EPL, Premiership, English Premier League

Earlier this week Reference previous News Break Newcastle manager Keegan stays optimistic) Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan responded to questions regarding Newcastle’s dismal performance. Concerns were raised about the spirits of Newcastle players as a result of Newcastle having not won a game in the previous 13 matches. Keegan responded by saying that the players were confident about their abilities. He also said that he strongly believed that Michael Owen was a world class player. Keegan stated that he would rely on Owen and Mark Viduka to score goals and help Newcastle avoid relegation. Newcastle (14th place with 29 points) played Fulham (19th place with 23 points in relegation zone) on Saturday and succeeded in winning a game. Keegan’s predictions proved to be 100% true. Both Viduku and Keegan scored during the game giving Newcastle their 1st win since Dec. 15th 2007.

At the beginning of this season West Ham started without Carlos Tevez, Yossi Benayoun and Marlon Harewood. This earned West Ham around €28 million; they used about €22 million to get new transfers. These include 20 year old French International Julien Faubert who was signed for €6.1 million from Bordeaux. Faubert would have been a great transfer this season if he hadn’t had his Achilles tendon injured during the pre-season only getting the opportunity to make 4 appearances.

West Ham also signed on 28 year old Craig Bellamy on a 5 year contract for €7.5 million from Liverpool; “I wanted to make sure that, if I left Liverpool, it would be to a club that is going to be pushing for Europe. I want to play in Europe, it’s important to me, and I felt that same drive and ambition here at West Ham… It was important for me to start playing regular football. I could sit at Liverpool as a squad player all day long, picking up my money, playing every now and then, but I’d be cheating myself and my personality.” However, the Welsh striker suffered a crippling groin injury at the beginning of the season having made only 8 appearances and 2 goals.

West Ham also signed on midfielder Scott Parker who suffered knee problems and Kieron Dyer who obtained a broken leg during the Carling Cup.

Alan Curbishley described the situation well: “Players left and they were replaced, but unfortunately for us the players who came in have not played enough football. In the first two weeks of pre-season last summer we had a training game with Parker, Faubert and Bellamy all in the same team. It looked quick, exciting and sharp. Then within a week or two, all three of them had gone. If they all get themselves back and fit, then we have got four or five new players already.”

As a result, Curbishley remains unsure about what type of transactions will be forthcoming during the summer. “If they all get themselves back and fit, then we have got four or five new players already. The big thing for me is hopefully we can get the guys fit for pre-season, so that I have got it in my mind the best squad when we start up again. That will obviously affect if we do anything in the summer.”

Recently, Curbishley has been starting 18 year old Freddie Sears. The young striker scored in his first game for West Ham; he brought Blackburn down in the 81st minute with an assist from Ashton. Sears also showed promise during his second game for West Ham as they played Everton. His speed and quick reactions produced chaos throughout Everton’s usually stout defense. We can expect Sears to only get better (though he could improve on his finishing) and to work well with Ashton.

Tottenham and Chelsea (away) played a thrilling game resulting in a 4-4 tie. Dider Drogba scored the opening goal which was soon matched by Jonathon Woodgate. Joe Cole and Michael Essien earned Chelsea the next two goals. One may have thought that Tottenham would be discouraged by the 3-1 score and by the 3 recent losses they suffered, but they must’ve thought about their victory against Chelsea last month. Tottenham was spurred on by their fans and finally Berbatov scored with Huddlestone following suite soon after. Joe Cole was consistently creative and showed his true potential; he scored a few minutes after Huddlestone as the game neared its end. Soon after however, Joe Cole was taken off, “We wanted to play more in midfield, have one more in midfield because we knew they would play a direct ball. We wanted to pass the ball better. That’s why we took him off.” said Grant. Keane proved to be the match hero for the Spurs once again as he scored the game tying goal in the 88th minute. Grant said that Chelsea’s weak point was set pieces, “In the last two games Tottenham have scored six against us and five were from set-pieces. It is unusual for us.”

Grant became defensive about having lost and now tied to Tottenham, and having lost to a Championship League team (Barnsley in 17th place) during the FA Cup. Every game in which we drop points is a big game,” said Grant. ‘If we won would it have been a big game? We lost against Barnsley and it became a big game. Every game we drop points is a big game.”

Chelsea could have tied Arsenal for points, who are only 3 behind Manchester United the league leaders.
We’re closer to Arsenal now than we were before,” Grant said. ‘We’ll be at home and we’ll come to fight to win the game.”

Ronaldo started for the first time with the Captain’s band and proved that he was worthy. Ronaldo scored in the 9th minute with a shot that went awry. After 10 more minutes he scored again with a 30 yard free kick that viciously knuckled to the right leaving Bolton keeper Ali Al Habsi standing in place. United started without Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs; but they didn’t even need them because Tevez, Nani, and Ronaldo proved more than enough. Tevez consistently attacked straight at the Bolton goal darting back and forth multiple times. Nani had multiple chances some of which should have been placed in the back of the net. United enjoyed 61% possession to Bolton’s 39% and many more opportunities on goal. In the end Ronaldo succeeded in earning Manchester United another essential 3 points, enough to be 3 points ahead of Arsenal with every team having played the same amount of games.

