Souness: Stuff The Unbeaten Run

By Matthew Jones
October 29 2004

Unbeaten under Graeme Souness? Who cares? Not Souness! Since Souness took over as manager of Newcastle United, the Magpies' are yet to lose a game in any competition, but why look at the past when we have the future to concentrate on?

As quoted on the Official Newcastle United website  (nufc.co.uk), Souness said:

"I'm not interested in talk of unbeaten records, I'm here to look forward to Bolton and that is the only thing we are thinking about.

"What's gone on in the past is history, it's gone. You don't look at yesterday, you look ahead to tomorrow.

"Yes we've done well and yes we've moved up the table. But I'm not bothered about the table. If we're in the top six on Sunday then that's fine, but the position doesn't matter in October - it's where we are in may that I'm bothered about."

Following Wednesday nights Carling Cup game, Souness has selection problems going into this weekends game.  Eight changes were made for the cup game with Norwich and several players were impressive.

He added:

"I've got a headache - but that's a good thing for a manager.

"You don't want the team pick itself, you want to have to make decisions and pick the team yourself.

"There were some excellent performances the other night against Norwich. Some of those lads haven't played for a long time, but they came in and did a great job and that for me is very encouraging.

"The one thing we do know on Sunday is that Bolton will be our toughest test yet.

"They are a good side, and Sam Allardyce has done a great job there this season and over the last few seasons. They are tough and in your face, and we have to be ready for that.

"We have done well in patches at Charlton, Southampton and Birmingham in our recent away games, but we need to make those patches longer.

"We look at our team and know we have goals in it, but in games like Sunday it is important we get things right at the back if we want to come away with something."