Toon vs Pompey: Team News and Pre-Match Quotes
By Matt Jones
February 4 2006
Team news, and quotes from Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd and Glenn Roeder ahead of today's game against Portsmouth. Roeder and Shearer have named a 19-man squad from which they will select their starting XI - and everybody has thier fingers crossed for a much needed result.
Freddy Shepherd:
"All that matters on Saturday is that by 5pm, we are all celebrating three points and a home win.
"That has to be the target for everyone.
"It is time for everyone to move forward now and look ahead to the important games we have coming up for the rest of the season.
"We have important decisions to make in the coming weeks, but right now all the focus has to be on this game.
"And a win against Portsmouth would certainly give everyone a big lift going forward.
"I'm sure the fans will get behind Glenn and the players because they know how important the game is.
"There isn't a crowd that can compare with ours when 50,000 Geordies are backing the team, and to have that support behind you is a big thing for the team."
Glenn Roeder:
"I am here to do a job for the club I love. I was here as a player, and you don't play for this club and not love it.
"So I've stepped in, and when the club find a new manager, I will go back with the Academy because that is a job I really enjoy.
"Alan will assist me, he can be a big help to me.
"He has got much more knowledge of the squad than I have at this moment in time.
"I will be asking him lots and lots of questions. But I know he will help me.
"I would say this is the best job for a manager.
"That is not being corny or anything, it's true. More than 52,000 supporters turn up every other week to support a team that hasn't won anything for 35 or 45 years. I don't think that would happen at any other place in the world.
"They talk about football being a religion in Brazil, or Argentina, or Italy, but if the teams don't win then they don't turn up.
"But here, 52,000 Geordie supporters turn up every week.
"It is the best job going. It is a great club, but if we strip everything away and we're honest about it, it is a great club because of those supporters.
"We need them on Saturday, and for the rest of the season.
"We know it will be hard work for us to turn things around. It is between us and the players now.
"We can only prepare them how we feel they should be prepared, and once they cross that white line they should have that self-motivation to give the supporters what they want.
"I have obviously been with the Academy so far this season, but I saw the Sunderland game and I saw the Arsenal game, and I saw real motivation, real desire and real character to win those games.
"They have got to find that motivation as footballers to go out and play like that, at home - and particularly away from home - to go out and play like that.
"It is easier at home with crowd behind you, and then not produce away from home. Our players have to find that motivation at home and away.
"It's a two-way thing. We do the talking and preparation before the game, and when they go out there, they perform as a group of footballers.
"We are holding the fort, if you like, but we need to get some points on the board. It's an old cliché, but the next game is the most important.
"We need three points from the game on Saturday, it's a huge game for us."
Team News:
Kieron Dyer returns to the squad for Newcastle after three months out with hamstring and health problems, while Michael Owen (foot), Steven Taylor (shoulder), Stephen Carr (hernia) and Craig Moore (hamstring) reamain out of action through injury.
Amdy Faye is still away with Senegal.
Portsmouth captain Dejan Stefanovic may face an operation on his injured ankle, as Linvoy Primus is set to replace him, while defender Andy Griffin should play against his former club.
Gary O'Neil has recovered from a stomach virus.
Newcastle (from): Given, Harper, Ramage, Babayaro, Elliott, Bramble, Boumsong, Parker, Solano, Emre, Luque, Clark, Dyer, N'Zogbia, Brittain, O'Brien, Shearer, Ameobi, Chopra.
Portsmouth (from): Kiely, Griffin, O'Brien, Primus, Taylor, Routledge, Mendes, Davis, O'Neil, D'Alessandro, Hughes, Todorov, Benjani, Karadas, Cisse, Priske, Ashdown.
NUFC and Comedy Wallpapers, Truetones, Polyphonics, Videos