Surprise Surprise Newcastle Lose At Liverpool
You know it's not going to be your day when the opposition score a goal from a deflected clearance but I think most of us already knew it wasn't going to be Newcastle's day against Liverpool long before Jose Enrique's kicked the ball against Jermain Pennant.
In fact it didn't take a genius, Mystic Meg or even the spoon bender supremo himself, Uri Geller, to predict before any ball had been kicked at Anfield on Saturday that the Magpies would be on the receiving end of another battering.
In fact, considering the size of the two defeats to Manchester United this season, as well as they 4-1 reverse at Aston Villa last month, perhaps United fans should just be grateful the scoreline was only 3-0.
I'll have more to say on Newcastle's predicament on Monday morning, but for now, II'll leave you with these statistics to ponder about Kevin Keegan's return to Newcastle United.
Played eight, won zero, zilche, nada.
Drawn two, both at home to teams in the bottom half of the table.
Lost six.
Scored three.
Conceded 20.
Suddenly the trip to Birmingham City next Monday seems quite a daunting one doesn't it?
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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.
Luke
I am not Mystic Meg, but it was easy earlier in the day to predict LPool 3, NU 0. I did that strictly on recent form and what I have perceived as team character, quality and desire over recent weeks from games I have seen on television. NU is comprised of the the original and proverbial square pegs. KK and God himself would have a difficult task trying to make the collection of "players" (I use the word loosely) at Newcastle into a viable team. There are too many in the squad who should not be in the Premier League. Some would have trouble finding Championship teams to take them. Added to that, as if it is not enough, there seems to be a lack of cohesion at the club, and that comes only from the top. Someone obviously told KK he could not spend in January. He (or they) obviously does not know EPL football, and maybe should direct his talents to another business. Like manufacturing toilet rolls, or other appropriate consumer products that would fill the void.
The hype and promise of some weeks ago when KK returned to Tyneside, complete with slogans, shirts, badges and much hoopla, was intended to instill hope into the fan base. And I think it did, for a while. Not being there, I cannot say if that hope has fizzled or remains. I suspect the answer is closer to the former, and it saddens to think that way. You have promised to say more on the situation at NU in Monday's column, and I look forward to it.
We had a good fall of snow today and the land is white and pristine. So the whole world is not falling apart. Or is that just my view?
Note From Luke
I think all anyone hopes for now is making sure Newcastle don't get relegated! Where do you live Jac to have a nice smattering of snow?
I feel like I'm repeating the obvious, but isn't it time to change the team?
Martins in at least for Smith. Just do something different. Maybe give Lua Lua a game, inject some pace and enthusiasm.
Note From Luke
With a bit of luck, KK might have some players back from injury against Birmingham next week and will do just that.
Luke
I have just watched the last of four matches for the weekend: Arsenal/Wigan. And a good match it was, with Wigan playing as well as I have seen them play. If NU had the spirit I saw this afternoon at Wigan, KK and the fans would not have so much concern. But maybe it isn't equitable to compare when I didn't see NU play Liverpool, although my comment is based on NU's recent form.
Yesterday the plucky Barnsley boys also showed grit and its possible effects on "star-studded" teams. Maybe KK should make his team watch film of the Barnsley match. They might learn that even with minimal talent, eleven players giving 100 percent for the full game can, and sometimes do, make a difference.
But back to Arsenal. I have never seen a more pathetic bunch of cry babies than Arsenal. They are a marvelous team, but act like spoiled brats more than any team in the EPL, or any other league for that matter. When the referee gave a decision against them today, a crowd of little red-shirted fire ants surrounded Mr Styles, mouthing, probably in seven languages, their objections. It is time the F.A. put a stop to that practice. In my day(haven't we all heard that before?) only the captain could speak to the referee, or even approach him. If players did in my time (there I go again) what they do today, they would have been sent off immediately. No questions asked, no appeals entertained. Sepp Blatter, top man at FIFA, instead of harping as he currently is about banning Matt Taylor for his tackle on Eduardo, should do something constructive and help stop these prima donnas abusing officials. Is that asking too much these days? Could be. But maybe the abuse has its positives. The first word most players learn when they start playing UK football begins with F, clearly evident from any camera angle, so that is how most of us where I live know immediately where the telecast is coming from. And that is important in this serene setting.
