Victory In Holland
It was the return of the comeback kings
as Newcastle won their UEFA Cup tie against Heerenveen. Klaas-Jan
Huntelaar had fired Heerenveen ahead in the first half, but second
half goals from Alan Shearer and Lee Bowyer ensured that the Toon
won the game 2-1.
However, the night was soured when Bowyer was sent off with four minutes
to go for a second bookable offence.
Viana Does Not Want Toon Return
Speaking to today's Journal Hugo Viana has spoken of his desire
to remain in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon, citing that his game isn't
suited to the English Premiership and that he is happy back in his
homeland. Last week United Chairman Freddy Shepherd spoke of his return
to Tyneside as more than a possibility in the Summer but these latest
comments would suggest the £8m man won't be wearing a Black & White
shirt next season.
Viana said:
"I tried to make it at Newcastle but I
think everyone would agree that my game is not suited to English football.
"I know it, the United supporters know it and Mr Souness should know
it. Now that I am back in Portugal, I feel far more comfortable and
I am enjoying my football again. I am playing every week, scoring
goals and contesting an exciting Championship race.
"I made the most of my time at Newcastle but I think most people would
agree it's better for everyone if I move on.
"I have spoken to Sporting and they will do everything in their power
to keep me.
"I don't see why another loan wouldn't work. United are saving on
my wages and I am making progress as a footballer. I never asked for
an £8m price on my head and the value of footballers change."
Viana on his meeting with Souness:
"When Sporting
played in Newcastle before Christmas I was introduced to the new manager
in the dressing room but he didn't seem interested in me then.
"He said 'hello' but I didn't feel he actually acknowledged me as
a United player."
European Rich List - NUFC Drop Out Of Top 10
According to the latest financial analysis from Deloitte & Touche
Newcastle United have dropped from having the 9th largest turnover
to 11th in European football - some £80m behind Manchester United
who lead the Football Money League.
Previous place in brackets:
1 (1) Man Utd £171.5m
2 (4) Real Madrid £156.3m
3 (3) AC Milan £147.2m
4 (10) Chelsea £143.7m
5 (2) Juventus £142.4m
6 (7) Arsenal £115m
7 (13) Barcelona £110.1m
8 (6) Inter Milan £110.3m
9 (5) Bayern Munich £110.1m
10 ( Liverpool £92.3m
11 (10) Newcastle £90.5m
12 (11) Roma £72m
13 (1 Celtic £69m
14 (16) Tottenham £66.3m
15 (15) Lazio £65.8m
16 (-) Man City £61.9m
17 (14) Schalke £60.5m
18 (-) Marseille £58.3m
19 (-) Rangers £57.1m
20 (-) Aston Villa £55.9m
The Wonderful World Of What If?
You have just woken up from what undoubtedly
was the best night of your entire life so far. Only a few hours earlier
Alan Shearer had lifted the FA Cup high above his head. Newcastle
Utd 3 Man Utd 1. The most amazing week in the history of Newcastle
United had taken place. The FA Cup had now taken its place along side
the UEFA Cup in the Newcastle trophy room. That had been there a few
days now, after an astonishing 4-0 win over Valencia the previous
Wednesday night.
[Read
More +]
Worth A Read: Lets Hope A Win Isn't The Only
Thing United Bring Back From Holland...
An interesting article from the Independent
has caught our attention regarding tonight's match and our opponents
SC Heerenveen. Ignore the typical anti-Toon crap and concentrate
on the section about the Dutch team and their attitude towards
their fans, the way in which they run their club and what NUFC
would do well to take away from Holland with them... other than
3 points of course. Fascinating.
Kluivert and
Newcastle can learn from Dutch
By Glenn Moore
Patrick Kluivert returns to his homeland tonight facing an uncertain
reception from both his countrymen and the travelling support.
A capricious talent whose arrival on Tyneside owed more to the
boardroom than the dug-out, the Dutch striker has become a symbol
of Newcastle United's persistent underachievement.
Injuries have not helped his cause but neither has an apparently
indolent attitude, as illustrated when he arrived at Newcastle
Airport yesterday long after his team-mates and 20 minutes after
the deadline imposed by the club's manager, Graeme Souness.
There are, therefore, perhaps few more appropriate places for
Kluivert to show he is the genuine article, not a fading show-pony,
than Heerenveen's Abe Lenstra stadium. Named after the first
Dutch star, one who played in the amateur age, it is home to
a club whose ethos is the antithesis of Newcastle United's.
The entire population of this small Dutch town would fit into
St James' Park almost twice over yet Heerenveen have featured
in the Champions' League and last season finished fourth in
the Eredivisie (the Netherlands' top division). The twice-capped
former PSV striker Arnold Bruggink may be their biggest "name",
but they should not be underestimated. Unlike Newcastle Heerenveen
actually are united. Just as Newcastle regard themselves as
the heart of the Geordie nation Heerenveen represent Friesland,
a region with its own language and anthem (banned by Uefa).
