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Backing The Board
In contrast to what the majority of my fellow Newcastle fans will be saying this morning, I want to express my dissappointment at Kevin Keegans actions. Given how much support that has been show towards Keegan, the board would have to be complete morons to force him out of the club. I genuinely believe the board would have gone out at all costs to keep him at the club. Even though the board may have caused the problem originally, I am not pointing the finger at the board.
I don't understand how anybody can turn their back on the support that has been shown for Keegan. Keegan will have seen the scenes, he will have witnessed his support, and as a result he should have resolved whatever issues he had. The fact he hasn't is a major let down. And i will hold my hands up and admit that the critics were right, Keegan's reign was doomed to fail from the start and we are officially the joke of football.
Chris Bradley
Some Toon Realism
Amidst the current fiasco and shambles that is Newcastle United; I would just like to provide a different perspective for everybody. In all honestly, King Kevs departure left me gutted like majority of the Toon fans; weve lost a charismatic manager with true Geordie passion, with indisputably the most interesting press conferences and we may never get another.
However, as much as we all love KK, hes not the greatest tactician and we havent played beautiful football since his second coming. Havent anyone noticed how we continue to look lost when in possession of the ball, that we havent got a sense of purpose? If his departure means the appointment of a continental-styled manager whom, on his previous records, have shown the ability to produce attractive football then so be it. Because we werent going anywhere with KK in that department anyways!
I do not know the real reason behind KKs departure, but it appears that hes walked out due to the lack of transfer activity and the boards inability to purchase the players he wanted. I dont think KK played his cards right because by resigning, hes conveyed the message that the current squad is not good enough and neither are the new signings (Nacho & Xisco). Well, Thanks for the motivation, Kev!
I, for one, am looking forward to see all our new signings fitted into the squad. Im relishing the prospect of seeing a midfield of NZogbia /Guthrie /Nacho /Jonas produce some neat one-touch passing football to dissect opposing defenses, feeding Owen/Xisco to score time and again.
Thank you Kevin, for all that youve done for the club. Well miss you and thats all.
Derek (Anyone thinks Kev was angered by the failure to get rid of Alan Smith?) Singapore.
Passion And Bile
I've been searching for a suitable platform to voice my opinion on all NUFC affiliated sites and yet it seems the topic is not up for discussion. I hope this is just the place...
I am actually a Man U fan but having just read the official NUFC statement to explain away this sorry state of affairs I feel the need to respond directly; Your pseudo PR nonsense makes a grown man want to wretch. Your parting offerings are so ridiculously token a gesture and illustrate your complete and utter ineptness at running what is, without doubt, the quintessential people's club. Only a proud person could manage this club but there comes the dilemma, no person of pride could sit by and tolerate such meddlesome second-guessing. Kev, do not be scarred.
Frank McNally
Laughing
Well, it's only been couple of years since the north east was littered with 'fanzines' published by Newcastle United fans with titles such as 'Let's all laugh at Sunderland', mercilessly preying on our misery in our beloved clubs' darkest hour. For this reason, I now feel no guilt as I laugh hysterically at the pathetic state of what claims to be 'the regions biggest club'. 52, 000 seats means nothing if the stadium is full of unrealistically over-ambitious, whining tossers.
Chris
A 'Peanut In The Turd'
So finally, like an elderly granny whose health took a turn for the worse, and who slipped in and out of consciousness for a few days before finally giving up the ghost, Keegan has gone. On forums and phone-ins everywhere people are hauling out the usual KK clichés of dummy-spitting, bottle-dropping and toys-from-pram-hurling, but this time the issue runs far deeper. The fundamental question we must ask is that when Kevin was approached for the job, was any mention made of a director of football being brought in to handle transfers? I suspect not because I don't think he would have accepted the post on those terms. So if he walked into the job for a second time thinking he would have total control over the comings and goings at the club, only to find out that his position on transfers had been undermined, well who can blame him for walking out? After all, if you had signed up for a fantasy football league, or started a game of Premier Manager, only to be told so far down the line that you had no control over transfers, would you bother to continue?
It is difficult to pull any positives from this shambles, but there is a peanut in the turd. There will have been quite a few people who had Keegan down as the first Premiership manager to go this season. Earlier this week they will have been kissing their betting slips and planning a night on the clatter with their winnings, only to be pipped at the post by Curbs. It was a real 'Devon Loch' moment that left a lot of people who had hoped to make money out of negative happenings at my club disappointed, unless they had a Curbs/Keegan reverse forecast, in which case I take my hat off to them.
J Young
An Open (And Long) Letter To Mike Ashley
Mr Ashley,
I never thought I would see this day, my Dad has just been on the phone saying that while he will always support Newcastle, as long as yourself, Wise et al are at the club not one more penny of his money will go to the club. I totally understand his feelings.
