Eye Of The Storm
I kept my head down last week and waited to see if Newcastle United were capable of riding out the storm. Instead, like doomed sailors caught in the Perfect Storm, they have sailed right into the eye of the tempest.
The wind of protest are howling again and the waves of discontent are once more threatening to smash the club into smithereens. These are troubled times for a most troubled football club.
Quite why there have still been no new signings made by the Magpies is a mystery, but it is hardly one which would keep a super sleuth like Sherlock Holmes perplexed for long - let alone me!
It's quite simply really, the club is in a complete and utter mess. Newcastle are in dire straits, they are stumbling around in the brown smelly stuff which drops out of a dog's backside. Oh look come on they're firmly and squarely in the sh...... (language moderation needed due to family nature of Journal Live website!)
There is no transfer strategy, there is no long term planning, there is no communication or clarification from owner Mike Ashley or managing director Derek Llambias and, more importantly, there is very little money to spend and little idea how they should spend it.
Newcastle have known since September 1st that they would have to strengthen the first team squad this month and rectify the horrendous mistakes which led to Kevin Keegan's departure, but they still appear to have been caught with their pants down when the transfer window opened.
Instead of considering the impact a batch of new signings will make, Newcastle fans have instead spent most of the New Year worrying about who wants to leave. What a sad, sorry state of affairs.
The latest disgruntled employee - other than an increasingly irritable Joe Kinnear - is Steve Harper. Now Harps is always pretty frustrated because he's constantly having to play second fiddle to Shay Given, but this is different.
Offered a new contract in December, Harper still hasn't signed it and could well be on his way to Tottenham. Spurs have made an enquiry and, from what I'm told, Steve wants to go.
With Given also publicly revealing his unhappiness with the way the club is being run and the direction it's heading, Newcastle could go from the Premier League team with the best pair of goalkeepers to one which is forced to play Tim Krul as they look to avoid the disaster of relegation! Perish the thought. Tim isn't a bad goalkeeper, but he isn't anywhere near the same standard as either of these two.
No, Mike, this isn't what we thought you meant when you said "let's drive this club forward together in 2009." You have paid us some lip service with your New Year's address in the match day programme, but please tell me, I'm dying to know, precisely what else have you done? Troubled waters but not a bridge in sight.
I'll keep saying it until I'm blue in the face, actions speak louder than words and you have done nothing to win back the respect or acceptance of those whose club you own.
You may not be in charge of the day-to-day running of the club, but you appointed the people who do and, as far as I can tell, they failed you in the summer and they are failing you now. With no new signings made and with constant confusion surrounding intended targets, that, I'm afraid, makes you a failure as well.
As for Kinnear, he grows weary. He tries to be positive about the support he is receiving behind the scenes, but he is a manager with a small injury-ravaged squad who must feel like he is banging his head against a brick wall in terms of trying to secure the financial backing he needs to strengthen the squad. No wonder he keeps contradicting himself!
The cracks in the relationship are starting to appear and it appears to be only a matter of time before everything comes crashing down on top of him.
It's all very good blaming everyone else for a 3-0 defeat at Blackburn, but at the end of the day (to use a well worn football cliche) he is the man in charge of a team which has won just two of its last 13 games! The buck always stops at the top.
There are two weeks left of the transfer window, two weeks when Newcastle will not be distracted by the FA Cup, two weeks to resist the departure of any players and two weeks to bring in the left-back, right-back and creative midfielder they have needed since the end of last season. It's time to get things right or face the consequences.
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Luke Edwards - is Chief Sports Writer of The Journal and uses his blog to give a unique and entertaining insight into events at Newcastle United and Sunderland.
Good Article
But please keep up the pressure on these idiots.
How can Kinnear not see that it's Ashley and co that are directly responsible with this mess were in, never mind blaming previous managers.
Great read Luke and spot on. If we get beat of the mackems and haven't signed anyone then I think that will be the catalyst for a full scal demo. There are wispers of a demonstration before the mackems game on message boards and I think there is a lot of pent up anger about to be unleashed.
As for JK, he has lost the supporters and it looks like the players after the Blackburn game, relegation beckons !!!!!
