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The lads finally pulled out some stops for the first leg of the UEFA Cup match against Breda. Two quick goals by Bellamy, another by Bramble, and with Shearer and Ambrose helping themselves too, the 5-0 win was a fillip for the team and the fans. Shouldn't be a problem in the away leg.

- or put another way, we support the team whether they win or lose. We've chosen to follow and support Newcastle United. Either because we're Geordies or because we've admired the performance of the team over the years, particularly since Keegan's days. We have pride in the Club. We have loyalty to the Club. We support them through the good times and bad. We're not like free agents who sell their support to the team most likely to win. It's worth realising that at least two thirds of the Premiership teams will never win the championship. There will be those who are perennially in the top fifteen. For the others it will be a case of avoiding relegation. This is particularly so of teams that have come up from the Nationwide League, since many of them go straight back down again. At the moment there are only three teams capable of winning the Premiership - MU, Arsenal, and probably Chelsea. Newcastle were awfully close in the mid 90's and in the last two years. That's a pretty damned fine performance. No other team has done anything like this save for Blackburn and Liverpool. This season has not been good so far. Why, we don't really know, although there have been a few guesses. Looks like a top 15 finish for the Toon this year. But you know, a lot of other teams would consider that to be a great result. We don't, but that's because we will always have pride, loyalty and faith in the Toon.

We all knew that Shearer was considering making next season his last. Even so, when the announcement came the other week, it was still a shock. Remembering his decision to walk away from the England captaincy we know that he will not reconsider. We'll miss his leadership, his do-or-die attitude about getting the ball into the back of the net, his courage and determination, his football savvy, and his willingness to help out with the defense.
Two questions remain. Who will replace him? The Toon obviously need someone of his caliber - a hard-driving, tough striker to take advantage of a fast midfield. Someone like Wayne Rooney? A replacement will cost the Club £15 million. We trust that SBR is already thinking about rummage sales.
The other question is, who will captain the team? Given is the most senior and experienced player, but it's hard to inspire from the back of the bus. Woodgate is too young. There's a good chance Speed will go out with Shearer. Dyer has captained the team but he'll need to score more goals if he's going to inspire the team from the front.

*Shearer got his penalty boots back again against Everton with a couple of crashing shots that shook the netting. But it was our old friend, Duncan Ferguson, who did us in with a late-stage penalty that got them the draw. Everton were lucky to get a point. The Toon were unlucky not to get three.
*Eleven bookings in the Everton game says that something was rotten in the State of Denmark, and it wasn't the players. Robert sent off, deservedly so. Another booking for Bellamy, one in each game now. His speed is desperately needed up front to complement Shearer the opportunist. But if he can't keep his gob shut, he's really not going to be of much value to the team if he's going to be suspended from time to time.
*As Alan Shearer said, Bolton didn't come to win. They just didn't want to lose. And the Toon helped them to do that with another lackluster display. We can look forward to a lot of opponents who will play a 1-9-1 defence.
*Opinions seem to be mixed on how well the Toon played against Arsenal. Despite the defensive mistakes that let Arsenal score, there was hope that the Toon could come away with a draw - especially as Arsenal were more or less down to 10 men at the end. The next game against Southampton will not be a pushover, even though the Boro beat them.

Harry S
Editor-in-Chief
Harry's Rant