Alan Shearer is facing one of the biggest matches of his career today, and certainly the biggest of his very short management career.
Alan Shearer – one of his biggest games ever
Alan is hoping that the fans can make a difference today, and he is hoping and praying for a great and positive atmosphere at St. James’ Park tonight.
Alan talked to the Newcastle Journal this morning:
“The atmosphere at St James’ does give you a lift. I have said it already, and I know we keep asking our fans for things and they might get fed up of us asking, but for three games I am asking them to really turn it on and make it a really good atmosphere.”
“I understand they are as nervous as everyone else, but I want it to be great on Monday from the first minute. An atmosphere the players will enjoy playing in and hopefully we can repay them by giving them something to shout about.”
“I hope it will be an atmosphere that the opposition won’t enjoy. I know Portsmouth have some experienced players, but I want it to be intimidating.”
Newcastle have been given an opening over the weekend since Hull, Middlesbrough and Sunderland all lost, so a win could see Newcastle overtake Middlesbrough and be just one point behind Hull, and two behind Sunderland. In other words a win can put us right back in the mix, and hive the lads great confidence for the final four games.
Blackburn beat Wigan 2-0 yesterday so have moved on to a decent 37 points, which at the moment is 7 points clear of Newcastle, so it may be getting down now to 3 teams from 5 being relegated – but you never know.
Those five teams are WBA, Middlesbrough, Hull, Sunderland and Newcastle, and all three North East teams are in there.
Ultimately of course, it is up to the players to produce, which they have not done so far this year, and let’s hope tomorrow’s headlines are not like those of Sunderland today, where their manager, Ricky Sbragia, says the Sunderland players should be ashamed of themselves for their abject display in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at bottom of the league WBA.
We have to hope we are celebrating only our second win this year, and only 7th of the season, and if we are not, things will look bleak indeed – very bleak
Comments welcome.
16 comments so far
stevep
Apr 27, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Comment #1The day may come when the toons premiership status comes crashing down…but it is not this day!
Bodies shall be shaken, Lungs shall be burst; as we stand like men!
For today is the day to be counted and to stand brave!
Today is the day for us to give our all
and on Shearers command, unleash our hell!
WELSHMAG
Apr 27, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Comment #2Guys, I’m nervous as hell! Taking my old man to the pub here in wales and we’re going to cheer the lads on. Gutted I can’t be at SJP as the atmosphere will be electric! I can feel the tingle down my spine already! come on the Toon!!
Toon Graeme
Apr 27, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Comment #3Welshmag – Im sure you will have agood night. Feel free to shout and scream at the tele!
Micky Toon
Apr 27, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Comment #4Like I said in the other article I’m hoping this is just like when Keegan first arrived as manager in 1992. Squeaky bum time lads.
Toon Graeme
Apr 27, 2009 at 10:38 AM
Comment #5Just on another note – i read that Nacho is playing in the ressies this week against Liverpool.
geordie deb
Apr 27, 2009 at 10:56 AM
Comment #6Steve P – brilliant oratory! Just like the True Faith article – we the fans need to stand and be counted whether at SJP or in a pub hundreds or thousands of miles from Newcastle. Give the lads every ounce of our support for the entire 90 minutes and if any of you leave early no matter the score – shame on you!!
roscoe
Apr 27, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Comment #7TODAY is the day! TODAY is the day we stand together! TODAY is the day we UNITE and set the precedent for the rest of the season and for the rest of our PREMIER LEAGUE lives!
Come on the TOON!!
I’ll be screaming at the telly in Dubai!
It sure is squeaky bum time now!
workyticket
Apr 27, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Comment #8geordie deb // Apr 27, 2009 at 10:56 AM
“Steve P – brilliant oratory!”
Aye Debs, but pneumothorax can be a nasty business, so I hope there aren’t too many burst lungs the neet! 😉
evildick
Apr 27, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Comment #9i will be screaming my lungs out at 5am here in sydney! i’m strangely excited, i can’t wait! i’m ready to face our fate.
i just hope the crowd doesn’t go silent after 15 mins! if we go 0-1 down, the crowd needs to raise the noise level. i really think we can do it!
howay the lads!!!!!!
geordie deb
Apr 27, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Comment #10Hi Worky
No we just want lungs ready to burst metaphorically speaking!
On another note when you visited the Whittington recently is there still a pub next to the hospital near the traffic lights?
workyticket
Apr 27, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Comment #11geordie deb // Apr 27, 2009 at 12:48 PM
“Hi Worky
No we just want lungs ready to burst metaphorically speaking!
On another note when you visited the Whittington recently is there still a pub next to the hospital near the traffic lights?”
Whittington and Cat? Highgate Hill? Near the old main entrance?
geordie deb
Apr 27, 2009 at 1:24 PM
Comment #12No we just want lungs ready to burst metaphorically speaking!
Workyticket
On another note when you visited the Whittington recently is there still a pub next to the hospital near the traffic lights?”
Whittington and Cat? Highgate Hill? Near the old main entrance?
Not as far up Highgate Hill as the Whittington and Cat. It was a low rise building (bit of a dump) near the old main entrance – when we worked nights on Archway wing in the summer we looked directly onto it – everyone sat outside the pub on a nice summer’s evening while we were stuck in doors on a 12 hour shift – when you mentioned the Whittington it just brought back memories of some great laughs back then
workyticket
Apr 27, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Comment #13geordie deb // Apr 27, 2009 at 1:24 PM
“Not as far up Highgate Hill as the Whittington and Cat. It was a low rise building (bit of a dump) near the old main entrance”
Aha! I’ve got it now! The ‘Whittington Stone’. That’s the one.
workyticket
Apr 27, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Comment #14It’s still there Deb.
geordie deb
Apr 27, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Comment #15Thanks Worky
workyticket
Apr 27, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Comment #16Nee botha Deb.