Coverage for the dates 18th - 23rd September 2006
 

Well ye gan away for a bit and then all hell breaks loose.  The week kicks off, almost literally with the aftermath of a good win in East London. (Article) (Article) (Article) (Article) (Article)  As a radical speech interrupter said later in the week, how dare we go into their territory and do this.  Or something like that.  Two main talking points arose from this game. Firstly the dog’s abuse that Glenn Roeder took from the home “support” (Article) who were inflamed by him waving at the Mags in the away end (Article) (Article).  Disgraceful behaviour that, I mean waving, how dare he!  Such sensitive souls they are and I think the win meant more to Roeder than he is letting on (Article), and that would only be human.  As for the West Ham loyal? Well they’ve hardly had the level of condemnation they deserve for me.  Tony Cottee came close but still seemed to suggest that waving at your own fans is a crime next to carrying semtex into an airport departure lounge (Article) (remember this next time it happens at SJP lads n lasses eh?) and the tripe current media darling Russell Brand was allowed to spout in Saturday’s Guardian is as ignorant as it is insulting and tasteless (Article).  I wonder what rhymes with unfunny cunt that should get a hair cut?  Roll on their arrival on Barrack Road.

Also getting away scot-free is Marlon Harewood following his two-footed assault on Lifford’s finest. (Article)  (Article)  Two wrongs seem to make a right in East London apparently.  Nothing has come of a challenge that gave Shay Given injuries similar to that of a car crash (Article).  I mean how hard do you have to hit someone in the stomach to tear their small bowel?   Actually I can tell you.  A medical friend of mine told me over a beer that the last case like that he had seen was one of these numpties you see riding on their dirt bikes up by the Powder Monkey who had come off at about 40mph and landed on his own handle bar.  Think about it and then consider how can you excuse that challenge, the way everyone seems to have for Harewood, who hasn’t even issued an apology I notice.  Even Roeder preferred to concentrate on praise for his own centre forward after Martins opened his account (Article)

(Article).  I wonder if Harewood dares show his face on Tyneside in the New Year?  I really do hope so.

Tuesday brought us the BBC Panorama investigation on corruption in football. (Article) Article). It was all quite tame really.  The usual names cropping up in the usual places with the usual allegations, no real hard evidence of anything much and it’s all he said she said and did he really with the odd piece of inventive editing.  It’s had plenty of criticism from the written press with some justification (Article) (Article) (Article) (Article) (Article) (Article) and just comes across as half a job done inelegantly to me.  Pity as there was an opportunity there to actually do something credible.

We of course have to get a mention somewhere.  Assistant manager Kevin Bond looks set to quit (Article) (Article) and sue the Beeb (Article) (Article) over his portrayal in the programme and the Telegraph have had to apologise to Greame Souness (Article).  Doth he protest too much I wonder?  Just an observation like.  Meanwhile The Beasts say we’re very decent chaps (Article) in how we put an end to one of their youngsters being allegedly touted around clubs.  After all they do like to keep their kids to themselves.

Wednesday saw us slide back down the snake, capitulating at Anfield (Article) (Article) (Article) (Article) (Article) (Article).  A game best forgotten that we won’t be allowed to (a-la Ronnie ‘kin Radford), forever overshadowed by Steve Harper tripping over his laces to allow Alonso’s speculative effort into the net at the Kop end (Article).  Typical NUFC that is, you could almost write it.  Harper will be hard on himself, anyone who has ever stood behind his goal and heard him muttering to himself like a madman will know what I mean and he’ll need more than just the support from his team mates (Article) (Article) (Article) to get him through.  On Sunday he’ll need picking up by the Leazes and Gallowgate-enders and I’m sure you canny lads n lasses will oblige. 

Meanwhile the Glamorgan Gobshite was at it again, this time allegedly having a wee spat with Terry Mac, amongst others.  (Article) (Article) (Article) (Article) (Article)  From the safety of behind security apparently.  What price a niggly injury in the run up to his February return to NE1?  Missed as a player but definitely not as an individual.  His manager has subsequently become one of a succession to rally round him using the “he’s never caused a problem to me” line of defence.  (Article) (Article)  Not yet bonny lad, not yet.

The remaining post-match discussion was of what the referee failed to spot.  At least 3 cast iron penalty claims (Article) (Article) and Babayaro lamping Kuyt and picking up a 3 match ban under the new fast track system (Article) (Article).  You’ll remember this isn’t the first time he’s done this and with the manager ready, quite rightly imho, to throw the book at him (Article) and Bernard nearing full fitness (Article) I get the distinct impression that the death knell is sounding for Celestine’s time in Tyneside.

NM