Fox Sports World

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Nice article from Nick Webster:

BY NICK WEBSTER FOX Sports World Dec 24, 2001 12:44 p.m. What's black and white and sits on top of the charts? Nah I'm not talking about 'Wacko Jacko and 'Paul Mac' singing Ebony and Ivory. It's the Toon army pet. Forget the beers and get the 'Newkey Brown Ales' in, cos the Magpies are flying high, playing a brand of football not seen since the days of wor' Kev. The rest of the Prem are suddenly kaking (Re: get the brown trousers) themselves whenever they take the lead against Robby Bobson side as Newcastle are the new comeback kings of the EPL.

By all rights they've been KO'd twice in as many games, but like Ali they've just been playing rope-a-dope. Hanging on the ropes, clinching, holding and then, just when you think you've got 'em, they kick you in the goolies leaving you with a high pitched voice as they run off back to Geordie land with all three points.

Do I want them to win the Prem? You better believe it! Any team that has fans with beer bellies the size of Texas and not afraid to show 'em -- even during a blizzard at Elland Road -- gets my vote. Who are these guys anyway, what do they think they're doing? Whenever anyone thinks of Newcastle you can't help but see special K collapsed on the advertising hoardings at Anfield, Ruud Gullit promising 'sexy football' and then delivering Rosie O'Donnell or Kenny Dalglish making the phrase 'dour' seem positively exciting.

It's taken a man who by all rights should be pulling a pension to make Newcastle the talk of the Toon. Robby Bobson may not have the best memory for names, but the gaffer is a coaching genius. He's done it everywhere. Ipswich, PSV, Barcelona, England and now the North East. Will someone make him a Knight of the realm for chrissakes? If there is a manger in the Prem who loves the game more than he does, please step forward. Did anyone see the shot of him at Old Trafford during the Greece World Cup qualifier. He'd got his program rolled up into a little trumpet and was belting out the theme to the 'Great Escape'. Now that's a fan.

On the subject of Old Trafford, United (not Newcastle) are suddenly favorites for the title. After beating, wait for it…Derby, Boro and Southampton the bookies and the media have gone all gaga again. Is that all it takes, beating those three crappy teams? Let's see what happens when they come up against real quality. How about the Toon army on New Years day? Now that's a match that will take care of any lasting hangovers. Just remember to watch it live, that's 6 a.m. pacific, 9 a.m. out east, only on Fox Sports World (I've got to plug the channel, editor's orders).

To be fair United have looked good spanking those bottom dwellers and they've done it without Beck's.

Now I'm not one to spread rumors but Dave was seen down the local Italian sampling the pasta and trying out his best Italian accent. Posh has already decided on Milan cause that's where all the nice shops are so expect a deal to go down anytime soon.

Finally the 'Incredible Sulk' is back on English shores. The 'Pool has taken a big gamble bringing Nicolas Anelka back. This is the man-child who's taken moaning to a university degree level. Let's recap. He's moaned and groaned his way out of PSG, Arsenal, Real Madrid and PSG again (hey he is consistent, I'll give him that). He just might upset the balance at Anfield. What happens once Heskey starts scoring? If Anelka doesn't play regular, there will be trouble.

Personally if Owen and him get going, I think it'll be the most electrifying attack the Prem has ever seen. No one will be able to cope with that kind of pace and it could be just the push Liverpool need especially after dropping points like the Geordies sink pints.

Well, the missus is calling and I've got to put the turkey on, so until next week, Merry Christmas… and get the beers in.

Nick Webster, Fox Sports World's EPL ex-pat, can be reached at nwebster@foxsportsworld.com



-- Anonymous, December 27, 2001

Answers

A.P. He got the game time wrong for the Manure game, Live coverage kicks off at 2.00 pm Eastern time on January 2nd for those in Canada with Fox Sports World, oh and he wrote that before the smogs game.

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2001

Should the gods keep smiling and we do well against Chelsea, ManUtd & Leeds then expect to see plenty more media bandwagon jumpers displaying stereotyped understanding of what it means to the real fans of Newcastle United. Thanks for posting it up Pete, it makes better reading than the plethora of other articles which continue to ignore excatly what we've achieved to date, but as far as I'm concerned they can stick it up their celebrity-worshipping southern arses

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2001

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