Newcastle's UEFA Cup dreams were torn to shreds by AZ Alkmaar who qualify for the quarter finals on away goals.
Roeder Second Best To "The Master"
Van Gaal had taunted the Magpies in the build-up to both games, suggesting Roeder wasn't up to the job at St James' Park. Although United ended the first 45 minutes of the contest three goals to the good (4-1), the AZ coach was the mastermind behind an amazing recovery.
Where did we go wrong? How can a team throw away a three goal lead?
Of course it happens, look at how Liverpool won the Champions League with only 45 minutes to overturn a 3-0 half-time disaster. But not many Toon fans saw this one coming.
That first-half at St James' was unreal. But did Roeder try and close up shop too early, as many believe? "Don't fix it if it's not broken", so why take your foot off the accelerator when you have them on their knees? They were there for the taking but United eased off and let them back into it.
Naive management? I certainly think so. They got that second goal and suddenly we had a game on our hands. I don't think our defence is good enough for the side to sit back and soak up everything including the kitchen sink.
Roeder got away with it in the second-half of the first leg, but facing the side who have scored more goals in European competition this season than any other club, he had to seriously think his tactics for the trip to Holland.
Once again, in my opinion, he got it wrong. His side went out there waiting to see how the Dutch were going to take the game to them. Everyone in that Newcastle team seemed at a loose end. No-one dominated, either in defence or midfield. It looked like a collection of players thrown together for the first time.
Parker and Butt put the boot in, but didn't inspire. Taylor and Bramble haven't got leadership qualities, and poor Huntington would have put in a less frustrating shift if he'd spent it down the pit!
Duff had another game of short bursts without getting past the defender. Looking easy on the eye when first on the ball, but he didn't hurt anyone, trying to go past a defender then stopping to head down a one-way street.
No-one can blame Martins or Sibierski, because all they got were the odd scraps. And in the end Newcastle went out with barely a whimper.
In the second half United lost what little shape they had in the first, and it became desperate. There was talk of "we pulled it out of the fire in Rotterdam" but we had Craig Bellamy, Laurent Robert and Alan Shearer that night. Three players at their best. We didn't have that quality in Alkmaar.
So what now? You tell me.
Where did we go wrong? How can a team throw away a three goal lead?
Of course it happens, look at how Liverpool won the Champions League with only 45 minutes to overturn a 3-0 half-time disaster. But not many Toon fans saw this one coming.
That first-half at St James' was unreal. But did Roeder try and close up shop too early, as many believe? "Don't fix it if it's not broken", so why take your foot off the accelerator when you have them on their knees? They were there for the taking but United eased off and let them back into it.
Naive management? I certainly think so. They got that second goal and suddenly we had a game on our hands. I don't think our defence is good enough for the side to sit back and soak up everything including the kitchen sink.
Roeder got away with it in the second-half of the first leg, but facing the side who have scored more goals in European competition this season than any other club, he had to seriously think his tactics for the trip to Holland.
Once again, in my opinion, he got it wrong. His side went out there waiting to see how the Dutch were going to take the game to them. Everyone in that Newcastle team seemed at a loose end. No-one dominated, either in defence or midfield. It looked like a collection of players thrown together for the first time.
Parker and Butt put the boot in, but didn't inspire. Taylor and Bramble haven't got leadership qualities, and poor Huntington would have put in a less frustrating shift if he'd spent it down the pit!
Duff had another game of short bursts without getting past the defender. Looking easy on the eye when first on the ball, but he didn't hurt anyone, trying to go past a defender then stopping to head down a one-way street.
No-one can blame Martins or Sibierski, because all they got were the odd scraps. And in the end Newcastle went out with barely a whimper.
In the second half United lost what little shape they had in the first, and it became desperate. There was talk of "we pulled it out of the fire in Rotterdam" but we had Craig Bellamy, Laurent Robert and Alan Shearer that night. Three players at their best. We didn't have that quality in Alkmaar.
So what now? You tell me.