retired_brianrt

August 2005 results

Deportivo La Coruna 3-1 Newcastle

Newcastle 1-0 West Bromwich Albion

Birmingham City 0-2 Newcastle

Newcastle 1-1 Manchester City

Wigan Athletic 3-4 Newcastle

retired_brianrt

We had a really tough start to September, with Liverpool at our place and Spurs at "The Lane". The Liverpool game was one that could come back to haunt me, as I had said we were in the same class as them in my interview at the start of August. I didn't need to motivate the lads, as they were already pumped up, so I just gave them my basic "do it for the fans" team talk and let them do the rest. If someone had have offered me a point and clean sheet against the European Champions before the game I would have taken it, and that is exactly what we did get. It wasn't a great game to start with, but once both sides got into the match it was a decent, free-flowing game. Alan Shearer had our best chance, hitting the post from Emre's cross while Djibril Cisse missed 2 clear-cut chances. Peter Crouch missed a sitter in stoppage time too, and we got a point we thoroughly deserved.

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The Spurs game was a different matter, and a totally different tempo to the Liverpool game. While Benitez's side favoured a slow tempo at their own pace, Martin Jol's team of youngsters thought they could beat us for pace. That was why I took the decision to start a 75% fit Michael Owen. The gamble paid off, as a sloppy mistake by Paul Stalteri allowed Owen in round the keeper and slot home after just 12 minutes, and he scored his second and our second on 37 minutes, when the Tottenham defence had pushed up and Owen was left one-on-one with a 36 year old Noureddine Naybet, in for the injured Ledley King. Owen beat him with ease and fired a low shot past Robinson. Defoe did pull one back in the 86th minute but it was never enough to worry us, as we picked up another 3 points and stayed unbeaten in the league.

retired_brianrt

The League Cup game against Norwich was a distraction, but a welcome one nonetheless. I decided to play a few youngsters in the game, therefore meaning starts for Ramage, Edgar, Gordon, Boyd and Steven Taylor coming in for his first game of the season. I needn't have worried, as all the lads slotted in easily and we cruised through to the next round with a 4-1 victory. We had a scare though, Dean Ashton giving his side the lead after less than 2 minutes. It only took us 5 minutes to equalise, through Boyd, before Edgar, Petit and Ameobi added to the score to increase Norwich's terrible start to the season. We seem to be finding the back of the net a lot easier now, and the next game just confirmed this.

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We were due to play basement boys Fulham, without a win in the league so far, but I was wary as they had a good side, with players like Malbranque, Boa Morte and Legwinski, and were always going to create chances. This wasn't the case however, as we ran riot. We gave the St. James park faithful a hell of a performance, knocking 6 past the hapless Fulham (had it not been for Drobny it would have been treble that) Owen opened the scoring after 14 minutes, and got his second 12 minutes later, before Luque added a third before half-time. Alan Shearer came on as a substitue and made an immediate impact, scoring with his first touch. Ameobi and Owen's hat-trick heaped more misery on Fulham, who remain winless and with just 2 points from their first 7 games. We are really clicking now, and the boys got the praise they rightly deserved in the press.

September 2005 results

Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool

Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Newcastle

Newcastle 4-1 Norwich (League Cup 2nd round)

Newcastle 6-0 Fulham

retired_edmari1

going well mate.

Keep it up. Looking forwards to your future posts.

retired_brianrt

Cheers United, means a lot, especially off a united fan
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October started with a couple of awards for our players, which was pleasing for the players in question. Scott Parker earned player of the month while Vanden Borre had got Young player of the month after his scintillating performances. The press were raving about him, justifiably, but he knew and I knew that he would only play in half the clubs matches, as I didn't want to risk burn-out for him, he is only 17 after all. The month started with a trip down to London, and an away visit to West Ham. The newly promoted side had, like Wigan, been playing some good football and had managed to get a good start and were lying in 5th place, unbeaten at home. We had been defending well recently, and this game was no exception. Zamora and Harewood had good chances that were saved by Given, while Reo-Coker blazed over from 8 yards out. Luque and Parker had our best chances, Scott hitting the bar with a 25 yard free-kick and Luque forcing an unbelievable save from Roy Carroll. We had the only two chances of a drab second half, and the game finished in a 0-0 stalemate.

