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England: Newcastle boss Souness needs rapid reversal of fortune [Fri Aug 26th, 2005]
London (Reuters) - One year after Newcastle United sacked manager Bobby Robson, the red warning lights are already flashing for his successor Graeme Souness.
His misfiring side are yet to find the net in three Premier League fixtures and a home defeat by Manchester United would increase unrest among the demanding St James' Park fans who booed the team off after last week's 0-0 draw with West Ham.
Things could not be more different for the respective managers of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, whose unbeaten sides meet at White Hart Lane in Saturday's top-of-the-table clash.
Jose Mourinho's champions moved top with a 4-0 thrashing of West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday, but Martin Jol's second-placed Spurs will be out to maintain their resurgence with a first win in this fixture for 15 years.
Less than 12 months after replacing Robson as Newcastle manager, Souness is already the bookmakers' favourite to become the season's first managerial casualty in the top flight.
After a dismal 14th place last season and an early exit in the InterToto Cup, a good start was essential for the former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder.
However, with veteran striker Alan Shearer labouring up front Newcastle have looked toothless.
Deportivo La Coruna announced late on Thursday that they had agreed to sell Spain striker Albert Luque to the Tynesiders for 14 million euros (US$17.18 million).
The Spanish Primera Liga club said the 27-year-old player was given permission to travel to Newcastle on Friday to undergo a medical.
Regardless of whether the signing of Luque goes through, defender Jean-Alain Boumsong said it was up to the existing players to turn Newcastle's fortunes round.
"After the start we've had we cannot be happy," Boumsong told the club's website after Wednesday's 2-0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers. "We have to find the problem in our game.
"We have played three games and have just one point. It is not enough. We cannot talk about bad luck. We have to speak out about our game and get it sorted.
"If we lose confidence we will struggle. We are playing for a big club and we have to deal with the pressure."
CHELSEA DOMINANCE
Manchester United, trophy-less last season, have six points from their opening two matches and look well-equipped to challenge Chelsea's dominance this season.
Ruud van Nistelrooy looks back to his best and Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo provide a plethora of attacking options, although the loss of experienced right back Gary Neville will be a worry for manager Alex Ferguson.
"He will be out for five or six weeks," Ferguson said after the right back tore a groin muscle in the 3-0 victory over Debrecen in their Champions League qualifier.
"Gary's experience is vital to us. He has been such an important player...but I believe we have adequate cover, Wes Brown has played there many times and so has John O'Shea."
Newcastle have not beaten United since a 4-3 victory in 2001, but Tottenham must go back to 1990 for their last success against Chelsea in the league.
Jol, who signed a new three-year contract with Tottenham this week, left Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids and England striker Jermain Defoe on the bench in the 0-0 draw at Blackburn Rovers, probably with one eye on Chelsea.
Davids will relish a midfield confrontation with Chelsea's record signing Michael Essien, who impressed on his first start for his new club.
In other Saturday action, third-placed Manchester City face Portsmouth while the bottom two clubs, Wigan Athletic and Sunderland, meet at the JJB Stadium still looking for their first points of the season.
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