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Man U v Newcastle

Man U GK: Howard, DR: G.Neville, DL: Silvestre, DC: O'Shea, DC: Keane, MR: Ronaldo(82), ML: Giggs, MC: Butt, MC: Scholes(44), FC: Van Nistelrooy, FC: Saha(62). Subs Carroll, Bellion, Lynch(44), Kléberson(82), Solskjaer(62)

Newcastle GK: Given, DR: Hughes, DL: Bernard, DC: Bramble, DC: Woodgate, MR: Aranburu(58), ML: Robert(58), MC: Dyer, MC: Speed, FC: Shearer, FC: Ameobi. Subs Harper, Mexes, Babayaro(58), Jenas(58), Bridges

Man U 2 v 0 Newcastle

Saha 12
Van Nistelrooy 46

MoM Saha
Att 67,674


The game went as expected, Man U is always going to be hard, not least away on your first real competitive game. However, Jazz savoured the moment, being on the touchline at Old Trafford in the blistering hot sunshine on a Sunday afternoon. He knew he was going to enjoy his time at Newcastle. The game itself saw two fairly evenly matched sides, Newcastle almost had as many shots as their hosts, it was just their hosts who took their chances. The two Newcastle wingers were very disappointing and so about an hour into the game Jazz decided to replace the both of them. This gave Newcastle more options but they squandered the chances they had. Although defeat is a jaggered pill to swallow Jazz wasn't really that bothered, he had gotten a difficult game out of the way. He thought to himself the season starts now, his next match was at home to Southampton, he couldn't wait for the first home match in charge. Jazz sat on the team coach with that thought in his head and a smile on his face as they pulled away from Old Trafford.

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Results for August

CC.Q3.L1: Slavia Prague 0 v 2 Newcastle
EPL: Man U 2 v 0 Newcastle
EPL: Newcastle 1 v 0 Southampton
EPL: Leicester 2 v 1 Newcastle
CC.Q3.L2: Newcastle 3 v 0 Slavia Prague (Newcastle win 5-0 on agg)
EPL: Newcastle 2 v 0 Charlton


Monday September 1st: The Pony 11.00

For once Jazz was in the pub before anyone else, even Lee, he also alowed himself a pint. He was thinking about what the last month threw at him. Newcastle were sitting 7th in the league after beating Southampton and Charton at home but losing to Man U and Leicester away. This obviously needs rectifying thought Jazz, where am I going wrong on away days? He had expected the Man U result but he had rather hoped he'd come away from Leicester with at least a point. At least he had won his first home game he thought as he sipped on his pint. He also managed to guide them through to the Champions Cup proper, welcome to football he said to himself, lose to Leicester one day and qualify for the Champions Cup group stages the next. It wasn't half a rollercoaster ride. Just then a flood of people walked in among them was Lee.

L: "alrite mate, I ain't half enjoying my new job"

J: "yeah well your doing a great job the pitch is emaculate"

L: "thanks anyway did you see the match yesterday?"

J: "which match was that then" he had been to wrapped up in his own club to worry about anyone elses.

L: "Everton - Man U, hey it was a mint game you should have seen it"

J: "Man U won I take it?"

L: "no"

J: "no! what was the score then ones each?"

L: "nah nah man, Everton won 6-4, brilliant game for the neutral and Everton I guess"

J: "really wow, they weren't joking when they said it's a funny old game"

L: "yeah, so whats your Champions Cup group like then?"

J: "didn't you know, we got CSKA Moscow, Real Sociedad and Olympiakos. I think we are in with a chance of progressing."

L: "could've gotten worse"

J: "anyway I had better get back get them ready for the next match."

As he left he was planning his next match already. Away to Leeds, how am I going to get the team performing away from home? he thought to himself. He was also thinking about the teamsheet problems of which he had good and bad. The good problem was that he had a good sized squad and was who he was going to pick and those he wouldn't. However, things aren't always as good as they seem, Bellamy had recovered from his injury layoff and needed some match fitness, he thought about giving him a run out this Saturday. It was Robert that really troubled him, this 'spat' with Bellamy may come out on the pitch which wasn't good. Also Robert had been performing very much underpar perhaps because of this 'spat'. If they didn't sort it out soon it may come to selling Robert as Bellamy was 'key' and Robert was the one performing badly. New signing Aranburu had also been a bit poor with his performances, hopefully he just needs time to settle Jazz thought as he pulled into his parking spot at the training ground.