Take a look at the clubs that did well last season and beyond, not just winning things but progressing and improving. Man Utd, Arsenal, Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Blackburn. They have a board/owner who appoints a manager and backs him. Let him choose who he buys and who he sells. The managers of these clubs are football men who understand the game and can judge player ability and how they fit in with how the team plays. Look at the clubs that are performing poorly against expectations, Spurs, Liverpool, West Ham, Man City. They have managers who are not in control. None football people,agents, business men, interfering in transfers buying players that the manager doesn't want, selling those he does. It breeds disharmony and poor results.
You appoint a manager, let him run the football side. He knows what he is coaching them how they are going to play. He knows what players will fit in with the system and hence should be bought. If his buys and the way he coaches does not work then replace him. At least the manager can be judged on his players and his tactics. You had chosen the right man Mr Ashley, he knew this club, the fans he understood Newcastle. His transfer record has always been excellent, his style of play a joy to watch. Yes he had failings, mainly in how he developed young players and ran the non-first team side of things. I supported you when you brought in Wise, thinking he would run the academy and take the weight of non first team issues from Keegan. Letting him do what he does best.
I feel sadly let down. The club is run from London and Keegan was reduced to merely the role a first team coach.
I plead with you now Mr Ashley, not as an irrational emotional Geordie irate that his Messiah is no more, but as a calm supporter seeing your long term strategy condemning his beloved side to failure. Look at the teams that succeed and those that fail. and see which ones employ your model. Please, I beg of you, sell the club, make all the profit you desire. Take that money and return to London. Leave our club in someone else's hands, you are not welcome in our town.
Surely you must see that you and Mr Wise will never be able to show your faces at St James' Park again. I'm sure you may enjoy the extra time in London but the people of the North East will make sure their voices are heard. The thousands of fans, the corporate sponsors.
Newcastle United like every other team is a football club not a traditional business. Your manager has to have your full confidence, trust and backing. Who will want to manage Newcastle now. Wise and Poyet? Not even you and Mr Llambias could possibly consider that? Marcelinho, will he be happy with no control of transfers?
I would be very interested to know what exactly made you believe that Dennis Wise, Llambias, Vettiere and the others had a greater footballing knowledge than Keegan. Wise was a manager at a lower league club, many saying Poyet was the reason for his success. What does he know of managing a Premier League team and judging a players ability. None of them have the record Keegan has. None of them can judge a player like Keegan and more importantly know how they will fit in with the current squad and the tactical patterns. You have a scout to tell a manager of players he should look at. Not make the important decisions.
You have made catastrophic errors of judgement in your strategy and staffing Mr Ashley. Sadly these errors will not have costs for you. You will surely be able to sell the club on. It is the fans, your customers who will pay. I fear our best players will not want to be at our club, and any decent player will certainly not entertain a move to your circus. I really fear for our Premiership status.
I will always support Newcastle, but I promise to you. You and your companies (including NUFC) will not see any more of my money. You have no goodwill from me and I would daresay the rest of Newcastle feel the same.
This day is a dark day in the history of Newcastle United. Your name will forever go down as the man who sank Newcastle's reputation and standing even lower than Freddie Shepherd was capable of.
I hope I am wrong but I believe you have torn the heart and soul from our City, and the only way is down from here on in.
Please give us some hope, sell our club and move on.
Yours
A lost customer.
Militant Tendancies
Want to make a stand then show some solidarity and go on strike and leave the ground empty. Yes it may be hard in the short term to stand outside a ground for 90 minutes with your team playing inside but it will send a message. Form pickets at the home games and challenge anyone to cross it.
The new owners of football clubs think they can milk your money whatever the decisions and until someone is prepared to make a stand it will just get worse. Don't think you're not important. Many clubs are harping on about how they can't compete with the smaller stadium.
As a Leeds fan all we ever did when things were going wrong was moan and feel hard done by and look were it got us. If someone screws Leeds again then we have no one to blame. We haven't learnt anything.
If you're not happy you can either do something about it. Or you can harp on about it for a few days then settle back to normal life having been shafted once again by big business men. The choice is yours.
Nigel Johnson
The Toonlash
'.....I know I'm going to get slaughtered for this by Newcastle fans.....'
So why exactly did you write in Robert? I guess its was because you were looking forward to mine and other's responses so here goes:
If we are to "stick with the facts" I might as well start with the first glaring error you have in your message- Mike Ashley is not the saviour of Newcastle United Football club. We were not in receivership, or floating near it "leeds-style" when he bought out John Hall and Freddie Shepherd and where on earth you pull a figure like 100 Million pounds of debt from I will never know... possibly out of your a£se. Free spending they might have been, but if we are going to "stick to the facts" than do so. We were not in the position of Chelsea pre-abromovitch, and are not in it now. The club was not "heading for oblivion" you have us confused from smoking too much crack and watching dream team..... hint ... its not real.
Fair enough, Keegan is not Wenger of Ferguson... than again Ferguson is not Wenger or Scolari and Wenger is not Ferguson or Rijkaard... whats your point? Yes he outspent in the 90s and it nearly paid off, he certainly got us out of relegation in the second division and up to top flight so is hardly a total muppet. Yes football has changed since but too be fair to Keegan when you have two managers living on the other side of the country making all your decisions for you its always going to be difficult to acheive anything.... if I had that in my office I would be livid. Your heroes Wenger and Ferguson don't have this issue, wheras Chelsea and Tottenham have both had issues with this set up in the past... mainly because its rubbish!
