How's that for delusional?
Upon writing that opening paragraph, the hypocrisy wasn't lost on me that maybe, I should swallow the bitter pill that was self-prescribed last time, and also give these guys a fresh or a clean start. Then January the 3rd arrived. Leicester at home, and a clash between two clubs who offer up very different depictions of a game that is supposedly 'beautiful'. If this was a battle between the good and the bad, then what was yet to come would certainly be the ugly.
Leicester City - a club no bigger than Newcastle United, in fact, quite the opposite. A lesser following, a smaller stadium and a club with historically, less success. Yet, here I found myself pre-match, hoping for a single point. How unrealistic of me, and many a mag who shared this hope.
Hope?
Well actually, it wasn't that. It was the blind faith and loyalty to a club that represented me as a proud Geordie for around 26 of my 31 years of life. A faith and loyalty that this time is being very stretched, but is still unlikely to break.
The goals went in. 2-nil down, and the inevitable defeat was now looming. The only thing that could further compound misery, would be a goal from Ayoze Perez, one of the best pound for pound signings of the modern, NUFC era. A friend of mine called him 'traitorous' in a recent discussion, but as I said then, "perhaps what was really traitorous, was that our club wasn't matching the ambition of both him, and the fans".
How dare Newcastle fans suggest that their club be well run, like that of Leicester, Southampton or Wolves! Clubs that our current custodians identify as ones with which we cannot compete, and nor will we attempt to.
The Foxes, sly and undetected in their Premier League winning season, the true notion of sport and sporting achievement. "Anything is possible", a message which many a parent will tell their child, as they "reach for the stars" and "dream big". "You can be anything you want to be", unless you're a Newcastle fan, in which case, know your alleged place in English football. The black hole of mediocrity that ignores factual information, a desire to overcome the odds and above all else is devoid of hope. A black hole generated by the mainstream media, whom pull out the so-called stars of the game for their supposed "expert views" all the while, pushing knowledgeable fans of the majority of clubs deeper into the abyss. Suffocated by the status quo that both the broadcasters and the "big" clubs have self fabricated, and yet, they're largely ill-educated arse wipes seeking final pay days. As if the multi-million pound careers they had weren't enough...
In fact, dare I say it you'd find a more accurate assessment of NUFC on this very blog (see here, or here). Although, I suppose it's no coincidence that, the same media who come out with their pro-Ashley spin whenever the protest screw is turned, have produced a prophecy which has proven to be Steve Bruce's only job to fulfil. Mediocrity. It wouldn't surprise me if there'd been a little persuasion as to what the media's mantra would be regarding NUFC. Anything to protect Mike and place expendable pawns back in the firing line and yet we're treat to Steve Bruce: "one of our own".
Not quite - One of the pawns. That'd be reet. Oh how those in the media have short memories.
"Newcastle United fans just want 11 Geordies and Geordie manager"
How wrong could they be?!
I wonder if they remember fans chanting how Pavel was a Geordie, how Jonas was our superhero or how Coloccini could shag our (fictional) wives? Of course, if that wasn't obvious enough there was the small matter of a world class manager arriving on our shores.
(I kna you're sick of seeing it, but I'm ganna have to gan there.)
Rafa was (and is) "one of us". Why? Because he wasn't an ignorant prick, fascinated by his predecessors. Instead, he knew holding the fans was holding the key, as it is at any club. I don't think Rafa ever once came out and criticised the fans, and nor did he ever potentially need to. He did his research, he had a plan and he implemented it.
A plan that put into place a clear structure for everyone contributing underneath him, that identified the clubs weaknesses and offered solutions of how to improve the business model, as well as a football club. A plan to invest in the academy and facilities, and create a cycle whereby players could be brought through to improve the side and then either kept or sold, (most likely the latter) as the club consolidated and progressed at a sustainable rate. Surely this would suit Mike 'The Money' Ashley? Benitez made sure each and every man had discipline and above all else, respect. Respect for the black and white, respect for the club, but above all else respect for the fans and the community for which they're paid to represent.
