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"We were pretty miserable on Sunday and
Monday and that's to be expected. We've had the video review of the game
and we'll be trying to put the bad things that we did right for the next
game. We should not have gone down so easy against Liverpool and, apart
from one or two, the whole team performed under-par. The players accept
responsibility and will be trying to put it right at Blackburn. The lads
are determined to do that and I'm hoping a result will galvanise our
season in what is a very busy month for ourselves. We know what we have
to do and we have the players and characters to do that.
We will have somewhere between 5,000 and 6,000 fans at Blackburn, and to
have that number is fantastic. It is just further evidence of the
passion our supporters have for their club. It’s amazing. How many clubs
would love to enjoy the kind of backing away from home that Newcastle
United get? When you find out how many will be travelling across to
Blackburn it just makes you more determined to do well for them, and
that’s something I’ll be reminding everyone of this week in the build-up
to the game. After starting the season with a win at Bolton we need to
start picking up points again regularly on our travels, and that will be
the aim on Saturday against a strong Blackburn side.” |
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It would seem Sam Allardyce has broken a record. After only 5 months we
(the fans) are disillusioned, confused and completely spilt on whether
we want him to stay or go. Well done Sam you should be proud, this is a
great achievement, even for this football club.
We aren’t being irrational or impatient like we have been labelled in
some quarters. The style of football, the tactics utilised and some of
the general decisions made have caused most us some concern from the
start. Sometimes, winning hides a few cracks and I think this is exactly
the case with Sam Allardyce.
I don’t believe this myth that Newcastle United fans will only be happy
with attacking football. That is totally nonsense, all we want is a team
that gives 110% every week and if possible wins more often than not. If
a team playing defensive football went on to win us our illusive trophy,
by only winning 1-0 every week, I don’t think you’d get many complaints.
What would happen however, if that team playing boring football
continued to fail to win and it was obvious there was a lack of effort
on the pitch, then disappointment and unrest would occur. If we aren’t
going to win something then I’m sure most people would, at the very
least, expect us to give it a go against teams at home. I don’t agree
with booing of players or staff during the 90 minutes, I do believe you
are there to support the team but at the same time I can understand fans
frustrations.
I’ve never turned on a current manager in the past. You will remember it
was once Graeme Souness’s tenure was untenable that I conceded defeat
and with Glenn Roeder, I was willing him to succeed till the end. So for
me to feel this way about Sam Allardyce has really comes as a surprise,
perhaps deep down I was never happy about him being appointed in this
first place. I can’t stand us being divided, I hate the in-fighting and
ultimately like all of us I don’t really care who is in charge I just
want us winning on the pitch. So if Sam Allardyce can turn this round
I’ll be happy but I’ll also be surprised because I think he’s on the
slippery slope to the dole queue.
What Newcastle United will turn up this week? I asked the same question
in last weeks match preview and I’ll keep asking it, cos I do feel we
have enough talent to beat most teams in the Premiership. So lets play
4-4-2 with both wingers down the correct flank, lets keep a settled back
4 and lets get some quality service to the front two and by Christ, you
never know, we might actually start looking like a football team. I
don’t think it’s rocket science to work out how to get the best out our
players.
Blackburn got thumped 0-4 at home to Aston Villa on Thursday morning, so
the home side are coming off almost as bad a perform as us. Mark Hughes
will be happy to have another home tie so soon to try and rectify there
problems. If you look above, the bookies have us at $4.30 for the win!
Now I know my comments so far have been quite negative but shit man,
have our stocks slipped that much, is that what they really think of our
chances at Blackburn away? I’m going to stick $10 on us to win, not out
of blind faith you see but…, oh ok out of blind faith.
Having 6,000 Geordies travelling away for this game doesn’t surprise me
but it does raise an interesting topic.
For me the true barometer of what Newcastle
United fans are about has always been the away support, especially now
the home support has dropped off (in terms of atmosphere and actually
support!) so alarmingly in the last 5 years or so.
Our away fans are the guts of this football club,
their support is unconditional, their noise is constant and their hope
is ever lasting. St James Park used to be one big away support but sadly
those days are long gone with the advent of new 'Premiership fans'.
The day we lose our large
and passionate away support (which is the envy of the country) is the
day this football club really does die.
C’mon boys what more support do you want, can you really afford to let
us down again this week? |
