Let’s hope fortune favours the brave on Sunday – Dowie

May 20 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

“We’ve made some fundamental changes and some bold decisions and let’s hope they pay off. There is a saying that fortune favours the brave – lets hope so, because if that’s true I think we’ll be OK this weekend.”

Appointing Dowie in itself was a bold move by Shearer, and an indication of his willingness to embrace new ideas and strategies. Dowie has enjoyed mixed fortunes in football management – from the highs of Crystal Palace to the lows of a brief and unedifying spell at Charlton Athletic. But one constant in the degree-educated Dowie’s career has been his belief in sports science and rigorous analysis.

Dowie’s future is uncertain when his contract runs out on Monday, but whatever happens he hopes that he has left St James’s Park with the club in better shape than when he assumed the role of assistant to Shearer. “For me, this is an outstanding football club and I have had a wonderful time. I love the way the people have taken to Alan and me – coming in with Alan obviously helps because he’s a legend here,” he said. “It’s the biggest club I have ever worked for. I was a West Ham fan as a boy – that was my club – but this is a different kettle of fish. Whatever happens, Newcastle deserve a team that reflects the fans’ commitment and is capable of winning things.”

All that remains is Sunday’s denouement in the West Midlands, which Dowie admits he is looking forward to – in a perverse way.

“There is nothing we can do to effect other teams. But I believe that if we win we will stay up – I really do,” he said.

“We have got to take care of ourselves and our own result first. It’s very, very important that we do that.”