Mark's Column - AUGUST 2003
By Mark Deeks
August 10 2003
So here we go again, then. Another season looms on the horizon. Another chance for us to try and put those far-too-long waits for silverware into the history books. Mark Deeks is back. He will be writing a monthly column for us. Here is his first. AUGUST 2003!
MARK’S COLUMNS
August 2003
So here we go again, then. Another season looms on the horizon. Another chance for us to try and put those far-too-long waits for silverware into the history books. This season I’ll be giving a monthly insight into the views, opinions, frustrations, passions, and general emotional roller coaster of a Toon fan. Hopefully, just like last year some of you guys might identify with some of what I witter on about. Whether you agree, disagree, or just fancy a Toon related natter, the address is the same: let me know!!
When last season came to a close, on these very pages, I gave my thoughts on just what I hoped would be a glorious summer of euro cash splashing by my beloved NUFC. At the beginning of the summer, I wrote a piece on our first acquisition, Lee Bowyer. I admit that I didn’t hold back. And the column certainly caused some worldwide debate (thanks to everyone who took the time to write in). Maybe our esteemed Webmaster will repost it for anyone who missed it. I make no apologies for what I said. They were simply the emotion filled feelings of a lifelong NUFC supporter. This month’s piece is not going to be solely about Bowyer, I promise, but it’s an issue that hasn’t gone away.
The facts haven’t changed. I still don’t like Lee Bowyer. I still wish he played for another team. I pretty much would rather we’d signed nobody than him, but there’s nothing I can do about it now. I think my focus has been more on him because I expected him to only be the first in the queue of new signings. Not for him to BE the queue.
As I said when he signed, he’s everything that I hoped NUFC would never want. Especially with the fantastic, multi-racial, young, exciting side we’ve been building recently. We seem to have enough difficulty keeping ourselves out of the tabloids without inviting along a proven troublemaker. In fact I seem to remember declaring that Bowyer in a Toon shirt would never have my support. Well this week I got to put my well-intentioned standards to the test at the Bayern Munich home friendly.
When the team sheets were read out, I swiftly became aware that I am in the minority at SJP these days. Bowyer’s name was greeted with a huge cheer. His first touch likewise. He took several corners at the Sir John Hall east corner and was greeted with rapturous applause each time. I was really struggling. Everything in my body wants to scream for all my life is worth in support of anyone lucky enough to pull on those hallowed stripes. Then it happened. Bellamy broke clear down the side of the area and drove the ball across the six yard box. Before I could stop myself, I was screaming “Go on!” as I saw a Toon player sliding in at the far post. I think that in my head I thought it was Shearer. Anyway, the ball across was too hard, the chance went begging, and then as the player who had slid in got up, I realised. It was Bowyer.
The crowd were applauding, but for me time had stopped for a second. It was then I became aware that there is nothing I can do to stop myself wanting the guy to do well when he’s on the pitch. It’s instinct. (EEEENNNSSTTEEENNNCCTT!! for fans of “Time Gentleman Please on Sky One, sorry…..). I want Newcastle to win things, I always have and always will. I’d rather Bowyer didn’t play for us but he does. And there it is. I can’t stop supporting NUFC, and not because I can’t deprive myself of something I enjoy so much as I have read elsewhere, (which to me is a weak argument), but because that’s what I do. So I will support Bowyer in that I hope he does well for the team, but I can’t sing the guy’s name. (And incidentally, I don’t appreciate the criticism of anti-Bowyer fans from certain quarters of the club. And I certainly don’t like my general NUFC support being questioned by other fans). We supporters have a job to do, just like the players. We’re in this together. We are (the only) United. So for that reason, I will try. I think this season’s going to be difficult. Not just from a footballing point of view, but because I know that my unquestionable support for my heroes has just been brought into question. I just wish Lee Bowyer wasn’t one of my heroes.
