Who was "sou" right?

At the beginning of the season, I reminded everyone that recently axed Graeme Souness was not the right man for the helm at Newcastle United. ON February the 3rd, 2006, my hypothesis was proved right. Souey has been sacked.

To be honest, this has been a long time coming. Ever since that famous bust up between Lee Bowyer and Kieoron Dyer against Villa towards the back end of last season, Souness has been hanging by his coat-tails to keep hold of his job. The decapitation of his position at the North east's most famous football club has been as inevitable as the sun rising on Newcastle's famous Angel of the North. The decision has been long overdue.

To be fair, only recently has the pressure on Souey intensified to boiling point. He has been given over 50 million pounds of money to spend by chairman Freddie Sheppard, yet such acquisitions as Emre, Parker, and in particular a certain Monsieur Boumsong - have not performed anywhere near well enough to justify their mammoth transfer fees. True, Souness has had to battle a catalog of injuries which has hampered Newcastle's progress, but only to a certain extent. The magnitude of the problem at Newcastle is far greater than a busy treatment table. Newcastle's defense is nothing short of an absolute shambles. At times, when I watch Bramble and Boumsong, it is as if they are given the freedom of St James to roam around like lost rabbits; they do not seem to take any responsibility on the pitch. Their midfield is littered with aging veterans such as Solano (who Souness only bought to keep the Goerdie faith full satisfied) and hotheads like Bowyer, and ever-crocked pre-Madonnas like Kieron Dyer. Upfront, their talisman Alan Sherear has had no decent service since Bobby Robson's departure, and the likes of Luque and Ameobi have looked more confused than a three year old presented with a calculus equation...

These factors combined have infuriated the supporters, who have recently lambasted Souey with jeers and taunts. and banners begging chairman Freddie Sheppard to wield the axe. The extent to their frustration of Souness's management was perfectly illustrated when Newcastle drew 2-2 with Middlesbrough. In the tyne-tees derby, Newcastle had been outplayed and were 2-1 down deep into injury time. Despite a late injury time goal by Lee Clarke, which did send the supporters into raptures, the fans still booed Souness and his team off. It was the most symbolic piece of hatred between a set of supporters and a manager I have ever witnessed.

It would take a brave chairmen to appoint Souness now, his reputation with regards to results and performances, combined with an ugly habit of falling out with the best players at the football club, have made him the rotten apple of football management. Sunderland, do you dare...