MARKS COLUMN - APRIL 2004!

Greetings from Toonville! The last month has seen the games flow thick and fast on a twice a week basis, as the season has got to what has become known as “the business end”. Many will say that by now, we should have been well esconsced in at least fourth place in the Premiership, but still we find ourselves having to fight off challenges from illustrious competition such as Charlton, Aston Villa, Birmingham and Fulham. Those who are regular readers will be familiar with my views on the happenings at the club which have led us to be in this situation. You may also remember that last month I left you in a state of disgust, feeling that the sooner there was a complete overhaul at the club, the better.

 

The results of the last month have not changed my view on this. Yes, we now find ourselves approaching one of the biggest weeks in the club’s recent history, with a first leg of a semi-final in the UEFA Cup against Marseille and a vital weekend date with Chelsea at SJP, with Champions League qualification points at stake. And yes, things are still officially in our own hands, in so much that if we win our remaining games, we will qualify in fourth place. However, that last day fixture at Anfield still looks ominous.

 

Since I last spoke with you, there have been narrow defeats at both the Reebok and at White Heart Lane. And it is this poor away record that continues to hamper our progress. Aye we haven’t lost many, but we are still without an away win since October.

 

And it is about time that the media at large stopped taking easy shots at the Toon defence. As I detailed last month, our defensive record compares favourably with many. In fact if, at the start of the season, you had been told that we would have a near identical defensive record with Man Ure come mid-April, I think most of us would have been delighted if not to say a little stunned! The problem still seems to lie with the majority of our midfield. With the exception of a pre-Christmas Robert, none have found the target on any kind of regular basis.

 

However, in the time that has passed since we last met, there have been two breakthroughs in this department! Kieron Dyer managed to get a goal at home against Everton (although how much he really knew about it / intended it is another matter) after 47 consecutive Premiership blank sheets. And J.J. also managed to get off the mark for the season at home against Charlton, once again more through luck than judgement. I must, to be fair, balance this out with remembering that he then followed this up with his performance of the season away to PSV (and a towering header to produce a vital away goal).

 

But these rare chinks of light are only that. Rare. The last time the Toon had a midfielder chipping in on any kind of regular basis was the mighty Rob Lee in his heyday. An investment here should surely be a priority come summer time. What irritates me is that we may well get caught up in the traditional drone of “Oh yes, Newcastle do have a dodgy back four don’t they…..” and go out and try and tinker with that department. I know the defence isn’t perfect, but the constant muttering of “we need another top class centre half to play with Woody” is starting to bore me. For regular readers I apologise if you’ve heard this before, but I’ll say it again: WE ALREADY HAVE ANOTHER TOP CLASS CENTRE HALF! Please will the people in charge at SJP BUY A RIGHT BACK AND MOVE AARON HUGHES TO CENTRE HALF!!!!!!

 

Considering how long I’ve been saying this, I must admit I did allow myself a smug chuckle on Sunday at Villa when, after seeing OB sent off after just 8 minutes, we ended up moving Aaron Hughes across to the centre and making Dyer an emergency right back. What followed was a superb defensive display, the kind of which has rarely been seen in recent years. I gasped with amazement as the commentators started to drool about “Aaron Hughes has slipped in beautifully in the centre”, “Hughes looks so comfortable there”, “Hughes seems to have adapted brilliantly considering he’s a right back”. Then there was his much-deserved Man of the Match award. AM I THE ONLY PERSON WHO REMEMBERS HIM PLAYING CENTRE HALF FOR 3 OR 4 YEARS AT THE START OF HIS TOON CAREER??? He had to start playing full back cos we had nee body else man!!!!

 

I think OB is a great, loyal, dedicated, committed, brilliant squad player. I worry slightly about his lack of pace (although Bobby seems to think he’s lightening according to recent comments in the press), but Woody and Hughes were superb as a partnership on Sunday. And even if it can’t continue immediately cos we have no other cover at right back currently, with Griffin constantly injured and / or out of favour, I’d love to think we might see this partnership reunited on a more regular basis next season, after the acquisition of a quality full back.

 

Before I leave you this month to join me in the final reckoning of the season I must leave you with one gripe which I am sure I cannot be the only person to notice. For as long as I can remember, I have heard Toon fans complain about how our beloved club gets treated by the media in terms of live coverage, channel allocation, highlights shown on The Premiership, general media southern favouritism etc. And, somewhat predictably, we get accused of being over defensive and blatantly biased. (Yeah, and?…)

 

Well I’m sure this is getting worse. This month we had the following examples.

 

1. The morning after the UEFA Cup 4^th Round, BBC Breakfast News. Remember, Toon and Celtic through, Liverpool out. “Coming up later, a night of UEFA Cup drama at the Nou Camp as Celtic go through!!” Eh?!? Wait a minute…. Then the bulletin: Highlights of Celtic, with multiple angles of young goalie’s saves, goal shown, Liverpool report with goals, and then only one of our three goals (Shearer’s tap in, not Bellamy’s 50 yard run and superb chipped finish) with “And Newcastle also coasted through….”

 

2. The morning after the UEFA Cup Quarter Finals, BBC Radio 5 Live.

Remember, Toon now only club left. A report about how the Celtic chairman was determined to keep hold of Martin O’Neil despite Celtic crashing out, an interview with aforementioned chairman, then a story about how Van Bommel (PSV who we had beaten the previous night, surely the link to our glorious story!) was probably about to commence talks with Spurs, then….. nothing. Nowt. Not a mention. We had just got to the semi final of the 2^nd biggest European club competition, our first final in 35 years, only our 2^nd ever, and it wasn’t even mentioned.

 

3. Immediately following the draw at Villa, Sky Sports Premiership Plus. The game which had seen Lee “Goblin” Hendrie of Villa quite disgracefully try and get Gary Speed sent off by walking towards him, barely brushing eyebrows before (without Gary Speed even moving) walking away and suddenly recoiling and holding his face! He then followed this two minutes later by grabbing Speed’s arm, pulling it down almost to the ground, and when Speed tried to pull it free, hitting the deck like he’d been shot, for which Speedo received a booking. In the studio, the permanently stunned George Graham treated us to a package of clips including these incidents where Gary Speed was criticised because he “should know better than to get involved with silly, petty incidents like these” and that he “wasn’t making it any easier for the referee”!!!!!!! What a joke. Outrageous. I won’t forget this game Hendrie. Next time you’re at SJP you can expect a rough ride. Muppet… Same goes for you George…

 

Over defensive bias or yet more examples of how the Toon get shoddily treated by the media? You decide…

 

Good luck Toon. A major European final and Champions League qualification beckon.

 

Keep the faith.

Mark

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