Match Preview: Panionios Vs NUFC
Once again Newcastle go into a match on the back of controversy and
none footballing headlines but if there is one thing that can vanquish
tales of "Toon Woe" (for a few days anyway...) it is a thumping
win on foreign soil and that will be at the forefront of Souness'
mind as he leads his United team out in Athens against the unknowns
of Panionios at the Nea Smyrni Stadium.
Souness must put confrontations and personal grudges aside and select
a team to go out, do a job and get back hyem intact, ready for the
visit of a former Toon legend on Sunday. Indeed his players must also
share the same bullish attitude because this match has humdinger written
all over it.
Little is known of Panionios but any side that dumps out an Italian
outfit in Europe must be encountered with respect and caution. Newcastle
can just as easily thrash the Greek team or be on the end of a shock
home win. Selection will play a significant role in the outcome and
Souness will have a few posers to mull over.
Does he start with Craig Bellamy given what has went on since Sunday
or does he pick Shola Ameobi? If he was deciding on dropping the Welshman
he may have to alter those plans as Ameobi is struggling for fitness
according to reports so that may be one decision that makes itself.
And what of Laurent Robert, does he continue to ignore the Frenchman
and let Darren Ambrose keep his place or does he unleash that balance,
creativity and crossing precision that we lack when he sits on the
bench? Barring injuries prior to the match the back-four will pick
itself and only the news of a little Shay entering the world can keep
the Irishman out it seems. In midfield Jermaine Jenas and Bowyer will
almost certainly play in the centre leaving the two flanks as the
two positions open.
Love or hate Souness' selections, it beats knowing that the same players
week in week out will play regardless of form and in some instances
under Sir Bobby, fitness. It will be interesting and intriguing as
to future events that may or may not take place as to just which 11
Souness does put out.
Either way, if we play to our strengths, work hard and maintain a
level of composure and discipline, nothing less than a win should
prevail. Good luck Souey and the lads.
Likely
Lineup
Player
Watch For Them
Player
Watch For Us
Squad
News & Pre-Match Reaction From Souness
Panionios
Squad News
Referee
Prediction
8-Years Ago: NUFC Stuffed Man Utd (Picture Special)
Howay 5-0
8-years ago today back in 1996 Newcastle United stuffed Man
Utd 5-0 in one of our most impressive and best ever wins.
United had lost the title to the Red Devils the previous season and
had been stuffed ourselves 4-0 at Wembley in Shearer's debut but at
St. James' Park in front of the Sky Cameras and a worldwide audience
reaching over 100 million viewers, we exacted our own kind of revenge
in typical Keegan style - all out attack.
A lot of words and hot air were exchanged the week leading up to a
game billed as the "game of the season" with a certain Steve
Bruce claiming his now "beloved Toon" would never be as
big as Man Utd nor as successful. Maybe not, but in front of 36,579 Geordies
we gave Fergies' men one hell of a beating.
Newcastle opened the scoring on a wet St. James' turf in the 12th
minute when Darren Peacock headed the ball goalwards.
Man Utd cleared but the ball had crossed the line and the goal was
awarded - under many protestations from the away team.
From then on in we went nap and David Ginola added
a second 15 minutes before half-time with a moment of magic - the
Frenchman with his back to goal, swiveled and struck a great shot
into the back of Schmeichel's net. 2-0 and coasting!
After the break we simply tore them to shreds. Just after the hour
mark Sir Leslie of Ferdinand rose like a salmon to
crash in an Alan Shearer cross off the underside of the bar and into
the back of the net.
Not to be outdone, Shearer himself got in on the
act with just over a quarter of an hour left when he got on the end
of a double save from Schmeichel from Peter Beardsley and Sir Les
efforts, to smash home from close range. Shearer of course snubbed
Man Utd for the second time in his career when he chose to join his
home town team Newcastle in the Summer of that year and after he notched
he ran straight towards the away section to celebrate in front of
their lot who had roundly abused him throughout the match. Sweet sweet
joy.
The best was saved for last however when Philippe Albert marauding
forward, stopped and dinked a 25-yard chip up, over, and then under
the head of the by now red faced Dane and into the back of the net
for a goal that will live on long in the memory. A goal that capped
a magnificent Toon performance and a deserved 5-0 thrashing. A win
made all the more sweeter by the fact Man Utd actually played well
in the game, but they could do little to halt the sheer waves of Black
& White attacks that cut them to ribbons.
An ecstatic Kevin Keegan said afterwards: "We showed
what we are about today. We're certainly a team worth paying money
to watch".
Indeed they were Kev, indeed they were.
Teams:
United: Srnicek, Watson (Barton), Beresford, Peacock,
Albert, Batty, Lee (Clark), Beardsley, Shearer, Ferdinand, Ginola.
Man Utd: Schmeichel, G.Neville, Irwin, May, Pallister,
Butt, Beckham, Cantona, Solskjaer (Cruyff), Johnsen (McClair), Poborsky.
Newcastle ended up finishing 2nd that season and saw the departure
of King Kev. Man Utd you could say, had the last laugh, winning the
Title once again but our day will come one day and when it does this
memorable win will pale into insignificance.
Oh Dear, It's Started Again - Trouble Brewing?
In today's news many leading newspapers are reporting that Graeme
Souness and Craig Bellamy have had a training ground bust up over
the strikers comments made when coming off on Sunday at the Valley
and that Bellamy's days at the Toon look numbered. With the Sun detailing
the most graphic account of the so-called 'events'.
From today's Sun:
Graeme Souness had a sensational four-letter scrap with Newcastle
bad-boy Craig Bellamy in front of stunned team-mates yesterday. The
pair had to be pulled apart after Souey lashed out at Bellamy during
morning training before the squad flew out for tomorrow night’s UEFA
Cup tie in Athens.
Souness, 51, was furious that Bellamy called him a f****** p***k when
he was substituted after scoring in the 1-1 Premiership draw at Charlton
on Sunday afternoon.
He told the Welshman: "If you do anything like that again you will
not play for this club any more." Bellamy, 25, responded by saying:
"F*** you, I’m the best player here anyway."
Souness lashed out at Bellamy before other members of the Toon squad
dived in to break it up. The furious Scot then tried to drag Bellamy
into the gym but fell over as the bust-up descended into a screaming
match. Now the fiery Welshman looks certain to be sold when the transfer
window opens again in January.
A Toon insider told SunSport: "It was unbelievable stuff. Neither
one would back down and Souey was absolutely steaming. Bellamy doesn’t
think he did anything wrong. He didn't want to come off against Charlton
and said so."
The bust-up came only TWO HOURS after the St. James' Park boss had
warned his players not to get themselves in the newspapers for the
wrong reasons. Souness argued after the Charlton game he had taken
off Bellamy because the striker had recently played in two World Cup
qualifiers and needed a rest.
But Bellamy disagreed and, not for the first time, got into a ruck
with the club management. He once threw a chair at former first-team
coach John Carver at Newcastle airport. Souness believes Bellamy is
a disruptive influence at the club and will sell him if the right
offer comes in after Christmas.
Souey reckons the player is symptomatic of the ills that existed under
previous boss Bobby Robson, with certain stars having no respect for
the authority of the club’s backroom staff. Last month SunSport revealed
how the squad had a bet on who would be the first to fall out with
Souness.
Laurent Robert was the favourite — and HAS already clashed with Souness
over his omission from the starting line-up. Bellamy was second favourite
and has now justified the odds. Souness must have a thing about Welshmen.
Thursday's starting lineup will be interesting... |
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