I've been saying it for weeks KK is not the man for the job, football has moved on and his tactics don't work in the modern game. I see no structure in the team, no belief, what is it he is trying to do, the comments we don't have the players is nonsense we have a very good squad. If Sam had not been sacked does anyone believe we would be sitting on the precipice of relegation? Not a chance he is a better manager than Keegan, more in touch with the modern game and has a dossier of players and a scouting network. KK has none of this and this is why we are struggling, Lets get our heads out of the sand before its to late because next year will be worse.
Note From Luke
I hope you're wrong Keith, I really do. However, I agree with some of what you said. Newcastle's squad, on paper, should not be in the position it is in, the players have under-performed all season and with confidence shattered, they are in real danger. Most of these players have no experience of what is needed to get out of trouble.
luke i said on your pages 2 months ago that NU. were in freefall and that kind of descent almost always ends in relegation. i can still be wrong and believe me i would pay the holiday money just to see them finish 4th from bottom by the seasons end.i read this morning however that some "fans" are blaming the owner for the situation the club is in. this just confirms my long held belief that the culture and attitude of many "fans" at NU. play a large role in the lack of success over the years. of course i dont condemn all the fans of which i am one, or even the majority, but there is a substantial "ugly" minority who would not know a footballer from a hole in the ground. the same people who wanted rid of players like jenas and dyer the same people who verbally abused alladyce now turn on the owner. things have not been right at nufc for many years and turned down even more when sir bobby robson was unbelievably sacked. owners have come and gone, as have managers and players. millions have been spent, but the malaise goes on. the none variable has been the supporters. finally i dont blame only the supporters all parties over the years take some blame. neither do i have any answers but i do know that the culture and the resultant pressures have to change to stop this rot.
How could we expect any better I appreciate Kevin was great the first time but when he realise on Terry Mac and Arthur Cox he keeps picking Alan Smith and Barton and ignores the youngesters we will go down and be fortunate to reach 30 points. We will get beat off Birmingham and maybe draw against Fulham Also with Kevin out of the game for 3 years his own admission how would HE Have know what players we needed and what players were available during the trasnsfer window in January
No surprise at all Luke, but these whingeing plonkers above ARE the sickness of this club. We've cleaned out the criminals who robbed us for years, got a smashing lad in as owner, in my opinion, and the johnny come latelies who raced in on Keegan's last amazing feat haven't got the brains to recognise that this isn't his fault. Why on earth are drunken yobs turning on Ashley when he's the only hope this club has ever had of building stability and success. Yes he's new at it and will make mistakes initially, but give the kid a chance man. He WANTS us to be a success cos it's his VERY expensive toy, so what ? it's the end result for us all that counts. He could easily walk away because of the morons who can't get it into their pig-shit brains that THEY are the reason the country's laughing at us 'thick stupid Geordies.'
Their wives must really be sick of their whining and screaming because of a bloody game of football. The team were already in freefall when Sam was sacked and most of them were and still are useless individuals who we bought when their careers were finished at the top flight anyway. Butt can't even pass, Duff the winger can't even beat a man and whip a cross in, Barton... go straight to jail, Smith at best is sunday league, Taylor is a Geordie Bramble, Given is scared, the Africans are largely useless and none of the strikers are good enough. Now what the hell is Keegan gonna do with that shower of rubbish? They were panic buys at best by Allardyce, and brainwashed by his scientists to play like a defending army in the Crimea. Too late for Keegan to unscramble their tiny mindset. The defensive ' shape ' that Sam had indoctrinated into them went meltdown when Kev tried to make them play proper football, which for periods looks okay until they leak a goal, then ' COMPUTER ERROR ' flashes up into their heads and their systems just fry. For goodness sake fellow mags, wake up to this and give Kevin and Ashley a chance. Would it be the end of the world if we do go down? I've lived through it twice and enjoyed the promotion parties, plus it would be a great opportunity to jettison the deadwood players, and some of you fairweather fans, at least 5,000 I reckon. But of course you'll be back when the good days return.
