21st February 2005
By
Gaz Pearson
What is it with Newcastle United and Cup competitions? Well maybe
that's not a fair question, perhaps the question should be: what is
it with St James Park and Cup competitions? The atmosphere against
Chelsea was electric!!
I was in the lower tier of the Gallowgate yesterday (20/02/04) and
it was booming! Yet it wasn't just the Gallowgate, as it seemed the
whole of SJP was absolutely rocking! The millionaire row in the lap
of the gods must have wondered what hit them? It looked pretty evident
that the Chelsea team did.
Therefore I ask is it any coincidence that Newcastle played their
socks off when the whole of SJP was behind them instead of piling
the pressure with boos and jeers which seems to be the case in many
Premier League home games? Notably the Fulham game which it was disgusting
to see so many fans swarm out of the stadium in their droves with
20 mins left to play! So what we were getting beat? You can't support
the team if you leave!
The team plays well when St. James is a united fortress. Where's the
evidence to support this I hear you ask? Does anyone recall the 3-2
win over Barcelona a few years back? What about the 1-0 victory over
the mighty Juventus two years ago? St James was electric on both these
nights and the results cannot be purely coincidental can they?
I am not saying that all Premiership home games are lacking the full
support of the Toon faithful, but it seems in recent years that the
atmosphere inside SJP has dwindled. It was great to see it recaptured
against Chelsea. The cheer for the Patrick Kluivert goal nearly shifted
the snow clouds hovering above the ground!
I am well aware there are many others who agree about the atmosphere
inside SJP but what is there we can do about it? Well here are a couple
of suggestions: Create a standing area inside SJP? I wonder how many
would be in favour? If this is done then reduce ticket price for this
area which would allow many fans who are currently priced out by the
SJP regime to attend. However, would this create a loophole for the
hooliganism of the 70's and 80's to return? I am not saying that it
would in Newcastle but if other teams followed suit it could be a
problem. If so then it isn't a good idea. If you have any other ideas
please contact me via email, I would be interested to see what other
fans want to see done on this issue.
However, standing up in SJP cannot be the only solution. The fact
is we need to make more of an effort like we did against Chelsea in
the games when lesser teams arrive in Toon, no offence here, but we
should start with Bolton on Sunday. It sounds stupid but do you really
think there will be the same atmosphere as a Cup game? I know the
game is of less significance but this is the mentality we have to
get out of us. If we treated every home game like the Chelsea game
it would be us topping the table and not the rich kids from South
London. We need to make St James Park a fortress again. Although this
season the Premiership may well be nothing to write home about for
us, we must build for next season.
It starts in the stands and we must use our influence to get the best
from our club. If we want to be the best club in the country we have
to stop saying we are the best fans and actually be the best fans.
So lets have more of the atmosphere like in the Chelsea game and less
like the Fulham and Charlton game. If we do I predict we will have
more success in the League and not just in Cup competitions. |
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