Souness critics must eat humble pie

By Alan Hansen BBC Sport football expert

Souness handled criticism with great dignity and responded in the best way - by winning football matches Alan Hansen

Newcastle's stunning transformation is a huge credit to manager Graeme Souness - and perhaps it is time for some of his critics to eat humble pie.

Souness was heavily criticised almost from the moment he stepped through the door at St James' Park, something which mystified me and many others.

Maybe it was because Sir Bobby Robson was such a popular guy and very much a Newcastle man, but Souness did not exactly receive a warm welcome.

I feel Souness handled the situation with great dignity, and he has been rewarded with victories against Olympiakos that pushed Newcastle towards the Uefa Cup quarter-finals, and victory over Spurs to reach the FA Cup semi-finals.

Souness's reaction to the criticism showed how I think he has mellowed as a manager.

He has not reacted, not had a go at anyone, and delivered what is always the best answer to any football supporter who questions your credentials - he's won football matches.

Graeme has matured as a manager and is all the better for it. I think you only have to look at his treatment of Laurent Robert to see that.

He clearly had his moments with Robert once or twice over his approach to the game, and maybe the old Souness might have swiftly lost patience and bombed him out.

This time he spent more time getting his message across to a very gifted footballer, and has been rewarded with performances.

Souness has brought discipline to the Newcastle dressing room at a time when many felt this was a dire need at the club, and crucially he has done it with fairness.

He handled the Craig Bellamy situation perfectly. He gave the player a chance, but once he called Souness a liar on television, then action was required and the manager delivered it ruthlessly.

It showed there was no weakness with Souness, because players pick up on that - it will have shown the players that discipline was to be applied and there was only one boss.

If it was the iron hand with Bellamy, Souness has also shown he is prepared to use the velvet glove.

Kieron Dyer looked to be on his way out at Newcastle after a fall-out with Robson and becoming an unpopular figure with the fans.

But Graeme encouraged him, showed faith in him, and he was unstoppable playing on the right-wing against Spurs.

Titus Bramble and Lee Bowyer have benefited in a similar fashion.

Souness dealt with Craig Bellamy's situation admirably. He was fair, then ruthless when he needed to be Alan Hansen

He has also got it right tactically, making them much stronger at the back while still playing decent football - and more importantly winning football.

The appointment of Terry McDermott to the backroom staff was a very shrewd move.

He is a very good influence in the dressing room, as he proved when he worked with Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish and now with Graeme.

I know Terry very well. He is a bubbly character who is great for team spirit and it is no coincidence that results have improved since he arrived.

Newcastle have now won seven games in succession and suddenly things are looking up.

They are getting massive crowds who are now harbouring hopes of seeing the club claim their first major trophy since 1969.

Souness is no stranger to silverware, and even though expectations at Newcastle will be massive, the man I know from my playing days at Liverpool will be loving every second of that - he lives for that sort of pressure. Thrives on it.

There is still some work to be done in both cup competitions.

Manchester United will be fierce opposition for Newcastle, and have a superb FA Cup record, but it will come down to one game on one day and Souness' side have some very good individuals.

So Graeme Souness may yet be the man to end Newcastle's long wait for a trophy - and I suspect we won't be hearing those complaining voices then.