“Geordies?” “AYE!!”
Posted on September 18th, 2009 | 123 Comments |
I make no apologies for this image (a “Scene’s we’d like to see” sequel to my previous one) despite the fact my first one seems to have upset as many people as it tickled. The movie “300” is one of my favourites and it’s no stretch, for me, to imagine Shearer as Gerard Butler’s King Leonides; leading us into battle against insurmountable odds.
Wednesday’s battering by Blackpool was either a blip or the end of the world (depending on whose advice you hold sacred); but whatever it was it was a reminder that this league will still take some winning, whatever the odds say. Chris Hughton (target for too much vilification) and the backroom staff have worked a minor miracle to get us in ANY kind of shape to face this season. Our great start has surprised everyone, including ourselves, and we can only pray in continues. Standing on the edge of tomorrows game with the “Green Army”, we mustn’t allow ourselves the luxury of too much introspection. If we succumb to that vital momentum will be lost, and with it whatever confidence we’ve been able to muster.
Looking to the future (if there is to BE any future in our future) we need to break the bad habits of a lifetime. A quick canter through this clubs history shows a “Boom and Bust” cycle that makes Zimbabwe’s economy look stable, by comparison. Short periods of success punctuated by rounds of acrimonious “Foot-Shooting”…all in the name of progress. The term “False Dawn” may well have been coined to describe this clubs history (unless there’s a plastic girl called Dawn knocking around somewhere), and all the while the fans have wrung their hands, and gnashed their teeth, in a desperate attempt to reconcile their love for the club with it’s, apparent, indifference toward them.
The one consistent factor, in recent years, has been our managerial merry-go-round. The insistence of leaping from one disaster into another, with barely time to draw breath. KK and Sir Bobby apart, no one has been given time to make any headway at the club. I’ve never subscribed to the “Unrealistic-Fan-Pressure” argument. Yes, we’ve been vocal…but what fans aren’t? Good God, the Spurs moan when things are going WELL!!! The side of the coin that NEVER gets shown is us pulling together in adversity. Chanting Gullits name before the ill-starred Sunderland match; cheering Allardyce from the Britannia stadium after the cup draw with Stoke…these things go unnoticed in the media frenzy to paint the “Best-Fans-In-The-World” ™ as a blood-thirsty bunch of unrealistic morons who feel they know best how to manage the club. At times our passion has clouded our judgement, but then show me a set of level headed fans ANYWHERE…and I’ll strike you a medal. Fan is a derivation of fanatic you know.
I don’t know what kind of Football Manager Alan Shearer is? Anyone who would dismiss him based on 8, frantic, end of season games has no business calling themselves a Toon fan. I do know he loves the club, I know he has strength,honour and integrity. He is someone we can believe in, unite behind and support. I know he commands respect from all corners of the Football world. I also know he has a passion for the job, a passion very much like our own, a passion that will allow him the blossom and grow, as a manager…hopefully with us.
Some posters on this site decry the “Geordie Nation” philosophy, as something that is merely an expression of “Mob Mentality”, which is one way of looking at it. Personally I subscribe to something more cerebral…a “Church of Toon” if you will. An overarching love of the club beneath which many differing opinions can gather, and find a unity of purpose.
Remember the scene in “300” where Leonides shouts “SPARTANS!” and, en masse, they shout “WHHOOOAAGGGHHH!!”, sends shivers up the spine doesn’t it? Imagine that at SJP: Shearer take the field and shouts “GEORDIES?” and, to a fan, we shout “AYE!!”. The beginnings of a “Church of Toon”…perhaps? I can dream, can’t I? You bet I can.
Excelsior Out!
NUFCBlog Author: Excelsior
Excelsior has written 6 articles on this blog.
Some of our southern-based Mags might need to give it an “aaaaiiiieetttt”. Or maybe they could ‘do’ the accent.
Message being be that we’re a collective, under any banner, whether a Geordie born and bred or through choice (you must be mental). It’s a United front that’s needed. Even if we argue like barstewards on these blogs.
Great illustration Excelsior.
Really impressive stuff.