Attacking 'Arry

Having queried Glenn Roeder`s managerial qualities on Saturday morning in a rather scathing interview ahead of Saturday`s game, Harry Redknapp`s feud with our boss seems set to escalate following another nibble by the man who followed Arry into the West Ham hotseat. Whilst not mentioning Redknapp by name there is little doubt who his latest tirade was aimed at. Prepare for more excuses:

"No matter what anybody has said they need to scratch the surface a little bit more than saying Newcastle need to do a little bit better. We've had a horrendous injury list. Yes the squad is fantastic, we have Michael Owen, but I've never been able to write his name on the team sheet. That is a factor. Shola Ameobi has scored a goal every two games for me since February last year. By the time he comes back he will have been out six or seven months. And then there has been six or seven of our senior players out for three of four months - that is how it has panned out.

Nobody could have done any better so the suggestion the squad should have done better is rubbish because they haven't taken into account how difficult it has been with injuries. The trouble with some people is that they have short memories, but I don't and it's been a tough winter.

I was not going to have what we had in the first half. We have shown that away from home a few times and I won't have it. I'd rather have a player with less natural ability that I know is going to spill his guts every week for Newcastle United. I never dig out any individual, I'll do that at the training ground but there are players who got on that bus who know who they are.

What makes me angry is that we have talented players in the squad that have no self motivation. Nicky Butt has it all the time. He is a great example and role model. He is flat out in every training session, in every match. He makes mistakes like everybody else but he always gives 100 per cent. He's always trying to win - that is why he has 12 or 13 medals.''

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