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Results for September

EPL: Leeds 0 v 1 Newcastle
CC.GrpD: CSKA Moskow 0 v 1 Newcastle
EPL: Newcastle 1 v 1 Wolves
EPL: Liverpool 0 v 3 Newcastle


Liverpool 0 v 3 Newcastle (Speed, Shearer, Bernard)

Liverpool GK: Luzi, DR: Finnan, DL: Riise, DC: Hyypia, DC: Henchoz(61), MR: Murphy, ML: Kewell, MC: Hamann, MC: Smicer(60), FC: Owen, FC: Diouf(60). Subs Dittmer, Diao(60), Biscan(61), Heskey(60), Traore

Newcastle GK: Given, DR: Hughes, DL: Bernard, DC: Mexes, DC: Woodgate, MR: Aranburu(80), ML: Babayaro, MC: Dyer, MC: Speed, FC: Shearer, FC: Bellamy(80). Subs Harper, Bramble, Jenas(80), Robert, Ameobi(80)

MoM Woodgate
Att 45,343

This was a game that Jazz was expecting to get very little out of. So when Speed shot them ahead in the second minute with a stunning 25 yeard screamer after good work down the left from Bernard and Babayaro, who cut it back to Speed who was lurking just outside the area. The game got a little scrappy after that both sides having chances. However, when Riise fouled Shearer in the area the ref had no choice but to give the penalty which Shearer dispatched in typical form. From then on it was all Newcastle. Newcastle started the second half as they had finished the first and Liverpool looked as if they were going to buckle, Gerard Houlier brought on subs to try and freshen up Liverpool but to no avail. No sooner had the subs got onto the pitch Bernard fired home Newcastle's third. After good work by Speed who the squared it to Bernard who ran with the ball to the edge of the area and fired in a fearsome shot that took a wicked defflection leaving the Liverpool keeper stranded. Liverpool had a couple of chances but nothing that troubled the Newcastle keeper. In the end it was an easy victory for Jazz O'Neils men.

This was a great month for Jazz but however, was tinged with some bad news. Striker Craig Bellamy handed in a transfer request because he is unhappy working with Laurent Robert. The request was rejected and Jazz told Bellamy to grow up. Jazz had finally won away from home, twice, and what a result it was against Liverpool. They are now sitting 5th in the league and both Woody and Dyer are playing very well. On top of this is two good results in the Champions Cup Jazz told himself, which sees them sitting on top of their group. Bit of a blip against Wolves but so far so good, the defence seems to be coping very well. Just then Jazz noticed a memo on his desk telling him that Ameobi had been awarded the EPL young player of the month award which made him smile. As Jazz left his office he couldn't help thinking that Gerard Houlier now he had met him in the flesh looked rather like Gollum from the Lord of the Rings films, I think its the eyes he muttered to himself...

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Results for October

CC.GrpD: Newcastle 0 v 0 Olympiakos
EPL: Newcastle 0 v 0 Arsenal
EPL: Aston Villa 0 v 0 Newcastle
CC.GrpD: Newcastle 1 v 0 Real Sociedad
EPL: Newcastle 3 v 0 Fulham
LC.R3: Arsenal 1 v 4 Newcastle

A busy month for Jazz and his team but a good month. No loss and only one conceded in all competitions in 6 games, which actually meant they had gone 12 games unbeaten in all competitions, that surprised Jazz. They had also conceded only two goals in that time and kept 10 clean sheets, they had scored 19, all in all not a bad record for a fresh faced manager that Jazz was. Ameobi, Dyer and Woodgate had all impressed him too, however, Aranburu had not, he had been very poor of late. After Newcastle's impressive victory over Arsenal in the League Cup third round this left them with a fourth round home tie versus Chesterfield. They currently occupied 4th spot in the league and top spot in the Champions Cup group. Jazz had impressed his critics and the Newcastle fans had warmed to him, perhaps even support his reign as manager as it had been a good one up till now.