By contrast, Bruce almost immediately came out criticising sections of the support and backed an owner whom the fans universally hated. I guess Mike must be canny if he's ganna spunk £40m on a player who as a forward (winger? Take your pick...) would manage 4 (yes, four!) competitive goals in his first season. But no - Steve is a fan, he's from Waalsend, we have to back him cause he's a Geordie. Aye, wey, that's aal well and good until he started showing total disregard for what had gone before and began firing shots at fans who've poured a far higher percentage of their hard earned time and money into following the club than him.
Just to clarify, the net spend for Rafa Benitez in his time here was approximately £10m and Steve Bruce has thus far spent £100.25m with only two significant losses to his squad before his tenure (source: www.nufc.com).
We aal kna why he got the job (and the money!), cause nee gaffa worth his salt would come here to work under that odious twat in Ashley, after Rafa was allowed to walk. Rafa was allowed to walk because he wasn't the pawn Ashley needed. Instead, Mike was fast becoming Harold II - out in no mans land, with willing archers at the ready, bows in hand and Benitez providing the arrows. So obviously rather than gan even more medieval and like a guillotine, give him the chop, he saved himself the scrutiny and grief and had it spun that greedy Rafa left for the cash alone. Haddaway and shite man.
Can you imagine if Benitez was given the cash Bruce has had, to build on top of what he, himself built?! We'd not be languishing in mid-to-bottom of the table, sleepwalking into yet another relegation fight, that's for certain. And actually, we'd have a better business model...
You tell me how a downturn of 10k season tickets, equating to around £5m can be good for business, excluding the pies and pints that around 1k of those would likely buy on a fortnightly basis (guestimate)...
That brings us nicely to entertainment value, and some relatively quick-fire myth- busting. Steve Bruce's 'more attacking' brand of football that he promised last year resulted in 4 less goals scored than that of the year before. Likewise, we shipped an additional 10 goals in defence and finally, finishing on a point less than the season before. Yet, we weren't stagnating and progress was being made?
So let's bring it into this season, as I write in anticipation of a tough away fixture at Aston Villa...😣
Steve Bruce is currently doing such a fantastic job that, Sheffield United, who'd won one league game all season (16 games) managed to beat us, with us having a mere 3 shots on target. 3 from our 54 tally that sees us 18th in the table on this front. Shots alone is even worse, where our 154 tally sees us rock bottom.
So what about our build up and possessional play?
Newcastle are 19th for passes completed and 3rd for long passes, which suggests a defensive and direct style of play with little possession and a midfield that is seemingly bypassed.
So presumably our strength is our defensive rigidity, just like under Rafa (joint 7th for GA), or maybe not...Newcastle are 18th for clean sheets, 16th for goals conceded and 2nd for saves made. The latter making us defensively sound according to Alan Smith... 😣
...and now to pause as I witness Watkins wandering into our box to put us on our way for a winless run of 10...
Funny how all these facts and figures are all conveniently ignored by everyone other than the admirable Jake Humphrey, club legend Alan Shearer and a handful of others.
I mean, it's one thing for fans to compare and contrast, mixing emotions with statistics and sometimes shooting wide of the mark, but when the media continue to ignore facts and figures it's clear there's an agenda at play, whether that be protecting a pal or gaining clicks, it doesn't really matter. Don't be in punditry or journalism if you're not willing to report with accuracy or validity.
Then if the facts weren't enough, centre-half Steve goes on the defensive at every media opportunity: Being sarcastic about the previous, popular manager ("the mighty Rafa") isn't a good way I prolong your stay, Steve.
Nor is mixing your messages about the clubs entrenched desire to simply exist in the Premier League by telling fans earlier in the season that the target is top 10 before you realise you're falling wide of the mark.
Likewise, nor is hanging out your players to dry publicly.
Likewise, nor is claiming we'll begin to do things your way 18months into your tenure.
The list will go on...
But Steve Bruce is right about one thing, he wasn't wanted. He wasn't then, but despite people begrudgingly backing him, he certainly isn't now, and that's not because he's fucking shite, but it is because he's absolutely full of shite.
"How's the bacon, did you say?" 🐽
Well if bacon was your tenure Brucey lad, it was never cooked, the packet was opened after the sell by and now needs binned.
#BruceOut #AshleyOut
Ciao for now 😉
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