26th February 2005
By
Jody Jamieson
We're into the last 16 of the UEFA Cup and Olympiakos await. It won't
be easy but it's a tie we must be positive in as we have a great chance
to reach the Semi-Finals again. What a difference a week makes though.
An hour into the game in Heerenveen most were apprehensive and believing
that we were just playing out time before major rebuilding took place
in the summer. Then knocking the Dutch side and Chelsea out of the
UEFA and FA Cup respectively has suddenly turned a season that was
destined for negative press into yet another chance to dream of a
possible trophy. It's never dull here!
It's gone almost unnoticed that we've only lost one game this calendar
year, against Arsenal at Highbury as well, as the negative vibes coming
from the dressing room and stands at St James Park have overshadowed
a fairly good run. Some uninspiring performances have still brought
some good wins. They always say the mark of a good side is a side
that can win while playing badly, so perhaps it's time to be a bit
more positive. I for one have been guilty of negative reports and
articles in recent times, but the facts don't lie and we're slowly
but surely becoming a tough side to beat. Even when we're not playing
well (Heerenveen away was the prime example) we're still picking up
the results and Souness must take some of the praise for making us
a more resolute side.
One thing I've been wondering about after watching the last 3 games
is the effect that Souness is having on Robert. I've been annoyed
by the treatment of Robert in recent months from Souness, but the
boss has been fair in giving him his chance, and Robert has responded
with good performances in the past week. Perhaps giving Robert a point
to prove has made him a more determined player and thus we're enjoying
watching what seem like the Robert from the middle of last season.
It's a bit early to say really, but the early signs of Robert's latest
run in the side have been very positive indeed. We'll just wait and
see how the latest chapter of this wacky tale continues.
Another who seems to have had a kick up the arse is Bramble. I have
no idea what has been done in terms to motivate or inspire Bramble,
but the first hour in Heerenveen apart, Bramble has been fairly solid
in recent times. Boumsong playing beside him has helped, but there's
only so much he can do to make Bramble a better player. That Chelsea
performance may go down as Brambles finest hour (r hour and a half)
in a Newcastle shirt to date, and without Boumsong beside him on Thursday,
Bramble still gave a very good account of himself. People seem to
forget that the art of defending is a difficult art to master at such
a young age, and if our number 19 continues to improve in the way
he has recently, we'll perhaps finally see the player that convinced
Sir Bobby to shell out 6 million pounds for him.
Souness can be pleased with himself right now. He set out in Heerenveen
with a lop sided formation but made the change that won the game.
He realised the changes that had to be made and got the win. Kept
the same formation that worked in the last half hour in Holland against
Chelsea and picked up the win. Then left out an under performing Jenas
(A move that Robson was so reluctant to make last season) and we put
in a very assured performance last night. Things are once again bright
on Tyneside.
Throw in the fact that Souness tried to sign Solano and the link with
Michael Owen in the summer and there's reason to believe that perhaps
Souness can do the job. I myself still hold a lot of reservations
but for the moment we're looking like a side with confidence and the
belief that was missing towards the end of 2004. As I've said the
stats don't lie and this is a results industry. For the moment Souness
is pulling off the results and the more he continues to do this, the
more likely we are to get off his back and give him our full support.
One thing that could work in his favour is his ability to pull of
a cup victory, despite league form. He's done it with many teams,
and even his largely uninspiring Blackburn side won the then Worthington
Cup. We're at the stage now that we'd sell our souls for a trophy,
and if Souness can find the formula to win that elusive trophy, how
many of us would be happy to see it, even if it were to the detriment
of our league form? I wouldn't call it an enviable position (far from
it) but our league placing means we can focus fully on the cups. The
league is the bread and butter but we're pretty much out of the race
for European qualification via the table and there's no chance of
relegation. During Robson's unsuccessful attempt to break the duck
we were always looking to finish in the top 4 of the league, and were
there or there abouts for his last 3 full seasons, but our crap league
form may come as a blessing in terms of picking up that elusive trophy.
I hope no-one confuses that last paragraph as a claim that being shite
in the league this season is a blessing, but it could work in our
favour. You never know. I look at the FA Cup draw and I'm not overly
confident of Arsenal's chances of reaching the semis. If I were Arsene
Wenger I'd not be looking forward to the visit to Bramall Lane, and
if they progress they'll face a team who've had their number this
season in Bolton. Manchester United should progress but Southampton
could shock them if they beat Brentford, although I'm not holding
my breath. The cup is there for the taking if both or even one of
the big two crash and burn before the semis. We have to feel confident
about our game against Tottenham or Forest, but it'll not be easy
if we play Spurs. Very good side who on their day can give anyone
a game. I think Forest have a great chance but I couldn't see us slipping
up if they get through.
The UEFA Cup is still full of good sides, but none that should scare
us. There's a few I'd like to avoid if we beat the Greek side. AZ
Alkmaar and Villareal spring to mind, but we have nothing to fear.
We beat some good sides last year such as PSV and Basel, and should
be determined to go one better and reach the final. If we do then
it's a one off game that could go either way. Regardless of which
of the 15 remaining sides we'd face. One thing that I like about this
years UEFA Cup is there's probably not a single side left that you'd
write off, but there's also not a side who you'd say are clear favourites
to take the Cup. It could go any one of 16 ways. Let's hope that for
once it's ours.
One of these years it will be our year. Let's hope that it's 2005!
Reasons to be cheerful? Bloody right. |
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