retired_brianrt

We then had the small matter of two derbies to contend with. Middlesbrough were due to come to St. James' park while we were scheduled to go to the Stadium of Light. Emre had twisted his knee against West Ham, and would be out for up to 3 weeks, so I had to let Luque fill in on the left and move Shearer up-front with Owen. The pair combined brilliantly, both using their experience and know-how to baffle a relatively young Middlesbrough defence. It was Boro' who took the lead however, through a 12th minute Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink piledriver. We didn't put our heads down, and we kept coming and got the equaliser we deserved, Luque laying off Owen to rifle a shot past Brad Jones into the bottom corner. We controlled the second half, and took the lead through Nolberto Solano's fabulous solo goal. I hadn't seen him do anything like it in training, so imagine my surprise when he beat 4 men down the left and curled the ball beyond Brad Jones for our second. Shearer scored our third goal late on, hammering home a penalty after Michael had been brought down in the box. A good performance, and a super 3 points to maintain our unbeaten start.

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I had spoken to Thommo before the match, and arranged for him to come and meet the Sunderland and Newcastle players after the match in the bar, and I didn't realise that his seat was just above the dugout. The teams walked out to a roar like nothing I have never heard before in my life, and as I took my place in the dugout, I spotted Thommo. I walked over and had a quick word with him, and after arranging to meet him after the match to take him to the bar, I took my place again. In my first real derby, I desperately wanted a good performance and a result from the lads, and they didn't disappoint me. Sunderland were never really in the game, although how we only took the lead after 36 minutes is a mystery to me. Alan headed home the first from Solano's cross, and just before half time Michael Owen rounded Kelvin Davis to give us a 2 goal cushion. The 2nd half was more of the same, with all the pressing and attacking from us, and we finally got a third goal when Boumsong of all people managed to beat 2 men to the ball in box and head home for a derby win, which obviously delighted our 5,000 or so supporters. Sunderland were less than impressive though, and rightly took their place at the bottom of the league, still winless.

retired_brianrt

Freddy Shepherd had congratulated me on two terrific performances and wins in the derbies, but also we had gone top after Chelsea's surprise defeat to Everton at Stamford Bridge. I was pleased, although it was still very early yet in the season. I didn't want the boys to dwell on it either, as we had Liverpool at Anfield next, in the League Cup. It wasn't my main priority, although if we could beat Liverpool then that would mean they and Chelsea or Arsenal were out, as the two London clubs had drawn each other. I put a strong team out, although brought Ramage in for Carr and Ameobi in for Shearer. The game started as the league game had, slow and at Liverpool's tempo. I shouted at Scott Parker and instructed him to get his foot in and get the pace picked up, but it was a surprising source that did pick the game up. Celestine Babayaro picked the ball up on the left and ran all of 60 yards, before whipping a cross onto the head of Ameobi. This stung us into life, and Liverpool just didn't come to the races. We took the lead through Liverpool old-boy Michael Owen, before Scott Parker doubled the lead on 39 minutes. In the second half it was more of the same, with Owen grabbing his second and Shola Ameobi getting the 4th on 80 minutes. Liverpool were shell-shocked, and we had not played better under my management. Owen picked up man of the match but for me it was Babayaro, as his run in the first half brought the game to life, and I told him so in the dressing room, and congratulated the lads on a superb performance.

