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DEEP IN MY HEART
Newcastle United vs. Middlesbrough, 3rd February 2008, St. James' Park, Premier League
James Keen
Following an excellent but close win against Wigan, the Boro next take on the most farcical of all Premiership sides, Newcastle.
The carnival that is St. James' Park has become a less than fun place of late, despite the newest special attraction, Kevin Keegan.
The Geordies have had to endure two defeats to Arsenal and a bore draw with Bolton, and to top it all off no goals, from the king of attacking football.
Perhaps the decision to keep the fans on side by appointing a former idol isn't such a great idea after all...
Mike Ashley made the decision based purely and simply on fantasy. He dragged King Kev from his lilo in the Mediterranean and back into the dug-out. Keegan doesn't know his players, he doesn't know the league and, importantly, he doesn't know the market.
How can he possibly strengthen the side properly?
Sam Allardyce was supposed to be the saviour of Newcastle and then they sacked him after just eight months.
I do have a touch of sympathy for Sam: With the team he inherited, how could he possibly have done any better?
Newcastle are not a big side. They have a big fan base, a top notch stadium and some excellent players. But football is based on results and Newcastle simply don't win enough football matches.
All of these factors combined would tend to point towards a thumping of our boys this weekend - we all know that "Typical Boro" typically lose games like this.
But "Typical Boro" has become unpredictable Boro of late, and recent results have begun to level out. We go into this game on a five game unbeaten run and this should fill us with confidence.
To add more confidence and spring to the side, Boro have completed the record breaking signing of Afonso Alves from Heerenveen. We all hope that he will be the final piece in the Boro jigsaw.
Mido is back fit and raring to go and Jeremie Aliadiere was on target against Wigan. Hopefully, this will help him find his feet in front of goal.
Everything sets this game up to be a cracker.
Once again the TV cameras will be present and the Boro will be there to spoil the party. Geordies, no doubt, will be expecting this to be the day King Kev finally gets his first win in his second stint at the club.
But Boro have done exactly what they have needed to do in recent weeks. New steel has formed at the back, with no nonsense from Pogatetz, Wheater, Young and Huth complemented by the emergence of Jonathan Grounds.
In midfield, the return of the Julio Arca and Fabio Rochemback partnership has given us the creativity and purpose we were lacking before.
We have become difficult to break down and we have been creating chances galore.
The only problem has been putting the ball in the back of the net.
Have we solved that problem? Let's hope so.
Newcastle will be a tough game. It's a local derby, it's twelfth versus thirteenth and it's a battle to avoid the drop. Defeat could leave the Geordies just four points off relegation. Defeat for the Boro could leave us just two points off.
Make no bones about it, this is a big game.
In recent weeks Newcastle have looked disjointed. Their attack seems a little impotent, their midfield lacks discipline and their defence is overworked.
Boro need to keep them under pressure from the outset, harass their backline and keep the Geordie wingers, Milner and Duff, off the ball. This is where they could hurt us.
David Wheater and Rob Huth will be relishing the chance to come toe-to-toe with Viduka, if he plays, and will keep a tight reign on the Newcastle forwards.
If Boro can target the lack of pace of Steven Carr and the lumbering nature of Cacapa, we will have a chance to come away with the three points.
I recently called for a leader to stand up and be counted. In recent weeks, Arca has stepped up as a real leader whilst the rest of our squad has stood up to be counted.
It's nice to see the passion coming back and it's nice to see the Boro are trying to look forward and not back.
On a ground we have recently improved on, let's hope that the boys in red show us exactly how good they are.
Up the Boro!
The Outcome: It's gonna be a barn storming 2-2 draw, or so says my heart. My head thinks it'll be a cagier affair that will finish 1-1.
Last time in the FA Cup: Newcastle 0-0 Middlesbrough (3/3/07)
Boro Form (most recent result first): WWDDWL
Newcastle Form: LLDWLD
Probable Teams:
Boro: Schwarzer, Young, Pogatetz, Wheater, Huth, O'Neil, Arca, Rochemback, Downing, Mido, Aliadiere
Newcastle: Given, Carr, N'Zogbia, Taylor, Cacapa, Butt, Smith, Duff, Milner, Owen, Viduka
Man to Watch: Mark Viduka
RETURN TO DEEP IN MY HEART INDEX HERE
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