Tag: Mike Ashley

The Return of Newcastle United…

In May of 2009, Newcastle United fans were in mourning. The owner, board and executive management team were in shambles and not even Alan Shearer, the ultimate Magpies legend, could save them from relegation to the Championship.

Despite the crash and burn events of 2009, Chris Hughton did manage to ferry the team back to the Premier League after just one season in football obscurity. And how was the then Newcastle United manager thanked by owner Mike Ashley? He was given the sack half way through the 2010/11 season. Newcastle United fans returned to mourning. Their club was once again being dragged through the football mud. And more horror was to come.

Mike Ashley followed up the sacking of Hughton by hiring Alan Pardew, which at the time, appeared to be a like-for-like appointment. Ashley continued to rip through the club by selling fan favourites like Joey Barton, Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll. It seemed the team were doomed to fail again and a date with Championship football was a certainty for the Toon Army. Surely there would be no return from this for Mike Ashley or the team? Or would there?

The history of Mike Ashley as owner of Newcastle United did not instill any confidence in the fans that he was making decisions that were in the best interest of the club. But for once, the big man may have got it right. Furnishing Alan Pardew with the funds to bring in players like Hatem Ben Arfa, Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse and Yohan Cabaye, has all but erased the bad memories and given everyone belief that the return of Newcastle United could definitely be on. Fans can smell it, but dare they believe it?

Alan Pardew has a lovely blend of foreign and British talent which surely makes many Premier League fans envious. Liverpool fans especially must be wanting to kick their own club right now. Think of the money they have spent in the transfer market in comparison to Newcastle United. And think of the talent the Magpies acquired compared to Liverpool. Bet the Kop would exchange Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll for any of those Newcastle United players right now. Yes Liverpool won the Carling Cup. Yes they are in the semi-final of the F.A. Cup. However, their league form has been woeful. Liverpool could have acquired Ba or Cisse but they didn’t. Newcastle’s scouting team should be credited for the talent they’ve seeked and acquired this season. And Alan Pardew should be a consideration for Manager of the Year.

Life hasn’t been this good on Tyneside since the 1995/96 season that showcased phenomenal talent like David Ginola, Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer. And with only five weeks left of Premier League action, Newcastle United fans can finally believe the changes at the club have worked as they could also return to Champions League football for the first time in almost 10 years.

The return of the Toon Army is definitely on. The questions is, how long will it last? Hopefully, this chapter in Newcastle United’s history will go on for a good few pages…

Hello Premier League…

The Toon Army is back in the Premier League! Newcastle United clinched promotion before they even kicked a ball or a Sheffield United player last night. And it’s much relief after the nightmare of being relegated last season. What a difference a year makes.

Mike Ashley’s Newcastle reign started horrifically. We all know the story. He made some terrible decisions. Hiring Dennis Wise. Firing Kevin Keegan. The list goes on and on. He even tried to sell the club when fans got hostile which was scary for his family so he wanted out. But no buyers meant no deal and Ashley had to figure out a plan to save Newcastle. The club was on its knees. What a difference a year makes.

Despite the turmoil of their relegation year, it does appear as though Mike Ashley learned much from his hellish experience. Together with his executive team, manager Chris Hughton and the players, they banded together at the start of their Championship season and made a very important decision. As a group they would fight to get Newcastle promoted. And their inspiration? The same Newcastle United fans that passionately protested against their self-proclaimed football fan owner, Mike Ashley. What a difference a year makes.

Newcastle United fans are without question the most passionate fans in England. It doesn’t matter who their team is playing against, they will turn out in their thousands to watch. And when their beloved Newcastle hit rock bottom, they didn’t let them down. They sucked-up the whole relegation experience and they too made a decision to support their team in the pursuit to get back into the Premier League. Week after week 50,000 would show-up to watch Leeds, Cardiff City or Sheffield Wednesday. They watched and cheered with the same passion they would show against Chelsea, Manchester United or Arsenal. These same fans that were ready to walk away from the Mike Ashley years altogether made a U-Turn. What a difference a year makes.

When you scratch away at a club, whether it’s the owner, the players or the staff, deep beneath the turf lies the heart beat that keeps it all alive and possible. The fan. But in Newcastle’s case something unusual happened in their relegation season. The players, the owner and the staff stuck together with the fans to fight back. Sure a couple of players left to remain in the Premier League, but most however stayed which added to that strong heart beat that runs right through the club. We’re the first to point the finger at players for being greedy, but the likes of Kevin Nolan, Alan Smith, Jonas Gutierrez, Peter Lovenkrands and Fabricio Coloccini could have easily left but they didn’t. They chose to stay with the club that portrayed nothing but dysfunction to the world. They chose to fight for the owner and fans. What a difference a year makes.

Credit to Newcastle. I for one am delighted they are back. Hopefully Mike Ashley will do it right this time around in the Premier League. He will need to invest in players and build around the core that played so valiantly throughout their Championship season. The one question remains. Will Chris Hughton be given the big job? Who would have thought he’d still be standing at Newcastle United after everything that’s gone on? In football, anything is possible. The Toon Army can say hello again to the Premier League. What a difference a year makes…

Newcastle are gone baby gone…

newcastle-shearer_1392814cNewcastle United have been relegated. After almost 20 years in the top flight of British football, the once impressive and glamorous Toon Army are toast. Their fall from grace was heard across the football universe today and Chairman Mike Ashley, his executive team and even the players can point the finger at themselves for this disaster. 

Were any of them aware that it’s a privilege and not a right to play in the Premier League? Their arrogance was intolerable to observe. They made some bad decisions. They screwed it up. They are to blame and now it’s the fans that will pay the price. Instead of relishing an encounter with Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea next season, they can look forward to playing teams like Preston North End, Doncaster Rovers and Plymouth Argyle. And to make it even more painful, Newcastle’s bitter rivals Sunderland survived being relegated which means they get to play Premier League football again next term. That’s rotten.

I’ve never felt the pain of my team being relegated and I can’t imagine there is anything worse to experience as a fan of football. To lose the elite status of being a Premier League team is not only gut-wrenching, but it also costs your team millions and can set them back for years to come. There is no guarantee of an immediate return. Just ask Leeds United, Charlton and Southampton fans. It’s got to hurt worse than a punch from Mike Tyson circa 1986. It’s got to hurt worse than a root canal. It’s got to be the worse pain in the world. 

The sad thing for Newcastle fans is not even their hero Alan Shearer could save them from the drop. He probably feels the same pain as they do today. Perhaps it’s a little easier for Shearer though. A nice family holiday in the Bahamas or Bermuda will help ease the pain of relegation. But what will the hard-up Newcastle supporters do to erase the memory of the 2008-09 season? My guess is they’ll dust themselves off, buy a new shirt and start talking about how they are going to return to the Premier League. Football is in their blood. Football is their life. Football is Newcastle United. But who will lead them? Shearer? Or will King Kev return? Let’s hope for the fans sake, the club makes the right decision…