The Mags v Spurs (CC3) - 24th Sep

A Derby For The Disenchanted

Who would be a Newcastle United fan right now? For the same token, who would be a Tottenham Hotspur fan right now? The two clubs occupy second from bottom and bottom positions in the Premier League respectively and are in severe disarray amidst talk of takeovers and record-breaking bad starts. The Carling Cup – currently held by Spurs – offers welcome if only slight escapism from the mire that both sides find themselves in and how their faithful could do with something to cheer about. The question is: who needs it most?

It’s Grim Up North

Newcastle must have envied last weekend’s opponents West Ham United immensely. The Hammers’ previous manager Alan Curbishley departed in a similar fashion to Kevin Keegan on Tyneside; the lines of communication between the board and the man in charge had weakened and the relationship between the two camps had broken down. Whilst Newcastle are still without a permanent replacement for Keegan, with a reported eight potential candidates turning down the opportunity to sit in the hot seat and Chris Hughton seemingly reluctantly standing in as caretaker boss, West Ham acted quickly in appointing Gianfranco Zola. His first game in charge was of course against the Magpies, where he oversaw a comfortable three-one victory.

The uncertainty surrounding owner Mike Ashley’s ongoing tenure at the club has without doubt had an effect on every other aspect of the club. Performances since Keegan’s departure have been sub-standard. After securing an impressive point against Manchester United in their opening game and then defeating Bolton by a solitary goal, Newcastle have suffered three straight league defeats to Arsenal, Hull and West Ham, and barely scraped by Championship side Coventry City in extra-time to secure advancement to the third round of the League Cup. The fans have turned not against the players, but against Ashley and his board, including director of football Dennis Wise, protesting against them for the way Keegan was treated. This sentiment is believed to have spilled over into the dressing room, with as many as 11 first-team squad members rumoured to be looking for an exit from the club, including Steven Taylor, Shay Given and Michael Owen.

Despite this, the England international and club captain has asked the Magpies supporters to get behind the team ahead of the tie with Spurs. Newcastle could definitely do with the power of a 12th man at St. James’ Park, and Owen illustrated this as he spoke to the club website.

“The fans play a massive part in this team, probably here more than anywhere else.” said the striker.
“We are in this together and we need them more than ever.”

What Now For Spurs?

The award for ‘Pundit’s and Journalist’s Most Hauled-Out Statistic of the Weekend’ must go to the fact that this is Tottenham Hotspur’s worst start to any season in 34 years. Yes, this could easily yet develop into a full-blown crisis, in spite of this Premier League campaign being only five games old. How smug Martin Jol must feel now. The former Tottenham manager is now flying high in the German Bundesliga, in charge of Hamburg after being sacked by Spurs last season due to a run of results that next to current boss Juande Ramos’s record, would look like a marked improvement. It is doubtful that the Dutchman takes pleasure in the north London club’s misfortune, but he must surely be able to afford himself a wry smile towards chairman Daniel Levy and director of football Damien Comolli.

Ramos and Spurs just haven’t been able to turn in a performance to be proud of yet this season. The players introduced – 66 million pounds worth of them – are of undeniable quality but are yet to gel, and the Spanish manager seems uncertain thus far on what his strongest starting eleven is; not since Chelsea’s Claudio Ranieri has the top flight known such tinkering. The Spurs midfield has to be the biggest disappointment of all so far. On paper, signings such as David Bentley, Luka Modric and Giovani Dos Santos promised goals and attacking prowess; they’ve managed only one goal between them in all competitions and simply look almost directionless in supplying Darren Bent. Couple this with the loss of both Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane and the failure of replacement Roman Pavlyuchenko in making an impact and you have a recipe for disaster for a side that also still looks fragile in defence after a concerted effort to considerably strengthen that area over the summer.