Tonight at Kingston Park - KO 7.00. Weather warm and sunny in the Toon at the moment so expect the snow and gales around 6.45!

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001

Answers

Anymore Punters?

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001

Aye Probably

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001

Mrs S has an appointment at outpatients this arvo so I have to go home to meet little Bob back from the child minders. If Mrs S gets back at a decent time I might be able to get out for a bloody change and see you there. Fingers crossed (otherwise you'll get reams of useless stats on here again tomorrow!).

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001

Well the monsoon has just hit the Toon as predicted!

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001

In that case Steph, it will be up here in a couple of hours. It was p!$$ing down up here when you said it was sunny in Toon. Now it's really sunny up here. When's the fog due?? I'll swap you for some snow.

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001

The rain has stopped but it's now getting windy.

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001

The weather's OK in Consett. I think I may go to watch Consett v Bedlington Terriers instead...

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001

Aye pet, you always had something for the dogs!

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001

.......bollocks???

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001

It's sunny and about 70 degrees in Annapolis. Pissed down last night, however. That must be the rain you're getting now. Should be tshirts and shorts weather tomorrow then. ;-))

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001

Just read Hannibal which is set for a page or two in Annapolis...Very poor effort: Silence of the Lambs was a really taut, well-written thriller but he goes all "Must write a serious book" in Hannibal.

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001

What a thoroughly entertaining game of football. Up there with the ManUre 4-3. A quick look at the teamsheet led to gasps from Toon supporters "Bliddy hell. That's a strong line up" and "Leeds intend to win this one" being the most common. The only change from the printed sheet was Tom Newey replacing Jonathan Woodgate who apparently has gone to Hull for a trial. The teams lined up as follows, Toon with the wind at their backs with the present and future Newcastle managers looking on from the stand:

Karelse McGuffie Caldwell (G) Distin Quinn Kerr McClenn Green Bernard Ameobi Luax2 .o0o. Smith Farrell Wilcox McPhail Richardson Burns Cansdell-Sheriff Newey Duberry Kelly Robinson

Much against expectations, Toon gave more than they got and controlled the first half. Despite the greater number of first team players, Leeds were pressed hard and looked second best, tho were always likely to be dangerous on the attack with Smith leading the line. However, we couldn't take advantage of our superiority, failing to go ahead in the first half with a conbination of bad luck, poor finishing and some excellent saves by Robinson.

Luax2 was particulalry unlucky with a great run, managing to stick one of his rubber legs around Duberry and in front of Robinson to lob the ball over both of them. Sadly, the ball failed to hit the target by a matter of inches. Time and time again, he mesmerised the Leeds defence, as did Bernard, usually cutting in from the left. McClen was having the best game I have ever seen him play, looking for all like a genuine prospect to replace Rob Lee. Yes, it surprised me too! Kerr and Green were also industrious in midfield, with many quick one-twos to catch out their Yorkshire counterparts. All great stuff.

Up front, Shola employed his usual drag-back to great effect. However, I think he's going to have to vary his play as he does it too often and opponents are going to suss him pretty quickly. Nevertheless, he and Luax2 were causing many problems for the experienced Duberry and Kelly and their less experienced partners at the back.

At the back, we looked strong, especially when yo utake into account that there was an England international in the Leeds forward line and an ex-international (Wilcox?) patrolling the left flank. In the first half, I again fekt that Distin gave his man too much space, but this was usually the less effective Farrell than the quick Alan Smith. However, when he was up against Smith, he did very well and gaining the upper hand more often than not. Distin also showed his ability going forward in the second half, with a lovely run down the left wing (!) which was only stopped by yet anither clattering fould from a Leeds player and a diagonal run to the right corner of the penalty area (!!). Hi-Ho Sylvain Howay!! McGuffie did pretty well against Wilcox and Quinn showed his experience. IMHO, he's not good enough to be a regular first teamer and would probably be third in line behind Elliott and Bernard. Talking of whom, he again had a good performance in the left midfield slot. I actually think he's better going forward, but did make some good challenges when tracking back. I was impressed by Gary Caldwell. He looked strong and covered very well, looking assured and in control. Nice.

