Episode 7 Late Kick Off North East and Cumbria

On tonight's show: Another weekend of woe for Alan Pardew and

Newcastle. Things look even bleaker at the

Stadium of Light. Carlos Cudllar talks exclusively to Late Khck Off.

Better news in the FA Sundax Cup. We're with Humbledon Plains Farm

ahead of their big day at Ewood Park.

So, very good evening. Plenty to discuss, and we have a star`studded

line`up for you. The former Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper,

the former Sunderland and Middlesbrough man Julio Arc` and a

welcome back to Late Kick Off's current Middlesbrough defender

George Friend. A reminder for you to get in touch

as well, via Twitter. Use #LKONEC. You can also follow us. And keep

those video tape archive repuests coming. We're getting plentx from

you. Tonight we're going back 3 years to celebrate Super Kev, the

player, at St James' Park. And we have to start with another

man who spent many years at St James' Park, Steve Harper ` FA Cup

finalist 2014! How does that sound? It sounds pretty good! Not `s good

as FA Cup winner would sound, but it's great to be there. What a day

for you yesterday? Pretty eventful day, yeah. It was the original game

of two halves. At half`time I was thinking 'oh no, not again'. What a

horrible place it is to go `nd lose. But we managed to turn it round

It's fantastic for everybodx at the club and in the city. We'll go back

and play Arsenal. On that d`y when you left Newcastle United, hf I d

said to you in a year's timd you're going to be playing in an F@ Cup

final what would you have s`id to me? I probably wouldn't havd

believed you. But we're in ` decent position in the league and there's

still work to do. Playing in an FA Cup final is pretty special. And we

have a stat. We know you like your stats, Mr Harper! You should be very

proud of this. Injury permitting, if you play you'll break the rdcord for

the longest spell between two FA Cup final appearances. It's currently

held by Charlie Buchan, the former Sunderland captain. He playdd in

1913 for Sunderland, and 1927 for Arsenal. It was, of course, 15 years

ago you last played in an F@ Cup final! It was, yeah. As I s`id, it's

a horrible place to go and lose But hopefully I can put it right this

time. Let's hope so. Well the Newcastle mood wasn't

lifted this weekend, with another defeat. This time at Stoke ` their

12th in the last 17 games. Here s the reaction of Alan Pardew. We re

just not getting the breaks. We had three or four chances today and they

were blocked on the line or whatever. But that's where we are at

the minute. Hopefully we'll go to the next game and try to get

ourselves a win. But I can't fault the character of the players and the

honesty they put in. So it's four defeats on the spin now, just the

one win in the last six gamds.. Can this season end quickly enotgh for

you? No. We want the last four games. We want some respect back on

the pitch. We want to try to get our fans a couple of wins beford the end

of the season. Alan Pardew lentioned the fans. At Stoke on Saturday,

Steve, they didn't really ldave the manager and the club in any doubt

about their feelings, with the banners. What did you make of that?

Well, in all my time there, when you start to lose the fans... If you're

clever you can use the medi` to get your message across and try to turn

that round. But he seems to have picked a fight with the medha now as

well. It doesn't look good for Alan Pardew. Yes, he says the media in

the North East haven't helpdd the club in recent weeks? The mddia are

very much like the fans ` they respond to what they see on the

pitch. Obviously, the fans `re very disappointed with what they've seen

recently. Four games in a row they've lost. They just want to see

people out there putting 100% in. Hopefully they'll get that on

Saturday against Swansea. I played against Swansea last week. They re

not really a team you want to be playing at home when the fans are

demanding a response becausd they'll come and keep the ball and look to

frustrate you. If the fans `re ready to turn, it could be a tough

afternoon. But they need a win and hopefully they can get it then. 12

defeats in their last 17 and they haven't scored in 12 of those games,

either. I wonder, though, when you look at the squad as it is `t the

moment, what you think is a realistic place where Newcastle

should be in the Premier Le`gue It's probably realistic where they

are at the moment. Having lost the likes of Cabaye, and Remy bding

out... The mandate at the start of the season was a top ten finish but

the ups and downs of the se`son and everything around Newcastle United

at the moment... I've mentioned in the past they're an up and down club

and everything's very much down at this time. George, it would seem at

the moment that those Newcastle players just can't motivate

themselves. Nothing to play for You were in that kind of situathon last

year with Middlesbrough. How difficult, from a player's point of

view, when you're in that shtuation, is it to keep going when yot can see

the end of the season is so close? To be completely honest, I think if

you're running out at St Jales' Park and you're not getting up for it

then there's something wrong. I m sure, Steve, you'll agree whth that.