It is very obvious that NU would lose at Liverpool, no matter what. But I am just wondering how come the team will sustain such a poor form. It was poorer than the last year when Roeder was there. Everyone, including myself, said that Roeder was not up to the job. However, relegation was not in the conversation last year. And to be honest, with the paper thin squad he had, he managed to put out a few very good games, such as the win at Spurs. However, for this year, none, not under Big Sam, and certainly not under KK. The team, in terms of number and quality, is better than that of last year. Maybe it is not a good idea to bring back KK. We need somebody like Ramos to bring in new ideas and solid changes. I think Spurs and Man City's cases prove that change doesn't need to take 2-3 years to see the result as Big Sam suggested.
Note From Luke
There is no question Newcastle's form has been poor but I still feel Keegan will turn things around. Whether he is the right man in the long term, I don't know, but it's no good turning on the manager at this stage. It may be a cliche but this really is the time for Newcastle to stay United
Ronnie Lambert what the hell are you talking about, yes most of the players would not cut it in top 4-6 teams but come on if we have selected a coach similar to Ramos with dicipiline and stratgey I guarantee it we would not be talking relegation. Ashely made 2 mistakes 1] He should have fired SAM way earlier thus allowing the new coach to use the transfer window to ge his own players 2] Kevin is a great guy but how could you hire a coach that admits to you he has been away from the game for 3 yrs it shows he has no plan and strategy, he must have thought that just motivating the players was going to be enough, it is shocking he made MO captain wrong choice.
With the right coach and the palyers that we have we should have been minimu mid table position. Look what what happened at Tottenham you can have great players if there is no discipline stratgey to play as a team then you will loose for sure.
You just do not want to face facts Freddy was s*** for picking SAM and Ashely picked a great coach for the wrong team and at the wrong time.
If Sunday was Keegan's Stalingrad, let's hope Birmingham gives us a Kharkov moment. Unfortunately for us toon fans, Keegan's protestations are ringing increasingly hollow, and to maintain the military allusion, of Mr Lambert, telling us what a good squad we have doesn't wash, and is reminiscent of Saddam's propaganda legend "Comical Ali" assuring Iraqi TV there was no threat of invasion as Delta Force enjoyed a party in the background...8 games, 2 points. We have worse form then Derby but on paper our squad is full of talented millionaires. Perhaps therein lies the problem. Where is the hunger?
Note From Luke
They'd better be hungry at Birmingham on Monday night
Luke - with a great finish and a continuation of our horrors, The O's might just be booking themselves into SJP next season.
Laughable that some Newcastle United supporters are still absolutely certain we're going to stay up. I'm not saying we're definitely going down but this is certain: We are EYEBALL (not frigin knee man) deep in turd.
I'm really struggling to see us staying up - what, are Newcastle likely to win all four against Brum, Reading, the Mackems, and Fulham? My left one's safely on no. Some of us were saying long ago just how crucial our home matches against Boro and Bolton would be - and boy have they been.
If we lose at Brum I think it's going to be too much to stay afloat.
Here's a rant - I've found the FA Cup pretty painful this year - the only way we're going to break the drought of all football trophy droughts is being in a similar position as Pompey currently are in the semis. No wait - we'd lose the final to Ebbsfleet United.
Cast your eyes over who's won a domestic cup (FA or League) since Newcastle United's last in 1955 - includes Swindon, Luton, Oxford, Wimbledon, Leicester et al.
How dare I, an impossibly impatient, overly ambitious Geordie, even begin to take issue with the fact that Newcastle United are nowhere to be seen on that list since 1955. Now it's certain that one of Cardiff, Barnsley, Pompey will be added or WBA are going to add to their two.
Rather depressed so won't even start on the League.
Note From Luke
Unfortunately Orient's promotion hopes were all but ended by a 1-0 home defeat to Huddersfield last weekend I'm afraid James.
Got to write in response to the comments of Ronnie, who I normally agree with but can't believe his argument that "relegation might be quite good actually".
