In a game that has already been hailed widely as Sam Allardyce's last game as Newcastle manager (those media guys are always at it - why read them when you can read the Soccer Rag?), facing Chelsea tonight at Stamford Bridge could in fact be Big Sam's defining moment in becoming the most successful Newcastle manager in recent times.
And why not? Chelsea are shorn of their 'Special Spine' with Drogba, Terry and now Lampard out of the team through injury. Add to that they have basically a backup defensive line playing and you can start to see the first home EPL defeat for Chelsea in ages.
div>And Tal Ben Haim might play. Big Sam would know how to break him (if he's not already broken) - perhaps that quicksilver Obafemi Martins could run a few rings round the leaden footed Israeli.
We know by now that Chelsea won't have much of a team tonight and Essien should play in defence (if Avram is really a football manager), but the Tyneside circus act hardly seems better off. Barton continues to clamour for a jail cell and Michael Owen remains sitting on the bench laughing his way to the bank as clubs like Newcastle still think he can play football. But what makes you wonder is why hasn't Big Sam ignored all naysayers and put his Bolton blueprint in place? Newcastle isn't any much better in terms of attractive football (they only contribute to the goals conceded department) so getting results first should be first and foremost.The problem with Newcastle is the fans. They should stop getting on the team and back them instead, bad play or not. Let Big Sam put in players in the mold of Kevin Davies and Nolan. After all, Newcastle does not belong in the Big Four of English soccer so attractive soccer really isn't for them anymore.
No defenders at Stamford Bridge, no real good players at Newcastle. This usually means goals goals goals but there're also strikers with the calibre of Shevchenko so you wonder. Still, a little flutter on over the total should provide some excitement.
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