UEFA Cup Match Preview: NUFC Vs Olympiakos
An excellent result at the weekend
extends our winning run to seven games and we'll certainly hope to
add to it with a win against Olympiakos. A 3-1 win in the first game
puts us in a great position to go through, they'll need to win 3-0
to go through and although anything is possible in the crazy world
of NUFC, its highly unlikely. In the first leg I was anticipating
a tight game and I'd have been delighted with a score draw, but the
early sending off changed all that and the game became ours for the
taking. We should have really scored more but Graeme Souness was (rightly)
more concerned about keeping 11 men on the field than winning 4/5/6-1.
In the 2nd leg we still need to be careful. They showed glimpses of
a good team and as Alan Shearer says, to lose it now would be 'criminal'.
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Behind Enemy Lines: The View From An Olympiakos
Fan (again)
Newcastle-online caught up once again
with the editor of Gate 7, an Olympiakos Fan Club to get his views
on tonight's UEFA Cup 4th round second leg in which his side have
an uphill task of qualifying for the next round after United's 3-1
win in Athens.
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FA Cup Match Report: NUFC 1-0 Spurs
This game was the exact opposite of
our League encounter with Spurs back in August 2004. It was
the side in yellow who rode their luck that day to come away
with a 1-0 win, despite the Toon dominating the game and peppering
their box with crosses, shots and attempts at goal. Fast forward
8 months however and the boot was on the other foot this time.
Make no mistake about it, we were fortunate to win this FA Cup
Quarter-Final and didn't play well at all in a footballing sense.
We were awful on the ball for large spells. As bad as any performance
this season and there have been some truly awful attempts at
playing the beautiful game from wor lot.
But we did it, and we did it the ugly way. We clinched our 5th
Semi-Final in 7 years against an ever improving, slick and confident
Tottenham side in a manner all to rare in these parts; grinding
out a backs-to-the-wall win with a 'we shall not be beaten'
attitude. All to rare until recently that is, the 1-0 win our
second in succession at home.
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Robert Thanks Souness
Robert quotes appearing in today's Chronicle:
"I think it's fair to say I'm playing better football now
and I'm much happier.
"I have to thank the manager for that - for giving me the chance
- and I just hope I have repaid him. I think I'm playing better
football now than perhaps at any time since I joined Newcastle,
it certainly feels that way. I certainly feel as if I'm contributing
more to the team, both in attack and defence.
"The manager has made me think a lot about my game and I feel
as though I'm improving.
"I'm a winger and am naturally attack-minded, but the manager
has spoken to me many times about how important it is to defend
and I know that he is right.
"I still want to contribute more by scoring goals because that
is my main job but I also need to defend like everyone else.
We're a team and you can't have 10 players defending and one
not, but I think I'm getting in my fair share of tackles now.
"The goal in Athens was fantastic - it came just at the right
time and restored our lead.
"I was very pleased with it because I practice these things
for hours every week.
"All my goals this season have come from free-kicks so perhaps
it is time I scored from open play. My shooting has improved
and, when I catch a ball just right, it will be difficult for
goalkeepers.
"We know Olympiacos are a very attacking team who can score
goals. That's why we have to follow up one good performance
with another - anything less and they will punish us.
"Our defence has been magnificence and Jean-Alain has made a
big difference.
"He has not put a foot wrong and is such a talented player.
I think he will play many times for France if he carries on
like this because these performances will be noticed."
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Jenas Wanted By Man Utd & Arsenal?
With no quotes or anything, the Sun
newspaper today claim that both Arsenal and Manchester United
are after Toon midfielder Jermaine Jenas with the two clubs
apparently prepared to pay £10m for his service.
Take the money and run, Fat Fred. |
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