retired_brianrt

I had been amazed with just how badly Liverpool had played. They were the European Champions, and had been decimated on their own turf by a team predicted to finish mid-table. When we were 2-0 up I had flashbacks to the Champions League final, when Liverpool had looked dead and buried against a top class AC Milan side, 3-0 down at half time, only to come back and win the game on penalties. We had drawn Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in the next round, which would be a tough game. Our next league game was a home game against one of the most inconsistent teams around this season, Aston Villa. They would have one good result, and one bad result, and they had been beaten the game before they played us. The lads showed their determination again, as they were able to create very few chances against a tough back four against Villa, but O'Leary's side couldnt get into out box, with Petit and the two centre-backs playing superbly. The game looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw, but with 2 minutes left Michael Owen managed to wriggle into some space and lash the ball home, to give us a win and another valuable 3 points. We were sitting pretty at the top of the Premiership, 3 points clear of Chelsea, 5 clear of Manchester United (although they had a game in hand)

October 2005 results

West Ham United 0-0 Newcastle

Newcastle 3-1 Middlesbrough

Sunderland 0-3 Newcastle

Liverpool 0-4 Newcastle (League Cup 3rd round)

Newcastle 1-0 Aston Villa

retired_brianrt

A trip to Old Trafford beckoned at the start of November. Ourselves and United were both unbeaten, although they had drawn half of their games, but I was worried. They had been ruthless at home, scoring 16 goals in 5 league games, and conceding just 3, so I was contemplating packing the midfield and playing 4-5-1. In the end, I was left with no option, as I only had 1 fit striker in the squad, which was Shola Ameobi. Owen had tweaked a hamstring, Boyd had come down with Flu on the morning of the match and Shearer had a muscle strain. I decided to play Scott Parker in the holding role, with Emre, Solano, Petit and Dyer across the midfield. The lads were determined, and we came away with a good point and a clean sheet, and although Ferguson's team were never at their best they were still a potent attacking threat. We could have nicked it at the end too, when Parkers shot was blocked on the line, after the ball broke loose to him from a scramble in the box. I gave Shola a pat on the back as he came off at the end, as he had worked his socks off for the team in the lone striker position. Fortunately we had a ten day rest until our nest match so the injured players had time to recover.

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I had received the manager of the month in October, and I was scheduled for an interview about it today. I got the young woman I had been interviewed by in August, and after the interview, which went smoothly by all accounts, I asked her if she would like to accompany me to the Club dinner, as I had a spare ticket. I only asked her as forethought, I wasn't trying to make anything of it, I was just being friendly. Sure, she was a very attractive woman, and I must admit I do like her, but I was being friendly. I arranged to pick Louise up at 7.30 on Friday night, and I would drop her off home too. I don't think that anything will happen. Well, you never know...........

retired_brianrt

The dinner with Louise went well, and we had a good time and learnt a fair bit about each other. She told me that she was born in Manchester and moved to Newcastle to go to University, but she loved the place so much she stayed. She was in a 6 year relationship, but found out her boyfriend was having an affair so she called it off, that was 6 months ago. This is her first major job, and she has been with the paper for about 2 years now. She also said that she went to school and college in Manchester, as a couple of lads I know did, and I asked if she knew any of them. She didn't but she had heard their names. We had a good evening really, and I dropped her off that night. She told me to call her in the next couple of days, and we could arrange to go out for a meal, so I will be considering that. I like her, she seems nice, and a need a woman who can tame me a bit.

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I walked into training on Monday morning to whistles and jeers from the lads, as they had seen me turn up at the dinner with Louise. I had tried to keep out of their way but knew it wouldn't last forever, so decided to take the banter on the chin

"Who was the bird the other night boss" shouted Kieron, smirking

"It was a friend of mine, and she wasn't a bird, she's not a f*****g budgie"

"The gaffer's got a bird, go on boss" Scott said, doing kick-ups while he said it

"Shut it, or you're dropped on Wednesday" but the fact I said this with a smile on my face gave it away that I was lying

"Right, let's get some training done. Scott, ball please mate"