Again, yes Barton is a knob and Mikey is out to line his retirement fund.... but at least they are playing. Its not that he has a love in with either player, its that he is their manager and should be able to decide who he plays, its bonkers otherwise to call him "manager" or "coach" might as well be "cheerleader".
Moyes and Ramos were hardly happy about their transfers, everton is suffering for Moyes lack of action and well tottenham are just a constant source of bafflement. Keegan has a right to be unhappy, its not because he is inept its because he is working in a ludicrous system and he wants it settled. He is not saying I want like a kid in the candy shop.. he is saying I need - if you want to sell Milner without consulting him than for god's sake replace him....
Anyway, I am sure someone will slate you nonsense more eloquently, just can't stand lazy attacks.
There is a lot you can place at our doorstep but Ashley as our saviour is just plain wrong...
Go back to the beano, the smaller words won't hurt as much as the "big boy" words in the Sun....
Matthew Rogerson NUFC.... (Hoping Mike Ashley stops trying to be a man of the people and just pisses off)
'The Most Craven Lickspittle In Football'
Once again Gordon Taylor shows that, in a strong field, he is still one of the frontrunners for the title of 'most craven lickspittle in football'. Does he not realise that he also has a duty to protect all his hundreds of decent, hardworking members from having their reputations tarnished by association with, or their faces re-arranged by delinquent wasters like Joey Barton?
Wouldn't it be refreshing instead of once more defending the indefensible he came out and said 'Barton is a nasty little thug and I hope the FA throw the book at him.' Barton has twice hospitalised fellow players in vicious attacks, yet the head of the PFA would still prefer to defend him than stand up for his victims.
Gordon Taylor, in a pool full of turds, you've floated to the top. Even Kenyon has to doff his cap to you!!
Mike Christie
...Why the hell is PFA Chief Gordon Taylor advocating leniency for Joey Barton in his FA hearing? What kind of message is that sending out to society? Who cares if he has been punished more than once for the same offence, the punishments fits the crime(s). If I lunged across my desk and assaulted my boss I'm certain that I'd get no wages, sacked and face criminal prosecution. So why should he be treated more favourably than the average Joe working in an office. If anything he should be subject to greater punishment because of his privileged position as a professional footballer who is in the public eye. Football is being run by idiots who have no concept of the opinions of average fans. Joey Barton should be subject to some Samir Nasri style retribution. He should be paraded in front of a panel of random football fans so we can all have a good kick at him, stab him in the eye with a cigar, throw a big mac at him, etc etc.
Gary (despising Joey Barton since Dec 2004)
Chelsea In Trouble?
All this talk of the imminent demise of Arsenal and/or Liverpool got me thinking. Surely the only team who has now had their status quo well and truly rattled is Chelsea?! Arsenal and Liverpool have been living (reasonably well, considering) somewhat in the shadows of the powerhouses ManU and Chelsea for some time now, and for them it is more or less business as usual - does it really change anything that City have changed gear and moved into the fast lane? On the other hand, how long do you think Abramovich is going to hang around now that he is playing second fiddle to some squillionaire Arabs? I don't see him as the kind of character that likes losing out to anyone, and I have a gut feeling he will sooner or later go with the philosophy of 'if I can't win, I won't play'...
Nic G-E, Singapore
A Solid Argument
I don't want to pour cold water on the Citeh party (mixing metaphors - not a good start) but I really do feel I ought to point out that, no matter how much wonga the Arabian sky-blues splurge on the cream of world footie, they will not get a sniff of top 4 this season, never mind win the English prem (ever). And I can back up that bombshell statement with not one, but two reasons:
1) I have 3 (count 'em) Citeh players in my fantasy football teams this year, and
2) they are Man Citeh for f**ks sake.
Derek, Barcelona (but Airdrie 4-eva)
Anyone Else Just Think Of Partridge For This One?
Chelsea fans would do a lot to improve their image if they sang their new right back's name to the tune of Shirley Bassey's 'Goldfinger', from the late 60's Bond film.
I know the bit about having a 'midas touch' could be a bit of an exaggeration but it wouldn't be the worst lie told in song from the terraces.
Oh yes - and they have to do the 'wah waah wah' bits.
Jeff Sims
Someone Did
.... actually, I already know the next West Ham manager...
Alan Pardew
Alan Curbishley
Alan........ Partridge!
'Back of the net!'
MC,Brentwood
Hedonism
I'd say Griff is great fun at a party.
Tom, Dublin
Long Term Thinking
Why dont some left sided England players (A Cole, J Cole) get it on with some of the left sided England womens football team. It would be a bit surreal for them, only doing one woman at a time, but In 18 years from now all of our left sided problems would be solved.
Charlie (thinking outside the box) Tuna