Are you having a laugh? Relegation would be a disaster for NUFC and for everyone who follows the club. It would a financial disaster and a footballing disaster for a club that finished third in the Premiership only five years ago. We all know what has happened since then but to suggest that going into the championship would therefore be a good thing is unbelievable.
So it would get rid of a few fairweather fans. Well, great. It's got to be worth it then!
And we could have a nice jolly promotion party! Surely that's desperate glory-seeking of the worst kind! Would you really rather be in the championship just so we can have a cheer and few drinks at the end of the season? And that's assuming we would come straight back up, which is far from certain.
Sorry but that kind of attitude stinks. The club and the players need to fight tooth and nail to stay in the Premiership - and the fans need to be right behind them, not resigning themselves to a season in the championship!
This has got nothing to do with how long anyone has supported the club for. At the moment, I don't think it's even about making scapegoats out of certain players (I agree there've been some pitiful performances but let's leave the inquest until the end of the season when we know where we are - for now, I think their confidence is so low that the only way they'll improve is with a bit of positive support). What's needed now is for everyone to unite behind the team with a common cause.
Sorry for the rant. Just had to get that off my chest. And yes I do feel better now.
Note From Luke
I find the same thing usually helps me as well Beanpole!
Luke â A word to those who say relegation is a good thing - Come on lads and lasses this is the defence mechanism of an 5 year old in a huffâŠâÂÅ take my train set I donâÂÂt care!! - It is not a rational response to the situation we find ourselves in.
We donâÂÂt need the relegation wake up call to prompt change. All the ducks are lined up already â new chairman, new manager, new structure, and most importantly, the new realisation that things must change on and off the pitch. If we get through this we will look back in years to come at this being the watershed moment.
So come on you lot - take heart from the fact that weâÂÂve got games against the teams in and around about us. One or two wins and the landscape changes overnight.
On a completely unrelated point I tried Valium for the first time ever this morning and itâÂÂs bloody fantastic.
Note From Luke
I don't condone the use of valium. A win at Birmingham City would surely be all that is needed to lift the doom and gloom of relegation induced depression.
Luke do you not think its a must that KK plays Oba on Monday?I think he would bring that enthusiasm and much needed pace to the team, and since he has missed most of the last 2 month his confidence doesnt seem 2 have been effected as much as others(his appearance at Liverpool I thought reflected that). I think KK will start Viduka, but I think its pace we are lacking, and confidence both attributes Oba brings to the team.
I personally would also start Geremi in the middle of the park on Monday, We dont have leaders on the pitch and I do think on that side of things he would make a differance, And he would also provide some much needed options from set pieces(which have been awful to say the least recently).
Note From Luke
I'd rather see Geremi than Barton Ben, that's for sure. Unfortunately, having spoken to KK today, it looks as though it will be Viduka and not Martins who starts against Birmingham City. For me Martins deserves a chance to show what he can do, but the manager seems to like the chunky Aussie!
Oh very mature Medan, IF we'd appointed Ramos. If you're playing IF games, why not IF Sir Alex Ferguson, or IF Dalglish hadn't dismantled Keegan's entertainers, IF he'd just strengthened it with 2 or 3 more top notchers. Retrospect is the worst argument in the heat of battle when reality and calm heads are crucial. Do you think Churchill tore into his generals at Dunkirque and said ' if only you'd done this or that at here or there? Or calmly assessed the fact that most of his army were alive to regroup for phase two, which was successful by the way. Keegan's had to fight on more than one front, firstly to put a smile back on the fans' faces which for the large part he did, and secondly to get this broken squad of misfits to play ' proper football ', which is obviously happening. The state of mind they're in is not his fault, neither is the tough fixture list that welcomed him back, but Blackburn did show much improvement. As for me facing facts, I've repeatedly said that Shephard knew he was losing his club, partly through the vociferous fans, Sir John Hall secretly selling him down the river and the mega bucks of Ashley. This combination in my opinion hurt him so much that his only recourse was to leave a booby trap for his successors i.e. appointing S.A., knowing how this would rankle the fans, and the phenominal cost to Ashley of paying his large backroom staff off. I may be paranoid to hold that view but it's not unheard of in business or life, to get your own back. Yes Ashley should've sacked Sam earlier, yes he should've bought in January but he's green to the business and on a very expensive learning curve, again Medan it's all these IF's. It's still reality that he's put more money into the club than anyone in history, why ? Cos he's a big kid like you or I would be with his dosh, and bought a football club he admired in the hope of taking it to the top, enjoying the thrills along the way. What a sad and shocking indictment it would be for the sake of a little more patience on our part if ' some ' fickle supporters sickened him into chucking it in. Mr. Colonel sir, I said the squad are crap, try thinking as you read, and Beanpole, I don't wish the club to go down, or think it would be a good thing. But should it happen, and I'm not throwing my towel in yet, it would be like the troops escaping Dunkirque. You either see it as a catastrophe, or the chance to rebuild from the foundations. Now men, read my lips Beanpole...SHOULD IT HAPPEN, would you guys stop coming, slash your wrists or continue next season but moan on about IF THIS, IF THAT, IF THE OTHER all next season? IF so, tell me where your seats are cos I hate sitting beside pessimistic moaning minnies.
Note From Luke
The man has come off the ropes fighting...
I agree wholeheartedly with Ronnie Lambert's comments with one exception, the last part about going down not being such a bad thing.
Everything else he said is spot on in my book, I said similar over on Lee Ryder's blog earlier in the week.
There are far too many of these Geordie gloryseekers who were the exact bunch Sky Sports were giving hourly airtime to chanting for Keegan & Shearer in early January, and then within 8 weeks of Keegan's return (including games such as: 2x Arsenal away, 2x Man Utd, & Liverpool away) are now getting stuck into Ashley and complaining about Keegan's team.
It's not Keegan's team, and the only mistake Ashley has made in my book is the timing of Allardyce's sacking.
Having said that, the January window is a farce anyway, so I really doubt that even if he was given the entire month Keegan could've landed the quality of player he wants. Clubs don't part with top quality players in January. The biggest move in January was probably Defoe to Portsmouth, and although he's a very decent player, this type of signing at that time wouldn't have got the place buzzing. (I've omitted Anelka to Chelsea because it was a pre-meditated ongoing saga since October, which sailed as close to the edge of tapping-up you can get.)
So to any and all of these idiots abusing Ashley and trying to instigate discontent towards Keegan, stop placing the blame at the easiest target and get some perspective on the situation. Ronnie is exactly right in saying that it's the likes of you who are making our fans a national joke
Note From Luke
I feel this is a hornet's nest that has been stirred.
Thankyou Sy for READING IT PROPERLY, apart from me saying it would be a good thing to go down. I scream it again, it would be a good opportunity to clear out the garbage, including the plonkers who just recently turned up at St. James' on the ' entertainers gravy train ' and demand success immediately. That's me off this blog now. Goodbye.
Note From Luke
Put your toys back in the pram Busker, you're going nowhere. We'll track you down and make you continue to contribute!
Ronnie, I guarantee you I am a lot more matured than you are, you wrote a lot of non factual fiction and rubbish in your response. You are a hypocrite who says anything to justify his point of view instead of being objective. On top of that you did not answer any of the questions I posed except for excuses on why KK is getting horrible results. There is nothing wrong with using If statements to argue a point of view and performing retrospective analysis. People with common sense use IF-then analysis all the time to identify what could have been done differently to get better results. You might think it is a good idea to get relegated to fix the problem that exists in Newcastle, I say that is a narrow minded approach to fix a problem and there is no coach in the world that would agree with you on that point. Ashley put a lot of money into the club true but the desired results have not been achieved, that can only be due to poor management. Please answer the questions I asked instead of reiterating a fairy tale story and including Churchill to make it sound dramatic.
1] Would any sensible owner or GM hire a coach that has been out of football for 3 years and admitted to not following the sport closely for that period of time?
2] Is it not the problem that Ashley and Mort are not really football savvy and insisted on having a British manager thus limiting the options available which then by default made KK the best choice?
3] Are you saying that Ramos would not have done a better job than KK? Let me see here are you saying we are playing better while we are getting worse results under KK, but he is not responsible for the worst results?
4] Was KK hired to make us play better with worst results? Why did Ashley and Mort meet KK recently, regarding the horrible results, they should be happy we are playing better?
