Newcastle United's Alexander Isak
Newcastle United's Alexander Isak
We've suffered enough Hammer blows, we don't need another. Last time in combat Newcastle were seeking revenge for a shock home PL defeat against Brighton and instead received another rollicking.
Now we go again attempting to wipe out the memory of a similar SJP setback at the feet of West Ham before travelling back to the capital for the Carabao Cup final. It really is desperation time.
Anthony Gordon out of Wembley. Lewis Hall out of Wembley. Sven Botman out of Wembley. Form out of the window. Mo Salah waiting on that exposed left side. Hope mightily hit if not destroyed. Both at West Ham and beyond.
There have been many accolades directed towards Eddie Howe and his paymasters, Bruno and Big Joe, Alex Isak and Sandro Tonali, Fabian Schar and Dan Burn. Now they must earn them all over again because if compliments are readily accepted in bucket loads then occasional justified criticism in times of failure must be equally accepted as part of the terrain.
You learn more about individuals in moments of adversity than in days of glory and we're learning. Last season United ended seventh, out of Europe and with no domestic trophy. That fate beckons again unless something drastic is done immediately. All concerned must band together and try to turn the tide. King Canute failed of course but that must not put anyone off.
United are supposed to have several leaders in the dressing-room not just a captain. Well let them come to the fore at West Ham and show their mettle. Set the template before Wembley.
A national headline in the last week blazed big: 'A season of opportunity is in danger of being lost in a muddle of regret.' It was referring to Arsenal but it might just have easily been above sobering words about NUFC. The hopeful words are 'in danger' of course because they mean the worst can still be avoided. Now would be the time to start because after this week it will be too late.
The two games on our horizon will decide everything, settle United's fate after nine months of hard work and toil. The three points on offer at West Ham will determine if the drive for European qualification is still on and the Carabao Cup settle whether or not a 70 year wait for a domestic trophy is thankfully over or the wait extends indefinitely into an uncertain future.
First up are the Hammers but it is not about them more about us. Who does Howe pick, has the injury situation another killer blow yet to be revealed, what will be the attitude and commitment, the tactics, the desire to put down a significant marker before Wembley.
Virtually everybody is being scrutinised individually. West Ham will decide a lot for Wembley _ if Martin Dubravka starts in goal as a reward for his loyalty, if Kieran Trippier gets an unexpected starting place, if Tino Livramento is the accepted left-back replacement, if Harvey Barnes is to at last step out of the shadows and prove himself to be a £37m buy or if Joe Willock is to be catapulted back into the public consciousness. If Joelinton can get more match fitness into a big frame which needs to go from sluggish to sleek before the big day.
The freak situation at full-back reminds me of the last Newcastle v Liverpool cup final which saw me in the press box. United suffered a huge blow when the elegant David Craig was ruled out through injury necessitating Frank Clark switching to his wrong flank at right-back and Alan Kennedy coming in. Now with Hall grounded it may be Livramento moving across and Trippier stepping up. Clark had to take care of Steve Heighway. This time it is Mo Salah against a makeshift No.3. Massive challenges.
However let us end by being upbeat because we have endured enough doom and gloom of late. Our newest goal king Alexander Isak goes to West Ham on the cusp of achieving what even United's greatest ever goalscorer Alan Shearer never quite managed.
He is only one strike away from becoming the first Magpie to hit 20 PL goals in successive seasons and the Hammers are one of his lucky sides. Isak has notched five times against them in the PL so far and he's only been more successful against Spurs and Nottingham Forest with half a dozen.
Mind you, lest we reduce Big Al to being a mere mortal I feel I must add that he topped 20 league goals in four seasons - 1996-97, 1999-2000, 2001-02, and 2003-04.
Talking of legendary strikers it was lovely in the last few days to have lunch with SuperMac after his considerable physical problems which have kept him away from SJP all season. He is far from back in the land of the free movers but it seemed like a significant step forward.
As we approach United's replica final against Liverpool may we experience much better than Malcolm did in 1974. It would greatly warm his heart and mine as well as yours.