retired_brianrt

After two draws against two of the title favourites, Nick was happy that some of the difficult games were out of the way, and he could concentrate on moving forward against the so called 'lesser' sides in the division. The first chance to do this was a trip to Bolton's Reebok Stadium. Now the style of football that they played, the notorious "kick and run" style, was one that Nick hated. He would have banned it if it was up to him. He also wasn't the greatest fan of manager Sam Allardyce, believing him to be a hypocrite and one of the most outspoken managers in the division

As it was, for the third game in succession, Nick had to settle for a point from the match. This time though, it was the opponents that took the lead, A long clearance from Nicky Hunt bouncing over Kompany and Kevin Nolan firing past Gordon on the bounce. Nick didn't need to wait long for his side to get back into it, Shearer powering home a header from ten yards and giving his side hope. The second half was crap, without many incidents, but the most important was 6 minutes from time, Kevin Davies with a clear elbow on Thuram, splitting the French defenders lip. The annoying factor came from the fact that Mark Halsey chose to ignore the incident and let play carry on instead of awarding a penalty

This led to Nick storming on the pitch at the end of the game, chasing the referee nearly 30 yards to find out why he didn't give it. He was livid, absolutely furious, and it was left for Alan Shearer to drag him away. Nick let his feelings all come out in the post match interview, Garth Crooks being on the wrong end of his fury

"Nick, you seemed furious about the elbow in the late stages of the game. Can you tell us what you said to Mr. Halsey?"

"Well I never got to him Garth, but if I had he wouldn't be refereeing the next match. I am furious, absolutely livid. How can he not see that Davies' elbow bust Lilian's lip. And it was happening all game. I'd love to meet Davies next week"

"O.K. Well you seem quite an angry man at this point, so I'll let you get back into the dressing room. Thanks for your time Nick"

...

Not only had Nick been fined for his 'inappropiate comments' about Mark Halsey. but Sam Allardyce had phoned up to pass on an apology from Kevin Davies, something which had really gotten Nick enraged

"Nick, Sam Allardyce here. Just wanted to phone to pass on a message from Kevin"

"Really. What's that then Sam?"

"He wanted to apologise for the elbow. He never meant it, and I know he isn't that type of player anyway"

"You know what Sam. Tell him to shove his apology where the sun doesn't shine. You watch the tape, then tell me he never meant it. Quite frnakly, thats ********. Now tell Kwvin thanks for the gesture, but he, and yourself, can get to f**k!!"

---

If he was honest, despite them being a good side, Nick fully expected his side to pick up their first three points of the season at home to Blackburn. Come the half time interval, it looked as though a point was on the cards again, but a real harsh team talk did the trick, as Nick saw his side score four times in the final half an hour of the game. The first came from a penalty, Nicky Butt slotting into the corner of Friedel's goal. A four minute brace from Alan Shearer sealed the game, before Seba Veron's first for the club gave them a comprehensive 4-0 rout of a side considered very good in defence, a result Nick was delighted with

retired_mudd

Picking a fight with Big Sam eh? Brave man

retired_brianrt

Nick had seen his side really start to gel together recently, particularly against Blackburn in the previous game. Everything seemed to be clicking into place, and the squad were showing that maybe they were good enough to win trophies. Just as everything was going smoothly, it changed in the blink of an eye, with both James Milner and Darren Ambrose going down to a virus, meaning that Daniel Bierofka came into the side for his debut as they travelled to Norwich for what Nick expected to be another easy win.

He hadn't expected to be going in at half-time 1-0 behind, thanks to Jim Brennan's free-kick. What made it all the more annoying was the fact that it was the only chance of the game that the hosts had made, Newcastle spurning 6 clear cut chances to score. Still, all was not lost, German Bierofka marking his debut with a goal just 43 seconds into the second half of the game

That secured it then, as Norwich heads dropped, and goals from Alan Shearer, his fifth of the season, and Nicky Butt's stoppage time penalty put the icing on the cake as Nick saw his side fruise to an easy win. What he was most pleased about though was the performance of Bierofka, who had won the penalty, set up Shearer's goal and scored the equaliser, earning himself a man of the match award. He also made Nick sit up and take notice, maybe even earning himself a regular starting berth on the wings

