'Aki'lles

Will Alan Shearer's second stint at Newcastle, albeit this time as a manager, end in triumph or despair? As things stand, relegation appears no longer to be a 'possibility' but a sure certainty, barring a miracle.

With just 4 games remaining, the Magpies can only hope that they go on and win them all and that either Hull or Sunderland would drop points. But to win games Newcastle needs to first score goals (ruling out the remote possibilty of winning through self goals scored by the opposition). The question is where will the goals come from? Both Owen and Viduka seem to be well past their prime and look like a shadow of their former selves.

The chances of survival look bleak, and all that Newcaste can hope for is a strong dose of inspiration from their favorite son that would bolster the spirit in the team. There is a trite remark about how good players never make good managers, Newcastle can only pray that Shearer proves it wrong.