You have more or less said what everyone else is thinking Luke mate, the sad thing is after all this time if these monkeys actual gave a flying one about us they'd have done something about it now.
Something tells me that their silence is just the writing on the wall we're afraid to read.
I never thought I'd say - let alone think it - but the best thing that could happen to this club right now is relegation and a complete exodus of all the parasites dragging us down.
Great piece Luke - honest, brave and nailed those responsible. Please don't let them off the hook. The fans need a voice and - in the absence of any direct engagement with the Board - you guys are 'it'. I only wish your colleagues at the Chron would show the same sort of integrity in their reporting and opinion pieces ...
If JFK wants to remain employable post-NUFC, he really needs to think about his own situation and behaviour. Ashley has set him up for failure in the same way he did Keegan. Difference is, Keegan had a massive stock of goodwill with the fans, and at that point we didn't know any better regarding the Fat Liar.
If JFK has ANY INTEGRITY WHATSOEVER, he should tell it like it really is to the fans come the end of this transfer window. Then he should tell the Fat Liar to stick his job where the sun doesn't shine and wait until a Championship side offers him employment.
As for us, unfortunately I think the club needs to be relegated to trigger Ashley's departure. Then we can start again, rebuilding with people at the helm (hopefully) who actually give a toss about the fans, the club and what it means to the City.
The article is spot on. There seem to be only two ways forward for Newcastle United. Firstly, that Mike Ashley comes to terms with the disaster over which he has presided and become a hands on Chairman who can rectify his mistakes and instigate a new and coherent strategy for the football club, including the appointment of a manager who is suitable for a top premiership club with a constant European presence.Secondly, that due to inaction and apparent contempt for the fans and the people of the North East, and make no mistake that is NUFC ever win a trophy then there will be a million people out in the streets to proclaim them, the team and the club will implode. Then we face relegation at least once and, if Ashley has a mind (not the best choice of words there!) Administration and wilderness years.The are few reasons, just now, for optimism.
Well said
If Joe Kinnear had said what you just had, he would have won the respect of many more supporters than he's lost by trying to divert attention away from the sorry facts as you (and Shearer on MOTD) have stated them. He may also have lost his job, which I think is more important to him.
Thank God someone who reaches a larger audience than I has came out in such a simple, blunt and honest way. The things you've written need to have the volume turned up.
Let's face it... what is there to lose?
Every true fan should read this genius article too ...
http://www.true-faith.co.uk/tf/editorials.nsf/LookupUNID/6D04B16B6DBCD400802575430027EC7E?OpenDocument
... and GET FIRED UP FOR THE FIGHT THAT'S COMING.
Luke - thanks for this piece and well done for having the courage just to say out loud what we all think and believe. I'd love to see the piece on the front page of the Journal tomorrow never mind the back! That's how important I believe it is. Our club has become an embarrassment for our city and region and in these desperate times with financial hardships all round, the one thing we need is a team in B&W that makes us proud. I'm not talking about winning s/ware for goodness sake, I'm just talking about being competitive and looking like our players care.
We all know where the blame lies irrespective of who the manager is. It's with Ashley, no-one else. As for their collective silence, there's only one reason for it - they know we aren't going to like anything they say. There is no long-term plan other than to sell the club at the very earliest opportunity and to make as much money as they can from it/us until that time. Looking forward to more 'tell it like it is' articles from you over the coming weeks Luke.
Luke - thanks for this piece and well done for having the courage just to say out loud what we all think and believe. I'd love to see the piece on the front page of the Journal tomorrow never mind the back! That's how important I believe it is. Our club has become an embarrassment for our city and region and in these desperate times with financial hardships all round, the one thing we need is a team in B&W that makes us proud. I'm not talking about winning s/ware for goodness sake, I'm just talking about being competitive and looking like our players care.
We all know where the blame lies irrespective of who the manager is. It's with Ashley, no-one else. As for their collective silence, there's only one reason for it - they know we aren't going to like anything they say. There is no long-term plan other than to sell the club at the very earliest opportunity and to make as much money as they can from it/us until that time. Looking forward to more 'tell it like it is' articles from you over the coming weeks Luke.