The injuries to Ambrose and Milner would see them kept out for 2 months and a month respectively, meaning Bierofka would see a lot more playing time in the next few weeks, but Nick knew that if he played like he did against Norwiach then it would become impossible to drop the German from the team. He was fantastic, dominating the right hand side and whipping in cross after cross, much to the delight of Shearer and Kluivert, two men who were terrific in the air. The opening few games had gone well, and Nick was delighted with the performances of his team so far

retired_brianrt

Cheers Hunterkiller - and Big Sam would feel my wrath

---

August 2004 Summary
(Premiership unless stated)

Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle
Kezman (33) : Kluivert (11)

Newcastle 1-1 Man Utd
Shearer (29) : Giggs (68)

Bolton 1-1 Newcastle
Nolan (2) : Shearer (16)

Newcastle 4-0 Blackburn
Butt (pen 60) Shearer (82,86) Kluivert (90)

Norwich 1-3 Newcastle
Brennan (21) : Bierofka (46) Shearer (62) Butt (pen 90)

League Position - 4th

retired_brianrt

Nick saw his side play some good football in the opening month of the season, earning two exceptional draws against two of the title favourites before the season had started. The new signings looked very much in place with the rest of the squad, and Nick was a very happy man at this particular moment in time. He expected his side to open up September with another win, to follow on from the teo that finished off the previous months work. Freddy Guarin had looked good in training, and when Nicky Butt became another member of the injury list, Nick had no hesitation in pencilling the young Colombian's name on the team sheet for the next game, which would see Southampton visit St. James' Park. Once again, Nick saw his side run riot, creating chance after chance, but once again he had to wait for the second 45 minutes to see his side put any of those chances away. It was Guarin who opened the scoring just after the hour mark, curling home a 30 yard free kick past the outstretched fingers of the visitors 'keeper. Alan Shearer continued his good form of late as he slotted home Bierofka's cross to double the lead. James Beattie's 83rd minute strike looked like it wouldn't be more than a consolation, but when substitute Aaron Hughes dropped his back pass short Rory Delap picked it up and lofted the ball over a stranded Craig Gordon to ive his side a point that they would be delighted with, seen as they had been dominated throughout the 90 minutes

---

He hadn't known what to do when she left. Having never had brothers or sisters, he had no-one to talk to about it, not that he had much wanted to anyway. In the first few years, he kept himself to himself, almost living like a hermit. Then he met his current best mate on the coaching course. Paul Nethercott. A no-nonsense, down to earth Northerner who, to say the least, liked a pint (or four). They hit it off straightaway, going out at weekends, even getting a flat together. then it all went downhill. Not the friendship, that was fine. They still live together in fact, although it is now with three people, seen as Paul found himself married two years ago. They still spend their free nights in the pub, the Boat and Horses, supping on the ale

As for Nick, since she left him, he turned into a playboy. Over the last five years, he has had more women than he has hot dinners. Picking them up from bars, clubs and pubs, they spent one or two nights in his company and then disappeared. He hated it though. He wanted the affections of a regular relationship, the tenderness and love that a wife or girlfriend gave to their male counterpart. Maybe he would meet that girl now, maybe not. Who knew. He saw the way Paul and Jennifer were and he craved for that. He was best man at their wedding, and even there he found himself 'involved' with one of the bridesmaids. But nothing came of it, as happens all the time. Nick often wondered to himself whether he could live with that again.

To top it off, he would more than likely be on his own for the next few days, as Jennifer's younger sister was coming to visit. He had never known she had a sister, in fact Paul or Jennifer had never mentioned it. Still, maybe his reputation was the reason why. At least he would get a chance to prepare for the games, in peace and quiet, as a trip to Hungary beckoned for himself and the side

retired_brianrt

That trip to Hungary arrived in what was seemingly no time at all, and Nick travelled down with 22 squad members to face their opponents in the first round of the UEFA Cup. Their opponents were Buducnost, a team that Nick knew virtually nothing about. Still, he was not taking any chances, and put out his strongest available line-up. Two goals, one in each half from Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert, was enough to secure a good win for the side, and meaning they had two away goals for the return leg in Newcastle

---

Jennifer's younger sister, Heather, certainly caught Nick's attention. She was younger by four years, meaning she was 27, and with her flowing ginger hair and stunningly beautiful features, the attraction was instant. Whether it was mutual though, was another matter. As Jennifer and Heather prepared the dinner, Nick sat with Paul, flicking through his e-mails and swigging from his can. It was Paul's statement that made him nearly choke...

