Chelsea’s line-up for today’s so important league clash at St. James’ Park, will be full of world class stars who are also leaders on the field, and that’s just one reason they are a top team.
Kevin Keegan – if Chelsea plat at their best, they’ll win
The fact they have many leaders like John Terry and Frank Lampard, has seen the Blues still be in contention for titles on both the domestic and European front.
It has not been easy for this Chelsea team under Avram Grant, but they’ve shown tremendous guts and determination, not to mention some great football.
Keegan talked to the Newcastle Journal this morning and seems realistic about the game as he freely admits that if Chelsea reach anywhere near their peak form, they should get the win they need to stay in the title race with Manchester United.
Kevin said:
“I talk about leaders here but they (Chelsea) have four or five leaders and that is why they are at the top. We need four or five leaders to take us up the table too,â€
“If we play to our very best and they do, it will probably be a great game and they will beat us. Unless, that is, we get lucky because they are a better team than us as the league tells you that.â€
“But if we play to our best and they feel: ‘Wow, this is another big game’ after two big games against Liverpool and Manchester United, then who knows? That is the fascination of the Premier League. We have got big-match players as well.â€
Even though they are heavy favorites to win at Newcastle this afternoon, Keegan is warning Chelsea to expect great passion and noise from the Newcastle faithful this afternoon.
It’s true that Newcastle’s players have earned that kind of support in the way they have fought over these last several games to ensure safety from relegation, not to mention some excellent and performances full of character from the side.
Kevin added:
“We will have a fantastic atmosphere in our stadium because the players have earned that now over the last six or seven games,†“Geordies do support their team. Before my first game back I said it was manufactured because someone had come back and they remembered the good times from whenever.â€
“But the players the other week said: ‘Wow, it is unbelievable’ and I said you have got to earn that. Once you have earned it, it will be there every week for you and I believe it is now there by right.â€
“There will be no better atmosphere than St James’ Park on Monday. You won’t get anywhere any better than that, not Old Trafford or anywhere.â€Â  “It’s a great game and for us it is great to be involved in two games at the end of the season that both mean something.”
“We are not thinking about our holidays and we are not thinking let’s just get this season over with and then start thinking about next year. We are thinking about how we can test ourselves in the best way possible against this team.â€
If Newcastle can get the win today. or even a draw and play well, the Newcastle faithful will rightfully be looking forward to a much better season next year, now that we have the great Kevin Keegan back as manager.
We expect owner Mike Ashley, who is a great favorite on Tyneside, to shell out the money for the players Kevin wants to attract to the club in the summer transfer window, and we fully expect Mike to do exactly that.
Comments welcome.
10 comments so far
robertsa
May 5, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Comment #1great positive attitude kev. nar but they will probly win but if we give tthem some rough tackles early on they might be tedious we could hold for a draw definetly
ELFER
May 5, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Comment #2I think too we will loose…they’re too strong!
Another thing, ED: Would you be very dissapointed if OWEN leaves? Sure he played very well and scored also…maybe it’s a big loss, but on the other hand it seems that he is an auto starter for kev and propably that isn’t right? He also has days off (not at the momenta s said, but remember the past).
Difficult stuff, I’m thinking off that he could make space for a fantastic midfielder…but then I think also in the same second hey that’s michael owen…very very difficult!
would love to hear your thoughts about it, ED.
valle
May 5, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Comment #3Looking at how we have played at times, especially against spurs, i think we can beat anyone on our day.
ginkoh
May 5, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Comment #4Fight to the end and no problem for us all. Show us our Toon pride !
Greek Toon
May 5, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Comment #5Some mind games going on here. Remember we have a decent record at home against Chelsea and this a high stress game for them. I predict early toon goal leading to a classic encounter.
Eric
May 5, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Comment #6We have got to take it to Chelsea today. KK is right for being cautious. NUFC are not as good yet as an on-form Chelsea. But we will be one day. Our ambition is not to be as good. We must and will be better. They are expected to win. Well everybody, the bookies aren’t playing at St James today. Our team is. Come on lets take the bookies for a ride as well. No forecast – just beat them fair and square.
THELONGSHANKS
May 5, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Comment #7I cant see us getting in top class players.Modric signing would have made me believe otherwise.Dunne,riise,lennon,ashton all realistic.Remember when we beat everton to signing emre and parker,i cant see that happening again along with competing with villa.
But cant wait for transfer window to open cuz all the excitment of being linked with van der vaart and swp though unlikely will get me excited and give us all something to cheer about for a while.
KristianF
May 5, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Comment #8Kev has a point, but I also think it’s a part of the pre-match mind game to play into chelsea’s overconfidence and get our players even more fired up (href grant & ferguson). The chelski boys are horribly mistaken if they think we’ll simply lie down and surrender in awe of the price tags on their players. My gut feeling says we’ll make they’re lives really miserable tonight, before we kick their collective ar*es out of proud St. James’. I’ve already congratulated my man utd-mates with winning the title.
Leo
May 5, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Comment #9if we both play well i can see a good game ofcourse this depends who the referee is going to be and whether he is wised up to their foul playing
Cloudstrife
May 5, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Comment #10let’s get at em. we may not get the win, but do us proud. guts and glory lads! let em know how we do…