 months into the job?
He has been better than I expected, but still rather poor. Some very
strange tactics and very poor results against teams we really should
be beating. The only real ray of light has been the emergence of some
great young talent towards the end of the season and the two cup runs.
Q: Do you back him or do you want him out?
I want him out at the end of this season. I know if he was sacked
a few games in, Freddie would make another rush appointment and the
vicious circle would start all over again. In my opinion, if Souness
was allowed to stay for much longer he could cause damage to the club
which is irreparable.
Q: United dipped back into the transfer market in January
and brought in Boumsong, Faye and Babayaro, how do you think each
has performed?
Boumsong - Very impressive. Commanding presence in the area and was
one of the few players to emerge out of the FA Cup Semi Final with
any credit. Our team will be much stronger in Europe (if we get there)
with him in it. Faye - Fairly average so far. Can't say his passing
has impressed me a great deal. However, I may need do see more of
him to make a proper judgement. Babayaro - Promising start, but failed
to deliver. Very much like Souness really. Again, I may need to see
a bit more of him, but he certainly hasn't endeared himself to me
too much.
Q: And those signed in the Summer?
Kluivert - Unfairly maligned in my opinion. I think he has performed
better than people have made out. I'll elaborate on him later. Butt
- Again, I think he started well but was shocking in the Semi Final.
More on him as well later. Carr - Excellent buy. Been very impressive
down the right, with the only notable disaster the 4th goal against
Sporting Lisbon away, which was due to a shocking lack of concentration
on his part. Otherwise very good. Milner - Showed some promise, but
needs to work on his crossing. If Dyer is to be playing up alongside
Shearer next season, Milner may get the chance to impress at right
'wing' (although Souness won't call it that).
Q: Who is your player of the season?
Shay Given. Always consistent, and one of the best goalkeepers in
the Premiership. I think he has done incredibly well, especially considering
some of the defensive performance from Newcastle recently. Arsenal
away comes to mind.
Q: And who in your opinion, has been the worst?
Andy O'Brien, I feel really sorry for him, because he puts 100% effort
in every game unlike some of our team, but he simply isn't good enough.
Nicky Butt's woeful performance against Man U warrants inclusion as
well I think.
Q: With the likes of Taylor, Ramage, Milner, Jenas, Ambrose,
N'Zogbia and Chopra, many believe we have a good crop of youngsters
there, do you expect them to make it at Newcastle?
I agree we do have a good crop of youngsters here, but I don't think
all of them will make it, especially in the current footballing climate.
I think Milner, N'Zogbia and Jenas will all make it here, but I think
Chopra is more suited to lower league football (as he proved at Barnsley).
With the news that Ramage is looking elsewhere, I can't see him being
here next season either.
Q: What was the most disappointing aspect of the season for
you?
The collapse against Sporting Lisbon. The Manchester United defeat
was, for me, expected, but the way we capitulated in the quarter final
was humiliating and heartbreaking. Typical Newcastle, just when we
thought we could win it they ruined it. I honestly think we could
have won the UEFA Cup if we had beaten Sporting.
Q: And the best?
The wins against Chelsea and Olympiakos. The Chelsea win was just
so unexpected and everything seemed to go well for us that afternoon.
Always nice to get a bit of luck for once. And Olympiakos was just
so much easier than was predicted, and the Olympiakos fans on Newcastle-Online.com
made it so much sweeter.
Q: What in your opinion are our strengths and weaknesses?
Our strengths I think are the ability to surprise everyone. Whether
it is like our win with Chelsea which was incredibly out of the blue,
or our bizarre losses to Norwich and Aston Villa. Our weakness is
the 'stage fright' that we sometimes get in 'big' games. Some obvious
examples are the two FA Cup finals, Marseille away last year and Sporting
Lisbon away this year. We really need to overcome it before we can
win some silverware.
Q: Freddy Shepherd, how do you rate his management of the
club this season in particular?
I think Freddy Shepherd is sometimes unfairly criticised. He always
seems to back his managers with money and usually chooses the most
popular man from the job (bar Souness obviously). I do think he needs
to sort himself out for next season though. Sometimes he talks far
too much in the media and just needs to get on with the job without
expressing his views in the public.
Q: Do you back him or do you want him out?
Back him. There is no other realistic alternative, and I don't feel
you can criticise him too much, as Souness has only his fifth choice
for the job.
