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Time will tell for Graeme

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When I watched the Craig Bellamy-Graeme Souness row unfold on Super Sunday it was clear that there was a huge difference of opinion over what went on between them in the build up to the Arsenal match. Over the course of the week that chasm has kept on growing.  

I know Graeme Souness very well and I have got no reason to think that he might be lying and, as Souness has been supported by his chairman, it is very difficult to believe that they are making up that Craig told his team-mates that he was going to feign an injury.

That means there is a lot wrong with the version of events that Craig told the Sky Sports cameras.

I still maintain the same view as when I first heard the debate. If Craig felt he couldn't play out wide because it wouldn't do him justice and he didn't want to play there for the team's sake, then that is fair enough; but if he has feigned an injury so that he wouldn't have to play it is unacceptable.

Craig has had some support on the phone-ins, but if he feigned an injury to avoid playing, I genuinely do not believe that the geordie public, who sweat black and white, will accept his behaviour.

And now it remains to be seen how forgiving Souness and Freddie Shepherd are. If Craig apologises then he might be able to play for Newcastle again, but you cannot call your manager a liar and therefore his Newcastle future is in a very precarious position.    

What I don't understand is why stories like this have a habit of coming out at Newcastle. People have arguments with their managers all the time, but for some reason they find their way into the public domain on Teesside. All I can think is that they have lots of young English players who have had too much too soon and don't always behave in the right way.

In all the furore about Craig Bellamy, Newcastle's very ordinary performance against Arsenal has gone almost unmentioned. But they are a club in transition. They have a new manager who is finding his feet. He is still learning about his players and he needs a pre-season to bring in what he needs and to start to weed out what he doesn't want.

What is clear is that there is a lack of experience in the team - particularly in midfield. You look at the likes of Jenas and Dyer in the centre of midfield and they are young and have a lot to learn. When they let Gary Speed go in the summer it created a big hole. They brought in Nicky Butt to absorb the pressure but since he picked up an injury back in November, they have lacked a pair of disciplined, experienced legs.

The centre-back partnerships haven't worked out either. Souness knew that was a problem and he brought in Jean-Alain Boumsong to help, but he got injured in his third game. That just shows how things are going at Newcastle at the moment!

From their current position, it will be extremely difficult for Newcastle to reach Europe, especially as they are not showing any form. Fortunately for them, everybody around them is dropping points too and it will all come down to whichever team finds some consistency first.

DIOUF DIVING DEBATE
Should the FA look at video footage of the game between Blackburn & Bolton and fine/suspend Diouf for his blatant dive? After all, e.g. Rooney, banned for 3 x games following such video evidence. The mistake by the referee could, however, have a much more serious effect on Blackburn's Premiership status. Yet another reason to support the "instant replay" technology so well delivered by Sky. David Pearce Guildford
Perhaps the FA should start to look at footage when it is blatant, but Diouf's 'dive' is not the worst I have seen  - even this season. We have to be careful when we talk about using video evidence to condemn people for diving because it opens a  a whole can of worms. Where does it stop? Should we penalise people when they appeal for a corner, knowing it isn't, of when they appeal for a penalty. I don't agree with diving, but there is no fail safe way to penalise people for it.

FALLEN ANGEL
Hi Andy just a quick question.. I'm a big Aston Villa fan and I know you follow the Villa results.. can you tell me why Juan Pablo Angel is struggling this season compared to his previous seasons .. he has great ability and needs to get back to scoring ways ..can you shed some light on this. Liam ..Birmingham
I have no idea, Liam. I've not seen enough of Aston Villa to tell you. I have seen him miss chances - the penalty and rebound at the City of Manchester Stadium really stands out - but I can't tell you what is going wrong. You get spells when you wonder when your luck will change and he is just having a really bad spell at the moment. He has to keep working hard and if he keeps on getting chances he will start to convert them eventually.

EARNING THEIR SPURS
Tottenham's much publicised European management structure was criticised severely criticised by both the press and ex managers. At this stage in the season what’s your feeling on how things are going and how do you think Tottenham will fare next season? Gareth Edwards
Tottenham are the best under-achievers in the Premiership. The amount of quality players they have had over the last ten years, they should have achieved far more. Jol done a good job and he has steadied the ship. But the most important thing is how they react to a couple of bad results. We will get a better idea of how Jol is getting on after about a year, but it is promising if they can live up to some of their potential.