14 days that will shape our season

Last updated : 22 October 2002 By Martyn Elliott
More of this please
These are five games that will shape the rest of our season. Will we be returning to mid-table obscurity or challenging for homours?

Perhaps the Juventus game is the most important of the five and not just because a defeat will see us knocked out of both the Champions League and UEFA Cup.

After the defeat at Blackburn we need to bounce back with a win and a great performance, so that we can regain the confidence that four league and three Champions League has so badly dented.

Next up is Charlton at home and if we don't win that one alarm bells will really be ringing.

Then comes Dinamo Kyiv in the Champions League, again a must win game if we have got something out of the Juventus game.

Next up are the smoggies and this has taken on extra importance because of their great start to the season. Its not just a big derby game, but also a measure of where we stand against the other teams challenging for Europe.

Then finally is Everton in the Worthington Cup and the importance of this game will depend on how the previous four have gone. If we are still in with a shout of progression in Europe then Sir Bobby will field a weakened team, especially with a visit to Arsenal three days later.

But if we're out of Europe then we must try and win this competition. It may be insignificant compared to winning the Premiership, but a day out in Cardiff, a trophy and UEFA Cup qualification has got to be worth having.

One thing is for certain, if we are to get our season back on track we must play better, particularly at the back. So far only Alan Shearer has equalled the form of last season.

Big performances from Dyer, Bellamy, Solano, Robert, Speed, Given and Hughes are needed, together with the young boys proving that they are good enough for the top level.

More of the fighting spirit we showed in Turin and at Anfield is the order of the day.

In two weeks time we don't want to be reflecting on being out of Europe and languishing in the wrong half of the Premiership.

However badly we've done in the Champions League, i've enjoyed being in it (apart from the Kyiv performance) and want the same again next year.