Newcastle-Online comment: 12th June 2004
The
first time I saw Kieron Dyer play was for England Under 21's against
Italy - he scored a brilliant volley into the roof of the net and
I thought to myself; 'he has a bright future in the game.' Not long
after Ruud Gullit splashed out £6m in the Summer of 99 for the highly
talented Ipswich player and I for one was delighted.
We had signed one of the country's brightest talents and I was so
sure he would go on to be not only a great player for Newcastle but
England also.
Now heading into his 6th season at the Toon and reaching 26 Kieron
Dyer however has not been a great player for Newcastle nor England.
In fact he's been pretty poor save for his first season and even then
he wasn't exactly brilliant. Back then he was the shining star in
a dark period. Rumours of a £20m move to Leeds had us supporters frothing
at the mouth in anger. Now we'd snap arms off for even half that.
When he joined Newcastle, Dyer told the Sunday Times how
he needed to improve his finishing and alround game: "Mr Robson wants
me to work on them and I understand why. Last season I think I got
eight goals but I should really have had 18. Paul Goddard, my old
youth coach at Ipswich, always told me that although my game looked
very good I would be judged on end product; on scoring
or putting someone through with an early pass."
5 years later and that end product that he talked about acquiring
hasn't materialised. Bobby is now known as "gaffer" and the only headlines
he makes are for his antics off the field - antics that have played
a big part in his lack of progress since he arrived at the Toon.
Where did it go wrong for Dyer? He still has all the talent in the
world but he's coming up to his 26th Birthday and his career reads
like this thus far;
NOTHING!
At 25 he has done nothing in his career
and it seems he's finally woke up to this undeniable fact with the
following comments in the Independent a few weeks back;
"It's about fulfilling that potential now. I'm not classed as a young
player now. It's time I have to start doing it."
Indeed it is time he started "doing it", however haven't we heard
it all before? Dyer is the king when it comes to talking the talk
yet when it comes to walking the walk he's very much the Jester.
On the pitch he gives his all and runs his heart and legs off for
the cause - that can't be questioned but we need more, we need an
end product. Off the pitch he is a disgrace to our
club and indeed himself. Time and time again he has been an embarrassment
and has let everybody down - including his "second father" Sir Bobby.
You can point to injuries, being played out of position and all kinds
of reasons why he hasn't fulfilled his potential but it comes down
to his shocking attitude.
An attitude that has no doubt rubbed off on some of his fellow under
performing egotistical team-mates too.
Quite simply he cares more about the fast cars, the loose women, the
hard cash and the party lifestyle that have smeared the good name
of NUFC once too often more than that of his football career - the
very things that pay for his lifestyle. A lifestyle subsidised by
Newcastle United supporters.
Aye you!
A wild lifestyle can be forgiving if it doesn't get in the way of
the football. Hughie Gallacher was known to lead a wild lifestyle
off the pitch, yet on it he done the business on a Saturday week in
week out.
What can't be forgiving however is a shocking attitude to the club
and us supporters. Hughie Gallacher had a great attitude to Newcastle,
the City and us supporters, he was a humble and generous man. Dyer
wouldn't know the meaning of humility. If Dyer had any respect for
Newcastle United and indeed himself he would dump the hangers on,
slap himself in the face and wake up to the fact that he has
to grow up now. Not when he's 30, not when he's an old man,
but now. Otherwise when he is an old man his career will read;
NOTHING!
He's promised to changes his ways, he's promised to improve and lift
his game - for the umpteenth time since joining Newcastle. He's asked
for a 6th chance. I personally would like to see Newcastle get the
best out of Dyer, a few million by selling him. I've went past wanting
him to succeed in a Toon shirt, he's not worth it. But how about you?
Do you want him to succeed? Are you prepared to give him this one
final chance? Or like me would you rather we off-loaded him to bring
in funds? Either way he's in the last chance saloon now.
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