I Can See The Future And It Will Be...
My mum always told me not to say "I told you so", but she told me a lot of things when I was growing up, so much information to absorb, so easy to forget, so - I told you Newcastle United would not win anything with kids.
There are many words you can use for Newcastle 5-1 hammering at the hands of Birmingham City, at home, to a team playing a division below them. Here are a few: humiliating, catastrophe, disaster, embarrassing, farce, woeful, capitulation and dreadful.
Believe it or not I take no pleasure in being proven right because, to be honest, I did not see it coming. I always thought it was potentially tricky tie and a tricky replay, but I never predicted such a major collapse by a team which has spent so long defying the odds this season.
My point is, however, that you can only defy the odds for so long with spirit and endeavour; you can only paper over the cracks for so long before things start to collapse and you cannot hope to win things with a squad which uses so many players straight out of the youth and reserve teams in key positions.
Glenn Roeder and Freddie Shepherd knew they needed to strengthen during the January transfer window and they have - for various reasons - not done so. I'd like to know exactly who they've tried to sign and why the deals haven't happened.
In the long term, Roeder's reluctance to make short-term signings he does not want in his long term buliding project is admirable, but in the short term, it has always appeared to be a disaster waiting to happen. That disaster came on January 17 2007 with the heaviest FA Cup defeat since 1914.
Whether this suddenly changes things and Newcastle will make the signings they need this month, I honestly don't know. They still have a chance of silverware in the Uefa Cup and I might still be proven wrong with yesterday's bold prediction - but I'll still stand by it and I'll still dance naked in the Bigg Market if I'm wrong. (I'd shave my hair off but I do that anyway!)
There are players coming back from injury, Scott Parker and Stephen Carr should return against West Ham at the weekend and Titus Bramble will be available for selection by the end of the month, but is that good enough to appease supporters?
For the record, Roeder has done well to guide the club through a difficult period in the Premiership, but, to play Devils Advocate, did they deserve a point against Manchester United and did they deserve to win at Tottenham Hostpur on the balance of play?
There is also the small matter of no clean sheets in 12 games, not surprising given the inexperienced nature of the defence Roeder has had to play, but worrying nonetheless.
After a decent run, Saturday's home game against West Ham suddenly becomes a massive game doesn't it.
Finally, why on earth was Steven Taylor given a standing ovation after he was sent off on Wednesday night?
The guy has done brilliantly in recent weeks, but to applaud a player who has just made a massive mistake and reduced his side to ten men just seconds after they had got back into the game, does not deserve to be applauded. Just a thought.
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Luke Edwards - is Chief Sports Writer of The Journal and uses his blog to give a unique and entertaining insight into events at Newcastle United and Sunderland.
Need I say anything at all?
Geordie arrogance comes crashing down once more. See you next season boys!
To your credit Luke you have been suggesting that this sort of thing would happen eventually and it has.
Did anyone notice that Mr Shepherd was in the Chronicle before the match comparing Newcastle's youngsters to the class of 92 that established Manchester United as the best team in England for a decade! Unbelievable. When will he learn to keep his big mouth shut.
The kids and his manager had got him off the hook so far this month. But not anymore. Where the hell are the new signings we were promised? Not good enough, the fans have been conned and lied to, but what's new?
We have, as supporters, allowed Roeder and Shepherd to fool us. We could all see that we had been misled about what was going to happen in the January transfer window.
Roeder has already admitted he doesn't think he will make any permament signings, just two players on loan! Given the impact Giuseppe Rossi had, is that really going to strengthen the squad.
We may as well well write this season off and look forward to more blunders in the tranfer market in the summer.
The kids have performed above and beyond expectations and that cup match might be just what they needed. Every 1 of the outfield players looked to have an air of complacency about them, that they just had to show up and they'd win. Superstars, we are.
Well, you're not yet. 2 good games does not a season make. However, now that they're back to earth with a bump, maybe they can start to reproduce the form that had the country talking about them so much in the 1st place?
A friend of mine said last night that he thinks we aren't signing anyone because no-one knows or rates the manager. Big names won't come here because Roeder has no track record. I still say he'd make a very good assistant to a top class International class manager but who'll come here when Shepherd's in charge?
One more point. Who is Greg? Idiot! We are still in the Premiership and the only North-East team to have any connections abroad. Has anyone here ever seen a Mackem in Milan?
Interesting point you make about Taylor and I fully agree.
Would Titus Bramble have been given the same sort treatment or would he have been made the scapegoat as usual?