Alright, onto other matters. The Asia Cup. Not much to say really. Two scrappy performances, we got what we deserved. Nowt. Highlights? The new Toon strip making everyone of our lads look like they’ve got massive shoulders (especially Big Shola, or is it just that he’s turned into a HUGE mother overnight?!?) Also, I must say I got some perverse enjoyment out of watching Woody’s reaction to JJ’s penalty howler as they trooped off the pitch! Having seen the gaffer fuming on the touchline, and with JJ seeming intent on playing the innocent “What? Me?” routine to perfection, Woody was clearly caught by the Sky cameras killing himself laughing and whispering “the gaffer” in JJ’s oversized lug!
I do hope that our young midfield maestro has learnt his lesson. I detected in the last home game of last season that JJ was just starting to believe his hype: playing simple passes needlessly with the outside of his boot, trying to hit 40 yard passes when a 4 yard pass was a better idea. And now his “cheeky” penalty against Chelsea. JJ lad I think you’re fantastic. I’d have you in the team over Gary Speed if up to me. But the best midfield players do the simple things well. You don’t need to obviously stand out to have had a good game. I know you’re still learning, and I firmly believe a regular place in the England side is only a matter of time. But please just keep doing what you’re good at, and stop attempting what people think you might be capable of in five years time.
Apart from the late collapse at Sheffield Wednesday, we’ve had a pretty decent set of pre-season results. Which of course mean absolutely nothing. But it’s nice to see all the strikers hitting the back of the net. We’ve had Shearer’s superb thunderbolt on Tuesday (just one of six pre-season efforts), Shola’s exquisite effort at Hull, Bellamy hopefully starting to score as many as he should, young Chopra getting a brace, Lua Lua’s had one if memory serves me right, and even Carl Cort’s chipped in! All this bodes well.
At the back, Bramble has once again ranged from the sublime (one tackle in the first half against Munich was honestly one of the greatest tackles I think I’ve ever witnessed) to the ridiculous (on average twice a game). The rest seem to be carrying on from last year with honest endeavour, moments of class, but still the nagging feeling that we haven’t quite sorted it yet.
Where were the much talked about bids for Wayne Bridge and Stephen Carr? I suggested both in my end of season round up would be excellent acquisitions, as regular readers will know that I remain convinced that full back is our weakness, not the regular questioned centre. Bridge was left to join the Chelski revolution without so much as a sniff from SJP, and Carr proclaimed that he would much prefer Champions League football, yet we simply turned over on the sun lounger! We had a £7.5 million bid turned down last year for Brett Emerton, and he ends up going to BLACKBURN chuffing ROVERS for £2.75 million with us apparently not interested!! How does that figure exactly?
WHERE’S OUR CASH?!? I’m not expecting us to spend like ABRAMAMAMAMOVICH or anything, but we have 42,000 season ticket holder’s cash sat in the bank, we received £11.5 million from UEFA for last season’s Champions League run, we finished third in the Premier League which should generate some cash, and yet we declare we won’t be spending anything until we are guaranteed we have qualified for THIS season’s Champions League!! I think that lacks ambition. Sir Bobby must know that this year is surely his best / last chance to win something for the club he holds so dear. And Super Al isn’t getting any younger (although he’s obviously still class), and surely winning a trophy (any trophy) would taste all the sweeter with both these guys involved? So why no big push for glory? I can only hope that the guys in charge know what they’re doing. I can only hope that should we get past Partizan Belgrade then there are some signings that follow, but somehow I doubt it.
Whatever happens, I approach this season hoping as always, but I admit slightly worried about our prospects. I honestly think we will struggle to finish top four. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised to see us battling to get top six. Let’s hope I’m wrong and that this just might be our year. We’ll see. Keep reading. Keep sending me your thoughts. And above all… (as someone once so beautifully put it)
Keep the faith.
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PLEASE E-Mail Mark Deeks with your views! (deekazoid@yahoo.co.uk!)