Captain Bob was spot on
Bob Moncur knows a thing or two about Newcastle United.
And I have to admit I never tire of talking football to the last man who lifted a trophy for our great club.
That was back in 1969 when the Toon won the Fairs Cup and Moncs has been wanting somebody to take away the title of last man to lift a trophy for the last three decades now.
But when chatting over a cup of tea the other day Moncs told me of his desire for us to finally to get this club back on track.
Moncs' view was quite simple and that was that results and wins are by far the most important thing for Newcastle United at this present moment and not how attractive or easy on the eye the football is.
Birmingham wasn't pretty but we peppered their goal with efforts and although it didn't look like it was going to pay off it did when Habib Beye finally claimed victory.
The smell of victory was good of course - in fact I'd almost forgotten what it was like!
Yet getting back to the point, or Captain Bob's point, he is spot on.
The matter of how we win isn't important right now - we just need to win.
The manner of defeat is just as important f we lose.
We want to see the team leaving the pitch dripping with sweat, blood and snot - knowing they have given it a real crack of the whip - we don't ask for much.
But if we have to win ugly that's fine, I'll take three points ahead of a pretty display any day of the week.
In time the style of football can be worked on for sure.
But to get the ball rolling properly in the Big Sam era we need wins.
Don't forget Ossie Ardiles played pretty stuff and it nearly got us relegated to Division Three - great to watch though!
Yet it nearly took United out of business.
And while that isn't even on the agenda with a billionaire in charge these days it's all down to progress.
Wins do of course breed confidence and when the team's morale is high they will try the more attractive things.
But before the Blackburn game (which we lost) we weren't playing with confidence and players are under so much pressure they won't try fancy flicks or try to go on personal crusades for glory.
Players basically don't want the ball in case they make a mistake.
And while that may sound extreme it's true.
Yet with four points from six and the Toon Army heading for Fulham with a smile on their faces, perhaps for the first time in a while - we could be in for a, let's think, OK, how about a happier Christmas - something we haven't had in a while.
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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I'm inclined to disagree with part of what you've said.
Arsenal have won the PL several times; they are winning now. I can hardly call them boring. If thet didn't play well they wouldn't win because they don't have a team that will throw its weight around.
Neither does Newcastle - we don't have a team of giants, far from it. So winning will come from playing attractive football well. Which we did for the last 20 minutes of the first half against Brum.
We won because we persevered I agree and also because of considerable technical skill from Emre.
Overall Newcastle were not that good against either Arsenal or Brum. Certainly not good enough to win anything.
Sam might have brought his three favourite sons from Bolton: Harry, Hurry and Disrupt.
What he needs to find are the three missing sons of Keegan (who played far more attractive football than poor Ossie): Pass, Cross and Score.
Fairs Cup .... A REAL trophy. You're having a laugh mate. It doesn't even rank on par with the Zenith Data Systems Cup that we almost won in 1990. You jawdees make me laff......
Ryder's reply: Well it sits alongside six FA Cups and four league titles on the list of trophies as well as part of the club's proud history.
I agree! Also, United must bring in a few more solid defenders and KEEP everyone for another season or two. There is no substitute for a group of players who are familiar with one another and are experienced as teammates.
Personally, while I have the highest respect for Bobby Moncur the player (And hope he beats this illness heâÂÂs battling) usually I tend not to listen too much to him on his radio show with Century, as I tend to perceive his comments to be a little defensive, sitting on the fence and pandering to the club.
Heck- Three points are three points, who the hell careâÂÂs really?-
-Well IâÂÂll tell you who- Me for one, simply for one reason- whilst managers will come out with their usual slogan âÂÂItâÂÂs the mark of a good side, that wins, when not playing wellâÂÂ
This is only HALF true- for if your playing awful- which on the basis of NewcastleâÂÂs season so far, they certainly fall into this category- your going to come unstuck sometime, lets face it, whilst it may have come as a slight jolt at the time, who with hindsight were really surprised at the Portsmouth and Liverpool games?? Come on own up if your honest??
I wasnâÂÂt!! IâÂÂm not for blowing oneâÂÂs own flute or saxophone, but I saw it coming early doors this season.
I recall many fans saying âÂÂIf a good side turn it on, we will get tonked sooner or laterâ well we did against Liverpool, yet they didnâÂÂt turn it on did they? If they had- Oh Dear!!
The fact of the matter is play well- you will win more than you lose.
On the subject of Ardiles- Keegan remarked in his Autobiography, that when quizzed on what he was going to do after a heavy home defeat, the Argie simply shrugged his shoulders, which according to King Kevin, probably prompted the board to act.
ItâÂÂs not rocket science Lee- You surely must be tearing your hair out (Or not in your case) at the âÂÂCONSTANTâ refusal to play an orthodox left back, at er- Left Back and play NâÂÂZogbia on the wing (The LEFT one) thus giving brilliant width and stretching the game.
Ah!!- wait a minute, didnâÂÂt Allardyce once remark once, when quizzed about width in football, that he only believed in width coming from corners?
This would explain a lot- maybe Allardyce doesnâÂÂt like playing an open game? Maybe he likes a sure thing, with all his statistics and spin doctors backing him up??
Maybe true- but I can tell you- play an open game and, whilst the result isnâÂÂt a certainty, it gives attacking players- which we have by the shedload- the chance to sparkle.
You wouldnâÂÂt ask the âÂÂSparkiesâ to put the water pipes in would you?
You wouldnâÂÂt ask a thief to look after your house keyâÂÂs?
