Season 2006-2007

NEWCASTLE UNITED

 v

LIVERPOOL

- Michael Owen (knee) has stepped up his rehabilitation and is looking to make a comeback before the season is finished.
- Shola Ameobi (hip) is probably out for the season after his hip operation.
- Craig Moore (hamstring) is expected to be back later this month.
- Peter Ramage (hamstring) is out for another week or so.
- Shay Given (groin) is out for another week or so.
- Charles N'Zogbia (knee) looks to be out for another month.
- Celestine Babayaro (hamstring) is injured again!
- Emre (calf) apparently now has a calf injury, it’s a strange one this.
- Olivier Bernard (hip) made his comeback for the reserves last week but isn’t 100% fit.
- Stephen Carr (thigh) pulled out of the Ireland squad in midweek and could be out for a month.

My thoughts:

After the capital no show last weekend, this week we host the red half of Merseyside at St James’ Park. Despite our poor record at Anfield in the Premiership years, our home fixture against Liverpool has been a lot tighter (see Did You Know below).

The paint that has covered over the cracks in recent weeks, certainly disappeared last week, leaving us feeling rather exposed again. The warm fuzzy glow of a home fixture goes some way to ease that but the sight of Liverpool FC above the opposition dressing room, has us all extremely worried though.

With it being Liverpool FC, we know that it means the first return back to Newcastle for our former ‘Only gay in the village’ player, Craig Bellamy. That can mean only one thing, plenty of tantrums and no doubt the odd dummy being spat on the pitch. However, with every tantrum and dummy spitting, there is also a great threat to our goal. It’s odds on Rafa will start our former menace, knowing there won’t be a more fired up person in a red shirt. Can we stop him? I’m not sure but let’s hope his return is very similar to Jermaine Jenas’s spectacular first return.

What about us? It looks like Damien Duff, Kieron Dyer, Steven Taylor and James Milner, all survived the midweek fixtures unscathed. Glenn Roeder is furious that Stephen Carr picked up a thigh injury whilst training with Ireland and I think we all agree and share his frustration. These things do seem to happen to us but if we were to chose one of our international players for this to happen to; Carr would no doubt be everyone’s first choice. Nobby Solano did a fine job at right back in his absence, over Xmas and into the New Year, so I for one will be pleased to see him reprise that role.

Taylor, Titus Bramble and new boy Oguchialu Onyewu will presumably make up the rest of the back four. A St James’ Park sell out against Liverpool, will be a big step up for Onyewu but it’s a case of stand up and being counted for the man on loan. Good knows what type of performance we’ll get out of Bramble and this could probably be the key to our afternoon.

The midfield and strike force again picks itself. In midfield from right to left, James Milner, Nicky Butt, Scott Parker and Damien Duff, and upfront Kieron Dyer and Obafemi Martins.

Liverpool's era of football domination is now a generation ago, hence I don't fear them at home as much as the other big three. If the good Newcastle United turns up, this could be a close game which we can win with home advantage but if the other Newcastle United turns up, then I'm afraid we'll struggle to even get a point.

This game also marks the first 'official' Aussie Mags meet. Denis (Liverpool fan) my Irish mate, asked if I fancied going to the Celtic Club to watch the match with him. I thought that was a great idea, as I very rarely watch the matches in the pub, so said I'd ask my two other closes friends Simon and Michael. Both are Toon fans, one another Geordie and the other a Aussie who lived in Newcastle for a couple of years. Then a decision was made to post a message on the forum and open this up to all Melbourne Mags. Hope to you there...
 

HOWAY THE LADS!!!