He might have gone into last night's game with a 100 per cent record as Newcastle boss but, in some quarters at least, it seems that the honeymoon is over for Graeme Souness.

Football is a volatile and ruthless business - just look to Sir Bobby Robson for proof of that - and no manager is ever truly secure in his position.

But it seemed somewhat strange to suggest that Souness' job might have been on the line in last night's UEFA Cup clash.

That's exactly what one Israeli journalist told the Scotsman - to the inevitable delight of the travelling press pack.

With Souness' pre-match press conference drawing to a close, a local writer asked: "Do you worry that your job will not be safe if things do not go according to plan against Sakhnin?"

A startled Souness saw the funny side, pointing to his brief time in the role and his winning record as factors that could keep him safe for a little while longer.

There will inevitably come a time in the future when the question is asked for real as it goes with the territory of being a football manager. At least Souness will be well prepared when that occurs.

Souness' press briefing also gave a fascinating insight into the religious and racial stereotyping which exists in this part of the world.

The general consensus that Sakhnin were over-aggressive in the first leg has caused widespread offence to Arabs - not because it challenges Sakhnin's footballing ability, but because it reinforces a Zionist caricature of Arabs as physically violent, under-developed and almost animalistic in nature.

Unsurprisingly, that has not gone down well with an Arab population hoping to use Sakhnin's success as a way of breaking down traditional barriers rather than reinforcing them.

The notion of Jews being physically weaker but intellectually stronger than their Arabic neighbours is not a new one. Back in 1925, Max Nordau, an Austrian Jew, established the football team Hakoah in an attempt to promote a doctrine of Muskelijudentum (Muscular Judaism) aimed at proving that Jews were every bit as strong as anyone else.

In right-wing quarters, it continues to provide justification for some of the more controversial aspects of Israeli foreign policy. But as journalists the English press corps were duty bound to underline the barely controlled aggression displayed in the first leg.

Yesterday was a public holiday in Tel Aviv to celebrate the Succoth, a festival that recalls how the Jews were looked after in the desert following their exodus from Egypt.

A host of Succahs sprang up around the city - temporary dwellings commemorating where the Jews spent time and ate their meals during this period.

The Western world may be becoming more and more secular, but the Middle East remains as religiously devout as ever and it has been interesting to observe a society where religion continues to play a pivotal role in each and every aspect of everyday life.

The prestigious press pool tournament was held on the eve of last night's game, with The Northern Echo eventually claiming the silver medal.

The man from the Daily Express proved just too strong, but the rest of the local media were taken to the cleaners.

I won't be naming names, but let's just say that there are certain Newcastle-based media outlets that will not be speaking from a position of authority if they decide to embark on a weekly snooker column.

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