Tight as a......Here’s something a little controversial from someone who has had very little positive to say about Mike Ashley since last summer. What would you say if I was to suggest he may turn out to be, not the worst thing to have happened to Newcastle United in recent years? OK listen, I haven’t lost it completely, I don’t think. For the last twelve months, I’ve struggled to find an emotion beyond abject loathing to describe how I feel about the bloke but something is changing in me, even if I’m crucified for admitting it. At least hear me out anyway.
Football is arguably all about winning. The ‘getting there’ is part of the fun but is ultimately a means to an end for most. So what it comes down to is wanting to be successful. As a result, the game becomes about gaining a competitive advantage and one way to do that, is to throw a stack load of money at it, which we threw by the barrel load. And what did it get us? Naff-all except close to financial meltdown.
Instead, in rode Mike Ashley with his bright ideas, prudent business acumen and his novel notion of mixing with the working class kids in the stands. Once he tried to bring the good times back via Kevin Keegan’s third coming it all went pair-shaped but not before he’d implemented a financial strategy to put the club back onto a firmer footing. There is perhaps a fair argument to say that he did this for selfish reasons (to make a profit potentially more viable when the time came to sell?) and that we only benefitted as a by-product. (more…)
Is it really a year?It was about a year ago today, just after the 2008 summer transfer window closed, when Newcastle United went into the free-fall it has yet to recover from.
To be fair, the club wasn’t exactly setting the world alight before that and, arguably, the last period of stability ended when Sir Bobby Robson was given the sack. Freddie Shepherd had been spending the club into debt and had installed the revolving door for managers with both Roeder and Souness serving for less than a season before Shepherd settled on Sam Allardyce.
Then along came Ashley. Initially he was partnered by Chris Mort, who had helped Ashley with the takeover, and in January 2008 the pair sacked Allardyce, sensationally appointing Kevin Keegan as manager. A lot of people felt Mort was a good communicator who built important relationships with the fans, keeping them informed of the goings-on at St James’s Park and setting up things like the Newcastle United Foundation to bring the club into the community. Mort left in June 2008 and was replaced by Derek Llambias and thus began the regime of ‘Dastardly and Muttley’ at Newcastle United and it has been like Wacky Races ever since. (more…)
Toon v Leicester - MondayMonday evening sees The Blue Army of newly promoted Leicester City pay their first visit to St James Park since 2004. Having tasted life in Division one, they were promoted as champions at the end of last season and are now enjoying life in the championship.
Ex-Toon caretaker boss, Nigel Pearson, now the man in charge of the Foxes, has ensured a good start to the season where they remain undefeated in their first four championship matches. If they win tomorrow they will go top,giving them something extra to play for.
With Shola already ruled out with a foot injury,another local lad from Byker, ex-toon season ticket holder and Newcastle mad Leicester City striker Steve Howard is desperate to play in tomorrow night’s clash at St James Park. It looks as if his prayers will be answered as he is likely to be passed fit following a recent hamstring injury.
Leicester are hoping to play their on loan left back, Ryan McGivern, a seemingly talented lad signed on Friday from Man City, where he struggled due to the competition for places. A couple of other new faces, Yann Kermorgant and Paul Gallagher, two loan signings in the past week, will also be in contention to join striker Matty Fryatt who has scored three goals this season. (more…)
Third coming or nonsense?The Sun is reporting (also on Sky) that some gadgie called Sirous Mahjoob might take over Newcastle United and install Kevin Keegan as manager. Again.
In the ‘news’ as scribed by The Sun, Llambias said:
“We are dealing with several people and giving most of our time and attention to the sale.
“You must remember that some parties make offers but when it comes to putting up proof of funds they are a long way from sealing a deal.
“But I can say we are very close to completing a deal and it could happen next week.”
Which is good news I suppose. Llambias then goes on to say why it’s foolhardy to employ a permanent manager at the moment:
“It’s Catch 22 – anyone who signs a deal will want their own choice of manager.
“Look what happened when Mike took over, Sam Allardyce was already in place and he didn’t want him.”
Then there’s a report from someone said to be a spokesman for Sirous Mahjoob: (more…)
A terrier or one of the gargoyles from Ghostbusters?Tonight sees us meet some old acquaintances at the Galpharm Stadium in Huddersfield for our latest friendly. Die-hard Mag Lee Clark will need to rely on his professionalism to prepare for tonight’s game against his boyhood idols and for who he played a pivotal role before and during the Keegan era as a player.
The Huddersfield manager made great progress after taking over in November last year, winning 8 out of 9 games but a dip in form resulted in a mid-table finish. Having cut his teeth as assistant to Glen Roeder at Norwich City, Clark will be looking to realise the potential that people see in him to make a thoroughly decent manager.
Clarkie has some other familiar faces in his management team. Namely Terry Mac, buffer supreme to King Kev, tremendous former player, adopted Geordie and all-round decent bloke. Derek Fazackerley, who was assistant manager and coach under Keegan in the ’90s revival is acting in a similar role at The Galpharm. Paul Stephenson, who played for us in the ’80s is also part of the coaching set-up. (more…)
