With Arsenal out of the picture at long last, we hope to get about the remainder of our season with a match against the Smoggies on Sunday. We should have pretty much all the same folks available plus Emre and Viduka. N'Zogbia picked up his fifth booking of the year against Arsenal midweek but due to the seven day rule that won't kick in until the next game. There's also a strong chance that unless Senegal pull a rabbit out of the hat, we could potentially have Faye and Beye at least back in the country for this one, if not available for selection. Boro should have Alves available if they tie up the deal with Heerenveen. The rest of their squad report wasn't listed at this time. Not sure what I feel on this. My gut tells me more of the same, my heart tells me this is the game we turn it around. Either way, with Boro jumping us if they beat us, this is one we absolutely have to have.
We got a big boost as Senegal is out. Habib Beye has been one of our better players as well as Faye. I'm assuming they are on a plane today back, but I doubt this will leave them enough time to get ready for Boro. This has become the biggest game of our season now. We win, we can at least relax for a bit, we lose and we are really in the thick of things. We got some very tricky ties coming up and its essential we take 3 points from this one. Tactics. Depending on Beye and Faye's fitness I would include them in the squad. I'd put Enrique back on the left, drop Duff and move Zogs up to ALM. I let Milner and Duff fight it out over the next couple of days in training before deciding which of them starts, but since I can't see this I go with Milner. I know it won't happen, and I'm not even sure I would do it as manager, but I would much rather see Shola start up top with Owen than Smith. Smith, as well as owen, has proved he is worthless. At least give Shola a chance to prove a point before Viduka and Martins are back with the squad. Nobody has come in for him this window and he must be increasingly worried about his career. Let him prove a point. Kickoff is 13:30 which translates to a nice morning for me. I wish I had the capabilities to tape this one and watch it when I wake up because I will not get any sleep Sunday night either.
According to Sky Sports news and an interview with Southgate, Alves will NOT be available. That leaves Mido as the featured forward for the game against us. We should have everyone available except for Martins and Geremi.
Someone please park an ice cream truck behind the goal at Gallowgate end. Free cones to the Fat Austrailian Bastard if he scores... ..to which I predict a brace for Viduka provided proper delivery of frozen dairy product per goal scored...
We were very lucky to get a 2-2 draw at the Riverside earlier in the season and we are far worse now then we were then. Boro have got there form back and they are traditionally a big game side. Make no mistake, this game is HUGE. 0-2 comfortably to Middlesbrough. One thing is certain, we won't score. Why am I so negative?
Alfonso Alves can't play for Middlesbrough yet, can he? If so, I'm predicting a 3-0 win for Newcastle.
Newcastle is shit, we all know it. Everybody knows it. Soooooo, why do these @#$@!@ refs still think the opposition needs help?
Awful decision to deny us a goal. Although it does not look like we will regret it as we have started the stronger.
Wheater already have a yellow, and the ref is talking a lot to him. I would say he's a serious candidate for a red on the second half.
Half Time Very entertaining half. Boro are playing rough, but fair and we are not liking it. Owen has had another goal rightly disallowed. We should have had a pen too. Smith is winning every header and the midfield is playing better than usual. Defense is very shaky so I think both teams will score next half. The commentator is still saying Owen is lacking sharpness! Despite playing for almost a month without injury.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO - Huth heads in. We needed 3 points badly. To be honest, Middlesborough has had a ton of opportunites this half.
Boro had two players in an offside position, one which put Carr off and allowed Huth to get the jump on him. The linesman then correctly ruled out Aliadiere's goal in the 90 +2 which would have won it. But where was the linesman on Huth's goal? Should have ended 1-0 but with the way it ended we're fortunate to escape with a draw. Boro had about six chances to win it at the end. Sneaky, stealthy goal from Owen. Started in an offside position from the free kick, but snuck back onside just as Charlie delivered the ball and no one accounted for him on the header. Slick plotting from the diminutive one. As to Emre, hamstring tightness. I kind of like Milner off the bench as fresh legs to the end. He was all over the pitch at both ends.
Looks like St. Patty's day will be a good day for Newcastle to try to get another win against Birmingham, because I can't see us getting point from a game until then. And if that actually does happen, it will have taken us a total of 3 months of League action to get 2 freak'n points. Our last win in League came almost 2 months ago to Fulham and to be honest we stole those 3 points and didn't really even deserve the win. 3 months to between wins....the grim possibility does exist. I can't remember a drought like that in the time I've followed the team. At least Carr won't play next week with Beye back and at least Enrique will play because N'Zog is suspended. Maybe when he gets back for the Manure game N'Zog can play in a more natural mid position instead of being forced to be the LB he isn't.