5] We knew KKâÂÂs long term responsibility is to rebuild the team, what is his responsibility since he took over till the end of the season? Please do not tell me to make us play better.
6] If we get relegated is KK partly responsible as a Manager?
Ronnie there are very few fans that expected what we have witnessed under KK, nobody expected a miracle but to do worse than SAM, NOBODY expected it. Part of the problem:
⢠Same team selection as SAM, plays Smith every game even though he is useless no goals in eternity.
⢠He thinks MO is the same player that played 3 yrs ago. On top of that he makes him captain wow what a genius.
⢠No guts to try new things, stick to the same players you keep calling misfits. Still plays Butt, Barton and Duff regularly even though they have been poor in form.
⢠I have yet to hear any expert or analysis that thinks KK has had any profound impact on this team. The team still looks disorganized, no discipline no strategy. The Blackburn game is an exception even SAM had one or two games where the team looked disciplined and organized.
⢠He still has not shown the ability to instill confidence and motivate the current players.
⢠Bottom line in any sport a Manager is fired if a team is not playing well and getting results and his replacement is hired to do better no excuses period.
⢠Based on the blogs that I have read the feeling among a lot of fans is that KK is a great guy but if we get relegated he has to bear some responsibility for it. I have never heard of a concept where the players are misfit so the manager is not responsible for the outcome.
Note From Luke
Blimey, I might need to get the UN in if these two carry on. for what it's worth, of course KK will take some of the blame if Newcastle go down, he'd have to. They weren't in the relegation zone when he arrived. But to talk of sacking managers after eight games is ridiculous I'm afraid, no matter what the results have been. These players are under-performing as a unti and have been for ages, before KK took over. They will have to take more of the blame than the manager, as far as I'm concerned, if relegation becomes a reality.
Luke, I apologize for my strong worded response in your Blog site, but I hope you agree it is a good thing as fans we voice our opinions and frustration. Clarification though nowhere in my post did I say KK should be sacked now after 8 games, I will have a different opinion if we get relegated, I still beleive we could have done a much better job of selecting the right coach for what was required. I also want to be clear that the players have to take part of the blame but my argument is SAM was fired as was Martin Jol becuase they were not getting the results that were expected of them and the team. KK was hired to get better results than SAM using existing squad and rebuild the team in the summer, so he should be judged based on the first criteria becuase the second cirtirea is irrelevant if we get relegated.
Anways, lets hope we win few games stay up and let's see what KK can do next season when he has his own players.
Note From Luke
I think that's what everyone hopes for at the moment. Let's hope they get started with that safety effort with a win at Birmingham.
Mr. Medan, IF you'd read my last comment without the red mist, you'd have seen that I agree with 97.3% of everything you you've just said. 1. I said Sam should've gone earlier. 2. I said MA is a big kid in a toyshop with loadsa money, inexperienced at this game and on a massive learning curve. Yes he's made mistakes, but as the best thing that's happened to this club since KK's first arrival, should we not cut him some slack and give him time ? Boy I'd hate him to read a lot of comments like yours. Now Mr. Medan, can you point me to any comment at all that you've written since the very first announcement of KK's arrival, where you criticised his appointment, or is your fury just building up at each defeat ? In which case you're just a fickle ' more mature man than me.' And finally 3. Yes I agree with you that MO is no captain, but I never said he was. It's obvious KK did that as an olive branch gesture after the ' book ' . Now can we be friends, as if we were on the beach of Dunkirk in the same uniform, looking to fight another day, alongside each other I mean. Luke, I only meant this particular subject, dummies back in pram....sigh..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Mr Ronnie, obsuletely we can be firends even as firends we can disagree a bit, besides the last thing we need is Luke calling in the UN to broker peace between us. One point though, KK was not my first choice as a coach but seriously thought he had a chance to do better than SAM, did I critize his appointement no, just seeing big SAM go and getting caught with the mystic of the Messiha must have blinded my views, even now I still hope KK will be a huge success eventhough my analytical brain tells me otherwise. Anyways I think we had a good healthy heated discussion and let us move on, and hope we start wining and stay up