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Results for November

EPL: Man City 2 v 2 Newcastle
CC.GrpD: Real Sociedad 1 v 3 Newcastle
EPL: Newcastle 2 v 0 Middlesborough
EPL: Newcastle 6 v 0 Bolton
EPL: Portsmouth 1 v 3 Newcastle
CC.GrpD: Newcastle 2 v 0 CSKA Moscow
EPL: Newcastle 2 v 1 Blackburn

Results for December

LC.R4: Newcastle 3 v 0 Chesterfield
EPL: Everton 0 v 2 Newcastle
CC.GrpD: Olympiakos 1 v 1 Newcastle
EPL: Newcastle 3 v 0 Tottenham
LC.QF: Wigan 0 v 2 Newcastle
EPL: Birmingham 1 v 4 Newcastle
EPL: Newcastle 0 v 0 Chelsea


The Pony - 31/12/03 23:59

*singing to the tune of olde lands ayne: ha'way the lads, ha'way the lads... can be heard* Two very busy months for Jazz on the most part very good ones. They had progressed through to the knock out stages of the Champions Cup and the semi-finals of the League cup. Jazz had prooved to be a good manager so far and the board and now the fans seemed to be enjoying his success. Unbeaten in the past two months another 7 clean sheets Jazz was very pleased with this he couldn't believe how well the season was going. That was why he was now paraletic singing along with everyone while Newcastle sit 4th in the league. He put his hand in his pocket and found the ring, he diddn't know why but he couldn't throw it away, he started taking it everywhere it was like a lucky charm to him...

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Results for Janurary

FAC3: Leeds 0 v 2 Newcastle
EPL: Newcastle 1 v 0 Man U
EPL: Southampton 2 v 3 Newcastle
EPL: Newcastle 1 v 1 Leicester
EPL: Charlton 0 v 2 Newcastle
LCSF.1: Man U 4 v 0 Newcastle
FAC4: Newcastle 2 v 0 Southampton
EPL: Newcastle: 1 v 0 Leeds

Results for February

LCSF.2: Newcastle 0 v 0 Man U
EPL: Newcastle 3 v 0 Liverpool
FAC5: Newcastle 1 v 1 Southend
EPL: Wolves 0 v 1 Newcastle
EPL: Arsenal 3 v 2 Newcastle
CC.2: Lyon 0 v 1 Newcastle
FAC5r: Southend 0 v 2 Newcastle

Janurary was a frantic and hectic month for Jazz, with 8 games and the re-opening of the transfer window. Jazz was brought down to eath and the stark reality that is football. Bellamy had gone behind his back to the chairman to say that he couldn't stay at Newcastle any more as he wasn't happy and handed in a transfer request to Freddy Shepherd. He accepted this and sold Bellamy behind Jazz's back for £7.75m.

J: "how can you tell me that he is one of our key assets and I was never to sell him, then sell him on the sly behind my back?"

FS: "Jazz calm down, he wasn't happy and you know he wasn't"

J: "thats not the point, what the hell else have you got planned who will i be left with?"

FS: "Jazz there is no need for this, he was playing terribly and had a speight of injurys and we got a good price for him, which you will be able to re-invest in the team"

J: "we did not get a good price he was worth double that, in future I want to know about these things"

Jazz stormed out of the office in a rage, later that day Bowyer came into his office requesting a transfer as he wasn't happy with not having regular football. So Jazz sold him to Fulham for £3.4m, so now Bellamy had gone to Charlton too. To top it all OB had also requested a transfer. His team was falling round him. However, the team still produced the goods, most of the time. Progressing in the FA Cup and still going strong in the league, however, their chances of reaching a final had been dashed by Man U. There was some good news Dyer had won the EPL player of the month award, JJ had won the EPL young player of the month and he had won the manager of the month. He had also enlisted the help of Simoni Inzagi for £6m from Lazio to replace Bellamy. By the end of February Newcastle had progressed to the sixth round of the FA Cup and have a good chance of progressing in the Champions Cup. They also held 3rd in the league.

