Having scored 37 goals between them for the under 17's this season our two most promising hot shots stepped up into the under 19s side to play against league leaders Nottingham Forest at maiden Hall. The under19s have been lacking in goals this season but with the addition of Chopra and Offiong managed to come from behind to win 3 - 1. Forest took the lead after nine minutes through Paul Fenton. Chopra soon got an equaliser knocking the ball into the net from a peter Ramage header. Richard Offiong came close to scoring mid way through the half but the woodwork saved forest. With 35 minutes on the clock Ryan Hogg headed Newcastle into the lead from as well taken free kick. In the second half Offiong set up Michael Chopra who finished off forest . Final score 3 - 1 .

Looks like these two lads have real talent

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2001

Answers

Lets hope they can fulfill the talent. So many good young players fizzle out and end up playing Sunday league football. These lads seem that bit better though.

It isn't fair to expose them too much as it could really knock thier confidence but should these two be involved in the reserves next year? Michael Owen was only 18 when he first played for Liverpool so these two have anothe two years I guess.

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2001

That's a blinding result. Our under 19's are bottom of the league. So the addition of these 2 has transformed them into a side capable of beating the league leaders and Forest are league leaders by a long chalk - unbeaten up to the table appearing in Saturday's program. Excellent news - thanks Rik. Chinks of light appearing? I suppose it's not healthy when your scrabbling around the juniors results looking for some good news but this is promising.

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2001

I fear for the media pressure on Chopra. If he continues to develop, as we all hope, he might become one of the first football stars of British-Asian descent. A huge responsibility will be on his shoulders...

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2001

Hopefully the nurturing from Robson, Shearer and Beardsley can help them fulfill the promise. The mental attitude is so important in the game these days.

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2001

Indeed. It would be silly and irresponsible to saddle him with the millstone of " the next Peter Beardsley" but he he might well be the next Peter Beardsley.

:-)

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2001

There will never, ever be another Peter Beardsley - just as there'll never be another Jackie Milburn or Tony Green (except for the bbs' very own T.G. Jnr that is!).
Sad, but true - each geniuses in their own style.

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2001

There will never, ever be another Peter Beardsley

Agreed. And very few anyway near as good. Funnily enough Clarky, after the Dolly the Sheep cloning, a Radio 4 satirical programme mooted the idea of cloning footballers. It just so happened they chose the one and only Pedro to build the sketch around. At the end the fans were singing :-

One Peter Beardsley
There's only two Peter Beardsleys
Four Peter Beardsleys
There's only eight etc etc.

Brought a smile to my face as you can imagine.

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2001

Thu Mar 22 England U-18 v Poland U-18 (KO 8pm) SS1 7.55pm Euro U-18 qualifer

I assume Chopra will be involved in this, will Offiong be as well?

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2001

So, the ideal Toon team isn't just a team of Geordies, but a team of Beardsley clones?

I wonder if we'd be able to make some judicious adjustments during the cloning process -
"We'll take one with slightly bigger hands, and about 6'3" (goaly)
three with broader shoulders, also about 6'3" (CF, 2xCB's)
suppose dumping the Quasimodo look is out of the question?" Ouch!!

;-{)

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2001