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MAKE OR BREAK 13-12-05
Let's get this in perspective. There are some games which at the start of the season you have simply got to write off as 'no-pointers'. Such games include home or away to Chelsea, and away to Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Over the course of the season, you're bound to lose more games than just those, but they are the games you're happy to lose having not been humiliated. Anything else from those games is a bonus.
So having come away with no points from our last two league games is hardly a surprise to anybody. Both Chelsea and Liverpool knew they had been in a game and had to work hard to beat us. There are not many teams in the world who go to the above places and expect to win.
We have a decent record at Old Trafford and without lookng at the statistics, it must be one of the best records held by any side visiting Old Trafford since the Premier League began. But elsewhere we have truly shocking records at Anfield, Highbury and Stamford Bridge.
So I found it unbelievable to hear that a writer in the Times criticised Steve McClaren for being too negative and that we got what we deserved for a lack of ambition. Whoever this writer was clearly doesn't have a clue about, well, anything. Who in their right mind would send a team to Anfield to create chances galore and run the risk of being battered four or five nil?
The way to get anything from these places is to get as many men behind the ball as you can, frustrate the home fans and players, ride your luck to it's limits and when your chances come, take them. And sometimes even all that isn't enough.
Last season we went to Anfield and did all of those things. We took our chances, subdued the fans and the game itself and defended bravely. Only a wonder goal from Steven Gerrard prevented us from taking all three points, but on reflection, we could still easily have gone home empty handed.
On Saturday, we did everything right up until half time. We rode our luck with so many men behind the ball and had so far frustrated the home fans. Mark Viduka's chance at the start of the second half was undoubtedly the turning point of the match. It was clear from Viduka's reaction that he knew how important a moment in the game it would prove to be.
Despite an otherwise poor performance, Rochemback's ball to Viduka smacked of pure class. But having composed himself and sent the keeper the wrong way, the Aussie skipper saw his shot strike the standing leg of the fortunate Liverpool keeper. In that second, we had missed our chance, our luck had run out and the home fans found their voice.
As for the goals, certain players might have been at fault. Had Matthew Bates been alert, he could have been in position to block Morientes' first, and for his second Franck Queudrue's poor clearance fell perfectly into his path (more on Franck later) and Schwarzer was left stranded in no man's land.
At the other end, as previously mentioned, Viduka missed by far the best chance and James Morrison also drew a decent save from Reina.
The game's other big talking point was the decision to send Chris Riggott off for two yellow cards. It was not a decision that cost us the game it must be said as we were trailing 2-0 at the time, but it could cost us next week at home to Spurs.
What is infuriating is that the referee who dismissed Riggott on Saturday is the same referee who awarded West Ham a 'goal' recently when the ball didn't cross the line. That went down as a Riggott 'own goal', and so it will be interesting to hear the opinion of our resident referee Graham Frankland on whether or not referees do in fact target certain players who they have had 'previous' with.
What makes the whole thing worse is watching what Alan Shearer got away with on Saturday against Arsenal, and seems to get away with every week of the season. After grabbing Lauren round the throat and throwing him to the ground, taking out Sol Campbell at the knee and elbowing Philip Senderos, Shearer was finally booked. for throwing the ball away.
But then what do you expect from an allegedly 'has been' Geordie such as himself? Same old Shearer, always cheating.
In fact, Newcastle have moved quickly to halt rumours of a rift between Graeme Souness and Shearer. A club spokesperson said, "It's ridiculous to suggest that there is a personality clash between the two - everybody at the club knows Shearer hasn't got one". Allegedly.
It was a slight surprise to see Franck Queudrue's name appear on the team sheet at the expense of Manu Pogatetz. Could it be that Steve McClaren has listened to the fans and chosen Franck as number one left back, or is there a more sinister motive?
Franck is, despite being a fans favourite, seemingly out of favour with the management at the moment. He's made a few mistakes in recent weeks and with January fast approaching, maybe Steve Mc will look to offload him in very much the same way as he did Juninho?
Playing Franck on Saturday could have been putting him in the shop window, especially as Liverpool are a side he has been linked with. He coped well against the threat posed by Gerrard, although he was often left isolated when Rochemback didn't track back, which Queudrue cannot really be blamed for.
His failure to clear Jamie Carragher's long ball did result in the second goal, but things just don't seem to be going for Franck at the moment. Hopefully he will be given the chance from now until the New Year to prove himself once again as the club's number one left back. Good luck, Franck.
LITEX LOVECH travel to the Riverside on Thursday evening. Let's be honest, they could be the only ones. We're already through and have got some big games coming up so expect to see a very weakened team. It does provide Steve Mc the opportunity to give players like Maccarone, Bates and Johnson another opportunity to show what they can do.
Spurs on Sunday is not a game we can afford to lose and I would much rather send out the youth team on Thursday night than face another UEFA Cup hangover. I'd play a completely new eleven if I could so that none of the first team are tired for Sunday. That is how important I consider this game. It could quite simply make or break our season.
Same time next week. UP THE BORO!
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