11th Febuary 2005
By
Craig Hope
The bandwagon of anti Graeme Souness opinion that has emerged over
the past two weeks is, in my mind, a disgrace. We must back our manager
writes Craig Hope.
I realise that in writing this I am possibly going against the vogue
that has become the status quo amongst Newcastle supporters in recent
weeks. But I believe that we must lend our full support to Souness
and that to criticise the Scot on what he has achieved thus far is
bordering on the ridiculous.
Even upon his appointment Graeme Souness was not afforded the undoubted
backing of the Toon Army. His arrival was met with claims that the
ex-Blackburn boss was indeed the only man who wanted the job and that
Freddie Shepherd's previous attempts to lure Sam Allardyce or Steve
Bruce had been unsuccessful. These claims may in fact be correct.
It cannot be argued however that Souness made an impressive start
to his Tyneside reign. Imposing Uefa Cup victories that marked Patrick
Kluivert's emergence as a potential Toon hero were coupled with a
return of 11 points out of a possible 15 in the league. The team looked
solid, together and capable of grinding out results. Our midfield
was in some quarters described as 'steelier' and 12 goals in 5 league
games demonstrated that our attacking options had not been sacrificed.
I do realise however that since these much heralded opening five games
we have indeed played another 16 league matches. Our form has not
been good and our performances anything but attractive.
There is an adage in football that goes by the way of 'play your best
eleven and choose a system or formation from there'. Sir Alf Ramsey
subscribed to this notion during the 1966 World Cup. Prior to the
tournament there were calls for Ramsey to be sacked – his formations
and team selections were not in keeping with press expectations. Faith
was however shown towards the England boss, and, faith was, ultimately
rewarded. Comparisons of Graeme Souness with the great Alf Ramsey
may have some readers jumping out of their seat – believe me, I'm
not attempting to do this, it is merely the theory behind it that
I am drawing upon.
So, can it not be argued that our boss has not in fact been fielding
his strongest eleven in recent weeks? The crux of supporter's quarrel
lies with his midfield selection. I myself have penned many a word
bemoaning the decision to play four central midfield players with
no width. However, upon closer inspection, I ask you would playing
Laurent Robert and a recognised right winger really make a difference?
I, personally, do not think so.
Laurent Robert rewarded Souness' faith at Highbury with a performance
that was nothing short of disgraceful – never have I been more annoyed
with an individual with regards to laziness and wastefulness. But
in Laurent Robert the anti-Souness brigade have their prized weapon.
Who can forget the jeers directed towards the winger last season and
even as recently as December following his introduction against Portsmouth
and subsequent lacklustre display? Laurent Robert is not good enough
over ninety minutes – Souness recognises this and so restricts the
La Reunion islander's appearance to the final half an hour. You read
some reports that we miss his goals, crosses, set pieces etc. Any
supporter who is honest enough will admit that even for the final
period of Sir Bobby's reign the Frenchman was not producing the goods
and was fast becoming a liability to the team.
This leads onto our right flank. Who would you play? Milner? The child.
James Milner, for all the potential he may or may not have, is at
present no where near good enough to perform in the pressure cooker
atmosphere that is St.James Park.
Darren Ambrose? Whoever it was who spotted the ex-Ipswich midfielder
needs to readdress their scouting criteria. He, like Milner, is not
good enough. Graeme Souness recognises this, but, like every player
who Souness chooses not to play they are immediately used as a warhead
against the Scot.
That leaves Souness with the decision to select any four from his
best five midfield players, namely, Butt, Faye, Jenas, Dyer and Bowyer.
In the long term the possibility of selecting our midfield from this
quintet is not satisfactory. We need wingers. But, please, let us
give Graeme Souness the chance to identify this and go and buy two
good wingers in the summer. He must be as frustrated as we are playing
without any width, but, in reality, the midfield he has selected is
a better option than having to accommodate Laurent Robert, James Milner
or Darren Ambrose.
Since Souness' arrival our home form has been poor. The days of 17
wins out of 19 games under Keegan are an all too distant memory. Teams
now come to St.James' with a well defined game plan of contain and
frustrate. We, as the fans, also play a part. After an hour and with
scores level the inevitable hypocritical calls for Robert's introduction
ring out, individuals are booed, groans emerge at every missed place
pass. I am guilty of this. Our frustration is inevitably transmitted
to our players. Even under Robson it was the same – who can forget
his 'kitchen sink' approach during the last twenty minutes of many
games at St.James' Park?
At home you need width, we have already discussed that the selection
of our wingers comes at a price. If, for arguments sake, we had picked
up the nine points dropped at home that we would have expected to
collect (Everton, Portsmouth, Fulham and Charlton), we would be sitting
in sixth place. I am sick and tired of hearing this myself, but, 'next
season' let us hope that Souness addresses the width problem and then,
and only then, can we judge the boss if he has failed to rectify our
most glaring weakness.
For the last three years our players have appeared on the front pages
of most tabloids – motoring issues, sex scandal etc. If the Craig
Bellamy saga has one positive outcome then surely it will be that
no player at our club is indispensable. Bellamy was our most effective
player, no argument, I loved him. We can only hope that the example
Souness has set in castigating the Welshman will serve as a warning
to our other 'trouble' prone young stars.
Kieron Dyer, as much as I loathe to admit, has experienced a resurgence
in form of late. With Dyer's contract due to expire next summer, perhaps
this is a canny ploy by the Scot to lure potential summer suitors
presenting the sort of cash somewhere near to the £6million Ruud Gullit
paid Ipswich Town in 1999.
Whether you agree with the issues I have raised or not, we have to
give Graeme Souness the chance. I am not going to name the website
that has been constructed that calls for Souness' head and give it
the publicity it doesn't deserve, but just what can that achieve for
Newcastle United? Once again, I'll reiterate, we have to give Souness
a chance, a real chance, to prove whether or not he is good enough
to manage our fantastic club.
I do not know, or strongly believe either way, if Souness will be
successful. But, with his three signings to date all showing glimpses
of promise, he has to be given the opportunity to mould his own team
over the next eighteen months, and then we will be able to judge our
gaffer. Let us not forget that both our FA and Uefa Cup dreams are
still very much alive, how loud would the cries be for Souness' dismissal
if the Scot brought home the long overdue Cup that has eluded our
trophy cabinet for almost half a century? |
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