Toon Starting Lineup For The Match Tonight
NEWCASTLE UNITED
1 Shay GIVEN
2 Stephen CARR
5 Andy O BRIEN
19 Titus BRAMBLE
33 Celestine BABYARO
29 Lee BOWYER
8 Kieron DYER
7 Jermaine JENAS
15 Amdy FAYE
9 Alan SHEARER
23 Shola AMEOBI
SUBSTITUTES: Robert, Hughes, Harper (gk), Kluivert, Butt.
Manchester City Vs NUFC Match Preview
We travel to the City of Manchester
Stadium on the back of some good results and performances, but
we've shown poor form in Manchester so that might just go out
the window tonight! We played a new system against Coventry,
which worked well against them but Souness has already admitted
it isn't one he'd use against good Premiership opposition. He
won't use it tonight, thats for sure. The wingless formation
will see Wright-Phillips in loads of space, and that's the last
thing we want. On the injury front we've been boosted by the
return of Nicky Butt which is great news, I doubt he'll start
though after Faye's impressive debut. Still no Boumsong but
he should be back for Saturday, although Lee Bowyer returns
to the side.
Likely Team:
| Given |
| Carr Bramble
O'Brien Babayaro |
| Dyer Bowyer Faye
Jenas |
| Shearer Ameobi |
Not the most exciting team I've ever seen, but it should be
enough to get a result of some sort. Whether Dyer or Bowyer
plays on the right is anyones guess, but I think JJ will certainly
be on the left to try and shut out SWP.
Man City:
Having sold Anelka this week, their attacking threat has been
weakened, but they're still a decent side and are of course
above us in the league! They've lost 4 times at home this season
and if NUFC win we'll go up to 10th ahead of them. New signing
Kiki Musampa is likely to play on the left who is said to be
a tricky player. They were poor against WBA last week but they've
had a good rest since and will be up for this match, Kevin Keegan
especially.
Verdict:
A poor game of football, but I reckon we'll come away with a
1-0 victory, goal coming from Shearer (Although you may have
noticed I've been wrong every time so far!).
Butt
set to return?
Take it with a pinch of a salt, but
Souness announced today that Nicky Butt is set to return after
coming good in training.
"It is great to see Nicky back, he's had a good week's training
and looked good.
"It's been an almighty relief to him because, at one point,
he was fearing he was going to have an operation that was an
extremely rare operation. It's not one any of us have really
come across.
"The problem is high right up in the cheeks of his backside
which would involved going through a great deal of muscle to
get to the problem.
"He is in the squad because he plays in a position which involves
a great deal of thought, it's not just about athleticism and
long runs. He's not asked to go box to box, he operates in shorter
areas. It's a position, along with centre-back, where you can
get away with playing having not played for a while.
"Other positions you need to be a peak of fitness to do a job.
"Even allowing for the fact he doesn't have to be at peak fitness,
it would be asking too much for Nicky to be thrown in against
Holland next Wednesday. (for England)
"He has been out for a while and we're going to try to break
him in gently."
So where does that leave Amdy Faye?
Souness had this to say:
"We're either totally dominant or on the back foot in matches.
No matter who you are, there's a period in the game where you
will be on the back foot and I want us to improve when we are.
"Having Amdy Faye and Nicky Butt will make us better at that.
The two of them could play in certain games together when we're
looking to play it tight.
"The system we played against Coventry is not one I would see
us playing against a top Premiership side."
 |
Nice Guy Shola
Finally some positive stuff from Souness'
mouth and the club.
Souness said:
"Shola's never been given a run here, but I believe he is capable
of getting somewhere near the 20 goals mark for the season.
"We're asking for the midfielders to chip in with goals, but we need
two strikers getting near to that 20-goal mark if we're going to be
successful.
"If you ask people who play against him, Shola's got a wingspan like
a 747, he's powerful and has fantastic technique. Right now he doesn't
score enough goals - he gets in some good positions. But he wants
to be getting a clear view of goal or to pass it.
"He's a great lad and a pleasure to work with. His size is what you
want, and his power. I look at the way in recent weeks he's messed
around top centre-halves, people don't like playing against him.
"He must be six feet three and he needs to be more selfish. He's such
a nice human being, he wants to share things with everyone.
"I don't want him sharing in front of goal. I want him to be greedy
so that other players are throwing their arms up in frustration when
he doesn't pass.
"I don't see that, he's always looking to be the nice guy and I don't
want him to be nice any more."
"Whoever gets that shirt will have one enormous burden. From Malcolm
Macdonald or Andy Cole, it has had a special meaning at this football
club.
"It's a big ask and a big responsibility, whether it's Shola or anyone
else they'll need good luck.
"But I have no fears about Shola being a top striker at this club,
I think he'll prove that to his doubters. This is the first time he's
had an extended run."
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Graeme Souness Reopens Bellamy Row
Graeme Souness has added weight to
his previous statement that Craig Bellamy was not good enough for
the club with the following quotes.
Souness said:
"The chap that's just gone has scored 9.3 goals a season in his
time in senior football - half of those weren't even in the top flight.
"That's not good enough for a striker at a club like this.
"We need to have two strikers who are near 20 goals on a regular basis."
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