It's a fantastic stadium. Rtnning out at any Premier League vdnue

you've got to be up for the game. It's the Premier League ` you're

playing for your shirt, the fans... There's so much passion up here

about football. You've got to play for them. You've got to go hn for

all the points and every position up the league is so important. There's

no excuse, really. Give us `n insight ` how will that Newcastle

dressing room be at the momdnt? Pretty flat. And that's when you're

looking for inspiration and leadership, not just from your

manager but from the big ch`racters in the dressing room, as well. It's

time for the players to stand up and be counted. They need to do that on

Saturday because the fans are demanding it. Rightly so. They'll be

demanding a response. It's certainly heightened the importance of

Saturday, that's for sure. Now, since the League Cup fhnal Gus

Poyet has used no less than 22 players in a bid to keep Sunderland

in the Premier League. One of them, Carlos Cuellar, has spoken

exclusively to Late Kick Off. His career's taken him from Spain to

Sunderland, via Rangers and Aston Villa. Now Carlos Cuellar's facing

the prospect of relegation for the first time. When you first came to

Sunderland, what was it abott Sunderland that made you want to

come here? First of all, I was coming to a big club. One of the

reasons I decided to come hdre was because of the history of the club,

and also because I had workdd before with Martin O'Neill at Vill`. He was

here and he called me. He s`id he wanted me to come back and work with

him. I said it would be a pleasure. It was one of the main reasons to

come here. So what was it lhke, the change in managers' personalities,

between Martin O'Neill and Paulo Di Canio? I think with Martin we were

going to stay up. We were working hard. It was good. But with Martin

we probably played more att`cking football. The strikers felt more

free. With Di Canio, it was more about organisation, tactics,

defending. Now you've got Gts Poyet, another change for all the players

to get used to. But it seems to be one they've embraced? They've

enjoyed having him as managdr? Yeah. He likes to play football and he's

close to the club. He tries to talk to everyone and make people feel

comfortable in the team, evdn when you're not playing. So you've got

away games against Manchestdr City and Chelsea coming up ` the fixtures

aren't getting any easier, `re they? I think we always play bettdr

against the big teams, away, rather than ` with respect ` the other

teams at home. I remember wd beat Chelsea in the cup. Manchester

United... Man City, we beat them at home. We have to try to get that

spirit back. All the teams `re going at 100% when they play. But when you

play against a really big club you probably concentrate a little bit

more. We have to try to get that spirit back because we're fhghting

for our lives ` to try to stay in the Premier League. So how

frustrating was it for you to have to watch from the sidelines as

Sunderland got to the Leagud Cup final at Wembley? It was a bit

frustrating because the teal were playing very well and I had been out

for a long time. It was going to be difficult to get back into the

squad. From one side, it's frustrating because you cannot be

there. It's difficult. But H was so proud of the players. They gave a

great game. Your contract is up this summer, along with lots of other

players. Do you want to stax at Sunderland? Would you want to stay

here if they went down to the Championship? Yeah, the main thing

is that I'm happy here. But at the moment the most important thing for

the club is to stay up and stay in the Premier League. After that,

they'll decide who's going to stay and who's going to leave. The first

thing I'll do is listen to Sunderland, and see what thdy want

to do with me, and after th`t I ll decide what I'm going to do.

Here's a reminder of the bldak situation at the bottom of the

Premier League table. decide what I'm going to do.

Here's Sunderland are seven points from safety and there are shx games

left to play. They weren't helped this weekend, with Fulham and

Cardiff both winning. Julio, great to have you with us.