Half-time arrived with no goals but great entertainment and I even managed to get to the bar before the crowds arrived ;-)

Much against my expectations, we carried on in the second half where we left off in the first and we could and should have scored. It wouldn't have been less than we deserved. However, as the game wore on and we failed to score, you could sense it wasn't going to be our day, and right on cue, with about a minute on the clock, a hopeful high ball into the area from the left was met by the head of sub Jamie McMaster and the ball nestled into the corner of the net. That will teach me for thinking this was the most entertaining 0-0 I'd been to in a long time. Bu99er - we didn't deserve to be behind, and indeed could have drawn level if Shola hadn't emulated his miss at Bolton on Saturday. OK, it wasn't as bad, but he was through in the inside-right channel, having taken a great through ball from McClen (?), beaten his man, only to scuff the ball wide with only Robinson to beat. Sadly, this was after Shearer had left his place in the stand, no doubt looking to beat the Kingston Park traffic on his lomg drive back to Darras Hall. If Shearer had been there, perhaps he could have taken note and given Shola some much-needed coaching in the art of finishing. He was immediately subbed by Colin McMenamin, but in all honesty, it was too late for him to have any positive effect on the game.

So, a great night's entertainment, well worth the £0 entrance fee for season ticket holders. Some really good performances from the second string. I only hope they can keep it up and build on this. If so, there really are a few who could be pressing for a first team place.

Sadly, not such a good turn out from the BBS regulars, with only Steph being recognised. No doubt Softie felt it better to be an anorak rather than wear one at KP. Clarky threatened to turn out, but felt that a visit from the family was more important. Rumour has it that these relations were actually his uncle Jack Frost, great aunt Wyn Dee and his cousin Gale Force who normally can be seen at KP but were surprisingly absent - well, apart from a fleeting appearance from his great aunt.

PS. Just in case Soops is reading this, I can also recommend the chips from the burger bar.

PPS. No sign of Little Kevin Dyer watching Leeds, so those rumours can't all be true ;-)

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001

Glad you had fun, Screach, sounds good and very promising. That's the third home reserves against Leeds in as many years that Al has attended....

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001

.....yes that was noted!! Could it be the Wilcox connection? Did they both play together at B'burn?

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001

BTW - I forgot to say how impressed I was with Smith's attitude off the pitch. During the warm-up, he spent a lot of time signing autographs for the bairns. Brownie points there. However, on the pitch, he's niggly little sod. I only hope the bairns weren't watching that bit.

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001

Do you really think McClen could take over from Rob Lee? It would be great if we had a ready made replacement without having to spend £10m on a new player.

Nice report by the way, but who is Kevin Dyer?

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001

WHAT, Shearer attending a Reserves match - the bloody crawler. Lazy bugger as well - he should be oot training on a fine night like this.
No doubt he'd be using his reknowned 'undue influence' within the Club to get a good seat next to Bobby, and I'm sure the tight-fisted get didn't pay for a round in the bar.
He should be bloody well shot that 'Mary Poppins' blerk.

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001

He'll be shagging pizza waitresses next.

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001

Paul, no I don't really believe McClenn could replace Rob Lee - not on what I've seen for the Resorves or when he's played in the first team. Last night was by far the best I've seen him play. If he could play like that in the first team, then maybe. But he'd have to do it more than once in 3 seasons. Little Kevin is YBR's favourite injured player. Talking of YBR, I'm sure he's not too happy with Carl Cort's finishing against Bolton or Leeds Res last night ;-)

Although I didn't get a good look at who was sitting where Clarky (unlike some, I find it embarassing to gawp) I think AS was sitting between two others. YBR was one or two seats removed from the great man (so obviously knows his place). As for AS not buying a round, you could well be right. I didn't see him in our queue.

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001

Er, I should point out that this guy McClenn bears ann unncannnny resemblance to the McClen who has made the odd appearance in the first team. Doh!

:-(

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001

You're right of course Clarky - our future manager goes to his annual reserves game against Leeds (what have Leeds got that Blackburn don't?): he deserves applause to the High Heavens.

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001

Perhaps Shearer should be told our resorves play Leeds every week. ;-)

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001

LOL. Who knows, he may have been so impressed yesterday that he'll back next time...

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001

An enjoyable evening. Positively tropical by KP standards! We completely dominated the game despite Leeds having so many first team players there. I think Karelse only had 2 saves to make in the 1st half - both from free kicks.

We suffered from the usual blind referee who couldn't see the defenders trying to swap shirts with Lua2 throughout the match. McClen had an excellent game - maybe he sees himself as the new Rob Lee, but it will take a few more performances like tonight's before anyone else sees it.

We were really unlucky to concede at the end. Didn't see the goal as my 'phone rang! Was nice to meet up with Screacher, perhaps a few more will make it next time - you missed a treat!

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001

Hells bells Steph. Don't invite them all - I'm not buying HT ddrinks for everybody on the BBS ;-)

PS. You should get an earpiece for your phone. That way you can put it on auto-answer and not have to fiddle about in your bag to answer it. It also has the benefit of the stewards either thinking you are hard of hearing or one of their own and allowing you into the posh seats ;-))

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001

Ah, so that's how you got into the posh seats!

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001