We know it’s been a favourite hobby of the bitter ex-pros, the self-publicising pundits, the dubious experts and the obvious charlatans this season to have a swipe at Newcastle United.
Oh yes, we know the club has been an easy target at times, parting company with managers almost as quickly as Paris Hilton goes through boyfriends, sliding towards relegation, new owners blah de blah de blah.
Yep, Newcastle United are like an old and over-used national joke where everybody knows the punch line - they haven’t won diddly squat since 1969 - but they still laugh anyway.
Well, have you noticed that, since Newcastle started winning under Kevin Keegan people don’t see to be laughing anymore? In fact, they seem to have lost interest in events at St James’s Park. Blimey, I’ve not read a Mike Ashley is going to sell the club story for at least a fortnight! Come to think of it, I’m sure nobody has even mentioned the presence of Dennis Wise for at least a few days!
The news has moved on, you see. The knockers, the snipers and the amateur comedians have found other targets because a quietly focused and moderately successful Newcastle United isn’t really an interesting story outside of the North East.
You may get a little annoyed by that. You may find it irritating that certain sections of the media are only interested in Newcastle when it is a bad story or when there is a bit of scandal to get their vampire-like teeth sunk into - but don’t let it wind you up.
At least that is the stance I always try to take. However, I have to admit I was spluttering into my night cap and threatening to kick somebody’s teeth - metaphorically speaking - in as I watched the BBC’s Inside Sport last night.
I’m normally a big fan of the show, despite the irritating smugness of all three presenters, but I could not believe what I was hearing as I sat in bed with a glass of fine white wine - a birthday present from my wine-bore brother.
I like Steve Bunce - I used to appear on his radio show on Radio Five Live the Rumour Mill - but he has fallen into the herd mentality of the media pack.
Now I can clearly remember Steve and Inside Sport jumping on the bandwagon to criticise and, at times, openly attack the appointment of Kevin Keegan as manager back in January. “Ludicrous� they said, stupid grins spreading across their faces as they patronised the club’s supporters for believing he was the right man for the job.
But it’s amazing what a few wins can do isn’t it. As I’ve mentioned, the news has moved on and last night it was the Chelsea manager, Avram Grant's, turn for ridicule.
Apparently Grant is going to be slaughtered by the press if Chelsea don’t win the title and none of the three on the show thought he would be in a job next season because - wait for it - what everyone wanted at Chelsea was a charismatic manager who plays exciting football, can relate to the fans and can get the best out of his players.
In other words, according to Bunce, what Chelsea are after is a “Kevin Keegan� Sometimes words fail me when it comes to summing up the hypocrisy of these people!
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