But while Newcastle's board notoriously takes its supporters
for granted Heerenveen cultivate theirs.
Yesterday they launched a new magazine, a joint venture between
the club and supporters. Editor Sietze Looijenga, an unpaid
volunteer, said: "The management here always remember where
they came from. The president [Riemer van der Velde] doesn't
take money from the club but spends time on it."
An example of the way in which the club integrates itself into
the community is the club rule that every player must live within
30 kilometres of the ground. "It is very important they meet
the supporters and know who they are playing for," said Yme
Kuiper, a club director. "The fans are very much part of the
club. They are proud to see the colours on our shirts." Heerenveen's
shirts represent the Friesland flag (the red dots are water
lilies, not hearts).
Being nice to the community can only get a club so far. The
other key factor, explains the manager Gertjan Verbeek, is stability.
"I played here for 12 years, coached for eight, went away to
manage in the second division and returned as manager last year,"
Verbeek said.
"In all that time the president was the same man. The people
who run this club have vision. They know what they want and
work very hard. Twenty years ago we played in front of 1,000
people in an old stadium. Tonight we will have 20,000 in a new
one. That is a big compliment to everyone involved. It is a
big family here."
In an attempt to create some of that spirit at Newcastle Souness
took his squad to Dubai last week. He said: "My experience of
football is that if you've got a group of 22 people you're not
all going to love each other, but it's really important that
when you go out across that white line you're all pulling in
the same direction. I think the time away has really helped
that. We were a very happy group."
Souness needs unity because after a bright start under him the
team have slumped, winning seven and losing eight of the last
22 matches.
"This is a big club with large expectations and criticism is
inevitable if you're not doing well," he said. "But it's not
new to me. I've lived with it before and I'd much rather them
criticise me than my players.
"We've lost one game in eight, against Arsenal. I've signed
players who I think will improve us and I'd like to be judged
at the end of next season but I know how the game works. I can
understand the fans' frustrations."
Already without the cup-tied Jean-Alain Boumsong, Souness has
lost Nicky Butt to an ankle injury and and Keiron Dyer to a
flu bug which might yet claim Jermaine Jenas, who could only
manage 20 minutes of training yesterday. Darren Ambrose and
James Milner stand by.
Verbeek added: "I hope we can make a match of it. They are favourites
as they have the better individuals and a lot more money. But
they have new players and difficulty in becoming a team so we
have a chance."
As for the prodigal son, Verbeek was dismissive. "If it is coming
back to Holland which is motivating Kluivert he is not a good
player. He has to be always motivated, not just because he is
playing in Holland."
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Kluivert Wants To Stay Beyond The Summer
Speaking on his personal Icons.com website, Patrick Kluivert
speaks about Osasuna's alleged bid, his desire to stay at United
beyond the Summer and tonight's game against Heerenveen. Kluivert
said:
I heard yesterday,
like everyone else, that Osasuna had had a bid for me rejected
in the January transfer window. I didn't know anything about
it, but I'm glad that Newcastle rejected the offer. I believe
it shows the management still have faith in me, and anyway I
would not have wanted to leave Newcastle. If the club had told
me about this offer I would have told them I didn't want to
go. It's as simple as that.
I didn't start something six months ago just to leave halfway
through. Whatever anyone says or writes, I don't plan on going
anywhere in the summer. I want to be a success at Newcastle,
and I don't just mean until the end of the season, but after
that too.
Now I'm just really looking forward to our match against Heerenveen
and it's great to know that I will be in the starting line-up.
It will be only my second start of the year, so I will be determined
to play well and convince the boss that I should start every
game. I don't think the Newcastle fans have seen the best of
me yet, but now is my chance.
We had a good break in Dubai, and it was good for team spirit
and for us to bond together as a group. It was a pity that because
of international call-ups not everyone could be there, but for
those of us that were able to go it was very useful. We did
a lot of good training and came back feeling refreshed for our
UEFA Cup tie.
It's extra special for me to be returning to the Netherlands
for this match, and to be playing in front of Dutch fans. However,
I have to admit I don't know much about the Heerenveen side.
Since I left the Dutch league over seven years ago they have
a totally new team and eight of them are foreigners. But one
of their Dutch players, Arnold Bruggink, I know very well. When
we were both junior players, me at Ajax and Arnold at FC Twente,
we were joint top scorers for our teams, each one trying to
outscore the other. I will be hoping to get one over Arnold
on Thursday!
Another Dutch player of theirs who is getting a lot of attention
is Ugur Yildirim. I haven't seen a lot of him, but I know he
is supposed to have an amazing free-kick on him. Some people
have dubbed him the Dutch David Beckham, but he's only 22, and
I think it's much too early to be putting labels on him like
that. We will wait to see how his talent develops.
A big performance at the Abe Lenstra stadium will go a long
way in convincing a few of us Paddy... |
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