Souness Impresses With His Reading Of The Game
Three wins on the spin, a few goals and some organised defending
heralds a great 100% winning start to Souness' tenure as Toon manager.
Impressive stuff regardless of the quality of opposition that we have
played. And while the team haven't exactly been impressive one thing
about our new man has impressed me very much. His reading of the game.
For me, the sign of a great manager, or a very good one, is the ability
to spot weaknesses before the opposition, the ability to spot areas
of the team that need changed in order to make that team better, before
it's too late. In the 3 games that Souness has been in charge he has
shown this in abundance which will hopefully put us and indeed himself,
in good stead for the near future.
Against Sakhnin at St. James' we were being bullied in the middle
of the park so he sent on Nicky Butt to mix and match it. He got sent
off two minutes later of course, but in the latter part of Sir Bobby's
reign at the Old Gallowgate we were accustomed to seeing changes being
made, not because of necessity, but because of blind hope more than
anything else. See a problem - address that problem. Quickly before
it's too late. More often than not under Sir Bobby it was too late...
Against Southampton, Souness did his homework by watching a tape of
the corresponding 3-3 draw from last Season and seeing how we were
torn apart down the flanks by Fernandes and Svensson. Tighten up and
cut them off was the plan. Playing Jenas and Bellamy on those flanks
we did just that. Later on in the game the ball wasn't sticking to
Kluivert's feet and Le Saux down their left was tiring. He brung off
Kluivert for Milner, pushed Bellmy up front and put the fresh, lively
and tricky Milner on Le Saux. It worked, we won.
Yesterday against West Brom he stuck with a winning team but we were
struggling after 50 minutes to break them down. We lacked balance
and creativity and played pretty narrow in midfield at times - centre
forwards like Big Al need inch perfect delivery. So he sent on Robert
for Bellamy with the Frenchman changing the game for us.
Decisive, timely and 100% spot on tactics from the Scot with a canny
piece of psychology thrown in to boot. Being the calibre of midfielder
that he was, it's not hard to see where he gained this ability to
read the game from. This ability has played a huge part in gaining
those 3 wins and we can only hope this isn't a coincidence. As it
stands, I'm happy, we are all happy and we are doing well with the
promise of more to come. The big tests are yet to come of course but
3 games in, so far so good. Well done Mr. Souness!
Own Goal By Newcastle United
Whilst the rest of the Premiership, and presumably the lower
Leagues too, all paid their respects with a minutes silence and the
wearing of black armbands to the late Brian Clough who sadly passed
away the other day, there was no such respect at St. Jams' Park yesterday.
Indeed we were the only ground in the Premiership not to have a minutes
silence. WBA wore black armbands but our lot didn't.
Poor,
very poor!
And yet after the inept Mike Riley blew the whistle to get the game
udnerway there was a near 90 minute silince thereafter...
Sir Bobby On Life Without Newcastle United
Speaking to Des Lynam on BBC Radio
5 Live yesterday, Bobby had the following to say regarding his sacking:
"Well, to be quite frank, the sacking was a shock.
"I was bewildered. I did not anticipate it, although I know that in
the four games from the start of the season we hadn't won a match.
We drew, lost, drew, lost.
"It must be one of the quickest sackings in football. It was very
much the start of the football season.
Sir Bobby on Freddy Shepherd's comments in the press where the United
Chairman reiterated that 2004-05 would be Bobby's final year in the
job:
"I don't think it helped. I didn't think it would make much of
a difference but I was disappointed that it was announced in the way
it was.
"I told the chairman that I was disappointed that I would not be able
to finish the job I was contracted for.
"I want to work. I don't like going to supermarkets on a Saturday
afternoon.
"I love football. I am sitting and waiting. I am not rushing into
anything but it will have to be the right job for me.
"My head will rule my heart. I have to get on with my life. It's irreversible,
it's behind me."
On finishing 5th last Season and the squad in which Souness has inherited:
"It wasn't such a bad season at all.
"We brought in four great players, Carr, who I am a big fan of,
Butt, Milner, who will be great for many years, and Kluivert who has
real quality. It is a beautiful squad."
Under-18's: NUFC 1-2 Everton
Newcstle's under-18's side lost their unbeaten start to the
Academy Season yesterday, losing 2-1 to Everton at little Benton.
A Paul Hopkins brace for the Toffees either side of a Marc Walton
strike for United ensured the points went back to Merseyside.
United: Smith, Shanks, Deverdics, Huntington, Edgar,
Farman, Atkin, O'Brien, Walton, Finnigan, Marshall. Subs: Baxter,
Maw, Terrel. |
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