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Results for March

FAC6: Newcastle 2 v 0 Gillingham
CC.2: Newcastle 1 v 2 Lyon
EPL: Fulham 1 v 1 Newcastle
EPL: Newcastle 5 v 0 Man C
EPL: Middlesborough 0 v 0 Newcastle
EPL: Newcastle 4 v 0 Aston Villa

Results for April

FAC.SF: Newcastle 1 v 4 Arsenal (aet)
EPL: Bolton 2 v 2 Newcastle
EPL: Newcastle 5 v 0 Portsmouth
EPL: Blackburn 0 v 2 Newcastle
EPL: Newcastle 4 v 0 Everton

Results for May

EPL: Tottenham 2 v 1 Newcastle
EPL: Newcastle 1 v 0 Birmingham
EPL: Chelsea 1 v 2 Newcastle


Jazz couldn't believe how his first season in charge had gone. He had guided his team to the semi-finals of both domestic cups into the sencond phase of the champions cup and the teams final position in the league was 3rd. He had achieved exactly what the board wanted, to gain European football. The fans and critics had also been won over, however, some were still sceptical saying that he won't have prooved himself untill he repeated the feat. But Jazz didn't care about them, as far as he was concerned what he had to next season would be decided then not now, nothing was going to spoil this high. It hadn't all been plain sailing, some of the squad didn't like beeing left out and requested transfers, which Jazz granted as he didn't want people who didn't want to be involved with the squad. Also the fans didn't like new signing Simone Inzaghi so Jazz was trying to find a new home for him. On the lighter side Michael Bridges and Jermaine Pennant had signed contracts to join the squad when the transfer window reopened. He had also managed to get most of the backroom staff to sign extensions on their contracts however, some thought they deserved ridiculous amounts of money which Jazz refused to pay. JJ had picked up the young player of the month for March. At an awards ceromony Jazz picked up the 3rd manager of the year award, JJ picked up the EPL young player of the year award and Dyer was awarded the 3rd EPL footballer of the year. Jazz knew these two players were instrumental to the success this season and would be in the next. Things to note Arsenal do double, Man U win Champions Cup and League cup, Blackburn Fulham and Portsmouth relegated. Coventry promoted as champions of div 1 along with Preston and Millwall.

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The Pony

The warm summer sun shone through the grimy window of the pub, the smoke in the air suddenly became more obvious in the ray of light. Lee and Jazz were outside in the beer garden, well the pub yard there was no plant life visible, Phil the landlord had invested in some picnic tables for outside. Jazz was enjoying his summer vacation, he had just returned from Tennerife and was now relaxing in the English sun outside his local pub. He was surprised how stressful professional management was, even when your doing well. Although this may be his holiday he was never really 'away' from club business. As most people know most club 'business' is done in the summer break. This summer was certainly no different Jazz had certainly been busy and he was pleased with how his squad now looked. Just then Dave and Josh joined him and Lee outside, Dave was carrying a TV which Phil had allowed them to watch the Charity shield on.

Josh: "so then what really happens at the end of the season with the board and the supporters association?"

J: "well I had a couple of meetings, one with the board, and one with the board and the supporters association"

L: "so what did they have to say?"

J: "the head of the supporters ass. said that they were very pleased with how the campaign had gone and that I had won most of the fans over. They also said they were impressed with the domestic cup runs. Inzaghi was a bad move though they don't like him and want him to go. Oh they did make Shearer their player of the season"

Josh: "really I didn't think he was that bad, so what do they want this season"

J: "they want me to really push for the League title thats all !, seeing as the bookies have made us third favourite there is just a little pressure on me!"

D: "1-0"

L: "what?"

D: "to Man U in the charity shield man"

L: "anyway, what did the board have to say?"

J: "they were very happy, especialy with the money made from the champions league campaign and the fact I hadn't spent all the transfer money of go over the wage budget"

Josh: "typical, its all about the money with them"

J: "yeah they want the same next season they gave me a transfer budget of £12.5m"

L: "wish I had spending money like that, tell Josh who you've signed, he's just got back from holiday and doesn't know"

J: "rito erm well, Stephane Dalmat £2.5m, Jermaine Pennant £2.8m, Michael Bridges free, Graham Stack free, Sunday Oliseh free"

D: "2-0"

L: "you have to hear who he has just signed today...tell them"

J: "Edgar Davids £3m"

D: "what!?"

