Leeds’ tribute towards my dear friend Gary Speed was fantastic as Newcastle looking almost certain for promotion
Dwight Gayle's brace proves his £10million price-tag from Crystal Palace was a a shear bargain
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WHAT A FANTASTIC tribute to my much missed friend Gary Speed.
The two minutes of applause on 11 minutes at Elland Road on Sunday just showed the esteem in which he is held by supporters of both clubs.
It is five years this coming Sunday since he died.
Still now I feel the same sense of disbelief and bewilderment as I did that day when the tragic news came through.
I still miss him, he was a truly good friend, a truly great person.
How he would have loved to have witnessed yesterday’s match at Elland Road.
Full for the first time in over six years to witness two great clubs he served who are on their way back.
Perhaps it is more questionable whether Leeds will be in the top flight next season.
Newcastle certainly look to be on their way having opened up a five point gap at the top of the Championship now.
After so many years of chaos and disillusionment the feel good factor is most definitely back.
You can sense it in the city and you can most definitely feel it in the ground.
I went to the Cardiff match at St.James’ Park before the international break and while it was not a great game it was another win and a wonderful atmosphere.
The Championship is not the place the club wants to be but sometimes it can have a positive affect to take a step back, build a bit of momentum, and go again.
Better that than the constantly trying to avoid the relegation trap door.
That breeds a mood of disillusionment season in season out.
At Newcastle there is hope again, and it is a while since we have been able to say that.
After losing their opening two games that is 13 wins from the last 15 now scoring 36 goals in the process.
Why is it happening?
Well we have a great manager who has built a fine squad to get them up.
He has enough strength to put out two sides right now.
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Players can come in and go out without any discernible difference in the level of performance.
At last the hierarchy have allowed a manager to decide who he wants in and who he wants out.
Allowed the manager to get on and manage.
If as I hope we do go up the board have to make sure this continues.
They have to back him again and let him get on with it.
This is too important a period, too big an opportunity to let go.
I sat down with Rafa Benitez about a month ago for a cup of coffee and a chat.
We talked about the area, the club, the fans. He loves all of it, particularly the passion and the people.
He is desperate to be the man to turn this club around.
It must be reminiscent for him of his time in Liverpool. I lived near there in Formby during my time at Blackburn and like the North East it is a place where people really love their football.
Where the club is at the centre of the community, where what happens with the team can dictate a mood across the city.
Right now that mood is buoyant.
Rafa has done some very shrewd business in the transfer market this summer making the club a healthy profit in the meantime.
There has been no better buy than Dwight Gayle at £10million from Crystal Palace.
That move bought a guaranteed 20-25 goals in this league for me.
He has scored nine in his last six games now and looks unstoppable at this level.
Both of those he scored yesterday showed a great striker’s instinct.
Most would have given up when they save Jack Colback’s long ball floating seemingly harmlessly into Robert Green’s hands.
He sensed the goalkeeper might just been struggling with it, there might just be a scrap to feed off, and there was.
His second was the culmination of a good move that unpicked the Leeds defence but he did well to just hold himself onside before connecting with the final ball in.
In all it was an organised dominant performance from Newcastle.
Things are looking good again.
Newcastle has not had a manager of the level of Rafa for some time.
Everyone seems to be on the same page. It has to stay that way.
SHEAR CLASS
HARRY KANE, a player who simply wins you games.
Losing in the 89th minute he grabbed the equaliser and then put away a penalty.
Despite being poor for large parts of the game Tottenham escaped with the points and that is what top teams do.
They are still unbeaten in the league with plenty more to come.
SHEAR SHOCKER.
WHAT is going on at Crystal Palace? Another defeat yesterday, their fifth in a row and they stand one point above the relegation zone.
I’m not sure what they do on the training ground but it can’t have a lot to do with defending
That is 17 games without a clean sheet now.
They have the unwanted record of the worst points per games ratio in 2016 in all four divisions.
The trip next Saturday to Swansea now is huge for manager Alan Pardew.