Eddie Posted January 15, 2006 Posted January 15, 2006 (edited) So before we have the chance to see if we can earn another trip to Cardiff we face an interesting trip to the North East to face a struggling Newcastle side. Things haven't really gone well for Newcastle since they did us the honour of taking Souness off of our hands. The team has gone from potential champions league qualifiers to potential religation candidates, all for the tidy price of 1.3 million to us and a further 50 million to a variety of other clubs. Souness' saving grace seemed to be the signing of Michael Owen, having said that, just about anyone could have probably told him Owen would have scored goals wherever he went. However, with Owen out, as well as eight other first team regulars, the Newcastle league looks a shell of a side that was struggling to even make it even into the top half. If there was ever an opportunity for us to get one over an old manager, surely this is it. Recent history against Newcastle isn't great, with perhaps our most dissapointing performance of the season coming in September at Ewood Park when we lost 3-0 to them, with Owen scoring his first Newcastle goals. A more worrying fact though is that Alan Shearer has made it a habbit of scoring against his former club and with the Newcastle goal record only a single finish away this seems the most likely game for him to get it in. Our own form though points to us being a tough defence for him to score against and a difficult team for Newcastle to beat. Having not let in many league goals since our 2-1 defeat at Fulham our goal production has been fairly regular, with the 0-0 draw at Bolton on Saturday being one of the few blips. My own opinion is that this could be a more difficult game than it seems. With Shearer almost destined to score we'll need to find at least two and it seems our team has the taste for the spectacular rather than the conventional when it comes to goalscoring. With Bellamy out, the threat of pace that would have frightened a weak Newcastle defense is gone and unless the likes of Kuqi and Dickov prove effective with their tireless running and a few intelligent runs we may well have to rely on a piece or two of magic from some of the usual suspects. League form going in past five games - Newcastle - LDLLL Blackburn - LWWWD Potential Position at Full Time - Newcastle: Highest - 10th Lowest - 15th Blackburn: Highest - 6th Lowest - 11th Who knows, perhaps Souness will be able to get Fat Freddie's cheque book out between now and are game and we could see the likes of Anelka in the barcodes line-up. If not ,then surely we have to be looking to continue our goo d form. Edited January 16, 2006 by Eddie
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philipl Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 We can dream about Rovers winning at Newcastle, Pompey winning at Brum and ending the careers of two of the less popular managers around but I cannot see it happening. We had a record of not winning at St James's almost as bad as Newcastle's record of not winning trophies (well worse than their record of not winning domestic trophies) until Gallagher punched the ball in a couple of seasons back. I think this is going to have to be a case of getting Kuqi to bully their back line like he did at Boro. They are big lads so its a big ask but in the absence of Bellamy, its going to have to be brawn as well as Dickov's iritation to unsettle them. We'll need to keep it vey tight at the back and not let their midfield get on top to avoid wave after wave of kamikaze attacks whilst the Geordies bay them on. Another big ask to stop Sherer from beating Milburn's record against us but if we do we stand a more than decent chance of nicking it. However, 1-1 is the likeliest result.
Bobby G Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 Its written in the stars, Shearer always does something against us. This Newcastle team is falling backwards at the ropes and dizzy. The question is will we go for the kill or let our recent form and record against them play through our minds. They are missing so many players too.
roversmum Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 Come on, now, let's not be mean. Let the Shearer lad score his goal and have his moment of glory, and then we'll batter 'em. The Axe could come in handy here. Rovers 3, Newcastle 1
yawnsie Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 To predict accurately the result on Saturday, I used the most scientific and stringent method possible: I played a game of Newcastle v Rovers on Pro Evo 5. According to that, we'll win 1-0 with a late Dickov goal after MGP hits the post.
Presty On Tour Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 yeah well its a banker now!!! i played pro evo 5 and won 4:0 happy days!!!! shearer can have his goal, i think we will win though even is we have a bad record up there against the geordies n souness will be kicked out before tea time
1864roverite Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 who is bothered about AS? Rovers to nick it
Hughesy Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 2-1 Rovers. Shearer to score a penalty. Souness sacked! (Would be the perfect day)
S15 Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 Am I right in thinking the Newcy Browns will be without... Carr Emre Parker Dyer Owen Ameobi ??? Anybody else?
Hughesy Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 According to souness and his moan at weekend they had around 9 1st team players out - 5 of their best included!
1864roverite Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 taylor dolloper centre back moore babyaro faces a fa charge emre has a 50-50 chance of making it parker back in training plus all of your others
AussieinUk Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 taylor dolloper centre back moore babyaro faces a fa charge emre has a 50-50 chance of making it parker back in training plus all of your others 375176[/snapback] Bramble might be out as well...
Jim J Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 Bramble might be out as well... 375178[/snapback] D'oh
Seggie Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 Id like to see Bramble play. Not seen as much quality in a defender since the days of Christian Dailly and Darren Peacock. I fancy us to win but we will have to beat Shay Given who perhaps is the biggest reason Newcastle are not in the Relegation Zone at the moment. If they were to lose him they'd be in more trouble than when they lost Owen. Its a shame its not the end of January so any potential Souness replacement has no time to get players in and being stuck with a squad only capable of fighting relegation. That said I wouldn't want Big Al to finnish his career in a team being relegated.
92er Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 We're missing Bentley as well as Bellamy(Radio Lancs).
greggyk Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 good. now we have excuse not to play 442 with Kuqi and Dickov upfront. Boumsong & Bramble could make them two look like Henry and Rooney
James No. 7 Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 Anyone in Australia know whether this match will be live on Fox Sports? There is a live football match listed on the Fox Sports website at the same time as Rovers-Newcastle, but no team names are listed.
frosty Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 Newcastle 0-1 Rovers Pedersen 86, to sack the manager who brought him to England!
nonaynevernomore Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 Shearer, hes a great player and a legend, but that doesnt mean he should score. Plus i Hsve memories of him taunting the b-b end after scoring in the 99-00 season in the fa cup
Steptoe Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 Anyone in Australia know whether this match will be live on Fox Sports? There is a live football match listed on the Fox Sports website at the same time as Rovers-Newcastle, but no team names are listed. 375197[/snapback] Sky Sport has it on live here in NZ, right after Everton vs. Arsenal
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