Haven’t you learnt your lesson by now? Nothing changes at Newcastle United.
Instead it’s the same old, tired story for loyal fans to stand by and watch unfold. It’s been the same story that’s been presented almost every season in the North East for the past 10 years.
Southampton put Newcastle to the sword in a crushing 4-0 victory
Summer had brought such optimism to Tyneside that for once, fans weren’t harking back to those heady days of the 1990s that still consume the city to this day, but looking forward.
A successful pre-season tour burgeoned positivity from the Newcastle camp regarding Siem De Jong, Daryl Janmaat, Emmanuel Rivere and Remy Cabella. These were the signings that were going to rejuvenate and regenerate a club that had failed to capitalise on such a promising 2011/12 season, flirting with both relegation and mediocrity in the time since.
Newcastle was quick to pounce on World cup star Daryl Janmaat, but he has not been able to turn the team’s fortunes around as of yet
Saturday’s 4-0 drubbing away to Southampton swiftly removed any semblance of a fresh start.
At the time of an article I wrote regarding the two teams in April, both were on the cusp of transition and both could sink or swim. Southampton have overhauled and so far thrived. New boss Ronald Koeman lost a handful of his best players but managed to adequately replace them and Saturday’s result lends hope to The Saints for their future.
Newcastle were treading water then, and drowning now. Pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville rightfully gave the team a public undressing on Sky Sport’s latest edition of Monday Night Football.
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher had particular criticism for the attitude of the Newcastle players
Discussing Toon players tracking back on the pitch, Carragher said: “How can you walk in a game of football? Every time the ball moves you should be moving, if you are standing still you should be on your toes, you look alive. These just don’t look interested one bit.
“There’s lots of talk about Alan Pardew. Forget about him for a minute. Some of those players are a disgrace. You want to see a bit of graft, a bit of heart and intensity. For Newcastle to be seen like this is a disgrace.”
Neville added: “I wouldn’t like to be manager of those players. They are just a let-down.”
Draw up a list of problems with the club and you may end up filling a page; a money-driven owner, a manager perceived as a puppet, a collective lack of ambition, the constant selling your best players, amongst others.
Wherever you place the blame for these problems, the fact is Newcastle United is not run like a football club.
Newcastle is run by a businessman for profit, not passion. Owner Mike Ashley has no emotional ties to the team or the city. His work is not a labour of love, it is a black and white (excuse the pun) exercise of maximising profits for his sports clothing company Sports Direct via a constant barrage of advertisement in the interim, whilst eventually reaching an end goal of making a large profit on the sale of Newcastle United.
His hands are bound in the North East for the next two seasons until he can finally takeover Rangers, a club available to be purchased for pittance, and thanks to the poor standard of Scottish football, a club with an easier route to Champions League revenue.
Owner of Newcastle and Sports Direct, Mike Ashley is despised by many in the North East
The poisonous attitude of the hierarchy has seeped through to the players, who realise they are perceived as nothing more than an investment: pounds and pennies. Why work hard for an owner that doesn’t appreciate you? Players are visibly unmotivated under Alan Pardew, who has shown his dismal ability at handling unrest with an unceremonious removal of players such as Jonas Gutierrez, Hatem Ben Arfa, and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa. Perhaps they feel they could be next on the chopping board.
That said, there is no excuse for the performance on Saturday that leaves Newcastle bottom of the league. Blame the board, blame the manager, and blame the players. Whether you point the finger one way or another, you’re probably right. It is an amalgamation of problems that has brought the club to this point.
A Match of the Day commentator summed it up best on Football Focus this past Saturday, “Newcastle United is a soap-opera club”.
The fans cries are met by a hard-headed owner unwilling to bow, the club survives in mediocrity and the story plays out year-after-year. Nothing has changed and nothing ever will. Not whilst Alan Pardew is involved and certainly not whilst Mike Ashley is involved.
The problems at Newcastle United lie far deeper than the managerial selection
Say what you will about Newcastle United. It’s already been said before. It didn’t make a difference then, and it won’t make a difference now.
Read more from John Howell here!
Follow @JHowellWrites
The Offside Rule 
Leave a comment