Gary Speed confident of TITLE SUCESS

By Matthew Jones
February 9 2003

Welsh midfielder, Gary Speed has said that they cannot rely on Arsenal or Man United to make mistakes just so they have a chance of winning the league. The squad are now moulded into one and that is the reason for their success.

"Title Contenders"

Gary Speed told the BBC that Newcastle cannot rely on Arsenal and Manchester United slipping up if they are to win the title.

The reason that Newcastle surged up the table from second from bottom in the middle of September to third just eight points behind leaders Arsenal - with games in hand - was that they had moulded into a team and played together claimed the 33-year-old.

The Magpies, who have not won the title since 1927 and have not lifted a trophy since triumphing in the now extinct Fairs Cup (a precursor to the UEFA Cup) in 1969, can reduce the margin to five should they beat Arsenal on Sunday.

"I think we can win the title," Speed said Saturday.

"However we can't loaf around hoping that Arsenal or Manchester United slip up, we have to get the results ourselves.

"With Arsenal's run-in it is hard to see them losing many so we just have to keep up the pressure on them," added Speed, who will make his 170th Premiership appearance for Newcastle on Sunday.

However, Speed admitted that defeating Arsenal would be a formidable challenge.

"They are the benchmark in the Premiership. When they beat us 1-0 at Highbury earlier in the season they were playing on a different level to us."

Speed, however, said the reason he was confident Newcastle could pose a serious threat to Arsenal and Manchester United was because all the talented individuals in the side had now gelled as a unit.

"This is the best team I have played in," admitted Speed, who was a member of the Leeds side that won the title in 1992.

"Last season it was more a case of them playing for themselves but this term they are all playing for the team," he said.

"We are fortunate to have so many young and talented players like Craig Bellamy, Jermaine Jenas and Kieron Dyer and they have really helped us oldies like myself and Alan Shearer!

"They are the best young players in the country and the great thing is they know they are fantastic players when they go out onto the pitch and need no help to bolster their confidence."