retired_brianrt

Wegason - thanks a lot for your support

Pm7 - like it, nice reference

---

Nick had seen two good months of football from his side, and with two difficult games to open up the next month he was hoping the good football would continue. The trip to Birmingham was quite a short one, so Nick and his side took the trip on the morning of the match. In terms of the match, against Aston Villa, the first half was not very good. There was nothing for either Sorensen or Given to do, and it wasn't until the 67th minute of the match that the deadlock was broken, Craig Bellamy racing through and sliding underneath the onrushing Villa 'keeper. The home side were level within two minutes, Ousmane Dabo curling a 30 yarder into the top corner. It was Frenchman Laurent Robert who gave Nick's sdie the lead again, as Bellamy played it to his left and Robert struck a sweet left footed shot past Sorensen. Alan Shearer secured the points two minuts from time, volleying home from 6 yards out to give the side an easy enough 3-1 win

It was nice to come out of a game with no injuries, and most of the news from the physio's office was good. Jermaine Jenas was back in full training, although lacking a little in match practice, but with Milner, Jenas, Bierofka and Robert fully fit then the options on the wings were all fully fledged. Baronio had been disappointing in the centre of midfield, especially since Veron's injury, and Nick was debating whether or not to try something new. As it as, he had no choice, Baronio going down with the flu just 24 hours before the next match, meaning James Milner took his place in the middle of the park

The game against Tottenham was completely different to the Villa match, with both sides playing free-flowing, attacking football. Once Alan Shearer had headed home the opener after 6 minutes, the visitors picked their game up, although they didn't equalise until the 69th minute. By then, both Shay Given and Paul Robinson had made some sparkling saves, including one from Robinson that defied all gravity laws. Once Spurs equalised though, Nick saw his side pick up their game, and Shearer's two strikes in the space of six minutes sealed a third successive league win and his own personal hat-trick, taking him to ten goals for the season, and rounding off a terrific 3-1 win

...

Ten years. It's a hell of a long time to spend with somebody. From the age of 14. I was at the academy then, working with the youth team. I was still at school, St. Matthews in Moston, and I went on to Loreto College, in Moss Side, mainly for convenience, seen as it was 15 minutes from the ground. I met her at school. Her tied back blonde hair, those bright blue eyes. I fell for her instantly. Back then though, I was shy. It was my mate Dale that told her. She agreed to come to the pictures with me, my first real date. It was good. We got together, but most thought it would be a school crush. They were wrong. I loved her with everything I had, gave her everything I had and then some in those ten years. There is one drawer in the bedroom. Its got three shoe boxes full of potos, letters, cinema stubs, football tickets. Everything that reminds me of her. I can't look at it. I haven't done that for four years now. I'm just about getting over her, and if that comes back...I think I might go mental. I still don't understand what it was I did wrong. I haven't heard from her since that day she left. I doubt that I will. My life is back on track now. That is how I want it to stay

--

My football progressed well. My education came first from my dad, when he took me to my first game. I was 7. From then, I was hooked. I used to watch it on telly, live, go the games, play every day. My mum was sick of it. Still, my parents were never that well off, but they always made sure I had what I needed. I was spotted by a scout, can't remember his name, when I was playing in an under 12's cup final for Moston Juniors. He offered me a trial. It went brilliantly, and I was the best player there. I joined the academy at 12, and I was 19 years and 24 days old when I made my first team debut. It was against Wolves. Remember it like it was yesterday. I should have scored, but I had to settle for making the winning goal. I've got that shirt on my wall, framed. I will always remember that day. I owe Malcolm Allison everything I have. He gave me my chance, and I will never forget that. Big Mal was, and in my eyes, still is a legend.

retired_brianrt

Heather and Nick were getting on better with each passing day, and with their dates becoming more and more frequent it was obvious that they were becoming more and more like a couple. The only bad thing was that Heather was going back home, albeit temporarily, before coming back to move in and make the house a four piece. She'd be gone for a couple of weeks, which at least meant Nick could focus fully on the football coming up in the next few weeks

This meant an away trip to London to face Fulham, a side that had endless good potential in their side, but their form had been erratic to say the least. Come half time in the match, it wasn't their form that was erratic, but their defence, as Nick saw his side storm into a four goal lead. Jermaine Jenas started the rout with a brace, his first was a tap in following Shearer's shot, but his second was a lovely team goal, Jenas playing a one-two with Daniel Bierofka before curling home from the edge of the area. It was three on the half hour, Shearer finishing Milner's cross, before Nicky Butt's volley secured the win. There was one more goal to come in the game, Steed Malbranque's second half penalty no more than a consolation for his side, who, in all fairness, didn't actually play badly. Nick's side just dominated the game and sent a message to the rest of the Premiership.

