Plenty To Play For Still
|
 Monday
6 February 2006
By Jonny
Hall
Our club has finally been given the all clear by Dr Shepherd
and have been cleared of the "cancer" that is Graeme Souness.
A dismal 3-0 defeat at the COMS sparked the end of the Scot after
board members apparently feared a fans' backlash in the game against
Portsmouth.
A decision long overdue; after all it came 6 months too late. We have
to move on now however and remain United.
On Thursday afternoon I was told of Souness’ sacking and I couldn’t
believe it. The man had never even made Newcastle look like a team
and they were starting to fall apart, as were the fans who were starting
to turn on each other. I didn’t believe the person who told me at
first. “You’re Lying” I said time and time again but he remained adamant
that the man was no longer in charge of the club.
I asked many a people and they told me the same. I rushed to find
a computer and turned on the Sky Sports website. My dreams had come
true and he had gone.
The search for a new man is on and this time Freddy has got to get
it right (Hitzfeld for me). The new manager is the future though and
we now have to focus on the present.
Now that Souness has gone and a new temporary management team of Glenn
Roeder and Alan Shearer (congratulations Big Al... and Glenn) have
been put it place, it is time to salvage our season.
The pessimistic among us would say that our season is long gone, but
we have to believe that the pessimism left with Souness and the optimism
is here to stay. There are still 14 more Premiership games left and
hopefully a lot more action in the FA Cup.
There is another 42 points for us to potentially collect between now
and May. We have to keep believing we can get at least 30 points on
the board. We may be 6 points off relegation, but we are only 12 points
off a European place. That is only 4 wins and we have to hope that
the top 6 start to slip up. If they do, we have the chance to capitalise.
Also in the FA Cup, we face a home tie to Southampton in the 5th Round.
With Arsenal already out, the possibility of a shock exit for Chelsea
and with either one of Manchester United or Liverpool definitely out;
we have to believe that it is our year. It has all been set up for
us to win it.
Wembley is ready to open its doors again, the ‘smaller’ sides are
still in the competition and the top 4 are focused elsewhere, we have
to make it happen. Our name could be on the trophy and we have to
have the grit and determination to go all the way; if not for the
departing Alan Shearer, then for everyone who has strived the past
50 years to try and make it happen.
It is going to be a long final stretch however if we are going to
make something of this disaster. The fans should be up for it and
52,000 should have their voices back, they were in fine voice at the
weekend.
The players are finally training properly (stretches, exercises, routines
and NO 5-a-Side matches) and they are ready for this fight. Shearer
and Roeder have installed some passion back into the side as evidenced
by the fine 2-0 win over Portsmouth.
They should be ready to attack every ball, get forward, entertain
the crowd, score goals, defend well but most importantly, remain United.
The games we face are not too tough (on paper). Manchester United
at Old Trafford and Liverpool and Chelsea at St. James' Park are tough
ones of course but we have to fancy ourselves on the day now that
some of our players are returning from injury.
The fans are no longer fighting and protests are something of the
past now. Things are starting to look up on Tyneside. Dyer, Parker
and Emre are back and Owen and Taylor are on the road to recovery.
Souness and his ridiculous medical staff are out and the prospect
of Ottmar Hitzfeld, Martin O’Neill, Guus Hiddink or whoever has to
make you drool at the mouth in anticipation of what could be a new
exciting era at United.
The media and bookies may have their say but a top quality manager
is who the fans really want. Do we don’t want Bruce, O’Leary or even
Big Sam? Not many do from what I gather, although I can't speak for
all.
For me the only way we will move forward is by appointing someone
like Hitzfeld or that type of manager. When a chairman shows ambition,
he hires a man like Hitzfeld to take the reigns; a man with medals
in his cabinet at home and a man who can succeed wherever he steps
foot so take note Freddy Shepherd!
Like I have already said though, these things are the future and the
welfare of Newcastle United is the present. This is our time to show
England that we are not dead. Wigan have shown that it is possible
for the underdogs to come out on top, the stage is set and it is time
for Newcastle United to deliver. Howay the Lads!
© Jonny Hall
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