Et tu, Bruté?
Posted on June 8th, 2009 | 30 Comments |
Scene 1: Rome 44B.C. Julius Caesar was fighting off an attack by a murderous group of Senators – “Et tu, Bruté?” (meaning “and you Brutus?”) were the words uttered by Caesar to his closest friend Marcus Brutus – when Caesar saw that he too was involved with the murderous group. Caesar lost his will to fight back on seeing the betrayal and allowed the Mob to cut him and kill him. It was the ultimate betrayal by a man who Caesar had loved as a brother.
Scene 2: Newcastle 2007
Mike Ashley buys Newcastle and appoints Dennis Wise as a club Director: Murmurs of dissatisfaction spread throughout the city. Mike clears off the clubs debts, buying Newcastle cost him 250million pounds.
Scene 3: Newcastle 2008
Mike Ashley sacks the unpopular Sam Allardyce and attempts to gain favour with the local fans by appointing Kevin Keegan as manager. Then the world economy collapses, Ashley can not afford or chooses not to spend the level of cash Keegan wanted. Kevin Keegan walks out of Newcastle, the fans rally to Keegan’s side and rampage against the owner, the events are played out all around the world to see. Newcastle gains the reputation of being the poison chalice, some fans are labelled as unmanageable, insatiable – worse than that uncontrollable in such circumstances.
Scene 4: Newcastle 2009
Newcastle United appoint Alan Shearer to manage the club for the last games of the season to avert relegation. Shearer was probably the only man that could unite the boardroom and fans at that time. The Club are relegated, calls for Shearer to be the only acceptable manager echo around the city, Ashley meets Alan Shearer to discuss progression, Ashley decides he can no longer own the club and in his, the fans and clubs best interest he should sell.
Scene 5 June to July 2009.
New buyers are circling the club, apparently 3 parties. 1 is rumoured to be from the region, 2 are not. 100million is confirmed as the asking price, meaning Ashley has in effect paid 150million of our debts from his own pocket, an unfathomable amount of money. New Owners will be appointed soon, their decision is “Who will be our manager”
I do not use these words lightly. Newcastle fans by their own actions post KK walkout may have sealed Alan Shearers fate as much as Marcus Brutus actions condemned Julius Casar 2000 years ago. Their actions may well lead any new buyer to form the view that Shearer is simply too dangerous a manager to appoint, that the club is too volatile with him in charge, that he would be unsackable, hold all of the power – and ultimately they could not control the very thing they had bought, and if they cant control – whats the point of buying it – as an angry mob would need to be fed – but Shearer is the only food that would satisfy their desire – much like the days of the Caesars.
The new buyers only choice may be to appoint a new independent manager of their own from day 1. That way they will control their own club, their own investment, their own destiny.
I ask the question – have the Mob of Newcastle betrayed Newcastle United by acting without thought and costing the region the very thing he and they covet most?
NUFCBlog Author: Stardust
Stardust has written 15 articles on this blog.
“I ask the question – have the Mob of Newcastle betrayed Newcastle United by acting without thought and costing the region the very thing he and they covet most?”
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Phew, lucky for you I’m here because I can answer that question for you and take a weight off your mind.
The answer is in fact no.
A new owner will most likely look at the fans’ reaction to the Keegangate affair and see the potential. They will see passionate fans – a passion that will put bums on seats in SJP, even while they’re in the fizzy.
They will know they’re taking over from a buffoon who, although intending well and doing the right thing by trying to clear the debts, didn’t really have a clue what he was doing either when he employed Keegan or let him go and who thought ‘communication’ is spelt ‘keep-my-head-down’.
They’ll know too that they’re tough enough to front out the fans if it necessary, pursue the longer-term aims and make things right through their actions rather than looking for the first bus out of town if things get a bit lively and someone spills their pint at the bar.
They’ll do a due diligence and know what they’re getting into when they buy the football club and, if they don’t have experience of running one themselves, they’ll employ someone who can.
As to Shearer, they’ll employ him if they think that, all points considered, he’s right for the club. If they don’t think that they’ll employ another manager.
Some of the fans may moan if Shearer doesn’t get the job but they’ll be confident enough to push on with their plan regardless, instead proving the wisdom of their decision by getting results on the pitch and winning promotion.
That’s unless FFS comes back of course, in which case it’s anyone’s guess what’ll happen.
If we get a good owner, things will be fine, regardless of the reactions of the fans, the press or anyone else.
If we get a bad owner then history might repeat itself but that won’t be the fault of the fans, it’ll be the fault of the owner.