...

"Morning Nick"

"Morning Freddie. Nothing wrong I hope?"

"No not at all. May I come in?"

"Certainly. What can I do for you?"

"I just wanted to confirm our group for the UEFA Cup"

"Oh Ok. Let' have it then"

"Well, it's a group I firmly to expect us to qualify from, and we should win in, if we're being realistic"

"Hmm. Well I shall try my best"

"Good to hear. Our opponents are Lech, Athletic Bilbao, Roda JC and Shahktar. I expect the only tough game to be away in Ukraine"

"I'm inclined to agree Freddie. I don't see that group being too much of a probem, if any at all"

...

The UEFA Cup group had left Nick with plenty to ponder during their trip to Merseyside to face Everton in their League Cup tie. If Nick was honest, it wasn't a competition at the top of his list, and his squad selection resembled that, with 7 changes from the team that defeated Fulham. Come the end of the game, Nick held his hands up and took the blame for the 2-0 defeat. His side had played badly, not creating chances, and first half goals from Tim Cahill and Brazilian Dagoberto were enough to send the blue half of Merseyside through to Round Four

A home game finished off the month, with Kevin Keegan's Manchester City the visitors. They had been the surprise so far, sitting in 5th place with just one defeat to their name, and their results included a brilliant 4-2 win at Old Trafford, in which Nicolas Anelka had bagged a hat-trick. Fortunately for Nick, and his side, the sometimes brilliant Frenchman was suspended for the match, and it certainly showed, as the chances created for the visitors were few and far between. Indeed, it took until the third minute of stoppage time to secure the points, Shearer breaking the offside trap and dinking the ball gently over David James to give Nick another win and sending them to second in the table, just 3 points behind leaders Arsenal

retired_brianrt

October 2004 Summary
(Premiership unless stated)

Aston Villa 1-3 Newcastle
Dabo (69) : Bellamy (67) Robert (85) Shearer (88)

Newcastle 3-1 Tottenham
Shearer (6,77,83) : Richards (69)

Fulham 1-4 Newcastle
Malbranque (pen 86) : Jenas (10,21) Shearer (30) Butt (36)

(League Cup 3rd Round)
Newcastle 0-2 Everton
Cahill (16) Dagoberto (33)

Newcastle 1-0 Man City
Shearer (90)

League Position - 2nd

retired_brianrt

The Squad registration for the UEFA Cup had gone without a hitch, Nick registering all 22 first team players aswell as Jhon Jairo Mosquera, Steve Harper and Charles N'Zogbia from the reserves to make up the 25 strong squad. That squad soon had their first test, as our first group opponents Lech travelled to St. James'. Quite frankly, Nick knew nothing about them, and even the scouting reports had proved inconclusive. That being said, the game following the UEFA Cup tie was at home against a lower division Premiership side, so Nick went with his strongest available line-up. The first half looked like proving the downfall for Nick and his side, as Lech created three top notch chances, and it was Shay Given who had to pull them out of the mire. They could count themselves fortunate to go in at half time level, and after a real heated team talk they came out like a house on fire in the second half, Vincent Kompany heading home just 85 seconds into the half. Substitute Kieron Dyer secured the win with a 58th minute strike, a goal of the highest quality as he beat three men before rounding the 'keeper and sliding home

...

My best game for Man City had been in the derby in 1989, in a 5-1 drubbing of our neighbours. If I remember correctly, there is still a picture of me scoring the fourth goal on the wall of legends at the ground, albeit the stunningly new City of Manchester Stadium. It was a goal I remember well, the ball dropping to me thirty yards out and I volleyed it home so sweetly. I ended up with four of the goals in that game*, before setting up the fifth for Andy Hinchcliffe. I played in a total of 8 derby games, losing just one of them. People ask me if I still hold a place for the club in my heart. The honeast answer is yes, I do. Maybe one day I could manage them, take them to the heights they deserve. When I saw them beat their rivals 4-2 this season, I had a flutter like I used to have when I played. It was amazing. Although my heart lies in Manchester, my head, and my current work lies in Newcastle. I want Newcastle to be successful. That is why I'm here. They deserve it, a big club in the wilderness. I intend to build them back up again.

...

