Robert Gives Steve Bruce The Runs...
An extract from the Guardian's match report of our 2-2 draw with Birmingham
raised a giggle our way:
With two minutes to go, Laurent Robert struck an audacious 35-yard
free-kick that rattled back off Maik Taylor's woodwork.
Asked his reaction as he saw the ball rebounding off the post, Bruce
replied: "I shit myself. I thought it was whistling
past the post. But maybe that's a turning point, that bit of luck
we need.
A Worrying Trend For Souness - Can He Fix It?
Yesterday's 2-2 draw at St. Andrews was the sixth time this season
that we have been pegged back after taking the lead. Incidentally
that was also the sixth time that we have opened the scoring in the
League, only Arsenal can better that record. However we are number
one for letting a lead slip and on no less than four occasions we
have dropped points after talking the lead.
Away to Middlesbrough where we dropped 2 points, at home to Norwich
where we also dropped 2 points, away to Aston Villa where we lost
all 3 and now against Birmingham City. That's a possible 12 points
dropped. Had we managed to hold on for the win in those games we would
now be 2 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premiership. Instead
we are 6th - a massive 10 points off the pace.
This isn't Souness' fault of course, after all, the only points we
have dropped since he took charge came yesterday but it's a worrying
trend, just like our inability to hang onto 1-0 leads last season
eventually cost us 4th place and possible Champions League football,
this trend could be as equally damaging. It has already seen off Sir
Bobby Robson.
With Everton and Spurs yet to hit a poor patch and containing neither
the squad or quality to sustain their early hold on 3rd and 5th respectfully,
and an odd looking Liverpool going through a transitional period,
4th place is there for the taking. Even so early in the campaign.
Some would argue a case for 3rd!
No team is playing well except Arsenal who are in a League of their
own. Chelsea are notching up win after win, clean sheet after clean
sheet but they aren't performing to the best of their ability. Had
their opponents opened the scoring first, their points tally might
not look so great. Nor are Manchester United playing well. Teams that
were up there this time last season, like Fulham, Birmingham and Charlton
look way off the pace too.
With the fire power we have in the team and our ability to score goals,
we are second highest scorers on 14 - 8 more than Chelsea, we have
gotten ourselves into favourable winning positions in every game thus
far, with the 1-0 defeat at St. James' Park to Spurs the only notable
exception - the only game we have failed to notch in. It's not inconceivable
to think that we will continue to bang them in at such a rate but
if we can't keep them out at the other end those goals will have been
in vain.
Can Souness put an end to this trend? Are those at the back capable
of cutting out their tendencies to go AWOL when under attack? He has
two months to go before he can bring in quality reinforcements. Lets
hope by then we are perched neatly in 4th and can kick on from there.
NUFC Vs Manchester City Fixture Change
The official Newcastle United website has confirmed that our home
game against Kevin Keegan's Manchester City, due to be played on October
23rd, will now be played the following day on Sunday the 24th
due to our involvement in the UEFA Cup group stage.
Toon International Call-Ups
Jermaine Jenas and Nicky Butt have both been called up into the England
squad to face Wales and Azerbaijan - to be played on the 9th and 13th
of October. Should the pair play any part in the Wales match they
will come up against Craig Bellamy and former team-mate Gary Speed.
Elsewhere Patrick Kluivert has been snubbed by Holland again for their
World Cup qualifying games against Macedonia and Finland.
James Milner and Stephen Taylor have been called up for England's
Under-21's who face Wales and Azerbaijan - to be played on the 8th
and 12 of October.
Toon trio, Shay Given, Stephen Carr and Andy O'Brien are in the Republic
of Ireland's squad to face France and the Faroe Islands and Aaron
Hughes has been called up for Northern Ireland's matches against Azerbaijan
and Austria.
Under-18's: Sunderland 1-2 NUFC
John Carver, now director of the Academy side, got off to a winning
start in his new job as United's under-18's beat Sunderland 2-1 at
the Mackems Academy of Light training ground on Saturday afternoon.
Goals from Marc Walton and Carl Finnigan secured the win for United
with Sunderland's Luke Ball grabbing a late consolation.
John carver had this to say: "It was a strange game - it could have
ended 5-5."
Remember Alex Mathie?
He's now a manager. From Thisisryedale.co.uk, 29th September:
Alex Mathie has been named as the new boss at Pickering Town.
The former Ipswich and Newcastle United striker met the players following
their 5-0 drubbing of Harrogate Railway last Wednesday. Steve Brown
will pick the side for the next two games, while Mathie adjusts to
the new role, after which Mathie will take complete charge and the
coaching situation will be reviewed.
With over 80 goals in over 200 league games, Mathie could be the ideal
man to help the Pikes get among the goals. The 5-0 hamering of Harrogate
aside, outgoing boss Steve Brown became frustrated at the Pikes' lack
of cutting edge, nowhere better illustrated than in their FA Cup defeat
at Gateshead, where they dominated for large periods.
Mathie said: "We played some lovely football at Harrogate, but I know
we've been missing chances. I'll be addressing that in training and
helping the strikers, and the other players, with their finishing."
With some 20 years' experience as a professional, 35-year-old Mathie
has built up a wealth of contacts in the game and said he already
had a number of players who had expressed an interest in joining Pickering.
But he stressed he would not be looking to ring the changes. "I know
Browny well and him, Shaun (McGinty) and Richard (Rose) have done
a great job. I'm not looking to change a lot. I want to keep their
good work going."
It's not the first time the Scot has succeeded Brown, having taken
over from him at the York City academy. Brown also gave Mathie his
first taste of life in the lower leagues. After nearly three seasons
at York City, the Scot joined the Pikes towards the end of the 2002-03
season, but he only made two brief appearances - one as a sub and,
in the other, he had to come off early with a broken nose.
Mathie, whose preferred style of play is the same as his predecessor
- getting the ball down and passing - said: "I've a lot of time for
Steve. I'm like him in that I'm honest - what you see is what you
get."
He has a UEFA B standard coaching badge. Having set up an under-nines
and under-tens team in his local village, Wilberfoss, near Pocklington,
Mathie is also keen to get involved with Pickering's thriving junior
section.
In joining the Pikes, Mathie leaves his post as manager of Northern
League division one side West Auckland Town. The Durham side are currently
struggling near the foot of the table, having finished 13th last season
after Mathie joined in November 2003.
Prior to that, he had a brief spell as boss at UniBond League side
Spennymoor. In his league career, Mathie, who started out as a Celtic
junior, made a name for himself at Morton, before signing for Newcastle
United in 1993. His best form came at Ipswich when the club came close
to reaching the premier league in the mid-90s. He joined York City
in September 2000, but was plagued with injuries.
Mathie has appeared as a player for West Auckland this season, and
said he may feature on the field for the Pikes if needed. |
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