You, of course, have gone up and down during your Sunderland career.

Is there any light, for you, at the end of the Sunderland tunnel?

Mathematically, they've still got a chance. But they have to pl`y

against top teams in the le`gue fighting for the title. It's going

to be complicated. But they have to go to the end and see what happens.

As Carlos Cuellar was saying, those two games next couldn't really be

more daunting, could they? Xeah but I've been in that position before

and with Sunderland anything could happen! True! They can struggle

against teams at the bottom of the league and then go and get ` point,

or more, against the top te`ms. So hopefully that's what happens. It's

a big club and it would be ` shame to see them go down again. There

were some very interesting words from Gus Poyet after the defeat to

Everton at the weekend, including this, Steve. "There is something

wrong in this Football Club, and it's not an excuse. I need to find

out what it is. If I don't, we've got a problem." What do you make of

that? It would have been nice if he'd been a bit more specifhc! I

don't know what he means ` whether it's maybe the expectation or he's

hinting at the turnover of lanagers they've had. It's not reallx what

you want to hear coming out from your manager. Julio touched on it

there, it's a very tough tile, ahead of two pretty brutal away fhxtures

this week. It's a strange one from Gus, definitely. He hasn't hinted

whether or not he would be there next season. You played unddr four

different Sunderland managers, Julio. How important, through all

the chopping and changing, could the continuity be now for Sunderland? If

relegation comes, I think Gts Poyet is a good guy to be there. He did

really well at Brighton and he knows what he's doing. He's got a really

good style of football. It could work out in the Championship, so I

think he's a good candidate to stay and hopefully do well for the club.

Is that crucial for Sunderl`nd, George? You've played against Gus

Poyet's Brighton team in thd Championship? Yeah. They're hard

teams to play against. They're very organised and they really lhke to

pass the ball. He had great success at Brighton, I think it's a shame it

didn't work out there. I just think Sunderland need to get 'back'. They

need that identity again. They've lost their identity. I think if Gus

Poyet does take them in the Championship, I'm sure he c`n take

them back up. He might have the opportunity to bring in his own

players as well, to a larger extent than he already has. It's going to

be a very interesting summer, Julio. When you went down with Sunderland,

you stayed. Was that a hard decision at the time, because the likes of

Phillips, Gray, Kilbane and Sorensen all went? We lost probably our best

players that year. I think 05 or 18 players left. Did you consider? It

crossed my mind but at the same time I thought why not stay and see what

happens ` especially knowing Mick McCarthy was coming over. Hd's a big

manager. Things were working out really well. We stayed for ` couple

of years in the Championship, but we ended up getting promotion `nd to an

FA Cup semifinal. It was good. But if they do go down this year do you

fear a big exodus? Do you think there'll be a big overhaul `t

Sunderland? The Championship is getting harder every year. Ht's a

more competitive league. It has a lot of Premier League calibre. It'll

be hard for them but if it does happen I'm sure they can get

promoted straightaway. Let's hope you're right.

So a very difficult few days coming up for Sunderland with trips to the

Etihad and Stamford Bridge, before a vital relegation clash against

Cardiff. Newcastle play Swansea at home before a trip to the Elirates.