West Brom provided Nick with his next test, as the Midlander's travelled to Newcastle for the Premier League game. Lilian Thuram was the man who opened the scoring, heading home from Bierofka's corner, but before that the West Brom 'keeper Russell Hoult had been forced into four good saves, and the game should have been sealed. The pattern of missing chances carried on through the game, and it looked like it could cost Nick and his side the points, Artim Sakiri's deflected free-kick fifteen minutes from time pulling his side level. In the end, the points did come to the home side, Shola Ameobi's left footed finish underneath Hoult with just seconds remaining enough to win the match and keep the side's unbeaten record going strong

---

(*Authors note : For those familiar with the game, my character didn't score four of the goals, but it fits in nicely with the story so for the purpose of writing, that's how it happened)

retired_brianrt

Derby games were always big occasions, and having played in several Manchester derbies, Nick knew what the city would be like in the days building up to the game. What he hadn't expected however, was for the 3,500 allocated tickets to be sold out in less than an hour. That was a fact that Nick found unbelievable. The trip to Teeside, although not one of a great distance, was taken on the Friday before the game. The squad were informed of a midnight curfew, and if they wanted to spend an evening out with team-mates then have a glass or two of wine. Nothing heavy. So imagine Nick's surprise when, the following morning, as the player's were getting ready to leave, there was one missing

"Where's Kieron?"

"He was still in bed boss"

"Still in bed? Does he not know what time the coach is leaving?"

"He wouldn't wake up boss. I tried but he must be ill or something"

"Wait here. I'll be back in five minutes"

Nick made his way to Dyer's room. The stench of alcohol was overwhelming, and it was obvious he had been out later than he was meant to be. Just how late was a different matter. Nick quickly scribbled down a note and made his way to the coach and to the Riverside with the team.

The game against Middlesbrough was easy enough, as second half strikes from Shearer and Bierofka, the German's a real contender for goal of the month as he scored a brilliant solo effort, were enough to give the side a comfortable 2-0 victory and send them top of the table, thanks to Arsenal's shock 3-2 defeat at Ewood Park. The difficult part was giving Dyer a rollocking on the way back, and deciding what to do about the situation.

In the days leading up to the second group game in the UEFA Cup, Nick had other things weighing on his mind apart from the Kieron Dyer situation. Heather was back in Newcastle, and her birthday was coming up in a couple of weeks. She had moved into the flat permanently now, and Nick was delighted about that. It would be like having a girlfriend again...whether that would be good or bad would remain to be seen. The trip to Spain to face Athletic Bilbao turned out to be easier than he had imagined. Mosquera had been impressing in the reserves, and came into the starting line-up for the match. He opened the scoring after three minutes, and come half time, Nick had seen his side score four more goals in addition to find themselves 5-1 in front at the break. The Spaniards didn't know what had hit them, and Kluivert completed his hat-trick in the second half to round off the rout

Portsmouth provided the final opposition of the month for Nick and his side, and after their hammering of Bilbao, they went into the game full of confidence, and once again the game was secure before half time, goals from Alan Shearer, Nicky Butt and Laurent Robert sealing the points, Robert's goal one of utter quality, as he volleyed home from behind him, and Nick was delighted with the way that his team were performing

retired_brianrt

November 2004 Summary
(Premiership unless stated)

(UEFA Cup Group H)
Newcastle 2-0 Lech
Kompany (47) Dyer (58)

Newcastle 2-1 West Brom
Thuram (38) Ameobi (90) : Sakiri (75)

Middlesbrough 0-2 Newcastle
Shearer (53) Bierofka (58)

(UEFA Cup Group H)
Athletic Bilbao 1-6 Newcastle
Urzaiz (25) : Mosquera (3,34) Kluivert (10,12,83) Bramble (18)

Newcastle 3-0 Portsmouth
Shearer (11) Butt (27) Robert (42)

League Position - 1st

retired_brianrt

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> PL W D L GD PTS1. NEWCASTLE 15 10 5 0 +23 352. Arsenal 13 9 3 1 +16 303. Birmingham 15 8 4 3 +9 284. Liverpool 14 8 4 2 +8 285. Man Utd 13 8 3 2 +9 276. Blackburn 14 8 2 4 +8 267. Man City 15 7 4 4 +8 258. Charlton 15 7 4 4 +1 259. Everton 15 7 3 5 +5 2410. Tottenham 15 6 5 4 +6 23----------------18. Crystal Pal. 14 2 1 11 -17 719. Fulham 15 1 2 12 -23 520. Norwich 15 1 1 13 -23 4</pre>

November 2004 Awards

Manager of the Month : Nicholas Simpson

Player of the Month : Daniel Bierofka

Young Player of the Month : Vincent Kompany