Sam Allardyce is very well aware the game against Sunderland is a big one, and certainly a third defeat on the trot would be little short of catastrophic for Newcastle.
But Big Sam is also concerned that some of his team don’t freeze in the passion and emotion of it all, but that they come out all guns blazing from the very first whistle.
Big Sam - wants to ensure his team is completely ready for the game Saturday
Sam Allardyce said today:
“Everybody is aware of how much it means, so we have got to make sure that brings the best out of us.â€
“A local derby can, on occasions, make a player freeze in the passion and emotion of it and the nerves can perhaps get the better of him.â€
“We have got to make sure we guard against that and use the energy involved around this game as a positive energy to bring the best out of us.”
Neither Newcastle nor Sunderland have too many local players among its ranks, but the likes of Steve Harper and Steven Taylor have been getting the message across in the dressing room on Tyneside, and they have not been alone.
Allardyce said:
“The situation we are in at the moment, on the back of two defeats and going into a north-east derby, this is as big a game for the players as it is for the fans.â€
“The players know what it means to the fans, whether they have been in this country for a long time or have only just arrived.â€
“The players will already been telling the others who have only just arrived just how big this one is - and a lot of the staff here, who are Newcastle fans.â€
“They will be telling the players ‘Hey, come on, I have got to go out on Saturday night and I don’t want those Sunderland fans taking the mickey out of me.â€
We think Newcastle fans may be a little wary of this derby game, simply because they’re not sure which team will turn up on Saturday. Certainly as far as our league position goes we need all 3 points, and really need to steady the ship before the January transfer window. We expect some new players to be drafted into the squad then, and also some surplus players to leave.
A defeat is unthinkable, a draw is acceptable, but what we really need is all 3 points. Whether we can achieve that very much depends on which team turns up at the Stadium of Light early Saturday afternoon.
Comments welcome.
Loading ...
18 responses so far ↓
1 joshi // Nov 8, 2007 at 17:29
awwwww i can’t wait, i really wish i was going
is this game on tv? or do i have to stream it using Tvants?
2 George // Nov 8, 2007 at 17:32
i can not believe that SA has said he hopes no one freezes on the day. I think SA is beginning to lose the plot here , aprt from that with the experianced players we have if any one did freeze i would sack them.
3 Kash // Nov 8, 2007 at 17:41
George you’re an IDIOT!!!!!
The way Sunderland are playing, and our nervous form i’m dreading Saturday. I can see why BSA has said that players might freeze, look at Cacapa on Saturday. He’s probably the most experienced player we have, and he froze like a bunny staring down the headlights of a car before the cars tires crush its pathetic “George” like brain!!!!
4 Kash // Nov 8, 2007 at 17:43
We really need an early goal on Saturday to settle the nerves, then hit them with all we have. Attack is the best form of Defence, and that shoudl be our strategy for Saturday!!
5 Nick C // Nov 8, 2007 at 17:54
I am going. I love the derbies, but I have to admit to cacking it a bit about this one………..
6 Arthur Prince // Nov 8, 2007 at 18:13
Must go for the Win . Anything less will be a disappointment again .
7 A geordiedoonsooth // Nov 8, 2007 at 18:20
Come on Guys keep the faith we should be murdering teams like that lot from the SOS. Mind you we should be hammering Derby & Reading????????????????
8 Leo // Nov 8, 2007 at 18:48
has anyone noticed that micky owen has a flash of ginger hair in his picture at the top of the page?
9 Mighty Mouse // Nov 8, 2007 at 18:54
7:30 am Setanta in the USA, come on u TOON!
10 Alan // Nov 8, 2007 at 19:08
i think Big Sam is getting the excuses in now.
11 Ross // Nov 8, 2007 at 19:09
bsa is more than right to claim that players could potentially freeze.
in a game this size, especially for players who have never played in such before, the entire occasion could have a negative (but lets hope a positive) effect on them.
but its simple, we need a win. no loss, no draw. 3 points away at sunderland is essential. judging by current form, im sure everyone would say they’d settle for a draw, but i doubt anyone would really be happy. lets be honest here, its the scum away. you want a win, an overpowering performance, and 3 points. simple as.
12 carl // Nov 8, 2007 at 19:24
well i personely fear the worst,weve been worse than shit over past 2 games and the dirty mackems are playing better football than us .simple as that. im pedicting a loss here and anything above that and ill be chuffed. no confidence in big sam at all,i hope im wrong but ill be the first to say , i told you so.
13 carl // Nov 8, 2007 at 19:27
sky sports 1 12.45 saturday
14 Brisbane Mag // Nov 8, 2007 at 21:59
It’s going to be a tough game and we need players who are committed, hence Smith will make the starting line up with Geremi. We needed Butt for this one, but he’s suspended so have to make do with Barton/Geremi central midfield.
I can’t see Taylor starting the game although he’s VERY committed, as he’s still making mistakes that cost us goals each game; i.e. the fourth against Pompey last week, so expect Beye-Faye-Rozenhall-Enrique as our defensive back line…..
15 Bill f // Nov 8, 2007 at 22:00
I don’t know if it is some sort of reverse Karma but the more optimistic we are the more we seem to lose. So perhaps all of this negativity is buildin up a positive result. So come on lads lets all start whingeing about how we are going to get thrashed at the beautiful seaside resort of Sunderland by the nice Mackem lot.
16 Obafan // Nov 8, 2007 at 23:13
I’m a bit nervous about this one. Sunderland aren’t as bad as 2 seasons ago and they have the Roy Keane fighting spirit. It will be tough but we must win against those teams if we want to fight for European football next year.
17 indian toon // Nov 9, 2007 at 1:40
row row row your boat gently down the stream , and er.. i forgot.. yeah!!! and kind some butt in the stadium of shite,,,
18 Len // Nov 9, 2007 at 5:09
While I would love a win for me a draw would be acceptable. Nightmare is Sam turns out the team to get a clean sheet we saw at Reading, in which case we will be bored stiff and lose to 2 late goals from Jones (headed corner) and Chopra(penalty 89th minute). If we do lose there is a very good chance of a 6 game losing streak with Liverpool, Blackeye, Arsenal coming up which would leave us just above relegation zone. I just love big matches.
Leave a Comment