Luke - thanks for this piece and well done for having the courage just to say out loud what we all think and believe. I'd love to see the piece on the front page of the Journal tomorrow never mind the back! That's how important I believe it is. Our club has become an embarrassment for our city and region and in these desperate times with financial hardships all round, the one thing we need is a team in B&W that makes us proud. I'm not talking about winning s/ware for goodness sake, I'm just talking about being competitive and looking like our players care.
We all know where the blame lies irrespective of who the manager is. It's with Ashley, no-one else. As for their collective silence, there's only one reason for it - they know we aren't going to like anything they say. There is no long-term plan other than to sell the club at the very earliest opportunity and to make as much money as they can from it/us until that time. Looking forward to more 'tell it like it is' articles from you over the coming weeks Luke.
Excellant piece of work, 100% accurate.
I honestly believe Mr. Ashley will sell the club at the very first opportunity. Remember he was also supposing to drive the club forward in the summer, when we believed he was genuine guy!!! What happen next, no major signings, team up for sale and KK left. Nothing much has changed, Mr. Ashley has zero integrity.
I am also very puzzled why no one has brought the club; (apart from the greed of Ashley)the location of stadium MUST be the best in the UK. Remember Shepherd was proposing to extend the ground further, plus a 5 star hotel and conference centre. This would provide wonderful facilities for the 2010 Olympic Games and the World Cup venue, which the people of Tyneside will benefit from. An opportunity lost thanks to Mr. Ashley.
Excellant piece of work, 100% accurate.
Honestly believe Mr. Ashley will sell the club at the very first opportunity. Remember he was also supposing to drive the club forward in the summer, when we believed he was genuine guy!!! What happen next, no major signings, team up for sale and KK left. Nothing much has changed, Mr. Ashley has zero integrity.
I am also very puzzled why no one has brought the club; (apart from the greed of Ashley)the location of stadium MUST be the best in the UK. Remember Shepherd was proposing to extend the ground further, plus a 5 star hotel and conference centre. This would provide wonderful facilities for the 2010 Olympic Games and the World Cup venue and the people of Tyneside to benefit from. An opportunity lost thanks to Mr. Ashley.
Great points, Luke. You sum up the situation perfectly.
You really can see the frustration brewing in Kinnear, just as you could with Keegan. When Shay Given and Steve Harper are rumoured to want out after all their years of unwavering service, nothing speaks greater volumes about the state of this club. It actually wouldn't surprise me if Kinnear doesn't make it until the end of the season, money or not.
On another point, I saw Kinnear quoted as saying that the club is "haemorrhaging money" - due to what exactly? Explanation please NUFC? The communication from this club is an absolute joke. Ashley's approach to running this club equate to him taking down all signage outside his shops, painting all the windows jet black & closing the doors. What are the customers supposed to do other than speculate as to what's happening inside?
I've never felt as disheartened and uninspired by this club as I do now. I will be absolutely gutted if we're relegated, and the only solace I'm taking is that the crazy nature of the league this year might just save us.
Luke - this is an asset stripping exercise plain and simple. MA will not put his hand in his pocket end of story. Any noises to the contrary are designed only to ensure punters have a little faith and keep paying up. The man can simply not tell the truth, a fact about to be proven in court when KK presents his water tight case and takes him for £8m or so.
Never has a our club been in such a terrible position (the competition for this accolade is fierce, Seymour, McKeag, Shepherd...etc...etc). The only glimmer in these awful times is the fact that whatever happens, Ashley will be tens if not hundreds of millions down, and one day when his cronies have left him, and he looks in the mirror, he'll know that it was all his own pig headed, short sighted, narrow minded fault. I'm not normally a bitter man but I take great delight in the fact that this will hurt him much more that he has hurt us.
Luke - this is an asset stripping exercise plain and simple. MA will not put his hand in his pocket end of story. Any noises to the contrary are designed only to ensure punters have a little faith and keep paying up. The man can simply not tell the truth, a fact about to be proven in court when KK presents his water tight case and takes him for £8m or so.