Kevin Keegan believes that despite Newcastle’s lack of wins in the past 13 games, the players spirits are high. “You can find yourselves playing the Arsenals and the Chelseas and the Manchester Uniteds and the Liverpools and the tough ones around you, and you can find yourselves easily in this division losing three or four games on the trot…but spirits are still pretty high and a win would just elevate them and take them on to another level.”

Newcastle League games :
Liverpool (3-0), Blackburn (1-0), Manchester United (5-1), Aston Villa (4-1), Middlesbrough (1-1), Arsenal (3-0), Bolton (0-0), Manchester United (6-0), Man City (2-0), Chelsea (2-1), Wigan (1-0), Derby (2-2). The last game that Newcastle won (1-0) within the league was against Fulham, Dec. 15 of 2007.

Despite his optimism, the possibility of relegation brings on tension. “The players in the team feel under pressure and the players out of the team feel they should be in. Players do not enjoy losing football matches.” Keegan hopes that Mark Viduka will be able to return from his injuries to help Newcastle avoid relegation.

Newcastle FA Cup games:
Arsenal (3-0), Stoke (1-4), Stoke (0-0).

Keegan also said that Michael Owen is “Still a world-class player. Everyone needs a few games to get back to full sharpness. He is human. Goal scorers need to get in the positions just to familiarize themselves with how it was like when they’ve been out for along time.” Owen scored in the Newcastle Birmingham draw 1-1, March 17th.

In his youth Kevin Keegan was an accomplished football player. He was instrumental in many of Liverpool’s trophy wins; the year before he retired Liverpool almost won the ‘treble’, the League Championship, the European Cup and FA Cup. (Manchester United beat them for the FA Cup). Keegan won European Footballer of the Year Twice; played with Liverpool and Hamburg and retired at Newcastle in 1984. He began managing at Newcastle in 1992, worked with Fulham for a short while and managed the England national team for a year. From 2000-2004 he managed Manchester City and then left the football scene for about four years. In January of 2008 he began coaching for Newcastle in the place of the sacked Sam Allardyce.

Despite Manchester leading the semi-final game with twice as many shots, corners, a complete squad and about 25% more possession, they were unable to produce any results. The last time Portsmouth had won at Old Trafford was in 1957; while Portsmouth played well they were only barely able to prevent Manchester scoring. They were rescued by excellent defending, solid saves from David James (Portsmouth goalkeeper), and multiple unlucky, failed strikes by the Man. U players. At half time Ferguson made an unusual move and substituted out goalkeeper Van Der Saar and put in substitute keeper Kuszczak. This proved to be unfortunate because in the 77th minute Baros was awarded a penalty kick and Kuszczak a red card for tripping Baros in the penalty box. Defender Rio Ferdinand was put in goal and was unable to stop the penalty kick by David Nugent on March 8th.

Simon Davey, the Barnsley manager said that playing Chelsea on the 8th (away) for the FA Cup quarter finals would be a “good reward”, that is, for having beat Liverpool (2-1) a week earlier. “It’s a fantastic draw. To win at Anfield on Saturday and then pit our wits against another fantastic club with world class players - it will be another great occasion for everybody concerned.” Avram Grant started an almost complete first string team with Anelka playing instead of Drogba. Even though Chelsea had 2 times as many shots on target and corners they were unable to capitalize. Barnsley took advantage and during the 66th minute Kayode Odejayi headed a ball into the back of the net.

Barnsley is in 19th place in the Championship (English 2nd division); almost in relegation.

West Ham (Home) vs. Chelsea (0-4, Upton Park - 3/1/08)
Frank Lampard (17), Joe Cole (20), Michael Ballack (22), Ashley Cole (64)
West Ham had 58% possession vs. Chelsea’s 42%.
West Ham had 6 shots on goal vs. Chelsea’s 7
West Ham had 6 corners vs. Chelsea’s 1

West Ham had a flawed defense and lack of ability to finish; they also need to improve and capitalize on their set plays. The West Ham midfield showed possession despite the inferior score demonstrating some resilience.

West Ham (Away) vs. Liverpool – (0-4, Anfield - 3/5/08)
Fernando Torres (8, 61, 81), Steven Gerrard (83).
West Ham had 31% possession to Liverpools 69%.
West Ham had 2 shots to Liverpools 20.
West Ham had 3 corner kicks vs. Liverpools 16.

Needless to say it was a dismal performance by West Ham and an exemplary show from Liverpool, especially from Fernando Torres. This was Torres 2^nd hat trick in consecutive home games for Liverpool.

I’m sure that right about now Alan Curbishley (West Ham manager) is missing Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun and Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez. Last season West Ham had both players; Tevez saved West Ham from relegation and Benayoun held the West Ham midfield together. Perhaps West Ham didn’t notice their value but at the end of the season Benayoun was transferred to Liverpool and Tevez to Manchester United where Tevez starts and Benyoun plays often (Liverpool manager Benitez has an unusual system of fielding players).