Josh: "what!?, really"

J: "yeah he signed today I can't believe I got him. I've got rid of the deadwood Inzaghi, Caig, OB they would never had got a game so.."

Josh: "Davids...wow, I mean...wow"

J: "I know"

They all sat there watching the football, seeing Man U beat Arsenal 3-1. Discussing what had happened over the summer and what was to come in the next season. What Jazz hadn't told them, mainly as he thought they would laugh at him, was that the ring Lee gave him, he believed it was lucky (in the whole). Lee was his best friend and he didn't want the others to laugh at them. But what Lee hadn't told Jazz was that the ring wasn't something he found at the bottom of a cereal packet. The jewl in the ring which Jazz thought was glass was actualy very, very valuable. He had stolen it from some big gang lord in America. The gang lord didn't know who exactly who had taken it but had sent his men to look for it, some of these men were looking for ex employee Liam Winsbrooke (Lee Winstone). Jazz didn't know who Lee worked for when they were in America, and he didn't know that he was being saught after.

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By Janurary all was going well. Well almost all, they were sitting pretty at the top of the table on 48pts after 20 games. That would probably not last long however could it? Although they held a 7 point gap on Man U, Man U had two games in hand over the magpies, it was going to be a close season as far as the League title was concerned. Arsenal last season double winners were a way behind them in 6th with 34pts. Jazz was extatic he had guided his team to the top of the top and they looked good, however, he couldn't help feel that it was all going to fall down around him. Although he had progressed to the second stage of the champions cup, it hadn't gone as well as last year, he hoped they would do better this year but in some of the games they had struggled. The reward for this was a tie against Arsenal which they had already beaten twice this year, they certainly seemed a different team than the double winners. His team had been dumped out of the League cup by the same opponents as last campaign, this time in the fourth round not the semi final. The FA Cup third round had thrown up a home tie against Middlesborough. Along with the victories over Arsenal beating Coventry and Preston 5-0 and 6-0 respectively, also beating Liverpool were nice memories of the season so far for Jazz. He had recently parted company with Aranburu, Griffin and Caldwell over the winter period, and the rotation of some of his players hadn't brought up any complaints as of yet. The new signings had settled in well and were playing out of their skin. Jazz had received a £60m off for Dyer from Chelsea and Man U, he was sorely tempted but thought he would never get a player as good as Dyer to come at this point in time, so0 he turned down the offers. In the whole a very good season so far for Jazz, but would it last?

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He was right their lead at the top of the table didn't last long. The second half of the season hadn't gone as well as the first. They found it harder to get results, they tripped up here and there, they got only a draw in games they should have won. Once again they were dumped out of the Champions Cup at the first of the knockout stages. Yet Jazz still managed to pick them up by the collar and better what they achieved last season. They ended the league campaign in second place behind Man U, with last seasons winner Arsenal ending up in fourth. Jazz and a couple of the team members had picked up a couple of the monthly awards, Jazz himself had come second in the EPL manager of the year award. In fact he thought he would never do anything better in his life, he had just guided them past Chelsea to win the FA Cup. He worried that he was going to have a heart attack during the game. After Dyer had put them ahead Shearer had missed a penalty which would have put daylight between them and Chelsea, in the end it wasn't necessarry as Newcastle ran out 1-0 winners. After parading the FA Cup on an open top bus Jazz, the players and staff were going to have a big party at the ground. Jazz had organised to hit the town with some of the players and staff and mix it with the locals. He was still a fan at heart, he wasn't one for fancy things he would rather be in the pub than an 'official' club thing. If there was one thing Jazz and Lee were going to do tonight it was get wasted. Things to note Man U win EPL and retain Champions Cup, Arsenal win League Cup, Newcastle win FA Cup, Chelsea win UEFA Cup. Preston, Tottenham and Middlesborough are relegated. Derby are promoted as champions of div 1 along with Rotherham and Blackburn.