Late Kick Off will have reaction to that match with a live show in two

weeks' time. Now, the momentum is certainly with

Middlesbrough at the moment. Their recent revival continued at

Burnley. Here's Simon Pride. Burnley fans were hoping for a

promotion party at Turf Moor but fresh from a midweek 3`1 win over

Birmingham, Middlesborough had other ideas. Michael Kightly came close

for the home side early on while Danny Graham had Boro's best

opportunity of the first half. And it was Aitor Karanka's side which

took the lead five minutes `fter the interval, with some great work from

Lee Tomlin. With Jacob Buttdrfield providing a finish to the m`tch

Burnley pressed hard for an equaliser but Dimi Konstantopoulos

wasn't going to be denied a clean sheet. Daniel Ayala's dismissal for

a second yellow came too late to influence the game. And while

Burnley's celebrations are on hold, Boro's fourth straight win puts them

in the top half of the tabld, with the play`offs still mathematically

possible and the division's bottom three to face in their last four

games. Four straight wins for

Middlesbrough. George, you were injured, we should point out, not

left out, on Saturday! Some turnaround. Can you put your finger

on what has changed? I think we are scoring goals now. We were good at

the back throughout the whole of Karanka's reign so far. So that was

never a problem. But we did go that seven`game spell which was

well`documented. But we are scoring goals and winning games bec`use of

that. So we knew it was going to happen and we're getting success. We

keep trying not to talk abott Craig Hignett and the importance of him

but we should point out, since he joined you, 18 points from 27. Just

one defeat. That isn't just coincidence, is it? Yeah, I'd love

not to talk about Hignett bdcause I see him every day and yeah, he gives

me a bit of stick every day. But he's been brilliant. He has really

made an impact. Why? What h`s he done? I don't want to take `nything

from Aitor because we were ` pretty good side before he came. Btt just

to have that life around thd place. If anyone has met him, he is such an

energetic, friendly guy but he knows his football, as well. He h`s been a

great go`between with the... He s English, obviously! But yeah, he has

just been fantastic to have around the place and unfortunately for

Hartlepool, it's not looking so good since he left them. So, you know, he

must have some influence. OK. A bit more stick coming your way `t

training this week. Julio, xou of course had six years there. You were

at the recent derby game at the Riverside. You played in thd Premier

League for Middlesbrough. How far are they away, do you feel, from

getting back to that level? Well, obviously this year is prob`bly one

of the best years since thex're in the Championship. They are getting

closer. I think... They might have a chance. But, you know, you can see

with the manager they've got now, they are more, like, solid. I should

say they are scoring goals now and they are looking a better tdam. Big

summers ahead for all of thd clubs in the region, you get that feeling.

OK, here's Simon again with the rest of the weekend action.

Ahead of Carlisle's game at Preston North End, fans at Deepdale, as at

all other grounds in the cotntry, paid their respects to the victims

of the Hillsborough disaster 25 years ago. With just one victory

since February the 18th, Carlisle's League One future is very mtch in

the balance. They were two down after 20 minutes at Preston,

courtesy of Stuart Beavon's header and a close range effort from Alan

Browne. Gary Madine pulled one back for Carlisle before half tile but it

was a brief respite. United were swamped in the second half. Lee

Holmes put his name on the scoresheet after Jordan Pickford's

error, before Craig Davies began his one`man show. His first two goals

perhaps were not things of beauty but he completed his hat`trhck with

a thumping effort, leaving the shell`shocked other team back in the

relegation zone. York City hosted Accrington Stanley

and seemed set to establish themselves in the League Two

play`off positions when Kayode Odejayi handled the ball and Michael

Coulson dispatched the resulting penalty. But the visitors kdpt

plugging away and were rewarded for their efforts when Shay McC`rtan

headed home a corner to earn them a share of the spoils. So York remain

a point adrift of the top sdven Hartlepool's run of results

continued against promotion`chasing Chesterfield at Victoria Park. It

started well enough for Colhn Cooper's men. Jack Barnby found Luke

James and Hartlepool's top scorer did the rest. But they could hold

onto their lead for only six minutes. Liam Cooper couldn't miss

this close range opportunitx and want oil's clever finish early in

the second half was enough to secure all three points. `` Owen Doyle s

Hartlepool's last two home latches of the season, against Morecambe and

Exeter, looked like being crucial in their quest to preserve League Two

status. There are now just three points from the relegation zone

And there is no stopping Gateshead at the moment. James Balmer Wood

scored the only goal of the game at Hereford, their fifth win on the

bones keeps them in fourth place on the Conference with a trip to fellow

play`off hopefuls Braintree to come tomorrow night.

Berwick travelled to Elgin, knowing they had to win to retain any

realistic hopes of promotion. Add calls from Lee Curry, Andrew Russell

and others did just that despite going behind. They will need favours

from others to secure a plax`off spot, though.

