Shearer scored 2 goals past Bayern Munich yesterday, the first he rounded the keeper and slotted it in the net, the second was a nice shot from 25 yards out into the far corner.

He's scored 5 goals in his last 2 games. Nice to see he's still going strong

The prospect of Speed in defence is an interesting one. I'd like to see him play a friendly in that position to see what he's like, but unfortunately we've got no friendlies left now. Speed gave away a free-kick 20 yards from goal yesterday which Bayern scored from, but it never should have been a free-kick imo. The referee was Jeff Winter from Middlesbrough, so he wasn't exactly on Newcastle's side to put it mildly.

The score was:
Newcastle 2 - 2 Bayern Munich

Bayern equalised in the 90th minute.

Djurgården IF 2 - 2 Partizan Belgrade
(3-3 on aggregate)

After 1-1 in the first leg Partizan go through on away goals. I think this will be a tougher draw for us.

Wednesday 13th August (1st leg):
Partizan v Newcastle

Wednesday 27th August (2nd leg):
Newcastle v Partizan

Would have liked to see Djurgarden go through. Newcastle were knocked out by Partizan in 1999 on away goals after 3-3 on aggregate (the same score as today).

Last edited by evil_bastard on Aug-06-2003 at 21:34

Fucking cheating bastards.
They dived they kicked the ball away everything to get the time going.
We were so much better then them today. I know they are a better regulary but not today. We also had two shot in the post.

And the ref was a fucking disgrace.

Good luck Newcastle I fucking hope you beat these bastards hard.

sorry for all swearing but I´m so fucking pissed at the moment

bloody boro! when will they learn that they will never be the best side in the North East.

But coming back to the defence problem evil bastard. I really dont see that any Newcastle centre back has the quality to link up with Woody.

O'brien is ordinary in my opinion and doesnt have the talent to perform consistently in the top flight, better yet the champions league.

Bramble, still give him a few more years to blossom i reckon. Sir Bobby gave him a load of chances last season to get over his clumbsy mistakes, but to no avail. still needs more time to blend into the Premiership's style of play.

Dabizas - id like him to come back in the team. hes got experience and when you look at him closely while he plays, hes positioning is superb. im not sure why bobby has given him the cold shoulder. im guessing its because he is gettin older and we all know that SBR prefers youth over age.

However, when it comes to defences, experience is much more needed then youth.

Also i think Caldwell should be given a chance. He came into the team at the backbone of last season and with Woody they produced a string of good displays.

I think our priorities, in order of importance are:

Right Back
Centre Back
Defensive Mid
Left back/mid

Bobby did hint that we might still buy someone before the end of the transfer window, so I bloody hope he gets a quality defender. I agree with you about age in defence, that's something we're lacking and I think Speed would be worth a try. To be fair to our defence though they look like they've improved over the summer (we didn't have Woodgate against Bayern yesterday) and I think part of the reason our defence looked so poor last season was because the midfield gave them so much work to do. Robert and Solano don't drop back enough, Dyer likes to get stuck in but he's not the best tackler. Jenas is a good tackler but a bit lightweight and Speed is our only midfielder who consistently tracks back. Bowyer might be an attacking midfielder but from what I've seen of his friendlies he is not shy to get back and could relieve some of the pressure on our defence.

I agree with you on Bramble, he made some crucial tackles yesterday but his distribution was clumsy sometimes (likewise O'Brien). I'd like to see more of Caldwell but of what I've seen of him his game-reading isn't great, perhaps that'll come with more experience.

Hopefully they can learn from Woodgate who seems fully settled into the squad now. In my opinion our weak right-back is the most crucial problem though. Griffin and Hughes just can't cut it at the top level, it's a big hole in our side which we need to fill.

Lastly, some cover on the left would be nice. If Bernard or Robert get injured we haven't got proper cover which is a worry, and Viana doesn't suit the left-wing (he wants a centre-mid spot).

But buying one good defender will do. I'm not particularly worried we're not spending but would like to see us get a quality defender before the end of the month.

Last edited by evil_bastard on Aug-07-2003 at 02:51

partizan belgrade, i bet it wont be an easy match. theyve beaten us before.

i predict 2-1 win away and 4-1 win at home.

I think we should definitely win at home, it's the away fixture I'm worried about.

I agree with you on those predictions, it'll be a fight in Belgrade but we should sort them out at home. The only problem is the home fixture will come 3 days after playing Man Utd.

I really can't see us loosing against Belgrade away. I'm more than a 100% sure of that!

I agree that a defensive midfielder is a top priority. Just look what happened to us when Speed was injured towards the end of last season. Bobby had to rely on a Dyer/Jenas partnership and both players tend to attack more than they defend.

Today, Bayern Munich's Owen Hargreaves said that he would jump at the chance to wear the black and white. He definitely fits into Newcastle's type of player.

- He is young
- An awesome defensive midfielder.
- And he is outstanding at reading the game.

I hope Bobby does take him under consideration, since he would be more than a key member in the squad.

Besides with the lack of transfer activity around Tyne, i think everybody would certainly be eager in seeing a new face for the coming season.

Bobby has made hints, and a lot of people think he's waiting to see if we're guaranteed the Champs League money (after the qualifier) before spending. But I think it's looking increasingly likely we won't make any signings this summer, much as I'd love to see a defender or a DM. I completely agree about Speed, we just have to pray he doesn't get injured. Bowyer is the nearest thing we have to covering that position, but he's no long term solution as he gets forward far too much.

If the Partizan game is a close thing like 1-1 or 2-1, then we are not guaranteed to qualify and therefore not guaranteed the money. Even if we hammer them beyond all doubt in Belgrade, the transfer season ends on 31st August, that's only 17 days to find and buy a good player and have all the paperwork completed.

Hargreaves did say that he liked Newcastle and said it seems "the place to be" and he definitely plans to come to the Premier League eventually, but he's extended his contract with Bayern until 2006

Last edited by evil_bastard on Aug-09-2003 at 15:06

No Newcastle for us. What a shame, I was looking forward to that game so much. I hope you guys beat Partizan, they shouldn't be allowed to sabotage the beautiful game in the finest of club competitions. I havent seen that amount of cheating in a long time, the referee was a disgrace! Lothat Mattheus congratulated DIF on our fair play. HA!

1-1, 2-2. So close, yet so far away....

Hopefully we should hammer partizan.

If newcastle dont qualify for the champions League, We wont be signing any new players

It would also be rather mint if chelsea get knocked out

I wish i was in England, I'd be able to watch the qualifier on Sky Sports

Does anyone know if the game will be broadcasted on BBC Radio Newcastle live or elsewhere?