Never has a our club been in such a terrible position (the competition for this accolade is fierce, Seymour, McKeag, Shepherd...etc...etc). The only glimmer in these awful times is the fact that whatever happens, Ashley will be tens if not hundreds of millions down, and one day when his cronies have left him, and he looks in the mirror, he'll know that it was all his own pig headed, short sighted, narrow minded fault. I'm not normally a bitter man but I take great delight in the fact that this will hurt him much more that he has hurt us.
Luke - this is an asset stripping exercise plain and simple. MA will not put his hand in his pocket end of story. Any noises to the contrary are designed only to ensure punters have a little faith and keep paying up. The man can simply not tell the truth, a fact about to be proven in court when KK presents his water tight case and takes him for £8m or so.
Never has a our club been in such a terrible position (the competition for this accolade is fierce, Seymour, McKeag, Shepherd...etc...etc). The only glimmer in these awful times is the fact that whatever happens, Ashley will be tens if not hundreds of millions down, and one day when his cronies have left him, and he looks in the mirror, he'll know that it was all his own pig headed, short sighted, narrow minded fault. I'm not normally a bitter man but I take great delight in the fact that this will hurt him much more that he has hurt us.
At the end of the season, the following will be printed in the Daily Mail...
Kinnear has taken Ashley up the wrong 'un and Newcastle have been relegated.
The Toon Army have been held responsible for not backing their club as they turn away in their thousands. Had they of just kept their mouths shut, nobody would have noticed.
As a final farewell, Mike's pocketed the parachute money, transfer funds collected from Milner & Given, season ticket fees as well as sponsorship cash and sold the club for a small total profit, complete with it's mortgage still intact.
Mike Ashley was once famously told "There's a club in the North and you're not in it". He's replied by saying "What club? F**k you"!
What else do we need as proof?
BOYCOTT ST. JAMES' PARK, SEASON TICKET OR NOT TO DEMAND A FULL EXPLANATION.
UNITED WE STAND.
BREATH OF FRESH AIR THAT LIKE LUKE,
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
THANKS AGAIN BONNY LAD x
Spurs have signed carlo cudicini, ending their interests in steve harper.
Who is in charge at NUFC??? That is the question because it appears to me that you have a lot of headless chickens running around in circles all saying something different or not speaking at all and no one realising that this once fantastic club is in the middle of whirlpool and sinking into oblivion very fast. After supporting NUFC for over 50 years I feel great sadness that so called business men and football men can let this happen. I fear that NUFC are the next Leeds United and will soon find themselves playing Carlisle United in public not behind closed doors. PLEASE SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING NOW as NUFC is on the cusp of its greatest disaster.
A local lad who came through our academy fighting with a moaning, want-away, prima donna. Doesn't take a genius to work out what that was all about does it? My guess is that young Andy C is probably as angry as the rest of us (who genuinely care about the club) at what's happening at the moment.
I have followed the club for 25+ years and I can't remember ever feeling as down as I do now. I have a vivid memory of us being beaten at home by WBA in the old 2nd division when Ossie was in charge, and thinking at the time how painful felt because we seemed so very rubbish and there was no light at the end of the tunnel. But it was a NOTHING compared to this current feeling of hopelessness.
The big difference for me is that I honestly feel like Ashley, Wise, Llambias and increasingly Kinnear have ripped the very soul out of the club. We've been rubbish on the pitch plenty times in my 25 years, but I've never felt like my very identity as a Geordie was under attack.
That might sound daft, but I am so proud to be a Geordie because of what we're associated with as people - honest, straightforward, full of integrity, no nonsense, loyal, hard working, eternal optimists despite being long-suffering, etc.
I despise Ashley and his cohorts with every fibre of my being because they are the complete opposite of what we're about. They're lazy, arrogant, liars, cheats, deceivers and charlatans. They have abused our trust. They have cynically and systematically manipulated us. They have betrayed us in the most despicable way.
The club has always stood proudly in the heart of the city as a symbol of everything it meant to be a Geordie. Everything that made me proud to pull on my black and white shirt and scream at the 11 lads on the pitch - it's always been about far more than just football, that's what sets us apart in terms of passion. Ashley has stolen the soul of our club. And he's gradually stealing the soul of our tribe in the process.
We've got to fight back. Protests before and after every game and a total financial boycott - until all of the scum are gone - are our only option. We'll figure the rest out later.