Losing games away from home is beginning to become a bad habit for the reds, but how the hell we managed to come away from Tyneside with no points is something that maybe Mulder and Scully should get into. Liverpool absolutely battered the hapless Geordies, yet somehow went down to defeat.
Newcastle know they were given a chasing, and to be fair Bobby Robson admitted as much afterwards. He's a classy guy is Bobby, and a welcome change to the likes of Demento, O'Leary, Royle and Wenger that's for sure. As usual though, as times we are our own worst enemy, gifting the opposition silly goals and wasting countless opportunities of our own, although leaving St James´ Park it was impossible not to have some degree of sympathy for the players, inspite of the disappointment of yet another away defeat.
Mind you, Houllier's decision not to start with McAllister was a huge mistake, as the simple fact is that, despite his age, Gary Mac is the man who makes us play, and we're pretty clue less without him. I know the editor is not a big fan of Dietmar Hamann (that's like saying Superman isn't a fan of Kryptonite! Not that I'm saying I'm Superman or anything! - Dave) and I have to agree. Today was probably one of his better games, but he still frustrated the hell out of me. He just looks like he needs a bomb up his arse to get him going, and surely the arrival of Biscan in December will see Hamann seeking pastures new? But that's enough about him, I don't want this to become a witch hunt and I'm sure that the editor will have already made enough disparaging remarks about Didi without me joining in too.
We seem to be having a lot of problems at left back again, which is hardly a surprise. We all expected Staunton to play in this game, and it was a bit of a shock to see JC lining up at left back. Obviously I now know that Stan had picked up an injury, but at the time I was more than a bit puzzled, not to mention annoyed when I saw Carragher there. That was made even worse when after two minutes he smashed a clearance straight at Solano and we went a goal down. It wasn't just Carra's mistake though, as there was also some hesitation from Sami.
After that setback, we slowly began to assert ourselves, and had Fowler taken one of his numerous chances we'd have been level. Robbie is very much hit and miss these days. He's getting in the positions, which is encouraging, but he's missing so many chances it's scary. Not the clinical Fowler we're used to, and his work rate left a lot to be desired today too.
You can't help but wonder what the outcome would have been today had Owen been fit and available. Newcastle must be his favourite opponents, and the Geordies are quite rightly scared shitless of Mickey. Despite all our possession and dominance, the Toon somehow grabbed a second when Dyer (who had been otherwise anonymous) burst through and finished in style. Heskey grabbed his now customary goal, but it was too little too late, and our championship hopes (which were faint to start with) have now sunk without trace.
TEAM: Sander Westerveld; Markus Babbel, Sami Hyypia, Stephane Henchoz, Jamie Carragher; Danny Murphy (Vladimir Smicer), Steven Gerrard (Gary McAllister), Dietmar Hamann, Nick Barmby; Robbie Fowler, Emile Heskey:
