Oh to follow Newcastle United. In less than a week only this club could bring so swooping heights and dipping lows. After the glory of Europe and the dismal reality of the league came the competition that probably matters the least of any. It was though a chance to gain some form, produce some football (remember that) and try to get back a good feeling rather than the despair and helpless desperation which had settled over the city. Maybe, in our own round about way, some of that was achieved.
This was a game we deserved, on balance, to win. Yet we tried our best to once again convince everyone that we should lose. Had this been a team with any sort of cutting edge beyond Sibierski (who again must take great credit for his work effort and actually producing something) then we would have been out of sight in the first half. Instead, having been the better team, we came out for the second half seemingly almost resigned to allowing Watford back. And so, of course, it proved. And even before they'd witnessed the sadly back-foot, lacking verve second half display would anyone have been surprised to be told that's what would happen?
Then came extra time and a point where we just didn't seem to know what we were doing, on the pitch or off it. I've been hesitant to criticise Roeder---I at least remember how he took over a team essentially as dead in the water as this one and guided it so we could have that glory Europe night---but some serious questions must be asked of his in game decisions. With extra time upon us and Sibierski apparently ready to collapse Roeder again dillied and dallied over substitutions. Having replaced the rather quiet Rossi but still going the all too predictable goal down he finally realised something more had to be done, only to leave us in desperate search for a goal without a striker on the pitch. There may well be the excuse that all's well that ends well but that's all it is, and excuse. There is a definite feeling that we got there despite Roeder's lack of action, or poor choices, not because of foresight on his part. This trend of no, late, or seemingly poorly judged subs is a real worry. As is the way we came out perhaps all too ready to try and defend in the second half. One further point of all's well that ends well. We got through penalties, finally!, but there was a noticeable, in my eyes anyway, absentee from those takers. While the young Milner and, particularly, N'Zogbia stepped up to place the spot kick burden on there young shoulders our captain was no where to be seen. Fair enough we won, but any captain of mine not leader enough to step up to the spot wouldn't be pulling on the arm band again any time soon, cool finish minutes earlier or not.
But we won! Penalties and we actually won! This is hard to believe. This club does not win meaningful penalty shoot outs. So I'm going to look on the bright side. Yes at times we were still awful, at times we seemed to be led astray from the sidelines, but those penalties! Seasons are turned by strange things in football, and this club is stranger than most. Perhaps, just perhaps, winning on penalties will find a corner to peak around. Can only hope!
(@23:11)