"So. You gonna take the girl out or what?"

"Eh? What you on about? Take who out?"

"Heather. Are you gonna take her out?"

"How can I take her out? I barely know the girl"

"That's why Jen invited her over. She split up from her boyfriend six months ago, and she needs a fella. I suggested you, so Jen said why not, seen as you need a nice girl to settle you down"

"Well it sounds like I haven't got a choice mate"

"No you haven't. Well I 'aint that bothered really but it would mean a lot to Jen"

"Fine. I'll take the girl out. If she agrees that is"

"Well she sort of...umm, she sort of already has. Jen asked her yesterday"

"Really? Well, I should be offended...to be honest, I'm flattered she thinks that highly of me"

So Nick spent the rest of the evening talking to Heather, finding out about her past, what she wanted, all the mods and cons. Come the nights end, and the house were all sleeping, it became quite apparent that they actually had several things in common. Maybe something could come of this. Maybe, just maybe, things could work out for the best. Still, it is me. Maybe it'll be as it always is. Crap

---

Another title challenger was next up, as Rafa Benitez's new look Liverpool entertained Nick and his team at Anfield. Entertain was the wrong word though, as the game was dour. a total of 4 chances were created, and neither Shay Given nor Chris Kirkland were tested to extreme lengths. Nick would have taken a point before the game, so he couldn't complain too much, but it would have been nice to play a bit better than they did. Still, three draws against three of the top four. Not to be sniffed at.

retired_brianrt

After the draw at Anfield, Nick wanted to see his team get back to winning ways at home to relegation threatened Crystal Palace. Unfortunately for Nick, Vincent Kompany picked up a thigh strain just hours before the game, meaning that Ronny Johnsen came into the starting line-up, and for Nick it proved to be a hell of a decision, as the big Norwegian headed home Bierofka's cross after 13 minutes to head Nick's side in front. It looked as if the visitors would go in at the break level, Andy Johnson firing in low past Given. This was not the case though, as Kluivert put Nick's side back in front just before the interval. Johnson equalised in the second half, before Nick saw his side turn up the standard. Guarin started it off, volleying home from the edge of the area, before goals from Shola Ameobi and Ronny Johnsen's second of the game secured a comfortable win for Nick and his team

The injury list was building up quickly, and there was yet more bad news for Nick just 48 hours after the Palace game, Juan Sebastian Veron suffering a training injury, which was later diagnosed to be a broken foot, something that would keep him out for up to four months. This was a big blow for Nick and the side, especially seen as Veron's performances had been particularly good of late. Still, Nick was confident that Baronio could step into that role reasonably well

Buducnost visited St. James Park for the second leg of the UEFA Cup tie. Holding a 2 goal advanatge, Nick knew his side were virtually already through anyway, but he certainly didn't expect a performance like the one his side gave. Come the end of the 90 minutes, they had found the back of the Hungarian's net six times. Freddy Guarin kept his scoring boots on, netting after four minutes, while Jermaine Jenas and Shola Ameobi both netted a brace. The sixth and final goal came from Mosquera, his first goal for Newcastle and his first goal in European competition, giving Nick and his team an easy 8-0 aggregate victory and sending them through into the group stage of the competition

retired_brianrt

September 2004 Summary
(Premiership unless stated)

Newcastle 2-2 Southampton
Guarin (62) Shearer (78) : Beattie (83) Delap (89)

(UEFA Cup 1st Round 1st Leg)
Buducnost 0-2 Newcastle
Kluivert (31,87)

Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle

Newcastle 5-2 Crystal Palace
Johnsen (12,81) Kluivert (43) Guarin (55) Ameobi (79) : Johnson (39,51)

(UEFA Cup 1st Round 2nd Leg)
Newcastle 6-0 Buducnost
Guarin (4) Jenas (24,82) Ameobi (54,64) Mosquera (85)

League Position - 4th

retired_richcoble

A good story going here, I will follow this one

shannon2007

Except its written in black and kind of what grey or something -------- ah right I get it now