Q: Bellamy - would you like to see him back at the club, thoughts
please?
I'm in two minds over this one. On one hand, I appreciate Bellamy
is an absolutely immense player and we play far better when he is
in the team. But then again, I do realise that what he did was wrong
and detrimental to the club. For me its a case of the Toon being possibly
successful over having morals and although it may sound a bit soft,
I don't know what to think.
Q: Bowyer - should he stay or go, thoughts please?
I think he should go, but not due to his behaviour or attitude here,
just due to the fact that I don't think he is a very good player.
If we do have a 'clearout' that some sections have been saying, I
think Bowyer should be on his way out. I think technically he is a
poor player and his disciplinary record is a constant hindrance to
us.
Q: Butt - should he stay or go, thoughts please?
I think he should get another season to prove himself. I have absolutely
no idea how someone who has been so excellent for Man Utd could suddenly
drop in form for us. I thought he was an excellent signing when he
came to us, however I think if Bowyer is allowed to stay, Butt should
be as well.
Q: The enigma of Robert - how do you assess that whole saga?
I think its all about whether or not we can get a replacement or not.
I do admire Robert, but sometimes I think his workrate and accuracy
can be lacking. Assuming N'Zogbia has found his natural role in the
centre of midfield, I don't think we can afford to get rid of Robert
without having an adequate replacement lined up.!
Q: Dyer's refusal to play on the right wing and snub of the
Captain's armband upset many with calls that he should never play
for United again. Since then he has knuckled down and put in some
fine performances. Has he won you over, thoughts please?
He has won me over. Whilst his actions after the Middlesbrough game
were despicable, I think the effort he has put into his performances
after that game, shows his commitment to winning back the fans, and
he has certainly done that for me..
Q: Kluivert - would you have liked the club to have kept him
on?
I would have, purely because he has been our best striker this season
(doesn't take much I know) and also without him and any new additions
our forward line is just depressing. Ameobi is nowhere near the quality
required, and despite forever being a legend in my eyes, Shearer should
be used sparingly.
Q: Which 5 players would you like to see signed in the close-season?
Realistically please.
Luis Boa Morte, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Michael Owen, Javier Saviola
and Carlo Cudicini (if Shay goes). Whilst most of those are fairly
unrealistic, I would be incredibly chuffed if we signed just one of
those.
Q: Your season 2004-05 Toon XI?
Given, Carr, Bramble, Boumsong, Taylor, Dyer, N'Zogbia, Milner, Robert,
Kluivert, Shearer.
Q: Has Shearer, in your opinion, made the right decision to
not retire as he had first planned or the correct one?
I think he's made an incorrect one to be honest. In my opinion, if
he stays on he will burn out exhausted. His form towards the end of
last season was poor and I think it would have been a perfect time
to bow out. I suspect he has given to the media pressure, which is
a shame.
Q: Shepherd has claimed he'd like Big Al to take over from
Souness one day, your thoughts?
Absolutely not. When Souness leaves (sooner rather than later hopefully)
he has to be replaced by an experienced manager who has achieved relative
success in his career. In fact, and this shows how much I object to
it, I would rather have Souness here as manager that Shearer. King
Al is a legend, and I hope he doesn't tarnish that by becoming manager.
Q: Shearer - is he a good or bad Captain?
I think he is the best captain we have. It's obviously something that
means a lot to him, being a supporter of the club but to be honest
I don't think a good or bad captain makes a great deal of difference
towards how the club fare. It's good and bad players which do that.
Q: What should be his role next season?
An occasional player. I hope he breaks the Milburn record, but like
I said earlier, if he plays every single match I cannot see him making
it until the end of the season. I'd also like to see him stay with
us as a coach if he doesn't move on into the media, as long as he
doesn't get into the manager's role.
Q: Aaron Hughes' sale - your thoughts?
Quite disappointing. I think Aaron has been a versatile and reliable
player for us, and has conducted himself well both on and off the
pitch (he could teach some of our players lessons in that department).
So, its always quite sad to see a good servant of the club leave.
Knowing our luck, he'll probably score against us next season.
Q: Finally, what are your expectations for next season, in this moment
in time?
My expectations are for Souness to get sacked and us to flounder in
a mid-table position. I doubt it, but I hope we can win the Intertoto
Cup and progress to the final of one of the three major cups we enter.
35 years and still waiting...
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