Newcastle United Football Club News

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

• Ground:St James' Park
• Capacity:52,193

Roeder relishes Dutch tie

23 Feb 2007 - 08:14:16

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Newcastle United boss Glenn Roeder was looking forward to a meeting with AZ Alkmaar in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup after the Magpies eased past Zulte-Waregem.

A 1-0 victory at St James' Park completed a 4-1 aggregate win over the Belgian side, with Roeder relishing a chance to go head-to-head with Dutch tactician Louis Van Gaal.

Roeder said: "There is a discussion that he is arguably the best coach in the world.

"He has had periods in his career where he has been to the very top of football.

"He has vast experience, not only in domestic football, but in European football, so it is something I am really looking forward to."

Meanwhile, Roeder also praised goalscorer Obafemi Martins, who took his tally this season to 14 as he found the net for the fourth consecutive game.

"Oba, by his own admission, probably was not having one of his best games, but, and this is the big but, he is a natural goalscorer.

"He did not need a second look when the chance came. That was a fantastic finish.

"The trouble was, he made it look too easy. I would have thought the majority of strikers in the Premiership would not have got the ball in from that angle."