You wouldnâÂÂt ask a toddler to look after your priceless Ming vase?
You wouldnâÂÂt ask Ronaldo to play at Right back would you?
I could go on but it wouldnâÂÂt make a difference to Allardyce, after all he will do it âÂÂMy WayâÂÂ
And now -sadly at this time of night- âÂÂThe end is nearâÂÂ. . . .
Paul.
Ryder's reply: You seem to know everything Paul - why don't you stick your CV in for the England job with Fabio Cappello! And let's leave the singing to the professionals eh?
Sometime we fan just have to be contented with what we have and take it one game at a time.Certainly we are doing better that last season and have better quality player.Other team like portmouth n blackburn have improve . We are no longer a top 5 team material.This rebuilding of team is going to take 1 to 2 season.Winning by whatever way will certainly goes a look way in helping our cause.
Serving overseas when we lifted the fairs cup, I never ever saw it on TV, lo and behold, watching a Setanta channel last week, what was on? You have guessed it NUFC in the final against Doza. Joe Harvey's famous statemnt came to mind, when asked if he had ever won manager of the month he replied "Won it? I lifted a european trophy in bloody JUNE and still did not win it".
I agree with Paul Patterson.
We are grinding results out, and that doesnt work, we may grind a Birmingham result, but that doesnt mean it will work when Chelsea come to town.
Would you be happy to watch us beat the teams like Birmingham, Derby, Fulham, Sunderland etc, if you knew we'd get a pasting every time a half decent team came?
I certainly wouldn't, and thats what will happen.
Before people mention the Arsenal result, Arsenal were heavily off the boil that night, no Fabregas, Hleb, or Flamini, the first two are the creative masterpieces of the team, something NUFC don't have.
Boro didn't find it too hard to beat Arsenal did they? So I think that proves we played them when they were off form.
Im fed up with false dawns, it comes with being a Newcastle supporter, but for crying out loud, why are the fans all so deluded over one or two results, it doesn't tell the whole story.
I'll come to Newcastle and buy you a sandwich from the famous cafe that is in the chronicle talking heads videos Lee, if we start playing football that will bring us to the top half of the table, instead of mid table scrappers.
That offer is only valid whilst 'Sham' Allardyce remains in charge...!
I hardly think anyone is 'content' as we plod through another rubbish season!
i think most would agree with bob if it wasnt clearly the style of football that had been costing us results in the first place.
if the long throws were getting us some goals and results people wouldnt be complaining. but they arnt even really troubling the oposition - apart from making them think what do with the possesion we have just gifted from the throw in.
I canâÂÂt believe you journalists are backing alladyce, its comical.
Fair enough attractive football doesnâÂÂt always win matches but come on, this squad of fairly talented players is being wasted under alladyces leadership.
Lee however you look at it apart from 30 minutes of the game against Birmingham, we were the same as we have been all season under alladyces leadership.
No pace, no width and no balance. ItâÂÂs alright slating fans who give opinions on who should play where but its so true Paul Patterson wrote. Its there for all to see what is going wrong on the pitch, even a non football fan could look at it and tell us the problems with tactics. Alladyce hasnâÂÂt got a clue.
We were very lucky to win that game against Birmingham.
I agree with Paul patterson - in the fact i could see the portsmouth & liverpool result in the offing, big SA doesnt exactly breed confidence does he?his tactics stink & it shows in the players demeanour, and the fans for that matter, i think we're all confused with the situation at SJP.I really dont see SA being here at the start of next season. Maybe the limited budget he has at his disposal now, is simply because Ashley has plans to get rid come end of season? i think so, although results will surely dictate this, as normally is the case. If SA does fall on his sword, most can say he hardly fought a good fight, al a ricky hatton.
Agree in th emost part with Paul Pattison, nicely put together mate, i tend to wonder tho, if Zog's is played at the back because of something that we dont know about with Enrique or something? as it does seem a strange decision not to play the wingers, at least it would hopefully create enough chances for Martins to score one. The Question is whats up with Enrique?? i havent seen him live as it were, being in New Zealand, but what i have seen of him, he looked pretty steady on the ball. Comments on Enrique??
Howay The Lads !!
I think we need to give some time for sam. Its not easy to win when you inherit a weak, unorganised squad. I got sick everytime we conceed but we have to be patient. Judge him after two seasons, then only revolt if you think its wise...
People comment on our poor defence but we concede goals because the ball is constantly being hit long up field and it cant stick up there so it just comes straight back down to our end and we are in trouble again.
There have been a few individual errors from our defenders but the majority of the time its alladyces tactics that cause the most problems for us, both defensively and offensively.
I havenâÂÂt got a problem with us winning ugly, but letâÂÂs at least give ourselves a chance of actually winning. The side just doesnâÂÂt look organised at all to me.
I am a big believer in giving managers time, but there has to be signs of what the manager is trying to implement are going to work and we just arenâÂÂt seeing that.
I also feel the fans deserve better than what they have seen this season.
There is no future in the long ball stratagy, Martins is too small, Viduka is too slow; also the midfield are not helping the situation, as they are never in position to benefit from the occasional, successful knock down..CONFIDENCE is the big problem, the players cant be that bad,as they have achieved some status in the past. The utilisation of the playing staff is quite laughable; we simply arn,t playing to our strengths and for this Sam is GUILTY !!!
Hiya, Bobby. Sorry to hear you've not been too fit recently - so take care and get well shortly. Good luck, skipper. All Toon fan are rooting for you. Lots of love to a fellow Scot. All my love and sincere regards - Scot.