Newcastle keeper Steve Harper believes Sam Allardyce can guide the team to a European spot in his first season in charge.
But we know that over the years talk is cheap and the real talking has to be done on the field – especially after the debacle we witnessed on Monday night at Derby.
But let’s take a look at what Steve said yesterday, he’s at least positive and upbeat on our chances this season.
Steve Harper – top six this season – we’ll see
Harper told the Press Association yesterday:
“That’s what we are looking to do. This year for the first time in a long time, we have got competition and strength in depth in every position, and that can only be good for everybody.â€
“It’s been a big summer on the pitch, off the pitch, upstairs – the whole club is having an overhaul.
“It’s not going to happen overnight. There are a lot of new faces in, a lot of people out at the end of last year and the club is changing from top to bottom.â€
“It’s going to take time, but it has been an encouraging start.”
Well it was an encouraging start before Monday night so it’s not really a good time for Steve to bring this one up. Brought up last Sunday and most Newcastle fans would have fully agreed with Steve but really, after Monday night’s performance, we have our doubts now, to be truthful. As we’ve said before, perhaps it was just a blip on Monday caused by the international break – but that sure does sound like an excuse to us.
Steve went on:
“Getting to know the players is the biggest part of the job and getting to know and understand how they work best and how they work best as a team.â€
“That is an ongoing process that takes a huge amount of time. It cannot be magicked up overnight.â€
“I have had several magic ones in my life, but you cannot magic up some of the stuff. That has to be given time, so learning about the players and them learning about me is very, very important.–As time goes on, that will improve, week by week, game by game, hopefully.†“As long as we steer clear of those very, very big injury problems we have had before, then the team and the squad will grow and the confidence will grow, and once that grows, the results will go with it.”
As we mentioned in an earlier article this morning we now have 10 injuries officially, so that’s not good at the moment. The proof of the pudding is in the eating so what Steve says has to be produced on the field. So we’ll hold judgment right now until we see how we perform on Sunday. A win and an attacking performance will go a long way towards alleviating some of the doubts that have crept in over the last few days with our fans.
We also need the game to be a little bit more exciting on Sunday. The game on Monday, as well as being a poor performance, was really boring from a Newcastle fans’ viewpoint.
Comments always very welcome.
7 comments so far
George
Sep 21, 2007 at 9:46 AM
Comment #1I wpuld like to think Steve Harper is correct, but after mondays display this may be an enourmous problem for us.
There needs to be dramatic improvements and for sundays game in particular, because i can see us getting beat.
Lamesley Mag
Sep 21, 2007 at 9:47 AM
Comment #2After Monday’s performance, we’ll struggle in the PL.
However, I’m confident BSA will provide the motivation to make a recovery and ous us up the league. We’ve got a decent squad that will improve as we release several of our sick-note players and buy in better replacements.
A top-6 finish is possible and should be our goal as Newcastle are big enough to break the top-4, but not this season!
yemozone
Sep 21, 2007 at 9:55 AM
Comment #3Harper will have to watchout on sunday,not to make mistakes.
big pea ov the weab
Sep 21, 2007 at 10:02 AM
Comment #4owen bein fit is going to b a big factor if the lads want a top six finish
with the dismal display on monday i think more like top10 mite b more reilistic
Rich
Sep 21, 2007 at 11:26 AM
Comment #5If we keep playing like this the only way we will finish top 6 this season is if the papers upside down!!I think there is too much work too do this year to finish top 6, top half and improving ill be happy.
Pete
Sep 21, 2007 at 11:43 AM
Comment #6I think he has been drinking
MightyMilburn
Sep 21, 2007 at 12:49 PM
Comment #7Oooo.. Ed.. sorry to say this but I believe that the latter quote is actually from BSA and not Steve Harper.. Not that it matters (read the same story on Teamtalk.com)