We like the way Michael Owen is stepping up in his role as captain of Newcastle.
Owen - we want to see a few of these from Michael tonight
Michael talked today to the Evening Chronicle about our crucial game with Birmingham tonight, which kicks off in less than 90 minutes time.
Michael said:
“It was at Birmingham when I made my comeback at the end of the 2005-06 season after I had suffered that metatarsal injury against Spurs at White Hart Lane on the New Year’s Eve.†“This was an important match for me when I came on for the last half-hour, but tonight’s game is a lot more important.â€
“Certainly we are going to St Andrews tonight in different circumstances to the last time we went there.†“Nobody need tell us how important it is for us to get three points tonight as it would take us up the table.†“But we have got to go to St Andrews with cool heads and not panic.†“We have had difficult games against the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, and few people expected us to pick anything up from them.â€
“If we had, it would have been a bonus.†“But we have enough ability in the side to win tonight and that’s what we are looking to do.†“I can remember scoring for Liverpool at Birmingham and it would be great if I could keep that run going.†“But I have to have the right service. I am not the sort of striker like Thierry Henry who can go deep and provide a goal for himself.â€
“Considering I have had a couple of nasty injuries since I came to Newcastle, and also had a spell in Spain with Real Madrid, I am quite happy with my 129 goals.†“I don’t think myself or anyone else for that matter will get anywhere near Alan Shearer’s record of 260 goals. But when I was a kid I would have settled for my scoring record.â€
“But having said this I am only 28 and I feel I have plenty of years of football left in me. And I also hope I have plenty of goals still in me, starting in tonight’s game at Birmingham.â€
Good words as usual from Michael, who always seems so sensible and truthful.
But make no mistake, it’s time to deliver on the field, not only for Michael, but whoever gets the opportunity to play tonight.
We don’t take too much notice of the words being said by the players, because they mean nothing if we go out in the next game and wave the white flag.
We really hope we can get 3 points tonight and register our first league win in 3 months, and only our second overall win in those 3 months.
It’s almost unbelievable that’s our record, not to mention the disgraceful goals for and goals against record, which now has us with the worst goal difference in the league apart from bottom placed Derby County.
But it’s time to break it all open and get 3 points on the board, and then we’ll be very happy to hear Michael talking again after game, or any other of our players. We’ve been so starved of success it’s 3 months since that last happened, and 3 months since we improved our goal difference in a game. Incredible but true. 
But we need to win. Make no mistake, this is a very very important game for Newcastle United and our season tonight.
Comments very welcome.
24 responses so far ↓
1 Leo // Mar 17, 2008 at 18:39
you better score tonight owen! im banking on it. and a 3-0 win
2 DP // Mar 17, 2008 at 18:51
I’ve got to be honest tonight and the fulham game are the biggest since the FA Cup Finals of the late 90’s. I’m scared, butterflies the lot. I had to have a double jack daniels just to calm the nerves! Hoping for 6 massive points in the next week. Howay the lads
3 carl // Mar 17, 2008 at 18:53
im hoping tonights the night, just imagine the relief of pressure , cmon the toon 1-3
4 tdt // Mar 17, 2008 at 18:54
howay the lads!! this is like a cup final, as are the rest of the games until we’r safe. please win!!!
5 Luke // Mar 17, 2008 at 18:55
off to an irish bar in the middle of paris — just had a barny with the missus who planned to meet, but ho hum — cmon the toon!
good feelings…
6 Spyro a.k.a Dragoner // Mar 17, 2008 at 18:59
lets hope these’good feelings’ remain after the game aswell, i for one am very nervous
7 MiMo // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:02
Need at least a point tonight but it’s going to be very tough.
8 hanzemre // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:10
suddenly could sense of good feeling in the air. yeah right a win for us i say 2-1 with Faye & Smith on scoresheet. Wow! am i dreaming/what?
9 JEFF // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:12
SORRY TO SOUND NEGATIVE BUT THERE ARE GONNA BE A LOT OF UPSET PEOPLE AFTER THE GAME TONIGHT ……BHAM ARE ON A HIGH AFTER THEIR LAST FEW RESULTS ( STUCK 4 OR 5 UP SPURS LAST HOME GAME !!!! ) AND WE ARE ON A LOW. BEST WE ARE GONNA GET THERE WILL BE A DRAW - IF WE GET THE BREAKS AND PLAY WELL. I LIVE IN BRUM AND KNOW THEY ARE WELL UP FOR IT
10 Hammy // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:14
Team News…….
Viduka, Martins and Owen all play.
SMITH IS ON THE BENCH…….
11 JEFF // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:15
THATS POSITIVE HAMMY- WOTS THE REST OF THE TEAM ?
12 Hammy // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:15
By the way….
that was another Hammy who said they would go naked into a gay bar and order a babycham if Smith did not play tonight…..
honest……erhhhh.
13 tdt // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:16
OK JEFF, but hopefully we do take are chances, get a early goal, another before half-time, then push on from there, u gota remember they’ve been just as crap as us this season!!!!
14 big pea ov the weab // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:16
any 1 got link to game
15 Hammy // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:17
Milner is not playing, Barton and Geremi play, that’s all I caught on 5 live…..
16 tdt // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:17
whose on the team sheet then???
17 daiv // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:22
Butt Geremi and Barton in mid.
Beye, faye, taylor and Enrique at back.
18 tdt // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:25
Starting Line-ups
13 Harper
25 Faye
3 Enrique
21 Beye
27 Taylor
20 Geremi
7 Barton
22 Butt
36 Viduka
9 Martins
10 Owen
Substitutes
34 Forster
6 Cacapa
14 N’Zogbia
17 Smith
39 Carroll
19 daiv // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:27
The forward line looks a million dollars. The mid looks very short on creativity. I hope the forwards are not left sucking their thumbs all night. But def an improvemnet with no smith in the team
20 tdt // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:29
looks good to me
:) 
:) 
:)
21 toonhitman // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:31
the zog should have started ahead of barton, great to see oba atart and not the plank smith
22 JEFF // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:32
…..LETS HOPE WHEN KK BRINGS VIDUKA OFF HE BRINGS CARROL ON….NOT SMITH !!!!!
23 hanzemre // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:32
just for the lineup i want to smile now. later after the game…. yeah i feel the same.Thanks God has answered my pray with Alan Smith not starting.Hope we’d leading by 2 goals cushion b4 considering him to come as sub. Wish him scores the 3rd ha ha.
24 bill robertson // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:33
4.5.1 lineup without owen and we stand a chance, owen used as a sub only
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