Steve, we were on the so far with the Carlisle manager a few weeks ago

and they had been going well. Their goalkeeper from Sunderland conceded

only four in eight games and then he concedes six at Preston. Looks as

though it is going to go right to the wire at the bottom of Ldague

One. They've got a lot of bhg home games coming up, certainly this week

as well. I've heard good reports about young Jordan, actuallx. I

worked with Tony Key get Middlesbrough, who is now coaching

him as well. But you'll learn a lot from that. Everybody has afternoons

like that and you'll learn ` lot from that and it will stand him in

good stead for the future. @nd we were saying that night, thex haven't

got a lot of experience in the squad. No, it is going to bd tough

for them. A big home game, hopefully the fans will get behind thdm this

weekend, get three points and lift them out of the bottom four. We have

to go back to Craig Hignett again because Hartlepool, since hd went,

they have lost their last fhve under Colin Cooper. Now just thred points

above the drop zone. Yeah, H mean there must be some impact there with

Hignett leaving. I know him and Colin Cooper were very closd and

they had a very good thing going. They also loaned quite a few players

from Middlesbrough and I thhnk they have all gone as well. In f`ct, Luke

Williams... Matthew Doyle is now at Bradford. Christian is now back

Middlesbrough because he is injured. So that could have had an

effect as well. And in terms of Gateshead, Julio, one of yotr

team`mates John Oster spearheading their challenge back to the football

league. Yes, good to see hil doing that well. Great technical player.

Probably one of the best technical British players I have ever played

with. He was really good. And he's doing really well in Gateshdad so

hopefully, you know, he will help them to get promoted.

injured. So that could have had an effect A big game on Tuesdax against

Braintree. It is obviously ` Football League programme over

Easter. You can of course follow yotr local

team on your local BBC Radio station. It is a massive night on

Tuesday in Conference. Now, we have another cup final

coming up in the region. Sunderland Sunday League side Humbledon Plains

Farm FC are going to the hole of Blackburn Rovers to play thd final

of the Sunday Cup. Simon Prhde reports.

A midweek evening in the he`rt of Wearside and the Sunday teal with a

fixture backlog. That's what a cup run can do for you. Humbledon Plains

Farm FC are getting league latches in when they can ahead of a chance

at national glory. The FA Stnday Cup final against Oyster Martyrs from

Liverpool at Ewood Park the weekend after next. Stephen Hutchison played

from the club from the age of 1 . Now, he is the boss. All right,

lads, listen in. We've got ` good final to look forward to. Two

semifinals. We need to keep our feet on the ground in the league as well.

Don't get switched off. I'vd always known we've got a really good team

and I know the lads are good enough to win the competition. It's just

like coming up to the games, you wonder how they're going to perform

on the day and whether they're going to have injuries or anything like

that. My name is Michael Cotghlan and I work at Nissan through the

week and come to Plains Farl on a Sunday. Getting to widen thd ball,

getting to widen it. To be honest, all the way through we've played the

best teams in Liverpool. We've been to Leeds. Had really hard g`mes I

just think it's how we are, really. I just want to get hold of that

trophy, to be honest. It's really for the club. There's a lot of

people who put a lot of hard work in but don't even get seen, to be

honest. It's for them as well. So I just can't wait to get my h`nds on

it. Chris Winn, self`employdd worker by week, striker for Humbledon

Plains Farm on a Sunday morning What are your tactics going to be in

terms of the final? There are no tactics, really. During the game,

you have just got to go for it, really. And what would it mdan to

win? I don't think you would see me for a couple of days! Chris Winn

hoping to live up to his nale. But could the difference be at the other

end of the pitch? I am Neil Atkinson. Through the week H am an

engineer, on a Sunday I plax in goal for Plains Farm. I always practice

the penalties. I never think about it through the game until it gets

close but like I say, I think on the day we can win that comfort`bly

Wearside has a good tradition in the competition. Hetton Lyons are

multiple winners, most recently in 2012. There is no prize mondy. It's

all about the glory in front of what they hope will be a four figure

crowd. This Sunderland Sund`y match ended in a 4`3 win over RCA Grinton

August FC. This. And since. But what of the cup final opposition? Well,

Oyster Martyrs are defending champions and have a famous name in

the ranks. I know a lot abott them. I knew about them before thhs year.

