Column: The Final Run In

By Mark Deeks
May 17 2003

Mark comments on Sunderland Away, Birmingham Home and West Brom Away, aswell as giving us his opinion on any close/pre-season transfers. He tells us which players he would buy if he was Sir Bobby, and which he would let go. Well worth reading!

THE FINAL RUN IN:
Sunderland Away, Birmingham Home, West Brom Away.

As the season came to a close, points were needed. To be frank, more points were needed than should have been. We really should have had the Champions League place wrapped up long before now. But a few dodgy recent results had seen Chelsea and Liverpool steam into sight in our rear view mirrors.

The match at the Stadium of Light could hardly have had more significance. We desperately needed to get back to winning ways, whilst the already relegated Mackems were looking to stop it being a losing run of 13 games!

We were the better team, and if truth be told we really should have won at a canter. Bellamy continued his frustrating run of missing chance after chance, and we were bailed out when Nobby converted a late first half penalty after Little Craig had been chopped down in mid flight. Super Al had already been taken off after a collision with some non-descript midfielder, and Solano tucked away the chance beautifully.

In the final few minutes the Mackems thought they had snatched a point after the ball was bundled home following a challenge on Shay. According to Mccarthy in the home dug out, "I didn't see any complaints from Given or the Newcastle defenders so I thought the goal should have stood."

WHAT?!? What game were you watching?!? Replays clearly show Given complaining about the challenge on him immediately as well as a couple of the defence! Unlucky sunshine. I hope next season isn't too hard for you. You are officially the worst team in the history of the football league, and that is enough to send me to bed with a smile on my face for the rest of my days!

Along with Liverpool's and Chelsea's results, things were getting very tight as Birmingham roled into Toon for our final home game. Points were again the order of the day, no matter how they came. It was the first chance for us to see the new home shirt, and to see if the new blue writing and numbers could be seen any better. Things had looked fairly positive when I noticed a white stretch along the shoulders, presumably for the players' names.

When the team ran out I was lost for words. This is surely the worst yet! Not only have the manufacturers inexplicably decided it would be best to write the names UNDERNEATH the white strip across the shoulders, but the single figure numbered players may as well not have had a number at all! Unbelieveable.

As for the match itself, a decent enough first half performance was capped off by a beautiful Viana free kick to give us the lead at the break after a foul on Bellamy had resulted in a red card.

We once again should have killed our opponents off second half, but like many times this season we failed to do so, and we were left hanging on. 1-0 at the final whistle was very much job done on our part, but would we be able to really enjoy the player's lap of honour at the final whistle if the scores from elsewhere meant that the Champions League places were not to be decided until the final game?

[stadium announcer] "Scores from elsewhere: West Ham 1 - Chelsea 0"
[HUGE ROAR!]
"And it's now Liverpool 1, Manchester City 2!"

[MASSIVE ROAR!!!]

We had done it with a game to spare! We couldn't be caught! And last season's brilliant fourth place finish had been bettered by this season's third!

What followed was a glorious twenty minutes or so of unbridled Geordie pride and celebration. Let Chelsea and Liverpool scrap it out amongst themselves for fourth place. The Toon was there!!

The game at the Hawthorns on the last day was little more than a kick about. Our hosts were already down and were determined to enjoy their last game in the top flight (and, fair play to them, enjoy it they did), and with a few injuries we were able to let a few more of the young lads than usual get a game.

A pretty enjoyable 90 minutes followed with a 2-2 draw being about right, the highlight of which was yet another superb top corner free kick from young Hugo.

As far as my feelings on the season as a whole go, whilst obviously being delighted with our final position, I can't help but thinking about what might have been. I am certain that our attacking football this year was no where near that of last. The goals didn't flow, teams were never finished off.

I suppose I should be pleased that we now seem capable of grinding out one goal victories. But NUFC should always be about entertainment and attacking flair, and I just don't think we got that as much this year. Players like Bellamy and Dyer in particular MUST improve their finishing if we are to ever climb any higher. I love both players to bits, but the goals ratio is poor for the talent at their disposal.

Most improved player of the year must go to Oliver Bernard, who started the season by insisting he wanted to play for West Ham and ended it with a string of consistently good performances, the best of which was a seeming one man show at home to Chelsea, capped off with a beautifully taken winner.

Who would I not weap at leaving? Laurent Robert would get my vote. I just don't think his heart is in it sufficiently, and despite his skills (best typified I feel by his scorcher at Goodison Park a few weeks back), I don't think his leaving would be as much of a miss as others seem to think. Also, despite the left wing not being his preferred role, in Hugo Viana I feel we have a more than adequate replacement already there.

As the close season is a time for transfer hype, I thought I would round up with my thoughts on who would be ideal additions to the squad. First up, another TOP QUALITY (not potentially great) centre half to play with Woodgate would be number one choice. Sorry O'Brien, Dabizas, Caldwell, Bramble, but as much as I want you to be, I just don't reckon you're Premiership class. John Terry or William Gallas from Chelsea would be ideal here.

At full back, I would LOVE to see a raid for either Wayne Bridge from Southampton or Stephen Carr from Spurs. Along with Aaron Hughes, Andy Griffin and Olivier Bernard, I feel this would provide us with a strong group to select from.

As for the midfield, I reckon in Dyer, Jenas, Viana, Solano and Ambrose we have a fantastic bunch. But if there was a bit of spare cash, then the often rumoured transfer of David Dunn from Blackburn would go down a treat.

And up front, here comes the hard bit. In Shearer, Bellamy, Ameobi, Lua Lua and Chopra, we have a striking pool that would be the envy of many. But the facts are undeniable. Shearer will not last probably more than two more years at the highest level (as much as we may want him to). Bellamy (and you know how he's my fave and this is hard to admit) does not score enough goals. Ameobi is much improved but is not the long term successor to Shearer that we need. Lua Lua is hugely entertaining to watch, but surely will never be a first team regular. And Chopra may well decide that his chance to prove himself is too far away to wait.

Therefore, I feel strongly that the NUFC board need to think very carefully this summer about where our hard earned Champions League cash is to be spent. The market is deflated at the moment, and now may well be our best opportunity to cash in as we seem to be one of the few clubs with money in the bank account. May I take this opportunity to suggest Patrick Kluivert, or James Beattie as Super Al's successor. Both would provide goals aplenty, and maybe just take us that one step further.

Here then is my ideal close of season business.

IN
William Gallas - £8m
Wayne Bridge - £6m
David Dunn - £6m
James Beattie - £7m

OUT
Lua Lua - £2m
Clarence Acuna - £1m
Laurent Robert - £6m
Stephen Caldwell - £1m
Nikos Dabizas - £1m

This would mean an outlay of £16m which we can surely afford after our European glories, qualification for next year and gate receipts of near on £1m per home game.

Go on NUFC. Now is the time to capitalise. Let's take the next step.

Thankyou for reading these columns all season. All the best for the summer and who knows, see you next season!

And don't forget.
NUFC: the only team that matters.

- Mark