'We Are All 110% Behind The Manager'

By Matt Jones
January 23 2006

Newcastle United youngster Peter Ramage insists that Graeme Souness' squad are 110% behind their boss, despite their recent dip in form. Defender Ramage was speaking after Saturday's 1-0 defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers at St James' Park.

PETER RAMAGE:

"We are all 110% behind the manager. There's not a player in the dressing room who is going to back down from the challenge of getting this club back up to where it deserves to be, and we're led by the manager.

"The manager's determined to turn it around, as are the players. We're fully behind him, and don't like hearing things like that.

"The fans are entitled to their opinion. They pay their money to come and watch.

"But it's the players who aren't performing at the moment - it's not as if the manager can put his boots on and come out and help us. I bet he wishes he could, but it's down to the players.

"I've got nothing but good words to say about the gaffer. A year ago I didn't know where I was going, but he threw me in at Man United and just said `go out and enjoy it'.

"I think I've gone from strength to strength since then. He's shown his faith and kept playing me. He's determination to turn it around is admirable.

"He's got all this criticism, but he's big enough and old enough to take it. He's a good man to work for.

"We don't seem to be getting any decisions [our way, at the moment]. Last week we thought we were hard done by in a couple of decisions, and this week it's turned out the same again.

"The goal looked a blatant handball, and at the other end it looked like a penalty. Those two decisions have cost us.

"Kuqi got on top of me, and I thought it was a foul. It was one of those where if you were a striker and penalised, you would think you were hard done by.

"He's got over the top of me and headed it down, and as Lee's gone to clear it Pedersen's handled it. It's annoying, disappointing and frustrating to lose to a goal like that.

"When we passed the ball through them we created chances, but if we don't get the first goal - and the longer the game goes on the more anxious the crowd gets - the harder it is to get one.

"We need to start scoring early doors and getting on top of teams.

"I don't think you can fault the effort of the boys. We gave everything.

"It's hard, because we're feeling the crowd's frustration on the pitch. Every little knock down, or cross, just wasn't finding a black-and-white shirt.

"We can understand how the fans feel, and we've just got to keep going. It's one of those games that one goal was going to win.

"If we'd got it in the first half, we'd have gone on to win quite comfortably."

 
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