I know they've got relatives of Wayne Rooney. I think it's his uncle

who manages the side, his brother plays. I know about a few of the

players themselves. I don't try to worry too much about the opposition

that we are playing, as I s`y, because we have got a reallx good

side. We've got to look at the strengths and weaknesses of the

opposition but it's more so what we are going to do on the day. And I

feel as long as we are all right up to the game, we've got nothhng to

worry about. Probably the only chance for a trophy for the Rooney

family this year! Yeah... I hope they don't get it, just likd Man

United! And we wish them the very bdst of

luck but what a moment for Sunday morning footballers, to get the

chance to play in Ewood Park. Yes, it's always a decent surfacd as well

and as we saw in the video there, they do play some good football as

well so a good opportunity for them and I wish them luck. Reallx good

competition, isn't it? Good initiative, that. Yes, well, the

standard at Sunday... We did a piece a couple of weeks ago and they

mentioned the Hetton Lyons there, good standard non`league football,

both Saturdays and Sundays. OK, we are running out of time but we need

to get some Twitter questions in. Thank you very much indeed for all

of your correspondence. Keep them coming every week to Late khck`off.

Julio has had quite a few. Lacca says, Julio, we are all but down.

Three home wins in a calend`r year yet against Everton we get the

biggest league crowd of the season at Sunderland. Yes, well, I mean,

normally that's what you get from the Sunderland fans. And I `m sure

the next few games at home will be the same. You know, they always

support the team and it is `lways going to be like that. Robert

Paterson says, George, how luch can Middlesbrough learn from thhs season

to launch a promotion push next season? I think we've learndd huge

amounts. I think being resolute at the back has been big for us... You

are bigging up the defence tonight! Well, I have to. But also the

importance of a good goalkedper And we had Shay come in. He was superb.

And we've got great competition for places with Steely there so there's

lots to learn. And hopefullx we can take this good run at the end of the

season into the start of thd next. A lot of Gateshead fans getting in

touch again. Ryan says, another fantastic win for Gateshead. Good

luck Tuesday, Gary Mills an utter hero. Steve, if Gateshead go up

could that prove useful for Newcastle and Sunderland pl`yers to

go out on loan? Very much so, yes. It would be fantastic for them, I

think. With them being in the play`offs, one or two of thd teams

looked like catching them btt now they are well and truly stuck in

there. And if they can get tp, they would have a good chance of staying

up there if they embrace thd local clubs and return the favour. That's

a good point. Mark says, Julio, what is your fondest Sunderland lemory?

Well, it would have to be... Probably... The first year, when we

nearly got into UEFA. And the semifinal FA Cup win. They were

probably the best moments while I was there. OK. And John says, Steve,

how many players do you think Newcastle need to sign in the

summer? I think that is verx much dependent on who they can kdep hold

of. There are too many question marks about the players there. We

know one to 11 are the playdrs they've got, that they do h`ve a

very good side. Two or thred, if they can keep them all. If those

players leave that may well leave in the summer, it could well bd seven

or eight and hopefully they can do that. It is a burning questhon,

isn't it, for Newcastle in the summer. And as I say, it is a big

summer ahead for all three of the clubs in the region. Gentlelen,

thank you very much indeed for your company. That is it for tonhght Our

thanks once again to Steve, Julio and George. Late kick`off rdturns in

two weeks' time after the E`ster break, for a live show after

Newcastle's visit to Arsenal. Keep your video tape requests coling in

as well, through Twitter. Wd will leave you tonight with Kevin

Keegan's promotion party at St James' Park 30 years ago. Wd will

see you in a fortnight, good night. summer ahead for

MUSIC: "Two Tribes" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood. # When

you hear the air attack warning you and your family must take cover .. #

COMMENTATOR: Its Kevin Keeg`n, who else? ! Keegan again!

Every time I see you, it's shorts and a dressing gown

Oh, I've just seen your answer. OK. LAUGHTER